bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Condensed Tannins in White Clover (Trifolium repens) Foliar Tissues Expressing the Transcription Factor TaMYB14-1 Bind to Forage Protein and Reduce Ammonia and Methane Emissions in vitro
Authors: Roldan Marissa B. , Cousins Greig , Muetzel Stefan , Zeller Wayne E. , Fraser Karl , Salminen Juha-Pekka , Blanc Alexia , Kaur Rupinder , Richardson Kim , Maher Dorothy , Jahufer Zulfi , Woodfield Derek R. , Caradus John R. , Voisey Christine R.
Published: January 2022

Grazing ruminants contribute to global climate change through enteric methane and nitrous oxide emissions. However, animal consumption of the plant polyphenolics, proanthocyanidins, or condensed tannins (CTs) can decrease both methane emissions and urine nitrogen levels, leading to reduced nitrous oxide emissions, and concomitantly increase animal health and production. CTs are largely absent in the foliage of important temperate pasture legumes, such as white clover (Trifolium repens), but found in flowers and seed coats. Attempts at enhancing levels of CT expression in white clover leaves by mutagenesis and breeding have not been successful. However, the transformation of white clover with the TaMYB14-1 transcription factor from Trifolium arvense has resulted in the production of CTs in leaves up to 1.2% of dry matter (DM). In this study, two generations of breeding elevated foliar CTs to >2% of DM. The CTs consisted predominantly of prodelphinidins (PD, 75–93%) and procyanidins (PC, 17–25%) and had a mean degree of polymerization (mDP) of approximately 10 flavan-3-ol subunits. In vitro studies showed that foliar CTs were bound to bovine serum albumin and white clover proteins at pH 6.5 and were released at pH 2.-2.5. Using rumen in vitro assays, white clover leaves containing soluble CTs of 1.6–2.4% of DM significantly reduced methane production by 19% (p ≤0.01) and ammonia production by 60% (p ≤ 0.01) relative to non-transformed wild type (WT) controls after 6 h of incubation. These results provide valuable information for further studies using CT expressing white clover leaves for bloat prevention and reduced greenhouse gas emissions in vivo.
A Novel Embryo Phenotype Associated With Interspecific Hybrid Weakness in Rice Is Controlled by the MADS-Domain Transcription Factor OsMADS8
Authors: Kim Sun Ha , Ji Shi-Dong , Lee Hyun-Sook , Jeon Yun-A , Shim Kyu-Chan , Adeva Cheryl , Luong Ngoc Ha , Yuan Pingrong , Kim Hyun-Jung , Tai Thomas H. , Ahn Sang-Nag
Published: January 2022

A novel hybrid weakness gene,DTE9, associated with a dark tip embryo (DTE) trait, was observed in CR6078, an introgression line derived from a cross between theOryza sativaspp.japonica“Hwayeong” (HY) and the wild relativeOryza rufipogon. CR6078 seeds exhibit protruding embryos and flowers have altered inner floral organs.DTE9was also associated with several hybrid weakness symptoms including decreased grain weight. Map-based cloning and transgenic approaches revealed thatDTE9is an allele ofOsMADS8, a MADS-domain transcription factor. Genetic analysis indicated that two recessive complementary genes were responsible for the expression of the DTE trait. No sequence differences were observed between the two parental lines in theOsMADS8coding region; however, numerous single nucleotide polymorphisms were detected in the promoter and intronic regions. We generated overexpression (OX) and RNA interference (RNAi) transgenic lines ofOsMADS8in HY and CR6078, respectively. TheOsMADS8-OX lines showed the dark tip embryo phenotype, whereasOsMADS8-RNAi recovered the normal embryo phenotype. Changes in gene expression, including of ABCDE floral homeotic genes, were observed in theOsMADS8-OX andOsMADS8-RNAi lines. Overexpression ofOsMADS8led to decreased expression ofOsEMF2band ABA signaling-related genes includingOsVP1/ABI3. HY seeds showed higher ABA content than CR6078 seeds, consistent withOsMADS8/DTE9regulating the expression of genes related ABA catabolism in CR6078. Our results suggest thatOsMADS8is critical for floral organ determination and seed germination and that these effects are the result of regulation of the expression ofOsEMF2band its role in ABA signaling and catabolism.
Integrative Analysis of the Metabolome and Transcriptome of a Cultivated Pepper and Its Wild Progenitor Chiltepin (Capsicum annuum L. var. glabriusculum) Revealed the Loss of Pungency During Capsicum Domestication
Authors: Zhang Bipei , Hu Fang , Cai Xiaotao , Cheng Jiaowen , Zhang Ying , Lin Hui , Hu Kailin , Wu Zhiming
Published: January 2022

