bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Muscle Fiber Conduction Velocity Correlates With the Age at Onset in Mild FSHD Cases
Authors: Beretta-Piccoli Matteo , Negro Massimo , Calanni Luca , Berardinelli Angela , Siciliano Gabriele , Tupler Rossella , Soldini Emiliano , Cescon Corrado , D’Antona Giuseppe
Published: June 2021

A majority of patients with facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) report severe fatigue. The aim of this study was to explore whether fatigability during a performance task is related to the main clinical features of the disease in mildly affected patients. A total of 19 individuals with a molecular genetic-based diagnosis of FSHD (median D4Z4 deletion length of 27 kb) performed two isometric flexions of the dominant biceps brachii at 20% of their maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) for 2 min, and then at 60% MVC until exhaustion. Fatigability indices (average rectified value, mean frequency, conduction velocity, and fractal dimension) were extracted from the surface electromyogram (sEMG) signal, and their correlations with age, age at onset, disease duration, D4Z4 contraction length, perceived fatigability, and clinical disability score were analyzed. The conduction velocity during the low level contraction showed a significant negative correlation with the age at onset (p< 0.05). This finding suggest the assessment of conduction velocity at low isometric contraction intensities, as a potential useful tool to highlight differences in muscle involvement in FSHD patients.
Embryonic Thermal Manipulation Affects Ventilation, Metabolism, Thermal Control and Central Dopamine in Newly Hatched and Juvenile Chicks
Authors: Rocha Aline C. G. , Cristina-Silva Caroline , Taxini Camila L. , da Costa Silva Kaoma Stephani , Lima Virgínia T. M. , Macari Marcos , Bícego Kênia C. , Szawka Raphael E. , Gargaglioni Luciane H.
Published: June 2021

The first third of incubation is critical for embryonic development, and environmental changes during this phase can affect the physiology and survival of the embryos. We evaluated the effects of low (LT), control (CT), and high (HT) temperatures during the first 5 days of incubation on ventilation (V.E), body temperature (Tb), oxygen consumption (V.O2), respiratory equivalent (V.E/V.O2), and brain monoamines on 3-days-old (3d) and 14-days-old (14d) male and female chickens. The body mass of LT animals of both ages and sexes was higher compared to HT and CT animals (except for 3d males). The heart mass of 14d HT animals was higher than that of CT animals. Thermal manipulation did not affectV.E,V.O2orV.E/V.O2of 3d animals in normoxia, except for 3d LT malesV.E, which was lower than CT. Regarding 14d animals, the HT females showed a decrease inV.EandV.O2compared to CT and LT groups, while the HT males displayed a lowerV.O2compared to CT males, but no changes inV.E/V.O2. Both sexes of 14d HT chickens presented a greater Tb compared to CT animals. Thermal manipulations increased the dopamine turnover in the brainstem of 3d females. No differences were observed in ventilatory and metabolic parameters in the 3d animals of either sexes, and 14d males under 7% CO2. The hypercapnic hyperventilation was attenuated in the 14d HT females due to changes inV.O2, without alterations inV.E. The 14d LT males showed a lowerV.E, during hypercapnia, compared to CT, without changes inV.O2, resulting in an attenuation inV.E/V.O2. During hypoxia, 3d LT females showed an attenuated hyperventilation, modulated by a higherV.O2. In 14d LT and HT females, the increase inV.Ewas greater and the hypometabolic response was attenuated, compared to CT females, which resulted in no change in theV.E/V.O2. In conclusion, thermal manipulations affect hypercapnia-induced hyperventilation more so than hypoxic challenge, and at both ages, females are more affected by thermal manipulation than males.
The Distribution and Origins of Pyrus hopeiensis-“Wild Plant With Tiny Population” Using Whole Genome Resequencing
Authors: Li Yongtan , Zhang Jun , Wang Shijie , Zhang Yiwen , Yang Minsheng
Published: June 2021

Pyrus hopeiensis is a valuable but endangered wild resource in the genus Pyrus. It has been listed as one of the 120 wild species with tiny population in China. The specie has been little studied. A preliminary study of propagation modes in P. hopeiensis was performed through seed propagation, hybridization, self-crossing trials, bud grafting, branch grafting, and investigations of natural growth. The results showed that the population size of P. hopeiensis was very small, the distribution range was limited, and the habitat was extremely degraded. In the wild population, natural hybridization and root tiller production were the major modes of propagation. Whole genome re-sequencing of the 23 wild and cultivated accessions from Pyrus species collected was performed using an Illumina HiSeq sequencing platform. The sequencing depth range was 26.56x−44.85x and the average sequencing depth was 32x. Phylogenetic tree and principal component analyses (PCA) based on SNPs showed that the wild Pyrus species, such as PWH06, PWH07, PWH09, PWH10, PWH13, and PWH17, were closely related to both P. hopeiensis HB-1 and P. hopeiensis HB-2. Using these results in combination with morphological characteristics, it speculated that P. hopeiensis populations may form a natural hybrid group with frequent gene exchanges between and within groups. A selective elimination analysis on the P. hopeiensis population were performed using Fst and π radio and a total of 381 overlapping genes including SAUR72, IAA20, HSFA2, and RKP genes were obtained. These genes were analyzed by gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) function enrichment. And four KEGG pathways, including lysine degradation, sphingolipid metabolism, other glycan degradation, and betaine biosynthesis were significantly enriched in the P. hopeiensis population. Our study provided information on genetic variation, evolutionary relationships, and gene enrichment in P. hopeiensis population. These data will help reveal the evolutionary history and origin of P. hopeiensis and provide guidelines for subsequent research on the locations of functional genes.
Transcriptome Analysis of Resistance to Fusarium Wilt in Mung Bean (Vigna radiata L.)
Authors: Chang Yujie , Sun Feifei , Sun Suli , Wang Lanfen , Wu Jing , Zhu Zhendong
Published: June 2021

