bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Photosynthetic performance and carbon metabolism in the ear organs of oats under drought stress
Authors: Fang Jiaqi , Zhan Yuan , Zhao Baowen , Zhao Yan , Chen Youjun , Zhou Qingping , Wang Hui
Published: January 2025

Sufficiently exploiting the potential of crop photosynthesis is one of the critical ways for improving cultivation production to face global climate change. In this study, oat plants were potted with three watering treatments. The glumes, lemmas, and flag leaves were sampled on days 0, 7, and 14 after the first floret blossomed under the control (denoted as CK-0, CK-7, and CK-14), drought stress (denoted as DS-7, and DS-14) and rewatering treatments (RW-14). Paraffin cross-section structures were observed, and the absolute water content, photosynthetic enzyme activities, carbohydrate content, dry matter weight, and total C and total N accumulation were determined in the glumes, lemmas and flag leaves. The results showed that stomatal tissues were present in both the inner and outer epidermis in the glumes and lemmas, and chloroplasts existed in the cells of both ear organs. Compared to CK-14, the absolute water content was significantly decreased in the flag leaves, stems, and seeds under DS-14, while drought stress did not significantly affect the water status of the glumes, lemmas, and peduncles. Drought stress significantly decreased the PEPC activities in the glumes, lemmas, and flag leaves, and the glumes had significantly higher PEPC activity than the flag leaves in the late stages of grain filling. Compared to CK-7, fructose and sucrose content was significantly decreased in the flag leaves under DS-7, while drought stress significantly increased the fructose, sucrose, and starch content in the glumes and lemmas. In addition, soluble sugar content was significantly increased in all glumes, lemmas, and flag leaves under drought stress. Rewatering significantly increased the carbohydrate content in the flag leaves, while it had no significant effect on the glumes and lemmas. As growth continued, the C and N contents and the dry matter mass in the seeds gradually increased, which was transferred from the glumes, lemmas, leaves, and stems. The results suggest that oats can tolerate a certain degree of drought without affecting the ears’ physiological function and yield, and ear organs can maintain water status and photosynthetic performance, which plays a major role in the maintenance of seed yield under drought stress conditions.
Classification of tomato leaf disease using Transductive Long Short-Term Memory with an attention mechanism
Authors: Chelladurai Aarthi , Manoj Kumar D.P. , Askar S. S. , Abouhawwash Mohamed
Published: January 2025

Tomatoes are considered one of the most valuable vegetables around the world due to their usage and minimal harvesting period. However, effective harvesting still remains a major issue because tomatoes are easily susceptible to weather conditions and other types of attacks. Thus, numerous research studies have been introduced based on deep learning models for the efficient classification of tomato leaf disease. However, the usage of a single architecture does not provide the best results due to the limited computational ability and classification complexity. Thus, this research used Transductive Long Short-Term Memory (T-LSTM) with an attention mechanism. The attention mechanism introduced in T-LSTM has the ability to focus on various parts of the image sequence. Transductive learning exploits the specific characteristics of the training instances to make accurate predictions. This can involve leveraging the relationships and patterns observed within the dataset. The T-LSTM is based on the transductive learning approach and the scaled dot product attention evaluates the weights of each step based on the hidden state and image patches which helps in effective classification. The data was gathered from the PlantVillage dataset and the pre-processing was conducted based on image resizing, color enhancement, and data augmentation. These outputs were then processed in the segmentation stage where the U-Net architecture was applied. After segmentation, VGG-16 architecture was used for feature extraction and the classification was done through the proposed T-LSTM with an attention mechanism. The experimental outcome shows that the proposed classifier achieved an accuracy of 99.98% which is comparably better than existing convolutional neural network models with transfer learning and IBSA-NET.
Cryoimmobilized anther analysis reveals new ultrastructural insights into Rhynchospora (Cyperaceae) asymmetrical microsporogenesis
Authors: Rocha Danilo M. , Neumann Ulla , Nogueira Fernanda M. , Tsipas Georgios , Vanzela André L. L. , Marques André
Published: January 2025

Introduction

The Cyperaceae family is distinguished by holocentric chromosomes and a distinctive microsporogenesis process, which includes inverted meiosis, asymmetric tetrad formation, selective cell death, and the formation of pseudomonad pollen. Despite significant advances, the ultrastructural details of these processes remain poorly understood.

Methods

This study provides a detailed analysis of microsporogenesis in Rhynchospora pubera using high-pressure freezing, freeze substitution, and transmission electron microscopy, significantly enhancing ultrastructural resolution.

