bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Evidence-based interventions to reduce maternal malnutrition in low and middle-income countries: a systematic review
Authors: Shenoy Shivani , Sharma Priyanka , Rao Aishwarya , Aparna Nusrat , Adenikinju Deborah , Iloegbu Chukwuemeka , Pateña John , Vieira Dorice , Gyamfi Joyce , Peprah Emmanuel
Published: October 2023

Introduction

Despite remarkable strides in global efforts to reduce maternal mortality, low-and middle-income countries (LMICs) continue to grapple with a disproportionate burden of maternal mortality, with malnutrition emerging as a significant contributing factor to this enduring challenge. Shockingly, malnourished women face a mortality risk that is twice as high as their well-nourished counterparts, and a staggering 95% of maternal deaths in 2020 occurred within LMICs. The critical importance of addressing maternal malnutrition in resource-constrained settings cannot be overstated, as compelling research studies have demonstrated that such efforts could potentially save thousands of lives. However, the landscape is marred by a scarcity of evidence-based interventions (EBIs) specifically tailored for pregnant individuals aimed at combatting maternal malnutrition and reducing mortality rates. It is against this backdrop that our study endeavors to dissect the feasibility, adoption, sustainability, and cost-effectiveness of EBIs designed to combat maternal malnutrition.

Methods

Our comprehensive search encompassed eight prominent databases covering the period from 2003 to 2022 in LMICs. We began our study with a comprehensive search across multiple databases, yielding a total of 149 studies. From this initial pool, we eliminated duplicate entries and the remaining studies underwent a thorough screening process resulting in the identification of 63 full-text articles that aligned with our predefined inclusion criteria.

Results

The meticulous full-text review left us with a core selection of six articles that shed light on interventions primarily centered around supplementation. They underscored a critical issue -the limited understanding of effective implementation in these countries, primarily attributed to inadequate monitoring and evaluation of interventions and insufficient training of healthcare professionals. Moreover, our findings emphasize the pivotal role of contextual factors, such as cultural nuances, public trust in healthcare, the prevalence of misinformation, and concerns regarding potential adverse effects of interventions, which profoundly influence the successful implementation of these programs.

Discussion

While the EBIs have shown promise in reducing maternal malnutrition, their true potential for feasibility, adoption, cost-effectiveness, and sustainability hinges on their integration into comprehensive programs addressing broader issues like food insecurity and the prevention of both communicable and non-communicable diseases.
Review of Sonic Boom Prediction and Reduction Methods for Next Generation of Supersonic Aircraft
Authors: Bonavolontà Giordana , Lawson Craig , Riaz Atif
Published: October 2023

The reduction of sonic boom levels is the main challenge but also the key factor to start a new era of supersonic commercial flights. Since 1970, a FAA regulation has banned supersonic flights overland for unacceptable sonic booms at the ground, and many research studies have been carried out from that date to understand sonic boom generation, propagation and effects, both on the environment and communities. Minimization techniques have also been developed with the attempt to reduce sonic boom annoyance to acceptable levels. In the last 20 years, the advances in both knowledge and technologies, and companies and institutions’ significant investments have again raised the interest in the development of new methods and tools for the design of low boom supersonic aircraft. The exploration of unconventional configurations and exotic solutions and systems seems to be needed to effectively reduce sonic boom and allow supersonic flight everywhere. This review provides a description of all aspects of the sonic boom phenomenon related to the design of the next generation of supersonic aircraft. In particular, a critical review of the prediction and minimization methods found in the literature, aimed at identifying their strengths, limitations and gaps, is made, along with a complete overview of disruptive unconventional aircraft configurations and exotic active/passive solutions to boom level reduction. The aim of the work is to give a clear statement of state-of-the-art sonic boom prediction methods and possible reduction solutions to be explored for the design of next low-boom supersonic aircraft.
A New Remote Sensing Service Mode for Agricultural Production and Management Based on Satellite–Air–Ground Spatiotemporal Monitoring
Authors: Li Wenjie , Dong Wen , Zhang Xin , Zhang Jinzhong
Published: October 2023

Remote sensing, the Internet, the Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence, and other technologies have become the core elements of modern agriculture and smart farming. Agricultural production and management modes guided by data and services have become a cutting-edge carrier of agricultural information monitoring, which promotes the transformation of the intelligent computing of remote sensing big data and agricultural intensive management from theory to practical applications. In this paper, the main research objective is to construct a new high-frequency agricultural production monitoring and intensive sharing service and management mode, based on the three dimensions of space, time, and attributes, that includes crop recognition, growth monitoring, yield estimation, crop disease or pest monitoring, variable-rate prescription, agricultural machinery operation, and other automatic agricultural intelligent computing applications. The platforms supported by this mode include a data management and agricultural information production subsystem, an agricultural monitoring and macro-management subsystem (province and county scales), and two mobile terminal applications (APPs). Taking Shandong as the study area of the application case, the technical framework of the system and its mobile terminals were systematically elaborated at the province and county levels, which represented macro-management and precise control of agricultural production, respectively. The automatic intelligent computing mode of satellite–air–ground spatiotemporal collaboration that we proposed fully couples data obtained from satellites, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), and IoT technologies, which can provide the accurate and timely monitoring of agricultural conditions and real-time guidance for agricultural machinery scheduling throughout the entire process of agricultural cultivation, planting, management, and harvest; the area accuracy of all obtained agricultural information products is above 90%. This paper demonstrates the necessity of customizable product and service research in agricultural intelligent computing, and the proposed practical mode can provide support for governments to participate in agricultural macro-management and decision making, which is of great significance for smart farming development and food security.
Safety Analysis of Fastening Device of Agricultural By-Product Collector in Various Ground Conditions
Authors: Kim Jeong-Hun , Sri Markumningsih , Hwang Seok-Joon , Jang Moon-Kyeong , Kim Seung-Jun , Yang Yun-Jeong , Nam Ju-Seok
Published: October 2023

