bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Comparison of three nutritional screening tools for detecting sarcopenia in patients with maintenance hemodialysis
Authors: Chen Xiaoyu , Han Peipei , Zhu Xiaoyan , Song Peiyu , Zhao Yinjiao , Zhang Hui , Yu Chen , Niu Jianying , Ding Wei , Zhao Junli , Zhang Liming , Qi Hualin , Zhang Suhua , Guo Qi
Published: October 2022

Background

Malnutrition, dynapenia, and sarcopenia are prevalent conditions among patients with maintenance hemodialysis (MHD). They are related to numerous adverse health outcomes. The aim of this study was to compare the effect of three nutritional screening tools on predicting the risk of dynapenia and sarcopenia in patients with MHD.

Methods

From July 2020 to April 2021, a total of 849 patients with MHD were enrolled at seven different healthcare facilities in Shanghai, China in this multi-center cross-sectional study. Geriatric nutritional risk index (GNRI), malnutrition inflammation score (MIS), and creatinine (Cr) index were used for nutritional assessment. The cutoff values of muscle mass and strength to define dynapenia, pre-sarcopenia, and sarcopenia were based on the consensus by the Asia Working Group of Sarcopenia in 2019.

Results

Among 849, almost 60% were malnourished with the majority suffering from dynapenia (27.7%), followed by sarcopenia (22.7%), and pre-sarcopenia (6.2%).The area under the receiver–operating characteristic curve for GNRI was 0.722 [95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.684–0.760] and 0.723 (95% CI = 0.663–0.783) in predicting sarcopenia and pre-sarcopenia. The GNRI [odds ratio (OR) =6.28, 95% CI: 4.05–9.73], MIS (OR =1.91, 95% CI: 1.31–2.78), and the Cr index (OR =2.73, 95% CI: 1.71–4.34) were all significantly associated with the risk of sarcopenia. More importantly, the sarcopenia predictability of the GNRI appears greater than the MIS and Cr index, while MIS was similar to the Cr index. Similarly, the superiority of GNRI prediction was also found in pre-sarcopenia, but not in dynapenia.

Conclusion

All the three nutritional screening tools were significantly associated with an increased risk of sarcopenia. The sarcopenia predictability of the GNRI was greater than the MIS and Cr index.
Uniting the Sun’s Hale magnetic cycle and “extended solar cycle” paradigms
Authors: McIntosh Scott W. , Scherrer Philip H. , Svalgaard Leif , Leamon Robert J.
Published: October 2022

Through meticulous daily observation of the Sun’s large-scale magnetic field the Wilcox Solar Observatory (WSO) has catalogued two magnetic (Hale) cycles of solar activity. Those two (∼22-year long) Hale cycles have yielded four (∼11-year long) sunspot cycles (numbers 21 through 24). Recent research has highlighted the persistence of the “Extended Solar Cycle” (ESC) and its connection to the fundamental Hale Cycle–albeit through a host of proxies resulting from image analysis of the solar photosphere, chromosphere and corona. This short manuscript presents the correspondence of the ESC, the surface toroidal magnetic field evolution, and the evolution of the Hale Cycle. As Sunspot Cycle 25 begins, interest in observationally mapping the Hale and Extended cycles could not be higher given potential predictive capability that synoptic scale observations can provide.
To clear or not to clear: Unpacking soy farmers' decision-making on deforestation in Brazil's Cerrado
Authors: Aragão Rafaela Barbosa de Andrade , Bastos Lima Mairon G. , Burns Georgette Leah , Ross Helen
Published: October 2022

Agriculture-driven deforestation has come to the top of the environmental policy agenda as one of the main sustainability issues of current food systems. A major case is soy production in Brazil, the largest grower and exporter of what has become the world's crop of choice for animal feed protein. Soy expansion has contributed to the continuous erasure of the Brazilian Cerrado, a highly biodiverse savanna with significant underground carbon storage that plays vital hydrological functions but remains mostly unprotected. Much of the remaining Cerrado vegetation is located within private farms and can be cleared legally; therefore, understanding soy farmers' attitudes regarding deforestation is paramount. Hence, this study explores and analyzes Brazilian soy farmers' perspectives, attitudes, and behavior concerning land-use change. We draw from the literature and semi-structured interviews with 24 soy farmers in Tocantins State, part of an agricultural frontier region called Matopiba. Our findings show how soy-farmer behavior follows primarily an economic rationale unconcerned with environmental sustainability. Farmers have moved to the frontier attracted primarily by cheap land prices and mainly occupied degraded pastures. Still, they have cleared vegetation directly for planting soy and show little restraint. Although chiefly interested in increasing yields, Brazil's soy farmers feel entitled to open new areas whenever they have the economic means and motivation. They may also engage in pre-emptive deforestation for fear of more stringent forthcoming regulations. Such attitudes offer a cautionary note to strategies that hope to conserve the Cerrado through voluntary behavioral change, such as adopting “best practices” or focusing on improving production in already-open areas. We argue that greater regulatory stringency and enforcement are much more promising pathways in the context of excessive permissiveness to deforestation in the Cerrado and actors oriented by profit and by what they are allowed to do. Well-enforced public policies that legally restrict their deforestation rights and protect the remaining areas of Cerrado would offer a royal road, but supply-chain actors, too, may need to become stricter about requesting conversion-free soy. We conclude that, without such actions, soy farmers' attitudes promise a continuation of business as usual toward the Cerrado's end.
Preoperative stereotactic radiosurgery in the management of brain metastases and gliomas
Authors: Lehrer Eric J. , Kowalchuk Roman O. , Ruiz-Garcia Henry , Merrell Kenneth W. , Brown Paul D. , Palmer Joshua D. , Burri Stuart H. , Sheehan Jason P. , Quninoes-Hinojosa Alfredo , Trifiletti Daniel M.
Published: October 2022

Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) is the delivery of a high dose ionizing radiation in a highly conformal manner, which allows for significant sparing of nearby healthy tissues. It is typically delivered in 1–5 sessions and has demonstrated safety and efficacy across multiple intracranial neoplasms and functional disorders. In the setting of brain metastases, postoperative and definitive SRS has demonstrated favorable rates of tumor control and improved cognitive preservation compared to conventional whole brain radiation therapy. However, the risk of local failure and treatment-related complications (e.g. radiation necrosis) markedly increases with larger postoperative treatment volumes. Additionally, the risk of leptomeningeal disease is significantly higher in patients treated with postoperative SRS. In the setting of high grade glioma, preclinical reports have suggested that preoperative SRS may enhance anti-tumor immunity as compared to postoperative radiotherapy. In addition to potentially permitting smaller target volumes, tissue analysis may permit characterization of DNA repair pathways and tumor microenvironment changes in response to SRS, which may be used to further tailor therapy and identify novel therapeutic targets. Building on the work from preoperative SRS for brain metastases and preclinical work for high grade gliomas, further exploration of this treatment paradigm in the latter is warranted. Presently, there are prospective early phase clinical trials underway investigating the role of preoperative SRS in the management of high grade gliomas. In the forthcoming sections, we review the biologic rationale for preoperative SRS, as well as pertinent preclinical and clinical data, including ongoing and planned prospective clinical trials.
Circumferential full-thickness skin grafting: An excellent method for the treatment of short penile skin in adult men
Authors: Che Kexin , Wang Keke , Yuan Ye , Li Fengyong , Li Qiang
Published: October 2022

Objective

Short penile skin due to excessive circumcision is a complex condition requiring surgical care. The study aims to investigate the effect of full-thickness skin grafting (FTSG) in treating short penile skin.

Methods

A retrospective analysis was performed on 24 patients with insufficient penile skin. The included patients underwent full-thickness skin grafting from the scrotum and the groin region in the Genital Plastic Surgery Center between February 2014 and September 2021. Morphology of the penis, length of the penis, complication, and donor area healing status was observed by the authors. Additionally, the International Index of Erectile Function Questionnaire (IIEF-5) and the patient's evaluation of penile appearance were investigated.

Results

An aesthetically pleasing appearance of the penis was obtained by FTSG in 24 patients. The length of penis was improved after surgery (5.70 cm ± 1.24 cm vs. 6.05 cm ± 1.33 cm, P value < 0.05). All patients had good healing of the penile area without serious complications. Only 2 cases showed minor partial necrosis and recovered soon after proper treatment. A high patient's evaluation of penile appearance was received (4.08 ± 0.71, mean ± SD) and the scores of IIEF-5 increased significantly after surgery (18.38 ± 2.24 vs. 21.08 ± 1.79, P-value < 0.05).

Conclusions

FTSG from the scrotum and inguinal skin provides good aesthetic and functional results for treating short penile skin. FTSG, particularly the scrotum-derived skin graft, offers a great supplement to penile skin. It could be suggested as a promising method of treating insufficient penile skin, which meets both functional and aesthetic needs.
m6A and miRNA jointly regulate the development of breast muscles in duck embryonic stages
Authors: Gu Lihong , Zhang Shunjin , Li Boling , Jiang Qicheng , Xu Tieshan , Huang Yongzhen , Lin Dajie , Xing Manping , Huang Lili , Zheng Xinli , Wang Feng , Chao Zhe , Sun Weiping
Published: October 2022

N6-methyladenosine (m6A) is an abundant internal mRNA modification and plays a crucial regulatory role in animal growth and development. In recent years, m6A modification has been found to play a key role in skeletal muscles. However, whether m6A modification contributes to embryonic breast muscle development of Pekin ducks has not been explored. To explore the role of m6A in embryonic breast muscle development of ducks, we performed m6A sequencing and miRNA sequencing for the breast muscle of duck embryos on the 19th (E19) and 27th (E27) days. A total of 12,717 m6A peaks were identified at E19, representing a total of 7,438 gene transcripts. A total of 14,703 m6A peaks were identified, which overlapped with the transcripts of 7,753 genes at E27. Comparing E19 and E27, we identified 2,347 differential m6A peaks, which overlapped with 1,605 m6A-modified genes (MMGs). Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analyses revealed that MMGs were enriched in multiple muscle- or fat-related pathways, which was also revealed from our analysis of differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Conjoint analysis of m6A-seq and RNA-seq data showed that pathways related to β-oxidation of fatty acids and skeletal muscle development were significantly enriched, suggesting that m6A modification is involved in the regulation of fat deposition and skeletal muscle development. There were 90 upregulated and 102 downregulated miRNAs identified between the E19 and E27 stages. Through overlapping analysis of genes shared by MMGs and DEGs and the targets of differentially expressed miRNAs (DEMs), we identified six m6A-mRNA-regulated miRNAs. Finally, we found that m6A modification can regulate fat deposition and skeletal muscle development. In conclusion, our results suggest that m6A modification is a key regulator for embryonic breast muscle development and fat deposition of ducks by affecting expressions of mRNAs and miRNAs. This is the first study to comprehensively characterize the m6A patterns in the duck transcriptome. These data provide a solid basis for future work aimed at determining the potential functional roles of m6A modification in adipose deposition and muscle growth.
Dynamics and Stability on a Family of Optimal Fourth-Order Iterative Methods
Authors: Cordero Alicia , Leonardo Sepúlveda Miguel A. , Torregrosa Juan R.
Published: October 2022

