bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Sole microbiome progression in a hatchery life cycle, from egg to juvenile
Authors: Almeida Diana Bastos , Semedo Miguel , Magalhães Catarina , Blanquet Isidro , Mucha Ana Paula
Published: June 2023

Recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) pose unique challenges in microbial community management since they rely on a stable community with key target groups, both in the RAS environment and in the host (in this case,Solea senegalensis). Our goal was to determine how much of the sole microbiome is inherited from the egg stage, and how much is acquired during the remainder of the sole life cycle in an aquaculture production batch, especially regarding potentially probiotic and pathogenic groups. Our work comprises sole tissue samples from 2 days before hatching and up to 146 days after hatching (−2 to 146 DAH), encompassing the egg, larval, weaning, and pre-ongrowing stages. Total DNA was isolated from the different sole tissues, as well as from live feed introduced in the first stages, and 16S rRNA gene was sequenced (V6-V8 region) using the Illumina MiSeq platform. The output was analysed with the DADA2 pipeline, and taxonomic attribution with SILVAngs version 138.1. Using the Bray–Curtis dissimilarity index, both age and life cycle stage appeared to be drivers of bacterial community dissimilarity. To try to distinguish the inherited (present since the egg stage) from the acquired community (detected at later stages), different tissues were analysed at 49, 119 and 146 DAH (gill, intestine, fin and mucus). Only a few genera were inherited, but those that were inherited accompany the sole microbiome throughout the life cycle. Two genera of potentially probiotic bacteria (BacillusandEnterococcus) were already present in the eggs, while others were acquired later, in particularly, forty days after live feed was introduced. The potentially pathogenic generaTenacibaculumandVibriowere inherited from the eggs, whilePhotobacteriumandMycobacteriumseemed to be acquired at 49 and 119 DAH, respectively. Significant co-occurrence was found betweenTenacibaculumand bothPhotobacteriumandVibrio. On the other hand, significantly negative correlations were detected betweenVibrioandStreptococcus,Bacillus,LimosilactobacillusandGardnerella. Our work reinforces the importance of life cycle studies, which can contribute to improve production husbandry strategies. However, we still need more information on this topic as repetition of patterns in different settings is essential to confirm our findings.
Analyses of m6A regulatory genes and subtype classification in atrial fibrillation
Authors: Zhao Yingliang , Che Yanyun , Liu Qiming , Zhou Shenghua , Xiao Yichao
Published: June 2023

Objective

To explore the role of m6A regulatory genes in atrial fibrillation (AF), we classified atrial fibrillation patients into subtypes by two genotyping methods associated with m6A regulatory genes and explored their clinical significance.

Methods

We downloaded datasets from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. The m6A regulatory gene expression levels were extracted. We constructed and compared random forest (RF) and support vector machine (SVM) models. Feature genes were selected to develop a nomogram model with the superior model. We identified m6A subtypes based on significantly differentially expressed m6A regulatory genes and identified m6A gene subtypes based on m6A-related differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Comprehensive evaluation of the two m6A modification patterns was performed.

Results

The data of 107 samples from three datasets, GSE115574, GSE14975 and GSE41177, were acquired from the GEO database for training models, comprising 65 AF samples and 42 sinus rhythm (SR) samples. The data of 26 samples from dataset GSE79768 comprising 14 AF samples and 12 SR samples were acquired from the GEO database for external validation. The expression levels of 23 regulatory genes of m6A were extracted. There were correlations among the m6A readers, erasers, and writers. Five feature m6A regulatory genes, ZC3H13, YTHDF1, HNRNPA2B1, IGFBP2, and IGFBP3, were determined (p < 0.05) to establish a nomogram model that can predict the incidence of atrial fibrillation with the RF model. We identified two m6A subtypes based on the five significant m6A regulatory genes (p < 0.05). Cluster B had a lower immune infiltration of immature dendritic cells than cluster A (p < 0.05). On the basis of six m6A-related DEGs between m6A subtypes (p < 0.05), two m6A gene subtypes were identified. Both cluster A and gene cluster A scored higher than the other clusters in terms of m6A score computed by principal component analysis (PCA) algorithms (p < 0.05). The m6A subtypes and m6A gene subtypes were highly consistent.

Conclusion

The m6A regulatory genes play non-negligible roles in atrial fibrillation. A nomogram model developed by five feature m6A regulatory genes could be used to predict the incidence of atrial fibrillation. Two m6A modification patterns were identified and evaluated comprehensively, which may provide insights into the classification of atrial fibrillation patients and guide treatment.
Dependence of resting-state-based cerebrovascular reactivity (CVR) mapping on spatial resolution
Authors: Liu Peiying , Hu Beini , Kartchner Lincoln , Joshi Parimal , Xu Cuimei , Jiang Dengrong
Published: June 2023

