bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Endovascular thrombectomy without versus with different pre-intravenous thrombolysis in acute ischemic stroke: a network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
Authors: Guo Sitong , Qin Shiran , Tan Sitao , Su Henghai , Chen Xiaoyu
Published: January 2024

Background

The current guideline recommended the use of intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) before Endovascular thrombectomy (EVT), but the effectiveness and safety of tenecteplase compare to alteplase in patients before EVT remain uncertain.

Methods

We searched PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library to identify eligible articles from inception until September 16, 2023. The primary outcome was functional independence (mRS 0–2) at 90 days. Secondary outcomes included excellent outcome (mRS 0–1) at 90 days, all-cause mortality at follow-up, successful reperfusion (TICI 2b–3) after the end of EVT, symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (sICH) or any intracranial hemorrhage (aICH). The PROSPERO registration number is CRD42023470419.

Results

Eight randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were included involving 2,836 acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients. Compared to EVT alone, tenecteplase (0.25 mg/kg and 0.4 mg/kg) + EVT and 0.9 mg/kg alteplase + EVT were significant difference associated with higher successful reperfusion (TICI 2b–3) after the end of EVT (RR = 2.31; 95% CI 1.15–4.63; RR = 2.31; 95% CI 1.00–5.33; RR = 1.05; 95% CI 1.01–1.09). And compared to 0.25 mg/kg tenecteplase + EVT, alteplase (0.6 mg/kg and 0.9 mg/kg) + EVT were significant difference associated with lower successful reperfusion (TICI 2b–3) after the end of EVT (RR = 0.45; 95% CI 0.22–0.90; RR = 0.45; 95% CI 0.23–0.91). The risk of aICH (RR = 1.50; 95% CI 1.07–2.09) was significantly higher for 0.6 mg/kg alteplase + EVT than EVT alone. There was no significant difference in functional independence (mRS 0–2), excellent outcome (mRS 0–1), all-cause mortality or sICH among the different IVT strategies (0.25 mg/kg or 0.4 mg/kg tenecteplase and 0.6 mg/kg or 0.9 mg/kg alteplase) before EVT.

Conclusion

The use of alteplase before EVT may potentially improve the successful reperfusion after EVT compared to tenecteplase. Due to the insufficient sample size, more high-quality RCTs are needed to confirm effectiveness and safety of tenecteplase compare to alteplase in patients before EVT.

Systematic review registration

https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/, identifier: CRD42023470419.
Predictive power of gait and gait-related cognitive measures in amnestic mild cognitive impairment: a machine learning analysis
Authors: Tuena Cosimo , Pupillo Chiara , Stramba-Badiale Chiara , Stramba-Badiale Marco , Riva Giuseppe
Published: January 2024

Introduction

Gait disorders and gait-related cognitive tests were recently linked to future Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) dementia diagnosis in amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment (aMCI). This study aimed to evaluate the predictive power of gait disorders and gait-related neuropsychological performances for future AD diagnosis in aMCI through machine learning (ML).

Methods

A sample of 253 aMCI (stable, converter) individuals were included. We explored the predictive accuracy of four predictors (gait profile plus MMSE, DSST, and TMT-B) previously identified as critical for the conversion from aMCI to AD within a 36-month follow-up. Supervised ML algorithms (Support Vector Machine [SVM], Logistic Regression, and k-Nearest Neighbors) were trained on 70% of the dataset, and feature importance was evaluated for the best algorithm.

Results

The SVM algorithm achieved the best performance. The optimized training set performance achieved an accuracy of 0.67 (sensitivity = 0.72; specificity = 0.60), improving to 0.70 on the test set (sensitivity = 0.79; specificity = 0.52). Feature importance revealed MMSE as the most important predictor in both training and testing, while gait type was important in the testing phase.

Discussion

We created a predictive ML model that is capable of identifying aMCI at high risk of AD dementia within 36 months. Our ML model could be used to quickly identify individuals at higher risk of AD, facilitating secondary prevention (e.g., cognitive and/or physical training), and serving as screening for more expansive and invasive tests. Lastly, our results point toward theoretically and practically sound evidence of mind and body interaction in AD.
Targeting the DNA damage response in hematological malignancies
Authors: De Mel Sanjay , Lee Ainsley Ryan , Tan Joelle Hwee Inn , Tan Rachel Zi Yi , Poon Li Mei , Chan Esther , Lee Joanne , Chee Yen Lin , Lakshminarasappa Satish R. , Jaynes Patrick William , Jeyasekharan Anand D.
Published: January 2024

Deregulation of the DNA damage response (DDR) plays a critical role in the pathogenesis and progression of many cancers. The dependency of certain cancers on DDR pathways has enabled exploitation of such through synthetically lethal relationships e.g., Poly ADP-Ribose Polymerase (PARP) inhibitors for BRCA deficient ovarian cancers. Though lagging behind that of solid cancers, DDR inhibitors (DDRi) are being clinically developed for haematological cancers. Furthermore, a high proliferative index characterize many such cancers, suggesting a rationale for combinatorial strategies targeting DDR and replicative stress. In this review, we summarize pre-clinical and clinical data on DDR inhibition in haematological malignancies and highlight distinct haematological cancer subtypes with activity of DDR agents as single agents or in combination with chemotherapeutics and targeted agents. We aim to provide a framework to guide the design of future clinical trials involving haematological cancers for this important class of drugs.
Two decades of a protooncogene TBL1XR1: from a transcription modulator to cancer therapeutic target
Authors: Du Ruijuan , Li Kai , Guo KeLei , Chen Zhiguo , Zhao Xulin , Han Li , Bian Hua
Published: January 2024

