bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Plant mitochondrial introns as genetic markers - conservation and variation
Authors: Grosser Melinda R. , Sites Samantha K. , Murata Mayara M. , Lopez Yolanda , Chamusco Karen C. , Love Harriage Kyra , Grosser Jude W. , Graham James H. , Gmitter Fred G. , Chase Christine D.
Published: March 2023

Plant genomes are comprised of nuclear, plastid and mitochondrial components characterized by different patterns of inheritance and evolution. Genetic markers from the three genomes provide complementary tools for investigations of inheritance, genetic relationships and phenotypic contributions. Plant mitochondrial genomes are challenging for universal marker development because they are highly variable in terms of size, gene order and intergenic sequences and highly conserved with respect to protein-coding sequences. PCR amplification of introns with primers that anneal to conserved, flanking exons is effective for the development of polymorphic nuclear genome markers. The potential for plant mitochondrial intron polymorphisms to distinguish between congeneric species or intraspecific varieties has not been systematically investigated and is possibly constrained by requirements for intron secondary structure and interactions with co-evolved organelle intron splicing factors. To explore the potential for broadly applicable plant mitochondrial intron markers, PCR primer sets based upon conserved sequences flanking 11 introns common to seven angiosperm species were tested across a range of plant orders. PCR-amplified introns were screened for indel polymorphisms among a group of cross-compatible Citrus species and relatives; two Raphanus sativus mitotypes; representatives of the two Phaseolus vulgaris gene pools; and congeneric pairs of Cynodon, Cenchrus, Solanum, and Vaccinium species. All introns were successfully amplified from each plant entry. Length polymorphisms distinguishable by gel electrophoresis were common among genera but infrequent within genera. Sequencing of three introns amplified from 16 entries identified additional short indel polymorphisms and nucleotide substitutions that separated Citrus, Cynodon, Cenchrus and Vaccinium congeners, but failed to distinguish Solanum congeners or representatives of the Phaseolus vulgaris major gene pools. The ability of primer sets to amplify a wider range of plant species’ introns and the presence of intron polymorphisms that distinguish congeners was confirmed by in silico analysis. While mitochondrial intron variation is limited in comparison to nuclear introns, these exon-based primer sets provide robust tools for the amplification of mitochondrial introns across a wide range of plant species wherein useful polymorphisms can be identified.
Genetic mapping of AhVt1, a novel genetic locus that confers the variegated testa color in cultivated peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) and its utilization for marker-assisted selection
Authors: Chen Hao , Yang Xinlei , Xu Rirong , Chen Xiangyu , Zhong Haifeng , Liu Nian , Huang Li , Luo Huaiyong , Huai Dongxin , Liu Wenjing , Chen Yuhua , Chen Jianhong , Jiang Huifang
Published: March 2023

Introduction

Peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) is an important cash crop worldwide. Compared with the ordinary peanut with pure pink testa, peanut with variegated testa color has attractive appearance and a higher market value. In addition, the variegated testa represents a distinct regulation pattern of anthocyanin accumulation in integument cells.

Methods

In order to identify the genetic locus underlying variegated testa color in peanut, two populations were constructed from the crosses between Fuhua 8 (pure-pink testa) and Wucai (red on white variegated testa), Quanhonghua 1 (pure-red testa) and Wucai, respectively. Genetic analysis and bulked sergeant analysis sequencing were applied to detect and identify the genetic locus for variegated testa color. Marker-assisted selection was used to develop new variegated testa peanut lines.

Results

As a result, all the seeds harvested from the F1 individuals of both populations showed the variegated testa type with white trace. Genetic analysis revealed that the pigmentation of colored region in red on white variegated testa was controlled by a previous reported gene AhRt1, while the formation of white region (un-pigmented region) in variegated testa was controlled by another single genetic locus. This locus, named as AhVt1 (Arachis hypogaea Variegated Testa 1), was preliminary mapped on chromosome 08 through bulked sergeant analysis sequencing. Using a secondary mapping population derived from the cross between Fuhua 8 and Wucai, AhVt1 was further mapped to a 1.89-Mb genomic interval by linkage analysis, and several potential genes associated with the uneven distribution of anthocyanin, such as MADS-box, MYB, and Chalcone synthase-like protein, were harbored in the region. Moreover, the molecular markers closely linked to the AhVt1 were developed, and the new variegated testa peanut lines were obtained with the help of marker-assisted selection.

