bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Transcriptome Analysis of the Molecular Patterns of Pear Plants Infected by Two Colletotrichum fructicola Pathogenic Strains Causing Contrasting Sets of Leaf Symptoms
Authors: Fu Min , Bai Qing , Zhang Hui , Guo Yashuang , Peng Yuhong , Zhang Pengfei , Shen Liang , Hong Ni , Xu Wenxing , Wang Guoping
Published: February 2022

Colletotrichum fructicola infects pear leaves, resulting in two major symptoms: tiny black spots (TS) followed by severe early defoliation and big necrotic lesions (BnL) without apparent damage depending on the pathotypes. How the same fungal species causes different symptoms remains unclear. To understand the molecular mechanism underlying the resulting diseases and the diverse symptoms, two C. fructicola pathogenetic strains (PAFQ31 and PAFQ32 responsible for TS and BnL symptoms, respectively) were inoculated on Pyrus pyrifolia leaves and subjected to transcriptome sequencing at the quiescent stage (QS) and necrotrophic stage (NS), respectively. In planta, the genes involved in the salicylic acid (SA) signaling pathway were upregulated at the NS caused by the infection of each strain. In contrast, the ethylene (ET), abscisic acid (ABA), and jasmonic acid (JA) signaling pathways were specifically related to the TS symptoms caused by the infection of strain PAFQ31, corresponding to the yellowish and early defoliation symptoms triggered by the strain infection. Correspondingly, SA was accumulated in similar levels in the leaves infected by each strain at NS, but JA was significantly higher in the PAFQ31-infected as measured using high-performance liquid chromatography. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis also reveals specific genes, pathways, phytohormones, and transcription factors (TFs) associated with the PAFQ31-associated early defoliation. Taken together, these data suggest that specific metabolic pathways were regulated in P. pyrifolia in response to the infection of two C. fructicola pathotypes resulting in the diverse symptoms: JA, ET, and ABA accumulated in the PAFQ31-infected leaves, which negatively affected the chlorophyll metabolism and photosynthesis pathways while positively affecting the expression of senescence-associated TFs and genes, resulted in leaf yellowing and defoliation; whereas SA inhibited JA-induced gene expression in the PAFQ32-infected leaves, which led to hypersensitive response-like reaction and BnL symptoms.
The Mechanisms Responsible for N Deficiency in Well-Watered Wheat Under Elevated CO2
Authors: Fan Jinjie , Halpern Moshe , Yu Yangliu , Zuo Qiang , Shi Jianchu , Fan Yuchuan , Wu Xun , Yermiyahu Uri , Sheng Jiandong , Jiang Pingan , Ben-Gal Alon
Published: February 2022

Elevated CO2 concentration [e(CO2)] often promotes plant growth with a decrease in tissue N concentration. In this study, three experiments, two under hydroponic and one in well-watered soil, including various levels or patterns of CO2, humidity, and N supply were conducted on wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) to explore the mechanisms of e[CO2]-induced N deficiency (ECIND). Under hydroponic conditions, N uptake remained constant even as transpiration was limited 40% by raising air relative humidity and only was reduced about 20% by supplying N during nighttime rather than daytime with a reduction of 85% in transpiration. Compared to ambient CO2 concentration, whether under hydroponic or well-watered soil conditions, and whether transpiration was kept stable or decreased to 12%, e[CO2] consistently led to more N uptake and higher biomass, while lower N concentration was observed in aboveground organs, especially leaves, as long as N supply was insufficient. These results show that, due to compensation caused by active uptake, N uptake can be uncoupled from water uptake under well-watered conditions, and changes in transpiration therefore do not account for ECIND. Similar or lower tissue NO3--N concentration under e[CO2] indicated that NO3- assimilation was not limited and could therefore also be eliminated as a major cause of ECIND under our conditions. Active uptake has the potential to bridge the gap between N taken up passively and plant demand, but is limited by the energy required to drive it. Compared to ambient CO2 concentration, the increase in N uptake under e[CO2] failed to match the increase of carbohydrates, leading to N dilution in plant tissues, the apparent dominant mechanism explaining ECIND. Lower N concentration in leaves rather than roots under e[CO2] validated that ECIND was at least partially also related to changes in resource allocation, apparently to maintain root uptake activity and prevent more serious N deficiency.
Soil and Climate Geographic Information System Data-Derived Risk Mapping for Grape Phylloxera in Washington State
Authors: Chandel Abhilash K. , Moyer Michelle M. , Keller Markus , Khot Lav R. , Hoheisel Gwen-Alyn
Published: February 2022