Transducin beta-like 1X-related protein 1 (TBL1XR1) was discovered two decades ago and was implicated as part of the nuclear transcription corepressor complex. Over the past 20 years, the emerging oncogenic function of TBL1XR1 in cancer development has been discovered. Recent studies have highlighted that the genetic aberrations of TBL1XR1 in cancers, especially in hematologic tumors, are closely associated with tumorigenesis. In solid tumors, TBL1XR1 is proposed to be a promising prognostic biomarker due to the correlation between abnormal expression and clinicopathological parameters. Post-transcriptional and post-translational modification are responsible for the expression and function of TBL1XR1 in cancer. TBL1XR1 exerts its functional role in various processes that involves cell cycle and apoptosis, cell proliferation, resistance to chemotherapy and radiotherapy, cell migration and invasion, stemness and angiogenesis. Multitude of cancer-related signaling cascades like Wnt-β-catenin, PI3K/AKT, ERK, VEGF, NF-κB, STAT3 and gonadal hormone signaling pathways are tightly modulated by TBL1XR1. This review provided a comprehensive overview of TBL1XR1 in tumorigenesis, shedding new light on TBL1XR1 as a promising diagnostic biomarker and druggable target in cancer.
Multiple pulmonary cavernous haemangiomas with concurrent primary pulmonary adenocarcinoma: a case report and literature review
Authors: Wang Xiao , Ren Tao , You Hui , Han Wenya , Guo Jialong , Wang Meifang
Published: January 2024

Background

Cavernous haemangiomas (CHs) commonly occurred in the skin, subcutaneous tissue, muscles, and liver. Pulmonary cavernous haemangiomas (PCHs) are quite rare and usually present with nonspecific clinical symptoms. When lung cancer patients are complicated with pulmonary cavernous haemangiomas, radiologically, these haemangioma lesions can be easily misinterpreted as intrapulmonary metastases, potentially resulting in misdiagnosis, or missed diagnosis.

Case presentation

The present study reported the case of a 53−year−old female patient with pulmonary adenocarcinoma coexisting with multiple PCHs. 18F−FDG-Positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT) showed an elevated glucose metabolism in the apicoposterior segment of the left upper lobe; however, the other nodules were not hypermetabolic. Percutaneous lung biopsy was performed on the nodule in the apicoposterior segment of the left upper lobe, which were diagnosed as primary adenocarcinoma. Some nodules in the upper left lobe underwent wedge resection by video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) and intraoperative frozen section identified as PCHs. Finally, the patient underwent lobectomy of the left upper lobe via VATS, cancerous nodule in the apicoposterior segment of the left upper lobe underwent genetic molecular testing of PCR−Sanger sequencing, suggested EGFR mutation, and patient received treatment with Osimertinib. During the 4−months follow−up, contrast−enhanced CT showed no recurrence of either disease. PCHs are rare benign tumours of the lung, which can lead to misdiagnosis due to their non-specific clinical symptoms and radiological features, especially when they coexist with lung cancer. PCHs is easily misunderstood as metastatic lung cancer, in this case, PET-CT can assist in differentiating benign from malignant. For the cases of early lung cancer complicated with PCHs, lung cancer can be surgically resected, and whether PCHs should be removed or not should be determined according to the size and distribution of the lesions.
Vertical variation in leaf functional traits of Parashorea chinensis with different canopy layers
Authors: Jin Nan , Yu Xiaocheng , Dong Jinlong , Duan Mengcheng , Mo Yuxuan , Feng Leiyun , Bai Rong , Zhao Jianli , Song Jia , Dossa Gbadamassi Gouvide Olawole , Lu Huazheng
Published: January 2024

Introduction

Canopy species need to shift their ecological adaptation to improve light and water resources utilization, and the study of intraspecific variations in plant leaf functional traits based at individual scale is of great significance for evaluating plant adaptability to climate change.

Methods

In this study, we evaluate how leaf functional traits of giant trees relate to spatial niche specialization along a vertical gradient. We sampled the tropical flagship species of Parashorea chinensis around 60 meters tall and divided their crowns into three vertical layers. Fourteen key leaf functional traits including leaf morphology, photosynthetic, hydraulic and chemical physiology were measured at each canopy layer to investigate the intraspecific variation of leaf traits and the interrelationships between different functional traits. Additionally, due to the potential impact of different measurement methods (in-situ and ex-situ branch) on photosynthetic physiological parameters, we also compared the effects of these two gas exchange measurements.