In this study, to evaluate the safety of the fastening device, which is a vulnerable part of the agricultural by-product collector, the stress in fastening devices was measured, and the operational and driving safety were analyzed by deriving the static safety factor and fatigue life. The position with the maximum stress in fastening devices was identified through structural analysis simulation, and a stress measurement system was constructed using strain gauges. Test conditions for stress measurement were classified into three operating conditions (collection operation, driving with the loading part lifted to the highest point, and driving with the loading part lifted to the lowest point) and three soil conditions (even pavement, sloped pavement, and farmland). A process for deriving the fatigue life based on the measured stress was constructed by applying the rain-flow counting method, Goodman equation, and Palmgren–Miner’s rule via commercial software. From the stress measurement results, the collection operation exhibited the highest maximum stress, followed by driving with the loading part lifted to the highest point and driving with the loading part lifted to the lowest point. Under all conditions, the static safety factor of the fastening devices was found to be higher than 1.0 (1.16–1.33). The fatigue life of the fastening devices was also found to be longer than the service life of Korean agricultural machinery under all operating conditions. Therefore, the fastening devices are expected to operate safely under generated static and dynamic loads. The agricultural by-product collector can perform agricultural work and drive stably and is expected to contribute to reducing unnecessary labor force for Korean farms.
Comparative Study of the Priming Effect of Abscisic Acid on Tolerance to Saline and Alkaline Stresses in Rice Seedlings
Authors: Feng Zhonghui , Lu Guanru , Sun Miao , Jin Yangyang , Xu Yang , Liu Xiaolong , Wang Mingming , Liu Miao , Yang Haoyu , Guan Yi , Yu Tianhe , Hu Jiafeng , Xie Zhiming , Li Weiqiang , Liang Zhengwei
Published: October 2023

The plant hormone abscisic acid (ABA) regulates the plant response to environmental stress; therefore, ABA priming is an effective strategy for enhancing stress tolerance in rice. In this study, we investigated the priming effects of 1 and 5 µM ABA on the biochemical and physiological traits associated with seedling growth performance in two rice cultivars exposed to saline (100 mM NaCl) and alkaline (15 mM Na2CO3) stress via root drenching. ABA pretreatment effectively reduced damage in rice seedlings by mitigating the increases in Na+/K+ ratio, membrane injury, contents of Na+, malondialdehyde, hydrogen peroxide, and superoxide anion radical, and prevented reductions in K+ and total chlorophyll contents, and ROS-related enzyme activities in both cultivars under saline and alkaline stresses. Rice seedlings with ABA pretreatment under alkaline stress had a stronger ability to maintain ion homeostasis, eliminate ROS, and induce changes in endogenous ABA levels via the upregulation of OsHKT1;5, OsSOS1, OsNHX5, OsPOX1, OsCATA, OsNCED3, OsSalT, and OsWsi18 and downregulation of OsRbohA than under saline stress. The saline–alkaline (SA)-sensitive cultivar demonstrated greater sensitivity to the priming effect of ABA than that of the SA-tolerant cultivar under both stress conditions. These findings have implications for rice adaptation to SA soils.
Genome-Wide Characterization of MADS-box Genes Identifies Candidates Associated with Flower and Fruit Development in Loquat (Eriobotrya japonica Lindl.)
Authors: Li Wenxiang , Liu Xiaopei , Zhao Chongbin , Wu Wendong , Jiang Yuanyuan , Su Wenbing , Lin Shunquan , Yang Xianghui , Peng Ze
Published: October 2023

The MADS-box transcription factors have garnered substantial attention due to their crucial involvement in various biological processes, particularly in flower organogenesis. A comprehensive investigation into the MADS-box genes remains lacking in loquat (Eriobotrya japonica Lindl.). In the current study, to preliminarily explore the potential candidate genes related to flower and fruit development, a genome-wide analysis was carried out to identify and characterize the MADS-box gene family in loquat. Among the 125 identified EjMADS-box members, 49 genes belonged to type Ⅰ, which were subsequently assigned to three subfamilies: Mα (25 genes), Mβ (10 genes), and Mγ (14 genes). Additionally, 76 genes fell under type II, which were categorized into two groups: MIKCC (70 genes) and MIKC* (6 genes). Through the collinearity analysis and comparison of the gene numbers between loquat and other Rosaceae genomes, it was revealed that the type Ⅱ MADS-box members were expanded in Maloideae after a whole genome duplication. The gene expression analysis utilizing various tissues during flower development revealed that the expression patterns of the ABCDE model homologs were conserved in loquat. In addition, several candidate genes potentially involved in flower bud differentiation (EjMADS107/109) and fruit expansion (EjMADS24/46/49/55/61/67/77/86) were identified. This analysis could serve as a fundamental basis for investigating the molecular functions of the MADS-box genes in the development of flowers as well as fruits in loquat.
Population Genetic Characterization of the Pear Pest, Cacopsylla jukyungi (Kwon, 1983) (Hemiptera: Psyllidae), Using Novel Microsatellite Markers
Authors: Kang Ah Rang , Park Jeong Sun , Kim Min Jee , Song Jang-Hoon , Pyo Jee-Young , Kim Iksoo
Published: October 2023

