bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Estimating the frost damage index in lettuce using UAV-based RGB and multispectral images
Authors: Liu Yiwen , Ban Songtao , Wei Shiwei , Li Linyi , Tian Minglu , Hu Dong , Liu Weizhen , Yuan Tao
Published: January 2024

Introduction

The cold stress is one of the most important factors for affecting production throughout year, so effectively evaluating frost damage is great significant to the determination of the frost tolerance in lettuce.

Methods

We proposed a high-throughput method to estimate lettuce FDI based on remote sensing. Red-Green-Blue (RGB) and multispectral images of open-field lettuce suffered from frost damage were captured by Unmanned Aerial Vehicle platform. Pearson correlation analysis was employed to select FDI-sensitive features from RGB and multispectral images. Then the models were established for different FDI-sensitive features based on sensor types and different groups according to lettuce colors using multiple linear regression, support vector machine and neural network algorithms, respectively.

Results and discussion

Digital number of blue and red channels, spectral reflectance at blue, red and near-infrared bands as well as six vegetation indexes (VIs) were found to be significantly related to the FDI of all lettuce groups. The high sensitivity of four modified VIs to frost damage of all lettuce groups was confirmed. The average accuracy of models were improved by 3% to 14% through a combination of multisource features. Color of lettuce had a certain impact on the monitoring of frost damage by FDI prediction models, because the accuracy of models based on green lettuce group were generally higher. The MULTISURCE-GREEN-NN model with R2 of 0.715 and RMSE of 0.014 had the best performance, providing a high-throughput and efficient technical tool for frost damage investigation which will assist the identification of cold-resistant green lettuce germplasm and related breeding.
COL2-dependent photoperiodic floral induction in Nicotiana sylvestris seems to be lost in the N. sylvestris × N. tomentosiformis hybrid N. tabacum
Authors: Schmidt Florentin J. , Grundmann Lena , Lahme Michael , Seidemann Marvin , Schwarze Axel , Lichtenauer Sophie , Twyman Richard M. , Prüfer Dirk , Noll Gundula A.
Published: January 2024

Introduction

Plants are sessile organisms that maximize reproductive success by adapting to their environment. One of the key steps in the reproductive phase of angiosperms is flower development, requiring the perception of multiple endogenous and exogenous signals integrated via a complex regulatory network. Key floral regulators, including the main transcription factor of the photoperiodic pathway (CONSTANS, CO) and the central floral pathway integrator (FLOWERING LOCUS T, FT), are known in many species.

Methods and results

We identified several CO-like (COL) proteins in tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum). The NtCOL2a/b proteins in the day-neutral plant N. tabacum were most closely related to Arabidopsis CO. We characterized the diurnal expression profiles of corresponding genes in leaves under short-day (SD) and long-day (LD) conditions and confirmed their expression in phloem companion cells. Furthermore, we analyzed the orthologs of NtCOL2a/b in the maternal LD ancestor (N. sylvestris) and paternal, facultative SD ancestor (N. tomentosiformis) of N. tabacum and found that they were expressed in the same diurnal manner. NtCOL2a/b overexpression or knock-out using the CRISPR/Cas9 system did not support a substantial role for the CO homologs in the control of floral transition in N. tabacum. However, NsCOL2 overexpression induced flowering in N. sylvestris under typically non-inductive SD conditions, correlating with the upregulation of the endogenous NsFTd gene.

Discussion

Our results suggest that NsFTd is transcriptionally regulated by NsCOL2 and that this COL2-dependent photoperiodic floral induction seems to be lost in N. tabacum, providing insight into the diverse genetics of photoperiod-dependent flowering in different Nicotiana species.
Biosynthetic pathway of prescription bergenin from Bergenia purpurascens and Ardisia japonica
Authors: Liu Xiang-Yu , Wang Yi-Na , Du Jiang-Shun , Chen Bi-Huan , Liu Kun-Yi , Feng Lei , Xiang Gui-Sheng , Zhang Shuang-Yan , Lu Ying-Chun , Yang Sheng-Chao , Zhang Guang-Hui , Hao Bing
Published: January 2024

