bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Percutaneous calcium sulfate injection versus localized scrape bone grafting: clinical effect comparison in titanium elastic nail treatment of pathological fracture of proximal humerus caused by unicameral bone cysts in children
Authors: Xie Yuyin , Song Zhenqi , Tang Zhongwen , Xu Zheng , Rao Zhouzhou , Wen Jie , Xiao Sheng
Published: January 2024

Objective

A retrospective study was conducted to compare the mid-term clinical efficacy between percutaneous calcium sulfate injection (PCSI) and localized scrape bone grafting (LSBG) in using titanium elastic nails treat humerus pathologic fractures caused by unicameral bone cysts in children.

Methods

Humerus pathologic fracture patients with unicameral bone cysts in our pediatric orthopedic department from January 2015 to January 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were divided into two groups, namely the PCSI group and the LSBG group, based on the type of bone grafting material they received. Preoperative assessments were made in both groups using the Cyst Index and Cyst activity. During the perioperative phase, assessments were made regarding operative time, bleeding, postoperative VAS scores, and the frequency of reoperation within 2 years. Clinical outcomes were evaluated using the Capanna scale at the last follow-up, and the occurrence of re-fractures during the follow-up period.

Results

A total of 22 patients were included, with a mean follow-up duration of 33.5 ± 5.8 months. No significant differences were found between the two groups in terms of Cyst Index and Cyst activity before the operation. The operative time, bleeding, and postoperative VAS scores in the PCSI group were found to be lower than those in the LSBG group (P < 0.05). The PCSI group also showed a higher frequency of reoperation within 2 years compared to the LSBG group (P < 0.05). However, no significant differences were observed between the two groups in terms of Capanna scale scores at the last follow-up and the incidence of re-fractures during follow-up.

Conclusions

Both titanium elastic nails (TEN) combined with PCSI or LSBG were found to be safe and effective treatments for humerus pathologic fractures caused by unicameral bone cysts in children. PCSI is considered as a less invasive option with shorter operative times, less bleeding, and reduced postoperative pain, although it comes with the risk of multiple injections. On the other hand, LSBG is considered as a more invasive option for the treatment of active bone cysts but is associated with a lower recurrence rate.
Pharmacokinetics, metabolite profiling, safety and tolerability of YZJ-4729 tartrate, a novel G protein-biased μ-opioid receptor agonist, in healthy Chinese subjects
Authors: Ni Yufeng , Gao Huaye , Ouyang Wen , Yang Guoping , Cheng Minlu , Ding Li
Published: January 2024

Objective:YZJ-4729 is a novel G protein-biased μ-opioid receptor agonist for the treatment of acute pain in adult patients who require intravenous opioid analgesic therapy. The aim of this study was to assess the pharmacokinetics, metabolite profiling, safety and tolerability of YZJ-4729 in healthy Chinese subjects following the single intravenous doses ranged from 0.2 mg to 6 mg.

Methods:This single-center, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical study was conducted in 54 healthy male and female Chinese subjects after single ascending doses of YZJ-4729 tartrate (0.2, 0.5, 1.5, 3, 4.5, and 6 mg). Subjects in each cohort were assigned randomly to receive a single intravenous dose of YZJ-4729 tartrate injection or placebo at a ratio of 4:1. Pharmacokinetic characteristics, metabolite profiling, safety and tolerability profiles of the study drug were evaluated.

Results:Overall, YZJ-4729 was safe and well tolerated in healthy Chinese subjects. The study drug reached peak plasma concentrations nearly at the end of the infusion. After administration, YZJ-4729 was eliminated rapidly with a terminal elimination half-life of 0.862–2.50 h, and excreted little in human excreta. The maximum drug concentration and area under the plasma concentration-time curve increased with dose escalation across the entire dose range. YZJ-4729 experienced extensive metabolism in human body. A total of 19 metabolites were identified and the characteristic metabolic pathways involved hydroxylation, ketone formation, N-dealkylation and glucuronide conjugation. Metabolite M10 was the most abundant circulating metabolite, and represented over 10% of total drug-related systemic exposure. Further PK and safety evaluation of M10 was necessary.

Conclusion:The clinical study results laid a foundation for the further clinical studies of YZJ-4729 in patients.

Clinical Trial Registration:http://www.chinadrugtrials.org.cn, identifier CTR20222574.
Regulation of feeding dynamics by the circadian clock, light and sex in an adult nocturnal insect
Authors: Force Evan , Sokolowski Michel B. C. , Suray Caroline , Debernard Stéphane , Chatterjee Abhishek , Dacher Matthieu
Published: January 2024