Grape phylloxera (Daktulosphaira vitifoliae, syn. Viteus vitifoliae), a destructive root and foliar pest of grapevines, occurs in almost all viticulture regions worldwide. However, certain regions have remained “phylloxera free.” Until recently, this included Washington state (United States), where this insect is regulated as a quarantine pest by Washington State Department of Agriculture. In 2019, established phylloxera populations were discovered in Washington. Phylloxera is typically managed by using resistant or tolerant rootstocks. In Washington, most wine grapes are grown on their own roots of the susceptible speciesVitis viniferainstead of grafted rootstock, and thus, are at high risk of vine death should they become infested with phylloxera. This article reports development of a phylloxera risk map for Washington state using geographical soil texture (sand content) and soil temperature data. Weighted averages of soil texture data (mapping year: 2016, depth: 0–100 cm) were obtained from United States Department of Agriculture-Natural Resource Conservation Service (USDA-NRCS) and soilgrids. Soil temperature data were obtained from over 200 weather stations of Washington State University’s AgWeatherNet network. Threshold-based classifications were performed in Quantum GIS software on the rasterized soil sand content and temperature independently to derive low, moderate, and high-risk areas, with risk defined as site suitability for optimal phylloxera development. The validation identified 22 out of 23 confirmed phylloxera-positive sites as “high risk,” and one site as “moderate risk” when considering soil sand content alone. Soil temperature data alone classified 10 sites as “high risk” and 13 sites as “low risk.” When soil sand content was combined with soil temperature (as a risk modifier), 10 sites were classified as “high risk,” 12 sites as “high-moderate risk” and one site as “moderate-low” risk. Ground-truth comparisons of confirmed positive sites for phylloxera agreed with past research suggesting that soil sand content is the dominant factor influencing phylloxera infestation. Pertinent risk assessment can be an important component for vineyard decision-making, including whether to use rootstocks in vineyard development or replant scenarios. It may also help to focus the initial scouting and identification efforts to sites and may be helpful when tracking and developing solutions for quarantine pests, such as phylloxera.
Using CRISPR-Cas9 Technology to Eliminate Xyloglucan in Tobacco Cell Walls and Change the Uptake and Translocation of Inorganic Arsenic
Authors: Wang Meng , Song Xinxin , Guo Shuaiqiang , Li Peiyao , Xu Zongchang , Xu Hua , Ding Anming , Ahmed Rana Imtiaz , Zhou Gongke , O’Neill Malcom , Yang Dahai , Kong Yingzhen
Published: February 2022

Xyloglucan is a quantitatively major polysaccharide in the primary cell walls of flowering plants and has been reported to affect plants’ ability to tolerate toxic elements. However, it is not known if altering the amounts of xyloglucan in the wall influences the uptake and translocation of inorganic arsenic (As). Here, we identified two Nicotiana tabacum genes that encode xyloglucan-specific xylosyltransferases (XXT), which we named NtXXT1 and NtXXT2. We used CRISPR-Cas9 technology to generate ntxxt1, ntxxt2, and ntxxt1/2 mutant tobacco plants to determine if preventing xyloglucan synthesis affects plant growth and their ability to accumulate As. We show that NtXXT1 and NtXXT2 are required for xyloglucan biosynthesis because no discernible amounts of xyloglucan were present in the cell walls of the ntxxt1/2 double mutant. The tobacco double mutant (ntxxt1/2) and the corresponding Arabidopsis mutant (atxxt1/2) do not have severe growth defects but do have a short root hair phenotype and a slow growth rate. This phenotype is rescued by overexpressing NtXXT1 or NtXXT2 in atxxt1/2. Growing ntxxt mutants in the presence of AsIII or AsV showed that the absence of cell wall xyloglucan affects the accumulation and translocation of As. Most notably, root retention of As increased substantially and the amounts of As translocated to the shoots decreased in ntxxt1/2. Our results suggest that xyloglucan-deficient plants provide a strategy for the phytoremediation of As contaminated soils.
Genome-Wide Characterization of Serine/Arginine-Rich Gene Family and Its Genetic Effects on Agronomic Traits of Brassica napus
Authors: Xie Meili , Zuo Rong , Bai Zetao , Yang Lingli , Zhao Chuanji , Gao Feng , Cheng Xiaohui , Huang Junyan , Liu Yueying , Li Yang , Tong Chaobo , Liu Shengyi
Published: February 2022

Serine/arginine-rich (SR) proteins are indispensable factors for RNA splicing, and they play important roles in development and abiotic stress responses. However, little information on SR genes in Brassica napus is available. In this study, 59 SR genes were identified and classified into seven subfamilies: SR, SCL, RS2Z, RSZ, RS, SR45, and SC. In each subfamily, the genes showed relatively conserved structures and motifs, but displayed distinct expression patterns in different tissues and under abiotic stress, which might be caused by the varied cis-acting regulatory elements among them. Transcriptome datasets from Pacbio/Illumina platforms showed that alternative splicing of SR genes was widespread in B. napus and the majority of paralogous gene pairs displayed different splicing patterns. Protein-protein interaction analysis indicated that SR proteins were involved in the regulation of the whole lifecycle of mRNA, from synthesis to decay. Moreover, the association mapping analysis suggested that 12 SR genes were candidate genes for regulating specific agronomic traits, which indicated that SR genes could affect the development and hence influence the important agronomic traits of B. napus. In summary, this study provided elaborate information on SR genes in B. napus, which will aid further functional studies and genetic improvement of agronomic traits in B. napus.
How Does Long-Term Orientation Influence the Investments of Venture Capitals? Evidence From the Organizational Level
Authors: Zheng Tianyi
Published: February 2022

