bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A systematic synthesis of qualitative studies on parents’ experiences of participating in early intervention programs with their infant born preterm
Authors: Øberg Gunn Kristin , Sørvoll Marit , Labori Cathrine , Girolami Gay L. , Håkstad Ragnhild B.
Published: July 2023

Early intervention programs involving both the parent and the infant born preterm have demonstrated positive effects on developmental outcomes for the children. However, studies have also shown that parental engagement and adherence when implementing intervention programs can be challenging. The aim of this review was to provide a comprehensive description and new insights into key messages gleaned from the parent reports on participating in early intervention with their infant born preterm; knowledge vital to facilitate implementation of early interventions into clinical practice when using a model of direct parent involvement. Early intervention is broadly defined as a multi-interdisciplinary field provided to children from birth to five years of age to foster child health, wellbeing, development, adapting parenting and family function. For this systematic synthesis we define early intervention as programs with specific activities completed with the infant during the first year after birth. We assembled qualitative interview studies on parents’ experiences with participation in early intervention and applied Malterud’s qualitative systematic meta-synthesis to synthesize and translate the original findings across studies. In the analysis we applied enactive concepts of embodiment, autonomy, participatory sensemaking, and agency. 10 qualitative studies were identified and included. The systematic synthesis reveals how parents’ successful and meaningful participation in early intervention programs were facilitated by their “active embodied doing.” The “embodied doing” appeared as the basis for the parents’ sense-making processes, development of confidence, and the ability for parents to see new possibilities for actions within themselves, with and in the child. In that respect, a perception of mutuality in the interaction between parent, infant and interventionist was central. Consequently, an important consideration when implementing early intervention into clinical practice is to promote embodied parent–infant interactions as well as trust between the parent and the interventionist.
Comparison of behaviorally inhibited and typically developing children’s play behaviors in the preschool classroom
Authors: Druskin Lindsay R. , Novick Danielle R. , Smith Kelly A. , Chronis-Tuscano Andrea , Wagner Nicholas J. , Pham Stephanie , Fleece Hailey M. , Danko Christina M. , Rubin Kenneth H.
Published: July 2023

Introduction

Behavioral inhibition (BI) is a temperamental trait characterized by a bias to respond with patterns of fearful or anxious behavior when faced with unfamiliar situations, objects, or people. It has been suggested that children who are inhibited may experience early peer difficulties. However, researchers have yet to systematically compare BI versus typically developing children’s observed asocial and social behavior in familiar, naturalistic settings.

Method

We compared the in-school behaviors of 130 (M = 54 months, 52% female) highly inhibited preschoolers (identified using the parent-reported Behavioral Inhibition Questionnaire) to 145 (M = 53 months, 52% female) typically developing preschoolers. Both samples were observed on at least two different days for approximately 60 min. Observers used the Play Observation Scale to code children’s behavior in 10-s blocks during free play. Teachers completed two measures of children’s behavior in the classroom.

Results

Regression models with robust standard errors controlling for child sex, age, and weekly hours in school revealed that preschoolers identified as BI engaged in significantly more observed reticent and solitary behavior, and less social play and teacher interaction than the typically developing sample. Children with BI also initiated social interaction with their peers and teachers less often than their counterparts who were not inhibited. Teachers reported that children identified as BI were more asocial and less prosocial than their non-BI counterparts.

Discussion

Significantly, the findings indicated that inhibited children displayed more solitude in the context of familiar peers. Previous observational studies have indicated behavioral differences between BI and unfamiliar typical age-mates in novel laboratory settings. Children identified as BI did not receive fewer bids for social interaction than their typically developing peers, thereby suggesting that children who are inhibited have difficulty capitalizing on opportunities to engage in social interaction with familiar peers. These findings highlight the need for early intervention for children with BI to promote social engagement, given that the frequent expression of solitude in preschool has predicted such negative outcomes as peer rejection, negative self-regard, and anxiety during the elementary and middle school years.
Can the robot “see” what I see? Robot gaze drives attention depending on mental state attribution
Authors: Morillo-Mendez Lucas , Stower Rebecca , Sleat Alex , Schreiter Tim , Leite Iolanda , Mozos Oscar Martinez , Schrooten Martien G. S.
Published: July 2023

Mentalizing, where humans infer the mental states of others, facilitates understanding and interaction in social situations. Humans also tend to adopt mentalizing strategies when interacting with robotic agents. There is an ongoing debate about how inferred mental states affect gaze following, a key component of joint attention. Although the gaze from a robot induces gaze following, the impact of mental state attribution on robotic gaze following remains unclear. To address this question, we asked forty-nine young adults to perform a gaze cueing task during which mental state attribution was manipulated as follows. Participants sat facing a robot that turned its head to the screen at its left or right. Their task was to respond to targets that appeared either at the screen the robot gazed at or at the other screen. At the baseline, the robot was positioned so that participants would perceive it as being able to see the screens. We expected faster response times to targets at the screen the robot gazed at than targets at the non-gazed screen (i.e., gaze cueing effect). In the experimental condition, the robot's line of sight was occluded by a physical barrier such that participants would perceive it as unable to see the screens. Our results revealed gaze cueing effects in both conditions although the effect was reduced in the occluded condition compared to the baseline. These results add to the expanding fields of social cognition and human-robot interaction by suggesting that mentalizing has an impact on robotic gaze following.
Treatment as prevention for hepatitis C virus in the Middle East and North Africa: a modeling study
Authors: Ayoub Houssein H. , Mahmud Sarwat , Chemaitelly Hiam , Abu-Raddad Laith J.
Published: July 2023

Background

Direct-acting antivirals opened an opportunity for eliminating hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), the region most affected by HCV infection. Impact of HCV treatment as prevention (HCV-TasP) was investigated in 19 MENA countries.

