bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Drought stress amelioration in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) seedlings by biostimulant as regenerative agent
Authors: Turan Metin , Ekinci Melek , Argin Sanem , Brinza Mihail , Yildirim Ertan
Published: August 2023

Drought adversely affects many physiological and biochemical events of crops. This research was conducted to investigate the possible effects of biostimulants containing plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) on plant growth parameters, chlorophyll content, membrane permeability (MP), leaf relative water content (LRWC), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), proline, malondialdehyde (MDA), hormone content, and antioxidant enzymes (catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POD), and superoxide dismutase (SOD)) activity of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) seedlings under different irrigation levels. This study was carried out under controlled greenhouse conditions with two irrigation levels (D0: 100% of field capacity and D1: 50% of field capacity) and three biostimulant doses (B0: 0, B1: 4 L ha-1, and B2: 6 L ha-1). The results of the study show that drought stress negatively influenced the growth and physiological characteristics of tomato seedlings while biostimulant applications ameliorated these parameters. Water deficit conditions (50% of field capacity) caused decrease in indole acetic acid (IAA), gibberellic acid (GA), salicylic acid (SA), cytokine, zeatin, and jasmonic acid content of tomato seedlings by ratios of 83%, 93%, 82%, 89%, 50%, and 57%, respectively, and shoot fresh weight, root fresh weight, shoot dry weight, root dry weight, plant height, stem diameter, and leaf area decreased by 43%, 19%, 39%, 29%, 20%, 18%, and 50%, respectively, compared to the control (B0D0). In addition, 21%, 16%, 21%, and 17% reductions occurred in LRWC, chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, and total chlorophyll contents with drought compared to the control, respectively. Biostimulant applications restored the plant growth, and the most effective dose was 4 L ha-1 under drought condition. Amendment of biostimulant into the soil also enhanced organic matter and the total N, P, Ca, and Cu content of the experiment soil. In conclusion, 4 L ha-1 biostimulant amendment might be a promising approach to mitigate the adverse effects of drought stress on tomato.
Skip DETR: end-to-end Skip connection model for small object detection in forestry pest dataset
Authors: Liu Bing , Jia Yixin , Liu Luyang , Dang Yuanyuan , Song Shinan
Published: August 2023

Object detection has a wide range of applications in forestry pest control. However, forest pest detection faces the challenges of a lack of datasets and low accuracy of small target detection. DETR is an end-to-end object detection model based on the transformer, which has the advantages of simple structure and easy migration. However, the object query initialization of DETR is random, and random initialization will cause the model convergence to be slow and unstable. At the same time, the correlation between different network layers is not strong, resulting in DETR is not very ideal in small object training, optimization, and performance. In order to alleviate these problems, we propose Skip DETR, which improves the feature fusion between different network layers through skip connection and the introduction of spatial pyramid pooling layers so as to improve the detection results of small objects. We performed experiments on Forestry Pest Datasets, and the experimental results showed significant AP improvements in our method. When the value of IoU is 0.5, our method is 7.7% higher than the baseline and 6.1% higher than the detection result of small objects. Experimental results show that the application of skip connection and spatial pyramid pooling layer in the detection framework can effectively improve the effect of small-sample obiect detection.
Coping with the cold: unveiling cryoprotectants, molecular signaling pathways, and strategies for cold stress resilience
Authors: Jahed Khalil R. , Saini Amolpreet Kaur , Sherif Sherif M.
Published: August 2023

Low temperature stress significantly threatens crop productivity and economic sustainability. Plants counter this by deploying advanced molecular mechanisms to perceive and respond to cold stress. Transmembrane proteins initiate these responses, triggering a series of events involving secondary messengers such as calcium ions (Ca2+), reactive oxygen species (ROS), and inositol phosphates. Of these, calcium signaling is paramount, activating downstream phosphorylation cascades and the transcription of cold-responsive genes, including cold-regulated (COR) genes. This review focuses on how plants manage freeze-induced damage through dual strategies: cold tolerance and cold avoidance. Tolerance mechanisms involve acclimatization to decreasing temperatures, fostering gradual accumulation of cold resistance. In contrast, avoidance mechanisms rely on cryoprotectant molecules like potassium ions (K+), proline, glycerol, and antifreeze proteins (AFPs). Cryoprotectants modulate intracellular solute concentration, lower the freezing point, inhibit ice formation, and preserve plasma membrane fluidity. Additionally, these molecules demonstrate antioxidant activity, scavenging ROS, preventing protein denaturation, and subsequently mitigating cellular damage. By forming extensive hydrogen bonds with water molecules, cryoprotectants also limit intercellular water movement, minimizing extracellular ice crystal formation, and cell dehydration. The deployment of cryoprotectants is a key adaptive strategy that bolsters plant resilience to cold stress and promotes survival in freezing environments. However, the specific physiological and molecular mechanisms underlying these protective effects remain insufficiently understood. Therefore, this review underscores the need for further research to elucidate these mechanisms and assess their potential impact on crop productivity and sustainability, contributing to the progressive discourse in plant biology and environmental science.
Hopium or empowering hope? A meta-analysis of hope and climate engagement
Authors: Geiger Nathaniel , Dwyer Timothy , Swim Janet K.
Published: August 2023