Bergenin is a typical carbon glycoside and the primary active ingredient in antitussive drugs widely prescribed for central cough inhibition in China. The bergenin extraction industry relies on the medicinal plant species Bergenia purpurascens and Ardisia japonica as their resources. However, the bergenin biosynthetic pathway in plants remains elusive. In this study, we functionally characterized a shikimate dehydrogenase (SDH), two O-methyltransferases (OMTs), and a C-glycosyltransferase (CGT) involved in bergenin synthesis through bioinformatics analysis, heterologous expression, and enzymatic characterization. We found that BpSDH2 catalyzes the two-step dehydrogenation process of shikimic acid to form gallic acid (GA). BpOMT1 and AjOMT1 facilitate the methylation reaction at the 4-OH position of GA, resulting in the formation of 4-O-methyl gallic acid (4-O-Me-GA). AjCGT1 transfers a glucose moiety to C-2 to generate 2-Glucosyl-4-O-methyl gallic acid (2-Glucosyl-4-O-Me-GA). Bergenin production ultimately occurs in acidic conditions or via dehydration catalyzed by plant dehydratases following a ring-closure reaction. This study for the first time uncovered the biosynthetic pathway of bergenin, paving the way to rational production of bergenin in cell factories via synthetic biology strategies.
Seasonal dynamics of phyllosphere epiphytic microbial communities of medicinal plants in farmland environment
Authors: He Chao , Zhang Man , Li Xianen , He Xueli
Published: January 2024

Introduction

The phyllosphere of plants is inhabited by various microorganisms, which play a crucial role in plant physiological metabolism. Currently, there is limited research on the dynamic effects of species and seasons on plant phyllosphere microbial community diversity and microbial interactions.

Methods

In this study, high-throughput sequencing technology was used to sequence the leaf surface parasitic microorganisms of five medicinal plants (Bupleurum chinense, Atractylodes lancea, Salvia miltiorrhiza, Astragalus membranaceus, and Lonicera japonica).

Results

The results showed that bacteria and fungi clustered into 3,898 and 1,572 operational taxonomic units (OTUs), respectively. Compared to host species, seasons had a more significant impact on the a diversity of bacteria and fungi. The heterogeneity of phyllosphere microbial communities was greater in winter compared to summer. Key species analysis at the OTU level and Spearman correlation analysis demonstrated significant preferences in microbial interactions under plant and seasonal backgrounds. The network connections between bacterial and fungal communities significantly increased during seasonal transitions compared to connections with plants.

Discussion

This study enhances our understanding of the composition and ecological roles of plant-associated microbial communities in small-scale agricultural environments. Additionally, it provides valuable insights for assessing the biodiversity of medicinal plants.
Assessing the genetic integrity of sugarcane germplasm in the USDA-ARS National Plant Germplasm System collection using single-dose SNP markers
Authors: Park Sunchung , Zhang Dapeng , Ali Gul Shad
Published: January 2024

The World Collection of Sugarcane and Related Grasses, maintained at the USDA-ARS in Miami, FL, is one of the largest sugarcane germplasm repositories in the world. However, the genetic integrity of the Saccharum spp. germplasm in this collection has not been fully analyzed. In this study, we employed a single-dose SNP panel to genotype 901 sugarcane accessions, representing six Saccharum species and various hybrids. Our analysis uncovered a high rate of clone mislabeling in the collection. Specifically, we identified 86 groups of duplicates, characterized by identical SNP genotypes, which encompassed 211 accessions (23% of the total clones), while 135 groups, constituting 471 clones (52% of the total), exhibited near-identical genotypes. In addition, twenty-seven homonymous groups were detected, which shared the same clone name but differed in SNP genotypes. Hierarchical analysis of population structure partitioned the Saccharum germplasm into five clusters, corresponding to S. barberi, S. sinense, S. officinarum, S. spontaneum and S. robustum/S. edule. An assignment test, based on the five Saccharum species, enabled correcting 141 instances of mislabeled species memberships and inaccuracies. Moreover, we clarified the species membership and parentage of 298 clones that had ambiguous passport records (e.g., ‘Saccharum spp’, ‘unknown’, and ‘hybrid’). Population structure and genetic diversity in these five species were further supported by Principal Coordinate Analysis and neighbor-joining clustering analysis. Analysis of Molecular Variance revealed that within-species genetic variations accounted for 85% of the total molecular variance, with the remaining 15% attributed to among-species genetic variations. The single-dose SNP markers developed in this study offer a robust tool for characterizing sugarcane germplasm worldwide. These findings have important implications for sugarcane genebank management, germplasm exchange, and crop genetic improvement.
Does feeling what you eat change how you eat? Implications of an intervention to promote consciousness of eating experiences
Authors: Palazzo Carina Carlucci , Leghi Barbara Esteves , Diez-Garcia Rosa Wanda
Published: January 2024

Introduction

This work aims to understand the experience of participating in the Food and Nutrition Education Program workshops with Sensory and Cognitive Exercises (PESC) and measure its impact on eating behavior.