Cerebrovascular reactivity (CVR) is typically assessed with a carbon dioxide (CO2) stimulus combined with BOLD fMRI. Recently, resting-state (RS) BOLD fMRI has been shown capable of generating CVR maps, providing a potential for broader CVR applications in neuroimaging studies. However, prior RS-CVR studies have primarily been performed at a spatial resolution of 3–4 mm voxel sizes. It remains unknown whether RS-CVR can also be obtained at high-resolution without major degradation in image quality. In this study, we investigated RS-CVR mapping based on resting-state BOLD MRI across a range of spatial resolutions in a group of healthy subjects, in an effort to examine the feasibility of RS-CVR measurement at high resolution. Comparing the results of RS-CVR with the maps obtained by the conventional CO2-inhalation method, our results suggested that good CVR map quality can be obtained at a voxel size as small as 2 mm isotropic. Our results also showed that, RS-CVR maps revealed resolution-dependent sensitivity. However, even at a high resolution of 2 mm isotropic voxel size, the voxel-wise sensitivity is still greater than that of typical task-evoked fMRI. Scan duration affected the sensitivity of RS-CVR mapping, but had no significant effect on its accuracy. These findings suggest that RS-CVR mapping can be applied at a similar resolution as state-of-the-art fMRI studies, which will broaden the use of CVR mapping in basic science and clinical applications including retrospective analysis of previously collected fMRI data.
Original research: longitudinal evaluation of cognitively demanding daily function using performance-based functional assessment highlights heterogeneous trajectories in cognitive and functional abilities in people with Parkinson’s disease
Authors: Carlisle Tara C. , Fought Angela J. , Olson Kaitlin E. , Lopez-Esquibel Natalie , Simpson Abigail , Medina Luis D. , Holden Samantha K.
Published: June 2023

Background

Longitudinal assessment of functional abilities in Parkinson’s disease (PD) is needed to determine the efficacy of cognitive interventions in providing meaningful improvements in daily life. Additionally, subtle changes in instrumental activities of daily living may precede a clinical diagnosis of dementia and could aid earlier detection of and intervention for cognitive decline.

Objective

The primary goal was to validate the longitudinal application of the University of California San Diego Performance-Based Skills Assessment (UPSA). An exploratory secondary goal was to determine whether UPSA may identify individuals at higher risk of cognitive decline in PD.

Methods

Seventy participants with PD completed the UPSA with at least one follow-up visit. Linear mixed effects modeling was used to identify associations between baseline UPSA score and cognitive composite score (CCS) over time. Descriptive analysis of four heterogeneous cognitive and functional trajectory groups and individual case examples was performed.

Results

Baseline UPSA score predicted CCS at each timepoint for functionally impaired and unimpaired groups (p < 0.01) but did not predict the rate change in CCS over time (p = 0.83). Participants displayed heterogenous trajectories in both UPSA and CCS during the follow-up period. Most participants maintained both cognitive and functional performance (n = 54), though some displayed cognitive and functional decline (n = 4), cognitive decline with functional maintenance (n = 4), and functional decline with cognitive maintenance (n = 8).

Conclusion

The UPSA is a valid measure of cognitive functional abilities over time in PD. Given the heterogeneity of functional and cognitive trajectories, this performance-based assessment did not predict cognitive decline with this relatively short follow-up. Further work is needed to understand longitudinal functional assessments in PD-associated cognitive impairment.
Synthesis and biological evaluation of hydroxamate isosteres of acidic cannabinoids
Authors: Amin Hawraz Ibrahim M. , Ruiz-Pino Francisco , Collado Juan A. , Appendino Giovanni , Tena-Sempere Manuel , Munoz Eduardo , Caprioglio Diego
Published: June 2023

Despite their early discovery, the bioactivity of acidic cannabinoids was long overlooked. Issues of stability and a pharmacological focus on Δ9-THC and its biological profile combined to relegate the non-narcotic native form of phytocannabinoids to a sort of investigational limbo. Recent studies have disclosed an attractive bioactivity profile for specific acidic phytocannabinoids but concerns about their limited stability have remained substantially unaddressed. To solve this issue, we have developed the hydroxamate derivatives of Δ8-tetrahydrocannabinolic acid-A (Δ8-THCA-AH, 6) and cannabidiolic acid (CBDAH, 5) as novel acidic cannabinoid bioisosteres, and we report here their synthesis and bioactivity profile against specific cannabinoid targets, as well as promising in vivo activity in a murine model of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) associated with obesity.
Head-to-head comparison of 68Ga-FAPI-04 PET/CT and 18F-FDG PET/CT in the evaluation of primary digestive system cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Ouyang Jiqi , Ding Peiwen , Zhang Runshun , Lu Yuexia
Published: June 2023

Introduction

Althoug 18F-FDG positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) is widely accepted as a diagnostic tool for detecting digestive cancers, 68Ga-FAPI-04 PET/CT may perform better in detecting gastrointestinal malignancies at an earlier stage. This study aimed to systematically review the diagnostic performance of 68Ga-FAPI-04 PET/CT compared with that of 18F-FDG PET/CT in primary digestive system cancers.

Methods

In this study, a comprehensive search using the PubMed, EMBASE, and Web of Science databases was performed to identify studies that met the eligibility criteria from the beginning of the databases to March 2023. The quality of the relevant studies with the Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies (QUADAS-2) method was assessed using the RevMan 5.3 software. Sensitivity and specificity were calculated using bivariate random-effects models, and heterogeneity was assessed with the I2 statistic and meta-regression analysis using the R 4.22 software.