Amid great uncertainty along with the possibility of huge returns, venture investment decisions are both technical and artistic. Past studies have paid much attention to the influences of objective factors on venture investment. However, subjective factors have been relatively ignored. As a salient psychological mechanism, temporal focus is of great importance for venture capitalists when making their investment decisions. This study performed content analysis to investigate how temporal focus at the organizational level affects investment decisions of venture capital (VC) firms. The results revealed that VCs with higher level of long-term orientation prefer to invest in less popular industries and ventures in the expansion period. Meanwhile, they are less likely to invest in very new start-ups. Moreover, long-term oriented VCs tend to re-invest in start-ups in their portfolios instead of just shooting once on numerous single start-ups. However, the author did not find any support on preferences of VCs for ventures with high level of human capital.
Cross-Cultural Adaptation and Psychometric Evaluation of the Perceived Ability to Cope With Trauma Scale in Portuguese Patients With Breast Cancer
Authors: Lemos Raquel , Costa Beatriz , Frasquilho Diana , Almeida Sílvia , Sousa Berta , Oliveira-Maia Albino J.
Published: February 2022

Background

The impact of a cancer diagnosis may be traumatic, depending on the psychological resources used by patients. Appropriate coping strategies are related to better adaptation to the disease, with coping flexibility, corresponding to the ability to replace ineffective coping strategies, demonstrated to be highly related with self-efficacy to handle trauma. The Perceived Ability to Cope with Trauma (PACT) scale is a self-rated questionnaire that assesses the perceived ability to cope with potentially traumatic events, providing a measure of coping flexibility. The current study aimed at examining the psychometric properties of the PACT Scale in Portuguese patients with breast cancer.

Methods

The study included 172 patients recently diagnosed with early breast cancer. Participants completed a Portuguese version of the PACT scale, and instruments of self-efficacy for coping with cancer (Cancer Behavior Inventory-Brief Version—CBI-B), of quality of life (European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire Core-30—QLQ-C30), and of psychological distress (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale—HADS) that were used as convergent and divergent measures, thus assessing construct validity. A confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was performed to test the factor structure of the Portuguese version of PACT scale and reliabilities were examined.

Results

Results from the CFA confirmed the two-factor structure, consistent with the original Forward and Trauma focus subscales. The two subscales demonstrated high internal consistencies. Convergent and divergent validities were confirmed: the PACT scale was related to high self-efficacy to cope with cancer (CBI-B), to high perceived quality of life (QLQ-C30), and to low psychological distress (HADS).

Discussion

Overall, the current results support and replicate the psychometric properties of the PACT scale. The scale was found to be a valid and reliable self-reported measure to assess Portuguese breast cancer patients regarding beliefs about their capabilities in managing the potentially traumatic sequelae of cancer. The PACT is a simple and brief measure of coping flexibility to trauma, with potential relevance for application in clinical and research settings.
Non-pharmacological Approaches to Apathy and Depression: A Scoping Review of Mild Cognitive Impairment and Dementia
Authors: Oba Hikaru , Kobayashi Ryota , Kawakatsu Shinobu , Suzuki Kyoko , Otani Koichi , Ihara Kazushige
Published: February 2022

Apathy and depression are frequently observed as behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia, respectively, and are important for ensuring adequate care. This study aims to explore effective non-pharmacological interventions for apathy and depression with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia. Five search engines including PubMed, Scopus, CINAHL, PsycInfo, and Web of Science were used to extract relevant studies. Inclusion criteria were studies that involved participants who were diagnosed with MCI or dementia, included quantitative assessments of each symptom, and employed randomized controlled trials. Twenty studies were extracted, with interventions have been conducted in care facilities, the community, and hospitals. Participants in many studies had MCI or mild-to-moderate dementia but were not diagnosed with the subtypes of dementia. Few studies had set apathy and depression as the primary outcomes of non-pharmacological interventions. The findings suggested that emotional and stimulation-oriented approaches to apathy and depression would be useful for people with MCI or mild-to-moderate dementia. It would be helpful for therapists to assess the clinical features of the target symptoms for selecting suitable interventions. Additionally, increasing the number of randomized controlled trials focusing on apathy or depression as primary outcomes would offer a more definite conclusion for future systematic reviews.
Microbial Communities and Nitrogen Transformation in Constructed Wetlands Treating Stormwater Runoff
Authors: Shirdashtzadeh Maryam , Chua Lloyd H. C. , Brau Lambert
Published: February 2022

Microbial communities play a vital role in nitrogen (N) removal in constructed wetlands (CWs). However, the lack of studies on microbial characteristics of wetland systems designed to treat stormwater demonstrates the importance of comprehensive investigation on microbial response to wetland fluctuations. Moreover, the observed inconsistency in N removal, and detected links between microbial shifts and wetland water level fluctuations is an area of research interest perculiar to stormwater applications. This study surveyed nearly 150 publications to provide a summary and evaluation of N removal efficiency in different types of CWs where microbial communities and their behavior have been correlated to regulating factors. Factors such as flow regime, plants, and physico-chemical properties (e.g., temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH, and nitrogen concentration) were found to significantly influence microbial diversity and composition. Although many studies have analyzed microbial N removal, a majority conducted their studies in bioretention systems. Accordingly, some of the microbial pathways in CWs designed for stormwater treatment have not been investigated. As such, it is suggested that pathways, such as dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonium (DNRA) and comammox activity and their changes over dry-wet cycles in stormwater constructed wetlands be investigated. This information could assist engineers to take advantage of the presence of other N transforming communities which could improve microbial diversity within wetland systems. Moreover, it is recommended to track microbial functional genes and their changes over wetland water fluctuation to develop an ecosystem with conditions favorable for microbial pathways with higher N removal potential. In conclusion, the findings of the current literature review reinforce the importance of stormwater runoff treatment and the implementation of new design strategies that are able to enhance microbial activity and diversity leading to a better treatment outcome.
Breakdown of Self-Incompatibility in Citrus by Temperature Stress, Bud Pollination and Polyploidization
Authors: Montalt Rafael , Prósper Laura , Vives María Carmen , Navarro Luis , Ollitrault Patrick , Aleza Pablo
Published: February 2022