Animals invest crucial resources in foraging to support development, sustenance, and reproduction. Foraging and feeding behaviors are rhythmically expressed by most insects. Rhythmic behaviors are modified by exogenous factors like temperature and photoperiod, and internal factors such as the physiological status of the individual. However, the interactions between these factors and the circadian clock to pattern feeding behavior remains elusive. As Drosophila, a standard insect model, spends nearly all its life on food, we rather chose to focus on the adults of a non-model insect, Agrotis ipsilon, a nocturnal cosmopolitan crop pest moth having structured feeding activity. Our study aimed to explore the impact of environmental cues on directly measured feeding behavior rhythms. We took advantage of a new experimental set-up, mimicking an artificial flower, allowing us to specifically monitor feeding behavior in a naturalistic setting, e.g., the need to enter a flower to get food. We show that the frequency of flower visits is under the control of the circadian clock in males and females. Feeding behavior occurs only during the scotophase, informed by internal clock status and external photic input, and females start to visit flowers earlier than males. Shorter duration visits predominate as the night progresses. Importantly, food availability reorganizes the microstructure of feeding behavior, revealing its plasticity. Interestingly, males show a constant number of daily visits during the 5 days of adult life whereas females decrease visitations after the third day of adult life. Taken together, our results provide evidence that the rhythmicity of feeding behavior is sexually dimorphic and controlled by photoperiodic conditions through circadian clock-dependent and independent pathways. In addition, the use of the new experimental set-up provides future opportunities to examine the regulatory mechanisms of feeding behavior paving the way to investigate complex relationships between feeding, mating, and sleep-wake rhythms in insects.
Assessment of inter-individual variability in hamstring muscle recovery after a sport-specific sprint training in women and men
Authors: Cosio Pedro L. , Moreno-Simonet Lia , Porcelli Aniello , Lloret Mario , Padulles Xavier , Padulles Josep M. , Farran-Codina Andreu , Cadefau Joan A.
Published: January 2024

Background: Hamstring muscles are most affected by multiple sprint-based sports as a result of muscle strain during sprinting, leading to reduced performance and increased risk of injury. Therefore, the purpose of the study was to assess inter-individual variability in hamstrings recovery after a sport-specific repeated-sprint training (RST), through sprint-specific markers of muscle recovery and associated muscle damage biomarkers in women and men.

Methods: Healthy females (n = 14) and males (n = 15) underwent 10 repeated 40-m sprints with a 3-min rest pause between each repetition. Force-generating capacity (FGC) by the 90°hip:20°kneetest and range of motion Jurdan test, together with serum biomarkers [sarcomeric mitochondrial creatine kinase (sMtCK), oxidative stress, irisin] were tested at baseline and 24-, 48- and 72-h post-exercise through a repeated measures design. Participants were classified according to FGC loss into high responders (HR) and low responders (LR).

Results: 21 individuals (10 females, 11 males) were classified as HR (FGC loss >20% and recovery >48 h), while 8 individuals (4 females, 4 males) were classified as LR. HR individuals showed unrecovered maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) torque until 72 h post-training (p = 0.003, np2 = 0.170), whereas only HR males showed decreased range of motion (p = 0.026, np2 = 0.116). HR individuals also showed increased sMtCK (p = 0.016, np2 = 0.128), oxidative stress (p = 0.038, np2 = 0.106) and irisin (p = 0.019, np2 = 0.123).

Conclusion: There is inter-individual variability in the muscular response to a sport-specific RST, identifiable by MVIC torque assessment. The findings support that the 90°hip:20°kneetest is a powerful indirect test to screen hamstrings recovery in both women and men, in a cost-effective way. However, the Jurdan test might not be able to monitor hamstrings recovery in sportswomen after RST. Decreases in muscle capacity are linked to damage to muscle sarcolemma and mitochondria until 72 h post-exercise. Overall, 72 h will not be adequate time to restore hamstrings structure and function after a sport-specific RST in both female and male responders.
Subgenome evolutionary dynamics in allotetraploid ferns: insights from the gene expression patterns in the allotetraploid species Phegopteris decursivepinnata (Thelypteridacea, Polypodiales)
Authors: Katayama Natsu , Yamamoto Takuya , Aiuchi Sakura , Watano Yasuyuki , Fujiwara Tao
Published: January 2024

Allopolyploidization often leads to disruptive conflicts among more than two sets of subgenomes, leading to genomic modifications and changes in gene expression. Although the evolutionary trajectories of subgenomes in allopolyploids have been studied intensely in angiosperms, the dynamics of subgenome evolution remain poorly understood in ferns, despite the prevalence of allopolyploidization. In this study, we have focused on an allotetraploid fern—Phegopteris decursivepinnata—and its diploid parental species, P. koreana (K) and P. taiwaniana (T). Using RNA-seq analyses, we have compared the gene expression profiles for 9,540 genes among parental species, synthetic F1 hybrids, and natural allotetraploids. The changes in gene expression patterns were traced from the F1 hybrids to the natural allopolyploids. This study has revealed that the expression patterns observed in most genes in the F1 hybrids are largely conserved in the allopolyploids; however, there were substantial differences in certain genes between these groups. In the allopolyploids compared with the F1 hybrids, the number of genes showing a transgressive pattern in total expression levels was increased. There was a slight reduction in T-dominance and a slight increase in K-dominance, in terms of expression level dominance. Interestingly, there is no obvious bias toward the T- or K-subgenomes in the number and expression levels overall, showing the absence of subgenome dominance. These findings demonstrated the impacts of the substantial transcriptome change after hybridization and the moderate modification during allopolyploid establishment on gene expression in ferns and provided important insights into subgenome evolution in polyploid ferns.
Worldwide productivity and research trend on fruit quality: a bibliometric study
Authors: Ni Fei , Li Ziwei , Huang Jianzi
Published: January 2024

Introduction

As one of the important sources of food for human beings, fruits have been extensively studied. To better guide basic and applied research, it is urgent to conduct a systematic analysis of these studies based on extensive literature collection.

