bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Speculation on optimal numbers of examined lymph node for early-stage epithelial ovarian cancer from the perspective of stage migration
Authors: Li Yuan , Ding Jiashan , Zheng Huimin , Xu Lijiang , Li Weiru , Zhu Minshan , Zhang Xiaolu , Ma Cong , Zhang Fangying , Zhong Peiwen , Liang Dong , Han Yubin , Zhang Siyou , He Linsheng , Li Jiaqi
Published: September 2023

Introduction

In early-stage epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC), how to perform lymphadenectomy to avoid stage migration and achieve reliable targeted excision has not been explored in depth. This study comprehensively considered the stage migration and survival to determine appropriate numbers of examined lymph node (ELN) for early-stage EOC and high-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC).

Methods

From the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database, we obtained 10372 EOC cases with stage T1M0 and ELN ≥ 2, including 2849 HGSOC cases. Generalized linear models with multivariable adjustment were used to analyze associations between ELN numbers and lymph node stage migration, survival and positive lymph node (PLN). LOESS regression characterized dynamic trends of above associations followed by Chow test to determine structural breakpoints of ELN numbers. Survival curves were plotted using Kaplan-Meier method.

Results

More ELNs were associated with more node-positive diseases, more PLNs and better prognosis. ELN structural breakpoints were different in subgroups of early-stage EOC, which for node stage migration or PLN were more than those for improving outcomes. The meaning of ELN structural breakpoint varied with its location and the morphology of LOESS curve. To avoid stage migration, the optimal ELN for early-stage EOC was 29 and the minimal ELN for HGSOC was 24. For better survival, appropriate ELN number were 13 and 8 respectively. More ELNs explained better prognosis only at a certain range.

Discussion

Neither too many nor too few numbers of ELN were ideal for early-stage EOC and HGSOC. Excision with appropriate numbers of lymph node draining the affected ovary may be more reasonable than traditional sentinel lymph node resection and systematic lymphadenectomy.
Qualitative and quantitative evaluation of computed tomography changes in adults with cystic fibrosis treated with elexacaftor-tezacaftor-ivacaftor: a retrospective observational study
Authors: Dettmer Sabine , Weinheimer Oliver , Sauer-Heilborn Annette , Lammers Oliver , Wielpütz Mark O. , Fuge Jan , Welte Tobias , Wacker Frank , Ringshausen Felix C.
Published: September 2023

Introduction: The availability of highly effective triple cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) modulator combination therapy with elexacaftor–tezacaftor–ivacaftor (ETI) has improved pulmonary outcomes and quality of life of people with cystic fibrosis (pwCF). The aim of this study was to assess computed tomography (CT) changes under ETI visually with the Brody score and quantitatively with dedicated software, and to correlate CT measures with parameters of clinical response.

Methods: Twenty two adult pwCF with two consecutive CT scans before and after ETI treatment initiation were retrospectively included. CT was assessed visually employing the Brody score and quantitatively by YACTA, a well-evaluated scientific software computing airway dimensions and lung parenchyma with wall percentage (WP), wall thickness (WT), lumen area (LA), bronchiectasis index (BI), lung volume and mean lung density (MLD) as parameters. Changes in CT metrics were evaluated and the visual and quantitative parameters were correlated with each other and with clinical changes in sweat chloride concentration, spirometry [percent predicted of forced expiratory volume in one second (ppFEV1)] and body mass index (BMI).

Results: The mean (SD) Brody score improved with ETI [55 (12) vs. 38 (15); p < 0.001], incl. sub-scores for mucus plugging, peribronchial thickening, and parenchymal changes (all p < 0.001), but not for bronchiectasis (p = 0.281). Quantitatve WP (p < 0.001) and WT (p = 0.004) were reduced, conversely LA increased (p = 0.003), and BI improved (p = 0.012). Lung volume increased (p < 0.001), and MLD decreased (p < 0.001) through a reduction of ground glass opacity areas (p < 0.001). Changes of the Brody score correlated with those of quantitative parameters, exemplarily WT with the sub-score for mucus plugging (r = 0.730, p < 0.001) and peribronchial thickening (r = 0.552, p = 0.008). Changes of CT parameters correlated with those of clinical response parameters, in particular ppFEV1 with the Brody score (r = −0.606, p = 0.003) and with WT (r = −0.538, p = 0.010).

Discussion: Morphological treatment response to ETI can be assessed using the Brody score as well as quantitative CT parameters. Changes in CT correlated with clinical improvements. The quantitative analysis with YACTA proved to be an objective, reproducible and simple method for monitoring lung disease, particularly with regard to future interventional clinical trials.
Study of fast-ion-driven toroidal Alfvén eigenmodes impacting on the global confinement in TCV L-mode plasmas
Authors: Mazzi S. , Vallar M. , Kumar U. , Krutkin O. , Poley-Sanjuan J. , Simons L. , Ball J. , Brunner S. , Coda S. , Garcia J. , Iantchenko A. , Kazakov Ye. O. , Lin W. H. , Ongena J. , Rofman B. , Villard L. ,   the TCV team
Published: September 2023

