bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Kinematic and Temporal Differences Between World-Class Men's and Women's Hurdling Techniques
Authors: Bissas Athanassios , Paradisis Giorgos P. , Hanley Brian , Merlino Stéphane , Walker Josh
Published: April 2022

This study aimed to compare joint kinematics and center of mass parameters throughout hurdle clearance between world-class men and women sprint hurdlers, who were competing in a World Championships final. This was the first study to present time-series kinematic data around hurdle clearance, and given the technical ability of the athletes analyzed, it can be used as a template when analyzing the technique of other athletes in similar competitions and training. Video data were collected of the 16 finalists at the 2017 IAAF World Championships using four high-speed cameras (150 Hz). Video files were continuously digitized manually from touchdown before hurdle clearance to toe-off after landing around the sixth hurdle for men and the fifth hurdle for women, and sex-based comparisons were made at key discrete time points using independent t-tests, and throughout the entire hurdle phase using statistical parametric mapping. When calculated relative to hurdle height, the women's center of mass height was significantly greater than the men's throughout the full analyzed sequence (p < 0.001). Men also displayed more hip flexion in the lead leg at take-off before hurdle clearance (p = 0.029) as well as a more extended knee joint at intervals during flight and upon landing (p ≤ 0.037). Women completed the hurdle phase in a significantly shorter time than men (~11% difference, p < 0.001). Finally, women seemed to be more efficient by maintaining and even exceeding their entry velocity for the first 40% of the hurdle phase. These results show a lower technical demand for the women to successfully negotiate hurdle clearance, thus providing further evidence to support the argument that the women's hurdle height is too low for their performance capabilities and should be raised in senior competition.
Temporal Temperature Variation in Urban Gardens Is Mediated by Local and Landscape Land Cover and Is Linked to Environmental Justice
Authors: Nolte Alejandro Castillo , Buchholz Sascha , Pernat Nadja , Egerer Monika
Published: April 2022

The urban heat island (UHI) effect remains a major threat to society as cities densify and sprawl. Urban greening through local to landscape management is a proposed strategy to combat UHI and improve environmental justice in city neighborhoods. For example, urban community gardens are multifunctional green spaces that play an important role for biodiversity and for civic engagement. But the role of urban gardens in urban cooling and relieving UHI remain unclear, specifically how temperatures fluctuate within gardens in relation to garden management factors and city landscape context, and how this relates to urban heat in city neighborhoods. We investigated diurnal and nocturnal temperature ranges, and daily maximum and minimum temperatures in 18 urban gardens over the peak of the summer agricultural growing season. We then analyzed how temperatures were correlated to local land cover factors within the garden, to surrounding landscape imperviousness at various spatial scales, and to environmental justice indicators (stressors) of garden neighborhoods. We found that nocturnal temperature range is negatively correlated to landscape imperviousness, and that the relationship decreases in strength with increasing spatial scale. This result supports the importance of evapotranspiration processes of surrounding green areas for nocturnal cooling. Some local land cover factors were important for temperatures, indicating heating or cooling management mechanisms from within urban gardens. Finally, the mean number of environmental stressors in neighborhoods negatively related to temperature variation. The results of this work can inform resource use and crop selection in urban agriculture, as well as how temperature-related ecosystem services of gardens relate to environmental justice of city neighborhoods.
Case Report: Magnetic Resonance Imaging Features of Scrotal Angiomyofibroblastoma (AMF) With Pathologic Correlation
Authors: Zeng Jing , Zhang Lingtao , Shi Changzheng , Luo Liangping
Published: April 2022

Angiomyofibroblastoma (AMF) is a rare benign myofibroblastic tumor that mainly occurs in the genital tract of middle-aged female patients. However, it can also arise in the scrotum, spermatic cord, and bladder. We described, herein, a case of a 42-year-old patient who was admitted to our hospital with a left scrotal mass. Imaging examinations showed that the mass had abundant vessels and displayed obvious progressive intensification on enhanced MRI. The following histopathological and immunohistochemical studies led to the diagnosis of AMF. Here, we describe the magnetic resonance imaging findings of a case of scrotal AMF. We hope that the information can help radiologists to identify AMF.
The Learning Curve of Unilateral Biportal Endoscopic (UBE) Spinal Surgery by CUSUM Analysis
Authors: Chen Lei , Zhu Bin , Zhong Hua-zhang , Wang Yi-guo , Sun Yi-song , Wang Qi-fei , Liu Jian-jun , Tian Da-sheng , Jing Jue-hua
Published: April 2022

Objective

To assess the learning curve of the unilateral biportal endoscopic (UBE) technique for the treatment of single-level lumbar disc herniation by cumulative summation (CUSUM) method analysis.

Methods

A retrospective analysis was conducted to assess 97 patients' general condition, operation time, complications, and curative effect of single segmental UBE surgery performed by a spinal surgeon in his early stage of this technique. The learning curve of operation time was studied using a CUSUM method, and the cut-off point of the learning curve was obtained.

Results

The operation time was 30 – 241(97.9 ± 34.7) min. The visual analog scale score of lower limb pain decreased from 5.75 ± 0.81 before the operation to 0.39 ± 0.28 at the last follow-up (P < 0.05). The Oswestry disability index score decreased from 66.48 ± 4.43 before the operation to 14.57 ± 3.99 at the last follow-up (P < 0.05). The CUSUM assessment of operation time revealed the learning curve was the highest in 24 cases. In the learning stage (1–24 cases), the operation time was 120.3 ± 43.8 min. In the skilled stage (25–97 cases), the operation time was 90.5 ± 27.8 min.

