bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Trans-generational immune priming against American Foulbrood does not affect the performance of honeybee colonies
Authors: Leponiemi Matti , Wirta Helena , Freitak Dalial
Published: February 2023

Honeybees are major pollinators for our food crops, but at the same time they face many stressors all over the world. One of the major threats to honeybee health are bacterial diseases, the most severe of which is the American Foulbrood (AFB). Recently a trans-generational vaccination approach against AFB has been proposed, showing strong potential in protecting the colonies from AFB outbreaks. Yet, what remains unstudied is whether the priming of the colony has any undesired side-effects. It is widely accepted that immune function is often a trade-off against other life-history traits, hence immune priming could have an effect on the colony performance. In this experiment we set up 48 hives, half of them with primed queens and half of them as controls. The hives were placed in six apiaries, located as pair of apiaries in three regions. Through a 2-year study we monitored the hives and measured their health and performance. We measured hive weight and frame contents such as brood amount, worker numbers, and honey yield. We studied the prevalence of the most common honeybee pathogens in the hives and expression of relevant immune genes in the offspring at larval stage. No effect of trans-generational immune priming on any of the hive parameters was found. Instead, we did find other factors contributing on various hive performance parameters. Interestingly not only time but also the region, although only 10 km apart from each other, had an effect on the performance and health of the colonies, suggesting that the local environment plays an important role in hive performance. Our results suggest that exploiting the trans-generational priming could serve as a safe tool in fighting the AFB in apiaries.
Effects of Conventional and Musician-Specific Hearing Protection Devices on Speech Intelligibility
Authors: Pinto Giovanna Cardoso , Rocha Clayton Henrique , Matas Carla Gentile , Samelli Alessandra Giannella
Published: February 2023

(1) Background: To assess and compare speech intelligibility with conventional and universal musician-specific hearing protection devices (HPD); (2) Methods: The sample comprised 15 normal-hearing musicians of both sexes who had been professionals for more than 5 years. They underwent thorough audiological assessment and free-field audiometry to measure the attenuation levels of three HPD models (musician-specific, silicone, and foam devices). The sentence recognition thresholds in quiet (SRTQ) and noise (SRTN) were assessed with the Lists of Sentences in Portuguese. User satisfaction with musician HPD was assessed after 2 months; (3) Results: Conventional HPD had higher pure-tone mean attenuation levels than musician HPD. No statistically significant differences were found in SRTQ and SRTN between the three HPD types. However, the musician HPD had higher mean signal-to-noise ratios and percentages of correct words from sentences presented in noise than the other HPD. The answers also indicated a positive trend toward satisfaction with the musician-specific HPD; (4) Conclusions: Despite the lack of significant differences in speech intelligibility while wearing the three HPD models in either quiet or noise, the musician-specific HPD provided greater musical sound quality. This reinforces the possibility of an effective and adequate use of protection to preserve musicians’ hearing.
A Comprehensive Review of 4D Printing: State of the Arts, Opportunities, and Challenges
Authors: Aldawood Faisal Khaled
Published: February 2023

Over the past decade, 3D printing technology has been leading the manufacturing revolution. A recent development in the field of 3D printing has added time as a fourth dimension to obtain 4D printing parts. A fabricated design created by 3D printing is static, whereas a design created by 4D printing is capable of altering its shape in response to environmental factors. The phrase “4D printing” was introduced by Tibbits in 2013, and 4D printing has since grown in popularity. Different smart materials, stimulus, and manufacturing methods have been published in the literature to promote this new technology. This review paper provides a description of 4D printing technology along with its features, benefits, limitations, and drawbacks. This paper also reviews a variety of 4D printing applications in fields such as electronics, renewable energy, aerospace, food, healthcare, and fashion wear. The review discusses gaps in the research, the current challenges in 4D printing, and the future of 4D printing.
The Experimental Investigation of a 98% Hydrogen Peroxide Monopropellant Thruster Comprising the Metal-Foam-Supported Manganese Oxide Catalyst
Authors: Surmacz Pawel , Gut Zbigniew
Published: February 2023

The article presents alternative metal-supported catalysts for decomposition of the highest-class hydrogen peroxide: 98%+ (Type 98 HP, according to MIL-PRF-16005F). The aim of this study was the experimental investigation of an alternative solution for decomposition of 98%+ hydrogen peroxide, strictly for chemical propulsion. High-porosity open cell metal foams have been identified as structures with great potential. Low density, good mechanical and thermal properties, availability of various materials and alloys as well as new technologies of manufacturing, make metal foam a potential solution for many different propellants, not only hydrogen peroxide. Open cell NiCrAl foam has been processed to prepare several catalysts, with different content and dispersion of the active phase. Cleaning and drying were performed to prepare carriers for further processing: wet impregnation, slow drying, and calcination. Simple drop tests with 98% hydrogen peroxide have been conducted to estimate activity level of catalysts, in a simplified scale: low, medium, high. Then, real-environment tests have been performed in a catalyst bed. Temperature, pressure along the bed and propellant mass flow rate were measured while testing. The analysis of the test results provided a general conclusion that metal foam supported manganese oxide catalyst is a promising solution for hydrogen peroxide propulsion.
An Experimental Facility with the High-Speed Moving Endwall for Axial Compressor Leakage Flow Research
Authors: Deng Hefang , Xia Kailong , Teng Jinfang , Qiang Xiaoqing , Zhu Mingmin , Lu Shaopeng
Published: February 2023

