bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A User Manual to Measure Gas Diffusion Kinetics in Plants: Pneumatron Construction, Operation, and Data Analysis
Authors: Trabi Christophe L. , Pereira Luciano , Guan Xinyi , Miranda Marcela T. , Bittencourt Paulo R. L. , Oliveira Rafael S. , Ribeiro Rafael V. , Jansen Steven
Published: June 2021

The Pneumatron device measures gas diffusion kinetics in the xylem of plants. The device provides an easy, low-cost, and powerful tool for research on plant water relations and gas exchange. Here, we describe in detail how to construct and operate this device to estimate embolism resistance of angiosperm xylem, and how to analyse pneumatic data. Simple and more elaborated ways of constructing a Pneumatron are shown, either using wires, a breadboard, or a printed circuit board. The instrument is based on an open-source hardware and software system, which allows users to operate it in an automated or semi-automated way. A step-by-step manual and a troubleshooting section are provided. An excel spreadsheet and an R-script are also presented for fast and easy data analysis. This manual aims at helping users to avoid common mistakes, such as unstable measurements of the minimum and maximum amount of gas discharged from xylem tissue, which has major consequences for estimating embolism resistance. Major advantages of the Pneumatron device include its automated and accurate measurements of gas diffusion rates, including highly precise measurements of the gas volume in intact, embolised conduits. It is currently unclear if the method can also be applied to woody monocots, gymnosperm species that possess torus-margo pit membranes, or to herbaceous species.
Proteomic Analysis of Generative and Vegetative Nuclei Reveals Molecular Characteristics of Pollen Cell Differentiation in Lily
Authors: You Chen , Zhang YuPing , Yang ShaoYu , Wang Xu , Yao Wen , Jin WeiHuan , Wang Wei , Hu XiuLi , Yang Hao
Published: June 2021

In plants, the cell fates of a vegetative cell (VC) and generative cell (GC) are determined after the asymmetric division of the haploid microspore. The VC exits the cell cycle and grows a pollen tube, while the GC undergoes further mitosis to produce two sperm cells for double fertilization. However, our understanding of the mechanisms underlying their fate differentiation remains limited. One major advantage of the nuclear proteome analysis is that it is the only method currently able to uncover the systemic differences between VC and GC due to GC being engulfed within the cytoplasm of VC, limiting the use of transcriptome. Here, we obtained pure preparations of the vegetative cell nuclei (VNs) and generative cell nuclei (GNs) from germinating lily pollens. Utilizing these high-purity VNs and GNs, we compared the differential nucleoproteins between them using state-of-the-art quantitative proteomic techniques. We identified 720 different amount proteins (DAPs) and grouped the results in 11 fate differentiation categories. Among them, we identified 29 transcription factors (TFs) and 10 cell fate determinants. Significant differences were found in the molecular activities of vegetative and reproductive nuclei. The TFs in VN mainly participate in pollen tube development. In comparison, the TFs in GN are mainly involved in cell differentiation and male gametogenesis. The identified novel TFs may play an important role in cell fate differentiation. Our data also indicate differences in nuclear pore complexes and epigenetic modifications: more nucleoporins synthesized in VN; more histone variants and chaperones; and structural maintenance of chromosome (SMC) proteins, chromatin remodelers, and DNA methylation-related proteins expressed in GN. The VC has active macromolecular metabolism and mRNA processing, while GC has active nucleic acid metabolism and translation. Moreover, the members of unfolded protein response (UPR) and programmed cell death accumulate in VN, and DNA damage repair is active in GN. Differences in the stress response of DAPs in VN vs. GN were also found. This study provides a further understanding of pollen cell differentiation mechanisms and also a sound basis for future studies of the molecular mechanisms behind cell fate differentiation.
Floral Induction of Longan (Dimocarpus longan) by Potassium Chlorate: Application, Mechanism, and Future Perspectives
Authors: Huang Shilian , Han Dongmei , Wang Jing , Guo Dongliang , Li Jianguang
Published: June 2021

Longan (Dimocarpus longan L.) is one of the most important tropical and subtropical fruits in the world. Longan fruit has high nutritional and medical value, and is regarded as a treasure among fruits. Since it was first reported that potassium chlorate (KClO3) could be successfully applied to promote flowering in longan, this compound has been widely used in the production of on-season and off-season longan fruits. KClO3 has thus played a great role in promoting the development of the longan industry. In this review, we summarize the application methods, influencing factors, and physiological and molecular mechanisms associated with KClO3-mediated induction of longan flowering. It can be deduced that leaves may play a crucial role in the transport of and response to KClO3. Leaves supply carbon and nitrogen nutrition, and hormone and signaling molecules needed for the differentiation of apical buds. Moreover, cytokinins may be crucial for KClO3-mediated induction of longan flowering. More effort should be focused on studying the molecular mechanisms underlying this process. This will not only help us to better understand floral induction by KClO3 in longan but also enrich our understanding of flowering regulation mechanisms in woody plants.
Altitudinal Zonation of Green Algae Biodiversity in the French Alps
Authors: Stewart Adeline , Rioux Delphine , Boyer Fréderic , Gielly Ludovic , Pompanon François , Saillard Amélie , Thuiller Wilfried , Valay Jean-Gabriel , Maréchal Eric , Coissac Eric
Published: June 2021

