bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Into the wild … or not: Virtual nature experiences benefit well-being regardless of human-made structures in nature
Authors: Reese Gerhard , Mehner Marie , Nelke Insa , Stahlberg Jasmin , Menzel Claudia
Published: September 2022

Immersive nature experiences increase human well-being. There is now an increasing number of studies suggesting that virtual nature experiences—e.g., within a virtual reality (VR) environment—can evoke comparable benefits. In the current study using VR, we tested whether human-made structures within nature settings hinder such effects of virtual nature experience on well-being. To do so, 67 participants were led through a VR nature surrounding that was either wild and untouched by humans, or was characterized by few inconspicuous human structures (i.e., paths, buildings, walls, bridges). Before and after the intervention, we measured subjective vitality and after the intervention, we assessed perceived restorative outcome as two indicators of well-being. Results revealed that both virtual nature experiences improved participants’ subjective vitality. Across both groups, participants reported relatively high—and similar—levels of restoration. These findings suggest that (virtual) nature experiences can be beneficial for well-being even when human-made structures interfere. Thus, irrespective of how pristine the environment is, the beneficial effects of immersive VR nature experiences provide opportunities for well-being when physical nature is inaccessible.
Primary and albedo protons detected by the Lunar Lander Neutron and Dosimetry experiment on the lunar farside
Authors: Xu Zigong , Guo Jingnan , Wimmer-Schweingruber Robert F. , Dobynde Mikhail I. , Kühl Patrick , Khaksarighiri Salman , Zhang Shenyi
Published: September 2022

The Lunar Lander Neutron and Dosimetry (LND) Experiment aboard the Chang’E-4 Lander on the lunar far-side measures energetic charged and neutral particles and monitors the corresponding radiation levels. During solar quiet times, galactic cosmic rays (GCRs) are the dominating component of charged particles on the lunar surface. Moreover, the interaction of GCRs with the lunar regolith also results in upward-directed albedo protons which are measured by the LND. In this work, we used calibrated LND data to study the GCR primary and albedo protons. We calculate the averaged GCR proton spectrum in the range of 9–368 MeV and the averaged albedo proton flux between 64.7 and 76.7 MeV from June 2019 (the seventh lunar day after Chang’E-4’s landing) to July 2020 (the 20th lunar day). We compare the primary proton measurements of LND with the Electron Proton Helium INstrument (EPHIN) on SOHO. The comparison shows a reasonable agreement of the GCR proton spectra among different instruments and illustrates the capability of LND. Likewise, the albedo proton measurements of LND are also comparable with measurements by the Cosmic Ray Telescope for the Effects of Radiation (CRaTER) during solar minimum. Our measurements confirm predictions from the Radiation Environment and Dose at the Moon (REDMoon) model. Finally, we provide the ratio of albedo protons to primary protons for measurements in the energy range of 64.7–76.7 MeV which confirm simulations over a broader energy range.
Case report: Cerebral artery air embolism during CT-guided lung nodule resection in hybrid theater
Authors: Xing Huajie , Wang Zhiqiang , Jiang Yuequan
Published: September 2022

A middle-aged male received CT-guided lung nodule localization and segmentectomy for a 10-mm lesion in the right upper lung. He developed left side paralysis after surgery, which was proved to be cerebral artery air embolism caused by a CT-guided lung puncture. He achieved almost full recovery with hyperbaric oxygen therapy and intensive rehabilitation. This case highlights the possibility of cerebral artery air embolism during CT-guided lung nodule resection in hybrid theater, with emphasis on prevention and early detection of this life-threatening complication.
Fuzzy Logic-Based Energy Management Strategy of Hybrid Electric Propulsion System for Fixed-Wing VTOL Aircraft
Authors: Zhu Yingtao , Zhu Bingjie , Yang Xixiang , Hou Zhongxi , Zong Jianan
Published: September 2022

An energy management strategy for a series hybrid electric propulsion system designed for a fixed-wing vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft is presented in this paper. The proposed method combines an ideal operating line (IOL) and fuzzy logic. Fuzzy logic is used to dynamically and optimally allocate the output power of the generator and the battery pack according to the power requirement of the aircraft and the SOC of the battery pack. The IOL controller is used to optimize the internal combustion engine (ICE) operating point to improve the fuel economy of the system. The detailed aircraft model and energy system model are established. The flight process of a 100 kg scale VTOL aircraft under a typical mission profile is simulated. The simulation results show that running the ICE based on IOL can greatly improve its efficiency The introduction of fuzzy logic to optimize the power allocation of the generator and battery pack improves the overall efficiency of the system. The feasibility and effectiveness of the energy management strategy proposed in this paper are verified, and the design ideas and analysis methods are provided for the energy management of a hybrid electric aircraft.
Effects of Flow Path Geometrical Parameters on the Hydraulic Performance of Variable Flow Emitters at the Conventional Water Supply Stage
Authors: Gao Ni , Mo Yan , Wang Jiandong , Yang Luhua , Gong Shihong
Published: September 2022

