bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A SEMIOTIC ANALYSIS OF FEMINISM THEORIES IN THE MOVIE OF 7 HATI 7 CINTA 7 WANITA DIRECTED BY ROBBY ERTANTO
Authors: Hidayah Linta Wafdan , Qotrunada Alisa
Published: December 2021

The movie 7 Hati 7 Cinta 7 Wanita directed by Robby Ertanto that presents a representation of seven women in the Indonesian context through certain signs, concepts, thoughts, and language. This representation can be in the form of a depiction of physical or psychological violence, subordination, workload, power, or women's reproductive rights. The research method used Roland Barthes' semiotic analysis model and constructivist paradigm approach. Barthes' theory represents two ideological signs that he put forward, namely the denotative sign system or the connotative sign system: A denotative sign, which is a more rigorous descriptive system than the connotative sign it has described, is the result of the existing signifier image and the signified concept. for example vegetables and milk are markers and healthy and strong are markers. Whereas A connotative sign is a sign that experiences a shift in its historical meaning due to a change in meaning. It can be influenced by a change in culture or terminology, an event that occurs in a situation, or even just an evolution.The results of this study indicate that in the movie7 Hati 7 Cinta 7 Wanita contains at least three points of findings: (1) aspects of female domestication and gender politics, which encourage women to be placed in traditional positions as housewives, (2) aspects of segregation, namely placing women in a weak position in relation to men, (3) many women experience the reality that places them in subordinate positions.
POLITENESS STRATEGIES USED BY JO AND AMY MARCH ON LITTLE WOMEN
Authors: Mayyada  , Laili Elisa Nurul
Published: December 2021

This study aims to determine the identity captured from the politeness strategies used by Jo and Amy March on Little Women movie. To analyze the description of politeness strategies used by Jo and Amy March as the main characters in the film, the researcher used the theory of Leech on maxim politeness. Then, this study is using a qualitative descriptive method. Based on the results that have found from Jo and Amy March’s dialogue, they are dominant using agreement maxim because of a close relationship between their family, and also they have close relation and intensiveness with their sisters.
Designing a Mouse for Disabilities Using the MPU-6050 Sensor with the Kalman Filter Method as a Noise Reducer
Authors: Zartika Putri Ayu , Kusumawardani Mila , Koesmarijanto Koesmarijanto
Published: December 2021

Problems that are often faced by people with physical disabilities are those who have limited hands, one of which is when they will use the computer. His inability to grip and use the mouse is often a barrier in using the computer. The purpose of the design of the tool is to provide facilities for people with disabilities to be able to use a mouse that will be moved based on head movements without noise interference caused by the MPU-6050 sensor. The results of the tests carried out show that designing a mouse with the MPU-6050 sensor has been successfully carried out, the MPU-6050 sensor by implementing a kalman filter as a noise reducer on the X axis has an accuracy value with an average error percentage of 0.09% and at Y angle is 0.12%. Data transmission from the mouse to the computer is done wirelessly using bluetooth HC-05 can receive data well as far as 12.5 meters with an error percentage of 0%. The button on the mouse that functions to perform the left click function when the button is bitten 1x, right click when the button is bitten 2x and click and hold to do a left click 2x or double click can run according to the command, has a 100% success rate.
Red Yeast Improves the Potential Safe Utilization of Solid Waste (Phosphogypsum and Titanogypsum) Through Bioleaching
Authors: Chen Haoming , Lu Yuqi , Zhang Chaonan , Min Fangfang , Huo Zongli
Published: December 2021

Phosphogypsum (PG) and titanium gypsum (TG), as a by-product (solid waste) in phosphate fertilizer and titanium dioxide industry, are causing serious environmental hazards. The resource/harmless application of PG and TG is the development trend in the future. The biological function of red yeast (Rho: Rhodotorula mucilaginosa) can effectively reduce the concentration of pollutants in the environment and has the potential of biological flotation/purification of mineral solid waste. In this study, the bioremediation mechanism and safe utilization efficiency of Rho for different contents of PG and TG were explored by using its biological flotation function. The X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (XRF) results showed that F was the main toxic element in PG and TG, and Pb and Cd did not reach the detection limit. The processing capacity of Rho for PG (>10 g/ml) is higher than that of TG (<5 g/ml). After bioleaching by Rho, the proportion of F in PG and TG solid decreased by 61.45–63.79% and 49.45–59.19%, respectively. The results of three-dimensional fluorescence, extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) extraction, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) confirmed that Rho could accelerate the release of harmful elements (F) in PG and TG. SEM showed that Rho cells and secretions adhered and wrapped on PG/TG, causing PG/TG decomposition and fragmentation. In addition, the adsorption of EPS and the formation of Ca5(PO4)3F are two main ways for Rho to remove F. Furthermore, under the condition of high concentration bioleaching, Rho can accelerate the release and utilization of P in PG, which is not only for the re-precipitation of Ca5(PO4)3F but also conducive to the reproduction and utilization of microorganisms. Meanwhile, the purification/safe reuse of PG by Rho is easier than that of TG. Therefore, the toxicity of PG and TG bioleaching by Rho can be greatly reduced, suggesting the huge potential of Rho in soil improvement and remediation.
TUNAR lncRNA Encodes a Microprotein that Regulates Neural Differentiation and Neurite Formation by Modulating Calcium Dynamics
Authors: Senís Elena , Esgleas Miriam , Najas Sonia , Jiménez-Sábado Verónica , Bertani Camilla , Giménez-Alejandre Marta , Escriche Alba , Ruiz-Orera Jorge , Hergueta-Redondo Marta , Jiménez Mireia , Giralt Albert , Nuciforo Paolo , Albà M. Mar , Peinado Héctor , Toro Daniel del , Hove-Madsen Leif , Götz Magdalena , Abad María
Published: December 2021