The moving endwall has a great influence on the development and stability of axial compressor leakage flow. This paper presents a novel experimental facility with a high-speed moving endwall for studying axial compressor leakage flow. The uniqueness of the design concept is that using a large disk simulates the high-speed moving endwall. When R/Cx = 16, theoretical analysis shows that the maximum linear velocity difference is about 2.5% while the maximum axial velocity difference of the mid-three passages is less than 5%. Single-passage simulations show that the disk radius of R/Cx = 16 can achieve an acceptable accuracy in terms of static pressure, total pressure, and density flow. Seven-passage simulations confirm that the mid-three passages have small errors from the axial velocity difference. Subsequently, preliminary experimental results obtained from the experimental facility are presented. The results reveal that the moving endwall significantly changes the distributions of the total pressure loss and static pressure coefficient. The relative difference in the averaged total pressure loss between the experiment and CFD is 11.33% and 7.69% for the static and moving endwall, respectively. It is expected that the experimental facility will make more useful contributions to the understanding of axial compressor leakage flow in the future.
Influence of Ablation Deformation on Aero-Optical Effects in Hypersonic Vehicles
Authors: Yang Bo , Yu He , Liu Chaofan , Wei Xiang , Fan Zichen , Miao Jun
Published: February 2023

High-speed turbulence is generated when hypersonic vehicles fly in the atmosphere, which can create aero-optical effects and interfere with optical navigation and guidance systems. At the same time, the front end and optical window of hypersonic vehicles are exposed to an aerodynamic heating environment, leading to the head ablation and thermal deformation of the optical window. This further aggravates the turbulent transition process and makes the error of the aero-optical effects more difficult to predict. In this paper, the aero-optical effects under the condition of high-temperature ablation were analyzed. Ablation deformation models of both the head and optical window were established. Then, a high-speed flow field was simulated under different flight conditions. The distortion characteristics of the aero-optical effects were obtained through the photon transmission theory. The simulation results show that the ablation deformation of hypersonic vehicles under an aerodynamic heating environment aggravates the disturbance error of the aero-optical effects. Moreover, with the increase in the flight speed and the decrease in the flight altitude, the ablation deformation of the hypersonic vehicles and the aero-optical effects distortion both gradually increase. The research in this paper provides a reference for the prediction of aero-optical distortion in an aerothermal environment.
Uncertainty Quantification of Imperfect Diagnostics
Authors: Ulansky Vladimir , Raza Ahmed
Published: February 2023

The operable state of a system is maintained during operation, which requires knowledge of the system’s state. Technical diagnostics, as a process of accurately obtaining information about the system state, becomes a crucial stage in the life cycle of any system. The study deals with the relevant problem of uncertainty quantification of imperfect diagnostics. We considered the most general case when the object of diagnostics, the diagnostic tool, and the human operator can each be in one of the many states. The concept of a diagnostic error is introduced, in which the object of diagnostics is in one of many states but is erroneously identified as being in any other state. We derived the generalized formulas for the probability of a diagnostic error, the probability of correct diagnosis, and the total probability of a diagnostic error. The proposed generalized formulas make it possible to determine the probabilistic indicators of diagnosis uncertainty for any structures of diagnostics systems and any types of failures of the diagnostic tool and human operator. We demonstrated the theoretical material by computing the probabilistic indicators of diagnosis uncertainty for an aircraft VHF communication system and fatigue cracks in the aircraft wings.
Potential of Brackish Groundwater for Different Biosaline Agriculture Systems in the Brazilian Semi-Arid Region
Authors: Lessa Carla Ingryd Nojosa , de Lacerda Claudivan Feitosa , Cajazeiras Cláudio Cesar de Aguiar , Neves Antonia Leila Rocha , Lopes Fernando Bezerra , Silva Alexsandro Oliveira da , Sousa Henderson Castelo , Gheyi Hans Raj , Nogueira Rafaela da Silva , Lima Silvio Carlos Ribeiro Vieira , Costa Raimundo Nonato Távora , Sousa Geocleber Gomes de
Published: February 2023

The objective of this research was to define the potential of brackish groundwater for 15 systems of biosaline agriculture in a representative area of the Brazilian semi-arid region. The study was conducted using a database of the State of Ceará, with 6284 wells having brackish water (EC ≥ 0.8 dS m−1 and discharge rate ≥ 0.5 m3 h−1). Our results show that the potential of brackish groundwater resources depends on the set of data: (i) production system (crop salt tolerance and water demand) and (ii) water source (salinity and well discharge rate). The joint analysis of these data shows that plant production systems with lesser water requirements, even with moderate tolerance levels to salt stress, present better results than more tolerant species, including halophytes and coconut orchards. About 41, 43, 58, 69, and 82% of wells have enough discharge rates to irrigate forage cactus (1.0 ha), sorghum (1.0 ha with supplemental irrigation), hydroponic cultivation, cashew seedlings, and coconut seedlings, respectively, without restrictions in terms of salinity. Otherwise, 65.8 and 71.2% of wells do not have enough water yield to irrigate an area of 1.0 ha with halophytes and coconut palm trees, respectively, butmore than 98.3 and 90.7% do not reach the water salinity threshold for these crops. Our study also indicates the need for diversification and use of multiple systems on farms (intercropping, association of fish/shrimp with plants), to reach the sustainability of biosaline agriculture in tropical drylands, especially for family farming.
How Far Will Climate Change Affect Future Food Security? An Inquiry into the Irrigated Rice System of Peninsular India
Authors: Arivelarasan Tamilarasu , Manivasagam V. S. , Geethalakshmi Vellingiri , Bhuvaneswari Kulanthaivel , Natarajan Kiruthika , Balasubramanian Mohan , Gowtham Ramasamy , Muthurajan Raveendran
Published: February 2023