Mountain environments are marked by an altitudinal zonation of habitat types. They are home to a multitude of terrestrial green algae, who have to cope with abiotic conditions specific to high elevation, e.g., high UV irradiance, alternating desiccation, rain and snow precipitations, extreme diurnal variations in temperature and chronic scarceness of nutrients. Even though photosynthetic green algae are primary producers colonizing open areas and potential markers of climate change, their overall biodiversity in the Alps has been poorly studied so far, in particular in soil, where algae have been shown to be key components of microbial communities. Here, we investigated whether the spatial distribution of green algae followed the altitudinal zonation of the Alps, based on the assumption that algae settle in their preferred habitats under the pressure of parameters correlated with elevation. We did so by focusing on selected representative elevational gradients at distant locations in the French Alps, where soil samples were collected at different depths. Soil was considered as either a potential natural habitat or temporary reservoir of algae. We showed that algal DNA represented a relatively low proportion of the overall eukaryotic diversity as measured by a universal Eukaryote marker. We designed two novel green algae metabarcoding markers to amplify theChlorophytaphylum and itsChlorophyceaeclass, respectively. Using our newly developed markers, we showed that elevation was a strong correlate of species and genus level distribution. Altitudinal zonation was thus determined for about fifty species, with proposed accessions in reference databases. In particular,Planophila laetevirensandBracteococcus ruberrelated species as well as the snow algaSanguinagenus were only found in soil starting at 2,000 m above sea level. Analysis of environmental and bioclimatic factors highlighted the importance of pH and nitrogen/carbon ratios in the vertical distribution in soil. Capacity to grow heterotrophically may determine theTrebouxiophyceaeoverChlorophyceaeratio. The intensity of freezing events (freezing degree days), proved also determinant inChlorophyceaedistribution. Guidelines are discussed for future, more robust and precise analyses of environmental algal DNA in mountain ecosystems and address green algae species distribution and dynamics in response to environmental changes.
Cross-Cultural Bayesian Network Analysis of Factors Affecting Residents’ Concerns About the Spread of an Infectious Disease Caused by Tourism
Authors: Glückstad Fumiko Kano , Wiil Uffe Kock , Mansourvar Marjan , Andersen Pernille Tanggaard
Published: June 2021

COVID-19 has had a severe impact globally, and the recovery can be characterized as a tug of war between fast economic recovery and firm control of further virus-spread. To be prepared for future pandemics, public health policy makers should put effort into fully understanding any complex psychological tensions that inherently arise between opposing human factors such as free enjoyment versus self-restriction. As the COVID-19 crisis is an unusual and complex problem, combinations of diverse factors such as health risk perception, knowledge, norms and beliefs, attitudes and behaviors are closely associated with individuals’ intention to enjoy the experience economy but also their concerns that the experience economy will trigger further spread of the infectious diseases. Our aim is to try identifying what factors are associated with their concerns about the spread of the infectious disease caused by the local experience economy. Hence, we have chosen a “data-driven” explanatory approach, “Probabilistic Structural Equational Modeling,” based on the principle of Bayesian networks to analyze data collected from the following four countries with indicated sample sizes: Denmark (1,005), Italy (1,005), China (1,013), and Japan (1,091). Our findings highlight the importance of understanding the contextual differences in relations between the target variable and factors such as personal value priority and knowledge. These factors affect the target variable differently depending on the local severity-level of the infections. Relations between pleasure-seeking via the experience economy and individuals’ anxiety-level about an infectious hotspot seem to differ between East Asians and Europeans who are known to prioritize so-called interpersonal- and independent self-schemes, respectively. Our study also indicates the heterogeneity in the populations, i.e., these relations differ within the respective populations. Another finding shows that the Japanese population is particularly concerned about their local community potentially becoming an infectious hotspot and hence expecting others to comply with their particular social norms. Summarizing, the obtained insights imply the importance of considering both cultural- and individual contexts when policy makers are going to develop measures to address pandemic dilemmas such as maintaining public health awareness and accelerating the recovery of the local experience economy.
Associations Between Depressive Symptoms and Physical Activity Intensity in an Older Adult Population During COVID-19 Lockdown
Authors: Lage Ana , Carrapatoso Susana , Sampaio de Queiroz Neto Elzier , Gomes Sérgio , Soares-Miranda Luísa , Bohn Lucimere
Published: June 2021

Introduction

The COVID-19 pandemic led to the implementation of physical–social distancing measures–including self-isolation, home confinement, and quarantine around the world, with psychological consequences such as depression. Older adults are especially likely to develop depressive symptomatology. This study aims to investigate the association between physical activity intensities and sedentary behavior with depression levels among previously active older adults during the COVID-19 lockdown.

Methods

A total of 1,123 physically active older Brazilian adults (67.68 ± 5.91 years, 91.00% female) were interviewed by telephone in regard to sociodemographic, general health status, depression (GDS-15), and physical activity (IPAQ-SV) after being home-confined for 11.59 ± 2.42 weeks. Participants were also asked to self-report changes in their physical activity levels and time spent sitting. Descriptive statistics (mean, frequencies), between-groups comparisons (t-tests and chi-square), and hierarchical regression analysis were used.