We created a subsurface drip irrigation (SDI)-specific variable flow emitter (VFE) that switches working stages automatically based on the inlet pressure (H) to achieve a step change in the flow rate. At working stage I (H = 0.1 MPa), namely the conventional water supply stage, the VFE provided a normal flow rate (qI) of 1–2 L/h for crop irrigation. At working stage II (H > 0.1 MPa; exceeding the design pressure), VFE delivered a larger flow rate (qII). The larger qII facilitated water movement upward from the underground to the surface seedbed during the crop planting, thus ameliorating crop germination issues under SDI. We focused on the impacts of four structural parameters of the flow channel: tooth height (E), tooth spacing (B), tooth angle (A), and flow channel depth (D) on the qI and VFE-flow index (x) at working stage I. Computational fluid dynamic (CFD) simulations were conducted along with a physical laboratory test to develop VFE using computerized numerical control (CNC) technology (accuracy = 0.05 mm). Nine VFEs were designed using an L9(34) orthogonal test. The combination of tetrahedral meshing with a six-layer boundary layer and the realizable k–ε turbulence model was found suitable for CFD simulations. The standard root-mean-square error (nRMSE) of the measured and simulated qIs was a minimum of 7.4%. The four parameters influenced qIs as D > B > E > A, and the four factors influenced the xs as B > E > D > A. Based on the numerical simulation data, multiple linear regression models were constructed for the qIs and xs with four parameters when H = 0.1 MPa. Aiming for the minimum x, the optimal combination of the flow channel structural parameters corresponding to different qIs was determined by the ergodic optimization algorithm. When qI was 1.5 L/h, the optimal structural combinations were E = 1.2 mm, B = 1.8 mm, A = 42°, and D = 1 mm. The VFE with a qI of 1.5 L/h was created by CNC technology. The relative errors of the measured and predicted qIs using the regression model were −0.19–6.31%, and their nRMSE was 6.76%. Thus, optimizing the flow channel structural parameters based on a multiple linear regression model and the ergodic optimization algorithm is a highly precise theoretical base for VFE development.
Soil Microbial Community Driven by Soil Moisture and Nitrogen in Milk Vetch (Astragalus sinicus L.)–Rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) Intercropping
Authors: Liu Zeqin , Li Shujuan , Liu Ning , Huang Guoqin , Zhou Quan
Published: September 2022

The soil microbial community is not only driven by plant composition but is also disturbed by the soil environment. Intercropping affects the soil microenvironment through plant interaction, but the understanding of the relationship between soil microbial community and environment in intercropping is still weak. In this study, milk vetch intercropping with rapeseed was used to explore the interaction between soil microorganisms and environment. The results showed that the soil moisture content of intercropping was higher than that of monoculture during the reproductive period of rapeseed growth (flowering and podding stages). The contents of soil total nitrogen and alkali-hydrolyzable nitrogen in intercropping were higher than those in monoculture. The dominant soil microbial communities in intercropping were the same as in monoculture and included Chloroflexi, Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Acidobacteria, Firmicutes, Gemmatimonates and Bacteroidetes. However, intercropping increased the Shannon index and decreased the Simpson’s index of the soil microbial community. The changes in the soil microbial community were mainly related to soil temperature, moisture, pH, total nitrogen, alkali-hydrolyzable nitrogen and available potassium. Moreover, there was a negative correlation between soil moisture and microorganisms and a positive correlation between nitrogen and microorganisms. Thus, milk vetch–rapeseed intercropping could not only improve soil nitrogen content, but also change soil microbial community diversity. In dryland red soil, the effect of milk vetch–rapeseed intercropping on soil moisture and nitrogen was the key factor contributing to the changes in the soil microbial community. When planting rapeseed in the future, we could consider the application of intercropping with milk vetch, which can contribute to regulating the soil nitrogen pool and improving microbial diversity.
Soil Organic Matter Detection Based on Pyrolysis and Electronic Nose Combined with Multi-Feature Data Fusion Optimization
Authors: Xia Xiaomeng , Li Mingwei , Liu He , Zhu Qinghui , Huang Dongyan
Published: September 2022

Soil organic matter (SOM) is one of the main sources of plant nutrition and promotes plant growth and development. The content of SOM varies in different areas of the field. In this study, a method based on pyrolysis and electronic nose combined with multi-feature data fusion optimization was proposed to realize rapid, accurate and low-cost measurement of SOM content. Firstly, an electronic nose was used to collect response data from the soil pyrolysis gas, and the sensor features (10 × 6) were extracted to form the original feature space. Secondly, Pearson correlation coefficient (PCC), one-way analysis of variance (One-Way ANOVA), principal component analysis algorithm (PCA), linear discriminant analysis algorithm (LDA), and genetic algorithm-backpropagation neural network algorithm (GA-BP) were used to realize multi-feature data fusion optimization. Thirdly, the optimized feature space was used to train the PLSR models, and the predictive performance of the models were used as an indicator to evaluate different feature optimization algorithms. The results showed that the PLSR model with GA-BP for feature optimization had the best predictive performance (R2 = 0.90) and could achieve accurate quantitative prediction of SOM content. The dimensionality of the optimized feature space was reduced to 30 and there was no redundancy in the sensor array.
Weed Detection in Peanut Fields Based on Machine Vision
Authors: Zhang Hui , Wang Zhi , Guo Yufeng , Ma Ye , Cao Wenkai , Chen Dexin , Yang Shangbin , Gao Rui
Published: September 2022