Self-incompatibility (SI) is present in around half of all species of flowering plants. SI limits endogamy and contributes to increased genetic diversity. SI is a very important trait in citrus because, when coupled with parthenocarpy, it allows seedless fruit production. Otherwise, SI is an impediment to genetic studies and breeding programs. Temperature stress, bud pollination and polyploidization can induce the breakdown of the SI mechanism in several species. In this work, we investigated how the SI mechanism can be broken down in two self-incompatible diploid citrus genotypes: ‘Fortune’ mandarin and ‘Clemenules’ clementine. The influence of temperature stress on the SI mechanism was assessed in self-pollinated flowers of ‘Fortune’ mandarins subjected to 2 temperature regimes (10 °C and 30 °C), whereas the bud pollination effect was investigated in the same genotype and in ‘Clemenules’ clementines cultivated under field conditions. The tetraploid ‘Clemenules’ clementine cultivated under field conditions was used to study if tetraploidization can bypass the SI reaction. Histological observations of pollen tube growth and seed production in self-pollinated flowers were used to evaluate the breakdown of SI, while the genetic analysis with SSR and SNP markers confirmed that all recovered plants were zygotic and had been originated by selfing. Our results confirm that the SI reaction can be surpassed by temperature stress, bud pollination and tetraploidy. To our knowledge, this is the first report in citrus in which the SI reaction breakdown by these three different strategies is demonstrated by molecular markers.
Optimizing Food and Feed in Maize–Livestock Systems in Northern Ghana: The Effect of Maize Leaf Stripping on Grain Yield and Leaf Fodder Quality
Authors: Abdul Rahman Nurudeen , Larbi Asamoah , Addah Weseh , Sulleyman Kassim Wachiebine , Adda Joshua Kubasari , Kizito Fred , Hoeschle-Zeledon Irmgard
Published: February 2022

Access to feed for livestock during the cropping season is a constraint to the smallholder crop–livestock farming system in northern Ghana due to backyard farming. A two-year (2017–2018) study was conducted to determine the effect of leaf stripping on yield and feed quality in maize–livestock farming systems in the Northern, Upper East, and Upper West regions of Ghana. A factorial treatment combination of three maize-maturity types (extra-early: Abontem, early: Omankwa, and medium: Obatanpa) and three leaf stripping methods (control, leaf stripping at 50% tasseling, and leaf stripping at 50% silking of maize) were laid out in a strip-plot design with four replications per region. Stripped leaf biomass, grain yield, stover, cob size, and nutritional quality of stripped maize leaf were measured. The stripped leaf biomass, stover, and cob width of Obatanpa increased significantly relative to the other maize types in the Northern and the Upper West regions. Abontem recorded a higher (p < 0.01) grain yield than that of the other maize types in the Upper East Region. Leaf stripping had no significant effect on the grain yield and the crude protein (CP) content of maize leaf. The CP of the maize leaf (93–100 g/kg) was above the minimum CP requirement of a quality feed for body weight maintenance of ruminants. This suggests that smallholder maize–livestock farmers could strip maize leaves at either tasseling or silking to feed their livestock during the cropping season in northern Ghana and similar agro-ecological zones in West Africa.
Comparison of Methods to Select Candidates for High-Density Genotyping; Practical Observations in a Cattle Breeding Program
Authors: McEwin Rudi A. , Hebart Michelle L. , Oakey Helena , Tearle Rick , Grose Joe , Popplewell Greg , Pitchford Wayne S.
Published: February 2022

Imputation can be used to obtain a large number of high-density genotypes at the cost of procuring low-density panels. Accurate imputation requires a well-formed reference population of high-density genotypes to enable statistical inference. Five methods were compared using commercial Wagyu genotype data to identify individuals to produce a “well-formed” reference population. Two methods utilised a relationship matrix (MCG and MCA), two of which utilised a haplotype block library (AHAP2 and IWS), and the last selected high influential sires with greater than 10 progeny (PROG). The efficacy of the methods was assessed based on the total proportion of genetic variance accounted for and the number of haplotypes captured, as well as practical considerations in implementing these methods. Concordance was high between the MCG and MCA and between AHAP2 and IWS but was low between these groupings. PROG-selected animals were most similar to MCA. MCG accounted for the greatest proportion of genetic variance in the population (35%, while the other methods accounted for approximately 30%) and the greatest number of unique haplotypes when a frequency threshold was applied. MCG was also relatively simple to implement, although modifications need to be made to account for DNA availability when running over a whole population. Of the methods compared, MCG is the recommended starting point for an ongoing sequencing project.
Geochemical Modelling of Inorganic Nutrients Leaching from an Agricultural Soil Amended with Olive-Mill Waste Biochar
Authors: Kypritidou Zacharenia , Doulgeris Charalampos , Tziritis Evangelos , Kinigopoulou Vasiliki , Jellali Salah , Jeguirim Mejdi
Published: February 2022

