bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Anti-Heartbeat-Evoked Potentials Performance in Event-Related Potentials-Based Mental Workload Assessment
Authors: Park Sangin , Ha Jihyeon , Kim Laehyun
Published: October 2021

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of heartbeat-evoked potentials (HEPs) on the performance of an event-related potential (ERP)-based classification of mental workload (MWL). We produced low- and high-MWLs using a mental arithmetic task and measured the ERP response of 14 participants. ERP trials were divided into three conditions based on the effect of HEPs on ERPs: ERPHEP, containing the heartbeat in a period of 280–700ms in ERP epochs after the target; ERPA-HEP, not including the heartbeat within the same period; and ERPT, all trials including ERPA-HEPand ERPHEP. We then compared MWL classification performance using the amplitude and latency of the P600 ERP among the three conditions. The ERPA-HEPcondition achieved an accuracy of 100% using a radial basis function-support vector machine (with 10-fold cross-validation), showing an increase of 14.3 and 28.6% in accuracy compared to ERPT(85.7%) and ERPHEP(71.4%), respectively. The results suggest that evoked potentials caused by heartbeat overlapped or interfered with the ERPs and weakened the ERP response to stimuli. This study reveals the effect of the evoked potentials induced by heartbeats on the performance of the MWL classification based on ERPs.
Prediction and Utilization of Malondialdehyde in Exotic Pine Under Drought Stress Using Near-Infrared Spectroscopy
Authors: Zhang Yini , Luan Qifu , Jiang Jingmin , Li Yanjie
Published: October 2021

Drought is a major abiotic stress that adversely affects the growth and productivity of plants. Malondialdehyde (MDA), a substance produced by membrane lipids in response to reactive oxygen species (ROS), can be used as a drought indicator to evaluate the degree of plasma membrane damage and the ability of plants to drought stress tolerance. Still measuring MDA is usually a labor- and time-consuming task. In this study, near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy combined with partial least squares (PLS) was used to obtain rapid and high-throughput measurements of MDA, and the application of this technique to plant drought stress experiments was also investigated. Two exotic conifer tree species, namely, slash pine (Pinus elliottii) and loblolly pine (Pinus taeda), were used as plant material exposed to drought stress; different types of spectral preprocessing methods and important feature-selection algorithms were applied to the PLS model to calibrate it and obtain the best MDA-predicting model. The results show that the best PLS model is established via the combined treatment of detrended variable–significant multivariate correlation algorithm (DET-sMC), where latent variables (LVs) were 6. This model has a respectable predictive capability, with a correlation coefficient (R2) of 0.66, a root mean square error (RMSE) of 2.28%, and a residual prediction deviation (RPD) of 1.51, and it was successfully implemented in drought stress experiments as a reliable and non-destructive method to detect the MDA content in real time.
The Demands of Simple and Complex Arithmetic Word Problems on Language and Cognitive Resources
Authors: Hickendorff Marian
Published: October 2021

Solving arithmetic word problems requires constructing a situation model based on the problem text and translating that into a mathematical model. As such, word problem solving makes demands on students’ language comprehension and their domain-general cognitive resources. These demands may decrease when students get more experienced and use strategies that do not require fully understanding the situation presented in the problem. The current study aims to address this hypothesis. Students (N=444) from third to sixth grade solved a paper-and-pencil task with 48 mathematics problems, comprising symbolic arithmetic problems and standard word problems, as well as more complex word problems that involve two arithmetic steps or include irrelevant numerical information. Their performance was analyzed with multilevel logistic regression analyses. Results showed that within each grade, performance on the different problem types did not differ, suggesting that already in third-grade students seem helped nor hindered by presenting arithmetic problems in a story, even if that story contains irrelevant numerical information. Non-verbal reasoning was more important in standard word problems than in arithmetic problems in symbolic format in one-step arithmetic, and reading comprehension was more important in solving two-step arithmetic word problems than in one-step arithmetic word problems.
Research on Sentiment Analysis and Satisfaction Evaluation of Online Teaching in Universities During Epidemic Prevention
Authors: Zhang Jing
Published: October 2021

Sentiment analysis of online and offline integrated teaching in universities is being paid more and more attention. Many universities have carried out online teaching activities. However, due to the lack of face-to-face teaching, the lack of emotional communication is the key problem affecting the quality of online teaching. We analyze the relations from the perspectives of the change of teaching mode, the reconstruction of teacher-student relationship, and the transmission of emotional attitude of teachers and students in this paper. Then based on the Bayesian network (BN) theory, the satisfaction of online teaching can be evaluated from the aspects of emotion analysis, learning investment, and teaching interaction. Further, some suggestions are put forward to improve the satisfaction of online teaching.
Hunting for Life on Mars by Studying Life on Earth
Authors: Macey Michael C. , Grand Ann , Fox-Powell Mark , Ramkissoon Nisha K. , Cousins Claire R. , Olsson-Francis Karen
Published: October 2021

