bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Elucidating the role of key physio-biochemical traits and molecular network conferring heat stress tolerance in cucumber
Authors: Hongal Dhananjay A. , Raju Dhandapani , Kumar Sudhir , Talukdar Akshay , Das Anjan , Kumari Khushboo , Dash Prasanta K. , Chinnusamy Viswanathan , Munshi Anilabha Das , Behera Tusar Kanti , Dey Shyam Sundar
Published: February 2023

Cucumber is an important vegetable crop grown worldwide and highly sensitive to prevailing temperature condition. The physiological, biochemical and molecular basis of high temperature stress tolerance is poorly understood in this model vegetable crop. In the present study, a set of genotypes with contrasting response under two different temperature stress (35/30°C and 40/35°C) were evaluated for important physiological and biochemical traits. Besides, expression of the important heat shock proteins (HSPs), aquaporins (AQPs), photosynthesis related genes was conducted in two selected contrasting genotypes at different stress conditions. It was established that tolerant genotypes were able to maintain high chlorophyll retention, stable membrane stability index, higher retention of water content, stability in net photosynthesis, high stomatal conductance and transpiration in combination with less canopy temperatures under high temperature stress conditions compared to susceptible genotypes and were considered as the key physiological traits associated with heat tolerance in cucumber. Accumulation of biochemicals like proline, protein and antioxidants like SOD, catalase and peroxidase was the underlying biochemical mechanisms for high temperature tolerance. Upregulation of photosynthesis related genes, signal transduction genes and heat responsive genes (HSPs) in tolerant genotypes indicate the molecular network associated with heat tolerance in cucumber. Among the HSPs, higher accumulation of HSP70 and HSP90 were recorded in the tolerant genotype, WBC-13 under heat stress condition indicating their critical role. Besides, Rubisco S, Rubisco L and CsTIP1b were upregulated in the tolerant genotypes under heat stress condition. Therefore, the HSPs in combination with photosynthetic and aquaporin genes were the underlying important molecular network associated with heat stress tolerance in cucumber. The findings of the present study also indicated negative feedback of G-protein alpha unit and oxygen evolving complex in relation to heat stress tolerance in cucumber. These results indicate that the thermotolerant cucumber genotypes enhanced physio-biochemical and molecular adaptation under high-temperature stress condition. This study provides foundation to design climate smart genotypes in cucumber through integration of favorable physio-biochemical traits and understanding the detailed molecular network associated with heat stress tolerance in cucumber.
Shoot-root signal circuit: Phytoremediation of heavy metal contaminated soil
Authors: Bai Shiyan , Han Xiao , Feng Dan
Published: February 2023

High concentrations of heavy metals in the environment will cause serious harm to ecosystems and human health. It is urgent to develop effective methods to control soil heavy metal pollution. Phytoremediation has advantages and potential for soil heavy metal pollution control. However, the current hyperaccumulators have the disadvantages of poor environmental adaptability, single enrichment species and small biomass. Based on the concept of modularity, synthetic biology makes it possible to design a wide range of organisms. In this paper, a comprehensive strategy of “microbial biosensor detection - phytoremediation - heavy metal recovery” for soil heavy metal pollution control was proposed, and the required steps were modified by using synthetic biology methods. This paper summarizes the new experimental methods that promote the discovery of synthetic biological elements and the construction of circuits, and combs the methods of producing transgenic plants to facilitate the transformation of constructed synthetic biological vectors. Finally, the problems that should be paid more attention to in the remediation of soil heavy metal pollution based on synthetic biology were discussed.
Why are hedonists less happy than eudaimonists? The chain mediating role of goal conflict and mixed emotions
Authors: Sun Wujun , Liu Lei , Jiang Yuan , Fang Ping , Ding Xiaosheng , Wang Guangjun
Published: February 2023

Introduction

Human motivation for happiness involves two main orientations of hedonia and eudaimonia. Numerous studies have shown that hedonic motivation has a much smaller effect on happiness outcomes than eudaimonic motivation, but little is known about the reasons for this. According to the Self-Determination Theory and the Levels of Valence Model, this may be related to the different goal conflicts and mixed emotions elicited by the two motivations. To demonstrate this, the study examined the mediating effect of the above two variables between happiness motivation and life satisfaction. Furthermore, it explained why hedonists are less happy than eudaimonists by comparing the two happiness motivations in terms of their respective path effects.

Methods

The study randomly selected 788 college students from 13 different provinces of China to examine the relationships between hedonic motivation, eudaimonic motivation, goal conflict, mixed emotions, and life satisfaction.

Results

The result showed that (1) the direct effect of hedonic motivation on life satisfaction was marginally significant, and the effect size was much smaller than that of eudaimonic motivation. (2) The direct and indirect effects of hedonic motivation were the opposite, with a large suppressing effect. In contrast, all paths of eudaimonic motivation positively affected life satisfaction. (3) Hedonic motivation negatively influenced life satisfaction through mixed emotions and the chain mediating effect of goal conflict and mixed emotions, whereas eudaimonic motivation positively influenced life satisfaction through these two mediating paths. (4) The effects on all paths of hedonic motivation were significantly smaller than those of eudaimonic motivation, except for the path mediated by goal conflict.

