bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Key Factors in the Application of Sharestart to Enhance the Learning Attitude of Students
Authors: Luo Yu-Zhou , Fang Zhen , Sun Long-Jie , Zhu Jie
Published: October 2021

Under the background of globalization and the popularity of distance learning ande-learning channels provided on the Internet, teaching methods that encourage the self-directed learning of students are becoming popular. There is an increasing number of domestic teachers joining in the practice for change. The various teaching methods that make the students acquire critical thinking skills can be summarized as learning by doing, critical thinking learning, multiple assessments, team discussion teaching, and cooperative learning. With the teachers of the universities in Shanghai as the questionnaire analysis objects, a total of 360 copies of questionnaires were distributed, and 256 valid copies were retrieved, with the retrieval rate of 71%. The research results are summarized as follows. (1) The “mental adaptation and engagement of students” is the most emphasized dimension, followed by the “professional development of teachers,” “administration and parent support,” and “material and teaching strategy.” (2) The top five emphasized indicators, among 14, are the ordered cultivation of self-study and thinking habits, the development of the professional community for the collaborative lesson study of teachers, the support and cooperation of the president and the administration, adoption of heterogeneous grouping, and co-learning, discussion and cooperative learning. According to the results, it is expected to propose more definite practice directions for teachers intending to attempt such a teaching method, as well as provide some specific suggestions for the first movers of Sharestart.
Size Matters: The CAG Repeat Length of the Androgen Receptor Gene, Testosterone, and Male Adolescent Depression Severity
Authors: Hirtz Raphael , Libuda Lars , Hinney Anke , Föcker Manuel , Bühlmeier Judith , Holterhus Paul-Martin , Kulle Alexandra , Kiewert Cordula , Hebebrand Johannes , Grasemann Corinna
Published: October 2021

There is a distinct increase in the prevalence of depression with the onset of puberty. The role of peripubertal testosterone levels in boys in this context is insufficiently understood and may be modulated by a functional polymorphism of the androgen receptor gene (AR), a variable number of CAG repeats. Moreover, there is preliminary evidence that the relationship between testosterone, CAG repeat length, and the severity of depressive symptoms may differ between subclinical and overt depression, but this has neither been studied in a clinical sample of adolescents with depression nor compared between subclinical and overt depression in an adequately powered study. To investigate the relationship between free testosterone, CAG repeat length of the AR, depression status (subclinical vs. overt), and the severity of depressive symptoms, 118 boys treated as in- or daycare patients at a single psychiatric hospital were studied. Of these, 73 boys had at least mild depressive symptoms according to the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II > 13). Higher-order moderation analysis in the multiple regression framework revealed a constant relationship between free testosterone and depression severity irrespective of the number of CAG repeats in adolescents with a BDI-II score ≤ 13. In adolescents with a BDI-II score > 13, however, there was a significant negative relationship between free testosterone and BDI-II score in patients with <19 CAG repeats and a significant positive relationship regarding free testosterone and BDI-II score in those with more than 28 CAG repeats, even when considering important covariates. These results suggest that the effects of testosterone on mood in male adolescents with depression depend on the genetic make-up of the AR as well as on depression status. This complex relationship should be considered by future studies addressing mental health issues against an endocrine background and may, moreover, contribute to tailored treatment concepts in psychiatric medicine, especially in adults.
The Association Between Depressive Symptoms and Insomnia in College Students in Qinghai Province: The Mediating Effect of Rumination
Authors: Xiao Shuheng , Liu Shuai , Zhang Puxiao , Yu Jia , A Huaihong , Wu Hui , Zhang Fabin , Xiao Yulan , Ma Naiben , Zhang Xiuqin , Ma Xiaoxia , Li Junfeng , Wang Xiaodun , Shao Xin , Liu Wenjing , Zhang Xiaolin , Wu Wei , Wang Lihua , Wu Rihan , He Yinglian , Xu Zeyu , Chi Luhao , Du Shixu , Zhang Bin
Published: October 2021

Background: This study investigates the mediating effect of rumination on the associations between depressive symptoms and insomnia.

Methods: This is a cross-sectional study. Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), Ruminant Response Scale (RRS) and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) were determined in 12,178 college students in Qinghai province by a questionnaire network platform.

Results: The prevalence of insomnia was 38.6% in the participants. Insomnia symptoms [interquartile range: 6 (3, 9)], depressive symptoms [interquartile range: 5 (1, 9)], and rumination [interquartile range: 22 (20, 26)] were positively correlated (r = 0.25–0.46, p < 0.01). Mediation effect analysis showed that the depressive symptoms affected insomnia directly and indirectly. The direct effect and the indirect effect through rumination account for 92.4 and 7.6% of the total effect, respectively.