Conclusions

About 24 cases of single segmental UBE operation are needed to master the UBE technique.
Clinical Study on Treatment of Acute Lower Extremity Arterial Embolism With Straub Thrombus Removal System
Authors: Zhao Liang , Cai Hui , Song Qiang
Published: April 2022

Background

Acute lower extremity arterial embolism (ALEAE) is a common and frequently occurring disease in clinics. Although thrombectomy with arteriotomy has been widely used and developed in clinics, there is a high probability of embolic recurrence after operation. The present study investigated the clinical efficacy of the Straub Rotarex system in the treatment of ALEAE, as it could remove exfoliative substances in acute and chronic cavities and expose diseased vessels.

Materials and Methods

We accessed our institutional database and retrospectively screened all patients with ALEAEs who received surgical treatment between April 2018 and April 2021. To observe the clinical efficacy, surgical indicators, incidence of postoperative complications, and recurrence rate of treatment with Straub Rotarex system and arteriotomy thrombectomy and analyze the risk factors for recurrence of embolism after treatment with Straub Rotarex system by multivariate Logistic regression model.

Results

Finally, 64 patients were included as the research object. The total effective rates of the observation group and the control group after operation were 100 and 93.75% respectively, and there was no significant difference between the two groups (P > 0.05). The intraoperative blood loss, postoperative off-bed time and hospital stay time in the observation group were significantly lower than those in the control group, and the operation time and hospitalization expenses were significantly higher than those in the control group (P < 0.05). The incidence of postoperative complications in the observation group was 3.13%, which was significantly lower than 18.76% of that in the control group (P < 0.05). The recurrence rates of the observation group and the control group were 15.63 and 18.76%, respectively. There was no significant difference in the recurrence rate between the two groups (P > 0.05). Atrial fibrillation was an independent risk factor for recurrence after the Straub thrombus removal system (P < 0.05).

Conclusion

Straub thrombus removal system is an effective method for the treatment of ALEAE. Although it prolongs the operation time and increases the operation cost as compared with thrombectomy, it effectively improves the operation safety, postoperative life quality, and postoperative recovery, thus, worthy of clinical promotion. Atrial fibrillation is an independent risk factor for recurrent embolism after the Straub thrombus removal system. Paying attention to the clinical diagnosis and treatment of patients with atrial fibrillation is of great significance for patients to choose a reasonable treatment, prevent a recurrence, and improve the prognosis.
Molecular Identification and Phylogenetic Analysis of Ascarids in Wild Animals
Authors: Chen Shu-Yu , Qiu Qi-Guan , Mo Hai-Long , Gong Teng-Fang , Li Fen , He Jun-Lin , Li Wen-Chao , Xie Xin-Rui , Liu Wei
Published: April 2022

Ascarid nematodes are the most common and harmful nematodes parasites in animals. By analyzing genetic variation, this study explores the genetic and phylogenetic relationship among ascarids from 11 different hosts. This study collected ascarid samples from the feces of nine animal species in Changsha Ecological Zoo of Hunan Province and two animal kinds in the College of Veterinary Medicine of Hunan Agricultural University. The mitochondrial gene (pcox1) and ribosomal ITS sequences were amplified, sequenced, and analyzed by PCR to identify the species of the samples. The phylogenetic tree was constructed based on two genes (cox1 and ITS) by the Neighbor-joining method, and the phylogenetic relationship was analyzed. The sequencing results showed that the sequence lengths of pcox1 and ITS genes in the samples were 441 bp and 838–1,177 bp, respectively. The difference rates were 0.00–1.70% in pcox1 gene and 0.00–7.30% in ITS gene. Phylogenetic analysis showed that ascarid worms from the white lion, Northeast tiger, South China tiger and cheetah were identified as Toxascaris leonina. Ascarids from the zebra were identified as Parascaris equorum, while those from chicken and peacocks were identified as Ascaridia galli. Ascarids of wolf and dog origin were Toxocara canis, the snake ascarids belonged to Ophidascaris filaria, and the bear ascarids belonged to Baylisascaris transfuga. There was a significant gap between different kinds of ascarid worms. We found that these two mitochondrial genes pcox1 and ITS showed a common characteristic that the intraspecific differences were significantly smaller than the interspecific differences, confirming that these two genes could be used as interspecific genetic markers for molecular identification of different ascarids origins. The intraspecific variation rate of the ITS gene was higher than that of pcox1, indicating that ITS can also be used in the genetic research of Ascaris species development. This study revealed the genetic evolution and phylogeny of ascarids in wild animals, and our results will help prevent and control ascarids in wild animals.
Emergency Department Management of COVID-19 Suspected Patients. An International Perspective
Authors: El Tawil Chady , El Hussein Mahmoud , Souaiby Nagi , Helou Mariana
Published: April 2022

Objectives: In December 2019, an invasive viral outbreak, the Corona Virus Disease 19 spread to the whole world. An international cross-sectional study was conducted to evaluate how healthcare workers in Emergency departments dealt with this pandemic.