Results and discussion

In-situ measurements revealed that most leaf functional traits of individual-to-individual P. chinensis varied significantly at different canopy heights. Leaf hydraulic traits such as midday leaf water potential (MWP) and leaf osmotic potential (OP) were insignificantly correlated with leaf photosynthetic physiological traits such as maximal net assimilation rate per mass (Amass). In addition, great discrepancies were found between in-situ and ex-situ measurements of photosynthetic parameters. The ex-situ measurements caused a decrease by 53.63%, 27.86%, and 38.05% in Amass, and a decrease of 50.00%, 19.21%, and 27.90% in light saturation point compared to the in-situ measurements. These findings provided insights into our understanding of the response mechanisms of P. chinensis to micro-habitat in Xishuangbanna tropical seasonal rainforests and the fine scale adaption of different resultant of decoupled traits, which have implications for understanding ecological adaption strategies of P. chinensis under environmental changes.
Examining job involvement and perceived organizational support toward organizational commitment: job insecurity as mediator
Authors: Hngoi Chin Ling , Abdullah Nurul-Azza , Wan Sulaiman Wan Shahrazad , Zaiedy Nor Norshaffika Izzaty
Published: January 2024

This study delves into the intricate relationships among job involvement (JI), perceived organizational support (POS), job insecurity (JIS), and organizational commitment (OC), with a particular focus on the mediating role of JIS within the context of the Malaysian private sector. The research delves into the antecedents of job insecurity and organizational commitment, offering insights to enhance commitment. Our study involved 440 employees in the Malaysian private sector, utilizing self-report questionnaires administered online. Notably, our findings underscore the significance of employment flexibility, job positions, and tenure in shaping JIS. Furthermore, we identify significant relationships among the variables: POS negatively predicts JIS, while JI, JIS, and POS collectively predict OC, with JIS partially mediating the POS-OC relationship. These empirically-grounded insights offer actionable guidance for organizations, empowering human resources practitioners to craft effective talent retention strategies and allocate resources strategically. In doing so, organizations can enhance employee productivity and bolster organizational commitment, ultimately contributing to sustained success in a dynamic work environment. These findings hold valuable implications for human resources practitioners, guiding the development of talent retention strategies and resource allocation to enhance employee productivity.
“Ick bin een Berlina”: dialect proficiency impacts a robot’s trustworthiness and competence evaluation
Authors: Kühne Katharina , Herbold Erika , Bendel Oliver , Zhou Yuefang , Fischer Martin H.
Published: January 2024

Background: Robots are increasingly used as interaction partners with humans. Social robots are designed to follow expected behavioral norms when engaging with humans and are available with different voices and even accents. Some studies suggest that people prefer robots to speak in the user’s dialect, while others indicate a preference for different dialects.

Methods: Our study examined the impact of the Berlin dialect on perceived trustworthiness and competence of a robot. One hundred and twenty German native speakers (Mage = 32 years, SD = 12 years) watched an online video featuring a NAO robot speaking either in the Berlin dialect or standard German and assessed its trustworthiness and competence.

Results: We found a positive relationship between participants’ self-reported Berlin dialect proficiency and trustworthiness in the dialect-speaking robot. Only when controlled for demographic factors, there was a positive association between participants’ dialect proficiency, dialect performance and their assessment of robot’s competence for the standard German-speaking robot. Participants’ age, gender, length of residency in Berlin, and device used to respond also influenced assessments. Finally, the robot’s competence positively predicted its trustworthiness.

Discussion: Our results inform the design of social robots and emphasize the importance of device control in online experiments.
Development of a regionalized dynamic weighting method for the environmental impact of alternative protein sources
Authors: Francis Aditya , Ghnimi Sami , Smetana Sergiy
Published: January 2024

Accurate environmental analysis is central to addressing food product impacts, yet uncertainty shrouds the effectiveness of life cycle assessment (LCA) weighting methods, particularly for alternative protein foods and different countries. Our approach characterizes environmental impact weighting based on total or specific production impacts at the country level, facilitating relevance assessment. We have developed an innovated methodology to calculate weights for alternative foods such as crickets, mealworms, black soldier flies, cultured meat, Chlorella, and Spirulina. This method integrates their country-level eco-potential linked to environmental impacts, and addresses challenges in existing methodologies-policy changes, contextual adaptation, method specificity, intangible values. Relative impact weights, normalized by arable land and population, cover greenhouse gas emissions, land use, water use and energy use. Eco-potential points for alternative protein sources are derived by dividing their impact values by the relative country-level weights. In addition, eco-potential points for conventional protein sources are calculated for comparison, highlighting disparities. The results show a dynamic eco-potential influenced by evolving country-level per capita impacts that influence food product impacts. Comparison of literature based LCAs with our weighted country-level impacts highlights an alignment between absolute emissions and relative impact weightings in certain cases. Moreover, we have developed a parallel methodology to calculate eco-potential points for selected alternative food proteins based on protein supply in countries. This calculation is based on 17 years of data and multiplies the protein supply by the average environmental impact of selected sources (GHGE, water, land and energy use). This results in country-level weighted impacts (CWI), or eco-potential points that are aligned with protein supply. Combining the CWI from the four indicators gives the combined eco-potential values for selected alternative proteins.

The comparison of the product’s CWIs for GWP, WU, EU and LU showed that certain impact categories with higher CWI or eco-potential points can contribute to the higher combined eco-potential point. The eco-potential points of different impact categories also varied between countries.
The effect of MRI-based screening and selection on the prevalence of syringomyelia in the Dutch and Danish Cavalier King Charles Spaniels
Authors: Limpens Citlalli , Smits Vivian T. M. , Fieten Hille , Mandigers Paul J. J.
Published: January 2024

Introduction

Syringomyelia (SM) is a heritable disorder causing a fluid filled cavity (FFC) in the spinal cord with a reported overall prevalence of 39 to 46% in the Cavalier King Charles Spaniels (CKCS). Breeders started screening their CKCS with MRI in the Netherlands since 2004 and in Denmark since 2015. The goal of this study was to evaluate the effect of MRI-based selection in breeding on the prevalence of SM.