Pungency is a unique characteristic of chili peppers (Capsicumspp.) caused by capsaicinoids. The evolutionary emergence of pungency is thought to be a derived trait within the genusCapsicum. However, it is not well-known how pungency has varied duringCapsicumdomestication and specialization. In this study, we applied a comparative metabolomics along with transcriptomics analysis to assess various changes between two peppers (a mildly pungent cultivated pepper BB3 and its hot progenitor chiltepin) at four stages of fruit development, focusing on pungency variation. A total of 558 metabolites were detected in two peppers. In comparison with chiltepin, capsaicinoid accumulation in BB3 was almost negligible at the early stage. Next, 412 DEGs associated with the capsaicinoid accumulation pathway were identified through coexpression analysis, of which 18 genes (14 TFs, 3 CBGs, and 1 UGT) were deemed key regulators due to their high coefficients. Based on these data, we speculated that downregulation of these hub genes during the early fruit developmental stage leads to a loss in pungency during Capsicum domestication (from chiltepin to BB3). Of note, a putative UDP-glycosyltransferase, GT86A1, is thought to affect the stabilization of capsaicinoids. Our results lay the foundation for further research on the genetic diversity of pungency traits during Capsicum domestication and specialization.
The Genetic Components of a Natural Color Palette: A Comprehensive List of Carotenoid Pathway Mutations in Plants
Authors: Gupta Prateek , Hirschberg Joseph
Published: January 2022

Carotenoids comprise the most widely distributed natural pigments. In plants, they play indispensable roles in photosynthesis, furnish colors to flowers and fruit and serve as precursor molecules for the synthesis of apocarotenoids, including aroma and scent, phytohormones and other signaling molecules. Dietary carotenoids are vital to human health as a source of provitamin A and antioxidants. Hence, the enormous interest in carotenoids of crop plants. Over the past three decades, the carotenoid biosynthesis pathway has been mainly deciphered due to the characterization of natural and induced mutations that impair this process. Over the year, numerous mutations have been studied in dozens of plant species. Their phenotypes have significantly expanded our understanding of the biochemical and molecular processes underlying carotenoid accumulation in crops. Several of them were employed in the breeding of crops with higher nutritional value. This compendium of all known random and targeted mutants available in the carotenoid metabolic pathway in plants provides a valuable resource for future research on carotenoid biosynthesis in plant species.
Systematic Review of Socio-Emotional Values Within Organizations
Authors: Pascucci Tancredi , Cardella Giuseppina Maria , Hernández-Sánchez Brizeida , Sánchez-García Jose C.
Published: January 2022

The theory of separation assumes, with provocation, that an organization cannot reconcile profits and social function. Organizations can reconcile these two, apparently contrasting, missions, by considering emotions, especially moral emotions, to create a genuine motivation for focusing on goals beyond simple economic earnings and protecting organizations or groups of people from dysfunctional attitudes and behaviors, as well as considering the important role of the stakeholder accountability. Using the PRISMA method, we created a review of records using keywords relating to a socio-emotional value within organizations, with a particular focus on the last 20 years. We used the SCOPUS database and, after removing irrelevant records, we used the VOSviewer tool to create a cluster map of different areas in this topic. Some records cite the socio-emotional value that is related to organizational and employee suffering, while other articles consider it a positive factor that improves performance and prevents problems in organizations.
Research on the Influence of Visual Factors on Emotion Regulation Interaction
Authors: Xiong Zhiyong , Weng Xinyu , Wei Yu
Published: January 2022

To guide the design direction of emotion regulation products that improve the positive emotions of users, investigation into the correlation between relevant visual factors and multi-dimensional complex emotions is needed. In the present study, an extended product emotion measurement method was adopted to describe the multi-dimensional emotional set of each influencing factor and calculate their weight according to the order. The positive and negative emotion indicators of all influencing factors were compared and the evaluation and ranking factors that affect users’ emotional value of emotion regulation products were analyzed. The experimental results reveal that specific emotion mapping scenes on positive emotion are the most significant among the key factors affecting user emotion. Further, the influence of emotional stickers, interactive data visualization, and text on positive emotions decreased in turn. The influence of emotional text on positive emotion was the lowest. Through investigating the visual factors that affect the psychological emotions of users, the development of emotion regulating products could be guided in a more scientific and reasonable manner.
Interpretation Biases in Pain: Validation of Two New Stimulus Sets
Authors: Gaffiero Daniel , Staples Paul , Staples Vicki , Maratos Frances A.
Published: January 2022

Adults with chronic pain interpret ambiguous information in a pain and illness related fashion. However, limitations have been highlighted with traditional experimental paradigms used to measure interpretation biases. Whilst ambiguous scenarios have been developed to measure interpretation biases in adolescents with pain, no scenario sets exist for use with adults. Therefore, the present study: (i) sought to validate a range of ambiguous scenarios suitable for measuring interpretation biases in adults, whilst also allowing for two response formats (forced-choice and free response); and (ii) investigate paradigm efficacy, by assessing the effects of recent pain experiences on task responding. A novel ambiguous scenarios task was administered to adults (N= 241). Participants were presented with 62 ambiguous scenarios comprising 42 that could be interpreted in a pain/pain-illness or non-pain/non-pain illness manner: and 20 control scenarios. Participants generated their own solutions to each scenario (Word Generation Task), then rated how likely they would be to use two researcher-generated solutions to complete each scenario (Likelihood Ratings Task). Participants also rated their subjective experiences of pain in the last 3 months. Tests of reliability, including inter-rater agreement and internal consistency, produced two ambiguous scenario stimulus sets containing 18 and 20 scenarios, respectively. Further analyses revealed adults who reported more recent pain experiences were more likely to endorse the pain/pain-illness solutions in the Likelihood Ratings Task. This study provides two new stimulus sets for use with adults (including control items) in pain research and/or interventions. Results also provide evidence for a negative endorsement bias in adults.
Effects of the DRD4 −521 C/T SNP on Local Neural Activity and Functional Connectivity in Children With ADHD
Authors: Zhang Huan , Yang Binrang , Peng Gang , Zhang Linlin , Fang Diangang
Published: January 2022

Objective: The present study aimed to investigate the effects of the dopamine receptor D4 (DRD4) −521 C/T single-nucleotide polymorphism on brain function among children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and to evaluate whether brain function is associated with behavioral performance among this demographic.

