bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Insecticidal Activity of Aqueous Extracts of Plant Origin on Mahanarva spectabilis (Distant, 1909) (Hemiptera: Cercopidae)
Authors: Nascimento Vinícius Ferraz , Auad Alexander Machado , de Resende Tiago Teixeira , Visconde Amanda Jdenaina Mendoza , Dias Marcelle Leandro
Published: April 2022

The spittlebug Mahanarva spectabilis (Distant, 1909) is considered the main and most limiting pest of elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum Schum.), and has caused economic losses to Brazilian farmers. In this study, we evaluated the insecticidal effects of aqueous extracts of garlic, rue, cinnamon, lemongrass, clove, star anise, eucalyptus, tobacco, and thyme on M. spectabilis nymphs. The results indicated that the tobacco extract was the most effective among all extracts, as it reached a mortality of 76%. The next most effective was star anise extract and cinnamon extract was the least effective. In the second stage of tests, we evaluated the insecticidal potential of five concentrations of tobacco extract. The values of LD50 and LD90 calculated for aqueous tobacco extract were, respectively, 11.5% and 33.3% 24 h after application, and 9.2% and 29.5% 48 h after application. We also evaluated different methods of extraction, through comparative tests, and the methods of infusion and decoction proved to be equivalent to those of the method of extraction by ultrasound. We conclude that among the nine aqueous plant extracts tested, tobacco extract was the only one recommended against M. spectabilis, as it showed insecticidal activity, with better results at a concentration of 25%, and with extraction by infusion and decoction.
Exogenous Melatonin Improves the Quality Performance of Rice under High Temperature during Grain Filling
Authors: Fan Xiaolei , Zhao Jie , Sun Xiaosong , Zhu Yun , Li Qianfeng , Zhang Lin , Zhao Dongsheng , Huang Lichun , Zhang Changquan , Liu Qiaoquan
Published: April 2022

With the increasing greenhouse effect, high temperature has become the most unfavorable environmental factor for the rice grain filling process, affecting rice yield and quality mainly through changing the composition and structure of starch in rice grains. Research has focused on the rational management of water and fertilizer, and spraying of exogenous chemicals, which have become important measures to alleviate high temperature stress of rice. As a multifunctional molecule, melatonin has the potential to improve plant stress resistance by enhancing the scavenging efficiency of reactive oxygen species (ROS), thus protecting plants from the adverse effects of abiotic stress. The present study used a typical japonica rice variety Nipponbare (NPB) as the experimental material, which was treated with high temperature and melatonin during grain-filling stages. The effects of exogenous melatonin on the rice growth and quality traits, as well as starch synthesis, in response to high temperature were analyzed systematically. Exogenous melatonin significantly increased the rice leaf photosynthetic and heat-resistance properties. Melatonin could alleviate the effects of high temperature on the key physicochemical properties related to rice quality. Furthermore, milled rice from NPB plants treated with melatonin had better endosperm appearance under high temperature. Further study found that exogenous melatonin could stabilize the chain length distribution of starch in NPB (especially amylopectin), which implied that melatonin could be used in rice cultivation to alleviate the effect of high temperature on quality, optimization of amylopectin synthesis can also improve rice quality. The results of the present study provide a new idea and research direction to alleviate high temperature stress of rice in the context of global warming.
Development of Sustainable Production of Rainfed Winter Wheat with No-Till Technologies in Southern Kazakhstan
Authors: Turebayeva Sagadat , Zhapparova Aigul , Kekilbayeva Gulnur , Kenzhegulova Sayagul , Aisakulova Khaiyrnisa , Yesseyeva Gainiya , Bissembayev Anuarbek , Sikirić Biljana , Sydyk Dossymbek , Saljnikov Elmira
Published: April 2022

The production of rainfed crops in arid regions is an extremely difficult task, especially without tillage. In southern Kazakhstan, in 2020–2021, the approbation of various nutrition regimes for winter wheat grown in conditions of no-tillage rainfed lands has been studied. The effect of different doses and terms of application of growth stimulators, micronutrients, bio-fertilizers and mineral fertilizers, as well as their economic efficiency, was studied in ten variables. The use of a combination of growth stimulators and microfertilizers produced the highest grain yield and was the most cost-effective. The greatest value of the nominal net profit of 223.25 euro and 244.10 euro from one hectare was provided and calculated with the recommended target grain yield of 2.0 t/ha dose of mineral fertilizers, respectively; however, the production cost of one ton of grain in these treatments was also highest. Further research is continuing with a wider range and combination of amendments and various crops in a rainfed no-till winter wheat farm in southern Kazakhstan.
Impacts of Interspecific Interactions on Crop Growth and Yield in Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)/Maize (Zea mays L.) Strip Intercropping under Different Water and Nitrogen Levels
Authors: Li Yinjuan , Ma Longshuai , Wu Pute , Zhao Xining , Chen Xiaoli , Gao Xiaodong
Published: April 2022