Discussion

This study explains why hedonists are less happy than eudaimonists from the perspective of goal pursuit, emphasizes the critical role of differences in goal pursuit state and experience between happiness motivation and life satisfaction, and provides new ideas for the study of the influence mechanism of happiness motivation. At the same time, the deficiencies of hedonic motivation and the advantages of eudaimonic motivation presented by the study provide directions for cultivating happiness motivation for adolescents in the practice field.
Speech-language disorder severity, academic success, and socioemotional functioning among multilingual and English children in the United States: The National Survey of Children’s Health
Authors: Foster Matthew E. , Choo Ai Leen , Smith Sara A.
Published: February 2023

Research points to negative associations between educational success, socioemotional functioning, and the severity of symptoms in some speech-language disorders (SLDs). Nonetheless, the majority of studies examining SLDs in children have focused on monolinguals. More research is needed to determine whether the scant findings among multilinguals are robust. The present study used parent report data from the U.S. National Survey of Children’s Health (2018 to 2020) to gain a better understanding of the impacts of SLD severity on indicators of academic success and socioemotional functioning among multilingual (n = 255) and English monolingual (n = 5,952) children with SLDs. Tests of between-group differences indicated that multilingual children evidenced more severe SLDs, had lower school engagement, and had lower reports of flourishing than English monolingual children with SLDs. Further, a greater proportion of multilingual children with SLDs missed more school days than English monolinguals. However, multilinguals were less likely to bully others or have been bullied than monolinguals. While the previous between-group differences were statistically significant, they were small (vs ≤ 0.08). Increased SLD severity predicted an increased number of repeated school grades, increased absenteeism, and decreased school engagement, when age and socioeconomic status were controlled. Increased SLD severity also predicted greater difficulty making and keeping friends and decreased flourishing. The effect of SLD severity on being bullied was statistically significant for the monolinguals but not multilinguals. There was a statistically significant interaction for SLD severity and sex for school engagement and difficulty making and keeping friends for monolinguals but not multilinguals. The interactions indicated that school engagement decreased more for females than for males while difficulties making and keeping friends increased more for males than females as one’s SLD severity increased. While some findings were specific to monolinguals, tests of measurement invariance indicated that the same general pattern of relations among the variables were evident across the groups of multilinguals and monolinguals. These final findings can inform the interpretation of the results from both the current and future studies, while the overall findings can inform the development of intervention programs, thereby improving the long-term academic and socioemotional outcomes of children with SLDs.
The role of digital literacy in achieving health equity in the third millennium society: A literature review
Authors: Campanozzi Laura Leondina , Gibelli Filippo , Bailo Paolo , Nittari Giulio , Sirignano Ascanio , Ricci Giovanna
Published: February 2023

Healthcare in the third millennium is largely delivered through systems involving the use of the technological devices and services, foremost among them telemedicine. For the adequate delivery of digital medicine services, however, it is necessary for users to be digitally literate, that is, able to consciously make use of technology. In order to understand how relevant digital literacy is in determining the effectiveness of e-Health services, we performed a traditional literature review on 3 major databases by combining the terms “Digital Literacy” and “Computer Literacy” with the terms “Telemedicine” and “Telehealth”. Starting from an initial library of 1,077 papers, we selected 38 articles. At the outcome of the search, we found that digital literacy is a pivotal element in conditioning the effectiveness of telemedicine and digital medicine services in general, however, with some limitations.
Organization of rehabilitation services for youth with physical disabilities and mental health problems: A scoping review
Authors: Tremblay Stephanie , Lal Shalini , Xiang Lucille , Ferro Mark A. , Anaby Dana
Published: February 2023

Introduction

Youth with childhood-onset physical disabilities receiving rehabilitation services often present with many complex needs. Emerging evidence confirms co-occurrence of mental health problems in this population is common, and mental health is often overlooked during rehabilitation for chronic physical conditions. For example, symptoms of depression and anxiety are frequently present in adolescents with physical disability such as spina bifida or Duchenne muscular dystrophy, and access to mental health services is often limited. Addressing mental health concerns for this age group is particularly critical as it encompasses a challenging transition to adulthood.

Objectives

Building upon findings from a recent scoping review on the co-occurrence of physical disabilities and mental health problems, this paper synthesizes scientific literature related to the organization and delivery of services for youth with co-occurring childhood-onset physical disabilities (e.g., cerebral palsy, spina bifida) and mental health problems (e.g., depression, anxiety).

