bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Spatiotemporal change analysis for snowmelt over the Antarctic ice shelves using scatterometers
Authors: Luis Alvarinho J. , Alam Mahfooz , Jawak Shridhar D.
Published: November 2022

Using Scatterometer-based backscatter data, the spatial and temporal melt dynamics of Antarctic ice shelves were tracked from 2000 to 2018. We constructed melt onset and duration maps for the whole Antarctic ice shelves using a pixel-based, adaptive threshold approach based on backscatter during the transition period between winter and summer. We explore the climatic influences on the spatial extent and timing of snowmelt using meteorological data from automatic weather stations and investigate the climatic controls on the spatial extent and timing of snowmelt. Melt extent usually starts in the latter week of November, peaks in the end of December/January, and vanishes in the first/second week of February on most ice shelves. On the Antarctic Peninsula (AP), the average melt was 70 days, with the melt onset on 20 November for almost 50% of the region. In comparison to the AP, the Eastern Antarctic experienced less melt, with melt lasting 40–50 days. For the Larsen-C, Shackleton, Amery, and Fimbul ice shelf, there was a substantial link between melt area and air temperature. A significant correlation is found between increased temperature advection and high melt area for the Amery, Shackleton, and Larsen-C ice shelves. The time series of total melt area showed a decreasing trend of −196 km2/yr which was statistical significant at 97% interval. The teleconnections discovered between melt area and the combined anomalies of Southern Annular Mode and Southern Oscillation Index point to the high southern latitudes being coupled to the global climate system. The most persistent and intensive melt occurred on the AP, West Ice Shelf, Shackleton Ice Shelf, and Amery Ice Shelf, which should be actively monitored for future stability.
Hooked on the metaverse? Exploring the prevalence of addiction to virtual reality applications
Authors: Barreda-Ángeles Miguel , Hartmann Tilo
Published: November 2022

Similar to debates about other new media technologies in the past, with the popularization of virtual reality (VR) technologies, concerns are raised about their potential to breed media addiction. In response to these concerns, the aim of this research was to provide a first examination of the prevalence of addiction to VR application use. An online survey was conducted among frequent VR users (N= 754), and measures of the different components of addiction were obtained, as well as demographics, hours of weekly use, type of apps used, and feelings of spatial presence and embodiment during VR app use. The results indicate that between 2% and 20% of users reveal compulsive VR use, depending on the classification criteria used. These prevalence estimates are similar to those of other activities such as the use of (non-VR) video games or the use of social networking sites. Therefore, the results suggest that VR applications do not have a higher addictive potential than other more traditional technologies. However, feelings of embodiment when using VR positively predict addiction. This may suggest that future developments of VR technology could, perhaps, also increase its addictive potential compared to other technologies.
Social media users' free labor in Iran: Influencers, ethical conduct and labor exploitation
Authors: Mirghaderi Leilasadat
Published: November 2022

As social media sites are penetrating our daily lives in an ever-increasing manner, there is a need to revisit and reexplore the theoretical concepts that have gone through paradigm shifts due to the influence of these platforms. In this regard, audience labor theory, which was originally conceptualized in the context of mass media, needs to be reexamined as the divide between production and consumption is getting narrower. Users are no longer passive consumers since social media sites have reduced the cost of production and resulted in the advent of the term “prosumption.” In such a case, as production involves performing work and results in surplus-value, it needs to be investigated whether users are being exploited for the free work they provide on these platforms. From the several identified forms of digital labor, I will focus on the concept of audience labor. To this end I will focus on identifying labor strategies that Iranian Instagram influencers employ; these strategies involve exploiting their followers to perform tasks that produce fame and visibility as well as monetary gains but leave the users uncompensated for the work they have performed. By conducting content analysis of the 2,130 stories created by 71 Iranian Instagram influencers, this study will identify the strategies that these influencers use to exploit their followers.
Stability parameters during refrigerated storage and changes on the microstructure of orange-carrot blend juice processed by high-power ultrasound
Authors: Lepaus Bárbara Morandi , Santos Anna Karoline Pereira de Oliveira , Spaviero Arthur Favoretti , Daud Polliany Strassmann , de São José Jackline Freitas Brilhante
Published: November 2022

The effect of ultrasound treatments (40 kHz; 40, 50, or 60°C; 5 or 10 min) and thermal treatment (90°C; 30 s) on the stability parameters of orange-carrot juice were evaluated. Microscopic structure, particle size distribution and turbidity were analyzed on the first day. Sedimentation and cloudiness were evaluated over 22 days of storage at 7 and 25°C. Changes in microstructure and disruption of the cell wall were evidenced after treatment at 60°C/10 min. The particle size distribution was heterogeneous with an increase of small particles after ultrasonication. Ultrasonicated and thermal treated samples did not show any differences in turbidity. Cloudiness increased after sonication and decreased over the storage in all samples. Sedimentation process at 7°C was homogeneous among samples while it was delayed in samples treated with ultrasounds at 60°C for 10 min. Ultrasound processing improved the quality of juices and can be proposed as a potential novel processing technique for blended vegetable-fruit juices.
Research progress on distribution and exposure risk of microbial aerosols in animal houses
Authors: Lou Cheng , Bai Yu , Chai Tongjie , Yu Hui , Lin Tuorong , Hu Guangming , Guan Yuling , Wu Bo
Published: November 2022