Results

A total of 800 publications were identified in the initial search. Finally, 15 studies comprising 383 patients were included in the analysis. The pooled sensitivity and specificity of 68Ga-FAPI-04 PET/CT were 0.98 (95% CI, 0.94–1.00) and 0.81 (95% CI, 0.23–1.00), whereas those of 18F-FDG PET/CT were 0.73 (95% CI, 0.60–0.84) and 0.77 (95% CI, 0.52–0.95), respectively. 68Ga-FAPI-04 PET/CT performed better for specific tumours, particularly in gastric, liver, biliary tract, and pancreatic cancers. Both imaging modalities had essentially the same diagnostic efficacy in colorectal cancer.

Conclusions

68Ga-FAPI-04 PET/CT showed a higher diagnostic ability than 18F-FDG PET/CT in terms of diagnosing primary digestive tract cancers, especially gastric, liver, biliary tract, and pancreatic cancers. The certainty of the evidence was high due to the moderately low risk of bias and low concern regarding applicability. However, the sample size of the included studies was small and heterogeneous. More high-quality prospective studies are needed to obtain higher-quality evidence in the future.

Systematic Review Registration

The systematic review was registered in PROSPERO [CRD42023402892].
Identifying influential nodes in complex contagion mechanism
Authors: Song Jiahui , Wang Gaoxia
Published: June 2023

Identifying influential nodes in complex networks is one of the most important and challenging problems to help optimize the network structure, control the spread of the epidemic and accelerate the spread of information. In a complex network, the node with the strongest propagation capacity is known as the most influential node from the perspective of propagation. In recent years, identifying the key nodes in complex networks has received increasing attention. However, it is still a challenge to design a metric that has low computational complexity but can accurately identify important network nodes. Currently, many centrality metrics used to evaluate the influence capability of nodes cannot balance between high accuracy and low time complexity. Local centrality suffers from accuracy problems, while global metrics require higher time complexity, which is inefficient for large scale networks. In contrast, semi-local metrics are with higher accuracy and lower time cost. In this paper, we propose a new semi-local centrality measure for identifying influential nodes under complex contagion mechanisms. It uses the higher-order structure within the first and second-order neighborhoods of nodes to define the importance of nodes with near linear time complexity, which can be applied to large-scale networks. To verify the accuracy of the proposed metric, we simulated the disease propagation process in four real and two artificial networks using the SI model under complex propagation. The simulation results show that the proposed method can identify the nodes with the strongest propagation ability more effectively and accurately than other current node importance metrics.
An improved YOLOv5s model using feature concatenation with attention mechanism for real-time fruit detection and counting
Authors: Lawal Olarewaju Mubashiru , Zhu Shengyan , Cheng Kui
Published: June 2023

An improved YOLOv5s model was proposed and validated on a new fruit dataset to solve the real-time detection task in a complex environment. With the incorporation of feature concatenation and an attention mechanism into the original YOLOv5s network, the improved YOLOv5s recorded 122 layers, 4.4 × 106 params, 12.8 GFLOPs, and 8.8 MB weight size, which are 45.5%, 30.2%, 14.1%, and 31.3% smaller than the original YOLOv5s, respectively. Meanwhile, the obtained 93.4% of mAP tested on the valid set, 96.0% of mAP tested on the test set, and 74 fps of speed tested on videos using improved YOLOv5s is 0.6%, 0.5%, and 10.4% higher than the original YOLOv5s model, respectively. Using videos, the fruit tracking and counting tested on the improved YOLOv5s observed less missed and incorrect detections compared to the original YOLOv5s. Furthermore, the aggregated detection performance of improved YOLOv5s outperformed the network of GhostYOLOv5s, YOLOv4-tiny, and YOLOv7-tiny, including other mainstream YOLO variants. Therefore, the improved YOLOv5s is lightweight with reduced computation costs, can better generalize against complex conditions, and is applicable for real-time detection in fruit picking robots and low-power devices.
Research on orchard navigation method based on fusion of 3D SLAM and point cloud positioning
Authors: Xia Ye , Lei Xiaohui , Pan Jian , Chen LuWei , Zhang Zhen , Lyu Xiaolan
Published: June 2023

Accurate navigation is crucial in the construction of intelligent orchards, and the need for vehicle navigation accuracy becomes even more important as production is refined. However, traditional navigation methods based on global navigation satellite system (GNSS) and 2D light detection and ranging (LiDAR) can be unreliable in complex scenarios with little sensory information due to tree canopy occlusion. To solve these issues, this paper proposes a 3D LiDAR-based navigation method for trellis orchards. With the use of 3D LiDAR with a 3D simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) algorithm, orchard point cloud information is collected and filtered using the Point Cloud Library (PCL) to extract trellis point clouds as matching targets. In terms of positioning, the real-time position is determined through a reliable method of fusing multiple sensors for positioning, which involves transforming the real-time kinematics (RTK) information into the initial position and doing a normal distribution transformation between the current frame point cloud and the scaffold reference point cloud to match the point cloud position. For path planning, the required vector map is manually planned in the orchard point cloud to specify the path of the roadway, and finally, navigation is achieved through pure path tracking. Field tests have shown that the accuracy of the normal distributions transform (NDT) SLAM method can reach 5 cm in each rank with a coefficient of variation that is less than 2%. Additionally, the navigation system has a high positioning heading accuracy with a deviation within 1° and a standard deviation of less than 0.6° when moving along the path point cloud at a speed of 1.0 m/s in a Y-trellis pear orchard. The lateral positioning deviation was also controlled within 5 cm with a standard deviation of less than 2 cm. This navigation system has a high level of accuracy and can be customized to specific tasks, making it widely applicable in trellis orchards with autonomous navigation pesticide sprayers.
Social comparison of ability and fear of missing out mediate the relationship between subjective well-being and social network site addiction
Authors: Steinberger Philipp , Kim Hyunji
Published: June 2023

