bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effects of exercise intensity and frequency on improving cognitive performance in middle-aged and older adults with mild cognitive impairment: A pilot randomized controlled trial on the minimum physical activity recommendation from WHO
Authors: Yu Danny J. , Yu Angus P. , Bernal Joshua D. K. , Fong Daniel Y. , Chan Derwin K. C. , Cheng Calvin P. , Siu Parco M.
Published: September 2022

Background: The World Health Organization physical activity guidelines recommend adults and older adults to accumulate at least 150–300 min of moderate or 75–150 min of vigorous aerobic-type physical activity weekly for health benefits including improvements of cognitive performance. However, the optimal exercise intensity and frequency for maximizing the cognitive benefits remain unclear.

Purpose: We conducted a parallel, assessor-blinded, pilot randomized controlled trial to evaluate the effectiveness of different intensities and frequencies of the WHO-recommended minimal volume of aerobic-type physical activity on improving cognitive performance in middle-aged and older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI).

Methods: Participants were randomly allocated to the stretching exercise control group (CON), once-a-week and thrice-a-week moderate-intensity walking groups (M1 and M3), and once-a-week and thrice-a-week vigorous-intensity walking groups (V1 and V3). Intervention duration was 12 weeks. The primary outcome was global cognitive performance assessed by the Hong Kong version of Montreal Cognitive Assessment. Secondary outcomes were self-report and objective cognitive performances, mental health, sleep quality, and cardiorespiratory fitness.

Results: Thirty-seven participants completed the study (CON: n = 7, M1: n = 7, M3: n = 7, V1: n = 8, V3: n = 8). Participants in all four walking exercise groups demonstrated significant improvements in global cognitive performance assessed by the Hong Kong version of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment after the intervention when compared to CON (p < 0.001). The walking exercise interventions also significantly mitigated the anxiety severity (p < 0.005) and improved the cardiorespiratory fitness (p < 0.05) of the participants in the walking exercise groups.

Conclusion: 150-min moderate- or 75-min vigorous-intensity walking exercise performed once- or thrice-weekly showed similar effects on improving cognitive performance in middle-aged and older adults with MCI. The 12-week walking exercise interventions also reduced anxiety severity and improved cardiorespiratory fitness of the participants.

Clinical Trial Registration:clinicaltrials.gov, identifier NCT04515563
RGB camera-based simultaneous measurements of percutaneous arterial oxygen saturation, tissue oxygen saturation, pulse rate, and respiratory rate
Authors: Nishidate Izumi , Yasui Riku , Nagao Nodoka , Suzuki Haruta , Takara Yohei , Ohashi Kaoru , Ando Fuminori , Noro Naoki , Kokubo Yasuaki
Published: September 2022

We propose a method to perform simultaneous measurements of percutaneous arterial oxygen saturation (SpO2), tissue oxygen saturation (StO2), pulse rate (PR), and respiratory rate (RR) in real-time, using a digital red–green–blue (RGB) camera. Concentrations of oxygenated hemoglobin (CHbO), deoxygenated hemoglobin (CHbR), total hemoglobin (CHbT), and StO2 were estimated from videos of the human face using a method based on a tissue-like light transport model of the skin. The photoplethysmogram (PPG) signals are extracted from the temporal fluctuations in CHbO, CHbR, and CHbT using a finite impulse response (FIR) filter (low and high cut-off frequencies of 0.7 and 3 Hz, respectively). The PR is calculated from the PPG signal for CHbT. The ratio of pulse wave amplitude for CHbO and that for CHbR are associated with the reference value of SpO2 measured by a commercially available pulse oximeter, which provides an empirical formula to estimate SpO2 from videos. The respiration-dependent oscillation in CHbT was extracted from another FIR filter (low and high cut-off frequencies of 0.05 and 0.5 Hz, respectively) and used to calculate the RR. In vivo experiments with human volunteers while varying the fraction of inspired oxygen were performed to evaluate the comparability of the proposed method with commercially available devices. The Bland–Altman analysis showed that the mean bias for PR, RR, SpO2, and StO2 were -1.4 (bpm), -1.2(rpm), 0.5 (%), and -3.0 (%), respectively. The precisions for PR, RR, Sp O2, and StO2 were ±3.1 (bpm), ±3.5 (rpm), ±4.3 (%), and ±4.8 (%), respectively. The resulting precision and RMSE for StO2 were pretty close to the clinical accuracy requirement. The accuracy of the RR is considered a little less accurate than clinical requirements. This is the first demonstration of a low-cost RGB camera-based method for contactless simultaneous measurements of the heart rate, percutaneous arterial oxygen saturation, and tissue oxygen saturation in real-time.
Hemocompatibility of micropatterned biomaterial surfaces is dependent on topographical feature size
Authors: Fallon Meghan E. , Le Hillary H. , Bates Novella M. , Yao Yuan , Yim Evelyn K.F. , Hinds Monica T. , Anderson Deirdre E.J.
Published: September 2022