Conclusion: The study shows that insomnia, depressive symptoms, and rumination are related constructs in college students in Qinghai province. It demonstrates the direct effects and the rumination-mediated indirect effects between depressive symptoms and insomnia; the direct effects seem to be dominant.
Gender Differences in Anxiety Among COVID-19 Inpatients Under Isolation: A Questionnaire Survey During the First and Second Waves of the COVID-19 Pandemic in Japan
Authors: Tsukamoto Ryo , Kataoka Yuki , Mino Koichi , Ishibashi Naoki , Shibata Mariko , Matsuo Hiroo , Fujiwara Hironobu
Published: October 2021

This study assesses the gender differences in health and anxiety, especially pertaining to mental health problems and time-course effects. We surveyed 121 patients admitted to a hospital with a COVID-19 diagnosis between March 1 and August 31, 2020. Their mental status was evaluated on admission using the Japanese General Health Questionnaire-28 (GHQ-28) and State–Trait Anxiety Inventory—Form JYZ (STAI). The patients were divided into two groups depending on the period of prevalence, that is, the first and second waves of the pandemic in Japan (from the beginning of March to the end of May 2020, Time 1 = T1; and from the beginning of June to the end of August 2020, Time 2 = T2). A multivariate analysis of covariance revealed significant differences in gender by time interactions in the GHQ-28 subscale “Insomnia and anxiety” and STAI subscale “State–Anxiety.” Post-hoc t-tests revealed that the scores of “Insomnia and Anxiety” and “State–Anxiety” were higher in women than in men at T1. However, no difference was observed at T2. Further, “Insomnia and Anxiety” and “State–Anxiety” were significantly higher at T1 than at T2 in female patients. There was no significant difference in males. Thus, female patients were more anxious and depressed in the early phase of the pandemic, whereas male patients had difficulties in coping with anxiety. We suggest more gender-specific mental care, particularly for women at the early stages of infection.
Point of Care Testing for Infectious Disease in Europe: A Scoping Review and Survey Study
Authors: Hocking Lucy , George Jenny , Broberg Eeva K. , Struelens Marc J. , Leitmeyer Katrin C. , Deshpande Advait , Parkinson Sarah , Francombe Joe , Morley Katherine I. , de Carvalho Gomes Helena
Published: October 2021

Background: Point of care testing (POCT) for infectious diseases is testing conducted near the patient. It allows clinicians to offer the most appropriate treatment more quickly. As POCT devices have increased in accuracy and become more cost-effective, their use has grown, but a systematic assessment of their use for clinical and public health management of infectious diseases in EU/EEA countries has not been previously undertaken.

Methods: A scoping review of the literature on POCT in EU/ EEA countries as at November 2019, and a survey of key stakeholders.

Results: 350 relevant articles were identified and 54 survey responses from 26 EU/EEA countries were analysed. POCT is available for a range of infectious diseases and in all countries responding to the survey (for at least one disease). POCT is commonly available for influenza, HIV/AIDS, Legionnaires' disease and malaria, where it is used in at least half of EU/EEA countries. While POCT has the potential to support many improvements to clinical care of infectious diseases (e.g., faster diagnosis, more appropriate use of antimicrobials), the results suggest POCT is infrequently used to support public health functions (e.g., disease surveillance and reporting).

Conclusion: Although POCT is in use to some extent in all EU/EEA countries, the full benefits of POCT in wider public health functions have yet to be realised. Further research on barriers and facilitators to implementation is warranted.
Mental Health Needs Assessment During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Consensus Based on Delphi Study
Authors: Makivić Irena , Švab Vesna , Selak Špela
Published: October 2021

The COVID-19 pandemic has revealed significant gaps in mental health in terms of unrecognized and unmet needs. The goal was to accurately assess the needs and identify gaps in this area during the epidemiological crisis. A Delphi study to identify the needs was conducted with a group of decision-makers, experts, and users of mental health services. A starting point of the Delphi study was prepared in two working groups, based on recognizable international recommendations and experiences of the practitioners from the field situation. This initial set of emergency measures was supplemented through the first Delphi round, and consensus about the importance was reached in the second round. A total of 41 activities were derived, the vast majority of which were rated with a score of 4 or more. Mental health activities, which should be addressed in terms of needs, can be divided into systemic measures and service measures. This study recognizes a need to reorganize services in the direction of improving local accessibility and strengthening the network of services for immediate responses to the psychological, health, and social needs of individuals, including those arising from crisis situations, such as COVID-19 pandemic. The results of this study are in line with the international recommendations and also influenced the formulation of the Action Plan of the National Mental Health Program, while some of the measures were already implemented during the publication of the research results.
A Comprehensive Description of Multi-Term LSM for Applying Multiple a Priori Constraints in Problems of Atmospheric Remote Sensing: GRASP Algorithm, Concept, and Applications
Authors: Dubovik Oleg , Fuertes David , Litvinov Pavel , Lopatin Anton , Lapyonok Tatyana , Doubovik Ivan , Xu Feng , Ducos Fabrice , Chen Cheng , Torres Benjamin , Derimian Yevgeny , Li Lei , Herreras-Giralda Marcos , Herrera Milagros , Karol Yana , Matar Christian , Schuster Gregory L. , Espinosa Reed , Puthukkudy Anin , Li Zhengqiang , Fischer Juergen , Preusker Rene , Cuesta Juan , Kreuter Axel , Cede Alexander , Aspetsberger Michael , Marth Daniel , Bindreiter Lukas , Hangler Andreas , Lanzinger Verena , Holter Christoph , Federspiel Christian
Published: October 2021