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are regulatory molecules which have been traditionally considered as “non-coding”. Strikingly, recent evidence has demonstrated that many non-coding regions, including lncRNAs, do in fact contain small-open reading frames that code for small proteins that have been called microproteins. Only a few of them have been characterized so far, but they display key functions in a wide variety of cellular processes. Here, we show that TUNAR lncRNA encodes an evolutionarily conserved microprotein expressed in the nervous system that we have named pTUNAR. pTUNAR deficiency in mouse embryonic stem cells improves their differentiation potential towards neural lineage both in vitro and in vivo. Conversely, pTUNAR overexpression impairs neuronal differentiation by reduced neurite formation in different model systems. At the subcellular level, pTUNAR is a transmembrane protein that localizes in the endoplasmic reticulum and interacts with the calcium transporter SERCA2. pTUNAR overexpression reduces cytoplasmatic calcium, consistent with a possible role of pTUNAR as an activator of SERCA2. Altogether, our results suggest that our newly discovered microprotein has an important role in neural differentiation and neurite formation through the regulation of intracellular calcium. From a more general point of view, our results provide a proof of concept of the role of lncRNAs-encoded microproteins in neural differentiation.
Age Related Prevalence of Mild Cognitive Impairment in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients in the Indian Population and Association of Serum Lipids With Cognitive Dysfunction
Authors: Chakraborty Arpita , Hegde Sumukha , Praharaj Samir K. , Prabhu Krishnananda , Patole Chhaya , Shetty Ashok K. , Mayya Shreemathi S. , Acharya Raviraj V. , Hande H. Manjunath , Prabhu M. Mukhyaprana , Upadhya Dinesh
Published: December 2021

The magnitude of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is ever-increasing in India, and at present, ~77 million people live with diabetes. Studies have established that T2DM increases the risk of neurodegenerative disorders. This study aimed to determine the age-related prevalence of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in T2DM patients in the Indian population and to identify link between cognitive dysfunction in T2DM patients and serum lipid composition through untargeted and targeted lipidomic studies. Using a cross-sectional study, we evaluated 1278 T2DM patients with Montreal cognitive assessment test (MoCA) and digit symbol substitution test (DSST) for cognitive functions. As per MoCA, the prevalences of MCI in T2DM patients in age groups below 40, 41-50, 51-60, 61-70, 71-80 and 81-90 years were 13.7, 20.5, 33.5, 43.7, 57.1 and 75% with DSST scores of 45.8, 41.7, 34.4, 30.5, 24.2 and 18.8% respectively. Binomial logistic regression analysis revealed serum HbA1c ≥ 7.51, duration of T2DM over 20 years, age above 41 years, and females were independent contributors for cognitive dysfunction in T2DM patients. Preliminary studies with untargeted lipidomics of the serum from 20 T2DM patients, including MCI and normal cognition (NC) group, identified a total of 646 lipids. Among the identified lipids, 33 lipids were significantly different between MCI and NC group, which comprised of triglycerides (TGs, 14), sphingolipids (SL, 11), and phosphatidylcholines (PC, 5). Importantly, 10 TGs and 3 PCs containing long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) were lower, while 8 sphingolipids were increased in the MCI group. Since brain-derived sphingolipids are known to get enriched in the serum, we further quantified sphingolipids from the same 20 serum samples through targeted lipidomic analysis, which identified a total of 173 lipids. Quantitation revealed elevation of 3 species of ceramides, namely Cer (d18:1_24:1), Hex1Cer (d16:0_22:6), and Hex2Cer (d28:1) in the MCI group compared to the NC group of T2DM patients. Overall, this study demonstrated an age-related prevalence of MCI in T2DM patients and highlighted reduced levels of several species of PUFA containing TGs and PCs and increased levels of specific ceramides in T2DM patients exhibiting MCI. Large-scale lipidomic studies in future could help understand the cognitive dysfunction domain in T2DM patients, while studies with preclinical models are required to understand the functional significance of the identified lipids.
Robust, Primitive, and Unsupervised Quality Estimation for Segmentation Ensembles
Authors: Kofler Florian , Ezhov Ivan , Fidon Lucas , Pirkl Carolin M. , Paetzold Johannes C. , Burian Egon , Pati Sarthak , El Husseini Malek , Navarro Fernando , Shit Suprosanna , Kirschke Jan , Bakas Spyridon , Zimmer Claus , Wiestler Benedikt , Menze Bjoern H.
Published: December 2021

