bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Nationwide-free preconception care strategy: Experience from China
Authors: Xu Jinghui , Li Xiaotian , Zhou Qiongjie
Published: October 2022

Preconception care has emerged as a developing field in maternal and child healthcare worldwide. This care type provides couples of reproductive age with the opportunity for early detection and management of biomedical, behavioral, and social health problems. In 2010, the Chinese government launched a nationwide preconception care program as a welfare project. During the past decade, this project has received international attention, and experiences from the project have been published in the literature. In this review, we summarize the history, implementation, and evaluation of preconception care services in China, and its related maternal and children's health service initiatives, to thereby provide knowledge for policymakers and clinicians in other countries.
The effect and mechanism of Internet use on the physical health of the older people—Empirical analysis based on CFPS
Authors: Guo Enkai , Li Jing , Luo Le , Gao Yang , Wang Zhaohong
Published: October 2022

The use of the Internet has a promoting effect on the physical health of the older people. However, previous studies are mostly focused on the perspective of the overall population, or limited to the direct effects, ignoring the exploration of the mechanism of action and the perspective of the older people. Based on the data of the China Family Panel Survey (CFPS) in 2014, 2016, 2018, and 2020, this study found that the use of the Internet has a significant effect on the physical health of the older people, especially among the population groups of females, rural residents, and those living in central and western regions of China. In addition, this study also found that the use of the Internet by the older people can increase their exercise frequency, thereby improving their physical health. Therefore, to promote active aging, this study proposes to further increase the popularity of the Internet among the older people, encourage the introduction of age-appropriate Internet systems and sports facilities, create an online fitness platform for the older people, and promote scientific fitness programs for them.
Disaggregating the data: Diversity of COVID-19 stressors, discrimination, and mental health among Asian American communities
Authors: Okazaki Sumie , Lee Christina Seowoo , Prasai Aakriti , Chang Doris F. , Yoo Nari
Published: October 2022

Much of the public discourse as well as research regarding the negative impact of COVID-19-related anti-Asian discrimination has been conducted at the broad racial group level, yet data aggregation masks critical points of diversity among Asian Americans. We conducted an online survey of 620 Asian American adults in December 2020 and examined whether there were any demographic differences–including by ethnic subgroup and Chinese street race (being Chinese or being mistaken as Chinese)–in their experiences of COVID-19-related stress, direct and vicarious discrimination, and psychological outcomes. Our analyses found that younger age was correlated with higher reports of pandemic stress, discrimination, distress, and worry. Female and U.S.-born participants reported higher levels of pandemic stress and vicarious discrimination, but there were no gender or nativity differences in levels of direct discrimination. Being uninsured was also related to higher levels of pandemic stress, discrimination, and distress. East Asian Americans reported significantly lower frequencies of direct anti-Asian discrimination than did South Asian or Southeast Asian Americans, but the ethnic subgroups did not differ in their reports of vicarious discrimination. Of note, Chinese street race was not associated with either direct or vicarious discrimination. Separate hierarchical regression analyses for East Asian, South Asian, and Southeast Asian participants revealed that, regardless of ethnicity, racial discrimination significantly contributed to psychological distress and worry beyond the effects of pandemic stress. However, the three groups varied in the demographic indicators and COVID-19 stressors that were associated with psychological outcomes. Pandemic stress was more strongly associated with negative outcomes among South Asian Americans than East Asian and Southeast Asian Americans, and neither direct nor vicarious discrimination were associated with mental health among South Asian Americans. Direct discrimination, compared to vicarious discrimination, was a particularly robust predictor of both distress and worry among East Asian Americans. For Southeast Asian Americans, direct discrimination significantly predicted higher levels of distress, whereas vicarious discrimination predicted higher levels of worry. Vicarious discrimination was not significantly related to distress across ethnic subgroups. Results suggest that practitioners and policy makers would benefit from attending to these within-group differences in Asian Americans' experiences during the pandemic.
“What support?”: A qualitative study on social support for Asian American victims of racism during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Wang Sherry C. , Santos Bianca Marie C.
Published: October 2022

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, anti-Asian racism has surged, yet little is known about Asian Americans' experiences of social support. Therefore, we designed a qualitative, intrinsic, revelatory case study to examine the nature and quality of social support for Asian Americans during the first 6 months of the pandemic. Our sample consisted of 193 Asian Americans (from over 32 U.S. states) disclosing their experiences of inadequate social support. They described their support network as (1) Being unable to relate, (2) Encouraging their silence, (3) Minimizing anti-Asian racism, (4) Denying anti-Asian racism, and (5) Victim-blaming. Regarding our participants' recommendations for increasing social support for Asian Americans, a total of seven recommendations emerged: (1) Legitimize anti-Asian racism, (2) Teach Asian American history, (3) Destigmatize mental health resources to make them accessible for Asian American families (4) Promote bystander intervention trainings, (5) Build solidarity with and beyond Asian Americans to dismantle racism, (6) Increase media attention on anti-Asian racism, and (7) Elect political leaders who will advocate for Asian Americans. Altogether, our findings underscore the need for systemic forms of advocacy to combat anti-Asian racism, and shed light on the injurious nature of social support for Asian American victims of racism.
How meteorological factors impacting on scrub typhus incidences in the main epidemic areas of 10 provinces, China, 2006–2018
Authors: Luo Yizhe , Zhang Longyao , Lv Heng , Zhu Changqiang , Ai Lele , Qi Yong , Yue Na , Zhang Lingling , Wu Jiahong , Tan Weilong
Published: October 2022