Researchers are increasingly examining whether hope can motivate action on climate change, or conversely, whether it might demotivate such action. We present a meta-analysis (k = 46) of quantitative studies examining the relationships between measures and manipulations of hope with climate engagement. On average, measured hope was associated with greater climate engagement (r = 0.18); however, this effect differed based on the target of hope. Hope regarding the possibility of respondents taking action was particularly strongly associated with greater engagement (r = 0.40), while in contrast, hope grounded in climate change not being a problem was associated with less engagement (r = −0.40). Hope in response to climate change generally, and domain-general hope, were only weakly associated with greater engagement (rs = 0.13, 0.20). On average, hope manipulations fostered increased engagement, though the increase was small (Cohen’s d = 0.08). Subgroup analyses suggested two promising types of hope manipulations warranting future research: personal efficacy (k = 2, d = 0.18) and in-depth (k = 2, d = 0.49). In contrast, messages suggesting societal efficacy (i.e., providing a sense of possibility that climate change could be addressed) did not significantly or substantially boost (nor discourage) engagement (d = 0.05), and status quo-framed messages (i.e., messages highlighting that environmental conditions could stay the same if climate action is taken) had a marginally significant negative effect on engagement (d = −0.18). After excluding a single outlier, the extent to which manipulations increased hope were not correlated with increases in climate engagement, suggesting the possibility that hope might be incidental to the success of some manipulations rather than a necessary component for promoting engagement. Overall, our meta-analysis does not suggest that increasing hope decreases climate engagement, with the possible exceptions of denial hope and status quo framed messages. Conversely, however, results provide partial yet inconclusive evidence for the hypothesis that increasing hope increases climate engagement. Given the existing published literature, we argue that future researchers should consider study designs that align with theoretical perspectives on how hope promotes climate engagement (e.g., longitudinal designs) and also consider directly assessing populations of interest (e.g., climate activists).
Engaging in the good with technology: a framework for examining positive technology use
Authors: Villamil Andrew , Heshmati Saeideh
Published: August 2023

The focus on the negative side of technology has become a prominent factor in the understanding of the interactions between humans and technology. However, there is a positive side to technology use that has been less investigated in scientific research. Well-being researchers have determined that it is not just the absence of negative emotions or experiences, but rather the presence and frequency of positive ones that matter most. Therefore, despite the scarcity of research on the positive side of technology, the present conceptual paper focuses on how technology may be used for the good to produce psychological benefits (e.g., greater happiness, lower loneliness, higher peer endorsement). Based on existing literature, we posit at least three directions for good interactions with technology: (1) “seeing good” by focusing on positive visual cues through technology use; (2) “feeling good” by focusing on good feelings that arise from technology use; and (3) “doing good” by focusing on positive actions that can be enacted via technology use. Based on the synthesis of these three components, we propose a framework for technology laden engagement in the good, dubbed as, the Engagement in the Good with Technology (EGT) Framework. Through this framework, we explain how these three distinct aspects of seeing, feeling, and doing good can co-occur and be interrelated, and in turn potentially lead to upward spirals of positive outcomes.
Identification of a diagnostic model and molecular subtypes of major depressive disorder based on endoplasmic reticulum stress-related genes
Authors: Huang Shuwen , Li Yong , Shen Jianying , Liang Wenna , Li Candong
Published: August 2023

Subject

Major depressive disorder (MDD) negatively affects patients’ behaviours and daily lives. Due to the high heterogeneity and complex pathological features of MDD, its diagnosis remains challenging. Evidence suggests that endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) is involved in the pathogenesis of MDD; however, relevant diagnostic markers have not been well studied. This study aimed to screen for ERS genes with potential diagnostic value in MDD.

Methods

Gene expression data on MDD samples were downloaded from the GEO database, and ERS-related genes were obtained from the GeneCards and MSigDB databases. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in MDD patients and healthy subjects were identified and then integrated with ERS genes. ERS diagnostic model and nomogram were developed based on biomarkers screened using the LASSO method. The diagnostic performance of this model was evaluated. ERS-associated subtypes were identified. CIBERSORT and GSEA were used to explore the differences between the different subtypes. Finally, WGCNA was performed to identify hub genes related to the subtypes.

Results

A diagnostic model was developed based on seven ERS genes: KCNE1, PDIA4, STAU1, TMED4, MGST1, RCN1, and SHC1. The validation analysis showed that this model had a good diagnostic performance. KCNE1 expression was positively correlated with M0 macrophages and negatively correlated with resting CD4+ memory T cells. Two subtypes (SubA and SubB) were identified, and these two subtypes showed different ER score. The SubB group showed higher immune infiltration than the SubA group. Finally, NCF4, NCF2, CSF3R, and FPR2 were identified as hub genes associated with ERS molecular subtypes.