Methods

Based on the Web of Science Core Collection database, this study uses R language and CiteSpace to conduct bibliometric analysis and data mining on the literatures related to fruit quality from January 2013 to June 2023.

Results

The results indicated that among various fruits, tomatoes have been most frequently studied with special interests in photosynthesis, fruit development, and molecular breeding. The research direction primarily focused on fruit resistance and storage characteristics. Among the indicators related to fruit quality, antioxidant activity has the highest co-occurrence with other indicators of fruit quality, especially with nutrients such as anthocyanins, phenolic substances, sugars, and fruit firmness.

Discussion

Currently, adaptation to stress and antioxidant activity are recognized as prominent research focal points in this field. Fruit morphology, particularly fruit size, irrigation methods, application of molecular technology, and infection prevention, represent potential areas of interests in future research on fruit quality.
A genetic screen for dominant chloroplast reactive oxygen species signaling mutants reveals life stage-specific singlet oxygen signaling networks
Authors: Lemke Matthew D. , Woodson Jesse D.
Published: January 2024

Introduction

Plants employ intricate molecular mechanisms to respond to abiotic stresses, which often lead to the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) within organelles such as chloroplasts. Such ROS can produce stress signals that regulate cellular response mechanisms. One ROS, singlet oxygen (1O2), is predominantly produced in the chloroplast during photosynthesis and can trigger chloroplast degradation, programmed cell death (PCD), and retrograde (organelle-to-nucleus) signaling. However, little is known about the molecular mechanisms involved in these signaling pathways or how many different signaling 1O2 pathways may exist.

Methods

The Arabidopsis thaliana plastid ferrochelatase two (fc2) mutant conditionally accumulates chloroplast 1O2, making fc2 a valuable genetic system for studying chloroplast 1O2-initiated signaling. Here, we have used activation tagging in a new forward genetic screen to identify eight dominant fc2 activation-tagged (fas) mutations that suppress chloroplast 1O2-initiated PCD.

Results

While 1O2-triggered PCD is blocked in all fc2 fas mutants in the adult stage, such cellular degradation in the seedling stage is blocked in only two mutants. This differential blocking of PCD suggests that life-stage-specific 1O2-response pathways exist. In addition to PCD, fas mutations generally reduce 1O2-induced retrograde signals. Furthermore, fas mutants have enhanced tolerance to excess light, a natural mechanism to produce chloroplast 1O2. However, general abiotic stress tolerance was only observed in one fc2 fas mutant (fc2 fas2). Together, this suggests that plants can employ general stress tolerance mechanisms to overcome 1O2 production but that this screen was mostly specific to 1O2 signaling. We also observed that salicylic acid (SA) and jasmonate (JA) stress hormone response marker genes were induced in 1O2-stressed fc2 and generally reduced by fas mutations, suggesting that SA and JA signaling is correlated with active 1O2 signaling and PCD.

Discussion

Together, this work highlights the complexity of 1O2 signaling by demonstrating that multiple pathways may exist and introduces a suite of new 1O2 signaling mutants to investigate the mechanisms controlling chloroplast-initiated degradation, PCD, and retrograde signaling.
Differences in training characteristics of recreational endurance runners by race distance – results from the NURMI Study (Step 2)
Authors: Knechtle Beat , Tanous Derrick , Thuany Mabliny , Motevalli Mohamad , Wirnitzer Gerold , Leitzmann Claus , Weiss Katja , Rosemann Thomas , Wirnitzer Katharina
Published: January 2024

Background

Although runner’s profiles were previously investigated, information on the training frequency and training distance for short (5 km, 10 km) and long-distance (>21 km) running is absent. The present study aimed to investigate the associations between training routines and exercise habits of recreational endurance runners considering self-reported preferred race distance [10 km, half-marathon (HM), and marathon/ultra-marathon (M/UM)] subgroups.

Methods

This is a cross-sectional study, sampling 154 recreational runners of both sexes. A web survey was used for data collection regarding age, sex, preferred distance (10-km, HM, M/UM), training routines, exercise habits, and periodized training routines. The Chi-square test (Cramer’s V) and Kruskal-Wallis test (Eta-Squared η2) with effect sizes were used for comparisons between race distances.

Results

Significant differences were shown for anthropometric, training, and periodization characteristics. Highly significant differences were found between subgroups for the number of sessions, running kilometers, and training hours at all periods and within all four preparation conditions. M/UM runners were training more frequently, for longer durations, and ran greater distances each week.