Results

About 83.80% of older adults self-reported a decrease in daily physical activity levels and 73.90% increased sitting time. Overall, depressive symptoms were observed in 30.40, and 20.80% met physical activity recommendations. Daily moderate (β = −0.174; 95% CI = −0.026; -0.012) and moderate-to-vigorous (β = −0.183; 95% CI = −0.023; 0.011) physical activity intensities were negatively associated with depression score explaining 2.6 and 2.9% of depression variability, respectively, after adjusting for age, gender, education level, body mass index, and polypharmacy. Daily walking and sitting time were not associated with the depression score (p > 0.05).

Conclusion

The results provide empiric suggestion supporting moderate to vigorous physical activity as a way to reduce depressive levels among older adults during COVID-19 confinement. Supervised home-based exercise programs, specifically designed for older adults, might be an important strategy to maintain and improve older adults’ mental health.
Narrative Elicitation as Ethnography: Methodological Insights From the Examination of Children's Perspective Marking in Amdo Tibetan
Authors: Ward Shannon M.
Published: June 2021

This paper employs a case study with Amdo Tibetan children to demonstrate the benefits of narrative elicitation for ethnographic language socialization research in under-studied languages. Primarily by examining spontaneous verbal interaction, existing language socialization research has demonstrated how salient grammatical resources shape children's understanding of cultural belief systems pertaining to sociality and the appropriate display of emotion. However, spontaneous data do not always capture children's full linguistic repertoires and competencies, and may therefore present a partial picture of their mastery over particular grammatical systems. One such area that remains to be studied is how children use interactional cues to build their emerging knowledge of grammatical perspective marking in Tibetan languages. This paper integrates narrative elicitation with ethnographic methods from language socialization to examine how Amdo Tibetan children mark perspective using evidentiality, the grammatically-obligatory encoding of knowledge source, an area not frequently documented in language socialization studies. Language socialization research involved 15-months of participant observation, audio-video recording, and analysis of spontaneous interactions with children aged 1–4. This ethnographic research found that adults' narratives highlighted local theories about the importance of compassion (Tib.snying rje) by using grammatical evidentiality to emphasize characters' direct experiences in the story-world. However, grammatical evidentiality was under-represented in children's spontaneous talk. To provide further insight into children's mastery of evidentiality in this culturally salient communicative genre, I conducted narrative elicitation tasks with seven Amdo Tibetan children, aged 2–7. By framing narrative elicitation tasks as forums for social interaction in family homes, I adapted a method traditionally used in experimentation to complement the study of naturalistic interaction. Interaction analysis of the elicited narratives found that family members positioned young children as novice narrators, leading to dialogic rather than monologic narratives. Young children co-constructed shared perspectives on narrated events, and used evidentiality in conventionalized ways by mirroring the grammatical forms of adults' previous utterances. By adapting narrative elicitation tasks to language socialization's ethnographic methods, this paper models how qualitative researchers can locate patterns in children's experiences of language across complementary settings of data collection, an endeavor that is particularly important to research with child speakers of under-documented languages.
Dimensionality and Measurement Invariance of the State-Trait Inventory for Cognitive and Somatic Anxiety (STICSA) and Validity Comparison With Measures of Negative Emotionality
Authors: Tindall Isabeau K. , Curtis Guy J. , Locke Vance
Published: June 2021

This study explored the factor structure of the State-Trait Inventory for Cognitive and Somatic Anxiety (STICSA) and measurement invariance between genders. We also measured concurrent and divergent validity of the STICSA as compared to the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). A sample of 1064 (N Females = 855) participants completed questionnaires, including measures of anxiety, depression, stress, positive and negative affect. Confirmatory factor analyses supported the original factor structure of the STICSA, which was invariant between genders. Overall, the STICSA had superior concurrent and divergent validity as compared to the STAI. The somatic subscales were also significantly less correlated with depression, and positive and negative affect. Further, the somatic, as compared to cognitive anxiety STICSA subscales were less correlated with depression. This suggests that the STICSA, especially the somatic anxiety subscales, might hold the key to distinguishing between different types of anxiety, as well as between anxiety and depression.
Narrative Tensions in Strained Junior Elite Performers’ Experiences of Becoming Elite Performers
Authors: Haraldsen Heidi M. , Abrahamsen Frank E. , Solstad Bård Erlend , Halvari Hallgeir
Published: June 2021