Methods: A questionnaire was sent to 180 healthcare workers around the world during May and June of the year 2020.

Results: A total of 134 HCW from 23 countries responded with a majority of Emergency physicians (36.8%). The PCR testing is available in 72.9% of the hospitals. Different architectural strategies were used to isolate suspected cases in the Emergency department (ED). Half of the institutions would not allow visitors, while the other half, restricted visiting hours and the number of visitors. Triage for suspected patients relied in 82.8% on symptoms. Almost 98% of HCW used a combination of mask, gloves, gown and face shield. Around 65% of the HCW have a tendency to discharge more patients from the ED than what they were used to.

Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic made a major change within the emergency departments worldwide.
Process Mining in Clinical Practice: Model Evaluations in the Central Venous Catheter Installation Training
Authors: Battineni Gopi , Chintalapudi Nalini , Zacharewicz Gregory
Published: April 2022

An acknowledgment of feedback is extremely helpful in medical training, as it may improve student skill development and provide accurate, unbiased feedback. Data are generated by hundreds of complicated and variable processes within healthcare including treatments, lab results, and internal logistics. Additionally, it is crucial to analyze medical training data to improve operational processes and eliminate bottlenecks. Therefore, the use of process mining (PM) along with conformance checking allows healthcare trainees to gain knowledge about instructor training. Researchers find it challenging to analyze the conformance between observations from event logs and predictions from models with artifacts from the training process. To address this conformance check, we modeled student activities and performance patterns in the training of Central Venous Catheter (CVC) installation. This work aims to provide medical trainees with activities with easy and interpretable outcomes. The two independent techniques for mining process models were fuzzy (i.e., for visualizing major activities) and inductive (i.e., for conformance checking at low threshold noise levels). A set of 20 discrete activity traces was used to validate conformance checks. Results show that 97.8% of the fitness of the model and the movement of the model occurred among the nine activities.
Development and Analysis of Key Components of a Multi Motion Mode Soft-Bodied Pipe Robot
Authors: Wang Ning , Zhang Yu , Zhang Guofeng , Zhao Wenchuan , Peng Linghui
Published: April 2022

In order to enhance the environmental adaptability of peristaltic soft-bodied pipe robots, based on the nonlinear and hyperelastic characteristics of silicone rubber combined with the biological structure and motion characteristics of worms, a hexagonal prism soft-bodied bionic actuator is proposed. The actuator adopts different inflation patterns to produce different deformations, so that the soft-bodied robot can realize different motion modes in the pipeline. Based on the Yeoh binomial parameter silicone rubber constitutive model, the deformation analysis model of the hexagonal prism soft-bodied bionic actuator is established, and the numerical simulation algorithm is used to ensure both that the drive structure and deformation mode are reasonable, and that the deformation analysis theoretical model is accurate. The motion and dynamic characteristics of the prepared hexagonal prism soft-bodied bionic actuator are tested and analyzed, the motion and dynamic characteristic curves of the actuator are obtained, and the empirical deformation formula of the actuator is fitted. The experimental results are consistent with the deformation analysis model and numerical simulation result, which shows that the deformation analysis model and numerical simulation method are accurate and can provide design methods and reference basis for the development of a pneumatic soft-bodied body bionic actuator. The above research results can also prove that the hexagonal prism soft-bodied bionic actuator is reasonable and feasible.
Smooth-Switching Gain Based Adaptive Neural Network Control of n-Joint Manipulator with Multiple Constraints
Authors: Yang Qing , Yu Haisheng , Meng Xiangxiang , Yu Wenqian , Yang Huan
Published: April 2022

Modeling errors, external loads and output constraints will affect the tracking control of the n-joint manipulator driven by the permanent magnet synchronous motor. To solve the above problems, the smooth-switching for backstepping gain control strategy based on the Barrier Lyapunov Function and adaptive neural network (BLF-ANBG) is proposed. First, the adaptive neural network method is established to approximate modeling errors, unknown loads and unenforced inputs. Then, the gain functions based on the error and error rate of change are designed, respectively. The two gain functions can respectively provide faster response speed and better tracking stability. The smooth-switching for backstepping gain strategy based on the Barrier Lyapunov Function is proposed to combine the advantages of both gain functions. According to the above strategy, the BLF-ANBG strategy is proposed, which not only solves the influence of multiple constraints, unknown loads and modeling errors, but also enables the manipulator system to have better dynamic and steady-state performances at the same time. Finally, the proposed controller is applied to a 2-DOF manipulator and compared with other commonly used methods. The simulation results show that the BLF-ANBG strategy has good tracking performance under multiple constraints and model errors.
Interaction Simulation of Vadose Zone Water and Groundwater in Cele Oasis: Assessment of the Impact of Agricultural Intensification, Northwestern China
Authors: Xue Dongping , Dai Heng , Liu Yi , Liu Yunfei , Zhang Lei , Lv Wengai
Published: April 2022