Climate change poses a great challenge to food security, particularly in developing nations where important food crops such as rice and wheat have been grown in large quantities. The study investigates food security using an integrated approach, which comprises forecasting future rice production using the AquaCrop model and demand for rice using an economic model. The proposed approach was evaluated in the Cauvery delta zone in the eastern part of Tamil Nadu, which is a major rice-growing hotspot in peninsular India. Our results showed that the future rice productivity of the Cauvery delta region would be reduced by 35% between 2021 and 2040 and by 16% between 2041 and 2050. However, the supply–demand gap addressing food security in the Cauvery delta zone is positive for the future, as evidenced by the availability of surplus rice of 0.39 million tonnes for the period 2021–2030 and 0.23 million tonnes and 0.35 million tonnes for the periods 2031–2040 and 2041–2050, respectively. Nevertheless, as the neighboring regions are relying on rice production from the Cauvery delta, this surplus rice production is potentially not sufficient to meet the demand of the state as a whole, which suggests climate change may pose a severe threat to the food security of the Tamil Nadu State. These findings emphasize the necessity of performing regional-level food security assessments with a focus on developing location-specific policy options to mitigate the adverse effects of climate-induced anomalies on food security.
Developing Early Morning Flowering Version of Rice Variety CO 51 to Mitigate the Heat-Induced Yield Loss
Authors: Ayyenar Bharathi , Kambale Rohit , Duraialagaraja Sudhakar , Manickam Sudha , Mohanavel Vignesh , Shanmugavel Priyanka , Alagarsamy Senthil , Ishimaru Tsutomu , Jagadish S.V. Krishna , Vellingiri Geethalakshmi , Muthurajan Raveendran
Published: February 2023

By 2050, the rice production needs to be increased by at least 50% in order to meet the growing food demands of the global population. Among various yield limiting factors, high temperature is fast becoming a major threat to sustain rice yields due to its increased frequency of occurrence and severity of stress events. The development of heat-resilient rice cultivars has been slow due to the lack of relevant donors for heat tolerance traits and limited information regarding the genetic basis of these component traits. The early morning flowering (EMF) trait, contributing to heat escape by promoting flowering/anthesis during cooler hours in the morning is demonstrated to offer protection against high-temperature-induced failure of pollination and fertilization. In this study, evaluation of CO 51, IR64 and IR64-qEMF3 (NIL of IR64 harboring QTL promoting EMF revealed that qEMF3 promoted early morning flowering in IR64-qEMF3 (1½ to 2 h earlier than IR64) and thereby reduced the sterility by about 8.15%. Attempts through marker-assisted backcross breeding led to development of advanced backcross progenies (NILs) of CO 51, harboring qEMF3. Evaluation of 88 BC3F2 progenies identified 19 progenies harboring qEMF3 under homozygous conditions. Evaluation of NILs of CO 51 harboring qEMF3 during summer 2019 revealed that the NILs exhibited early (7.30 a.m.) onset of anthesis by 1½ h and completed its peak anthesis well around cooler hours (9.30 a.m.) of the day and thereby recorded reduced spikelet sterility (7.8–9.0%) than their recurrent parent CO 51 (19.2%). The current study clearly demonstrated the efficacy of early morning flowering in the mitigation of yield losses under high-temperature conditions in a farmer preferred rice variety.
Fertilizer Performance of a Digestate from Swine Wastewater as Synthetic Nitrogen Substitute in Maize Cultivation: Physiological Growth and Yield Responses
Authors: Buligon Eduardo L. , Costa Luiz A. M. , de Lucas Jorge , Santos Francielly T. , Goufo Piebiep , Costa Monica S. S. M.
Published: February 2023