Small-diameter synthetic vascular grafts that have improved hemocompatibility and patency remain an unmet clinical need due to thrombosis. A surface modification that has potential to attenuate these failure mechanisms while promoting an endothelial layer is the micropatterning of luminal surfaces. Anisotropic features have been shown to downregulate smooth muscle cell proliferation, direct endothelial migration, and attenuate platelet adhesion and activation. However, the effect of micropatterning feature size and orientation relative to whole blood flow has yet to be investigated within a systematic study. In this work, hemocompatibility of micropattern grating sizes of 2, 5, and 10 µm were investigated. The thrombogenicity of the micropattern surface modifications were characterized by quantifying FXIIa activity, fibrin formation, and static platelet adhesion in vitro. Additionally, dynamic platelet attachment and end-point fibrin formation were quantified using an established, flowing whole blood ex vivo non-human primate shunt model without antiplatelet or anticoagulant therapies. We observed a higher trend in platelet attachment and significantly increased fibrin formation for larger features. We then investigated the orientation of 2 µm gratings relative to whole blood flow and found no significant differences between the various orientations for platelet attachment, rate of linear platelet attachment, or end-point fibrin formation. MicroCT analysis of micropatterned grafts was utilized to quantify luminal patency. This work is a significant step in the development of novel synthetic biomaterials with improved understanding of hemocompatibility for use in cardiovascular applications.
Effect of innovative vs. usual care physical therapy in subacute rehabilitation after stroke. A multicenter randomized controlled trial
Authors: Sivertsen Marianne , Arntzen Ellen Christin , Alstadhaug Karl Bjørnar , Normann Britt
Published: September 2022

Background

Research on stroke rehabilitation often addresses common difficulties such as gait, balance or physical activity separately, a fragmentation contrasting the complexity in clinical practice. Interventions aiming for recovery are needed. The purpose of this study was to investigate effects of a comprehensive low-cost physical therapy intervention, I-CoreDIST, vs. usual care on postural control, balance, physical activity, gait and health related quality of life during the first 12 weeks post-stroke.

Methods

This prospective, assessor-masked randomized controlled trial included 60 participants from two stroke units in Norway. Participants, who were randomized to I-CoreDIST (n = 29) or usual care physical therapy (n = 31), received 5 sessions/week when in-patients or 3 sessions/week as out-patients. Primary outcomes were the Trunk Impairment Scale-modified Norwegian version (TISmodNV) and activity monitoring (ActiGraphsWgt3X-BT). Secondary outcomes were the Postural Assessment Scale for Stroke, MiniBesTEST, 10-meter walk test, 2-minute walk test, force-platform measurements and EQ5D-3L. Stroke specific quality of life scale was administered at 12 weeks. Linear regression and non-parametric tests were used for statistical analysis.

Results

Five participants were excluded and seven lost to follow-up, leaving 48 participants in the intention-to-treat analysis. There were no significant between-group effects for primary outcomes: TIS-modNV (p = 0,857); daily average minutes of sedative (p = 0.662), light (p = 0.544) or moderate activity (p = 0.239) and steps (p = 0.288), or secondary outcomes at 12 weeks except for significant improvements on EQ5D-3L in the usual care group. Within-group changes were significant for all outcomes in both groups except for activity levels that were low, EQ5D-3L favoring the usual care group, and force-platform data favoring the intervention group.

Conclusions

Physical therapy treatment with I-CoreDIST improved postural control, balance, physical activity and gait during the first 12 weeks after a stroke but is not superior to usual care.
Electromagnetic solitons and their stability in relativistic degenerate dense plasmas with two electron species
Authors: Roy Sima , Misra Amar P.
Published: September 2022

The evolution of electromagnetic (EM) solitons due to nonlinear coupling of circularly polarized intense laser pulses with low-frequency electron-acoustic perturbations is studied in relativistic degenerate dense astrophysical plasmas with two groups of electrons: a sparse population of classical relativistic electrons and a dense population of relativistic degenerate electron gas. Different forms of localized stationary solutions are obtained and their properties are analyzed. Using the Vakhitov-Kolokolov stability criterion, the conditions for the existence and stability of a moving EM soliton are also studied. It is noted that the stable and unstable regions shift around the plane of soliton eigenfrequency and the soliton velocity due to the effects of relativistic degeneracy, the fraction of classical to degenerate electrons and the EM wave frequency. Furthermore, while the standing solitons exhibit stable profiles for a longer time, the moving solitons, however, can be stable or unstable depending on the degree of electron degeneracy, the soliton eigenfrequency and the soliton velocity. The latter with an enhanced value can eventually lead to a soliton collapse. The results should be useful for understanding the formation of solitons in the coupling of highly intense laser pulses with slow response of degenerate dense plasmas in the next generation laser-plasma interaction experiments as well as the novel features of x-ray and γ-ray pulses that originate from compact astrophysical objects.
Prioritization of chemicals in food for risk assessment by integrating exposure estimates and new approach methodologies: A next generation risk assessment case study
Authors: Luijten Mirjam , Sprong R. Corinne , Rorije Emiel , van der Ven Leo T. M.
Published: September 2022