In this manuscript, we propose a parametric family of iterative methods of fourth-order convergence, and the stability of the class is studied through the use of tools of complex dynamics. We obtain the fixed and critical points of the rational operator associated with the family. A stability analysis of the fixed points allows us to find sets of values of the parameter for which the behavior of the corresponding method is stable or unstable; therefore, we can select the regions of the parameter in which the methods behave more efficiently when they are applied for solving nonlinear equations or the regions in which the schemes have chaotic behavior.
Lithium-Ion Battery Prognostics through Reinforcement Learning Based on Entropy Measures
Authors: Namdari Alireza , Samani Maryam Asad , Durrani Tariq S.
Published: October 2022

Lithium-ion is a progressive battery technology that has been used in vastly different electrical systems. Failure of the battery can lead to failure in the entire system where the battery is embedded and cause irreversible damage. To avoid probable damages, research is actively conducted, and data-driven methods are proposed, based on prognostics and health management (PHM) systems. PHM can use multiple time-scale data and stored information from battery capacities over several cycles to determine the battery state of health (SOH) and its remaining useful life (RUL). This results in battery safety, stability, reliability, and longer lifetime. In this paper, we propose different data-driven approaches to battery prognostics that rely on: Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM), Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average (ARIMA), and Reinforcement Learning (RL) based on the permutation entropy of battery voltage sequences at each cycle, since they take into account vital information from past data and result in high accuracy.
Stability Enhancement and Noise Reduction of an Axial Compressor with Foam Metal Casing Treatment
Authors: Li Jia , Dong Xu , Sun Dakun , Wang Yuqing , Geng Chunwang , Sun Xiaofeng
Published: October 2022

Foam metal is a foam-like substance with a high porosity; it has been used in flow control, vibration abatement, and acoustic absorption, mainly based on its physical properties. The aim of the current paper is to investigate the effect of foam metal casing treatments on the stability and acoustic level of a low-speed axial flow compressor. The experimental results show that the casing treatment improves the stall margin by 14.9%, without any efficiency loss. In terms of noise, the SPL of the tonal noise at the third order of BPF is reduced by 3.2 dB, while the SPL of the broadband noise is reduced up to 2.4 dB. The comparison in evolutions of the tip structure in a smooth casing condition and with a casing treatment indicates that the casing treatment affects the origination and the development of the tip leakage vortex. The working mechanism is also discussed.
Dynamic Aircraft Wake Separation Based on Velocity Change
Authors: Pan Weijun , Yin Zirui , Luo Yuming , Wang Anding , Huang Yuanjing
Published: October 2022

Traditional research on static wake-vortex reduction usually considers only the influence of external environmental factors, while ignoring the dynamic change in an aircraft’s flight state. In order to solve this problem, this paper proposes a method to reduce separation using dynamic wake information based on changes in flight velocity. Firstly, relying on the wake-vortex generation and dissipation model, the initial circulations and dissipation parameters of the wake vortex at different aircraft velocities are calculated. Then, the complete evolution process of the wake vortex generated by different types of aircraft at different velocities is analyzed, and the evolution law of a wake vortex with changing velocity is obtained. Afterwards, according to the actual aerodynamic shape of CRJ-900, the aerodynamic model for CRJ-900 when it encounters a wake vortex is established. The situation of an CRJ-900 encountering a wake vortex under TBS is analyzed, which proves that TBS is safe and has a certain reduction potential. Then, taking the rolling moment coefficient as the safety index, the minimum safe separations at different velocities are calculated. Finally, a simulation for the separation reduction based on a dynamic wake vortex is carried out. Compared with the static wake-based separation, the dynamic wake-based separation technology can greatly reduce the aircraft separation requirements while ensuring the operation safety. The final simulation results show that the dynamic separation reduction in CRJ-900 following a medium and heavy aircraft can reach 44.3% and 51.6%, respectively.
Numerical Investigation on Particle Erosion Characteristics of the Elbow Pipe in Gas-Steam Ejection Power System
Authors: Chen Qifei , Liang Guozhu
Published: October 2022