A multitude of image-based machine learning segmentation and classification algorithms has recently been proposed, offering diagnostic decision support for the identification and characterization of glioma, Covid-19 and many other diseases. Even though these algorithms often outperform human experts in segmentation tasks, their limited reliability, and in particular the inability to detect failure cases, has hindered translation into clinical practice. To address this major shortcoming, we propose an unsupervised quality estimation method for segmentation ensembles. Our primitive solution examines discord in binary segmentation maps to automatically flag segmentation results that are particularly error-prone and therefore require special assessment by human readers. We validate our method both on segmentation of brain glioma in multi-modal magnetic resonance - and of lung lesions in computer tomography images. Additionally, our method provides an adaptive prioritization mechanism to maximize efficacy in use of human expert time by enabling radiologists to focus on the most difficult, yet important cases while maintaining full diagnostic autonomy. Our method offers an intuitive and reliable uncertainty estimation from segmentation ensembles and thereby closes an important gap toward successful translation of automatic segmentation into clinical routine.
Effects and Mechanism of Salvianolic Acid B on the Injury of Human Renal Tubular Epithelial Cells Induced by Iopromide
Authors: Dong Shu-Jun , Gao Xin-Yue , Pei Ming-Xin , Luo Ting , Fan Dong , Chen Yan-Ling , Jin Jun-Feng , Zhao Xiao-Duo
Published: December 2021

With the increasing application of medical imaging contrast materials, contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) has become the third major cause of iatrogenic renal insufficiency. CIN is defined as an absolute increase in serum creatinine levels of at least 0.50 mg/dl or an increase >25% of serum creatinine from baseline after exposure to contrast. In this study, the protective effects of salvianolic acid B (Sal B) were detected in human renal tubular epithelial cells (HK-2) exposed to iopromide. The results showed that different concentrations of Sal B counteract the loss of cell viability induced by iopromide, and reduce cell apoptosis, the reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, and the levels of endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS)–related and apoptosis-related proteins such as p-IRE-1α, p-eIF-2α/eIF-2α, p-JNK, CHOP, Bax/Bcl-2, and cleaved caspase-3. In addition, Sal B at a concentration of 100 μmol/L inhibited ERS and reduced cell damage to a similar extent as the ERS inhibitor 4-PBA. Importantly, treatment with Sal B could abolish the injury induced by ERS agonist tunicamycin, increasing cell viability and the mitochondrial membrane potential, as well as significantly reducing ROS levels and the expression of Bax/Bcl-2, cleaved-caspase-3, GRP78, p-eIF2α, p-JNK, and CHOP. These results suggested that the protective effect of Sal B against HK-2 cell injury induced by iopromide may be related to the inhibition of ERS.
Repurposing Artemisinin and its Derivatives as Anticancer Drugs: A Chance or Challenge?
Authors: Ma Zhaowu , Woon Clariis Yi-Ning , Liu Chen-Guang , Cheng Jun-Ting , You Mingliang , Sethi Gautam , Wong Andrea Li-Ann , Ho Paul Chi-Lui , Zhang Daping , Ong Peishi , Wang Lingzhi , Goh Boon-Cher
Published: December 2021

Cancer has become a global health problem, accounting for one out of six deaths. Despite the recent advances in cancer therapy, there is still an ever-growing need for readily accessible new therapies. The process of drug discovery and development is arduous and takes many years, and while it is ongoing, the time for the current lead compounds to reach clinical trial phase is very long. Drug repurposing has recently gained significant attention as it expedites the process of discovering new entities for anticancer therapy. One such potential candidate is the antimalarial drug, artemisinin that has shown anticancer activities in vitro and in vivo. In this review, major molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying the anticancer effect of artemisinin and its derivatives are summarised. Furthermore, major mechanisms of action and some key signaling pathways of this group of compounds have been reviewed to explore potential targets that contribute to the proliferation and metastasis of tumor cells. Despite its established profile in malaria treatment, pharmacokinetic properties, anticancer potency, and current formulations that hinder the clinical translation of artemisinin as an anticancer agent, have been discussed. Finally, potential solutions or new strategies are identified to overcome the bottlenecks in repurposing artemisinin-type compounds as anticancer drugs.
Myocardial Energy Response to Glyceryl Trinitrate: Physiology Revisited
Authors: Watson William D. , Green Peregrine G. , Valkovič Ladislav , Herring Neil , Neubauer Stefan , Rider Oliver J.
Published: December 2021

Objective: Although intravenous nitrates are commonly used in clinical medicine, they have been shown to increase myocardial oxygen consumption and inhibit complex IV of the electron transport chain. As such we sought to measure whether myocardial energetics were impaired during glyceryl trinitrate (GTN) infusion.

Methods: 10 healthy volunteers underwent cardiac magnetic resonance imaging to assess cardiac function and 31phosphorus magnetic resonance spectroscopy to measure Phosphocreatine/ATP (PCr/ATP) ratio and creatine kinase forward rate constant (CK kf) before and during an intravenous infusion of GTN.

Results: During GTN infusion, mean arterial pressure (78 ± 7 vs. 65 ± 6 mmHg, p < 0.001), left ventricular (LV) stroke work (7,708 ± 2,782 vs. 6,071 ± 2,660 ml mmHg, p < 0.001), and rate pressure product (7,214 ± 1,051 vs. 6,929 ± 976 mmHg bpm, p = 0.06) all fell. LV ejection fraction increased (61 ± 3 vs. 66 ± 4%, p < 0.001), with cardiac output remaining constant (6.2 ± 1.5 vs. 6.5 ± 1.4 l/min, p = 0.37). Myocardial PCr/ATP fell during GTN infusion (2.17 ± 0.2 vs. 1.99 ± 0.22, p = 0.03) with an increase in both CK kf (0.16 ± 0.07 vs. 0.25 ± 0.1 s−1, p = 0.006) and CK flux (1.8 ± 0.8 vs. 2.6 ± 1.1 μmol/g/s, p = 0.03).