The pear pest, Cacopsylla jukyungi (Hemiptera: Psyllidae), is the most damaging insect to commercial pears in South Korea. An assessment of the population genetic characteristics of the species will raise the potential of effective control. In the present study, we developed eight microsatellite markers specific to C. jukyungi and genotyped 132 individuals collected from 11 localities throughout South Korea. Populations showed lower observed heterozygosity than expected heterozygosity and slightly or highly positive values of inbreeding coefficients, suggesting that C. jukyungi is subjected to inbreeding. A strong dependence on commercial pear trees throughout the whole life cycle, even during overwintering, and a nationwide targeting of the overwintered adults are likely contributors to such heterozygosity deficiency. On the other hand, population analyses consistently indicated strong gene flow among populations, implying the presence of persistent factors that have facilitated this process. The nationwide expansion of pear orchards and the replacement with a popular new cultivar during the last 50 years, which may have accompanied the spread of C. jukyungi-bearing pear grafts and scions, are likely causes of such facilitated dispersal. Thus, a management strategy against unintended anthropogenic dispersal of the pear psyllid will be required for better control of C. jukyungi.
Identifying the Spatio-Temporal Change in Winter Wheat–Summer Maize Planting Structure in the North China Plain between 2001 and 2020
Authors: Yang Bo , Wang Jinglei , Li Shenglin , Huang Xiuqiao
Published: October 2023

Tracking winter wheat–summer maize distribution is crucial for the management of agricultural water resources in the water-scarce North China Plain (NCP). However, the spatio-temporal change in planting structure that has occurred during the last 20 years remains unclear. Therefore, winter wheat–summer maize distribution between 2001 and 2020 was determined via the maximum likelihood algorithm of supervised classification and a threshold method using the MODIS NDVI product MOD13Q1 and Landsat 5/7 images. The results reveal that dividing distributions into six sample categories—winter wheat–summer maize, winter wheat–rice, spring maize, cotton, other double-cropping systems, and fruit trees—proved to be an efficient way to discriminate winter wheat–summer maize distribution, with R2 and RMSE values ranging from 0.738 to 0.901 and from 179.05 to 215.72 km2, respectively. From 2001 to 2020, the planting area continually expanded, experiencing a significant growth of 3.32 × 104 km2 (23.44%). Specifically, the planting area decreased by 2982.13 km2 (10.06%) in the northern part of the NCP, including the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei region, while it increased by 3.62 × 104 km2 (32.30%) in the middle and southern parts, encompassing Shandong, Henan, Anhui, and Jiangsu provinces. The stable growing region was primarily concentrated in the middle of the Hebei Plain, along the Yellow River irrigation areas and humid zones of the southwest, accounting for 75–85% of the total NCP planting area. Our results can provide references for adjusting agricultural planting structures, formulating food security strategies, and optimizing the management of water resources in the NCP.
RPA-CRISPR/Cas12a-Based Detection of Haemophilus parasuis
Authors: Zhang Kunli , Sun Zeyi , Shi Keda , Yang Dongxia , Bian Zhibiao , Li Yan , Gou Hongchao , Jiang Zhiyong , Yang Nanling , Chu Pinpin , Zhai Shaolun , Wei Zhanyong , Li Chunling
Published: October 2023

Haemophilus parasuis (H. parasuis, HPS) is a prominent pathogenic bacterium in pig production. Its infection leads to widespread fibrinous inflammation in various pig tissues and organs, often in conjunction with various respiratory virus infections, and leads to substantial economic losses in the pig industry. Therefore, the rapid diagnosis of this pathogen is of utmost importance. In this study, we used recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA) and clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) technology to establish a convenient detection and analysis system for H. parasuis that is fast to detect, easy to implement, and accurate to analyze, known as RPA-CRISPR/Cas12a analysis. The process from sample to results can be completed within 1 h with high sensitivity (0.163 pg/μL of DNA template, p < 0.05), which is 104 -fold higher than the common PCR method. The specificity test results show that the RPA-CRISPR/Cas12a analysis of H. parasuis did not react with other common pig pathogens, including Streptococcus suis type II and IX, Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae, Escherichia coli, Salmonella, Streptococcus suis, and Staphylococcus aureus (p < 0.0001). The RPA-CRISPR/Cas12a assay was applied to 15 serotypes of H. parasuis clinical samples through crude extraction of nucleic acid by boiling method, and all of the samples were successfully identified. It greatly reduces the time and cost of nucleic acid extraction. Moreover, the method allows results to be visualized with blue light. The accurate and convenient detection method could be incorporated into a portable format as point-of-care (POC) diagnostics detection for H. parasuis at the field level.
Growth Performance and Disease Resistance against Vibrio parahaemolyticus of Whiteleg Shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) Fed Essential Oil Blend (Phyto AquaBiotic)
Authors: Hoa Tran Thi Tuyet , Fagnon Mahougnon Siméon , Thy Dang Thuy Mai , Chabrillat Thibaut , Trung Nguyen Bao , Kerros Sylvain
Published: October 2023