Modern-day Mars is a dry, harsh environment with no surface water, but billions of years ago it might have been water-rich, like Earth. Scientists believe that, as water was lost on Mars, the remaining water would have become increasingly salty and rich in sulphur. By researching environments on Earth with a similar chemistry, we can develop hypotheses about whether life could have existed on Mars. In our research, we studied Colour Peak, a sulphur-rich, salty spring system in the Canadian High Arctic. This environment contains bacteria that use sulphur to get their energy. By studying water and sediment samples from this region, we confirmed that bacteria that used sulphur as an energy source could potentially have lived on Mars. These results can help scientists who are analysing data from Mars missions to identify evidence of former life on Mars.
Biological Function of Short-Chain Fatty Acids and Its Regulation on Intestinal Health of Poultry
Authors: Liu Lixuan , Li Qingqing , Yang Yajin , Guo Aiwei
Published: October 2021

Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) are metabolites generated by bacterial fermentation of dietary fiber (DF) in the hindgut. SCFAs are mainly composed of acetate, propionate and butyrate. Many studies have shown that SCFAs play a significant role in the regulation of intestinal health in poultry. SCFAs are primarily absorbed from the intestine and used by enterocytes as a key substrate for energy production. SCFAs can also inhibit the invasion and colonization of pathogens by lowering the intestinal pH. Additionally, butyrate inhibits the expression of nitric oxide synthase (NOS), which encodes inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in intestinal cells via the PPAR-γ pathway. This pathway causes significant reduction of iNOS and nitrate, and inhibits the proliferation of Enterobacteriaceae to maintain overall intestinal homeostasis. SCFAs can enhance the immune response by stimulating cytokine production (e.g. TNF-α, IL-2, IL-6, and IL-10) in the immune cells of the host. Similarly, it has been established that SCFAs promote the differentiation of T cells into T regulatory cells (Tregs) and expansion by binding to receptors, such as Toll-like receptors (TLR) and G protein-coupled receptors (GPRs), on immune cells. SCFAs have been shown to repair intestinal mucosa and alleviate intestinal inflammation by activating GPRs, inhibiting histone deacetylases (HDACs), and downregulating the expression of pro-inflammatory factor genes. Butyrate improves tight-junction-dependent intestinal barrier function by promoting tight junction (TJ) assembly. In recent years, the demand for banning antibiotics has increased in poultry production. Therefore, it is extremely important to maintain the intestinal health and sustainable production of poultry. Taking nutrition strategies is important to regulate SCFA production by supplementing dietary fiber and prebiotics, SCFA-producing bacteria (SPB), and additives in poultry diet. However, excessive SCFAs will lead to the enteritis in poultry production. There may be an optimal level and proportion of SCFAs in poultry intestine, which benefits to gut health of poultry. This review summarizes the biological functions of SCFAs and their role in gut health, as well as nutritional strategies to regulate SCFA production in the poultry gut.
La integración de la emoción en psicoterapia
Authors: S. Greenberg Leslie , Korman Lorne
Published: October 2021

En este artículo se discute la naturaleza de la emoción, desde la perspectiva de las teorías modernas cognitivas y de evolución. Se presenta una medida empírica de los episodios de emoción del cliente que implica los componentes cognitivos, afectivos, y motivacionales en el proceso emocional. Se sostiene que la emoción juega un rol importante en la terapia, ofreciendo información sobre las reacciones, necesidades, pensamientos, y evaluaciones de los clientes. Ya que el procesamiento emocional es integral a el funcionamiento humano adaptativo, los esquemas que dirigen el procesamiento afectivo constituyen los objetivos terapéuticos claves. Finalmente, se argumenta que se necesitan intervenciones diferenciales centradas emocionalmente para diferentes tipos de problemas emocionales
Las emociones del terapeuta
Authors: Fruggeri Laura
Published: October 2021

La autora lleva cabo una reflexión sobre el tema de las emociones del terapeuta en conexión con el proceso de autoobservación que caracteriza cada acción terapéutica. Con ello se intenta evitar los riesgos del eclecticismo y del irracionalismo que a veces se presentan en el debate de los terapeutas familiares sobre las emociones y de reconducir, en cambio este aspecto importante del proceso terapéutico al ámbito de la discusión sobre el método terapéutico. Con este objetivo, después de haber considerado los diversos modos en los que el tema de las emociones del terapeuta ha sido tratado en la literatura sistémica, la autora propone un enfoque según el cual las emociones se deben resituar en la interdependencia que conecta los sistemas cognitivo, afectivo y comportamental, a través de la cual se construye la relación terapéutica.
Reconocimiento emocional en psicoterapia
Authors: Machado Paulo P.P
Published: October 2021

Existe un consenso creciente respecto a la importancia de las emociones en psicoterapia y en los procesos de experiencia y cambio humanos. Aunque los diferentes enfoques psicoterapéuticos adscriben roles diferentes a los procesos emocionales, todos enfatizan su importancia relativa. La capacidad de los terapeutas para identificar acertadamente los estados emocionales de sus clientes se concibe como una habilidad clínica importante. Sin embargo, poco sabemos de cómo afecta la formación terapéutica a esa habilidad. Este artículo revisa la literatura relevante sobre el reconocimiento emocional y discute algunas de sus implicaciones para el área de la psicoterapia y la psicología clínica.
Experiencia en la integracion de tecnicas de psicoterapia en grupos semiestructurados.
Authors: González-Méndez Echeverría Heriberto
Published: October 2021