In gas-steam ejection power systems, the Al2O3 particles in combustion products can cause severe erosion on the downstream elbow pipe. To calculate the particle erosion, a modelling approach is developed by combining a discrete phase model with a flow-thermal coupling model and introducing wall temperature parameters into the erosion model. Furthermore, the influence of particle size, total temperature and pressure, and particle mass flow rate was investigated. The results show that high temperature erosion depth can be expressed as the product of the time integral of temperature factor and the erosion rate at room temperature and is 1.63–3.57 times that at room temperature under different particle sizes. With the increase of particle size, the maximum erosion position tends to the inlet of the bend, and its value increases first and then decreases with the peak value 0.418 mm at particle diameter of 100 µm. The decrease in total temperature and total pressure reduces the erosion rate by reducing the particle velocity. The particle mass flow rate affects the gas-particle flow which, may cause the erosion to change greatly, especially when particle diameter is below 40 µm.
Field-to-View Constrained Integrated Guidance and Control for Hypersonic Homing Missiles Intercepting Supersonic Maneuvering Targets
Authors: Li Zhibing , Dong Quanlin , Zhang Xiaoyue , Zhang Huanrui , Zhang Feng
Published: October 2022

An integrated guidance and control (IGC) scheme considering the field-of-view (FOV) constraint is proposed in this paper for hypersonic skid-to-turn (STT) missiles with a strapdown seeker intercepting a high-speed maneuvering target, which is based on the backstepping control (BC), barrier Lyapunov function (BLF), sliding mode control (SMC), dynamic surface control (DSC), and reduced-order extended state observer (ESO). First, a fifth-order strict feedback IGC model considering the rudder delay dynamics is derived, which also considers the drag effect on the axial velocity. Second, the missile guidance control system based on the BC consists of seeker, guidance, angle-of-attack, attitude, and rudder subsystems. The seeker subsystem was designed based on the BLF, and the other four subsystems were designed based on the SMC. The system-lumped disturbances, including unknown target maneuvers, unmodeled parts, perturbations caused by aerodynamic parameter variations, and external disturbances, were estimated and compensated for using the reduced-order ESO. The DSC prevented the “differential explosion” caused by virtual control commands introduced by the BC. Subsequently, the stability of the closed-loop system was strictly proven using the Lyapunov theory, and the boundedness of the FOV angle was strictly derived. Finally, the simulation results demonstrated the effectiveness and robustness of the proposed IGC scheme.
Performance Investigation of Superplastic Shape Memory Alloy-Based Vibration Isolator for X-Band Active Small SAR Satellite of S-STEP under Acoustic and Random Vibration Environments
Authors: Kim Hyun-Guk , Kwon Seong-Cheol , Koo Kyung-Rae , Song Sung-Chan , Yu Youngjoon , Song Youngbum , Park Yeon-Hyeok , Oh Hyun-Ung
Published: October 2022

In a launch environment, all satellites are subjected to severe random vibration and acoustic loads owing to rocket separation, airflow, and injection/combustion of the fuel. Structural vibrations induced by mechanical loads cause the malfunction of vibration-sensitive components in a satellite, leading to failures during the launch process or an on-orbit mission. Therefore, in this study, a shape memory alloy-based vibration isolator was used on the connection between the launch vehicle and satellite to reduce the vibration transmission to a satellite. The vibration isolator exhibited a high performance in the vibration isolation, owing to the dynamic properties of super-elasticity and high damping. The vibration-reduction performance of the vibration isolator was experimentally verified using random vibration and acoustic tests in a structural thermal model of the satellite developed in the synthetic aperture radar technology experimental project. Owing to the super-elasticity and high attenuation characteristics of the vibration isolator, it was possible to significantly reduce the random vibration of the satellite in the launch environment. Although the mechanical load of the acoustic test mainly excited the antenna on the upper side of the satellite rather than the bottom side, the results of the acoustic test showed the same trend as the random vibration test. From this perspective, the vibration isolator can contribute to saving the costs required for satellite development. These advantages have made it possible to develop satellites according to the new space paradigm, which is a trend in the space industry worldwide.
Technical Efficiency Analysis of Layer and Broiler Poultry Farmers in Pakistan
Authors: Khan Nisar Ahmed , Ali Majid , Ahmad Nihal , Abid Muhammad Ali , Kusch-Brandt Sigrid
Published: October 2022

Achieving high production with limited resources is a major challenge faced by poultry farmers in countries with developing economies, such as Pakistan. Optimization of the technical efficiency (TE) of poultry business operations is a promising strategy. A representative sample of 210 poultry farms in the province of Punjab in Pakistan was analyzed for TE. The studied sample comprised 105 layer chicken farms (battery cage system, egg production) and 105 broiler chicken farms (environmental control shed system, meat production). A Cobb–Douglas stochastic frontier production analysis approach with the inefficiency effect model was used to simultaneously estimate TE levels and identify factors that influence efficiency. The results indicated that flock size, labor, feed, and water consumption are positively related to egg production, whereas vaccination was found to be insignificant. For broiler businesses, flock size, feed, and water consumption were positively related to the output, whereas labor and vaccination were found to be insignificant. The results of the TE inefficiency effect model revealed that farmer age, education, experience, access to credit, and access to extension services all had a significant and positive influence on the technical efficiency of both layer and broiler farmers. The estimated mean TE level of layer and broiler poultry farmers was 89% and 92%, respectively, evaluated against the benchmark of the identified frontier of efficient production with prevailing systems. The study concludes that it is possible to increase egg production by 11% and meat production by 8% by making more efficient use of the available resources and technology. To improve poultry farmers’ efficiency, policy interventions should focus more on the pronounced effects of variables such as education, farmer experience, credit access, and extension services.
Toxicological Effects of Silver and Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles on the Biological and Life Table Parameters of Helicoverpa armigera (Noctuidae: Lepidoptera)
Authors: Asghar Muhammad Shahbaz , Sarwar Zahid Mahmood , Almadiy Abdulrahman A. , Shami Ashwag , El Hadi Mohamed Rania Ali , Ahmed Nazeer , Waghulade Minakshi Sanjay , Alam Pravej , Abd Al Galil Fahd Mohammed
Published: October 2022