Conclusion: During GTN infusion, despite reduced LV stroke work and maintained cardiac output, there was a 44% increase in myocardial ATP delivery through CK. As PCr/ATP fell, this increase in ATP demand coincided with GTN-induced impairment of mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation. Overall, this suggests that while GTN reduces cardiac work, it does so at the expense of increasing ATP demand beyond the capacity to increase ATP production.
The Relationship Between Fears of Compassion, Emotion Regulation Difficulties, and Emotional Eating in College Students: A Moderated Mediation Model
Authors: Zhang Shuwei , Guo Mingchun , Wang Jingyun , Lin Lihua
Published: December 2021

Although previous research has found the impact of fears of compassion on eating disorders, the mechanism underlying the relationship between fears of compassion and emotional eating remains to be examined. This study aimed to examine the mediating role of emotion regulation difficulties in the relationships between fears of compassion and emotional eating in college students, as well as the gender difference in the mediation model. The Fears of Compassion Scale, Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale, and Dutch Eating Behavior Questionnaire were completed by 673 college students in Fujian Province, China. Structural Equation Modeling was primarily employed to analyze the data. The results showed that both fear of compassion for self and fear of compassion from others were positively associated with emotion regulation difficulties, which in turn were related to emotional eating for female college students. Emotion regulation difficulties played a significant mediating effect in the relationship between fears of compassion and emotional eating. Comparatively, for male college students, only fear of compassion for self was positively associated with emotion regulation difficulties, but emotion regulation difficulties were not related to emotion eating. Moreover, the mediating effect of emotion regulation difficulties was not significant in the relationship between fears of compassion and emotion eating for male college students. The findings suggest that it is important to improve individuals’ fears of compassion to reduce emotional eating, particularly for female college students.
Abusive Supervision and Its Impact on Knowledge Hiding Behavior Among Sales Force
Authors: Gul Rana Faizan , Dunnan Liu , Jamil Khalid , Awan Fazal Hussain , Ali Basharat , Qaiser Ayaz , Aobin Qi
Published: December 2021

The purpose of this study is to test the relationship between abusive supervision and employee’s knowledge hiding behavior (evasive hiding, playing dumb, rationalized hiding) among sales force of insurance companies in Pakistan. The paper also strives to theoretically discuss and then seek empirical evidence to the mediational paths of psychological contract breach that explain the focal relationship between abusive supervision and knowledge hiding. To test the proposed hypotheses, the study draws cross-sectional data from sales force of insurance companies working in Pakistan. Data were collected through structured questionnaire and using convenient sampling technique. The final sample of 340 valid and complete responses analyzed using structured equation modeling (partial least square) approach. Results showed that abusive supervision is positively related to employee’s knowledge hiding behaviors. Also, mediating variable psychological contract breach partially mediates the abusive supervision-knowledge hiding behavior linkage. Current study has tested the positive relationship between abusive supervision and knowledge hiding behaviors unlike most of the previous investigations that have focused on knowledge sharing behavior. The study also empirically investigated the mediational route of psychological contract breach, that explains the blame attributed by the beleaguered employee that led to covert retaliatory behavior, such as knowledge hiding. This paper contributes to knowledge hiding literature which is an important part of knowledge management from the perspective of abusive supervision based on both reactance theory and SET theory.
How Did Awareness, Emotion, and Motivation Shape Behavior Toward COVID-19 in Tunisians?
Authors: Masmoudi Slim
Published: December 2021

This study was conducted to assess the psychological distress in the general population of Tunisia during the pandemic of COVID-19 and examines how awareness of the disease, emotional experience, and motivation shaped the behavior toward this outbreak. The study covers 1492 Tunisian participants. Gender effects and age limits were studied in relation with the seriousness of the disease and lockdown impacts. The data were analyzed and interpreted using the chi-square test, ANOVA, path analysis (PA), and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). We found a significant effect of gender and age on the awareness of the pandemic dangerousness, the attitude, and the commitment to respect the preventive measures. Women are significantly more aware and committed than men to respect preventive health measures. The 35–45 age group showed more awareness and dedication than the other age groups, while the 20–35 age group showed the most less promise. PA and CFA results showed how awareness, emotion, and motivation shaped behavior toward COVID-19. This study provides practical and relevant information on behavior change during a pandemic crisis, which can orient communication campaigns and help policymakers.
Multimorbidity Among Migrant and Non-Migrant Ghanaians: The RODAM Study
Authors: Marzà-Florensa Anna , Boateng Daniel , Agyemang Charles , Beune Erik , Meeks Karlijn A. C. , Bahendeka Silver , Levitt Naomi , Klipstein-Grobusch Kerstin
Published: December 2021

Objectives: Multimorbidity is a growing public health concern due to the increasing burden of non-communicable diseases, yet information about multimorbidity in low- and middle-income countries and migrant populations is scarce. We aimed to investigate the distribution and patterns of multimorbidity in rural and urban areas in Ghana and Ghanaian migrants in Europe.

Methods: The RODAM cross-sectional study included 4,833 participants. Multimorbidity was defined as presence of multiple non-communicable chronic conditions. Patterns were determined from frequent combination of conditions. Prevalence ratios were estimated by logistic regression.