Methods

A scoping review protocol stemming from Arksey & O'Malley's framework and updated guidelines from the Joanna Briggs Institute was developed. Four databases (Medline, PsycINFO, CINAHL, Embase) were searched. The search was limited to French or English peer-reviewed articles published between 2000 and 2021. Articles included were primary papers addressing: 1) youth aged 15 to 24 with a childhood-onset physical disability, 2) mental health problems, and 3) healthcare service organization or delivery. They were screened by two reviewers and discussed with a third to establish consensus on the inclusion criteria and resolve disagreements.

Results

Sixteen articles were retained from the 1,010 screened. Many (9/16) were from the United States. Two models were found: the Biopsychosocial, Collaborative, Agency-Based Service Integration Approach (including psychiatry in a pediatric rehabilitation hospital) and the Client Network Consultation (an interagency collaboration in mental health care for children with complex healthcare needs). Twelve key principles for service organization and delivery were identified and categorized into: collaboration and coordination, training and support, and delivery of care.

Conclusion

Identified principles can guide improved service delivery for this population. Highlighted research gaps include the need for developing models of collaborative healthcare delivery and subsequently evaluating their effectiveness.
Trends in surgical approaches and adnexal surgeries during hysterectomies for benign diseases between 2015–2021
Authors: Zhu Xuejiao , Xi Hongli , Li Zhifang , Wang Xinping
Published: February 2023

Background

Hysterectomy is a widely used surgical approach for benign gynecological conditions, although recently there have been differences in the surgical route selected in different regions.

Aims

To estimate recent temporal trends, this study collected data on surgical approaches and adnexal surgeries during hysterectomies for benign diseases at a single institute from 2015 to 2021.

Materials and methods

We retrospectively analyzed data from Xiangyang No.1 People's Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine in Xiangyang, China, and identified 1828 women who underwent hysterectomies for benign gynecologic conditions performed with or without bilateral salpingectomy (BS) or bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (BSO) between January 2015 and December 2021.

Results

There was an upward trend in the performance of hysterectomy and hysterectomy with BS, and there was a difference in the trends of concomitant adnexal surgery between AH, TLH, and VH, especially in TLH with BS. Patient characteristics data demonstrated that the most frequent indication for hysterectomy was leiomyoma, especially in women aged 45 to 65. Compared to AH, TLH, and VH, the operative bleeding, duration of surgery, and length of hospital stays of patients undergoing TLH with BS and BSO was the lowest. The surgical approach to benign diseases has changed dramatically due to a growing proportion of patients choosing minimally invasive procedures. The laparoscopic approach is becoming popular due to its capacity to decrease intraoperative blood loss and reduce hospitalization.

Conclusions

We should put more emphasis on surgical training for the TLH approach and help gynecologic surgeons provide the proposed added benefit of BS to their patients.
Induced pluripotent stem cells from domesticated ruminants and their potential for enhancing livestock production
Authors: Weeratunga Prasanna , Harman Rebecca M. , Van de Walle Gerlinde R.
Published: February 2023

Ruminant livestock, including cattle, sheep, goat, and buffalo, are essential for global food security and serve valuable roles in sustainable agricultural systems. With the limited availability of embryonic stem cells (ESCs) from these species, ruminant induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and iPSC-like cells provide a valuable research tool for agricultural, veterinary, biomedical, and pharmaceutical applications, as well as for the prospect of translation to human medicine. iPSCs are generated by reprogramming of adult or fetal cells to an ESC-like state by ectopic expression of defined transcription factors. Despite the slow pace the field has evolved in livestock species compared to mice and humans, significant progress has been made over the past 15 years in using different cell sources and reprogramming protocols to generate iPSCs/iPSC-like cells from ruminants. This mini review summarizes the current literature related to the derivation of iPSCs/iPSC-like cells from domesticated ruminants with a focus on reprogramming protocols, characterization, associated limitations, and potential applications in ruminant basic science research and production.
Ambient Air Quality Standards and Policies in Eastern Mediterranean Countries: A Review
Authors: Faridi Sasan , Krzyzanowski Michal , Cohen Aaron J. , Malkawi Mazen , Moh’d Safi Heba Adel , Yousefian Fatemeh , Azimi Faramarz , Naddafi Kazem , Momeniha Fatemeh , Niazi Sadegh , Amini Heresh , Künzli Nino , Shamsipour Mansour , Mokammel Adel , Roostaei Vahid , Hassanvand Mohammad Sadegh
Published: February 2023

Objectives: National ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) are critical tools for controlling air pollution and protecting public health. We designed this study to 1) gather the NAAQS for six classical air pollutants: PM2.5, PM10, O3, NO2, SO2, and CO in the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR) countries, 2) compare those with the updated World Health Organizations Air Quality Guidelines (WHO AQGs 2021), 3) estimate the potential health benefits of achieving annual PM2.5 NAAQS and WHO AQGs per country, and 4) gather the information on air quality policies and action plans in the EMR countries.

Methods: To gather information on the NAAQS, we searched several bibliographic databases, hand-searched the relevant papers and reports, and analysed unpublished data on NAAQS in the EMR countries reported from these countries to the WHO/Regional office of the Eastern Mediterranean/Climate Change, Health and Environment Unit (WHO/EMR/CHE). To estimate the potential health benefits of reaching the NAAQS and AQG levels for PM2.5, we used the average of ambient PM2.5 exposures in the 22 EMR countries in 2019 from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) dataset and AirQ+ software.

