bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Long read transcriptome sequencing of a sugarcane hybrid and its progenitors, Saccharum officinarum and S. spontaneum
Authors: Thirugnanasambandam Prathima Perumal , Singode Avinash , Thalambedu Lakshmi Pathy , Athiappan Selvi , Krishnasamy Mohanraj , Purakkal Sobhakumari Valiya , Govind Hemaprabha , Furtado Agnelo , Henry Robert
Published: August 2023

Commercial sugarcane hybrids are derivatives from Saccharum officinarum and Saccharum spontaneum hybrids containing the full complement of S. officinarum and a few S. spontaneum chromosomes and recombinants with favorable agronomic characters from both the species. The combination of the two sub-genomes in varying proportions in addition to the recombinants presents a challenge in the study of gene expression and regulation in the hybrid. We now report the transcriptome analysis of the two progenitor species and a modern commercial sugarcane hybrid through long read sequencing technology. Transcripts were profiled in the two progenitor species S. officinarum (Black Cheribon), and S. spontaneum (Coimbatore accession) and a recent high yielding, high sugar variety Co 11015. The composition and contribution of the progenitors to a hybrid with respect to sugar, biomass, and disease resistance were established. Sugar related transcripts originated from S. officinarum while several stress and senescence related transcripts were from S. spontaneum in the hybrid. The hybrid had a higher number of transcripts related to sugar transporters, invertases, transcription factors, trehalose, UDP sugars, and cellulose than the two progenitor species. Both S. officinarum and the hybrid had an abundance of novel genes like sugar phosphate translocator, while S. spontaneum had just one. In general, the hybrid shared a larger number of transcripts with S. officinarum than with S. spontaneum, reflecting the genomic contribution, while the progenitors shared very few transcripts between them. The common isoforms among the three genotypes and unique isoforms specific to each genotype indicate that there is a high scope for improvement of the modern hybrids by utilizing novel gene isoforms from the progenitor species.
Effects of maize resistance and leaf chemical substances on the structure of phyllosphere fungal communities
Authors: Luo Kun , Zhao Gonghua , Chen Mengfei , Tian Xueliang
Published: August 2023

It is well known that plant genotype can regulate phyllosphere fungi at the species level. However, little is known about how plant varieties shape the fungal communities in the phyllosphere. In this study, four types of maize varieties with various levels of resistances to Exserohilum turcicum were subjected to high−throughput sequencing to reveal the properties that influences the composition of phyllosphere fungal communities. The dominant fungi genera for all four maize varieties were Alternaria at different relative abundances, followed by Nigrospora. Hierarchical clustering analysis, non-metric multidimensional scaling and similarity analysis confirmed that the fungal communities in the phyllosphere of the four varieties were significantly different and clustered into the respective maize variety they inhabited. The findings from Redundancy Analysis (RDA) indicated that both maize resistance and leaf chemical constituents, including nitrogen, phosphorus, tannins, and flavonoids, were the major drivers in determining the composition of phyllosphere fungal communities. Among these factors, maize resistance was found to be the most influential, followed by phosphorus. The co-occurrence network of the fungal communities in the phyllosphere of highly resistant variety had higher complexity, integrity and stability compared to others maize varieties. In a conclusion, maize variety resistance and leaf chemical constituents play a major role in shaping the phyllosphere fungal community. The work proposes a link between the assembled fungal communities within the phyllosphere with maize variety that is resistant to pathogenic fungi infection.
Academic performance and mental health among Chinese middle and high school students after the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions
Authors: Song Hong-Jun , Mu Yun-Fei , Wang Cong , Cai Jia , Deng Zhong-Yue , Deng Ai-Ping , Huang Xue-Hua , Meng Xian-Dong , Zhang Lan , Huang Yi , Zhang Wei , Shen Wen-Wu , Chen Jin , Liu Bo , Gao Ru , Zhao Jun-Shu , Ran Mao-Sheng
Published: August 2023

Background

Although the COVID-19 pandemic has greatly changed the way students studied, it is still unknown about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on students’ academic performance and mental health.

Objective

To explore the academic performance and mental health status of middle and high school students after the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions in China.

Methods

An online survey was conducted in Sichuan province, China from Dec 14, 2022 to Feb 28, 2023. All participants were students in middle and high schools, recruited via their teachers. The general information, COVID-19-related information, and academic performance were collected. The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7), and Internet Addiction Test (IAT) were used to assess the mental health problems.

Results

Of 60,268 participants, 36,247 (60.2%) middle and high school students reported that their studies were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, and 24,864 (41.2%) reported that their academic performance had worsened. The prevalence of depression and anxiety symptoms was 38.4 and 32.7%, respectively. There was a significant association between academic performance change and mental health problems. The logistic regression analysis showed that improved academic performance was a protective factor for depression, and declined academic performance was a risk factor for depression and anxiety. Being COVID-19 infected, family members being infected, with quarantine experience, and with COVID-19-related stigma were risk factors for depression and anxiety.