Results and discussion

Our findings reveal that intracellular organization differs from model species Arabidopsis thaliana and drives nuclear selection, with endoplasmic reticulum vesicles organizing meiotic spindles. Microtubules attach to centromeres located deep within holocentric chromosomes, while extensive cytoplasmic connections facilitate material exchange until callose deposition encloses meiocytes. Lipid distribution contributes to cell asymmetry, resulting in the characteristic asymmetric tetrads. Following meiosis, cytoskeletal elements coordinate nuclear migration and cell plate formation. Pseudomonads exhibit reconfigurations in the endomembrane system, particularly involving the endoplasmic reticulum, which supports functional cell differentiation. Complementary histochemical analyses corroborate these findings, providing insights into the cellular processes governing Rhynchospora microsporogenesis. These findings contribute to a deeper understanding of the developmental processes of Cyperaceae pollen, thereby facilitating future investigations of the underlying molecular mechanisms.
An improved ShuffleNetV2 method based on ensemble self-distillation for tomato leaf diseases recognition
Authors: Ni Shuiping , Jia Yue , Zhu Mingfu , Zhang Yizhe , Wang Wendi , Liu Shangxin , Chen Yawei
Published: January 2025

Introduction

Timely and accurate recognition of tomato diseases is crucial for improving tomato yield. While large deep learning models can achieve high-precision disease recognition, these models often have a large number of parameters, making them difficult to deploy on edge devices. To address this issue, this study proposes an ensemble self-distillation method and applies it to the lightweight model ShuffleNetV2.

Methods

Specifically, based on the architecture of ShuffleNetV2, multiple shallow models at different depths are constructed to establish a distillation framework. Based on the fused feature map that integrates the intermediate feature maps of ShuffleNetV2 and shallow models, a depthwise separable convolution layer is introduced to further extract more effective feature information. This method ensures that the intermediate features from each model are fully preserved to the ensemble model, thereby improving the overall performance of the ensemble model. The ensemble model, acting as the teacher, dynamically transfers knowledge to ShuffleNetV2 and the shallow models during training, significantly enhancing the performance of ShuffleNetV2 without changing the original structure.

Results

Experimental results show that the optimized ShuffleNetV2 achieves an accuracy of 95.08%, precision of 94.58%, recall of 94.55%, and an F1 score of 94.54% on the test set, surpassing large models such as VGG16 and ResNet18. Among lightweight models, it has the smallest parameter count and the highest recognition accuracy.

Discussion

The results demonstrate that the optimized ShuffleNetV2 is more suitable for deployment on edge devices for real-time tomato disease detection. Additionally, multiple shallow models achieve varying degrees of compression for ShuffleNetV2, providing flexibility for model deployment.
Multi-omics analysis of hexaploid triticale that show molecular responses to salt stress during seed germination
Authors: Wang Dongxia , Li Jiedong , Li Shiming , Fu Jiongjie , Liu Baolong , Cao Dong
Published: January 2025

The development of a salt-tolerant hexaploid triticale cultivar offers an economical and efficient solution for utilizing marginal land. Understanding how hexaploid triticales respond to salt stress is essential if this goal is to be achieved. A genome-wide association study (GWAS), along with transcriptome and proteome analyses, were used in the present study to determine the molecular responses to salt stress in hexaploid triticale. In total, 81 marker-trait associations for 10 salt-tolerance traits were identified in 153 hexaploid triticale accessions, explaining 0.71% to 56.98% of the phenotypic variation, and 54 GWAS-associated genes were uncovered. A total of 67, 88, and 688 differential expression genes were co-expressed at both the transcriptomic and proteomic levels after 4, 12, and 18 h of salt stress, respectively. Among these differentially expressed genes, six appeared in the coincident expression trends for both the transcriptomic and proteomic levels at the seed germination stage. A total of nine common KEGG pathways were enriched at both the transcriptomic and proteomic levels at 4, 12, and 18 h. After integrating GWAS-target genes with transcriptomics and proteomics approaches that the candidate gene late embryogenesis abundant protein 14 (LEA14) was up-regulated at the transcriptomic and proteomic levels. LEA14 contained important stress-responsive cis-acting regulatory elements that could be dynamically regulated by the binding of transcription factors (TFs). This suggested that LEA14 was a key gene associated with salt tolerance in hexaploid triticale and could respond quickly to salt stress. This study improved understanding about the potential molecular mechanisms associated with hexaploid triticale salt tolerance and contributed to the breeding of salt-tolerant germplasms and the utilization of saline soils.
Temporal and habitat-specific variations in drivers of aboveground biomass dynamics in a Chinese subtropical forest
Authors: Bian Yuxuan , Wu Qi , Zheng Rong , Fu Jiaqin , Chen Jianhua , Mi Xiangcheng , Yu Mingjian , Wang Yunquan
Published: January 2025

Understanding the mechanisms governing biodiversity-biomass relationships across temporal and spatial scales is essential for elucidating how abiotic and biotic factors influence ecosystem function in natural forests. However, the simultaneous contributions of multiple abiotic (e.g., topography) and biotic factors (e.g., structural diversity) to aboveground biomass dynamics (ΔAGB) over time and across habitat types remain inadequately understood. To address this gap, we evaluated changes in aboveground biomass across a decade and various habitats, disentangling the relative influences of topography and multidimensional diversity on ΔAGB through datasets from forest inventories conducted between 2007 and 2017, along with phylogenetic relatedness, functional traits, and environmental variables from a subtropical forest in China. Our findings indicate that aboveground biomass at community level experienced a significant decline followed by an increase over the decade, predominantly driven by changes in the low-valley habitat. In contrast, no statistically significant alterations were detected in the aboveground biomass of mid-hillside and high-ridge habitats. Furthermore, the determinants of ΔAGB exhibited temporal variation. During the 2007-2012 period, ΔAGB was primarily influenced by functional and structural diversity, accounting for 66.11% and 21.35% of relative importance, respectively. In the subsequent 2012-2017 period, phylogenetic and structural diversity emerged as key factors, explaining 48.46% and 36.43% of relative importance, respectively. Additionally, we observed that the drivers and effects impacting ΔAGB exhibited significant variability across different habitat types. In summary, our study underscores the significant spatiotemporal dependence of abiotic and biotic drivers on biomass dynamics within forest ecosystems, thereby enhancing our understanding of the complex biodiversity-ecosystem functioning relationships.
Cultural fit in emotion versus language: a study of Dutch-speaking Belgians and Turkish migrants in Belgium
Authors: Şencan Rüya Su , Mesquita Batja , Hoemann Katie
Published: January 2025