American bollworm Helicoverpa armigera (Hubner) is a notorious pest of different agronomical and horticultural crops. Different synthetic insecticides are recommended to control H. armigera but widespread and repeated use has led to pesticide resistance in this pest. It is, therefore, necessary to develop a novel strategy to manage the population of H. armigera. Nanotechnology is the most effective and eco-friendly approach to mitigate this problem. In the present study, the bioefficacy of green synthesized nanoparticles and two different silver and zinc oxide nanoparticles with different concentrations, viz. 100, 125, 150, 175 and 200 ppm were used against the larvae. UV-vis spectrophotometer, SEM and EDX were used for nanoparticle characterization. Data were recorded daily. The result showed that in silver nanoparticles maximum larval mortality was 97%, while in zinc oxide nanoparticles, 82% was recorded against the 3rd, 4th and 5th instar of H. armigera. The effect of nanoparticles on demographic parameters was also evaluated, which increases the net reproductive rates, mean generation time and intrinsic rate in the control group compared to the treated population. After bioassay, larval and pupal duration was prolonged in the treated population compared to the control. The longevity of males, females and fecundity was also reduced. This technique will be a valuable tool in integrated pest management regimens.
Shrimp-Waste-Derived Biochar Induces Metal Toxicity Tolerance of Wastewater-Irrigated Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa)
Authors: Mousa Magdi A. A. , Abo-Elyousr Kamal A. M. , Ibrahim Omer H. M. , Alshareef Nouf Owdah , Eissa Mamdouh A.
Published: October 2022

The scarcity of high-quality water resources may lead to the use of lower quality water for plant production. Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa) plants have great potential for human nutrition, but poor water quality, such as metal contamination in wastewater, affects the seed quality. This study aims to investigate the effects of shrimp-waste-derived biochar (SWB) on the uptake of toxic metals from wastewater by quinoa plants. Additionally, the study investigates how quinoa plants’ antioxidant defenses respond to wastewater and SWB treatments. Shrimp-waste-derived biochar (SWB) was prepared by pyrolysis at 350 °C for 3 h and added to the soil at the levels of 0, 1, and 2% (based on soil weight), which are namely C, SWB1, and SWB2, respectively. SWB was applied to quinoa plants cultivated in pots filled with sandy soil and irrigated with fresh or wastewater for a continuous 90 days. The wastewater was contaminated with manganese (Mn), iron (Fe), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), cadmium (Cd), and lead (Pb). Quinoa seeds that were irrigated with wastewater had Cd and Pb concentrations that were above the allowable levels (for human consumption) in the absence of biochar (C) or addition of SWB1. Wastewater significantly reduced quinoa growth and photosynthetic pigments, while SWB significantly mitigated the metal toxicity and improved growth. SWB2 significantly reduced the Pb and Cd concentrations in quinoa leaves by 29 and 30% compared with C. The Cd and Pb concentrations in quinoa seeds were safe for human consumption and below the maximum allowable limits when the soil was amended with SWB2. SWB improved the synthesis of photosynthetic pigments and increased the activity of antioxidant enzymes such as polyphenol oxidase and ascorbate peroxidase. SWB reduced the toxic metal availability and uptake, mitigated the oxidative stress, and minimized the levels of malondialdehyde and hydrogen peroxide. The SWB addition stimulated quinoa’s antioxidant defense and protected plant cells by eliminating reactive oxygen species. The addition of 2% (w/w) shrimp waste biochar improved the quality of quinoa seeds irrigated with wastewater and decreased their toxic metal content. The obtained results contribute to sustainable development and the exploitation of wastewater to irrigate quinoa plants in arid degraded soil; additionally, it also helps in the recycling of shrimp waste.
Measurement and Spatial–Temporal Characteristics of Agricultural Carbon Emission in China: An Internal Structural Perspective
Authors: Wen Shibin , Hu Yuxiang , Liu Hongman
Published: October 2022