Next generation risk assessment is defined as a knowledge-driven system that allows for cost-efficient assessment of human health risk related to chemical exposure, without animal experimentation. One of the key features of next generation risk assessment is to facilitate prioritization of chemical substances that need a more extensive toxicological evaluation, in order to address the need to assess an increasing number of substances. In this case study focusing on chemicals in food, we explored how exposure data combined with the Threshold of Toxicological Concern (TTC) concept could be used to prioritize chemicals, both for existing substances and new substances entering the market. Using a database of existing chemicals relevant for dietary exposure we calculated exposure estimates, followed by application of the TTC concept to identify substances of higher concern. Subsequently, a selected set of these priority substances was screened for toxicological potential using high-throughput screening (HTS) approaches. Remarkably, this approach resulted in alerts for a selection of substances that are already on the market and represent relevant exposure in consumers. Taken together, the case study provides proof-of-principle for the approach taken to identify substances of concern, and this approach can therefore be considered a supportive element to a next generation risk assessment strategy.
Configuration Stability Analysis for Geocentric Space Gravitational-Wave Observatories
Authors: Zhou Xingyu , Jia Feida , Li Xiangyu
Published: September 2022

Long-term configuration stability is essential for a space-based gravitational-wave observatory, which can be affected by orbit insertion errors. This paper investigated the stability of a geocentric gravitational-wave observatory from the view of the configuration uncertainty propagation. The effects of the orbit insertion errors on the configuration stability are propagated using the Unscented Transformation (UT). The best UT tuning factor is selected based on the accuracy analysis of different UT tuning factors. The effects of the position and velocity insertion errors in different directions are firstly discussed. Compared with the Monte Carlo simulations, the UT method has relative errors of no more than 2.7%, while the time cost is only 3.6%. It is found that the radial position and tangential velocity insertion errors have the largest influence on the configuration stability. Finally, based on the proposed method, the stability domain of the geocentric space gravitational-wave detection constellation is investigated by considering two kinds of insertion errors, i.e., independent and identically distributed insertion errors and insertion errors in spatial directions. The analysis results in this paper can be potentially useful for the configuration design of a geocentric gravitational-wave observatory.
Investigation on the Reynolds Number Effect of a Flying Wing Model with Large Sweep Angle and Small Aspect Ratio
Authors: Lin Peng , Wu Jifei , Lu Lianshan , Xiong Neng , Liu Dawei , Su Jichuan , Liu Guangyuan , Tao Yang , Wu Junqiang , Liu Xueqiang
Published: September 2022

The effect of the Reynolds number on the flying wing common research model with a large sweep angle and small aspect ratio is studied by numerical simulation. The helicity cross-flow transition correction of the Langtry–Menter model is established in view of the deficient prediction accuracies of existing transition prediction models in simulating cross-flow transition, and the helicity parameters are calibrated to improve the prediction accuracy of the numerical method. The transition prediction method is verified by the test results of the standard model transition of the DLR-F5 wing and small-aspect-ratio flying wing. At the same time, the numerical method is effectively verified by comparing it to the aerodynamic/torque results of the standard model of the small-aspect-ratio flying wing. On this basis, the variation laws with the Reynolds number are analyzed for the aerodynamic and flow field characteristics of the flying wing common research model with a large sweep angle and small aspect ratio. The numerical simulation is mainly carried out in the high subsonic speed range (M = 0.9), and the simulated Reynolds number range is from 2 × 106 to 80 × 106, which includes the test Reynolds number and flight Reynolds number. The influence of turbulence on the surface flow pattern and drag characteristics of the small-aspect-ratio standard model is analyzed. Calculation results show that when the turbulence is greater than 0.4%, it has a considerable influence on the surface laminar flow range and total drag coefficient. The results reveal that the Reynolds number mainly affects the magnitude of friction in the cruise state (small angle of attack). The problem of the Reynolds number in the self-aligning region of the flying wing standard model with a small aspect ratio is further studied, and the Reynolds number is found to be greater than 10 × 106. The drag and lift coefficients after the approach are close to the Reynolds number in the self-aligning region of the flying wing standard model with a small aspect ratio.
The Antioxidant Potential of Grains in Selected Cereals Grown in an Organic and Conventional System
Authors: Kwiatkowski Cezary A. , Harasim Elżbieta , Feledyn-Szewczyk Beata , Joniec Jolanta
Published: September 2022

The paper presents the effect of conventional (use of NPK mineral fertilizers and pesticides) and organic (no use of agrochemicals) farming systems on selected parameters of antioxidant properties of winter wheat, spring barley and oat grain. The research was carried out during the period 2017–2019 at the Czesławice Experimental Farm (central Lublin region, Poland) on loess soil (second quality class). The aim of the research was to evaluate the functional (antioxidant) properties of winter wheat, spring barley and oat grain in whole grain and its milling fractions (dehulled grain, flour and bran). The reduction potential (Fe+3 → Fe+2 ), the ability to eliminate the free DPPH• radical and the total antioxidant potential in the β-carotene/linoleic acid system were determined. Polyphenol content was also determined using Folin–Ciocalteau reagent. The organic system did not significantly increase the antioxidant properties of cereal grains compared to the conventional system. Under organic farming conditions, oat grain was characterised only by the most favourable antioxidant properties. A highly statistically significant correlation was found between total polyphenol content and DPPH• free radical quenching capacity, especially for oat and barley in the organic system. The closest correlations were for the fractions of bran and whole grain. Dehulling of grain, with the exception of oat grain, irrespective of the farming system, resulted in a significant deterioration of the antioxidant potential of grain extracts. In summary, the study showed that the bran obtained from oat grown under an organic system had the strongest antioxidant activity.
In-Field Citrus Disease Classification via Convolutional Neural Network from Smartphone Images
Authors: Yang Changcai , Teng Zixuan , Dong Caixia , Lin Yaohai , Chen Riqing , Wang Jian
Published: September 2022

