bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Impact of the COVID-19 Lockdown “Home Quarantine” on the Physical Activity and Lifestyle of Children in Qatar
Authors: Al-Mulla Nada A. , Mahfoud Ziyad R.
Published: May 2022

Background

Several studies have investigated how the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic impacted children's lifestyle. To our knowledge, this is the first study that assesses the impact of quarantine on physical activity, screen time, sleep, and diet in children aged 5 to 12 in Qatar.

Methods

Cross-sectional data from an online survey distributed in Qatar was analyzed. The survey measured the parents' or caregivers' assessment on the change in the child's physical activity, sleep, screen time, and diet between the two periods (before quarantine and during quarantine). The data was analyzed using frequency distributions, paired t-test and McNemar's test.

Results

Data from 144 respondents were analyzed. Due to the quarantine, the total weekly average hours of physical activity significantly decreased with a greatest reduction for the school and after school durations. Only 4.5% of the children were engaging in at least 60 minutes of physical activity per day (in contrast to 25.6% prior to quarantine). The reported barriers for physical activity were screen time for school (52.8%) and leisure (51.4%). There was a significant increase in the total number of main meals per day, with a higher consumption of unhealthy food. The majority of the children had their bedtime and waketime shifted to later because of the quarantine. The parents' or caregivers' satisfaction with the child's lifestyle during quarantine showed that 49.1% were disappointed or very disappointed. Also, 53.8% described their child's mental health as “better before quarantine.”

Conclusions

Quarantine had a negative impact on the lifestyle of children in Qatar. When implementing restrictions, authorities should consider some interventions to counterpart such impact.
Automated Multi-View Multi-Modal Assessment of COVID-19 Patients Using Reciprocal Attention and Biomedical Transform
Authors: Li Yanhan , Zhao Hongyun , Gan Tian , Liu Yang , Zou Lian , Xu Ting , Chen Xuan , Fan Cien , Wu Meng
Published: May 2022

Automated severity assessment of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients can help rationally allocate medical resources and improve patients' survival rates. The existing methods conduct severity assessment tasks mainly on a unitary modal and single view, which is appropriate to exclude potential interactive information. To tackle the problem, in this paper, we propose a multi-view multi-modal model to automatically assess the severity of COVID-19 patients based on deep learning. The proposed model receives multi-view ultrasound images and biomedical indices of patients and generates comprehensive features for assessment tasks. Also, we propose a reciprocal attention module to acquire the underlying interactions between multi-view ultrasound data. Moreover, we propose biomedical transform module to integrate biomedical data with ultrasound data to produce multi-modal features. The proposed model is trained and tested on compound datasets, and it yields 92.75% for accuracy and 80.95% for recall, which is the best performance compared to other state-of-the-art methods. Further ablation experiments and discussions conformably indicate the feasibility and advancement of the proposed model.
ICT Solutions in the D-Sys-Com Research: Analysis of the Needs and Attitudes of the Frail Elderly Person
Authors: Pinnelli Stefania
Published: May 2022

The introduction and use of innovative technological devices to support the aging of frail elderly people does not necessarily correspond to an improvement in people’s quality of life. The strong technical curvature resulting from the use of telemedicine models often highlights limits in the usability of technologies in responding to the real needs of users. The theoretical framework of special pedagogy allows the assumption of the bio-psycho-social perspective and the constructs of quality of life and participation and opens up to inclusive logics that implement a profound and questioning reflection on all contexts of life, with the goal of exposing the set of disabling processes and indicating a valid support in the use of technological resources. The study, retracing the research phases of the Data System Platform for Smart Communities project (project admitted for funding in the Innolabs 2018–2019 call), completed in 2020, investigates the needs of strategic stakeholders and explores the factors that influence the adoption and diffusion of telemedicine devices by frail elderly people.
Fluffy Rivers: How Our Clothes Can Harm Rivers and The Oceans
Authors: Stanton Thomas , Johnson Matthew , Gomes Rachel Louise , Nathanail Paul , MacNaughtan William , Kay Paul
Published: May 2022

Microplastics are one of the most well-known types of environmental pollution. A microplastic is any piece of plastic smaller than 5 mm (about the size of one of the circles on top of a Lego® block). Microplastics come in a variety of shapes and they can be eaten by even the smallest animals, blocking their stomachs and intestines. Many of the clothes that we wear are made from microplastic fibers. These fibers are released from our clothes when we wear and wash them, and they can eventually end up in the environment. We collected water samples from three rivers in the UK over 12 months, to see if they contained microplastic fibers. All the rivers contained clothing fibers, but most of the fibers were not made from plastics. Natural fibers made from materials like cotton (from plants) and wool (from sheep) were much more common than plastic fibers.
Small Mirrors for Small Satellites: Design of the Deformable Mirror Demonstration Mission CubeSat (DeMi) Payload
Authors: Douglas Ewan S. , Allan Greg , Morgan Rachel , Holden Bobby G. , Gubner Jennifer , Haughwout Christian , do Vale Pereira Paula , Xin Yinzi , Merk John , Cahoy Kerri L.
Published: May 2022