Conclusion

Our current study provides novel diagnostic biomarkers for MDD from an ERS perspective, and these findings further facilitate the use of precision medicine in MDD.
A neural model of modified excitation/inhibition and feedback levels in schizophrenia
Authors: Zhu Jiating , Zikopoulos Basilis , Yazdanbakhsh Arash
Published: August 2023

Introduction

The strength of certain visual illusions, including contrast-contrast and apparent motion, is weakened in individuals with schizophrenia. Such phenomena have been interpreted as the impaired integration of inhibitory and excitatory neural responses, and impaired top–down feedback mechanisms.

Methods

To investigate whether and how these factors influence the perceived contrast-contrast and apparent motion illusions in individuals with schizophrenia, we propose a two-layer network, with top-down feedback from layer 2 to layer 1 that can model visual receptive fields (RFs) and their inhibitory and excitatory subfields.

Results

Our neural model suggests that illusion perception changes in individuals with schizophrenia can be influenced by altered top-down mechanisms and the organization of the on-center off-surround receptive fields. Alteration of the RF inhibitory surround and/or the excitatory center can replicate the difference of illusion precepts between individuals with schizophrenia within certain clinical states and normal controls. The results show that the simulated top-down feedback modulation enlarges the difference of the model illusion representations, replicating the difference between the two groups.

Discussion

We propose that the heterogeneity of visual and in general sensory processing in certain clinical states of schizophrenia can be largely explained by the degree of top-down feedback reduction, emphasizing the critical role of top-down feedback in illusion perception, and to a lesser extent on the imbalance of excitation/inhibition. Our neural model provides a mechanistic explanation for the modulated visual percepts of contrast-contrast and apparent motion in schizophrenia with findings that can explain a broad range of visual perceptual observations in previous studies. The two-layer motif of the current model provides a general framework that can be tailored to investigate subcortico-cortical (such as thalamocortical) and cortico-cortical networks, bridging neurobiological changes in schizophrenia and perceptual processing.
Impact analysis of cooperative perception on the performance of automated driving in unsignalized roundabouts
Authors: Zainudin Hazim , Koufos Konstantinos , Lee Graham , Jiang Lintong , Dianati Mehrdad
Published: August 2023

This paper reports the implementation and results of a simulation-based analysis of the impact of cloud/edge-enabled cooperative perception on the performance of automated driving in unsignalized roundabouts. This is achieved by comparing the performance of automated driving assisted by cooperative perception to that of a baseline system, where the automated vehicle relies only on its onboard sensing and perception for motion planning and control. The paper first provides the descriptions of the implemented simulation model, which integrates the SUMO road traffic generator and CARLA simulator. This includes descriptions of both the baseline and cooperative perception-assisted automated driving systems. We then define a set of relevant key performance indicators for traffic efficiency, safety, and ride comfort, as well as simulation scenarios to collect relevant data for our analysis. This is followed by the description of simulation scenarios, presentation of the results, and discussions of the insights learned from the results.
Interhemispheric asymmetries of neutral upwelling and ion upflow
Authors: Lessard Marc R. , Damsell Alec , Sadler F. Brent , Oksavik Kjellmar , Clausen Lasse
Published: August 2023

This work addresses interhemispheric differences in cusp-related neutral density enhancements. The focus is on enhancements that are driven by Poleward Moving Auroral Forms (PMAF), which provide a repetitive sequence of soft electron precipitation to the ionosphere. Because the time-scales of the resultant electron heating, ion upflow and neutral upwelling range from a few seconds to tens of minutes, i.e., longer than the time required for the thermosphere to return to its relaxed state, each subsequent PMAF encounters different initial conditions. With this in mind, our study investigates the role of a dark versus daylight ionosphere, using 3 different scenarios. The first case compares this effect during solar minimum at Longyearbyen, Svalbard, an ideal location for observing cusp dynamics. The second case addresses solar maximum at Longyearbyen and the third case compares Longyearbyen to its magnetically conjugate Zhongshan Station in Antarctica. We conclude 1) for each of the 3 scenarios ion upflow speeds, neutral upwelling speeds and neutral density enhancements are all significantly greater in a dark ionosphere, by perhaps as much as a factor or 2 or 3, relative to a sunlit ionosphere, 2) that upflowing ions are the driver of neutral upwelling via ion-neutral collisions (momentum transfer), with fast-moving ions transferring upward momentum to slow-moving neutrals, and 3) the ratios of neutral upflow speeds to ion upflow speeds, vnSunlit/viSunlit is the order of 0.07 for all stations (at 800 km) in the first and second cases studied, but only 0.02 at Zhongshan in the 3rd case studied, a factor of ∼3 less than the other locations. This is thought to be due to an increased thermospheric density at Zhongshan, which essentially provides a greater total mass for the upflowing ions to lift.
Differences in selected blood parameters between brachycephalic and non-brachycephalic dogs
Authors: Kämpf Sandra , Fenk Simone , Van Cromvoirt Ankie , Bogdanov Nikolay , Hartnack Sonja , Stirn Martina , Hofmann-Lehmann Regina , Reichler Iris Margaret , Bogdanova Anna
Published: August 2023

Introduction

Cranial and upper-airway anatomy of short-nosed, flat-faced brachycephalic dogs predisposes them to brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome (BOAS). Periodic apnoea increased inspiratory resistance, and an inability to thermoregulate effectively are characteristic of BOAS, but internationally accepted objective markers of BOAS severity are missing. The objective of this study was to compare the selected blood parameters between non-brachycephalic (NC) and brachycephalic (BC) dogs, exploring the possibility of developing a blood test for BOAS severity grading in the future.