Advanced inversion Multi-term approach utilizing multiple a priori constraints is proposed. The approach is used as a base for the first unified algorithm GRASP that is applicable to diverse remote sensing observations and retrieving a variety of atmospheric properties. The utilization of GRASP for diverse remote sensing observations is demonstrated.
Teleportation in Virtual Reality; A Mini-Review
Authors: Prithul Aniruddha , Adhanom Isayas Berhe , Folmer Eelke
Published: October 2021

Teleportation is a widely implemented virtual locomotion technique that allows users to navigate beyond the confines of available tracking space with a low possibility of inducing virtual reality (VR) sickness. This paper provides a comprehensive overview of prior research on teleportation. We report results from user studies that have evaluated teleportation in comparison to other locomotion methods and survey improved versions of teleportation. We identify a number of areas for future research.
Positive Effects of Scattered Trees on Soil Water Dynamics in a Pasture Landscape in the Tropics
Authors: Benegas Laura , Hasselquist Niles , Bargués-Tobella Aida , Malmer Anders , Ilstedt Ulrik
Published: October 2021

As a result of canopy interception and transpiration, trees are often assumed to have negative effects on the local hydrological budget resulting in reduced soil and groundwater resources. However, it has also been shown that trees can have positive effects through reducing surface run-off and improving soil infiltrability and groundwater recharge, especially in many tropical ecosystems characterized by high rain intensity and degradation-prone soils. In this study, we used isotopic measurements of soil water to better understand the main processes by which trees influence local soil water dynamics within a tropical pasture with scattered tree cover in the Copan River catchment, Honduras. We also determined the stable isotope signature of xylem water in grasses and trees to assess potential competition for water sources during the wet and dry seasons. During the wet season, when soil water availability was not limiting, both grasses and trees primarily utilized soil water near the soil surface (i.e., 0–10 cm). In contrast, during the dry season, we observed niche partitioning for water resources where grasses primarily utilized soil moisture at deeper soil depth (i.e., 90–100 cm) while trees relied heavily on groundwater. Moreover, isotopic data of soil water suggest that trees reduce evaporative water losses from the soil surface, as indicated by the lack of correlation between soil water content and lc-excess (line condition excess) values of surface soil water under trees, and enhance preferential flow as suggested by less negative lc-excess values under trees compared to open areas during the dry season. Taken together, our findings provide further support that trees can have positive effects on the local water balance with implication for landscape management, promoting the inclusion of scattered trees to provide water ecosystem services in silvopastoral systems, adding to other ecosystem services like biodiversity or carbon sequestration.
Legacy Effects of Intercropping and Nitrogen Fertilization on Soil N Cycling, Nitrous Oxide Emissions, and the Soil Microbial Community in Tropical Maize Production
Authors: Canisares Lucas P. , Poffenbarger Hanna , Brodie Eoin L. , Sorensen Patrick O. , Karaoz Ulas , Villegas Daniel M. , Arango Jacobo , Momesso Letusa , Crusciol Carlos Alexandre Costa , Cantarella Heitor
Published: October 2021

Maize-forage grasses intercropping systems have been increasingly adopted by farmers because of their capacity to recycle nutrients, provide mulch, and add C to soil. However, grasses have been shown to increase nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions. Some tropical grasses cause biological nitrification inhibition (BNI) which could mitigate N2O emissions in the maize cycle but the reactions of the N cycle and the microbial changes that explain the N2O emissions are little known in such intercropping systems. With this in mind, we explored intercropping of forage grasses (Brachiaria brizanthaandBrachiaria humidicola) with distinct BNI and yield potential to increase N cycling in no-till maize production systems compared to monocrop with two N rates (0 and 150 kg ha−1) applied during the maize season. These grasses did not strongly compete with maize during the period of maize cycle and did not have a negative effect on grain yield. We observed a legacy of these grasses on N mineralization and nitrification through the soil microbiome during maize growth. We observed thatB. humidicola, genotype with higher BNI potential, increased net N mineralization by 0.4 mg N kg−1day−1and potential nitrification rates by 1.86 mg NO3-N kg−1day−1, whileB. brizanthaincreased the soil moisture, fungi diversity, mycorrhizal fungi, and bacterial nitrifiers, and reduced saprotrophs prior to maize growth. Their legacy on soil moisture and cumulative organic inputs (i.e., grass biomass) was strongly associated with enhanced mineralization and nitrification rates at early maize season. These effects contributed to increase cumulative N2O emission by 12.8 and 4.8 mg N2O-N m−2for maize growing afterB. brizanthaandB. humidicola, respectively, regardless of the N fertilization rate. Thus, the nitrification inhibition potential of tropical grasses can be outweighed by their impacts on soil moisture, N recycling, and the soil microbiome that together dictate soil N2O fluxes.
Integration of Nitrifying, Photosynthetic and Animal Compartments at the MELiSSA Pilot Plant
Authors: Garcia-Gragera David , Arnau Carolina , Peiro Enrique , Dussap Claude-Gilles , Poughon Laurent , Gerbi Olivier , Lamaze Brigitte , Lasseur Christophe , Godia Francesc
Published: October 2021