Este artículo expone nuestra experiencia en la práctica con un modelo semiestructurado, donde hemos utilizado alternativamente terapia individual y grupal, e integrado diversas técnicas provenientes de los enfoques Humanista, sistémico y cognitivo.
Del eclecticismo a la síntesis: hacia una integración psicoterapéutica con menos costuras.
Authors: L. Wachtel Paul
Published: October 2021

Incluso en la práctica de los terapeutas de orientación integradora, lo que se ve más a menudo es una combinación de elementos derivados de diversas orientaciones teóricas más que una verdadera síntesis. Hay, sin embargo, ocasiones en que se consigue algo más cercano a la verdadera integración, y merece la pena examinar esos casos, pues pueden dar indicios sobre cómo se puede lograr la integración de una manera más esmerada. El presente artículo examina material clínico que representa un paso más en los esfuerzos del autor por aproximarse a una síntesis más plena que vaya más allá de la simple combinación de elementos o de diferentes alternativas de tratamiento. Se expone la relevancia para el trabajo terapeútico descrito de conceptos teóricos centrados en el círculo vicioso.
El efecto integrador de la reformulacion: psicoterapia cognitivo-analitica en un paciente con un trastorno borderline de la personalidad.
Authors: Ryle Anthony , Beard Hilary
Published: October 2021

Se presenta el impacto de 26 sesiones de Psicoterapia Cognitivo Analítica en una paciente borderline a través de los informes dados por el paciente en las entrevistas de valoración durante el seguimiento. Se sugieren una gran cantidad de cuestiones de interés práctico y teórico.
SENSE: A Flow-Down Semantics-Based Requirements Engineering Framework
Authors: Kravari Kalliopi , Antoniou Christina , Bassiliades Nick
Published: October 2021

The processes involved in requirements engineering are some of the most, if not the most, important steps in systems development. The need for well-defined requirements remains a critical issue for the development of any system. Describing the structure and behavior of a system could be proven vague, leading to uncertainties, restrictions, or improper functioning of the system that would be hard to fix later. In this context, this article proposes SENSE, a framework based on standardized expressions of natural language with well-defined semantics, called boilerplates, that support a flow-down procedure for requirement management. This framework integrates sets of boilerplates and proposes the most appropriate of them, depending, among other considerations, on the type of requirement and the developing system, while providing validity and completeness verification checks using the minimum consistent set of formalities and languages. SENSE is a consistent and easily understood framework that allows engineers to use formal languages and semantics rather than the traditional natural languages and machine learning techniques, optimizing the requirement development. The main aim of SENSE is to provide a complete process of the production and standardization of the requirements by using semantics, ontologies, and appropriate NLP techniques. Furthermore, SENSE performs the necessary verifications by using SPARQL (SPIN) queries to support requirement management.
The Stock Index Prediction Based on SVR Model with Bat Optimization Algorithm
Authors: Zheng Jianguo , Wang Yilin , Li Shihan , Chen Hancong
Published: October 2021

Accurate stock market prediction models can provide investors with convenient tools to make better data-based decisions and judgments. Moreover, retail investors and institutional investors could reduce their investment risk by selecting the optimal stock index with the help of these models. Predicting stock index price is one of the most effective tools for risk management and portfolio diversification. The continuous improvement of the accuracy of stock index price forecasts can promote the improvement and maturity of China’s capital market supervision and investment. It is also an important guarantee for China to further accelerate structural reforms and manufacturing transformation and upgrading. In response to this problem, this paper introduces the bat algorithm to optimize the three free parameters of the SVR machine learning model, constructs the BA-SVR hybrid model, and forecasts the closing prices of 18 stock indexes in Chinese stock market. The total sample comes from 15 January 2016 (the 10th trading day in 2016) to 31 December 2020. We select the last 20, 60, and 250 days of whole sample data as test sets for short-term, mid-term, and long-term forecast, respectively. The empirical results show that the BA-SVR model outperforms the polynomial kernel SVR model and sigmoid kernel SVR model without optimized initial parameters. In the robustness test part, we use the stationary time series data after the first-order difference of six selected characteristics to re-predict. Compared with the random forest model and ANN model, the prediction performance of the BA-SVR model is still significant. This paper also provides a new perspective on the methods of stock index forecasting and the application of bat algorithms in the financial field.
Sound Enhancement of Orthotropic Sound Radiation Plates Using Line Loads and Considering Resonance Characteristics
Authors: Nayan Ahmad , Kam Tai Yan
Published: October 2021