Methods

We evaluated blood biochemistry, complete blood cell counts, red blood cell (RBC) indices, reticulocyte counts, a blood-born marker of intermittent hypoxia (glutathione, NO production), RBC hydration, deformability, and blood markers of metabolic changes and stress between BC (n= 18) and NC (meso- and dolichocephalic,n= 22) dogs.

Results

Reticulocyte counts and the abundance of middle-fluorescence immature reticulocytes were significantly (p< 0.05) higher in BC dogs compared to NC dogs. BC dogs had significantly more NO-derived NO2-/NO3-in plasma than NC dogs. RBCs of BC dogs were shedding significantly more membrane, as follows from the intensity of eosin maleimide staining, and had a significantly higher mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration than NC dogs. Intracellular reduced glutathione content in RBCs of BC dogs was significantly lower, while plasma lactate was significantly higher in BC dogs compared to NC dogs. Plasma cholesterol and triglycerides were significantly lower, and cortisol was significantly higher in BC dogs compared to NC dogs. Eosinophil counts were significantly lower and the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio was higher in BC dogs compared to NC dogs.

Discussion

Taken together, our findings suggest that the brachycephalic phenotype in dogs is associated with alterations at the level of blood cells and, systemically, with oxidation and metabolic changes. The parameters identified within this study should be further investigated for their potential as objective indicators for BOAS.
Design of an Agrivoltaic System with Building Integrated Photovoltaics
Authors: Kim Sojung , Kim Sumin
Published: August 2023

Building integrated photovoltaics (BIPVs) are becoming popular as building elements such as windows, roofs, and outer walls. Because BIPVs have both a construction material function and an electricity generation function, they are a promising alternative to sustainable buildings. This study aims to propose a novel agrivoltaic system design that produces crops underneath photovoltaic (PV) modules. Regarding the fact that crop growth is significantly influenced by shading from PV modules, roof BIPVs with different shading ratios can lead to increased crop productivity. Thus, BIPV design should be investigated based on the performance estimation and feasibility evaluation of different shading ratios in an agrivoltaic system. To this end, electricity generation and crop production models are devised by polynomial regression (PR) based on field experiment data collected from the agrivoltaic system at the Agricultural Research Service Center in Naju-si, South Korea. The experiment shows that a shading ratio of 30% allows for the maximization of the profitability of electricity and soybean production in an agrivoltaic system equipped with BIPVs. As a result, this research will contribute to implementing an agrivoltaic system with various BIPVs.
A Real-Time Detection and Maturity Classification Method for Loofah
Authors: Jiang Sheng , Liu Ziyi , Hua Jiajun , Zhang Zhenyu , Zhao Shuai , Xie Fangnan , Ao Jiangbo , Wei Yechen , Lu Jingye , Li Zhen , Lyu Shilei
Published: August 2023

Fruit maturity is a crucial index for determining the optimal harvesting period of open-field loofah. Given the plant’s continuous flowering and fruiting patterns, fruits often reach maturity at different times, making precise maturity detection essential for high-quality and high-yield loofah production. Despite its importance, little research has been conducted in China on open-field young fruits and vegetables and a dearth of standards and techniques for accurate and non-destructive monitoring of loofah fruit maturity exists. This study introduces a real-time detection and maturity classification method for loofah, comprising two components: LuffaInst, a one-stage instance segmentation model, and a machine learning-based maturity classification model. LuffaInst employs a lightweight EdgeNeXt as the backbone and an enhanced pyramid attention-based feature pyramid network (PAFPN). To cater to the unique characteristics of elongated loofah fruits and the challenge of small target detection, we incorporated a novel attention module, the efficient strip attention module (ESA), which utilizes long and narrow convolutional kernels for strip pooling, a strategy more suitable for loofah fruit detection than traditional spatial pooling. Experimental results on the loofah dataset reveal that these improvements equip our LuffaInst with lower parameter weights and higher accuracy than other prevalent instance segmentation models. The mean average precision (mAP) on the loofah image dataset improved by at least 3.2% and the FPS increased by at least 10.13 f/s compared with Mask R-CNN, Mask Scoring R-CNN, YOLACT++, and SOLOv2, thereby satisfying the real-time detection requirement. Additionally, a random forest model, relying on color and texture features, was developed for three maturity classifications of loofah fruit instances (M1: fruit setting stage, M2: fruit enlargement stage, M3: fruit maturation stage). The application of a pruning strategy helped attain the random forest model with the highest accuracy (91.47% for M1, 90.13% for M2, and 92.96% for M3), culminating in an overall accuracy of 91.12%. This study offers promising results for loofah fruit maturity detection, providing technical support for the automated intelligent harvesting of loofah.
Identification of Robust Hybrid Inversion Models on the Crop Fraction of Absorbed Photosynthetically Active Radiation Using PROSAIL Model Simulated and Field Multispectral Data
Authors: Kong Jiying , Luo Zhenhai , Zhang Chao , Tang Min , Liu Rui , Xie Ziang , Feng Shaoyuan
Published: August 2023