Agricultural intensification has boosted land productivity, but it has also created new sustainability issues. As one of the most important human habitations and agricultural farming areas in arid areas, the Cele Oasis has a very developed agricultural system. This paper studies the long-term effects of different types of agricultural intensification strategies on groundwater level fluctuations in the Cele Oasis. A soil water flow (HYDRUS-1D) and aquifer simulation (MODFLOW) coupling model were used to construct the geometric structures of the vadose zone and saturated zone in the Cele Oasis and to analyze the recharge and discharge mechanism of the oasis. The results showed that HYDRUS-1D accurately simulated soil moisture transport in the Cele Oasis, providing reliable data for calibration of the MODFLOW model. The groundwater level simulated by MODFLOW was in good agreement with the observed value. The results of the R2, RMSE, and NSE were ranges of 0.77–0.90, 0.45–0.74 m, and 0.76–0.87, respectively. The errors were acceptable limits. The coupling model predicted the responses of different agricultural types and cropping scenarios to groundwater. Predictions showed that the groundwater level in the Cele Oasis remained stable under the current cropping scenario (100% cropping intensity), and that the groundwater level decreased slightly under the cropping scenario (110% cropping intensity and 130% cropping intensity). When the cropping scenario was at 170% cropping intensity, the groundwater level decreased rapidly, and the maximum drawdown value was 7 m. Therefore, the maximum cropping intensity of the Cele Oasis in the future should be 130% of the current cropping intensity.
Effects of Seasonality and Climate on the Propagule Deposition Patterns of the Chestnut Blight Pathogen Cryphonectria parasitica in Orchards of the Alpine District of North Western Italy
Authors: Lione Guglielmo , Brescia Francesca , Giordano Luana , Gonthier Paolo
Published: April 2022

Chestnut blight is the major disease of chestnuts (Castanea spp.) cultivated worldwide for the production of edible nuts. The disease is caused by the pathogenic fungus Cryphonectria parasitica, which infects trees by means of airborne propagules penetrating through fresh wounds on stems and branches. The aims of this study were to (I) assess the temporal propagule deposition patterns of C. parasitica in the Alpine district of North Western Italy, (II) test and model the effects of seasonality and climate on the above patterns, and (III) investigate the spatial distribution of propagule deposition at the within-site scale. A two-year-long spore trapping experiment was conducted in three chestnut orchards. Approximately 1300 samples were collected and processed with a species-specific qPCR assay to quantitatively assess the propagule deposition of C. parasitica. Results showed that C. parasitica can release propagules all over the year, though with significant seasonal peaks in the spring and fall (p < 0.05). Large propagule loads were significantly correlated (p < 0.05) with an increasing number of rainy days of the week (days providing 1–10 mm/day of water). Models predicting periods at high risk of infection based on climate and seasonality were fitted and successfully validated (p < 0.05).
Epidemiological Survey of Grapevine Leafroll-Associated Virus 1 and 3 in Sicily (Italy): Genetic Structure and Molecular Variability
Authors: Caruso Andrea Giovanni , Bertacca Sofia , Ragona Arianna , Matić Slavica , Davino Salvatore , Panno Stefano
Published: April 2022

Background: the most widely distributed and virulent Grapevine leafroll-associated viruses (GLRaV) that affect grapevine are GLRaV-1 and GLRaV-3, transmitted semi-persistently by different mealybugs and soft scales, mainly causing downward rolling of the leaf margins and interveinal reddening. Methods: the main objectives of this study were to investigate the genetic structure and molecular diversity of GLRaV-1 and GLRaV-3 in 617 samples from 11 autochthonous Sicilian grapevine cultivars, ascertaining their presence and spread. The detection was implemented by serological and molecular analyses and subsequently phylogenetic analyses on selected Sicilian isolates were conducted. Results: in total, 33 and 138 samples resulted positive to GLRaV-1 and GLRaV-3, with an incidence of 5.34% and 22.36%, respectively; 9 out of the 11 cultivars resulted positive, while the presence of both viruses was not found in ‘Grillo’ and ‘Moscato’ cultivars. Conclusions: phylogenetic analyses of the coat protein (CP) gene of 12 GLRaV-1 selected sequences showed a close relationship with European isolates; the discrete nucleotide differentiation and positive selection could demonstrate a current increase in population fitness. The phylogenetic analyses of the CP gene of 31 GLRaV-3 Sicilian CP sequences demonstrates a close relationship between Sicilian and different countries isolates; a certain stability of GLRaV-3 in the different cultivars analyzed is suggested by the discrete differentiation nucleotide and negative selection of the Sicilian isolates.
Research on the Disturbance Sources of Vegetable Price Fluctuation Based on Grounded Theory and LDA Topic Model
Authors: Li Youzhu , Zhang Miao , Liu Jinsi , Su Bingbing , Lin Xinzhu , Liang Yuxuan , Bao Yize , Yang Shanshan , Zhang Junjie
Published: April 2022

Vegetables are an important element in people’s dietary structure, and the price fluctuation of vegetables has attracted more and more attention. The disturbance sources of vegetable price fluctuations are characterized by uncertain risks, environmental complexity, nonlinearity, self-organization and mutation. Analyzing the disturbance sources that affect vegetable price fluctuation is helpful to the establishment of early warning and regulation mechanisms of vegetable price risk. To address the problem that existing studies have not comprehensively and objectively clarified the disturbance sources of vegetable price fluctuations, this paper proposes a method of combining the LDA (Latent Dirichlet Allocation) topic model with grounded theory, constructs a system of vegetable price volatility disturbance source indicators and relationship matrix by improved conceptual lattice-weighted cluster method, obtains 23 disturbance sources indicators affecting vegetable price fluctuations in four aspects of supply, demand, natural environment and economic policy environment, and identifies six key factors through calculation and analysis. Through the research of this paper, a system of disturbance source indicators affecting vegetable price fluctuations is constructed, the internal connection of many disturbance sources of vegetable price fluctuations in a complex and uncertain environment is clarified, and key influencing factors are selected, thus facilitating the establishment of vegetable price risk warning models and regulation mechanisms.
Agronomic Performance of Rainfed Barley Genotypes under Different Tillage Systems in Highland Areas of Dryland Conditions
Authors: Roohi Ebrahim , Mohammadi Reza , Niane Abdoul Aziz , Niazian Mohsen , Niedbała Gniewko
Published: April 2022