Following recent observations of unstable Toroidal Alfvén Eigenmodes (TAEs) in a counter-current Neutral Beam Injection (NBI) scenario developed in TCV, an in-depth analysis of the impact of such modes on the global confinement and performance is carried out. The study shows experimental evidence of non-degradation of ion thermal confinement despite the increasing of auxiliary power. During such an improved confinement period, Toroidal Alfvén Eigenmodes (TAEs) driven by fast ions generated through Neutral Beam Injection (NBI) are found unstable. Together with the TAEs, various instabilities associated with the injection of the fast neutrals are observed by multiple diagnostics, and a first characterization is given. Nonlinear wave-wave couplings are also detected through multi-mode analysis, revealing a complex picture of the stability dynamics of the TCV scenario at hand. The measurements provided by a short-pulse reflectometer corroborate the identification and radial localization of the instabilities. A preliminary, but not conclusive, analysis of the impact of TAEs on the amplitude of the electron density fluctuations is carried out. Local flux-tube gyrokinetic simulations show that the dominant underlying instabilities in the absence of fast ions are Trapped Electron Modes (TEM), and that these modes are effectively suppressed by zonal flows. Attempts to simulate the simultaneous presence of fast-ion driven TAEs and TEM turbulence show that elongated streamers develop up to the full radial extent of the flux-tube domain, thereby invalidating the local assumption and indicating that a global approach is mandatory in these TCV plasmas.
Exploring the potential of halotolerant bacteria from coastal regions to mitigate salinity stress in wheat: physiological, molecular, and biochemical insights
Authors: Aizaz Muhammad , Lubna  , Ahmad Waqar , Khan Ibrahim , Asaf Sajjad , Bilal Saqib , Jan Rahmatullah , Asif Saleem , Waqas Muhammad , Khan Abdul Latif , Kim Kyung-Min , AL-Harrasi Ahmed
Published: September 2023

Salinity stress, a significant global abiotic stress, is caused by various factors such as irrigation with saline water, fertilizer overuse, and drought conditions, resulting in reduced agricultural production and sustainability. In this study, we investigated the use of halotolerant bacteria from coastal regions characterized by high salinity as a solution to address the major environmental challenge of salinity stress. To identify effective microbial strains, we isolated and characterized 81 halophilic bacteria from various sources, such as plants, rhizosphere, algae, lichen, sea sediments, and sea water. We screened these bacterial strains for their plant growth-promoting activities, such as indole acetic acid (IAA), phosphate solubilization, and siderophore production. Similarly, the evaluation of bacterial isolates through bioassay revealed that approximately 22% of the endophytic isolates and 14% of rhizospheric isolates exhibited a favorable influence on seed germination and seedling growth. Among the tested isolates, GREB3, GRRB3, and SPSB2 displayed a significant improvement in all growth parameters compared to the control. As a result, these three isolates were utilized to evaluate their efficacy in alleviating the negative impacts of salt stress (150 mM, 300 mM, and seawater (SW)) on the growth of wheat plants. The result showed that shoot length significantly increased in plants inoculated with bacterial isolates up to 15% (GREB3), 16% (GRRB3), and 24% (SPSB2), respectively, compared to the control. The SPSB2 strain was particularly effective in promoting plant growth and alleviating salt stress. All the isolates exhibited a more promotory effect on root length than shoot length. Under salt stress conditions, the GRRB3 strain significantly impacted root length, leading to a boost of up to 6%, 5%, and 3.8% at 150 mM, 300 mM, and seawater stress levels, respectively. The bacterial isolates also positively impacted the plant’s secondary metabolites and antioxidant enzymes. The study also identified the WDREB2 gene as highly upregulated under salt stress, whereas DREB6 was downregulated. These findings demonstrate the potential of beneficial microbes as a sustainable approach to mitigate salinity stress in agriculture.
Preparing Arabidopsis thaliana root protoplasts for cryo electron tomography
Authors: Sanchez Carrillo Ingrid Berenice , Hoffmann Patrick C. , Barff Teura , Beck Martin , Germain Hugo
Published: September 2023

The use of protoplasts in plant biology has become a convenient tool for the application of transient gene expression. This model system has allowed the study of plant responses to biotic and abiotic stresses, protein location and trafficking, cell wall dynamics, and single-cell transcriptomics, among others. Although well-established protocols for isolating protoplasts from different plant tissues are available, they have never been used for studying plant cells using cryo electron microscopy (cryo-EM) and cryo electron tomography (cryo-ET). Here we describe a workflow to prepare root protoplasts from Arabidopsis thaliana plants for cryo-ET. The process includes protoplast isolation and vitrification on EM grids, and cryo-focused ion beam milling (cryo-FIB), with the aim of tilt series acquisition. The whole workflow, from growing the plants to the acquisition of the tilt series, may take a few months. Our protocol provides a novel application to use plant protoplasts as a tool for cryo-ET.
Advice-seeking and advice-giving in Arabic computer-mediated communication in the medical context
Authors: Al-Mutairi Naif Barakah , Mahzari Mohammad
Published: September 2023

