bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Tonic Endocannabinoid Signaling Gates Synaptic Plasticity in Dorsal Raphe Nucleus Serotonin Neurons Through Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptors
Authors: Oubraim Saida , Wang Ruixiang , Hausknecht Kathryn A , Shen Roh-Yu , Haj-Dahmane Samir
Published: June 2021

Endocannabinoids (eCBs), which include 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) and anandamide (AEA) are lipid signaling molecules involved in the regulation of an array of behavioral and physiological functions. Released by postsynaptic neurons, eCBs mediate both phasic and tonic signaling at central synapses. While the roles of phasic eCB signaling in modulating synaptic functions and plasticity are well characterized, very little is known regarding the physiological roles and mechanisms regulating tonic eCB signaling at central synapses. In this study, we show that both 2-AG and AEA are constitutively released in the dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN), where they exert tonic control of glutamatergic synaptic transmission onto serotonin (5-HT) neurons. The magnitude of this tonic eCB signaling is tightly regulated by the overall activity of neuronal network. Thus, short term in vitro neuronal silencing or blockade of excitatory synaptic transmission abolishes tonic eCB signaling in the DRn. Importantly, in addition to controlling basal synaptic transmission, this study reveals that tonic 2-AG, but not AEA signaling, modulates synaptic plasticity. Indeed, short-term increase in tonic 2-AG signaling impairs spike-timing dependent potentiation (tLTP) of glutamate synapses. This tonic 2-AG-mediated homeostatic control of DRN glutamate synapses is not signaled by canonical cannabinoid receptors, but by intracellular peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ). Further examination reveals that 2-AG mediated activation of PPARγ blocks tLTP by inhibiting nitric oxide (NO), soluble guanylate cyclase, and protein kinase G (NO/sGC/PKG) signaling pathway. Collectively, these results unravel novel mechanisms by which tonic 2-AG signaling integrates network activities and controls the synaptic plasticity in the brain.
Cannabidiol and Sertraline Regulate Behavioral and Brain Gene Expression Alterations in an Animal Model of PTSD
Authors: Gasparyan Ani , Navarrete Francisco , Manzanares Jorge
Published: June 2021

This study evaluated the effects of cannabidiol (CBD) and/or sertraline (STR) on behavioral and gene expression alterations induced by a new chronic animal model of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). C57BL/6J male mice were repeatedly exposed to physical and psychogenic alternate stressful stimuli. Fear-related memory and anxiety-like behaviors were evaluated. The effects of the administration of CBD (20 mg/kg, i.p.) and/or STR (10 mg/kg, p.o.) were analyzed on behavioral and gene expression changes induced by the model of PTSD. Gene expression alterations of targets related with stress regulation, endocannabinoid and serotonergic systems were analyzed by real-time PCR. The results revealed an increased and long-lasting fear-related memory and anxiety-like behaviors in mice exposed to the animal model of PTSD. Treatment with CBD improved these behaviors in PTSD animals, effects that were significantly potentiated when combined with STR. Gene expression analyses revealed a long-term increase of corticotropin releasing factor (Crf) that was significantly normalized with the combination CBD plus STR. Cannabinoid receptors (Cnr1 and Cnr2) were up regulated in PTSD mice whereas the serotonin transporter (Slc6a4) was reduced. Interestingly, CBD and STR alone or combined induced a significant and marked increase of Slc6a4 gene expression. These results point out the cooperative action of the combination CBD plus STR to enhance fear extinction and reduce anxiety-like behaviors, normalizing gene expression alterations in this animal model of PTSD and suggesting that the combination of CBD with STR deserves to be further explored for the treatment of patients with PTSD.
Tsc Gene Locus Disruption and Differences in Renal Epithelial Extracellular Vesicles
Authors: Kumar Prashant , Zadjali Fahad , Yao Ying , Siroky Brian , Astrinidis Aristotelis , Gross Kenneth W. , Bissler John J.
Published: June 2021

In tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC), Tsc2 mutations are associated with more severe disease manifestations than Tsc1 mutations and the role of extracellular vesicles (EVs) in this context is not yet studied. We report a comparative analysis of EVs derived from isogenic renal cells except for Tsc1 or Tsc2 gene status and hypothesized that in spite of having similar physical characteristics, EVs modulate signaling pathways differently, thus leading to TSC heterogenicity. We used mouse inner medullary collecting duct (mIMCD3) cells with the Tsc1 (T1G cells) or Tsc2 (T2J cells) gene disrupted by CRISPR/CAS9. EVs were isolated from the cell culture media by size-exclusion column chromatography followed by detailed physical and chemical characterization. Physical characterization of EVs was accessed by tunable resistive pulse sensing and dynamic light scattering, revealing similar average sizes and zeta potentials (at pH 7.4) for EVs from mIMCD3 (123.5 ± 5.7 nm and −16.3 ± 2.1 mV), T1G cells (131.5 ± 8.3 nm and −19.8 ± 2.7 mV), and T2J cells (127.3 ± 4.9 nm and −20.2 ± 2.1 mV). EVs derived from parental mIMCD3 cells and both mutated cell lines were heterogeneous (>90% of EVs < 150 nm) in nature. Immunoblotting detected cilial Hedgehog signaling protein Arl13b; intercellular proteins TSG101 and Alix; and transmembrane proteins CD63, CD9, and CD81. Compared to Tsc2 deletion, Tsc1 deletion cells had reduced EV production and release rates. EVs from Tsc1 mutant cells altered mTORC1, autophagy, and β-catenin pathways differently than EVs from Tsc2-mutated cells. Quantitative PCR analysis revealed the down regulation of miR-212a-3p and miR-99a-5p in EVs from Tsc2-mutated cells compared to EVs from Tsc1-mutant cells. Thus, EV-derived miR-212-3p and mIR-99a-5p axes may represent therapeutic targets or biomarkers for TSC disease.
Quantitative Proteomics Reveal That Metabolic Improvement Contributes to the Cardioprotective Effect of T89 on Isoproterenol-Induced Cardiac Injury
Authors: Wei Xiao-Hong , Guo Xiao , Pan Chun-Shui , Li Huan , Cui Yuan-Chen , Yan Li , Fan Jing-Yu , Deng Jing-Na , Hu Bai-He , Chang Xin , He Shu-Ya , Yan Lu-Lu , Sun Kai , Wang Chuan-She , Han Jing-Yan
Published: June 2021