The fraction of absorbed photosynthetically active radiation (FPAR), which represents the capability of vegetation-absorbed solar radiation to accumulate organic matter, is a crucial indicator of photosynthesis and vegetation growth status. Although a simplified semi-empirical FPAR estimation model was easily obtained using vegetation indices (VIs), the sensitivity and robustness of VIs and the optimal inversion method need to be further evaluated and developed for canola FPAR retrieval. The objective of this study was to identify the robust hybrid inversion model for estimating the winter canola FPAR. A field experiment with different sow dates and densities was conducted over two growing seasons to obtain canola FPARs. Moreover, 29 VIs, two machine learning algorithms and the PROSAIL model were incorporated to establish the FPAR inversion model. The results indicate that the OSAVI, WDRVI and mSR had better capability for revealing the variations of the FPAR. Three parameters of leaf area index (LAI), solar zenith angle (SZA) and average leaf inclination angle (ALA) accounted for over 95% of the total variance in the FPARs and OSAVI exhibited a greater resistance to changes in the leaf and canopy parameters of interest. The hybrid inversion model with an artificial neural network (ANN-VIs) performed the best for both datasets. The optimal hybrid inversion model of ANN-OSAVI achieved the highest performance for canola FPAR retrieval, with R2 and RMSE values of 0.65 and 0.051, respectively. Finally, the work highlights the usefulness of the radiation transfer model (RTM) in quantifying the crop canopy FPAR and demonstrates the potential of hybrid model methods for retrieving the canola FPAR at each growth stage.
Effects of Pedoclimate and Agronomical Management on Yield and Quality of Common Wheat Varieties (Triticum aestivum L.) in Afghanistan
Authors: Soofizada Qudratullah , Pescatore Antonio , Orlandini Simone , Napoli Marco
Published: August 2023

The lower common wheat productivity and quality are major constraints in Afghanistan. The objectives of this study were to (1) quantify the effect of soil and climatic parameters on the yield and quality of common wheat and (2) investigate the response of different wheat varieties to different N and P fertilization rates, to improve the yield and quality of common wheat. Three wheat varieties (DLN7, ZRDN, and KBL13), three phosphorus levels (PL) at 60, 90, and 120 kg P2O5 ha−1, and three nitrogen ratios (NP) at 1:1, 1.25:1, and 1.5:1, respectively, in four locations (L), were evaluated. The higher average grain yield (GY), straw yield (SY), and starch yield (STY) were obtained with DLN7, followed by KBL13 and ZRDN, for all locations. As PL increased, GY, SY, protein yield (PY), and STY significantly increased in all locations. The PL significantly affected protein content (PC), gluten content (GC), and dough strength (W). The NP significantly improved PC, GC, and PY. Starch (ST), STY, and amylopectin (AP) increased significantly with increasing PL. The amylose to AP ratio increased significantly with increasing NP ratios. The findings show that at NP1/PL120, GY, SY, ST, and AP improved significantly, while at NP1.5:1/PL120, PC and GC improved significantly.
Antimicrobial Efficacy of Cinnamon Essential Oil against Avian Pathogenic Escherichia coli from Poultry
Authors: Casalino Gaia , Dinardo Francesca Rita , D’Amico Francesco , Bozzo Giancarlo , Bove Antonella , Camarda Antonio , Lombardi Roberto , Dimuccio Michela Maria , Circella Elena
Published: August 2023

Colibacillosis, caused by E. coli, is responsible for economic losses in the poultry industry due to mortality, decreased production, and the cost of antibiotic treatments. Prevention of colibacillosis is based on improved biosecurity measures and the use of the vaccine performed with O78 E. coli strains, which is responsible for most cases of colibacillosis. Recently, there has been increased interest in other infection control methods, such as the use of natural compounds. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antimicrobial efficacy of cinnamon essential oil (CEO) against E. coli strains isolated from poultry. The MIC50 and MIC90 of CEO were determined by testing 117 strains belonging to serogroups O78, O2, O128, O139, isolated from laying hens (91 strains), broilers (10 strains), and turkeys (16 strains). The bacterial strains were tested at cell densities of 108 and 106 CFU/mL. At the cell density of 108 CFU/mL, MIC50 and MIC90 were 0.4 and 0.5 µL/mL for most of the tested strains, while they corresponded to 0.5 µL/mL for all strains isolated from broilers and for strains belonging to serogroup O139. At the cell density of 106 CFU/mL, MIC50 and MIC90 were 0.3 and 0.4 µL/mL, regardless of bird species of origin and for strains belonging to serogroups O78 and O2. In addition, a concentration of 0.04 µL/mL of CEO corresponded both to MIC50 and MIC90 for strains belonging to serogroups O139 and O128. Based on these results, cinnamon essential oil showed an effective antibacterial activity against E. coli strains from poultry and could find field application for the prevention of colibacillosis.
Illu-Shoal Choice: An Exploration of Different Means for Enrichment of Captive Zebrafish
Authors: Mair Alberto , Dadda Marco , Kitaoka Akiyoshi , Agrillo Christian
Published: August 2023