Interspecific interactions and recovery growth play an important role in crop growth, development and ultimately yield in intercropping systems. However, the impact of different water and nitrogen levels on intercropping production, interspecific interactions between intercrops, and the recovery growth of late-maturing crops is still unclear. A two-year field experiment was conducted in Yangling, Shaanxi province, to investigate the dynamics of interspecific interactions, and the effects of interspecific interactions on crop growth and yield. The experiment consisted of three factors, including three cropping systems (wheat/maize intercropping, sole wheat, sole maize), three nitrogen (N) levels and two water applications (supplementary irrigation and rainfed). The results demonstrated that, during the co-growth period, intercropped wheat was more competitive than intercropped maize; so, intercropped wheat showed a yield advantage. Intercropping increased maize yield under irrigated conditions, and this was attributed to the full recovery growth of intercropped maize after wheat harvest. However, rainfed and nil nitrogen aggravated the interspecific competition, and water deficit under maize rows, in turn, limited the recovery growth of intercropped maize, leading to yield reduction. However, compared with sole maize, the yield of intercropped maize decreased, indicating nitrogen deficiency limited the recovery growth of intercropped maize. Among all treatments, the intercropping of medium nitrogen fertilizer with irrigation had the best yield improvement and land use advantages, the total yield of intercropping was 14.8% higher than that of sole cropping, and the land use efficiency increased 16%. These results confirmed that supplementary irrigation and optimal nitrogen application alleviated the interspecific competition, promoted the recovery growth of intercropped maize and improved the yield of wheat/maize intercropping system.
Enhanced N2O Emissions from Winter Wheat Field Induced by Winter Irrigation in the North China Plain
Authors: An Yunhao , Gu Zhe , Jiao Xiyun , Wei Qi , Xu Junzeng , Liu Kaihua
Published: April 2022

Winter irrigation is important for wheat in meeting crop water requirements in spring, but it alters soil moisture dynamics and affects soil N2O production and emission. To assess the effects of winter irrigation on soil N2O emissions in a winter wheat field, an in situ experiment was conducted from 1 October 2019 to 1 March 2020 with one control treatment (CK) and five levels of winter irrigation quantities (irrigated to 60%, 70%, 80%, 90%, 100% of the soil water holding capacity, namely WHC60–WHC100, respectively). The results showed that winter irrigation had an impact on soil N2O emission. The emission peaks were not investigated immediately after winter irrigation, but at two days after, which were increased by 4.3–17.0 μg·m−2·h−1 under WHC60–100 treatments compared to the CK. The cumulative N2O emissions after winter irrigation from WHC60–100 were 1.1–3.9 times higher than that of CK, indicating that the cumulative N2O emission has an increase trend with the increase of soil water content regulated by irrigations. Pearson correlation analysis showed that the correlation between soil N2O flux and soil temperature were moderate with correlation coefficients of about 0.65. While the correlation between soil N2O flux and soil water content was poor during the investigate winter season with correlation coefficients ranging between 0.08 and 0.25. Future studies should focus on the general N2O emission responses to winter irrigation and environmental factors with the support of experiment data from several winter seasons.
The Basic Vegetative Phase and Photoperiod Sensitivity Index as the Major Criteria for Indigenous Upland Rice Production in Thailand under Unpredictable Conditions
Authors: Khotasena Sirimaporn , Sanitchon Jirawat , Chankaew Sompong , Monkham Tidarat
Published: April 2022

Indigenous upland rice (Oryza sativa L.) is an important staple food for people. The productivity of upland rice is generally lower than lowland rice since crop yield depends on the amount of rainfall. Climate change is a major problem in rice production due to the unpredictable rainfall. The flowering time, maturity days, growth duration, and photoperiod sensitivity in rice are important for determining productivity. Therefore, in this study, indigenous upland rice germplasm was classified according to their flowering-related traits in the basic vegetative phase (BVP), photoperiod sensitivity index (PSI), grain yield (GY), and yield components. The results reveal that the BVP ranges from 12 to 76 days (mainly less than 30 days) while the PSI ranges from −0.14 to 0.89. Classification of the three groups was based on the PSI: 24 insensitivities (G1; PSI = −0.14–0.30), 214 weakly sensitive (G2; PSI = 0.31–0.70), and 63 strongly sensitive (G3; PSI = 0.71–0.89). Grain yield showed different correlations with day to flowering (DTF), PSI, and BVP in each group. The results suggest that the selection criteria were not only based on GY and DTF but also PSI and BVP. The new ideotypes for upland rice selection under unpredictable conditions such as rainfall and light duration are weakly sensitive (PSI range 0.30–0.60), low BVP (20–30 days), and less than 105 days of DTF, such as ULR189, ULR039, ULR036, ULR403, ULR364, ULR342, and ULR245 genotypes.
Evolutionary Variation of Accumulative Day Length and Accumulative Active Temperature Required for Growth Periods in Global Soybeans
Authors: Wang Can , Liu Xueqin , Hao Xiaoshuai , Pan Yongpeng , Zong Chunmei , Zeng Weiying , Wang Wubin , Xing Guangnan , He Jianbo , Gai Junyi
Published: April 2022

Soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) is a typical short-day and thermophilic crop. This study aimed to reveal the required accumulative day length (ADL) and accumulative active temperature (AAT) for DSF (days of sowing to flowering) and DFM (days of flowering to maturity) in global soybeans. A sample consisted of 354 varieties from 27 countries in five geographic regions, which were tested in Nanjing, China in two spring-sowing and two summer-sowing seasons. The ADL and AAT were calculated from the climatological data provided by the Public Service of Nanjing Meteorological Bureau. The results showed that the average DSF and DFM of global soybeans were 41.0 d and 83.3 d, which required ADLDSF of 606.6 d·h and AATDSF of 1185.9 d·°C, ADLDFM of 1126.7 d·h and AATDFM of 2145.1 d·°C, respectively, all with a wide variation among/within geographic and MG(maturity-group)-set subpopulations. From the multiple regression of DSF and DFM on required ADL and AAT, the ADL, AAT and ADL×AAT contributed 38.5%, 44.79% and 17.10% to DSF variation and 86.98%, 11.42% and 0.54% to DFM variation, respectively, and their relative importance to DSF and DFM varied among the geographic and MG subpopulations. The geographic subpopulations matched only partially with the genomic marker clusters, indicating multiple genetic sources of each subpopulation and that genetic exchange happened among subpopulations.
Mobile Computing for Pest and Disease Management Using Spectral Signature Analysis: A Review
Authors: Che’Ya Nik Norasma , Mohidem Nur Adibah , Roslin Nor Athirah , Saberioon Mohammadmehdi , Tarmidi Mohammad Zakri , Arif Shah Jasmin , Fazlil Ilahi Wan Fazilah , Man Norsida
Published: April 2022

The demand for mobile applications in agriculture is increasing as smartphones are continuously developed and used for many purposes; one of them is managing pests and diseases in crops. Using mobile applications, farmers can detect early infection and improve the specified treatment and precautions to prevent further infection from occurring. Furthermore, farmers can communicate with agricultural authorities to manage their farm from home, and efficiently obtain information such as the spectral signature of crops. Therefore, the spectral signature can be used as a reference to detect pests and diseases with a hyperspectral sensor more efficiently than the conventional method, which takes more time to monitor the entire crop field. This review aims to show the current and future trends of mobile computing based on spectral signature analysis for pest and disease management. In this review, the use of mobile applications for pest and disease monitoring is evaluated based on image processing, the systems developed for pest and disease extraction, and the structure of steps outlined in developing a mobile application. Moreover, a comprehensive literature review on the utilisation of spectral signature analysis for pest and disease management is discussed. The spectral reflectance used in monitoring plant health and image processing for pest and disease diagnosis is mentioned. The review also elaborates on the integration of a spectral signature library within mobile application devices to obtain information about pests and disease in crop fields by extracting information from hyperspectral datasets. This review demonstrates the necessary scientific knowledge for visualising the spectral signature of pests and diseases using a mobile application, allowing this technology to be used in real-world agricultural settings.
Methodology for Olive Fruit Quality Assessment by Means of a Low-Cost Multispectral Device
Authors: Noguera Miguel , Millan Borja , Aquino Arturo , Andújar José Manuel
Published: April 2022

The standard methods for determining the quality of olives involve chemical methods that are time-consuming and expensive. These limitations lead growers to homogeneous harvesting based on subjective criteria such as intuition and visual decisions. In recent times, precision agriculture techniques for fruit quality assessment, such as spectroscopy, have been introduced. However, they require expensive equipment, which limit their use to olive mills. This work presents a complete methodology based on a new low-cost multispectral sensor for assessing quality parameters of intact olive fruits. A set of 507 olive samples were analyzed with the proposed device. After data pre-processing, artificial neural network (ANN) models were trained using the 18 reflectance signals acquired by the sensor as input and three olive quality indicators (moisture, acidity, and fat content) as targets. The responses of the ANN models were promising, reaching coefficient-of-determination values of 0.78, 0.86, and 0.62 for fruit moisture, acidity, and fat content, respectively. These results show the suitability of the proposed device for assessing the quality status of intact olive fruits. Its performance, along with its low cost and ease of use, paves the way for the implementation of an olive fruit quality appraisal system that is more affordable for olive growers.
Prediction of Strawberry Leaf Color Using RGB Mean Values Based on Soil Physicochemical Parameters Using Machine Learning Models
Authors: Madhavi Bolappa Gamage Kaushalya , Basak Jayanta Kumar , Paudel Bhola , Kim Na Eun , Choi Gyeong Mun , Kim Hyeon Tae
Published: April 2022

Intensively grown strawberries in a greenhouse require frequent and precise soil physicochemical constituents for optimal production. Strawberry leaf color analyses are the most effective way to evaluate soil status and protect against excess environmental nutrients and financial setbacks. Meanwhile, precision agriculture (PA) endorsements have been utilized to mimic solutions to these problems. This research aimed to create machine learning models such as multiple linear regression (MLR) and gradient boost regression (GBR) for simulating strawberry leaf color changes related to soil physicochemical components and plant age using RGB (red, green, and blue) mean values. The soil physicochemical properties of the largest varied colored leaves of strawberry were precisely measured by a multifunctional soil sensor from the rooting zones. Simultaneously, 400 strawberry leaflets were detached in each vegetative and reproductive stage, and individual leaves were captured using a digital imaging system. The RGB mean values of colored images were extracted using the image segmentation algorithms of image processing technique. Consequently, MLR and GBR models were developed to predict leaf RGB mean values based on soil physicochemical measurements and plant age. The GBR model vigorously fitted with RGB mean values throughout the growth stage, with R2 and RMSE values of (R = 0.77, 7.16, G = 0.72, 7.37, and B = 0.70, 5.68), respectively. Furthermore, the MLR model performed moderately with R2 and RMSE values of (R = 0.67, 8.59, G = 0.57, 9.12, and B = 0.56, 6.81) when consecutively predicting RGB mean values in strawberry leaves. Eventually, the GBR model performed more effectively than the MLR model with high-performance metrics. In addition, the leaf color model uses visualization technology to measure growth progress, and it performs well in predicting dynamic changes in strawberry leaf color.
Seed Priming with Iron Oxide Nanoparticles Raises Biomass Production and Agronomic Profile of Water-Stressed Flax Plants
Authors: Waqas Mazhar Muhammad , Ishtiaq Muhammad , Maqbool Mehwish , Akram Raheel , Shahid Adnan , Shokralla Shadi , Al-Ghobari Hussein , Alataway Abed , Dewidar Ahmed Z. , El-Sabrout Ahmed M. , Elansary Hosam O.
Published: April 2022