Fusarium wilt is a destructive soil-borne disease that threatens the production of mung bean. Mung bean lines Zheng8-4 and Zheng8-20 show high resistance and high susceptibility to Fusarium wilt, respectively. Transcriptome analysis was carried out to identify candidate genes involved in Fusarium wilt resistance using Zheng8-4 and Zheng8-20 at 0, 0.5, 1, 2, and 4 days post inoculation (dpi). Differential expression analysis showed that 3,254 genes responded to pathogen infection and were differentially expressed in the resistant and susceptible lines. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) was also performed to identify five modules highly correlated with Fusarium wilt resistance, in which 453 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were considered likely to be involved in Fusarium wilt resistance. Among these DEGs, we found 24 genes encoding resistance (R) proteins, 22 encoding protein kinases, 20 belonging to transcription factor families, 34 encoding proteins with oxidoreductase activity, 17 involved in stimulation/stress responses, and 54 annotated to pathogen resistance-related pathways. Finally, 27 annotated genes were further selected as candidate genes of Fusarium wilt resistance in mung bean. This study identifies novel potential resistance-related genes against Fusarium wilt and provides a theoretical basis for further investigation of Fusarium wilt resistance in mung bean breeding.
Comparison Between Performance Levels for Mathematical Competence: Results for the Sex Variable
Authors: García Perales Ramón , Palomares Ruiz Ascensión
Published: June 2021

Schools promote all-round education for each of their students. This requires teachers to work on all of the possibilities offered by a subject, including mathematical ability. This process of adjustment and individualization is essential for students who have excellent performance or aptitudes. This study uses anex postfacto, descriptive and quantitative research methodology to examine the results of giving the online version of the Evaluation Battery for Mathematical Ability (BECOMA On) to 3795 5th-year primary school students. The sample was selected from 147 Spanish schools from 16 autonomous regions and 2 autonomous municipalities. Three levels of performance were identified, 3 being the highest, and different statistical indices were calculated for each of them. The results were also analyzed according to sex, with statistically significant differences in the highest performance level. In addition, the study highlighted a diagnostic gap in the identification of higher capacity students, a pending challenge for education systems for the educational inclusion of all students.
L2 Proficiency Pairing, Task Type and L1 Use: A Mixed-Methods Study on Optimal Pairing in Dyadic Task-Based Peer Interaction
Authors: Tian Lili , Jiang Yan
Published: June 2021

While task-based peer interaction in dyads has been commonly practiced in English as a foreign language (EFL) classrooms, how to pair learners in dyadic tasks has always been a concern of teachers and researchers. This study examined learner proficiency pairing, task type and L1 use by Chinese EFL learners in two dyadic speaking tasks. Thirty-six participants were paired according to their oral English proficiency levels into: same-level pairs (high-high; medium-medium; low-low), and mixed-level pairs (high-low). All pairs completed two types of speaking tasks—information-gap and opinion-exchange. Quantitative results showed a significant difference between low-low pairs and other pairs in the amount of L1 use. Low-level learners produced significantly more L1 words and turns when paired with other low-level peers (low-low) than with high-level peers (high-low) in both types of tasks. Qualitative analysis further indicated that the mixed-level (high-low) pairs produced more opportunities for negotiation of meaning than the same-level (low-low) pairs during the interactional episodes where the L1 served various functions. The study offers pedagogical implications for EFL teachers about how to optimally pair learners to maximize their language development.
Current Advances in Wearable Devices and Their Sensors in Patients With Depression
Authors: Lee Seunggyu , Kim Hyewon , Park Mi Jin , Jeon Hong Jin
Published: June 2021

In this study, a literature survey was conducted of research into the development and use of wearable devices and sensors in patients with depression. We collected 18 studies that had investigated wearable devices for assessment, monitoring, or prediction of depression. In this report, we examine the sensors of the various types of wearable devices (e.g., actigraphy units, wristbands, fitness trackers, and smartwatches) and parameters measured through sensors in people with depression. In addition, we discuss future trends, referring to research in other areas employing wearable devices, and suggest the challenges of using wearable devices in the field of depression. Real-time objective monitoring of symptoms and novel approaches for diagnosis and treatment using wearable devices will lead to changes in management of patients with depression. During the process, it is necessary to overcome several issues, including limited types of collected data, reliability, user adherence, and privacy concerns.
Associations of Childhood Neglect With the ACTH and Plasma Cortisol Stress Response in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes
Authors: Monzer Nelly , Hartmann Mechthild , Buckert Magdalena , Wolff Kira , Nawroth Peter , Kopf Stefan , Kender Zoltan , Friederich Hans-Christoph , Wild Beate
Published: June 2021

Background: Cross-sectional as well as longitudinal studies have linked childhood maltreatment to type 2 diabetes in adulthood with childhood neglect showing the strongest effect on type 2 diabetes risk. However, the mechanisms that link childhood maltreatment to type 2 diabetes are still unclear. Alterations in the psychological and physiological stress response system, specifically the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis are a common finding in samples with a background of childhood neglect and are associated with type 2 diabetes. In the present study, we investigated the association between childhood neglect and the physiological and psychological stress response in patients with type 2 diabetes and healthy control participants.