The Deformable Mirror Demonstration Mission (DeMi) is a technology demonstration CubeSat to test a 140 actuator micro-electromechanical system (MEMS) deformable mirror in low-Earth orbit. Such mirrors can provide precise wavefront control with low size, weight, and power per actuator. Hence, they have the potential of improving contrast in coronagraphs on future space telescopes. In the DeMi payload, a Shack Hartmann lenslet array based wavefront sensor monitors the deformable mirror, illuminated by either an internal 636 nm laser diode or external starlight. This work describes the instrument design drivers and CubeSat implementation, and briefly illustrates operation on orbit by comparing ground-based measurements of a displaced actuator to an on-orbit measurement using the internal laser source. The 6U CubeSat was launched on February 25, 2020 and deployed from the International Space Station on July 13, 2020.
The Type of Per-Cooling Strategies Currently Employed by Competitive and Professional Cyclists-Triathletes During Training and Competition Are Condition (Dry vs. Humid) Dependant
Authors: Bayne Freya , Racinais Sebastien , Mileva Katya N. , Hunter Steve , Gaoua Nadia
Published: May 2022

Purpose

To investigate cooling strategies employed by athletes (cyclists-triathletes) during training and competition in hot and dry (HD) and hot and humid (HH) conditions.

Methods

Thirty-five athletes completed an online questionnaire on the type, timing, and justification of cooling strategies employed during past training and/or competitions in HD and HH conditions. In addition, 3 athletes also completed a one-to-one follow-up interview.

Results

Comparisons between strategies employed in all conditions were based on N = 14 (40%). Cold-water pouring was the most employed (N = 4; 21%) strategy during training and/or competing in hot conditions. The timing of the strategies employed was based on pitstops only (N = 7; 50%). The justification for strategies employed was based on trial and error (N = 9, 42.85%: N = 10, 47.61%). All athletes rated strategies employed as 1 (“not effective for minimising performance impairments and heat-related illnesses”). Comparisons between HD and HH were based on N = 21 (60%), who employed different strategies based on condition. Cold-water ingestion was the most employed (N = 9, 43%) strategy in HD, whereas a combination of cold-water ingestion and pouring was the most employed (N = 9, 43%) strategy in HH. The timing of strategies employed in the HD split was pre-planned by distance but was modified based on how athletes felt during (N = 8, 38%), and pre-planned by distance and pit stops (N = 8, 38%). The timing of strategies employed in HH was pre-planned based on distance and how athletes felt during (N = 9, 42%). About 57% (N = 12) of the 60% (N = 21) perceived effectiveness in HD and HH as 3 (“Sometimes effective and sometimes not effective”), whereas 43% (N = 9) of the 60% (N = 21) perceived effectiveness in HD and HH as 4 (“Effective for minimising performance impairments”).

Conclusion

Cold-water ingestion is the preferred strategy by athletes in HD compared to a combination of cold-water ingestion and pouring in HH conditions. All strategies were pre-planned and trialled based on distance and how athletes felt during training and/or competition. These strategies were perceived as effective for minimising performance impairments, but not heat-related illnesses. Future studies should evaluate the effectiveness of these cooling strategies on performance and thermoregulatory responses in HD and HH conditions.
Percutaneous Endoscopic Posterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion with Unilateral Laminotomy for Bilateral Decompression Vs. Open Posterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion for the Treatment of Lumbar Spondylolisthesis
Authors: He Li-Ming , Li Jia-Rui , Wu Hao-Ran , Chang Qiang , Guan Xiao-Ming , Ma Zhuo , Feng Hao-Yu
Published: May 2022

Background

Endoscopic lumbar interbody fusion is a new technology that is mostly used for single-segment and unilateral lumbar spine surgery. The purpose of this study is to introduce percutaneous endoscopic posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PE-PLIF) with unilateral laminotomy for bilateral decompression (ULBD) for lumbar spondylolisthesis and evaluate the efficacy by comparing it with open posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF).

Methods

Twenty-eight patients were enrolled in PE-PLIF with the ULBD group and the open PLIF group. The perioperative data of the two groups were compared to evaluate the safety of PE-PLIF with ULBD. The visual analog scale (VAS) back pain, VAS leg pain, and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) scores of the two groups preoperatively and postoperatively were compared to evaluate clinical efficacy. Preoperative and postoperative imaging data were collected to evaluate the effectiveness of the operation.

Results

No differences in baseline data were found between the two groups (p > 0.05). The operation time in PE-PLIF with the ULBD group (221.2 ± 32.9 min) was significantly longer than that in the PLIF group (138.4 ± 25.7 min) (p < 0.05), and the estimated blood loss and postoperative hospitalization were lower than those of the PLIF group (p < 0.05). The postoperative VAS and ODI scores were significantly improved in both groups (p < 0.05), but the postoperative VAS back pain score in the PE-PLIF group was significantly lower than that in the PLIF group (p < 0.05). The excellent and good rates in both groups were 96.4% according to MacNab’s criteria. The disc height and cross-sectional area of the spinal canal were significantly improved in the two groups after surgery (p < 0.05), with no difference between the groups (p > 0.05). The fusion rates in PE-PLIF with the ULBD group and the PLIF group were 89.3% and 92.9% (p > 0.05), respectively, the cage subsidence rates were 14.3% and 17.9% (p > 0.05), respectively, and the lumbar spondylolisthesis reduction rates were 92.72 ± 6.39% and 93.54 ± 5.21%, respectively (p > 0.05).