The accurate identification of weeds in peanut fields can significantly reduce the use of herbicides in the weed control process. To address the identification difficulties caused by the cross-growth of peanuts and weeds and by the variety of weed species, this paper proposes a weed identification model named EM-YOLOv4-Tiny incorporating multiscale detection and attention mechanisms based on YOLOv4-Tiny. Firstly, an Efficient Channel Attention (ECA) module is added to the Feature Pyramid Network (FPN) of YOLOv4-Tiny to improve the recognition of small target weeds by using the detailed information of shallow features. Secondly, the soft Non-Maximum Suppression (soft-NMS) is used in the output prediction layer to filter the best prediction frames to avoid the problem of missed weed detection caused by overlapping anchor frames. Finally, the Complete Intersection over Union (CIoU) loss is used to replace the original Intersection over Union (IoU) loss so that the model can reach the convergence state faster. The experimental results show that the EM-YOLOv4-Tiny network is 28.7 M in size and takes 10.4 ms to detect a single image, which meets the requirement of real-time weed detection. Meanwhile, the mAP on the test dataset reached 94.54%, which is 6.83%, 4.78%, 6.76%, 4.84%, and 9.64% higher compared with YOLOv4-Tiny, YOLOv4, YOLOv5s, Swin-Transformer, and Faster-RCNN, respectively. The method has much reference value for solving the problem of fast and accurate weed identification in peanut fields.
Multiclass Classification of Grape Diseases Using Deep Artificial Intelligence
Authors: Fraiwan Mohammad , Faouri Esraa , Khasawneh Natheer
Published: September 2022

Protecting agricultural crops is essential for preserving food sources. The health of plants plays a major role in impacting the yield of agricultural output, and their bad health could result in significant economic loss.This is especially important in small-scale and hobby-farming products such as fruits. Grapes are an important and widely cultivated plant, especially in the Mediterranean region, with an over USD 189 billion global market value. They are consumed as fruits and in other manufactured forms (e.g., drinks and sweet food products). However, much like other plants, grapes are prone to a wide range of diseases that require the application of immediate remedies. Misidentifying these diseases can result in poor disease control and great losses (i.e., 5–80% crop loss). Existing computer-based solutions may suffer from low accuracy, may require high overhead, and be poorly deployable and prone to changes in image quality. The work in this paper aims at utilizing a ubiquitous technology to help farmers in combatting plant diseases. Particularly, deep-learning artificial-intelligence image-based applications were used to classify three common grape diseases: black measles, black rot, and isariopsis leaf spot. In addition, a fourth healthy class was included. A dataset of 3639 grape leaf images (1383 black measles, 1180 black rot, 1076 isariopsis leaf spot, and 423 healthy) was used. These images were used to customize and retrain 11 convolutional network models to classify the four classes. Thorough performance evaluation revealed that it is possible to design pilot and commercial applications with accuracy that satisfies field requirements. The models achieved consistently high performance values (>99.1%).
Ascorbate Supplementation: A Blessing in Disguise for Tomato Seedlings Exposed to NiO Nanoparticles
Authors: Spormann Sofia , Sousa Filipa , Oliveira Fátima , Ferreira Vasco , Teixeira Bárbara , Pereira Cláudia , Soares Cristiano , Fidalgo Fernanda
Published: September 2022

While nanomaterials offer wide-ranging solutions, their intensified use causes environmental contamination, posing ecotoxicological risks to several organisms, including plants. It becomes important to understand the phytotoxicity of NMs and find sustainable strategies to enhance plant tolerance to these emerging contaminants. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the potential of ascorbic acid (AsA) in increasing the tolerance of in vitro grown tomato seedlings to nickel oxide nanomaterials (nano-NiO). Seeds of Solanum lycopersicum cv. Micro-Tom were germinated in culture medium containing 30 mg/L nano-NiO, 150 mg/L AsA, or a combination of both. A control situation was included. Surprisingly, single AsA administration in the medium impaired the growth of tomato seedlings and increased the lipid peroxidation of biomembranes. Nonetheless, plant development was more severely repressed by nano-NiO, with evident macroscopic effects that did not translate into serious redox disorders. Still, proline and AsA levels diminished in response to nano-NiO, while glutathione and phenols increased. Despite the negative effects of AsA on non-stressed plants, nano-NiO-induced stress was counteracted by AsA supply, with enhanced levels of glutathione and phenols. Overall, the supplementation with AsA proved to be a “blessing in disguise” for plants under nano-NiO-induced stress, improving antioxidant capacity and activating other defense mechanisms.
Salicylic Acid Spraying Affects Secondary Metabolites and Radical Scavenging Capacity of Drought-Stressed Eriocephalus africanus L.
Authors: Khalil Noha , Elhady Sameh S. , Diri Reem M. , Fekry Mostafa I. , Bishr Mokhtar , Salama Osama , El-Zalabani Soheir M.
Published: September 2022

Drought is among the most common abiotic stresses that significantly influence plants’ growth and metabolic activities. In this study, Eriocephalus africanus L. (Asteraceae) was exposed to three levels of drought stress (irrigation with 75, 50, and 25% field capacity), together with foliar spraying of a plant hormone, salicylic acid (1, 2, and 3 mM SA), to observe the effect of drought stress and SA on its secondary metabolites. These growing conditions efficiently affected its total flavonoid and polyphenol contents (TFC and TPC, respectively). TFC and TPC increased by 53% and 35%, respectively, in stressed plants. Consequently, the radical scavenging activity improved by 140%. UPLC-ESI-MS/MS profiles of the extracts of control and stressed plants were assessed. Among identified polyphenols, 3,4-dicaffeoylquinic acid predominated in both samples, although it was detected in a greater percentage of stressed plants. Essential oils hydro-distilled from the plants showed a higher yield (1.05 ± 0.03% v/w) in stressed plants. Artemisia ketone prevailed in all oil samples’ GC/MS chromatograms, with a higher yield (42%) recorded in stressed plants. In conclusion, drought stress and SA spraying triggered the production of phenolic and essential oil components and increased the radical scavenging activity of E. africanus. Thus, agricultural conditions are optimized to provide a continuous supply of plant materials with appropriate amounts of bioactive constituents for economic industrialization.
Genetic Mapping of Quantitative Trait Loci Associated with Plant Height and Yield Component Traits in a Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Doubled Haploid Population Derived from Tugela-DN × Elands
Authors: Lephuthing Mantshiuwa Christinah , Khumalo Thobeka Philile , Tolmay Vicki Louise , Dube Ernest , Tsilo Toi John
Published: September 2022