Results: Almost all of the EMR countries have national ambient air quality standards for the critical air pollutants except Djibouti, Somalia, and Yemen. However, the current standards for PM2.5 are up to 10 times higher than the current health-based WHO AQGs. The standards for other considered pollutants exceed AQGs as well. We estimated that the reduction of annual mean PM2.5 exposure level to the AQG level (5 μg m−3) would be associated with a decrease of all natural-cause mortality in adults (age 30+) by 16.9%–42.1% in various EMR countries. All countries would even benefit from the achievement of the Interim Target-2 (25 μg m−3) for annual mean PM2.5: it would reduce all-cause mortality by 3%–37.5%. Less than half of the countries in the Region reported having policies relevant to air quality management, in particular addressing pollution related to sand and desert storms (SDS) such as enhancing the implementation of sustainable land management practices, taking measures to prevent and control the main factors of SDS, and developing early warning systems as tools to combat SDS. Few countries conduct studies on the health effects of air pollution or on a contribution of SDS to pollution levels. Information from air quality monitoring is available for 13 out of the 22 EMR countries.

Conclusion: Improvement of air quality management, including international collaboration and prioritization of SDS, supported by an update (or establishment) of NAAQSs and enhanced air quality monitoring are essential elements for reduction of air pollution and its health effects in the EMR.
A Study of a Bistable Reciprocating Piston Pump Driven by Shape Memory Alloys and Recuperative Springs
Authors: Kostov Mihail , Todorov Todor , Mitrev Rosen , Kamberov Konstantin , Nikolov Rumen
Published: February 2023

This paper presents and examines a new design concept for a bistable reciprocating piston pump. The bistable pump mechanism belongs to the bistable mechanisms, which have two stable positions at the end of the suction and discharge strokes. The transition between the stable positions is achieved by using triggering force at each beginning of suction and discharge and subsequent movement using a recuperative spring. In this mechanism, the triggering forces are created by two Shape Memory Alloy (SMA) wires. Geometric and force expressions for the pump suction and discharge strokes are derived. Additional equations are obtained for the balance of moments for the two stable equilibrium positions and the unstable position in the middle of the stroke. Numerical studies have been conducted for the suction and discharge strokes, considering the force exerted by the gas on the piston, which is modelled by an indicator diagram assuming a polytropic process. It was found that the load on the mechanism has significant non-uniformity. The diagrams illustrating the distribution of total moments showed that the cold SMA wire shifted the point of instability. The numerical example shows how to choose the right spring stiffness to obtain energy recovery. In this way, the triggering SMA forces act only at the beginning of the two strokes and, after that, the recuperative forces substitute the action of the SMA forces. The theoretical relationships and methods presented here are suitable for synthesizing new pumps or analyzing similar mechanisms.
A Deep Trajectory Controller for a Mechanical Linear Stage Using Digital Twin Concept
Authors: Chaiprabha Kantawatchr , Chancharoen Ratchatin
Published: February 2023

An industrial linear stage is a device that is commonly used in robotics. To be precise, an industrial linear stage is an electro-mechanical system that includes a motor, electronics, flexible coupling, gear, ball screw, and precision linear bearing. A tight fit can provide better precision but also generates a difficult-to-model friction that is highly nonlinear and asymmetrical. Herein, this paper proposes an advanced trajectory controller based on a digital twin framework incorporated with artificial intelligence (AI), which can effectively control a precision linear stage. This framework offers several advantages: detection of abnormalities, estimation of performance, and selective control over any situation. The digital twin is developed via Matlab’s Simscape and runs concurrently having a real-time controller.
A Novel Field-Oriented Control Algorithm for Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motors in 60° Coordinate Systems
Authors: Tang Xiao , Zhang Zhi , Liu Xueliang , Liu Chang , Jiang Ming , Song Yue
Published: February 2023

In this study, a novel field-oriented control (FOC) algorithm was proposed in a 60° coordinate system for controlling the speed of permanent magnet synchronous motors. The FOC algorithm consists of several parts in which the reference currents and feedback currents are transformed into the representation form in a 60° coordinate system. Current regulators are typically used in a 60° coordinate system to directly obtain the reference voltage vector. The proposed FOC structure was established by incorporating the space vector pulse width modulation algorithm in a 60° coordinate system. The proposed FOC structure simplified the FOC algorithm and reduced its computational burden. The feasibility of the proposed method was verified through simulations and experiments.
Identification and Registration of the Novel High-Rhizome-Yielding Variety Bharamputra-1 of Kaempferia galanga L.
Authors: Lal Mohan , Munda Sunita , Begum Twahira , Pandey Sudin Kumar
Published: February 2023