Conservation agriculture (CA) is becoming increasingly attractive to farmers due to advantages such as lower production costs and less destruction of soil structures compared to the conventional tillage. The cultivars introduced for the conventional systems may not be suitable under CA environments, and newly adapted cultivars need to be developed. Accordingly, four separate field experiments were conducted over two cropping seasons (2018–2019 and 2019–2020) to study the agronomic performance of seven barley genotypes under three tillage systems: conventional tillage (full tillage with residue removed), reduced tillage (chisel plowing with residue retained) and CA system (no tillage with residue retained on soil surface). The genotypes were grown under rainfed conditions in two different agro-ecological regions (Kamyaran and Hosseinabad locations) in the west of Iran. Significant genotypic differences were observed for grain yield and yield components except 1000-kernel weight. The results of this study showed that rainfed barley genotypes under a CA system produced yields equal to, or better (0.7%) than, the conventional tillage; while reduced tillage system decreased their performance by 4.9%. Regarding genotype × tillage interaction, the barley genotypes Catalhuyuk 2001 and Bulbule positively interacted with conventional tillage and showed higher performance than other genotypes, whereas genotypes Çumra 2001, Ansar and Abidar expressed highest performance under CA system. Consequently, genotypes Bulbule, Catalhuyuk 2001 and Gumharriyet 50 outperformed the domestic performance and the amount of grain yield and showed the highest adaptation to the tested environments. The results of the present study could be useful to improve the efficiency of a CA system in rainfed cultivation of barley and open new windows for the cereal production in arid and semi-arid regions with food security concerns.
In-Field Estimation of Fruit Quality and Quantity
Authors: Walsh Kerry B.
Published: April 2022

Every new tool gives humankind a new capability or capabilities, as a new tool finds a range of applications [...]
Maize and Wheat Response to Drought Stress under Varied Sulphur Fertilisation
Authors: Kulczycki Grzegorz , Sacała Elżbieta , Chohura Piotr , Załuska Justyna
Published: April 2022

This study aimed to examine the influence of long-lasting moderate (45% field water capacity—FWC) and severe (30% FWC) water stress and application of sulphur (elemental sulphur or sulphate) on the growth, yield and mineral composition of wheat and maize. Concentrations of macro- and micronutrients were determined in the aboveground parts of the plants. Drought stress caused a marked decrease in the growth parameters of both plants. Under both optimal water conditions (60% FWC) and moderate water stress (45% FWC), grain yields of wheat grown without sulphur application were not significantly different. Applying elemental sulphur caused an increase in grain yield under moderate stress, whereas sulphate was more effective in wheat grown under adequate water supply. Severe water stress significantly lowered wheat yield, regardless of sulphur fertilisation. Increasing water stress resulted in a greater reduction in maize growth, with an average 50% decrease in dry mass under severe water stress. Both crops maintained relatively high levels of macro- (N, P, K, Mg, Ca, S) and microelements (Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn) and did not suffer noticeably from deficiencies in such. Sulphur application did not modify these relationships. In conclusion, sulphur fertilisation may be recommended in wheat cultivation when plants are exposed to moderate water stress.
Macro-Morphological and Ecological Variation in Rosa sericea Complex
Authors: Ullah Fazal , Gao Yundong , Sari İdris , Jiao Rui-Fang , Saqib Saddam , Gao Xin-Fen
Published: April 2022

Taxon delimitation and identification are important in many areas of biology, especially in taxonomy and conservation. Taxonomic treatment is required to establish and justify recommendations in conservation biology for the group being considered. Imperfect and controversial taxonomy can undermine conservation assessment. We studied 71 populations; 665 individuals corresponding to the morphology of the Rosa sericea complex (including six taxa, one of which has extremely narrow distributions) were collected from sympatric, parapatric, and allopatric populations distributed in China. This study aims to investigate whether the complex species are macromorphologically different species and evaluate the rare taxa of the complex for conservation priority. The morphological characters and principal component analysis (PCA) of the R. sericea complex showed that the complex species have overlapping characters but can distinguish morphologically. The species of R. sericea complex systematics status based on previous DNA sequencing is controversial. The ecological habitat’s current morphological characters only delimit the R. morrisonensis (in Taiwan). To evade mistakes in species conservation, we recommend that taxonomical knowledge be needed to ensure success in protecting target species. Thus, the complementarity of systemic and conservation assurance makes conservation actions more necessary for the complex’s rare taxa. The ecological niche modelling (ENM) results showed that habitats of these conspecific taxa would be shrunken. With the presence of snapshots in time, the geography of taxa might decrease rapidly in representative entirely of the Geographic space (G-space) and Environmental space (E-space) that such taxa are bright to inhabit. So far, the significant inferences meant for the niche occupy the most incredible comparative research, taking the impermanent nature of taxa distributions and undertaking that such species are at a state of stability. If the artificially identified species (rarely distributed) are based on morphological identification, they must be conserved.
Species-Enriched Grass-Clover Mixtures Can Promote Bumblebee Abundance Compared with Intensively Managed Conventional Pastures
Authors: Beye Henriette , Taube Friedhelm , Lange Katharina , Hasler Mario , Kluß Christof , Loges Ralf , Diekötter Tim
Published: April 2022