Method

MRI scans of 2,125 purebred CKCS were available. SM was defined as having a visible FFC in the spinal cord. The prevalence of SM per year of birth was calculated, and a logistic regression was used to evaluate the affected status of offspring from affected versus unaffected parents and age category of the parent and study the combined effect of parental status and age-category to evaluate the effect on the affected status of the offspring.

Results

The mean FFC in affected CKCS was 2.03 ± 1.47 mm and ranged from 0.5 to 9 mm (median of 1.5 mm). An age effect exists as older CKCS, which has a higher frequency of being affected compared with younger CKCS. There was no significant sex predilection for SM in this dataset. The mean prevalence of SM decreased slightly from 38% (2010–2014; 2.8 ± 1.3 years of age (mean ± sd); median 2.6 years) to 27% (2015–2019; 2.4 ± 1.2 years of age; median 2.1 years) in the screened population of CKCS (p = 4.3e-07). Breeding with two affected parents increased the odds ratio with 3.08 for producing affected offspring (95% CI 1.58–6.04) compared with breeding with unaffected parents.

Discussion

MRI-based screening and selection against SM led to a minimal decrease in the prevalence of SM in the Dutch and Danish CKCS population. Breeding with dogs with SM significantly increases the risk of affected offspring. As the disorder is progressive with age, and based on the results of this study, MRI-based screening for all CKCS is recommended at an age of 3 years or older, and to reduce SM more effectively, CKCS affected with SM should not be used for breeding.
Research Trends in Agricultural Marketing Cooperatives: A Bibliometric Review
Authors: Qorri Dejsi , Felföldi János
Published: January 2024

In the last decade, agricultural cooperatives have become increasingly popular in the food industry. This paper aims to shed light on the extensive literature on agricultural cooperatives. Design/Methodology/Approach: In conducting this review, we applied the bibliometric review method. Initially, we retrieved 1249 bibliometric data from the Scopus database, which were reduced to 364 documents after applying the PRISMA guidelines. The data were filtered using the following keywords: “agricultural marketing cooperatives”, “agricultural marketing societies”, “performance”, “value chains”, and “supply chains”. Findings: According to our findings, the present research is primarily focused on smallholders, sustainability, and supply chain management topics. We found that current research lacks an understanding of why agricultural cooperatives fail in terms of finances, investments, and implementation of strategies. We conclude that agricultural marketing cooperatives in their current state and legal form might not be flexible enough to compete in markets due to global and sustainability concerns. Finally, we provide a practical roadmap for researchers, investors, policymakers, and non-profits. Limitations: The main limitation of our review is that it contains only studies found in Scopus and examines only the English language literature. Originality/Value: Bibliometric analyses focused on agriculture cooperatives are scarce, and this paper provides a broader perspective of the existing literature. Moreover, it identifies research gaps and current trends in the field while providing a detailed description of how agricultural cooperative research has evolved over time.
Assessing the Genotype-by-Environment G×E Interaction in Desi Chickpea via the Bayesian Additive Main Effects and Multiplicative Interaction Model
Authors: Din Ajmalud , Gul Rozina , Khan Hamayoon , Garcia-Abadillo Velasco Julian , Persa Reyna , Isidro y Sánchez Julio , Jarquin Diego
Published: January 2024

Chickpea is the second most important legume crop in pulses, and its performance is greatly influenced by environmental factors inducing a change in the response patterns, complicating the selection of the best cultivar(s). The genotype-by-environment (G×E) patterns of a chickpea dataset (yield and days to emergence DTE) of 36 lines evaluated in 12 environments in Pakistan were assessed in this study. The interaction patterns were evaluated using the Bayesian Additive Main Effects and Multiplicative Interaction (AMMI) model. For yield, the 95% highest posterior density (HPD) regions showed that none of the genotypes (G) were found to be stable since these did not include the null point (0, 0), while for the environments, only E-8 and E-10 included the origin. In contrast, for DTE 11, genotypes included the null point being considered stable for this trait; however, none of the environments included the origin. These results suggest that considering both traits, the genotypes G2, G6, and G17 are the best genotypes across environments, while environments E-8 and E-10 were identified as favorable to all genotypes. Based on the obtained results, the abovementioned genotypes can be forwarded for further processing to be released as commercial varieties.
Research on the Corn Stover Image Segmentation Method via an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) and Improved U-Net Network
Authors: Xu Xiuying , Gao Yingying , Fu Changhao , Qiu Jinkai , Zhang Wei
Published: January 2024