A high-efficiency, nondestructive, rapid, and automatic crop disease classification method is essential for the modernization of agriculture. To more accurately extract and fit citrus disease image features, we designed a new 13-layer convolutional neural network (CNN13) consisting of multiple convolutional layer stacks and dropout in this study. To address the problem created by the uneven number of disease images in each category, we used the VGG16 network module for transfer learning, which we combined with the proposed CNN13 to form a new joint network, which we called OplusVNet. To verify the performance of the proposed OplusVNet network, we collected 1869 citrus pest and disease images and 202 normal citrus images from the field. The experimental results showed that the proposed OplusVNet can more effectively solve the problem caused by uneven data volume and has higher recognition accuracy, especially for image categories with a relatively small data volume. Compared with the state of the art networks, the generalization ability of the proposed OplusVNet network is stronger for classifying diseases. The classification accuracy of the model prediction results was 0.99, indicating the model can be used as a reference for crop image classification.
Sentinel-2 Satellite Imagery-Based Assessment of Soil Salinity in Irrigated Rice Fields in Portugal
Authors: Gerardo Romeu , de Lima Isabel P.
Published: September 2022

Salinization is a major soil degradation threat in irrigated lands worldwide. In Portugal, it affects several pockets of irrigated agricultural areas, but the spatial distribution and intensity of soil salinity are not well known. Unlike conventional approaches to appraise soil salinity, remote sensing multispectral data have great potential for detecting, monitoring, and investigating soil salinity problems in agricultural areas. This study explores the assessment of soil salinity in irrigated rice cultivation fields using two types of multispectral-based indices calculated from Sentinel-2 satellite imagery: (i) vegetation indices (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index, Green Normalized Difference Vegetation Index, Generalized Difference Vegetation Index and Soil Adjusted Vegetation Index), to monitor the indirect effect of salinity on rice growth; and (ii) salinity indicators, namely those based on visible and near-infrared bands (Normalized Difference Salinity Index) and on shortwave infrared bands (Salinity Index ASTER). The data are for the Lower Mondego Valley (Central Portugal) and the period 2017–2018. Results revealed that salinity indices can be used for mapping soil salinity and constitute a valuable soil salinity assessment tool in rice cultivation areas affected by salinity issues. As there is less reported inventorying of spatial extent of such degradation in irrigated agricultural areas of Portugal, this innovative approach allowed by remote sensing technology can add to understanding the spatial extent of such areas and undertaking more such studies spatially and temporally.
Effect of Some Polysaccharide-Based Edible Coatings on Fresh White Button Mushroom (Agaricus bisporus) Quality during Cold Storage
Authors: Pleșoianu Alina Mădălina , Nour Violeta
Published: September 2022

This study investigated the effects of pectin, chitosan, sodium alginate, and carboxymethyl cellulose-based edible coatings, individually and/or in combination with N-acetyl cysteine as an antibrowning agent, on some physical, chemical, and antioxidant properties of white button mushrooms. The weight loss, color change, browning index, degree of cap opening, soluble solid content, total phenolic content, antioxidant activity and malondialdehyde content of control and coated mushrooms were evaluated during 14 days of storage at 4 ± 1°C. All coatings, both alone and with N-acetyl-cisteine, delayed weight loss and cap opening in mushrooms compared with the control. Sodium alginate was the most effective in controlling weight loss, followed by carboxymetyhyl cellulose, chitosan and pectin. The browning process and lipid peroxidation were best controlled by sodium alginate followed by pectin coatings, while chitosan coating determined a significant increase in the browning index. Coated samples showed significantly higher total phenolic content and antioxidant activity as compared with the control throughout storage. The treatment with N-acetyl cysteine was not effective for mushrooms as it resulted in a significant increase in the browning index in all coated samples. The results suggest that sodium alginate and pectin coatings could be recommended for extending the shelf life of white button mushrooms.
Design and Performance Evaluation of a Multi-Point Extrusion Walnut Cracking Device
Authors: Zhang Hong , Liu Hualong , Zeng Yong , Tang Yurong , Zhang Zhaoguo , Che Ji
Published: September 2022

The practical problems of existing methods of walnut cracking under compression loading, including incomplete walnut-shell crushing, broken walnut kernels, and so on, are widespread in walnut processing and are constraints that hinder mechanized walnut processing. Therefore, attempts have been made to design and optimize a multi-point extrusion walnut cracking device. For this, walnuts were fed manually into a cracking unit through the hopper. The tangential force of the grading roller graded the walnuts and dropped them into the gap between the rotating cracking roller and extrusion plate, causing them to crack. The developed machine was tested and the parameters were optimized using a central composite design (CCD). The objective functions involving the cracking angle (CA: 0.17, 0.27, 0.52, 0.76, 0.86°) and roller speed (RS: 63, 75, 105, 135, 147 r/min) were calculated. The shell cracking rate (SCR), whole kernel rate (WKR), and specific energy consumption (Es) regression models were established using the quadratic regression orthogonal combination test and the parameters were optimized using MATLAB software. The results showed that the most significant factors for the RS were the linear terms of the SCR and WKR, whereas for the CA the most significant factor was the linear term of the Es. The interaction term of the two factors had a significant effect on the three indicators. The optimal parameter combination was determined to be 0.47° for the CA and 108 r/min for the RS. On this basis, the adaptability test showed that the cracking device had a better cracking effect on walnuts with a gap between the walnut shell and kernel greater than 1.6 mm and a shell thickness less than 1.2 mm. The results have practical significance for the design of walnut cracking devices.
Genetic Potential of New Maize Inbred Lines in Single-Cross Hybrid Combinations under Low-Nitrogen Stress and Optimal Conditions
Authors: Makore Fortunate , Magorokosho Cosmos , Dari Shorai , Gasura Edmore , Mazarura Upenyu , Kamutando Casper Nyaradzai
Published: September 2022