(1) Land use intensification has led to serious declines in biodiversity, including in forage production systems for dairy cows. Agri-environmental schemes, such as enriching grasslands in floral species, were shown to be an effective tool to promote biodiversity in higher trophic levels. Here, we studied an innovative pasture-based dairy production system with floral-species-enhanced temporary grasslands, with respect to the effect on wild bee abundance and species richness. (2) We studied three grass-clover mixtures with perennial ryegrass and clover species with different levels of plant diversity for flower cover and wild bees. The grass-clover pastures were rotationally stocked with cattle and parts of the pastures were excluded from grazing. Intensively managed conventional permanent grasslands were studied as the common land use type. Wild bees were caught by sweep netting. Wild bee diversity was analysed with a general linear mixed model. For species richness, an incidence-based coverage estimator was calculated. (3) In total, 541 wild bees from 10 species were found. No wild bees were caught on the conventional grasslands. Wild bee abundance and species richness did not differ among the three grass-clover mixtures, but with increasing flower cover of white clover (Trifolium repens), wild bee abundance increased. Except for one solitary wild bee individual, the recorded community exclusively consisted of bumblebees. While generalist species that are commonly found on farmland dominated, rare long-tongued bumblebees made up 10% on the grazed sites of the multispecies mixture and made up 20% on the ungrazed strips of the binary mixture and multispecies mixture. (4) We conclude that multispecies mixtures can provide resources for generalist bumblebee species, especially when compared with conventional grasslands that offer no resources. Considering that the multispecies mixture has been also shown to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and nitrate leaching, while maintaining high forage yields, our findings add to the potential to promote a wide range of ecosystem services. Yet, should their full potential be enfolded, grazing should partially be excluded, and the mixture should be extended by plant species with more open flowers, suitable for solitary wild bees.
Solar Radiation Prediction Model for the Yellow River Basin with Deep Learning
Authors: Zhang Qian , Tian Xiaoxu , Zhang Peng , Hou Lei , Peng Zhigong , Wang Gang
Published: April 2022

Solar radiation is the main source of energy on the Earth’s surface. It is very important for the environment and ecology, water cycle and crop growth. Therefore, it is very important to obtain accurate solar radiation data. In this study, we use the highest temperature Tmax, lowest temperature Tmin, average temperature Tavg, wind speed U, relative humidity RH, sunshine duration H and maximum sunshine duration Hmax as input variables to construct a deep learning prediction model of solar radiation in the Yellow River Basin. It is compared with the recommended and corrected values of the widely used Å-P method. The results show that: (1) The correction results of the Å-P equation are better in the upstream and downstream of the Yellow River Basin but worse in the midstream. (2) The prediction result of the deep learning model in the Yellow River Basin is far better than that of the Å-P equation using the FAO-56 recommended value. It is the best in the downstream of the Yellow River Basin: R2 increases from 0.894 to 0.934; MSE, RMSE and MAE decrease by 43.12%, 27.73% and 25.80%, respectively. The upstream prediction result comes in second: R2 increases from 0.888 to 0.921; MSE, RMSE and MAE decrease by 33.27%, 20.02% and 19.04%, respectively. The midstream result is the worst: R2 increases from 0.869 to 0.874; MSE, RMSE and MAE decrease by −0.50%, 0.07% and 3.82%, respectively. (3) The prediction results of the deep learning model in the upstream and downstream of the Yellow River Basin are far better than those of the Å-P equation using correction. The R2 in the upstream of the Yellow River Basin increases from 0.889 to 0.921. MSE, RMSE and MAE decrease by 22.11%, 11.84% and 8.94%, respectively. R2 in the downstream of the Yellow River Basin increases from 0.900 to 0.934, and MSE, RMSE and MAE decrease by 13.21%, 11.40% and 5.55%, respectively. In the midstream of the Yellow River Basin, the prediction results of the deep learning model are worse than those of the Å-P equation using correction: R2 increases from 0.870 to 0.874, but MSE, RMSE and MAE decrease by −24.93%, −10.83% and −11.56%, respectively.
The Stomatal Conductance and Fv/Fm as the Indicators of Stress Tolerance of Avocado Seedlings under Short-Term Waterlogging
Authors: Lin Shu-Yen , Chen Po-An , Zhuang Bing-Wen
Published: April 2022