Conclusion

Academic studies and mental health status of middle and high school students in Sichuan, China have been negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, even after the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions. Students’ academic performance, academic concerns, and mental health status should be considered for educational policymakers and institutions to improve students’ academic studies and mental well-being.
Cytokines Removal During Ex-Vivo Lung Perfusion: Initial Clinical Experience
Authors: Boffini Massimo , Marro Matteo , Simonato Erika , Scalini Fabrizio , Costamagna Andrea , Fanelli Vito , Barbero Cristina , Solidoro Paolo , Brazzi Luca , Rinaldi Mauro
Published: August 2023

Ex Vivo Lung Perfusion (EVLP) can be potentially used to manipulate organs and to achieve a proper reconditioning process. During EVLP pro-inflammatory cytokines have been shown to accumulate in perfusate over time and their production is correlated with poor outcomes of the graft. Aim of the present study is to investigate the feasibility and safety of cytokine adsorption during EVLP. From July 2011 to March 2020, 54 EVLP procedures have been carried out, 21 grafts treated with an adsorption system and 33 without. Comparing the grafts perfused during EVLP with or without cytokine adsorption, the use of a filter significantly decreased the levels of IL10 and GCSFat the end of the procedure. Among the 38 transplanted patients, the adsorption group experienced a significant decreased IL6, IL10, MCP1 and GCSF concentrations and deltas compared to the no-adsorption group, with a lower in-hospital mortality (p = 0.03) and 1-year death rate (p = 0.01). This interventional study is the first human experience suggesting the safety and efficacy of a porous polymer beads adsorption device in reducing the level of inflammatory mediators during EVLP. Clinical impact of cytokines reduction during EVLP must be evaluated in further studies.
Model Predictive Evolutionary Temperature Control via Neural-Network-Based Digital Twins
Authors: Ates Cihan , Bicat Dogan , Yankov Radoslav , Arweiler Joel , Koch Rainer , Bauer Hans-Jörg
Published: August 2023

In this study, we propose a population-based, data-driven intelligent controller that leverages neural-network-based digital twins for hypothesis testing. Initially, a diverse set of control laws is generated using genetic programming with the digital twin of the system, facilitating a robust response to unknown disturbances. During inference, the trained digital twin is utilized to virtually test alternative control actions for a multi-objective optimization task associated with each control action. Subsequently, the best policy is applied to the system. To evaluate the proposed model predictive control pipeline, experiments are conducted on a multi-mode heat transfer test rig. The objective is to achieve homogeneous cooling over the surface, minimizing the occurrence of hot spots and energy consumption. The measured variable vector comprises high dimensional infrared camera measurements arranged as a sequence (655,360 inputs), while the control variable includes power settings for fans responsible for convective cooling (3 outputs). Disturbances are induced by randomly altering the local heat loads. The findings reveal that by utilizing an evolutionary algorithm on measured data, a population of control laws can be effectively learned in the virtual space. This empowers the system to deliver robust performance. Significantly, the digital twin-assisted, population-based model predictive control (MPC) pipeline emerges as a superior approach compared to individual control models, especially when facing sudden and random changes in local heat loads. Leveraging the digital twin to virtually test alternative control policies leads to substantial improvements in the controller’s performance, even with limited training data.
Asymmetric Vacillation in the FMCG Industry: A Case Comparison of Procter & Gamble and Unilever
Authors: Kang Jisoo , Lee Seungyeon , Choi Seungho
Published: August 2023

While existing studies regarding organizational vacillation theory have focused on examining how vacillation may lead to ambidexterity, few studies have focused on how vacillation itself happens and whether it happens symmetrically or not. To bridge this research gap, this paper analyzed organizational vacillation over time with two canonical cases while examining patterns of organizational structure over time. Unlike previous studies that only revealed the existence of vacillation between centralization and decentralization, this study revealed that vacillation is observed with an asymmetric ratio of duration in the business world by finding that each company within the same industry spends a greater portion of time in a certain organizational structure than the other. By analyzing these changes throughout the business history, this study found that organizational vacillation happens asymmetrically while alternatively shifting between centralization and decentralization. Based on the case study result, this study draws propositions that can enable future researchers to advance theoretical and empirical understanding toward asymmetric vacillation.
Radiometric Compensation for Occluded Crops Imaged Using High-Spatial-Resolution Unmanned Aerial Vehicle System
Authors: Ndou Naledzani , Thamaga Kgabo Humphrey , Mndela Yonela , Nyamugama Adolph
Published: August 2023

Crop characterization is considered a prerequisite to devising effective strategies for ensuring successful implementation of sustainable agricultural management strategies. As such, remote-sensing technology has opened an exciting horizon for crop characterization at reasonable spatial, spectral, and temporal scales. However, the presence of shadows on croplands tends to distort radiometric properties of the crops, subsequently limiting the retrieval of crop-related information. This study proposes a simple and reliable approach for radiometrically compensating crops under total occlusion using brightness-based compensation and thresholding approaches. Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) imagery was used to characterize crops at the experimental site. In this study, shadow was demarcated through the computation and use of mean spectral radiance values as the threshold across spectral channels of UAV imagery. Several image classifiers, viz., k-nearest neighbor (KNN), maximum likelihood, multilayer perceptron (MLP), and image segmentation, were used to categorize land features, with a view to determine the areal coverage of crops prior to the radiometric compensation process. Radiometric compensation was then performed to restore radiometric properties of land features under occlusion by performing brightness tuning on the RGB imagery. Radiometric compensation results revealed maize and soil as land features subjected to occlusion. The relative error of the mean results for radiance comparison between lit and occluded regions revealed 26.47% deviation of the restored radiance of occluded maize from that of lit maize. On the other hand, the reasonable REM value of soil was noted to be 50.92%, implying poor radiometric compensation results. Postradiometric compensation classification results revealed increases in the areal coverage of maize cultivars and soil by 40.56% and 12.37%, respectively, after being radiometrically compensated, as predicted by the KNN classifier. The maximum likelihood, MLP, and segmentation classifiers predicted increases in area covered with maize of 18.03%, 22.42%, and 30.64%, respectively. Moreover, these classifiers also predicted increases in the area covered with soil of 1.46%, 10.05%, and 14.29%, respectively. The results of this study highlight the significance of brightness tuning and thresholding approaches in radiometrically compensating occluded crops.
An Overview of Smart Irrigation Management for Improving Water Productivity under Climate Change in Drylands
Authors: Ahmed Zeeshan , Gui Dongwei , Murtaza Ghulam , Yunfei Liu , Ali Sikandar
Published: August 2023