Results: Prevalence of multimorbidity was higher in women and in urban Ghana and Europe. We observed a cardiometabolic pattern in all sites as well as circulatory-musculoskeletal and metabolic-musculoskeletal combinations in Ghana. Multimorbidity prevalence ratios were higher in Europe (men 1.47, 95% CI 1.34–1.59, women 1.18, 1.10–1.26) and urban Ghana (men 1.46, 1.31–1.59, women 1.27, 1.19–1.34).

Conclusion: Distribution and patterns of multimorbidity differed by sex and site. With a higher burden of multimorbidity in urban areas, prevention strategies should focus on forestalling its increase in rapidly growing rural areas.
Workplace Violence Among Health Care Professionals in Public and Private Health Facilities in Bangladesh
Authors: Shahjalal Md. , Gow Jeff , Alam Mohammad M. , Ahmed Tanvir , Chakma Samar K. , Mohsin Faroque M. , Hawlader Mohammad D. H. , Mahumud Rashidul A.
Published: December 2021

Objectives: The main objectives of this study were to examine the prevalence of workplace violence (WPV), its associated factors and explore the experiences of healthcare workers.

Methods: A hospital-based cross-sectional study design used a nationally representative sample of 1,081 healthcare workers covering eight administrative divisions of Bangladesh. Logistic regression analysis was employed to estimate the adjusted effect of independent factors on WPV among healthcare workers.

Results: Of the participants, 43% (468) experienced some form of WPV. Of those, 84% reported experiencing nonphysical violence, and 16% experienced physical violence in the past year. About 65% of victims claimed no action was taken to investigate the incident, and 44% reported no consequence for perpetrators. Four factors: being married (AOR = 1.63; CI: 1.12–2.39); public sector healthcare worker (AOR = 2.74; CI:1.99–3.76); working in an emergency department (AOR = 2.30; CI:1.03–5.12); and undertaking shift work (AOR = 1.52; CI: 1.10–2.11) were found to be significantly associated with WPV. One-third of the participants were worried about violence in their workplace.

Conclusion: WPV is highly prevalent among healthcare workers in Bangladesh. Formal guidelines for reporting and managing WPV are urgently needed at the individual, hospital, and national levels.
Agriculture-Food Supply Chain Management Based on Blockchain and IoT: A Narrative on Enterprise Blockchain Interoperability
Authors: Bhat Showkat Ahmad , Huang Nen-Fu , Sofi Ishfaq Bashir , Sultan Muhammad
Published: December 2021

Modern-day agriculture supply chains have evolved from sovereign and autonomous local stakeholders to a worldwide interconnected system of multiple participants linked by complicated interactions, impacting the production, processing, transportation, and delivery of food to end consumers. Regular instances of fraudulent acts reveal a lack of openness in agriculture supply chains, raising worries about financial losses, eroding customer trust, and lowering corporate brand value. To develop an efficient and reliable trading environment, several fundamental modifications in the present supply chain architecture are required. There is broad consensus that blockchain can improve transparency in agriculture-food supply chains (agri-food SCs). Consumers now demand safe, sustainable, and equitable food production processes, and businesses are using blockchains and the internet of things to meet these needs. For enhanced responsiveness in agri-food SCs, new concepts have evolved that combine blockchains with various Industry 5.0 technologies (e.g., blockchain technology, big data, internet of things (IoT), radio frequency identification (RFID), near field communication (NFC), etc.). It is critical to cut through the hype and examine the technology’s limits, which might stymie its acceptance, implementation, and scalability in agri-food supply chains. This study presents Agri-SCM-BIoT (Agriculture Supply Chain Management using Blockchain and Internet of things) architecture to address the storage and scalability optimization, interoperability, security and privacy issues security, and privacy of personal data along with storage concerns with present single-chain agriculture supply chain systems. We also discussed the classification of security threats with IoT infrastructure and possible available blockchain-based defense mechanisms. Finally, we discussed the features of the proposed supply chain architecture, followed by a conclusion and future work.
Can Biofertilizers Reduce Synthetic Fertilizer Application Rates in Cereal Production in Mexico?
Authors: Santillano-Cázares Jesús , Turmel Marie-Soleil , Cárdenas-Castañeda María Elena , Mendoza-Pérez Santiago , Limón-Ortega Agustín , Paredes-Melesio Roberto , Guerra-Zitlalapa Luis , Ortiz-Monasterio Iván
Published: December 2021

Biofertilizers are considered as potential supplements or alternatives to fertilizers. The objective of the present study is to evaluate different biofertilizers in combination with synthetic fertilizers on the yields of maize and wheat in several states in Mexico. Fourteen biofertilizer treatments plus a treatment with 100% the locally recommended fertilizer rate (RFR), another with 50% RFR (the control treatment), and one without any fertilizer (for a total of 17 treatments) were tested on maize and wheat in five states across Mexico. Field experiments were established in five states and several years for a total of 14 experiments in Mexico. In general, except for the experiments conducted in moderately low soil P conditions, Chiapas and Sonora (maize), no response to biofertilizers was observed in the remaining locations, through the years in wheat and maize. We conclude that in high input production systems, the biofertilizer response is more an exception than a rule with only 21% of the experiments showing a significant difference in favor of biofertilizers and only 4 of 15 products tested produced a yield response in more nitrogen deficient environments. Some products containing AMF may be beneficial in maize production systems with phosphorus deficient environments.
Determining the Effects of Nanonutrient Application in Cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitate L.) Using Spectrometry and Biomass Estimation with UAV
Authors: Sinde-González Izar , Gómez-López Josselyn Paola , Tapia-Navarro Stalin Alejandro , Murgueitio Erika , Falconí César , Benítez Fatima L. , Toulkeridis Theofilos
Published: December 2021