Contextualized within narrative theory and the field of talent identification and development systems (TIDS), this interview study examined strained junior elite performers’ experiences of becoming elite performers while participating in prestigious national TIDS. The study explored how junior elite performers perceive and negotiate their personal narratives of becoming within a cultural master narrative of being. The focus is on how the quality of person-environment interaction, characterized by narrative alignment or tensions, relates to perceptions of identity, agency, and physical and mental health. We purposefully recruited eight participants (Mage = 17.31, SD = 0.9) from a previously published study, who reported experiencing suboptimal psychological functioning compared with their peers to explore narrative tensions in their storylines. The data were collected through semi-structured interviews and examined, using narrative analysis. We identified “the performance narrative” as the dominating cultural narrative within the TIDS and three distinct personal narratives of negotiation with unique characteristics: obsessive and externally driven alignment – “striving to stay at the top of the game”; tensions – “just hanging in there”; and disruption from alignment – “when the going gets tough.” The results indicated that tensions and lack of alignment between the dominating cultural narrative and the individual narrative seem to increase the risk of experiencing identity challenges, suboptimal functioning, and aspects of ill-being. The study offers critical reflections on the dominating performance narrative within TIDS and additionally suggests an alternative athlete-centered and more holistic approach that combines both personal and performance developments.
The Complexity and Phylogenetic Continuity of Laughter and Smiles in Hominids
Authors: Davila-Ross Marina , Dezecache Guillaume
Published: June 2021

Laughter and smiles are often, but not always, associated with positive affect. These expressions of humans help to promote social relationships as well as the development of cognitive and socio-emotional skills and they may have a positive impact on health and well-being, hereby covering a selection of fitness-relevant benefits. Both laughter and smiles of positive affect also occur early in human development and across cultures, suggesting deep roots in human biology. The present work provides an evolutionary reconstruction of the evolution of human laughter and smiles of positive affect in form and function, based on the principle of maximum parsimony. According to the Complexity and Continuity Hypothesis, human laughter and smiles of positive affect must have evolved within the context of play from ancestral species. Furthermore, ancestral ape laughter and their open-mouth faces must already have been complex in form and function and changed over time via categorically different phylogenetic pathways to become characteristic, effective, and pervasive behaviors of everyday social interactions in humans.
The Bright Side of Social Media: Social Media Platforms Adoption and Start-Up Sustainability
Authors: Mujahid Muhammad Saeed , Mubarik Muhammad Shujaat
Published: June 2021

This study aims to explicate the contribution of social media platforms adoption on start-up sustainability. Since most economies of the world start-up failure rate are relatively high, there is always a desire or a need to investigate the success recipe. As a result, the primary objective of this study is to understand the social media environment and how start-ups can best utilize social media platforms throughout their life cycle. Based on the qualitative case study approach, five in-depth interviews of social media marketers and individuals working in start-ups were conducted. The finding demonstrates that social media is a crucial virtual platform for striving resource start-ups. Therefore, if a platform gets utilized correctly, it can play an essential role in the sustainable progression of a start-up. Thus, there is a need for start-ups to articulate a comprehensive social media policy for each life cycle stage.
Decline in Emotional Face Recognition Among Elderly People May Reflect Mild Cognitive Impairment
Authors: Ochi Ryuta , Midorikawa Akira
Published: June 2021

Background

As with cognitive function, the ability to recognize emotions changes with age. In the literature regarding the relationship between recognition of emotion and cognitive function during aging, the effects of predictors such as aging, emotional state, and cognitive domains on emotion recognition are unclear. This study was performed to clarify the cognitive functions underlying recognition of emotional facial expressions, and to evaluate the effects of depressive mood on recognition of emotion in elderly subjects, as well as to reproduce the effects of aging on the recognition of emotional facial expressions.

Materials and Methods

A total of 26 young (mean age = 20.9 years) and 30 elderly subjects (71.6 years) participated in the study. All subjects participated in face perception, face matching, emotion matching, and emotion selection tasks. In addition, elderly subjects were administered a multicomponent cognitive test: the Neurobehavioral Cognitive Status Examination (Cognistat) and the Geriatric Depression Scale-Short Version. We analyzed these factors using multiple linear regression.

Results

There were no significant differences between the two groups in the face perception task, but in the face matching, emotion matching, and emotion selection tasks, elderly subjects showed significantly poorer performance. Among elderly subjects, multiple regression analyses showed that performance on the emotion matching task was predicted by age, emotional status, and cognitive function, but paradoxical relationships were observed between recognition of emotional faces and some verbal functions. In addition, 47% of elderly participants showed cognitive decline in one or more domains, although all of them had total Cognistat scores above the cutoff.

Conclusion

It might be crucial to consider preclinical pathological changes such as mild cognitive impairment when testing for age effects in elderly populations.
Development of Abstract Word Knowledge
Authors: Reggin Lorraine D. , Muraki Emiko J. , Pexman Penny M.
Published: June 2021

The development of children’s word knowledge is an important testing ground for the embodied account of word meaning, which proposes that word meanings are grounded in sensorimotor systems. Acquisition of abstract words, in particular, is a noted challenge for strong accounts of embodiment. We examined acquisition of abstract word meanings, using data on development of vocabulary knowledge from early school to University ages. We tested two specific proposals for how abstract words are learned: the affective embodiment account, that emotional experience is key to learning abstract word meanings, and the learning through language proposal, that abstract words are acquired through language experience. We found support for the affective embodiment account: word valence, interoception, and mouth action all facilitated abstract word acquisition more than concrete word acquisition. We tested the learning through language proposal by investigating whether words that appear in more diverse linguistic contexts are earlier acquired. Results showed that contextual diversity facilitated vocabulary acquisition, but did so for both abstract and concrete words. Our results provide evidence that emotion and sensorimotor systems are important to children’s acquisition of abstract words, but there is still considerable variance to be accounted for by other factors. We offer suggestions for future research to examine the acquisition of abstract vocabulary.
Serum Lipid Levels and Suicide Attempts Within 2 Weeks in Patients With Major Depressive Disorder: Is There a Relationship?
Authors: Zhou Siyao , Zhao Ke , Shi Xiang , Sun Huankun , Du Siyu , Miao Xuemeng , Chen Jianjun , Yang Fan , Xing Minzhi , Ran Wang , Lao Jiaying , Zhang Xiangyang , Wang Wei , Tang Wei
Published: June 2021