Fish of any variety are nowadays being kept captive for several purposes, from recreational to alimentary to research. It is possible that we humans often underestimate or misunderstand the basic, natural needs of the species we use for our purposes. Sociality is likely to play an extensive and fundamental role in the quality of life of animals such as zebrafish. This study aimed to develop a dummy conspecific that included depth and motion illusions in order to assess whether these stimuli could represent a valid alternative to a conspecific in triggering shoaling behaviour in a well-known model in genetics and neuroscience, the zebrafish (Dario rerio). We thus replaced the natural livery of a zebrafish shape with three visual illusions: the Ouchi–Spillmann illusion, which generates an effect of local tilting motion; and another two which should create pictorial cues of tridimensionality. Via a binary shoal choice test, we assessed the time spent close to each of the three artificial dummies compared to neutral control stimuli such as grey ellipses. We found no preference for the illusory patterns, suggesting that the illusion was not perceived or, alternatively, that the perception of the illusion was not enough to elicit recognition of the dummy as conspecific and subsequent social behaviours.
Real-Time Monitoring of Grazing Cattle Using LORA-WAN Sensors to Improve Precision in Detecting Animal Welfare Implications via Daily Distance Walked Metrics
Authors: Nyamuryekung’e Shelemia , Duff Glenn , Utsumi Santiago , Estell Richard , McIntosh Matthew M. , Funk Micah , Cox Andrew , Cao Huiping , Spiegal Sheri , Perea Andres , Cibils Andres F.
Published: August 2023

Animal welfare monitoring relies on sensor accuracy for detecting changes in animal well-being. We compared the distance calculations based on global positioning system (GPS) data alone or combined with motion data from triaxial accelerometers. The assessment involved static trackers placed outdoors or indoors vs. trackers mounted on cows grazing on pasture. Trackers communicated motion data at 1 min intervals and GPS positions at 15 min intervals for seven days. Daily distance walked was determined using the following: (1) raw GPS data (RawDist), (2) data with erroneous GPS locations removed (CorrectedDist), or (3) data with erroneous GPS locations removed, combined with the exclusion of GPS data associated with no motion reading (CorrectedDist_Act). Distances were analyzed via one-way ANOVA to compare the effects of tracker placement (Indoor, Outdoor, or Animal). No difference was detected between the tracker placement for RawDist. The computation of CorrectedDist differed between the tracker placements. However, due to the random error of GPS measurements, CorrectedDist for Indoor static trackers differed from zero. The walking distance calculated by CorrectedDist_Act differed between the tracker placements, with distances for static trackers not differing from zero. The fusion of GPS and accelerometer data better detected animal welfare implications related to immobility in grazing cattle.
Differentiation of Hair Sheep Breeds Based on the Physiological and Blood Biochemical Changes in Response to Different Stressors Using Multivariate Analysis Techniques
Authors: Tadesse Dereje , Patra Amlan Kumar , Puchala Ryszard , Hussein Ali , Goetsch Arthur Louis
Published: August 2023

Physiological and blood measurement changes due to high heat load, restricted feed intake, and limited drinking water availability in 135 animals of three hair sheep breeds (Dorper, Katahdin, and St. Croix) were subjected to multivariate analysis techniques. The objective of this analysis was to evaluate the ability of these variables to separate individual hair sheep into groups based on adaptation characteristics in response to three physiological stressors and identify variables with greater discriminatory power. There were 16, 8, and 13 physiological and blood variables obtained from high heat load, restricted feed consumption, and water intake studies, respectively, for multivariate analysis. Physiological variables such as respiration rate, rectal and skin temperature, and panting score were measured only in the heat stress study. The results of the cluster and canonical discriminant analyses showed the presence of wide divergence (p < 0.05) between St. Croix and other breeds in their responses to high heat loads and restricted-feed- and -water-intake conditions. Dorper and Katahdin were grouped (p > 0.05) together based on the changes in physiological variables, which were separated (p < 0.05) from those of St. Croix as a resilient group. The stepwise discriminant analysis indicated that skin temperature, panting score, rectal temperature, respiration rate, and blood urea nitrogen and oxygen concentrations were the significant (p < 0.05) discriminating variables in clustering individual sheep into groups based on their responses to the high-heat-stress condition. Under the limited feed intake condition, the significant (p < 0.05) traits responsible for the separation of St. Croix from Dorper and Katahdin were blood triglyceride and cholesterol concentrations, whereas blood hemoglobin, osmolality, protein, and albumin were most important discriminating variables under the limited water intake condition. In conclusion, the results of the present study suggest that the stress responses of Dorper and Katahdin are similar and different from that of St. Croix. This finding can be useful information for future decisions in developing climate-resilient sheep through selective breeding.
Stall-Feeding of Sheep on Restricted Grazing: Effects on Performance and Serum Metabolites, Ruminal Fermentation, and Fecal Microbiota
Authors: Zhao Mengyu , Zhang Xiaoan , Chen Yao , Ren Chunhuan , Sun Yiming , Wang Penghui , Cheng Xiao , Zhang Zijun , Chen Jiahong , Huang Yafeng
Published: August 2023