Geospatial technologies are presented as an alternative for the monitoring and control of crops, as demonstrated through the analysis of spectral responses (SR) of each species. In this study, it was intended to determine the effects of the application of nanonutrients (Zn and Mn) in cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitate L.) by analyzing the relationship between the vegetation indices (VI) NDVI, GNDVI, NGRDI, RVI, GVI, CCI RARSa and the content of chlorophyll (CC), from two trials established in the field and in the greenhouse, together with the calculation of dry biomass production in the field through the use of digital models and its further validation. The results indicated that for greenhouse experiments no significant differences were found between the VIs in the implemented treatments, rather for their phenological states. Whereas in the field assays it was evidenced that there were significant differences between the VIs for the treatments, as well as for the phenological states. The SR issued in the field allowed the evaluation of the behavior of the crop due to the application of nanonutrients, which did not occur in the greenhouse, in the same way. The SR also enabled the spectral characterization of the crop in its phenological states in the two trials. All this information was stored in a digital format, which allowed the creation of a spectral library which was published on a web server. The validation of the dry biomass allowed, by statistical analysis, the efficiency of the method used for its estimation to be confirmed.
Use of Narrow Rows in Sprinkler-Irrigated Corn Systems to Increase Grain Yields, Aboveground Biomass, and Water and Nitrogen Use Efficiencies
Authors: Delgado Jorge A. , Floyd Bradley , Brandt Amber D. , D’Adamo Robert
Published: December 2021

Narrow rows and optimum nitrogen applications are effective best management practices (BMPs) to enhance crop yield in an economically viable way. In a set of four studies, we aimed to compare the traditional method of planting (TMP) in wider rows (76.2 cm) with a lower plant population (84,600 seeds ha−1) against a new BMP of planting in narrow rows (38.1 cm) with a higher plant population (158,000 seeds ha−1). Implementation of the BMP resulted in 29.9 Mg ha−1 of dry matter (DM) silage, which was 42.5% higher than the 21.0 Mg ha−1 observed with the TMP. The p-values for the BMP versus TMP silage comparisons were p < 0.05, p < 0.05 and p < 0.001 for studies 2, 3, and 4, respectively, showing the significantly higher production with the BMP. Silage production water use efficiency (WUE) and agronomic nitrogen use efficiency (AE) were also higher with the BMP in studies 2, 3 and 4. The average harvested grain DM of the three BMP studies (9.9 Mg ha−1) was 9.5% higher than the 9.0 Mg ha−1 harvested grain DM with the TMP. The BMP of narrow rows with higher plant populations increases silage and grain production in sprinkler-irrigated systems.
Allelopathy and Allelopathic Substances of Fossil Tree Species Metasequoia glyptostroboides
Authors: Matuda Yuki , Iwasaki Arihiro , Suenaga Kiyotake , Kato-Noguchi Hisashi
Published: December 2021

Metasequoia glyptostroboides Hu et W.C. Cheng is one of the oldest living conifer species, and it has remained unchanged for millions of years compared to its fossils from the Cretaceous period. The species are cultivated in the parks, gardens, and roadsides in many countries. We investigated the allelopathy and allelopathic substances in fallen leaves of M. glyptostroboides. An aqueous methanol extract of the fallen leaves inhibited the growth of cress (Lepidium sativum L.), lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.), alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.), Lolium multiflorum Lam., Phleum pretense L., and Vulpia myuros (L.) C.C.Gmel. The extract was then purified by several chromatographic steps, and two allelopathic substances were isolated and determined by spectral data to be (+)-rhododendrol and 9-epi-blumenol C. The compound inhibited the growth of cress and L. multiflorum. M. glyptostroboides is a deciduous perennial tree, and accumulation of its fallen leaves occur on the soil under the trees. Therefore, those allelopathic substances in the fallen leaves may be liberated into the rhizosphere soil during the decomposition process of fallen leaves and provide a competitive advantage for M. glyptostrob through the growth inhibition of competing plant species nearby. Therefore, M. glyptostroboides is allelopathic, and (+)-rhododendrol and 9-epi-blumenol C may be contribute to the allelopathy.
Reducing the Halotolerance Gap between Sensitive and Resistant Tomato by Spraying Melatonin
Authors: Zhou Rong , Cen Benjian , Jiang Fangling , Sun Mintao , Wen Junqin , Cao Xue , Cui Shouyao , Kong Lingpeng , Zhou Niannian , Wu Zhen
Published: December 2021