Scrub typhus, caused by Orientia tsutsugamushi, is a serious public health problem in the Asia-Pacific region, threatening the health of more than one billion people. China is one of the countries with the most serious disease burden of scrub typhus. Previous epidemiological evidence indicated that meteorological factors may affect the incidence of scrub typhus, but there was limited evidence for the correlation between local natural environment factors dominated by meteorological factors and scrub typhus. This study aimed to evaluate the correlation between monthly scrub typhus incidence and meteorological factors in areas with high scrub typhus prevalence using a distributed lag non-linear model (DLNM). The monthly data on scrub typhus cases in ten provinces from 2006 to 2018 and meteorological parameters were obtained from the Public Health Science Data Center and the National Meteorological Data Sharing Center. The results of the single-variable and multiple-variable models showed a non-linear relationship between incidence and meteorological factors of mean temperature (Tmean), rainfall (RF), sunshine hours (SH), and relative humidity (RH). Taking the median of meteorological factors as the reference value, the relative risks (RRs) of monthly Tmean at 0°C, RH at 46%, and RF at 800 mm were most significant, with RRs of 2.28 (95% CI: 0.95–5.43), 1.71 (95% CI: 1.39–2.09), and 3.33 (95% CI: 1.89–5.86). In conclusion, relatively high temperature, high humidity, and favorable rainfall were associated with an increased risk of scrub typhus.
Sinfonia: Cross-tier orchestration for edge-native applications
Authors: Satyanarayanan Mahadev , Harkes Jan , Blakley Jim , Meunier Marc , Mohandoss Govindarajan , Friedt Kiel , Thulasi Arun , Saxena Pranav , Barritt Brian
Published: October 2022

The convergence of 5G wireless networks and edge computing enables new edge-native applications that are simultaneously bandwidth-hungry, latency-sensitive, and compute-intensive. Examples include deeply immersive augmented reality, wearable cognitive assistance, privacy-preserving video analytics, edge-triggered serendipity, and autonomous swarms of featherweight drones. Such edge-native applications require network-aware and load-aware orchestration of resources across the cloud (Tier-1), cloudlets (Tier-2), and device (Tier-3). This paper describes the architecture of Sinfonia, an open-source system for such cross-tier orchestration. Key attributes of Sinfonia include:

support for multiple vendor-specific Tier-1 roots of orchestration, providing end-to-end runtime control that spans technical and non-technical criteria;

use of third-party Kubernetes clusters as cloudlets, with unified treatment of telco-managed, hyperconverged, and just-in-time variants of cloudlets;

masking of orchestration complexity from applications, thus lowering the barrier to creation of new edge-native applications.

We describe an initial release of Sinfonia (https://github.com/cmusatyalab/sinfonia), and share our thoughts on evolving it in the future.
Present and future of extraoral maxillofacial prosthodontics: Cancer rehabilitation
Authors: Salazar-Gamarra Rodrigo , Binasco Salvatore , Seelaus Rosemary , Dib Luciando Lauria
Published: October 2022

Historically, facial prosthetics have successfully rehabilitated individuals with acquired or congenital anatomical deficiencies of the face. This history includes extensive efforts in research and development to explore best practices in materials, methods, and artisanal techniques. Presently, extraoral maxillofacial rehabilitation is managed by a multiprofessional team that has evolved with a broadened scope of knowledge, skills, and responsibility. This includes the mandatory integration of different professional specialists to cover the bio-psycho-social needs of the patient, systemic health and pathology surveillance, and advanced restorative techniques, which may include 3D technologies. In addition, recent digital workflows allow us to optimize this multidisciplinary integration and reduce the active time of both patients and clinicians, as well as improve the cost-efficiency of the care system, promoting its access to both patients and health systems. This paper discusses factors that affect extraoral maxillofacial rehabilitation's present and future opportunities from teamwork consolidation, techniques utilizing technology, and health systems opportunities.
Protecting farmers' data privacy and confidentiality: Recommendations and considerations
Authors: Kaur Jasmin , Hazrati Fard Seyed Mehdi , Amiri-Zarandi Mohammad , Dara Rozita
Published: October 2022

With the increasing use of precision agriculture and technological development, the agricultural sector has been majorly transformed. Precision agriculture uses technological innovations such as sensors, drones, and data analysis tools to improve the productivity of resources and management decisions on the farm. Since these technologies collect a large amount of data related to the farm, the farmers are concerned about the privacy of their data. The farmers are worried about unauthorized access, collection, and sharing of their data with third parties by the agricultural technology providers (ATPs). Furthermore, the ambiguity of agreements and legal frameworks around data collection, processing, and sharing may result in uncertainty in data privacy practices. Furthermore, this situation is aggravated by a lack of adoption of best practices and standards for farm data protection. Violation of privacy can cause reluctance among farmers to adopt new technologies which can negatively impact various stakeholders, government, and public. Protecting farmers' privacy and respecting their rights related to the collected data should be addressed collectively by the actors in the farming ecosystem, including farmers, agricultural technology providers, governments, and supply chain stakeholders. This paper aims at providing recommendations on how to minimize privacy risks and concerns for farmers and reviews some of the data governance best practices for data protection.
Do prognosis and clinicopathological features differ in young early-stage breast cancer?
Authors: Arikan Akif Enes , Kara Halil , Dülgeroğlu Onur , Erdoğan Esin Nur , Capkinoglu Emir , Uras Cihan
Published: October 2022

Background

Breast cancer is the most frequently detected cancer and the leading cause of cancer-related death in women. Although it is mostly seen in older patients, breast cancer affects women aged 24 to >70 years, with poorer prognosis in young patients. Young age remains a controversial topic in the literature. This study aimed to identify subtype differences and the effect of age on early-stage breast cancer outcomes.