Environmental aerosols in animal houses are closely related to the productive performance and health level of animals living in the houses. Preferable housing environments can improve animal welfare and production efficiency, so it is necessary to monitor and study these environments. In recent years, there have been many large-scale outbreaks of respiratory diseases related to biological aerosols, especially the novel coronavirus that has been sweeping the world. This has attracted much attention to the mode of aerosol transmission. With the rapid development of large-scale and intensive breeding, microbial aerosols have gradually become the main factor of environmental pollution in animal houses. They not only lead to a large-scale outbreak of infectious diseases, but they also have a certain impact on the health of animals and employees in the houses and increase the difficulty of prevention and control of animal-borne diseases. This paper reviews the distribution, harm, and control measures of microbial aerosols in animal house environments in order to improve people's understanding of them.
Genetic resilience in chickens against bacterial, viral and protozoal pathogens
Authors: Gul Haji , Habib Gul , Khan Ibrar Muhammad , Rahman Sajid Ur , Khan Nazir Muhammad , Wang Hongcheng , Khan Najeeb Ullah , Liu Yong
Published: November 2022

The genome contributes to the uniqueness of an individual breed, and enables distinctive characteristics to be passed from one generation to the next. The allelic heterogeneity of a certain breed results in a different response to a pathogen with different genomic expression. Disease resistance in chicken is a polygenic trait that involves different genes that confer resistance against pathogens. Such resistance also involves major histocompatibility (MHC) molecules, immunoglobulins, cytokines, interleukins, T and B cells, and CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes, which are involved in host protection. The MHC is associated with antigen presentation, antibody production, and cytokine stimulation, which highlight its role in disease resistance. The natural resistance-associated macrophage protein 1 (Nramp-1), interferon (IFN), myxovirus-resistance gene, myeloid differentiation primary response 88 (MyD88), receptor-interacting serine/threonine kinase 2 (RIP2), and heterophile cells are involved in disease resistance and susceptibility of chicken. Studies related to disease resistance genetics, epigenetics, and quantitative trait loci would enable the identification of resistance markers and the development of disease resistance breeds. Microbial infections are responsible for significant outbreaks and have blighted the poultry industry. Breeding disease-resistant chicken strains may be helpful in tackling pathogens and increasing the current understanding on host genetics in the fight against communicable diseases. Advanced technologies, such as the CRISPR/Cas9 system, whole genome sequencing, RNA sequencing, and high-density single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotyping, aid the development of resistant breeds, which would significantly decrease the use of antibiotics and vaccination in poultry. In this review, we aimed to reveal the recent genetic basis of infection and genomic modification that increase resistance against different pathogens in chickens.
Management of acutely injured cattle by on farm emergency slaughter: Survey of veterinarian views
Authors: McDermott Paul , McKevitt Aideen , Santos Flávia H. , Hanlon Alison
Published: November 2022

Background

Fitness to transport is a key provision in animal welfare regulations in the European Union, and for the management of acutely injured cattle. Whilst treatment may be appropriate for some injuries, three common production outcomes for acutely injured cattle are; on farm emergency slaughter (OFES), casualty slaughter (CS) or euthanasia. The aims of this study were to evaluate the perceptions of veterinarians, working in Ireland, on the use of OFES for the management of acutely injured cattle and to evaluate the influence of capacity, willingness and opportunity on their ability to operate OFES.

Methodology

Two online surveys of veterinarians working in Ireland, Private Veterinary Practitioners (PVPs) and Official Veterinarians (OVs), were conducted through QualtricsXM over a 7-week period between April and June of 2021. Quantitative and qualitative questions were developed and analyzed using the tripartite framework of capacity, willingness, and opportunity to collect relevant data about the management of acutely injured cattle and the provision of OFES in Ireland by veterinarians.

Results

43 OVs and 85 PVPs participated in the survey. OVs regulated on average 4.2 abattoirs, of which 21.6% accepted OFES. Participants reported 343 and 377 OFES and CS, respectively, in 2020. 62.4% PVPs had not certified cattle for OFES, or CS. Limb fracture accounted for 79% OFES, 34.5% CS and 47.9% euthanized acutely injured cattle. 63.3% OVs and 44% PVPs were not aware of abattoirs providing OFES within 100 km of their workplace. Lack of availability of OFES negatively associated with PVP knowledge of the procedure. Regulations and guidelines were the most common source of information on OFES for PVPs.

Conclusion

Increasing the availability of OFES may help to improve the management of acutely injured cattle, especially those with limb fractures that are unfit for transport.
CircRNA screening and ceRNA network construction for milk fat metabolism in dairy cows
Authors: Feng Xiaofang , Cai Zhengyun , Mu Tong , Yu Baojun , Wang Ying , Ma Ruoshuang , Liu Jiaming , Wang Chuanchuan , Zhang Juan , Gu Yaling
Published: November 2022

Background

Milk fat is one of the main reference elements for evaluating milk quality and is a primary objective trait in dairy cattle breeding. In recent years, circular RNAs (circRNAs) have been found to play crucial roles in many biological processes. However, the function and expression profiles of circRNAs in milk fat synthesis in cows are not completely understood. We performed RNA sequencing to analyze the genome-wide expression of circRNA transcripts in bovine mammary epithelial cells (BMECs) from cows with extreme differences in milk fat percentage. We identified candidate differential circRNAs associated with milk fat metabolism using functional enrichment analysis and constructed a lipid metabolism-related competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) interactive regulatory network.