Acute Hepatopancreatic Necrosis Disease (AHPND) is a serious and emerging disease caused by a group of strains of Vibrio parahaemolyticus and affects farmed shrimp, particularly whiteleg shrimps (Liptopenaeus vannamei). The objective of this study is to assess the effect of dietary supplementation with two dosages of an essential oil mixture (Phyto AquaBiotic, abbreviated as PAB) on growth performance and mortality reduction after challenge against V. parahaemolyticus. PAB was mixed with basal diets at rates of 0, 1 and 2 g/kg and fed for 42 days. Each tank was stocked with 100 individuals with experimentation performed in triplicate. The results showed an improvement in growth performance in a dose-dependent manner, specifically regarding daily weight gain, specific growth rate and total biomass, which were significantly improved compared to control (p < 0.05). Further, PAB significantly reduced mortalities when challenged against Vibrio parahaemolyticus (p < 0.05) and decreased Vibrio spp. count in the hepatopancreas of infected shrimp. Overall, PAB was efficient in reducing mortalities in cases of disease outbreaks at a rate of 2 g/kg.
Combined Dietary Administration of Chlorella fusca and Ethanol-Inactivated Vibrio proteolyticus Modulates Intestinal Microbiota and Gene Expression in Chelon labrosus
Authors: García-Márquez Jorge , Álvarez-Torres Daniel , Cerezo Isabel M. , Domínguez-Maqueda Marta , Figueroa Félix L. , Alarcón Francisco Javier , Acién Gabriel , Martínez-Manzanares Eduardo , Abdala-Díaz Roberto T. , Béjar Julia , Arijo Salvador
Published: October 2023

The use of functional feeds in aquaculture is currently increasing. This study aimed to assess the combined impact of dietary green microalgae Chlorella fusca and ethanol-inactivated Vibrio proteolyticus DCF12.2 (CVP diet) on thick-lipped grey mullet (Chelon labrosus) juvenile fish. The effects on intestinal microbiota and the transcription of genes related to metabolism, stress, and the immune system were investigated after 90 days of feeding. Additionally, the fish were challenged with Aeromonas hydrophila and polyinosinic–polycytidylic acid (poly I:C) to evaluate the immune response. Microbiota analysis revealed no significant differences in alpha and beta diversity between the anterior and posterior intestinal sections of fish fed the control (CT) and CVP diets. The dominant genera varied between the groups; Pseudomonas and Brevinema were most abundant in the CVP group, whereas Brevinema, Cetobacterium, and Pseudomonas were predominant in the CT group. However, microbial functionality remained unaltered. Gene expression analysis indicated notable changes in hif3α, mhcII, abcb1, mx, and tnfα genes in different fish organs on the CVP diet. In the head kidney, gene expression variations were observed following challenges with A. hydrophila or poly I:C, with higher peak values seen in fish injected with poly I:C. Moreover, c3 mRNA levels were significantly up-regulated in the CVP group 72 h post-A. hydrophila challenge. To conclude, incorporating C. fusca with V. proteolyticus in C. labrosus diet affected the microbial species composition in the intestine while preserving its functionality. In terms of gene expression, the combined diet effectively regulated the transcription of stress and immune-related genes, suggesting potential enhancement of fish resistance against stress and infections.
The Minimal Impact of Anthropogenic Disturbances on the Spatial Activities of Leopard Cats in Xinlong, China
Authors: Chen Xing , Tian Tengteng , Pan Han , Jin Yuyi , Zhang Xiaodian , Long Qinggang , Tang Ling , Yang Biao , Zhang Li
Published: October 2023

The habitat plays a crucial role in ensuring the survival of wildlife. However, the increasing disturbances caused by human activities present a substantial threat to habitats, especially for species such as the leopard cat (Prionailurus bengalensis), which is a significant small predator. Currently, research on leopard cats predominantly focuses on low-altitude regions within its distribution range, leaving plateau areas understudied. To enhance our understanding of the impact of human disturbances on leopard cat habitats, we undertook a study employing infrared camera trappings to monitor leopard cats’ activity in Xinlong of southwestern China between 2015 and 2023. We analyzed the spatial distribution and habitat suitability of the leopard cats by utilizing ensemble species distribution models (ESDMs). Moreover, we employed two-species occupancy models to investigate the spatial interaction between leopard cats and human disturbances. The results indicated that (1) the potential suitable habitat area for leopard cats encompassed approximately 1324.93 km2 (14.3%), primarily located along the banks of Yalong river. (2) The distribution of suitable habitat was predominantly influenced by competitors, specifically the yellow-throated marten (YTM), accounting for 52.4% of the influence, as well as environmental factors such as distance to water (DTW) at 12.0% and terrain roughness index (TRI) at 10.0%. Human interference, including cattle presence (4.6%), distance to road (DTD, 4.9%), and distance to settlement (DTS, 3.5%), had a limited impact on the habitat distribution. (3) Within a 5 km radius, habitat suitability increased with proximity to human settlements. (4) Leopard cats exhibited spatial independence from humans and domestic cattle (species interaction factor (SIF) = 1.00) while avoiding domestic horses (SIF = 0.76 ± 0.03). The relatively minor impact of human disturbances in Xinlong could be attributed to traditional cultural practices safeguarding wildlife and the leopard cat’s environmental adaptability. We recommend establishing a novel conservation paradigm based on the living dynamics of wildlife communities in Xinlong, thereby offering a more targeted approach to biodiversity preservation in the future.
Bivalent Vaccine against Streptococcus agalactiae and Aeromonas hydrophila in Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus): A Laboratory-Phase and Large-Scale Study
Authors: Rivas Açucena Veleh , dos Santos Angelo Gabriel Vidal , de Souza Adrieli Barboza , Bueno Junior Gilson , de Souza Gabriela Fernandes , de Souza Estevam Martins , de Carvalho Nunes Louisiane , Viana Kelvinson Fernandes
Published: October 2023