Methods

The PESC consists of four workshops with exercises stimulating perception and reflection on bodily sensations triggered in eating situations. It was developed to promote consciousness of eating experiences in women who reported difficulty in controlling their body weight and who increased over 5% of their body weight in the previous year. This is a mixed-methods study designed as a controlled trial. The intervention group (n = 19) was evaluated before the first workshop (T0) and after the last workshop (T1) and the control group (n = 18), which did not participate in the workshops, was evaluated twice (T0 and T1), with an interval of 3 to 4 weeks. At T0 and T1, it was applied the Intuitive Eating Scale (IES-2) and the Three Factor Eating Questionnaire (TFEQ-R21). In T1, the intervention group also participated in a qualitative interview.

Results

After participating in the PESC, the intervention group showed an increase in the IES-2 total score (95% Confidence Interval = (0.10, 0.39)) and a decrease in the emotional eating scale score (95% Confidence Interval = (−16.03; −3.85)). The interviews’ analysis revealed the participants’ self-observation process, which led to the perception of their practices, priorities, intentions, eating difficulties, and the connection between these aspects and environmental issues. The following themes were considered: Food management/control, Body dissatisfaction, Reflection/re-signification, and Different ways of being in familiar contexts.

Discussion

The results allow us to infer that, after participating in the PESC, the intention to manage food intake became more effective, less susceptible to oscillations imposed by the external environment, and more supported by internal resources.
Mini review: Challenges in EEG emotion recognition
Authors: Zhang Zhihui , Fort Josep M. , Giménez Mateu Lluis
Published: January 2024

Electroencephalography (EEG) stands as a pioneering tool at the intersection of neuroscience and technology, offering unprecedented insights into human emotions. Through this comprehensive review, we explore the challenges and opportunities associated with EEG-based emotion recognition. While recent literature suggests promising high accuracy rates, these claims necessitate critical scrutiny for their authenticity and applicability. The article highlights the significant challenges in generalizing findings from a multitude of EEG devices and data sources, as well as the difficulties in data collection. Furthermore, the disparity between controlled laboratory settings and genuine emotional experiences presents a paradox within the paradigm of emotion research. We advocate for a balanced approach, emphasizing the importance of critical evaluation, methodological standardization, and acknowledging the dynamism of emotions for a more holistic understanding of the human emotional landscape.
On the rapid use of verb-control information in sentence processing
Authors: Demestre Josep
Published: January 2024

A central topic in psycholinguistics is the study of how and when the parser assigns an antecedent to referentially-dependent elements. One such referentially-dependent element is the null subject of non-finite clauses. The aim of the present study was to examine the role of verb control information in the assignment of an antecedent to such a null subject. The results so far are inconclusive. Some authors argue that verb control information has a late influence, whereas others argue that such verb-specific information has a very rapid influence. We report a self-paced reading study in Spanish in which verb type (subject vs. object control) and grammaticality (grammatical vs. ungrammatical) were manipulated. The grammaticality manipulation was carried out by introducing a person anomaly at the infinitive itself, and not at a later word (e.g., “Te prometí/aconsejé adelgazarme/adelgazarte cinco quilos en un mes.” Literal translation, “I to you promised/advised to losemyself/yourself five kilos in a month”). With such a manipulation we can examine whether at the first possible point (i.e., the infinitive) verb control information was used to assign the correct antecedent (i.e., the subject in sentences with a subject-control verb, and the object in sentences with an object-control verb) to PRO. The results showed that at the infinitive there was a main effect of grammaticality, meaning that the correct antecedent has already been assigned to PRO. The present findings are consistent with models that assume that verb-specific information plays an important role in the initial stages of sentence processing.
African immigrants’ favorable preterm birth rates challenge genetic etiology of the Black-White disparity in preterm birth
Authors: Braveman Paula , Heck Katherine , Dominguez Tyan Parker , Marchi Kristen , Burke Wylie , Holm Nicole
Published: January 2024

Background

We examined over a million California birth records for 2010 through 2021 to investigate whether disparities in preterm birth (PTB) by nativity and race support the widely held but hitherto unsubstantiated belief that genetic differences explain the persistent Black-White disparity in PTB.

