bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Influence of Vibration and Moisture Content on the Compactness of the Substrate in Nursery Container Cells Determined with a Multipenetrometer
Authors: Kormanek Mariusz , Małek Stanisław , Banach Jacek
Published: August 2023

An important problem of container nurseries is ensuring equal and favorable growth conditions for cultivated plants. This can be achieved by ensuring the physical parameters of the substrate used to grow seedlings in individual cells of the container are similar. The nursery container is filled with a specially composed substrate through an automated line. Quickly controlling the parameters related to the quality of substrate filling presents a significant problem, as it requires the ongoing correction of the filling module settings (e.g., extending the vibration time or changing the vibration amplitude). To address this issue, it would be helpful to determine the compactness of the substrate, which can be easily measured using a penetrometer. This paper presents a prototype automated station, known as a multipenetrometer, designed for the simultaneous testing of compactness in 15 selected container cells. The prototype was put to the test at the Nursery Farm in Sukowo, where two types of polystyrene containers (V150—650/312/150 mm; 74 cells; and 0,148 cm3 cell volume and V300—650/312/180 mm; 53 cells; and 0.275 cm3 cell volume) were filled with peat–perlite substrate on the Urbinati Ypsilon automated line. This study investigated the influence of substrate moisture (two levels—70 and 75%) and vibration intensity (two levels—8 and 12 G) of the vibrating table on its compactness within the individual cells of the nursery container. The results indicated that with an increase in substrate moisture and vibration intensity, the compactness of the substrate increased, and the variation in compactness between individual cells decreased. Notably, the V300 containers, with a larger cell volume (265 cm3), experienced a higher level of change compared to the V150 containers (145 cm3). Despite the use of substrate compaction techniques based on the experience of line operators filling containers, the coefficient of variation between the compactness of the substrate in individual cells of the container remained at 30%. Based on the findings, it was confirmed that the optimal parameters for filling V150 and V300 containers with peat–perlite substrate on the Urbinati line, at a filling capacity of approximately 400 containers h−1, are a moisture content of around 75% and a maximum vibration intensity of 12 G.
Effect of Hot-Air Drying Conditions on the Drying Efficiency and Performance of a Waterborne Coating on Pine Wood
Authors: Song Xiaoxue , Wei Jiajian , Mao Zhuyuan , Chi Xiang , Zhu Zhipeng , Han Guangping , Cheng Wanli
Published: August 2023

In this study, we investigated the drying behavior of a waterborne wood coating (WWC) on pine wood using hot air drying. An analysis of variance of the experimental data revealed that both temperature and humidity exerted significant effects on the surface drying time. An analysis of the structure and wettability indicated a faster moisture migration rate through the cross section than through the tangential section of porous wood. We also determined that temperature, humidity and their interactions significantly affected the glossiness, while temperature had a greater effect on the wear resistance of the WWC films than humidity. The drying conditions had a minimal effect on the adhesion strength. By considering both the drying efficiency and the coating performance, the optimal drying conditions for the WWC on pine wood were determined to be 60 °C and 55% relative humidity. Our findings suggest that establishing a correlation between drying performance and substrate can ensure the quality of WWCs for practical applications in the wood coating industry.
Ecological Restoration in the Loess Plateau, China Necessitates Targeted Management Strategy: Evidence from the Beiluo River Basin
Authors: Xing Jiacheng , Zhang Jianjun , Wang Jing , Li Mingjun , Nie Shitan , Qian Mingjie
Published: August 2023

Vegetation on the Loess Plateau, China, has continuously improved thanks to certain ecological restoration (ER) strategies, including the integrated soil conservation project that began in the late 1970s and the “Grain for Green” project that began in the 1990s. The experience of these strategies in different geomorphological regions is of great value to ER worldwide. In this study, the evolution of the land-use transition (LUT) pathway and ecosystem service value (ESV) in four geomorphological regions of the Beiluo River Basin was analyzed using geo-informatic Tupu and the equivalent factor method with data from 1975 to 2015. The results indicated that, from 1975 to 2015, the proportion of forestland in the Beiluo River basin increased by 18.27%, while the areas of shrub, grassland, cultivated land, and water decreased by 1.03%, 0.16%, 18.23%, and 0.26%, respectively. In the past 40 years, the overall ESV of the basin increased by USD 3.209 billion (54.16%). The landform, vegetation cover, LUT, and ESV analysis indicated that the main ecological functions of the loess hilly and gully (LHG), loess plateau gully (LPG), rocky mountain (RM), and terrace and plain (TP) regions are soil and water conservation (SWC), SWC and food production, regulation and food production, respectively. ER projects enhanced the main ecological function of individual regions. In detail, the transition of “cultivated land → grassland” enhanced SWC function in the LHG region, and the transition of “grassland (shrub) → forestland” enhanced the regulating services of the RM and LPG regions. Moreover, the transition of “cultivated land to grassland” did not seriously lower the food production services of the TP and LPG regions, owing to the increase in grain yield per unit area. However, there were alternating transitions between cultivated land and ecological land types, implying a game between the peasant households’ demands and the ER strategies. Conflicting demands between local households and the public necessitate precision ER strategies, including land planning, ecological compensation, training and employment for local residents, etc.
A Method for Extracting the Tree Feature Parameters of Populus tomentosa in the Leafy Stage
Authors: Shen Xingyu , Huang Qingqing , Wang Xin , Xi Benye
Published: August 2023