Maize (Zea mays, L.) productivity in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) remains low, despite breeding efforts spanning across decades. Currently, three-way cross hybrids (TWCH) dominate SSA; however, there is the potential to increase yields by using single-cross hybrids. In this study, five new and four elite CIMMYT lines were inter-mated in a half diallel mating scheme to estimate the combining ability of the lines and to determine the stability of their corresponding 36 single-cross hybrids for grain yield under low-nitrogen stress and optimum growing conditions in Zimbabwe and Zambia. The results revealed that the new inbred line CL121290 showed the highest GCA effects under optimum conditions (1.4 tha−1; p < 0.001) and across sites (0.93 tha−1; p < 0.001). The single-cross hybrids G12 (CML311 × DJL173527) and G16 (DJL173887 × CL1211559) were highly stable and were observed as ideal crosses within both the low-nitrogen and optimal environments. However, G18 (CML311 × DJL173887), which was depicted as ideal genotype under the two management conditions, was an unstable genotype. Hybrid G31 (CML311 × CML312) had the least grain yield under low-nitrogen, optimum and across environments. The hybrid G11 (DJL173527 × CL121290) was the highest yielding genotype amongst the new single-cross hybrids and across environments but was unstable and can be recommended for high potential in environments. Overall, the data demonstrated the potential of single-cross hybrids to supplement TWCH in boosting maize productivity under optimal and nitrogen-stress environments in SSA as well as under other areas with similar climatic conditions in the world.
CRISPR/Cas9-Mediated Genome Editing of Soluble Starch Synthesis Enzyme in Rice for Low Glycemic Index
Authors: Jameel Mohd Rizwan , Ansari Zubaida , Al-Huqail Asma A. , Naaz Sheeba , Qureshi Mohammad Irfan
Published: September 2022

In the present study, the selected rice (Oryza sativa cv. indica) was genetically modified to increase the amylose content in the seeds. The ‘CRISPR-Cas9’ genome-editing tool was used to knock out three isoforms of soluble starch synthase (SSS) viz. SSSII-1, SSSII-2 and SSSII-3. A genetic transformation vector designed with appropriate gRNAs, Cas9, and antibiotic resistance was used to create SSS knockout mutants to enrich the content of amylose. Putative rice mutants were developed with high amylose content in the seeds of up to 63% as compared to 23% in the wild types (control). Rice with a low Glycemic Index (GI) value and high amylose content rice is preferred to avoid a sudden rise in glucose in the bloodstream. The frequencies of bi-allelic or homozygous transgenic lines of SSSII-1, SSSII-2, and SSSII-3 in the first generation were tested via the Mendelian fashion of segregated bi-allelic lines in the T1 generation of the putative rice mutants. The T1 generation segregation showed a frame-shift mutation. A molecular characterization of the putative mutants successfully demonstrated the development of a Cas9-free rice mutant with a higher amount of amylose in the rice.
Impact of the Cultivation System and Pre-Sprouting of Selected Potato Cultivars on the Physico-Chemical Properties and Enzymatic Activity of Soil in the Conditions of Central-Eastern Poland
Authors: Sawicka Barbara , Pszczółkowski Piotr , Wójcikowska-Kapusta Anna , Skiba Dominika , Barbaś Piotr
Published: September 2022

The aim of the study was to demonstrate the effect of the cultivation system, cultivars and pre-sprouting of potato on soil quality. Materials for the research were obtained from a three-year (2016–2018) field experiment in Central-Eastern Poland. The experiment was established using the randomized sub-blocks method, in a dependent system which was as follows: split-split-plot in three replications. The first order factor was the type of cultivation system of organic (E), and sustainable (S). The second order factor was the selection of the six potato cultivars (‘Denar’, ‘Gwiazda’, ‘Jurek’, ‘Satina’, ‘Tajfun’, ‘Jelly’) and the third order factor was the pre-planting treatments of (A) sprouted seed potatoes, and (B) non-sprouted seed potatoes. The organic cultivation system, in comparison to the sustainable system, contributed to changes in the chemical properties of the soil by increasing the content of organic C and total N, thereby narrowing the C:N ratio, reducing the content of mineral N forms, changing soil acidity, and changing in the enzymatic activity of Adh, AFs, and APs in the soil. Germination of seed-potatoes contributed to the increase in total N and nitrate N in the soil, to extend the C:N ratio. The sustainable development of agriculture in the soil and climate conditions of Central-Eastern Poland can be achieved by maintaining soil fertility and improving its productivity, and reducing the risk of the agricultural system by increasing the flexibility of integrated agriculture.
Expansion of Field Margin Size Mitigate the Hazard of Rotary Tillage to Earthworm in Rice-Rape Rotation System
Authors: Li Chao , Zhao Yang , Cheng Kaikai , Zhou Junyu , Xiao Xiaoping , Iqbal Anas , Tang Haiming , Huang Min
Published: September 2022