A new vibro-acoustic method is presented to analyze the sound radiation behavior of orthotropic panel-form sound radiators using strip-type exciters to exert line loads to the panels for sound radiation. The simple first-order shear deformation theory together with the Ritz method is used to formulate the proposed method that makes the vibro-acoustic analysis of elastically restrained stiffened orthotropic plates more computationally efficient than the methods formulated on the basis of the other shear deformation theories. An elastically restrained orthotropic plate consisting of two parallel strip-type exciters was tested to measure the experimental sound pressure level curve for validating the effectiveness and accuracy of the proposed method. The resonance characteristics (natural frequency and mode shape) detrimental to sound radiation are identified in the vibro-acoustic analysis of the orthotropic plate. For any orthotropic sound radiation plate, based on the detrimental mode shapes, a practical procedure is presented to design the line load locations on the plate to suppress the major sound pressure level dips for enhancing the smoothness of the plate sound pressure level curve. For illustration, the sound radiation enhancement of orthotropic plates with different fiber orientations for aspect ratios equal to 3, 2, and 1 subjected to one or two line loads is conducted using the proposed procedure. The results for the cases with two line loads perpendicular to the fiber direction and located at the nodal lines of the major detrimental mode shape may find applications in designing orthotropic panel-form speakers with relatively smooth sound pressure level curves.
An Actuator Concept for Adaptive Concrete Columns
Authors: Steffen Simon , Nitzlader Markus , Burghardt Timon , Binz Hansgeorg , Blandini Lucio , Sobek Werner
Published: October 2021

The building industry accounts for half of the global resource consumption and roughly one third of global CO2 emissions. Global population growth and increasing resource scarcities require engineers and architects to build for more people with less material and emissions. One promising solution are adaptive load-bearing structures. Here, the load-bearing structure is equipped with actuators, sensors, and a control unit which allows the structure to adapt to different load cases, resulting in substantial material savings. While the first prototypes use industry standard actuators to manipulate deformations and stress states, it is essential to develop actuator concepts which fit the specific requirements of civil engineering structures. This paper introduces new concepts for linear actuators, developed within the Collaborative Research Centre (SFB) 1244 Adaptive Skins and Structures for the Built Environment of Tomorrow, which can be used as adaptive concrete columns. The concept of an actuator which actuates a concrete column by external compression through hydraulic pressure is discussed in further detail. This concept allows for controlled axial extension while also increasing the compressive strength of the concrete column.
A Pilot Study of Muscle Force between Normal Shoes and Bionic Shoes during Men Walking and Running Stance Phase Using Opensim
Authors: Zhou Huiyu , Xu Datao , Quan Wenjing , Liang Minjun , Ugbolue Ukadike Chris , Baker Julien S. , Gu Yaodong
Published: October 2021

The original idea for bionic shoes (BSs) involves combining the function of unstable foot conditions and the structure of the human plantar. The purpose of this study was to investigate the differences between the normal shoes (NS) and the BS during the stance phases of walking and running. A total of 15 Chinese males from Ningbo University were recruited for this study (age: 24.3 ± 2.01 years; height: 176.25 ± 7.11 cm, body weight (BW): 75.75 ± 8.35 kg). The participants were asked to perform a walking and running task. Statistical parametric mapping (SPM) analysis was used to investigate any differences between NSs and BSs during the walking and running stance phases. The results demonstrated that there were significant differences found (21.23–28.24%, p = 0.040; 84.47–100%, p = 0.017) in hip extension and flexion between the NS and the BS during the walking stance phase. There were no significant differences found in ankle and moment during the running stance phase. Significant differences were found in the rectus femoris (5.29–6.21%; p = 0.047), tibialis anterior (14.37–16.40%; p = 0.038), and medial gastrocnemius (25.55–46.86%; p < 0.001) between the NS and the BS during the walking stance phase. Significant differences were found in rectus femoris (12.83–13.10%, p = 0.049; 15.89–80.19%, p < 0.001), tibialis anterior (15.85–18.31%, p = 0.039; 21.14–24.71%, p = 0.030), medial gastrocnemius (80.70–90.44%; p = 0.007), and lateral gastrocnemius (11.16–27.93%, p < 0.001; 62.20–65.63%, p = 0.032; 77.56–93.45%, p < 0.001) between the NS and the BS during the running stance phase. These findings indicate that BSs are more efficient for muscle control than unstable shoes and maybe suitable for rehabilitation training.
Investigation of the Dynamics of a 2-DoF Actuation Unit Cell for a Cooperative Electrostatic Actuation System
Authors: Albukhari Almothana , Mescheder Ulrich
Published: October 2021

The mechanism of the inchworm motor, which overcomes the intrinsic displacement and force limitations of MEMS electrostatic actuators, has undergone constant development in the past few decades. In this work, the electrostatic actuation unit cell (AUC) that is designed to cooperate with many other counterparts in a novel concept of a modular-like cooperative actuator system is examined. First, the cooperative system is briefly discussed. A simplified analytical model of the AUC, which is a 2-Degree-of-Freedom (2-DoF) gap-closing actuator (GCA), is presented, taking into account the major source of dissipation in the system, the squeeze-film damping (SQFD). Then, the results of a series of coupled-field numerical simulation studies by the Finite Element Method (FEM) on parameterized models of the AUC are shown, whereby sensible comparisons with available analytical models from the literature are made. The numerical simulations that focused on the dynamic behavior of the AUC highlighted the substantial influence of the SQFD on the pull-in and pull-out times, and revealed how these performance characteristics are considerably determined by the structure’s height. It was found that the pull-out time is the critical parameter for the dynamic behavior of the AUC, and that a larger damping profile significantly shortens the actuator cycle time as a consequence.
The Effect of Sustainability on New Product Development in Manufacturing—Internal and External Practices
Authors: Ahmadi-Gh Zahra , Bello-Pintado Alejandro
Published: October 2021