The current study is a field experiment set out to comprehend significance of the iron oxide (IO) nanoparticles for use as seed priming agents and their subsequent impact in alleviating water stress and improving agronomic profile of flax plants. The experimental layout consisted of a split-plot factorial design with one main plot divided into two subplots corresponding to drought and well-irrigated environment. Each of the subplots was divided into five rows of the flax plants raised from iron oxide primed seeds. The seed priming concentrations were 0, 25, 50, 75, and 100 ppm. Seed priming increased stem diameter, stem length, height, fresh weights, and dry weights of plant. The yield attributes, such as number of fruit branches, capsules, seeds per capsule, total fresh and dry stem’s fiber production, were also predominantly improved. The levels of malondialdehyde and hydrogen peroxide were found to decline by 66% and 71%, respectively, upon seed priming, and an enhancement in activity of antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), and catalase (CAT) was also observed by 28%, 56%, and 39%, respectively, documenting the potential of iron oxide particles in mitigating the water stress.
Shifting Perspectives on AI Evaluation: The Increasing Role of Ethics in Cooperation
Authors: Barbierato Enrico , Zamponi Maria Enrica
Published: April 2022

Evaluating AI is a challenging task, as it requires an operative definition of intelligence and the metrics to quantify it, including amongst other factors economic drivers, depending on specific domains. From the viewpoint of AI basic research, the ability to play a game against a human has historically been adopted as a criterion of evaluation, as competition can be characterized by an algorithmic approach. Starting from the end of the 1990s, the deployment of sophisticated hardware identified a significant improvement in the ability of a machine to play and win popular games. In spite of the spectacular victory of IBM’s Deep Blue over Garry Kasparov, many objections still remain. This is due to the fact that it is not clear how this result can be applied to solve real-world problems or simulate human abilities, e.g., common sense, and also exhibit a form of generalized AI. An evaluation based uniquely on the capacity of playing games, even when enriched by the capability of learning complex rules without any human supervision, is bound to be unsatisfactory. As the internet has dramatically changed the cultural habits and social interaction of users, who continuously exchange information with intelligent agents, it is quite natural to consider cooperation as the next step in AI software evaluation. Although this concept has already been explored in the scientific literature in the fields of economics and mathematics, its consideration in AI is relatively recent and generally covers the study of cooperation between agents. This paper focuses on more complex problems involving heterogeneity (specifically, the cooperation between humans and software agents, or even robots), which are investigated by taking into account ethical issues occurring during attempts to achieve a common goal shared by both parties, with a possible result of either conflict or stalemate. The contribution of this research consists in identifying those factors (trust, autonomy, and cooperative learning) on which to base ethical guidelines in agent software programming, making cooperation a more suitable benchmark for AI applications.
Evaluation of Sweat-Sampling Procedures for Human Stress-Biomarker Detection
Authors: Nunes Maria João , Moura José J. G. , Noronha João Paulo , Branco Luís Cobra , Samhan-Arias Alejandro , Sousa João P. , Rouco Carlos , Cordas Cristina M.
Published: April 2022

Sweat is a potential biological fluid for the non-invasive analytical assessment of diverse molecules, including biomarkers. Notwithstanding, the sampling methodology is critical, and it must be assessed prior to using sweat for clinical diagnosis. In the current work, the analytical methodology was further developed taking into account the sampling step, in view of the identification and level variations of sweat components that have potential to be stress biomarkers using separation by liquid chromatography and detection by tandem mass spectrometry, in order to attain a screening profile of 26 molecules in just one stage. As such, the molecule identification was used as a test for the evaluation of the sampling procedures, including the location on the body, using patches for long-term sampling and vials for direct sampling, through a qualitative approach. From this evaluation it was possible to conclude that the sampling may be performed on the chest or back skin. Additionally, possible interference was evaluated. The long-term sampling with patches can be used under both rest and exercise conditions with variation of the detected molecule’s levels. The direct sampling, using vials, has the advantage of not having interferences but the disadvantage of only being effective after exercise in order to have enough sample for sweat analysis.
Breeding Population Dynamics of Relict Gull (Larus relictus) in Hongjian Nur, Shaanxi, China
Authors: Wang Qingxiong , Yang Chao , Hu Defu , Xiao Hong , Zhang Dong
Published: April 2022