Nitrogen (N) is the primary nutrient required for plant growth. During the last few decades, there has been extensive use of synthetic N-containing fertilizers in agriculture, resulting in increased environmental pollution. In this study, the feasibility of replacing synthetic N with biofertilizer in maize cultivation was investigated. A liquid biofertilizer (digestate obtained from the anaerobic digestion of swine wastewater) was obtained and applied to large plots as a total (100%) or partial (50%) substitute for synthetic N fertilizer. Moreover, the most efficient fertilization mode, i.e., basal versus foliar application, was studied. Physiological growth indices, leaf nutritional status, and grain yield were assessed for each biofertilization treatment and compared with the conventional treatment with synthetic minerals. Compared with the conventional treatment, the total substitution of synthetic N by the biofertilizer (basal application) did not affect the growth parameters and grain yield of maize; the other treatments usually resulted in lower growth rates and yields, although not statistically significant (p ≥ 0.05). No difference was observed among the treatments for the contents of N, P, K, or Mg in the leaves. Generally, the highest means for Fe, Ca, Cu, Zn, and Mn contents in leaves were observed after in-row broadcast of synthetic fertilizers or basal application of the digestate as a total substitute for synthetic N, with a significant effect for Fe (p < 0.05). The mode of the biofertilizer application did not have any significant effect on either growth parameters or leaf nutrients. The data show that under the specific conditions of the study, the total substitution of mineral N with basal application of biofertilizer is the best strategy for minimizing the use of synthetic chemicals in maize cultivation without yield penalties.
Research on the Effect of Digital Economy on Agricultural Labor Force Employment and Its Relationship Using SEM and fsQCA Methods
Authors: Li Fulian , Zhang Wuwei
Published: February 2023

The development of the digital economy has alternative and complementary effects on employment in the agricultural labor force. While replacing a large part of the agricultural labor force, digital agricultural technology is also expected to create new jobs and multiply the economic development effect. Finally, it will have a large number of positive spillover effects on rural development. To better understand the effects and relationships of digital agriculture on agricultural labor employment in this process, we gathered microdata from 1098 agricultural laborers in 122 counties (cities and districts) of 16 cities in Shandong Province, China. Compared with previous research, the advantage of our study is that structural equation modeling (SEM) and fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) are jointly applied to assess the effects of digital agriculture on agricultural labor force employment and the combinatorial path of inter-effect relationships. The analysis results demonstrate that the effects of digital agriculture on agricultural labor force employment mainly include substitution, complementary, flywheel, agglomeration, structural, synergistic, and spillover effects. Through substitution and complementing effects in a chain reaction, which have effects through intermediate links, the first six effects can lead to spillover effects. We determine two modes with a total of eight configurations that can trigger the spillover effect of digital agriculture on agricultural labor force employment. Therefore, it is necessary to choose an effective combination of paths to improve the utilization rate of agricultural resources and promote the diffusion of improved agricultural technologies. If the positive effects of digital agriculture on agricultural labor force employment are reasonably exerted, the development of sustainable agriculture could be accelerated. This would promote the overall development of the agricultural labor force and lead to the revitalization of rural areas and the integration of urban and rural areas.
Development and Evaluation of a Small-Scale Apple Sorting Machine Equipped with a Smart Vision System
Authors: Baneh Nesar Mohammadi , Navid Hossein , Kafashan Jalal , Fouladi Hatef , Gonzales-Barrón Ursula
Published: February 2023

One of the most important matters in international trades for many local apple industries and auctions is accurate fruit quality classification. Defect recognition is a key in online computer-assisted apple sorting machines. Because of the cavity structure of the stem and calyx regions, the system tends to mistakenly treat them as true defects. Furthermore, there is no small-scale sorting machine with a smart vision system for apple quality classification where it is needed. Thus, the current study focuses on a highly accurate and feasible methodology for stem and calyx recognition based on Niblack thresholding and a machine learning technique using k-nearest neighbor (k-NN) classifiers associated with a locally designed small-scale apple sorting machine. To find an appropriate mode, the effects of different numbers of k and metric distances on stem and calyx region detection were evaluated. Results showed the effectiveness of the value of k and Euclidean distances in recognition accuracy. It is found that the 5-nearest neighbor classifier and the Euclidean distance using 80 training samples produced the best accuracy rates, at 100% for stem and 97.5% for calyx. The significance of the result is very promising in fabricating an advanced small-scale and low-cost sorting machine with a high accuracy for the horticultural industry.
Can Basic Soil Quality Indicators and Topography Explain the Spatial Variability in Agricultural Fields Observed from Drone Orthomosaics?
Authors: Näsi Roope , Mikkola Hannu , Honkavaara Eija , Koivumäki Niko , Oliveira Raquel A. , Peltonen-Sainio Pirjo , Keijälä Niila-Sakari , Änäkkälä Mikael , Arkkola Lauri , Alakukku Laura
Published: February 2023