This work examines in silico the dominant geochemical processes that control inorganic nutrients (Ca, Mg, Na, K) availability in irrigated agricultural soil amended with potassium-enriched biochar (from olive mill wastes) at mass doses of 0.5%, 1%, 2% and 10%. The geochemical modelling step was supported by analytical measurements regarding the physicochemical characteristics of the irrigation water, the agricultural soil and the biochar. Two geochemical approaches, namely equilibrium exchange (E.E.) and kinetic exchange (K.E.) models were applied and compared to assess nutrient release with an emphasis on potassium availability. Equilibrium exchange perspective assumed that nutrient release is controlled by ion-exchange reactions onto the biochar surface, whilst kinetic exchange perspective assumed the contribution of both ion-exchange and dissolution of salts. Results indicated that for the E.E. model, the soluble amount of potassium is readily available for transport within the pores of the porous media, and therefore is leached from the column within only 10 days. For the K.E. model that assumes a kinetically controlled release of potassium due to interactions occurring at the solid-solution interface, the assessed retention times were more realistic and significantly higher (up to 100 days). Concerning the applied doses of biochar, for a 2% biochar fraction mixed with soil, for example, the available K for plants doubled compared with the available K in the soil without biochar. In any case, the use of numerical modeling was proven helpful for a quick assessment of biochar performance in soil, by avoiding time-consuming and laborious experimental set-ups. Validation of the models by experimental data will further establish the proposed mechanisms.
Effect of Spectral Sensitivity and Light Intensity Response on the Phototactic Behavior of Exolontha castanea Chang (Coleoptera: Melolonthidae), a Pest of Sugarcane in China
Authors: Shang Xian-Kun , Pan Xue-Hong , Liu Wei , Wei Ji-Li , Huang Cheng-Hua , Goebel François-Régis , Nikpay Amin
Published: February 2022

The phototaxis of insects is closely related to light source factors, such as spectrum and light intensity. The cane grub, Exolontha castanea Chang (Coleoptera: Melolonthidae), is an important underground pest of sugarcane in Guangxi province of China. To clarify the effect of spectral sensitivity and light intensity response on the phototactic behavior of E. castanea, the phototactic behavior responses of male and female adults to 13 monochromatic lights in the wavelength range of 365–630 nm and different light intensities were measured. We found that both male and female adults had positive phototaxis to 13 monochromatic lights. The phototactic response rate of males and females at ultraviolet and violet light was the highest in the wavelength range of 365–420 nm. Among them, the most sensitive spectrum of females and males was at 365 nm and 420 nm, respectively. From the intensity response of phototactic behavior to different spectrum, the G1 (strong phototaxis) response rates of females at 365 nm and males at 420 nm were the highest. In addition, the phototactic response rate of females and males increased with the light intensity, showing a significant positive correlation. This study showed that the spectrum and light intensity were the key factors affecting the phototactic behavior of E. castanea. The sensitive spectrum of males and females were different, with a similar trend in phototaxis.
Short-Term Mineralization of Belowground Biomass of Perennial Biomass Crops after Reversion to Arable Land
Authors: Ferrarini Andrea , Martani Enrico , Mondini Claudio , Fornasier Flavio , Amaducci Stefano
Published: February 2022

Little is known about the effect of perennial biomass crops (PBCs) removal on soil C dynamics. The belowground biomass (BGB) that is composed by plant belowground organs (PBO) such as rhizomes in the herbaceous PBCs and stumps in woody PBCs should be considered, together with fine roots (FR), as a huge input of exogenous organic matter (EOM) that is incorporated into the soil at the reversion. In this study, we mimic the incorporation of BGB of PBCs through a soil-residues incubation under controlled conditions to investigate the effects of adding FR and PBO (at real field rates) on soil C and N mineralization dynamics, and to understand decomposition controlling factors. A modified RothC model version, encompassing a better description of decomposable (DEOM) and resistant (REOM) pools, was fitted to C mineralization curves of respiration measured by CO2 evolution in incubated soil to quantify partitioning factors and decomposition rates of PBCs BGB components. After 1 month, PBO showed higher mineralization rates (498 µg CO2-C gsoil−1) than FR (196 µg CO2-C gsoil−1), with black locust having the highest amount of C respired (38% of added C). The emission peak occurred within 3 days from the beginning of the experiment for PBO and after 1 day for FR. Generally, according to the modified version of RothC model, PBO had higher proportion of REOM than FR, except for black locust. The decomposition constant rates from the optimized RothC model were higher for PBO (kDEOM: 20.9 y−1, kREOM: 12.1 y−1) than FR (kDEOM: 0.4 y−1, kREOM: 0.1 y−1), indicating that FR are less decomposable than PBO. The C/N ratio is not the main controlling factor of decomposition when residue N is not a limiting factor, while the availability of easily decomposable substrates (DEOM/REOM ratio) and cell-wall composition decomposition is a strong predictor of C and N mineralization of these EOM types. The explicit inclusion of crop-specific DEOM/REOM ratios within RothC or a similar soil C model will help to improve the predictions of long-term C sequestration trajectories (half-life > 30 years) associated with PBCs cultivation, especially when dismission of such perennial cropping systems is addressed.
Dietary Supplementation with a Combination of Fibrolytic Enzymes and Probiotics Improves Digestibility, Growth Performance, Blood Metabolites, and Economics of Fattening Lambs
Authors: Mousa Gamal A. , Allak Masouda A. , Shehata Mohamed G. , Hashem Nesrein M. , Hassan Ola G. A.
Published: February 2022