Methods

An age-structured mathematical model was used to assess program impact using epidemiologic and programming measures. The model was fitted to a database of systematically gathered HCV antibody prevalence data. Two main scenarios were investigated for the treatment roll-out to achieve (i) 80% reduction in HCV incidence by 2030, and (ii) incidence rate < 1 per 100,000 person-years by 2030.

Results

In the target-80%-incidence-reduction scenario, number of treatments administrated by 2030 ranged from 2,610 in Lebanon to 180,416 in Sudan with a median of 53,079, and treatment coverage ranged between 40.2 and 78.4% with a median of 60.4%. By 2030, prevalence of chronic infection ranged between 0.0 and 0.3% with a median of 0.1%, and incidence rate, per 100,000 person-years, ranged between 0.9 and 16.3 with a median of 3.2. Program-attributed reduction in incidence rate ranged between 47.8 and 81.9% with a median of 68.5%, and number of averted infections ranged between 401 and 68,499 with a median of 8,703. Number of treatments needed to prevent one new infection ranged from 1.7 in Oman to 25.9 in Tunisia with a median of 6.5. In the target incidence rate  < 1 per 100,000 person-years scenario, number of treatments administrated by 2030 ranged from 3,470 in Lebanon to 211,912 in Sudan with a median of 54,479, and treatment coverage ranged between 55.5 and 95.9% with a median of 87.5%. By 2030, prevalence of chronic infection was less than 0.1%, and incidence rate, per 100,000 person-years, reached less than 1. Program-attributed reduction in incidence rate ranged between 61.0 and 97.5% with a median of 90.7%, and number of averted infections ranged between 559 and 104,315 with a median of 12,158. Number of treatments needed to prevent one new infection ranged from 1.3 in Oman to 25.9 in Tunisia with a median of 5.5.

Conclusion

HCV-TasP is an effective and indispensable prevention intervention to control MENA’s HCV epidemic and to achieve elimination by 2030.
The impact of multiple non-pharmaceutical interventions for China-bound travel on domestic COVID-19 outbreaks
Authors: Yang Lichao , Hu Mengzhi , Zeng Huatang , Liang Wannian , Zhu Jiming
Published: July 2023

Objectives

Non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) implemented on China-bound travel have successfully mitigated cross-regional transmission of COVID-19 but made the country face ripple effects. Thus, adjusting these interventions to reduce interruptions to individuals’ daily life while minimizing transmission risk was urgent.

Methods

An improved Susceptible-Infected-Recovered (SIR) model was built to evaluate the Delta variant’s epidemiological characteristics and the impact of NPIs. To explore the risk associated with inbound travelers and the occurrence of domestic traceable outbreaks, we developed an association parameter that combined inbound traveler counts with a time-varying initial value. In addition, multiple time-varying functions were used to model changes in the implementation of NPIs. Related parameters of functions were run by the MCSS method with 1,000 iterations to derive the probability distribution. Initial values, estimated parameters, and corresponding 95% CI were obtained. Reported existing symptomatic, suspected, and asymptomatic case counts were used as the training datasets. Reported cumulative recovered individual data were used to verify the reliability of relevant parameters. Lastly, we used the value of the ratio (Bias2/Variance) to verify the stability of the mathematical model, and the effects of the NPIs on the infected cases to analyze the sensitivity of input parameters.

Results

The quantitative findings indicated that this improved model was highly compatible with publicly reported data collected from July 21 to August 30, 2021. The number of inbound travelers was associated with the occurrence of domestic outbreaks. A proportional relationship between the Delta variant incubation period and PCR test validity period was found. The model also predicted that restoration of pre-pandemic travel schedules while adhering to NPIs requirements would cause shortages in health resources. The maximum demand for hospital beds would reach 25,000/day, the volume of PCR tests would be 8,000/day, and the number of isolation rooms would reach 800,000/day within 30 days.

Conclusion

With the pandemic approaching the end, reexamining it carefully helps better address future outbreaks. This predictive model has provided scientific evidence for NPIs’ effectiveness and quantifiable evidence of health resource allocation. It could guide the design of future epidemic prevention and control policies, and provide strategic recommendations on scarce health resource allocation.
Current status, trends, and predictions in the burden of silicosis in 204 countries and territories from 1990 to 2019
Authors: Yi Xinglin , He Yi , Zhang Yu , Luo Qiuyue , Deng Caixia , Tang Guihua , Zhang Jiongye , Zhou Xiangdong , Luo Hu
Published: July 2023

Background

Silicosis, a severe lung disease caused by inhaling silica dust, predominantly affects workers in industries such as mining and construction, leading to a significant global public health challenge. The purpose of this study is to analyze the current disease burden of silicosis and to predict the development trend of silicosis in the future the world by extracting data from the GBD database.