MELiSSA (Micro Ecological Life Support System Alternative) is developing bioregenerative Life Support technologies for long-term Space missions. The MELiSSA concept is conceived as a loop with several compartments, each one performing a specific function, providing all together edible material production, atmosphere regeneration and water recovery with a concomitant use of wastes, i.e., CO2 and organic wastes. Each one of the compartments is colonized with specific bacteria or higher plants depending on its specific function. The MELiSSA Pilot Plant is a facility designed for the terrestrial demonstration of this concept, hosting laboratory rats as a crew mock-up mimicking the respiration of humans. Currently, the MELiSSA Pilot Plant focus on the integration of three compartments: Compartment 3 (nitrifying packed-bed bioreactor based on the co-culture of immobilized Nitrosomonas europaea and Nitrobacter winogradsky), compartment 4a (an air-lift photobioreactor for the culture of the edible cyanobacteria Limnospira indica with concomitant oxygen production) and Compartment 5 (an animal isolator with rats as mock-up crew). The output from these tests shows a high robustness and reliability and the performance of oxygen producing and oxygen consuming compartments is successfully demonstrated under transitory and steady-state conditions. This contribution reports on the current state of development of the MELiSSA Pilot Plant Facility and the most recent results of the integration work.
The COVID-19 Pandemic Impact on Away and Home Victories in Soccer and Rugby Union
Authors: Sedeaud Adrien , De Larochelambert Quentin , Schipman Julien , Toussaint Jean-Francois
Published: October 2021

Objective: To measure the impact of restrictions due to COVID on the proportion of matches won at home, away and draw in professional soccer and rugby union.

Materials and Methods: Two samples of professional soccer and rugby union matches were collected from 2012–13 to 2020–21 seasons. For soccer, data involved first and second division matches of the England, Spain, Germany, Italy, France, Belgium, Scotland, Greece, Portugal, and Turkey championships. For rugby union, championships concerned are Premiership Rugby, Celtic League, Top 14, and Pro D2. The proportions of home, away wins and draw were calculated and compared. A chi-square test of independence between years and types of result was realized to identify an overall inhomogeneity.

Results: The proportion of away matches won between the 2012–13 and 2020–21 seasons increased significantly from 28.5 ± 1.2% to 32.5 ± 1.5% in soccer and from 38.0 ± 3.6% to 42.8 ± 5.0% in rugby union. In Premiership Rugby championship, the victory percentage at home dropped from 55.8 ± 3.1% when tifosi were present to 45.8 ± 12.8% when they were not.

Conclusion: The home advantage was drastically reduced in empty stadiums for several European soccer and rugby union professional championships. It vanished in the Premiership Rugby and Celtic League during the 2020–21 season.
Barriers to Care in Veterinary Services: Lessons Learned From Low-Income Pet Guardians' Experiences at Private Clinics and Hospitals During COVID-19
Authors: Morris Amy , Wu Haorui , Morales Celeste
Published: October 2021

This qualitative study aimed to explore the experiences of low-income pet guardians in accessing veterinary care during COVID-19. Participants were recruited through a purposive sampling method: 12 individuals who applied to and met the low-income threshold to access support for veterinary fees from the Vancouver Humane Society (VHS) were invited for semi-structured in-depth telephone interviews. Participants indicated that they experienced pandemic-related barriers related to and compounded by their low-income status. Their experiences fit into three categories: the barriers to accessing veterinary care pre-and peri-COVID-19, the emotional impact of compounding barriers related to accessing veterinary care during COVID-19, and the human-animal bond and resilience in the context of COVID-19. Drawing on the One Health, One Welfare approach, we argue that veterinary and animal services should evaluate and improve their support services, particularly programs developed for low-income pet guardians. Based on the participants' recommendations, we propose that veterinary and animal services prepare for future disaster situations by increasing their financial capacity to support people needing assistance, undergoing training to better work with people experiencing financial and emotional stress, and providing easily accessible resources to better distribute knowledge about animal needs and available financial assistance programming. The suggestions are intended to benefit animals, their guardians, and both veterinary and animal service sector workers.
Research on Building Target Detection Based on High-Resolution Optical Remote Sensing Imagery
Authors: Mei Yong , Chen Hao , Yang Shuting
Published: October 2021

High-resolution remote sensing image building target detection has wide application value in the fields of land planning, geographic monitoring, smart cities and other fields. However, due to the complex background of remote sensing imagery, some detailed features of building targets are less distinguishable from the background. When carrying out the detection task, it is prone to problems such as distortion and the missing of the building outline. To address this challenge, we developed a novel building target detection method. First, a building detection method based on rectangular approximation and region growth was proposed, and a saliency detection model based on the foreground compactness and local contrast of manifold ranking is used to obtain the saliency map of the building region. Then, the boundary prior saliency detection method based on the improved manifold ranking algorithm was proposed for the target area of buildings with low contrast with the background in remote sensing imagery. Finally, fusing the results of the rectangular approximation-based and saliency-based detection, the proposed fusion method improved the Recall and F1 value of building detection, indicating that this paper provides an effective and efficient high-resolution remote sensing image building target detection method.
Festival of Audiovisual Micro-Stories in Psychology (Microfest): An Innovative Teaching Project for Students of Audiovisual Communication and Journalism
Authors: Bautista Ortuño Rebeca , Bonete-López Beatriz , Lorente-Martínez Raquel
Published: October 2021