Global drylands, covering about 41% of Earth’s surface and inhabited by 38% of the world’s population, are facing the stark challenges of water scarcity, low water productivity, and food insecurity. This paper highlights the major constraints to agricultural productivity, traditional irrigation scheduling methods, and associated challenges, efforts, and progress to enhance water use efficiency (WUE), conserve water, and guarantee food security by overviewing different smart irrigation approaches. Widely used traditional irrigation scheduling methods (based on weather, plant, and soil moisture conditions) usually lack important information needed for precise irrigation, which leads to over- or under-irrigation of fields. On the other hand, by using several factors, including soil and climate variation, soil properties, plant responses to water deficits, and changes in weather factors, smart irrigation can drive better irrigation decisions that can help save water and increase yields. Various smart irrigation approaches, such as artificial intelligence and deep learning (artificial neural network, fuzzy logic, expert system, hybrid intelligent system, and deep learning), model predictive irrigation systems, variable rate irrigation (VRI) technology, and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) could ensure high water use efficiency in water-scarce regions. These smart irrigation technologies can improve water management and accelerate the progress in achieving multiple Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), where no one gets left behind.
Evaluation of Effective System for Tracing FHB Resistance in Wheat: An Editorial Commentary
Authors: Spanic Valentina , Sarcevic Hrvoje
Published: August 2023

A Special Issue of Agronomy titled “Treatment and Management of Fusarium Disease in Wheat” published five articles addressing the resistance of winter wheat varieties/lines to Fusarium head blight (FHB) [...]
Research on Fruit Spatial Coordinate Positioning by Combining Improved YOLOv8s and Adaptive Multi-Resolution Model
Authors: Kong Dexiao , Wang Jiayi , Zhang Qinghui , Li Junqiu , Rong Jian
Published: August 2023

Automated fruit-picking equipment has the potential to significantly enhance the efficiency of picking. Accurate detection and localization of fruits are particularly crucial in this regard. However, current methods rely on expensive tools such as depth cameras and LiDAR. This study proposes a low-cost method based on monocular images to achieve target detection and depth estimation. To improve the detection accuracy of targets, especially small targets, an advanced YOLOv8s detection algorithm is introduced. This approach utilizes the BiFormer block, an attention mechanism for dynamic query-aware sparsity, as the backbone feature extractor. It also adds a small-target-detection layer in the Neck and employs EIoU Loss as the loss function. Furthermore, a fused depth estimation method is proposed, which incorporates high-resolution, low-resolution, and local high-frequency depth estimation to obtain depth information with both high-frequency details and low-frequency structure. Finally, the spatial 3D coordinates of the fruit are obtained by fusing the planar coordinates and depth information. The experimental results with citrus as the target result in an improved YOLOv8s network mAP of 88.45% and a recognition accuracy of 94.7%. The recognition of citrus in a natural environment was improved by 2.7% compared to the original model. In the detection range of 30 cm~60 cm, the depth-estimation results (MAE, RSME) are 0.53 and 0.53. In the illumination intensity range of 1000 lx to 5000 lx, the average depth estimation results (MAE, RSME) are 0.49 and 0.64. In the simulated fruit-picking scenario, the success rates of grasping at 30 cm and 45 cm were 80.6% and 85.1%, respectively. The method has the advantage of high-resolution depth estimation without constraints of camera parameters and fruit size that monocular geometric and binocular localization do not have, providing a feasible and low-cost localization method for fruit automation equipment.
Unveiling the Impact of Different Nitrogen Fertilizer Levels on Rice’s Eating Quality through Metabolite Evaluation
Authors: Zhou Nianbing , Zhang Yanhong , Sun Tong , Zhu Jinyan , Hu Jinlong , Xiong Qiangqiang
Published: August 2023