Conclusion

This finding supports the notion that training habits and periodization characteristics are different for different race distances (10-km, half marathon, marathon, and ultramarathon).
Helicopter parenting and college student depression: the mediating effect of physical self-esteem
Authors: Wang Chaolian , Shi Heng , Li Geng
Published: January 2024

Background

Depression is one of the most common and prevalent mental disorders, and college students are a high-risk group for depression. Helicopter parenting plays an important role in depression, but the mechanism is still ambiguous. Therefore, this study investigates the specific impact and mechanism of helicopter parenting on college students’ depression.

Methods

Employing a questionnaire-based approach, we assessed the relationship between helicopter parenting, Physical self-esteem, and depression. The questionnaire comprised three scales: the Helicopter Parenting Scale, Physical Self-Esteem Scale, and Self-Rating Depression Scale. The study sample included 539 university (average age 18.84 ± 1.1 years; 184 males and 355 females).

Results

Helicopter parenting demonstrated significant negative predict with physical self-esteem (β = −0.75, p < 0.001), and positive predict depression (β = 0.33, p < 0.001). Helicopter parenting impacts depression among college students through two channels: solely via physical self-esteem (mediating effect value: 0.66), and through direct influence (effect value: 0.64).

Conclusion

The insights from this study address the two pivotal questions about “why” and “how” helicopter parenting influences depression in college students, offering recommendations for managing depressive moods among college students.
Many hops, many stops: care-seeking “loops” for diabetes and hypertension in three urban informal settlements in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region
Authors: Ramani Sudha , Bahuguna Manjula , Spencer Jennifer , Pathak Sweety , Shende Sushma , Pantvaidya Shanti , D’Souza Vanessa , Jayaraman Anuja
Published: January 2024

Background

The burden of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) in urban informal settlements across Lower and Middle Income Countries is increasing. In recognition, there has been interest in fine-tuning policies on NCDs to meet the unique needs of people living in these settlements. To inform such policy efforts, we studied the care-seeking journeys of people living in urban informal settlements for two NCDs—diabetes and hypertension. The study was done in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, India.

Methods

This qualitative study was based on interviews with patients having diabetes and hypertension, supplemented by interactions with the general community, private doctors, and public sector staff. We conducted a total of 47 interviews and 6 Focus Group Discussions. We synthesized data thematically and used the qualitative software NVivo Version 10.3 to aid the process. In this paper, we report on themes that we, as a team, interpreted as striking and policy-relevant features of peoples’ journeys.

Results

People recounted having long and convoluted care-seeking journeys for the two NCDs we studied. There were several delays in diagnosis and treatment initiation. Most people’s first point of contact for medical care were local physicians with a non-allopathic degree, who were not always able to diagnose the two NCDs. People reported seeking care from a multitude of healthcare providers (public and private), and repeatedly switched providers. Their stories often comprised multiple points of diagnosis, re-diagnosis, treatment initiation, and treatment adjustments. Advice from neighbors, friends, and family played an essential role in shaping the care-seeking process. Trade-offs between saving costs and obtaining relief from symptoms were made constantly.

Conclusion

Our paper attempts to bring the voices of people to the forefront of policies on NCDs. People’s convoluted journeys with numerous switches between providers indicate the need for trusted “first-contact” points for NCD care. Integrating care across providers—public and private—in urban informal settlements—can go a long way in streamlining the NCD care-seeking process and making care more affordable for people. Educating the community on NCD prevention, screening, and treatment adherence; and establishing local support mechanisms (such as patient groups) may also help optimize people’s care-seeking pathways.
The relation between family socioeconomic status and depressive symptoms among children and adolescents in mainland China: a meta-analysis
Authors: Niu Yingnan , Guo Xiaolin , Cai He , Luo Liang
Published: January 2024

Family socioeconomic status (SES) is widely believed to be associated with depressive symptoms in children and adolescents. The correlation between SES and depressive symptoms changes based on social culture and the economic development level. In China, which includes many children and adolescents, the magnitude of the relationship between SES and depressive symptoms and its potential moderators remains unclear. The current meta-analysis was conducted to determine the overall association between SES and depressive symptoms in children and adolescents in mainland China. We included 197 estimates in mainland China from 2000–2023. Among 147,613 children and adolescents aged 7–18 years, the results showed a weak but significant overall negative association between SES and depression (r = −0.076). Moderator testing showed that the composite SES indicator (r = −0.104) had a stronger association with depression than parental educational level (r = −0.065) and occupational status (r = −0.025) but not family income (r = −0.088). Additionally, the negative association between SES and depression became weaker over the past 20 years in China (β = 0.010). Furthermore, the magnitude of the relationship between SES and depression was stronger in West China (r = −0.094) than in Middle China (r = −0.065), but not East China (r = −0.075). These findings indicate that the relationship between SES and depression among children and adolescents in mainland China may vary based on social contexts. It is necessary to further explore the effect of these social factors and the underlying mechanisms.
Scaling up evidence-based digital early life nutrition interventions in a county setting: an implementation trial – protocol for Phase 2 of the Nutrition Now project
Authors: Medin Anine Christine , Vik Frøydis Nordgård , Helle Christine , Helland Sissel Heidi , Wills Andrew Keith , Osorio Natalie Garzon , Lian Henrik , Ersfjord Torunn Iveland , Van Daele Wim , Bjørkkjær Tormod , Valen Erlend Nuland , Gebremariam Mekdes Kebede , Grasaas Erik , Kiland Charlotte , von Thiele Schwarz Ulrica , Abel Marianne Hope , Love Penny , Campbell Karen , Rutter Harry , Barker Mary Elizabeth , Hillesund Elisabet Rudjord , Øverby Nina Cecilie
Published: January 2024