Conclusion

Our findings will accelerate the breeding program for developing new peanut varieties with “colorful” testa colors and laid a foundation for map-based cloning of gene responsible for variegated testa.
Super-resolution reconstruction, recognition, and evaluation of laser confocal images of hyperaccumulator Solanum nigrum endocytosis vesicles based on deep learning: Comparative study of SRGAN and SRResNet
Authors: Li Wenhao , He Ding , Liu Yongqiang , Wang Fenghe , Huang Fengliang
Published: March 2023

It is difficult for laser scanning confocal microscopy to obtain high- or ultra-high-resolution laser confocal images directly, which affects the deep mining and use of the embedded information in laser confocal images and forms a technical bottleneck in the in-depth exploration of the microscopic physiological and biochemical processes of plants. The super-resolution reconstruction model (SRGAN), which is based on a generative adversarial network and super-resolution reconstruction model (SRResNet), which is based on a residual network, was used to obtain single and secondary super-resolution reconstruction images of laser confocal images of the root cells of the hyperaccumulator Solanum nigrum. Using the peak signal-to-noise ratio (PSNR), structural similarity (SSIM) and mean opinion score (MOS), the models were evaluated by the image effects after reconstruction and were applied to the recognition of endocytic vesicles in Solanum nigrum root cells. The results showed that the single reconstruction and the secondary reconstruction of SRGAN and SRResNet improved the resolution of laser confocal images. PSNR, SSIM, and MOS were clearly improved, with a maximum PSNR of 47.690. The maximum increment of PSNR and SSIM of the secondary reconstruction images reached 21.7% and 2.8%, respectively, and the objective evaluation of the image quality was good. However, overall MOS was less than that of the single reconstruction, the perceptual quality was weakened, and the time cost was more than 130 times greater. The reconstruction effect of SRResNet was better than that of SRGAN. When SRGAN and SRResNet were used for the recognition of endocytic vesicles in Solanum nigrum root cells, the clarity of the reconstructed images was obviously improved, the boundary of the endocytic vesicles was clearer, and the number of identified endocytic vesicles increased from 6 to 9 and 10, respectively, and the mean fluorescence intensity was enhanced by 14.4% and 7.8%, respectively. Relevant research and achievements are of great significance for promoting the application of deep learning methods and image super-resolution reconstruction technology in laser confocal image studies.
High-quality genome assembly and comparative genomic profiling of yellowhorn (Xanthoceras sorbifolia) revealed environmental adaptation footprints and seed oil contents variations
Authors: Wang Juan , Hu Haifei , Liang Xizhen , Tahir ul Qamar Muhammad , Zhang Yunxiang , Zhao Jianguo , Ren Hongqian , Yan Xingrong , Ding Baopeng , Guo Jinping
Published: March 2023

Yellowhorn (Xanthoceras sorbifolia) is a species of deciduous tree that is native to Northern and Central China, including Loess Plateau. The yellowhorn tree is a hardy plant, tolerating a wide range of growing conditions, and is often grown for ornamental purposes in parks, gardens, and other landscaped areas. The seeds of yellowhorn are edible and contain rich oil and fatty acid contents, making it an ideal plant for oil production. However, the mechanism of its ability to adapt to extreme environments and the genetic basis of oil synthesis remains to be elucidated. In this study, we reported a high-quality and near gap-less yellowhorn genome assembly, containing the highest genome continuity with a contig N50 of 32.5 Mb. Comparative genomics analysis showed that 1,237 and 231 gene families under expansion and the yellowhorn-specific gene family NB-ARC were enriched in photosynthesis and root cap development, which may contribute to the environmental adaption and abiotic stress resistance of yellowhorn. A 3-ketoacyl-CoA thiolase (KAT) gene (Xso_LG02_00600) was identified under positive selection, which may be associated with variations of seed oil content among different yellowhorn cultivars. This study provided insights into environmental adaptation and seed oil content variations of yellowhorn to accelerate its genetic improvement.
Comparative transcriptome analysis of molecular mechanisms underlying adventitious root developments in Huangshan Bitter tea (Camellia gymnogyna Chang) under red light quality
Authors: Fu Hao , Wei Xu , Chen Qian , Yong Shunyuan , Liu Qinjin , Dang Jiangbo , Wu Di , Liang Guolu , Guo Qigao
Published: March 2023

As the formation of adventitious roots (AR) is an important component of in vitro regeneration of tea plants, the propagation and preservation of Huangshan Bitter tea (Camellia gymnogyna Chang) cuttings have been hindered due to its lower rooting rate. As light is a crucial environmental factor that affects AR formation, this study aimed to investigate the special role of red light (RL) in the formation of AR in Huangshan Bitter tea plants, which has not been well understood. Huangshan Bitter tea plants were induced with white light (control, WL) and red light (660 nm, RL) qualities 36 days after induced treatment (DAI) to investigate dynamic AR formation and development, anatomical observation, hormones content change, and weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) of the transcriptome. Results showed that RL promoted the rooting rate and root characteristics compared to WL. Anatomical observations demonstrated that root primordium was induced earlier by RL at the 4 DAI. RL positively affected IAA, ZT and GA3 content and negatively influenced ABA from the 4 to 16 DAI. RNA-seq and analysis of differential expression genes (DEGs) exhibited extensive variation in gene expression profiles between RL and WL. Meanwhile, the results of WGCNA and correlation analysis identified three highly correlated modules and hub genes mainly participated in 'response to hormone', 'cellular glucan metabolic progress', and 'response to auxin'. Furthermore, the proportion of transcription factors (TFs) such as ethylene response factor (ERF), myeloblastosis (MYB), basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH), and WRKYGQK (WRKY) were the top four in DEGs. These results suggested that the AR-promoting potential of red light was due to complex hormone interactions in tea plants by regulating the expression of related genes. This study provided an important reference to shorten breeding cycles and accelerate superiority in tea plant propagation and preservation.
The implicit preference evaluation for the ceramic tiles with different visual features: Evidence from an event-related potential study
Authors: Chen Jiayin , He Bingqin , Zhu Huiqiu , Wu Jianghua
Published: March 2023

Background

Ceramic tiles are popular because of their various forms, and they are often used to decorate the environment. However, few studies have applied objective methods to explore the implicit preference and visual attention of people toward ceramic tile features. Using event-related potential technology can provide neurophysiological evidence for the study and applications of tiles.