Methods: Using regional homogeneity, fractional amplitude low-frequency fluctuation, and functional connectivity as measurement indices, we compared differences in resting-state brain function between 34 boys with ADHD in the TT homozygous group and 37 boys with ADHD in the C-allele carrier group. The Conners' Parent Rating Scale, the SNAP-IV Rating Scale, the Stroop Color Word Test, the go/no-go task, the n-back task, and the working memory index within the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Fourth Edition were selected as comparative indicators in order to test effects on behavioral performance.

Results: We found that TT homozygotes had low behavioral performance as compared with C-allele carriers. The regional homogeneity for TT homozygotes decreased in the right middle occipital gyrus and increased in the right superior frontal gyrus as compared with C-allele carriers. In addition, the right middle occipital gyrus and the right superior frontal gyrus were used as the seeds of functional connectivity, and we found that the functional connectivity between the right middle occipital gyrus and the right cerebellum decreased, as did the functional connectivity between the right superior frontal gyrus and the angular gyrus. No statistically significant differences were observed in the respective brain regions when comparing the fractional amplitudes for low-frequency fluctuation between the two groups. Correlation analyses demonstrated that the fractional amplitude low-frequency fluctuation in the precentral gyrus for TT homozygotes were statistically significantly correlated with working memory.

Conclusions: We found differing effects of DRD4 −521 C/T polymorphisms on brain function among boys with ADHD. These findings promote our understanding of the genetic basis for neurobiological differences observed among children with ADHD, but they must be confirmed in larger samples.
The Construction and Development of a Clinical Prediction Model to Assess Lymph Node Metastases in Osteosarcoma
Authors: Li Wenle , Dong Shengtao , Wang Bing , Wang Haosheng , Xu Chan , Zhang Kai , Li Wanying , Hu Zhaohui , Li Xiaoping , Liu Qiang , Wu Rilige , Yin Chengliang
Published: January 2022

Background: This study aimed to construct a clinical prediction model for osteosarcoma patients to evaluate the influence factors for the occurrence of lymph node metastasis (LNM).

Methods: In our retrospective study, a total of 1,256 patients diagnosed with chondrosarcoma were enrolled from the SEER (Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results) database (training cohort, n = 1,144) and multicenter dataset (validation cohort, n = 112). Both the univariate and multivariable logistic regression analysis were performed to identify the potential risk factors of LNM in osteosarcoma patients. According to the results of multivariable logistic regression analysis, A nomogram were established and the predictive ability was assessed by calibration plots, receiver operating characteristics (ROCs) curve, and decision curve analysis (DCA). Moreover, Kaplan-Meier plot of overall survival (OS) was plot and a web calculator visualized the nomogram.

Results: Five independent risk factors [chemotherapy, surgery, lung metastases, lymphatic metastases (M-stage) and tumor size (T-stage)] were identified by multivariable logistic regression analysis. What's more, calibration plots displayed great power both in training and validation group. DCA presented great clinical utility. ROCs curve provided the predictive ability in the training cohort (AUC = 0.805) and the validation cohort (AUC = 0.808). Moreover, patients in LNN group had significantly better survival than that in LNP group both in training and validation group.

Conclusion: In this study, we constructed and developed a nomogram with risk factors, which performed well in predicting risk factors of LNM in osteosarcoma patients. It may give a guide for surgeons and oncologists to optimize individual treatment and make a better clinical decision.
Appropriate Use of Local Phosphate Rock Increases Phosphorus Use Efficiency and Grain Yield of Sorghum and Cowpea in the Sudan Savanna
Authors: Iwasaki Shinya , Ikazaki Kenta , Bougma Ameri , Nagumo Fujio
Published: January 2022