Methods

We extracted and analyzed silicosis prevalence, incidence, mortality, and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) data from the Global Burden of Disease 2019 program for 204 countries and territories from 1990 to 2019. The association between the Sociodemographic Index (SDI) and the burden of age-standardized rates (ASRs) of DALYs has been examined at the regional level. Jointpoint regression analysis has been also performed to evaluate global burden trends of silicosis from 1990 to 2019. Furthermore, Nordpred age-period-cohort analysis has also been projected to predict future the burden of silicosis from 2019 to 2044.

Results

In 2019, global ASRs for silicosis prevalence, incidence, mortality, and DALYs were 5.383, 1.650, 0.161, and 7.872%, respectively which are lower than that in 1990. The populations of 45–59 age group were more susceptible to silicosis, while those aged 80 or above suffered from higher mortality and DALY risks. In 2019, the most impacted nations by the burden of silicosis included China, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, and Chile. From 1990 to 2019, most regions observed a declining burden of silicosis. An “M” shaped association between SDI and ASRs of DALYs for silicosis was observed from 1990 to 2019. The age-period-cohort analysis forecasted a decreasing trend of the burden of silicosis from 2019 to 2044.

Conclusion

Despite the overall decline in the global silicosis burden from 1990 to 2019, some regions witnessed a notable burden of this disease, emphasizing the importance of targeted interventions. Our results may provide a reference for the subsequent development of appropriate management strategies.
Vitrimeric shape memory polymer-based fingertips for adaptive grasping
Authors: Kashef Tabrizian Seyedreza , Alabiso Walter , Shaukat Usman , Terryn Seppe , Rossegger Elisabeth , Brancart Joost , Legrand Julie , Schlögl Sandra , Vanderborght Bram
Published: July 2023

The variability in the shapes and sizes of objects presents a significant challenge for two-finger robotic grippers when it comes to manipulating them. Based on the chemistry of vitrimers (a new class of polymer materials that have dynamic covalent bonds, which allow them to reversibly change their mechanical properties under specific conditions), we present two designs as 3D-printed shape memory polymer-based shape-adaptive fingertips (SMP-SAF). The fingertips have two main properties needed for an effective grasping. First, the ability to adapt their shape to different objects. Second, exhibiting variable rigidity, to lock and retain this new shape without the need for any continuous external triggering system. Our two design strategies are: 1) A curved part, which is suitable for grasping delicate and fragile objects. In this mode and prior to gripping, the SMP-SAFs are straightened by the force of the parallel gripper and are adapted to the object by shape memory activation. 2) A straight part that takes on the form of the objects by contact force with them. This mode is better suited for gripping hard bodies and provides a more straightforward shape programming process. The SMP-SAFs can be programmed by heating them up above glass transition temperature (54°C) via Joule-effect of the integrated electrically conductive wire or by using a heat gun, followed by reshaping by the external forces (without human intervention), and subsequently fixing the new shape upon cooling. As the shape programming process is time-consuming, this technique suits adaptive sorting lines where the variety of objects is not changed from grasp to grasp, but from batch to batch.
Reducing methane production from stored feces of dairy cows by Asparagopsis taxiformis
Authors: Ramin Mohammad , Chagas Juana C. C. , Pal Yash , Danielsson Rebecca , Fant Petra , Krizsan Sophie J.
Published: July 2023

The objective was to evaluate whether methane (CH4) production from stored feces of cows previously supplemented with Asparagopsis taxiformis (AT) in their diet was lower compared with the feces of cows not supplemented with AT. We also investigated the possibility of further reducing CH4 production by adding AT to the stored feces of cows. Fecal samples were provided from a feeding trial (during two different periods) of four cows divided into two different groups. One group was supplemented with AT at a level of 0.5% of the total organic matter intake, and the other group was not supplemented with AT. A 2 × 2 factorial design was set in the laboratory for the incubation of feces. Fecal samples from the two groups of cows were divided into two subsamples receiving either no addition of AT or the addition of AT at a level of 0.5% of OM incubated. This resulted in four treatments with two replicates per period. The same design was repeated during period two. In total, 400 g of fresh fecal samples were incubated in 1 L serum bottles for 9 weeks at 39°C in a water bath. CH4 and total gas production were measured on days 1, 4, and 7 and subsequently every 2nd week until the end of the incubation period. Enteric CH4 production showed a significant reduction (61%) when AT was supplemented in the diet of dairy cows. We found that CH4 production from the feces of dairy cows supplemented with AT in their diet was only numerically lower (P = 0.61). Adding AT to the feces of dairy cows significantly reduced CH4 production from the feces by 44% compared with feces without AT. There were no differences observed in the bacterial and archaeal community profiles of fecal samples between cows fed AT and those not fed AT. This study concludes that the addition of AT to stored feces can effectively reduce CH4 production from the feces of dairy cows.
Alzheimer’s disease protein relevance analysis using human and mouse model proteomics data
Authors: Shi Cathy , Gottschalk W. Kirby , Colton Carol A. , Mukherjee Sayan , Lutz Michael W.
Published: July 2023