Results

A total of 290 circRNAs were significantly differentially expressed (DE-circRNAs) in high milk fat percentage (HMF) cows compared to that in low milk fat percentage (LMF) cows. Of the 290 circRNAs, 142 were significantly upregulated and 148 were significantly downregulated. Enrichment analysis (Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes) identified four DE-circRNAs (circ_0001122, circ_0007367, circ_0018269, and circ_0015179) that potentially regulate milk fat metabolism. Among them, circ_0001122, circ_0007367, and circ_0015179 had relatively high expression levels in cow mammary gland tissue compared to other tissues (heart, liver, kidney, uterus, ovaries, and small intestine) of cows. The regulatory networks circ_0001122:miR-12043:LIPG, circ_0007367:miR-331-3p:CIDEA/PML, and circ_0018269:miR-11989:RORC/HPX are potential networks to explore the mechanism of milk fat regulation.

Conclusions

These results reveal the possible role of circRNAs in milk fat metabolism in dairy cows. Several important circRNAs and ceRNAs affecting milk fat synthesis were identified, providing insights into the complex biology of milk fat synthesis as well as a novel theoretical perspective for future research on lactation, milk quality, and breed improvement in dairy cows.
Red blood cells morphology and morphometry in adult, senior, and geriatricians dogs by optical and scanning electron microscopy
Authors: Montoya-Navarrete Ana Luisa , Guerrero-Barrera Alma Lilián , Quezada-Tristán Teódulo , Valdivia-Flores Arturo G. , Cano-Rábano María J.
Published: November 2022

Red blood cells (RBC) morphologic evaluation through microscopy optical (OM) and SEM, provides information to forecast, evaluate, and monitor the functioning of many organs. Factors, such aging and diseases affect RBC morphology in both, human and animals. SEM is useful to evaluate RBC morphology, although its use in diagnosis and evaluation in dogs is limited, due to the availability and cost. The aim of this research was to assess the normal RBC morphology in adult, senior and geriatrician dogs, clinically healthy by OM and SEM. In addition to evaluating the age effect, sex, body size, and their interaction on erythrocyte morphometry. To carry out the research 152 blood samples were evaluated from dogs of different sexes and body sizes (small, medium, and large). Three groups were made based on dogs age: group I adults (1–7.9 years old), group II senior (8–11.9 years old), and group III geriatricians (>12 years old). Erythrocyte parameters were evaluated by OM (diameter, height, and axial ratio). Per each dog, the parameters of 20 erythrocytes were measured. A total of 2,600 cells were scanned with the AmScope™ Software scale. In addition, the RBC morphology was evaluated by SEM. Statistical analyses used analysis of variance and a general linear model, which allows the comparison of multiple factors at two or more levels (p< 0.05). The results of this study showed that diameter and height were lower in adult dogs than in senior and geriatrician dogs (p< 0.05). Whereas, sex, body size, and the interaction did not show a significant effect (p> 0.05). Additionally, some images of anisocytosis, polychromasia, and poikilocytosis (echinocytes, acanthocytes, codocytes, spherocytes, stomatocytes, dacryocytes quatrefoil, and elliptocytes) were obtained by OM and SEM. Our study provides information about the morphological and morphometry alterations of adult, senior, and geriatrician dogs RBC. This work contributes to future investigations and the diagnosing diseases, where it is necessary to evaluate the morphology of RBC.
Predicting Low Cognitive Ability at Age 5—Feature Selection Using Machine Learning Methods and Birth Cohort Data
Authors: Bowe Andrea K. , Lightbody Gordon , Staines Anthony , Kiely Mairead E. , McCarthy Fergus P. , Murray Deirdre M.
Published: November 2022

Objectives: In this study, we applied the random forest (RF) algorithm to birth-cohort data to train a model to predict low cognitive ability at 5 years of age and to identify the important predictive features.

Methods: Data was from 1,070 participants in the Irish population-based BASELINE cohort. A RF model was trained to predict an intelligence quotient (IQ) score ≤90 at age 5 years using maternal, infant, and sociodemographic features. Feature importance was examined and internal validation performed using 10-fold cross validation repeated 5 times. Results The five most important predictive features were the total years of maternal schooling, infant Apgar score at 1 min, socioeconomic index, maternal BMI, and alcohol consumption in the first trimester. On internal validation a parsimonious RF model based on 11 features showed excellent predictive ability, correctly classifying 95% of participants. This provides a foundation suitable for external validation in an unseen cohort.