Grain yield is a quantitatively inherited complex trait that is strongly influenced by interacting genetic and environmental factors. The identification of major quantitative trait loci (QTL) for plant height (PH) and yield component traits (YCT) is important for improving yield potential through wheat breeding. We performed a QTL analysis for PH and YCT in the Tugela-DN × Elands doubled haploid (DH) population using a genotype-by-sequence single nucleotide polymorphism and a silicoDArT-based genetic map. Field trials were conducted under rain-fed conditions across five environments in the Free State Province of South Africa during the 2017–2018 and 2018–2019 cropping seasons. Analysis of variance revealed significant differences (p < 0.001) among DH lines and the environments. However, for G × E interactions, significant differences (p < 0.05) were only observed for spikelet number per spike. Broad-sense heritability estimates of all traits ranged between 0.44 and 0.81. Nine QTL, viz. QPh.sgi-6A.2 and QPh.sgi-4D for PH, QSl.sgi-6A.2 and QSl.sgi-7A for spike length, QGns.sgi-3B for grain number per spike (GNS), QGwps.sgi-7B for grain weight per spike (GWPS), QGw.sgi-2A and QGw.sgi-7A for grain width, and QGl.sgi-3B for grain length (GL), were identified on chromosomes 2A, 3B, 4D, 6A, 7A, and 7B, in two or more environments. Some of these QTL exhibited pleiotropic effects. The QPh.sgi-6A.2 QTL for PH and QGwps.sgi-7B for GWPS appear to be novel QTL, while the rest of the reported QTL validated previously identified QTL for PH and YCT. The study also reported a trade-off between GL and GNS. The findings of this study will be useful in elucidating the genetic architecture of yield component traits contributing to the development of new dryland wheat varieties with high and stable yield.
Carbon-Isotope Ratio (δ13C) and Phenolic-Compounds Analysis in Authenticity Studies of Wines from Dealu Mare and Cotnari Regions (Romania)
Authors: Popîrdă Andreea , Luchian Camelia Elena , Colibaba Lucia Cintia , Focea Elena Cornelia , Nicolas Sebastien , Noret Laurence , Cioroiu Ionel Bogdan , Gougeon Régis , Cotea Valeriu V.
Published: September 2022

In food quality, authenticity is one of the most important issues in the context of ensuring the safety and security of consumers, but it becomes even more important when wine is involved as this produce has become one of the most counterfeited foods in the world. A batch of 28 wines from Romanian grape varieties obtained in Dealu Mare and Cotnari regions was analysed from a physical–chemical point of view in order to assess the possibility of discriminating them according to geographical origin and variety. The samples were subjected to isotopic analysis, thus determining δ13C isotopic ratio using an elemental analyser EA, VarioMicroCube; while the targeted analysis of phenolic compounds was performed by UHPLC technique, using an Acquity UPLC H-Class. The basic physico-chemical analysis of the samples was carried out using FTIR spectroscopy (OenoFoss). Statistical analyses were performed using the TIBCO STATISTICAL SOFTWARE and the statistical test applied was the Tukey HSD test. Therefore, identified phenolic compounds such as hydroxytyrosol and coumaric acid are considered varietal markers. Tyrosol, dimers B1 and B2 and also catechin and epicatechin are indicators of geographical origin.
Variation Characteristics of Glucosinolate Contents in Leaf Mustard (Brassica juncea)
Authors: Huang Huiping , Wang Junwei , Mao Shuxiang , Wu Qi , Tian Yuxiao , Wang Feng , Wang Pei , Huang Ke , Wu Qiuyun
Published: September 2022

Mustard, which belongs to the family Brassicaceae, is an annual or biennial herb and is considered as one of the most important native vegetables in China. Glucosinolates are important secondary metabolites containing sulfur and nitrogen in plants, which form a network with other metabolic pathways that play important roles in plant growth, development, and interaction with the environment. We studied varied phenotypic and glucosinolate contents of 60 mustard resources collected from various areas of China. The results showed both agronomic traits and glucosinolates varied greatly among mustard resources. We detected nine glucosinolates in mustard resources and the contents of total glucosinolates ranged from 1.2023 to 30.7310 μmol/g. Through the correlation analysis, we preliminarily found a significant negative correlation between leaf color and glucosinolate contents but needed further validation. For mustard resource JC 18-56, we analyzed the glucosinolate contents in different organs of different growth stages. The results indicated a significant difference among organs in both glucosinolates concentration and composition. The contents of glucosinolatess in alabastrums at bolting stage were highest, up to 140.1257 μmol/g dry weight (DW). We found that the main glucosinolates in roots were 4-methoxyglucobrassicin, while in other organs the glucosinolates were sinigrin. The contents of glucosinolatess in different organs of mustard were as follows: alabastrums > seeds > flowers > siliques > leaves > flower stems > stems > roots. This study provides important references for the selection and cultivation of high-quality mustard varieties.
Changes in Soil Properties, Bacterial Communities and Wheat Roots Responding to Subsoiling in South Loess Plateau of China
Authors: Wang Hanbo , Zhang Dasheng , He Jiuxing , Wang Lijuan , Ren Jiameng , Zhang Shuantang , Bai Wenbo , Song Jiqing , Lv Guohua , Li Jiusheng
Published: September 2022