The cover of corn stover has a significant effect on the emergence and growth of soybean seedlings. Detecting corn stover covers is crucial for assessing the extent of no-till farming and determining subsidies for stover return; however, challenges such as complex backgrounds, lighting conditions, and camera angles hinder the detection of corn stover coverage. To address these issues, this study focuses on corn stover and proposes an innovative method with which to extract corn stalks in the field, operating an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) platform and a U-Net model. This method combines semantic segmentation principles with image detection techniques to form an encoder–decoder network structure. The model utilizes transfer learning by replacing the encoder with the first five layers of the VGG19 network to extract essential features from stalk images. Additionally, it incorporates a concurrent bilinear attention module (CBAM) convolutional attention mechanism to improve segmentation performance for intricate edges of broken stalks. A U-Net-based semantic segmentation model was constructed specifically for extracting field corn stalks. The study also explores how different data sizes affect stalk segmentation results. Experimental results prove that our algorithm achieves 93.87% accuracy in segmenting and extracting corn stalks from images with complex backgrounds, outperforming U-Net, SegNet, and ResNet models. These findings indicate that our new algorithm effectively segments corn stalks in fields with intricate backgrounds, providing a technical reference for detecting stalk cover in not only corn but also other crops.
The Effects of Global Warming on Agroclimatic Regions in China: Past and Future
Authors: Gong Lijuan , Liao Yaoming , Han Zhenyu , Jiang Lanqi , Liu Dan , Li Xiufen
Published: January 2024

Agroclimatic regionalization is an effective way to utilize agricultural climate resources in a reasonable manner. Accurate and objective agroclimatic regionalization plays a great directive role in ecological layout and decision support for agriculture farming. The purpose of this article was to investigate the influence of climate change on agroclimatic regions in China. Following the same regionalization principle concept as the theory and techniques of agroclimatic regionalization, three agroclimatic regions, the Tibetan High Cold Region (THCR), Northwest Arid Region (NAR), and Eastern Monsoon Region (EMR) were identified in China. The changes in the three agroclimatic regions were analyzed from 1961 to 2020 in the past and from 2006 to 2060 in the future. Future changes in agroclimatic regions were estimated from 2006 to 2030 and from 2031 to 2060 under scenarios RCP2.6, RCP4.5, and RCP8.5 for greenhouse gas emissions. The borders of agoclimatic regions had changed as a result of global climate warming and precipitation variability. There was a surplus in the geographical displacement and range of agroclimatic region borders in 1991 to 2020, especially when compared to those in 1961–1990. The TCHR exhibited significant spatial variation, with its northeast corner shifting nearly 170 km to the southwest. In the future, the area ratio of the THCR will be 26% by 2031–2060 under the RCP8.5 scenario, with the highest decline (1% compared to that in the reference period of 1981–2005), while under the RCP4.5 and RCP2.6 scenarios it will stabilize the area ratio at 27%. The eastern boundary of the NAR will migrate south or east, while the center boundary will rise northward. Under all three climatic scenarios, the area ratio will be 25% (down 1%). The range of the EMR will expand. The area ratio of the EMR will increase by 1% under the RCP2.6 and RCP4.5 scenarios and by 2% under the RCP8.5 scenario. Overall, our study may facilitate an in-depth understanding of agroclimatic regions changes and thus provide a scientific reference for the distribution of agricultural production and sustainable development under climate change in China.
Construction and Validation of Peanut Leaf Spot Disease Prediction Model Based on Long Time Series Data and Deep Learning
Authors: Guo Zhiqing , Chen Xiaohui , Li Ming , Chi Yucheng , Shi Dongyuan
Published: January 2024

Peanut leaf spot is a worldwide disease whose prevalence poses a major threat to peanut yield and quality, and accurate prediction models are urgently needed for timely disease management. In this study, we proposed a novel peanut leaf spot prediction method based on an improved long short-term memory (LSTM) model and multi-year meteorological data combined with disease survey records. Our method employed a combination of convolutional neural networks (CNNs) and LSTMs to capture spatial–temporal patterns from the data and improve the model’s ability to recognize dynamic features of the disease. In addition, we introduced a Squeeze-and-Excitation (SE) Network attention mechanism module to enhance model performance by focusing on key features. Through several hyper-parameter optimization adjustments, we identified a peanut leaf spot disease condition index prediction model with a learning rate of 0.001, a number of cycles (Epoch) of 800, and an optimizer of Adma. The results showed that the integrated model demonstrated excellent prediction ability, obtaining an RMSE of 0.063 and an R2 of 0.951, which reduced the RMSE by 0.253 and 0.204, and raised the R2 by 0.155 and 0.122, respectively, compared to the single CNN and LSTM. Predicting the occurrence and severity of peanut leaf spot disease based on the meteorological conditions and neural networks is feasible and valuable to help growers make accurate management decisions and reduce disease impacts through optimal fungicide application timing.
Changes in the Grain Yield and Quality of Early Indica Rice from 2000 to 2020 in Southern China
Authors: Huang Guanjun , Guo Lin , Zeng Yanhua , Huang Shan , Zeng Yongjun , Xie Xiaobing
Published: January 2024