Background

T89, a traditional Chinese medicine, has passed phase II, and is undergoing phase III clinical trials for treatment of ischemic cardiovascular disease by the US FDA. However, the role of T89 on isoproterenol (ISO)-induced cardiac injury is unknown. The present study aimed to explore the effect and underlying mechanism of T89 on ISO-induced cardiac injury.

Methods

Male Sprague-Dawley rats received subcutaneous injection of ISO saline solution at 24 h intervals for the first 3 days and then at 48 h intervals for the next 12 days. T89 at dose of 111.6 and 167.4 mg/kg was administrated by gavage for 15 consecutive days. Rat survival rate, cardiac function evaluation, morphological observation, quantitative proteomics, and Western blotting analysis were performed.

Results

T89 obviously improved ISO-induced low survival rate, attenuated ISO-evoked cardiac injury, as evidenced by myocardial blood flow, heart function, and morphology. Quantitative proteomics revealed that the cardioprotective effect of T89 relied on the regulation of metabolic pathways, including glycolipid metabolism and energy metabolism. T89 inhibited the enhancement of glycolysis, promoted fatty acid oxidation, and restored mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation by regulating Eno1, Mcee, Bdh1, Ces1c, Apoc2, Decr1, Acaa2, Cbr4, ND2, Cox 6a, Cox17, ATP5g, and ATP5j, thus alleviated oxidative stress and energy metabolism disorder and ameliorated cardiac injury after ISO. The present study also verified that T89 significantly restrained ISO-induced increase of HSP70/HSP40 and suppressed the phosphorylation of ERK, further restored the expression of CX43, confirming the protective role of T89 in cardiac hypertrophy. Proteomics data are available via ProteomeXchange with identifier PXD024641.

Conclusion

T89 reduced mortality and improves outcome in the model of ISO-induced cardiac injury and the cardioprotective role of T89 is correlated with the regulation of glycolipid metabolism, recovery of mitochondrial function, and improvement of myocardial energy.
Above- and Belowground Plant Functional Composition Show Similar Changes During Temperate Forest Swamp Succession
Authors: Hu Yu-Kun , Pan Xu , Liu Xu-Yan , Fu Zhi-Xi , Zhang Man-Yin
Published: June 2021

Plant functional composition, defined by both community-weighted mean (CWM) traits and functional diversity, can provide insights into plant ecological strategies and community assembly. However, our understanding of plant functional composition during succession is largely based on aboveground traits. Here we investigated community-level traits and functional diversity for six pairs of analogous leaf and fine root traits of understory plants in a temperate forest swamp during succession with a decrease in soil pH and nutrient availability. CWMs of traits related to resource acquisition (including specific leaf area, specific root length, leaf N, leaf P, root N, and root P) decreased with succession, whereas those related to resource conservation (leaf dry matter content, root dry matter content, leaf tissue density, leaf C, and root C) increased along the forest swamp successional gradient. Multi-trait functional dispersion (FDis) of both leaf and fine root traits tended to decrease along the successional gradient, but functional richness and evenness were highest at the middle successional stage. Moreover, FDis of individual plant traits except N showed the same pattern as multi-trait FDis. Soil pH and nutrient availability were the main drivers of successional changes in both CWM traits and FDis. The changes of community-level traits along succession indicated a shift from acquisitive to conservative strategy of understory plants during forest swamp succession. Similar trends in leaf and fine root functional diversity along succession may indicate above- and belowground functional diversity are coordinated during the processes of plant community assembly. These findings of linkages between above- and belowground plant functional composition have important implications for plant community dynamics and assembly rules.
Fine Mapping of the Leaf Rust Resistance Gene Lr65 in Spelt Wheat ‘Altgold’
Authors: Zhang Qiang , Wei Wenxin , Zuansun Xiangxi , Zhang Shengnan , Wang Chen , Liu Nannan , Qiu Lina , Wang Weidong , Guo Weilong , Ma Jun , Peng Huiru , Hu Zhaorong , Sun Qixin , Xie Chaojie
Published: June 2021