With the advancement of 3D information collection technology, such as LiDAR scanning, information regarding the trees growing on large, complex landscapes can be obtained increasingly more efficiently. Such forestry data can play a key role in the cultivation, monitoring, and utilization of artificially planted forests. Studying the tree growth of artificially planted trees during the leafy period is an important part of forestry and ecology research; the extraction of tree feature parameters from the point clouds of leafy trees, obtained via terrestrial laser scanning (TLS), is an important area of research. The separation of foliage and stem point clouds is an important step in extracting tree feature parameters from data collected via TLS. By modeling the separated stem point clouds, we can obtain parameters such as a tree’s diameter at breast height (DBH), the number of branches, and the relationship between these and other parameters. However, there are always problems with the collected foliated tree point clouds; it is difficult to separate the point clouds into foliage and stems, yielding poor separation results. To address this challenge, the current study uses a deep learning-based method to train a mixture of non-foliated and foliated point clouds from artificially planted trees to semantically segment the foliage labels from the stem labels of these trees. And this study focused on a Chinese white poplar (Populus tomentosa Carr.) plantation stand. At the same time, the method of this study greatly reduces the workload of labeling foliated point clouds and training models; an overall segmentation accuracy of 0.839 was achieved for the foliated Populus tomentosa point clouds. By building the Quantitative Susceptibility Mapping (QSM) model of the segmented point clouds, a mean value of 0.125 m for the tree diameter at breast height, and a mean value of 14.498 m for the height of the trees was obtained for the test set. The residual sum of squares for the diameter at breast height was 0.003 m, which was achieved by comparing the calculated value with the measured value. This study employed a semantic segmentation method that is applicable to the foliated point clouds of Populus tomentosa trees, which solves the difficulties of labeling and training models for the point clouds and improves the segmentation precision of stem-based point clouds. It offers an efficient and reliable way to obtain the characteristic parameters and stem analyses of Populus tomentosa trees.
Hydraulic Traits in Populus simonii Carr. at Stands of Categorized Ages in a Semi-Arid Area of Western Liaoning, Northeast China
Authors: Liu Ping , He Wenting , Wei Hongxu , Hu Shiyu , Zhou Yiming , Wang Yutao
Published: August 2023

Poplar plantations can acclimate to drought stress in semi-arid areas, where the variation of stand age may result in varied water adaptation strategies presented as hydrodynamic performance. In this study, nine mature Populus simonii Carr. individuals were targeted as sampling objects in plantations characterized to three stand ages: young (9 yr), middle-aged (17 yr), and near-mature (29 yr) stages in a semi-arid area of western Liaoning, Northeast China. Hydraulic traits were investigated as parameters of leaf pressure-volume curves, xylem embolism vulnerability curves, hydraulic structure, and wood density (WD). Results showed that osmotic potential (Ψtlp) and relative water content at the turgor loss point and cell-wall bulk elastic modulus were lowest in middle-aged stands (−2.19 MPa; 86.71%; 13.75 MPa). Stem and leaf-specific hydraulic conductivity (Ks and LSC) were all the highest in middle-aged stands. Xylem embolism vulnerability (P50) and lethal water potential of trees (P88) increased with the growth of stand age. Young stands faced minimal risk of hydraulic failure according to the stomatal safety margin (SSMtlp, Ψtlp minus P50), which was consistent with the comprehensive evaluation results of the principal component analysis. WD was related to P88 (R2= 0.51; p < 0.05). P50 was related to drought avoidance traits Ψtlp (r = 0.76; p < 0.05) but not to xylem efficiency (Ks). Overall, WD can be an excellent proxy for hydraulic safety monitoring. Young and middle-aged Populus simonii populations are more adaptable to drought conditions than near-mature populations, and near-mature stands should receive intermediate cuttings to avoid exposure to drought stress.
Habitat Distribution Pattern of Rare and Endangered Plant Magnolia wufengensis in China under Climate Change
Authors: Shi Xiaodeng , Yin Qun , Sang Ziyang , Zhu Zhonglong , Jia Zhongkui , Ma Luyi
Published: August 2023