Development of local P fertilizers using low-grade phosphate rock (PR) is expected to overcome the low-stagnated crop yield in Sub-Saharan Africa. Calcination and partial acidulation methods have been proposed to increase the phosphate (P) solubility of PRs. However, the effects of fertilization with calcinated PR (CPR) and partially acidulated PR (PAPR) on sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.)] and cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.] cultivation are poorly understood. Therefore, we conducted a 2-year field experiment in Burkina Faso to identify the differences in sorghum and cowpea responses to CPR and PAPR application. The following eight treatments were applied with six replicates using a complete randomized block design: control without P fertilization, two types of CP (CPs), triple superphosphate (TSP) as a positive control for CPs, three types of PAPR with different degrees of acidulation (PAPRs), and single superphosphate (SSP) as a positive control for PAPRs. SSP mostly comprised of water-soluble P fraction (WP), TSP and PAPRs of WP and alkaline ammonium citrate-soluble P fraction (SP), and CPRs of SP and 2% citric acid-soluble P fraction (CP). Their solubility was in the order WP > SP > CP. The fertilization effects were evaluated by P use efficiency (PUE). In 2019, the biomass and P uptake of sorghum was decreased by the low available soil water at the early growth stage. On the contrary, cowpea survived the low available soil water because of its shorter growing period compared to sorghum. P fertilization significantly increased the grain yields. However, the effect size differed according to the crop and fertilizer types. The SP, along with WP, significantly contributed to the PUE and grain yield of sorghum, whereas only WP contributed to the PUE of cowpea. Therefore, CPs, mainly consisting of SP and CP, had a disadvantage compared to TSP, especially for cowpea. We thus concluded that PAPRs are effective for sorghum and would be effective for cowpea when the acidulation level is sufficiently high. We also conclude that the long growing period of sorghum is favorable for absorbing slow-release P, but is unfavorable for the variable rainfall often observed in this region.
The Influence of Prophylactic Calcium and Magnesium Supplementation on Postoperative Quality of Life and Hypocalcemia After Total Thyroidectomy: Study Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Tabriz Navid , Fried Dennis , Uslar Verena , Weyhe Dirk
Published: January 2022

Background: We want to investigate if a routine preoperative dietary supplementation of calcium and magnesium prior to thyroidectomy for nodular goiter and graves' disease can influence patients' outcome with regards to hypocalcemia associated symptoms and quality of life in order to reduce the risk of post-thyroidectomy hypocalcemia and to improve patient's quality of life.

Methods: The study will be conducted as a two-armed randomized controlled trial including patients scheduled for total thyroidectomy. Patients assigned to the intervention group will receive calcium carbonate and magnesium oxide starting 2 weeks preoperatively. Primary outcome is the postoperative quality of life measured by the ThyPRO-39 and EQ-5D questionnaires. Secondary outcome is the assessment of postoperative biochemical (calcium and PTH levels) and clinical hypocalcemia (symptoms as reported by the patient).

Discussion: A prophylactic dietary supplementation with calcium and magnesium, which could easily be implemented in the preoperative setting, could potentially help to avoid or reduce hypocalcemia-associated symptoms and improve quality of life. In the event of a positive outcome, this preoperative procedure can be an inexpensive way to prepare patients scheduled for thyroidectomy and can possibly reduce disease-specific costs by reducing the postoperative complication rate.

Clinical Trial Registration: DRKS00017195 in the German clinical trials register (Deutsches Register Klinischer Studien, DRKS) on the 22.05.2019.
LIM-Domain-Binding Protein 1 Mediates Cell Proliferation and Drug Resistance in Colorectal Cancer
Authors: Zhu Mo , Jiang Baofei , Zuo Hao , Wang Xiaopeng , Ge Hengfa , Huang Ziming
Published: January 2022

Objective: It has been shown that LIM-domain-binding protein 1 (LDB1) is involved in the tumorigenesis of several cancers, but its function in colorectal cancer (CRC) has not been fully explained. This study is aimed to investigate whether LDB1 is involved in regulating the cell growth and drug sensitivity of CRC.

Methods: To analyze the protein expression of LDB1 in CRC tissues, western blot was used. KM plotter and UALCAN databases were used to predict the prognosis of CRC patients with low or high LDB1 expression. To do the correlation analysis in CRC tissues, GEPIA database was used. CCK-8 assay and xenograft models were used to evaluate the effects of LDB1 in CRC cell growth. An oxaliplatin-resistant cell line was constructed to evaluate the effect of LDB1 in drug sensitivity of CRC cells.

Results: Our current research confirmed that LDB1 was upregulated in CRC tumor tissues, and its elevation predicted a poor prognosis for CRC patients. LDB1 was also found positively correlated with CCNA1, BCL2 and BCLW, but negatively correlated with the pro-apoptotic signals (BID, BAX and BAK). Silence of LDB1 significantly inhibited CRC cell growth in vitro, and CRC cells with low expression of LDB1 had a lower tumorigenesis rate in tumor-bearing nude mice. Our experiments also showed that LDB1 silence enhanced the anti-tumor activity of oxaliplatin in CRC cells. The expression of LDB1 was also found increased in oxaliplatin-resistant CRC cell lines, and silence of LDB1 partly restored the antitumor effect of oxaliplatin in an oxaliplatin-resistant CRC cell line.

Conclusion: Our current results revealed the roles of LDB1 in the growth and drug resistance of CRC cells, and may provide the new theoretical support for LDB1 as a potential target for the treatment of CRC in the future.
A Novel Approach to Minimising Acute Equine Endometritis That May Help to Prevent the Development of the Chronic State
Authors: Morrell J. M. , Rocha A.
Published: January 2022