The potential correlation between serum lipid profiles and suicidal tendencies has been previously reported, however, it is unclear whether serum lipid profiles have definite relevance to recently attempted suicides in individuals suffering from major depressive disorder (MDD). In this study, the relationship between blood lipids and suicide attempts in first-episode MDD patients in research were used to examine whether there is a connection. The cross-sectional study recruited 580 patients at the time of their first episode, measuring up to the diagnostic standard of MDD. Baseline demographic, clinical data, and blood lipid level data were collected. Depression severity was measured with the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD). Our results revealed that the level of TC may be identified as a promising and effective biomarker for first-episode MDD suicide risk, suggesting that screening of serum lipid profiles in depressive patients is essential for suicide prevention.
Does Bright Light Counteract the Post-lunch Dip in Subjective States and Cognitive Performance Among Undergraduate Students?
Authors: Zhou Ying , Chen Qingwei , Luo Xue , Li Le , Ru Taotao , Zhou Guofu
Published: June 2021

The post-lunch dip in alertness and performance was widely experienced during the early afternoon. Taking a short nap was documented as a practical strategy for habitual nappers to counteract the decline of alertness and performance. Yet, it remains unknown whether bright light exposure in the early afternoon working hours could alleviate the performance deficits caused by a post-lunch nap loss for habitual nappers. Seventeen undergraduate students who had a long-term habit of taking a post-lunch nap were assigned to three interventions: (1) a short nap + normal indoor light (100 lx, 4,000 K at eye level); (2) no nap + normal indoor light, and (3) no nap + blue-enriched bright light (1,000 lx, 6,500 K at eye level), in which subjective alertness (Karolinska Sleepiness Scale, KSS), mood (Positive and Negative Affect Schedule, PANAS), and task performance in sustained attention (psychomotor vigilance test, PVT), response inhibition (go/no-go task), and working memory (paced visual serial addition test, PVSAT) were measured. Results showed that a post-lunch nap deprivation significantly increased subjective sleepiness and negative mood and impaired performance in PVT and PVSAT, while exposure to bright blue-enriched white light vs. normal indoor light in the early afternoon significantly relieved such negative effects on mood, sleepiness, and performance in PVSAT; subjective positive mood and performance in PVT and go/no-go task remained unaffected with light intervention. These findings suggested that bright blue-enriched white light exposure could be a potential strategy for those who are suffering from drowsiness and low working memory following a habitual midday nap loss.
Monitoring Coronavirus Disease 2019: A Review of Available Diagnostic Tools
Authors: Liu Shanshan , Li Qiuyue , Chu Xuntao , Zeng Minxia , Liu Mingbin , He Xiaomeng , Zou Heng , Zheng Jianghua , Corpe Christopher , Zhang Xiaoyan , Xu Jianqing , Wang Jin
Published: June 2021

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pneumonia is caused by the virus severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and has rapidly become a global public health concern. As the new type of betacoronavirus, SARS-CoV-2 can spread across species and between populations and has a greater risk of transmission than other coronaviruses. To control the spread of SARS-CoV-2, it is vital to have a rapid and effective means of diagnosing asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2-positive individuals and patients with COVID-19, an early isolation protocol for infected individuals, and effective treatments for patients with COVID-19 pneumonia. In this review, we will summarize the novel diagnostic tools that are currently available for coronavirus, including imaging examinations and laboratory medicine by next-generation sequencing (NGS), real-time reverse transcriptase–polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR) analysis, immunoassay for COVID-19, cytokine and T cell immunoassays, biochemistry and microbiology laboratory parameters in the blood of the patients with COVID-19, and a field-effect transistor-based biosensor of COVID-19. Specifically, we will discuss the effective detection rate and assay time for the rRT-PCR analysis of SARS-CoV-2 and the sensitivity and specificity of different antibody detection methods, such as colloidal gold and ELISA using specimen sources obtained from the respiratory tract, peripheral serum or plasma, and other bodily fluids. Such diagnostics will help scientists and clinicians develop appropriate strategies to combat COVID-19.
Spatial Characterization of Urban Vitality and the Association With Various Street Network Metrics From the Multi-Scalar Perspective
Authors: Fang Chuanglin , He Sanwei , Wang Lei
Published: June 2021