The focus of world governance on climate change has been on the industrial and transport sectors, yet the agricultural sector produces a lot of greenhouse gases, and this has always been ignored. This paper focuses on China, one of the world’s largest agricultural countries, and it investigates its agriculture carbon emission from a new perspective of the internal structure of it, which is relatively under-researched. Carbon metrology, the emission factor method and kernel density estimations are used to analyze China’s agricultural carbon emissions structure and its regional differences and its dynamic evolution characteristics. We find that: (1) China’s total amount of agricultural carbon emissions showed a ladder-like upward trend, but the growth rate of it has gradually slowed down; the inter-provincial heterogeneity of the agricultural carbon emissions was obvious. (2) From the standpoint of the grain functional areas, the annual total amount of agricultural carbon emissions and the amount of carbon emissions of each carbon source in the major grain producing areas were significantly higher than those in the major grain sales areas and the production–sales balance areas, and the carbon emission intensity in the major grain producing areas was the lowest overall. (3) In regard to the internal structure, China’s agricultural carbon emissions mainly came from the livestock and poultry, rice planting and agricultural energy sectors; the proportion of carbon emissions that were caused by the agricultural materials, agricultural energy and soil increased in general, and the inter-provincial differences between them expanded, while the inter-provincial differences between livestock and poultry gradually decreased. The proportion of carbon emissions from the six major agricultural carbon sources showed a convergence trend, and their kernel density had a right tail phenomenon. Our research deepens the understanding of China’s agricultural carbon emission structure, contributes to the rational optimization of the agricultural structure, and helps the agriculture sector and the rural areas to reach the carbon peak.
Effects of Weed Control Treatments on Weed Composition and Yield Components of Winter Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and Winter Pea (Pisum sativum L.) Intercrops
Authors: Kristó István , Vályi-Nagy Marianna , Rácz Attila , Tar Melinda , Irmes Katalin , Szentpéteri Lajos , Ujj Apolka
Published: October 2022

Intercropping is an ancient and worldwide agricultural practice expected to become more prevalent in Hungary due to the accumulating impact of climate change. In this study, the plant association of pure winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and pure winter pea (Pisum sativum L.) was analyzed without weed control and with applied herbicides at different intervals (pre-emergence, early and late post-emergence) and different active herbicide ingredients. Two growing seasons, 2018–2019 and 2019–2020 were examined to compare weed composition and weed cover to evaluate the effect of the applied herbicides at different timings. To determine weed control efficiency, weed surveys were conducted six times in each growing season. The effect of cultivation methods (pure and mixed plots) on the development of plants was also measured by yield production analysis. Findings from these investigations indicate that there were significantly more weed species and occurrences of weeds in pure wheat and pure pea plots compared to mixed plots. In addition to cultivation and weed control treatments, meteorological events significantly influenced the development of the plants, and thus the yield components.
Transcriptome Analysis of ‘Kyoho’ Grapevine Leaves Identifies Heat Response Genes Involved in the Transcriptional Regulation of Photosynthesis and Abscisic Acid
Authors: Guo Rongrong , Lin Ling , Huang Guiyuan , Shi Xiaofang , Wei Rongfu , Han Jiayu , Zhou Sihong , Zhang Ying , Xie Taili , Bai Xianjin , Cao Xiongjun
Published: October 2022

Grapevine is a popular cultivated fruit throughout the world and heat stress is one of the most serious threats to viticulture. However, transcriptional responses, such as molecular properties of photosynthesis and abscisic acid biosynthesis, metabolism and signal transduction pathway of grapevine to heat stress, are still poorly understood. In this study, RNA-seq was carried out for thermostabilized grapevine ‘Kyoho’ leaves. Results showed that 685 and 469 genes were commonly down-regulated and up-regulated at three sampling time-points. The light-dependent reactions of photosynthesis was significantly enriched in up-regulated DEGs at 1 hpt and down-regulated DEGs at R24 hpt. Heat stress impaired the photosynthetic capacity of grapevine leaves, and there was a significant positive relationship between photosynthesis and stomatal conductance at short-term post-heat stress treatment, but the inhibition of HS on Pn was non-stomata limitation for a longer period. Photosystem (PS)Ⅱ was more sensitive to heat stress than PSⅠ, and PsbP, as well as Psb28, played important roles in response to heat stress. The abscisic acid (ABA) content in heat-stress-treated Kyoho plants was higher than that in the control at 1 hpt, but less in heat-stress-treated plants at 4 and R24 hpt, which was regulated by numerous genes involved in the ABA biosynthesis and catabolism pathways. These results help to understand the influence of heat stress on photosynthesis and ABA biosynthesis, metabolism and signal transduction pathway.
The Effect of Erosional Transformation of Soil Cover on the Stability of Soil Aggregates within Young Hummocky Moraine Landscapes in Northern Poland
Authors: Radziuk Hanna , Świtoniak Marcin
Published: October 2022