As social network sites (SNS) gain more users, the problem of unhealthy user behavior such as SNS addiction arises. We conducted a cross-sectional study (n = 296) on how subjective well-being (SWB) relates to SNS addiction by investigating two possible mediators: social comparison and the fear of missing out (FOMO). While doing so, we tested two distinct associations of social comparison: social comparison of ability (SCA) and social comparison of opinion (SCO). Splitting two components of social comparison is important because, while SCA involves social outcomes often depicted in SNS posts (e.g., performance, material wealth, health, and achievements) that might evoke negative emotions such as FOMO and jealousy, SCO involves presenting or sharing one’s beliefs and values in SNS posts (e.g., arguments, comments, and statements) that might evoke relatively little negative emotions. Our results showed that we replicated previous findings by demonstrating that social comparison and FOMO jointly mediated the relationship between SWB and SNS addiction. More importantly, SCA (together with FOMO), but not SCO, uniquely mediated the relationship between SWB and SNS addiction. Such distinct relations call for future research on identifying specific elements of social comparison contributing to the relation between FOMO and SNS addiction.
Implementation of the Community-based Health Planning and Services (CHPS) in rural and urban Ghana: a history and systematic review of what works, for whom and why
Authors: Elsey Helen , Abboah-Offei Mary , Vidyasagaran Aishwarya Lakshmi , Anaseba Dominic , Wallace Lauren , Nwameme Adanna , Gyasi Akosua , Ayim Andrews , Ansah-Ofei Adelaide , Amedzro Nina , Dovlo Delanyo , Agongo Erasmus , Awoonor-Williams Koku , Agyepong Irene
Published: June 2023

Background

Despite renewed emphasis on strengthening primary health care globally, the sector remains under-resourced across sub–Saharan Africa. Community-based Health Planning and Services (CHPS) has been the foundation of Ghana's primary care system for over two decades using a combination of community-based health nurses, volunteers and community engagement to deliver universal access to basic curative care, health promotion and prevention. This review aimed to understand the impacts and implementation lessons of the CHPS programme.

Methods

We conducted a mixed-methods review in line with PRISMA guidance using a results-based convergent design where quantitative and qualitative findings are synthesized separately, then brought together in a final synthesis. Embase, Medline, PsycINFO, Scopus, and Web of Science were searched using pre-defined search terms. We included all primary studies of any design and used the RE-AIM framework to organize and present the findings to understand the different impacts and implementation lessons of the CHPS programme.

Results

N = 58 out of n = 117 full text studies retrieved met the inclusion criteria, of which n = 28 were quantitative, n = 27 were qualitative studies and n = 3 were mixed methods. The geographical spread of studies highlighted uneven distribution, with the majority conducted in the Upper East Region. The CHPS programme is built on a significant body of evidence and has been found effective in reducing under-5 mortality, particularly for the poorest and least educated, increasing use and acceptance of family planning and reduction in fertility. The presence of a CHPS zone in addition to a health facility resulted in increased odds of skilled birth attendant care by 56%. Factors influencing effective implementation included trust, community engagement and motivation of community nurses through salaries, career progression, training and respect. Particular challenges to implementation were found in remote rural and urban contexts.

Conclusions

The clear specification of CHPS combined with a conducive national policy environment has aided scale-up. Strengthened health financing strategies, review of service provision to prepare and respond to pandemics, prevalence of non-communicable diseases and adaptation to changing community contexts, particularly urbanization, are required for successful delivery and future scale-up of CHPS.

Systematic review registration

https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=214006, identifier: CRD42020214006.
App-supported sleep coaching: implications for sleep duration and sleep quality
Authors: Gorovoy Suzanne B. , Campbell Rebecca L. , Fox Rina S. , Grandner Michael A.
Published: June 2023

Objectives

The present study evaluated whether completers of a 12-week app-based, personalized text supported sleep coaching program demonstrated improvements in sleep continuity, sleep duration, and reduced use of sleep aids.

Methods

Data were obtained from Sleep Reset, a 12-week consumer product that offers app-based sleep education and monitoring, along with personalized text-based sleep coaching provided by live coaches. Five hundred sixty-four completers were included in the study. Pre-post changes for sleep latency (SL), wake after sleep onset (WASO), number of awakenings (NWAK), total sleep time (TST), sleep efficiency (SE%) and use of “sleep aids” were evaluated. To evaluate whether the program produced meaningful results, the proportion of participants who demonstrated reductions in SL, WASO, and NWAK, and increases in TST and SE% were examined.