Kaempferia galanga is an endangered plant whose recognition as a flavoring agent and perfumery ingredient has increased its demand greatly. Therefore, the present investigation aimed at the identification of high-rhizome-yielding varieties of K. galanga. A total of forty-nine germplasms were collected from different parts of India and planted at CSIR-NEIST, Jorhat experimental farm, during 2013. The two-year evaluation of essential morphological and chemical data was recorded for the selection of superior rhizomes with a high rhizome yield during 2014 and 2015. Subsequently, multi-location field trials were conducted with the selected elite germplasm along with controls using a randomized complete block design, and relevant morphological traits as well as essential oil quality data were recorded for all the lines for three consecutive years during 2016, 2017 and 2018. The essential oil quality was analyzed by using GC/MS. The data obtained were statistically analyzed for stability based on rhizome yield, essential oil yield and days to maturity. A high-rhizome-yielding variety of K. galanga was identified and named Bharamputra-1.Itwas found to be stable in multi-locational trials conducted in Northeast India. The variety showed a mean rhizome yield of 10.01 tones/ha. Stability parameters, namely, βi = 1.13 and σ2di = −0.07 were recorded and found to be superior to those of the other examined varieties. The chemical profiling of the rhizome essential oil of the selected germplasm was also performed using GC/MS, which revealed ethyl p-methoxycinnamate (37.25%), trans-ethyl cinnamate (28.35%), endo-borneol (8.91%), eucalyptol (6.83%), (-)-camphor (3.98%) and 3-carene (3.77%) as the main components. The cultivation of this identified variety could help in the successful commercial cultivation of the crop.
Stimulation of Early Post-Emergence Growth of Alopecurus myosuroides and Apera spica-venti Following Spray Application of ACCase Inhibitors
Authors: Wrochna Mariola , Stankiewicz-Kosyl Marta , Wińska-Krysiak Marzena
Published: February 2023

Resistance of blackgrass (Alopecurus myosuroides Huds.) and silky bentgrass (Apera spica-venti (L.) P. Beauv.) to ACCase inhibitors is a serious issue in winter cereals throughout Europe, especially as hormesis induced by herbicides has been observed in some populations. According to the literature, growth-stimulating herbicide rates are on the rise. The aim of this study was to assess the responses of A. myosuroides and A. spica-venti, which are potentially resistant to ACCase inhibitors, to fenoxaprop-P-ethyl and pinoxaden applied at rates up to 8 times greater than their registered rates. The reaction of A. myosuroides to fenoxaprop-P-ethyl and pinoxaden resulted in an increase in biomass gain in six and four populations, respectively. In one population of A. myosuroides, this increase was statistically significant (46.4% and 55.3%). All three potentially resistant A. spica-venti populations tested were at least partially stimulated by fenoxaprop-P-ethyl, while pinoxaden only stimulated the APSII population (significant increase of 43.8%). Predictions of the possible impact of herbicides on the reproductive potential of the tested populations allow genotypes to be identified whose reproduction may be stimulated by the herbicides. The results of this study indicate that the tested populations can induce mechanisms that reduce the negative impact of the applied herbicides, with some populations demonstrating the effect of stimulating the accumulation of biomass in the treated plants.
How Agricultural Farmers Respond to Risks during the COVID-19 Pandemic: An Exploration through the Dual Social Capitals Approach
Authors: Hao Mingsong , Lu Chuntian , Zhou Xi , Xu Jing
Published: February 2023

The degree of risk to which agricultural farmers are exposed during the COVID-19 pandemic and how they tackle those difficulties is a critical topic. Although the topic has been paid considerable attention by worldwide scholars, this study intends to compensate for it via conducting a ground-breaking analysis based on sample survey data. Integrating theoretical perspectives of individual- and collective-level social capitals rooted in sociology, and using NPRM (Nested Poisson Regression Model) to analyze a sample survey data collected in rural China in August 2020, we generated the following findings. (1) The overall risks and damages to agricultural production and management are relatively minimal. Thus, farmers are highly confident in conquering the pandemic and recovering their business. (2) Compared with micro- and macro-level influencing factors, social capital at both levels could greatly help agricultural farmers obtain informal and formal supporting resources (such as encouragement and financial supports), thus helping them to cope with the pandemic shock. (3) Specifically, the acquisition of informal supporting resources is mainly affected by the size of farmers’ ordinary networks (Spring Festival Visiting Network) and the frequency of public activities held in a village; gaining access to formal supporting resources is also influenced by the frequency of public activities, but the state of farmers’ personal connections with official departments plays a crucial role in determining the amount of such resources can be obtained. According to these empirical findings, suggestions on how to suppress the negative effects and lift the positive effects of dual social capitals in the process of responding to risks are proposed.
Use of Gas Chromatography and SPME Extraction for the Differentiation between Healthy and Paenibacillus larvae Infected Colonies of Bee Brood—Preliminary Research
Authors: Piechowicz Bartosz , Kwiatek Aleksandra , Sadło Stanisław , Zaręba Lech , Koziorowska Anna , Kloc Daniela , Balawejder Maciej
Published: February 2023