The principles governing genotype-phenotype relationships are still emerging (Jovanovic, Science, 2015, 347 (6,226), 1,259,038; Buccitelli et al., Nature Reviews Genetics, 2020, 21 (10), 630–44; Öztürk et al., Nature Communications, 2022, 131), 6,153), and detailed translational as well as transcriptomic information is required to understand complex phenotypes, such as the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease. For this reason, the proteomics of Alzheimer disease (AD) continues to be studied extensively. Although comparisons between data obtained from humans and mouse models have been reported, approaches that specifically address the between-species statistical comparisons are understudied. Our study investigated the performance of two statistical methods for identification of proteins and biological pathways associated with Alzheimer’s disease for cross-species comparisons, taking specific data analysis challenges into account, including collinearity, dimensionality reduction and cross-species protein matching. We used a human dataset from a well-characterized cohort followed for over 22 years with proteomic data available. For the mouse model, we generated proteomic data from whole brains of CVN-AD and matching control mouse models. We used these analyses to determine the reliability of a mouse model to forecast significant proteomic-based pathological changes in the brain that may mimic pathology in human Alzheimer’s disease. Compared with LASSO regression, partial least squares discriminant analysis provided better statistical performance for the proteomics analysis. The major biological finding of the study was that extracellular matrix proteins and integrin-related pathways were dysregulated in both the human and mouse data. This approach may help inform the development of mouse models that are more relevant to the study of human late-onset Alzheimer’s disease.
Contribution of farms to the microbiota in the swine value chain
Authors: Laforge Pascal , Vincent Antony T. , Duchaine Caroline , Feutry Perrine , Dion-Fortier Annick , Plante Pier-Luc , Pouliot Éric , Fournaise Sylvain , Saucier Linda
Published: July 2023

Introduction: A thorough understanding of the microbial ecology within the swine value chain is essential to develop new strategies to optimize the microbiological quality of pork products. To our knowledge, no study to date has followed the microbiota through the value chain from live farm animals to the cuts of meat obtained for market. The objective of this study is to evaluate how the microbiota of pigs and their environment influence the microbial composition of samples collected throughout the value chain, including the meat plant and meat cuts.

Method and results: Results from 16S rDNA sequencing, short-chain fatty acid concentrations and metabolomic analysis of pig feces revealed that the microbiota from two farms with differing sanitary statuses were distinctive. The total aerobic mesophilic bacteria and Enterobacteriaceae counts from samples collected at the meat plant after the pre-operation cleaning and disinfection steps were at or around the detection limit and the pigs from the selected farms were the first to be slaughtered on each shipment days. The bacterial counts of individual samples collected at the meat plant did not vary significantly between the farms. Alpha diversity results indicate that as we move through the steps in the value chain, there is a clear reduction in the diversity of the microbiota. A beta diversity analysis revealed a more distinct microbiota at the farms compared to the meat plant which change and became more uniform as samples were taken towards the end of the value chain. The source tracker analysis showed that only 12.92% of the microbiota in shoulder samples originated from the farms and 81% of the bacteria detected on the dressed carcasses were of unknown origin.

Discussion: Overall, the results suggest that with the current level of microbial control at farms, it is possible to obtain pork products with similar microbiological quality from different farms. However, broader studies are required to determine the impact of the sanitary status of the herd on the final products.
Antineoplastic effects of sodium dichloroacetate and omeprazole, alone or in combination, on canine oral mucosal melanoma cells
Authors: Toledo Gabriela F. , Nagamine Marcia K. , Nowosh Victor , Machado Felippe T. , Massoco Cristina O. , Souza-Pinto Nadja C. , Dagli Maria L. Z.
Published: July 2023

Oral mucosal melanoma (OMM) is a common neoplasm in canines, although it is rare in humans. Cancer cells present alterations in energetic metabolism, and the Warburg effect states that most cancer cells undergo aerobic glycolysis. This can be reversed by certain drugs, resulting in decreased cell viability and cell death. We sought to evaluate the effects of sodium dichloroacetate (DCA) and omeprazole (OMP) alone or in combination on canine OMM and human melanoma cells. CMGD5 and SK-MEL-28 cell lines were treated with DCA and OMP alone or in combination, and cell viability was assessed using the crystal violet assay. Cell death (apoptosis and necrosis) was assessed by Annexin V and propidium iodide (PI) staining assays using flow cytometry. In addition, the oxygen consumption rate (OCR) was evaluated using a SeaHorse XF assay. Treatment with DCA or OMP alone resulted in a significant, but not dose-dependent, reduction in cell viability in both cell lines; however, the combination of DCA and OMP resulted in a significant and dose-dependent decrease in viability in both cell lines. DCA and OMP, alone or in combination, did not alter OCR at the concentrations tested in either cell line. Since the combination of DCA and OMP potentialized the inhibition of viability and increased cell death in a synergistic manner in melanoma cells, this approach may represent a new repurposing strategy to treat cancer.
Cross-Sectional Associations of Screen Time Activities With Alcohol and Tobacco Consumption Among Brazilian Adolescents
Authors: Santos Priscila Cristina dos , da Costa Bruno Gonçalves Galdino , Lopes Marcus Vinicius Veber , Malheiros Luís Eduardo Argenta , Arundell Lauren , Silva Kelly Samara da
Published: July 2023

Objectives: Little is known about the association between specific types of screen time and adolescents’ substance use. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the associations between screen time for studying, working, watching movies, playing games, and using social media and frequency of alcohol and tobacco use.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, Brazilian adolescents answered survey questions related to frequency of tobacco and alcohol consumption, and reported their daily volume of five types of screen time. Multilevel ordered logistic regression models were performed.