Wheat leaf rust (also known as brown rust), caused by the fungal pathogenPuccinia triticinaErikss. (Pt), is one by far the most troublesome wheat disease worldwide. The exploitation of resistance genes has long been considered as the most effective and sustainable method to control leaf rust in wheat production. Previously the leaf rust resistance geneLr65has been mapped to the distal end of chromosome arm 2AS linked to molecular markerXbarc212. In this study,Lr65was delimited to a 0.8 cM interval between flanking markersAlt-64andAltID-11, by employing two larger segregating populations obtained from crosses of the resistant parent Altgold Rotkorn (ARK) with the susceptible parents Xuezao and Chinese Spring (CS), respectively. 24 individuals from 622 F2plants of crosses between ARK and CS were obtained that showed the recombination betweenLr65gene and the flanking markersAlt-64andAltID-11. With the aid of the CS reference genome sequence (IWGSC RefSeq v1.0), one SSR marker was developed between the interval matched to theLr65-flanking marker and a high-resolution genetic linkage map was constructed. TheLr65was finally located to a region corresponding to 60.11 Kb of the CS reference genome. The high-resolution genetic linkage map founded a solid foundation for the map-based cloning ofLr65and the co-segregating marker will facilitate the marker-assisted selection (MAS) of the target gene.
Application of Genomic Selection at the Early Stage of Breeding Pipeline in Tropical Maize
Authors: Beyene Yoseph , Gowda Manje , Pérez-Rodríguez Paulino , Olsen Michael , Robbins Kelly R. , Burgueño Juan , Prasanna Boddupalli M. , Crossa Jose
Published: June 2021

In maize, doubled haploid (DH) line production capacity of large-sized maize breeding programs often exceeds the capacity to phenotypically evaluate the complete set of testcross candidates in multi-location trials. The ability to partially select DH lines based on genotypic data while maintaining or improving genetic gains for key traits using phenotypic selection can result in significant resource savings. The present study aimed to evaluate genomic selection (GS) prediction scenarios for grain yield and agronomic traits of one of the tropical maize breeding pipelines of CIMMYT in eastern Africa, based on multi-year empirical data for designing a GS-based strategy at the early stages of the pipeline. We used field data from 3,068 tropical maize DH lines genotyped using rAmpSeq markers and evaluated as test crosses in well-watered (WW) and water-stress (WS) environments in Kenya from 2017 to 2019. Three prediction schemes were compared: (1) 1 year of performance data to predict a second year; (2) 2 years of pooled data to predict performance in the third year, and (3) using individual or pooled data plus converting a certain proportion of individuals from the testing set (TST) to the training set (TRN) to predict the next year's data. Employing five-fold cross-validation, the mean prediction accuracies for grain yield (GY) varied from 0.19 to 0.29 under WW and 0.22 to 0.31 under WS, when the 1-year datasets were used training set to predict a second year's data as a testing set. The mean prediction accuracies increased to 0.32 under WW and 0.31 under WS when the 2-year datasets were used as a training set to predict the third-year data set. In a forward prediction scenario, good predictive abilities (0.53 to 0.71) were found when the training set consisted of the previous year's breeding data and converting 30% of the next year's data from the testing set to the training set. The prediction accuracy for anthesis date and plant height across WW and WS environments obtained using 1-year data and integrating 10, 30, 50, 70, and 90% of the TST set to TRN set was much higher than those trained in individual years. We demonstrate that by increasing the TRN set to include genotypic and phenotypic data from the previous year and combining only 10–30% of the lines from the year of testing, the predicting accuracy can be increased, which in turn could be used to replace the first stage of field-based screening partially, thus saving significant costs associated with the testcross formation and multi-location testcross evaluation.
Measuring Stereotype Threat at Math and Language Arts in Secondary School: Validation of a Questionnaire
Authors: Bedyńska Sylwia , Rycielski Piotr , Jabłońska Magdalena
Published: June 2021

A stereotype threat arises when a negative stereotype about group to which an individual belongs is activated. It affects the achievement and interest of students in a particular academic domain, e.g., girls at math or boys at language arts. Hence, it is important to assess the level of stereotype threat at school (STaS) in order to identify the vulnerability of students to its negative consequences. This study devised and validated two parallel versions of the STaS scale: girls in mathematics and boys in language arts in a nationally representative sample of Polish secondary school students (N = 1,241; 13–16 years). The results of a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) in a complex sample approach showed one general factor. Furthermore, a multiple-group CFA confirmed metric invariance and partial scalar invariance. The variances for boys and girls were equal. This suggests that the construct of stereotype threat is similarly conceptualized by both genders despite being in different domains. Finally, the comparison of means of latent variables revealed a higher level of stereotype threat among boys in the language domain than girls in mathematics. Possible theoretical and practical implications are discussed.
Core Cognitive Mechanisms Underlying Syntactic Priming: A Comparison of Three Alternative Models
Authors: Yang Yuxue C. , Karmol Ann Marie , Stocco Andrea
Published: June 2021