Hongjian Nur is an important breeding and stopover area for the globally endangered Relict gull (Larus relictus). This is where the species was first found in 2000. The breeding population of this species was monitored over the long term by directly counting nests from 2001 to 2020 in Hongjian Nur, Shaanxi, China. Our results suggest that breeding pairs increased rapidly, from 87 nests in 2001 to 7708 nests in 2010; at this point, the breeding population accounted for more than 85% of the global total, and was at the highest value during the past two decades. Subsequently, breeding pairs continued to decrease dramatically and reached a minimum number of 2054 nests in 2015, approximately 70% less than at their peak. In view of this situation, breeding islets were restored in 2014 and 2017, and the breeding population recovered slowly. Due to the changing ecological environment, breeding islets showed the same instability as the breeding population. Our conclusions support previous research, highlighting the importance of water level.
Genome-Wide Selection Sweep between Wild and Local Pigs from Europe for the Investigation of the Hereditary Characteristics of Domestication in Sus Scrofa
Authors: Gong Yiming , Zhang Hao-Yuan , Yuan Ying , He Yongmeng , Zhang Weiyi , Han Yanguo , Na Risu , Zeng Yan , Luo Jia , Yang Haili , Huang Yongfu , Zhao Yongju , Zhao Zhongquan , E Guang-Xin
Published: April 2022

The phenotypic characteristics of existing domestic pigs (DPs) greatly differ from those of wild boar (WB) populations thousands of years ago. After thousands of years of human domestication, WB and DP have diverged greatly in terms of genetics. Theoretically, worldwide local pigs have independent contributions from their local WBs at the beginning of Sus scrofa domestication. The investigation of the vicissitude of the heredity material between domestic populations and their wild ancestors will help in further understanding the domestication history of domestic animals. In the present study, we performed a genome-wide association scan (GWSA) and phylogeny estimation with a total of 1098 public European Illumina 60K single nucleotide polymorphism data, which included 650 local DPs and 448 WBs. The results revealed that the phylogenetic relationship of WBs corresponds to their geographical distribution and carries large divergence with DPs, and all WB breeds (e.g., HRWB, SBWB, and TIWB) presents a closely linkage with the middle WB (e.g., HRWB, and PLWB). In addition, 64 selected candidate genes (e.g., IDH2, PIP5K1B, SMARCA2, KIF5C, and TJP2) were identified from GWSA. A total of 63 known multiple biological functional pathways were annotated by 22 genes, and ubiquinone and other terpenoid-quinone biosynthesis pathways that belong to the metabolism of cofactors and vitamins were significantly enriched (p < 0.05). The most frequent (28.57%) pathways were classified under metabolism. We confirmed that the middle European WB has made an important genetic contribution to the entire European WB populations. A series of selected genes discovered from this study provides the scientific community with a deeper understanding of the heredity performance of metabolism and emotion and the real purpose behind domestication.
Laterality in Horse Training: Psychological and Physical Balance and Coordination and Strength Rather Than Straightness
Authors: Krueger Konstanze , Schwarz Sophie , Marr Isabell , Farmer Kate
Published: April 2022

For centuries, a goal of training in many equestrian disciplines has been to straighten the horse, which is considered a key element in achieving its responsiveness and suppleness. However, laterality is a naturally occurring phenomenon in horses and encompasses body asymmetry, motor laterality and sensory laterality. Furthermore, forcibly counterbalancing motor laterality has been considered a cause of psychological imbalance in humans. Perhaps asymmetry and laterality should rather be accepted, with a focus on training psychological and physical balance, coordination and equal strength on both sides instead of enforcing “straightness”. To explore this, we conducted a review of the literature on the function and causes of motor and sensory laterality in horses, especially in horses when trained on the ground or under a rider. The literature reveals that body asymmetry is innate but does not prevent the horse from performing at a high level under a rider. Motor laterality is equally distributed in feral horses, while in domestic horses, age, breed, training and carrying a rider may cause left leg preferences. Most horses initially observe novel persons and potentially threatening objects or situations with their left sensory organs. Pronounced preferences for the use of left sensory organs or limbs indicate that the horse is experiencing increased emotionality or stress, and long-term insufficiencies in welfare, housing or training may result in left shifts in motor and sensory laterality and pessimistic mentalities. Therefore, increasing laterality can be regarded as an indicator for insufficiencies in housing, handling and training. We propose that laterality be recognized as a welfare indicator and that straightening the horse should be achieved by conducting training focused on balance, coordination and equal strength on both sides.
Molecular Characterization of Cryptosporidium spp. in Cultivated and Wild Marine Fishes from Western Mediterranean with the First Detection of Zoonotic Cryptosporidium ubiquitum
Authors: Moratal Samantha , Dea-Ayuela María Auxiliadora , Martí-Marco Alba , Puigcercós Silvia , Marco-Hirs Naima María , Doménech Candela , Corcuera Elena , Cardells Jesús , Lizana Victor , López-Ramon Jordi
Published: April 2022