Salt stress is one of the primary abiotic stresses that negatively affects agricultural production. Melatonin, as a useful hormone in plants, has been shown to play positive roles in crop improvement to abiotic stress conditions. However, it remains unclear whether spraying melatonin could reduce the halotolerance gap between tomato genotypes with different salt sensitivities. Here, plant growth, H2O2 content, electrolyte leakage, antioxidant system, gas exchange, pigment content, and chloroplast ultrastructure of salt sensitive genotype (SG) and resistant genotype (RG) at CK (control), M (spraying melatonin), S (salt), and SM (spraying melatonin under salt stress) were investigated. The results showed that the weight, height, and stem diameter of the plant at SM from both genotypes significantly increased compared with S. The plant undergoing SM from both genotypes showed significantly decreased H2O2 but increased activity of SOD, APX, GR, and GSH, as well as net photosynthetic rate and Fv/Fm, as compared with S. The ratio between SM and S (SM/S) of SG was significantly higher than that of RG in terms of plant height and stem diameter, whereas antioxidant parameters, H2O2 content, and electrolyte leakage showed no difference between RG and SG in SM/S. The SM/S of SG in terms of photosynthetic parameters and pigment content were significantly higher than that of RG. Chloroplast ultrastructure showed remarkable changes under salt stress, whereas spraying melatonin reduced the destruction of chloroplasts, especially for SG. We concluded that spraying melatonin reduces the halotolerance gap between SG and RG by photosynthesis regulation instead of the antioxidant mechanism. This indicated that the positive roles of melatonin on tomato plants at salt stress depend on the genotype sensitivity.
Characterizing Hyperspectral Microscope Imagery for Classification of Blueberry Firmness with Deep Learning Methods
Authors: Park Bosoon , Shin Tae-Sung , Cho Jeong-Seok , Lim Jeong-Ho , Park Ki-Jae
Published: December 2021

Firmness is an important quality indicator of blueberries. Firmness loss (or softening) of postharvest blueberries has posed a challenge in its shelf-life quality control and can be delineated with its microstructural changes. To investigate spatial and spectral characteristics of microstructures based on firmness, hyperspectral microscope imaging (HMI) was employed for this study. The mesocarp area with 20× magnification of blueberries was selectively imaged with a Fabry–Perot interferometer HMI system of 400–1000 nm wavelengths, resulting in 281 hypercubes of parenchyma cells in a resolution of 968 × 608 × 300 pixels. After properly processing each hypercube of parenchyma cells in a blueberry, the cell image with different firmness was examined based on parenchyma cell shape, cell wall segment, cell-to-cell adhesion, and size of intercellular spaces. Spectral cell characteristics of firmness were also sought based on the spectral profile of cell walls with different image preprocessing methods. The study found that softer blueberries (1.96–3.92 N) had more irregular cell shapes, lost cell-to-cell adhesion, loosened and round cell wall segments, large intercellular spaces, and cell wall colors that were more red than the firm blueberries (6.86–8.83 N). Even though berry-to-berry (or image-to-image) variations of the characteristics turned out large, the deep learning model with spatial and spectral features of blueberry cells demonstrated the potential for blueberry firmness classification with Matthew’s correlation coefficient of 73.4% and accuracy of 85% for test set.
Anti-Browning and Oxidative Enzyme Activity of Rice Bran Extract Treatment on Freshly Cut ‘Fuji’ Apple
Authors: Lee Sang Hoon , Baek Soo Min , Jeong Inhye , Heo Wan , Hwang Kyung-A , Han Bok Kyung , Kim Young Jun
Published: December 2021

Preserving the quality of freshly cut fruits is essential for food marketing. This study aimed to evaluate the anti-browning effect of rice bran extract (RE) added to a vitamin C mixture (VCM), which is widely used as an anti-browning agent. Freshly cut apples were prepared using the following processes: raw material selection, washing, cutting, soaking, and packaging. A comparison of cut apples soaked with 3% VCM combined with 1% RE (VR) and cut apples treated with 4% VCM showed that the L* and BI values had similar levels. After 12 days of storage, the amount of yeast and mold in cut apples after 4% VCM and VR treatment was 6.15 × 104 ± 0.48 CFU/mL and 4.25 × 103 ± 0.15 CFU/mL, respectively, and the degree of bacterial growth was reduced by VR treatment. On day 12 of storage, the activities of polyphenol oxidase (PPO) and peroxidase (POD) were similar in the 4% VCM and VR groups. The polyphenol content was significantly higher in the VR group (121.0 ± 2.2) than in the 4% VCM group (76.9 ± 2.2). These results indicate that VR treatment for freshly cut apples is a potential alternative to 4% VCM treatment, with an effective anti-browning capacity and improved polyphenol content.
Simultaneous Selection of Sweet-Waxy Corn Ideotypes Appealing to Hybrid Seed Producers, Growers, and Consumers in Thailand
Authors: Dermail Abil , Fuengtee Aphakorn , Lertrat Kamol , Suwarno Willy Bayuardi , Lübberstedt Thomas , Suriharn Khundej
Published: December 2021