Methods

A total of 300 consecutive patients underwent surgery between 2011 and 2015 for early-stage breast cancer. Of these, 248 were eligible for this study and were divided into three groups: group Y (aged ≤35 years), group M (aged >35 and ≤45 years), and group E (aged >45 years). The clinical and pathological features and data related to recurrence, metastasis, and death were recorded.

Results

No statistical differences were found between groups regarding histopathological features except for higher histological grade and Ki-67 levels in group M. Additionally, group Y recorded no progression (recurrence or metastasis) or death. Disease-free survival was 117.8 months (95% CI 111.8–123.8) for group M, which was significantly shorter than that for group E (p < 0.001). Additionally, the hazard ratio (HR) for progression from group M to group E was 10.21 with significant difference (p = 0.003, 95% CI 2.26–46.08). However, the HR of group Y to group E was 0.04, without significance (p = 0.788, 95% CI 0.18–345 × 106). The overall 5-year survival was 100% in group Y, 98.8% in group M, and 99.3% in group E, without significance.

Conclusion

A very young age cannot be considered an independent risk factor for poor prognosis. Rather than age, histological grade and Ki-67 index are more important factors in early-stage breast cancer.
Design of an Acoustic Synthetic Jet Actuator for Flow Control
Authors: Lu Lianshan , Li Dong , Zhang Zhenhui , Yang Yin , Liu Dawei , Tao Yang , Lu Bo
Published: October 2022

Synthetic jet technology is widely adopted in active flow control. An actuator with an oscillating diaphragm is a commonly used excitation device for synthetic jet generation. However, it has a disadvantage wherein the volume at the cross-section of the cavity varies unevenly when the diaphragm vibrates, which makes it difficult to use multiple jets corresponding to one diaphragm. In this paper, an acoustic synthetic jet actuator that can generate multiple jets with one diaphragm was designed. The diaphragm vibrated in a cylindrical cavity, transferring air to another constant-volume square cavity through pipes. The square cavity was covered with a multiple-orifice plate for the expulsion and suction of the ambient air. Through this means, the implementation of multiple jets corresponding to one diaphragm was achieved. The multiple jets are called distributed synthetic jets in this paper. Governing parameters that determined the performance of the distributed synthetic jets were given by theoretical derivation. It was found that, under specific geometry conditions, the governing parameters were mainly the frequency and voltage of the input signal to the actuator. Then, the velocity characteristics of the distributed synthetic jets were measured by using a constant-temperature anemometer and the parameter space was determined. The results showed that it was practicable to apply the acoustic actuator to turbulent boundary layer flow control.
A New Method for Analyzing the Aero-Optical Effects of Hypersonic Vehicles Based on a Microscopic Mechanism
Authors: Yang Bo , Yu He , Liu Chaofan , Wei Xiang , Fan Zichen , Miao Jun
Published: October 2022

Aero-optical effects are the key factors that restrict the accuracy of the optical sensors of hypersonic vehicles, and the numerical simulation of aero-optical effects is a powerful tool with which to analyze aero-optical distortion. Most existing research focuses on the simulation analysis of refraction distortion based on the density field at the macro level via the ray-tracing method. In this paper, a method for analyzing aero-optical effects based on the interaction between photons and gas molecules is proposed and can explain the optical distortion and energy dissipation caused by aero-optical effects at the micro level. By establishing a transmission model of photons in turbulence, a simulation method of aero-optical effects based on a microscopic mechanism is designed and breaks through the limitations of a traditional macro method in energy analyses. The optical distortion parameters based on photonics are compared with the physical quantities of traditional aero-optical effects, which verifies the effectiveness of the micro analysis on the macro scale and provides a new idea for studying the microscopic mechanism of aero-optical effects.
Functional Properties of Fruit Fibers Preparations and Their Application in Wheat Bakery Products (Kaiser Rolls)
Authors: Sadowska Anna , Świderski Franciszek , Siol Marta , Niedziółka Dominika , Najman Katarzyna
Published: October 2022