Syntactic priming (SP) is the effect by which, in a dialogue, the current speaker tends to re-use the syntactic constructs of the previous speakers. SP has been used as a window into the nature of syntactic representations within and across languages. Because of its importance, it is crucial to understand the mechanisms behind it. Currently, two competing theories exist. According to the transient activation account, SP is driven by the re-activation of declarative memory structures that encode structures. According to the error-based implicit learning account, SP is driven by prediction errors while processing sentences. By integrating both transient activation and associative learning, Reitter et al.'s hybrid model 2011 assumes that SP is achieved by both mechanisms, and predicts a priming enhancement for rare or unusual constructions. Finally, a recently proposed account, the reinforcement learning account, claims that SP driven by the successful application of procedural knowledge will be reversed when the prime sentence includes grammatical errors. These theories make different assumptions about the representation of syntactic rules (declarative vs. procedural) and the nature of the mechanism that drives priming (frequency and repetition, attention, and feedback signals, respectively). To distinguish between these theories, they were all implemented as computational models in the ACT-R cognitive architecture, and their specific predictions were examined through grid-search computer simulations. Two experiments were then carried out to empirically test the central prediction of each theory as well as the individual fits of each participant's responses to different parameterizations of each model. The first experiment produced results that were best explained by the associative account, but could also be accounted for by a modified reinforcement model with a different parsing algorithm. The second experiment, whose stimuli were designed to avoid the parsing ambiguity of the first, produced somewhat weaker effects. Its results, however, were also best predicted by the model implementing the associative account. We conclude that the data overall points to SP being due to prediction violations that direct attentional resources, in turn suggesting a declarative rather than a RL based procedural representation of syntactic rules.
Paranormal Belief, Thinking Style and Delusion Formation: A Latent Profile Analysis of Within-Individual Variations in Experience-Based Paranormal Facets
Authors: Drinkwater Kenneth Graham , Dagnall Neil , Denovan Andrew , Williams Christopher
Published: June 2021

This study examined the degree to which within-individual variations in paranormal experience were related to belief in the paranormal, preferential thinking style, and delusion formation. A sample of 956 non-clinical adults completed measures assessing experience-based paranormal indices (i.e., paranormal experience, paranormal practitioner visiting, and paranormal ability), paranormal belief, belief in science, proneness to reality testing deficits, and emotion-based reasoning. Latent profile analysis (LPA) combined the experience-based indices to produce six underlying groups. Inter-class comparison via multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) indicated that both breadth and intensity of experiential factors were associated with higher belief in in the paranormal, increased proneness to reality testing deficits, and greater emotion-based reasoning. Belief in science, however, was less susceptible to experiential variations. Further analysis of reality testing subscales revealed that experiential profiles influenced levels of intrapsychic activity in subtle and intricate ways, especially those indexing Auditory and Visual Hallucinations and Delusional Thinking. Collectively, identification of profiles and inter-class comparisons provided a sophisticated understanding of the relative contribution of experiential factors to differences in paranormal belief, belief in science, proneness to reality testing deficits, and emotion-based reasoning.
Precision Mental Health Care for Cannabis Use Disorder: Utility of a bioSocial Cognitive Theory to Inform Treatment
Authors: Gullo Matthew J. , Papinczak Zoë E. , Feeney Gerald F. X. , Young Ross McD. , Connor Jason P.
Published: June 2021

Globally, cannabis is the most frequently used controlled substance after alcohol and tobacco. Rates of cannabis use are steadily increasing in many countries and there is emerging evidence that there is likely to be greater risk due to increased concentrations of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Cannabis use and Cannabis Use Disorder (CUD) has been linked to a wide range of adverse health outcomes. Several biological, psychological, and social risk factors are potential targets for effective evidence-based treatments for CUD. There are no effective medications for CUD and psychological interventions are the main form of treatment. Psychological treatments based on Social Cognitive Theory (SCT) emphasize the importance of targeting 2 keys psychological mechanisms: drug outcome expectancies and low drug refusal self-efficacy. This mini-review summarizes the evidence on the role of these mechanisms in the initiation, maintenance, and cessation of cannabis use. It also reviews recent evidence showing how these psychological mechanisms are affected by social and biologically-based risk factors. A new bioSocial Cognitive Theory (bSCT) is outlined that integrates these findings and implications for psychological cannabis interventions are discussed. Preliminary evidence supports the application of bSCT to improve intervention outcomes through better targeted treatment.
Association Between Obsessive-Compulsive Symptom Dimensions in Mothers and Psychopathology in Their Children
Authors: Blanco-Vieira Thiago , Hoexter Marcelo Queiroz , Batistuzzo Marcelo C. , Alvarenga Pedro , Szejko Natalia , Fumo Afonso Mazine Tiago , Miguel Eurípedes C. , do Rosário Maria Conceição
Published: June 2021

Background:The non-clinical presentation of obsessive–compulsive symptoms (OCS) in women may impact not only their daily lives and well-being but also increase the risk for emotional and behavioral problems in their children. This study aims to investigate the OCS dimension distribution in a large sample of mothers from a cohort of school age children and the association between these OCS dimensions with their own psychopathology, and with the presence of OCS and other psychopathology in their children.