The current study aims to examine the discourse patterns and strategies of advice-seeking and advice-giving through Arabic computer-mediated communication (CMC) in the medical context. The contribution of this study lies in examining and analyzing the discourse patterns of CMC between patients and doctors in Arabic, how these patterns help doctors understand the advice sought and inquiries made by their patients, and how they help patients understand the comments made by their doctors on their inquiries. The data consist of 300 messages categorized into 150 advice-seeking (postings) and 150 advice-response (replies) messages. They were manually collected from a public medical website by copying and pasting them into an Excel spreadsheet for coding and statistical analyses. Two models were used to analyze the speech acts of advice. Morrow’s model was used for advice-seeking, while Hinkel’s taxonomy was used for advice responses, after some modifications were made to both models. The findings revealed that advice-seeking and advice-response messages had three parts: opening, middle, and closing. The study revealed that both patients and doctors used the opening and closing parts occasionally, unlike the middle part, which was used more often. For advice-seeking, describing the medical problem was the most frequent strategy used by patients when they asked for advice, followed by yes/no questions. These types of strategies were used in advice-seeking more frequently than others. Additionally, it was found that asking yes/no questions and describing the medical problem was the most frequent compound strategy used by patients seeking advice. However, for advice responses, the results revealed that giving clarification/information was the most frequent strategy used by doctors, followed by direct advice. When compared with other types, these two types were used frequently in the advice responses. The results also demonstrated that giving clarification/information and direct advice was the most frequent compound strategy used by doctors in advice responses.
Ice Cream: new virtual reality tool for the assessment of executive functions in children and adolescents: a normative study
Authors: Fernandez Manuel Antonio , Rebon-Ortiz Fidel , Saura-Carrasco Miguel , Climent Gema , Diaz-Orueta Unai
Published: September 2023

This study focuses on the obtention of normative data for participants between 8 and 16 years old who were administered the Ice Cream test, a virtual reality tool designed to evaluate executive functions. The normative sample comprised n = 821 participants (49% female), with an age range of 8 to 16 years old, recruited across nine different testing sites in Spain. Experienced evaluators in psychological assessment, recruited and trained by the developer of the test, administered the test to the recruited sample. An empirical analysis of Ice Cream identified three factors, namely planning, learning and flexibility. Descriptive normative groups by age and gender were initially provided. A homoscedasticity analysis by gender showed no statistically significant differences between male and female participants. Cluster analysis by age suggested the creation of different age groups, respectively, 8 to 11 and 12 to 16 in Planning and Flexibility, and 8 to 9 and 10 to 16 in Learning, and subsequently, descriptive data for the established age groups per factor are shown. A confirmatory factor analysis showed the suitability of the 3 factors established as measured of three differentiated executive functions. Complementary data on the validity and reliability, and internal consistency of the scales are provided. Obtained normative data are relevant for evaluating executive functions in children and adolescents in a more ecological way. Further studies are needed to determine sensitivity and specificity of Ice Cream VR test to measure executive functions in different clinical populations.
Modern homophobia among heterosexual Romanian adults: the roles of sexual orientation beliefs, religiosity, perceived social roles, and social media use
Authors: Lăzărescu Georgiana , Karner-Hutuleac Adina , Maftei Alexandra
Published: September 2023

The present study aimed to examine some potential predictors of homophobia against lesbians and gay individuals. Our sample comprised 722 heterosexual participants aged 18–74, mostly women (self-reported gender; 224 men and 498 women) with various educational backgrounds (i.e., High School, Bachelor’s, and Master’s degrees). Participants filled in self-reported scales measuring sexual orientation beliefs (incremental vs. entity views), religiosity, social media use, and perceived gender-transcendent social roles. Correlation analyses and multiple regression models were computed separately for men and women. For all participants, homophobia against lesbians (HAL) was negatively associated with participants’ age, religiosity, and gender-transcendent social roles and positively with incremental views about sexuality. However, only in the case of women was HAL positively related to social media use. Next, for both men and women, homophobia against gay individuals (HAG) was negatively related to age, religiosity, and gender-transcendent social roles. However, only in the case of women, HAG was positively related to social media use online and incremental views about sexuality. In the case of men, the most significant predictor of HAL was the perceived gender-transcendent social roles and HAG – perceived gender-linked social roles. For women, perceived gender-linked social roles were the most significant predictor of both HAL and HAG. Results are discussed regarding their use for interventions aimed at reducing homophobia among heterosexual individuals.
Psychometric properties of the Teachers’ Sense of Efficacy Scale in a sample of Chilean public school teachers
Authors: Gálvez-Nieto José Luis , Salvo-Garrido Sonia , Domínguez-Lara Sergio , Polanco-Levicán Karina , Mieres-Chacaltana Manuel
Published: September 2023

The Teachers’ Sense of Efficacy Scale (TSES) has demonstrated suitable levels of reliability and validity for its use on the teacher population in several countries, and it is the most used scale to assess teachers’ beliefs in their efficacy. However, few psychometric studies exist on its applicability to elementary teachers in public schools. This study analyzed the psychometric properties of the TSES in teachers who work in elementary education. The sample comprised 1,406 Chilean teachers, mainly women (77.2%), from various Chilean public and subsidized schools. The results obtained from three confirmatory factor analyses demonstrated that the model that best fit the data was bifactor exploratory structural equation modeling (B-ESEM) for 24 items, one general factor, and three residual factors. The results of the factorial invariance analysis indicate that the TSES remains stable up to the strict level of invariance for the variable sex. These results imply that the TSES can be used on Chilean teachers. The results are discussed based on the theoretical and empirical evidence available.
Approaching “highly sensitive person” as a cultural concept of distress: a case-study using the cultural formulation interview in patients with bipolar disorder
Authors: Ioannou Michael , Olsson Sofia , Bakken Wold Ane , Dellepiane Marzia , Steingrímsson Steinn
Published: September 2023