One of the most commonly encountered challenges in equine breeding is endometritis, which can be difficult to resolve and causes considerable economic losses to the industry. It is a multifactorial condition, developing as an exaggerated form of the normal physiological response to breeding. Seminal plasma proteins, spermatozoa, bacteria and debris initiate an inflammatory response; the resulting fluid and neutrophils are then cleared from the uterus along with the debris. However, in some mares, the response is prolonged or exaggerated, with much fluid formation and neutrophil infiltration leading to acute endometritis. A bacterial cause has been implicated, although in some cases no pathogenic organisms can be isolated on culture. It has been postulated that any one of a variety of bacteria could be involved, or dysbiosis of the uterine microbiome could be responsible. Repeated episodes of acute endometritis may lead to the pathology associated with chronic endometritis, with mucociliary dysfunction, vascular degeneration and plasma cell infiltration. This review examines the information that is currently available about equine endometritis, particularly about the role of the inseminate in the uterus, and its current treatment. There are some promising lines of research into treatment or prevention that may help to resolve the issue.
Parameter Optimization of Active Disturbance Rejection Controller Using Adaptive Differential Ant-Lion Optimizer
Authors: Jin Qibing , Zhang Yuming
Published: January 2022

Parameter optimization in the field of control engineering has always been a research topic. This paper studies the parameter optimization of an active disturbance rejection controller. The parameter optimization problem in controller design can be summarized as a nonlinear optimization problem with constraints. It is often difficult and complicated to solve the problem directly, and meta-heuristic algorithms are suitable for this problem. As a relatively new method, the ant-lion optimization algorithm has attracted much attention and study. The contribution of this work is proposing an adaptive ant-lion algorithm, namely differential step-scaling ant-lion algorithm, to optimize parameters of the active disturbance rejection controller. Firstly, a differential evolution strategy is introduced to increase the diversity of the population and improve the global search ability of the algorithm. Then the step scaling method is adopted to ensure that the algorithm can obtain higher accuracy in a local search. Comparison with existing optimizers is conducted for different test functions with different qualities, the results show that the proposed algorithm has advantages in both accuracy and convergence speed. Simulations with different algorithms and different indexes are also carried out, the results show that the improved algorithm can search better parameters for the controllers.
Characteristics of Hydraulic and Electric Servo Motors
Authors: Sakama Sayako , Tanaka Yutaka , Kamimura Akiya
Published: January 2022

Until the 1970s, hydraulic actuators were widely used in many mechanical systems; however, recently, electric motors have become mainstream by virtue of their improved performance, and hydraulic motors have largely been replaced by electric motors in many applications. Although this trend is expected to continue into the future, it is important to comprehensively evaluate which motor is most suitable when designing mechanical systems. This paper presents the results of a survey of the performance of electric and hydraulic servo motors and aims to provide quantitative data that can be used as a reference for selecting appropriate motors. We surveyed AC, AC direct, brushless DC, and brushed DC electric motors and swash plate-type axial piston, bent axis-type axial piston, crank-type radial piston, and multistroke-type radial piston hydraulic motors. Performance data were collected from catalogs and nonpublic data. We compared and evaluated the characteristics of these diverse servo motors using indexes such as torque, rotating speed, output power, power density, and power rate.
3D Object Recognition and Localization with a Dense LiDAR Scanner
Authors: Geng Hao , Gao Zhiyuan , Fang Guorun , Xie Yangmin
Published: January 2022

Dense scanning is an effective solution for refined geometrical modeling applications. The previous studies in dense environment modeling mostly focused on data acquisition techniques without emphasizing autonomous target recognition and accurate 3D localization. Therefore, they lacked the capability to output semantic information in the scenes. This article aims to make complementation in this aspect. The critical problems we solved are mainly in two aspects: (1) system calibration to ensure detail-fidelity for the 3D objects with fine structures, (2) fast outlier exclusion to improve 3D boxing accuracy. A lightweight fuzzy neural network is proposed to remove most background outliers, which was proven in experiments to be effective for various objects in different situations. With precise and clean data ensured by the two abovementioned techniques, our system can extract target objects from the original point clouds, and more importantly, accurately estimate their center locations and orientations.
Highly Skilled Migrant Women: Achievements and Contributions in Knowledge-Based Economies
Authors: Grimaldi Rosa , Crivellaro Francesca , Bolzani Daniela
Published: January 2022

Competition among developed industrialised countries for highly skilled migrants has increased in recent decades with the onset of the knowledge-based economy and society (Triandafyllidou and Isaakyan 2014) [...]
Digital Innovations in MSMEs during Economic Disruptions: Experiences and Challenges of Young Entrepreneurs
Authors: Cueto Lavinia Javier , Frisnedi April Faith Deleon , Collera Reynaldo Baculio , Batac Kenneth Ian Talosig , Agaton Casper Boongaling
Published: January 2022