This study was carried out to investigate effects of subsoiling on the diversity and composition of the bacterial community in a wheat–maize rotation field in the Guanzhong area of Shaanxi Province, China. After the wheat harvest, surface soil samples were collected under two tillage methods (single rotary tillage (RT) and subsoiling + rotary tillage (ST)) to perform high-throughput sequencing and bioinformatics analysis. Soil properties and root length density (RLD) of winter wheat at booting and flowering stages were also studied. Results showed that ST treatment significantly raised the water storage, organic carbon and total nitrogen contents of deep soil (>40 cm), and notably increased the total soil pH, ammonium nitrogen content and RLD in the tillage layer from 0–70 cm at booting stage and 0~100 cm at flowering stage, but the residual nitrate nitrogen significantly decreased by 17.74%. Compared with RT, soil bacterial richness and diversity in the 10~20 cm layer of ST treatment showed a significantly decreased trend. The relative abundances of GAL15, Actinobacteria, Nitrospirae, Rhizobiales, Burkholderiales, Pseudomonas and Serratia in the 10–20 cm layer were remarkably increased in ST. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Redundancy Analysis (RDA) results showed that surface soil pH, ammonium nitrogen and nitrate nitrogen contents have the strongest effect on the bacterial structure. In addition, there were positive correlations between the RLD and the relative abundances of Rhizobiales, Burkholderiales, Pseudomonas and the ammonium nitrogen content. In conclusion, although subsoiling was not conducive to improving soil bacterial community richness and diversity, it significantly increased soil beneficial bacteria (biological nitrogen-fixing bacteria, ammonifying bacteria, nitrobacteria) abundances, reduced the nitrogen loss caused by denitrifying bacteria, promoted earlier root development and improved the plant utilization ratio of soil nutrients.
Compost Quality Indexes (CQIs) of Biosolids Using Physicochemical, Biological and Ecophysiological Indicators: C and N Mineralization Dynamics
Authors: Bedolla-Rivera Héctor Iván , Conde-Barajas Eloy , Galván-Díaz Sandra Lizeth , Gámez-Vázquez Francisco Paúl , Álvarez-Bernal Dioselina , Xochilt Negrete-Rodríguez María de la Luz
Published: September 2022

The increasing production of biosolids (BS) as a result of urban wastewater treatment generates pollution problems in their management and final disposal, and a better management is needed for their disposal. The composting of BS is an alternative process for obtaining a product with potential application as an organic amendment in the recovery of agricultural soils. As a biotechnological contribution, this study analyzed a composting process with BS, bovine manure (BM) and rice husks using four treatments T1 (C/N = 24); T2 (C/N = 34); T3 (C/N = 44); T4 (C/N = 54) for 120 days, in order to develop compost quality indexes (CQIs) through the analysis of 18 physicochemical, biological and ecophysiological indicators. Subsequently, three methodologies—successfully used on soils—were implemented for the development of the CQIs called “unified”, “additive” and “nemoro”. The indicators that comprised the CQIs were nitrification index (NI) and synthetic enzymatic index (SEI). The CQIs made it possible to differentiate the quality of the compost according to the treatments applied. The treatments used resulted in composts considered phytonutritious whose average quality value depending on the CQI developed was considered high (CQIw = 0.62), moderate (CQIa = 0.56) and low (CQIn = 0.30). The developed CQIs can be applied to determine the quality of BS composting systems reducing the cost of monitoring.
Yield Potential of Machine-Transplanted Rice and Correlation of Crop-Growing Rate during Grain-Filling Stage
Authors: Ding Chao , Zhu Xuhui , Xu Congshan , Cambula Elidio , Lu Bo , Luo Xikun , Wu Qiong , Zhong Qiuyi , Xu Xia , Liu Zhenghui , Ding Yanfeng , Yang Jie , Li Ganghua
Published: September 2022

Not enough attention has been paid to the comparison in yield performance and N responsiveness between hybrid rice and inbred rice using the large number of new cultivars released after 2000 under machine transplanting. Field experiments were conducted in 2017 and 2018; 48 widely planted rice cultivars included four groups, namely indica hybrids (IHs), japonica inbreds (JIs), indica-japonica hybrids (IJHs), and indica inbreds (IIs) that were transplanted by machine with three nitrogen fertilizer levels (0, 150, 300 kg ha−1). The average yield of the hybrids (IHs, IJHs) was higher than that of JIs or IIs with a higher crop-growing rate (CGR) during the total growth duration, regardless of the N application level; moreover, longer total growth duration was responsible for the higher yield in IJHs than in IHs. The IHs had a large gap yield which mainly came from the genetic improvement in the CGR during the grain-filling stage. The yield gap was relatively small in JIs, and longer growth duration combined with optimal daily mean temperature during the grain-filling stage was the critical factor for high yield. The JIs or IJHs had higher yield under the N300 level, while the response of IHs to nitrogen varied with different cultivars. Cultivars with higher CGR during the grain-filling stage had higher yield under the N300 level. In conclusion, this study suggests that high CGR during the grain-filling stage may be a vital trait for the development of rice with high yield and high N responsiveness at machine transplanting.
Uptake and Allocation of Newly Absorbed Nitrogen in Young Pear Trees Grafted onto Vigorous Rootstocks (Pyrus betulifolia)
Authors: Wu Yang , Sun Mingde , Zhao Zhi , Liang Zhenxu , Liu Jun , Liu Songzhong
Published: September 2022