Conclusion: Machine learning approaches to large existing datasets can provide accurate feature selection to improve risk prediction. Further validation of this model is required in cohorts representative of the general population.
Effects of Compounds in Liquefied Methane on Rocket Engine Operation
Authors: van Schyndel Jan , Goos Elke , Naumann Clemens , Hardi Justin S. , Oschwald Michael
Published: November 2022

Methane (CH4) is a promising rocket fuel for various future space mission scenarios. It has advantages in terms of cost, performance, and environmental friendliness. Currently, there is no clear definition on standards and specifications for liquefied methane or similar liquids such as liquefied natural gas (LNG) for their use as rocket fuel. However, those regulations are necessary for the commercial, safe, and proper operation of methane rocket engines. Composition and impurities of liquefied methane gas mixtures obtained from natural gas or biogenic sources depend on location of the natural gas source (Europe, Asia, or America), its extraction method and treatment, used cleaning methods or conditions of the gasification process, and biomass sources. In the present work, effects of impurities (N2, CO2, C2H6) within liquid natural gas/liquid methane on the methalox rocket engine operation behavior are analyzed. Regarding the cold cryogenic side, phase diagrams are discussed and critical temperatures for the fuel side are outlined. Carbon dioxide is identified as a rather problematic pollutant. The combustion processes are investigated with several numerical simulations (1D and 2D CFD). The results indicate a minor influence on the overall combustion temperature and a minor but potentially relevant influence on the pressure within the combustion chamber. Additionally, the results indicate that with respect to temperature and pressure, no complex NOx nitrogen chemistry is required.
Steering a Swarm of Large-Scale Underactuated Mechanical Systems Using a Generalized Coordinates Transformation
Authors: Salamat Babak , Elsbacher Gerhard
Published: November 2022

Steering large-scale particle or robot systems is challenging because of their high dimensionality. We use a centralized stochastic approach that allows for optimal control at the cost of a central element instead of a decentralized approach. Previous works are often restricted to the assumption of fully actuated robots. Here we propose an approach for underactuated robots that allows for energy-efficient control of the robot system. We consider a simple task of gathering the robots (minimizing positional variance) and steering them towards a goal point within a bounded area without obstacles. We make two main contributions. First, we present a generalized coordinate transformation for underactuated robots, whose physical properties should be considered. We choose Euler-Lagrange systems that describe a large class of robot systems. Second, we propose an optimal control mechanism with the prime objective of energy efficiency. We show the feasibility of our approach in robot simulations.
Effects of Different Planting Densities and Harvesting Periods on the Growth and Major Alkaloids of Anisodus tanguticus (Maxim.) Pascher on the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau
Authors: Liu Na , Chen Chen , Wang Bo , Chen Kaiyang , Feng Shihong , Zhang Dengshan , Zhou Guoying
Published: November 2022

Anisodus tanguticus (Maxim.) Pascher, a medicinal plant growing in the Tibetan Plateau region with various medicinal values, is mainly used for the extraction of tropane alkaloids (TAs), and the increased demand for A. tanguticus has triggered its overexploitation. The cultivation of this plant is necessary for the quality control and conservation of wild resources. During 2020 and 2021, a split-plot experiment with three replicates was used to study different planting densities (D1: 30 × 50 cm; D2: 40 × 50 cm; D3: 50 × 50 cm; D4: 60 × 50 cm) and different growth periods (first withering period: October 2020; greening period: June 2021; growth period: August 2021; second withering period: October 2021) on the yield and alkaloid content (atropine, scopolamine, anisodamine, anisodine) of A. tanguticus. The results showed that the mass per plant of A. tanguticus was higher at low density, while the yield per unit area of the underground parts (25288.89 kg/ha) was greater at high density, and the mass of the aboveground parts (14933.33 kg/ha) was higher at low density. The anisodamine (0.0467%) and anisodine (0.1201%) content of D2 (40 cm × 50 cm) was significantly higher than that of the other densities during the green period. The content of all four alkaloids was highest during the greening period, and the scopolamine, anisodamine, and anisodine content was higher in the aboveground parts than in the underground parts. The total alkaloid accumulation per unit area of the whole plant reached its maximum value (1.08%, 139.48 kg/ha) in the growth period of D2; therefore, for economic efficiency and the selection of the best overall quality, it was concluded that the aboveground parts also had medicinal value, the growth period was the best harvesting period, and D2 (40 cm × 50 cm) was the best planting density for A. tanguticus.
Precision Agriculture in Brazil: The Trajectory of 25 Years of Scientific Research
Authors: Cherubin Maurício Roberto , Damian Júnior Melo , Tavares Tiago Rodrigues , Trevisan Rodrigo Gonçalves , Colaço André Freitas , Eitelwein Mateus Tonini , Martello Maurício , Inamasu Ricardo Yassushi , Pias Osmar Henrique de Castro , Molin José Paulo
Published: November 2022