Cultural fit is thought to benefit immigrants’ wellbeing and integration. Previous research on cultural fit focused on explicit attitudes (e.g., how individuals identify with their heritage and host cultures) at the expense of psychological processes (e.g., the extent to which individuals make meaning in similar ways with their surrounding culture). We examined cultural fit in meaning-making in emotional contexts in two complementary ways: first, based on patterns of emotion endorsement (emotional fit), second, based on patterns of word use describing emotional situations (language fit). Dutch-speaking Belgians and Turkish migrants in Belgium (Ns = 100) described two positive and two negative emotional situations, and rated the intensity of their experience on a set of emotion terms. Language patterns in the descriptions, as quantified by the Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count, distinguished between cultures more effectively than rating patterns. The two fit measures did not converge; they were in fact negatively associated in some analyses, particularly for Turkish migrants’ emotional fit and language fit with Belgian culture, suggesting that when these migrants felt similar emotions, they attended to different aspects of their experience. Future research should disentangle the implications of various types of cultural fit on outcomes relevant to immigrant minorities.
The impact of consultants’ power dynamics on clients’ self-efficacy and managerial stress
Authors: Lachmi Rotem , Ben-Hador Batia , Brender-Ilan Yael
Published: January 2025

Power bases in management are crucial for leaders to effectively influence their teams and achieve organizational goals. Management consultants leverage various power bases, particularly Expert and Referent power, to influence client organizations and drive change. While previous studies have examined factors distinguishing successful consultants and the power they need to motivate clients, they focused solely on consultants’ perspectives. This study investigates the relationship between consultants’ power bases (principally Expert and Referent) and clients’ self-efficacy and managerial stress. The aim is to determine how consultants’ use of their power base affects clients’ experience and outcomes. One hundred clients participated in a study testing the correlation between consultants’ power bases and clients’ self-efficacy and stress management. Using moderation statistical models, a significant correlation was found between consultants’ Expert power and clients’ self-efficacy, with managerial stress moderating this relationship. Consulting success is measured by the extent to which it enhances clients’ self-efficacy, enabling them to effectively achieve their organizational goals and overcome challenges. The results show that Expert power is crucial in boosting clients’ self-efficacy, except under conditions of high managerial stress. This study contributes to the literature by highlighting a key power base and offering new insights into power dynamics in management consulting. Additionally, it provides practical benefits for enhancing consulting outcomes, influencing both client and consultant perspectives, and potentially improving the overall effectiveness of management consulting engagements.
Associations between subjective and objective measures of stress and load: an insight from 45-week prospective study in 189 elite athletes
Authors: Drole Kristina , Doupona Mojca , Steffen Kathrin , Jerin Aleš , Paravlic Armin
Published: January 2025

Introduction

The aim of this study was to investigate the associations between subjective and objective measures of stress and load in elite male handball players at both the group and individual levels.

Methods

In this 45-week prospective cohort study, 189 elite male handball players weekly reported their perceived stress and load across training, competition, academic, and work domains. Blood samples were collected five times during the 2022/23 season to measure cortisol and the free testosterone to cortisol ratio (FTCR). We derived a “load” variable as the sum of training, competition, academic and work hours and calculated acute, chronic, and acute-to-chronic ratio variables for both load and stress. Associations between subjective and objective measures were analyzed using Spearman’s rank correlation.

Results

Weak to moderate positive associations were found between load and perceived stress (r = 0.19 to 0.46, p < 0.001), and between perceived stress and cortisol (r = 0.10, p = 0.023). Weak negative associations were found between perceived stress and FTCR (r = −0.18 to −0.20, p < 0.001) and between load and FTCR (r = −0.13, p = 0.003). A total of 86% of athletes had positive associations between stress and load (47% weak, 34% moderate, 5% high); 78% between stress and cortisol (27% weak, 22% moderate, 29% high); and 63% demonstrated negative associations between FTCR and load (18% weak, 32% moderate, 13% high).