Results

Mean SL was reduced by 11 min, mean WASO was reduced by 28 min, mean SE% increased by 6.6%, and mean TST increased by about 44 min. Of those who reported using “sleep aids” during Week 1, 41% no longer used them by week 12. Those with low SE% at baseline demonstrated greater improvements in SL (16.2 vs. 5.7 min), WASO (47.3 vs. 7.2 min), SE% (11.2 vs. 1.6%), and TST (65.3 vs. 31.2 min). Those with ≤ 6 h of sleep at baseline demonstrated greater improvements in WASO (36.8 vs. 22.3 min), SE% (10.1 vs. 4.3%), and TST (85.1 vs. 25.5 min).

Conclusion

Participants that completed the app-based, personalized text supported coaching intervention reported subjective improvements in sleep duration and quality that suggest more beneficial effects particularly in those with lower sleep efficiency or sleep duration at baseline. An effective sleep coaching program that utilizes trained sleep coaches with access to board-certified providers, may provide a valuable resource for subclinical populations.
Instrumented cervical fusion using patient specific end-plate conforming interbody devices with a micro-porous structure in nine dogs with disk-associated cervical spondylomyelopathy
Authors: Driver Colin J. , Lopez Victor , Walton Ben , Jones Dan , Fentem Rory , Tomlinson Andrew , Rose Jeremy
Published: June 2023

Objective

To report the medium and long-term outcome of nine dogs with disk-associated cervical spondylomyelopathy (DA-CSM), treated by instrumented interbody fusion using patient specific end-plate conforming device that features a micro-porous structure to facilitate bone in-growth.

Study design

A retrospective clinical study.

Animals

Nine medium and large breed dogs.

Methods

Medical records at two institutions were reviewed between January 2020 and 2023. Following magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) diagnosis of DA-CSM, pre-operative computed tomography (CT) scans were exported to computer software forin-silicosurgical planning. Interbody devices were 3D-manufactured by selecting laser melting in titanium alloy. These were surgically implanted at 13 segments alongside mono-or bi-cortical vertebral stabilization systems. Follow-up included neurologic scoring and CT scans post-operative, at medium-term follow up and at long-term follow-up where possible. Interbody fusion and implant subsidence were evaluated from follow-up CT scans.

Results

Nine dogs were diagnosed with DA-CSM between C5-C7 at a total of 13 operated segments. Medium-term follow up was obtained between 2 and 8 months post-operative (3.00 ± 1.82 months). Neurologic scoring improved (p = 0.009) in eight of nine dogs. Distraction was significant (p < 0.001) at all segments. Fusion was evident at 12/13 segments. Subsidence was evident at 3/13 operated segments but was only considered clinically relevant in one dog that did not improve; as clinical signs were mild, revision surgery was not recommended. Long-term follow up was obtained between 9 and 33 months (14.23 ± 8.24 months); improvement was sustained in 8 dogs. The dog that suffered worsened thoracic limb paresis at medium-term follow up was also diagnosed with immune-mediated polyarthropathy (IMPA) and was euthanased 9 months post-operative due to unacceptable side-effects of corticosteroid therapy.

Conclusion

End-plate conforming interbody devices with a micro-porous structure were designed, manufactured, and successfully implanted in dog with DA-CSM. This resulted in CT-determined fusion with minimal subsidence in the majority of operated segments.

Clinical significance

The technique described can be used to distract and fuse cervical vertebrae in dogs with DA-CSM, with favorable medium-and long-term outcomes.
Robotic Hummingbird Axial Dynamics and Control near Hovering: A Simulation Model
Authors: Farid Yousef , Wang Liang , Brancato Lorenzo , Wang Han , Wang Kainan , Preumont André
Published: June 2023

After a short overview of the COLIBRI project, this paper considers the cycle-averaged flight dynamics of a flapping-wing robot near hovering, taking advantage of the weak coupling between the roll and pitch axes. The system is naturally unstable; it needs to be stabilized actively, which requires an attitude reconstruction. Due to the flapping of the wings, the system is subject to a strong periodic noise at the flapping frequency and its higher harmonics; the resulting axial forces and pitch moments are characterized from experimental data. The flapping noise propagates to the six-axis Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) consisting of three accelerometers and three gyros. The paper is devoted to attitude reconstruction in the presence of flapping noise representative of flight conditions. Two methods are considered: (i) the complementary filter based on the hovering assumption and (ii) a full-state dynamic observer (Kalman filter). Unlike the complementary filter, the full-state dynamic observer allows the reconstruction of the axial velocity, allowing us to control the hovering without any additional sensor. A numerical simulation is conducted to assess the merit of the two methods using experimental noise data obtained with the COLIBRI robot. The paper discusses the trade-off between noise rejection and stability.
Algae Extract Increases Seed Production of Soybean Plants and Alters Nitrogen Metabolism
Authors: Engel Daniele Caroline Hörz , Feltrim Daniela , Rodrigues Mayara , Baptistella João Leonardo Corte , Mazzafera Paulo
Published: June 2023