In the context of rapid urbanization in developing countries, the spatial organization of cities has been progressively restructured over the past decades. However, little has been done to understand how the physical expansion affected the reorganization of socioeconomic spaces in cities. This study explores the association between various street network metrics and urban vitality and how it changes across different scales using geographic big data through a case study of Wuhan, China. Urban vitality is characterized by four components: concentration, accessibility, livability, and diversity. The new technique of spatial design network analysis (sDNA) is employed to characterize street network metrics, including connectivity, closeness, betweenness, severance, and efficiency, with 16 localized network variables. Furthermore, the stratified spatial heterogeneity between street network metrics at multiple scales and the four components of urban vitality is investigated using the Geodetector tool. First, concentration, accessibility, and diversity decline with distance from the urban center, whereas livability has a fluctuating upward trend with distance from the urban core. Second, the correlation between street network characteristics and urban vitality is sensitive to different spatial scales. Third, connectivity explains the largest amount of the variance in urban vitality (over 40%), while both betweenness and closeness explain roughly 28% of urban vitality. Efficiency and severance contribute 22 and 10% to the spatial heterogeneity of urban vitality, respectively. The study sheds light on the mechanisms between street configurations and urban vitality from the multi-scalar perspective. Some implications are provided for the improvement of the streets' urban vitality.
Adoptive Natural Killer Cell Immunotherapy for Canine Osteosarcoma
Authors: Kisseberth William C. , Lee Dean A.
Published: June 2021

Osteosarcoma is the most common primary bone tumor in both humans and dogs. It is a highly metastatic cancer and therapy has not improved significantly since the inclusion of adjuvant chemotherapy into disease treatment strategies. Osteosarcoma is an immunogenic tumor, and thus development of immunotherapies for its treatment, especially treatment of microscopic pulmonary metastases might improve outcomes. NK cells are lymphocytes of the innate immune system and can recognize a variety of stressed cells, including cancer cells, in the absence of major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-restricted receptor ligand interactions. NK cells have a role in controlling tumor progression and metastasis and are important mediators of different therapeutic interventions. The core hypothesis of adoptive natural killer (NK) cell therapy is there exists a natural defect in innate immunity (a combination of cancer-induced reduction in NK cell numbers and immunosuppressive mechanisms resulting in suppressed function) that can be restored by adoptive transfer of NK cells. Here, we review the rationale for adoptive NK cell immunotherapy, NK cell biology, TGFβ and the immunosuppressive microenvironment in osteosarcoma, manufacturing of ex vivo expanded NK cells for the dog and provide perspective on the present and future clinical applications of adoptive NK cell immunotherapy in spontaneous osteosarcoma and other cancers in the dog.
Antibiotic Usage Pattern in Broiler Chicken Flocks in Germany
Authors: Kasabova Svetlana , Hartmann Maria , Freise Fritjof , Hommerich Katharina , Fischer Stephani , Wilms-Schulze-Kump Andreas , Rohn Karl , Käsbohrer Annemarie , Kreienbrock Lothar
Published: June 2021

In this work, antimicrobial usage data from 2,546 commercial broiler chicken flocks originating from 37 farms are presented. Antimicrobial usage data at the flock level were based on mandatory documentation of antibiotic treatments in livestock in Germany, collected retrospectively for the time period of 2013–2018. The data encompasses all antimicrobial treatments during the fattening period of each flock, starting with the placement of day-old chicks at the barn. The aim of this analysis was to investigate antibiotic usage patterns in broiler chicken flocks in Germany, temporal trends in treatment frequency, the proportions of different antimicrobial classes and the weights of the broiler chickens at the time of treatment. The median treatment frequency over all flocks was six, and veterinary medicinal products belonging to nine different antimicrobial classes were used. Overall, the most frequently used classes were aminoglycosides (25.6%) and lincosamides (25.6%), followed by polypeptides (21.4%) and beta-lactams (16.2%). Over the 6 years evaluated, a considerable increase in the relative usage of lincosamides and aminoglycosides was observed. Compared to the first year of data collection, the percentage of treatments with fluoroquinolones, macrolides and polypeptides decreased in consecutive years. The median age of the broiler chickens at the time of treatment was 5 days, which corresponded to a median body weight at the time of treatment of 111 g, with substantial differences among various antimicrobial classes. We showed that in Germany, the median weight of broiler chickens at the time of treatment was substantially lower than the standard weight of broilers of 1,000 g proposed by the European Surveillance of Veterinary Antimicrobial Consumption. The median weight at treatment is very much influenced by the frequency of age-specific diseases. As different antimicrobial classes are used to combat these diseases, variations in the weight at treatment may have a considerable impact on the estimated treatment indicators. Additionally, a decrease in the relative usage of the highest-priority critically important antimicrobials, such as fluoroquinolones, macrolides and polypeptides, was shown, which might be the consequence of increasing awareness of the antibiotic resistance situation as well as of antibiotic monitoring and benchmarking systems currently running in Germany.
Wide–Narrow Row Planting Pattern Increases Root Lodging Resistance by Adjusting Root Architecture and Root Physiological Activity in Maize (Zea mays L.) in Northeast China
Authors: Liu Shengqun , Jian Shulian , Li Xiangnan , Wang Yang
Published: June 2021