Background

Psychiatric patients may refer to concepts neither medically accepted nor easily understood to describe their experiences when seeking medical care. These concepts may lie outside the clinician’s cultural references and consequently hinder the diagnostic consultation. In the fifth version of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), the clinical instrument Cultural Formulation Interview (CFI) was included. The CFI aims to facilitate the gathering and synthesis of culturally relevant clinical information. The notion of Cultural Concepts of Distress (CCD) was also introduced in DSM-5. The CCD include the subterms of the cultural syndrome, cultural explanation, and cultural idiom of distress. No previous study has used CFI for conceptualizing a cultural notion as a CCD. This study aimed to approach the cultural notion of being a highly sensitive person (HSP) in patients with bipolar disorder (BD) by applying the CFI. The cultural notion of HSP has garnered great interest globally, although scientific evidence is limited. No direct correlation between BD and HSP was hypothesized before or during the study process.

Methods

In this case study, three patients with BD who reported being HSP were interviewed using the CFI. Furthermore, the applicability of the CCD was examined based on the outcomes of the CFI using an interpretive approach.

Results

All three patients reported that the CFI facilitated the clinical consultation, and in one of the cases, it may also have increased the treatment engagement. Based on the synthesis of the CFI outcomes in these illustrative cases, HSP could be understood as a cultural syndrome, a cultural explanation, and a cultural idiom of distress.

Conclusion

By applying a person-centered perspective, CFI was used for the conceptualization of a cultural notion as a CCD (i.e., HSP in our study). Moreover, the cases highlight the complexity of illness insight in BD as a medical phenomenon when patients’ illness perspectives are taken into consideration. Future studies need to further examine the clinical relevance of the CFI in the management of BD.
Validation of the illustrated questionnaire on food consumption for Brazilian schoolchildren (QUACEB) for 6- to 10-year-old children
Authors: Oliveira Giovanna Angela Leonel , Barrio Daniela Oliveira Llorente , Araújo Giovanna Soutinho , Saldanha Marina Pimentel , Schincaglia Raquel Machado , Gubert Muriel Bauermann , Toral Natacha
Published: September 2023

Introduction

Evaluating the food consumption of school-aged children is crucial to monitor their dietary habits, promote targeted interventions, and contribute public policies that aimed healthy eating. In this context, our objective was to develop and validate the Illustrated Questionnaire on Food Consumption for Brazilian Schoolchildren (QUACEB) of 6 to 10 years old, which is a self-reported illustrated recall.

Methods

Validity was obtained in four stages as follows: selection of foods, validation of items, validation of illustrations, and pretest. Foods were selected by considering the data from the main surveys that have been conducted with the Brazilian population and schoolchildren in recent years, the degree of food processing, and the main foods from each of the country's five macroregions. The content of the items was validated by comparing the children's and their parent's responses. For this, the questionnaire was published in an online format, and 6- to 10-year-old elementary schoolchildren were recruited using the snowball technique. The first part of the questionnaire was answered by the parent after the child's lunch, and the second was completed by the child the following day. Thirty-two parent and child dyads participated. Sensitivity, specificity, area under the curve (AUC), and kappa (k) tests were performed.

Results

Of the 30 foods presented on the questionnaire, 15 were reported as consumed. High sensitivity (mean of 88.5%), high specificity (average of 92.0%), substantial agreement (k = 0.78), low disagreement (6.2%), and AUC of 0.90 were found. The illustrations were validated in a focus group with fourth-grade children from a school chosen for convenience. The food illustrations were designed for children, who were asked to name the food. Eighteen children participated and verified that the images were representative of the foods. In the pretest, three schools were chosen for convenience that announced the link to the online questionnaire in WhatsApp groups of parents with students from first to fifth grade. Fifteen children answered the questionnaire and 86.7% (n = 13) judged it excellent or good.

Conclusion

Thus, the food consumption questionnaire is valid for elementary schoolchildren of 6 to 10 years old and can be applied in research to assess the dietary patterns of children in Brazil.
Multi-wavelength observations and modeling of a microflare: constraining non-thermal particle acceleration
Authors: Polito Vanessa , Peterson Marianne , Glesener Lindsay , Testa Paola , Yu Sijie , Reeves Katharine K. , Sun Xudong , Duncan Jessie
Published: September 2023