Aggregate stability is a crucial factor in predicting the development of the erosion process, and it is particularly important in landscapes with high heterogeneity of soil cover, such as young hummocky moraine uplands. The objective of the presented work was to estimate the influence of erosion on the properties of aggregates and analyze the variation of aggregate stability under different erosion-related alterations of soil cover. The conducted research indicates that erosion has led to a deterioration of the quality of soil structure in the upper parts of the slopes, which in turn may intensify the slope processes leading to faster truncation of the pedons. Both the differentiation of the soils themselves and the stability of the aggregates were very strongly linked to erosive transformations. The tops of the hills and the upper parts of the slopes are covered with completely or strongly eroded soils in which the aggregates have the least favorable characteristics. Due to the smallest amount of humus and the highest clay content, the soils have the largest share of soil clods, which are aggregates larger than 7 mm that may have formed in dry conditions (soil drought). The plow horizons of most eroded Eutric Regosols and strongly eroded Luvisols have very poor water resistance, similar to that of the subsoils. The main factor determining the low aggregate stability of Eutric Regosols is the number of secondary carbonates that lead to a rise in soil dispersion. Strongly eroded Haplic Luvisols have a low resistance to water due to relatively high clay content (20–26 percent). The higher stability of aggregates in soils with colluvial materials (Albic Luvisols, Mollic Gleysols, Endogleic Phaeozems) depends mainly on soil organic carbon content. The results showed the necessity for adaptation of land management practices to real condition and heterogeneity of soil cover.
Effects of Strip-Till and Simultaneous Fertilization at Three Soil Depths on Soil Biochemical and Biological Properties
Authors: Holatko Jiri , Hammerschmiedt Tereza , Kintl Antonin , Kucerik Jiri , Malicek Ondrej , Latal Oldrich , Baltazar Tivadar , Brtnicky Martin
Published: October 2022

In several studies, the discriminating factor in land use of arable soil is tilling, along with its depth and intensity. Reduced and no-till technologies are held to be beneficial for soil health. Strip-till reduces soil disruption and enables the application of liquid fertilizer directly in rows at different levels. The objective of the research reported here was to evaluate the effects of digestate application on the biochemical and microbiological properties of soil at various soil depths. Three doses of digestate (0, 20, and 40 m3∙ha−1) applied at three different soil depths (0–10, 10–15, and 15–20 cm) were tested in two seasons (2020 and 2021) of semi-operational field trials with maize cultivated according to strip-till practice. In 2020, a lower (20 m3∙ha−1) dose of digestate caused the most significant improvement in β-glucosidase, urease, and basal and L-alanine-induced respiration in topsoil (0–10 cm) and in oxidizable carbon in mid-soil (10–15 cm). In 2021, the most significant positive effect on arylsulfatase, N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase, urease, and all types of respiration were caused by higher (40 m3∙ha−1) digestate dose in mid-soil (10–15 cm). The benefits of the strip-till amended digestate in 2020, as revealed by respiration indicators, strongly decreased with soil depth. Finally, the markedly positive impacts of the digestate applied via the strip-till agromanagement technique were similar for three different depths of soil in 2021, verifying its benefits.
Phosphorus Availability from German Sewage Sludge Ashes to Plants Cultivated in Soilless Growing Media of Contrasting pH
Authors: Hauck Daniel , Lohr Dieter , Meinken Elke , Schmidhalter Urs
Published: October 2022

Sewage sludge ash (SSA) as a secondary phosphorus (P) source may help to conserve global rock phosphate deposits if used in the base fertilization of soilless growing media. Plant availability of SSA-P was studied in a pot experiment with marigolds in a peat-based growing medium of contrasting pH (4.5, 6.0). Six SSAs were included in the study and compared to water-soluble monocalcium phosphate (MCP) and rock phosphate (RockP). In addition to the efficacy of SSA-P, calcium chloride + diethylenetriaminepentaacetate (CAT) and calcium-acetate-lactate (CAL), as commonly used extractants in Germany to analyze plant-available P in growing media, were tested in terms of their ability to predict plant P uptake. No SSA reached the relative P use efficiency (rPUE) observed for MCP. However, at a growing medium pH of 4.5, the average rPUE for SSA was 70% of the MCP rPUE. Compared to RockP, at a growing medium pH of 6.0, SSAs resulted in an rPUE of nearly the same low level. In contrast, at pH 4.5, the rPUE from SSAs was mostly lower than that from RockP, and there were differences in rPUE among SSA origins. Therefore, in addition to a variation in particle size distribution, there might be differences in the P-bearing phase. Sewage sludge ashes represent a promising substitute for primary P sources only in crops requiring a low pH in the growing medium. The extractants CAT and CAL, on their own or in combination, did not reflect plant P uptake from SSA. To improve the prediction of plant-available SSA-P, solvent modifications or additional extractants might be promising and should be subjected to further research.
Productivity of Soybean under Projected Climate Change in a Semi-Arid Region of West Africa: Sensitivity of Current Production System
Authors: MacCarthy Dilys S. , Traore Pierre S. , Freduah Bright S. , Adiku Samuel G. K. , Dodor Daniel E. , Kumahor Samuel K.
Published: October 2022