Materials and methods

This study explored the influence of pattern, lightness, and color system factors of ceramic tiles on the preferences of people using a combination of subjective questionnaires and event-related potential (ERP) technology. Twelve different conditions of tiles (2 × 3 × 2) were used as stimuli. EEG data were collected from 20 participants while they watched the stimuli. Subjective preference scores and average ERPs were analyzed using analysis of variance and correlation analysis.

Results

(1) Pattern, lightness, and color system factors significantly affected the subjective preference scores for tiles; the unpatterned tiles, light-toned tiles, and warm-colored tiles received higher preference scores. (2) The preferences of people for different features of tiles moderated ERP amplitudes. (3) The light-toned tiles with a high preference score caused a greater N100 amplitude than the medium-toned and dark-toned tiles; and the patterned tiles and warm-colored tiles with low preference scores induced greater P200 and N200 amplitudes.

Discussion

In the early stage of visual processing, light-toned tiles attracted more attention, possibly because of the positive emotional effects related to the preference. The greater P200 and N200 elicited by the patterned and neutral-colored tiles in the middle stage of visual processing indicates that patterned and neutral-colored tiles attracted more attention. This may be due to negativity bias, where more attention is allocated to negative stimuli that people strongly dislike. From the perspective of cognitive processes, the results indicate that the lightness of ceramic tiles is the factor that people first detect, and the visual processing of pattern and color system factors of ceramic tiles belong to a higher level of visual processing. This study provides a new perspective and relevant information for assessing the visual characteristics of tiles for environmental designers and marketers involved in the ceramic tiles industry.
Parent-identified barriers to accessing exposure therapy: A qualitative study using process mapping
Authors: Frank Hannah E. , Cain Grace , Freeman Jennifer , Benito Kristen G. , O’Connor Erin , Kemp Josh , Kim Bo
Published: March 2023

Background

Youth with anxiety and obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) rarely access exposure therapy, an evidence-based treatment. Known barriers include transportation, waitlists, and provider availability. Efforts to improve access to exposure require an understanding of the process that families take to find therapists, yet no prior studies have examined parents’ perspectives of the steps involved.

Methods

Parents of children who have received exposure therapy for anxiety and/or OCD (N = 23) were recruited from a hospital-based specialty anxiety clinic where the majority of their children previously received exposure. Recruitment was ongoing until thematic saturation was reached. Parents completed questionnaires and attended an online focus group during which they were asked to describe each step they took—from recognizing their child needed treatment to beginning exposure. A process map was created and shown in real-time, edited for clarity, and emailed to parents for member checking. Authors analyzed process maps to identify common themes.

Results

Several themes emerged, as visually represented in a final process map. Participants identified a “search-outreach” loop, in which they repeated the cycle of looking for therapists, contacting them, and being unable to schedule an appointment due to factors such as cost, waitlists, and travel time. Parents often did not know about exposure and reported feeling guilty about their lack of knowledge and inability to find a suitable provider. Parents reported frustration that medical providers did not often know about exposure and sometimes dismissed parents’ concerns. Participants emphasized the difficulty of navigating the mental health system; many reported that it took years to find an exposure therapist, and that the search was sometimes stalled due to fluctuating symptoms.

Conclusion

A common thread among identified barriers was the amount of burden placed on parents to find treatment with limited support, and the resultant feelings of isolation and guilt. Findings point to several directions for future research, such as the development of parent support groups for navigating the mental health system; enhancing coordination of care between medical and mental health providers; and streamlining referral processes.
Social determinants of inadequate prenatal care utilization in sheltered homeless mothers in the Greater Paris area in France
Authors: Richard Elodie , Vuillermoz Cécile , Lioret Sandrine , Berrocal Raquel Rico , Guyavarch Emmanuelle , Lambert Yann , Azria Elie , Leffondre Karen , Vandentorren Stéphanie
Published: March 2023

Background

Sheltered homeless families suffer from deleterious living conditions such as housing instability (i.e., moving from one shelter to another) that could be an additional barrier to healthcare utilization. Few studies have specifically examined perinatal health in homeless mothers and their utilization of prenatal healthcare. This study aimed to identify social determinants such as living conditions (i.e., housing instability) associated with inadequate prenatal care utilization (PCU) in sheltered homeless mothers in the Greater Paris area in France.