Conclusion

The results from this study indicate that ULBD can be successfully performed during PE-PLIF, and the combined procedure is a safe and reliable treatment method for lumbar spondylolisthesis.
Prognostic Nomogram for Predicting Long-Term Overall Survival of Esophageal Cancer Patients Receiving Neoadjuvant Chemoradiotherapy Plus Surgery: A Population-Based Study
Authors: Chen Mingduan , Hong Zhinuan , Shen Zhimin , Gao Lei , Kang Mingqiang
Published: May 2022

Objective

Neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT) plays an important role in patients with locally advanced esophageal cancer (EC). We aim to determine the prognostic risk factors and establish a reliable nomogram to predict overall survival (OS) based on SEER population.

Methods

Patients with EC coded by 04–15 in the SEER database were included. The data were divided into training group and verification group (7:3). The Cox proportional-risk model was evaluated by using the working characteristic curve (receiver operating characteristic curve, ROC) and the area under the curve (AUC), and a nomogram was constructed. The calibration curve was used to measure the consistency between the predicted and the actual results. Decision curve analysis (DCA) was used to evaluate its clinical value. The best cut-off value of nomogram score in OS was determined by using X-tile software, and the patients were divided into low-risk, medium-risk, and high-risk groups.

Results

A total of 2,209 EC patients who underwent nCRT were included in further analysis, including 1,549 in the training cohort and 660 in the validation group. By Cox analysis, sex, marital status, T stage, N stage, M stage, and pathological grade were identified as risk factors. A nomogram survival prediction model was established to predict the 36-, 60-, and 84-month survival. The ROC curve and AUC showed that the model had good discrimination ability. The correction curve was in good agreement with the prediction results. DCA further proved the effective clinical value of the nomogram model. The results of X-tile analysis showed that the long-term prognosis of patients in the low-risk subgroup was better in the training cohort and the validation cohort (p < 0.001).

Conclusion

This study established an easy-to-use nomogram risk prediction model consisting of independent prognostic factors in EC patients receiving nCRT, helping to stratify risk, identify high-risk patients, and provide personalized treatment options.
Modeling and Control of IPMC-Based Artificial Eukaryotic Flagellum Swimming Robot: Distributed Actuation
Authors: Traver José Emilio , Nuevo-Gallardo Cristina , Rodríguez Paloma , Tejado Inés , Vinagre Blas M.
Published: May 2022

Ionic polymer-metal composites (IPMCs) are electrically driven materials that undergo bending deformations in the presence of relatively low external voltages, exhibiting a great potential as actuators in applications in soft robotics, microrobotics, and bioengineering, among others. This paper presents an artificial eukaryotic flagellum (AEF) swimming robot made up of IPMC segments for the study of planar wave generation for robot propulsion by single and distributed actuation, i.e., considering the first flagellum link as an actuator or all of them, respectively. The robot comprises three independent and electrically isolated actuators, manufactured over the same 10 mm long IPMC sheet. For control purposes, a dynamic model of the robot is firstly obtained through its frequency response, acquired by experimentally measuring the flagellum tip deflection thanks to an optical laser meter. In particular, two structures are considered for such a model, consisting of a non-integer order integrator in series with a resonant system of both non-integer and integer order. Secondly, the identified models are analyzed and it is concluded that the tip displacement of each actuator or any IPMC point is characterized by the same dynamics, which remains unchanged through the link with mere variations of the gain for low-frequency applications. Based on these results, a controller robust to gain variations is tuned to control link deflection regardless of link length and enabling the implementation of a distributed actuation with the same controller design. Finally, the deflection of each link is analyzed to determine whether an AEF swimming robot based on IPMC is capable of generating a planar wave motion by distributed actuation.
Revisiting the Design of Parallel Stream Joins on Trusted Execution Environments
Authors: Meftah Souhail , Zhang Shuhao , Veeravalli Bharadwaj , Aung Khin Mi Mi
Published: May 2022

The appealing properties of secure hardware solutions such as trusted execution environment (TEE) including low computational overhead, confidentiality guarantee, and reduced attack surface have prompted considerable interest in adopting them for secure stream processing applications. In this paper, we revisit the design of parallel stream join algorithms on multicore processors with TEEs. In particular, we conduct a series of profiling experiments to investigate the impact of alternative design choices to parallelize stream joins on TEE including: (1) execution approaches, (2) partitioning schemes, and (3) distributed scheduling strategies. From the profiling study, we observe three major high-performance impediments: (a) the computational overhead introduced with cryptographic primitives associated with page swapping operations, (b) the restrictive Enclave Page Cache (EPC) size that limits the supported amount of in-memory processing, and (c) the lack of vertical scalability to support the increasing workload often required for near real-time applications. Addressing these issues allowed us to design SecJoin, a more efficient parallel stream join algorithm that exploits modern scale-out architectures with TEEs rendering no trade-offs on security whilst optimizing performance. We present our model-driven parameterization of SecJoin and share our experimental results which have shown up to 4-folds of improvements in terms of throughput and latency.
Whirl Tower Demonstration of an SMA Blade Twist System
Authors: Ameduri Salvatore , Ciminello Monica , Concilio Antonio , Dimino Ignazio , Galasso Bernardino , Guida Mariano , Miceli Marco Fabio , Riemenschneider Johannes , Kalow Steffen , Luebker Jannis , Woods Benjamin King Sutton
Published: May 2022