One of the main factors limiting tilapia’s production is the occurrence of infections caused by Aeromonas and Streptococcus species. This work intended to evaluate a bivalent vaccine against A. hydrophila and S. agalactiae by intraperitoneal (i.p) administration in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) in Brazil. The study was carried out in two phases: one in the laboratory, on a small scale, and from the results obtained, the study was expanded to a large scale in a production system in cages. The vaccine proved to be safe and effective in laboratory tests, with a vaccine efficacy (VE) of 93.66%. However, in large-scale tests with 12,000 tilapias, the VE was 59.14%, with a better food conversion ratio (1.54 kg) in the vaccinated group compared to the control group (1.27 kg). These results corroborate the efficiency of this tested vaccine; however, they indicate the need for field tests to attest to real protection.
Focusing on Gordonia Infections: Distribution, Antimicrobial Susceptibilities and Phylogeny
Authors: Pino-Rosa Silvia , Medina-Pascual María J. , Carrasco Gema , Garrido Noelia , Villalón Pilar , Valiente Mónica , Valdezate Sylvia
Published: October 2023

The immunosuppression conditions and the presence of medical devices in patients favor the Gordonia infections. However, the features of this aerobic actinomycete have been little explored. Strains (n = 164) were characterized with 16S rDNA and secA1 genes to define their phylogenetic relationships, and subjected to broth microdilution to profile the antimicrobial susceptibilities of Gordonia species that caused infections in Spain during the 2005–2021 period. Four out of the eleven identified species were responsible for 86.0% of the infections: Gordonia sputi (53.0%), Gordonia bronchialis (18.3%), Gordonia terrae (8.5%) and Gordonia otitidis (6.1%). Respiratory tract infections (61.6%) and bacteremia (21.9%) were the most common infections. The secA1 gene resolved the inconclusive identification, and two major clonal lineages were observed for G. sputi and G. bronchialis. Species showed a wide antimicrobial susceptibility profile. Cefoxitin resistance varies depending on the species, reaching 94.2% for G. sputi and 36.0% for G. terrae. What is noteworthy is the minocycline resistance in G. sputi (11.5%), the clarithromycin resistance in G. bronchialis secA1 lineage II (30.0%) and the amoxicillin–clavulanate and cefepime resistance in G. terrae (21.4% and 42.8%, respectively). G. sputi and G. bronchialis stand out as the prevalent species causing infections in Spain. Resistance against cefoxitin and other antimicrobials should be considered.
How Antioxidants, Osmoregulation, Genes and Metabolites Regulate the Late Seeding Tolerance of Rapeseeds (Brassica napus L.) during Wintering
Authors: Hao Pengfei , Lin Baogang , Ren Yun , Hu Hao , Lou Weidong , Yi Kaige , Xue Bowen , Huang Lan , Li Xi , Hua Shuijin
Published: October 2023

Rapeseed seeding dates are largely delayed under the rice–rape rotation system, but how rapeseeds adapt to the delayed environment remains unclear. Here, five seeding dates (20 October, 30 October, 10 November, 20 November and 30 November, T1 to T5) were set and the dynamic differences between two late-seeding-tolerant (LST) and two late-seeding-sensitive (LSS) rapeseed cultivars were investigated in a field experiment. The growth was significantly repressed and the foldchange (LST/LSS) of yield increased from 1.50-T1 to 2.64-T5 with the delay in seeding. Both LST cultivars showed higher plant coverage than the LSS cultivars according to visible/hyperspectral imaging and the vegetation index acquired from an unmanned aerial vehicle. Fluorescence imaging, DAB and NBT staining showed that the LSS cultivars suffered more stress damage than the LST cultivars. Antioxidant enzymes (SOD, POD, CAT, APX) and osmoregulation substances (proline, soluble sugar, soluble protein) were decreased with the delay in seeding, while the LST cultivar levels were higher than those of the LSS cultivars. A comparative analysis of transcriptomes and metabolomes showed that 55 pathways involving 123 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and 107 differentially accumulated metabolites (DAMs) participated in late seeding tolerance regulation, while 39 pathways involving 60 DEGs and 68 DAMs were related to sensitivity. Levanbiose, α-isopropylmalate, s-ribosyl-L-homocysteine, lauroyl-CoA and argino-succinate were differentially accumulated in both cultivars, while genes including isocitrate dehydrogenase, pyruvate kinase, phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase and newgene_7532 were also largely regulated. This study revealed the dynamic regulation mechanisms of rapeseeds on late seeding conditions, which showed considerable potential for the genetic improvement of rapeseed.
Melatonin Alleviates Antimony Toxicity by Regulating the Antioxidant Response and Reducing Antimony Accumulation in Oryza sativa L.
Authors: Chu Yutan , Bao Qiongli , Li Yan , Sun Hongyu , Liu Zewei , Shi Jiahao , Huang Yizong
Published: October 2023