In this work we analyze a small B-class flare that occurred on 29 April 2021 and was observed simultaneously by the Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph (IRIS) and the Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array (NuSTAR) X-ray instrument. The IRIS observations of the ribbon of the flare show peculiar spectral characteristics that are typical signatures of energy deposition by non-thermal electrons in the lower atmosphere. The presence of the non-thermal particles is also confirmed directly by fitting the NuSTAR spectral observations. We show that, by combining IRIS and NuSTAR multi-wavelength observations from the corona to the lower atmosphere with hydrodynamic simulations using the RADYN code, we can provide strict constraints on electron-beam heated flare models. This work presents the first NuSTAR, IRIS and RADYN joint analysis of a non-thermal microflare, and presents a self-consistent picture of the flare-accelerated electrons in the corona and the chromospheric response to those electrons.
Development of a liver graft assessment expert machine-learning system: when the artificial intelligence helps liver transplant surgeons
Authors: Pontes Balanza Beatriz , Castillo Tuñón Juan M. , Mateos García Daniel , Padillo Ruiz Javier , Riquelme Santos José C. , Álamo Martinez José M. , Bernal Bellido Carmen , Suarez Artacho Gonzalo , Cepeda Franco Carmen , Gómez Bravo Miguel A. , Marín Gómez Luis M.
Published: September 2023

Background

The complex process of liver graft assessment is one point for improvement in liver transplantation. The main objective of this study is to develop a tool that supports the surgeon who is responsible for liver donation in the decision-making process whether to accept a graft or not using the initial variables available to it.

Material and method

Liver graft samples candidate for liver transplantation after donor brain death were studied. All of them were evaluated “in situ” for transplantation, and those discarded after the “in situ” evaluation were considered as no transplantable liver grafts, while those grafts transplanted after “in situ” evaluation were considered as transplantable liver grafts. First, a single-center, retrospective and cohort study identifying the risk factors associated with the no transplantable group was performed. Then, a prediction model decision support system based on machine learning, and using a tree ensemble boosting classifier that is capable of helping to decide whether to accept or decline a donor liver graft, was developed.

Results

A total of 350 liver grafts that were evaluated for liver transplantation were studied. Steatosis was the most frequent reason for classifying grafts as no transplantable, and the main risk factors identified in the univariant study were age, dyslipidemia, personal medical history, personal surgical history, bilirubinemia, and the result of previous liver ultrasound (p < 0.05). When studying the developed model, we observe that the best performance reordering in terms of accuracy corresponds to 76.29% with an area under the curve of 0.79. Furthermore, the model provides a classification together with a confidence index of reliability, for most cases in our data, with the probability of success in the prediction being above 0.85.

Conclusion

The tool presented in this study obtains a high accuracy in predicting whether a liver graft will be transplanted or deemed non-transplantable based on the initial variables assigned to it. The inherent capacity for improvement in the system causes the rate of correct predictions to increase as new data are entered. Therefore, we believe it is a tool that can help optimize the graft pool for liver transplantation.
Trend Analysis of Civil Aviation Incidents Based on Causal Inference and Statistical Inference
Authors: He Peng , Sun Ruishan
Published: September 2023

The efficient management of aviation safety requires the precise analysis of trends in incidents. While classical statistical models often rely on the autocorrelation of indicator sequences for trend fitting, significant room remains for performance improvement. To enhance the accuracy and interpretability of trend analyses for aviation incidents, we propose the Causal-ARIMA model, which is grounded in causal inference theory, and we employ four distinct modeling strategies to fit the trend of incidents in China’s civil aviation sector between 1994 and 2020. The objective is to validate the performance of the Causal-ARIMA model and identify optimal trend analysis strategies. The four modeling strategies account for causation factors, stationarity, and causality with operational volume, incorporating models like AR, ARMA, ARIMA, and Causal-ARIMA. Our findings reveal that ensemble techniques incorporating the Causal-ARIMA model (Strategy 2 and 3) outperform classical trend analysis methods (Strategy 1) in terms of model fit. Specifically, the causality-based binary fitting technique (Strategy 3) achieves the most uniformly dispersed fitting performance. When the premises for using the Causal-ARIMA model are relaxed, applying it to variables without Granger causal relationships results in uneven model performance (Strategy 4). According to our study, the Causal-ARIMA model can serve as a potent tool for the analysis of trends in the domain of aviation safety. Modeling strategies based on the Causal-ARIMA model provide valuable insights for aviation safety management.
A High-Confidence Intelligent Measurement Method for Aero-Engine Oil Debris Based on Improved Variational Mode Decomposition Denoising
Authors: Liu Tong , Sheng Hanlin , Jin Zhaosheng , Ding Li , Chen Qian , Huang Rui , Liu Shengyi , Li Jiacheng , Yin Bingxiong
Published: September 2023

This paper presents an effective method for measuring oil debris with high confidence to ensure the wear monitoring of aero-engines, which suffers from severe noise interference, weak signal characteristics, and false detection. First, an improved variational mode decomposition algorithm is proposed, which combines wavelet transform and interval threshold processing to suppress the complex noise interference on the signal. Then, a long-short-term memory neural network with deep scattering spectrum preprocessing is used to identify the signal characteristics under the multi-resolution analysis framework. The optimal hyperparameters are automatically configured using Bayesian optimization to solve the problem of weak, distorted, and hard-to-extract signal characteristics. Finally, a detection algorithm based on multi-window fusion judgment is applied to improve the confidence of the detection process, reduce the false detection and false alarm rate, and calculate the debris size information according to the sensor principle. The experimental results show that the proposed method can extract debris signals from noise with a signal-to-noise ratio improvement of more than 9 dB, achieve a high recognition accuracy of 99.76% with a missed detection rate of 0.24%, and output size information of debris to meet the need for aero-engine oil debris measurement.
The Impact of Rural Industrial Integration on Agricultural Green Productivity Based on the Contract Choice Perspective of Farmers
Authors: Zhang Han , Wu Dongli
Published: September 2023