Conclusion

This study highlights the complexity between subjective and objective measures of stress and load in athletes. Understanding the link between these measures may help coaches and sports scientists streamline athlete monitoring. In cases where moderate to strong associations exist, subjective measures might serve as a reliable substitute for objective ones, making the monitoring process more time- and cost-efficient.
Unveiling the burden of premenstrual dysphoric disorder: a narrative review to call for gender perspective and intersectional approaches
Authors: Islas-Preciado Dannia , Ramos-Lira Luciana , Estrada-Camarena Erika
Published: January 2025

The present narrative review discusses the burden of Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD) and highlights the lack of awareness by analyzing the following key points: -Prevalence and Diagnosis: PMDD affects a significant portion of women during their reproductive years, but diagnosis is often delayed due to limited understanding and awareness. -Mental Health Burden: PMDD increases the risk of suicide attempts and negatively impacts quality of life. There are also economic costs associated with absenteeism and healthcare use. -Cultural and Gender Perspectives: Societal stigma surrounding menstruation and mental health likely contributes to underdiagnosis. -Lack of Sex and Gender Perspective in the Healthcare System: Research bias towards male subjects and historical neglect of women’s health issues contribute to limited knowledge about PMDD. -Non-Intersectional Approaches: Disparities in access to healthcare and the unique experiences of women further complicate PMDD diagnosis and treatment. -Vicious Cycle: The lack of research and awareness creates a vicious cycle where PMDD remains misunderstood and inaccurately treated. Finally, it emphasizes the need for increased awareness, education, and research on PMDD, particularly with a gendered and intersectional optic. The situation in Latin America is presented as a particular concern due to a lack of recent data and potentially higher prevalence due to socioeconomic factors.
Knowledge, attitudes and practice toward refractive errors management among left-behind children of migrant workers
Authors: Liu Shuang , Yang Guang , Li Qingnan , Pei Ruxia , Tang Shaohua
Published: January 2025

Background

This study aimed to access knowledge, attitudes and practice (KAP) regarding refractive errors (RE) management among the left-behind children of migrant workers.

Methods

This cross-sectional study was performed by the Ophthalmology Department of Beijing Jishuitan Hospital between July and August, 2023. The KAP scores were assessed using a self-designed questionnaire.

Results

Analysis of 350 questionnaires showed mean KAP scores of 9.21 ± 3.00 (possible range 0–14), 33.23 ± 3.57 (possible range 9–45), and 50.19 ± 5.31 (possible range 14–70), respectively. Pearson’s correlation analysis showed positive correlation was found between knowledge and practice (r = 0.286, p < 0.001), negative correlation between knowledge and attitude (r = −0.150, p = 0.005), and positive correlation between attitude and practice (r = 0.141, p = 0.008). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that children’s age (OR = 0.748, 95%CI: 0.632–0.885, p = 0.001), duration away from parents (OR = 0.345, 95%CI: 0.172–0.691, p = 0.003) and RE in parents (OR = 0.405, 95%CI: 0.218–0.753, p = 0.004) were independently associated with knowledge. Relationship to the child other than grandparent (OR = 0.252, 95%CI: 0.064–0.999, p = 0.050), as well as child’s gender (female, OR = 1.671, 95%CI: 1.006–2.777, p = 0.047) and duration of sleep per day (OR = 8.401, 95%CI: 1.473–47.923, p = 0.017) were independently associated with practice. In addition, structural equation modeling also showed positive impact of knowledge on practice (β = 1.251, p < 0.001).

Conclusion

Left-behind children of migrant workers have mostly sufficient knowledge, positive attitude and proactive practice toward RE management, significantly influenced by child’s age, relationship with the child, and duration of living without parents.
Factors associated with girl child marriage in Iran: a qualitative socio-ecological approach
Authors: Pourtaheri Asma , Mahdizadeh Mehrsadat , Tehrani Hadi , Jamali Jamshid , Peyman Nooshin
Published: January 2025

Introduction

Girl child marriage is an example of a human rights violation, the unfortunate consequences of which have raised growing concerns in the health system and have become a development challenge. Therefore, this research was conducted to identify the factors driving girl child marriage based on the Socio-Ecological Model.

Methods

The present qualitative study employed guided content analysis and a deductive approach to identify the driving factors behind girl child marriage in Bam City. Sampling was targeted among Women aged 15–30 got married under the age of 15, family members, informants, and policymakers. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and analyzed using Hsieh and Shannon approach and MAXQDA software.

Results

The data was classified into five categories: individual, interpersonal, organizational, community, and society. Individual factors were classified into biological, psychological, and demographic factors. Interpersonal factors were categorized into two categories: family structure, Ineffective interactions and social support. Organizational factors included Weakness in the education and care system. Community factors included the economic situation governing the society. The society factors were divided into two categories: Cultural and social factors governing the society, and Weakness in policy making and legislation.

Discussion

The findings showed that the socio-ecological model is a suitable framework for explaining the driving factors of child marriage. Girl child marriage is not merely a personal or familial decision; rather, it is influenced by the interactions of different systems that can either exacerbate or mitigate the issue. Consequently, the management, control, and prevention of Girl child marriage necessitate comprehensive efforts at regional, national, and international levels. In addition to creating platforms for the empowerment of girls at both national and regional levels, international policies can also foster a supportive environment.
Pacific sailfish (Istiophorus platypterus) in the Eastern Pacific Ocean, association with ocean currents and seasonal effects of upwelling using real-time Argos locations
Authors: Clyde-Brockway Chelsea E. , Patel Samir Harshad , Blanco Gabriela , Friederichk Samuel J. , Morreale Stephen , Paladino Frank V.
Published: January 2025