In recent years, there has been an increase in consumer interest in functional foods enriched with health-promoting ingredients, which include dietary fiber. Therefore, the present study investigated the functional properties of fruit fiber preparations, i.e., cocoa, chokeberry, and apple fiber preparations, then designed wheat bakery products, kaiser rolls, with these fibers and evaluated the designed products. The fiber preparations selected for the study were evaluated for water binding properties (WHC), solubility (WSI), total polyphenol content, and antioxidant activity using a spectrophotometric method. In the designed bakery products, the weight losses occurring during baking were determined, specific mass, and hardness were evaluated, and sensory evaluation was carried out using a descriptive method. The tested fiber preparations showed varying water solubility, ranging from approximately 17% for cocoa fiber to approximately 30% for chokeberry one. The highest values, both in polyphenol content and antioxidant properties, were characteristic for chokeberry fiber, at 7.0 mg GAE/1 g and 10.1 Trolox/100 g, respectively, while the lowest values were for apple fiber (1.6 mg GAE/1 g, 3.6 Trolox/100 g). Baked products, kaiser rolls, with the proportion of the tested preparations at a lower addition level (3% flour replacement) had more favorable sensory characteristics than those containing a higher proportion of fiber (6% flour replacement). Considering all the tested fiber preparations, the rolls with the addition of chokeberry fiber preparation were the most favorable in terms of sensory characteristics. As the proportion of apple and cocoa fiber preparations in the rolls increased, the hardness and intensity of the bitter taste also increased. The designed bakery products could be a valuable addition to the assortment of semi-confectionery breads (yeast doughs), where the unfavorable bitter taste could be masked by the addition of, e.g., dried fruits (cranberries, raisins), nuts, sunflower seeds, or fruit filling.
Design and Operating Parameters Optimization of the Hook-and-Tooth Chain Rail Type Residual Film Picking Device
Authors: Cao Silin , Xie Jianhua , Wang Hezheng , Yang Yuxin , Zhang Yanhong , Zhou Jinbao , Wu Shihua
Published: October 2022

We attempt to solve the current problems of high impurity content and the poor reliability of chain harrow type residual film recovery machines when picking up residual film. This study makes a device for picking up residual film with a hook-and-tooth chain rail. First, we conducted an analysis of the trajectory of the tip movement of the hooked teeth in the designed picking device, with the condition that the residual mulch does not miss the picking, and the force conditions of the residual mulch in the conveying process and the collection process are presented. Secondly, to determine the optimal working parameters of the picking device, a three-factor, three-level response surface optimization test was conducted with the machine forward speed, hook tooth entry depth, and chain harrow input speed as the test factors and the residual film picking rate and the impurity rate of residual film as the test indexes. In addition, a response surface regression model was developed to analyze the effects of the selected factors on the picking device. When the forward speed of the machine was 1.62 m/s, the hook tooth entry depth was 38.51 mm, and the input speed of the chain harrow was 241.42 rpm, the pickup rate and the impurity rate of the residual film were 88.27% and 9.96%, respectively. Finally, the simulation test was carried out under optimal working conditions, with the maximum force of the hook teeth being 60.7 N, the maximum deformation being 31.42 mm, and the maximum stress being 215.33 Mpa. This study can be used as a guide to further improve the design of the residual film recovery machine.
The U.S. Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Industry: An Overview of Production and Trade
Authors: Huang Kuan-Ming , Guan Zhengfei , Hammami AbdelMalek
Published: October 2022

The fruit and vegetable industry is an important segment of the U.S. agriculture. The 2017 U.S. Agriculture Census shows that the industry had total sales of USD 48 billion from over 10 million acres of land. However, over the last two decades, production of major fruit and vegetable crops in the United States has been declining while imports have grown significantly. The rapidly growing imports have posed challenges to the sustainability of the U.S. domestic industry. This study provides a systematic industry review of fresh fruit and vegetable production and trade between the United States and Mexico, by far the largest source of U.S. imports, highlighting the structural shift in the market over the last two decades and the caveats for industry sustainability. The analysis shows that Florida, Georgia, and California are among the states that face the strongest competition from Mexico. Among the 10 crops reviewed, berry, tomato, pepper, and cucumber production has been affected the most. The study further discusses the factors driving the rapid growth of imports and shows the importance of innovation and policy reform to the sustainability of the U.S. fruit and vegetable industry.
Shade and Altitude Implications on the Physical and Chemical Attributes of Green Coffee Beans from Gorongosa Mountain, Mozambique
Authors: Cassamo Crimildo T. , Mangueze Adilson V. J. , Leitão António E. , Pais Isabel P. , Moreira Rita , Campa Claudine , Chiulele Rogério , Reis Fabrício O. , Marques Isabel , Scotti-Campos Paula , Lidon Fernando C. , Partelli Fábio L. , Ribeiro-Barros Ana I. , Ramalho José C.
Published: October 2022

Coffea arabica L. is as a tropical crop that can be grown under monocrop or agroforestry (AFS) systems, usually at altitudes greater than 600 m, with suitable environmental conditions to bean quality. This study aimed to assess the effect of altitude (650, 825, and 935 m) and light conditions (deep shade—DS, and moderate shade—MS provided by native trees, and full Sun—FS) on the physical and chemical attributes of green coffee beans produced in the Gorongosa Mountain. Regardless of altitude, light conditions (mainly MS and FS) scarcely affected most of the studied physical and chemical attributes. Among the few exceptions in physical attributes, bean mass tended to lower values under FS in all three altitudes, whereas bean density increased under FS at 650 m. As regards the chemical compound contents, sporadic changes were found. The rises in trigonelline (MS and FS at 935 m), soluble sugars (FS at 935 m), and the decline in p-coumaric acid (MS and FS at 825 m), may indicate an improved sensory profile, but the rise in FQAs (FS at 825 m) could have a negative impact. These results highlight a relevant uncertainty of the quality changes of the obtained bean. Altitude (from 650 to 935 m) extended the fruit maturation period by four weeks, and altered a larger number of bean attributes. Among physical traits, the average sieve (consistent tendency), bean commercial homogeneity, mass, and density increased at 935 m, whereas the bean became less yellowish and brighter at 825 and 935 m (b*, C* colour attributes), pointing to good bean trade quality, usually as compared with beans from 650 m. Furthermore, at 935 m trigonelline and 5-CQA (MS and FS) increased, whereas FQAs and diCQAs isomers declined (in all light conditions). Altogether, these changes likely contributed to improve the sensory cup quality. Caffeine and p-coumaric acid showed mostly inconsistent variations. Overall, light conditions (FS, MS, or DS) did not greatly and consistently altered bean physical and chemical attributes, whereas altitude (likely associated with lower temperature, greater water availability (rainfall/fog), and extended maturation period) was a major driver for bean changes and improved quality.
The Effects of Agricultural Plastic Waste on the Vermicompost Process and Health Status of Eisenia fetida
Authors: Sáez José A. , Pedraza Torres Angie M. , Blesa Marco Zbigniew Emil , Andreu-Rodríguez Francisco Javier , Marhuenda-Egea Frutos C. , Martínez-Sabater Encarnación , López María J. , Suarez-Estrella Francisca , Moral Raúl
Published: October 2022