Field margin (FM) provides refuges for earthworm survival in rape-rice system after flooding, while the effects of FM with different size on earthworm in arable field (AF) is unclear. In this study, we investigated the effects of different FM sizes, a conventional size (FM I) and three expanding sizes (FM II, FM III, FM IV), on earthworm population characteristics in FM and AF. The results showed that the mean abundance of earthworm under the expanding sizes at 1 day and 60 day of flooding after rape harvest was 16.5 and 20.2 times higher than that of FM I, respectively. After stopping flooding, juveniles first migrated from FM to AF, whereas more than half of them were killed by subsequent rotary tillage, and the mortality decreased with expanding FM size. Subsequently, expanding FM sizes promoted earthworm to distribute evenly through the AF at faster speeds. At rape maturity, the mean abundance and total biomass of earthworm of AF under expanding FM sizes were significantly greater than that of FM I, and this positive effect increased with expanding FM size. The results indicated that expanding FM size can mitigate the hazard of rotary tillage to earthworm and promote rapid recovery of earthworm population in AF.
Bioactivity of Ethanolic Extracts of Dipteryx punctata on Colletotrichum musae
Authors: Sousa Bruna Cristine Martins de , Gomes Daniel do Amaral , Vieira Thiago Almeida , Lustosa Denise Castro
Published: September 2022

Bioactivity with antifungal properties has already been reported for some species of the genus Dipteryx. However, little is known about Dipteryx punctata. We evaluated the antifungal activity, in vitro and in vivo, of extracts of leaves, branches and fruits of D. punctata on Colletotrichum musae, the causal agent of anthracnose in bananas. The extracts and the coumarin standard were tested in vitro, at concentrations of 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, and 50% (w/v), added in potato-dextrose-agar (PDA) medium. The experimental design was completely randomized, factorial design, with four replications. The average diameter of the fungal colonies was evaluated daily for eight days, and at the end, the percentage of inhibition and growth rates were calculated. For in vivo tests, the products were tested at concentrations of 40% and 50%, in preventive and curative applications. In these tests, three medium disks (5 mm) containing phytopathogen structures were deposited at opposite points of the fruits, and remained in a humid chamber for 48 h. Anthracnose lesions were measured at an interval of two days, up to eight days after fungus inoculation. In the in vitro essay, the extracts of the branches and residues of the fruits of D. punctata and the coumarin pattern caused the biggest reductions in the average diameter of the colonies of the phytopathogen. D. punctata and coumarin extracts were promising in terms of in vivo antifungal activity, especially in preventive applications, being an important source of investigation for the formulation of natural products as sustainable phytosanitary measures.
Consecutive Application Effects of Washed Rice Water on Plant Growth, Soil Chemical Properties, Nutrient Leaching, and Soil Bacterial Population on Three Different Soil Textures over Three Planting Cycles
Authors: Nabayi Abba , Teh Christopher Boon Sung , Tan Ali Kee Zuan , Tan Ngai Paing
Published: September 2022

The benefits of washed rice water (WRW) as a plant fertilizer, particularly over a consecutive application period, are not well studied. An experiment was therefore carried out to determine: the continuous effects of applying unfermented (F0) and 3-day fermented (F3) WRW on the: (1) soil chemical properties, soil bacterial count, and the growth and plant nutrient content of a test crop, choy sum (Brassica chinensis var. parachinensis), grown on three contrasting soil textures (sandy clay loam, clay, and silt loam); (2) nutrient leaching losses from these three soils due to the continuous application of WRW; (3) crops’ improvement in water use, if any, in terms of its water productivity (WP) and water use efficiency (WUE); and (4) the relationship between soil bacterial count and plant growth parameters. The effects of F0 and F3 were compared with conventional NPK fertilizer and a control (only tap water; CON). Two factors, treatments and soil types, were used factorially in a randomized complete block design for three consecutive planting cycles. Results showed that NPK and F3 produced a significantly (p < 0.01) higher plant growth in terms of fresh and dry leaf weights and total leaf area by 5 to 61%, compared to that obtained in the other treatments. Furthermore, plants receiving either NPK or F3 had a significantly higher plant nutrient content (P, K, Ca, Mg, and Cu) in the third planting cycle. Clay soil treated with F3, NPK, and F0 had significantly higher NH4+, P, Ca, Mg, Zn, and B, by 19 to 152% relative to the other soils, irrespective of treatments. Soil nutrient leaching losses of P, K, Ca, Mg, Cu, Zn, and B decreased with successive planting cycles for all treatments. However, soils treated with either F3 or F0 experienced higher leaching of NH4+ and NO3−  by 37 to 259% and 13 to 34%, respectively, relative to the NPK and CON. Plants treated with either NPK or F3 also had higher WP by 21 to 42% than the other treatments. For all the treatments, plants’ WUE increased with successive planting cycles; however, there was no significant difference between the treatments. F3 stimulated a significantly higher growth and yield of choy sum due to its nutrient and bacterial contents, and the continuous increase in plant growth with successive planting cycles indicated the carryover effects of the treatments, particularly by F3.
Placing Ecosystem Services within the Water–Food–Energy–Climate Nexus: A Case Study in Mediterranean Mixed Orchards
Authors: Ioannidou Sotiroula , Litskas Vassilis , Stavrinides Menelaos , Vogiatzakis Ioannis Ν.
Published: September 2022