Method: We assessed emotional and physical childhood neglect in a sample of n = 74 patients with type 2 diabetes and n = 50 healthy control participants. We used the trier social stress test (TSST) to induce a stress response. Blood ACTH and cortisol levels were measured before (T0), directly after (T1) as well as 30 (T2) and 60 (T3) min after the TSST. Participants' subjective experience was assessed via visual analog scales before, directly after as well as at 45 min after the TSST. We used multiple regression analyses to predict the change in self-reported tension between T0 and T1. Multilevel models were applied to predict cortisol and ACTH levels across all measurement points.

Results: We found a significant association between moderate to severe childhood neglect and a stronger psychological stress response in patients with type 2 diabetes, that was not present in healthy controls. In type 2 diabetes patients, but not in healthy controls, higher ACTH levels across all measurement points were significantly associated with higher severity of emotional neglect and higher severity of physical neglect was significantly associated with a stronger increase in plasma cortisol from T0 to T1.

Conclusions: This is the first study to investigate whether childhood maltreatment in patients with type 2 diabetes could be associated with a dysregulated stress response. Our results show a link between the psychological and physiological stress response and childhood neglect in type 2 diabetes patients. This pathway is thus a possible mechanism connecting type 2 diabetes and childhood neglect.
Common Data Elements, Scalable Data Management Infrastructure, and Analytics Workflows for Large-Scale Neuroimaging Studies
Authors: Kuplicki Rayus , Touthang James , Al Zoubi Obada , Mayeli Ahmad , Misaki Masaya ,   NeuroMAP-Investigators, Aupperle Robin L. , Teague T. Kent , McKinney Brett A. , Paulus Martin P. , Bodurka Jerzy
Published: June 2021

Neuroscience studies require considerable bioinformatic support and expertise. Numerous high-dimensional and multimodal datasets must be preprocessed and integrated to create robust and reproducible analysis pipelines. We describe a common data elements and scalable data management infrastructure that allows multiple analytics workflows to facilitate preprocessing, analysis and sharing of large-scale multi-level data. The process uses the Brain Imaging Data Structure (BIDS) format and supports MRI, fMRI, EEG, clinical, and laboratory data. The infrastructure provides support for other datasets such as Fitbit and flexibility for developers to customize the integration of new types of data. Exemplar results from 200+ participants and 11 different pipelines demonstrate the utility of the infrastructure.
The Interpersonal-Psychological Theory of Suicide to Explain Suicidal Risk in Eating Disorders: A Mini-Review
Authors: Zeppegno Patrizia , Calati Raffaella , Madeddu Fabio , Gramaglia Carla
Published: June 2021

Suicide is a major cause of death in Eating Disorders (EDs) and particularly in anorexia nervosa (AN). The aim of the present mini-review was to summarize the literature focusing on the interpersonal-psychological theory of suicide (IPTS) by Thomas E. Joiner, as applied to explain suicidal risk in EDs. PubMed database was used to search articles focused on IPTS in EDs; 10 studies were eventually included. The majority of the included studies reported data from the same sample, even though the hypotheses and analyses for each study were unique. The investigated suicidal outcomes were suicidal ideation (SI) (40%), non-suicidal self-injury (10%), suicide attempt (40%) and suicide (10%). In ED patients Perceived Burdensomeness (PB) may play an important role, especially regarding SI risk. ED patients may feel like a burden to their close ones, and actually some of the ED symptoms may be an expression of anger and hate against the self. Overall, currently available research has supported some IPTS derived predictions (i.e., ED symptoms may increase PB and thereby SI), but not others (i.e., the elevated suicide rate in AN may be due to higher acquired capability for suicide). Further research on IPTS tenets as well as on other theoretical perspectives and constructs (e.g., interoceptive awareness), hopefully with a longitudinal design and adequate follow-up duration, might allow a more thorough understanding of the complex topic of suicidal behavior in ED patients.
The Fort McMurray Mommy Baby Study: A Protocol to Reduce Maternal Stress Due to the 2016 Fort McMurray Wood Buffalo, Alberta, Canada Wildfire
Authors: Hyde Ashley , Verstraeten Barbara S. E. , Olson Joanne K. , King Suzanne , Brémault-Phillips Suzette , Olson David M.
Published: June 2021

Introduction:Data show that maternal stress triggered by exposure to a natural disaster before, during or just after pregnancy is associated with adverse pregnancy and newborn outcomes. In this paper, the first aim is to describe our efforts to test a simple, low-cost intervention to large numbers of women following a major natural disaster. The second aim is to outline the challenges faced and lessons learned during the execution of this natural disaster study.