Crop growth is often uneven within an agricultural parcel, even if it has been managed evenly. Aerial images are often used to determine the presence of vegetation and its spatial variability in field parcels. However, the reasons for this uneven growth have been less studied, and they might be connected to variations in topography, as well as soil properties and quality. In this study, we evaluated the relationship between drone image data and field and soil quality indicators. In total, 27 multispectral and RGB drone image datasets were collected from four real farm fields in 2016–2020. We analyzed 13 basic soil quality indicators, including penetrometer resistance in top- and subsoil, soil texture (clay, silt, fine sand, and sand content), soil organic carbon (SOC) content, clay/SOC ratio, and soil quality assessment parameters (topsoil biological indicators, subsoil macroporosity, compacted layers in the soil profile, topsoil structure, and subsoil structure). Furthermore, a topography variable describing water flow was used as an indicator. Firstly, we evaluated single pixel-wise linear correlations between the drone datasets and soil/field-related parameters. Correlations varied between datasets and, in the best case, were 0.8. Next, we trained and tested multiparameter non-linear models (random forest algorithm) using all 14 soil-related parameters as features to explain the multispectral (NIR band) and RGB (green band) reflectance values of each drone dataset. The results showed that the soil/field indicators could effectively explain the spatial variability in the drone images in most cases (R2 > 0.5), especially for annual crops, and in the best case, the R2 value was 0.95. The most important field/soil features for explaining the variability in drone images varied between fields and imaging times. However, it was found that basic soil quality indicators and topography variables could explain the variability observed in the drone orthomosaics in certain conditions. This knowledge about soil quality indicators causing within-field variation could be utilized when planning cultivation operations or evaluating the value of a field parcel.
Influences of Organic Acid Salts and Bacterial Additives on Fermentation Profile, Aerobic Stability, and In Vitro Digestibility of Total Mixed Ration Silage Prepared with Wet Hulless Barley Distillers’ Grains
Authors: Wang Siran , Liu Haopeng , Zhao Jie , Dong Zhihao , Li Junfeng , Shao Tao
Published: February 2023

This study aimed to investigate the impacts of three organic acid salts and two bacterial additives on the fermentation profile, in vitro digestibility and gas production, and aerobic stability of total mixed ration (TMR) silage prepared with 10% fresh weight (FW) of wet hulless barley distillers’ grains (WHDG), 35% FW of common vetch, 15% FW of whole-crop oat, 10% FW of hulless barley straw, and 30% FW of mixed concentrate. The total mixed ration (555 g kg−1 FW) was ensiled with six treatments: (1) no additives (control); (2) calcium propionate (CAP; 0.5% FW); (3) potassium sorbate (POS; 0.1% FW); (4) sodium diacetate (SDA; 0.5% FW); (5) Lactobacillus buchneri (LB; 1 × 106 cfu g−1 FW); and (6) Lactobacillus casei (LAC; 1 × 106 cfu g−1 FW). All silos (20 L) were opened for the fermentation profile and in vitro digestibility analysis after 95 days of fermentation, and then subjected to an aerobic stability experiment for 14 days. All the TMR silage was well preserved with a low pH (4.32~4.51), acceptable levels of butyric acid (1.34~1.56 g kg−1 dry matter), and ammonia nitrogen (69.1~87.1 g kg−1 total nitrogen). All the groups were steady during aerobic exposure, while the SDA treatment was more stable with lower populations of undesirable microorganisms on day 14. The CAP, POS, and SDA treatments evidently (p < 0.05) enhanced the in vitro digestibility of dry matter (54.8~57.5 vs. 48.4%) and neutral detergent fiber (48.4~51.6 vs. 41.1%) compared to the control. By comprehensive consideration, SDA is recommended as additive to enhance fermentation quality, aerobic stability, and in vitro digestibility of TMR silage containing 10% FW of WHDG.
Heavy Metal Allocation to Pea Plant Organs (Pisum sativum L.) from Soil during Different Development Stages and Years
Authors: Wysokinski Andrzej , Kuziemska Beata , Lozak Izabela
Published: February 2023

The incorporation of heavy metals contained in soils into the food chain is mediated by plants. Plants show varying abilities to take up and accumulate these elements during vegetative growth. In this study, changes in the content, rate of uptake, accumulation, and translocation of heavy metals during six stages of development of pea plants were determined. In field experiments, two pea cultivars were cultivated in two consecutive growing seasons. The harvested plants were divided into the roots and aerial parts, and at full maturity the seeds were separated additionally. Significant changes in the content of the heavy metals in the separated parts and on average in the entire plant, as well as their bioaccumulation factors (BAFs), were most often noted up to the flowering stage of pea plants, after which these values usually did not change significantly. The highest rate of uptake of heavy metals per day of growth was noted between the full flowering stage and the stage when 50% of pods were of typical length. Their translocation factor (TF) was most often highest between the three-internode stage and the full flowering stage. The content, uptake, BAF, and TF of the heavy metals most often varied between years of the study, but did not significantly depend on the pea cultivar. The BAF indicates the potential of pea plants to hyperaccumulate lead and zinc and moderate accumulation of other heavy metals in their aerial parts. Excessive concentrations of lead and cadmium disqualified pea’s seeds to be used as human food, whereas excessive concentrations of lead prevented their use as fodder. Green mass of pea plants can be used as animal fodder according to the EU directives.
History and Current Status of Haploidization in Carrot (Daucus carota L.)
Authors: Kiełkowska Agnieszka , Kiszczak Waldemar
Published: February 2023

The induction of haploid cell development into normal plants enables the production of doubled haploid lines, which are homozygous and can be used in breeding programs as an alternative to conventionally derived inbred lines. In this paper, we present the historical background and current status of the attempts of haploid induction in carrot (Daucus carota L.). Economically, carrot is one of the most important vegetables. It is an outcrossing diploid (2n = 2x = 18) species. Nowadays, the seeds of hybrid cultivars constitute the majority of the carrot seeds sold in the world. Hybrid cultivars of carrot are produced using inbred populations. Inbreeding in this species is difficult due to an inbreeding depression and is also time-consuming, as it is a biennial crop. Therefore, the implementation of the haploidization technology into the breeding programs of carrot is of high interest. Androgenesis, gynogenesis and induced parthenogenesis are the methods that have been used for haploid induction, and their potential in haploidization of carrot is discussed. The centromere-specific histone 3 variant (CENH3) and its manipulation in carrot is also acknowledged.
Widespread Occurrence of Glyphosate-Resistant Hairy Fleabane (Erigeron bonariensis L.) in Colombia and Weed Control Alternatives
Authors: Granados Edwin , Zelaya Ian , Plaza Guido
Published: February 2023