Results: Each 1-hour increase in ST for studying was associated with 26% lower odds of smoking (OR = 0.74; 95% CI: 0.61–0.90) and 17% lower odds of drinking alcohol (OR = 0.83; 95% CI: 0.76–0.91) in the past 30 days. The increase of 1 hour of social media use was associated with 10% greater odds of smoking (OR = 1.10; 95% CI: 1.02–1.18) and a 13% greater chance of consuming alcohol (OR = 1.13; 95% CI: 1.08–1.18) in the past 30 days.

Conclusion: The association between screen time and substance use appears to be type-specific. Future longitudinal research is needed to explore causal relationships.
Design of and Experimental Research for a Comb-Type Buckwheat-Harvesting Device
Authors: Wang Chun , Shao Yongchao , Zhang You , Xin Zhi , Chen Jian , Zhang Weiguo , Yang Fuzeng
Published: July 2023

In this study, a comb-type buckwheat-harvesting device was designed and tested for use in hilly areas and on small plots of buckwheat in China. The device uses semi-feeding and allows for threshing before cutting. Through the parametric design of the threshing mechanism, a dynamic model of the comb teeth’s striking of buckwheat plants was established. The effect of the machine’s forward speed and the speed of the comb teeth on the threshing rate was explored via a single-factor experiment. Based on the simulation test and actual operations, an orthogonal experiment with three factors and three levels was performed, using the machine’s forward speed, the speed of the comb teeth, and the tilt angle of the threshing mechanism as the factors, and the threshing rate, breakage rate, and loss rate as the indicators. Regression equation models were established for the relationship between the influencing factors and the threshing rate, breakage rate, and loss rate, and a response surface analysis of the influencing factors and their interaction was carried out. The results showed that the speed of the comb tooth had the greatest influence on the threshing rate, breakage rate, and loss rate, followed by the machine forward speed; the tilt angle of the threshing mechanism had the least influence on the threshing rate, breakage rate, and loss rate. By optimizing the multi-objective parameters of the regression equation models, reasonable parameters were obtained for the influencing factors: the machine forward speed was 0.5 m/s, the speed of the comb teeth was 1.2 m/s, and the inclination of the threshing mechanism was 45°. Under these conditions, the threshing rate was 80.10%, the breakage rate was 1.83%, and the loss rate was 7.03%.
Effect of Duckweed (Spirodela polyrhiza)-Supplemented Semolina on the Production Parameters and Nutrient Composition of Yellow Mealworm (Tenebrio molitor)
Authors: Toviho Odunayo A. , Imane Moutia , Tünde Pusztahelyi , Péter Bársony
Published: July 2023

This research explores the potential of using common duckweed (Spyrodela polyrhiza) as a feeding substrate and supplement for yellow mealworm production. Duckweed is known for its high content of protein (20–35%) and essential amino acids. This study aims to assess the effect of the combination of semolina and duckweed as a feeding substrate for yellow mealworm larvae (Tenebrio molitor). The experiment involved different combinations of semolina and duckweed in varying proportions. The treatments included 100% semolina (S), 75% semolina + 25% duckweed (S75D25), 50% semolina + 50% duckweed (S50D50), 25% semolina + 75% duckweed (S25D75), and 100% duckweed (D). Over a six-week period, the production parameters, nutrient composition, amino acid composition, and fatty acid composition of the yellow mealworms were measured and analyzed. The results demonstrate that S75D25 and S50D50 feed combinations were recommended due to their positive effects on production parameters and nutrient composition. Although the D substrate exhibited the highest crude protein content, yellow mealworm larvae did not grow on this substrate. The inclusion of duckweed in the feed had no significant effect on the fatty acid composition of the mealworms, while substrates S25D75 and D induced an improved amino acid composition. In conclusion, incorporating duckweed into the feeding substrate can enhance the production parameters and nutrient composition of yellow mealworms.
Sampling Methodology of a Key Pest: Technique and Sampling Unit for Evaluation of Leafhopper Dalbulus maidis Populations in Maize Crops
Authors: Pinto Cleovan Barbosa , Carmo Daiane das Graças do , Santos Juliana Lopes dos , Filho Marcelo Coutinho Picanço , Soares Juliana Magalhães , Sarmento Renato Almeida , Lima Eraldo , Bacci Leandro , Picanço Marcelo Coutinho
Published: July 2023