Introductory psychology courses can be demotivating for students of social sciences degrees such as Audiovisual Communication and Journalism. Although the importance of this subject is more than justified, it is essential to design and apply innovative strategies that stimulate the teaching–learning process among first-year students, so that, through activities other than traditional lectures, their interest in behavioural sciences is aroused and they understand the importance of this subject for the future development of their professional careers. The aim of this paper is to present MICROFEST, a PIEU-UMH teaching innovation project, which has been applied as part of the continuous evaluation of students of the Fundamentals of Psychology course, taught in the first year of the Audiovisual Communication, Journalism and Joint Honours degree programmes at the Miguel Hernández University, during the 2020/21 academic year (n = 167). Through a format similar to that of a short film festival, an activity was proposed that involves the development of a series of sequential tasks aimed at creating, in pairs, a fictional audiovisual micro-story that addresses content or a theme directly related to psychology. The results obtained after the implementation of the project during the four months of the course show that the students of the three degree programmes presented a high level of performance in this part of the course, have favourable attitudes towards it and valued the initiative very positively. The indicators of satisfaction with the project were found to be good predictors of motivation towards the subject as a whole. Thus, continuance of the design and application of teaching innovation strategies that favour the teaching–learning process is recommended, and students’ satisfaction and attitudes toward it.
Robust Multi-Gateway Authentication Scheme for Agriculture Wireless Sensor Network in Society 5.0 Smart Communities
Authors: Khalid Haqi , Hashim Shaiful Jahari , Ahmad Sharifah Mumtazah Syed , Hashim Fazirulhisyam , Chaudhary Muhammad Akmal
Published: October 2021

Recent Society 5.0 efforts by the Government of Japan are aimed at establishing a sustainable human-centered society by combining new technologies such as sensor networks, edge computing, Internet of Things (IoT) ecosystems, artificial intelligence (AI), big data, and robotics. Many research works have been carried out with an increasing emphasis on the fundamentals of wireless sensor networks (WSN) for different applications; namely precision agriculture, environment, medical care, security, and surveillance. In the same vein, almost all of the known authentication techniques rely on the single gateway node, which is unsuitable for the current sensor nodes that are broadly distributed in the real world. Despite technological advances, resource constraints and vulnerability to an attacker physically capturing some sensor nodes have remained an important and challenging research field for developing wireless sensor network user authentication. This work proposes a new authentication scheme for agriculture professionals based on a multi-gateway communication model using a fuzzy extractor algorithm to support the Society 5.0 environment. The scheme provides a secure mutual authentication using the well-established formal method called BAN logic. The formal security verification of the proposed scheme is validated with the AVISPA tool, a powerful validation method for network security applications. In addition, the security of the scheme was informally analyzed to demonstrate that the scheme is secure from different attacks, e.g., sensor capture, replay, and other network and physical attacks. Furthermore, the communication and computation costs of the proposed scheme are evaluated and show better performance than the existing authentication schemes.
Estimation and Forecasting of Rice Yield Using Phenology-Based Algorithm and Linear Regression Model on Sentinel-II Satellite Data
Authors: Nazir Abid , Ullah Saleem , Saqib Zulfiqar Ahmad , Abbas Azhar , Ali Asad , Iqbal Muhammad Shahid , Hussain Khalid , Shakir Muhammad , Shah Munawar , Butt Muhammad Usman
Published: October 2021

Rice is a primary food for more than three billion people worldwide and cultivated on about 12% of the world’s arable land. However, more than 88% production is observed in Asian countries, including Pakistan. Due to higher population growth and recent climate change scenarios, it is crucial to get timely and accurate rice yield estimates and production forecast of the growing season for governments, planners, and decision makers in formulating policies regarding import/export in the event of shortfall and/or surplus. This study aims to quantify the rice yield at various phenological stages from hyper-temporal satellite-derived-vegetation indices computed from time series Sentinel-II images. Different vegetation indices (viz. NDVI, EVI, SAVI, and REP) were used to predict paddy yield. The predicted yield was validated through RMSE and ME statistical techniques. The integration of PLSR and sequential time-stamped vegetation indices accurately predicted rice yield (i.e., maximum R2 = 0.84 and minimum RMSE = 0.12 ton ha−1 equal to 3% of the mean rice yield). Moreover, our results also established that optimal time spans for predicting rice yield are late vegetative and reproductive (flowering) stages. The output would be useful for the farmer and decision makers in addressing food security.
Energy Efficiency of Variable Rate Fertilizer Application in Coffee Production in Brazil
Authors: Angnes Graciele , Martello Maurício , Faulin Gustavo Di Chiacchio , Molin José Paulo , Romanelli Thiago Libório
Published: October 2021