Method:Our final sample consisted of 2,511 mother-children dyads recruited from the elementary schools of two large cities. Throughout multiple regression analysis, we examined the correlations between demographic and clinical variables of mothers assessed by the Mini International Psychiatric Interview (MINI) and the Dimensional Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale-Short Version (DY-BOCS-SV) with children's psychopathology status reported by the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL).

Results:The overall prevalence of mothers who reported experiencing at least one OCS was 40% (N= 1,004). “Aggression/violence” was the most frequent symptom dimension (32.2%), followed by the “symmetry/ordering” (16.4%) and the “sexual/religious” dimensions (13.8%). There was a significant correlation between the presence of OCS and maternal psychopathology in general (p< 0.001,r= 0.397). Not only the presence but also the severity of the mother's OCS were strongly correlated to the total (p< 0.001), internalizing (p< 0.001), externalizing (p< 0.001), and OCS subscale scores (p< 0.001) on the CBCL.

Conclusion:OCS dimensions are highly prevalent in women. Presence and severity of maternal OCS are related to children's psychopathology and behavioral problems.
Identification of Gene Loci That Overlap Between Mental Disorders and Poor Prognosis of Cancers
Authors: Xu Ji-li , Guo Yong
Published: June 2021

Background: Co-morbid psychiatric disorders are common in patients with cancers, which make the treatment more difficult. Studying the connection between mental disease-related genes and the prognosis of cancers may potentially lead to novel therapeutic methods.

Method: All mental disorders genes were selected from published articles. The correlations between the expression of these genes and the prognosis of different cancers were analyzed by starBase v2.0 and TIMER. The molecular functions, reactome pathways, and interactions among diverse genes were explored via the STRING tool.

Results: 239 genes were identified for further survival analysis, 5 of which were overlapping genes across at least five cancer types, including RHEBL1, PDE4B, ANKRD55, EPHB2, and GIMAP7. 146 high-expression and 157 low-expression genes were found to be correlated with the unfavorable prognosis of diverse cancer types. Tight links existed among various mental disease genes. Besides, risk genes were mostly related to the dismal outcome of low-grade glioma (LGG) and kidney renal clear cell carcinoma (KIRC) patients. Gene Ontology (GO) and reactome pathway analysis revealed that most genes involved in various critical molecular functions and primarily related to metabolism, signal transduction, and hemostasis.

Conclusions: To explore co-expression genes between mental illnesses and cancers may aid in finding preventive strategies and therapeutic methods for high-risk populations and patients with one or more diseases.
Embodiment in 18th Century Depictions of Human-Machine Co-Creativity
Authors: Kantosalo Anna , Falk Michael , Jordanous Anna
Published: June 2021

Artificial intelligence has a rich history in literature; fiction has shaped how we view artificial agents and their capacities in the real world. This paper looks at embodied examples of human-machine co-creation from the literature of the Long 18th Century (1,650–1,850), examining how older depictions of creative machines could inform and inspire modern day research. The works are analyzed from the perspective of design fiction with special focus on the embodiment of the systems and the creativity exhibited by them. We find that the chosen examples highlight the importance of recognizing the environment as a major factor in human-machine co-creative processes and that some of the works seem to precede current examples of artificial systems reaching into our everyday lives. The examples present embodied interaction in a positive, creativity-oriented way, but also highlight ethical risks of human-machine co-creativity. Modern day perceptions of artificial systems and creativity can be limited to some extent by the technologies available; fictitious examples from centuries past allow us to examine such limitations using a Design Fiction approach. We conclude by deriving four guidelines for future research from our fictional examples: 1) explore unlikely embodiments; 2) think of situations, not systems; 3) be aware of the disjunction between action and appearance; and 4) consider the system as a situated moral agent.
An Integrated Kinematic Modeling and Experimental Approach for an Active Endoscope
Authors: Isbister Andrew , Bailey Nicola Y. , Georgilas Ioannis
Published: June 2021

Continuum robots are a type of robotic device that are characterized by their flexibility and dexterity, thus making them ideal for an active endoscope. Instead of articulated joints they have flexible backbones that can be manipulated remotely, usually through tendons secured onto structures attached to the backbone. This structure makes them lightweight and ideal to be miniaturized for endoscopic applications. However, their flexibility poses technical challenges in the modeling and control of these devices, especially when closed-loop control is needed, as is the case in medical applications. There are two main approaches in the modeling of continuum robots, the first is to theoretically model the behavior of the backbone and the interaction with the tendons, while the second is to collect experimental observations and retrospectively apply a model that can approximate their apparent behavior. Both approaches are affected by the complexity of continuum robots through either model accuracy/computational time (theoretical method) or missing complex system interactions and lacking expandability (experimental method). In this work, theoretical and experimental descriptions of an endoscopic continuum robot are merged. A simplified yet representative mathematical model of a continuum robot is developed, in which the backbone model is based on Cosserat rod theory and is coupled to the tendon tensions. A robust numerical technique is formulated that has low computational costs. A bespoke experimental facility with precise automated motion of the backbone via the precise control of tendon tension, leads to a robust and detailed description of the system behavior provided through a contactless sensor. The resulting facility achieves a real-world mean positioning error of 3.95% of the backbone length for the examined range of tendon tensions which performs favourably to existing approaches. Moreover, it incorporates hysteresis behavior that could not be predicted by the theoretical modeling alone, reinforcing the benefits of the hybrid approach. The proposed workflow is theoretically grounded and experimentally validated allowing precise prediction of the continuum robot behavior, adhering to realistic observations. Based on this accurate estimation and the fact it is geometrically agnostic enables the proposed model to be scaled for various robotic endoscopes.
Knowledge-Driven Network for Object Detection
Authors: Wu Yundong , Liao Jiajia , Liu Yujun , Ding Kaiming , Li Shimin , Zhang Zhilin , Cai Guorong , Su Jinhe
Published: June 2021