Methods

The homeless children and families cross-sectional survey [ENFAMS: (Enfants et familles sans logement)] was performed on a random representative sample of homeless families living in shelters in the greater Paris area in 2013. Following French guidelines, PCU was deemed inadequate if one or more of the following criteria was met: attending fewer than 50% of recommended prenatal visits, PCU initiation after the first trimester of pregnancy, and fewer than three ultrasounds during the entire pregnancy. Families were interviewed in 17 languages by trained peer interviewers in face-to-face interviews. Structural equation modeling was used to identify factors associated with inadequate PCU and to estimate correlations between them.

Results

This study analyzed data on 121 homeless sheltered mothers who had at least one child less than one year old. They were socially disadvantaged and most were born outside France. One in five (19.3%) had inadequate PCU. Associated factors were socio-demographic characteristics (young age, primiparous), health status (dissatisfaction with self-perceived general health), and living conditions (housing instability in the second and third trimesters).

Conclusion

It is essential to reduce housing instability to help sheltered mothers to benefit from social, territorial and medical support and healthcare utilization. Housing stability for pregnant sheltered homeless mothers should be a priority to ensure better PCU and guarantee the newborn's health as much as possible.
Platelet levels and age are determinants of survival after mild–moderate TBI: A prospective study in Spain
Authors: Yuguero Oriol , Vena Ana , Bernal Maria , Martínez-Alonso Montserrat , Farre Joan , Purroy Francisco
Published: March 2023

Introduction

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a very important reason for consultation in emergency departments.

Methods

A hospital cohort study with patients who attended a hospital emergency department between June 1, 2018 and December 31, 2020 due to TBI was studied. Clinical and sociodemographic variables were recorded. The levels of biomarkers and management variables were used. Qualitative variables were analyzed using Pearson's chi-square test, and quantitative variables using the Mann–Whitney U-test. Survival analyses were performed by fitting a multivariable Cox regression model for patient survival during the follow-up of the study in relation to the patient's characteristics upon admission to the emergency department.

Results

A total of 540 patients were included. The mean age was 83 years, and 53.9% of the patients were men. Overall, 112 patients (20.7%) died during the study follow-up. The mortality rate per 100 person-years was 14.33 (11.8–17.24), the most frequent mechanism being falls in the home, with none caused on public roads. The multivariable Cox proportional hazards model showed that survival after TBI was significantly associated with age, S100 levels, Charlson index, patient's institutionalized status, the place where the TBI occurred, and hemoglobin and platelet levels.

Discussion

The most common profile for a patient with a TBI was male and aged between 80 and 90 years. The combination of the variables age, Charlson index, place of TBI occurrence, and hemoglobin and platelet levels could offer early prediction of survival in our population independently of TBI severity. With the data obtained, a therapeutic algorithm could be established for patients suffering from mild TBI, allowing the patient to be supervised at home, avoiding futile referrals to emergency services.
Rethinking symbolic and visual context in Referring Expression Generation
Authors: Schüz Simeon , Gatt Albert , Zarrieß Sina
Published: March 2023

Situational context is crucial for linguistic reference to visible objects, since the same description can refer unambiguously to an object in one context but be ambiguous or misleading in others. This also applies to Referring Expression Generation (REG), where the production of identifying descriptions is always dependent on a given context. Research in REG has long represented visual domains throughsymbolicinformation about objects and their properties, to determine identifying sets of target features during content determination. In recent years, research invisual REGhas turned to neural modeling and recasted the REG task as an inherently multimodal problem, looking at more natural settings such as generating descriptions for objects in photographs. Characterizing the precise ways in which context influences generation is challenging in both paradigms, as context is notoriously lacking precise definitions and categorization. In multimodal settings, however, these problems are further exacerbated by the increased complexity and low-level representation of perceptual inputs. The main goal of this article is to provide a systematic review of the types and functions of visual context across various approaches to REG so far and to argue for integrating and extending different perspectives on visual context that currently co-exist in research on REG. By analyzing the ways in which symbolic REG integrates context in rule-based approaches, we derive a set of categories of contextual integration, including the distinction betweenpositiveandnegative semantic forcesexerted by context during reference generation. Using this as a framework, we show that so far existing work in visual REG has considered only some of the ways in which visual context can facilitate end-to-end reference generation. Connecting with preceding research in related areas, as possible directions for future research, we highlight some additional ways in which contextual integration can be incorporated into REG and other multimodal generation tasks.
Space plasma physics science opportunities for the lunar orbital platform - Gateway
Authors: Dandouras Iannis , Taylor Matt G. G. T. , De Keyser Johan , Futaana Yoshifumi , Bamford Ruth A. , Branduardi-Raymont Graziella , Chaufray Jean-Yves , Constantinescu Dragos , De Angelis Elisabetta , Devoto Pierre , Eastwood Jonathan , Echim Marius , Garnier Philippe , Grison Benjamin , Hercik David , Lammer Helmut , Laurens André , Leblanc François , Milillo Anna , Nakamura Rumi , Přech Lubomír , Roussos Elias , Štverák Štěpán , Forest Julien , Trouche Arnaud , Hess Sébastien L. G. , Mateo-Vélez Jean-Charles , Carpenter James , Winter Josef
Published: March 2023