Avocados may suffer from short-term waterlogging stress when exposed to high temperatures and heavy rainfall during the summer in Taiwan. We compared the waterlogging responses of own-rooted and grafted seedlings of two Taiwan cultivars, ‘Black-Beauty’ and ‘Hung-Hsin-Yuan’, by stomatal conductance (gs) and chlorophyll fluorescence parameters. Four-day waterlogging and four-day post-waterlogging recovery periods were investigated. Both gs and Fv/Fm of own-rooted seedlings of two cultivars were significant reductions in response to short-term waterlogging. The grafted seedlings on the same cultivar rootstock were evaluated by gs and Fv/Fm during the growth and the growth cessation periods, respectively. The combined responses of gs and Fv/Fm under short-term waterlogging showed that ‘Black-Beauty’ was sensitive to stress because of decreased gs after waterlogging or decreased Fv/Fm after the two-day recovery period. ‘Hung-Hsin-Yuan’ showed more tolerance to waterlogging stress, especially during the growth cessation. This indicates that the vegetative dormancy may affect the evaluation of the stress response of avocados. Our results revealed that gs and Fv/Fm can be effective indicators in the four-day waterlogging of avocado, and the growth status of avocado seedlings should be considered during stress-tolerant variety selection.
Dense Planting with Reducing Nitrogen Rate Increased Nitrogen Use Efficiency and Translocated Nitrogen in Grains in Double-Cropped Rice
Authors: Luo Zhuo , Song Haixing , Huang Min , Zhang Zhenhua , Peng Zhi , Yang Zhichang , Shen Tao , Luo Gongwen
Published: April 2022

Nitrogen fertilization and planting density are two key factors that influence the yield of rice. Reducing nitrogen fertilizer input and increasing planting density will help to improve nitrogen use efficiency and stabilize yield. Field and 15N tracer method in plot experiments were conducted to study the trends of yield, nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) and nitrogen transfer of hybrid rice and conventional rice under dense planting with a reduced nitrogen rate (DPRN) and sparse planting with a high nitrogen rate (SPHN). Among the nitrogen in rice plants, the proportion of nitrogen from fertilizer under the DPRN was reduced by 1.8–13%. The late-season rice (LSR) had a higher rate of decrease compared with the early-season rice (ESR). The uptake efficiency of nitrogen fertilizer was significantly higher under the DPRN than that under the SPHN, with an increase of 7.7–21.9%. The accumulated nitrogen and translocated ratio under the DPRN before the heading stage were 6.1–10.8% and 2.0–9.6% higher than those under the SPHN, respectively. The yield did not change under different treatments. Those findings suggest that the DPRN could guarantee a stabilized yield while increasing the NUE and the amount of translocated nitrogen in the double-cropped rice system.
Non-Chemical Weed Control for Plant Health and Environment: Ecological Integrated Weed Management (EIWM)
Authors: Pavlović Danijela , Vrbničanin Sava , Anđelković Ana , Božić Dragana , Rajković Miloš , Malidža Goran
Published: April 2022

Herbicide application has long been considered the most efficient weed control method in agricultural production worldwide. However, long-term use of agrochemicals has numerous negative effects on crops and the environment. Bearing in mind these negative impacts, the EU strategy for withdrawing many herbicides from use, and modern market demands for the production of healthy and safe food, there is a need for developing new effective, sustainable, and ecological weed control measures. To bring a fresh perspective on this topic, this paper aims to describe the most important non-chemical weed control strategies, including ecological integrated weed management (EIWM), limiting weed seed bank, site-specific weed management, mechanical weeding, mulching, crop competitiveness, intercropping, subsidiary crops, green manure, and bioherbicides.
How to Analyze, Detect and Adjust Variable Seedbed Depth in Site-Specific Sowing Systems: A Case Study
Authors: Romaneckas Kestutis , Steponavičius Dainius , Jasinskas Algirdas , Kazlauskas Marius , Naujokienė Vilma , Bručienė Indrė , Švereikaitė Austėja , Šarauskis Egidijus
Published: April 2022

Sowing or seedbed depth is an important agro-technological parameter that varies with specific on-field soil and microclimatic conditions and depends on crop biology. There is a lack of detailed information regarding how seedbed depth relates to other seedbed parameters and affects the development of agricultural crops. Several seeder constructions and methods for seeding condition detection and depth adjustment have been investigated in high-precision, digitally backgrounded, in-site sowing systems; however, there is still a gap in knowledge due to the limited use of these technologies in conditions of high soil and micro-climatic variability. Therefore, the aim of this study was to highlight the impact of sowing depth on crop seedbed parameters, mainly established by the Kritz method, to ascertain the correlation between sowing depth, germination, crop development and productivity, and to overview the methods and equipment used for detection, adjustment and control of sowing depth in precision site-specific sowing systems. Our results showed that, in most cases, when sowing depth extended beyond the optimum, the moisture content in the seedbed decreased significantly. Sowing depth also correlated with the roughness of the seedbed (surface and bottom) and seedbed aggregate size distribution, but the direction of the relation depended on crop type and maximum sowing depths. Sowing depth correlated with crop germination, development and productivity parameters; however, the direction of exposure and intensity also varied with respect to crops, weather conditions, tillage and sowing equipment. Sowing depth uniformity is greatly influenced by the regulation of clamping force, the spatial variability of soil in fields and sowing operation speed.
Phylogeography and Prevalence of Hemoparasites (Apicomplexa: Eucoccidiorida) in Galápagos Marine Iguanas, Amblyrhynchus cristatus (Reptilia: Iguanidae)
Authors: Scheibel Jessica , Garcia-Porta Joan , Quezada Galo , Ibáñez Alejandro
Published: April 2022