Antimony (Sb) is a hazardous metal element that is potentially toxic and carcinogenic. Melatonin (MT) is an indole compound with antioxidant properties that plays an essential role in plant growth and alleviates heavy metal stresses. Nevertheless, little is known about the effects and mechanisms of exogenous MT action on rice under Sb stress. The aim of this experiment was to explore the mechanism of MT reducing Sb toxicity in rice via hydroponics. The results showed that Sb stress significantly inhibited the growth of rice, including biomass, root parameters, and root viability. Exogenous MT obviously alleviated the inhibition of Sb stress on seedling growth and increased biomass, root parameters, and root viability by 15–55%. MT significantly reduced the total Sb content in rice and the subcellular Sb contents in roots by nearly 20–40% and 12.3–54.2% under Sb stress, respectively. MT significantly decreased the contents of malondialdehyde (MDA, by nearly 50%), ROS (H2O2 and O2·−, by nearly 20–30%), and RNS (NO and ONOO−) in roots under Sb stress, thus reducing oxidative stress and cell membrane damage. Furthermore, MT reversed Sb-induced phytotoxicity by increasing the activities of antioxidant enzymes (SOD, POD, CAT, and APX) by nearly 15% to 50% and by regulating the AsA–GSH cycle. In conclusion, this study demonstrates the potential of MT to maintain redox homeostasis and reduce Sb toxicity in rice cells, decreasing the content of Sb in rice and thereby alleviating the inhibition of Sb on rice growth. The results provided a feasible strategy for mitigating Sb toxicity in rice.
Serum Oxidative Status in People with Obesity: Relation to Tissue Losses, Glucose Levels, and Weight Reduction
Authors: Szlachta Beata , Birková Anna , Wielkoszyński Tomasz , Gospodarczyk Alicja , Hubková Beáta , Dydoń Maria , Zalejska-Fiolka Jolanta
Published: October 2023

Background: This work aims to study the effect of reductions in various body mass components on the oxidative, glycemic, and lipid parameters of people with obesity (PWO). Methods: A total of 53 PWO underwent a six-month individualized low-calorie diet combined with moderate exercise, during which anthropometric, biochemical, and oxidative parameters were measured. Probands were divided into groups based on weight, visceral fat area (VFA), total body water (TBW), and skeletal muscle mass (SMM) losses. Results: Weight reduction normalizes glycemia, but VFA reduction is less pronounced, while SMM and TBW reductions are more pronounced in patients with higher initial concentrations of glucose and fructosamine. Moreover, changes in oxidative parameters correlate with changes in glucose. Conclusions: Weight loss, regardless of the reduced tissue, decreases cardiovascular risk. We observed a significant change in almost all parameters related to the redox state. In general, parameters responsible for antioxidant action improved, and markers of oxidative damage decreased. Malondialdehyde, lipid peroxides, and total oxidative status levels can be considered biomarkers reflecting only the current severity of reactive oxygen species genesis processes. When considering the glycemic state, the results are not as clear due to the substantial differences between normoglycemic and hyperglycemic patients. Glycemic status is a factor playing a crucial role in weight reduction.
Switched Auto-Regressive Neural Control (S-ANC) for Energy Management of Hybrid Microgrids
Authors: Cavus Muhammed , Ugurluoglu Yusuf Furkan , Ayan Huseyin , Allahham Adib , Adhikari Kabita , Giaouris Damian
Published: October 2023

Switched model predictive control (S-MPC) and recurrent neural networks with long short-term memory (RNN-LSTM) are powerful control methods that have been extensively studied for the energy management of microgrids (MGs). These methods ease constraint satisfaction, computational demands, adaptability, and comprehensibility, but typically one method is chosen over the other. The S-MPC method dynamically selects optimal models and control strategies based on the system’s operating mode and performance objectives. On the other hand, integration of auto-regressive (AR) control with these powerful control methods improves the prediction accuracy and the adaptability of the system conditions. This paper compares the two control approaches and proposes a novel algorithm called switched auto-regressive neural control (S-ANC) that combines their respective strengths. Using a control formulation equivalent to S-MPC and the same controller model for learning, the results indicate that pure RNN-LSTM cannot provide constraint satisfaction. The novel S-ANC algorithm can satisfy constraints and deliver comparable performance to MPC, while enabling continuous learning. The results indicate that S-MPC optimization increases power flows within the MG, resulting in efficient utilization of energy resources. By merging the AR and LSTM, the model’s computational time decreased by nearly 47.2%. In addition, this study evaluated our predictive model’s accuracy: (i) the R-squared error was 0.951, indicating a strong predictive ability, and (ii) mean absolute error (MAE) and mean square error (MSE) values of 0.571 indicate accurate predictions, with minimal deviations from the actual values.
Impact of Peri-Implant Inflammation on Metabolic Syndrome Factors: A Systematic Review
Authors: Zhang Yuchen , Lu Emily Ming-Chieh , Moyes David , Niazi Sadia Ambreen
Published: October 2023