The purpose of this paper is to analyse the link between the adoption of sustainability practices and new product development (NPD) in manufacturing companies. From a triple bottom line (TBL) perspective and considering different theoretical approaches, this study hypothesises on the effect of both internal and external sustainability practices, distinguishing between collaborative and controlling initiatives, on the success of new products. Using a unique database of 281 companies across three industries taken from the fourth round of the High-Performance Manufacturing project, the findings shows that both monitoring and collaborative actions with suppliers demonstrate positive impacts on NPD success. Internal sustainability practices do not have a direct effect on NPD success but are determinant in supporting external sustainability practices.
Generalized Guidance Formulation for Impact Angle Interception with Physical Constraints
Authors: Kim Hyeong-Geun , Lee Jun-Yong
Published: October 2021

This paper proposes an optimal impact angle control guidance law for homing missiles with a narrow field-of-view of the seekers. As groundwork for designing a guidance law, we first present a general guidance structure that can achieve any terminal constraint of the line-of-sight rate based on the optimal control theory. We configure the desired profile of the line-of-sight rate using a saturation function whose exact form is determined to satisfy the required boundary conditions. By combining the line-of-sight rate profile with the optimal guidance structure, we develop a guidance law that achieves an impact angle interception with the field-of-view constraint. Herein, as the entire guidance structure is derived based on exact kinematics without any approximation, the proposed law ensures the accurate impact angle interception for various engagement scenarios. This precise consideration of the engagement kinematics also accurately ensures the energy optimality of preventing the excessive use of control inputs when homing. To evaluate the performance of the proposed method, numerical simulations with various engagement scenarios are conducted, and the results demonstrate that the proposed law allows missiles to accurately intercept their targets with the desired impact angles and without violating the prescribed field-of-view constraint.
Nonlinear Aeroelastic Simulations and Stability Analysis of the Pazy Wing Aeroelastic Benchmark
Authors: Hilger Jonathan , Ritter Markus Raimund
Published: October 2021

The Pazy wing aeroelastic benchmark is a highly flexible wind tunnel model investigated in the Large Deflection Working Group as part of the Third Aeroelastic Prediction Workshop. Due to the design of the model, very large elastic deformations in the order of 50% span are generated at highest dynamic pressures and angles of attack in the wind tunnel. This paper presents static coupling simulations and stability analyses for selected onflow velocities and angles of attack. Therefore, an aeroelastic solver developed at the German Aerospace Center (DLR) is used for static coupling simulations, which couples a vortex lattice method with the commercial finite element solver MSC Nastran. For the stability analysis, a linearised aerodynamic model is derived analytically from the unsteady vortex lattice method and integrated with a modal structural model into a monolithic aeroelastic discrete-time state-space model. The aeroelastic stability is then determined by calculating the eigenvalues of the system’s dynamics matrix. It is shown that the stability of the wing in terms of flutter changes significantly with increasing deflection and is heavily influenced by the change in modal properties, i.e., structural eigenvalues and eigenvectors.
Method for Estimating Canopy Thickness Using Ultrasonic Sensor Technology
Authors: Zhou Huitao , Jia Weidong , Li Yong , Ou Mingxiong
Published: October 2021

The accurate detection of canopy characteristics is the basis of precise variable spraying. Canopy characteristics such as canopy density, thickness and volume are needed to vary the pesticide application rate and adjust the spray flow rate and air supply volume. Canopy thickness is an important canopy dimension for the calculation of tree canopy volume in pesticide variable spraying. With regard to the phenomenon of ultrasonic waves with multiple reflections and the further analysis of echo signals, we found that there is a proportional relationship between the canopy thickness and echo interval time. In this paper, we propose a method to calculate canopy thickness using echo signals that come from ultrasonic sensors. To investigate the application of this method, we conducted a set of lab-based experiments with a simulated canopy. The results show that we can accurately estimate canopy thickness when the detection distance, canopy density, and canopy thickness range between 0.5and 1.5 m, 1.2 and 1.4, and 0.3and 0.6 m, respectively. The relative error between the estimated value and actual value of the simulated canopy thickness is no higher than 8.8%. To compare our lab results with trees in the field, we measured canopy thickness from three naturally occurring Osmanthus trees (Osmanthus fragrans Lour). The results showed that the mean relative errors of three Osmanthus trees are 19.2%, 19.4% and 18.8%, respectively. These results can be used to improve measurements for agricultural production that includes both orchards and facilities by providing a reference point for the precise application of variable spraying.
Infrared Thermography of the Mammary Gland in Sows with Regard to Health and Performance
Authors: Rosengart Stephan , Chuppava Bussarakam , Schubert Dana Carina , Trost Lea-Sophie , Henne Hubert , Tetens Jens , Traulsen Imke , Deermann Ansgar , Visscher Christian , Wendt Michael
Published: October 2021