Nitrogen is one of the essential elements for fruit tree growth. Therefore, a 15N tracing experiment was conducted to investigate the characteristics of nitrogen uptake and distribution in young pear trees. The experiment included: groups A and B, fertilized with 15 g unlabeled and 5 g labeled N per tree in the spring of 2017; and group C, fertilized with 20 g unlabeled N per tree in the spring of 2017 and 25 g unlabeled and 5 g labeled N per tree in the spring of 2018. Results indicated that new organs grew vigorously before June, and about 50% of the fertilizer nitrogen was concentrated in leaves. From June to November, the growth rate of storage organs was faster than that of new organs, and fertilizer nitrogen was mainly stored in the shoots, trunk, and roots. During the defoliation period, about 84% of the leaf fertilizer nitrogen was mobilized to the shoots, trunk, and roots. There was significant correlation between current fertilizer nitrogen and the dry mass weight of each organ after the completion of the nitrogen cycling of a whole year; the correlation coefficient was 0.98. Fertilizer nitrogen use efficiency increased with the ages of the pear trees. Therefore, nitrogen fertilizer rate should be formulated according to the tree growth characteristics and increased with the ages of the young pear trees; topdressing fertilizer should be applied in summer to ensure trunk and root development.
Terminal Crossbreeding of Murciano-Granadina Goats with Boer Bucks: Characteristics of the Carcass and the Meat
Authors: Pérez-Baena Ión , Peris Cristòfol , Fernández Nemesio , Franch-Dasí Jorge , Sagbay Cristhian , Terán-Piña Julio Cesar , Rodríguez Martín
Published: September 2022

After verifying productive improvements from the crossbreeding (MB) of Boer males with females of the Murciano-Granadina (MG) breed, the aim of this work was to determine its consequences on the carcass and meat characteristics of suckling kids (9 kg of weight at slaughter) of both sexes. A total of 94 kids (25 purebred MG males, 19 purebred MG females, 25 crossed MB males and 25 crossed MB females) were used. It was found that MB kids reached slaughter weight at a younger age (44 ± 1 vs. 63 ± 1 days, p < 0.001). For carcass yield, the interaction genotype x sex was observed, where MB females presented a higher value (51.71 ± 0.34%) than the rest of the animals (MB males 50.53 ± 0.34, p < 0.05; MG males 50.60 ± 0.34, p < 0.05; MG females 49.62 ± 0.39, p < 0.001). MB kids had greater leg compactness, (36.28 ± 0.27 vs. 34.71 ± 0.29 g/cm, p < 0.001), slightly improved expensive carcass cuts (75.93 ± 0.31 vs. 74.77 ± 0.34%, p = 0.014) and higher muscle/bone (2.93 ± 0.03 vs. 2.76 ± 0.03, p < 0.001) and meat/bone ratios (3.56 ± 0.04 vs. 3.36 ± 0.04, p < 0.001) than MG kids. They also showed a somewhat more intense red colour (8.57 ± 0.25 vs. 7.74 ± 0.27, p = 0.027), higher colour saturation (9.06 ± 0.24 vs. 8.20 ± 0.26, p = 0.016) and less meat firmness (1.95 ± 0.08 vs. 2.23 ± 0.081 kg/cm2, p = 0.021). On the other hand, males had a slightly improved proportion of expensive cuts (75.98 ± 0.31 vs. 74.73 ± 0.34, p = 0.008), but their carcass contained a higher proportion of bone (22.16 ± 0.21 vs. 21.17 ± 0.17%; p < 0.001), a lower proportion of intermuscular fat (9.54 ± 0.24 vs. 10.93 ± 0.24, p < 0.001), a higher muscle/fat ratio (5.01 ± 0.10 vs. 4.41 ± 0.10, p < 0.001) and lower muscle/bone (2.80 ± 0.03 vs. 2.89 ± 0.03%, p = 0.016) and meat/bone ratios (3.36 ± 0.04 vs. 3.56 ± 0.04%, p < 0.001) than females. There were no sensory differences in any case. It is concluded that this crossbreeding strategy also improves the carcass and meat characteristics, making it a valid alternative to improve the productive results of MG dairy goat herds.
Environmental and Social Influences on the Behaviour of Free-Living Mandarin Ducks in Richmond Park
Authors: Munday Camille , Rose Paul
Published: September 2022