Magnolia wufengensis is a newly discovered rare and endangered species endemic to China. The primary objective of this study is to find the most suitable species distribution models (SDMs) by comparing the different SDMs to predict their habitat distribution for protection and introduction in China under climate change. SDMs are important tools for studying species distribution patterns under climate change, and different SDMs have different simulation effects. Thus, to identify the potential habitat for M. wufengensis currently and in the 2050s (2041–2060) and 2070s (2061–2080) under different climate change scenarios (representative concentration pathways RCP2.6, RCP4.5, RCP6.0, and RCP8.5) in China, four SDMs, Maxent, GARP, Bioclim, and Domain, were first used to compare the predicted habitat and explore the dominant environmental factors. The four SDMs predicted that the potential habitats were mainly south of 40° N and east of 97° E in China, with a high distribution potential under current climate conditions. The area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AUC) (0.9479 ± 0.0080) was the highest, and the Kappa value (0.8113 ± 0.0228) of the consistency test and its performance in predicting the potential suitable habitat were the best in the Maxent model. The minimum temperature of the coldest month (−13.36–9.84 °C), mean temperature of the coldest quarter (−6.06–12.66 °C), annual mean temperature (≥4.49 °C), and elevation (0–2803.93 m), were the dominant factors. In the current climate scenario, areas of 46.60 × 104 km2 (4.85%), 122.82 × 104 km2 (12.79%), and 96.36 × 104 km2 (10.03%), which were mainly in central and southeastern China, were predicted to be potential suitable habitats of high, moderate, and low suitability, respectively. The predicted suitable habitats will significantly change by the 2050s (2040–2060) and 2070s (2060–2080), suggesting that M. wufengensis will increase in high-elevation areas and shift northeast with future climate change. The comparison of current and future suitable habitats revealed declines of approximately 4.53%–29.98% in highly suitable habitats and increases of approximately 6.45%–27.09% and 0.77%–21.86% in moderately and lowly suitable habitats, respectively. In summary, these results provide a theoretical basis for the response to climate change, protection, precise introduction, cultivation, and rational site selection of M. wufengensis in the future.
Modeling Ecological Resilience of Alpine Forest under Climate Change in Western Sichuan
Authors: Li Yuanyuan , Xiao Jiangtao , Cong Nan , Yu Xinran , Lin Yang , Liu Tao , Qi Gang , Ren Ping
Published: August 2023

The ecological resilience of forests is the ability to return to a stable state after being subjected to external disturbances, and it is among the critical indicators of forest status. Climate change has significant effects on forest ecological resilience and diversity. In this research, we selected Mao County as the study region, and employed the forest landscape model LANDIS-II to simulate the effect of different climate scenarios on the ecological resilience of alpine forests in western Sichuan during the next 300 years from the forest composition and structure perspective. The findings revealed that: (1) climate change will favor an increase in forest ecological resilience values in short simulations, but future climate scenarios will negatively impact the ecological resilience of forests as the simulation progresses through the middle and long term. (2) The rate of change of forest ecological resilience in the MTDF and SCF ecotones, which have a higher proportion of Fir (Abies fabri) and Spruce (Picea asperata), was greater than that in the rest of the ecotones in the short-term simulation. In contrast, it was the opposite in the medium-term simulation. The rate of change of forest ecological resilience was more significant in the long-term simulation in all four ecotones. (3) The high values of forest ecological resilience in the short- and medium-term simulations were primarily concentrated within the MTDF and SCF ecotones among the midwestern and northern parts of the study region. When the simulation proceeded to a later stage, the ecological resilience of the forests decreased significantly throughout the study region, with high values occurring only in some areas within the western parts of the study region. The research results can grasp the influence of future climate on the ecological resilience of high mountain forests within western Sichuan and provide an essential reference for the sustainable development of local forests.
Restorative Environment Characteristics of an Urban Forest Based on Big Data Analytics
Authors: Chae Jinhae , Park Jaemin , Kim Seonghak
Published: August 2023

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, urban forests have become important restorative environmental spaces for which demand-customized management based on users’ experiences is needed. We collected 21,557 data points from blogs from January 2020 to December 2021. For data analysis, keyword frequency, term frequency–inverse document frequency, and sentiment analyses were conducted using TEXTOM 4.0, and a semantic linkage network was established and analyzed using Gephi 0.92. In the analyses, the restorative environment components of “being away”, “fascination”, “extent”, and “compatibility” were derived from users’ experiences. Fascination, which stems from natural objects such as rocks, valleys, and trails, was derived the most frequently, and being away and compatibility, representing leisure activities such as climbing and walking, formed the largest cluster in cluster analysis. Sentiment analysis revealed a high positive word rate of 91.6%, with favorable feelings accounting for 87.5%, whereas the proportion of joy and interest (12.5%) was relatively low. In addition, this study showed that hard fascinations such as sports, entertainment, and education are required to improve the experience quality in urban forests as restorative environments. Hence, the necessity of local government policies and projects is emphasized.
Selection for Both Growth and Wood Properties in Chinese Fir Breeding Parents Based on a 6-Year Grafted Clone Test
Authors: Huang Rong , Wang Runhui , Wei Ruping , Yan Shu , Wu Guandi , Zheng Huiquan
Published: August 2023

With the growing demand for high-quality timber, selection processes for both growth and wood properties are needed for multi-trait breeding programs in Chinese fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata (Lamb.) Hook.). The present study examined the variation and correlation of growth (tree height, diameter at breast height, stem volume, crown-width) and wood properties (wood basic density, hygroscopicity, and heart-wood ratio) traits of 201 Chinese fir breeding parents, aiming to select better parents for future multi-trait improvement. The results showed that significant differences (p < 0.01) regarding growth and wood property traits were observed among clones in an individual site and in a two-site joint analysis. The repeatability of the tested traits varied from 0.22 to 0.87. Strong and positive (p < 0.01) correlations were detected among the four growth traits, while wood basic density had a significant negative correlation (p < 0.01 or 0.05) with the growth traits. A set of parent clones was shortlisted with substantial realized gains (ranging from 4.59% to 83.77%) in growth and wood traits. It was suggested that these selected parents could be used to improve the growth and wood quality of Chinese fir.
Effect on the Quality of Larimichthys crocea Pretreated with Dual-Frequency Orthogonal Ultrasonic-Assisted Immersion with Different Powers during Refrigerated Storage at 4 °C
Authors: Zhang Chenchen , Wang Jinfeng , Xie Jing
Published: August 2023