Glyphosate, the most applied herbicide globally, offers effective non-selective and post-emergent weed control. Evolution of herbicide-resistant weeds is commonly associated with the recurrent application of herbicides with the same mode of action. Native to South America, hairy fleabane (Erigeron bonariensis L.) is the most problematic weed in this sub-continent and has previously been confirmed glyphosate resistant. This research aimed at characterizing glyphosate-resistant populations, thus estimating the frequency of resistance, resistance levels and identifying effective herbicide alternatives to control glyphosate-resistant populations. Glyphosate resistance characterization was initially conducted on ten suspected populations collected in plantain, banana, cassava, passionfruit, papaya, and drybean crops. Two resistant populations were selected and further characterized through dose-response tests; in addition, response to alternative herbicides (paraquat, glufosinate, 2,4-D, pyraflufen-ethyl, and mesotrione) was determined. All surveyed hairy fleabane populations survived (≥80% of individuals) the recommended glyphosate rate of 1080 g ae ha−1; conversely, five populations collected from non-cropping areas were effectively controlled at this same rate. Dose-response tests estimated resistance factors of 3.15- to 22.3-fold versus the most susceptible population. Interestingly, resistance profile and dose-response tests detected hormesis responses at field-recommended rates. The most effective herbicide alternatives to control glyphosate-resistant hairy fleabane were pyraflufen-ethyl and mesotrione.
Efficacy of Soil and Foliar Boron Fertilizer on Boron Uptake and Productivity in Rice
Authors: Songsriin Jintana , Yamuangmorn Supapohn , Lordkaew Sithisavet , Jumrus Suchada , Veeradittakit Jeeraporn , Jamjod Sansanee , Prom-u-thai Chanakan
Published: February 2023

This study examined the effect of B fertilizers applied by soil and foliar routes on the yield and total B uptake under glasshouse and field conditions. A high-yield rice variety, Sanpatong 1, was used in the experiments. In a pot experiment, soil B application produced a grain yield of 23.4 g pot−1, similar to the control treatment, but foliar B decreased grain yield by 14.9%. The total uptake of B was the highest at 2.5 mg pot−1 when soil B was applied, 66.7% higher than the in the control and foliar B application treatments, but there was no significant effect on the numbers of filled or unfilled grains. Similar responses of grain yield and total B uptake were observed in both conditions. Soil B application produced a grain yield of 4.7 t ha−1, similar to the control, but foliar B application decreased grain yield by 10.9%. The total uptake of B in the field was the highest at 4.7 mg m−2 when soil B was applied, being 42.4% higher than in the foliar B application and control treatments. This study indicates that the total uptake of B in rice plants can be successfully improved by applying soil B fertilizer, even though no effect was observed on productivity. The efficacy of B uptake in rice plants by soil B application is an interesting subject that should be further studied in greater detail to determine its utility in yield production, e.g., by splitting application times.
Effects of Different Bedding Materials on Production Performance, Lying Behavior and Welfare of Dairy Buffaloes
Authors: Niu Kaifeng , An Zhigao , Yao Zhiqiu , Chen Chao , Yang Liguo , Xiong Jiajun
Published: February 2023

Different bedding materials have important effects on the behavioristics, production performance and welfare of buffalo. This study aimed to compare the effects of two bedding materials on lying behavior, production performance and animal welfare of dairy buffaloes. More than 40 multiparous lactating buffaloes were randomly divided into two groups, which were raised on fermented manure bedding (FMB) and chaff bedding (CB). The results showed that the application of FMB improved the lying behavior of buffaloes, the average daily lying time (ADLT) of buffaloes in FMB increased by 58 min compared to those in CB, with a significant difference (p < 0.05); the average daily standing time (ADST) decreased by 30 min, with a significant difference (p < 0.05); and the buffalo comfort index (BCI) increased, but the difference was not significant (p > 0.05). The average daily milk yield of buffaloes in FMB increased by 5.78% compared to buffaloes in CB. The application of FMB improved the hygiene of buffaloes. The locomotion score and hock lesion score were not significantly different between the two groups and all buffaloes did not show moderate and severe lameness. The price of FMB was calculated to be 46% of CB, which greatly reduced the cost of bedding material. In summary, FMB has significantly improved the lying behavior, production performance and welfare of buffaloes and significantly reduce the cost of bedding material.
Supplementation of Schisandrin B in Semen Extender Improves Quality and Oxidation Resistance of Boar Spermatozoa Stored at 4 °C
Authors: Xie Yunfa , Chen Zhiying , Wang Yanling , Peng Xiayun , Feng Ni , Wang Xiaoye , Tang Yinsheng , Li Xun , Xu Chunrong , Hu Chuanhuo
Published: February 2023