Methods:The setting was the May 2016 Fort McMurray Wood Buffalo wildfire in northern Alberta, Canada. Women who were pregnant or preconception at the time of the disaster were invited to participate via social media. This prospective cohort study included a randomized controlled trial to test the effectiveness of an expressive writing intervention on the levels of prenatal maternal stress and maternal, birth, and early childhood outcomes. At recruitment and at multiple timepoints postpartum, a battery of questionnaires was administered to evaluate objective and subjective stress exposure to the fire as well as maternal mental health, resilience and its contributing factors as well as infant developmental milestones. Qualitative content analysis of the expressive writing was conducted.

Discussion:There is an increasing need to develop effective, wide-spread, rapid, and low-cost interventions to reduce prenatal maternal stress, increase resilience, and improve pregnancy outcomes following a natural disaster. Though analysis of data is ongoing, we highlight the strengths of this study which include strong community participation, rapid recruitment of eligible participants, low-cost intervention and data acquisition, and successful testing of the intervention. We acknowledge the challenges we encountered including the high rate of participant disqualifications or losses due to incomplete collection of online data; evacuation, dispersal, and inconsistent return to homes; and the high levels of stress accumulated post-disaster which led to inability to complete the study. Despite potential challenges, there remains a need for such research amid natural disasters.
Entomological and Molecular Surveillance of Anopheles Mosquitoes in Freetown, Sierra Leone, 2019
Authors: Zhao Ning , Sesay Ishaq , Tu Hong , Yamba Frederick , Lu Liang , Guo Yuhong , Song Xiuping , Wang Jun , Liu Xiaobo , Yue Yujuan , Wu Haixia , Liu Qiyong
Published: June 2021

Background: Malaria is endemic in Sierra Leone, with stable and perennial transmission in all parts of the country. At present, the main prevention and control measures for mosquito vectors here involve insecticide treated nets (ITN) and indoor residual spraying (IRS). The most recent entomological surveillance was conducted prior to the civil war, between 1990 and 1994. Therefore, a new entomological surveillance required to support targeted malaria control strategies.

Methods:Anopheles mosquitoes were collected between June and December 2019 using the light trap method. On these, we conducted species identification, analyzed seasonal fluctuation and Plasmodium infection rate, and monitored insecticide resistance.

Results: Surveillance of seasonal fluctuation showed that there were two peak of Anopheles density in July (mean 13.67 mosquitoes/trap/night) and October (mean 13.00 mosquitoes/trap/night). Meanwhile, the lowest Anopheles density was seen in early September. Ninety-one representatives of Anopheles gambiae s.l. were selected and identified as An. coluzzii (n = 35) and An. gambiae s.s. (n = 56) using PCR. An. coluzzii and An. gambiae s.s. were found to be heterozygous resistant to the knockdown resistance (kdr) L1014F mutation (100%). Meanwhile, the East African mutation (kdr L1014S) was absent in the tested mosquitoes. Three mosquitoes that tested positive for the parasite, had an individual Plasmodium falciparum infection rate of 12.50, 16.67, and 14.29%. The sampling dates of positive mosquitoes were distributed in the two periods of peak Anopheles mosquito density.

Conclusion: This study identified the dominant Anopheles species in Freetown as An. gambiae while the predominant species within the An. gambiae complex was An. gambiae sensu stricto. Surveillance of seasonal fluctuations and high P. falciparum infection rates in Anopheles indicate that the alternation of drought and rainy seasons from June to July, and from October to November, are the key periods for malaria control and prevention in Freetown, Sierra Leone. The high frequency of kdr allele mutations in An. gambiae calls for close monitoring of vector susceptibility to insecticides and tracing of resistance mechanisms in order to develop more effective vector control measures and strategies.
Modification of the Rosenberg Scale to Assess Self-Esteem in Children
Authors: Wood Carly , Griffin Murray , Barton Jo , Sandercock Gavin
Published: June 2021

Rosenberg's scale (RSES) is widely used to assess global self-esteem (SE) in adults and adolescents but is not validated for children <12 years. This study assessed the internal consistency, convergent validity, and factor structure of a modified RSES for schoolchildren (CRSES) aged 7–12 years. A total of 711 children aged 9.0 ± 1.5 years completed the CRSES; a subset (n = 417) also completed a life satisfaction (LS) scale. Data were submitted for confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and tests of factorial invariance by sex. Two-way ANOVA compared scores by age-group and sex; whilst Pearson's correlations examined the relationship between LS and SE. Following the use of modification indices the fit for the global SE model met the goodness of fit statistic criteria: χ(27, n = 711) = 77.22; χnormed = 2.860 CFI = 0.961; RMSEA = 0.051 with 90% CI = 0.038-0.065; SRMR = 0.037; and displayed respectable internal consistency (α = 0.79). The model was also factorially invariant by sex. SE scores did not vary sex (p > 0.05); but were significantly reduced in children aged 9–10 and 11–12 years compared to children aged 7–8 years. The global SE score was significantly correlated (r = 0.51; P < 0.001) with LS. The current version of the CRSES can reliably examine global SE in children aged 7–12 years; extending the use of the RSES to allow tracking across the life course.
Increased Incidence of Dysmenorrhea in Women Exposed to Higher Concentrations of NO, NO2, NOx, CO, and PM2.5: A Nationwide Population-Based Study
Authors: Lin Shih-Yi , Yang Yu-Cih , Lin Cheng-Chieh , Chang Cherry Yin-Yi , Hsu Wu-Huei , Wang I-Kuan , Lin Chia-Der , Hsu Chung-Y. , Kao Chia-Hung
Published: June 2021

Background: Air pollution is speculated to affect the reproductive health of women. However, a longitudinal association between exposure to air pollution and dysmenorrhea has not been identified, which this study aimed to examine this point.