Object detection is a challenging computer vision task with numerous real-world applications. In recent years, the concept of the object relationship model has become helpful for object detection and has been verified and realized in deep learning. Nonetheless, most approaches to modeling object relations are limited to using the anchor-based algorithms; they cannot be directly migrated to the anchor-free frameworks. The reason is that the anchor-free algorithms are used to eliminate the complex design of anchors and predict heatmaps to represent the locations of keypoints of different object categories, without considering the relationship between keypoints. Therefore, to better fuse the information between the heatmap channels, it is important to model the visual relationship between keypoints. In this paper, we present a knowledge-driven network (KDNet)—a new architecture that can aggregate and model keypoint relations to augment object features for detection. Specifically, it processes a set of keypoints simultaneously through interactions between their local and geometric features, thereby allowing the modeling of their relationship. Finally, the updated heatmaps were used to obtain the corners of the objects and determine their positions. The experimental results conducted on the RIDER dataset confirm the effectiveness of the proposed KDNet, which significantly outperformed other state-of-the-art object detection methods.
Current Trends and Prospects in Compliant Continuum Robots: A Survey
Authors: Li Shiyao , Hao Guangbo
Published: June 2021

Compliant continuum robots (CCRs) have slender and elastic bodies. Compared with a traditional serial robot, they have more degrees of freedom and can deform their flexible bodies to go through a constrained environment. In this paper, we classify CCRs according to basic transmission units. The merits, materials and potential drawbacks of each type of CCR are described. Drive systems depend on the basic transmission units significantly, and their advantages and disadvantages are reviewed and summarized. Variable stiffness and intrinsic sensing are desired characteristics of CCRs, and the methods of obtaining the two characteristics are discussed. Finally, we discuss the friction, buckling, singularity and twisting problems of CCRs, and emphasise the ways to reduce their effects, followed by several proposing perspectives, such as the collaborative CCRs.
Breaking the Vicious Circle of Escalating Control: Connecting Politicians and Public Employees through Stewardship
Authors: Bentzen Tina Øllgaard
Published: June 2021

Politicians applying general rules as a reaction to local failures has contributed to mushrooming control in the public sector, which has in turn spurred higher transactional costs and motivation crowding among public employees. Drawing on a qualitative case study in a Danish municipality, this article explores the prospects and challenges for politicians of breaking the vicious circle of escalating control by adopting stewardship ideals into their leadership of the public employees. The results show that stewardship offers new opportunities for politicians, enabling better diagnosis of control problems, more robust control solutions, as well as a pronounced mobilization of employee support for those solutions. However, political competition, political discontinuity after elections, scandals in the press, resistance in the administration, and more diffuse decision-making processes pose potential challenges for politicians striving to tackle the problem of escalating control through stewardship.
Vibro-Acoustical Sensitivities of Stiffened Aircraft Structures Due to Attached Mass-Spring-Dampers with Uncertain Parameters
Authors: Seidel Johannes , Lippert Stephan , von Estorff Otto
Published: June 2021

The slightest manufacturing tolerances and variances of material properties can indeed have a significant impact on structural modes. An unintentional shift of eigenfrequencies towards dominant excitation frequencies may lead to increased vibration amplitudes of the structure resulting in radiated noise, e.g., reducing passenger comfort inside an aircraft’s cabin. This paper focuses on so-called non-structural masses of an aircraft, also known as the secondary structure that are attached to the primary structure via clips, brackets, and shock mounts and constitute a significant part of the overall mass of an aircraft’s structure. Using the example of a simplified fuselage panel, the vibro-acoustical consequences of parameter uncertainties in linking elements are studied. Here, the fuzzy arithmetic provides a suitable framework to describe uncertainties, create combination matrices, and evaluate the simulation results regarding target quantities and the impact of each parameter on the overall system response. To assess the vibrations of the fuzzy structure and by taking into account the excitation spectra of engine noise, modal and frequency response analyses are conducted.
Impacts of Cd on Temporal Dynamics of Nutrient Distribution Pattern of Bletilla striata, a Traditional Chinese Medicine Plant
Authors: Yang Jiyuan , Sun Hui , Qin Jihong , Wang Xiaoqin , Chen Wenqing
Published: June 2021