Pacific sailfish (Istiophorus platypterus) are the most abundant marlin in Central American waters and are a species of socioeconomic and ecological importance with sport fishing generating millions of dollars (USD) and thousands of jobs each year. Concurrently, sailfish are caught as bycatch in purse seine and longline fishing gear potentially threatening the stability of the population and sportfishing community. In this study, Wildlife Computers Mk10 satellite transmitters were deployed on sailfish (n = 6) which relayed real time Argos satellite locations and post-release light-derived geolocation positional estimates. The two location recording methods produced similar tracking intervals—deployment date until the final location date—(Argos: 33.0 ± 13.5 d; GPE: 32.0 ± 11.2 d), and detection days—number of days the transmitter recorded a location—(Argos: 7.8 ± 6.0 d; GPE: 12.3 ± 8.5 d). In total, displacement distances from initial tagging to final (Argos) location ranged from 339.92 to 985.59 km and crossed 6 different Exclusive Economic Zones. During migrating, sailfish exhibited alternating with-current and against-current movements, a pattern that was consistent in both the upwelling and non-upwelling seasons. Despite the known fluctuations associated with seasonal upwelling in the eastern Pacific, sailfish experienced relatively stable microenvironments with average temperature variability remaining within 2°C. Behavioral modification to achieve this consistency could be through depth use (48 ± 28 m vs. 37 ± 47 m), though this mechanism alone seems unlikely to fully explain their ability to mitigate environmental dynamics. Further research is needed to understand the mechanisms underlying these behavioral adaptations and the ecological factors that contribute to sailfish resilience. Additionally, strengthened protection measures are critical to ensure the conservation of sailfish in Costa Rica, including elimination of all commercial sale.
Global progress in competitive co-evolution: a systematic comparison of alternative methods
Authors: Nolfi Stefano , Pagliuca Paolo
Published: January 2025

The usage of broad sets of training data is paramount to evolve adaptive agents. In this respect, competitive co-evolution is a widespread technique in which the coexistence of different learning agents fosters adaptation, which in turn makes agents experience continuously varying environmental conditions. However, a major pitfall is related to the emergence of endless limit cycles where agents discover, forget and rediscover similar strategies during evolution. In this work, we investigate the use of competitive co-evolution for synthesizing progressively better solutions. Specifically, we introduce a set of methods to measure historical and global progress. We discuss the factors that facilitate genuine progress. Finally, we compare the efficacy of four qualitatively different algorithms, including two newly introduced methods. The selected algorithms promote genuine progress by creating an archive of opponents used to evaluate evolving individuals, generating archives that include high-performing and well-differentiated opponents, identifying and discarding variations that lead to local progress only (i.e., progress against the opponents experienced and retrogressing against others). The results obtained in a predator-prey scenario, commonly used to study competitive evolution, demonstrate that all the considered methods lead to global progress in the long term. However, the rate of progress and the ratio of progress versus retrogressions vary significantly among algorithms. In particular, our outcomes indicate that the Generalist method introduced in this work outperforms the other three considered methods and represents the only algorithm capable of producing global progress during evolution.
Implantation of a totally implanted venous device unexpected discovery of left permanent superior vena cava in a patient with sigmoid colon cancer: a case report
Authors: Zhu Shuchen , Dong Mingyan , Luo Haiguan , Piao Yicui , Zhang Qiaohong , Huang Lihui , Liu Zijie
Published: January 2025

Persistent left superior vena cava (PLSVC) is an intrathoracic vascular malformation. Sigmoid colon cancer with a left superior vena cava (LSVC) is very rare. Totally implanted venous devices (TIVADs) are commonly used in recurrent chemotherapy for sigmoid colon cancer. We describe a case of unexpected finding of coronary sinus rhythm in intracavitary electrocardiogram localization TIVAD implantation. Intraoperative ultrasonography revealed a PLSVC.
Detection of Bartonella spp. in foxes' populations in Piedmont and Aosta Valley (NW Italy) coupling geospatially-based techniques
Authors: Viani Annalisa , Orusa Tommaso , Divari Sara , Lovisolo Stella , Zanet Stefania , Orusa Riccardo , Borgogno-Mondino Enrico , Bollo Enrico
Published: January 2025