Precision agriculture (PA) stands out as an innovative way to manage production resources, increasing the efficiency and the socioeconomic and environmental sustainability of agricultural systems. In Brazil, the principles and tools of PA started to be adopted in the late 1990s. To reveal the scientific trajectory and advances in PA taken over the past 25 years in Brazil, we conducted a comprehensive and systematic literature review. After searching for available peer-reviewed literature, 442 publications were selected to compose the database. Our bibliometric review showed that the scientific PA network is growing in Brazil, with the number and quality of publications, the number of interactions among research groups, and the number of international collaborations increasing. Soil and plant management are the two main pillars of PA research (~61% of the publications). More recently, research has evolved to include other areas, such as the use of proximal sensors to monitor soil and crop development, remote sensing using images from satellites and remotely piloted aircraft systems, and the development of decision support tools. A substantial part of Brazilian PA research is marked by the evaluation and adaptation of imported technologies, a scenario that is slowly changing with the growth of well-trained human resources and advances in national industry. Based on Brazilian scientific history and remaining challenges, the key potential areas for future research are (i) the development of digitally based decision support systems, i.e., a shift of focus from on-farm data technologies towards effective, site-specific decision making based on digital data and improved analytics; (ii) on-farm precision experimentation to underpin on-farm data collection and the development of new decision tools; and (iii) novel machine learning approaches to promote the implementation of digitally based decision support systems.
Modeling and Application of Temporal Correlation of Grain Temperature during Grain Storage
Authors: Cui Hongwei , Zhang Qu , Wu Wenfu , Zhang Haolei , Ji Jiangtao , Ma Hao
Published: November 2022

Temperature measurement system malfunction and sensor failure in grain storage warehouses can lead to missing grain temperature data on some days. Missing data is not conducive to the monitoring of grain storage conditions. This paper establishes mathematical models of temporal correlation coefficients of grain temperature and storage time in different planes, and analyzes the influence of storage state change on grain temperature correlation. The historical grain situation data for about one year were selected from 27 flat grain storage warehouses distributed in the second to seventh grain storage ecological zones in China. In addition, correlation coefficients of grain temperature were then calculated on the XOY, XOZ and YOZ planes of each warehouse. During this process, the time interval included 1, 7, 14, 21, 28, 35, 42, 49, 56, 63 and 70 days, meaning that the correlation coefficients between the grain temperature on the day and the grain temperature after storage for 1, 7, 14, 21, 28, 35, 42, 49, 56, 63 and 70 days were calculated. Next, the correlation coefficients from the same time intervals and planes in each warehouse were sequentially connected to form arrays of correlation coefficients. Then, the 3σ-threshold setting methods and DBSCAN (density-based spatial clustering of applications with noise) method were used to analyze the correlation coefficients those arrays. According to the results, we set the correlation coefficient thresholds for each plane (XOY, XOZ and YOZ planes) at each time interval. The models were then established regarding the correlation coefficient thresholds and storage time intervals. Subsequently, the sum of squares for error (SSE), coefficient of determination (R2), and root mean square error (RMSE) were chosen to evaluate the models, with the results showing that the effect of the model established by the threshold set by the 3σ-setting method, with SSE, R2 and RMSE of 0.056, 0.9771 and 0.0748, respectively, was better than the model established using the DBSCAN method. Finally, the correlation coefficients of grain temperatures with empty warehouse, new grain addition, aeration and self-heating were analyzed. The results show that the four modes in a certain time interval (e.g., 30 days) does not meet the correlation coefficient threshold during normal storage. The result can provide a theoretical basis for grain storage condition detection when grain temperature data is intermittently missing.
Sustainability of Farms in EU Countries in the Context of Income Indicators: Regression Analysis Based on a New Classification
Authors: Andrejovská Alena , Glova Jozef
Published: November 2022

The sustainability of agriculture in the common market of the European Union is mainly influenced by the income of agricultural enterprises, which reflects the development potential of the entire sector. The present contribution deals with the importance of income indicators for the long-term sustainability of agricultural enterprises. We aimed to identify and quantify statistically significant determinants of the main income indicators of agricultural enterprises in individual countries of the European Union—namely, the net added value of the farm expressed per unit of agricultural work, the family farm income per family work unit, and the net farm income. We performed a linear regression analysis, in which the statistical significance of independent variables was gradually tested, including economic and environmental indicators, the economic size of the enterprise, total subsidies per hectare, depreciation, taxes, and wages. The established goal was complemented by a correlation analysis tracking the dependence between the economic size of enterprises—which is presented in the literature as a decisive indicator—and the tax burden in EU countries. We used the Farm Accountancy Data Network’s harmonised database for 2009–2018. The regression analysis results confirmed the environmental indicators’ statistical significance. Furthermore, the results of the correlation analysis confirmed the proposed hypothesis that the size of the company is a strong indicator and affects the tax burden of agricultural enterprises.
Agri-Environment Atmospheric Real-Time Monitoring Technology Based on Drone and Light Scattering
Authors: Liu Yuan , He Xun , Wang Wanzhang , Zhu Chenhui , Jian Ruibo , Chen Jinfan
Published: November 2022