Maize (Zea mays) is the most consumed food in the world. The leafhopper, Dalbulus maidis, (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) is one of the most important maize pests, and due to its direct and indirect damage, it can cause losses of up to 100%. Sampling plans are essential components for integrated pest management programs. The first two components to be determined in these plans are the sampling unit and the sampling technique. The sampling unit consists of determining the plant organ to be evaluated in the sampling and the techniques are the devices used to sample populations of pests in crops. Thus, the objective of this work was to select the unit and technique to be used in the sampling of D. maidis in maize crops. For this purpose, pest populations in plants at stages V4, V6, V8, and V10 were monitored in 16 commercial crops in the Atlantic Forest and Cerrado biomes over two years. The sample units studied were the leaves at different positions in the canopy of the plants. The techniques studied were direct counting, shaking the apex of the plants in a plastic tray and using a beating cloth. In the process of selecting the unit and technique to be used in sampling populations of pests in crops, adequate criteria must be used. These criteria include precision, representativeness, sampling time and that the use of these components in the sampling plans should not cause damage to the plants. The most suitable sampling unit for evaluating these pest populations was the whorl leaves and the best technique was the direct counting. Therefore, the unit and technique selected in this work can be used in sampling plans for D. maidis in maize crops.
Flower-Visiting Insects Ensure Coffee Yield and Quality
Authors: Gómez Jesús Hernando , Benavides Pablo , Maldonado Juan Diego , Jaramillo Juliana , Acevedo Flor Edith , Gil Zulma Nancy
Published: July 2023

(1) Background: The participation of insects in the pollination of self-pollinating plants, such as coffee, is still controversial. This study determined the effect of flower-visiting insects on coffee berry set, yield, and quality. (2) Methods: Over 2 years, five evaluations in different locations, dates, and harvest times were carried out. Each evaluation consisted of eight treatments with 50 replicates each, arranged in a completely randomized experimental design. Treatments were established to identify the contribution of insects, wind, gravity, self-pollination, and cross-pollination to coffee yield and quality. (3) Results: The insects contributed 16.3% of the berry set, 26.9% of the berry coffee yield, and 30.6% of the weight of supremo-type beans. No differences were observed in the sensory quality of coffee produced with or without insects. For stigma receptivity, results indicate that there is a 6.3% probability of self-pollination during pre-anthesis. (4) Conclusions: The species Coffea arabica, despite being a self-pollinating plant, benefits from the presence of flower-visiting insects. During anthesis, arabica coffee flowers are ready for cross-pollination.
Using Ecological Stoichimetric Characteristies to Inform Grassland Management in the Karst Desertification Area
Authors: Pan Guochang , Song Shuzhen , Wang Xueling , Chi Yongkuan
Published: July 2023

C, N and P play an important indicator role in explaining the material cycles and elemental balances of living and non-living systems. In order to control karst rocky desertification, China has established a large number of artificial grasslands for the development of herbivorous animal husbandry, which has played an important role in ecological restoration and economic development. However, the effects of different use patterns on the ecological stoichiometry of the carbon (C), nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) of the grassland plant–soil–microorganism are not clear. In this study, the effects of grazing grassland (GG), mowing grassland (MG) and enclosed grassland (EG) on C, N and P and their ecological stoichiometry in the artificial grassland plant–soil–microbe were investigated in the karst desertification control area in Southern China. The results showed that (1) the C content was EG > GG > MG. The N content was GG > EG > MG, while the P content was MG > GG > EG. C:N, C:P and N:P were shown as EG > GG > MG. The plant N:P was more than 20, indicating a P deficiency and limitation, especially in EG. (2) The content of C and P in soil was EG > GG > MG. The N content was GG > EG > MG. The soil C:N showed EG > MG > GG, while C:P and N:P were shown as MG > GG > EG. The soil N:P ratios were all less than 14, indicating that all of them had an obvious N limitation. (3) Soil microbial biomass carbon (MBC) was GG > MG > EG. Soil microbial biomass nitrogen (MBN) was GG > EG > MG. Soil microbial biomass phosphorus (MBP) showed EG > GG > MG. MBC:MBN was MG > EG > GG. MBC:MBP was MG > EG > GG. MBN:MBP was GG > MG > EG. The MBN:MBP in GG and MG was greater than 9.6, which is P-limited, while the MBN:MBP in EG is less than 8.9, which is N-limited. (4) Plant C and N were significantly correlated with soil C and N, but plant P was significantly negatively correlated with soil P, while MBP was significantly positively correlated with soil TP. Soil microorganisms had the tendency to assimilate available P in GG and MG treatments, but the potential of releasing P from mineralized soil organic matter was higher in EG treatment. The results showed that the chemical properties and stoichiometric characteristics of the plant–soil–microorganism were significantly changed by different grassland-use methods, which provided scientific guidance for the management of C, N and P elements and the further optimization of soil microbial environment for artificial grassland in the karst rocky desertification area.
Non-Invasive Micro-Test Technology and Reciprocal Grafting Provide Direct Evidence of Contrasting Na+ Transport Strategies between Cucurbita moschata and Cucurbita maxima
Authors: Niu Mengliang , Luo Wei , Luo Liang , Chen Shanshan , Zhao Huixia , Zhang Hao , Qian Yike
Published: July 2023