In recent years, ultrasonic pretreatment technology has been widely used in the aquatic product preservation industry. Among these technologies, dual-frequency ultrasonic refrigeration is the most common. However, in practical applications, selecting the frequency is relatively simple, and there has been less research on power selection. In this paper, the specific frequency (up and down 20 kHz, around 40 kHz), using different powers of (a) 200 W, (b) 300 W, and (c) 400 W processing, ultrasonic intermittent mode with 30 s on/30 s off cycle, and an ultrasonic processing time of 10 min was examined; the control group (CK) comprised samples without ultrasonic treatment. The samples were stored at 4 °C and then placed in a Polyethylene (PE) bag. The changes in microbiological parameters, physicochemical indices, and protein indices of the samples were monitored every two days. The results show that 400 W ultrasonic treatment can significantly inhibit the growth of TVC during storage. The rate of increase in pH, TVB−N, and TBA values decreased significantly compared with the other groups. Compared with the CK group, the shelf life of the 400 W treatment group was extended by 6 days. Therefore, the 400 W pretreatment method based on orthogonal double frequency has strong application potential for effectively extending the shelf life of refrigerated large yellow croaker.
Quality of Edible Sesame Oil as Obtained by Green Solvents: In Silico versus Experimental Screening Approaches
Authors: Trad Sinda , Chaabani Emna , Aidi Wannes Wissem , Dakhlaoui Sarra , Nait Mohamed Salma , Khammessi Saber , Hammami Majdi , Bourgou Soumaya , Saidani Tounsi Moufida , Fabiano-Tixier Anne-Sylvie , Bettaieb Rebey Iness
Published: August 2023

The present study aimed to investigate the qualitative and quantitative performance of five green solvents, namely 2-methyltetrahydrofuran (MeTHF), cyclopentyl methyl ether (CPME), p-cymene, d-limonene and ethanol to substitute n-hexane, for sesame seed oil extraction. In fact, both CPME and MeTHF gave higher crude yields than n-hexane (58.82, 54.91 and 50.84%, respectively). The fatty acid profile of the sesame seed oils remained constant across all the solvent systems, with a predominance of oleic acid (39.27–44.35%) and linoleic acid (38.88–43.99%). The total sterols gained the upmost amount with CPME (785 mg/100 g oil) and MeTHF (641 mg/100 g oil). CPME and MeTHF were also characterized by the optimum content of tocopherols (52.3 and 50.6 mg/100 g oil, respectively). The highest contents of total phenols in the sesame seed oils were extracted by CPME (23.51 mg GAE/g) and MeTHF (22.53 mg GAE/g) as compared to the other solvents, especially n-hexane (8 mg GAE/g). Additionally, sesame seed oils extracted by MeTHF and CPME also had the highest antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties as compared to the other green solvents and n-hexane, encouraging their manufacturing use for sesame seed oil extraction.
Comparison of Lipids and Volatile Compounds in Dezhou Donkey Meat with High and Low Intramuscular Fat Content
Authors: Ma Qingshan , Kou Xiyan , Yang Youyou , Yue Yunshuang , Xing Weihai , Feng Xiaohui , Liu Guiqin , Wang Changfa , Li Yan
Published: August 2023

The intramuscular fat (IMF) content is considered an important factor for assessing meat quality, and is highly related to meat flavor. However, in donkey meat, the influences of IMF content on lipid and volatile profiles remain unclear. Thus, we conducted lipidomic and volatilomic investigations on high- and low-IMF samples from donkey longissimus dorsi muscle. When the IMF level increased, the monounsaturated fatty acid (especially oleic acid) content significantly increased but the saturated fatty acid content decreased (p < 0.05). Twenty-nine of 876 lipids showed significant differences between the two groups. Volatile profiles from differential IMF content samples were also distinct. Five differential volatile odorants were identified in the two groups: 2-acetyl-2-thiazoline, octanal, 2-pentylfuran, pentanal, and 1-(2-pyridinyl) ethanone. Additionally, strong correlations were found between differential fatty acids and lipids with differential odorants. Thus, the difference in volatile odorants may result from the change in the fatty acid composition and lipid profiles induced by different IMF contents, highlighting the urgent need to increase IMF levels in donkey meat.
Production and Characterization of Novel Fabs Generated from Different Phage Display Libraries as Probes for Immunoassays for Gluten Detection in Food
Authors: Garcia-Calvo Eduardo , García-García Aina , Rodríguez Santiago , Takkinen Kristiina , Martín Rosario , García Teresa
Published: August 2023