Root lodging (RL) in maize can reduce yield and grain quality. A wide–narrow row planting pattern can increase maize yield in the growing regions of northeastern China, but whether it can improve RL resistance is not clear. Therefore, in this study, the root architecture distribution, root physiological activity, and root lodging rate under planting pattern 1 (uniform ridge of 65 cm, east–west ridge direction) and pattern 2 (wide–narrow rows, 40 double narrow rows and 90 wide rows, north–south ridge direction) were studied. The results showed that the RL rate under pattern 2 was significantly lower than that under pattern 1. The number and diameter of nodal roots on the upper node, the root failure moment, and the root bleeding sap intensity at the 3 weeks after VT under pattern 2 were significantly higher than those under pattern 1. Root length density in the 0–40 cm soil layer tended to be inter-row distributed. Therefore, the RL resistance of maize under pattern 2 was increased through an adjustment in the root architecture distribution and root physiological activity in northeastern China.
Adoption of Improved Mungbean Production Technologies in Selected East African Countries
Authors: Mmbando Frank , Mbeyagala Emmanuel , Binagwa Papias , Karimi Rael , Opie Hellen , Ochieng Justus , Mutuoki Tarcisius , Nair Ramakrishnan Madhavan
Published: June 2021

This study analyzes the factors that influence the probability and extent of the adoption of mungbean production technologies in Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda, using multivariate probit and Poisson regression models. The results show that the probability and extent of the adoption of mungbean production technologies are influenced by gender of the household, household size, farm size, livestock size, household assets, access to extension services and access to credit. The study suggests that policy interventions that aimed at targeting women farmers, increasing household asset and information dissemination, such as field demonstrations and training programs, are crucial in enhancing technology adoption among smallholder farmers.
Cropping Pattern Mapping in an Agro-Natural Heterogeneous Landscape Using Sentinel-2 and Sentinel-1 Satellite Datasets
Authors: Aduvukha Grace Rebecca , Abdel-Rahman Elfatih M. , Sichangi Arthur W. , Makokha Godfrey Ouma , Landmann Tobias , Mudereri Bester Tawona , Tonnang Henri E. Z. , Dubois Thomas
Published: June 2021

The quantity of land covered by various crops in a specific time span, referred to as a cropping pattern, dictates the level of agricultural production. However, retrieval of this information at a landscape scale can be challenging, especially when high spatial resolution imagery is not available. This study hypothesized that utilizing the unique advantages of multi-date and medium spatial resolution freely available Sentinel-2 (S2) reflectance bands (S2 bands), their vegetation indices (VIs) and vegetation phenology (VP) derivatives, and Sentinel-1 (S1) backscatter data would improve cropping pattern mapping in heterogeneous landscapes using robust machine learning algorithms, i.e., the guided regularized random forest (GRRF) for variable selection and the random forest (RF) for classification. This study’s objective was to map cropping patterns within three sub-counties in Murang’a County, a typical African smallholder heterogeneous farming area, in Kenya. Specifically, the performance of eight classification scenarios for mapping cropping patterns was compared, namely: (i) only S2 bands; (ii) S2 bands and VIs; (iii) S2 bands and VP; (iv) S2 bands and S1; (v) S2 bands, VIs, and S1; (vi) S2 bands, VP, and S1; (vii) S2 bands, VIs, and VP; and (viii) S2 bands, VIs, VP, and S1. Reference data of the dominant cropping patterns and non-croplands were collected. The GRRF algorithm was used to select the optimum variables in each scenario, and the RF was used to perform the classification for each scenario. The highest overall accuracy was 94.33% with Kappa of 0.93, attained using the GRRF-selected variables of scenario (v) S2, VIs, and S1. Furthermore, McNemar’s test of significance did not show significant differences (p ≤ 0.05) among the tested scenarios. This study demonstrated the strength of GRRF in selecting the most important variables and the synergetic advantage of S2 and S1 derivatives to accurately map cropping patterns in small-scale farming-dominated landscapes. Consequently, the cropping pattern mapping approach can be used in other sites of relatively similar agro-ecological conditions. Additionally, these results can be used to understand the sustainability of food systems and to model the abundance and spread of crop insect pests, diseases, and pollinators.
Harvester Evaluation Using Real-Time Kinematic GNSS and Hiring Service Model
Authors: Hasan Md. , Tanaka Takashi , Ali Md. , Saha Chayan , Alam Md.
Published: June 2021

To reduce human drudgery and the risk of labor shortages in the Asian developing countries, the appropriate introduction of agricultural machinery, especially combine harvesters, is an urgent task. Custom hiring services (CHSs) are expected to contribute to making paddy harvesters prevalent in developing countries; however, the economic performance has been rarely quantified. The study was carried out to precisely evaluate the machine performance attributes of medium and large combine harvesters using the real-time kinematic (RTK) global navigation satellite system (GNSS) and to estimate the economic performance of CHSs of paddy harvesters in Japan, as a typical case of Asian countries. The financial profitability was evaluated by four major indicators: net present value, benefit–cost ratio, internal rate of return, and payback period. The financial indicators showed that both types of harvester could be considered financially viable. Thus, the investment in combine harvesters can be highly profitable for CHS business by a local service provider and custom-hire entrepreneur, providing a great opportunity to use a combine harvester without initial investment by general farmers. The findings demonstrated the high feasibility of CHSs of paddy harvesters in Japan, while they highlighted that further study is needed to estimate the feasibility of CHS in the other Asian developing countries.
The Pen Is Milder Than the Blade: Identification Marking Mice Using Ink on the Tail Appears More Humane Than Ear-Punching Even with Local Anaesthetic
Authors: Burn Charlotte C. , Mazlan Nur H. B. , Chancellor Natalie , Wells Dominic J.
Published: June 2021