Parasitism is among the most common forms of coexistence of organisms of different species. Hemoparasites live in the bloodstream of the host where they complete different life-cycle stages. Members of the phylum Apicomplexa constitute a large portion of all hemoparasites infecting reptiles and their parasite transmitting vectors, including arthropods. In this study, we carried out a survey and molecular identification of hemoparasites in blood samples of the iconic Galápagos marine iguana (Amblyrhynchus cristatus). Major island populations of marine iguanas were sampled to examine large-scale biogeographic patterns of parasite diversity and prevalence. Nested PCRs were used to amplify segments of the 18S rRNA-gene of hemoparasites. Furthermore, ticks attached to marine iguanas were collected and analyzed in the same way to assess their potential use as a non-invasive method for the detection of hemoparasites in vertebrate host species. PCR products were sequenced and a phylogenetic analysis was carried out showing the presence of two genetically distinct clusters of hemoparasites, one more commonly distributed than the other one, belonging to the genera Hepatozoon and/or Hemolivia (Apicomplexa: Eucoccidiorida). Overall, 25% of marine iguanas were infected by hemoparasites. However, infection rates varied strongly among particular island populations (from 3.45% to 50%). Although marine iguanas are an extremely mobile species that has colonized all islands in the Galápagos archipelago, parasite occurrence was not related to geographical distance, suggesting that dispersal behavior has a minor role in parasite transmission. On most islands, females tended to have higher infection rates than males, but this relationship was only significant on one island. Overall, ticks and marine iguanas had similar prevalence and diversity of parasites. However, the infection profiles of ticks and their corresponding hosts (marine iguanas) did not mirror one another, indicating that this method cannot be used reliably to assess marine iguana infection status. Interestingly, we found that hemoparasite prevalence in marine iguanas and ticks tended to be positively correlated across islands. Our results indicate that certain populations of marine iguanas may have special mechanisms and adaptations to cope with parasite infection. In addition, other factors such as vector density, anthropogenic-related activities or the immunological state of marine iguanas could potentially affect the striking variation in hemoparasite prevalence across island populations.
Seasonality and Ecological Suitability Modelling for Anthrax (Bacillus anthracis) in Western Africa
Authors: Pittiglio Claudia , Shadomy Sean , El Idrissi Ahmed , Soumare Baba , Lubroth Juan , Makonnen Yilma
Published: April 2022

Anthrax is hyper-endemic in West Africa affecting wildlife, livestock and humans. Prediction is difficult due to the lack of accurate outbreak data. However, predicting the risk of infection is important for public health, wildlife conservation and livestock economies. In this study, the seasonality of anthrax outbreaks in West Africa was investigated using climate time series and ecological niche modeling to identify environmental factors related to anthrax occurrence, develop geospatial risk maps and identify seasonal patterns. Outbreak data in livestock, wildlife and humans between 2010 and 2018 were compiled from different sources and analyzed against monthly rates of change in precipitation, normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and land surface temperature. Maximum Entropy was used to predict and map the environmental suitability of anthrax occurrence. The findings showed that: (i) Anthrax outbreaks significantly (99%) increased with incremental changes in monthly precipitation and vegetation growth and decremental changes in monthly temperature during January–June. This explains the occurrence of the anthrax peak during the early wet season in West Africa. (ii) Livestock density, precipitation seasonality, NDVI and alkaline soils were the main predictors of anthrax suitability. (iii) Our approach optimized the use of limited and heterogeneous datasets and ecological niche modeling, demonstrating the value of integrated disease notification data and outbreak reports to generate risk maps. Our findings can inform public, animal and environmental health and enhance national and regional One Health disease control strategies.
Integrated Basic Heart and Lung Ultrasound Examination for the Differentiation between Bacterial Pneumonia and Lung Neoplasm in Dogs—A New Diagnostic Algorithm
Authors: Łobaczewski Andrzej , Czopowicz Michał , Moroz Agata , Mickiewicz Marcin , Sapierzyński Rafał , Tarka Sylwia , Frymus Tadeusz , Mądry Wojciech , Buczyński Michał , Szaluś-Jordanow Olga
Published: April 2022

The diagnostics of two of the most prevalent lung diseases in dogs, bacterial pneumonia (BP) and lung neoplasm (LN), are challenging as their clinical signs are identical and may also occur in extrapulmonary diseases. This study aims to identify ultrasonographic criteria and develop a lung ultrasound (LUS)-based diagnostic algorithm which could help distinguish between these two conditions. The study is carried out in 66 dyspneic dogs in which a heart disease was excluded using echocardiography. Based on imaging and laboratory diagnostic tests, as well as follow-up, the dogs are classified into LN (35 dogs) and BP (31 dogs) groups. LUS is performed at admission and the presence of seven lung abnormalities (pleural thickening, B-lines, subpleural consolidations, hepatization with or without aeration, nodule sign and mass classified together as a tumor, and free pleural fluid) and classification and regression trees are used to develop an LUS-based diagnostic algorithm. Distribution of all LUS abnormalities except for aerations differs significantly between groups; however, their individual differentiating potential is rather low. Therefore, we combine them in an algorithm which allows for definitive classification of 60 dogs (91%) (32 with LN and 28 with BP) with correct diagnosis of LN and BP in 31 dogs and 27 dogs, respectively.