The Lunar Orbital Platform - Gateway (LOP - Gateway, or simply Gateway) is a crewed platform that will be assembled and operated in the vicinity of the Moon by NASA and international partner organizations, including ESA, starting from the mid-2020s. It will offer new opportunities for fundamental and applied scientific research. The Moon is a unique location to study the deep space plasma environment. Moreover, the lunar surface and the surface-bounded exosphere are interacting with this environment, constituting a complex multi-scale interacting system. This paper examines the opportunities provided by externally mounted payloads on the Gateway in the field of space plasma physics, heliophysics and space weather, and also examines the impact of the space environment on an inhabited platform in the vicinity of the Moon. It then presents the conceptual design of a model payload, required to perform these space plasma measurements and observations. It results that the Gateway is very well-suited for space plasma physics research. It allows a series of scientific objectives with a multi-disciplinary dimension to be addressed.
Resource-use efficiency and environmental sustainability in the village tank cascade systems in the dry zone of Sri Lanka: An assessment using a bio-economic model
Authors: Dayananda Dasuni , Weerahewa Jeevika , Weerasooriya Senal A.
Published: March 2023

Introduction

Village tank cascade systems (VTCSs) were built in ancient Sri Lanka as autonomous and climate-resilient agro-ecological systems. This study examines crop choices, farming profitability, and environmental sustainability under alternative rainfall regimes and market interventions in the Mahakanumulla VTCS of the Anuradhapura district.

Method

A bio-economic model was developed to represent farming activities in the VTCS for the 2018-19Mahaand 2019Yalacultivation seasons with data gathered from secondary sources and a key informant survey. The objective function of the model was the maximization of profits from farming. Resource limits were set for four types of land (highlands and lowlands in theMahaandYalaseasons), two types of labor (hired and family), and twelve-monthly water constraints. Six different models were developed for the six sub-divisions of the VTCS, considering the water-management hierarchy of the system. The models were simulated under alternative rainfall regimes and market interventions. The optimal crop mixes, farm profits, and shadow prices of resources associated with the baseline scenarios were compared with those of the counterfactual scenarios.

Results and discussion

This analysis clearly illustrated that water and labor are the key determinants of the system. Also, when 922 ha of lowlands and 205 ha of uplands were allocated per annum for crop cultivation under normal environmental conditions, the annual profitability of the VTCS was LKR 111 million. During drought periods, a sharp reduction in profits was observed in theMahaseason. Year-round drought caused a 77% profit reduction compared to the baseline. The Maha drought alone caused a reduction of 47%. The introduction of a buy-back arrangement for chili and maize helped farmers to increase profits by 185 and 28%, respectively, under normal climate scenarios, turning to 954 and 5% during extreme drought scenarios, compared to the baseline. The least nitrate leaching and soil losses occurred in green chili cultivation. The introduction of market-based solutions is recommended to address extreme climate events experienced by the rural communities dependent on the VTCSs in Sri Lanka.
The learning curve of endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal surgery for pituitary adenomas with different surgical complexity
Authors: Huang Jinxiang , Hong Xinjie , Cai Zheng , Lv Qian , Jiang Ying , Dai Wei , Hu Guohan , Yan Yong , Chen Juxiang , Ding Xuehua
Published: March 2023

Objective

To investigate the learning curve under different surgical complexity in endoscopic transsphenoidal approach for pituitary adenoma.

Methods

273 patients undergoing endoscopic transsphenoidal surgery for pituitary adenoma were collected retrospectively and divided into three groups chronologically (early, middle, and late periods). Surgical complexity was differentiated based on Knosp classification (Knsop grade 0–2 vs. Knosp grade 3–4), tumor maximum diameter (MD) (macroadenomas vs. giant adenomas), and history of previous surgery for pituitary adenoma (first operation vs. reoperation). Then the temporal trends in operative time, surgical outcomes, and postoperative complications were evaluated from early to late.

Results

The median operative time decrease from 169 to 147 min across the three periods (P = 0.001). A significant decrease in operative time was seen in the simple groups [Knosp grade 0–2 adenoma (169 to 137 min, P < 0.001), macroadenoma (166 to 140 min, P < 0.001), and first operation (170.5 to 134 min, P < 0.001)] but not in their complex counterparts (P > 0.05). The GTR rate increased from 51.6% to 69.2% (P = 0.04). The surgical period was an independent factor for GTR in the simple groups [Knosp grade 0–2 adenoma: OR 2.076 (95%CI 1.118–3.858, P = 0.021); macroadenoma: OR = 2.090 (95%CI 1.287–3.393, P = 0.003); first operation: OR = 1.809 (95%CI 1.104–2.966, P = 0.019)] but not in the complex groups. The biochemical cure rate increased over periods without statistical significance (from 37.5% to 56.3%, P = 0.181). Although intraoperative CSF leakage rose (from 20.9% to 35.2%) and postoperative CSF leakage reduced (from 12.1% to 5.5%), there was no statistically significant trend across the three time periods (P > 0.05).