We investigated the variations in metabolites associated with the quality of rice consumption when exposed to varying nitrogen fertilizer levels, as well as the regulatory role of pivotal metabolites within metabolic pathways. This research employed Hongyang 5 as the subject of experimentation, examining the metabolites of Hongyang 5 at three different nitrogen levels using non-targeted metabonomic analysis. The findings indicated that the overall assessment of the eating quality/palatability (CEQ) and amylose contents (AC) of Low nitrogen (D1: 180 kg·ha−1) was notably greater than that of Medium nitrogen (D2: 270 kg·ha−1) and High nitrogen (D3: 315 kg·ha−1). Conversely, the amylopectin (APC), total starch (SC), and protein contents (AP) of D1 were remarkably lower than those observed in D2 and D3. The starch debranching enzyme (DBE) and granule-bound starch synthetase (GBSS) of D1 were remarkably higher than those of D2 and D3. The soluble starch synthase (SSS) of D1 was the lowest. The ADP-glucose pyro-phosphorylase (AGP) and starch branching enzyme (SBE) of D3 were remarkably higher than that of D1 and D2. We identified 76 differential metabolites (DMs) between D1 and D2 (20 up-regulated and 56 down-regulated). A total of 88 DMs were identified between D3 and D1 (42 up-regulated and 46 down-regulated). A total of 57 DMs were identified between D3 and D2. Most of the DMs related to rice-eating quality were involved in the lipid metabolic pathway and amino acid metabolic pathway. The essential metabolites within the metabolic pathway are classified as lipid metabolites and are (13(S)-hydroperoxylinolenic acid, PGB2, 3-phosphocholine, 7-epijasmonic acid, 20-carboxyleukotriene B4 and 11-dehydro-thromboxane B2), amino acid metabolites (4-guanidinobutanoic acid, (3R, 5S)-1-pyrroline-3-hydroxy-5-carboxylic acid, citric acid, (S)-2-Acetolactate, L-glutamine, L-2, 4-aminobutyric acid and putrescine). These key metabolites may be affected by nitrogen fertilizer conditions and play critical regulatory roles in the metabolic pathway, resulting in differences in rice eating quality.
GGE Biplot-Based Transcriptional Analysis of 7 Genes Involved in Steroidal Glycoalkaloid Biosynthesis in Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.)
Authors: Zhao Feng , Li Yajie , Cui Tongxia , Bai Jiangping
Published: August 2023

Steroidal glycoalkaloids (SGAs) are secondary metabolites that are closely associated with the sensory and processing qualities of potato tubers. GGE biplots are a widely used tool for analyzing crop breeding analysis. This study aimed to investigate the effect of light on SGA biosynthesis by employing GGE biplots to analyze the transcriptional gene expression of seven genes involved in the SGA biosynthesis pathway. Tubers of five different potato genotypes were incubated for 6, 12, and 24 h under red light. The expression levels of the seven genes were measured using qRT-PCR for analysis. Further analysis of the data was performed using GGE biplots. Our results indicated significantly higher expression levels for Pvs1, Sgt1, and Sgt3 genes than those of the remaining tested genes. Across the three red light illumination durations, Sgt3 showed high and stable expression, although it showed less stability across the different genotypes. Interestingly, the expression patterns of the seven genes were extremely similar for the 12 h and 24 h treatments. It was found that at least 6 h of red light illumination was required for optimal gene expression in all five genotypes, particularly in the genotype Zhuangshu-3 (DXY) after 24 h of treatment. Additionally, significant expression of the seven genes was observed in the L-6 genotype after 12 and 6 h of red light illumination. These results highlight that GGE biplots are an appropriate tool for analyzing and illustrating the differential expression profiles of the seven key genes involved in SGA biosynthesis in potato tubers. This study provides valuable insights into the biosynthesis and metabolism of SGAs in potatoes. Moreover, it demonstrates the potential application of GGE biplots in crop breeding and other research fields.
Characterization and Trait Association Analysis of 27 Pearl Millet Landraces in Southern Tunisia
Authors: Triki Tebra , Bennani Leila , Boussora Faiza , Tlahig Samir , Ben Ali Sihem , Gasmi Amel , Yahia Hedi , Belhouchette Khaled , Loumerem Mohamed , Guasmi Ferdaous
Published: August 2023

Pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br., 2n = 2x = 14, Poaceae), is a cross-pollinated, warm-season crop grown worldwide. To select genotypes for breeding pearl millet cultivars that adapt to drought condition in southern Tunisia, we evaluated the grain yield (GY) and yield-related traits using a set of 27 landraces at two locations in southern Tunisia for two grown seasons (2019 and 2020). The genetic variability, phenotypic and genotypic association, and path coefficient (PC), based on grain yield (GY) and different yield-related agronomic traits, were evaluated. Analysis of variance and BLUPs value revealed a wide range of variability and the possibility of genetic selection for traits that are advantageous. Broad sense heritability (H) for all the traits ranged from 24.10% for grain yield (GY) to 57.11% for spike length (SL), indicating low to moderate inheritability. Genetic advance as a percentage of the mean (GAM) ranged from high (29.56%) for principal panicle weight (PPW) to moderate for all the traits except from plant high (PH) (7.31%). For all the traits, the phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV) was higher than genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV), indicating the magnitude of environmental conditions. GY was significantly correlated with all the traits at the genotypic and phenotypic level. According to the path coefficient, the traits PPW and SL displayed the highest direct effects on GY. Heatmap analysis demonstrated a clear segregation between the early and late genotypes based on their geographic origin. Based on the cluster analysis and FAI-BLUPS analysis, genotypes G11, G13, G12, G17 and G18 were selected as the best-performing genotypes with the shortest cycle.
Promotion of Growth of Alfalfa by Erwinia persicina Cp2 Exopolysaccharides under NaCl Stress
Authors: Chen Haiyan , Jin Zhenhai , Huang Rong , He Linxin , Tian Wangjun , Zhao Liang , Zhang Zhenfen
Published: August 2023