Cucurbita species are widely used as rootstocks for cucumber, watermelon, and other plants for the restriction of toxic Na+ transport from root to shoot. Previous studies have found distinct salt tolerance strategies between Cucurbita moschata and Cucurbita maxima; the former accumulates a large amount of Na+ in the root, while the latter accumulates Na+ in the shoot. To further study the mechanism of Na+ transport in plants, four reciprocal grafts were made between MB (C. moschata) and JHL (C. maxima), denoted as MB/MB, JHL/JHL, MB/JHL, and JHL/MB (scion/rootstock). The results showed that using MB as the rootstock effectively reduced the accumulation of Na+ in the scion. Conversely, JHL rootstock tended to transfer more Na+ to the scion. To clarify this phenomenon, the velocities of Na+ flows on the root surface, stem, and vein of grafting combinations were measured using non-invasive micro-test technology. Compared with the seedlings using JHL as rootstock, the grafted combination with MB as rootstock had a higher root Na+ efflux and lower Na+ fluxes in the stem and vein. qRT-PCR analyses revealed the critical roles of salt overly sensitive 1 and high-affinity potassium as components of the mechanism enabling Na+ exclusion from the root and Na+ unloading from the stem xylem. Compared with the seedlings using MB as rootstocks, the JHL-grafted plants showed more rapid stomatal closure and decreased transpiration rate in the first three hours after salt stress but maintained a higher level under prolonged salt treatment (120 h). The tissue tolerances of JHL and MB were assessed using the isolated leaves under NaCl to exclude the influence of the root and stem. The results showed that the salinity inflicted more serious damage to MB leaves than to JHL leaves. qRT-PCR analyses indicated that the intracellular Na+/H+ transporter in the leaf vein was involved in this process. All these findings indicated that C. moschata and C. maxima adopted different strategies for regulating Na+ transport, and grafting can be used as a tool to create more salt-tolerant plants.
Weed Identification in Maize Fields Based on Improved Swin-Unet
Authors: Zhang Jiaheng , Gong Jinliang , Zhang Yanfei , Mostafa Kazi , Yuan Guangyao
Published: July 2023

The maize field environment is complex. Weeds and maize have similar colors and may overlap, and lighting and weather conditions vary. Thus, many methods for the automated differentiation of maize and weeds achieve poor segmentation or cannot be used in real time. In this paper, a weed recognition model based on improved Swin-Unet is proposed. The model first performs semantic segmentation of maize seedlings and uses the resulting mask to identify weeds. U-Net acts as the semantic segmentation framework, and a Swin transformer module is introduced to improve performance. DropBlock regularization, which randomly hides some blocks in crop feature maps, is applied to enhance the generalization ability of the model. Finally, weed areas are identified and segmented with the aid of an improved morphological processing algorithm. The DeepLabv3+, PSANet, Mask R-CNN, original Swin-Unet, and proposed models are trained on a dataset of maize seedling images. The proposed Swin-Unet model outperforms the others, achieving a mean intersection over union of 92.75%, mean pixel accuracy of 95.57%, and inference speed of 15.1 FPS. Our model could be used for accurate, real-time segmentation of crops and weeds and as a reference for the development of intelligent agricultural equipment.
Scientific Productions on Precision Livestock Farming: An Overview of the Evolution and Current State of Research Based on a Bibliometric Analysis
Authors: Marino Rosanna , Petrera Francesca , Abeni Fabio
Published: July 2023

The interest in precision livestock farming (PLF)—a concept discussed for the first time in the early 2000s—has advanced considerably in recent years due to its important role in the development of sustainable livestock production systems. However, a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of the PLF literature is lacking. To address this gap, this study analyzed documents published from 2005 to 2021, aiming to understand the historical influences on technology adoption in livestock farming, identify future global trends, and examine shifts in scientific research on this topic. By using specific search terms in the Web of Science Core Collection, 886 publications were identified and analyzed using the bibliometrix R-package. The analysis revealed that the collection consisted mostly of research articles (74.6%) and reviews (10.4%). The top three core journals were the Journal of Dairy Science, Computers and Electronics in Agriculture, and Animals. Over time, the number of publications has steadily increased, with a higher growth rate in the last five years (29.0%) compared to the initial period (13.7%). Authors and institutions from multiple countries have contributed to the literature, with the USA, the Netherlands, and Italy leading in terms of publication numbers. The analysis also highlighted the growing interest in bovine production systems, emphasizing the importance of behavioral studies in PLF tool development. Automated milking systems were identified as central drivers of innovation in the PLF sector. Emerging themes for the future included “emissions” and “mitigation”, indicating a focus on environmental concerns.
Effect of Potato Vine and Leaf Mixed Silage Compared to Whole Corn Crops on Growth Performance, Apparent Digestibility, and Serum Biochemical Characteristics of Fattening Angus Bull
Authors: Deng Jiajie , Zhang Siyu , Li Yingqi , Shi Changxiao , Qiu Xinjun , Cao Binghai , He Yang , Su Huawei
Published: July 2023