Multi-trait selection helps breeders identify genotypes that appeal to divergent groups of preferences. In this study, we performed simultaneous selection of sweet-waxy corn hybrids on several traits covering the perspectives of consumers (taller kernel depth, better eating quality), growers (early maturity, shorter plant stature, and high ear yield), and seed producers (high flowering synchrony, acceptable seed yield, and good plant architecture). Three supersweet corn lines and 8 waxy corn lines were intercrossed to generate 48 F1 hybrids according to North Carolina Design II, and these genotypes were laid out in a randomized complete block design with 3 replications across 2 seasons between 2017 and 2018. A sensory blind test on sweetness, stickiness, tenderness, and overall liking was conducted to assess the eating quality of steamed corn samples. Two methods of simultaneous selection, namely unweighted selection index and overall rank-sum index (ORSI), were applied to rank crosses, following all targeted groups of preferences. Genetic parameters and genetic gain were estimated to evaluate the effectiveness of those selection methods. Both approaches had similar patterns of preferable realized gain on each given trait and could identify similar top five crosses with only slight order changes, implying that these methods were effective to rank genotypes according to given selection criteria. One of the tested crosses, 101L/TSC-10 × KV/mon, consistently had the highest unweighted selection index in the dry (7.84) and the rainy (7.15) seasons and the lowest ORSI (310), becoming a promising candidate as synergistic sweet-waxy corn hybrid appealing to consumers, growers, and seed producers. The expected ideotypes of sweet-waxy corn hybrid are discussed.
Analysis of Crop Genetic and Germplasm Diversity
Authors: Ron Antonio M. De , Rodiño Ana Paula
Published: December 2021

Plant genetic resources are the basis for the genetic improvement of cultivated plants and future food and feed security [...]
Analysis of the Manufacturing Variables of Binderless Panels Made of Leaves of Olive Tree (Olea europaea L.) Pruning Waste
Authors: Ferrandez-Garcia Antonio , Ferrandez-Garcia Maria Teresa , Ortuño Teresa Garcia , Mata-Cabrera Francisco , Ferrandez-Villena Manuel
Published: December 2021

While the construction industry consumes more raw materials than any other industrial sector, agriculture generates a large amount of waste that is not managed properly. The olive industry produces more than 7.5 million tons of waste that could be recovered. This paper presents a new method to valorize the leaves of olive tree pruning waste consisting of the manufacture of ecologic boards without adhesives by hot pressing. In order to analyze their influence, three manufacturing variables were varied to obtain the boards: leaf type (shredded and whole leaves), temperature (130, 140 and 150 °C) and time (4, and 12 min). Twenty-four boards were made and were then tested for their mechanical, physical and thermal properties according to the EN standards. The boards showed good results of thickness swelling (TS), water absorption (WA) and of thermal conductivity and can be used as an alternative for manufacturing thermal insulation boards. With a smaller particle size of shredded leaves, longer pressing times and higher pressing temperatures, the mechanical behavior of the boards could improve. The olive leaves are a low-cost renewable resource, and manufacturing products with a long, useful life can be beneficial to the environment.
Telocytes: Active Players in the Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) Intestinal Stem-Cell Niche
Authors: Verdile Nicole , Pasquariello Rolando , Cardinaletti Gloriana , Tibaldi Emilio , Brevini Tiziana A. L. , Gandolfi Fulvio
Published: December 2021

In order to improve the sustainability of trout farming, it is essential to develop alternatives to fish-based meals that prevent intestinal disorders and support growth performances. Therefore, an accurate knowledge of intestinal morphology and physiology is desirable. We previously described the epithelial component of the intestinal stem-cell (ISC) niche in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss), which is one of the most successfully farmed species and a representative model of the salmonids family. This work aims to expand that knowledge by investigating the niche stromal components that contribute to intestinal homeostasis. We analyzed samples belonging to five individuals collected from a local commercial farm. Histological and ultrastructural studies revealed peculiar mesenchymal cells adjacent to the epithelium that generated an intricate mesh spanning from the folds’ base to their apex. Their voluminous nuclei, limited cytoplasm and long cytoplasmic projections characterized them as telocytes (TCs). TEM analysis showed the secretion of extracellular vesicles, suggesting their functional implication in cell-to-cell communication. Furthermore, we evaluated the localization of well-defined mouse TC markers (pdgfrα and foxl1) and their relationship with the epithelial component of the niche. TCs establish a direct connection with ISCs and provide short-range signaling, which also indicates their key role as the mesenchymal component of the stem-cell niche in this species. Interestingly, the TC distribution and gene-expression pattern in rainbow trout closely overlapped with those observed in mice, indicating that they have the same functions in both species. These results substantially improve our understanding of the mechanisms regulating intestinal homeostasis and will enable a more detailed evaluation of innovative feed effects.
Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification (LAMP) as a Promising Point-of-Care Diagnostic Strategy in Avian Virus Research
Authors: Padzil Faiz , Mariatulqabtiah Abdul Razak , Tan Wen Siang , Ho Kok Lian , Isa Nurulfiza Mat , Lau Han Yih , Abu Jalila , Chuang Kuo-Pin
Published: December 2021

Over the years, development of molecular diagnostics has evolved significantly in the detection of pathogens within humans and their surroundings. Researchers have discovered new species and strains of viruses, while mitigating the viral infections that occur, owing to the accessibility of nucleic acid screening methods such as polymerase chain reaction (PCR), quantitative (real-time) polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and reverse-transcription qPCR (RT-qPCR). While such molecular detection methods are widely utilized as the benchmark, the invention of isothermal amplifications has also emerged as a reliable tool to improvise on-field diagnosis without dependence on thermocyclers. Among the established isothermal amplification technologies are loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP), recombinant polymerase amplification (RPA), strand displacement activity (SDA), nucleic acid sequence-based amplification (NASBA), helicase-dependent amplification (HDA) and rolling circle amplification (RCA). This review highlights the past research on and future prospects of LAMP, its principles and applications as a promising point-of-care diagnostic method against avian viruses.