Gluten is the main fraction of wheat proteins. It is widely used in the food industry because of the properties that are generated in the dough, but it is also able to trigger diseases like allergies, autoimmunity processes (such as celiac disease), and intolerances in sensitized persons. The most effective therapy for these diseases is the total avoidance of gluten in the diet because it not only prevents damage but also enhances tissue healing. To ensure the absence of gluten in food products labeled as gluten-free, accurate detection systems, like immunoassays, are required. In this work, four recombinant Fab antibody fragments, selected by phage display technology, were produced and tested for specificity and accuracy against gluten in experimental flour mixtures and commercial food products. A high-affinity probe (Fab-C) was identified and characterized. An indirect ELISA test was developed based on Fab-C that complied with the legal detection limits and could be applied in the assessment of gluten-free diets.
The Structure and Evolution of Stars: Introductory Remarks
Authors: Bowman Dominic M. , van Saders Jennifer , Vink Jorick S.
Published: August 2023

In this introductory chapter of the Special Issue entitled ‘The Structure and Evolution of Stars’, we highlight the recent major progress made in our understanding of the physics that governs stellar interiors. In so doing, we combine insight from observations, 1D evolutionary modelling and 2D + 3D rotating (magneto)hydrodynamical simulations. Therefore, a complete and compelling picture of the necessary ingredients in state-of-the-art stellar structure theory and areas in which improvements still need to be made are contextualised. Additionally, the over-arching perspective linking all the themes of subsequent chapters is presented.
RNA-Seq Identified Putative Genes Conferring Photosynthesis and Root Development of Melon under Salt Stress
Authors: Liu Tai , Amanullah Sikandar , Xu Huichun , Gao Peng , Du Zhiqiang , Hu Xixi , Han Mo , Che Ye , Zhang Ling , Qi Guochao , Wang Di
Published: August 2023

Melon is an important fruit crop of the Cucurbitaceae family that is being cultivated over a large area in China. Unfortunately, salt stress has crucial effects on crop plants and damages photosynthesis, membranal lipid components, and hormonal metabolism, which leads to metabolic imbalance and retarded growth. Herein, we performed RNA-seq analysis and a physiological parameter evaluation to assess the salt-induced stress impact on photosynthesis and root development activity in melon. The endogenous quantification analysis showed that the significant oxidative damage in the membranal system resulted in an increased ratio of non-bilayer/bilayer lipid (MGDG/DGDG), suggesting severe irregular stability in the photosynthetic membrane. Meanwhile, root development was slowed down by a superoxidized membrane system, and downregulated genes showed significant contributions to cell wall biosynthesis and IAA metabolism. The comparative transcriptomic analysis also exhibited that major DEGs were more common in the intrinsic membrane component, photosynthesis, and metabolism. These are all processes that are usually involved in negative responses. Further, the WGCN analysis revealed the involvement of two main network modules: the thylakoid membrane and proteins related to photosystem II. The qRT-PCR analysis exhibited that two key genes (MELO3C006053.2 and MELO3C023596.2) had significant variations in expression profiling at different time intervals of salt stress treatments (0, 6, 12, 24, and 48 h), which were also consistent with the RNA-seq results, denoting the significant accuracy of molecular dataset analysis. In summary, we performed an extensive molecular and metabolic investigation to check the salt-stress-induced physiological changes in melon and proposed that the PSII reaction centre may likely be the primary stress target.
Maize OPR2 and LOX10 Mediate Defense against Fall Armyworm and Western Corn Rootworm by Tissue-Specific Regulation of Jasmonic Acid and Ketol Metabolism
Authors: Huang Pei-Cheng , Grunseich John M. , Berg-Falloure Katherine M. , Tolley Jordan P. , Koiwa Hisashi , Bernal Julio S. , Kolomiets Michael V.
Published: August 2023

Foliage-feeding fall armyworm (FAW; Spodoptera frugiperda) and root-feeding western corn rootworm (WCR; Diabrotica virgifera virgifera) are maize (Zea mays L.) pests that cause significant yield losses. Jasmonic acid (JA) plays a pivotal defense role against insects. 12-oxo-phytodienoic acid (12-OPDA) is converted into JA by peroxisome-localized OPDA reductases (OPR). However, little is known about the physiological functions of cytoplasmic OPRs. Here, we show that disruption of ZmOPR2 reduced wound-induced JA production and defense against FAW while accumulating more JA catabolites. Overexpression of ZmOPR2 in Arabidopsis enhanced JA production and defense against beet armyworm (BAW; Spodoptera exigua). In addition, lox10opr2 double mutants were more susceptible than either single mutant, suggesting that ZmOPR2 and ZmLOX10 uniquely and additively contributed to defense. In contrast to the defensive roles of ZmOPR2 and ZmLOX10 in leaves, single mutants did not display any alteration in root herbivory defense against WCR. Feeding on lox10opr2 double mutants resulted in increased WCR mortality associated with greater herbivory-induced production of insecticidal death acids and ketols. Thus, ZmOPR2 and ZmLOX10 cooperatively inhibit the synthesis of these metabolites during herbivory by WCR. We conclude that ZmOPR2 and ZmLOX10 regulate JA-mediated resistance in leaves against FAW while suppressing insecticidal oxylipin synthesis in roots during WCR infestation.
Conceptualizing Epigenetics and the Environmental Landscape of Autism Spectrum Disorders
Authors: Torres German , Mourad Mervat , Iqbal Saba , Moses-Fynn Emmanuel , Pandita Ashani , Siddhartha Shriya S. , Sood Riya A. , Srinivasan Kavya , Subbaiah Riya T. , Tiwari Alisha , Leheste Joerg R.
Published: August 2023