The emission of particulate matter (PM) from agricultural activities, such as concentrated animal feeding, straw combustion, and mechanized harvest, is a hot issue in the sustainable development of agriculture, which has attracted more and more attention from government departments and researchers. However, the research on the transport of particulate matter in the agri-environment still lacks flexible and efficient measurement methods to obtain real-time and accurate spatial distribution data. The objective of our study is to produce a new intelligent platform for agri-environment atmospheric monitoring with high mobility, temporal and spatial resolution, and remote data transmission function to overcome the shortcomings of traditional atmospheric particulate matter monitoring stations, such as small particle size range, immovability, and high cost. Through the light scattering sensor, microcontroller, and wireless data transmission device assembled on the high-mobility drone, the platform could measure the mass concentration of PM2.5, PM10, and TSP at different spatial points in the agri-environment and transmit the measurement data to the receiving device on the ground through three modes: CLOUD, TCP, and UDP. We also developed monitoring software based on the Android platform, which could complete the connection of device and real-time monitoring of measurement data on the ground. Compared with stationary measurement devices, the biggest advantage of our mobile monitoring system is that it has the ability to measure the concentration of TSP and the vertical distribution of PM, which is very important for the research of agricultural environmental particulate matter emission characteristics. After the sensor and communication performance experiments, the sensors had high consistency in the overall change trend, and the communication accuracy rate was high. We carried out a flight measurement comparison experiment at the Wenhua Road Campus of Henan Agricultural University, and the measurement data were highly consistent with the data from the national monitoring stations. We also conducted an agri-environmental atmospheric measurement experiment in Muzhai Village and obtained the vertical distribution data of PM concentration at the nearby measuring point when the harvester was working. The results showed that after the harvester worked for a period of time, the PM2.5, PM10, and TSP concentrations reached the maximum at the altitude of 20 m at the measurement point, which were 80, 198, and 384 μg/m3, respectively, 2.64~3.10 times the particle concentration in the environment before the harvester began to work. Our new platform had high mobility, sensitive reading, and stable communication during the experiment, and had high application value in agricultural environmental monitoring.
Channel–Spatial Segmentation Network for Classifying Leaf Diseases
Authors: Natesan Balaji , Singaravelan Anandakumar , Hsu Jia-Lien , Lin Yi-Hsien , Lei Baiying , Liu Chuan-Ming
Published: November 2022

Agriculture is an important resource for the global economy, while plant disease causes devastating yield loss. To control plant disease, every country around the world spends trillions of dollars on disease management. Some of the recent solutions are based on the utilization of computer vision techniques in plant science which helps to monitor crop industries such as tomato, maize, grape, citrus, potato and cassava, and other crops. The attention-based CNN network has become effective in plant disease prediction. However, existing approaches are less precise in detecting minute-scale disease in the leaves. Our proposed Channel–Spatial segmentation network will help to determine the disease in the leaf, and it consists of two main stages: (a) channel attention discriminates diseased and healthy parts as well as channel-focused features, and (b) spatial attention consumes channel-focused features and highlights the diseased part for the final prediction process. This investigation forms a channel and spatial attention in a sequential way to identify diseased and healthy leaves. Finally, identified leaf diseases are divided into Mild, Medium, Severe, and Healthy. Our model successfully predicts the diseased leaves with the highest accuracy of 99.76%. Our research study shows evaluation metrics, comparison studies, and expert analysis to comprehend the network performance. This concludes that the Channel–Spatial segmentation network can be used effectively to diagnose different disease degrees based on a combination of image processing and statistical calculation.
Characterization of Polyphenols in a Sicilian Autochthonous White Grape Variety (PDO) for Monitoring Production Process and Shelf-Life of Wines
Authors: Rapa Mattia , Giannetti Vanessa , Boccacci Mariani Maurizio
Published: November 2022

Sicilian wines have shown a growing expansion in the international market, and over 60% of the production of them is focused on quality products. Grillo is a white grape variety, and it is among the best-known variety, with a cultivated area of 6300 ha and with the vocation of being particularly predisposed to aging for years or even decades. This paper aimed to perform a physiochemical (SSC and pH) and polyphenolic characterization of Grillo wines that were produced by a selected winery in the years 2011–2021 using an optimized RP-HPLC-DAD method. The polyphenols fraction was assessed by means a semiquantitative analysis on which, statistical processing was carried out. The HCA and PCA highlighted the presence of three clusters in the samples. Cluster 1 was composed of the samples from the years 2011–2014, cluster 2 composed of the samples from 2015–2017, and cluster 3 composed of the samples from 2019–2021. Using an HSD Tukey test, it was possible to point out that some compounds were makers of specific clusters and therefore, specific vintages. This preliminary study showed that polyphenols are suitable markers that can be used to identify Grillo vintages, and they should be also related to the storage conditions or different production processes.
Humic Acid Alleviates the Toxicity of Nanoplastics towards Solanum lycopersicum
Authors: Lakshmikanthan Dhivya , Chandrasekaran Natarajan
Published: November 2022