Monitoring of sows’ health is the key to preventing and controlling diseases in sows, and it guarantees optimal rearing conditions for piglets. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between the health status of sows shortly after parturition, and to analyze thermographic images of the mammary gland and the sows’ performance. Clinical examination of a total of 513 db.Viktoria hybrid sows was bundled individually using a modified score system. According to this, animals were divided into three health classes: healthy, clinically suspicious, and diseased. Simultaneously, the mammary glands were investigated by infrared thermography. Total born piglets (TBP), number of piglets born alive (NBA), and the daily weight gain of the piglets were significantly lower in the diseased group (p < 0.05). Regarding the results of the thermographic images of the mammary gland, significantly higher mean value of the warmest pixels was found in the diseased group (38.3 °C ± 0.57), while the significantly lowest value was reported in the healthy group (37.2 °C ± 0.54; p < 0.05). The results of this study show that thermography of the mammary gland at birth contains information that can help to identify diseased animals whose disease has negative effects on their piglets.
An Octopus-Inspired Bionic Flexible Gripper for Apple Grasping
Authors: Pi Jie , Liu Jun , Zhou Kehong , Qian Mingyan
Published: October 2021

When an octopus grasps something, the rigidity of its tentacle can change greatly, which allowing for unlimited freedom, agility, and precision. Inspired by this, a three-finger flexible bionic robot gripper was designed for apple picking. First, a flexible chamber finger was designed to drive the gripper finger to elongate, shorten, and bend, which works through a process of inflating and deflating. Further, we proposed a three-finger mode to achieve two kinds of motion states: grasping and relaxing, by simulating the movement of an octopus grasping at something. In this paper, we evaluated the bending property of the designed flexible bionic gripper through an apple grasping experiment. The experimental results show that the 100.0 g bionic gripper can load an apple with a weight of 246.5~350.0 g and a diameter of 69.0~99.0 mm, and the grasping success rate is 100%. It has a good grasping performance. Compared to other soft grippers, the proposed bionic flexible gripper has the advantages of being lightweight, and having good cushioning, low driving air pressure, and a strong grasping force.
Bioeconomic Modelling to Assess the Impacts of Using Native Shrubs on the Marginal Portions of the Sheep and Beef Hill Country Farms in New Zealand
Authors: Wangui James Chege , Kenyon Paul R. , Tozer Peter R. , Millner James P. , Pain Sarah J.
Published: October 2021

New Zealand hill country sheep and beef farms contain land of various slope classes. The steepest slopes have the lowest pasture productivity and livestock carrying capacity and are the most vulnerable to soil mass movements. A potential management option for these areas of a farm is the planting of native shrubs which are browsable and provide erosion control, biodiversity, and a source of carbon credits. A bioeconomic whole farm model was developed by adding a native shrub sub-model to an existing hill country sheep and beef enterprise model to assess the impacts on feed supply, flock dynamics, and farm economics of converting 10% (56.4 hectares) of the entire farm, focusing on the steep slope areas, to native shrubs over a 50-year period. Two native shrub planting rates of 10% and 20% per year of the allocated area were compared to the status quo of no (0%) native shrub plantings. Mean annual feed supply dropped by 6.6% and 7.1% causing a reduction in flock size by 10.9% and 11.6% for the 10% and 20% planting rates, respectively, relative to 0% native shrub over the 50 years. Native shrub expenses exceeded carbon income for both planting rates and, together with reduced income from sheep flock, resulted in lower mean annual discounted total sheep enterprise cash operating surplus for the 10% (New Zealand Dollar (NZD) 20,522) and 20% (NZD 19,532) planting scenarios compared to 0% native shrubs (NZD 22,270). All planting scenarios had positive Net Present Value (NPV) and was highest for the 0% native shrubs compared to planting rates. Break-even carbon price was higher than the modelled carbon price (NZD 32/ New Zealand Emission Unit (NZU)) for both planting rates. Combined, this data indicates planting native shrubs on 10% of the farm at the modelled planting rates and carbon price would result in a reduction in farm sheep enterprise income. It can be concluded from the study that a higher carbon price above the break-even can make native shrubs attractive in the farming system.
Agronomic and Environmental Performances of On-Farm Compost Production and Application in an Organic Vegetable Rotation
Authors: Persiani Alessandro , Montemurro Francesco , Diacono Mariangela
Published: October 2021