Complex interactions between gene variants and environmental risk factors underlie the pathophysiological pathways in major psychiatric disorders. Autism Spectrum Disorder is a neuropsychiatric condition in which susceptible alleles along with epigenetic states contribute to the mutational landscape of the ailing brain. The present work reviews recent evolutionary, molecular, and epigenetic mechanisms potentially linked to the etiology of autism. First, we present a clinical vignette to describe clusters of maladaptive behaviors frequently diagnosed in autistic patients. Next, we microdissect brain regions pertinent to the nosology of autism, as well as cell networks from the bilateral body plan. Lastly, we catalog a number of pathogenic environments associated with disease risk factors. This set of perspectives provides emerging insights into the dynamic interplay between epigenetic and environmental variation in the development of Autism Spectrum Disorders.
The Stem Cell Expression Profile of Odontogenic Tumors and Cysts: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Kalogirou Eleni-Marina , Lekakis Georgios , Petroulias Aristodimos , Chavdoulas Konstantinos , Zogopoulos Vasileios L. , Michalopoulos Ioannis , Tosios Konstantinos I.
Published: August 2023

Background: Stem cells have been associated with self-renewing and plasticity and have been investigated in various odontogenic lesions in association with their pathogenesis and biological behavior. We aim to provide a systematic review of stem cell markers’ expression in odontogenic tumors and cysts. Methods: The literature was searched through the MEDLINE/PubMed, EMBASE via OVID, Web of Science, and CINHAL via EBSCO databases for original studies evaluating stem cell markers’ expression in different odontogenic tumors/cysts, or an odontogenic disease group and a control group. The studies’ risk of bias (RoB) was assessed via a Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Tool. Meta-analysis was conducted for markers evaluated in the same pair of odontogenic tumors/cysts in at least two studies. Results: 29 studies reported the expression of stem cell markers, e.g., SOX2, OCT4, NANOG, CD44, ALDH1, BMI1, and CD105, in various odontogenic lesions, through immunohistochemistry/immunofluorescence, polymerase chain reaction, flow cytometry, microarrays, and RNA-sequencing. Low, moderate, and high RoBs were observed in seven, nine, and thirteen studies, respectively. Meta-analysis revealed a remarkable discriminative ability of SOX2 for ameloblastic carcinomas or odontogenic keratocysts over ameloblastomas. Conclusion: Stem cells might be linked to the pathogenesis and clinical behavior of odontogenic pathologies and represent a potential target for future individualized therapies.
Characterization of Plant Homeodomain Transcription Factor Genes Involved in Flower Development and Multiple Abiotic Stress Response in Pepper
Authors: Wen Jinfen , Deng Minghua , Zhao Kai , Zhou Huidan , Wu Rui , Li Mengjuan , Cheng Hong , Li Pingping , Zhang Ruihao , Lv Junheng
Published: August 2023

Plant homeodomain (PHD) transcription factor genes are involved in plant development and in a plant’s response to stress. However, there are few reports about this gene family in peppers (Capsicum annuum L.). In this study, the pepper inbred line “Zunla-1” was used as the reference genome, and a total of 43 PHD genes were identified, and systematic analysis was performed to study the chromosomal location, evolutionary relationship, gene structure, domains, and upstream cis-regulatory elements of the CaPHD genes. The fewest CaPHD genes were located on chromosome 4, while the most were on chromosome 3. Genes with similar gene structures and domains were clustered together. Expression analysis showed that the expression of CaPHD genes was quite different in different tissues and in response to various stress treatments. The expression of CaPHD17 was different in the early stage of flower bud development in the near-isogenic cytoplasmic male-sterile inbred and the maintainer inbred lines. It is speculated that this gene is involved in the development of male sterility in pepper. CaPHD37 was significantly upregulated in leaves and roots after heat stress, and it is speculated that CaPHD37 plays an important role in tolerating heat stress in pepper; in addition, CaPHD9, CaPHD10, CaPHD11, CaPHD17, CaPHD19, CaPHD20, and CaPHD43 were not sensitive to abiotic stress or hormonal factors. This study will provide the basis for further research into the function of CaPHD genes in plant development and responses to abiotic stresses and hormones.
Comparative Mitogenomic Analyses of Darkling Beetles (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) Provide Evolutionary Insights into tRNA-like Sequences
Authors: Wang Su-Hao , Hu Shi-Yun , Li Min , Liu Min , Sun Hao , Zhao Jia-Rui , Chen Wen-Ting , Yuan Ming-Long
Published: August 2023