Nowadays, plastic materials are extensively used in the agri-food sector for multiple purposes. The end-of-life management of these plastics is an environmental challenge because frequent incomplete recoveries after the crop seasons lead to the accumulation of plastics debris in agricultural waste, which is now recognized as an emerging environmental issue of global concern. However, the effects of plastic debris in agricultural waste undergoing biotreatment have been poorly studied. This study assesses the effects of agricultural plastic waste (APW) (LDPE + LLDPE and EPS) (1.25% f.w.) on the vermicomposting process (45 days) in terms of earthworm health by measuring biomarker responses and the enzymatic activity and quality/stabilization of the vermicompost obtained. The results showed that exposure to all the plastic materials tested had negative morphological effects on earthworm survival and body biomass. In the vermicomposting process, the changes detected in the enzymatic activity of the vermicompost and the biofilm seemed to affect the degradation rate of earthworms and the microbiome of the substrate, as demonstrated by the low organic matter mineralization in the vermicompost exposed to plastic. Although no significant changes were recorded in several biomarkers, signs of oxidative stress were evidenced throughout the glutathione S-transferase and carboxylesterase activity, mainly involving balanced oxidative stress and xenobiotic resistance systems.
Effects of the Continuous Cropping of Amomum villosum on Rhizosphere Soil Physicochemical Properties, Enzyme Activities, and Microbial Communities
Authors: Wang Butian , Lu Yunfeng , Li Weifeng , He Suming , Lin Rong , Qu Peng , Chen Hongmei , Zhang Fengying , Zhao Meng , Shi Xuedong , Liu Yi , Du Huabo , Ge Yu
Published: October 2022

Amomum villosum, which is an important perennial medicinal plant, easily suffers from continuous cropping obstacles in the plantation. The aim of this study is to find an effective method to solve the problem of A. villosum continuous cropping. In this study, we analyzed four fields in which A. villosum was continuously cropped and a fallow field to reveal the effects of continuous cropping on the rhizosphere soil physicochemical properties, enzyme activities, and bacterial and fungal communities. Most of the soil nutrient contents gradually increased as the number of years of continuous cropping increased, whereas the soil pH decreased slightly. The soil urease and acid phosphatase activities tended to increase as the length of the continuous cropping period increased, which may have accelerated the conversion of soil substances. Furthermore, the alpha diversity of the bacterial and fungal communities decreased as the duration of the continuous cropping period increased. Additionally, the redundancy analysis revealed that bacterial and fungal community structures at the phylum level were the most correlated with pH value and catalase activity, respectively. This study may be useful for promoting the continuous cropping and sustainable development of A. villosum.
Soil Enzyme Activities Affect SOC and TN in Aggregate Fractions in Sodic-Alkali Soils, Northeast of China
Authors: Wang Jingjing , Shu Kunliang , Wang Siyu , Zhang Chang , Feng Yanchun , Gao Ming , Li Zhonghe , Cai Hongguang
Published: October 2022

Soil enzymes strongly affect soil organic carbon (SOC) and nitrogen (TN) storage. However, few studies have focused on their relationships in aggregates, especially in sodic-alkali agricultural fields. In the current study, we hypothesized that the impact of soil enzymes on SOC and TN were different within aggregates for their heterogeneous distribution. Soils collected from the surface (0–20 cm) and subsurface (20–40 cm) layers of sodic-alkali agricultural fields in the northeast of China were separated via the dry sieve method into macro-aggregates (>2000 μm), meso-aggregates (250–2000 μm), and micro-aggregates (<250 μm). SOC, TN, microbial biomass carbon (MBC) and nitrogen (MBN), and C- and N-cycling enzymes, namely amylase (AMY), invertase (INV), β-glucosidase (GLU), catalase (CAT), β-N-acetylglucosaminidase (NAG), and urease (URE) in soil aggregates were tested and analyzed. High content of SOC and TN were observed in macro- and meso-aggregates in both layers, with the largest amount detected in meso-aggregates. The highest values of MBC and MBN were observed in meso-aggregates, followed by micro-aggregates for MBC and macro-aggregates for MBN. Soil enzymes were distributed heterogeneously in soil aggregates, where the activities of AMY, INV, and URE in both layers were in the order of meso-aggregates > macro-aggregates > micro-aggregates. The same trend was followed by NAG of surface soils, while in the subsurface soils, NAG activities increased with the increasing aggregate sizes. NAG activities in both layers decreased with decreasing aggregate sizes. The GLU activity rose with the decreasing aggregate sizes in both layers, contrary to CAT. Enzyme activities affect SOC and TN in soil aggregates, for NAG, INV, GLU, and URE are closely related to SOC and TN across aggregate sizes. The test indices mentioned above in the surface layer were higher than those in the subsurface layer. These results indicate that biophysical processes associated with C- and N-cycling enzymes may be vital to the SOC and TN sequestration within soil aggregates in sodic-alkali agricultural fields.
Design and Experimental Verification of the YOLOV5 Model Implanted with a Transformer Module for Target-Oriented Spraying in Cabbage Farming
Authors: Fu Hao , Zhao Xueguan , Wu Huarui , Zheng Shenyu , Zheng Kang , Zhai Changyuan
Published: October 2022