This paper focuses on the development and demonstration of a novel blade morphing system within a whirl tower facility. The scope is to investigate the behavior of the proposed architecture under representative loads, demonstrating its capability to alter the blade original shape in operation under centrifugal, aerodynamic, and internal forces. The morphing concept was developed inside the European project “Shape Adaptive Blades for Rotorcraft Efficiency”, SABRE, and consists of a shape memory alloy system able to change the original twist law and, in this way, enhance rotor performance at certain specific regimes, such as hover and vertical flight. These phases, indeed, are generally penalized with respect to other more extended flight regimes (cruise). The work starts with an overview of the research in the field of morphing, with specific reference to the researches envisaging rotary wing demonstrations. Then, an overview of the morphing twist concept is provided, with particular attention paid to those features particularly suited for the whirl tower representative test environment. The laboratory characterization and commissioning operations are illustrated. Then, the task of the installation of the prototype on the whirl tower facility is described together with the testing modality adopted. Finally, the results of the test campaign are illustrated and critically discussed, providing the reader with insights and possible future steps to be taken in further research. The impact on the morphing capability of the following different parameters was investigated: the number of the prototype segments switched on, the speed and thus the centrifugal actions, and the angles of attack. The stiffening effect due to centrifugal actions was quantified through the measurement of the actual twist and the internal deformation. The link between speed, angle of attack at root, and twist and flap angles was also tracked, building a database useful for the comprehension of the phenomenon, and for the assessment of numerical predictive models. The achieved results highlighted the capability of the system to produce a twist angle matching the target of 8° per blade radius; this figure is related to a potential power saving of 10% in hover and vertical flight and an improvement of about 1% on the over-all efficiency of the rotorcraft.
The PAPI Lights-Based Vision System for Aircraft Automatic Control during Approach and Landing
Authors: Nowak Dariusz , Kopecki Grzegorz , Kordos Damian , Rogalski Tomasz
Published: May 2022

The paper presents the concept of a component of an aircraft’s automatic flight control system, controlling the airplane when in longitudinal motion (i.e., pitch angle, sink rate, airspeed channels) during automatic landing, from a final approach until a touchdown. It is composed of two key parts: a vision system and an automatic landing system. The first part exploits dedicated image-processing algorithms to identify the number of red and white PAPI lights appearing on an onboard video camera. Its output data—information about an aircraft’s position on a vertical profile of a landing trajectory—is used as one of the crucial inputs to the automatic landing system (the second part), which uses them to control the landing. The control algorithms implemented by the automatic landing system are based on the fuzzy logic expert system and were developed to imitate the pilot’s control actions during landing an aircraft. These two parts were teamed together as a component of a laboratory rig, first as pure software algorithms only, then as real hardware modules with downloaded algorithms. In two test campaigns (software in the loop and hardware in the loop) they controlled an aircraft model in a simulation environment. Selected results, presenting both control efficiency and flight precision, are given in the final section of the paper.
Potential Possibilities of Using Groundwater for Crop Irrigation in the Context of Climate Change
Authors: Cymes Ireneusz , Dragańska Ewa , Brodziński Zbigniew
Published: May 2022

The study analyzed the structure of water shortages in plant crops and the available groundwater resources that can be used to satisfy these needs. The research was carried out in Braniewo poviat, which can be considered representative of the conditions of Central and Eastern Europe. A clear upward trend in the temperature value was observed, which influenced the changes in the duration of thermal seasons and agricultural periods. It also increases the intensity of the evapotranspiration process, which results in the reduction of water resources. The presence of significant water shortages, especially in the cultivation of root crops, such as, for example, late potato or sugar beet, justifies the need to irrigate these plants. Due to unevenly distributed surface water resources, groundwater is used as a source of irrigation. It was found that in the case of many crops, the areas with the greatest water shortages were those with average or high abundance in available groundwater. When indicating the possibility of abstracting large amounts of groundwater for use in plant production in Braniewo poviat, one should consider the fact that, in the long term, their exploitation may cause negative environmental effects.
Diversified and Sustainable Business Strategy of Smallholder Farmers in the Suburbs of Taiwan
Authors: Lee Ching-Sung , Chen Yen-Cheng , Tsui Pei-Ling , Chiang Ming-Chen
Published: May 2022

Taiwan’s smallholder farmers are transforming into a diversified business model to respond to the transformation of economic structures and the demand for sightseeing and recreation. On that account, it is urgent and valuable at the research level to develop diversified and sustainable business strategies and models for smallholder farmers. There are two goals in this study. First of all, the study formulated the indicators of diversified and sustainable business strategies for smallholder farmers in Taiwan’s suburbs. Second, the study measured the relevant weights of these indicators from the perspectives of experts. The qualitative and quantitative Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) was applied in the study, with Taiwan’s agricultural experts being our main subjects to establish the indicators and models for diversified and sustainable business strategies based on their opinions. According to the research results, there were 6 criteria and 25 sub-criteria for smallholder farmers in terms of diversified and sustainable business strategies, among which, catering services topped other criteria; food health and safety outweighed other sub-criteria of diversified and sustainable business strategies for smallholder farmers. The greatest contribution of the study is the establishment of the indicators and models of diversified and sustainable strategies for smallholder farmers in Taiwan’s suburbs and the discovery that catering service can be an important orientation of diversified and sustainable business strategies for smallholder farmers in Taiwan’s suburbs.
Effect of Astragalus membranaceus Root on the Serum Metabolome of Preweaning Dairy Calves
Authors: Ma Li , Luo Zhengzhong , Chen Jiubing , Du Zhenlong , Zhou Tao , Huang Yixin , Yao Xueping , Shen Liuhong , Yu Shumin , Shi Xiaodong , Cao Suizhong
Published: May 2022