Background

Few effective health interventions transition from smaller efficacy or effectiveness studies to real-world implementation at scale, representing a gap between evidence and practice. Recognising this, we have developed Nutrition Now – a tailored digital resource building on four efficacious dietary interventions, aiming to improve nutrition in the important first 1,000 days of life. Nutrition Now targets and guides expectant parents and parents of 0–2 year olds, serves as a reliable source of evidence-based information for midwives and public health nurses at maternal and child healthcare (MCH) centres, and offers pedagogical tools for early childhood education and care (ECEC) staff. The aim of this study is to implement Nutrition Now at scale and evaluate the impact of different sets of multifaceted implementation strategies on implementation outcomes.

Methods

A quasi-experimental design with three study arms will be used, providing either low, medium or high implementation support, when rolled out in 50 municipalities in 2 counties in Norway. Nutrition Now will be implemented in MCH and ECEC settings and made available to expectant parents and parents of 0–2 year olds through social media and MCH. The implementation support builds on strategies described in the Expert Recommendations for Implementing Change (ERIC) implementation framework and is informed by dialogues with stakeholders. Impact of the different degree of implementation support will be assessed by examining reach, adoption, fidelity, and sustainability using usage data generated from the Nutrition Now resource, publicly available municipal data and qualitative interviews with MCH and ECEC staff.

Discussion

Nutrition Now Phase 2 will break new ground by scaling up successively delivered and complementary dietary interventions in the first 1,000 days of life in a real-life context. The project also seeks to identify what level of implementation support is most effective when implementing digital, scalable, evidence-based early-life nutrition interventions in community settings. The project will inform implementation research and provide knowledge about effective implementation strategies to be used in a national scale-up of Nutrition Now.

Trial registration

The study is registered prospectively (submitted 14/06/2022, registration date: 19/06/2022) in the International Standard Randomised Controlled Trial Number registry (ISRCTN): reg. Number: ISRCTN10694967, https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN10694967.
Transaction costs, crop-livestock integration participation, and income effects in China
Authors: Bao Wuyuntana , Wu Yunhua , Bao Huricha
Published: January 2024

The crop-livestock integration model is the main path for the sustainable development of agriculture and animal husbandry in China, and farmers' participation behavior is critical to the formation of this model. So this paper based on a field survey data of 615 farmers in 10 pilot counties of Crop-Livestock Integration (CLI) in the dairy industry in the east, middle, and west of Inner Mongolia, the relationship among transaction costs, farmers' decision-making of participating in the CLI model, and income effects was analyzed using the Endogenous Switching Regression (ESR) model in this paper. The results show that under the current market environment, the proportion of farmers participating in the CLI model is 37.56% of the farmer surveyed. The high costs of information searching, negotiation, and execution are the critical factors to inhibit farmers from participating in the CLI model. The results of the counterfactual test of the ESR model show that the effect of the CLI model on the income of participated farmers is not noticeable, while the effect is more significant on the income of non-participating farmers. Moreover, there is no obvious heterogeneity in the effects of the farmer level and “farmers-to-farm” level CLI models on farmers' income. Based on these conclusions, this paper proposes that the government should actively promote the establishment of the information-sharing platform and training mechanism about the CLI model, reduce farmers' costs in information searching and negotiation, optimize the incentive policy of the CLI model, incorporate the farmers planting forage into the subsidy scope of the CLI model, improve the economic benefits of farmers participating in the CLI model, and stimulate the enthusiasm of farmers participating in the CLI model, so as to effectively promote the realization of the CLI model in the animal husbandry industry.
Diagnosis of Power Switch Faults in Three-Phase Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motors via Current-Signature Technique
Authors: Suti Aleksander , Di Rito Gianpietro
Published: January 2024

The paper deals with the development of a model-based current-signature algorithm for the detection and isolation of power switch faults in three-phase Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motors (PMSMs). The algorithm, by elaborating the motor currents feedbacks, reconstructs the current phasor trajectories in the Clarke plane through elliptical fittings, up to detecting and isolating the fault depending on the characteristics of the signature deviation from the nominal one. As a rough approximation, as typically proposed in the literature, the fault of one out of six power switches implies that, at constant speed operation, the phasor trajectory deviates from the nominal circular path up to a semi-circular “D-shape” signature, the inclination of which depends on the failed converter leg. However, this evolution can significantly deviate in practical cases, due to the dynamics related to the transition of motor phase connections from failed to active switches. The study demonstrates that an online ellipse fitting of the current signature can be effective for diagnosis, through correlating the ellipse centre to the location of the failed switch. The performances of the proposed monitoring technique are here assessed via the nonlinear simulation of a PMSM employed for the propulsion of a lightweight fixed-wing Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), by quantifying the fault latencies and the related transients.
Experimental Research on Avoidance Obstacle Control for Mobile Robots Using Q-Learning (QL) and Deep Q-Learning (DQL) Algorithms in Dynamic Environments
Authors: Ha Vo Thanh , Vinh Vo Quang
Published: January 2024