This systematic review aims to evaluate the impact of peri-implantitis on the components of metabolic syndrome, and to provide suggestions on the management of peri-implantitis patients with metabolic disorders. A search for relevant records was performed in MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Global Health on 1st September 2023. Clinical trials, cohort studies, cross-sectional studies, and case-control studies containing comparisons of metabolic factors between patients with and without peri-implantitis were considered eligible. Study quality was assessed using the Newcastle–Ottawa scale. Out of 1158 records identified, 5 cross-sectional studies were eligible for final inclusion. Two studies reported significant differences in the lipid profile of patients with peri-implantitis, one of which reported higher total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol levels, while the other reported higher triglyceride levels. Another study reported significantly higher HbA1c levels in patients with peri-implantitis. The remaining two studies containing comparisons of BMI between patients with and without peri-implantitis indicated no significant differences. Overall, there are suggestions that peri-implantitis is associated with altered metabolic factors, including lipid profile and HbA1c level. However, there is not enough evidence to support these clinical implications due to the paucity of related literature and the low evidence level of the included studies. More investigations with stronger evidence levels are needed to narrow this gap of knowledge.
Research on Bowden Cable–Fabric Force Transfer System Based on Force/Displacement Compensation and Impedance Control
Authors: Li Xin , Ma Guanjun , Wang Donghao
Published: October 2023

Bowden cable–fabric is a key force transfer device for flexible exoskeletons, and its precise control of force/displacement is a significant factor in the human–machine interaction of flexible exoskeletons. In this paper, a force/displacement control method based on friction compensation and impedance control was proposed based on a flexible Bowden cable–fabric force transfer testbed system. First, a set of in vitro experimental platforms simulating Bowden cable–fabric force transfer was built according to a typical flexible exoskeleton force transfer system, and following the walking gait of lower limbs, the expected force and knee joint motion were set. Secondly, the Bowden cable–fabric force transfer friction model was constructed as the basis of the system’s force transfer compensation. In addition, the stiffness model of Bowden cable–fabric and the lower leg movement model were established and combined with impedance control to realize the precise control of system displacement. Finally, the damping and stiffness parameters suitable for the system were obtained through the impedance control simulation. In terms of the experiment, an in vitro Bowden cable–fabric force transfer experimental platform was built, and the expected force with the input peak value of 40 N, 50 N, and 60 N was set. Through the friction and position compensation model of Bowden cable–fabric force transfer and impedance control, the relative root-mean-square errors of the output force and expected force were obtained as 2.53%, 2.16%, and 2.07%, respectively. Therefore, the effectiveness of the proposed method is verified, which provides a foundation for the engineering application of flexible exoskeletons.
Systemic Design Strategies for Shaping the Future of Automated Shuttle Buses
Authors: Yan Ming , Lu Peng , Arquilla Venanzio , Brevi Fausto , Rampino Lucia , Caruso Giandomenico
Published: October 2023

Automated shuttle buses entail adopting new technologies and modifying users’ practices, cultural and symbolic meanings, policies, and markets. This results in a paradigmatic transition for a typical sociotechnical system: the transport system. However, the focus of the extant literature often lacks an overall vision, addressing a single technology, supply chain, or societal dimension. Although systemic design can manage multiple-level and long-term transitions, the literature does not discuss how systemic design tools can support implementation. This paper takes the four strategies proposed by Pereno and Barbero in 2020 as the theoretical framework to fill this literature gap, discussing the specific systemic design methods applicable to the design of automated shuttle bus systems. A six-week workshop to facilitate the exploration of future autonomous public transportation is taken as a case study. The systemic design approach was applied to enrich the Human–Machine Interaction (HMI) and functional architecture of automated shuttle buses.
Flow-Induced Noise Characteristics Analysis of a Pipeline Structure in a Cabin Rigid Corner
Authors: Chen Weihua , Chen Luyun , Yi Hong , Dong Jianshuai
Published: October 2023

The acoustic radiation characteristics of pipeline structures caused by turbulent fluctuating pressure are among the most important acoustic radiation sources in vessel cabins. Studying the vibro-acoustic characteristics of pipeline structures is of great relevance to engineering. The turbulence fluctuation pressure of pipeline structures’ inner surfaces was numerically analyzed by using the large eddy simulation (LES) method. At first, the vibro-acoustic differential equation of the pipeline structure system was derived by defining the fluctuation pressure as the excitation loading. According to the acoustic radiation characteristic in the quarter-infinite space, which had a combination of two rigid wall interfaces at the same time for the pipeline structures in the vessel cabins, the double reflection method, mirror image method and elastic wave Graf addition principle were applied, and the analytical function of the acoustic radiation for the cylindrical shell was derived. For the pipeline structures in the quarter-infinite acoustic space, for example, the numerical calculation for the acoustic radiation of cylindrical shell was carried out, which was excited by the turbulent pulsating pressure. Finally, the influence of inner flow velocity, frequency, and pipeline installation position were compared using numerical analysis. The results can provide technical support for the acoustic design of pipeline structure systems with complex acoustic boundaries.
The Development of a Steering Angle Estimation Model for Evaluation of Simulated Ship Handling Training for Remote Operators of Autonomous Ships
Authors: Hwang T. M. , Youn I. H.
Published: October 2023