Methods: Two nationwide databases, namely the Taiwan Air Quality Monitoring database and the Taiwan National Health Research Institutes database were linked. Women with a history of dysmenorrhea (International Classification of Disease, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification code 625.3) before 2000 were excluded. All participants were followed from January 1, 2000 until the diagnosis of dysmenorrhea, withdrawal from National Health Insurance, or December 31, 2013. Furthermore, air pollutants were categorized into quartiles with three cut-off points (25th, 50th, and 75th percentiles). The Cox regression model was used to calculate the hazard ratios of dysmenorrhea.

Results: This study enrolled 296,078 women. The mean concentrations of yearly air pollutants were 28.2 (±12.6) ppb for nitric oxides (NOx), 8.91 (±7.93) ppb for nitric oxide (NO), 19.3 (±5.49) ppb for nitrogen dioxide (NO2), 0.54 (±0.18) ppm for carbon monoxide (CO), and 31.8 (±6.80) μg/m3 for PM2.5. In total, 12,514 individuals developed dysmenorrhea during the 12-year follow-up. Relative to women exposed to Q1 concentrations of NOx, women exposed to Q4 concentrations exhibited a significantly higher dysmenorrhea risk [adjusted hazard ratio (aHR)= 27.9, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 21.6–31.3]; similarly higher risk was found for exposure to NO (aHR = 16.7, 95% CI = 15.4–18.4) and NO2 (aHR = 33.1, 95% CI = 30.9–37.4). For CO, the relative dysmenorrhea risk in women with Q4 level exposure was 28.7 (95% CI = 25.4–33.6). For PM2.5, women at the Q4 exposure level were 27.6 times (95% CI = 23.1–29.1) more likely to develop dysmenorrhea than those at the Q1 exposure level.

Conclusion: Our results showed that women would have higher dysmenorrhea incidences while exposure to high concentrations of NO, NO2, NOx, CO, and PM2.5.
Detachable Robotic Grippers for Human-Robot Collaboration
Authors: Iqbal Zubair , Pozzi Maria , Prattichizzo Domenico , Salvietti Gionata
Published: June 2021

Collaborative robots promise to add flexibility to production cells thanks to the fact that they can work not only close to humans but also with humans. The possibility of a direct physical interaction between humans and robots allows to perform operations that were inconceivable with industrial robots. Collaborative soft grippers have been recently introduced to extend this possibility beyond the robot end-effector, making humans able to directly act on robotic hands. In this work, we propose to exploit collaborative grippers in a novel paradigm in which these devices can be easily attached and detached from the robot arm and used also independently from it. This is possible only with self-powered hands, that are still quite uncommon in the market. In the presented paradigm not only hands can be attached/detached to/from the robot end-effector as if they were simple tools, but they can also remain active and fully functional after detachment. This ensures all the advantages brought in by tool changers, that allow for quick and possibly automatic tool exchange at the robot end-effector, but also gives the possibility of using the hand capabilities and degrees of freedom without the need of an arm or of external power supplies. In this paper, the concept of detachable robotic grippers is introduced and demonstrated through two illustrative tasks conducted with a new tool changer designed for collaborative grippers. The novel tool changer embeds electromagnets that are used to add safety during attach/detach operations. The activation of the electromagnets is controlled through a wearable interface capable of providing tactile feedback. The usability of the system is confirmed by the evaluations of 12 users.
On-Orbit Robotic Grasping of a Spent Rocket Stage: Grasp Stability Analysis and Experimental Results
Authors: Mavrakis Nikos , Hao Zhou , Gao Yang
Published: June 2021

The increased complexity of the tasks that on-orbit robots have to undertake has led to an increased need for manipulation dexterity. Space robots can become more dexterous by adopting grasping and manipulation methodologies and algorithms from terrestrial robots. In this paper, we present a novel methodology for evaluating the stability of a robotic grasp that captures a piece of space debris, a spent rocket stage. We calculate the Intrinsic Stiffness Matrix of a 2-fingered grasp on the surface of an Apogee Kick Motor nozzle and create a stability metric that is a function of the local contact curvature, material properties, applied force, and target mass. We evaluate the efficacy of the stability metric in a simulation and two real robot experiments. The subject of all experiments is a chasing robot that needs to capture a target AKM and pull it back towards the chaser body. In the V-REP simulator, we evaluate four grasping points on three AKM models, over three pulling profiles, using three physics engines. We also use a real robotic testbed with the capability of emulating an approaching robot and a weightless AKM target to evaluate our method over 11 grasps and three pulling profiles. Finally, we perform a sensitivity analysis to demonstrate how a variation on the grasping parameters affects grasp stability. The results of all experiments suggest that the grasp can be stable under slow pulling profiles, with successful pulling for all targets. The presented work offers an alternative way of capturing orbital targets and a novel example of how terrestrial robotic grasping methodologies could be extended to orbital activities.
A Bayesian Deep Neural Network for Safe Visual Servoing in Human–Robot Interaction
Authors: Shi Lei , Copot Cosmin , Vanlanduit Steve
Published: June 2021