This study provides simulation and experimental results on techniques for avoiding static and dynamic obstacles using a deep Q-learning (DQL) reinforcement learning algorithm for a two-wheel mobile robot with independent control. This method integrates the Q-learning (QL) algorithm with a neural network, where the neural networks in the DQL algorithm act as approximators for the Q matrix table for each pair (state–action). The effectiveness of the proposed solution was confirmed through simulations, programming, and practical experimentation. A comparison was drawn between the DQL algorithm and the QL algorithm. Initially, the mobile robot was connected to the control script using the Robot Operating System (ROS). The mobile robot was programmed in Python within the ROS operating system, and the DQL controller was programmed in Gazebo software. The mobile robot underwent testing in a workshop with various experimental scenarios considered. The DQL controller displayed improvements in computation time, convergence time, trajectory planning accuracy, and obstacle avoidance. As a result, the DQL controller surpassed the QL algorithm in terms of performance.
Design and Control of a Reconfigurable Robot with Rolling and Flying Locomotion
Authors: Chang Qing , Yu Biao , Ji Hongwei , Li Haifeng , Yuan Tiantian , Zhao Xiangyun , Ren Hongsheng , Zhan Jinhao
Published: January 2024

Given the continual rise in mission diversity and environmental complexity, the adept integration of a robot’s aerial and terrestrial locomotion modes to address diverse application scenarios has evolved into a formidable challenge. In this paper, we design a reconfigurable airframe robot endowed with the dual functionalities of rolling and flying. This innovative design not only ensures a lightweight structure but also incorporates morphing capabilities facilitated by a slider-crank mechanism. Subsequently, a land-to-air transformation strategy for the robot is introduced, achieved through the coordinated movement of the robotic arm and the servo motor. To ensure stable control of the robot amid external wind disturbances, we leverage the collaboration between a Generative Adversarial Network (GAN)and a Nonlinear Model Predictive Control (NMPC) controller. After the wind force magnitude is predicted through the neural network, the robot’s adeptness in flexible trajectory tracking is verified. Under simulated wind conditions of 12.1 m/s, the trajectory error consistently remains within the range of 10–15 cm, affirming the effectiveness of this control method.
Filtering Strategies for Relative Navigation in Lunar Scenarios Using LCNS
Authors: Sabatini Marco , Palmerini Giovanni B.
Published: January 2024

This paper investigates the performance of the forthcoming lunar navigation satellite systems for estimating not only the position of an onboard receiver in a lunar inertial reference frame but also, and with a consistent accuracy, the relative position between two or more spacecraft in proximity. This could be the case of two spacecraft performing a rendezvous, of a lander released by an orbiter, or the case of the permanent relative navigation service for a formation of satellites around the Moon. The considered observables are the pseudorange and pseudorange-rate measurements provided by the upcoming lunar communication and navigation system (LCNS), expected to support lunar missions. A single-stage Kalman filter is implemented, and its performance is demonstrated through error statistics, which are then compared to what can be achieved with sequential filtering.
Robust Flight Tether for In-Orbit Demonstrations of Coulomb Drag Propulsion
Authors: Toivanen Petri , Janhunen Pekka , Kivekäs Jarmo , Mäkelä Meri
Published: January 2024

A new method of producing robust multi-wire tethers for Coulomb drag applications was developed. The multi-wire structure required for redundancy against the micrometeoroid flux of the space environment is realised through the method of wire twist bonding traditionally used for chicken wire. In the case of the Coulomb drag tether, the diameter of the individual wires is 50 μm, which introduces the main technological challenge. To manufacture the tether, a manually driven tether machine was designed and built. Two multi-wire tethers for Coulomb drag applications were produced for two in-orbit demonstrations of the FORESAIL-1 and ESTCube-2 CubeSat missions. The flight tethers were both 60 m long as produced, clearly demonstrating beyond the level of proof of concept the applicability of both the method and the manually driven tether machine. Altogether, 6480 twist bonds were produced without a single wire cut. In this paper, the requirements for the tether are listed and justified. The production method is reviewed, and the 4-wire tether produced is evaluated against the requirements. Finally, the test procedures of the tether are described, and on the basis of the results, it is concluded that the tether can tolerate a tension of 14 g without the twist bonds slipping or the tether structure collectively collapsing. Furthermore, the tether can be reeled from the production reel to the flight reel, which simplifies the final integration of the tether reeling system with the Coulomb drag propulsion device.
Evaluation of Morpho-Physiological Traits of Oat (Avena sativa L.) under Drought Stress
Authors: Ghimire Krishna , McIntyre Isabel , Caffe Melanie
Published: January 2024