Nanoplastics (NPs) are emerging pollutants that contaminate agricultural produce. The present study investigates the impact of polystyrene (PS) and humic acid (HA) individually and in combination on the germination and growth of seeds of Solanum lycopersicum (tomato). Here we report the formation of eco-corona upon the interaction of PS with humic acid at 24 h with a significant increase in hydrodynamic size. Seed germination, plant growth, and chlorophyll content increased in the coronated PS. In addition, we report that the treatment of seeds with PS + HA resulted in the germination of 90% of seeds, while treatment with only PS resulted in the germination of only 65.8% of seeds. A quantitative analysis of chlorophyll (a, b, and a + b) revealed that HA-treated groups and PS + HA-treated groups showed significantly high chlorophyll (a, b, and a + b) contents of (PS: 3.48 mg g−1, 2.12 mg g−1, and 4.19 mg g−1, HA: 5.76 mg g−1, 3.88 mg g−1, and 6.41 mg g−1, PS + HA: 4.17 mg g−1, 3.23 mg g−1, and 6.58 mg g−1)respectively compared to PS treated groups. Similarly, ROS levels were comparatively low in HA and PS + HA-treated groups than in only-PS-treated groups. Furthermore, we observed a decline in the level of antioxidant enzyme (superoxide dismutase and catalase) activity in HA and PS + HA treated groups than that in only-PS treated groups. The results indicate that HA significantly reduces PS-induced toxicity and improves germination and growth of seeds of Solanum lycopersicum; the corresponding reduction in toxic effects may be due to eco-corona formation on the PS. We understand that eco-corona is a way to protect plants from xenobiotics concerning nanoplastics.
Propagation of Calendula maritima Guss. (Asteraceae) through Biotechnological Techniques for Possible Usage in Phytotherapy
Authors: Catalano Caterina , Abbate Loredana , Carimi Francesco , Carra Angela , Gristina Alessandro Silvestre , Motisi Antonio , Pasta Salvatore , Garfì Giuseppe
Published: November 2022

The genus Calendula (Asteraceae) includes several species that are renowned for their therapeutic properties and/or use as ingredients in the preparation of cosmetics. The rare and critically endangered sea marigold, Calendula maritima Guss., an endemic species from Western Sicily, has also been recognized as a potential “farm plant species” for several important compounds used in cosmetics. However, the few remnant populations of this species are currently threatened with extinction because of several factors, such as hybridization with the congeneric species Calendula suffruticosa subsp. fulgida (Raf.) Guadagno and anthropogenic disturbance of its habitat. Therefore, in order to preserve the genetic integrity from pure genetic lineages, seed-based propagation and seed storage are not recommended for either conservation or massive production purposes. In this paper, we describe a protocol adopted for mass propagation of C. maritima from selected genotypes. Nodal segments collected from selected plants growing in the field were used as starting explants and were cultured for micropropagation on MS medium with and without phloroglucinol. New shoots produced were cultured for rooting under several conditions with the aim of finding the best procedure favoring root induction. The best rooting performance was obtained with zeolite and rooted plants were successfully acclimatized outdoors. The technique described allowed the multiplication of genotypes of interest as well as to overcome the problems of hybridization of this species, hence contributing concretely to the conservation of the sea marigold.
Plant Immunity Is Regulated by Biological, Genetic, and Epigenetic Factors
Authors: Movahedi Ali , Aghaei-Dargiri Soheila , Barati Bahram , Kadkhodaei Saeid , Wei Hui , Sangari Sirous , Yang Liming , Xu Chen
Published: November 2022

An immune system is a protective mechanism that shields plants from environmental stresses. This primary function is to maintain optimal circumstances for the growth and development of plant tissues while avoiding harm from biotic and abiotic stress factors. Plants subjected to various stressors initiate stress signaling cascades that affect multiple gene expressions and induce adaptation. These signaling pathways are coordinated by transcription factors, non-coding RNAs, RNA-binding proteins, and protein–protein interaction networks. Several studies have focused on various immune systems, but no study has collected all of them together to illustrate them efficiently. According to this review, stress-responsive genes encode ion and water transporters, enzymes, and transcription factors, making plants more resistant to biological and abiotic challenges. Plants have also evolved anti-pathogen defense systems such as regulatory hormone pathways, reactive oxygen species generation, gene expression, programmed cell death, and cell survival. Plants produce short RNAs in response to a viral attack, which silences the offensive genome and creates complex epigenetic regulatory mechanisms such as histone changes, chromatin remodeling, and DNA methylation to protect plants from pathogens. This review provides an in-depth description of proteins, effectors, and pathways included in plant resistance against environmental stresses and offers details on future trends, such as metabolic pathways and genetic engineering, to improve the protection of plants against stress-induced responses.
Tissue-Specific Recovery Capability of Aroma Biosynthesis in ‘Golden Delicious’ Apple Fruit after Low Oxygen Storage
Authors: Chen Jingxin , Zhang Demei , Mi Hongbo , Pristijono Penta , Ge Yonghong , Lv Jingyi , Li Yushun , Liu Bin
Published: November 2022