Safety is an important issue in human–robot interaction (HRI) applications. Various research works have focused on different levels of safety in HRI. If a human/obstacle is detected, a repulsive action can be taken to avoid the collision. Common repulsive actions include distance methods, potential field methods, and safety field methods. Approaches based on machine learning are less explored regarding the selection of the repulsive action. Few research works focus on the uncertainty of the data-based approaches and consider the efficiency of the executing task during collision avoidance. In this study, we describe a system that can avoid collision with human hands while the robot is executing an image-based visual servoing (IBVS) task. We use Monte Carlo dropout (MC dropout) to transform a deep neural network (DNN) to a Bayesian DNN, and learn the repulsive position for hand avoidance. The Bayesian DNN allows IBVS to converge faster than the opposite repulsive pose. Furthermore, it allows the robot to avoid undesired poses that the DNN cannot avoid. The experimental results show that Bayesian DNN has adequate accuracy and can generalize well on unseen data. The predictive interval coverage probability (PICP) of the predictions along x, y, and z directions are 0.84, 0.94, and 0.95, respectively. In the space which is unseen in the training data, the Bayesian DNN is also more robust than a DNN. We further implement the system on a UR10 robot, and test the robustness of the Bayesian DNN and the IBVS convergence speed. Results show that the Bayesian DNN can avoid the poses out of the reach range of the robot and it lets the IBVS task converge faster than the opposite repulsive pose.1
Effects of Physical Exercise Interventions on Spatial Orientation in Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Scoping Review
Authors: Morawietz Christina , Muehlbauer Thomas
Published: June 2021

Background: Regular physical exercise plays an integral part in the psychomotor and psychosocial development of children and adolescents, with complex motor and cognitive processes closely linked. Spatial abilities, one aspect of cognitive functioning start to evolve from earliest childhood and reach adult-like levels by early adolescence. As they have been associated with good spatial orientation, wayfinding, map-reading skills, problem solving or analyzing spatial information, these skills facilitate independence and autonomy while growing up. Despite promising results, only few studies investigate this relation between physical exercise and spatial abilities. To use this benefit and develop purposive physical exercise interventions, it is essential to summarize the current evidence.

Objectives: This literature review aims to systematically summarize findings regarding the impact of physical exercise interventions on spatial abilities in healthy children and adolescents and identify knowledge gaps.

Methods: A systematic search of the literature according to the PRISMA guidelines was conducted on the databases Pubmed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, SportDiscus, and PsycInfo from their inception date till March 2021. Additionally, Google Scholar and refence lists of relevant publications were searched. A descriptive analysis of results was conducted.

Results: The literature search identified a total of N = 1,215 records, 11 of which met the inclusion criteria and were analyzed in this review. A total of 621 participants aged 4 to 15 years participated in the studies. Exercise interventions included sport-specific activities, motor-coordinative exercises, high-intensity functional training or spatial orientation/navigation training. Five studies evaluated training effects on mental rotation performance (i.e., Mental Rotation Test), four studies investigated visuo-spatial working memory function/spatial memory (i.e., Corsi Block Test, Virtual Reality Morris Water Maze) and two studies tested spatial orientation capacity (i.e., Orientation-Running Test). Overall, results show a potential for improvement of spatial abilities through physical exercise interventions. However, keeping the diversity of study designs, populations and outcomes in mind, findings need to be interpreted with care.

Conclusions: Despite growing interest on the effects of physical exercise interventions on spatial abilities and promising findings of available studies, evidence to date remains limited. Future research is needed to establish how spatial ability development of healthy children and adolescents can be positively supported.
Pathways of Climate Change Impact on Agroforestry, Food Consumption Pattern, and Dietary Diversity Among Indigenous Subsistence Farmers of Sauria Paharia Tribal Community of India: A Mixed Methods Study
Authors: Ghosh-Jerath Suparna , Kapoor Ridhima , Ghosh Upasona , Singh Archna , Downs Shauna , Fanzo Jessica
Published: June 2021