Due to large line spacing and planting distances, the adoption of continuous and uniform pesticide spraying in vegetable farming can lead to pesticide waste, thus increasing cost and environmental pollution. In this paper, by applying deep learning and online identification methods, control technology for target-oriented spraying is studied with cabbages as the research object. To overcome motion blur and low average precision under strong light conditions during the operation of sprayers, an innovative YOLOV5 model implanted with a transformer module is utilized to achieve accurate online identification for cabbage fields under complex environments. Based on this concept, a new target-oriented spray system is built on an NVIDIA Jetson Xavier NX. Indoor test results show that the average precision is 96.14% and the image processing time is 51.07 ms. When motion blur occurs, the average precision for the target is 90.31%. Then, in a field experiment, when the light intensity is within the range of 3.76–12.34 wlx, the advance opening distance is less than 3.51 cm, the delay closing distance is less than 2.05 cm, and the average identification error for the cabbage diameter is less than 1.45 cm. The experimental results indicate that changes in light intensity have no significant impact on the identification effect. The average precision is 98.65%, and the savings rate reaches 54.04%. In general, the target-oriented spray system designed in this study achieves the expected experimental results and can provide technical support for field target spraying.
The Effects of Rabbit-Manure-Derived Biochar Co-Application with Compost on the Availability and Heavy Metal Uptake by Green Leafy Vegetables
Authors: Medyńska-Juraszek Agnieszka , Marcinkowska Katarzyna , Gruszka Dariusz , Kluczek Kamila
Published: October 2022

The use of organic amendments to enhance plant growth is increasing due to horticulture activities and vegetable cultivation in urban areas. Consequently, as organic amendments impact heavy metal solubility and plant uptake of unknown contaminants, the risk of human exposure to potentially toxic elements from contaminated soils and compost is increasing. Biochar co-application with compost may reduce the risk-related increased metal uptake by edible plants. To verify this thesis, a greenhouse experiment was established to examine the effects of rabbit-manure-derived biochar (RBC) on Cu, Cr, Cd and Pb uptake by five green leafy vegetables (lettuce—Lactuca sativa L., spinach—Spinacia oleracea L., corn salad—Valerianella locusta L., kale—Brassica oleracea L., mustard greens—Brassica juncea L.) cultivated in compost substrate and soil amended with a 30% (v/w) mix of compost and biochar. The results indicated that the addition of biochar decreased Cu, Cr, Cd and Pb availability in the tested substrates, reducing the uptake of Cd in spinach by 61% and Pb in mustard greens by 73%. The application of RBC also had some adverse effects, such as enhanced accumulation of Cr by kale, lettuce and mustard greens cultivated in compost. Compost co-application with biochar to soil decreased the availability of metals, reducing the content of Pb and Cd in tissues of the tested vegetables, while uptake of Cu and Cr was enhanced in spinach and lettuce by 20%. In conclusion, the application of compost and biochar can be beneficial in improving the quality of urban soil used for horticulture purposes. However, more attention by gardeners should be paid to soil and compost testing in terms of heavy metal contamination and possible adverse effects of organic amendments application for green leafy vegetable cultivation.
Disease-Causing Agents in Cashew: A Review in a Tropical Cash Crop
Authors: Monteiro Filipa , Romeiras Maria M. , Barnabé João , Catarino Silvia , Batista Dora , Sebastiana Mónica
Published: October 2022

Due to the high market value of cashew nut, cashew became a significantly important cash crop in many countries. Originating from Brazil, the plant was introduced into Africa, India, and Southeast Asia and is nowadays found across most of the tropical regions. However, the diseases that threaten and compromise crop production have not yet been comprehensively documented. The aim of this study was to examine the published scientific data on cashew diseases, to identify current knowledge gaps, and to present a review of the most important diseases and pathogens affecting cashew productivity. The most described diseases are caused by fungi genera—mainly Colletotrichum, Lasiodiplodia, and Erysiphe (worldwide); Cryptosporiopsis (East Africa); and recently Fusarium in Tanzania. Other fungal genera (e.g., Septoria, Pilgeriella, and Pestalotia) may correspond to emerging local cashew diseases that have not yet expanded to other geographic regions or for which records are lacking. Gummosis (Lasiodiplodia spp.), which is considered the most prevalent and damaging disease of cashew, has a pantropical distribution. There is large discrepancy concerning the causal agents of cashew diseases that might be explained by the lack of proper species identification through morpho-cultural and molecular approaches. This, in turn, can easily lead to misdiagnoses that have serious negative consequences for the implementation of specific control actions. It is important to establish a standardized identification workflow that will allow a reliable identification of the disease-causing agent and to determine the occurrence and/or expansion of a given pathogen across cashew-producing regions.
Long-Term Corn–Soybean Rotation and Soil Fertilization: Impacts on Yield and Agronomic Traits
Authors: Yuan Ming , Bi Yingdong , Han Dongwei , Wang Ling , Wang Lianxia , Fan Chao , Zhang Di , Wang Zhen , Liang Wenwei , Zhu Zhijia , Liu Yuehui , Li Wei , Sun Haoyue , Liu Miao , Liu Jianxin , Wang Junqiang , Ma Bo , Di Shufeng , Yang Guang , Lai Yongcai
Published: October 2022