Tenebrionidae is widely recognized owing to its species diversity and economic importance. Here, we determined the mitochondrial genomes (mitogenomes) of three Tenebrionidae species (Melanesthes exilidentata, Anatolica potanini, and Myladina unguiculina) and performed a comparative mitogenomic analysis to characterize the evolutionary characteristics of the family. The tenebrionid mitogenomes were highly conserved with respect to genome size, gene arrangement, base composition, and codon usage. All protein-coding genes evolved under purifying selection. The largest non-coding region (i.e., control region) showed several unusual features, including several conserved repetitive fragments (e.g., A+T-rich regions, G+C-rich regions, Poly-T tracts, TATA repeat units, and longer repetitive fragments) and tRNA-like structures. These tRNA-like structures can bind to the appropriate anticodon to form a cloverleaf structure, although base-pairing is not complete. We summarized the quantity, types, and conservation of tRNA-like sequences and performed functional and evolutionary analyses of tRNA-like sequences with various anticodons. Phylogenetic analyses based on three mitogenomic datasets and two tree inference methods largely supported the monophyly of each of the three subfamilies (Stenochiinae, Pimeliinae, and Lagriinae), whereas both Tenebrioninae and Diaperinae were consistently recovered as polyphyletic. We obtained a tenebrionid mitogenomic phylogeny: (Lagriinae, (Pimeliinae, ((Tenebrioninae + Diaperinae), Stenochiinae))). Our results provide insights into the evolution and function of tRNA-like sequences in tenebrionid mitogenomes and contribute to our general understanding of the evolution of Tenebrionidae.
Screening of Reference Genes under Biotic Stress and Hormone Treatment of Mung Bean (Vigna radiata) by Quantitative Real-Time PCR
Authors: Zhou Yanyan , Liu Huan , Wu Ting , Zheng Yu , Wang Ruimin , Xue Dong , Yan Qiang , Yuan Xingxing , Chen Xin
Published: August 2023

Mung bean (Vigna radiata) production has been greatly threatened by numerous diseases. Infection with these pathogens causes extensive changes in gene expression and the activation of hormone signal transduction. Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) is the most common technique used for gene expression validation. Screening proper reference genes for mung bean under pathogen infection and hormone treatment is a prerequisite for ensuring the accuracy of qRT-PCR data in mung bean disease-resistance research. In this study, six candidate reference genes (Cons4, ACT, TUA, TUB, GAPDH, and EF1α) were selected to evaluate the expression stability under four soil-borne disease pathogens (Pythium myriotylum, Pythium aphanidermatum, Fusarium oxysporum, and Rhizoctonia solani) and five hormone treatments (SA, MeJA, ETH, ABA, and GA3). In the samples from different treatments, the Ct value distribution of the six candidate reference genes was different. Under the condition of hormone treatment, the Ct value ranged from a minimum of 17.87 for EF1α to a maximum of 29.63 for GAPDH. Under the condition of pathogen infection, the Ct value ranged from a minimum of 19.43 for EF1α to a maximum of 31.82 for GAPDH. After primer specificity analysis, it was found that GAPDH was not specific, so the five reference genes Cons4, ACT, TUA, TUB, and EF1α were used in subsequent experiments. The software products GeNorm, NormFinder, BestKeeper and RefFinder were used for qRT-PCR data analysis. In general, the best candidates reference genes were: TUA for SA, ABA, GA3, and Pythium myriotylum treatment; TUB for ETH treatment; ACT for MeJA and Fusarium oxysporum treatment; and EF1α for Pythium aphanidermatum and Rhizoctonia solani treatment. The most stably expressed genes in all samples were TUA, while Cons4 was the least stable reference gene. Finally, the reliability of the reference gene was further validated by analysis of the expression profiles of four mung bean genes (Vradi0146s00260, Vradi0158s00480, Vradi07g23860, and Vradi11g03350) selected from transcriptome data. Our results provide more accurate information for the normalization of qRT-PCR data in mung bean response to pathogen interaction.
Genetic Characterization of Blood Group Antigens for Polynesian Heritage Norfolk Island Residents
Authors: O’Brien Stacie , Lea Rodney , Jadhao Sudhir , Lee Simon , Sukhadia Shrey , Arunachalam Vignesh , Roulis Eileen , Flower Robert , Griffiths Lyn , Nagaraj Shivashankar
Published: August 2023

Improvements in blood group genotyping methods have allowed large scale population-based blood group genetics studies, facilitating the discovery of rare blood group antigens. Norfolk Island, an external and isolated territory of Australia, is one example of an underrepresented segment of the broader Australian population. Our study utilized whole genome sequencing data to characterize 43 blood group systems in 108 Norfolk Island residents. Blood group genotypes and phenotypes across the 43 systems were predicted using RBCeq. Predicted frequencies were compared to data available from the 1000G project. Additional copy number variation analysis was performed, investigating deletions outside of RHCE, RHD, and MNS systems. Examination of the ABO blood group system predicted a higher distribution of group A1 (45.37%) compared to group O (35.19%) in residents of the Norfolk Island group, similar to the distribution within European populations (42.94% and 38.97%, respectively). Examination of the Kidd blood group system demonstrated an increased prevalence of variants encoding the weakened Kidd phenotype at a combined prevalence of 12.04%, which is higher than that of the European population (5.96%) but lower than other populations in 1000G. Copy number variation analysis showed deletions within the Chido/Rodgers and ABO blood group systems. This study is the first step towards understanding blood group genotype and antigen distribution on Norfolk Island.
The Rosetta Phenotype Harmonization Method Facilitates Finding a Relationship Quantitative Trait Locus for a Complex Cognitive Trait
Authors: Petrill Stephen A. , Klamer Brett G. , Buyske Steven , Willcutt Erik G. , Gruen Jeffrey R. , Francis David J. , Flax Judy F. , Brzustowicz Linda M. , Bartlett Christopher W.
Published: August 2023