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of adding different levels of the combination of fibrolytic enzymes and probiotics (a mixture of bacteria and yeast) on the performance of fattening lambs. Thirty-two male Ossimi lambs (weighing 39 ± 0.24 kg) were divided into four groups randomly (eight animals each). The first group (control ration, G1) was fed on a ration of 60% concentrate feed mixture (CFM), 20% Egyptian clover (EC), and 20% wheat straw (WS). The second (G2), third (G3), and fourth (G4) groups were fed a control ration supplemented with Calfo Care® at concentrations of 0.5, 1, and 2 kg/ton diet of dry matter (DM). Results showed that the G2 and G3 rations significantly (p ≤ 0.05) increased the DM, organic matter, crude protein, crude fiber, and ether extract digestibility compared with the G1 and G4 rations. Moreover, the G2 and G3 rations increased (p ≤ 0.05) the percentages of total digestible nutrients (TDN), starch values (SV), and digestible crude protein (DCP) compared with the G1 and G4 rations. Both the G2 and G3 rations significantly (p ≤ 0.05) increased the TDN, SV, and DCP as kg/day or g/kg w0.75 and kg or g/100 kg body weight compared with the G1 and G4 rations. Conversely, the G1 ration significantly decreased the feed conversion of DM, TDN, SV, and DCP compared with the experimental groups. Furthermore, the G2, G3, and G4 rations significantly (p ≤ 0.05) increased the total weight gain by 25.34%, 52.20%, and 3.79%, respectively, compared with the G1 ration. The G2, G3, and G4 rations also (p ≤ 0.05) increased the concentrations of most hematological parameters, including triiodothyronine, total protein, albumin, and glucose, compared with the G1 ration. Finally, the best net profit was recorded with the G3 ration, followed by the G2, G4, and G1 rations.
Impact of Changes in Time Left Alone on Separation-Related Behaviour in UK Pet Dogs
Authors: Harvey Naomi D. , Christley Robert M. , Giragosian Kassandra , Mead Rebecca , Murray Jane K. , Samet Lauren , Upjohn Melissa M. , Casey Rachel A.
Published: February 2022

Separation-related behaviours (SRBs), including but not limited to vocalisation, pacing, destruction and toileting, occur in the absence of human company. As well as being problematic for the dogs’ owners, such behaviours indicate that the dogs’ emotional state is compromised. As part of the COVID-19 pandemic, time spent alone decreased considerably for many pet dogs, leading to concerns about the development of SRBs when dogs are left alone more again. The main aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that dogs whose time left alone decreased most (compared to a February 2020 pre-COVID baseline) would be at greatest risk of developing new signs of SRB when time left alone increased again. To achieve this aim, we utilised survey data gathered from dog owners between 4th May and 3rd July 2020, during the first COVID-19 ‘lockdown’ period in the United Kingdom (UK), and a follow-up survey of the same dog-owner cohort, completed when restrictions had eased between 10th October and 2nd November 2020. Individual dogs fluctuated considerably in whether they showed signs of SRB or not across the study period (n = 1807). Overall, the prevalence of SRB in the population decreased from 22.1% to 17.2%, as did the time dogs were left alone for between February and October 2020. However, 9.9% of dogs had developed new signs of SRB by the follow-up survey in October 2020, with dogs whose leaving hours decreased most during lockdown restrictions being at increased risk of developing SRBs. These findings have implications for our understanding of the etiology of SRB, by showing a link between changes in owner routine and SRB risk.
A Review on the Commonly Used Methods for Analysis of Physical Properties of Food Materials
Authors: Sarkar Tanmay , Salauddin Molla , Kirtonia Kohima , Pati Siddhartha , Rebezov Maksim , Khayrullin Mars , Panasenko Svetlana , Tretyak Lyudmila , Temerbayeva Marina , Kapustina Nadezhda , Azimova Sanavar , Gruzdeva Lyudmila , Makhmudov Farrukh , Nikitin Igor , Kassenov Amirzhan , Shariati Mohammad Ali , Lorenzo Jose M.
Published: February 2022

The chemical composition of any food material can be analyzed well by employing various analytical techniques. The physical properties of food are no less important than chemical composition as results obtained from authentic measurement data are able to provide detailed information about the food. Several techniques have been used for years for this purpose but most of them are destructive in nature. The aim of this present study is to identify the emerging techniques that have been used by different researchers for the analysis of the physical characteristics of food. It is highly recommended to practice novel methods as these are non-destructive, extremely sophisticated, and provide results closer to true quantitative values. The physical properties are classified into different groups based on their characteristics. The concise view of conventional techniques mostly used to analyze food material are documented in this work.
Gut Microbiome in Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnoea
Authors: Bikov Andras , Szabo Helga , Piroska Marton , Kunos Laszlo , Szily Marcell , Ligeti Balazs , Makra Nora , Szabo Dora , Tarnoki David Laszlo , Tarnoki Adam Domonkos
Published: February 2022