Climate change poses severe threats to the social, cultural, and economic integrity of indigenous smallholder subsistence farmers, who are intricately linked with their natural ecosystems. Sauria Paharia, a vulnerable indigenous community of Jharkhand, India, are smallholder farmers facing food and nutrition insecurity and have limited resources to cope with climate change. Eighteen villages of Godda district of Jharkhand inhabited by Sauria Paharia community were randomly selected to conduct a mixed methods study. In 11 out of 18 study villages, we conducted focus group discussions (FGDs) to examine the perception of this indigenous community regarding climate change and its impact on agroforestry and dietary diversity. In all 18 villages, household and agricultural surveys were conducted to derive quantitative estimates of household food consumption patterns and agroforestry diversity, which were triangulated with the qualitative data collected through the FGDs. The FGD data revealed that the community attributed local climatic variability in the form of low and erratic rainfall with long dry spells, to reduced crop productivity, diversity and food availability from forests and waterbodies. Declining agroforestry-produce and diversity were reported to cause reduced household income and shifts from subsistence agricultural economy to migratory unskilled wage laboring leading to household food insecurity. These perceptions were supported by quantitative estimates of habitual food consumption patterns which revealed a predominance of cereals over other food items and low agroforestry diversity (Food Accessed Diversity Index of 0.21 ± 0.15). The adaptation strategies to cope with climate variability included use of climate-resilient indigenous crop varieties for farming, seed conservation and access to indigenous forest foods and weeds for consumption during adverse situations and lean periods. There were mixed views on cultivation of hybrid crops as an adaptation strategy which could impact the sustained utilization of indigenous food systems. Promoting sustainable adaptation strategies, with adequate knowledge and technology, have the potential to improve farm resilience, income, household food security and dietary diversity in this population.
Feasibility of Microwave-Based Scissors and Tweezers in Partial Hepatectomy: An Initial Assessment on Canine Model
Authors: Dang Khiem Tran , Naka Shigeyuki , Yamada Atsushi , Tani Tohru
Published: June 2021

Purpose: This study aimed to assess the feasibility of partial hepatectomy (PH) simplified by using microwave-based devices in animal experiments.

Methods: PH was performed on 16 beagles using either Acrosurg Scissors (AS) or Acrosurg Tweezers (AT) without hepatic pedicle (HP) control. Parenchymal transection time, Glissonean pedicle (GP) seal time, bleeding volume, bile leak, and burst pressure were recorded. Probable complications were investigated after 4 weeks.

Results: Transection time (6.5 [6.0–7.6] vs. 11.8 [10.5–20.2] min, p < 0.001) with AT were significantly shorter than with AS. GP sealing times (60 [55–60] vs. 57 [46–91] s, p = 0.859) by both devices were nearly similar. Bleeding volume in the AT group was approximately one-fourth of that in the AS group (6.7 [1.4–22] vs. 28.8 [5.8–48] mL, p = 0.247). AT created higher burst pressure on the bile duct stumps (p = 0.0161). The two devices did not differ significantly in morbidity and mortality after four-week follow-up.

Conclusion: Acrosurg devices achieved a safe PH without HP control owing to microwave-based sealing. AS could be used alone in PH, whereas the clamp-crushing function of AT seemed more advantageous in reducing the transection time and blood loss.
The Role of Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) in the Life Cycle of Toxocara spp.
Authors: de Oliveira Everton André , Merigueti Yslla Fernanda Fitz Balo , Ferreira Isabella Braghin , Garcia Isabele Santos , Pereira Alini Soriano , Santos Rosemeire de Souza , Kmetiuk Louise Bach , Santos Andrea Pires dos , Biondo Alexander Welker , Giuffrida Rogerio , Santarém Vamilton Alvares
Published: June 2021

The present study aimed to experimentally assess Nile tilapia as potential paratenic host of Toxocara spp. A total of 15 Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) were fed with 300 embryonated Toxocara canis eggs by oral gavage, while five others of the control group received distilled water. The fish were individually analyzed at 16, 24, 48, 72, and 240 h after inoculation. Water contamination was assessed, and tissue migration by liver, gastrointestinal tract (GIT), eyes, and central nervous system. A murine model was used as the paratenic host for egg infectivity assessment. Eggs and larvae were found in plastic tank water and fish GIT, ranging from 23 to 86% per fish. Eggs and larvae were recovered from the tank water (76.3%) and fish GIT (23.7%). The counting of eggs and larvae observed was negatively correlated with number of eggs and larvae in the water tank (rho = −0.698, p = 0.003). Shedding of embryonated eggs was first detected at 16 and up to 240 h, with significant egg and larvae yield decrease on water-shedding (p = 0.001) and in the GIT (p = 0.007). Although no T. canis larva was recovered in fish tissues, egg infectivity after fish GIT transit was experimentally confirmed by mice assessment. In conclusion, despite shedding viable embryonated eggs through the gastrointestinal tract, tilapias may not play a role as a suitable paratenic hosts for Toxocara spp., posing low risk of zoonotic transmission by fish meat consumption.
Field Decomposition of Corn Cob in Seasonally Frozen Soil and Its Intrinsic Influencing Factors: The Case of Northeast China
Authors: Zou Yu , Fu Jun , Chen Zhi , Ren Luquan
Published: June 2021

Returning corn cobs to the field during corn kernel harvesting is an effective way to improve soil properties and increase crop yield. However, seasonally frozen soil seriously hinders the field decomposition process of corn cobs. To explore the decomposition characteristics and promote field decomposition, in this study, the nylon mesh bag method was used to perform field decomposition tests for 150 days. Fiber composition analysis and microstructure observation were carried out. The results showed that the field decomposition of corn cob was influenced by temperature, precipitation, and frozen soil environment. The 150-day cumulative decomposition rates of the pith, woody ring, and glume were 40.0%, 24.2%, and 36.3%, respectively. Caused by the difference in fiber compositions, the decomposition speeds of pith and glume were much higher than that of the woody ring. The complex microstructures of the pith, woody ring, and glume led to differences in the accessibility of cellulose, which indirectly influenced the field decomposition characteristics. The homogeneous sponge-like structure of the pith and glume increased the accessibility of cellulose and ultimately accelerated the field decomposition, while the compact lignocellulosic structure of the woody ring hindered the decomposition process. Compared with corn stalk, corn cob had similar or even better field decomposition characteristics and excellent application prospects.
Understanding the Response of Wheat-Chickpea Intercropping to Nitrogen Fertilization Using Agro-Ecological Competitive Indices under Contrasting Pedoclimatic Conditions
Authors: Kherif Omar , Seghouani Mounir , Zemmouri Bahia , Bouhenache Abderrahim , Keskes Mohamed , Yacer-Nazih Rebouh , Ouaret Walid , Latati Mourad
Published: June 2021