Coffee is a crop of great relevance in socioeconomic terms for Brazilian agribusiness, which is the world’s largest producer in cultivated areas. The implementation of precision agriculture in the coffee culture has provided countless benefits to its development, which over the years has been cultivated in the same area. However, there is a lack of studies that address the impact of the application of variable-rates inputs in soil on the energy efficiency and sustainability of these systems. This study aimed to analyze how variable-rate fertilization influences energy efficiency in coffee growing. A production area subjected to variable and fixed rates of fertilizer in alternating rows was evaluated. Geo-referenced yield data was collected to assess yield response for fixed and variable rate applications. The energy assessment was combined with the Geographic Information System (GIS) to determine site-specific energy indicators. To determine the energy flow, only NPK fertilizer applications were considered as inputs and the yield as output. The results obtained indicated that the variable rate fertilizer application has a small difference, indicating greater energy efficiency concerning the applied fertilizer and coffee production per crop season. It was observed in the 06/07 crop, the incorporated energy was 10.7 MJ kg−1 for VR and 10.2 MJ kg−1 for UR and for the 07/08 crop it was 30.7 MJ kg−1 for VR and 34.9 MJ kg−1 for UR. The energy balance was more efficient at variable rates, as it provided fertilizer savings without compromising yield. However, the difference between the embodied energy per mass of coffee produced was very small compared to the fixed rate.
The Impact of Different Crop Rotations by Weed Management Strategies’ Interactions on Weed Infestation and Productivity of Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)
Authors: Shahzad Muhammad , Hussain Mubshar , Jabran Khawar , Farooq Muhammad , Farooq Shahid , Gašparovič Kristína , Barboricova Maria , Aljuaid Bandar S. , El-Shehawi Ahmed M. , Zuan Ali Tan Kee
Published: October 2021

Weed infestations significantly reduce the growth and yield of field crops. Herbicides are mostly used for weed management due to their quick results. However, resistant biotypes to available herbicides are rapidly increasing around the word. This situation calls for the development of alternative weed management strategies. Crop rotation and allelopathic water extracts are regarded as the most important alternative weed management strategies. Therefore, this two-year study assessed the impact of different annual crop rotations by weed management strategies’ interactions on weed infestation and productivity of wheat crop. Wheat was planted in five rotations, i.e., (i) fallow-wheat, (ii) rice-wheat, (iii) cotton-wheat, (iv) mungbean-wheat and (v) sorghum-wheat. The weed management strategies included in the study were; (i) false seedbed, (ii) application of 12 L ha−1 allelopathic plant water extracts (1:1:1:1 ratio of sorghum, sunflower, mulberry and eucalyptus), (iii) herbicide application, (iv) weed-free (weed control) and (v) weedy-check (no weed control). Herbicide application was the most effective treatment in lowering weed densities and biomass during both years followed by false seedbed, while allelopathic crop water extracts were least effective. The lowest weed infestation was noted in sorghum-wheat rotation followed by cotton-wheat and mungbean-wheat, while fallow-wheat had the highest weed infestation. Weedy-check treatment caused significant reduction in wheat growth and yield, whereas the highest grain yield was recorded from weed-free and herbicide application treatments. Grain yield of wheat planted after sorghum was suppressed; however, yield improved when wheat was planted after mungbean. Planting wheat after mungbean in a weed-free environment, achieved through chemical and/or mechanical means, is the best strategy to obtain higher wheat yields.
Breeding for Resilience to Water Deficit and Its Predicted Effect on Forage Mass in Tall Fescue
Authors: Waldron Blair L. , Jensen Kevin B. , Peel Michael D. , Picasso Valentin D.
Published: October 2021

Resilience is increasingly part of the discussion on climate change, yet there is a lack of breeding for resilience per se. This experiment examined the genetic parameters of a novel, direct measure of resilience to water deficit in tall fescue (Lolium arundinaceum (Schreb.) Darbysh.). Heritability, genetic correlations, and predicted gain from selection were estimated for average productivity, resilience, and stability based on forage mass of a tall fescue half-sib population grown under a line-source irrigation system with five different water levels (WL). Resilience was both measurable and moderately heritable (h2 = 0.43), with gains of 2.7 to 3.1% per cycle of selection predicted. Furthermore, resilience was not correlated with average response over environments and negatively correlated with stability, indicating that it was not a measure of responsiveness to more favorable environments. Genetic correlations among WL ranged from 0.87 to 0.56, however in contrast, resilience was either not or slightly negatively genetically correlated with WL except for moderate correlations with the ‘crisis’ WL. Thus, breeding for improved resilience was predicted to have little effect on forage mass at any given individual water deficit environment. Overall, results indicated that this novel metric could facilitate breeding for improved resilience per se to water deficit environments.
A Survey of Intestinal Helminths of Dogs in Slovakia with an Emphasis on Zoonotic Species
Authors: Jarošová Júlia , Antolová Daniela , Lukáč Branislav , Maďari Aladár
Published: October 2021