Promoting farmers’ participation in rural industrial integration and driving farmers’ agricultural production with cooperatives and agribusinesses are conducive to realizing cost saving, efficiency, and green production and guaranteeing food security and sustainable agricultural development. Based on the microsurvey data of 1039 grain farmers in Henan Province, China in 2022, this paper examined the impact of contractual choices of farmers’ participation in rural industrial integration on agricultural green productivity while analyzing the mechanism of action by using OLS regression, a causal mediation analysis of instrumental variables, propensity score matching, and two-stage least squares (2SLS). The study found that: (1) farmers’ participation in a contract, driven by cooperatives or agribusinesses to carry out agricultural production, is conducive to improving their agricultural green productivity, but the effect of each main body to drive farmers varies; (2) farmers’ participation in a contract, through cooperatives or agribusinesses to obtain all kinds of agricultural production services—such as agricultural machinery services, agricultural supply services, and technical guidance services—improves the use of agricultural machinery, the standardization of chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and other agricultural materials’ use, increases technical guidance, and improves agricultural green productivity. The findings of this paper suggest policy and practical implications for safeguarding food security and promoting sustainable agriculture, as well as enriching research on agricultural productivity.
The Impact of Salinity on Growth, Physio-Biochemical Characteristics, and Quality of Urospermum picroides and Reichardia picroides Plants in Varied Cultivation Regimes
Authors: Vidalis Nikolina , Kourkouvela Maria , Argyris Dimitrios-Christos , Liakopoulos Georgios , Alexopoulos Alexios , Petropoulos Spyridon A. , Karapanos Ioannis
Published: September 2023

Salinity stress is severely affecting modern horticulture and puts food security under threat for current and future generations. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of saline conditions (three salinity levels: 2.0, 5.0 and 10.0 dS m−1) on the growth, physiological processes and quality of two wild edible species (Urospermum picroides and Reichardia picroides) grown under three different cropping systems (pots indoors (GP) and outdoors (FP); and floating hydroponics (FH)). Our results indicate that high salinity affected growth parameters in all the studied cropping systems in the case of U. picroides, whereas R. picroides was not affected only when grown in pots outdoors. Moreover, total soluble solids content and titratable acidity in both species were not affected by high salinity for any of the cropping systems, except for in the case of FP system. Similarly, carotenoids content decreased under high salinity when both species were grown in the FP system. A varied effect was recorded for total phenolic compounds content in response to salinity levels, although the FP system resulted in considerably higher phenolics accumulation in both species, while proline content increased when plants were subjected to high salinity, regardless of the cropping system. The antioxidant activity also varied among the studied treatments for both assays (TEAC and FRAP), although cultivation outdoors in pots resulted in considerably higher values compared to the other systems. Finally, nitrate content showed decreasing trends with increasing salinity in plants grown in the GP (both species) and FP system (only U. picroides), whereas no significant differences in physiological parameters in comparison to the control treatment were recorded, except for the stomatal conductance (FP and GP system) and transpiration rate (FP) of R. picroides plants. In conclusion, it seems that the tested plant species responded differently to the salinity treatments but they both displayed a lack of severe stress even at high salinity.
A Global Forecasting Approach to Large-Scale Crop Production Prediction with Time Series Transformers
Authors: Ibañez Sebastian C. , Monterola Christopher P.
Published: September 2023

Accurate prediction of crop production is essential in effectively managing the food security and economic resilience of agricultural countries. This study evaluates the performance of statistical and machine learning-based methods for large-scale crop production forecasting. We predict the quarterly production of 325 crops (including fruits, vegetables, cereals, non-food, and industrial crops) across 83 provinces in the Philippines. Using a comprehensive dataset of 10,949 time series over 13 years, we demonstrate that a global forecasting approach using a state-of-the-art deep learning architecture, the transformer, significantly outperforms popular tree-based machine learning techniques and traditional local forecasting approaches built on statistical and baseline methods. Our results show a significant 84.93%, 80.69%, and 79.54% improvement in normalized root mean squared error (NRMSE), normalized deviation (ND), and modified symmetric mean absolute percentage error (msMAPE), respectively, over the next-best methods. By leveraging cross-series information, our proposed method is scalable and works well even with time series that are short, sparse, intermittent, or exhibit structural breaks/regime shifts. The results of this study further advance the field of applied forecasting in agricultural production and provide a practical and effective decision-support tool for policymakers that oversee crop production and the agriculture sector on a national scale.
The Influence of Short-Term Tillage, Compost, and Beneficial Microbes on Soil Properties and the Productivity of Wheat and Cowpea Crops
Authors: Amer Megahed M. , Elbagory Mohssen , Aiad Mahmoud , Omara Alaa El-Dein
Published: September 2023