Through technological development, ships are being automated, reducing the number of human operators. Accordingly, the responsibility of humans becomes more significant, making a single operator’s proficiency count. Simulated ship-handling training evaluates trainees’ proficiency using specific criteria to verify proficiency. However, the present criteria are confined to training scenarios, and it is hard to determine whether trainees finally achieved expert-like ability. This research conducted probabilistic estimation on experts’ average steering angles. The paper contains the corresponding explanations for each step of the research methods, from the data preprocessing step to the probabilistic steering angle estimation. The research findings include the experts’ trendline of average steering angles and the sample trainee’s evaluation results.
Tokenized and Tactile: Frank Stella’s Geometries (2022)
Authors: Ahn J. Cabelle
Published: October 2023

On 8 September 2022, the American artist Frank Stella launched a series of twenty-two digital art works minted as Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) in collaboration with Arsnl, the in-house platform by the Artist Rights Society (ARS). Titled Geometries, each “package,” included the NFT that would affirm ownership and the corresponding geometric model designed by Stella in JPG (image), MP4 (video), SLS (3D printing), GLB (virtual reality and model manipulation), and USDZ (augmented reality). This range of digital formats alludes to two of Stella’s innovations in this space: the license to remix and manipulate his models, and the ability to 3D print Geometries at any color, scale, and material. Taking Stella’s foray into the NFT-space as a starting point, my article focuses on an emergent trend by artists engaging with Web3: the effort to bridge the physical and the digital by giving tangible form to NFT artworks and what this suggests for the future of digital materiality. The paper at its core seeks to examine the relationship between the physical referents to NFTs at the very moment when new media returns to historical forms.
Short-Term Electricity Demand Forecasting Using Deep Neural Networks: An Analysis for Thai Data
Authors: Chapagain Kamal , Gurung Samundra , Kulthanavit Pisut , Kittipiyakul Somsak
Published: October 2023

Electricity demand forecasting plays a significant role in energy markets. Accurate prediction of electricity demand is the key factor in optimizing power generation and consumption, saving energy resources, and determining energy prices. However, integrating energy mix scenarios, including solar and wind power, which are highly nonlinear and seasonal, into an existing grid increases the uncertainty of generation, creating additional challenges for precise forecasting. To tackle such challenges, state-of-the-art methods and algorithms have been implemented in the literature. Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based deep learning models can effectively handle the information of long time-series data. Based on patterns identified in datasets, various scenarios can be developed. In this paper, several models were constructed and tested using deep AI networks in two different scenarios: Scenario1 used data for weekdays, excluding holidays, while Scenario2 used the data without exclusion. To find the optimal configuration, the models were trained and tested within a large space of alternative hyperparameters. We used an Artificial Neural Network (ANN)-based Feedforward Neural Network (FNN) to show the minimum prediction error for Scenario1 and a Recurrent Neural Network (RNN)-based Gated Recurrent Network (GRU) to show the minimum prediction error for Scenario2. From our results, it can be concluded that the weekday dataset in Scenario1 prepared by excluding weekends and holidays provides better forecasting accuracy compared to the holistic dataset approach used in Scenario2. However, Scenario2 is necessary for predicting the demand on weekends and holidays.
Comparative Analysis of BALSSA and Conventional NWP Methods: A Case Study in Extreme Storm Surge Prediction in Macao
Authors: Ian Vai-Kei , Tang Su-Kit , Pau Giovanni
Published: October 2023

In coastal regions, accurate storm surge prediction is crucial for effective disaster management and risk mitigation. This study presents a comparative analysis between BALSSA (Bidirectional Attention-based LSTM for Storm Surge Architecture) and the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) numerical storm surge model, focusing on the Saola-induced storm surge in Macao, September 2023. To train and assess the model, we leverage an extensive dataset comprising meteorological and tide level information from more than 80 typhoon occurrences in Macao spanning the period from 2017 to 2023. The results provide evidence of BALSSA’s effectiveness in capturing the complex spatio-temporal dynamics of storm surges, with a lead time of up to 72 h, as reflected by its MAE of 0.019 and RMSE of 0.024. It demonstrates reliable accuracy in predicting storm surge magnitude, timing, and spatial extent, potentially contributing to more precise and timely warnings for coastal communities. Furthermore, the real-time data assimilation feature of BALSSA ensures up-to-date information, aligned with the latest observations, which is essential for effective emergency preparedness and response. The high-resolution grids enhance risk assessment, highlighting BALSSA’s potential for early warnings, emergency planning, and coastal risk management. This study contributes valuable insights to the broader field of storm surge prediction, guiding decision-making processes and supporting the development of effective strategies to enhance coastal resilience.