Fish not only harbor host-specific species/genotypes of Cryptosporidium, but also species like zoonotic C. parvum or anthroponotic C. hominis, which can pose a risk for fish consumers. This study aims to investigate fish cryptosporidiosis in an important aquaculture and fishery area of the Western Mediterranean (Comunidad Valenciana, Spain). We analyzed 404 specimens belonging to the following three groups: cultivated fish (N = 147), wild synanthropic fish (N = 147) and wild fish from extractive fisheries (N = 110). Nested PCR targeting the 18S rRNA gene, followed by sequencing and phylogenetic analysis, were performed. Positive isolates were also amplified at the actin gene locus. An overall prevalence of 4.2% was detected, with the highest prevalence in the synanthropic group (6.1%). C. molnari was identified in thirteen specimens from seven different host species. Zoonotic C. ubiquitum was detected in two European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax). One isolate similar to C. scophthalmi was detected in a cultivated meagre (Argyrosomus regius), and one isolate, highly divergent from all the Cryptosporidium species/genotypes described, was identified from a synanthropic round sardinella (Sardinella aurita). This study contributes to increasing the molecular data on fish cryptosporidiosis, expanding the range of known hosts for C. molnari and identifying, for the first time, zoonotic C. ubiquitum in edible marine fishes, pointing out a potential health risk.
Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Integrated Studies on Salmonella and Campylobacter Prevalence, Serovar, and Phenotyping and Genetic of Antimicrobial Resistance in the Middle East—A One Health Perspective
Authors: Abukhattab Said , Taweel Haneen , Awad Arein , Crump Lisa , Vonaesch Pascale , Zinsstag Jakob , Hattendorf Jan , Abu-Rmeileh Niveen M. E.
Published: April 2022

Background:Campylobacter and Salmonella are the leading causes of foodborne diseases worldwide. Recently, antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has become one of the most critical challenges for public health and food safety. To investigate and detect infections commonly transmitted from animals, food, and the environment to humans, a surveillance–response system integrating human and animal health, the environment, and food production components (iSRS), called a One Health approach, would be optimal. Objective: We aimed to identify existing integrated One Health studies on foodborne illnesses in the Middle East and to determine the prevalence, serovars, and antimicrobial resistance phenotypes and genotypes of Salmonella and Campylobacter strains among humans and food-producing animals. Methods: The databases Web of Science, Scopus, and PubMed were searched for literature published from January 2010 until September 2021. Studies meeting inclusion criteria were included and assessed for risk of bias. To assess the temporal and spatial relationship between resistant strains from humans and animals, a statistical random-effects model meta-analysis was performed. Results: 41 out of 1610 studies that investigated Campylobacter and non-typhoid Salmonella (NTS) in the Middle East were included. The NTS prevalence rates among human and food-producing animals were 9% and 13%, respectively. The Campylobacter prevalence rates were 22% in humans and 30% in food-producing animals. The most-reported NTS serovars were Salmonella Enteritidis and Salmonella Typhimurium, while Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli were the most prevalent species of Campylobacter. NTS isolates were highly resistant to erythromycin, amoxicillin, tetracycline, and ampicillin. C. jejuni isolates showed high resistance against amoxicillin, trimethoprim–sulfamethoxazole, nalidixic acid, azithromycin, chloramphenicol, ampicillin, tetracycline, and ciprofloxacin. The most prevalent Antimicrobial Resistance Genes (ARGs) in isolates from humans included tetO (85%), Class 1 Integrons (81%), blaOXA-61 (53%), and cmeB (51%), whereas in food-producing animals, the genes were tetO (77%), Class 1 integrons (69%), blaOXA-61 (35%), and cmeB (35%). The One Health approach was not rigorously applied in the Middle East countries. Furthermore, there was an uneven distribution in the reported data between the countries. Conclusion: More studies using a simultaneous approach targeting human, animal health, the environment, and food production components along with a solid epidemiological study design are needed to better understand the drivers for the emergence and spread of foodborne pathogens and AMR in the Middle East.
Validation and Application of an HPLC-UV Method for Routine Therapeutic Drug Monitoring of Dalbavancin
Authors: Chiriac Ute , Rau Heike , Frey Otto R. , Röhr Anka C. , Klein Sabrina , Meyer Anna L. , Morath Benedict
Published: April 2022

Dalbavancin is emerging as a promising alternative in the ambulant treatment of gram-positive infections that require long-term antibiotic treatment such as osteomyelitis, prosthetic joint infections, and endocarditis. The aim of the current study was to develop and validate a simple, rapid, and cost-effective high-performance liquid chromatography–ultraviolet spectrometry (HPLC–UV) method for the quantification of dalbavancin. Sample clean-up included a protein precipitation protocol, followed by chromatographic separation on a reverse phase HPLC column (C-18) with gradient elution of the mobile phase. Quantification was performed with the internal standard (caffeine) method. Linear relationships between peak area responses and drug concentrations were obtained in the range of 12.5–400 mg/L. The variation coefficient of precision and the bias of accuracy (both inter- and intraday) were less than 10%. The limit of quantification (LOQ) was 12.5 mg/L. The simple and reliable HPLC–UV assay described is a powerful tool for routine therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) of dalbavancin in human serum in clinical laboratories. With a total process time of approximately 20 min, it allows for accurate and selective quantification up to the expected pharmacokinetic peak concentrations. The method was successfully used to analyze subsequent serum samples of three patients and showed good performance in monitoring serum levels.
The Influence of Antibiotic Resistance on Innate Immune Responses to Staphylococcus aureus Infection
Authors: Jahan Nazneen , Patton Timothy , O’Keeffe Meredith
Published: April 2022

Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) causes a broad range of infections and is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. S. aureus produces a diverse range of cellular and extracellular factors responsible for its invasiveness and ability to resist immune attack. In recent years, increasing resistance to last-line anti-staphylococcal antibiotics daptomycin and vancomycin has been observed. Resistant strains of S. aureus are highly efficient in invading a variety of professional and nonprofessional phagocytes and are able to survive inside host cells. Eliciting immune protection against antibiotic-resistant S. aureus infection is a global challenge, requiring both innate and adaptive immune effector mechanisms. Dendritic cells (DC), which sit at the interface between innate and adaptive immune responses, are central to the induction of immune protection against S. aureus. However, it has been observed that S. aureus has the capacity to develop further antibiotic resistance and acquire increased resistance to immunological recognition by the innate immune system. In this article, we review the strategies utilised by S. aureus to circumvent antibiotic and innate immune responses, especially the interaction between S. aureus and DC, focusing on how this relationship is perturbed with the development of antibiotic resistance.
The Role of Point-of-Care C-Reactive Protein Testing in Antibiotic Prescribing for Respiratory Tract Infections: A Survey among Swiss General Practitioners
Authors: Martínez-González Nahara Anani , Plate Andreas , Jäger Levy , Senn Oliver , Neuner-Jehle Stefan
Published: April 2022

Understanding the decision-making strategies of general practitioners (GPs) could help reduce suboptimal antibiotic prescribing. Respiratory tract infections (RTIs) are the most common reason for inappropriate antibiotic prescribing in primary care, a key driver of antibiotic resistance (ABR). We conducted a nationwide prospective web-based survey to explore: (1) The role of C-reactive protein (CRP) point-of-care testing (POCT) on antibiotic prescribing decision-making for RTIs using case vignettes; and (2) the knowledge, attitudes and barriers/facilitators of antibiotic prescribing using deductive analysis. Most GPs (92–98%) selected CRP-POCT alone or combined with other diagnostics. GPs would use lower CRP cut-offs to guide prescribing for (more) severe RTIs than for uncomplicated RTIs. Intermediate CRP ranges were significantly wider for uncomplicated than for (more) severe RTIs (p = 0.001). Amoxicillin/clavulanic acid was the most frequently recommended antibiotic across all RTI case scenarios (65–87%). Faced with intermediate CRP results, GPs preferred 3–5-day follow-up to delayed prescribing or other clinical approaches. Patient pressure, diagnostic uncertainty, fear of complications and lack of ABR understanding were the most GP-reported barriers to appropriate antibiotic prescribing. Stewardship interventions considering CRP-POCT and the barriers and facilitators to appropriate prescribing could guide antibiotic prescribing decisions at the point of care.
German Multicenter Study Analyzing Antimicrobial Activity of Ceftazidime-Avibactam of Clinical Meropenem-Resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa Isolates Using a Commercially Available Broth Microdilution Assay
Authors: Manzke Jana , Stauf Raphael , Neumann Bernd , Molitor Ernst , Hischebeth Gunnar , Simon Michaela , Jantsch Jonathan , Rödel Jürgen , Becker Sören L. , Halfmann Alexander , Wichelhaus Thomas A. , Hogardt Michael , Serr Annerose , Hess Christina , Wendel Andreas F. , Siegel Ekkehard , Rohde Holger , Zimmermann Stefan , Steinmann Jörg
Published: April 2022

Multidrug resistance is an emerging healthcare issue, especially concerning Pseudomonas aeruginosa. In this multicenter study, P. aeruginosa isolates with resistance against meropenem detected by routine methods were collected and tested for carbapenemase production and susceptibility against ceftazidime-avibactam. Meropenem-resistant isolates of P. aeruginosa from various clinical materials were collected at 11 tertiary care hospitals in Germany from 2017–2019. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) were determined via microdilution plates (MICRONAUT-S) of ceftazidime-avibactam and meropenem at each center. Detection of the presence of carbapenemases was performed by PCR or immunochromatography. For meropenem-resistant isolates (n = 448), the MIC range of ceftazidime-avibactam was 0.25–128 mg/L, MIC90 was 128 mg/L and MIC50 was 16 mg/L. According to EUCAST clinical breakpoints, 213 of all meropenem-resistant P. aeruginosa isolates were categorized as susceptible (47.5%) to ceftazidime-avibactam. Metallo-β-lactamases (MBL) could be detected in 122 isolates (27.3%). The MIC range of ceftazidime-avibactam in MBL-positive isolates was 4–128 mg/L, MIC90 was >128 mg/L and MIC50 was 32 mg/L. There was strong variation in the prevalence of MBL-positive isolates among centers. Our in vitro results support ceftazidime-avibactam as a treatment option against infections caused by meropenem-resistant, MBL-negative P. aeruginosa.
Identification of Variables and Determination of the Mechanism Affecting the Effective Properties of Representative Volume Elements of Unidirectionally Aligned CNT-Based Nanocomposites
Authors: Choi Chan-Woong , Kang Ki-Weon , Jin Ji-Won
Published: April 2022

This study identified the governing variables affecting the effective properties of the representative volume element (RVE) of nanocomposites consisting of unidirectionally aligned carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and determined the mechanism through which they act. For this purpose, multi-walled nanotubes (MWNTs) and polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) were selected as the components of the nanocomposites, and Monte Carlo simulations were conducted to examine the variability of the effective properties according to the CNT length. The governing variables affecting the effective properties were identified considering the conditions under which the selected CNTs can be arranged inside the RVE. Using the geometrical relationship between the RVE and CNTs, a simplified two-parameter equation that can calculate the effective properties of the RVE was derived. Using this equation and Monte Carlo simulations, this study confirmed that the characteristics of the effective properties vary with changes in the length of the RVE and the length fraction of the CNTs, and the mechanism of these changes was determined. In addition, the variation in the characteristics of the effective properties according to the coefficient of variation of the CNT length was also determined.
Mapping Cancer Registry Data to the Episode Domain of the Observational Medical Outcomes Partnership Model (OMOP)
Authors: Carus Jasmin , Nürnberg Sylvia , Ückert Frank , Schlüter Catarina , Bartels Stefan
Published: April 2022