Tillage systems comprise physical, chemical, and biological modification processes that influence soil properties. Soil cultivation aims to create favorable conditions for the development and growth of crops, as evident in their yields. Three growing seasons (winter 2019/2020 (wheat), summer 2020 (cowpea), and winter 2020/2021 (wheat)) were studied in field experiments in Sidi Salem, Kafr El-Sheikh, Egypt, to investigate the effects of soil tillage and the application of organic and beneficial microbes on various biological, chemical, and physical properties of soil and its productivity. Three replicates of the experimental treatments were set up in a split-plot design, in which there were four main plots: conventional soil tillage (ST) treatment for all three seasons (ST1); tillage in the first and second seasons (ST2); tillage only in the first season (ST3); and no tillage for all three seasons (ST4). However, the subplots (soil additives) were conditioned as follows: without treatment (control, T1); compost (C, T2); beneficial microorganisms (BM, T3); and combination (C + BM, T4). The biological property results showed that ST4T4 treatment produced high levels of microbial communities (bacteria, fungi, and actinomycetes), as well as high levels of soil enzyme activity (dehydrogenase, urease, and phosphatase), during the three growing seasons. However, the second season produced high numbers and dry weights of cowpea plants’ nodules. Additionally, changes in the chemical and physical properties showed that the application of various soil tillage treatments during the examined seasons led to significant increases in electrical conductivity (ECe, dSm−1), bulk density (BD, kg m−3), and soil infiltration rate (IR, cm h−1), following the trend of ST4 > ST3 > ST2 > ST1. In contrast, the results revealed decreases in the exchangeable sodium percentage (ESP, %), porosity (PO, %), soil aggregates (stable aggregates and optimal-sized aggregates, %), and soil penetration resistance (SPRa, Mpa). The combination treatment (ST4T4) provided the best yields, with grain yields of 4.991 and 5.325 tons ha−1 and straw yields of 5.214 and 5.338 tons ha−1 in the first and third seasons (wheat), respectively. Cowpea plants showed the same pattern in the second season. Therefore, improvements in soil properties and enhancements in biological activity help maintain its productivity and fertility through simplified tillage processes that reduce interference with the soil surface layer.
Quantitative Evaluation of the Crop Yield, Soil-Available Phosphorus, and Total Phosphorus Leaching Caused by Phosphorus Fertilization: A Meta-Analysis
Authors: Jin Yuwen , Zhang Naiyu , Chen Yanhua , Wang Qiong , Qin Zhenhan , Sun Zhimei , Zhang Shuxiang
Published: September 2023

Phosphorus (P) leaching from excessive P application is the primary pathway of P losses in agricultural soils. Different P fertilizer practices have mixed effects on P leaching. We conducted a meta-analysis of the relevant literature regarding the response of crop yields, soil-available P (AP), and total P (TP) leaching to reduced P input (RP) and an inorganic-organic combination fertilizer (NPKM) for different agricultural land-use types. Compared to conventional P application (CP), RP (10~90% reduction) did not reduce crop yields in vegetable fields (experiments were 1~4 years) but significantly reduced cereal yields by 4.57%. Compared to chemical fertilizer (NPK), NPKM significantly increased cereal yields by 12.73%. Compared to CP, RP significantly reduced AP at 0~60 cm in vegetable and cereal fields. The greatest reduction occurred at 20~40 cm in vegetable fields (40.29%) and 0~20 cm in cereal fields (34.45%). Compared to NPK, NPKM significantly increased the AP at 0~60 cm in vegetable fields, with the greatest increase (52.44%) at 20~40 cm. The AP at 0~40 cm in cereal fields significantly increased under the NPKM treatment, with the greatest increase at 0~20 cm (76.72%). Compared to CP, RP significantly decreased TP leaching by 16.02% and 31.50% in vegetable and cereal fields, respectively. Compared to NPK, NPKM significantly increased TP leaching in vegetable fields (30.43%); no significant difference in leaching occurred in cereal fields. P leaching, in response to RP, was influenced by the P amounts applied (34.49%); soil organic matter (14.49%); and TP (12.12%). P leaching in response to NPKM was influenced by multiple factors: rainfall (16.05%); soil organic matter (12.37%); soil bulk density (12.07%); TP (11.65%); pH (11.41%). NPKM was more beneficial for improving yields in cereal fields with low soil fertility and lower P-leaching risks.
A Biocontrol Strain of Serratia plymuthica MM Promotes Growth and Controls Fusarium Wilt in Watermelon
Authors: Li Zhaoyu , Ma Jinxiu , Li Jiajia , Chen Yinglong , Xie Zhihong , Tian Yongqiang , Su Xu , Tian Tian , Shen Tong
Published: September 2023