Horticultural crops produce huge amounts of wastes due to the large difference between total and marketable yields, and plant residues. The biological stabilization and sanitization of these organic materials directly on-farm through a simple technique such as composting may be a feasible and sustainable management strategy. The objectives of this research were to (i) estimate the sustainability and the energy impact of the on-farm composting process; (ii) to evaluate the agronomic performance and sustainability of the compost application, compared to a commercial organic fertilizer; and (iii) to identify the management and environmental hotspots. To accomplish these aims, a composting process was set up and monitored using the organic wastes and residues produced in the experimental farm. The compost produced was compared to a commercial organic fertilizer in combination with the use of cover crops in the rotation, in a two-year pepper cultivation. All processes were assessed using an energy analysis and a carbon stocks and emissions evaluation. Our findings point out that the composting process on-farm was environmentally sustainable in terms of energy consumption and carbon emissions and produced a good quality fertilizer. The use of this compost determined the best agronomic performance, especially when it was combined with other agro-ecological techniques. The yield values were slightly higher and statistically comparable with the commercial fertilizer ones. Moreover, the treatments that included the compost were most energy efficient and showed the best compromise between C emissions and C stocks.
Agronomic Effects of Tectona grandis Biochar from Wood Residues on the Growth of Young Cedrela odorata Plants in a Nursery
Authors: Rodríguez Solís Arantxa , Badilla Valverde Yorleny , Moya Róger
Published: October 2021

Biochar from agroforestry biomass residues is an alternative source of fertilizers for improving the soil fertility. In Costa Rica, Cedrela odorata is planted in pure plantations and agroforestry systems and different types of substrates are used in the nursery to enhance the growth and performance of the young saplings. The main objective of the present study was to evaluate the growth (in height, diameter, biomass) and distribution of carbon (C), hydrogen (H), and nitrogen (N) for C. odorata plants in a nursery with different application rates of biochar produced from Tectona grandis wood residues. The results showed that the above-measured variables were statistically affected by different application rates of the biochar. The stem diameter, total height, number of leaves, and height increment were statistically significantly higher in the substrate with an application rate of 25–50 tons/ha, in contrast to the 0 and 75 tons/ha application rates, which were statistically the lowest. As for the levels of C, H, and N, there were differences, with the highest values of N and C being in the leaves and stem with the 50 tons/ha application rate and the highest values of H for the 75 tons/ha application rate. The above results showed that applying biochar obtained from T. grandis residues improved soil conditions, resulting in better growth of C. odorata saplings with an application rate of 25 and 50 tons/ha.
Biochemical and Physiological Responses of Thermostable Wheat Genotypes for Agronomic Yield under Heat Stress during Reproductive Stages
Authors: Alghabari Fahad , Shah Zahid Hussain , Elfeel Abdalla Ahmed , Alyami Jaber Hussain
Published: October 2021

Wheat is a globally important crop used as a main staple food in various countries of the world. The current study was conducted with the objective to evaluate the effect of a high temperature (HT) on osmolytes (starch, sucrose, total soluble sugars, total soluble proteins and proline), physiological parameters (Chl-a, Chl-b, photosynthesis rate, transpiration rate and stomatal conductance), antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, catalase and peroxidase) and agronomic traits (flag leaf area, spike length, and thousand grain weight) during the grain filling and anthesis stages of wheat cultivars (Fakhr-e-Bhakar, Raj-3765, Jimai-22 and Bayraktar-2000) collected from different regions of the world. Separate experiments for both stages were conducted in a glasshouse and treated with two different temperature regimes, i.e., optimum (OT) (24 °C day; 14 °C night) and high temperature (HT) (32 °C day; 22 °C night) in RCBD for two weeks. The data for osmolytes, antioxidant enzymes and physiological contents were collected at days 3, 5, 7, 9 and 13 after the start of plant stress, while the agronomic traits were collected at maturity. The data obtained were subjected to a statistical analysis using the statistix8.1 and R-program. HT stress significantly reduced all the traits except for the membrane damage, transpiration rate, proline and total soluble sugars, whose values increased considerably in the genotype Bayraktar-2000. However, under both regimes of temperature Fakhr-e-Bhakkar showed a high tolerance against HT stress, as revealed by physiological, biochemical and agronomic evaluations. Moreover, correlation, PCA and heat map analyses indicated that all types of traits are significantly interconnected in determining the crop potential to sustain its growth under HT stress.
Complete Genome Sequencing of Field Isolates of Peste des Petits Ruminants Virus from Tanzania Revealed a High Nucleotide Identity with Lineage III PPR Viruses
Authors: Kinimi Edson , Mahapatra Mana , Kgotlele Tebogo , Makange Mariam R. , Tennakoon Chandana , Njeumi Felix , Odongo Steven , Muyldermans Serge , Kock Richard , Parida Satya , Rweyemamu Mark , Misinzo Gerald
Published: October 2021