This study investigated the effects of three feeding systems, indoor feeding (CONT), indoor feeding with time-restricted grazing artificial pasture (4 h/day, G4H), and indoor feeding with an eight-hour daily grazing artificial pasture (G8H), on the growth performance, serum metabolites, ruminal fermentation, and fecal microbiota composition of lambs. Average daily gain showed a tendency (p = 0.081) to be higher for the G4H group compared with the CONT group. Moreover, feeding systems did not have a significant effect on most of the serum biochemical indicators in lambs. Concentrations of serum glutathione peroxidase and immunoglobulins (IgA, gG, and IgM) were significantly lower (p < 0.01) in the CONT group. Additionally, a tendency towards higher levels of volatile fatty acids, acetate, and butyrate was found in animals of the G4H group compared to the CONT group. Furthermore, fecal microbiota composition was altered in G4H and G8H groups, resulting in the increased relative abundance of Firmicutes and Ruminococcaceae UCG-005, as well as the decreased relative abundance of Ruminobacter compared with the CONT group. Overall, these results suggest that indoor feeding with restricted grazing time does not significantly affect fattening performance or rumen fermentation but enhances antioxidation and immune function activity and also alters fecal microbiota composition.
Development of Novel Formulation for Sustained Release of Drug to Prevent Swainsonine-Containing Plants Poisoning in Livestock
Authors: Li Bo , Zhang Congsheng , Zhu Yiru , Sun Pinzhi , Fan Shangrui , Wang Weina , Tian Yanan , Lu Hao
Published: August 2023

Swainsonine-containing plants contain swainsonine which has been shown to cause neurological signs and pathological changes in farm animals. It causes a large number of livestock poisonings every year resulting in economic losses to the livestock industry. At present, “Jifang E” is used in the prevention of swainsonine-containing plants poisoning livestock, and the preventive effects have been well-documented. However, “Jifang E” is typically administered in drinking water, making it difficult to control the administered dosage, because of feeding difficulties and it may cause certain side effects that are unique to the water-dissolved powder. To overcome these difficulties, we developed a temperature-sensitive gel for injection and the optimal ratio of each formula of sustained-release injection is P407 (24%), P188 (6%), Vitamin C (1%), PEG4000 (0.5%), and “Jifang E” (10%). Our results suggest that novel formulation makes the micellar system more stable and the particles are uniformly dispersed. Colloidal morphological studies showed that each group formed a homogeneous pore structure after gelling, and the structure became more dense with the addition of “Jifang E”. The rheological study shows that “Jifang E” is a pseudoplastic fluid, and the addition of “Jifang E” reduces the viscosity of the formula, which is beneficial to the injection. In vitro and in vivo release rate studies have shown that the effective concentration of “Jifang E” can be maintained for 3 to 5 days. The acute toxicity test in SPF Kunming mice showed that its LD50 was 828.323 mg/kg, with confidence limits of 676.706–1013.911 mg/kg, which is a safe dosage (LD50 > 200 mg/kg). There were no observed reactions of muscle irritation or subcutaneous tissue irritation with the dosage used for New Zealand rabbits. In summary, we successfully developed the sustained-release injection formulation of “Jifang E” for the prevention of swainsonine-containing plants poisoning livestock, which provides the basis for subsequent field extension trials and the further study of its detoxification mechanism.
Avian Diversity Responds Unimodally to Natural Landcover: Implications for Conservation Management
Authors: De Camargo Rafael X.
Published: August 2023

Predicting species’ ecological responses to landcovers within landscapes could guide conservation practices. Current modelling efforts derived from classic species–area relationships almost always predict richness monotonically increasing as the proportion of landcovers increases. Yet evidence to explain hump-shaped richness–landcover patterns is lacking. We tested predictions related to hypothesised drivers of peaked relationships between richness and proportion of natural landcover. We estimated richness from breeding bird atlases at different spatial scales (25 to 900 km2) in New York State and Southern Ontario. We modelled richness to gradients of natural landcover, temperature, and landcover heterogeneity. We controlled models for sampling effort and regional size of the species pool. Species richness peaks as a function of the proportion of natural landcover consistently across spatial scales and geographic regions sharing similar biogeographic characteristics. Temperature plays a role, but peaked relationships are not entirely due to climate–landcover collinearities. Heterogeneity weakly explains richness variance in the models. Increased amounts of natural landcover promote species richness to a limit in landscapes with relatively little (<30%) natural cover. Higher amounts of natural cover and a certain amount of human-modified landcovers can provide habitats for species that prefer open habitats. Much of the variation in richness among landscapes must be related to variables other than natural versus human-dominated landcovers.
A Combination of Polymethoxyflavones from Citrus sinensis and Prenylflavonoids from Humulus lupulus Counteracts IL-1β-Induced Differentiated Caco-2 Cells Dysfunction via a Modulation of NF-κB/Nrf2 Activation
Authors: Restivo Ignazio , Basilicata Manuela Giovanna , Giardina Ilenia Concetta , Massaro Alessandro , Pepe Giacomo , Salviati Emanuela , Pecoraro Camilla , Carbone Daniela , Cascioferro Stella , Parrino Barbara , Diana Patrizia , Ostacolo Carmine , Campiglia Pietro , Attanzio Alessandro , D’Anneo Antonella , Pojero Fanny , Allegra Mario , Tesoriere Luisa
Published: August 2023