Although crop rotations have been widely shown as an effective approach for improving yield or soil quality in the long term, the relationship between crop rotations and quality traits of crop or biochar-based fertilization is still unclear. To address this, we conducted a long-term field experiment in the Heilongjiang province of China to investigate the effects of crop rotation and biochar-based fertilizer application on the crop yield, soil parameters, crop quality, and agronomic traits in 2014–2020. The effects of rotations on crop production and soil properties were evaluated with the average yield variability during the 7 years of this study. Our results showed that the diversified corn and soybean rotations had a significant positive effect on average crop yield compared with their monocultures. The corn yield was enhanced by 0.6 Mg ha−1 (5.4%) in the corn–soybean–corn (CSC) crop sequence compared with monoculture corn. Similarly, soybean yield was enhanced by 0.21 Mg ha−1 (9.7%) in the soybean–corn–corn (SCC) crop sequence compared with monoculture soybean. However, a negative effect of crop rotations was detected on the protein content of soybean compared with the monoculture soybean, while a positive effect was detected on oil content. Additionally, no differences were detected in crop yield between biochar-based fertilization and mineral fertilization treatments, but a significant positive effect of biochar-based fertilization was observed for any crop on both protein and oil content. A significant effect of crop rotation was found on the percentage of total soil N (TN), available soil N (AN), and available soil K (AK) content. The SSS crop sequence treatment illustrated the highest TN values at 0.18%. The CCC crop sequence treatment increased AN and AK content by 9.1% and 7.8%, respectively, compared with SSS (p < 0.05). We conclude that crop rotations increase crop yield and biochar-based fertilizer application, improving crop quality traits in the long term. Thus, the addition of biochar-based fertilizer could efficiently enhance the yield and quality of crop in the rotation cropping system. The findings of this study may provide useful information for designing sustainable cropping systems based on rotations.
High-Altitude Stress Orchestrates mRNA Expression and Alternative Splicing of Ovarian Follicle Development Genes in Tibetan Sheep
Authors: Li Wenhao , Zeng Weike , Jin Xiayang , Xu Huiming , Fang Xingyan , Ma Zhijie , Cao Gangjian , Li Ruizhe , Ma Liuyin
Published: October 2022

High-altitude stress threatens the survival rate of Tibetan sheep and reduces their fertility. However, the molecular basis of this phenomenon remains elusive. Here, we used RNA-seq to elucidate the transcriptome dynamics of high-altitude stress in Tibetan sheep ovaries. In total, 104 genes were characterized as high-altitude stress-related differentially expressed genes (DEGs). In addition, 36 DEGs contributed to ovarian follicle development, and 28 of them were downregulated under high-altitude stress. In particular, high-altitude stress significantly suppressed the expression of two ovarian lymphatic system marker genes: LYVE1 and ADAMTS-1. Network analysis revealed that luteinizing hormone (LH)/follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) signaling-related genes, such as EGR1, FKBP5, DUSP1, and FOS, were central regulators in the DEG network, and these genes were also suppressed under high-altitude stress. As a post-transcriptional regulation mechanism, alternative splicing (AS) is ubiquitous in Tibetan sheep. High-altitude stress induced 917 differentially alternative splicing (DAS) events. High-altitude stress modulated DAS in an AS-type-specific manner: suppressing skipped exon events but increasing retained intron events. C2H2-type zinc finger transcription factors and RNA processing factors were mainly enriched in DAS. These findings revealed high-altitude stress repressed ovarian development by suppressing the gene expression of LH/FSH hormone signaling genes and inducing intron retention of C2H2-type zinc finger transcription factors.
Determination of the Heavy Metal Bioaccumulation Patterns in Muscles of Two Species of Mullets from the Southern Caspian Sea
Authors: Bakhshalizadeh Shima , Mora-Medina Rafael , Fazio Francesco , Parrino Vincenzo , Ayala-Soldado Nahúm
Published: October 2022

Although fish is a food that supplies nutrients of a high biological value, they can also be a source of some harmful substances, such as heavy metals. In the same context, some human activities in the Caspian Sea have contaminated this ecosystem during the past few years. For those reasons, our objective consisted of determining the concentrations of heavy metals and evaluating their bioaccumulation patterns in the different types of musculature in two species of mullets of commercial interest, Chelon auratus and Chelon saliens, from the southern coast of this sea. For this purpose, 20 C. auratus and 29 C. saliens were caught off this coastline and the metal concentrations in 3 different muscle locations were analyzed: the ventral, dorsal and caudal muscles of each fish. The caudal muscle had higher concentrations of Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn, whereas As, Hg and Ni accumulation seemed to be independent of the musculature type. Overall, the Cd, Hg, and Pb concentrations exceeded the maximum levels permitted in fish by the European Union. In addition, the relationships between pairs of metals were positive and elevated in all the cases, which could be a sign of heavy metal pollution in the region sampled. Therefore, it will be necessary to continue monitoring and evaluating the degree of pollution in the Caspian Sea.
Dam (Canis familiaris) Welfare throughout the Peri-Parturient Period in Commercial Breeding Kennels
Authors: Romaniuk Aynsley C. , Barnard Shanis , Weller Jennifer E. , Weng Hsin-Yi , Dangoudoubiyam Sriveny , Croney Candace
Published: October 2022