The effect of the Astragalus membranaceus root (AMR) on the serum metabolic profiles of preweaning calf were investigated in this study. Sixteen preweaning Holstein calves were randomly allocated into two groups with eight calves per group, and offered a control basal diet (CON group) or supplemented with 20 g superfine powder of AMR (AMR group) for 14 day. Serum samples were collected from calves on day 0, 7 and 14. Serum albumin, globulin, total protein, glucose, reduced glutathione and superoxide dismutase were evaluated. Serum metabolic profiling was analyzed using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography–time-of-flight mass spectrometry. The results demonstrated that there were no significantly difference of total protein, glucose, reduced glutathione and superoxide dismutase between the CON group and AMR group (p > 0.05), while within the CON group and AMR group, serum glucose showed a continuous upward trend from 0 day to 14 day (p < 0.001). Untargeted metabolomics analysis found the metabolism of preweaning calf was considerably changed during growth, mainly including amino acid metabolism and carbohydrate metabolism and showed an increasing in protein synthesis and gluconeogenesis. 19 differential metabolites have been screened after supplementing AMR for 14 day, nine of which were up-regulated, including ornithine, L-pyroglutamic acid, L-proline and D-proline, and 10 down-regulated, containing L-kynurenine, 5-hydroxyindoleacetate, linoleic acid and 4-pyridoxic acid. Pathway analysis found these metabolites mainly participated in three primary pathways: arginine and proline metabolism, tryptophan metabolism and glutathione metabolism (p < 0.05), while linoleic acid metabolism and vitamin B6 metabolism were also enriched (0.1 < p < 0.05). Such metabolic changes reflected the enhancement of the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory capacity of preweaning calves.
Low-Temperature Effects on the Growth and Phytochemical Properties of Wheat Sprouts
Authors: Kim Mina , Park Jinhee , Kim Kyeong-Min , Kim Yurim , Kang Chon-Sik , Son Jiyoung , Ko Jongmin , Kim Kyeong-Hoon
Published: May 2022

Sprouting is associated with nutritional value, as microgreens stimulate the accumulation of health-promoting phytochemicals. The purpose of this study was to examine the growth rates and cell protection activity against oxidative stress in sprouts of seven wheat varieties, and to investigate the influence of low temperatures on their phytochemical characteristics. Among the seven wheat varieties (five Korean varieties, Australian standard white, and Chinese wild-type wheat germplasm), purple wheat (Ariheuk) had the fastest growth pattern for 8 days and provided the most protection to skin cells and hepatocytes against oxidative stress. Following low-temperature treatment (<4 °C) for 1–4 days, cold exposure had a similar effect on the growth of purple wheat sprouts during an 8-day period. However, growth was negatively affected by exposure to low temperatures for more than 5 days. Purple wheat sprouts treated with low temperatures for 4 days had considerably higher total polyphenol and total flavonoid contents, as well as a higher antioxidant capacity than untreated wheat sprouts. These findings suggest that low-temperature treatment promotes the expression of phytochemicals in purple wheat sprouts. Thus, purple wheat sprouts are considered a high-value crop that could be used as a functional food material.
Nondestructive Detection Method for the Calcium and Nitrogen Content of Living Plants Based on Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN) Using Multispectral Images
Authors: Kunstman Grzegorz , Kunstman Paweł , Lasyk Łukasz , Nowak Jacek Stanisław , Stępowska Agnieszka , Kowalczyk Waldemar , Dybaś Jakub , Szczęsny-Małysiak Ewa
Published: May 2022

Herein, we present the novel method targeted for determination of plant nutritional state with the use of computer vision and Neural Networks. The method is based on multispectral imaging performed by an exclusively designed Agroscanner and a dedicated analytical system for further data analysis with Neural Networks. An Agroscanner is a low-cost mobile construction intended for multispectral measurements at macro-scale, operating at four wavelengths: 470, 550, 640 and 850 nm. Together with developed software and implementation of a Neural Network it was possible to design a unique approach to process acquired plant images and assess information about plant physiological state. The novelty of the developed technology is focused on the multispectral, macro-scale analysis of individual plant leaves, rather than entire fields. Such an approach makes the method highly sensitive and precise. The method presented herein determines the basic physiological deficiencies of crops with around 80% efficiency.
Influence of Lead (Pb) and Its Relationship with the pH of Water on the Growth of Creole Maize (Zea mays L.)
Authors: Hernández-Pitalúa Daniel , Hernández-Orduña María Graciela , Martínez-Escalante Gustavo Alonso , Lagunes-Gómez Isabel
Published: May 2022