Wheat–chickpea intercrops are not well studied, despite the importance of these two species in increasing agricultural profitability and ensuring nutritional and food security. The present study aims to assess the intercropping arable system’s services under contrasting field management and climate conditions. Simultaneously, this assessment focuses on the most agronomic and ecological indices widely used in the literature. Durum wheat (Triticum turgidum durum L.cv. VITRON) and chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.cv. FLIP 90/13 C) were cultivated, both in sole crop and intercrop during the 2018/2019 growing season. A field experiment was carried out under controlled conditions at three contrasting pedoclimatic sites and under three levels of N fertilization. Both grain and N yield of mixture crop were significantly higher (+11%) when chickpea and durum wheat were grown together under either low or moderate N application. Soil N availability as compared to the critical level increased by more than 19% from flowering to harvest stage for intercropped wheat under low N application (N-30 and N-60), while it decreased significantly for intercropped chickpea. In rich N soils and under low rainfall conditions (site 1 and 3), intercropping was generally more advantageous for yield (+14%), N yield (+23%), and land use (103 and 119.5% for grain and N yield, respectively) only with reduced N fertilization as assessed using both land equivalent ratio (LER) and land-use efficiency (LUE). Competition dominance was directly affected by changes in climatic conditions over sites; intercropped wheat was more competitive than their respective chickpea under low rainfall conditions. These findings illustrate the crucial role of competitive index assessment in intercropping to promise a robust method for crop N and yield diagnosis during fertilization decision-making.
Single Seed-Based High-Throughput Genotyping and Rapid Generation Advancement for Accelerated Groundnut Genetics and Breeding Research
Authors: Parmar Sejal , Deshmukh Dnyaneshwar B. , Kumar Rakesh , Manohar Surendra S. , Joshi Pushpesh , Sharma Vinay , Chaudhari Sunil , Variath Murali T. , Gangurde Sunil S. , Bohar Rajaguru , Singam Prashant , Varshney Rajeev K. , Janila Pasupuleti , Pandey Manish K.
Published: June 2021

The groundnut breeding program at International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics routinely performs marker-based early generation selection (MEGS) in thousands of segregating populations. The existing MEGS includes planting of segregating populations in fields or glasshouses, label tagging, and sample collection using leaf-punch from 20–25 day old plants followed by genotyping with 10 single nucleotide polymorphisms based early generation selection marker panels in a high throughput genotyping (HTPG) platform. The entire process is laborious, time consuming, and costly. Therefore, in order to save the time of the breeder and to reduce the cost during MEGS, we optimized a single seed chipping (SSC) process based MEGS protocol and deployed on large scale by genotyping >3000 samples from ongoing groundnut breeding program. In SSC-based MEGS, we used a small portion of cotyledon by slicing-off the posterior end of the single seed and transferred to the 96-deep well plate for DNA isolation and genotyping at HTPG platform. The chipped seeds were placed in 96-well seed-box in the same order of 96-well DNA sampling plate to enable tracking back to the selected individual seed. A high germination rate of 95–99% from the chipped seeds indicated that slicing of seeds from posterior end does not significantly affect germination percentage. In addition, we could successfully advance 3.5 generations in a year using a low-cost rapid generation turnover glass-house facility as compared to routine practice of two generations in field conditions. The integration of SSC based genotyping and rapid generation advancement (RGA) could significantly reduce the operational requirement of person-hours and expenses, and save a period of 6–8 months in groundnut genetics and breeding research.
Data-Driven Artificial Intelligence Applications for Sustainable Precision Agriculture
Authors: Linaza Maria Teresa , Posada Jorge , Bund Jürgen , Eisert Peter , Quartulli Marco , Döllner Jürgen , Pagani Alain , G. Olaizola Igor , Barriguinha Andre , Moysiadis Theocharis , Lucat Laurent
Published: June 2021

One of the main challenges for the implementation of artificial intelligence (AI) in agriculture includes the low replicability and the corresponding difficulty in systematic data gathering, as no two fields are exactly alike. Therefore, the comparison of several pilot experiments in different fields, weather conditions and farming techniques enhances the collective knowledge. Thus, this work provides a summary of the most recent research activities in the form of research projects implemented and validated by the authors in several European countries, with the objective of presenting the already achieved results, the current investigations and the still open technical challenges. As an overall conclusion, it can be mentioned that even though in their primary stages in some cases, AI technologies improve decision support at farm level, monitoring conditions and optimizing production to allow farmers to apply the optimal number of inputs for each crop, thereby boosting yields and reducing water use and greenhouse gas emissions. Future extensions of this work will include new concepts based on autonomous and intelligent robots for plant and soil sample retrieval, and effective livestock management.