Conclusion

This study showed that complex operations might have a prolonged learning curve. Differentiating surgical difficulty and using multivariate combined analysis may be more helpful in clinical practice.
Dorsal oral mucosa graft urethroplasty for female urethral stricture reconstruction: A narrative review
Authors: Tao Chunqin , Jin Xiaoxiang , Zhang Hengshu
Published: March 2023

Female urethral stricture is currently a challenging situation. In general, urethra dilatation can be selected for treatment, but the complications and high recurrence rate urge doctors to consider other treatments. Recently, dorsal oral mucosa graft urethroplasty is concerned by more and more surgeons, but there are not enough reports so far. A comprehensive search of dorsal oral mucosa graft urethroplasty was performed. According to the existing literature, there are applications of buccal mucosa and lingual mucosa, and compared with other kinds of grafts, the success rate is higher. However, there is a lack of multicenter, large sample and long follow-up studies. And there is still no enough comparative study between different types of oral mucosa. In summary, dorsal oral mucosa graft urethroplasty is an effective option for the management of female urethral stricture. More multicenter and large sample studies with long-term follow-up data are needed.
Field epidemiology capacity of the national veterinary services of Lao PDR: An online survey
Authors: Subharat Supatsak , Meunsene Dethaloun , Putthana Vannaphone , Tiwari Harish , Firestone Simon M.
Published: March 2023

Introduction

Capacity in veterinary epidemiology is critical to detect, respond and control infectious diseases. Laos veterinary service is limited by having only a small number of veterinarians who graduated from overseas. Animal science graduates support the majority of the Laos veterinary services. The veterinary program was established in 2009 at the National University of Laos. We aimed to understand the national veterinary epidemiology capacity and identify gaps and training needs.

Method

A cross-sectional online study was conducted in 2021 targeting central (DLF), provincial (PAFO) and district (DAFO) government animal health officers and veterinary/animal science academics (n = 332). The questionnaire addressed skills, experiences and perceived training needs in outbreak investigation, disease surveillance, data management and analysis, epidemiological surveys, One Health, leadership and communication and biosecurity. A descriptive analysis was performed and associations between demographic factors and epidemiological skills were examined.

Results and discussion

In total, 205 respondents completed the questionnaire (61.8% response rate). Respondents reported low or no skills and experience in data management and analysis, epidemiological surveys and One Health. In contrast, higher but limited skills and experiences were reported in outbreak investigation, disease surveillance and biosecurity. Previous epidemiology training was primarily associated with stronger experiences in veterinary epidemiology competencies, followed by respondents that had completed a veterinary degree, highlighting the value of the currently available epidemiology training and veterinary-trained personnel in Lao PDR. This study could help inform the Laos government in its policy planning for field veterinary epidemiology capacity and future training.
Effect of Material Properties on Fiber-Shaped Pneumatic Actuators Performance
Authors: Hoque Muh Amdadul , Petersen Emily , Fang Xiaomeng
Published: March 2023

Thin fiber-shaped pneumatic artificial muscle (PAM) can generate contractile motions upon stimulation, and it is well known for its good compliance, high weight-to-power ratio, resemblance to animal muscle movements, and, most importantly, the capability to be integrated into fabrics and other textile forms for wearable devices. This fiber-shaped device, based on McKibben technology, consists of an elastomeric bladder that is wrapped around by a braided sleeve, which transfers radial expansion into longitudinal contraction due to the change in the sleeve’s braiding angle while being inflated. This paper investigates the effect of material properties on fiber-shaped PAM’s behavior, including the braiding yarn and bladder’s dimensional and mechanical properties. A range of samples with combinations of yarn and bladder parameters were developed and characterized. A robust fabrication process verified through several calibration and control experiments of PAM was applied, which ensured a more accurate characterization of the actuators. The results demonstrate that material properties, such as yarn stiffness, yarn diameter, bladder diameter, and bladder hardness, have significant effects on PAMs’ deformation strains and forces generated. The findings can serve as fundamental guidelines for the future design and development of fiber-shaped pneumatic actuators.
Probabilistic Failure Risk of Aeroengine Life-Limited Parts Considering the Random Load Interference Effect
Authors: Li Guo , Huang Shuchun , Lu Wanqiu , Liu Junbo , Ding Shuiting , Zhang Gong , Zhen Bo
Published: March 2023

Probabilistic failure risk analysis of aeroengine life-limited parts is of great significance for flight safety. Current probabilistic failure risk analysis uses equal amplitude load calculations for conservative estimation, avoiding inclusion of the interference effect analyzing random loads due to its massive computational complexity and leading to reduced analysis accuracy. Here, an efficient algorithm is established to solve this computational problem, and an analytical framework is established to consider the interference effect of variable amplitude load. The corresponding probabilistic failure risk analysis is performed for the centrifugal compressor disk. The results show that considering the interference effect of random variable amplitude loads causes a significant decrease in the risk of failure, and the efficient algorithm has advantages over the Monte Carlo sampling method in accuracy and efficiency when considering load interference. This work provides a reference for exploring the probabilistic damage tolerance method under complex loads and supports the optimal design of life-limited parts.
RANS-Based Aeroacoustic Global Sensitivity Study and Optimization of UAV Propellers
Authors: Klimczyk Witold , Sieradzki Adam
Published: March 2023