Paenibacillus larvae is a deadly pathogen for bee brood, which can lead to the death of entire colonies. The presence of specific volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the hive may be related to the occurrence of this bacterium in brood. Compositions of those volatile fractions present in healthy brood from control colonies and the brood without symptoms of infection collected from the colonies infected by P. larvae were compared using gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and solid phase microextraction (SPME). Among the seven compounds detected and quantified, the relative concentrations of 3-carene and limonene significantly differentiated the brood from healthy and infected colonies. Based on the ratio analysis, the samples were differentiated in terms of the number of emitted VOCs.
Duguetia lanceolata A. St.-Hil. (Annonaceae) Essential Oil: Toxicity against Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) and Selectivity for the Parasitoid Trichogramma pretiosum Riley (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae)
Authors: de Paula Rosetti Mayara Ketllyn , Alves Dejane Santos , Luft Isabela Caroline , Pompermayer Katiane , Scolari Andressa Soares , de Souza e Silva Gabriela Trindade , de Oliveira Murilo Silva , Vanegas Javier Andrés García , Pacule Horácio Bambo , Silva Geraldo Humberto , de Oliveira Denilson Ferreira , Carvalho Geraldo Andrade
Published: February 2023

The fall armyworm (FAW) Spodoptera frugiperda is a polyphagous pest that is difficult to control due to populations resistant to various active ingredients. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate the toxicity of essential oils (EOs) from the organs of Annona neolaurifolia, Duguetia lanceolata, and Xylopia brasiliensis, against the FAW and its natural enemy, Trichogramma pretiosum. The most active EOs were those from the leaves and stem bark of D. lanceolata, which presented LD90 to S. frugiperda equal to 70.76 and 127.14 µg of EO/larvae, respectively. The major compounds in the EO of D. lanceolata (leaves) were β-caryophyllene and caryophyllene oxide. Although individually inactive against the FAW, when combined, those compounds reduced the insect’s probability of survival. However, the mortality was lower than that caused by EO. This result suggests that other components of EO contribute to the activity against FAW. Furthermore, the EO of the leaves from D. lanceolata presented low toxicity to the egg-larva stage of T. pretiosum, but was toxic to other phases. Thus, EO from D. lanceolata is potentially useful for developing new products to control S. frugiperda.
Automatic Equipment to Increase Sustainability in Agricultural Fertilization
Authors: Martínez García Mario , Ramos Cabral Silvia , Pérez Zúñiga Ricardo , Martínez Rodríguez Luis Carlos G.
Published: February 2023

The purpose of the study was to design a device for the dissolution of fertilizers for agricultural use in an automatic and environmentally sustainable way to facilitate the work of farmers. To achieve this goal, an outdated blade design was used, which generates turbulent and laminar flows thanks to the angle of inclination of its blades. In tests, the combination of these two flows gave a better result compared to laminar and turbulent flows separately. The best results were achieved by varying the spin and speed, the time between spins, and the rest time. The time it would take to dissolve the mixture was drastically reduced if it were conducted in the traditional way (manually) or compared with commercial mixers. In conclusion, the technique used for the dissolution of agricultural minerals is more effective and reduces time, energy, and effort. This was able to reduce the time necessary to dissolve the fertilizer by 93 percent compared to doing it manually and by 66 percent compared to using commercial mixers, in a solution of 100 L of water per 100 kg of ammonium sulfate.
Effect of Traditional Spices on the Quality and Antioxidant Potential of Paneer Prepared from Buffalo Milk
Authors: Qureshi Tahir Mahmood , Nadeem Muhammad , Iftikhar Javeria , Salim-ur-Rehman  , Ibrahim Sobhy M. , Majeed Faizan , Sultan Muhammad
Published: February 2023

This study aims to evaluate the effect of different spices (black pepper, cumin, clove, nigella, cardamom, and cinnamon) on the physicochemical characteristics and microbial quality, as well as antioxidant potential, of paneer during storage. Different types of spices were incorporated into the paneer at different levels (0.2 and 0.3%). In addition to paneer, the antioxidant potential of spices was also investigated. The results concerning total plate counts (TPC) or yeast and molds (Y & M) (log10 CFU/g) of all treatments were substantially (p < 0.05) increased during storage. Generally, all freshly prepared spicy paneer and control had higher sensory scores for all the sensory characteristics which declined during subsequent storage. All the paneer samples having 0.3% spices showed very slight variations (nonsignificant) in sensory score of all the attributes of their relative samples containing 0.2% spice. The incorporation of spices into the paneer matrix also showed promising results concerning all the above-mentioned attributes revealing antioxidant potential. There was significant (p < 0.05) effect of treatments and storage days on antioxidant potential of paneer. The freshly prepared control paneer (P0) showed the lowest total phenol (TP), total flavonoids (TF), 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), reducing power (RP), and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) values compared to all the spicy paneer (treatments). The freshly prepared control paneer (P0) showed the lowest antioxidant potential compared to all the spicy paneer (treatments). The maximum antioxidant potential was observed in the paneer having 0.3% clove (P6). All the spicy paneer showed increasing trend of all the attributes, showing antioxidant potential up to 6 days of storage, but afterwards, the activities were slightly decreased. It may be concluded that spicy paneer would be considered as a functional dairy product with enhanced sensory and antioxidant properties, and shelf stability.
Non-Destructive Detection of Chicken Freshness Based on Electronic Nose Technology and Transfer Learning
Authors: Xiong Yunwei , Li Yuhua , Wang Chenyang , Shi Hanqing , Wang Sunyuan , Yong Cheng , Gong Yan , Zhang Wentian , Zou Xiuguo
Published: February 2023