Many species of birds are housed in zoos globally and are some of the most popular of animals kept under human care. Careful observations of how species live and behave in their natural habitats can provide us with important knowledge about their needs, adaptations, and internal states, allowing identification of those behaviours that are most important to the individual’s physical health and wellbeing. For this study, Mandarin Ducks (Aix galericulata) were chosen as a study species because, like many species of waterfowl, they are widely kept in both private institutions and zoos, yet little research has been conducted on their core needs in captivity. A free-living population of naturalised Mandarin Ducks living in Richmond Park was used for this research. Data on state behaviours (resting, swimming, foraging, perching, preening, and vigilance) were collected five days a week (08:00–18:00) from the 26 March to 26 May 2021. Secondly, temporal, seasonal, environmental, and animal-centric factors (e.g., Sex) were recorded to assess any impact on the Mandarin’s time-activity budget. Lastly, a comparison between free-living anmd captive activity was conducted (via the literature) to evaluate whether captive behaviours differ to how they are expressed in the wild. Results showed that free-living Mandarins predominantly rested (19.88% ± 28.97), swam (19.57% ± 19.43) and foraged (19.47% ± 25.82), with variations in activity related to factors such as vegetation cover and pond size. Results also showed differences between the time-budgets of free-living and captive Mandarins, suggesting that captive birds may not always have the opportunity to express species-typical behaviours. This research indicated that study of natural behaviours performed in the wild may help to evaluate “normal” behaviour patterns of zoo-housed individuals and provide evidence for environmental and husbandry alterations that can promote good welfare. However, any potential impact on the activity patterns of free-living species due to human interactions should be considered when assessing deviations between the behaviour of wild and captive individuals.
Unraveling the Drifting Larval Fish Community in a Large Spawning Ground in the Middle Pearl River Using DNA Barcoding
Authors: Chen Weitao , Li Ce , Li Xinhui , Li Jie , Li Yuefei
Published: September 2022

Resolving the species composition of a larval pool in a spawning ground can provide novel insights into regional fish stocks and can support the development of effective monitoring and conservation policies. However, it is challenging to identify fish larvae to species due to their high diversity and dramatic phenotypic changes over development. In this study, we collected fish larvae in the Dongta spawning ground (Guiping City, Guangxi Province, China) in the middle reaches of the Pearl River between May and August 2018. We used a DNA barcoding approach to determine the species composition of the larval pool. A total of 905 larvae were chosen for molecular identification, of which 750 yielded high-quality barcoding sequences. Of these, 597 (≈79.6%), 151 (≈20.1%)/and 2 (≈0.3%) were assigned to 28 species, 8 genera, and 1 subfamily using the Barcode of Life Data System and GenBank nucleotide databases, respectively. Among the 28 identified species, 21 were cyprinids. Two species (Mugilogobius myxodermus and Pseudolaubuca engraulis) that were present only infrequently in previous adult surveys were abundant in the larval pool. Six invasive species were identified in the larval pool, implying that these species had successfully colonized the studied river section. Several migratory species common in the lower Pearl River were rare or absent in the investigated region, suggesting that dam construction in the Pearl River has had adverse effects on these migratory species. In summary, our study confirmed the applicability of DNA barcoding to studies of fish larval ecology and provided important reference data for fishery management and conservation in the Pearl River.
Evaluating the Efficacy of Eravacycline and Omadacycline against Extensively Drug-Resistant Acinetobacter baumannii Patient Isolates
Authors: Deolankar Manas S. , Carr Rachel A. , Fliorent Rebecca , Roh Sean , Fraimow Henry , Carabetta Valerie J.
Published: September 2022

For decades, the spread of multidrug-resistant (MDR) Acinetobacter baumannii has been rampant in critically ill, hospitalized patients. Traditional antibiotic therapies against this pathogen have been failing, leading to rising concerns over management options for patients. Two new antibiotics, eravacycline and omadacycline, were introduced to the market and have shown promising results in the treatment of Gram-negative infections. Since these drugs are newly available, there is limited in vitro data about their effectiveness against MDR A. baumannii or even susceptible strains. Here, we examined the effectiveness of 22 standard-of-care antibiotics, eravacycline, and omadacycline against susceptible and extensively drug-resistant (XDR) A. baumannii patient isolates from Cooper University Hospital. Furthermore, we examined selected combinations of eravacycline or omadacycline with other antibiotics against an XDR strain. We demonstrated that this collection of strains is largely resistant to monotherapies of carbapenems, fluoroquinolones, folate pathway antagonists, cephalosporins, and most tetracyclines. While clinical breakpoint data are not available for eravacycline or omadacycline, based on minimum inhibitory concentrations, eravacycline was highly effective against these strains. The aminoglycoside amikacin alone and in combination with eravacycline or omadacycline yielded the most promising results. Our comprehensive characterization offers direction in the treatment of this deadly infection in hospitalized patients.
Determination of the Elution Capacity of Dalbavancin in Bone Cements: New Alternative for the Treatment of Biofilm-Related Peri-Prosthetic Joint Infections Based on an In Vitro Study
Authors: Sánchez-Somolinos Mar , Díaz-Navarro Marta , Benjumea Antonio , Tormo Marta , Matas José , Vaquero Javier , Muñoz Patricia , Sanz-Ruíz Pablo , Guembe María
Published: September 2022