Modeling of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) propellers in a global, multidisciplinary aeroacoustic optimization was investigated. The modeling consists of three aspects: geometry, aerodynamics, and aeroacoustics. Firstly, a parametric geometry model was established using chord, twist, and sweep distributions along the radius, defined by splines to ensure smoothness. Additionally, airfoil parameters including maximum camber and its position, as well as the position of maximum thickness, were added. Secondly, a blade geometry-resolved aerodynamic model based on steady RANS was established. A two-equation SST turbulence model was used for compressible flow with periodic boundary conditions. Thirdly, an aeroacoustic model for far-field tonal noise calculation was defined, based on the Ffowcs Williams and Hawkings analogy and a RANS solution. A global sensitivity analysis was performed to establish the importance of individual design variables. Consequently, surrogate modeling-based optimization strategy was devised to efficiently establish Pareto front of propeller geometries in multi-objective aeroacoustic optimization.
Inverse Reinforcement Learning-Based Fire-Control Command Calculation of an Unmanned Autonomous Helicopter Using Swarm Intelligence Demonstration
Authors: Zhu Haojie , Chen Mou , Han Zengliang , Lungu Mihai
Published: March 2023

This paper concerns the fire-control command calculation (FCCC) of an unmanned autonomous helicopter (UAH). It determines the final effect of the UAH attack. Although many different FCCC methods have been proposed for finding optimal or near-optimal fire-control execution processes, most are either slow in calculational speed or low in attack precision. This paper proposes a novel inverse reinforcement learning (IRL) FCCC method to calculate the fire-control commands in real time without losing precision by considering wind disturbance. First, the adaptive step velocity-verlet iterative algorithm-based ballistic determination method is proposed for calculation of the impact point of the unguided projectile under wind disturbance. In addition, a swarm intelligence demonstration (SID) model is proposed to demonstrate teaching; this model is based on an improved particle swarm optimization (IPSO) algorithm. Benefiting from the global optimization capability of the IPSO algorithm, the SID model often leads to an exact solution. Furthermore, a reward function neural network (RFNN) is trained according to the SID model, and a reinforcement learning (RL) model using RFNN is used to generate the fire-control commands in real time. Finally, the simulation results verify the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed FCCC method.
Evaluation of Agricultural Green Development Based on Gini Coefficient and Hesitation Fuzzy Multi-Attribute Decision-Making: The Case of China
Authors: Wan Min , Kuang Haibo , Yang Yanbo , He Bi , Zhao Sue , Wang Ying , Huo Jingyi
Published: March 2023

In order to systematically solve the problem of formulating agricultural green development strategies based on the four dimensions of policy green, industry green, science and technology green, and awareness green, this paper uses the method of combining the Gini coefficient with hesitation fuzzy multi-attribute decision-making to carry out research. The research shows that: (1) The three most critical factors affecting the green development of agriculture are “consumers’ awareness of purchasing green agricultural products”, “investment in the construction of rural ecological civilization” and “the number of farmers’ scientific and technological training”, and the corresponding index weights are 0.12, 0.1 and 0.1, respectively. (2) There are differences in policy, industry, science and technology, and consciousness in the green development of agriculture. The green development of policy shows an obvious upward trend. The industrial green development shows a relatively gentle upward trend. The green development of science and technology showed rapid growth from 2011 to 2017, and the growth slowed down in the following two years and showed a downward trend in 2020. The awareness of green development shows a relatively stable upward trend. (3) The green development of agriculture is jointly driven by the relevant interests of the supply side, the demand side, and the regulator, and the demand side’s requirements for high-quality agricultural products become a stronger driving force for the green development of agriculture. The change in the consciousness and thinking of agricultural product producers on the supply side has become the basis for the green development of agriculture, and the implementation of government policies has become an important guarantee for the green development of agriculture. The innovation of this paper is to build an evaluation index system including government, consumers, farmers’ awareness of multiple subjects, government policies at all levels, industrial production status, and agricultural production technology. At the same time, we build an evaluation model that can comprehensively analyze quantitative and qualitative indicators. In view of the need for a holistic analysis of the agricultural system in the study of agricultural green development, future studies will include air pollution emissions and agricultural transport services in the evaluation model to improve the scientific and universal model.
Design and Operation Parameters of Vibrating Harvester for Coffea arabica L.
Authors: Yu Yingjie , Cao Ying , Lai Qinghui , Zhao Qinghui , Sun Zhexing , Zhou Shengwu , Song Dake
Published: March 2023