Lead (Pb) as a pollutant is not biodegradable, tends to accumulate in different organisms, and can affect, for example, the performance of maize crops. However, only a few studies have reported on the effect of lead (Pb) and the relationship with the potential of hydrogen (pH) of water on crop performance. Thus, this study aimed at determining the influence of Pb and its relationship with the pH of water on the growth of Creole maize (Zea mays L.). In order to achieve this, a double bottom vessel system, isolated from the soil, was used to expose the plants to an aqueous Pb solution based on the equivalence of 1.5985 g of lead nitrate (Pb(NO3)2) per g of Pb. An experimental design of the two-factor response surface methodology (RSM) was applied. The Creole maize plants were exposed to four different concentrations of Pb in water [0 g L−1 (P1: control); 0.33 g L−1 (P2); 0.66 g L−1 (P3); 1 g L−1 (P4)], as well as to three different pH levels (5.5 (pH1); 6.5 (pH2); 7.5 (pH3)) in clay soil typical of the region. Subsequently, the relationship of these variables with maize growth was determined. The results showed a decrease in leaf growth, height, stem circumference, and root. However, it was also determined that these negative effects can be mitigated by controlling the pH of water in 7.5. Failure to control the combination of these two factors in the cultivation process generally results in an impact on the growth of the maize seedling. In addition, leaf discoloration was also observed in the leaves of maize plants from the concentration of 0.33 g L−1 (P2), which suggests a nutritional anomaly that is toxic to the plant.
Carbon and Nitrogen Stable Isotope Abundance and Soil Stoichiometry of Zanthoxylum planispinum var. dintanensis Plantations of Different Ages
Authors: Yu Yanghua , Wu Yingu , Song Yanping , Li Yitong
Published: May 2022

Understanding the relationships between carbon; nitrogen, their stable isotopes δ13C and δ15N, and soil stoichiometry may further our understanding of the regulatory mechanisms of the soil quality index on the equilibrium on isotopic fractionation. Four plantations of Zanthoxylum planispinum var. dintanensis (5–7, 10–12, 20–22 and 30–32 years) in the karst plateau gorge area, Guizhou Province, China, were selected to determine the variation characteristics and interactions between leaves, leaf litter, soil carbon (C), soil nitrogen (N) and their isotopes with plantation age, and to explore the relationship between soil stoichiometry and the isotopes δ13C and δ15N. The results were as follows: (1) the δ13C in leaves, litter, and soil were −28.04‰ ± 0.59‰, −26.85‰ ± 0.67‰, and −19.39‰ ± 1.37‰, respectively. The contents of δ15N were 2.01‰ ± 0.99‰, 2.91‰ ± 1.32‰, and 3.29‰ ± 0.69‰, respectively. The contents of δ13C and δ15N were ranked in the order, soil > litter > leaf. (2) With increasing plantation age, the soil 13C decreased; the leaf and the litter δ15N increased first then decreased, and the litter δ13C and the soil δ15N did not vary significantly. (3) The litter layer was positively correlated with soil δ13C and negatively correlated to δ15N. (4) Redundancy analysis showed that the soil microbial biomass carbon (MBC) and the bacteria/fungi (BAC/FUN) were the dominant factors affecting the natural abundance of C and N isotopes
In Memory of the Father of Hybrid Rice
Authors: Huang Zhiyuan , Xin Yeyun , Lv Qiming , Zhu Lihuang
Published: May 2022

Prof. Yuan devoted his whole life to the research of hybrid rice. On the first anniversary of Prof. Yuan Yuan’s death, our research team wrote a paper to commemorate him. In this paper, we recalled his life, his research progress and achievements of hybrid rice. He led and guided his research team to overcome difficulties in hybrid rice research. Hybrid rice has made important contributions to China and world’s food security. He is a great researcher worthy of our memory forever in the world.
Sustainability Assessment of Greenhouse Pepper Production Scenarios in Southeastern Spain
Authors: García García José , García García Benjamín
Published: May 2022

Life cycle costing (LCC), combined with life cycle assessment (LCA), is a useful tool not only to assess the sustainability of a specific production system, but also to assess possible scenarios. Greenhouse pepper cultivation in Campo de Cartagena (Murcia, Spain) has evolved over the last three decades towards a production system that is increasingly respectful of the environment and in line with the demands of European markets. However, it has to deal with changing circumstances that affect production and environmental costs: specifically, the substitution of chemical disinfection of the soil by plants resistant to nematodes, and a significant increase in the use of desalinated seawater for irrigation. The results of this work, combining LCC and LCA, show that it is a sustainable system with high productivity, the costs associated with the inputs are relatively low, it has great socioeconomic importance, and the environmental impacts are low in relation to the greenhouse production of peppers or tomatoes in other areas, particularly if seeds of resistant varieties are available. In addition, it is a robust system capable of adapting to the changes it faces in the short and medium term, while maintaining its sustainability.
Dog–Owner Relationship, Owner Interpretations and Dog Personality Are Connected with the Emotional Reactivity of Dogs
Authors: Somppi Sanni , Törnqvist Heini , Koskela Aija , Vehkaoja Antti , Tiira Katriina , Väätäjä Heli , Surakka Veikko , Vainio Outi , Kujala Miiamaaria V.
Published: May 2022