Bartonella is a genus of bacteria known to cause various rare but potentially dangerous diseases in humans and wildlife. The objective of this study was to investigate the presence of Bartonella spp. in red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) from Piedmont and Aosta Valley (NW Italy) and to explore the potential association between environmental humidity and Bartonella infection using remote sensing data. A total of 114 spleen samples were collected from hunted red foxes and screened for Bartonella spp. DNA using a qPCR assay targeting the ssrA locus. Samples that tested positive were further analyzed using end-point PCR to detect the ssrA, gltA, and rpoB loci. The overall prevalence of Bartonella spp. infection was found to be 7.9% (9/114), with a prevalence of 6.9% (7/101) in foxes from Piedmont and 15.4% (2/13) in foxes from Aosta Valley. Sequencing results identified Bartonella schoenbuchensis R1 as the most commonly isolated species (5/9, 62.5%), followed by Candidatus “Bartonella gerbillinarum” in two samples (2/9, 28.6%). To investigate the relationship between environmental factors and Bartonella infection, data from NASA USGS Landsat missions (TOA collection) from 2011 to 2022 were processed using Google Earth Engine. The Tasseled Cap Wetness Index (TCW), an indicator of landscape moisture, was calculated for each meteorological season. The study found that Bartonella spp. infections in foxes were positively associated with higher TCW values (>0.7). Canonical Correspondence Analysis further demonstrated a strong link between pathogen prevalence and municipal-level TCW, suggesting that TCW could be used as a parameter to facilitate disease management and control. This study provides a starting point for a more comprehensive epidemiological assessment of Bartonella spp. on a national scale and highlights the potential role of environmental humidity in influencing pathogen distribution.
Case report: Transarterial chemoembolization for nasal hemangiosarcoma in a dog
Authors: Kim Keunho , Lim Changgyu , Kim Songyi , Lim Hearang , Hyun Sang-Hwan , Kang Byeong-Teck , Chang Dongwoo , Lee Namsoon
Published: January 2025

This report outlines the use of transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) to treat a nasal tumor in a 10-year-old Welsh Corgi. The dog initially presented with persistent nasal discharge and facial deformity, which led to a diagnosis of nasal hemangiosarcoma. Although initial treatments with radiotherapy and chemotherapy provided temporary relief, the symptoms reappeared 11 months later. As a palliative measure, TACE was administered, utilizing carboplatin as the chemotherapeutic agent and gel foam as the embolic material. The procedure successfully reduced the tumor size and alleviated the dog’s symptoms. Follow-up CT scans at 1, 3, 7, and 10 months, demonstrated sustained tumor shrinkage. Interestingly, there was no reperfusion of the embolized vessels, indicating a prolonged therapeutic effect. No significant complications were observed during follow-up. This case highlights the potential of TACE as a palliative option for managing recurrent nasal tumors in dogs, especially when other treatments have limited efficacy. Further research is needed to establish TACE guidelines for treating nasal tumors in veterinary medicine.
A Computationally Efficient Method for the Diagnosis of Defects in Rolling Bearings Based on Linear Predictive Coding
Authors: Mohammad Mohammad , Ibryaeva Olga , Sinitsin Vladimir , Eremeeva Victoria
Published: January 2025

Monitoring the condition of rolling bearings is a crucial task in many industries. An efficient tool for diagnosing bearing defects is necessary since they can lead to complete machine failure and significant economic losses. Traditional diagnosis solutions often rely on a complex artificial feature extraction process that is time-consuming, computationally expensive, and too complex to deploy in practice. In actual working conditions, however, the amount of labeled fault data available is relatively small, so a deep learning model with good generalization and high accuracy is difficult to train. This paper proposes a solution that uses a simple feedforward artificial neural network (NN) for classification and adopts the linear predictive coding (LPC) algorithm for feature extraction. The LPC algorithm finds several coefficients for a given signal segment containing information about the signal spectrum, which is sufficient for further classification. The LPC-NN solution was tested on the Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) and South Ural State University (SUSU) datasets. The results demonstrated that, in most cases, LPC-NN yielded an accuracy of 100%. The proposed method achieves higher diagnostic accuracy and stability to load changes than other advanced techniques, has a significantly improved time performance, and is conducive to real-time industrial fault diagnosis.
Consumption of Nitrogen Fertilizers in the EU—External Costs of Their Production by Country of Application
Authors: Sobolewska Agnieszka , Bukowski Marcin
Published: January 2025

The production of nitrogen fertilizers results in multiple negative environmental impacts. A particularly important aspect is its energy consumption. Analyses covering the product’s life cycle indicate that the greatest environmental harm is generated at the stage of production due to the resulting nitrogen dioxide emissions. The aim of this study was to assess the economic value of the environmental harm caused by the production of the nitrogen fertilizers used in EU farming. The assessment of the environmental damage resulting from the production of mineral nitrogen fertilizers was conducted through a life cycle assessment (LCA). A ‘gate-to-gate’ approach was applied using Sima Pro 7.1.0.2 software, with the ecoinvent 3 and agri-footprint 5 databases. The value of the external costs for the production of nitrogen fertilizers was determined by applying the environmental prices method. The analysis conducted covered the years 2012–2021. The results indicated a decrease in the environmental damage caused by the production of mineral nitrogen fertilizers used in EU agriculture. There was considerable disparity between individual EU member countries, both in terms of trends concerning the amounts of applied nitrogen fertilizer and the efficacy of their use. In the years 2012–2021 in 18 EU countries, the amount of mineral nitrogen fertilizers used in farming grew, with the greatest increases in Romania, Spain, and Hungary, whereas in 9 countries, their use dropped, with the greatest decreases recorded in Germany, France, and Poland. Marked differences were also found in the efficacy of the use of mineral nitrogen fertilizers, as measured based on the value of the environmental harm caused by the production of the applied fertilizers in relation to the value of the field crop produced.
Grass Cover in Vineyards as a Multifunctional Solution for Sustainable Grape Growing: A Case Study of Cabernet Sauvignon Cultivation in Serbia
Authors: Pržić Zoran , Simić Aleksandar , Brajević Snežana , Marković Nebojša , Vuković Vimić Ana , Vujadinović Mandić Mirjam , Niculescu Mariana
Published: January 2025