We here investigated the anti-inflammatory activity of a polymethoxylated flavone-containing fraction (PMFF) from Citrus sinensis and of a prenylflavonoid-containing one (PFF) from Humulus lupulus, either alone or in combination (MIX). To this end, an in vitro model of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), consisting of differentiated, interleukin (IL)-1β-stimulated Caco-2 cells, was employed. We demonstrated that non-cytotoxic concentrations of either PMFF or PFF or MIX reduced nitric oxide (NO) production while PFF and MIX, but not PMFF, also inhibited prostaglandin E2 release. Coherently, MIX suppressed both inducible NO synthase and cyclooxygenase-2 over-expression besides NF-κB activation. Moreover, MIX increased nuclear factor erythroid 2–related factor 2 (Nrf2) activation, heme oxygenase-1 expression, restoring GSH and reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONs) levels. Remarkably, these effects with MIX were stronger than those produced by PMFF or PFF alone. Noteworthy, nobiletin (NOB) and xanthohumol (XTM), two of the most represented phytochemicals in PMFF and PFF, respectively, synergistically inhibited RONs production. Overall, our results demonstrate that MIX enhances the anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative effects of the individual fractions in a model of IBD, via a mechanism involving modulation of NF-κB and Nrf2 signalling. Synergistic interactions between NOB and XTM emerge as a relevant aspect underlying this evidence.
Positional Movement Demands during NFL Football Games: A 3-Year Review
Authors: Sanchez Erin , Weiss Leigh , Williams Tyler , Ward Patrick , Peterson Ben , Wellman Aaron , Crandall Jeff
Published: August 2023

Understanding the in-game demands placed on athletes may allow practitioners to design improved training protocols to prepare athletes for competitive demands. This study aimed to quantify the competitive movement demands of professional American football athletes and to determine any inter-positional differences that may exist. Player tracking data were collected from 2018 to 2020 regular season games of the National Football League. Distance, maximum velocity, high-velocity efforts and distance, and acceleration and deceleration efforts and distance were used to evaluate competitive movement demands. To determine position-specific demands, each player was classified by their designated position, and velocity data from competitive games were used to develop position-specific velocity thresholds. One-way ANOVA and post hoc Bonferroni statistical analysis were used to determine inter-positional difference. Significant (p < 0.05) positional differences were found for all load metrics with respect to competitive game demands. Generally, wide receivers and defensive backs had faster maximum velocities, higher distances, and more acceleration and deceleration efforts and distance than other positions. Linebackers accumulated the most high-velocity efforts and distance. Lineman had the lowest values for all assessed metrics. These findings may assist the performance staff in developing improved training and return-to-play protocols with the aim of improving player performance and mitigating injury.
Smart Materials for Green(er) Cities, a Short Review
Authors: Nicolay Pascal , Schlögl Sandra , Thaler Stephan Mark , Humbert Claude , Filipitsch Bernd
Published: August 2023

The transition to sustainable or green(er) cities requires the development and implementation of many innovative technologies. It is vital to ensure that these technologies are themselves as sustainable and green as possible. In this context, smart materials offer excellent prospects for application. They are capable of performing a number of tasks (e.g., repair, opening/closing, temperature measurement, storage and release of thermal energy) without embedded electronics or power supplies. In this short review paper, we present some of the most promising smart material-based technologies for sustainable or green(er) cities. We will briefly present the state-of-the-art in smart concrete for the structural health monitoring and self-healing of civil engineering structures, phase-change materials (PCM) for passive air-conditioning, shape-memory materials (SMA) for various green applications, and meta-surfaces for green acoustics. To better illustrate the potential of some of the solutions discussed in the paper, we present, where appropriate, our most recent experimental results (e.g., embedded SAW sensors for the Structural Health Monitoring of concrete structures). The main aim of this paper is to promote green solutions based on smart materials to engineers and scientists involved in R&D projects for green(er) cities.
A Miniaturized and Low-Cost Near-Infrared Spectroscopy Measurement System for Alfalfa Quality Control
Authors: Melendreras Candela , Soldado Ana , Costa-Fernández José M. , López Alberto , Ferrero Francisco
Published: August 2023

Food safety and quality are the first steps in the food chain. This work reports a miniaturized, low-cost, and easy-to-use near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) measurement system for alfalfa quality control. This is a significant challenge for dairy farm technicians and producers who need rapid and reliable knowledge of the forage quality on their farms. In most cases, the instrumentation suitable for these specifications is expensive and difficult to operate. The core of the proposed NIR spectroscopy measurement system is Texas Instruments’ NIRscan Nano evaluation module (EVM) spectrometer. This module has a large sensing area and high resolution, suitable for forage samples. To evaluate the feasibility of the prototype for analyzing agrifood samples, different ways of presenting the sample, intact or ground, were tested. The final objective of the research is not just to check the efficiency of the proposed system. It is also to determine the characteristics of the measurement system, and how to improve them for alfalfa quality control.