Genetics researchers increasingly combine data across many sources to increase power and to conduct analyses that cross multiple individual studies. However, there is often a lack of alignment on outcome measures when the same constructs are examined across studies. This inhibits comparison across individual studies and may impact the findings from meta-analysis. Using a well-characterized genotypic (brain-derived neurotrophic factor: BDNF) and phenotypic constructs (working memory and reading comprehension), we employ an approach called Rosetta, which allows for the simultaneous examination of primary studies that employ related but incompletely overlapping data. We examined four studies of BDNF, working memory, and reading comprehension with a combined sample size of 1711 participants. Although the correlation between working memory and reading comprehension over all participants was high, as expected (ρ = 0.45), the correlation between working memory and reading comprehension was attenuated in the BDNF Met/Met genotype group (ρ = 0.18, n.s.) but not in the Val/Val (ρ = 0.44) or Val/Met (ρ = 0.41) groups. These findings indicate that Met/Met carriers may be a unique and robustly defined subgroup in terms of memory and reading comprehension. This study demonstrates the utility of the Rosetta method when examining complex phenotypes across multiple studies, including psychiatric genetic studies, as shown here, and also for the mega-analysis of cohorts generally.
Multi-Parameter Statistical Analysis of K, Th, and U Concentrations in Eastern Senegal: Implications for the Interpretation of Airborne Radiometrics
Authors: Thiam Aïssata , Baratoux David , Fall Makhoudia , Faye Gayane , Ouattara Gbele
Published: August 2023

In geological mapping, maps of K, Th, and U concentrations provided by airborne radiometric surveys are widely used to delineate geological units in tropical regions from the few rare outcrops. Indeed, thanks to their specific geochemical properties and behaviors, K, Th, and U allow us to trace geological processes. However, the combination of the concentrations of these radioelements does not allow us to determine the lithology in a unique way. We examined the potential of delineating the statistical parameters of K, Th, and U concentrations for geological mapping using the purpose airborne radiometric data in eastern Senegal. The mean, standard deviation, skewness, and kurtosis were calculated and mapped at a baseline of 3000 m. We noted the narrow dispersion of skewness and kurtosis values away from the expected curve for the log-normal distribution, implying that log-normal distributions dominate at the scale of analysis. The higher moments (kurtosis and skewness) varied more over shorter distances than lower order moments (mean and standard deviation). Mixtures of log-normal distributions across some lithological contacts with large differences in statistical parameters may account for this behavior. The area covered by the airborne radiometric data was classified into eight units according to the statistical parameters. The eight clusters do not show obvious correlations with geological units, but they may be interpreted in terms of the superposition of lithology and recent superficial processes (erosion and weathering).
A Multicloud Model for Coastal Convection
Authors: Dah Abigail , Khouider Boualem , Schumacher Courtney
Published: August 2023

Coastal convection is often organized into multiple mesoscale systems that propagate in either direction across the coastline (i.e., landward and oceanward). These systems interact non-trivially with synoptic and intraseasonal disturbances such as convectively coupled waves and the Madden–Julian oscillation. Despite numerous theoretical and observational efforts to understand coastal convection, global climate models still fail to represent it adequately, mainly because of limitations in spatial resolution and shortcomings in the underlying cumulus parameterization schemes. Here, we use a simplified climate model of intermediate complexity to simulate coastal convection under the influence of the diurnal cycle of solar heating. Convection is parameterized via a stochastic multicloud model (SMCM), which mimics the subgrid dynamics of organized convection due to interactions (through the environment) between the cloud types that characterize organized tropical convection. Numerical results demonstrate that the model is able to capture the key modes of coastal convection variability, such as the diurnal cycle of convection and the accompanying sea and land breeze reversals, the slowly propagating mesoscale convective systems that move from land to ocean and vice-versa, and numerous moisture-coupled gravity wave modes. The physical features of the simulated modes, such as their propagation speeds, the timing of rainfall peaks, the penetration of the sea and land breezes, and how they are affected by the latitudinal variation in the Coriolis force, are generally consistent with existing theoretical and observational studies.
Evaluating Changes in Trauma Epidemiology during the COVID-19 Lockdown: Insights and Implications for Public Health and Disaster Preparedness
Authors: Jojczuk Mariusz , Pawlikowski Jakub , Kamiński Piotr , Głuchowski Dariusz , Naylor Katarzyna , Gajewski Jakub , Karpiński Robert , Krakowski Przemysław , Jonak Józef , Nogalski Adam , Czerwiński Dariusz
Published: August 2023

The COVID-19 pandemic demanded changes in healthcare systems worldwide. The lockdown brought about difficulties in healthcare access. However, trauma still required further attention considering its modifications. The presented study aims to investigate the variances in epidemiological patterns of trauma during the lockdown and the previous year, with a view to better understand the modifications in healthcare provision. The authors analyzed data from the first lockdown in 2020 (12 March–30 May) and the same period in 2019 from 35 hospitals in Lublin Province. A total of 10,806 patients in 2019 and 5212 patients in 2020 were included in the research. The uncovered changes adhered to the total admissions and mortality rate, the frequency of injuries in particular body regions, and injury mechanisms. The lockdown period resulted in a reduction in trauma, requiring an altered approach to healthcare provision. Our research indicates that the altered approach facilitated during such periods is essential for delivering tailored help to trauma patients.