Background: Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Alterations in the gut microbiome have been implicated in the development of cardiovascular disease and may potentially link OSA to its cardiovascular consequences. However, only one study to date has investigated gut microbiomes in adult patients with OSA. Methods: 19 patients with OSA and 20 non-OSA controls participated in the study. Following a diagnostic sleep study, blood was collected for metabolic profiling, and the subjects provided a stool sample for microbiome analysis. The gut microbiome was investigated using the 16S ribosomal RNA method. Results: Patients with OSA had a higher relative abundance of the Proteobacteria phylum (p = 0.03), Gammaproteobacteria class (p = 0.01), Lactobacillae family (p = 0.02), Lactobacillus (p = 0.03), and Roseburia genus (p = 0.03), and a lower abundance of the Actinobacteria phylum (p = 0.03). The abundance of Proteobacteria, Gammaproteobacteria, Lactobacillae, and Lactobacillus were related to disease severity and dyslipidaemia (all p < 0.05), whilst the abundance of Proteobacteria and Gammaproteobacteria was also related to hypertension and cardiovascular disease (all p < 0.05). However, following adjustment for relevant confounders only the association between OSA and Actinobacteria remained significant (p = 0.04). Conclusions: Obstructive sleep apnoea is associated with only subtle changes in gut microbiome. Further studies should investigate gut dysbiosis in OSA.
Emergence of Nano-Dentistry as a Reality of Contemporary Dentistry
Authors: Kochan Orest , Boitsaniuk Svitlana , Levkiv Mariana , Przystupa Krzysztof , Manashchuk Nadiia , Pohoretska Khrystyna , Chornij Natalia , Tsvyntarna Iryna , Patskan Liudmyla
Published: February 2022

(1) Background. Nanotechnology offers significant alternative ways to solve scientific, medical, and human health issues. Dental biomaterials were improved by nanotechnology. It manufactures better materials or improves the existing ones and forms the basis of novel methods for disease diagnosis and prevention. Modern nanotechnology makes oral health care services more acceptable for patients. Nanotechnology is now important area of research, covering a broad range of applications in dentistry. (2) Methods. Relevant literature from Scopus published in English was selected using the keywords “nanoparticle” and “dentistry”. To the selected articles we applied the inclusion and exclusion criteria to choose the relevant ones. (3) Results. Based on the relevant articles, a literature review was prepared. This review provides an insight into the applications of nanotechnology in various branches of dentistry. We applied several regression models to fit number of papers versus time and chose the best one. We used it to construct the forecast and its 95%-confidence interval for the number of publications in 2022–2026. (4) Conclusions. It shows that a significant rise in papers is expected. This review familiarizes dentists with properties and benefits of nanomaterials and nanotechnology. Additionally, it can help scientists to consider the direction of their research and to plan prospective research projects.
Dynamic Activity Index for Feature Engineering of Geodynamic Data for Safe Underground Isolation of High-Level Radioactive Waste
Authors: Agayan Sergei M. , Losev Ilya V. , Belov Ivan O. , Tatarinov Victor N. , Manevich Alexander I. , Pasishnichenko Maksim A.
Published: February 2022

In this study, we developed a new approach for feature engineering in geosciences. The main focus of this study was feature engineering based on the implementation of the dynamic activity index (MDAI) as a function of the anomaly of the spatial distribution of data, using systems and discrete mathematical analysis. The methodology for calculating MDAI by groups, geomorphological variability, the density of tectonic faults, stress-strain state, and magnetic field anomalies, is presented herein for a specific area. A detailed analysis of the correlation matrix of MDAI revealed weak correlations between the development features. This showed that the considered properties of the geological environment are independent sets and can be used in the analysis of its geodynamic stability. As a result, it was found that most of the territory where high-level radioactive waste (HLRW) disposal is currently planned is in a relatively stable zone.
Bioremediation of Hydrocarbon-Polluted Soil: Evaluation of Different Operative Parameters
Authors: Castro Rodríguez David Javier , Gutiérrez Benítez Omar , Casals Pérez Enmanuel , Demichela Micaela , Godio Alberto , Chiampo Fulvia
Published: February 2022

The bioremediation of soils polluted with hydrocarbons demonstrated to be a simple and cheap technique, even if it needs a long time. The current paper shows the application of statistical analysis, based on two factors involved in the biological process at several levels. We focus on the Design of Experiments (DOE) to determine the number and kind of experimental runs, whereas the use of the categorical factors has not been widely exploited up to now. This method is especially useful to analyze factors with levels constituted by categories and define the interaction effects. Particularly, we focused on the statistical analysis of (1) experimental runs carried out at laboratory scale (test M, in microcosm), on soil polluted with diesel oil, and (2) bench scale runs (test B, in biopile), on refinery oil sludge mixed with industrial or agricultural biodegradable wastes. Finally, the main purpose was to identify the factor’s significance in both the tests and their potential interactions, by applying the analysis of variance (ANOVA). The results demonstrate the robustness of the statistical method and its quality, especially when at least one of the factors cannot be defined with a numerical value.
Polycrystalline Formamidinium Lead Bromide X-ray Detectors
Authors: Alghamdi Suad , Bennett Stephanie , Crean Carol , Ghosh Joydip , Gibbard Harry , Moss Robert , Reiss Justin , Wolfe Douglas , Sellin Paul
Published: February 2022