As a non-destructive detection method, an electronic nose can be used to assess the freshness of meats by collecting and analyzing their odor information. Deep learning can automatically extract features and uncover potential patterns in data, minimizing the influence of subjective factors such as selecting features artificially. A transfer-learning-based model was proposed for the electronic nose to detect the freshness of chicken breasts in this study. First, a 3D-printed electronic nose system is used to collect the odor data from chicken breast samples stored at 4 °C for 1–7 d. Then, three conversion to images methods are used to feed the recorded time series data into the convolutional neural network. Finally, the pre-trained AlexNet, GoogLeNet, and ResNet models are retrained in the last three layers while being compared to classic machine learning methods such as K Nearest Neighbors (KNN), Random Forest (RF), and Support Vector Machines (SVM). The final accuracy of ResNet is 99.70%, which is higher than the 94.33% correct rate of the popular machine learning model SVM. Therefore, the electronic nose combined with conversion to images shows great potential for using deep transfer learning methods for chicken freshness classification.
Modelling Vineyard Spraying by Precisely Assessing the Duty Cycles of a Blast Sprayer Controlled by Pulse-Width-Modulated Nozzles
Authors: Saiz-Rubio Verónica , Ortiz Coral , Torregrosa Antonio , Ortí Enrique , Pérez Montano , Cuenca Andrés , Rovira-Más Francisco
Published: February 2023

The flowrate control of spraying systems with pulse-width-modulated solenoid valves is currently being implemented for precision herbicide application in commodity crops, but solutions for fruit trees set in orchards that require higher pressures are mostly in the development stage. A reason for this has been the higher flowrate and pressure requirements of blast sprayers used for dense canopies typical of high value crops. In the present study, the duty cycles preset by an operator were compared to the actual ones estimated from measuring flowrates. A new developed air-assisted orchard sprayer with shelf hollow disc-cone nozzles was studied, such that flowrates and pressures were registered by a computer for different duty cycles commanded by an operator from 10% to 100% in intervals of 10%. In addition to sensor data, visual assessment was carried out via high-speed video images. The results showed that preset duty cycles were always more than 10% lower than the actual DC estimated from measured flowrates. The effective operational range of the duty cycles went from 20% to 80%. In general, the deviations in transitional periods were higher for lower duty cycles, being difficult to determine the real reduction in flowrate during the transition periods. A correction model has been proposed to adjust the preset duty cycles to make sure that the necessary spray flowrate is released as precisely commanded by prescription maps. Further research will be needed to verify the proper implementation of the developed correction model in field applications.
Bibliometric and Social Network Analysis on the Use of Satellite Imagery in Agriculture: An Entropy-Based Approach
Authors: Dainelli Riccardo , Saracco Fabio
Published: February 2023

Satellite imagery is gaining popularity as a valuable tool to lower the impact on natural resources and increase profits for farmers. The purpose of this study is twofold: to mine the scientific literature to reveal the structure of this research domain, and to investigate to what extent scientific results can reach a wider public audience. To meet these two objectives, a Web of Science and a Twitter dataset were retrieved and analysed, respectively. For the academic literature, different performances of various countries were observed: the USA and China resulted as the leading actors, both in terms of published papers and employed researchers. Among the categorised keywords, “resolution”, “Landsat”, “yield”, “wheat” and “multispectral” are the most used. Then, analysing the semantic network of the words used in the various abstracts, the different facets of the research in satellite remote sensing were detected. The importance of retrieving meteorological parameters through remote sensing and the broad use of vegetation indexes emerged from these analyses. As emerging topics, classification tasks for land use assessment and crop recognition stand out, alongside the use of hyperspectral sensors. Regarding the interaction of academia with the public, the analysis showed that it is practically absent on Twitter: most of the activity therein stems from private companies advertising their business. This shows that there is still a communication gap between academia and actors from other societal sectors.
Tropical Tree Crop Simulation with a Process-Based, Daily Timestep Simulation Model (ALMANAC): Description of Model Adaptation and Examples with Coffee and Cocoa Simulations
Authors: Kiniry James , Fernandez J. , Aziz Fati , Jacot Jacqueline , Williams Amber , Meki Manyowa , Leyton Javier , Baez-Gonzalez Alma , Johnson Mari-Vaughn
Published: February 2023