Soil salinity poses a significant challenge to plant growth and agricultural productivity. Research demonstrated the potential of exopolysaccharides (EPS) to enhance plant growth and improve resistance to abiotic stress. Nevertheless, the precise regulatory mechanism by which EPS mediates salt tolerance in alfalfa (Medicago sativa) remains largely unexplored. To investigate the protective effects of EPS from Erwinia persicina Cp2 in enhancing salt stress tolerance in alfalfa, a hydroponic experiment was conducted on the ‘Aohan’ cultivar of alfalfa, and changes in germination rate, biomass, chlorophyll content, electrolyte leakage (EL), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), malondialdehyde (MDA), proline (Pro), soluble sugar (SS), soluble protein (SP), and activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and peroxidase (POD) were analyzed with and without Cp2 EPS under 75 mmol/L NaCl conditions. The results show that the exposure of alfalfa to salt conditions seriously inhibited its germination and growth. However, it is interesting that the application of Cp2 EPS greatly alleviated the damage of salt stress on alfalfa and promoted the germination of alfalfa as well as the root length, seedling length, fresh weight, and dry weight of the plants. In addition, the increases in MDA, H2O2 content, and EL rate caused by salt stress were inhibited after Cp2 EPS treatment, while chlorophyll, Pro, SP, and SS contents as well as SOD and CAT activities were increased. Therefore, Cp2 EPS can significantly alleviate the toxic effect of 75 mmol/L NaCl stress on alfalfa, and comprehensive analysis shows that 1.5 g/L Cp2 EPS had the best alleviating effect on alfalfa at this salt stress concentration. This study lays a practical and theoretical foundation for the development of biogenic agents used to alleviate the growth of alfalfa in saline alkali soil.
Dietary High Glycinin Reduces Growth Performance and Impairs Liver and Intestinal Health Status of Orange-Spotted Grouper (Epinephelus coioides)
Authors: Yin Yanxia , Zhao Xingqiao , Yang Lulu , Wang Kun , Sun Yunzhang , Ye Jidan
Published: August 2023

The aim of the study was to investigate whether the negative effects of dietary glycinin are linked to the structural integrity damage, apoptosis promotion and microbiota alteration in the intestine of orange-spotted grouper (Epinephelus coioides). The basal diet (FM diet) was formulated to contain 48% protein and 11% lipid. Fish meal was replaced by soybean meal (SBM) in FM diets to prepare the SBM diet. Two experimental diets were prepared, containing 4.5% and 10% glycinin in the FM diets (G-4.5 and G-10, respectively). Triplicate groups of 20 fish in each tank (initial weight: 8.01 ± 0.10 g) were fed the four diets across an 8 week growth trial period. Fish fed SBM diets had reduced growth rate, hepatosomatic index, liver total antioxidant capacity and GSH-Px activity, but elevated liver MDA content vs. FM diets. The G-4.5 exhibited maximum growth and the G-10 exhibited a comparable growth with that of the FM diet group. The SBM and G-10 diets down-regulated intestinal tight junction function genes (occludin, claudin-3 and ZO-1) and intestinal apoptosis genes (caspase-3, caspase-8, caspase-9, bcl-2 and bcl-xL), but elevated blood diamine oxidase activity, D-lactic acid and endotoxin contents related to intestinal mucosal permeability, as well as the number of intestinal apoptosis vs FM diets. The intestinal abundance of phylum Proteobacteria and genus Vibrio in SBM diets were higher than those in groups receiving other diets. As for the expression of intestinal inflammatory factor genes, in SBM and G-10 diets vs. FM diets, pro-inflammatory genes (TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-8) were up-regulated, but anti-inflammatory genes (TGF-β1 and IL-10) were down-regulated. The results indicate that dietary 10% glycinin rather than 4.5% glycinin could decrease hepatic antioxidant ability and destroy both the intestinal microbiota profile and morphological integrity through disrupting the tight junction structure of the intestine, increasing intestinal mucosal permeability and apoptosis. These results further trigger intestinal inflammatory reactions and even enteritis, ultimately leading to the poor growth of fish.
Molecular Characterization of UL50 (dUTPase) Gene of Bovine Herpes Virus 1
Authors: Shahin Farzana , Raza Sohail , Chen Xi , Hu Changmin , Chen Yingyu , Chen Huanchun , Guo Aizhen
Published: August 2023

Bovine herpes virus -1 (BoHV-1) infection leads to upper respiratory tract infection, conjunctivitis and genital disorders in cattle. To control BoHV-1, it is important to understand the role of viral proteins in viral infection. BoHV-1 has several gene products to help in viral replication in infected cell. One such gene is deoxyuridine triphosphate nucleotidohydrolase (dUTPase) also known as UL50. In this study, we analyzed the amino acid sequence of UL50 (dUTPase) using bioinformatics tools and found that it was highly conserved among herpesvirus family. Then, it was cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli Rosetta (DE3), induced by isopropy1-b-D-thiogalactopyranoside (IPTG) and the recombinant UL50 protein was purified to immunize rabbits for the preparation of polyclonal antiserum. The results indicated that the UL50 gene of BoHV-1 was composed of 978 nucleotides, which encoded 323 amino acids. Western blot analysis revealed that polyclonal sera against UL50 reacted with a band of 34 kDa. Furthermore, immunofluorescence assay showed that UL50 localized in the cytoplasmic area. Taken together, UL50 was successfully cloned, expressed and detected in BoHV-1-infected cells and was localized in the cytoplasm to help in the replication of BoHV-1 in infected cells.
Synergic Effect of Brachyspira hyodysenteriae and Lawsonia intracellularis Coinfection: Anatomopathological and Microbiome Evaluation
Authors: Daniel Amanda G. S. , Pereira Carlos E. R. , Dorella Fernanda , Pereira Felipe L. , Laub Ricardo P. , Andrade Mariana R. , Barrera-Zarate Javier A. , Gabardo Michelle P. , Otoni Luísa V. A. , Macedo Nubia R. , Correia Paula A. , Costa Camila M. , Vasconcellos Amanda O. , Wagatsuma Mariane M. , Marostica Thaire P. , Figueiredo Henrique C. P. , Guedes Roberto M. C.
Published: August 2023