Algae extract biostimulants increase nutrient uptake, stress tolerance, and productivity in several crops. However, there is still a gap in the knowledge of the mechanisms of action of algae extracts on nitrogen plant metabolism. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of a commercial Ascophyllum nodosum algae extract on nitrogen metabolism in nodulating soybean plants and their productivity. Two concentrations of algae extract (0.25% and 0.50%) were used, which were applied via seeds and leaf spray. Seeds were treated at sowing, and plants were sprayed twice at two vegetative phenological stages. Plants were harvested at the R5 phenological stage for leaf biochemical and enzyme activity analyses and leaf and root gene expression analyses. The experiment was carried out a second time to evaluate productivity. There was an increase in leaf and stem biomass, number of pods and seeds, weight of pods and seeds, and productivity in plants treated with both concentrations. Biochemical analysis showed increased amino acid content in leaves after extract application. No marked differences were found regarding the parameters related to nitrogen metabolism when the data were analysed individually. However, principal component analysis and gene expression heatmaps supported the conclusion that N metabolism was affected by algae extract application, leading to higher seed production.
Proximal Soil Moisture Sensing for Real-Time Water Delivery Control: Exploratory Study over a Potato Farm
Authors: Wu Xiaoling , Walker Jeffrey P. , Wong Vanessa
Published: June 2023

New sensing technologies are at the cusp of providing state-of-the-art infrastructure to precisely monitor crop water requirements spatially so as to optimize irrigation scheduling and agricultural productivity. This project aimed to develop a new smart irrigation system that uses an L-band radiometer in conjunction with an irrigation boom, allowing for a precision water delivery system using derived high-resolution soil moisture information. A potato farm was selected due to its sensitivity to water and an existing irrigation system where the radiometer could be mounted. A field experiment was conducted to capture the soil moisture variation across the farm using the radiometer. A greenhouse trial was also conducted to mimic the actual growth of potatoes by controlling the soil moisture and exploring the impact on their growth. It was found that 0.3 cm3/cm3 was the optimal moisture level in terms of productivity. Moreover, it was demonstrated that on-farm soil moisture maps could be generated with an RMSE of 0.044 cm3/cm3. It is anticipated that through such technology, a real-time watering map will be generated, which will then be passed to the irrigation software to adjust the rate of each nozzle to meet the requirements without under- or over-watering.
Accuracy Comparison of Estimation on Cotton Leaf and Plant Nitrogen Content Based on UAV Digital Image under Different Nutrition Treatments
Authors: Liu Yang , Chen Yan , Wen Ming , Lu Yang , Ma Fuyu
Published: June 2023

The rapid, accurate estimation of leaf nitrogen content (LNC) and plant nitrogen content (PNC) in cotton in a non-destructive way is of great significance to the nutrient management of cotton fields. The RGB images of cotton fields in Shihezi (China) were obtained by using a low-cost unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) with a visible-light digital camera. Combined with the data of LNC and PNC in different growth stages, the correlation between N content and visible light vegetation indices (VIs) was analyzed, and then the Random Forest (RF), Support Vector Machine (SVM), Back Propagation Neural Network (BP), and stepwise multiple linear regression (SMLR) were used to develop N content estimation models at different growth stages. The accuracy of the estimation model was assessed by coefficient of determination (R2), root mean squared error (RMSE), and relative root mean square error (rRMSE), so as to determine the optimal estimated growth stage and the best model. The results showed that the correlation between VIs and LNC was stronger than that between PNC, and the estimation accuracy of different models decreased continuously with the development of growth stages, with higher estimation accuracy in the peak squaring stage. Among the four algorithms, the best accuracy (R2 = 0.9001, RMSE = 1.2309, rRMSE = 2.46% for model establishment, and R2 = 0.8782, RMSE = 1.3877, rRMSE = 2.82% for model validation) was obtained when applying RF at the peak squaring stage. The LNC model for whole growth stages could be used in the later growth stage due to its higher accuracy. The results of this study showed that there is a potential for using an affordable and non-destructive UAV-based digital system to produce predicted LNC content maps that are representative of the current field nitrogen status.
A Cationic Amino Acid Transporter NtCAT1 Promotes Leaf Senescence by the Accumulation of ABA in Nicotiana tabacum
Authors: Lu Songchong , Ji Xuan , Zhang Xinshuang , Wu Hao , Sun Yan , Zhu Ying , Su Shanshan , Wei Shumin , Liu Xin
Published: June 2023

Leaf senescence is a comprehensive process performed by integrating various internal and external signals, followed by nutrient reallocation, especially via organic nitrogen (e.g., amino acids) mobilization. Amino acid (AA) transporters play an important role in crop growth and development by participating in the process of organic nitrogen remobilization. However, the biological functions and downstream effectors of amino acid transporters involved in leaf senescence are still poorly understood. In the present study, we cloned and characterized a cationic amino acid transporter gene, NtCAT1, from tobacco (K326). We found that NtCAT1 transcript levels were induced by age and abscisic acid (ABA). The NtCAT1 protein was highly localized in the plasma membrane. The overexpressing NtCAT1 line (OECAT1) showed early leaf senescence, accompanied with increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) and ABA content. By contrast, the NtCAT1 mutant (ntcat1-36) generated by the CRSPR/Cas9 system, showed a delayed-senescence phenotype with a decreased accumulation of ROS and ABA. Moreover, we discovered that the overexpression of NtCAT1 could downregulate the expression of the target of rapamycin (TOR) kinase gene and upregulate the transcript levels of ABA-related genes during leaf senescence compared with wild type (WT), while the expression of these genes in ntcat1-36 plants exhibited inverse trends. Furthermore, an analysis of the amino acid concentration demonstrated that NtCAT1 transgenic plants displayed dramatic changes in the amino acid profile during leaf senescence. In summary, our results suggest that NtCAT1 could promote leaf senescence via the increased biosynthesis of ABA, and our study provides new insights into the molecular mechanism of leaf senescence.
Two-Dimensional Correlation IR Spectroscopy of Humic Substances of Chernozem Size Fractions of Different Land Use
Authors: Proskurnin Mikhail A. , Volkov Dmitry S. , Rogova Olga B.
Published: June 2023