Fusarium wilt, caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. niveum (FON), is a predominant and devastating soil-borne disease that results in significant yield losses in watermelon cultivation. In this study, a strain MM isolated from the herbage rhizosphere soil, exhibited an inhibition rate of 65.46% against FON, leading to mycelial collapse, atrophy, and deformation. In pot experiments, strain MM effectively controlled Fusarium wilt of watermelon, showing a control efficacy of 74.07%. Through morphological observation and 16S rDNA gene sequencing, strain MM was identified as Serratia plymuthica. Additionally, S. plymuthica MM demonstrated antagonistic activity against eight plant pathogens, indicating that MM had broad-spectrum antifungal activity. The strain also exhibited the ability to synthesize siderophores and indole acetic acid (IAA), both of which are growth-promoting compounds. Moreover, strain MM secreted various extracellular enzymes, including protease, chitinase, β-glucanase, and cellulase. This ability allowed S. plymuthica MM to readily colonize watermelon roots and promote seedling growth. Inoculation with S. plymuthica MM increased the activity of PAL, POD, PPO, and CAT enzymes associated with watermelon defense. Furthermore, qRT-PCR analysis revealed up-regulation of LOX, POD, PAL, ClPR3, and C4H genes, which are related to plant disease resistance. The results indicated that S. plymuthica MM enhances watermelon plants’ resistance to FON by activating the JA, SA, and shikimic acid phenylpropanoid–lignin synthesis pathways. Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis of S. plymuthica MM culture supernatant identified piperazinedione, pyrrolo[1,2-a]pyrazine-1,4-dione, and octadecenamide as the main antimicrobial substances. Overall, S. plymuthica MM shows promise as a biocontrol agent against Fusarium wilt of watermelon, suggesting its potential for the development of a new biocontrol agent.
Effects of Pre-Treatments on Seed Dormancy and Germination of Endemic Muscari bourgaei Baker
Authors: Kırmızı Serap
Published: September 2023

M. bourgaei Baker is an endemic plant that grows in Türkiye. It has the potential to be an ornamental plant, so it is important to know its germination characteristics and seed morphological characteristics. We evaluated the effects of moist chilling (3 to 12 months) and application of gibberellic acid (GA3) (250 to 1000 mg/L−1) on seed germination under two different light regimes (light phase and dark phase) and four temperature regimes (20, 20/10, 25/15, and 15/10 °C). Seeds were collected from the subalpine belt of Mount Uludağ at an altitude between 2200 and 2300 m. M. bourgaei seeds were dormant and reached the highest germination percentage after 12 months of moist chilling. GA3 applications only have a limited effect on the breaking of dormancy in most cases. Maximum germination of 28 percent was obtained by the GA3 application of 1000 mg/L under dark phase with incubation at 15/10 °C. Scarification with sulfuric acid did not result in any germination. Seed germination of above 80 percent was obtained after 6 months of moist chilling and above 90 percent after 9 and 12 months of moist chilling. Intermediate physiological dormancy was determined as the type of dormancy. Our findings on seed germination and dormancy characteristics of M. bourgaei, which is an endemic alpine meadow plant, will contribute to the protection and development of the germplasm of this species.
Nitrate Absorption and Desorption by Biochar
Authors: He Zijian , Wang Chao , Cao Hongxia , Liang Jiaping , Pei Shuyao , Li Zhijun
Published: September 2023

Biochar is a potential solution for addressing environmental problems related to excessive nitrogen (N). However, there is still some debate about the absorption and desorption of nitrate nitrogen (NO3−-N). Therefore, this study investigated the NO3−-N adsorption and desorption performance onto biochar and biochar-soil mixture to address this gap. The results showed that the biochar produced from apple branches had the ability to absorb NO3−-N with an absorption capacity of 3.51 mg·g−1. The absorption data fitted well with the pseudo-second-order kinetic model and Langmuir model. The application of biochar significantly improved soil absorption capacity and slow release of NO3−-N. While higher NO3−-N concentrations had better NO3−-N supply capacity and poorer slow-release effect. Integrating nutrient supply and slow-release effect, it is recommended to control the application ratio of biochar to NO3−-N at 34–42.75 g·g−1. Although the unoptimized biochar application rate cannot be directly applied to the soil as a slow-release fertilizer carrier to meet commercial standards, biochar modification provides new possibilities for this purpose. Moreover, compared with traditional slow-release fertilizer, biochar had good stability and regeneration performance, alleviating the high cost due to the biochar price. In general, biochar still has potential and prospects as a slow-release material. This study provides support for biochar in mitigating environmental problems associated with excess N.
Can Yield Prediction Be Fully Digitilized? A Systematic Review
Authors: Darra Nicoleta , Anastasiou Evangelos , Kriezi Olga , Lazarou Erato , Kalivas Dionissios , Fountas Spyros
Published: September 2023

Going beyond previous work, this paper presents a systematic literature review that explores the deployment of satellites, drones, and ground-based sensors for yield prediction in agriculture. It covers multiple aspects of the topic, including crop types, key sensor platforms, data analysis techniques, and performance in estimating yield. To this end, datasets from Scopus and Web of Science were analyzed, resulting in the full review of 269 out of 1429 retrieved publications. Our study revealed that China (93 articles, >1800 citations) and the USA (58 articles, >1600 citations) are prominent contributors in this field; while satellites were the primary remote sensing platform (62%), followed by airborne (30%) and proximal sensors (27%). Additionally, statistical methods were used in 157 articles, and model-based approaches were utilized in 60 articles, while machine learning and deep learning were employed in 142 articles and 62 articles, respectively. When comparing methods, machine learning and deep learning methods exhibited high accuracy in crop yield prediction, while other techniques also demonstrated success, contingent on the specific crop platform and method employed. The findings of this study serve as a comprehensive roadmap for researchers and farmers, enabling them to make data-driven decisions and optimize agricultural practices, paving the way towards a fully digitized yield prediction.