The spike in COVID-19 cases all over the world poses a massive impact on various sectors of society. The global economy is no exception, for it has been severely affected by the unprecedented public health crisis leading businesspeople to shutdown commercial establishments and dramatically shifting businesses into digital platforms. Immense challenges brought by the pandemic have turned into great opportunities among entrepreneurs from different parts of the globe. In pursuit of the recovery path, they considered digital tools to be instrumental to surviving the crisis and even thriving in the long term. This study explores drivers and barriers to digital innovations in micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) during economic disruptions from the perspective of Filipino young entrepreneurs. Researchers employed a qualitative method for the conduct of in-depth interviews with 46 online entrepreneurs in the Philippines and transcribed them for Inductive Content Analysis to generate themes. Results found the adverse effects of the pandemic, which reinforce entrepreneurial innovations of shifting businesses to digital platforms, categorized into intrinsic (e.g., personal and professional growth) and extrinsic (e.g., mobility restrictions, market conditions, and household economic status) motivations. Participants described the barriers to digital entrepreneurship, including skills needed for doing online business, market-related problems in digital platforms, availability of quality internet infrastructures, and the pandemic restrictions. The findings of this study contribute to the entrepreneurship literature and areas for an empirical investigation to develop programs that support entrepreneurs during economic disruptions. This would serve as a guidepost in the formulation of government policies and strategies for economic recovery through digital entrepreneurship while considering the perspectives of young entrepreneurs. This further recommends future related researches to empower entrepreneurs, particularly those in the developing economies during the pandemic and beyond.
Modal Analysis of Conceptual Microsatellite Design Employing Perforated Structural Components for Mass Reduction
Authors: Dawood Sarmad Dawood Salman , Harithuddin Ahmad Salahuddin Mohd , Harmin Mohammad Yazdi
Published: January 2022

Mass reduction is a primary design goal pursued in satellite structural design, since the launch cost is proportional to their total mass. The most common mass reduction method currently employed is to introduce honeycomb structures, with space qualified composite materials as facing materials, into the structural design, especially for satellites with larger masses. However, efficient implementation of these materials requires significant expertise in their design, analysis, and fabrication processes; moreover, the material procurement costs are high, therefore increasing the overall program costs. Thus, the current work proposes a low-cost alternative approach through the design and implementation of geometrically-shaped, parametrically-defined metal perforation patterns, fabricated by standard processes. These patterns included four geometric shapes (diamonds, hexagons, squares, and triangles) implemented onto several components of a structural design for a conceptual satellite, with a parametric design space defined by two scale factors and also two aspect ratio variations. The change in the structure’s fundamental natural frequency, as a result of implementing each pattern shape and parameter variation, was the selection criterion, due to its importance during the launcher selection process. The best pattern from among the four alternatives was then selected, after having validated the computational methodology through implementing experimental modal analysis on a scaled down physical model of a primary load-bearing component of the structural design. From the findings, a significant mass reduction percentage of 23.15%, utilizing the proposed perforation concept, was achieved in the final parametric design iteration relative to the baseline unperforated case while maintaining the same fundamental frequency. Dynamic loading analysis was also conducted, utilizing both the baseline unperforated and the finalized perforated designs, to check its capability to withstand realistic launch loads through applying quasi-static loads. The findings show that the final perforated design outperformed the baseline unperforated design with respect to the maximum displacements, maximum Von Mises stresses, and also the computed margin of safety. With these encouraging outcomes, the perforated design concept proved that it could provide an opportunity to develop low-cost satellite structural designs with reduced mass.
Real-Time Precise Orbit Determination for LEO between Kinematic and Reduced-Dynamic with Ambiguity Resolution
Authors: Wang Zhiyu , Li Zishen , Wang Ningbo , Hoque Mainul , Wang Liang , Li Ran , Zhang Yang , Yuan Hong
Published: January 2022

The real-time integer-ambiguity resolution of the carrier-phase observation is one of the most effective approaches to enhance the accuracy of real-time precise point positioning (PPP), kinematic precise orbit determination (KPOD), and reduced-dynamic precise orbit determination (RPOD) for low earth orbit (LEO) satellites. In this study, the integer phase clock (IPC) and wide-lane satellite bias (WSB) products from CNES (Centre National d’Etudes Spatiales) are used to fix ambiguity in real time. Meanwhile, the three models of real-time PPP, KPOD, and RPOD are applied to validate the contribution of ambiguity resolution. Experimental results show that (1) the average positioning accuracy of IGS stations for ambiguity-fixed solutions is improved from about 7.14 to 5.91 cm, with an improvement of around 17% compared to the real-time float PPP solutions, with enhancement in the east-west direction particularly significant, with an improvement of about 29%; (2) the average accuracy of the estimated LEO orbit with ambiguity-fixed solutions in the real-time KPOD and RPOD mode is improved by about 16% and 10%, respectively, with respect to the corresponding mode with the ambiguity-float solutions; (3) the performance of real-time LEO RPOD is better than that of the corresponding KPOD, regardless of fixed- or float-ambiguity solutions. Moreover, the average ambiguity-fixed ratio can reach more than 90% in real-time PPP, KPOD, and RPOD.
An Analytical Model for the Uniaxial Tensile Modulus of Plain-Woven Fabric Composites and Its Application and Experimental Validation
Authors: Zhou Rui , Gao Weicheng , Liu Wei , Xu Jianxun
Published: January 2022