Bletilla striata is an endangered medicinal plant the habitats of which are polluted by cadmium (Cd). Nutrient management is a potential way to mitigate Cd toxicity, providing reference for B. striata artificial cultivation. Pot experiments were undertaken to examine the effect of five levels of Cd concentration (control: 0.28 mg/kg; I: 0.37 mg/kg; II: 1.00 mg/kg; III: 7.39 mg/kg; IV: 54.6 mg/kg) on the temporal dynamics of nutrient allocation in B. striata components. The results showed that the content and accumulation of Cd increased significantly in all tissues of Bletilla striata as Cd concentration was increasing, and most accumulated in the roots and slightly transferred to the aboveground parts, while tubers were less likely to accumulate Cd. Excessive cadmium accumulation under long-term exposure reduced the biomass of all tissues of B. striata, and the yield was not significantly affected when cultivated in soil with a concentration of Cd ≤ 1 mg/kg. Potassium (K) was quickly transferred from the root to other tissues in response to the Cd stress. The absorption of zinc (Zn) increased at first and then decreased with increased Cd concentration. According to Pearson correlation analysis, a mechanism is suggested that Cd accumulation affects the absorption of nutrients but is positively and significantly correlated with translocation factor of K and Zn in the tuber. This may imply that B. striata tends to promote the absorption of nutrient elements to adapt to the Cd enrichment in tubers and to compensate for the interrupted mineral nutrition metabolism.
Socio-Economic Impacts of Livelihood from Fuelwood and Timber Consumption on the Sustainability of Forest Environment: Evidence from Basho Valley, Baltistan, Pakistan
Authors: Ullah Saif , Noor Rana Shahzad , Abid Ali , Mendako Richard K. , Waqas Muhammad Mohsin , Shah Adnan Noor , Tian Gang
Published: June 2021

Forests across the world are considered to be a huge socio-economic and environmental benefit to host and adjacent communities. This study focuses on assessing the impacts of fuelwood and timber consumption on the livelihood of households in the Baltistan region in Pakistan. Primary and secondary sources of data were employed for the study. The primary sources involved the use of questionnaire survey and interview while the secondary sources involved the use of documented information in textbooks and internet materials. The study revealed that 82% of the people within the region were involved in agricultural activities, 71% depended on the extraction of forest resources for their livelihood, while 18% depended on off-farm activities for their livelihood. The study also observed that among the number that depended on forest resources for their livelihood, 59% were involved in the extraction of non-timber forest products while 41% were involved in the extraction of timber forest resources. The study further revealed that there was no significant difference in the level of benefits from the forest across the seven districts under investigation with a chi square value. The volume of forest products extraction was found to be high closest to the forest and to be low with increasing distance from the communities. The major benefits from the forest range were due to employment that increases the individual and family income. Forest also helps to control erosion and enhances aesthetic beautification and temperature regulation. The research suggests that the policy makers must provide a sustainable solution to reduce the overexploitation of the forest resources by providing better alternative earning resources to the resident communities.
Productive Characteristics and Fruit Quality Traits of Cherry Tomato Hybrids as Modulated by Grafting on Different Solanum spp. Rootstocks under Ralstonia solanacearum Infested Greenhouse Soil
Authors: Naik Sanmathi A.T.S. , Hongal Shivanand , Harshavardhan Mahantesh , Chandan Kalegowda , Kumar Aravinda J.S. , Ashok  , Kyriacou Marios C. , Rouphael Youssef , Kumar Pradeep
Published: June 2021

Grafting is increasingly becoming an indispensable tool that minimizes the risks associated with intensive vegetable production systems, including soil-borne diseases. This study assesses the performance of two cherry tomato hybrids (‘Cheramy’ and ‘Sheeja’) grafted onto three tomato and five eggplant local rootstock genotypes (cultivated/wild) under Ralstonia solanacearum (bacterial wilt)-infested greenhouse soil. The impact of grafting on growth, yield and fruit physical quality was mainly influenced by the response of rootstocks to disease resistance. The non-grafted plants of both the cultivars were severely affected by bacterial wilt, thus presenting high susceptibility to disease. Eggplant rootstocks imparted moderate to high resistance against bacterial wilt in both the scions, while tomato (cultivated or wild) rootstocks did not improve disease resistance, except ‘Anagha’, which provided resistance to scion cv. ‘Cheramy’. In general, scion cv. ‘Cheramy’, grafted or non-grafted, showed superior growth, yield and fruit quality compared to ‘Sheeja’. The most productive graft combinations for both the cultivars involved resistant rootstocks, i.e., ‘Sheeja’ onto eggplant rootstock ‘Surya’, and ‘Cheramy’ onto tomato rootstock ‘Anagha’. Fruit quality attributes such as ascorbic acid and lycopene contents were considerably higher, and the total soluble solids (TSS) content was considerably lower in scion cv. ‘Cheramy’, whether grafted or non-grafted, than those involving scion cv. ‘Sheeja’. The grafting effect on fruit chemical quality attributes was not promising, except grafting ‘Sheeja’ onto ‘Sopim’ for TSS, ‘Sheeja’ onto ‘Sotor’ for lycopene and ‘Cheramy’ onto ‘Ponny’ for total phenols, though no clear connection with disease incidence was in these grafts. Conclusively, eggplant rootstock imparted wilt resistance, while both eggplant and tomato rootstock grafting was beneficial to both scion cultivars in boosting the overall production and economic gains, especially for ‘Cheramy’ grafted onto ‘Anagha’ rootstock under bacterial wilt infested soil of greenhouse.
Combined Application of Biochar and Lime Increases Maize Yield and Accelerates Carbon Loss from an Acidic Soil
Authors: Mosharrof Mehnaz , Uddin Md. Kamal , Sulaiman Muhammad Firdaus , Mia Shamim , Shamsuzzaman Shordar M. , Haque Ahmad Numery Ashfaqul
Published: June 2021