Diffuse reflectance FTIR measurements with two-dimensional correlation spectroscopy (2D-COS) are used for accurate band identification of chernozem comprising soil organic matter (SOM), including humic substances and mineral silicate matrix. Samples of different land use (native steppe, shelterbelt, bare fallow, and arable land) of a long-term field experiment were compared. Homospectral 2D-COS maps for size fractions obtained by wet fractionation were built, and the fraction size was used as a correlation-building variable (external perturbation) of 2D-COS. Synchronous 2D-COS maps are characterized by main correlation regions at 4000–3600 (hydrogen bonds), 1800–1150 (SOM), and 1100–200 cm−1 (quartz matrix). SOM range can be used as a signature of the samples distinguishing two pairs, native steppe–bare fallow and arable land–shelterbelt, by correlations at 1340–1320 cm−1 (CH2) and 1670 cm−1 (aromatic –C=C–). Asynchronous 2D-COS maps show bands at 3690–3620, 2930–2830, in the range of 1640–1250 (8 bands), 1160, 1070, 797, 697, 505, and 400 cm−1, the latter 5 indicate the increasing proportion of silicate to quartz in small fractions. The manifestation of asynchronous correlation bands at 1650, 1580–1560, 1444, 1340, and 1250 cm−1, which have no major contribution from inorganic soil components, are due to carbonyl, carboxylate, and aromatic C–C; their appearance order (accumulation of corresponding substances in larger factions) is different for each land use. The proposed approach provides the identifying SOM components with enough reliability for SOM IR bands that are weaker compared to mineral matrix bands in original IR spectra.
Detection of Power Poles in Orchards Based on Improved Yolov5s Model
Authors: Zhang Yali , Lu Xiaoyang , Li Wanjian , Yan Kangting , Mo Zhenjie , Lan Yubin , Wang Linlin
Published: June 2023

During the operation of agricultural unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in orchards, the presence of power poles and wires pose a serious threat to flight safety, and can even lead to crashes. Due to the difficulty of directly detecting wires, this research aimed to quickly and accurately detect wire poles, and proposed an improved Yolov5s deep learning object detection algorithm named Yolov5s-Pole. The algorithm enhances the model’s generalization ability and robustness by applying Mixup data augmentation technique, replaces the C3 module with the GhostBottleneck module to reduce the model’s parameters and computational complexity, and incorporates the Shuffle Attention (SA) module to improve its focus on small targets. The results show that when the improved Yolov5s-Pole model was used for detecting poles in orchards, its accuracy, recall, and mAP@50 were 0.803, 0.831, and 0.838 respectively, which increased by 0.5%, 10%, and 9.2% compared to the original Yolov5s model. Additionally, the weights, parameters, and GFLOPs of the Yolov5s-Pole model were 7.86 MB, 3,974,310, and 9, respectively. Compared to the original Yolov5s model, these represent compression rates of 42.2%, 43.4%, and 43.3%, respectively. The detection time for a single image using this model was 4.2 ms, and good robustness under different lighting conditions (dark, normal, and bright) was demonstrated. The model is suitable for deployment on agricultural UAVs’ onboard equipment, and is of great practical significance for ensuring the efficiency and flight safety of agricultural UAVs.
Special Issue: State-of-the-Art Anatomical Research in the Mediterranean Region 2022
Authors: Marcos Pilar , Coveñas Rafael
Published: June 2023

The purpose of anatomy is the knowledge of the form of the living body, for which the relationship between what is seen and its function is pursued [...]
Resistant Bacteria in Broiler Litter Used as Ruminant Feed: Effect of Biotic Treatment
Authors: Efriem Solomon , Sabastian Chris , Blum Shlomo , Fleker Marcelo , Mabjeesh Sameer J. , Britzi Malka
Published: June 2023

The use of antimicrobial drugs and coccidiostats in poultry farming is widespread, with a significant proportion of these drugs being excreted and released into the environment. The residues of such drugs in poultry litter (PL) can result in the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. The impact of different biotic treatments (aerobic, anaerobic, and stacking) on broiler litter (BL) before its use as animal feed has not been studied extensively, nor have the differences between antimicrobial-dependent and independent broiler farms been investigated. This study aimed to determine the resistant bacteria in BL used as ruminant feed before and after litter treatment. The results show that the most resistant bacteria before BL treatment were the Enterococcus species. This study also found that the quantity of amoxicillin-resistant Enterococcus detected in samples from antimicrobial-dependent farms was significantly higher than in those from antimicrobial-independent farms. Additionally, 14% of bacteria were multi-resistant to tetracycline, sulfafurazole, and erythromycin in antimicrobial-independent farm litters, significantly lower than those measured in antimicrobial-dependent broiler farm litter. This study highlights the importance of better understanding, regulating, managing, and using animal waste appropriately to reduce the number of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and minimize the use of antimicrobials that carry high risks for animals, humans, and the environment
The Cactus (Opuntia ficus-indica) Cladodes and Callus Extracts: A Study Combined with LC-MS Metabolic Profiling, In-Silico, and In-Vitro Analyses
Authors: Nam Dong-Geon , Yang Hee-Sun , Bae Ui-Jin , Park Eunmi , Choi Ae-Jin , Choe Jeong-Sook
Published: June 2023