We used Cyprus as a model to link the Water–Energy–Food–Climate (WEFC) nexus indicators (e.g., carbon and water footprints) to the ecosystem services (ES) provided by 39 mixed orchards (stone fruits and nuts) on organic (Org) and conventional (Conv) farms. Food provision was lower for Org than Conv orchards. Management practices in Org mixed orchards better support climate change mitigation and water flow regulation. Soil quality parameters (e.g., organic matter and soil respiration), Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF), and farm attributes (e.g., tree age) were significantly correlated to the GHG emissions per Mcal of food. Using cluster analysis, orchards were grouped based on WEFC indicators. Finally, a simple approach was developed to allow a rapid link between the WEFC and ES and to support decision making related to land use. This approach highlighted that in the case of Mediterranean mixed orchards, the main objective towards sustainability should be the balance between input management, food production, and ES from agroecosystems, rather than solely the attainment of high yields.
Performance of Spectrophotometric and Fluorometric DNA Quantification Methods
Authors: Bruijns Brigitte , Hoekema Tina , Oomens Lisa , Tiggelaar Roald , Gardeniers Han
Published: September 2022

Accurate DNA quantification is a highly important method within molecular biology. Methods widely used to quantify DNA are UV spectrometry and fluorometry. In this research, seven different DNA samples and one blank (MilliQ ultrapure water) were quantified by three analysts using one spectrophotometric (i.e., a NanoDrop instrument) and three fluorometric (i.e., the AccuGreen High Sensitivity kit, the AccuClear Ultra High Sensitivity kit, and the Qubit dsDNA HS Assay kit) methods. An analysis of variance (ANOVA) scheme was used to determine the influence of the analyst, the method, and the combination of analyst and method, on DNA quantification. For most samples, the measured DNA concentration was close to or slightly above the concentration of 10 ng/μL as specified by the supplier. Results obtained by the three analysts were equal. However, it was found that, compared to the fluorometric kits, the used spectrophotometric instrument in the case of fish DNA samples tends to overestimate the DNA concentration. Therefore, if sufficient sample volume is available, a combination of a spectrophotometric and a fluorometric method is recommended for obtaining data on the purity and the dsDNA concentration of a sample.
Effects of Autolyzed Yeast Supplementation in a High-Starch Diet on Rumen Health, Apparent Digestibility, and Production Variables of Lactating Holstein Cows
Authors: Knollinger Sara E. , Poczynek Milaine , Miller Bryan , Mueller Isabel , de Almeida Rodrigo , Murphy Michael R. , Cardoso Felipe C.
Published: September 2022

Fifteen multiparous rumen-cannulated Holstein cows were assigned to one of five treatments in a replicated 5 × 5 Latin square design. The treatments were low-starch (LS) (22.8 ± 1% of dry matter; DM) without autolyzed yeast (AY; LS0, control), high-starch (HS) (31.2 ± 4% of DM) without AY (HS0), and HS with either 15 g (HS15), 30 g (HS30), or 45 g (HS45) of AY supplementation. Cows in HS0 had increased (p < 0.03) dry matter intake (DMI; 24.9 kg/d) and energy-corrected milk (ECM; 34.4 kg/d) compared to cows in LS0 (19.9 and 31.3 kg/d, respectively). There was a tendency for a quadratic treatment effect for feed efficiency (ECM/DMI, p = 0.07) and crude protein (CP) apparent digestibility (AD) (p = 0.09). Cows in HS45 tended (p = 0.09) to have increased DMI (25.6 kg/d) compared to cows in HS0 (24.9 kg/d). Cows in HS0 had greater (p < 0.04) milk protein nitrogen (N; 166 g/d) and microbial N production (161 g/d) than those in LS0 (140 and 138 g/d, respectively). In conclusion, the addition of AY tended to improve DMI, feed efficiency, and CP AD when cows were fed the HS diet.
Genome-Wide Diversity Analysis of African Swine Fever Virus Based on a Curated Dataset
Authors: Bao Jingyue , Zhang Yong , Shi Chuan , Wang Qinghua , Wang Shujuan , Wu Xiaodong , Cao Shengbo , Xu Fengping , Wang Zhiliang
Published: September 2022

African swine fever (ASF) is a lethal contagious viral disease of domestic pigs and wild boars caused by the African swine fever virus (ASFV). The pandemic spread of ASF has had serious effects on the global pig industry. Virus genome sequencing and comparison play an important role in tracking the outbreaks of the disease and tracing the transmission of the virus. Although more than 140 ASFV genome sequences have been deposited in the public databases, the genome-wide diversity of ASFV remains unclear. Here we prepared a curated dataset of ASFV genome sequences by filtering genomes with sequencing errors as well as duplicated genomes. A total of 123 ASFV genome sequences were included in the dataset, representing 10 genotypes collected between 1949 and 2020. Phylogenetic analysis based on whole-genome sequences provided high-resolution topology in differentiating closely related ASFV isolates, and drew new clues in the classification of some ASFV isolates. Genome-wide diversity of ASFV genomes was explored by pairwise sequence similarity comparison and ORF distribution comparison. Tandem repeat sequences were found widely distributed and highly varied in ASFV genomes. Structural variation and highly variable poly G or poly C tracts also contributed to the genome diversity. This study expanded our knowledge on the patterns of genetic diversity and evolution of ASFV, and provided valuable information for diagnosis improvement and vaccine development.
Changes of Acid-Base Variables in Dairy Cows with Chronically Implanted Fetal and Maternal Catheters during Late Gestation and Calving
Authors: Szenci Ottó , Van Der Weyden Gijsbert Cornelis , Lénárt Lea , Taverne Marcel Antoine Marie
Published: September 2022