With advantages in efficiency and convenience, analytical models using experimental inputs to predict the mechanical properties of plain-woven fabric (PWF) composites are reliable in guaranteeing the composites’ engineering applications. Considering the importance of the aspect above, a new analytical model for predicting the uniaxial tensile modulus of PWF is proposed in this article. The composite yarns are first simplified as the lenticular-shaped cross-sections undulate along arc-composed paths. Force analyses of the yarn segments are then carried out with the internal interactions simplified, and the analytical model is subsequently deduced from the principle of minimum potential energy and Castigliano’s second theorem. The PWF of T300/Cycom970 is chosen as the study object to which the proposed analytical model is applied. Microscopic observations and thermal ablation experiments are conducted on the specimens to obtain the necessary inputs. The uniaxial tensile modulus is calculated and tensile experiments on the laminates are performed to validate the analytical prediction. The small deviation between the experimental and analytical results indicates the feasibility of the proposed analytical model, which has good prospects in validating the effectiveness of the experimentally obtained modeling parameters and guaranteeing the accuracy of mesoscale modeling for the PWF.
Travel Reduction Control of Distributed Drive Electric Agricultural Vehicles Based on Multi-Information Fusion
Authors: Sun Chenyang , Sun Pengfei , Zhou Jun , Mao Jiawen
Published: January 2022

In agricultural vehicles with internal combustion engines, owing to the use of rear-wheel drive or four-wheel drive, it is difficult to obtain information regarding the slip of the driving wheels. Excessive wheel slip, an inevitable phenomenon occurring during agricultural activities, can easily damage the original soil surface and result in excessive energy consumption. To solve these problems, a distributed drive agricultural vehicle (DDAV) based on multi-information fusion was proposed. The actual travel reduction of each wheel was calculated by determining the vehicle parameters in order to deliver the required torque to the four drive wheels via sliding mode control (SMC) and incremental proportional-integral (PI) control. Through this process, the vehicle always operates in a straight line. Test results show that, on a uniform surface, the travel reduction of each wheel can be maintained at the target value by using the incremental PI control strategy, with only minor fluctuations, to make the vehicle run in a straight line (R2 = 0.9999). Furthermore, on a separated surface, the travel reduction of each wheel can be maintained at the target value, and using the SMC strategy enables more identical coefficient of gross tractions for each wheel to make the vehicle run in a straight line (R2 = 0.9902). Unlike the non-control strategy, the vehicle reaches a stable state within 1 s, owing to the use of a controller that can effectively reduce the impact of road changes on vehicle velocity. This study can provide a reference for the drive control of DDAVs.
Remediation of Pesticides by Microalgae as Feasible Approach in Agriculture: Bibliometric Strategies
Authors: Verasoundarapandian Gayathiri , Lim Zheng Syuen , Radziff Syahirah Batrisyia Mohamed , Taufik Siti Hajar , Puasa Nurul Aini , Shaharuddin Noor Azmi , Merican Faradina , Wong Chiew-Yen , Lalung Japareng , Ahmad Siti Aqlima
Published: January 2022

Pesticide treatment dramatically reduces crop loss and enhances agricultural productivity, promoting global food security and economic growth. However, owing to high accrual and persistent tendency, pesticides could create significant ecological consequences when used often. Lately, the perspective has transitioned to implementing biological material, environmentally sustainable, and economical strategies via bioremediation approaches to eradicate pesticides contaminations. Microalgae were regarded as a prominent option for the detoxification of such hazardous contaminants. Sustainable application and remediation strategies of pesticides pollutants in the agriculture system by microalgae from the past studies, and recent advancements were integrated into this review. Bibliometric strategies to enhance the research advancements in pesticide bioremediation by microalgae between 2010 and 2020 were implemented through critical comparative analysis of documents from Scopus and PubMed databases. As a result, this study identified a growing annual research trend from 1994 to 2020 (nScopus > nPubMed). Global production of pesticide remediation by microalgae demonstrated significant contributions from India (23.8%) and China (16.7%). The author’s keyword clustering was visualized using bibliometric software (VOSviewer), which revealed the strongest network formed by “microalgae”, “bioremediation”, “biodegradation”, “cyanobacteria”, “wastewater”, and “pesticide” as significant to the research topic. Hence, this bibliometric review will facilitate the future roadmap for many scholars and authors who were drawing attention to the burgeoning research on bioremediation of pesticides to counteract environmental impacts while maintaining food sustainability.
Performance of New Muchamiel Tomato Lines with Virus Resistance Genes Grafted onto Two Commercial Rootstocks
Authors: Carbonell Pedro , Cabrera José Ángel , Salinas Juan Francisco , Alonso Aránzazu , Grau Adrián , Sánchez-Rodríguez Lucía , Parra Joaquín , Bartual Julián , Martí Raul , Cebolla-Cornejo Jaime , Ruiz Juan J. , Martínez Santiago García
Published: January 2022

Tomato landraces are regaining interest in Spain because their great fruit quality and value in popular gastronomy. Muchamiel is a traditional tomato variety grown in SE Spain that has been recently improved by the CIAGRO-UMH Tomato Breeding Group, resulting in several lines and hybrids with genetic resistances to virus and most of the original Muchamiel genome. In the current study, two hybrids and one pure line from CIAGRO-UMH and a commercial Muchamiel were grown under conventional conditions to evaluate three different grafting treatments: non-grafting and grafting onto the commercial Beaufort and Maxifort rootstocks. The yield parameters and fruit quality were assessed, and a sensory analysis was performed to evaluate the behavior of every scion/rootstock combination. Overall, significantly worse yield and fruit number in Maxifort-grafted plants were reported; as well as a slight reductions in SSC, fructose, and sucrose; and significant effects on few sensory traits. Instead, Beaufort-grafted plants showed no reduced yield, whereas no differences were reported between grafting treatments in fruit weight, TA, and acid profile, as well as in most of flavor and texture sensory parameters. These results suggest that Muchamiel/Beaufort combination could be suitable under unfavorable conditions, while Maxifort do not seem to provide agronomic nor quality benefits.
Genotype and Seasonal Variation Affect Yield and Oil Quality of Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) under Mediterranean Conditions
Authors: Abou Chehade Lara , Angelini Luciana G. , Tavarini Silvia
Published: January 2022