Antibiotic-loaded bone cement is the most widely used approach for the treatment of biofilm-induced septic sequelae in orthopedic surgery. Dalbavancin is a lipoglycopeptide that acts against Gram-positive bacteria and has a long half-life, so we aimed to assess whether it could be a new alternative drug in antibiotic-loaded bone cement for the treatment of periprosthetic joint infections. We assessed the elution capacity of dalbavancin and compared it with that of vancomycin in bone cement. Palacos®R (Heraeus Medical GmbH, Wehrheim, Germany) bone cement was manually mixed with each of the antibiotics studied at 2.5% and 5%. Three cylinders were obtained from each of the mixtures; these were weighed and incubated in 5 mL phosphate-buffered saline at 37°C under shaking for 1 h, 2 h, 4 h, 8 h, 24 h, 48 h, 168 h, and 336 h. PBS was replenished at each time point. The samples were analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography (vancomycin) and mass cytometry (dalbavancin). Elution was higher than the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC)90 for both antibiotics after 14 days of study. The release of vancomycin at 14 days was higher than of dalbavancin at each concentration tested (p = 0.05, both). However, the cumulative release of 5% dalbavancin was similar to that of 2.5% vancomycin (p = 0.513). The elution capacity of dalbavancin reached a cumulative concentration similar to that of vancomycin. Moreover, considering that the MIC90 of dalbavancin is one third that of vancomycin (0.06 mg/L and 2 mg/L, respectively) and given the long half-life of dalbavancin, it may be a new alternative for the treatment of biofilm-related periprosthetic infections when loaded in bone cement.
The Impact of a Pharmacist-Led Intravenous to Oral Switch of Metronidazole: A Before-and-After Study
Authors: Algargoosh Mahdi , Ritchie Stephen , Duffy Eamon , Van der Werf Bert , Thomas Mark , Martini Nataly
Published: September 2022

(1) Background. Intravenous (IV) to oral switch (IVOS) of antibiotics can reduce the length of hospitalisation, risk of IV catheter complications, and hospital costs. Pharmacists can play an instrumental role in implementing an IVOS initiative. The aim of this study is to evaluate the impact of pharmacist-led IVOS of metronidazole. (2) Method. This was an observational study conducted in a New Zealand hospital. During a 3-month intervention period, pharmacists identified patients receiving IV metronidazole; then initiated an IVOS for patients who met the criteria. The comparator groups were patients who were not switched by pharmacists in the post-intervention (post-IVOS) group, or patients treated with either IV or oral metronidazole prior to the intervention (pre-IVOS). Primary outcome measures were switch rate and duration of IV metronidazole treatment. Secondary outcome measures were readmission and/or repeat surgery within 90 days of discharge and the length of hospital stay. (3) Results. In total, 203 patients were included: 100 in the pre-IVOS and 103 in the post-IVOS groups. Pharmacists switched 63/93 (67.7%) of eligible patients to oral metronidazole in the post-IVOS period. Only 9/89 (10.1%) of IVOS eligible patients were switched in the pre-IVOS group. In the post-IVOS group, the mean duration of IV metronidazole treatment in patients switched by pharmacists was shorter than in those who were not switched by pharmacists (2.5 ± 2.8 days vs. 4.8 ± 5.9 days, p = 0.012). No significant difference was found in readmission or repeat surgery within 90 days of discharge for patients switched by pharmacists versus patients who were not switched by pharmacists. (4) Conclusion. Our data have demonstrated successful implementation of the hospital-approved pharmacist-led IVOS service.
Halogenase-Targeted Genome Mining Leads to the Discovery of (±) Pestalachlorides A1a, A2a, and Their Atropisomers
Authors: Luo Mengna , Wang Mengyuan , Chang Shanshan , He Ning , Shan Guangzhi , Xie Yunying
Published: September 2022

Genome mining has become an important tool for discovering new natural products and identifying the cryptic biosynthesis gene clusters. Here, we utilized the flavin-dependent halogenase GedL as the probe in combination with characteristic halogen isotope patterns to mine new halogenated secondary metabolites from our in-house fungal database. As a result, two pairs of atropisomers, pestalachlorides A1a (1a)/A1b (1b) and A2a (2a)/A2b (2b), along with known compounds pestalachloride A (3) and SB87-H (4), were identified from Pestalotiopsis rhododendri LF-19-12. A plausible biosynthetic assembly line for pestalachlorides involving a putative free-standing phenol flavin-dependent halogenase was proposed based on bioinformatics analysis. Pestalachlorides exhibited antibacterial activity against sensitive and drug-resistant S. aureus and E. faecium with MIC values ranging from 4 μg/mL to 32 μg/mL. This study indicates that halogenase-targeted genome mining is an efficient strategy for discovering halogenated compounds and their corresponding halogenases.
Aerosol Inhalation Delivery of Ceftriaxone in Mice: Generation Procedure, Pharmacokinetics, and Therapeutic Outcome
Authors: Valiulin Sergey V. , Onischuk Andrei A. , Baklanov Anatoly M. , An’kov Sergey V. , Dubtsov Sergey N. , Alekseev Alexander A. , Shkil Nikolay N. , Nefedova Ekaterina V. , Plokhotnichenko Maria E. , Tolstikova Tatyana G. , Dolgov Arseniy M. , Dultseva Galina G.
Published: September 2022

Aerosol inhalation delivery of ceftriaxone in mice was investigated. An ultrasonic nebulizer within the ranges of mean particle diameter 0.5–1.5 μm and mass concentration 0.01–0.6 μg/cm3 was used in inhalation experiments. Pharmacokinetic measurements were carried out using a nose-only chamber. Ceftriaxone concentration in blood serum and its mass in the lungs of mice were measured as a function of time using high-performance liquid chromatography. The body-delivered dose was within the range 3–5 mg/kg. The antibacterial effect of aerosolized ceftriaxone was investigated for mice infected with Klebsiella pneumoniae 82 and Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25 953. The survival rate for infected mice after the treatment with ceftriaxone aerosol revealed the high antibacterial efficiency of this kind of treatment.