Peste des petits ruminants virus (PPRV) causes a highly devastating disease of sheep and goats that threatens food security, small ruminant production and susceptible endangered wild ruminants. With policy directed towards achieving global PPR eradication, the establishment of cost-effective genomic surveillance tools is critical where PPR is endemic. Genomic data can provide sufficient in-depth information to identify the pockets of endemicity responsible for PPRV persistence and viral evolution, and direct an appropriate vaccination response. Yet, access to the required sequencing technology is low in resource-limited settings and is compounded by the difficulty of transporting clinical samples from wildlife across international borders due to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) of Wild Fauna and Flora, and Nagoya Protocol regulations. Oxford nanopore MinION sequencing technology has recently demonstrated an extraordinary performance in the sequencing of PPRV due to its rapidity, utility in endemic countries and comparatively low cost per sample when compared to other whole-genome (WGS) sequencing platforms. In the present study, Oxford nanopore MinION sequencing was utilised to generate complete genomes of PPRV isolates collected from infected goats in Ngorongoro and Momba districts in the northern and southern highlands of Tanzania during 2016 and 2018, respectively. The tiling multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was carried out with twenty-five pairs of long-read primers. The resulting PCR amplicons were used for nanopore library preparation and sequencing. The analysis of output data was complete genomes of PPRV, produced within four hours of sequencing (accession numbers: MW960272 and MZ322753). Phylogenetic analysis of the complete genomes revealed a high nucleotide identity, between 96.19 and 99.24% with lineage III PPRV currently circulating in East Africa, indicating a common origin. The Oxford nanopore MinION sequencer can be deployed to overcome diagnostic and surveillance challenges in the PPR Global Control and Eradication program. However, the coverage depth was uneven across the genome and amplicon dropout was observed mainly in the GC-rich region between the matrix (M) and fusion (F) genes of PPRV. Thus, larger field studies are needed to allow the collection of sufficient data to assess the robustness of nanopore sequencing technology.
Data Governance in the Dairy Industry
Authors: Cue Roger , Doornink Mark , George Regi , Griffiths Benjamin , Jorgensen Matthew W. , Rogers Ronald , Saha Amit , Taysom Kyle , Cabrera Victor E. , Wangen Steven R. , Fadul-Pacheco Liliana
Published: October 2021

Data governance is a growing concern in the dairy farm industry because of the lack of legal regulation. In this commentary paper, we discuss the status quo of the available legislation and codes, as well as some possible solutions. To our knowledge, there are currently four codes of practice that address agriculture data worldwide, and their objectives are similar: (1) raise awareness of diverse data challenges such as data sharing and data privacy, (2) provide data security, and (3) illustrate the importance of the transparency of terms and conditions of data sharing contracts. However, all these codes are voluntary, which limits their adoption. We propose a Farmers Bill of Rights for the dairy data ecosystem to address some key components around data ownership and transparency in data sharing. Our hope is to start the discussion to create a balanced environment to promote equity within the data economy, encourage proper data stewardship, and to foster trust and harmony between the industry companies and the farmers when it comes to sharing data.
Effects of Feeding a Hypoallergenic Diet with a Nutraceutical on Fecal Dysbiosis Index and Clinical Manifestations of Canine Atopic Dermatitis
Authors: Guidi Eleonora Elisa Alice , Gramenzi Alessandro , Persico Paola , Di Prinzio Roberta , Di Simone Daniele , Cornegliani Luisa
Published: October 2021

Background: an imbalance of the intestinal microbiota can cause health problems in the gastrointestinal tract and in other organs. Canine Atopic Dermatitis (CAD) is a genetically predisposed, inflammatory and pruritic allergic skin disease with multifactorial etiology and multimodal treatment. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of a nutraceutical product on Dysbiotic Index (DI) and the skin lesions of atopic dogs. Methods: a nutraceutical product was administered to 32 dogs with CAD. The product was associated with a standardized hypoallergenic diet for 60 days; the dietary regimen continued for 120 days, while ongoing therapies remained unchanged. Values of Visual Analogic Scale (VAS), Canine Atopic Dermatitis Lesional Index (CADLI) and DI were evaluated on day 0, 60, 120. Results: all the 32 dogs showed a statistically significant decrease (p < 0.001) to V60 of VAS and CADLI, which persisted and increased to V120 when diet alone was continued. The decrease in the DI value was also statistically significant (p < 0.001). Conclusion: the intake of nutraceutical associated with diet resulted in a decrease in the index of intestinal dysbiosis, with an improvement in the subjective severity of cutaneous lesions.
Hens That Exhibit Poorer Feed Efficiency Produce Eggs with Lower Albumen Quality and Are Prone to Being Overweight
Authors: Anene Doreen Onyinye , Akter Yeasmin , Thomson Peter Campbell , Groves Peter , Liu Sonia , O’Shea Cormac John
Published: October 2021

Feed efficiency (FE) is an important measure of productivity in the layer industry; however, little is known about how FE differs between individual hens during the egg-laying cycle and the implications for egg quality parameters. Individual 25-week-old ISA Brown hens were observed for 42 days, ranked into three FE groups (n = 48 per High (HFE), Medium (MFE) and Low (LFE) FE groups and then monitored later in the laying cycle from 35–40 weeks. The groups exhibited different feed to egg conversion ratios (p < 0.001) from 35–40 weeks. Average daily feed intake and body weight were highest (p < 0.001) in the LFE group compared to the MFE and HFE groups, while albumen height, Haugh unit and amino acid concentrations of the albumen were significantly higher in the HFE groups compared to the LFE cohort (p < 0.001). This study concludes that FE status established in early lay is a stable variable until at least 40 weeks of age, and overweight, mid-laying hens that had poor FE produced inferior egg albumen quality measurements and composition. The distinct traits of the highly efficient hens and the poor feed efficient hens may provide important information to improving productivity in egg production.