Opuntia ficus-indica (OF) phytochemicals have received considerable attention because of their health benefits. However, the structure-activity relationship between saponin and flavonoid antioxidant compounds among secondary metabolites has rarely been reported. In a molecular docking study, selected compounds from both Opuntia ficus-indica callus (OFC) and OF ethanol extract were found to be involved in Toll-like receptor 4 and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathways. High affinity was specific for MAPK, and it was proposed to inhibit the oxidative and inflammatory responses with poricoic acid H (−8.3 Kcal/mol) and rutin (−9.0 Kcal/mol). The pro-inflammatory cytokine factors at a concentration of 200 μg/mL were LPS-stimulated TNF-α (OFC 72.33 ng/mL, OF 66.78 ng/mL) and IL-1β (OFC 49.10 pg/mL, OF 34.45 pg/mL), both of which significantly decreased OF (p < 0.01, p < 0.001). Taken together, increased NO, PGE2, and pro-inflammatory cytokines were significantly decreased in a dose-dependent manner in cells pretreated with OFC and the OF extract (p < 0.05). These findings suggest that OFC and OF have important potential as natural antioxidant, anti-inflammatory agents in health-promoting foods and medicine.
Hydrogen Cyanamide Causes Reversible G2/M Cell Cycle Arrest Accompanied by Oxidation of the Nucleus and Cytosol
Authors: Velappan Yazhini , de Simone Ambra , Signorelli Santiago , Considine John A. , Foyer Christine H. , Considine Michael J.
Published: June 2023

Hydrogen cyanamide (HC) has been widely used in horticulture to trigger bud burst following dormancy. Its use has been banned in some countries due to human health concerns, however the search for effective safe alternatives is delayed by lack of knowledge of the mechanism of HC action. Earlier studies demonstrate that HC stimulates the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and alters the rate of cell division. However, the relationships between HC effects on ROS, redox (reduction/oxidation) homeostasis and cell division are unknown. This study used Arabidopsis thaliana ((L.) Heynh.) seedlings expressing the redox reporter roGFP2 to measure the oxidation states of the nuclei and cytosol in response to HC treatment. The Cytrap dual cell cycle phase marker system and flow cytometry were used to study associated changes in cell proliferation. HC (1.5 mM) reversibly inhibited root growth during a 24 h treatment. Higher concentrations were not reversible. HC did not synchronise the cell cycle, in contrast to hydroxyurea. Rather, HC caused a gradual accumulation of cells in the G2/M phase and decline of G1/S phase cells, 16 to 24 h post-treatment. This was accompanied by increased oxidation of both the nuclei and cytosol. Taken together, these findings show that HC impairs proliferation of embryonic root meristem cells in a reversible manner through restriction of G2/M transition accompanied by increased cellular oxidation.
Antioxidants Improve the Proliferation and Efficacy of hUC-MSCs against H2O2-Induced Senescence
Authors: Zheng Zhaojuan , Wang Xia , Ouyang Liming , Chen Wenxia , Zhang Lixin , Cao Yulin
Published: June 2023

Human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (hUC-MSCs) are broadly applied in clinical treatment due to convenient accessibility, low immunogenicity, and the absence of any ethical issues involved. However, the microenvironment of inflammatory tissues may cause oxidative stress and induce senescence in transplanted hUC-MSCs, which will further reduce the proliferation, migration ability, and the final therapeutic effects of hUC-MSCs. Beta-nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) and coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) are famous antioxidants and longevity medicines that could reduce intracellular reactive oxygen species levels by different mechanisms. In this study, hUC-MSCs were treated in vitro with NMN and CoQ10 to determine if they could reduce oxidative stress caused by hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and recover cell functions. The effects of NMN and CoQ10 on the cell proliferation, the mRNA levels of the inflammatory cytokine TNFα and the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL10, and the differentiation and cell migration ability of hUC-MSCs before and after H2O2 treatment were investigated. The findings revealed that NMN and CoQ10 reduced H2O2-induced senescence and increased hUC-MSCs’ proliferation in the late phase as passage 12 and later. The TNFα mRNA level of hUC-MSCs induced by H2O2 was significantly decreased after antioxidant treatment. NMN and CoQ10 all reduced the adipogenic differentiation ability of hUC-MSCs. CoQ10 improved the chondrogenic differentiation ability of hUC-MSCs. Furthermore, NMN was found to significantly enhance the migration ability of hUC-MSCs. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that NMN and CoQ10 both increased DNA repair ability and cyclin expression and downregulated TNF and IL-17 inflammatory signaling pathways, thereby contributing to the proliferative promotion of senecent stem cells and resistance to oxidative stress. These findings suggest that antioxidants can improve the survival and efficacy of hUC-MSCs in stem cell therapy for inflammation-related diseases.