We have investigated the performance of formamidinium lead bromide (FAPbBr3) perovskite X-ray detectors fabricated from polycrystalline material that is pressed into a pellet at high pressures. FAPbBr3 has been shown to exhibit a remarkable combination of electrical and physical properties, such that mechanically-formed polycrystalline pellets exhibit good charge transport properties suitable for use as X-ray detectors. We characterise the morphology and structure of FAPbBr3 pellets using photoluminescence (PL), electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD), and demonstrate an improvement in the microstructure, density, and charge transport performance of the material as the pressure is increased from 12 MPa to 124 MPa. The use of annealing of the pellets after pressing also improves the stability and charge transport performance of the devices. Using a 40 kV X-ray beam, a maximum X-ray sensitivity of 169 µC Gy−1 cm−2 was measured, and the fast time response of the devices was demonstrated using a chopped X-ray beam.
On-the-Fly Repairing of Atomicity Violations in ARINC 653 Software
Authors: Choi Eu-teum , Kim Tae-hyung , Jun Yong-Kee , Lee Seongjin , Han Mingyun
Published: February 2022

Airborne health management systems prevent functional failure caused by errors or faults in airborne software. The on-the-fly repairing of atomicity violations in ARINC 653 concurrent software is critical for guaranteeing the correctness of software execution. This paper introduces RAV (Repairing Atomicity Violation), which efficiently treats atomicity violations. RAV diagnoses an error on the fly by utilizing the training results of software and treats to control access to the shared variable of the thread where the error has occurred. The evaluation of RAV measured the time overhead by applying methods found in previous works and RAV to five synthesis programs containing an atomicity violation.
Analysis and Optimal Design of a WPT Coupler for Underwater Vehicles Using Non-Dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm
Authors: Liang Bo , Mao Zhaoyong , Zhang Kehan , Liu Peizhou
Published: February 2022

When the wireless power transfer (WPT) system is installed on the autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV), there is a non-negligible eddy current loss around the coupler. The existence of the ferrite core causes the nonlinear distortion of the magnetic field, which makes the design of the WPT coupler more complicated and difficult. In this paper, the key parameters that affect the performance of the coupler were obtained through calculation and finite element analysis (FEA). Then, the coupler was parametrically modeled in Maxwell, and the Non-dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm (NSGA-II) was used to optimize its design, considering two objective functions: mutual inductance and equivalent coupler loss impedance (ECLI). Finally, twenty groups of Pareto optimal points were evaluated using the Technique for Ordering Preferences by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) method. Five groups of design points with different weights were screened out. The effectiveness of the optimization process was verified by comparing the optimization results with the initial results.
Calculation of the Insertion Loss of Barriers on Rigid Ground in the Time Domain
Authors: Gu Jun , Feng Xuelei , Shen Yong
Published: February 2022

This paper presents a method for calculating the insertion loss of barriers on the ground. The method combines the classic imaging method for an analysis of sound propagation with the secondary source model for diffraction by barriers in the time domain, which is different from other frequency-domain methods. The validity of the proposed method is verified by comparing the theoretical results with those derived from the MacDonald method, and a valid approximation for the infinite barrier is discussed.
Rough Set Based Classification and Feature Selection Using Improved Harmony Search for Peptide Analysis and Prediction of Anti-HIV-1 Activities
Authors: Mathiyazhagan Bagyamathi , Liyaskar Joseph , Azar Ahmad Taher , Inbarani Hannah H. , Javed Yasir , Kamal Nashwa Ahmad , Fouad Khaled M.
Published: February 2022

AIDS, which is caused by the most widespread HIV-1 virus, attacks the immune system of the human body, and despite the incredible endeavors for finding proficient medication strategies, the continuing spread of AIDS and claiming subsequent infections has not yet been decreased. Consequently, the discovery of innovative medicinal methodologies is highly in demand. Some available therapies, based on peptides, proclaim the treatment for several deadly diseases such as AIDS and cancer. Since many experimental types of research are restricted by the analysis period and expenses, computational methods overcome the issues effectually. In computational technique, the peptide residues with anti-HIV-1 activity are predicted by classification method, and the learning process of the classification is improved with significant features. Rough set-based algorithms are capable of dealing with the gaps and imperfections present in real-time data. In this work, feature selection using Rough Set Improved Harmony Search Quick Reduct and Rough Set Improved Harmony Search Relative Reduct with Rough Set Classification framework is implemented to classify Anti-HIV-1 peptides. The primary objective of the proposed methodology is to predict the peptides with an anti-HIV-1 activity using effective feature selection and classification algorithms incorporated in the proposed framework. The results of the proposed algorithms are comparatively studied with existing rough set feature selection algorithms and benchmark classifiers, and the reliability of the algorithms implemented in the proposed framework is measured by validity measures, such as Precision, Recall, F-measure, Kulczynski Index, and Fowlkes–Mallows Index. The final results show that the proposed framework analyzed and classified the peptides with a high predictive accuracy of 96%. In this study, we have investigated the ability of a rough set-based framework with sequence-based numeric features to classify anti-HIV-1 peptides, and the experimentation results show that the proposed framework discloses the most satisfactory solutions, where it rapidly congregates in the problem space and finds the best reduct, which improves the prediction accuracy of the given dataset.