The double-season rice system plays an important role in ensuring food security in China. However, changes in the grain yield and quality of recently released rice varieties are still not fully understood, especially early indica rice (Oryza sativa). In this study, we collected the yield and quality traits of 224 early indica rice varieties released in China’s Hunan and Jiangxi provinces from 2000 to 2020. The results showed that rice grain yield, but not quality, was significantly improved in early indica rice from 2000 to 2020, and the improvement in grain yield was mainly the result of an increased spikelet number per panicle. Quality traits such as head rice rate, chalky rice rate, and amylose content remained stable while the milled rice rate and degree of chalkiness showed adverse changes during early indica rice breeding. These results suggested that improving grain yield, but not quality, has been prioritized during early indica rice breeding in the past few decades. Further analysis showed that the degree of chalkiness had the largest coefficient of variation among the studied quality traits in the 224 early indica rice varieties, indicating that there is still great potential to decrease the degree of chalkiness through rice breeding. Interestingly, the results showed that lower degrees of chalkiness were associated with lower amylose contents and chalky rice rates but with a higher length-to-width ratios and a gel consistency. Therefore, focusing on the degree of chalkiness seems a promising strategy to synergistically improve the quality traits of early indica rice. Overall, our results have value for guiding future research on high-yield and high-quality breeding in early indica rice.
Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) Growth and Productivity under Solar Radiation-Based Quantitative Nutrient Management in Hydroponic System
Authors: Samba Nethone , Nunomura Osamu , Lu Na , Johkan Masahumi , Nakano Akimasa , Tsukagoshi Satoru
Published: January 2024

Grafted cucumber plants were grown in a new hydroponic system (“Kappa Land”, Mitsubishi Chemical Aqua Solutions, Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan). Two different nutrient management methods were applied to the plants as treatments: Electrical Conductivity-based Management (ECM) and Quantitative Nutrient Management (QNM). During the growth period, we examined plant growth characteristics and productivity, fruit growth characteristics and quality, and nutrient use characteristics. The results revealed that the QNM technique significantly reduced the nutrient supply rate per plant for Ca2+, SO42−, and N by 28.5%, 25.5%, and 23.3%, respectively. Similarly, the absorption rates per plant of SO42−, K+, and PO43− were reduced by 17.8%, 11.9%, and 10.9%, respectively. However, N, Ca2+, and Mg2+ absorption rates slightly increased in the QNM treatment. The nutrient wastes generated per kilogram of produced fruits were also reduced by 66.4%, 60.7%, and 30.2% for N, Ca2+, and SO42−, respectively. Although the QNM technique reduced the plant’s leaf area, it significantly increased its total length by 9.4%. The total and marketable yields were not significantly different between the ECM (9.0 and 8.0 kg plant−1) and QNM (9.1 and 8.2 kg plant−1) treatments. However, the QNM treatment produced the highest total dry matter of 617 g plant−1, surpassing the ECM treatment by 6.9%. On the other hand, differences in nutrient management methods did not significantly affect fruit quality, including total soluble solids, water content, skin color, size, and shape. These results suggest that with the QNM method, it is possible to produce quality cucumbers with high nutrient use efficiency while protecting the environment from nutrient wastes.
Differences in Chemical Composition, Polyphenol Compounds, Antioxidant Activity, and In Vitro Rumen Fermentation among Sorghum Stalks
Authors: Tian Xingzhou , Qin Jixiao , Luo Qingyuan , Xu Yiqing , Xie Shuanglong , Chen Rui , Wang Xu , Lu Qi
Published: January 2024

The aim of the study was to examine the differences in the chemical composition, polyphenol compounds, antioxidant activity, and in vitro rumen fermentation among six varieties of sorghum stalks. The results show that maoliangnuo 1 (M1) contained a higher (p < 0.05) level of dry matter, and jinzhong 405 (J4) contained a higher (p < 0.05) level of crude protein content. The concentrations of neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber, and cellulose were significantly higher (p < 0.05) in stalk jinliangnuo (JN). The levels of chlorogenic acid, homoorientin, isovitexin, vitexin, rhoifolin, genistin, quercetin, apigenin, aloe emodin, emodin, and total polyphenols were all significantly (p < 0.05) higher in maohongnuo 6 (M6) than in the other stalks. Moreover, stalk M6 contained higher (p < 0.05) levels of total antioxidant capacity (TAC), glutathione peroxidase (GPX), catalase (CAT), and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free-radical scavenging capacity. There were significant (p < 0.05) positive correlations between total polyphenols and TAC, superoxide dismutase, GPX, CAT, and DPPH free-radical scavenging capacity. The total gas production was significantly (p < 0.05) influenced by the sorghum stalk variety and incubation time. Stalk J4 displayed higher values for the (p < 0.05) immediately soluble fraction and the potential extent of gas production, while stalk M6 exhibited a significantly lower (p < 0.05) insoluble fraction level. Furthermore, stalk M6 exhibited a significantly higher level of (p < 0.05) ruminal fluid propionic acid, but its level of butyric acid and its ratio of acetic acid to propionic acid were both significantly lower (p < 0.05). Taken together, the results reported in this paper indicate that the chemical composition, polyphenol compounds, antioxidant activity, and in vitro rumen fermentation all vary greatly among different varieties of sorghum stalks.
Importance of Selected Nutrients and Additives in the Feed of Pregnant Sows for the Survival of Newborn Piglets
Authors: Islas-Fabila Paloma , Roldán-Santiago Patricia , de la Cruz-Cruz Luis Alberto , Limón-Morales Ofelia , Dutro-Aceves Anna , Orozco-Gregorio Héctor , Bonilla-Jaime Herlinda
Published: January 2024