During cold storage, boar spermatozoa undergo oxidative stress, which can impair sperm function and fertilizing capacity. The objective of the present study was to assess the effects of Schisandrin B (Sch B) in semen extenders on the quality of boar semen stored at hypothermia. Semen was collected from twelve Duroc boars and diluted in extenders supplemented with different concentrations of Sch B (0 μmol/L, 2.5 μmol/L, 5 μmol/L, 10 μmol/L, 20 μmol/L, and 40 μmol/L). Here, we demonstrated that 10 μmol/L Sch B provided the best effects on motility, plasma membrane integrity, acrosome integrity, sperm normality rate, average movement velocity, wobbility, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), and DNA integrity of sperm. The results of Sch B effects on antioxidant factors in boar sperm showed that Sch B significantly elevated the total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) and markedly decreased the reactive oxygen species (ROS) and malondialdehyde (MDA) content of sperm. The expression of catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) mRNA was increased, while the expression of glutathione peroxidase (GPx) mRNA demonstrated no change compared to non-treated boar sperm. Compared to the non-treated group, Sch B triggered a decrease in Ca2+/protein kinase A (PKA) and lactic acid content in boar sperm. Similarly, Sch B led to a statistically higher quantitative expression of AWN mRNA and a lower quantitative expression of porcine seminal protein I (PSP-I) and porcine seminal protein II (PSP-II) mRNA. In a further reverse validation test, no significant difference was observed in any of the parameters, including adhesion protein mRNA, calcium content, lactic acid content, PKA, and protein kinase G (PKG) activity after sperm capacitation. In conclusion, the current study indicates the efficient use of Sch B with a 10 μmol/L concentration in the treatment of boar sperm through its anti-apoptosis, antioxidative, and decapacitative mechanisms, suggesting that Sch B is a novel candidate for improving antioxidation and decapacitation factors in sperm in liquid at 4 °C.
Comparison of Digital Radiography, Computed Tomography, and Magnetic Resonance Imaging Features in Canine Spontaneous Degenerative Stifle Joint Osteoarthritis
Authors: Chung Cheng-Shu , Tu Yi-Ju , Lin Lee-Shuan
Published: February 2023

Canine stifle joint osteoarthritis (OA) is characterized by damage and degeneration of the articular cartilage and subchondral bone, bony hypertrophy at the margins, and synovial joint membrane changes. Non-invasive imaging modalities, such as digital radiography (DR), computed tomography (CT), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), can be used to describe these changes. However, the value of MRI in diagnosing spontaneous canine OA and the comparison of different imaging modalities have seldom been addressed. This study compared multiple noninvasive imaging modalities in canine spontaneous stifle OA cases. Four client-owned dogs with five spontaneously affected OA stifle joints were recruited and underwent DR, CT, and MRI. Information on osteophytes/enthesophytes, ligament/tendon lesions, synovial effusion and membrane thickening, subchondral bone lesions, and meniscal and cartilage lesions were scored and compared. The results showed that MRI provides the most comprehensive and superior lesion detection sensitivity for ligament, meniscus, cartilage, and synovial effusions. DR provides adequate bony structure information, while CT provides the most delicate images of bony structure lesions. These imaging findings may provide further understanding of the disease and help clinicians draft a more precise treatment plan.
Sanitization of Biomass in Agricultural Biogas Plants Depends on the Type of Substrates
Authors: Pietruszka Arkadiusz , Maślanko Marta , Ciecholewska-Juśko Daria
Published: February 2023

Large-scale pig farming is associated with the production of large amounts of animal excrement, which, after processing into the form of, e.g., slurry, are managed on agricultural land as natural fertilizers. The utilization of pig manure on agricultural land in an excessive and uncontrolled manner may pose a threat to zoonoses due to the significant amounts of potentially pathogenic microorganisms within its content. This study aims to determine the impact of the methane fermentation process carried out in two agricultural biogas plants on the efficiency of sanitization of pig slurry, input biomass, and digestate. The biogas plants differed in terms of the substrate used; one used pig slurry from a maternal (breeding) farm (BP-M), and the other utilized pig slurry from a fattening farm (BP-F). The physicochemical analyses showed that the slurry, input biomass, and digestate from the BP-F were characterized by a significantly higher contents of organic dry matter, ash, and ammonium nitrogen than the slurry, input biomass, and digestate from the BP-M. The parameters of the methane fermentation process, including temperature and pH, reached higher values in the BP-F compared to the BP-M. The microbiological analyses led to the conclusion that the efficiency of sanitization of input biomass, including pig slurry, was significantly higher in the BP-F compared to the BP-M. Due to the above findings, locating biogas plants near pig fattening farms should be recommended.
Trait-Level Resilience in Pet Dogs—Development of the Lincoln Canine Adaptability Resilience Scale (L-CARS)
Authors: Mackay Eilidh L. M. , Zulch Helen , Mills Daniel S.
Published: February 2023