The production of soybean is gaining more attention in West Africa. In light of projected changes in climate, there is a need to assess the potential impacts on yield productivity and variability among farmers. An evaluated GROPGRO module of the Decision Support System for Agro-technological Transfer (DSSAT) was used to simulate soybean productivity under both historical (1980–2009) and projected climate scenarios from multiple general circulation models (GCMs) under two representative concentration pathways (RCPs): 4.5 and 8.5. Agronomic data from 90 farms, as well as multiple soil profile data, were also used for the impact assessment. Climate change leads to a reduction (3% to 13.5% across GCMs and RCPs) in the productivity of soybean in Northern Ghana. However, elevated atmospheric carbon dioxide has the potential to offset the negative impact, resulting in increased (14.8% to 31.3% across GCMs and RCPs) productivity. The impact of climate change on yield varied widely amongst farms (with relative standard deviation (RSD) ranging between 17% and 35%) and across years (RSD of between 10% and 15%). Diversity in management practices, as well as differences in soils, explained the heterogeneity in impact among farms. Variability among farms was higher than that among years. The strategic management of cultural practices provides an option to enhance the resilience of soybean productivity among smallholders.
Assessment of Adaptation Status of Reintroduced Equus Przewalskii Based on Comparative Analysis of Fecal Bacteria with Those of Captive E. Przewalskii, Domestic Horse and Mongolian Wild Ass
Authors: Hu Dini , Wang Chen , Ente Make , Zhang Ke , Zhang Dong , Li Xuefeng , Li Kai , Chu Hongjun
Published: October 2022

Intestinal microbiota play an important role in the survival of the host. However, no study to date has elucidated the adjustment of intestinal microbiota of the host during rewilding. Thus, this study aims to describe the intestinal bacterial community of reintroduced Przewalski’s horse (RPH) after being released into their original habitat for approximately 20 years in comparison with that of captive Przewalski’s horse (CPH), sympatric domestic horse (DH) and Mongolian wild ass (MWA) by sequencing the 16S rRNA gene. The results showed that the prevalent bacterial communities were different among CPHs, RPHs, DHs and MWAs at the family level. NMDS and ANOSIM analysis showed that the pattern of bacterial community composition in captive equines was distinct from that in the wild groups. It is shown that some bacteria had significant differences among different taxa (p < 0.001), such as Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, Armatimonadetes, Clostrida, Bacteroidia, Clostridiales, Bacteroidales, Rikenellaceae and Bacteroidales_UCG-001. These bacteria were associated with the transition from in captive to in the wild (CPH and RPH), which reflected the change of environmental conditions. Meanwhile, Proteobacteria, Clostridia, Bacilli, Negativicutes, Gammaproteobacteria, Clostridiales, Bacillales, Selenomonadales, Pseudomonadales and Planococcaceae were the changed groups among RPHs, MWAs and DHs, which are related to feeding habits and diseases. Our results clearly showed the differences between intestinal microbiota in reintroduced animals and wild animals and led us to understand the survival state of reintroduced animals in the wild.
Assessing Performance and Safety of Feeding a Standardized Macleaya cordata Extract to Calves
Authors: Matulka Ray A. , Wickramasinghe Janaka , Dohms Juliane , Ribeiro Flavio Rodrigues Borges , Appuhamy Ranga
Published: October 2022

This study examined the effects of Sangrovit®, a Macleaya cordata plant extract (MCE) preparation on feed intake, growth, blood chemistry, and tissue-residue levels of calves. Twenty male and 20 female calves (~5 d of age) were assigned to one of four daily Sangrovit® doses: 0.0 and 0.0 (CTL), 2.0 and 4.0 (D1), 5.0 and 10.0 (D2), and 10.0 and 20.0 (D3) g/calf in pre-weaning (5 to 49 d of age) and post-weaning (50 to 95 d of age) periods, respectively. Sangrovit® doses were fed in milk replacer pre-weaning and top-dressed on calf starter post-weaning. Milk replacer and calf starter intake was recorded daily. Body weight, hematology, and serum chemistry were measured at 5, 49, and 95 d of age. Calves were slaughtered at 95 d of age for MCE tissue residue analysis. Compared to CTL, D1 increased milk-replacer intake (4.90 to 5.09 L/day), but decreased calf starter intake pre- (0.65 to 0.53 kg/d) and post-weaning (3.42 to 3.20 kg/d). No Sangrovit® dose affected average daily gain. The hematology and blood chemistry of all treatment groups fell within the ranges of healthy calves. Results showed no adverse effects of MCE on health and growth performance of calves when fed up to 10.0 g/calf/day pre-weaning and up to 20.0 g/calf/day post-weaning.
Formulating Diets for Improved Health Status of Pigs: Current Knowledge and Perspectives
Authors: Rodrigues Lucas A. , Koo Bonjin , Nyachoti Martin , Columbus Daniel A.
Published: October 2022

Our understanding of nutrition has been evolving to support both performance and immune status of pigs, particularly in disease-challenged animals which experience repartitioning of nutrients from growth towards the immune response. In this sense, it is critical to understand how stress may impact nutrient metabolism and the effects of nutritional interventions able to modulate organ (e.g., gastrointestinal tract) functionality and health. This will be pivotal in the development of effective diet formulation strategies in the context of improved animal performance and health. Therefore, this review will address qualitative and quantitative effects of immune system stimulation on voluntary feed intake and growth performance measurements in pigs. Due to the known repartitioning of nutrients, the effects of stimulating the immune system on nutrient requirements, stratified according to different challenge models, will be explored. Finally, different nutritional strategies (i.e., low protein, amino acid-supplemented diets; functional amino acid supplementation; dietary fiber level and source; diet complexity; organic acids; plant secondary metabolites) will be presented and discussed in the context of their possible role in enhancing the immune response and animal performance.