Dogs are the most popular pets worldwide; however, close contact with people increases the risk of transmission of different zoonotic parasites. This study aims to determine the prevalence of gastrointestinal helminths in dogs in Slovakia. A total of 495 faecal samples collected from pet, shelter, guard, working (police), and hunting dogs, as well as dogs from segregated Roma settlements between 2016 and 2021, were examined using flotation and molecular methods. Eggs of intestinal helminths were detected in 134 (27.1%) samples. Microscopically, six different species/genera/families, namely, Toxocara canis (14.7%), Toxascaris leonina (1.6%), Trichuris vulpis (6.3%), Capillaria spp. (1.4%), Ancylostoma/Uncinaria spp. (8.3%), and taeniid eggs (4.0%), were recorded. Molecular analyses revealed infection with Echinococcus multilocularis in 2.2% of dogs and 0.4% of the animals were infected with Taenia hydatigena. The results showed a correlation between the occurrence of intestinal helminths and the availability of veterinary care, as dogs from Roma settlements and shelter dogs were the most often infected (66.7% and 39.2%, respectively). On the other hand, working animals were in the best health condition, with only 2.5% being positive. The relatively frequent occurrence of zoonotic species points to the constant need for preventive measures and regular deworming of dogs.
Roaming in a Land of Milk and Honey: Life Trajectories and Metabolic Rate of Female Inbred Mice Living in a Semi Naturalistic Environment
Authors: Mieske Paul , Diederich Kai , Lewejohann Lars
Published: October 2021

Despite tremendous efforts at standardization, the results of scientific studies can vary greatly, especially when considering animal research. It is important to emphasize that consistent different personality-like traits emerge and accumulate over time in laboratory mice despite genetic and environmental standardization. To understand to what extent variability can unfold over time, we conducted a long-term study using inbred mice living in an exceptionally complex environment comprising an area of 4.6 m2 spread over five levels. In this semi-naturalistic environment (SNE) the activity and spatial distribution of 20 female C57Bl/6J was recorded by radio-frequency identification (RFID). All individuals were monitored from an age of 11 months to 22 months and their individual pattern of spatial movement in time is described as roaming entropy. Overall, we detected an increase of diversification in roaming behavior over time with stabilizing activity patterns at the individual level. However, spontaneous behavior of the animals as well as physiological parameters did not correlate with cumulative roaming entropy. Moreover, the amount of variability did not exceed the literature data derived from mice living in restricted conventional laboratory conditions. We conclude that even taking quantum leaps towards improving animal welfare does not inevitably mean a setback in terms of data quality.
Bridging Captive and Wild Studies: Behavioral Plasticity and Social Complexity in Theropithecus gelada
Authors: Palagi Elisabetta , Bergman Thore J.
Published: October 2021

Cognitive ethology explores the ability of animals to flexibly adapt their behavior to rapid physical and social environment fluctuations. Although there is a historical dichotomy between field and captive studies, recently, a growing interest in questions that sit at the intersection of cognitive and adaptive perspectives has helped bridge this divide. By focusing on Theropithecus gelada, we discuss the three main reasons why this hybrid approach is extremely successful. First, captive and wild studies provide data at different social, spatial, and temporal scales that can be synthesized to give a fuller picture of the behavior. Secondly, apparently conflicting results from captive and wild settings are powerful tools to explore behavioral flexibility and latent behavioral tendencies. Third, the different settings provide ways of validating and exploring behaviors that are noticed in the other setting. Although we were able to bring together our captive and wild research to demonstrate these ideas, we could have obtained a more integrated vision on the proximate and ultimate gelada behavioral and cognitive strategies if we had considered this hybrid approach from the beginning. We hope that this manuscript stimulates scholars in designing their studies by taking into account the incredible potential of a complementary captive-wild research approach.
Tissue and Temperature-Specific RNA-Seq Analysis Reveals Genomic Versatility and Adaptive Potential in Wild Sea Turtle Hatchlings (Caretta caretta)
Authors: Chow Julie C. , Kyritsis Nia , Mills Micah , Godfrey Matthew H. , Harms Craig A. , Anderson Paul E. , Shedlock Andrew M.
Published: October 2021