Coffee (Coffea species) and Cocoa (Theobroma cacao) are important cash crops grown in the tropics but traded globally. This study was conducted to apply the ALMANAC model to these crops for the first time, and to test its ability to simulate them under agroforestry management schemes and varying precipitation amounts. To create this simulation, coffee was grown on a site in Kaua’i, Hawai’i, USA, and cocoa was grown on a site in Sefwi Bekwai, Ghana. A stand-in for a tropical overstory tree was created for agroforestry simulations using altered parameters for carob, a common taller tropical tree for these regions. For both crops, ALMANAC was able to realistically simulate yields when compared to the collected total yield data. On Kaua’i, the mean simulated yield was 2% different from the mean measured yield, and in all three years, the simulated values were within 10% of the measured values. For cocoa, the mean simulated yield was 3% different from the mean measured yield and the simulated yield was within 10% of measured yields for all four available years. When precipitation patterns were altered, in Ghana, the wetter site showed lower percent changes in yield than the drier site in Hawai’i. When agroforestry-style management was simulated, a low Leaf Area Index (LAI) of the overstory showed positive or no effect on yields, but when LAI climbed too high, the simulation was able to show the detrimental effect this competition had on crop yields. These simulation results are supported by other literature documenting the effects of agroforestry on tropical crops. This research has applied ALMANAC to new crops and demonstrated its simulation of different management and environmental conditions. The results show promise for ALMANAC’s applicability to these scenarios as well as its potential to be further tested and utilized in new circumstances.
The Origins of Millet Cultivation (Panicum miliaceum and Setaria italica) along Iberia’s Mediterranean Area from the 13th to the 2nd Century BC
Authors: Alonso Natàlia , Pérez-Jordà Guillem
Published: February 2023

The introduction of the cultivation of millets (Panicum miliaceum and Setaria italica) along Iberia’s Mediterranean zone appears to stem from different origins which themselves hinged on their own specific historical developments. The earliest traces in the northeast, presumably of trans-Pyrenean origin, were brought to light in Bronze Age contexts (13th century BC) in Western Catalonia, notably in the Cinca River Valley. The different species of millets from southern and eastern Iberia, by contrast, come from later 10th–8th century BC contexts under Phoenician influence. Their expansion can be linked to the cultivation of fruit trees (vineyards and others) throughout the 9th–7th centuries BC. The cultivation of millets into the intermediate geographical zone between these two areas is difficult to characterise as it is not possible to identify either a northern or southern in-fluence. In any case, different types of millet saw a wide expansion from the 7th century BC onwards, especially in settlements in the hinterland of the colony of Emporion. This study thus focuses on the history of the cultivation of millets along Iberia’s Mediterranean zone from the Late Bronze Age to the Second Iron Age.
Detection of High-Performance Wheat Genotypes and Genetic Stability to Determine Complex Interplay between Genotypes and Environments
Authors: Al-Ashkar Ibrahim , Sallam Mohammed , Almutairi Khalid F. , Shady Mohamed , Ibrahim Abdullah , Alghamdi Salem S.
Published: February 2023

Abiotic stress decreases crop production worldwide. In order to recommend suitable genotypes for cultivation under water deficit and heat stress conditions, an overall understanding of the genetic basis and plant responses to these stresses and their interactions with the environment is required. To achieve these goals, the multitrait genotype-ideotype distance index (MGIDI) was utilized to recognize abiotic-stress-tolerant wheat genotypes, and the weighted average of absolute scores (WAASB) index as well as the superiority index, which enables weighting between the mean performance and stability (WAASBY), were utilized to recognize high-yielding and stable genotypes. Twenty wheat genotypes were examined to determine the abiotic stress tolerance capacity of the investigated genotypes under nine test environments (three seasons × three treatments). Abiotic stress significantly decreased most morpho-physiological and all agronomic traits; however, some abiotic-stress-tolerant genotypes expressed a slight reduction in the measured traits as compared with the control group. G04, G12, G13, and G17 were identified as convenient and stable genotypes using the MGIDI index under all environments. Based on the scores of the genotype index (WAASB), G01, G05, G12, and G17 were selected as superior genotypes with considerable stability in terms of the grain yield (GY). G04, G06, G12, and G18 were classified as cluster (I), the productive and stable genotypes, using the WAASBY superiority index. The combined indices (MGIDI and WAASB) and (MGIDI and WAASBY) revealed genotypes G12 and G17 and genotypes G04 and G12, respectively, as the most stable candidates. Therefore, these are considered novel genetic resources for improving productivity and stabilizing GY in wheat programs under optimal conditions, water deficit, and heat stress. The genotype G12 was jointly expressed in all three indices. Stability measures using WAASB may help breeders with decision-making when selecting genotypes and conducting multi-environment trials. Hence, these methods, if jointly conducted, can serve as a powerful tool to assist breeders in multi-environment trials.