We evaluated the effect of the dog–owner relationship on dogs’ emotional reactivity, quantified with heart rate variability (HRV), behavioral changes, physical activity and dog owner interpretations. Twenty nine adult dogs encountered five different emotional situations (i.e., stroking, a feeding toy, separation from the owner, reunion with the owner, a sudden appearance of a novel object). The results showed that both negative and positive situations provoked signs of heightened arousal in dogs. During negative situations, owners’ ratings about the heightened emotional arousal correlated with lower HRV, higher physical activity and more behaviors that typically index arousal and fear. The three factors of The Monash Dog–Owner Relationship Scale (MDORS) were reflected in the dogs’ heart rate variability and behaviors: the Emotional Closeness factor was related to increased HRV (p = 0.009), suggesting this aspect is associated with the secure base effect, and the Shared Activities factor showed a trend toward lower HRV (p = 0.067) along with more owner-directed behaviors reflecting attachment related arousal. In contrast, the Perceived Costs factor was related to higher HRV (p = 0.009) along with less fear and less owner-directed behaviors, which may reflect the dog’s more independent personality. In conclusion, dogs’ emotional reactivity and the dog–owner relationship modulate each other, depending on the aspect of the relationship and dogs’ individual responsivity.
Within- and between-Breed Selection Signatures in the Original and Improved Valachian Sheep
Authors: Mészárosová Mária , Mészáros Gábor , Moravčíková Nina , Pavlík Ivan , Margetín Milan , Kasarda Radovan
Published: May 2022

This study explored the genomic diversity and selection signatures in two Slovakian national breeds, the Original Valachian and the Improved Valachian sheep. As they are an important animal genetic resource within the country, but with decreasing population size, our aim is to identify potentially valuable genomic regions. A total of 97 sheep (18 male and 79 female) from the Original Valachian, and 69 sheep (25 male and 44 female) from the Improved Valachian populations were genotyped using the GeneSeek GGP Ovine 50 K chip. The inbreeding levels were assessed with runs of homozygosity (ROH). The selection signatures within breeds were identified based on the top 1% of most homozygous regions within the breed, the so-called ROH islands. The selection signatures between breeds were assessed based on variance in linkage disequilibrium. Overall, we have identified selection signatures with quantitative trait loci (QTL) and genes pointing towards all three production purposes of the Valachian sheep, milk, meat, and wool, including their quality characteristics. Another group with apparent large importance was the various traits related to health and resistance to parasites, which is well in line with the sturdy nature of this breed.
Phenotypic and Genetic Characterization of Klebsiella pneumoniae Isolates from Wild Animals in Central Italy
Authors: Chiaverini Alexandra , Cornacchia Alessandra , Centorotola Gabriella , Tieri Elga Ersilia , Sulli Nadia , Del Matto Ilaria , Iannitto Giorgio , Petrone Domenico , Petrini Antonio , Pomilio Francesco
Published: May 2022

Despite Klebsiella pneumoniae being widely recognized as a nosocomial pathogen, there is a critical lack in defining its reservoirs and sources of infections. Most studies on risk factors have focused on multidrug-resistant (MDR) isolates and clinically-oriented questions. Over a two-year period, we sampled 131 wild animals including mammal and bird species from three regions of Central Italy. All typical colonies isolated from the analytical portions were confirmed by real-time PCR and identified by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS). All confirmed K. pneumoniae isolates were tested for antimicrobial susceptibility to 29 antimicrobials and subjected to whole genome sequencing. Typical colonies were detected in 17 samples (13%), which were identified as K. pneumoniae (n = 16) and as K. quasipneumoniae (n = 1) by MALDI-TOF MS. The antimicrobial susceptibility profile showed that all the isolates were resistant to β-lactams (ceftobiprole, cloxacillin, cefazolin) and tetracycline; resistance to ertapenem and trimethoprim was observed and nine out of 16 K. pneumoniae isolates (56.2%) were classified as MDR. Genomic characterization allowed the detection of fluoroquinolone resistance-associated efflux pumps, fosfomycin and β-lactamase resistance genes, and virulence genes in the overall dataset. The cluster analysis of two isolates detected from wild boar with available clinical genomes showed the closest similarity. This study highlights the link between humans, domestic animals, and wildlife, showing that the current knowledge on this ecological context is lacking and that the potential health risks are underestimated.
Multi-Thoracolumbar Variations and NR6A1 Gene Polymorphisms Potentially Associated with Body Size and Carcass Traits of Dezhou Donkey
Authors: Liu Ziwen , Gao Qican , Wang Tianqi , Chai Wenqiong , Zhan Yandong , Akhtar Faheem , Zhang Zhenwei , Li Yuhua , Shi Xiaoyuan , Wang Changfa
Published: May 2022