This study designed a handheld vibrating coffee harvester to improve the mechanized harvesting of Coffea arabica L. The proposed device was used to vibrate branches of Coffea arabica L. trees, and the shedding of coffee fruit and the operation parameters of vibrational harvesting were analyzed. Images captured using high-speed photography were used to derive a force equation that represents the forced vibration of the coffee fruit-stalk joint. In addition, the vibrations of coffee berries and branches were theoretically analyzed, and the results were used to establish a dynamic vibration model of coffee trees. The shedding of coffee berries was primarily affected by the vibration frequency, vibration amplitude, and excitation position, which were simulated using a rigid–flexible branch-machine coupling model on RecurDyn software. Furthermore, field experiments were conducted to determine the optimal working parameters for coffee harvesting using vibrations. The results indicated optimal picking performance when the vibration frequency, vibration amplitude, and excitation position were 62 Hz, 9 mm, and 0.4 L, respectively. The harvesting rates of ripe and unripe coffee were 92.22% and 8.33%, respectively, and the damage rate was 5.23%. Thus, the proposed harvester can satisfactorily achieve the optimal harvesting of Coffea arabica L.
Mitigation of High Solar Irradiance and Heat Stress in Kiwifruit during Summer via the Use of Alleviating Products with Different Modes of Action—Part 2 Effects on Fruit Quality, Organoleptic, and Phytochemical Properties at Harvest and after Storage
Authors: Denaxa Nikoleta-Kleio , Tsafouros Athanassios , Ntanos Efstathios , Kosta Anna , Roussos Peter Anargyrou
Published: March 2023

In Greece, kiwifruit is grown in areas characterized by high temperatures during the summer months, with high solar radiation, especially during the period of shoot growth and fruit maturation. Therefore, the impact of heat stress is crucial. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effect of pre-harvest alleviating products’ application in the field on the yield and fruit quality attributes of ‘Hayward’ kiwifruit before and after storage. To achieve this, the osmoprotectant BlueStim (glycine betaine), the reflectant Purshade (calcium carbonate 62.5% w/w), and the antioxidant Sun Protect were applied by foliar spraying. Fruits produced under the influence of BlueStim exhibited high soluble sugars, total phenols, total flavanols, total flavonoids, and FRAP antioxidant capacity at harvest, while the production per vine increased by almost 17% compared to control. After storage, fruits produced from vines pre-harvest treated with BlueStim showed increased concentrations of soluble sugars, ascorbic acid, total organic acids, total flavonoids, and antioxidant capacity. Fruits produced from vines treated with Purshade presented high concentrations of soluble sugars, total phenols, FRAP and DPPH antioxidant capacity, total soluble solids, and malic acid, while Sun Protect application resulted in increased fruit firmness and total phenols as well. Therefore, the applied treatments alleviated, to some extent, the negative impact of heat stress on fruit quality, with variable effects on the measured quality parameters.
Effects of Dietary Crude Protein and Protease Levels on Performance, Immunity Capacity, and AA Digestibility of Broilers
Authors: Qiu Kai , Chen Jiang , Zhang Guangmin , Chang Wenhuan , Zheng Aijuan , Cai Huiyi , Liu Guohua , Chen Zhimin
Published: March 2023

Exogenous proteases are promising to stimulate the application of low-protein diets for broilers. A total of 540 1-day-old Arbor Acres male broilers were randomly assigned to 9 groups with 6 replicates of 10 birds. A 3 × 3 factorial, completely randomized arrangement was used to evaluate the effects of dietary crude protein (CP) and protease levels on growth and slaughter performance, immunity capacity, and apparent ileal digestibility (AID) of amino acids (AA). Dietary CP levels were 20.0%, 19.5%, or 19.0% during the starter phase, and 18.0%, 17.5%, or 17.0% during the finisher phase. Protease levels were 0, 250, or 500 mg/kg in diets throughout the trial. The trial lasted for 42 days. Weight gain and feed efficiency of broilers decreased as dietary CP lowered, but improved with protease supplementation. Dietary CP and protease levels had few effects and interactions on carcass characteristics, immune organ indexes, and immunoglobulin concentrations. The AID of most AA was improved by dietary CP decrease or protease supplementation. In conclusion, reducing dietary CP decreased the performance and immune capacity of broilers but increased the AID of AA. Almost independent of dietary CP level, dietary protease addition improved the performance of broilers, probably through the enhancement of AA digestibility, and had no effect on carcass traits.
The Impact of Migration on Farm Performance: Evidence from Rice Farmers in China
Authors: Ren Guangcheng , Zhu Xueqin , Feng Shuyi
Published: March 2023

Developing economies face challenges in improving the overall performance of farms. An essential challenge could be a substantial shift in the agricultural labor force to off-farm sectors during the process of economic transition. This paper estimates the causal impact of migration on the economic and environmental performance of rice farms, measured using technical efficiency and fertilizer use efficiency. A stochastic frontier analysis, based on the survey data collected in four regions of China, is applied, finding an average technical efficiency of 0.92, while the average fertilizer use efficiency is only 0.22. The results of propensity score matching suggest that migration has a marginally negative impact on both technical efficiency and fertilizer use efficiency of their rice production, while the impact is amplified for farmers who participated in migration more intensively. This would imply that the government policy on the migration of rural households might also need to consider this impact.