Faced with the challenges posed by climate change, Serbian viticulture is looking for sustainable solutions for adaptable production. This study shows that grass is a multifunctional tool for overcoming the challenges of intensive viticulture while maintaining the quality of the grapes. In a three-year research experiment (2020–2022), the maintenance of an inter-row sward in a vineyard with four certified high-quality French Cabernet Sauvignon clones was investigated, and its effects on the ampelographic composition of the grapes and the quality of the grape juice (must) were studied as a function of wine quality. A grass sward was established between the rows as a biological soil management system and as a climate change adaptation measure in a high-intensity viticultural system. A grass–legume mixture was used as an inter-row cover crop, with nitrogen applied in two doses (50 and 100 kg ha−1) in spring. The growth of the grasses responded to the nitrogen fertilisation, which was reflected in the biomass production, surface cover and nitrogen content in the biomass. At the end of the study, the biomass of the grass increased threefold when a high dose of nitrogen was applied compared to the non-fertilised grass. In contrast to the effects of nitrogen on the sward, N has no effect on the quantitative or qualitative parameters of the grapes. Clone 169 was separated for most grape mechanical parameters such as the bunch mass, all berries and the bunch stem; clone 15 showed the best grape juice quality parameters such as the sugar content and glycoacidometric index. The results show an option for climate change adaptation in viticulture that can mitigate the effects of rising temperatures, contribute to soil conservation and carbon storage in biomass and enable timely interventions in vineyards after heavy rainfall by creating accessible paths within the vineyards. The three-year effect of the different nutrient management of the sward in the inter-rows of Cabernet Sauvignon showed that the interaction between the two systems, sward and vine, is low and has no negative impact on the ampelographic and qualitative grape parameters.
Improved Phosphorus Bioavailability in Lettuce Crop via Naganishia albida Inoculation of Wastewater-Derived Struvite
Authors: Carrillo Valentina , Pérez Rodrigo , González Felipe , Santander Christian , Ruiz Antonieta , Holzapfel Eduardo , Cornejo Pablo , Vidal Gladys
Published: January 2025

Phosphorus (P) is a vital element for optimal crop growth and agricultural productivity. Struvite, a P precipitate obtained from wastewater, is recognized as a slow-release, low-solubility fertilizer. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of inoculation with the yeast Naganishia albida on P bioavailability using struvite and triple superphosphate (TSP) in lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) plants. Struvite fertilization improved N and P assimilation by 14–28% and 12–27%, respectively, compared to TSP and increased soil soluble P by 50% more than TSP and 186% more than the control. Inoculation reduced oxidative stress by 40–44%, improved plant growth by 28% with struvite and 7% with TSP, and increased acid phosphatase activity by 52.7% and 78.1%, respectively, improving nutrient bioavailability. Struvite showed high P solubility in the soil, with only a 3% difference between inoculated and non-inoculated treatments. In addition, the combination of fertilizer and yeast had a synergistic effect, increasing enzyme activity up to 1.8 times for struvite and 2.3 times for TSP. The results highlight the potential of struvite as a recycled fertilizer and the effectiveness of integrating fertilization with microorganisms to improve agricultural efficiency, reduce environmental impact and promote sustainable management in the framework of the circular economy.
Knowledge, Perception, and Practices of Wildlife Conservation and Biodiversity Management in Bangladesh
Authors: Shawon Raf Ana Rabbi , Rahman Md. Matiur , Dandi Samuel Opoku , Agbayiza Ben , Iqbal Md Mehedi , Sakyi Michael Essien , Moribe Junji
Published: January 2025

Human activities significantly influence the changes in wildlife habitats and biodiversity, highlighting the necessity to enhance public knowledge, perceptions, and practices (KPP) to mitigate their consequences. Previous research suggests that many people in Bangladesh do not consider wildlife and biodiversity conservation a crucial issue. However, enhancing their KPP could be essential in developing effective and sustainable conservation efforts in Bangladesh. So, the current study aimed to evaluate the public’s KPP of wildlife conservation and biodiversity management in Bangladesh. A total of 3060 individuals’ data were collected from various sociodemographic backgrounds using a structured questionnaire followed by statistical analyses including Pearson’s chi-square, Spearman’s correlation, and logistic regression analysis, which were performed to assess the correlations and trends among variables using STATA and SPSS. The results revealed a significant heterogeneity in KPP across different sociodemographic groups. Importantly, the younger respondents (ages 21–30) indicated a high level of KPP, and respondents without formal education and belonging to older ages demonstrated markedly low levels of KPP. In the country’s divisional levels, respondents from Khulna and Rangpur revealed the highest and lowest KPP levels, respectively. Our study also revealed that students represented the major occupational demographic and displayed moderate levels of KPP. Notably, respondents highlighted the decline or absence of several wild animal species, including black bears, deer, vultures, wild cats, hanuman monkeys, and rhesus monkeys, from their local areas over the past decades. Public opinion on wildlife protection revealed 78.6% and 73.4% disapproving of hunting rejection and wildlife trading, respectively. Nonetheless, a lack of knowledge remained, as 16.89% of respondents were unaware of measures to alleviate human-wildlife conflict. The correlation analysis indicated a favorable association among KPP components, especially between knowledge and perception (correlation coefficient = 0.438), underscoring the essential influence of awareness on conservation actions. This study offers critical insights for developing interventions to enhance KPP among local communities and stakeholders, hence promoting sustainable wildlife conservation and biodiversity management in Bangladesh. Taken together, the findings provide baseline data for safeguarding biodiversity and fostering long-term wildlife sustainability in Bangladesh.
A First Report on Multidrug-Resistant Escherichia coli O25 ST131 Dissemination in an Outpatient Population in Zagreb, Croatia
Authors: Anušić Maja , Marijan Tatjana , Mlinarić Džepina Ana , Tičić Vladimira , Gršković Lucija , Vraneš Jasmina
Published: January 2025