Poor dam welfare throughout the peri-parturient period can also negatively affect that of their offspring. This study aimed to identify changes in physical, physiological, and behavioral metrics indicative of dam welfare throughout the peri-parturient period. Dams (n = 74) from eight U.S. Midwest commercial breeding (CB) kennels were tested at 6 and 1 week prepartum, and 4 and 8 weeks postpartum. At each time point dams underwent a stranger approach test, physical health assessment, hair collection for hair cortisol concentration (HCC) and fecal collection for fecal glucocorticoid metabolites (FGM), fecal secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA) and parasite detection. Linear mixed-effects models indicated dams exhibited more affiliative behaviors towards the stranger at 4 weeks postpartum than 6 weeks prepartum (p = 0.03), increased HCC from 4-weeks to 8 weeks postpartum (p = 0.02), and increased FGM from 1 week prepartum to 8 weeks postpartum (p = 0.04). At each respective time point, the percentage of dams with intestinal parasites was 11%, 4%, 23%, and 15%. Most changes are likely due to increased energy requirements and hormonal variations. However, deviations from expected changes may have resulted from changes in environment and/ or management, which should be explored in future studies.
Specific Gene Duplication and Loss of Cytochrome P450 in Families 1-3 in Carnivora (Mammalia, Laurasiatheria)
Authors: Kondo Mitsuki , Ikenaka Yoshinori , Nakayama Shouta M. M. , Kawai Yusuke K. , Ishizuka Mayumi
Published: October 2022

Cytochrome P450s are among the most important xenobiotic metabolism enzymes that catalyze the metabolism of a wide range of chemicals. Through duplication and loss events, CYPs have created their original feature of detoxification in each mammal. We performed a comprehensive genomic analysis to reveal the evolutionary features of the main xenobiotic metabolizing family: the CYP1-3 families in Carnivora. We found specific gene expansion of CYP2Cs and CYP3As in omnivorous animals, such as the brown bear, the black bear, the dog, and the badger, revealing their daily phytochemical intake as providing the causes of their evolutionary adaptation. Further phylogenetic analysis of CYP2Cs revealed Carnivora CYP2Cs were divided into CYP2C21, 2C41, and 2C23 orthologs. Additionally, CYP3As phylogeny also revealed the 3As’ evolution was completely different to that of the Caniformia and Feliformia taxa. These studies provide us with fundamental genetic and evolutionary information on CYPs in Carnivora, which is essential for the appropriate interpretation and extrapolation of pharmacokinetics or toxicokinetic data from experimental mammals to wild Carnivora.
A Comparison between Vitamin D3 and 25-Hydroxyvitamin D3 on Laying Performance, Eggshell Quality and Ultrastructure, and Plasma Calcium Levels in Late Period Laying Hens
Authors: Jing Xiaoqing , Wang Yiwei , Song Fulong , Xu Xianfeng , Liu Mingkang , Wei Yu , Zhu Huiling , Liu Yulan , Wei Jintao , Xu Xiao
Published: October 2022

The objective of this study was to compare high supplementary doses (125 µg/kg) of vitamin D3 (VD3) or 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 (25-OHD3) with commercial supplementary doses (62.5 µg/kg) of VD3 on laying performance, eggshell quality and ultrastructure, and plasma calcium levels in late period laying hens. A total of 1512 Roman Gray (60-week-old) laying hens were allotted into three treatments with 12 replicates and 42 birds in each replicate. During the 12-week trial period, the layers were fed a basal diet supplemented with different doses of VD3 or 25-OHD3 (62.5 µg/kg VD3 in control group, CON; 125 µg/kg VD3 in high level VD3 group, VD3; 125 µg/kg 25-OHD3 in high level 25-OHD3 group, 25-OHD3). The results showed that high supplementary doses of VD3 or 25-OHD3 increased laying rate (p < 0.05). Moreover, the layers fed high doses of VD3 or 25-OHD3 diets had decreased unqualified egg rate and mortality (p < 0.05). High supplementary doses of VD3 or 25-OHD3 increased eggshell strength and eggshell thickness (p < 0.05). From observation in eggshell ultrastructure, high doses of VD3 or 25-OHD3 diets increased the palisade layer thickness and mammillary knob density (p < 0.05). Furthermore, high doses of VD3 or 25-OHD3 diets increased the calcium levels in plasma (p < 0.05). In summary, compared with 62.5 µg/kg doses of VD3, supplementary 125 µg/kg doses of VD3 or 25-OHD3 improved the laying performance, eggshell quality, and plasma calcium levels in late period laying hens. Additionally, there was an equal effect on laying performance and eggshell quality in the hens fed dietary 125 µg/kg doses of VD3 or 25-OHD3.