Brachyspira hyodysenteriae and Lawsonia intracellularis coinfection has been observed in the diagnostic routine; however, no studies have evaluated their interaction. This study aimed to characterize lesions and possible synergisms in experimentally infected pigs. Four groups of piglets, coinfection (CO), B. hyodysenteriae (BRA), L. intracellularis (LAW), and negative control (NEG), were used. Clinical signals were evaluated, and fecal samples were collected for qPCR. At 21 days post infection (dpi), all animals were euthanized. Gross lesions, bacterial isolation, histopathology, immunohistochemistry, and fecal microbiome analyses were performed. Diarrhea started at 12 dpi, affecting 11/12 pigs in the CO group and 5/11 pigs in the BRA group. Histopathological lesions were significantly more severe in the CO than the other groups. B. hyodysenteriae was isolated from 11/12 pigs in CO and 5/11 BRA groups. Pigs started shedding L. intracellularis at 3 dpi, and all inoculated pigs tested positive on day 21. A total of 10/12 CO and 7/11 BRA animals tested positive for B. hyodysenteriae by qPCR. A relatively low abundance of microbiota was observed in the CO group. Clinical signs and macroscopic and microscopic lesions were significantly more severe in the CO group compared to the other groups. The presence of L. intracellularis in the CO group increased the severity of swine dysentery.
Effects of HOXC8 on the Proliferation and Differentiation of Porcine Preadipocytes
Authors: Cui Weiguo , Zhang Qian , Wang Hanqiong , Zhang Xiaohan , Tian Ming , Liu Di , Yang Xiuqin
Published: August 2023

Transcription factor Homeobox C8 (HOXC8) is identified as a white adipose gene as revealed by expression profile analysis in fat tissues. However, the specific role of HOXC8 in fat accumulation remains to be identified. This study was designed to reveal the effects of HOXC8 on preadipocyte proliferation and differentiation. We first make clear that the expression of HOXC8 is associated with fat contents in muscles, highlighting a role of HOXC8 in fat accumulation. Next, it is demonstrated that HOXC8 promotes the proliferation and differentiation of preadipocytes through gain- and loss-of-function assays in primary cultured porcine preadipocytes. Then, mechanisms underlying the regulation of HOXC8 on preadipocyte proliferation and differentiation are identified with RNA sequencing, and a number of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in response to HOXC8 knockdown are identified. The top GO (Gene Ontology) terms enriched by DEGs involved in proliferation and differentiation, respectively, are identical. IL-17 signaling pathway is the common one significantly enriched by DEGs involved in preadipocyte proliferation and differentiation, respectively, indicating its importance in mediating fat accumulation regulated by HOXC8. Additionally, we find that the inhibition of proliferation is one of the main processes during preadipocyte differentiation. The results will contribue to further revealing the mechanisms underlying fat accumulation regulated by HOXC8.
Rehoming and Other Refinements and Replacement in Procedures Using Golden Hamsters in SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine Research
Authors: Štrbenc Malan , Kuhar Urška , Lainšček Duško , Orehek Sara , Slavec Brigita , Krapež Uroš , Malovrh Tadej , Majdič Gregor
Published: August 2023

Effective vaccines are needed to fight the COVID-19 pandemic. Forty golden hamsters were inoculated with two promising vaccine candidates and eighteen animals were used in pilot trials with viral challenge. ELISA assays were performed to determine endpoint serum titres for specific antibodies and virus neutralisation tests were used to evaluate the efficacy of antibodies. All tests with serum from vaccinated hamsters were negative even after booster vaccinations and changes in vaccination protocol. We concluded that antibodies did not have sufficient neutralising properties. Refinements were observed at all steps, and the in vitro method (virus neutralisation test) presented a replacement measure and ultimately lead to a reduction in the total number of animals used in the project. The institutional animal welfare officer and institutional designated veterinarian approved the reuse or rehoming of the surplus animals. Simple socialization procedures were performed and ultimately 19 animals were rehomed, and feedback was collected. Recently, FELASA published recommendations for rehoming of animals used for scientific and educational purposes, with species-specific guidelines, including mice, rats, and rabbits. Based on our positive experience and feedback from adopters, we concluded that the rehoming of rodents, including hamsters, is not only possible, but highly recommended.
Phylogenetic Analysis and Codon Usage Bias Reveal the Base of Feline and Canine Chaphamaparvovirus for Cross-Species Transmission
Authors: Guo Xu , Zhang Yingying , Pan Yang , Yang Kankan , Tong Xinxin , Wang Yong
Published: August 2023