The increase in intensity and frequency of drought due to global climate change has increased the urgency of developing crop cultivars suitable for dry environments. Drought tolerance is a complex trait that involves numerous physiological, biochemical, and morphological responses. A better understanding of those mechanisms is critical to develop drought tolerant cultivars. In this study, we aimed to understand the morphophysiological changes at the shoot and root levels in response to drought stress of ten oat genotypes with diverse root morphological characteristics. Twenty-one-day old plants were subjected to drought stress in a greenhouse by withholding water for two weeks. Several characteristics including chlorophyll content, relative water content (RWC), stomatal conductance, stomata number, shoot dry weight (SDW), root dry weight (RDW), root-to-shoot biomass ratio (RSR), root length, root area, and root volume were measured on well-watered, and drought-stressed plants. Grain yield was evaluated by continuing the drought treatment with a drying and rewatering cycle every 15 days until physiological maturity. The water regime had a significant impact on all traits evaluated. A significant interaction between genotype and water treatment was observed for RWC, chlorophyll content, stomatal conductance, stomata number, and grain yield but not for root traits, suggesting that the root system of all genotypes responded similarly to drought stress. Hayden, the cultivar with the lowest reduction in grain yield from the drought treatment, was among the genotypes with the lowest reduction in RWC and chlorophyll content but with a sharp decrease in stomata number, thus indicating that regulating the plant water status and maintaining the photosynthesis level are important for oat plants to maintain grain yield under drought stress. The size of the root system was not correlated with grain yield under drought, but the RWC and grain yield were significantly correlated under drought, thus suggesting that maintaining the RWC is an important characteristic for oat plants to maintain yield under drought stress.
Patterns of Nitrogen and Phosphorus along a Chronosequence of Tea Plantations in Subtropical China
Authors: Zou Shun , Huang Chumin , Chen Yang , Bai Xiaolong , Li Wangjun , He Bin
Published: January 2024

Nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) play crucial roles in tea planting, but information on how the long-term excessive application of chemical N fertilizer affected N and P in subtropical tea plantations remains limited. In this study, soil and leaf samples were collected along a chronosequence of tea plantations (0-, 5-, 10-, 18- and 23-year-old plantations) with excessive N input but no P application to investigate the effects of planting age on N and P availability. Diverse soil N forms and P fractions, and the concentrations of leaf N and P were measured. The results showed that (1) NO3−-N and dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) concentrations in both topsoil and subsoil, and the N concentration of mature leaf showed significant upward trends with tea plantation age; (2) the concentrations of available phosphorus (AP), NaHCO3-Pi in labile P pool, NaOH-Pi and D.HCl-Pi in moderately labile P pool in both layers of soil and that the P concentration of mature leaf also increased with age; (3) the N concentration of mature leaves had closely significant logarithmic relations with NO3−-N concentration, while the TP (total P) concentration of mature leaves had significant positive correlations with AP; and (4) the ratio of N/P in tea leaves indicated a slightly P limitation in tea plantations. We concluded that the NO3−-N concentration, instead of TN (total N) of NH4+-N, would be a good indicator to reflect N availability for tea trees, and the increasing of NO3−-N concentration in soil has a diminishing promoting effect on the TN concentration of mature leaves. The long-term application of chemical N fertilizer had not lead to serious P limitation in subtropical tea plantations. Generally, our study could contribute to improving our understanding of N and P availability and optimizing fertilization management in subtropical tea plantations.
The Impact of Accumulating Herbage Masses in Autumn on Perennial Ryegrass Sward Characteristics
Authors: Looney Caitlin , Wingler Astrid , Donaghy Daniel , Egan Michael
Published: January 2024

Autumn grazing management aims to accumulate herbage for defoliation prior to a decrease in growth rates for the extension of the grazing season. The current study investigated the impact of building different target herbage masses (THMs) in autumn and imposing one of three different defoliation dates (DDs) between mid-October and late November on light transmitted to the base of the sward, free leaf lamina (FLL), leaf stage and internode elongation. Four THMs (low, medium, high and very high) and three DDs (DD1—15 October, DD2—7 November and DD3—21 November) were assigned to a 4 × 3 split plot design over two years. Light transmitted to the base of the sward was greatest in the low THM and decreased in all other THMs. Internode elongation increased in tillers in the medium to the very high THMs. Defoliation of the medium, high and, in particular, the very high THMs earlier in autumn reduced the effect of decreased light transmission on internode elongation. This study highlights that, as light transmitted to the base of the sward decreases, internode elongation increases, and this could negatively impact sward structure.
Grassland Ecological Management and Utilization for Sustainability
Authors: Liu Kesi , Shao Xinqing
Published: January 2024

Grasslands, covering 40% of the land surface area [...]
Effects of Thyroid Powder on Tadpole (Lithobates catesbeiana) Metamorphosis and Growth: The Role of Lipid Metabolism and Gut Microbiota
Authors: Zhu Bo , Shao Chuang , Xu Wenjie , Dai Jihong , Fu Guihong , Hu Yi
Published: January 2024