This systematic review analyzed the effect of selected nutrients and additives in the feed of pregnant sows on the survival of newborn piglets. We analyzed 720 peer-reviewed publications in English in PubMed® and Web of Science®, dated July 2023 to January 2024, related to the effect of dietary supplementation with fatty acids and various percentages of protein, amino acids, and/or sources of dietary fiber on the offspring of gestating sows. While several papers evaluated the effect of nutrition on gestating sows, only a few delved into the distinct feeding strategies required at each stage of gestation to meet the NRC’s nutritional requirements for maternal tissue gain and postnatal neonatal survival and growth. This body of research suggests that as gestation progresses the sow’s nutritional requirements increase, as the NRC established, to satisfy their own metabolic needs and those of their fetuses. Additional research is needed to determine an optimal feeding strategy.
The Prediction of Clinical Mastitis in Dairy Cows Based on Milk Yield, Rumination Time, and Milk Electrical Conductivity Using Machine Learning Algorithms
Authors: Tian Hong , Zhou Xiaojing , Wang Hao , Xu Chuang , Zhao Zixuan , Xu Wei , Deng Zhaoju
Published: January 2024

In commercial dairy farms, mastitis is associated with increased antimicrobial use and associated resistance, which may affect milk production. This study aimed to develop sensor-based prediction models for naturally occurring clinical bovine mastitis using nine machine learning algorithms with data from 447 mastitic and 2146 healthy cows obtained from five commercial farms in Northeast China. The variables were related to daily activity, rumination time, and daily milk yield of cows, as well as milk electrical conductivity. Both Z-standardized and non-standardized datasets pertaining to four specific stages of lactation were used to train and test prediction models. For all four subgroups, the Z-standardized dataset yielded better results than those of the non-standardized one, with the multilayer artificial neural net algorithm showing the best performance. Variables of importance had a similar rank in this algorithm, indicating the consistency of these variables as predictors for bovine mastitis in commercial farms with similar automatic systems. Moreover, the peak milk yield (PMY) of mastitic cows was significantly higher than that of healthy cows (p < 0.005), indicating that high-yielding cattle are more prone to mastitis. Our results show that machine learning algorithms are effective tools for predicting mastitis in dairy cows for immediate intervention and management in commercial farms.
Synergistic Effects of Oligochitosan and Pyraclostrobin in Controlling Leaf Spot Disease in Pseudostellaria heterophylla
Authors: Zhang Cheng , Tang Chenglin , Wang Qiuping , Su Yue , Zhang Qinghai
Published: January 2024

Pseudostellaria heterophylla (or Taizishen in Chinese), a medicinal, edible, and ornamental Chinese herb, is seriously affected by leaf spot disease (LSD). Oligochitosan is a natural agricultural antibiotic that is produced via the degradation of chitosan, which is deacetylated from chitin; pyraclostrobin is a broad-spectrum and efficient strobilurin fungicide. In this work, the ability of pyraclostrobin, oligochitosan, and their formula to manage P. heterophylla leaf spot disease and their role in its resistance, leaf photosynthesis, agronomic plant traits, root growth, and root quality were studied. The results show that the joint application of oligochitosan and low-dosage pyraclostrobin could control LSD more efficiently, with control effects of 85.75–87.49% compared to high-dosage pyraclostrobin or oligochitosan alone. Concurrently, the application of this formula could more effectively improve the resistance, leaf photosynthesis, agronomic plant traits, root yield, and medicinal quality of P. heterophylla, as well as reduce the application of pyraclostrobin. This finding suggests that 30% pyraclostrobin suspension concentrate (SC) 1500-time + 5% oligosaccharin aqueous solutions (AS) 500-time diluent can be recommended for use as a feasible formula to manage LSD and reduce the application of chemical pesticides.
Is the Use of Monensin Another Trojan Horse for the Spread of Antimicrobial Resistance?
Authors: Carresi Cristina , Marabelli Romano , Roncada Paola , Britti Domenico
Published: January 2024

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a complex and somewhat unpredictable phenomenon. Historically, the utilization of avoparcin in intensive farming during the latter part of the previous century led to the development of resistance to vancomycin, a crucial antibiotic in human medicine with life-saving properties. Currently, in the European Union, there is a growing reliance on the ionophore antibiotic monensin (MON), which acts both as a coccidiostat in poultry farming and as a preventative measure against ketosis in lactating cows. Although many researchers claim that MON does not induce cross-resistance to antibiotics of clinical relevance in human medicine, some conflicting reports exist. The numerous applications of MON in livestock farming and the consequent dissemination of the compound and its metabolites in the environment require further investigation to definitively ascertain whether MON represents a potential vector for the propagation of AMR. It is imperative to emphasize that antibiotics cannot substitute sound animal husbandry practices or tailored dietary regimens in line with the different production cycles of livestock. Consequently, a rigorous evaluation is indispensable to assess whether the economic benefits associated with MON usage justify its employment, also considering its local and global environmental ramifications and the potential risk of instigating AMR with increased costs for its control.
Serelaxin Protects H9c2 Cardiac Myoblasts against Hypoxia and Reoxygenation-Induced Damage through Activation of AMP Kinase/Sirtuin1: Further Insight into the Molecular Mechanisms of the Cardioprotection of This Hormone
Authors: Zizi Virginia , Becatti Matteo , Bani Daniele , Nistri Silvia
Published: January 2024