The concept of psychological resilience is well-explored in the human literature and is often described as the ability to ‘bounce back’ following adversity. However, it remains a neglected research area in dogs despite observations that like humans, dogs vary in their ability to cope with stress. This study aimed to develop the first canine ‘resilience’ scale. An on-line survey was developed for owners. This covered demographics, medical/behavioural history of the dog, and 19 potential resilience items assessed using a 5-point Likert scale; 1084 complete responses were received during the survey period, with 329 respondents subsequently completing the questionnaire a second time, 6–8 weeks later. Intra-rater reliability was assessed, and only reliable items retained. A principal component analysis (PCA) with varimax rotation was then performed with components extracted on the basis of the inspection of scree plots and the Kaiser criterion. Items were retained if they loaded >0.4 onto one of the components but removed if they cross-loaded onto more than one component. This resulted in a 14-item, 2-component solution. One component appeared to describe “Adaptability/behavioural flexibility” and the other “Perseverance”, which are described in the human literature on resilience. Predictive validity was established for expected correlates, such as problem behaviour. The resulting instrument was called the Lincoln Canine Adaptability and Resilience Scale (L-CARS) and is the first to be developed for the assessment of resilience in dogs.
In Vitro Activity of Ceftolozane-Tazobactam against Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa Obtained from Blood Cultures from Sentinel Public Hospitals in South Africa
Authors: Perovic Olga , Singh-Moodley Ashika , Lowe Michelle
Published: February 2023

Multidrug-resistant (MDR) Gram-negative bacteria are responsible for the majority of healthcare-associated infections and pose a serious threat as they complicate and prolong clinical care. A novel cephalosporin-β-lactamase-inhibitor combination, ceftolozane-tazobactam (C/T) was introduced in 2014, which improved the treatment of MDR pathogens. This study aimed to evaluate the activity of C/T against Escherichia coli (n = 100), Klebsiella pneumoniae (n = 100), and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (n = 100) blood culture isolates in South Africa (SA). Isolates were sequentially selected (2010 to 2020) from the Group for Enteric, Respiratory, and Meningeal Diseases Surveillance (GERMS) programme in SA. Organism identification was performed using the matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) instrument (Microflex, Bruker Daltonics, Bremen, Germany), and antibiotic susceptibility was performed using the Sensititre instrument (Trek Diagnostic Systems, East Grinstead, UK). C/T resistance was reported in 16 E. coli, 28 K. pneumoniae and 13 P. aeruginosa isolates. Fifty percent of the C/T resistant isolates were subjected to whole-genome sequencing (WGS). According to the whole genome multilocus sequence typing (MLST) analysis, the E. coli isolates (n = 8) belonged to sequence type (ST)10, ST131, ST405, and ST410, the K. pneumoniae isolates (n = 14) belonged to ST1, ST37, ST73, ST101, ST231, ST307, ST336 and ST6065 (novel ST), and the P. aeruginosa isolates (n = 7) belonged to ST111, ST233, ST273, and ST815. The WGS data also showed that all the E. coli isolates harboured aminoglycoside (aph (3′′)-Ib, aph (6)-Id), macrolide (mdfA, mphA), and sulphonamide (sul2) antibiotic resistance genes, all the K. pneumoniae isolates harboured β-lactam (blaCTX-M-15), and sulphonamide (sul2) antibiotic resistance genes, and all the P. aeruginosa isolates harboured aminoglycoside (aph (3′)-IIb), β-lactam (PAO), fosfomycin (fosA), phenicol (catB7), quinolone (crpP), and disinfectant (qacE) antibiotic resistance genes. It is evident that E. coli, K. pneumoniae and P. aeruginosa can adapt pre-existing resistance mechanisms to resist newer β-lactam molecules and inhibitors, since these isolates were not exposed to ceftolozane-tazobactam previously.
Drivers of Antibiotic Use in Semi-Intensive Poultry Farms: Evidence from a Survey in Senegal
Authors: Emes Eve , Faye Adiouma , Naylor Nichola , Belay Dagim , Ngom Babacar , Fall Awa Gueye , Knight Gwen , Dione Michel
Published: February 2023

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR), the capacity of microbial pathogens to survive in the presence of antimicrobials, is considered one of the greatest threats to human health worldwide and is growing rapidly in importance. AMR is thought to be driven in part by the use of antimicrobials (AMU) in livestock production. AMU reduction in agriculture is therefore important, but doing so may endanger farmers’ livelihoods and hamper broader food security. Understanding the drivers for farmers’ antibiotics use is essential for designing interventions which avoid harming agricultural output and to safeguard farmers’ economic security. In this study, we analyse AMUSE survey data from poultry farmers in Senegal to explore the effects of vaccination, attitudes towards AMR, and biosecurity practices on: AMU, animal mortality, and farm productivity. We found that farmers with more “AMR-aware” attitudes may be less likely to use antibiotics in healthy birds. Stronger on-farm biosecurity was associated with less use of antibiotics in healthy birds, and in some specifications was linked to higher broiler productivity. Vaccination and AMU were both higher in farms with a higher disease prevalence, and both factors appeared conducive to higher broiler productivity. Overall, there is evidence that awareness raising and biosecurity improvements could encourage prudent use of antibiotics, and that biosecurity and vaccination could to some extent replace antibiotic use as productivity-enhancing and disease management tools in broiler farms. Finally, issues of farm antimicrobial stewardship must be considered at the structural level, with farm behaviours contingent on interaction with state and private stakeholders.