Chaphamaparvoviruses (ChPVs) are ancient viruses that have been detected in a variety of hosts. In this study, through a phylogenetic analysis and the adaptability of ChPV to multiple hosts, we evaluated the basis for the ability of feline (FeChPV) and canine ChPV (CaChPV) for cross-species transmission. Phylogenetic analysis showed that FeChPV and CaChPV were closely related. Notably, two strains of ChPVs isolated from domestic cats and two from dogs clustered together with CaChPVs and FeChPVs, respectively, suggesting that the stringent boundaries between canine and feline ChPV may be broken. Further analysis revealed that CaChPV and FeChPV were more adapted to dogs than to cats. Mutation analysis identified several shared mutations in cross-species-transmissible strains. Furthermore, the VP structures of FeChPV and CaChPV exhibited a high degree of similarity across both cross-species-transmissible and non-cross-species-transmissible strains. However, it is crucial to note that these results are largely computational, and limitations exist in terms of the number and diversity of samples analyzed; the capacity for cross-species transmission should be approached with caution and elucidated in further studies.
The Adaptation of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs to the Hierarchy of Dogs’ Needs Using a Consensus Building Approach
Authors: Griffin Karen E. , Arndt Saskia S. , Vinke Claudia M.
Published: August 2023

It is crucial for good dog welfare that humans be able to accurately and adequately recognize and meet dogs’ needs. However, humans may do a poor job of recognizing dogs’ needs due to their tendency to anthropomorphize. The aim of this study was to develop a framework for dogs’ needs that would help humans to recognize and meet their actual needs, thereby improving dogs’ quality of life. Using the Delphi method, to reach as close to a consensus as possible from an expert panel, Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs was adapted to become the Dogs’ Hierarchy of Needs. To do so, the relevant scientific literature was reviewed to identify 37 specific dog needs, which were group into seven need groups. Those groups were then organized onto five need levels, which were as analogous to Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs as possible. The expert panel was asked to assess various aspects of the adapted hierarchy in comparison to the original, including face validity, whether they agreed with how the need levels were ordered in terms of importance/priority, and whether they felt that any need groups should be more or less prioritized for any specific dog categories (e.g., senior dogs). After three rounds of expert feedback, there was sufficient consensus for all aspects except items pertaining to the prioritization of any need groups for specific dog categories. That aspect of the adapted hierarchy will need to be readdressed in the next phase of this project: the development of a tool to assess the quality of life of dogs that reside in shelters/rescue organizations and post-adoption once they have been rehomed.
Deep Learning-Based Precision Analysis for Acrosome Reaction by Modification of Plasma Membrane in Boar Sperm
Authors: Park Mira , Yoon Heemoon , Kang Byeong Ho , Lee Hayoung , An Jisoon , Lee Taehyun , Cheong Hee-Tae , Lee Sang-Hee
Published: August 2023

The analysis of AR is widely used to detect loss of acrosome in sperm, but the subjective decisions of experts affect the accuracy of the examination. Therefore, we develop an ARCS for objectivity and consistency of analysis using convolutional neural networks (CNNs) trained with various magnification images. Our models were trained on 215 microscopic images at 400× and 438 images at 1000× magnification using the ResNet 50 and Inception–ResNet v2 architectures. These models distinctly recognized micro-changes in the PM of AR sperms. Moreover, the Inception–ResNet v2-based ARCS achieved a mean average precision of over 97%. Our system’s calculation of the AR ratio on the test dataset produced results similar to the work of the three experts and could do so more quickly. Our model streamlines sperm detection and AR status determination using a CNN-based approach, replacing laborious tasks and expert assessments. The ARCS offers consistent AR sperm detection, reduced human error, and decreased working time. In conclusion, our study suggests the feasibility and benefits of using a sperm diagnosis artificial intelligence assistance system in routine practice scenarios.
Protein Evaluation of Feedstuffs for Horses
Authors: Bockisch Franziska , Taubert Johannes , Coenen Manfred , Vervuert Ingrid
Published: August 2023

The German Society of Nutrition Physiology has proposed a new protein evaluation system for horse feeds to estimate pre-cecally digestible crude protein (pcdCP) and amino acids (pcdAA) from chemical properties. A total of 71 feeds for horses were chemically tested and evaluated according to the new protein evaluation system. A feeding trial with eight horses tested whether differences in estimated pcdAA and neutral detergent soluble CP (NDSCP) in the diet were reflected by post-prandial (ppr) kinetics of plasma lysine (Lys) by feeding a complementary feed (control = CTRL) with 1.02 g Lys/100 kg body weight (BW) as well as three diets with 3.02 g Lys/100 kg BW, as follows: (i) CTRL with synthetic AA (CTRL + synAA); (ii) CTRL with soybean meal (CTRL + SBM); and (iii) lucerne pellets (LUC). In comparison to CTRL, the areas of curves (AUCs) of ppr plasma Lys differed: CTRL < CTRL + SBM (p < 0.01) < CTRL + synAA (p < 0.05). For 71 feeds, the estimated pcdCP was correlated with the CP content (p < 0.001), NDSCP (p < 0.001), and ash-free neutral detergent fiber (p < 0.001). A mean neutral detergent insoluble CP content of at least 3–5% can be assumed in horse feed. It is speculated that the predicted availability of Lys from LUC seems to be underestimated by the new protein evaluating system. The influence of chewing and microbiota in vivo needs to be considered in horses.
Parametric Integration of Multiple Criteria from a Cultural Heritage Perspective
Authors: Segeur-Villanueva Suzanne , Caicedo-Llano Natalia , Zarcone Roberta , Abdelmagid Aly , Sabogal-Guachetá Nicolas
Published: August 2023