Background: Digital transcriptomics is rapidly emerging as a powerful new technology for modelling the environmental dynamics of the adaptive landscape in diverse lineages. This is particularly valuable in taxa such as turtles and tortoises (order Testudines) which contain a large fraction of endangered species at risk due to anthropogenic impacts on the environment, including pollution, overharvest, habitat degradation, and climate change. Sea turtles (family Cheloniidae) in particular invite a genomics-enabled approach to investigating their remarkable portfolio of adaptive evolution. The sex of the endangered loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) is subject to temperature-dependent sex determination (TSD), a mechanism by which exposure to temperatures during embryonic development irreversibly determines sex. Higher temperatures produce mainly female turtles and lower temperatures produce mainly male turtles. Incubation temperature can have long term effects on the immunity, migratory ability, and ultimately longevity of hatchlings. We perform RNA-seq differential expression analysis to investigate tissue- and temperature-specific gene expression within brain (n = 7) and gonadal (n = 4) tissue of male and female loggerhead hatchlings. Results: We assemble tissue- and temperature-specific transcriptomes and identify differentially expressed genes relevant to sexual development and life history traits of broad adaptive interest to turtles and other amniotic species. We summarize interactions among differentially expressed genes by producing network visualizations, and highlight shared biological pathways related to migration, immunity, and longevity reported in the avian and reptile literature. Conclusions: The measurement of tissue- and temperature-specific global gene expression of an endangered, flagship species such as the loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) reveals the genomic basis for potential resiliency and is crucial to future management and conservation strategies with attention to changing climates. Brain and gonadal tissue collected from experimentally reared loggerhead male and female hatchlings comprise an exceedingly rare dataset that permits the identification of genes enriched in functions related to sexual development, immunity, longevity, and migratory behavior and will serve as a large, new genomic resource for the investigation of genotype–phenotype relationships in amniotes.
Anti-Biofilm Coatings Based on Chitosan and Lysozyme Functionalized Magnetite Nanoparticles
Authors: Spirescu Vera Alexandra , Niculescu Adelina-Gabriela , Slave Ștefan , Bîrcă Alexandra Cătalina , Dorcioman Gabriela , Grumezescu Valentina , Holban Alina Maria , Oprea Ovidiu-Cristian , Vasile Bogdan Ștefan , Grumezescu Alexandru Mihai , Nica Ionela Cristina , Stan Miruna Silvia , Andronescu Ecaterina
Published: October 2021

Biofilms represent a common and increasingly challenging problem in healthcare practices worldwide, producing persistent and difficult to manage infections. Researchers have started developing antibiotic-free treatment alternatives in order to decrease the risk of resistant microbial strain selection and for the efficient management of antibiotic tolerant biofilm infections. The present study reports the fabrication and characterization of magnetite-based nanostructured coatings for producing biofilm-resistant surfaces. Specifically, magnetite nanoparticles (Fe3O4) were functionalized with chitosan (CS) and were blended with lysozyme (LyZ) and were deposited using the matrix-assisted pulsed laser evaporation (MAPLE) technique. A variety of characterization techniques were employed to investigate the physicochemical properties of both nanoparticles and nanocoatings. The biological characterization of the coatings assessed through cell viability and antimicrobial tests showed biocompatibility on osteoblasts as well as antiadhesive and antibiofilm activity against both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacterial strains and no cytotoxic effect against human-cultured diploid cells.
Antibiotics- and Heavy Metals-Based Titanium Alloy Surface Modifications for Local Prosthetic Joint Infections
Authors: Esteban Jaime , Vallet-Regí María , Aguilera-Correa John J.
Published: October 2021

Prosthetic joint infection (PJI) is the second most common cause of arthroplasty failure. Though infrequent, it is one of the most devastating complications since it is associated with great personal cost for the patient and a high economic burden for health systems. Due to the high number of patients that will eventually receive a prosthesis, PJI incidence is increasing exponentially. As these infections are provoked by microorganisms, mainly bacteria, and as such can develop a biofilm, which is in turn resistant to both antibiotics and the immune system, prevention is the ideal approach. However, conventional preventative strategies seem to have reached their limit. Novel prevention strategies fall within two broad categories: (1) antibiotic- and (2) heavy metal-based surface modifications of titanium alloy prostheses. This review examines research on the most relevant titanium alloy surface modifications that use antibiotics to locally prevent primary PJI.
The Small Metal-Binding Protein SmbP Simplifies the Recombinant Expression and Purification of the Antimicrobial Peptide LL-37
Authors: Perez-Perez David A. , Villanueva-Ramirez Teresa de J. , Hernandez-Pedraza Adriana E. , Casillas-Vega Nestor G. , Gonzalez-Barranco Patricia , Zarate Xristo
Published: October 2021

(1) Background: The cathelicidin peptide LL-37 is a prominent molecule with many biological activities, including antimicrobial. Due to its importance, here, we describe the production of LL-37 tagged with SmbP, a relatively new carrier protein that improves the production of recombinant proteins and peptides in Escherichia coli. We present an alternative method for the rapid expression, purification, and antimicrobial evaluation of LL-37, that involves only one purification step. (2) Methods: A DNA construct of SmbP_LL-37 was transformed into E. coli BL21(DE3); after overnight expression, the protein was purified directly from the cell lysate using immobilized metal-affinity chromatography. SmbP_LL-37 was treated with Enterokinase to obtain the free LL-37 peptide. The antimicrobial activity of both SmbP_LL-37 and free LL-37 was determined using the colony forming unit assay method. (3) Results: SmbP_LL-37 was observed in the soluble fraction of the cell lysate; after purification with IMAC, protein gel electrophoresis, and analysis by ImageJ, it showed 90% purity. A total of 3.6 mg of SmbP_LL-37 was produced from one liter of cell culture. SmbP_LL-37 and free LL-37 both showed inhibition activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. (4) Conclusions: The SmbP fusion protein is a valuable tool for producing biologically-active LL-37 peptide. The production method described here should be of interest for the expression and purification of additional cationic peptides, since it cuts the purification time considerably prior to determination of antimicrobial activity.