A great challenge in the use of standardized cancer registry data is deriving reliable, evidence-based results from large amounts of data. A solution could be its mapping to a common data model such as OMOP, which represents knowledge in a unified semantic base, enabling decentralized analysis. The recently released Episode Domain of the OMOP CDM allows episodic modelling of a patient’ disease and treatment phases. In this study, we mapped oncology registry data to the Episode Domain. A total of 184,718 Episodes could be implemented, with the Concept of Cancer Drug Treatment most frequently. Additionally, source data were mapped to new terminologies as part of the release. It was possible to map ≈ 73.8% of the source data to the respective OMOP standard. Best mapping was achieved in the Procedure Domain with 98.7%. To evaluate the implementation, the survival probabilities of the CDM and source system were calculated (n = 2756/2902, median OAS = 82.2/91.1 months, 95% Cl = 77.4–89.5/84.4–100.9). In conclusion, the new release of the CDM increased its applicability, especially in observational cancer research. Regarding the mapping, a higher score could be achieved if terminologies which are frequently used in Europe are included in the Standardized Vocabulary Metadata Repository.
Analyzing Pedestrian Behavior at Unsignalized Crosswalks from the Drivers’ Perspective: A Qualitative Study
Authors: Yang Yanqun , Wang Yu , Easa Said M. , Zheng Xinyi
Published: April 2022

This study investigated drivers’ perceptions of pedestrian crossing behavior at unsignalized crosswalks, which was less fruitful in quantitative and qualitative traffic research. Subjective and snow-ball sampling were used to conduct semi-structured in-depth interviews based on drivers’ daily driving experience from qualitative research. A theoretical model of pedestrian behavior at unsignalized crosswalks was constructed using the grounded theory and the theoretical saturation test. The model involved 4 three-level codes and 13 two-level codes (main category) used to obtain seven subcategories. The results show that drivers believe that pedestrian characteristics, driver characteristics, and age factors are the three factors that affect pedestrian crossing safety. Targeted improvement measures are put forward to guide the design of pedestrian crossing facilities, pedestrian management and guidance, and future research on conflicts between autonomous vehicles and pedestrians.
An Online Task-Planning Framework Using Mixed Integer Programming for Multiple Cooking Tasks Using a Dual-Arm Robot
Authors: Yi June-sup , Luong Tuan Anh , Chae Hosik , Ahn Min Sung , Noh Donghun , Tran Huy Nguyen , Doh Myeongyun , Auh Eugene , Pico Nabih , Yumbla Francisco , Hong Dennis , Moon Hyungpil
Published: April 2022

This work proposes an online task-scheduling method using mixed-integer programming for a multi-tasking problem regarding a dual-arm cooking robot in a controlled environment. Given each task’s processing time, their location in the working space, dependency, the required number of arms, and the kinematic constraints of the dual-arm robot, the proposed optimization algorithm can produce a feasible solution to scheduling the cooking order for each task and for each associated arms so that the total cooking time and the total moving distance for each arm are minimized. We use a subproblem optimization strategy in which the number of tasks to be planned is divided into several groups instead of planning all tasks at the same time. By doing so, the planning time can be significantly decreased, making the algorithm practical for online implementation. The feasibility of our optimization method and the effectiveness of the subproblem optimization strategy were verified through simulated experiments consisting of 30 to 120 tasks. The results showed that our strategy is advantageous in terms of computation time and makespan for large problems.
A Non-Fungible Token Solution for the Track and Trace of Pharmaceutical Supply Chain
Authors: Chiacchio Ferdinando , D’Urso Diego , Oliveri Ludovica Maria , Spitaleri Alessia , Spampinato Concetto , Giordano Daniela
Published: April 2022

Industry 4.0 is leading society into a new era characterized by smart communications between consumers and enterprises. While entertainment and fashion brands aim to consolidate their identities, increasing consumers’ participation in new, engaging, and immersive experiences, other industry sectors such as food and drugs are called to adhere to stricter regulations to increase the quality assurance of their processes. The pharmaceutical industry is inherently one of the most regulated sectors because the safety, integrity, and conservation along the distribution network are the main pillars for guaranteeing the efficacy of drugs for the general public. Favoured by Industry 4.0 incentives, pharmaceutical serialization has become a must in the last few years and is now in place worldwide. In this paper, a decentralized solution based on non-fungible tokens (NFTs), which can improve the track and trace capability of the standard serialization process, is presented. Non-fungible tokens are minted in the blockchain and inherit all the advantages provided by this technology. As blockchain technology is becoming more and more popular, adoption of track and trace will increase tremendously. Focusing on the pharmaceutical industry’s use of track and trace, this paper presents the concepts and architectural elements necessary to support the non-fungible token solution, culminating in the presentation of a use case with a prototypical application.