The impact of low-oxygen (2 kPa) controlled atmosphere storage on the recovery of aroma biosynthesis in ‘Golden Delicious’ (GD) apple tissues during their subsequent shelf life was investigated. The results showed that the highest ester content was found in skin tissue, followed by Flesh 2 and Flesh 1. The 2 kPa O2 storage of GD apples resulted in a decrease in the emission of volatile esters and alcohols, but an increase in aldehyde emission. Notably, compared with skin tissue, the flesh tissue of 2 kPa O2-stored GD apples had a relatively high recovery capacity of ester biosynthesis but a low recovery capacity of alcohol synthesis for its shelf life. The impact was associated with increased levels in the MdLOX1a and MdAATs (MdAAT1 and MdAAT2) transcripts, as well as a decreased level in the MdHPL transcript in the flesh tissue. In addition, a complex regulatory network of ethylene on fruit aroma biosynthesis in response to low-oxygen conditions was also indicated. Collectively, there was a tissue-specific recovery capability of aroma biosynthesis in GD apples after low-oxygen storage.
Combined Abiotic Stresses: Challenges and Potential for Crop Improvement
Authors: Shabbir Rubab , Singhal Rajesh Kumar , Mishra Udit Nandan , Chauhan Jyoti , Javed Talha , Hussain Sadam , Kumar Sachin , Anuragi Hirdayesh , Lal Dalpat , Chen Pinghua
Published: November 2022

Abiotic stressors are major constraints that affect agricultural plant physio-morphological and biochemical attributes, resulting in a loss of normal functioning and, eventually, a severe decline in crop productivity. The co-occurrence of different abiotic stresses, rather than a specific stress situation, can alter or trigger a wide range of plant responses, such as altered metabolism, stunted growth, and restricted development. Therefore, systematic and rigorous studies are pivotal for understanding the impact of concurrent abiotic stress conditions on crop productivity. In doing so, this review emphasizes the implications and potential mechanisms for controlling/managing combined abiotic stresses, which can then be utilized to identify genotypes with combined stress tolerance. Furthermore, this review focuses on recent biotechnological approaches in deciphering combined stress tolerance in plants. As a result, agronomists, breeders, molecular biologists, and field pathologists will benefit from this literature in assessing the impact of interactions between combined abiotic stresses on crop performance and development of tolerant/resistant cultivars.
Spatial Distribution Model of Solar Radiation for Agrivoltaic Land Use in Fixed PV Plants
Authors: Pulido-Mancebo José S. , López-Luque Rafael , Fernández-Ahumada Luis Manuel , Ramírez-Faz José C. , Gómez-Uceda Francisco Javier , Varo-Martínez Marta
Published: November 2022

Agrivoltaics is currently presented as a possible effective solution to one of society’s greatest challenges: responding to the increasing demand for energy and food in an efficient and sustainable manner. To this end, agrivoltaics proposes to combine agricultural and renewable energy production on the same land using photovoltaic technology. The performance of this new production model strongly depends on the interaction between the two systems, agricultural and photovoltaic. In that sense, one of the most important aspects to consider are the effects of the shadows of the photovoltaic panels on the crop land. Therefore, further study of crop behavior under agrivoltaic conditions requires exhaustive knowledge of the spatial distribution of solar radiation within the portion of land between collectors and crops. This study presents a valid methodology to estimate this distribution of solar irradiance in agrivoltaic installations as a function of the photovoltaic installation geometry and the levels of diffuse and direct solar irradiance incident on the crop land. As an example, this methodology was applied to simulate the radiative capture potential of possible photovoltaic plants located in Cordoba, Spain by systematically varying the design variables of the photovoltaic plants. Based on the results obtained, a model correlating the agrivoltaic potential of a photovoltaic plant with its design variables is proposed. Likewise, for the “Alcolea 1” photovoltaic plant (Cordoba, Spain), the solar radiation decay profiles were simulated in the lanes between the photovoltaic collectors where the crops would be planted in the event of converting this plant into an agrivoltaic facility. Thus, the methodology proposed represents an interesting way to determine the agrivoltaic potential of existing grid-connected photovoltaic installations that could be converted into agrivoltaic installations, contributing to the implementation of this new agricultural production model that is more sustainable and environmentally committed to the future.
Aggression, Boldness, and Exploration Personality Traits in the Subterranean Naked Mole-Rat (Heterocephalus glaber) Disperser Morphs
Authors: Majelantle Tshepiso Lesedi , Ganswindt Andre , Pirk Christian Walter Werner , Bennett Nigel Charles , Hart Daniel William
Published: November 2022

Animal personality traits (consistent behavioral differences between individuals in their behavior across time and/or situation) affect individual fitness through facets, such as dispersal. In eusocial naked mole-rat (Heterocephalus glaber) colonies, a disperser morph may arise with distinct morphological, behavioral, and physiological characteristics. This study aimed to quantify the personality traits of a cohort of disperser morphs of naked mole-rat (NMR). Behavioral tests were performed on twelve disperser morphs (six males and six females) in an observation tunnel system that was novel and unfamiliar. Novel stimuli (fresh snakeskin, tissue paper, and conspecific of the same sex) were introduced for fifteen minutes, and the behavioral acts of the individual were recorded. A total of 30 behaviors were noted during the behavioral tests of which eight were used to quantify aggression, boldness, and exploration. The NMR disperser morphs showed consistent individual differences in boldness, and exploration across time and test, indicating a distinct personality. In addition, new naked mole-rat responses including disturbance behaviors; confront, barricade, and stay-away, were recorded. Further investigations into the relationships between animal personality traits and social hierarchy position in entire colonies are needed for more informative results as we further investigate the role of personality in cooperatively breeding societies.