A low metamorphosis rate of amphibian larvae, commonly known as tadpoles, limits the farming production of bullfrogs (Lithobates catesbeiana). This study aimed to examine the effects of processed thyroid powder as a feed additive on tadpole metamorphosis, lipid metabolism, and gut microbiota. Five groups of tadpoles were fed with diets containing 0 g/kg (TH0), 1.5 g/kg (TH1.5), 3 g/kg (TH3), 4.5 g/kg (TH4.5), and 6 g/kg (TH6) thyroid powder for 70 days. The results showed that TH increased the average weight of tadpoles during metamorphosis, with the TH6 group having the highest values. The TH4.5 group had the highest metamorphosis rate (p < 0.05). Biochemical tests and Oil Red O staining showed that the lipid (triglyceride) content in the liver decreased after TH supplementation, especially at doses higher than 1.5 g/kg. RT-qPCR revealed that TH at doses higher than 4.5 g/kg significantly up-regulated the transcriptional expression of the pparα, accb, fas, fadd6, acadl, and lcat genes, which are related to lipid metabolism (p < 0.05). These results showed that TH seems to simultaneously promote the synthesis and decomposition of lipid and fatty acids, but ultimately show a decrease in lipids. As for the gut microbiota, it is noteworthy that Verrucomicrobia increased significantly in the TH4.5 and TH6 groups, and the Akkermansia (classified as Verrucomicrobia) was the corresponding genus, which is related to lipid metabolism. Specifically, the metabolic pathways of the gut microbiota were mainly enriched in metabolic-related functions (such as lipid metabolism), and there were significant differences in metabolic and immune pathways between the TH4.5 and TH0 groups (p < 0.05). In summary, TH may enhance lipid metabolism by modulating the gut microbiota (especially Akkermansia), thereby promoting the growth of tadpoles. Consequently, a supplementation of 4.5 g/kg or 6 g/kg of TH is recommended for promoting the metamorphosis and growth of tadpoles.
The Anti-Müllerian Hormone as Endocrine and Molecular Marker Associated with Reproductive Performance in Holstein Dairy Cows Exposed to Heat Stress
Authors: Contreras-Méndez Luis A. , Medrano Juan F. , Thomas Milton G. , Enns R. Mark , Speidel Scott E. , Luna-Nevárez Guillermo , López-Castro Pedro A. , Rivera-Acuña Fernando , Luna-Nevárez Pablo
Published: January 2024

Anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) is proposed as a biomarker for fertility in cattle, yet this associative relationship appears to be influenced by heat stress (HS). The objective was to test serum AMH and AMH-related single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) as markers potentially predictive of reproductive traits in dairy cows experiencing HS. The study included 300 Holstein cows that were genotyped using BovineSNP50 (54,000 SNP). A genome-wide association study was then executed. Nine intragenic SNPs within the pathways that influence the AMH gene were found important with multiple comparisons adjustment tests (p < 1.09 × 10−6). A further validation study was performed in an independent Holstein cattle population, which was divided into moderate (MH; n = 152) and severe heat-stressed (SH; n = 128) groups and then subjected to a summer reproductive management program. Serum AMH was confirmed as a predictor of fertility measures (p < 0.05) in MH but not in the SH group. Cows were genotyped, which revealed four SNPs as predictive markers for serum AMH (p < 0.01), reproductive traits (p < 0.01), and additional physiological variables (p < 0.05). These SNPs were in the genes AMH, IGFBP1, LGR5, and TLR4. In conclusion, serum AMH concentrations and AMH polymorphisms are proposed as predictive markers that can be used in conjunction with genomic breeding value approaches to improve reproductive performance in Holstein cows exposed to summer HS conditions.
Relationship between Fat Status, Stage of Gonadal Maturity and Hormonal Variation of Turdus philomelos (C.L. Brehm, 1831) Wintering in Apulia during 2018–2020
Authors: Tarricone Simona , Tinelli Antonella , Passantino Giuseppe , Zizzo Nicola , Rizzo Annalisa , Guaricci Antonio Ciro , Perillo Antonella , Buonfrate Valeria , Carbonari Alice , Colonna Maria Antonietta , Ragni Marco
Published: January 2024

In this study, we aimed to evaluate the development of the fattening condition and the reproductive status of the song thrush from December to February. For this purpose, the chemical and fatty acid compositions of the pectoral muscle were analyzed in relation to the fattening state of the birds. Moreover, their reproductive activity was evaluated via the anatomical and pathological examination of tissues and through the assessment of sex steroid profiles. One hundred ninety-five thrushes captured by local hunters during the 2018–2019 and 2019–2020 hunting seasons in different provinces of the Apulia region in Italy were used. The first step was the measurement of bird body mass, and the amount of subcutaneous body fat was estimated visually. During post-mortem examinations, the pectoral muscle was excised and used for chemical and fatty acid analysis and a hormone assay, respectively. Moreover, ovaries and testicles were evaluated to determine the degree of maturation and thus the reproductive status of the birds. The results regarding fattening status and fatty acid profile confirmed that in January–February, thrushes change their diet, increasing their intake of oleic acid, likely to better cope with low temperatures and prepare for long-distance migration. In both male and female thrushes, the concentrations of sex hormones confirmed a phase of reproductive quiescence from December to February, which was also confirmed through histological examination of the gonads.