Serelaxin (RLX), namely the human recombinant Relaxin-2 hormone, protects the heart from ischemia/reperfusion (I/R)-induced damage due to its anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic and antioxidant properties. RLX acts by binding to its specific RXFP1 receptor whereby it regulates multiple transduction pathways. In this in vitro study, we offer the first evidence for the involvement of the AMP kinase/Sirtuin1 (AMPK/SIRT1) pathway in the protection by RLX against hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R)-induced damage in H9c2 cells. The treatment of the H/R-exposed cells with RLX (17 nmol L−1) enhanced SIRT1 expression and activity. The inhibition of SIRT1 signaling with EX527 (10 µmol L−1) reduced the beneficial effect of the hormone on mitochondrial efficiency and cell apoptosis. Moreover, RLX upregulated the AMPK pathway, as shown by the increase in the expression of phospho-AMPK-activated protein. Finally, AMPK pathway inhibition by Compound C (10 and 20 μmol L−1) abrogated the increase in SIRT1 expression induced by RLX, thus suggesting the involvement of the AMPK pathway in this effect of RLX. These results strengthen the concept that RLX exerts its cardioprotective effects against H/R-induced injury through multiple pathways which also include AMPK/SIRT1. These new findings support the use of RLX or RLX-derived molecules as a promising therapeutic for those diseases in which I/R and oxidative stress play a pathogenic role.
Antioxidative Sirt1 and the Keap1-Nrf2 Signaling Pathway Impair Inflammation and Positively Regulate Autophagy in Murine Mammary Epithelial Cells or Mammary Glands Infected with Streptococcus uberis
Authors: Khan Sohrab , Wang Tian , Cobo Eduardo R. , Liang Bingchun , Khan Muhammad Asfandyar , Xu Maolin , Qu Weijie , Gao Jian , Barkema Herman W. , Kastelic John P. , Liu Gang , Han Bo
Published: January 2024

Streptococcus uberis mastitis in cattle infects mammary epithelial cells. Although oxidative responses often remove intracellular microbes, S. uberis survives, but the mechanisms are not well understood. Herein, we aimed to elucidate antioxidative mechanisms during pathogenesis of S. uberis after isolation from clinical bovine mastitis milk samples. S. uberis’s in vitro pathomorphology, oxidative stress biological activities, transcription of antioxidative factors, inflammatory response cytokines, autophagosome and autophagy functions were evaluated, and in vivo S. uberis was injected into the fourth mammary gland nipple of each mouse to assess the infectiousness of S. uberis potential molecular mechanisms. The results showed that infection with S. uberis induced early oxidative stress and increased reactive oxygen species (ROS). However, over time, ROS concentrations decreased due to increased antioxidative activity, including total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) enzymes, plus transcription of antioxidative factors (Sirt1, Keap1, Nrf2, HO-1). Treatment with a ROS scavenger (N-acetyl cysteine, NAC) before infection with S. uberis reduced antioxidative responses and the inflammatory response, including the cytokines IL-6 and TNF-α, and the formation of the Atg5-LC3II/LC3I autophagosome. Synthesis of antioxidants determined autophagy functions, with Sirt1/Nrf2 activating autophagy in the presence of S. uberis. This study demonstrated the evasive mechanisms of S. uberis in mastitis, including suppressing inflammatory and ROS defenses by stimulating antioxidative pathways.
Effects of Contagious Respiratory Pathogens on Breath Biomarkers
Authors: Kemnitz Nele , Fuchs Patricia , Remy Rasmus , Ruehrmund Leo , Bartels Julia , Klemenz Ann-Christin , Trefz Phillip , Miekisch Wolfram , Schubert Jochen K. , Sukul Pritam
Published: January 2024

Due to their immediate exhalation after generation at the cellular/microbiome levels, exhaled volatile organic compounds (VOCs) may provide real-time information on pathophysiological mechanisms and the host response to infection. In recent years, the metabolic profiling of the most frequent respiratory infections has gained interest as it holds potential for the early, non-invasive detection of pathogens and the monitoring of disease progression and the response to therapy. Using previously unpublished data, randomly selected individuals from a COVID-19 test center were included in the study. Based on multiplex PCR results (non-SARS-CoV-2 respiratory pathogens), the breath profiles of 479 subjects with the presence or absence of flu-like symptoms were obtained using proton-transfer-reaction time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Among 223 individuals, one respiratory pathogen was detected in 171 cases, and more than one pathogen in 52 cases. A total of 256 subjects had negative PCR test results and had no symptoms. The exhaled VOC profiles were affected by the presence of Haemophilus influenzae, Streptococcus pneumoniae, and Rhinovirus. The endogenous ketone, short-chain fatty acid, organosulfur, aldehyde, and terpene concentrations changed, but only a few compounds exhibited concentration changes above inter-individual physiological variations. Based on the VOC origins, the observed concentration changes may be attributed to oxidative stress and antioxidative defense, energy metabolism, systemic microbial immune homeostasis, and inflammation. In contrast to previous studies with pre-selected patient groups, the results of this study demonstrate the broad inter-individual variations in VOC profiles in real-life screening conditions. As no unique infection markers exist, only concentration changes clearly above the mentioned variations can be regarded as indicative of infection or colonization.