Identification marking mice commonly involves ear-punching with or without anaesthetic, or tail-marking with ink. To identify which is most humane, we marked weanling male BALB/c mice using ear-punching (EP), ear-punching with anaesthetic EMLATM cream (EP+A), or permanent marker pen (MP). We compared marked mice, unmarked cagemates, and control mice (n = 12–13/group) for 5 weeks, reapplying MP weekly. Treatment-blind observations following marking showed that EP and EP+A mice were allogroomed (p < 0.001) and sniffed (p < 0.001) by their cagemates more than MP and control mice were. EP+A mice groomed themselves (p < 0.001) and their ears (p < 0.001) ~5 times more than most other mice; their cagemates also increased self-grooming (p < 0.001). Unmarked MP cagemates (p = 0.001), and possibly EP+A mice (p = 0.034; a nonsignificant trend), grimaced the most. The following day, half the EP+A mice showed hyponeophagia versus no MP and control mice (p = 0.001). Over the 5 weeks, EP mice approached the handler significantly less than unmarked cagemates did (p < 0.001). Across weeks, defecation during marking of MP mice decreased (p < 0.001). Treatment showed no effects on immediate responses during marking, aggression, bodyweight, plus-maze behaviour or corticosterone. MP mice showed no differences from controls, whilst EP and EP+A mice showed altered behaviour, so ink-marking may be the more humane identification method.
Evaluation of the Inclusion of the Green Seaweed Ulva ohnoi as an Ingredient in Feeds for Gilthead Sea Bream (Sparus aurata) and European Sea Bass (Dicentrarchus labrax)
Authors: Martínez-Antequera Francisca P. , Martos-Sitcha Juan A. , Reyna Jose M. , Moyano Francisco J.
Published: June 2021

This study evaluated the use of Ulva ohnoi as an ingredient in feeds for aquaculture in three different experiments. Experiment 1 was oriented to confirm the negative effect of U. ohnoi on fish digestion. Experiment 2 assessed the effect on growth, feed efficiency, and immune status of juvenile sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) fed on diets including U. ohnoi, previously treated or not with carbohydrases used to partially hydrolyze indigestible polysaccharides. Experiment 3 was aimed to evaluate the potential protective effect of U. ohnoi on the oxidative status of sea bream (Sparus aurata) challenged by the consumption of a feed formulated with the oil fraction completely oxidized. Results show a negligible effect of U. ohnoi meal on protein digestion when included in feeds at levels of 10% or less. Moreover, results of growth and feed use evidenced the possibility of using up to 5% inclusion of algal meal in feeds without adverse effects on the zootechnical parameters, while the enzyme pretreatment was ineffective to improve its nutritional use. Finally, the inclusion of U. onhoi in feeds determined both an immunostimulatory effect, evidenced by an increase in skin mucus lysozyme in the two mentioned fish species, and a positive influence on the oxidative metabolism of seabream when fed on a diet including rancid oil.
Antimicrobial Resistance in Pasteurellaceae Isolates from Pyrenean Chamois (Rupicapra pyrenaica) and Domestic Sheep in an Alpine Ecosystem
Authors: Torres-Blas Irene , Fernández Aguilar Xavier , Cabezón Oscar , Aragon Virginia , Migura-García Lourdes
Published: June 2021

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has spread worldwide due to the inappropriate use of antimicrobial drugs in human and veterinary medicine, becoming a public health problem. However, little is known about its occurrence and maintenance in wild animals, and very few studies have been carried out in ecosystems subjected to low human pressure. In our study, nasal and lung swabs were collected from hunted Pyrenean chamois (Rupicapra pyrenaica), and nasal swabs from sympatric domestic sheep were also collected. The swabs were cultured in agar plates to obtain bacterial isolates from the Pasteurellaceae family. The presence of AMR was assessed in a total of 28 Pasteurellaceae isolates from 45 Pyrenean chamois, and 9 isolates from sympatric domestic sheep found in the National Hunting Reserve of Freser-Setcases (Northeastern Pyrenees, Spain). The isolates belonged to one of the following three species: Pasteurella multocida, Mannheimia haemolytica and Bibersteinia trehalosi. Some P. multocida and M. haemolytica isolates tested positive for AMR. The statistical analysis revealed no differences between the AMR levels from chamois and domestic sheep isolates. However, one P. multocida of chamois origin presented resistance to cephalosporins and fluoroquinolones, which are antibiotics of critical importance for human health. Further studies are required to elucidate potential routes of dissemination of AMR genes in natural environments and assess any significant persistence in wildlife to design risk mitigation actions.