This study aims to explore the different growth performances of the Angus bull on potato vine and leaf mixed silage in the early fattening period and to provide a reference animal production trial. Thirty-six 13-month-old Angus bulls were divided into three groups with 403.22 ± 38.97 kg initial body weight and fed with three different silage diets: (1) control: whole-plant corn silage as control (CS); (2) treatment 1: 50% whole-plant corn +50% potato vine and leaf silage (PVS1); and (3) treatment 2: 75% potato vine and leaf +15% rice straw +10% cornmeal silage (PVS2). After the 14 days pre-feeding, the formal experiment was carried out for 89 days. The result showed that the ash content of the potato vine and leaf mixed silage (PVS) in the treatment groups was higher than that in control group, and the ash content of PVS1 and PVS2 even reached 10.42% and 18.48% (DM%), respectively, which was much higher than that of the CS group at 4.94%. The crude protein content in silage also increased with the additional amount of potato vine and leaf. The apparent crude protein digestibility of the PVS groups was also significantly higher than that of the CS group (p < 0.05). In terms of serum biochemical indexes, blood urea nitrogen (BUN) in the experimental groups was significantly higher than in the control group (p < 0.05). Compared with PVS2, cholesterol (CHO) was significantly lower in the CS and PVS1 groups (p < 0.05). Moreover, the high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) of PVS2 were significantly higher than those of the CS and PVS1 group (p < 0.05), and daily gain (ADG) as a key production index had a significantly negative correlation with the CHO (r = −0.38, p < 0.05) and HDL-C (r = −0.40, p < 0.05) of cattle. In conclusion, PVS had higher crude protein content and ash but less starch than whole-corn silage. The PVS could replace whole-plant corn silage at the same dry matter status and did not affect the weight gain in this trial.
Migration Pattern, Habitat Use, and Conservation Status of the Eastern Common Crane (Grus grus lilfordi) from Eastern Mongolia
Authors: Erdenechimeg Baasansuren , Purev-Ochir Gankhuyag , Gungaa Amarkhuu , Terbish Oyunchimeg , Zhao Yajie , Guo Yumin
Published: July 2023

Studies on the subspecies Eastern common crane Grus grus lilfordi are still scarce, especially in Southeastern Siberia, the far east of Russia, Eastern Mongolia, and Northeastern China. This study explores the migration pattern, habitat use, and conservation status of the Eastern common crane. Using GPS/GSM tracking data, 36 complete migrations of 11 individuals were obtained from 2017 to 2021. The cranes migrated an average of 1581.5 km (±476.5 SD) in autumn and 1446.5 (±742.8 SD) in spring between their breeding site in Eastern Mongolia and the following wintering sites: the Xar Moron River, Chifeng; the Bohai Bay; the Yellow River Delta; Tangshan, Hebei; and Tianjin. During the autumn and spring migrations, the cranes used three critical stopover sites. The subspecies spent 60.3% of their time in rangeland, 18.1% in cropland, and 14.2% in water. The tracking data determined that, of the areas used by cranes, 97–98% of the summering sites were in Russia, 96% of the breeding sites were in Mongolia, and over 70% of the stopover sites and 90% of the wintering sites in China lay outside the current protected area boundaries. Consequently, establishing and expanding protected areas in summering, breeding, stopover, and wintering sites should be a central component of future conservation strategies.
Neuroinflammation and Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Parkinson’s Disease: Connecting Neuroimaging with Pathophysiology
Authors: Pizarro-Galleguillos Benjamin Matís , Kunert Liesa , Brüggemann Norbert , Prasuhn Jannik
Published: July 2023

There is a pressing need for disease-modifying therapies in patients suffering from neurodegenerative diseases, including Parkinson’s disease (PD). However, these disorders face unique challenges in clinical trial designs to assess the neuroprotective properties of potential drug candidates. One of these challenges relates to the often unknown individual disease mechanisms that would, however, be relevant for targeted treatment strategies. Neuroinflammation and mitochondrial dysfunction are two proposed pathophysiological hallmarks and are considered to be highly interconnected in PD. Innovative neuroimaging methods can potentially help to gain deeper insights into one’s predominant disease mechanisms, can facilitate patient stratification in clinical trials, and could potentially map treatment responses. This review aims to highlight the role of neuroinflammation and mitochondrial dysfunction in patients with PD (PwPD). We will specifically introduce different neuroimaging modalities, their respective technical hurdles and challenges, and their implementation into clinical practice. We will gather preliminary evidence for their potential use in PD research and discuss opportunities for future clinical trials.
Best Relay Selection Strategy in Cooperative Spectrum Sharing Framework with Mobile-Based End User
Authors: Ibrahem Lama N. , Al-Mistarihi Mamoun F. , Khodeir Mahmoud A. , Alhulayil Moawiah , Darabkh Khalid A.
Published: July 2023

In this work, a cognitive relay network (CRN) with interference constraint from the primary user (PU) with a mobile end user is studied. The proposed system model employs a half-duplex transmission between a single PU and a single secondary user (SU). In addition, an amplify and forward (AF) relaying technique is employed between the SU source and SU destination. In this context, the mobile end user (SU destination) is assumed to move at high vehicular speeds, whereas other nodes (SU Source, SU relays and PU) are assumed to be stationary. The proposed scheme dynamically determines the best relay for transmission based on the highest signal-to-noise (SNR) ratio by deploying selection combiner at the SU destination, thereby achieving diversity. All channels connected with the stationary nodes are modelled using Rayleigh distribution, whereas all other links connected with the mobile end user are modelled using Nakagami-m fading distribution (m<1). The outage probabilities (OPs) are obtained considering several scenarios and Monte Carlo simulation is used to verify the numerical results. The obtained results show that a variety of factors, including the number of SU relays, the severity of the fading channels, the position of the PU, the fading model, and the mobile end user speed, might influence the CRN’s performance.