The number of thoracolumbar vertebrae is a quantitative trait positively correlated with the economic traits of livestock. More thoracolumbar vertebrae individuals could genetically be used to improve the livestock population, as more thoracolumbar vertebrae means a longer carcass, which could bring more meat production. Nuclear receptor subfamily 6 group A member 1 (NR6A1) is considered a strong candidate gene for effecting the number of vertebrae in livestock. The purposes of this study are as follows: (a) Analyzing the effect of TLN variation on body size and carcass traits of Dezhou donkey; (b) Studying the distribution of seven single nucleotide variants (SNVs) in NR6A1 gene of Dezhou donkey; (c) Exploring the relationship between latent SNVs and TLN, the body size and carcass traits. We examined the thoracic and lumbar vertebrae number and seven SNVs in NR6A1 gene of 455 Dezhou donkeys, and analyzed the relationships between them. Five types of thoracolumbar combinations (T17L5 (individual with 17 thoracic and five lumbar vertebrae) 2.4%, T18L5 75.8%, T19L5 1.1%, T17L6 11.9%, and T18L6 8.8%) of Dezhou donkeys were detected in this study. For one thoracolumbar vertebra added, the body length of Dezhou donkey increases by 3 cm and the carcass weight increases by 6 kg. Seven SNVs (g.18093100G > T, g.18094587G > T, g.18106043G > T, g.18108764G > T, g.18110615T > G, g.18112000C > T and g.18114954T > G) of the NR6A1 gene were found to have a significant association with the TLN, body size and carcass traits of Dezhou donkey (p < 0.05), respectively. For instance, g.18114954C > T is significantly associated with lumber vertebrae number, the total number of thoracolumbar, and carcass weight, and individuals with TT genotype had significantly larger value than CC genotype (p < 0.05). Using these 7SNVs, 16 different haplotypes were estimated. Compared to Hap3Hap3, individuals homozygous for Hap2Hap2 showed significantly longer length in one thoracic spine (STL), the total thoracic vertebrae and one thoracolumbar spine. Our study will not only extend the understanding of genetic variation in the NR6A1 gene of Dezhou donkey, but also provide useful information for marker assisted selection in donkey breeding program.
A Retrospective, Monocentric Study Comparing Co and Secondary Infections in Critically Ill COVID-19 and Influenza Patients
Authors: Marcoux Diane , Etienne Isabelle , Van Muylem Alain , Bogossian Elisa Gouvea , Yin Nicolas , Taccone Fabio Silvio , Hites Maya
Published: May 2022

Few data are available on infectious complications in critically ill patients with different viral infections. We performed a retrospective monocentric study including all of the patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) with confirmed COVID-19 (as of 13 March 2020) or Influenza A and/or B infections (as of 1 January 2015) until 20 April 2020. Coinfection and secondary infections (occurring within and after 48 h from admission, respectively) were recorded. Fifty-seven COVID-19 and 55 Influenza patients were included. Co-infections were documented in 13/57 (23%) COVID-19 patients vs. 40/55 (73%) Influenza patients (p < 0.001), most of them being respiratory (9/13, 69% vs. 35/40, 88%; p = 0.13) and of bacterial origin (12/13, 92% vs. 29/40, 73%; p = 0.25). Invasive aspergillosis infections were observed only in Influenza patients (8/55, 15%). The COVID-19 and Influenza patients presented 1 (0–4) vs. 0 (0–4) secondary infections (p = 0.022), with comparable sites being affected (lungs: 35/61, 57% vs. 13/31, 42%; p = 0.16) and causative pathogens occurring (Gram-negative bacteria: 51/61, 84% vs. 23/31, 74%; p > 0.99). The COVID-19 patients had longer ICU lengths of stay (15 (–65) vs. 5 (1–89) days; p = 0.001), yet the two groups had comparable mortality rates (20/57, 35% vs. 23/55, 41%; p = 0.46). We report fewer co-infections but more secondary infections in the ICU COVID-19 patients compared to the Influenza patients. Most of the infectious complications were respiratory and of bacterial origin.
Susceptibility Testing by Volatile Organic Compound Detection Direct from Positive Blood Cultures: A Proof-of-Principle Laboratory Study
Authors: Kuil Sacha Daniëlle , Hidad Soemeja , Schneeberger Caroline , Singh Pragya , Rhodes Paul , de Jong Menno Douwe , Visser Caroline Elisabeth
Published: May 2022

Background: Bacteria produce volatile organic compounds (VOCs) during growth, which can be detected by colorimetric sensor arrays (CSAs). The SpecifAST® system (Specific Diagnostics) employs this technique to enable antibiotic susceptibility testing (AST) directly from blood cultures without prior subculture of isolates. The aim of this study was to compare the SpecifAST® AST results and analysis time to the VITEK®2 (bioMérieux) system. Methods: In a 12-month single site prospective study, remnants of clinical positive monomicrobial blood cultures were combined with a series of antibiotic concentrations. Volatile emission was monitored at 37 °C via CSAs. Minimal Inhibitory Concentrations (MICs) of seven antimicrobial agents for Enterobacterales, Staphylococcus, and Enterococcus spp. were compared to VITEK®2 AST results. MICs were interpreted according to EUCAST clinical breakpoints. Performance was assessed by calculating agreement and discrepancy rates. Results: In total, 96 positive blood cultures containing Enterobacterales, Staphylococcus, and Enterococcus spp. were tested (269 bug–drug combinations). The categorical agreement of the SpecifAST® system compared to the VITEK®2 system was 100% and 91% for Gram-negatives and Gram-positives, respectively. Errors among Gram-positives were from coagulase-negative staphylococci. Overall results were available in 3.1 h (±0.9 h) after growth detection without the need for subculture steps. Conclusion: The AST results based on VOC detection are promising and warrant further evaluation in studies with a larger sample of bacterial species and antimicrobials.