Parametric design is a versatile decision-making methodology that allows multi-criteria optimization. However, it is not as common for addressing aspects such as the cultural heritage of a given community. In this context, qualitative research proposes linking a cultural heritage classification with parametric design algorithms that include a stage of “design thinking” methodology, which culminates in community validation. This paper aims to demonstrate the potential of parametric and low-tech design as a multi-criteria decision strategy. Algorithms were developed with the mechanical properties of a given material, with meteorological information as input data, geometry as response, and with a simultaneously integrated multi-criteria decision-making process to improve the design. Most algorithms take as input variables such as size, function, or geometry and, as output, the structural material that best fits them, but not the opposite. This methodology was tested on a case study with the Misak community in Colombia, using Guadua (Guadua angustifolia), a subfamily of the bamboo, but which is little used. These criteria provided multiple design alternatives that were constantly debated to adjust and test the parameters of the prototype. The principal outcome is that an existing cultural heritage classification allows for the parametric model’s generalization ability.
HPLC with Post-Column Derivatization with Alizarin for Determination of OATD-02, an Anticancer Arginase Inhibitor in Clinical Development
Authors: Sobolewska Elzbieta , Tyszkiewicz Magdalena , Blaszczyk Roman , Biesaga Magdalena
Published: August 2023

The aim of this study was to develop an analytical method for selective determination of OATD-02 by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with post-column derivatization and fluorescence detection (FLD). OATD-02, a new boronic acid derivative, is a highly potent anticancer arginase inhibitor in clinical development. Chromatographic analysis of OATD-02 poses problems because this molecule has weak ultraviolet absorption. The derivatization reaction was based on the reaction between boronic acid from OATD-02 and alizarin solution. The optimized mobile phase consisted of a mixture of sodium bicarbonate in water and acetonitrile at a flow rate of 0.50 mL/min. Alizarin solution in methanol was delivered at a flow rate of 0.50 mL/min. The fluorescent complexes were detected by a fluorescence detector (excitation and emission wavelengths at 470 and 580 nm, respectively). The present method demonstrated proper values for selectivity, linearity, recovery (>99%), precision (RSD: 0.6%), sensitivity (LOD: 20 µg/mL and LOQ: 50 µg/mL), stability of solutions, and robustness.
Aggregation Dispatch and Control Strategies for Multi-Type Loads in Industrial Parks
Authors: Zheng Qunru , Yang Ping , Wu Yuhang , Xu Zhen , Zhang Peng
Published: August 2023

With the continuous expansion of renewable energy construction, the power system requires a larger-scale flexible dispatchable and controllable resource for power balance. Fully tapping into the power regulation capability of multi-type loads in industrial parks, making them a low-cost flexible dispatchable and controllable resource, is an effective approach to establish power regulation capability at scale in the new power system. However, the control characteristics of multi-type loads in industrial parks vary greatly, and their control delay characteristics, response speed, and sustainable response time are all different. Traditional dispatch and control methods cannot achieve precise control of the massive and multi-type loads in industrial parks. Therefore, this paper establishes unified models for the control characteristics of multi-type loads in industrial parks, quantitatively characterizes their control delay characteristics, start–stop characteristics, and control response speed. Based on this, the aggregated dispatch and control model and dispatch and control strategy for multi-type loads in industrial parks are developed, which provide a predictive control rate for individual loads considering the delay and segmented response characteristics to achieve precise aggregation control of multi-type loads in industrial parks. Simulation results show that the aggregated dispatch and control model and its aggregated dispatch and control strategy achieve precise control of multi-type loads in industrial parks. Flexible dispatchable and controllable loads can provide low-cost power regulation capability for the new power system.
Experimental Study on the Damage Mechanism of Reinforced Concrete Beams Based on Acoustic Emission Technique
Authors: Bu Jianqing , Guo Zhibo , Zhang Jiren , Zhang Yanzhe
Published: August 2023

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the developmental process of internal damage in prestressed concrete beams under static loading conditions. We conducted static loading tests on two prestressed reinforced concrete beams and one ordinary reinforced concrete beam. Acoustic emission (AE) technology was employed to dynamically monitor the entire process of the test beams simultaneously. The energy and ring count AE characteristic parameters were studied, and the frequency domain characteristics of acoustic emission signals from three test beams were analyzed. The actual failure process of the test beams was compared with the AE characteristic parameters and the waveform frequency distribution. Furthermore, the corresponding relationships between the actual failure process and the AE characteristic parameters were analyzed. Additionally, the frequency distribution of waveforms was examined. The obtained data, including deflection, strain, and prestress variation within the beams, were combined with theoretical calculations to explore the damage development law of simply supported reinforced concrete beams during the entire failure process. Comparative studies revealed a strong correlation between the actual failure processes of the three test beams and the AE characteristic parameters as well as the waveform frequency distribution. The strain variation trend of the ordinary reinforced concrete beam closely matched the AE signal characteristics, with the critical load often occurring at around 40% of the ultimate load. The strain and deflection variations of the prestressed reinforced concrete beams exhibited a robust correspondence with the AE signal characteristics. The critical load typically manifested at approximately 80% of the ultimate load. The ultimate load of the prestressed reinforced concrete beams decreased by approximately 20% under cyclic loading conditions compared to hierarchical loading.