The adoption of climate-resilient and resource-use efficient crop species and varieties is a key adaptation action for farmers in the face of climate change. Safflower, an emerging oilseed crop, has been recognized for its high oil quality and its favorable agronomic traits such as drought and cold tolerance, making it particularly suitable to Mediterranean conditions. A 2-year field study was carried out to evaluate the effects of the genotype and growing season on the crop phenology, seed and oil production, macronutrient accumulation and partitioning, and fatty acid composition of spring-sown safflower grown under rainfed conditions. The experiment was conducted during the 2012 and 2013 growing seasons on an alluvial deep loam soil (Typic Xerofluvent) at the Centre for Agri-environmental Research “E. Avanzi” of the University of Pisa (Pisa, Central Italy). Higher seed yield and yield components (plant density, plant height, branching, number of capitula per plant and seeds per capitulum) were found in almost all genotypes when the seeds were sown in mid-March 2012 compared to in late April 2013. More favorable conditions in 2012, i.e., early sowing date, higher precipitation, and quite mild temperatures, led to a better seed and oil yield and greater aboveground biomass and nitrogen uptake, with the highest amounts being removed by straw. Greater seed yield was found to be associated with a greater plant height and a higher number of capitula per plant. Oil content was negatively affected by the higher temperatures and the lower amounts of precipitation that occurred during the 2012 growing season. Seasonal variation in fatty acid composition depended on the genotype. Lower precipitation and higher temperatures during 2013 favored oleic acid content in high linoleic acid genotypes and linoleic acid in medium to high oleic acid genotypes. Among the genotypes, the linoleic-type Sabina and the oleic-type Montola 2000 performed the best in both seasons. The results, besides identifying promising safflower genotypes for spring sowing in the Mediterranean region and for future breeding programs, pointed out the importance of early sowing to contrast unfavorable environmental conditions during seed-filling, thus ensuring higher yields.
Changes in Bacterial and Fungal Community of Soil under Treatment of Pesticides
Authors: Streletskii Rostislav , Astaykina Angelika , Krasnov George , Gorbatov Victor
Published: January 2022

Experiments were carried out in soil microcosms with the treatment of pesticide formulations—imidacloprid, benomyl, and metribuzin in single and tenfold application rates. For additional stimulation of microorganisms, a starch–mineral mixture was added to some variants. For all samples, high-throughput sequencing on the Illumina MiSeq platform of the V4 (16S rRNA) and ITS1 (18S rRNA) fragments was carried out. As a result, it was possible to establish the characteristic changes in the structure of the soil fungal and bacterial communities under pesticides application. The application of pesticides was accompanied by dramatic shifts in alfa-diversity of the fungal community. The phylum Basidiomycota was likely to be involved in the degradation of pesticides. The changes in the relative abundance of the genera Terrabacter, Kitasatospora, Streptomyces, Sphingomonas, Apiotrichum, Solicoccozyma, Gamsia, and Humicola can be proposed as an indicator of pesticide contamination. It is suggested to use these markers for large-scale assessment of the effect of pesticides on soil microbial communities instead of classical integral methods, including within the framework of state registration of pesticides. It is also recommended to research the effect of pesticides on the soil microbiome during artificially initiated successions using the additional source of carbon.
Antioxidant Response and Calcium-Dependent Protein Kinases Involvement in Canola (Brassica napus L.) Tolerance to Drought
Authors: Ahmadi Hossein , Abbasi Alireza , Taleei Alireza , Mohammadi Valiollah , Pueyo José J.
Published: January 2022

Canola is an important temperate oil crop that can be severely affected by drought. Understanding the physiological and molecular mechanisms involved in canola tolerance to water deficit is essential to obtain drought-tolerant productive cultivars. To investigate the role of antioxidant response and the possible involvement of calcium-dependent protein kinases (CDPKs) in canola tolerance to drought, we analyzed four genotypes with different sensitivity to water stress. Leaf relative water content, canopy temperature, PSII efficiency, electrolyte leakage index and lipid peroxidation were used as indicators to classify the cultivars as drought-tolerant or drought-sensitive. Antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase, guaiacol peroxidase and catalase displayed significantly higher activities in drought-tolerant than in drought-sensitive cultivars subjected to water deficit, suggesting that the efficiency of the antioxidant response is essential in canola drought tolerance. The increased expression of genes BnaCDPK6 and BnaCDPK14 under drought conditions, their differential expression in drought-tolerant and drought-sensitive genotypes, and the presence of multiple cis-acting stress-related elements in their promoter regions suggest that CDPKs are part of the signaling pathways that regulate drought response in canola. We propose the BnaCDPK genes and their regulator elements as potential molecular targets to obtain drought-tolerant productive canola cultivars through breeding or genetic transformation.