Background/Objectives: Antimicrobial resistance of the E. coli O25 ST131 clonal lineage poses a significant therapeutic challenge worldwide, often involving resistance to fluoroquinolones and extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) production. This retrospective study compared the dissemination of multidrug-resistant E. coli O25 ST131 isolated from the urine of outpatients at the largest Croatian clinical microbiology department across six years over two study periods. Methods: The E. coli O25 ST131 clonal lineage was detected via a rapid PCR method using pabB and trpA primers after positive agglutination with E. coli serogroup O25 antisera. ESBL phenotypes and antibiotic susceptibility were investigated according to EUCAST guidelines and breakpoint tables. Results: In the first period, there were a total of 45 isolates of E. coli O25 ST131, among which 30 were isolates with proven ESBL production. In the second period, a total of 114 isolates of E. coli O25 ST131 were detected, among which 75 (65.8%) were ESBL-positive (p > 0.05). In ESBL-negative strains, the multidrug-resistant (MDR) phenotype was characterized by simultaneous resistance to ampicillin, co-trimoxazole, and fluoroquinolones (with an equal proportion of 3/15 isolates in the first period and 7/39 isolates in the second period, p > 0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in the frequency of MDR detection across the two study periods (36/45 and 98/114, p > 0.05). This is the first detection of E. coli O25 ST131 in the outpatient population in Zagreb. Conclusions: There was no statistically significant difference in the frequency of detecting the E. coli O25 ST 131 clone across the two study periods. The high frequency of MDR phenotype among ESBL-negative isolates of E. coli O25 ST131 and an equally high proportion of MDR strains among ESBL producers in this clonal lineage, with the total detection of MDR isolates ≥ 80% in both study periods, are the reasons why this bacterial clone poses a public health threat and why further investigation into its metabolic and virulence characteristics is needed in order to estimate its spreading potential among the outpatient population in Zagreb.
Genomic Insights into and Lytic Potential of Native Bacteriophages M8-2 and M8-3 Against Clinically Relevant Multidrug-Resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Authors: Rodríguez-Recio Francisco Ricardo , Garza-Cervantes Javier Alberto , Balderas-Cisneros Francisco de Jesús , Morones-Ramírez José Rubén
Published: January 2025

Background/Objectives: Antibiotic resistance in pathogenic bacteria poses a critical global health threat, with multidrug-resistant (MDR) strains increasingly undermining conventional treatments. Among these, Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a high-priority pathogen due to its resistance to carbapenems and frequent presence in hospital settings, contributing to severe healthcare-associated infections. This study aimed to isolate and characterize novel bacteriophages from environmental wastewater samples that could specifically target MDR P. aeruginosa. Methods: Two bacteriophages, M8-2 and M8-3, were isolated from wastewater in Monterrey, Mexico. A genomic analysis classified M8-2 and M8-3 within the Caudoviridae family, and next-generation sequencing (NGS) was used to confirm the absence of undesirable antibiotic resistance or virulence genes. Optimization of viral amplification was performed to achieve high titers, with structural proteins characterized by SDS-PAGE. Results: Phages M8-2 and M8-3 exhibited specific lytic activity against MDR strains of P. aeruginosa, offering a targeted approach to combat antibiotic-resistant infections. High genetic similarity (>95%) to known Gram-negative bacterial phages was observed. Optimized viral amplification yielded titers of 4.2 × 107 and 1.03 × 109 PFUs/mL for M8-2 and M8-3, respectively. The specificity of these phages minimized disruption to the host microbiome, and their significant efficacy in suppressing bacterial growth positions bacteriophages as promising candidates for localized and personalized phage therapy, especially in chronic and hospital-acquired infection settings. Conclusions: These findings highlight the therapeutic potential of M8-2 and M8-3 in addressing antibiotic-resistant P. aeruginosa infections. Their safety profile, high target specificity, and robust lytic activity underscore the feasibility of incorporating phage-based strategies into current antimicrobial protocols. This study contributes to the broader goal of developing sustainable and effective phage therapies for diverse clinical and environmental contexts.
The Battle Against Biofilms: A Focus on Novel Antimicrobial Strategies and Their Mechanisms of Action
Authors: Giaouris Efstathios , Habimana Olivier
Published: January 2025

Biofilms represent the predominant mode of microbial growth across a variety of environments, encompassing both natural and anthropogenic settings [...]