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the changes in maternal and fetal arterial acid-base variables withdrawn from catheterized dams and fetuses during the last days before and during calving. The average gestation length in nine cows with chronically catheterized fetuses was 285 ± 10 (SD) days. The arterial acid-base variables of a catheterized dam and fetus were very stable during late gestation. Four newborn calves showed small differences between prenatal and postnatal pH values (−0.035). At the same time, pCO2 values started to increase significantly (p = 0.02), indicating a shift towards physiological respiratory acidosis during calving. The partial pressure of oxygen and oxygen saturation values showed some non-significant improvements immediately after birth, while the other acid-base parameters did not differ. The remaining five newborn calves showed a significant decrease in arterial blood pH (p < 0.01) and BE (p = 0.01), while pCO2 tended to be higher (p = 0.06), indicating a shift towards physiological respiratory and metabolic acidosis, while the other acid-base parameters hardly differed. It is essential to mention that physiological (n = 2) and mild metabolic acidosis (n = 2) developed gradually in four newborn calves during the second stage of calving, lasting about ≤ 2 h. In contrast, in the remaining newborn calf the physiological metabolic acidosis developed during the last 3 min of birth because immediately before birth, the BE value was 0.4 mmol/L. After birth, it was −5.4 mmol/L. The results indicate that the acid-base variables may start to move gradually in the direction of expressed respiratory and metabolic acidosis only after appearing the amniotic sac and fetal feet in the vulva during the second stage of labor; therefore, it is essential to complete obstetrical assistance in time.
Traits Defining Sow Lifetime Maternal Performance
Authors: Vargovic Laura , Harper Jo-Anne , Bunter Kim L.
Published: September 2022

Declining sow performance with increasing parity or an increase in the number of poor- quality pigs potentially impacts on farm productivity. This study investigated the phenotypic and genetic background of the sow’s influence on (i) the number of pigs not meeting the industry standards (tail-enders) and (ii) changes in performance with parity. Data were available for 3592 sows and their litters (13,976 litters) from a pig production system in NSW, Australia. The mean, standard deviation (SD), and slope for trait values over time were estimated for the sow characteristic traits: number of born-alive (NBA) and stillborn (SB) piglets and body condition of sow recorded with a caliper (CAL), along with maternal effects on piglet performance, represented by: average piglet birth weight (APBW), number of weaned piglets (WEAN), and tail-enders (TEND). Traits were analyzed in ASReml 4.2, by using an animal model. The number of tail-enders produced by a sow is a heritable trait, with a heritability estimate of 0.14 ± 0.04. Sow characteristics and maternal effects on piglet performance expressed by mean and slope had similar heritability estimates, ranging from 0.10 ± 0.03 to 0.38 ± 0.05, whereas estimates for SD traits were generally not different from zero. The latter suggests individual variability in sow characteristics or maternal performance between parities is largely not genetic in origin. This study demonstrated that more attention is required to identify contributions to the problem of tail-enders, and that slope traits could potentially be useful in the breeding program to maximize lifetime performance.
Exosome miRNA Expression in Umbilical Cord Blood of High-Parity Sows Regulates Their Reproductive Potential
Authors: Pu Qiang , Chai Jie , Chen Li , Liu Changbao , Yang Changfeng , Huang Yongfu , Luo Jia
Published: September 2022

The objective of modern pig breeding is to improve the genetic reproduction performance potential of sows, including the litter size and weight of piglets. During the gestation period, the umbilical cord facilitates placenta–fetal communication; thus, it plays an indispensable role in intrauterine embryonic development and fitness. Herein, we analyzed the molecular mechanism in declining reproductive potential in high-parity sows by assessing the changes in the umbilical cord blood. Firstly, we analyzed the reproductive characteristics data of sows, followed by histological analysis of the umbilical cord phenotype. Next, we evaluated the effect of umbilical cord blood exosomes (UCB-EXO) on angiogenesis. Finally, the miRNA expression in UCB-EXO from high-parity sows with poor reproductive performance (OS) and multiparous sows with excellent reproductive performance (MS) was assessed. Overall, the best reproductive performance was at parity 3–7, gradually decreasing after parity 8 and angiogenesis was repressed in OS. However, exosomes derived from MS (Exo-MS) exhibited pro-angiogenesis properties but were diminished in exosomes derived from OS (Exo-OS). Additionally, the angiogenesis of sows was significantly decreased, increasing the risk of disease with the increase in parity, greatly limiting the reproductive potential of the sows. At the same time, miR-188-5p expression in Exo-OS was significantly higher than in Exo-MS (p < 0.01), implying that it may play an important role in regulating the lifespan and reproductive potential of sows. These findings demonstrated that miRNAs in UCB-EXO play a central role in intrauterine development. Further, the findings suggest novel insights on reproductive potential, which provide a reference for increasing the sow reproductive efficiency.