Biochar, an ecologically friendly soil amendment, is suggested for large-scale field application for its multiple potential benefits, including carbon sequestration, crop yield improvement, and the abatement of greenhouse gas emissions. However, it is unknown how effective it is in changing soil properties and its associated yield improvement when biochar is co-applied with lime in acidic soil. Here, we examined the effects of two different biochars, i.e., rice husk biochar (RHB) and oil palm empty fruit bunches biochar (EFBB), and lime on nutrient availability, the yield of maize, and soil CO2 emission of acid soil. Biochars were applied at two different rates (10 and 15 t ha−1) in combination with two rates of lime (100% and 75%), while the recommended rate of NPK fertilizers, 100% lime, and without any amendments (control) were also included. Hybrid sweet corn was grown in pots with 20 kg soils for 75 days. Plant performance and soil analyses were performed before and after crop maize cultivation while CO2 emission was recorded. Compared to the control, combined RHB biochars with lime significantly buffered soil pH and increased nutrient availability (e.g., P by 137%), while reducing Al and Fe concentration at harvest. These changes in soil properties significantly increased maize yield (by 77.59%) and nutrient uptake compared to the control. Between the two biochars, RHB was relatively more effective in making these changes than EFBB. However, this treatment contributed to a greater carbon loss as CO2 (209% and 145% higher with RHB and EFBB) from soil than the control. We believe that biochar-mediated buffering of soil pH is responsible for this change. Our results suggest that combined biochar application could bring desirable changes in soil properties and increase crop performance, although these effects can be short-lived.
The Attractiveness of Five Common Mediterranean Weeds to Pollinators
Authors: Morrison Jane , Izquierdo Jordi , Hernández Plaza Eva , González-Andújar José L.
Published: June 2021

Concerns about a global decline in pollinators have called for more knowledge about the factors influencing wild pollinator abundance and diversity in agroecosystems. Agricultural intensification has been identified as the main cause of this “global pollinator crisis”, particularly due to reductions in natural areas holding critical floral and nesting resources. Maintaining native wild plants in agricultural landscapes (e.g., in field margins) is often recommended as a cost-effective and efficient method for pollinator conservation. In this study, the role of common wild flowers, often considered weeds, in supporting pollinators in a Mediterranean agroecosystem was investigated. This work involved a two-year field trial to compare five native weed species common in Mediterranean cereal agroecosystems: Convolvulus arvensis L., Daucus carota L., Malva sylvestris L., Papaver rhoeas L., and Sonchus oleraceus L. The goal was to compare the attractiveness of these species, and a mixture of all five, to different flower-visiting insect groups in order to assess their value in supporting wild pollinators. Overall, D. carota had the highest number of insect visits, followed by P. rhoeas. C. arvensis, M. sylvestris, and S. oleraceus, which had lower numbers of visits. On the basis of their overall attractiveness to pollinators and low risk for invasiveness, D. carota, P. rhoeas, and M. sylvestris are the most likely to contribute positively to the conservation of pollinators in agroecosystems. Our results also suggest that it is advantageous for wild flowers sown for the purpose of pollinator conservation to be grown in clumps, rather than highly intermingled, for improved visitation rates.
Effects of Nano Emulsified Vegetable Oil and Betaine on Growth Traits and Meat Characteristics of Broiler Chickens Reared under Cyclic Heat Stress
Authors: Abudabos Alaeldein M. , Suliman Gamaleldin M. , Al-Owaimer Abdullah N. , Sulaiman Ali R. Al , Alharthi Abdulrahman S.
Published: June 2021

The effects of nano-emulsified vegetable oil (NEVO) and betaine (BET) supplements on growth performance and meat qualities of broilers reared under cyclic heat stress (HS) were investigated. Two hundred and eighty-eight mixed-sex broilers at 21 d were randomly distributed to a 2 × 3 factorial arrangement of treatments formed by two environmental temperatures (thermoneutral (TN; 24 ± 1 °C) and cyclic high-temperature (HT; 35 ± 1 °C)) and three dietary treatments (control (CON), NEVO, and BET). The cumulative performance (21–35 d) revealed a reduction in average daily gain (ADG) (p < 0.05) in the CON compared to NEVO. NEVO and BET groups had a better feed conversion ratio (FCR) and performance efficiency factor (PEF) compared with the CON (p < 0.001, p < 0.01, respectively). The environmental temperature affected daily feed intake (DFI), ADG, FCR, and PEF. The addition of BET improved breast fillets yield, temperature, pH15min, and pH24hr (p < 0.05) in comparison with the CON. Moreover, the TN group had lower fillet temperature and higher pH15min compared to the HT. Moreover, HT increased shear force (SF), hardness, springiness, cohesiveness, and chewiness of the fillets compared to TN. In conclusion, dietary supplementation with BET and NEVO could effectively improve performance parameters and meat characteristics under HS conditions.