Methods

We examined PTB rates and risk ratios among African-, Caribbean-, and U.S.-born Black women compared to U.S.-born White women. Multivariate analyses adjusted for maternal age, education, number of live births, delivery payer, trimester of prenatal care initiation, pre-pregnancy BMI, smoking, and prevalence of poverty in a woman’s residence census tract; and for paternal education.

Results

In adjusted analyses, African-born Black women’s PTB rates were no different from those of U.S.-born White women.

Discussion

The results add to prior evidence making a genetic etiology for the racial disparity in PTB unlikely. If genetic differences tied to “race” explained the Black-White disparity in PTB among U.S.-born women, the African immigrants in this study would have had higher rates of PTB, not the lower rates observed. Multiple explanations for the observed patterns and their implications are discussed. Failure to distinguish causes of PTB from causes of the racial disparity in PTB have likely contributed to erroneous attribution of the racial disparity to genetic differences. Based on the literature, unmeasured experiences of racism, including racism-related stress and adverse environmental exposures, are plausible explanations for the PTB disparity between Black and White U.S.-born women. The favorable birth outcomes of African-born Black immigrants may reflect less exposure to racism during sensitive life periods, e.g., childhood, when they were in African countries, where Black people are in the racial majority.
The association between health literacy and e-cigarette use: evidence from Zhejiang, China
Authors: Zhang Xuehai , Zhang Xinxin , Zhang Songjia , Ge Lizheng , Xu Yue , Yao Dingning , Hu Xiujing , Huang Zishuo , Zhu Tingting , Wang Zixia , Chen Chun
Published: January 2024

Objectives

The worldwide popularity of electronic cigarettes (ECIG) is becoming a public health concern. Compared to conventional cigarettes (CIG), the harm caused by ECIG is more insidious. Studies have shown that lower health literacy (HL) is associated with CIG use; however, the relationship between HL and ECIG use remains controversial. Because ECIG emerged more recently than CIG, there are fewer relevant studies, and the sample populations and evaluation methods of HL in existing studies differ. This study conducted a large-sample survey to examine the relationship between HL and ECIG use.

Methods

As part of the 2022 China Health Literacy Survey, a total of 60,998 valid questionnaires were collected from September to November in 2022 using a stratified multistage probability proportional to the population size sampling frame. Chi-square tests and multinomial logistic regression was used to analyze the relationship between HL and ECIG use. Some demographic variables were included as covariates in the analysis.

Results

The study showed that the average HL score and the HL level of Zhejiang residents in 2022 were 42.8 and 30.8%, respectively. The prevalence of CIG and ECIG was 19.7 and 1.0%, respectively; 19% of participants exclusively used CIG, while only 0.3% of participants used ECIG exclusively; dual users accounted for 0.6%. After adjusting for covariates, adequate HL was associated with lower odds of ECIG-exclusive use (odds ratio [OR] = 0.452, p < 0.001), CIG-exclusive use (OR = 0.833, p < 0.001), and dual use (OR = 0.632, p < 0.001). Young age, male sex, unmarried status, high-income status, and absence of chronic disease were also associated with ECIG use.

Conclusion

HL was a protective factor against both patterns of ECIG use, especially ECIG-exclusive use. Health policymakers and public health practitioners should consider HL as a potential measure for ECIG control.
Land acquisition policy and practice for cooperative housing scheme in Bahir Dar, Ethiopia: toward affordable housing solutions
Authors: Adigeh Dereje Tessema , Abebe Birhanu Girma
Published: January 2024

Bahir Dar, a city in Ethiopia, is grappling with the challenges of rapid urbanization, which has made affordable housing a critical issue for its growing population. This study specifically focuses on the urban land acquisition process for cooperative housing schemes, which serve as an essential component of Bahir Dar’s affordable housing program. This atudy aimed to examine the current practices, identify the challenges faced by housing cooperatives during land acquisition and construction, and propose strategies for improvement. The primary data for this research were collected through interviews with key informants from the Bahir Dar City administration’s land management, cooperative organizer office, housing development and management office, and housing cooperative committees. Additionally, three focus group discussion (FGD) sessions were conducted, involving 21 participants from cooperative members who had acquired residential land and from those who were waiting for allocation, including both female- and male-headed households. These discussions explored their views on the effectiveness of the cooperative housing scheme, the challenges encountered during cooperation and construction, and their recommendations for enhancement. Secondary data were also gathered through a comprehensive review of policies, regulations, research articles, reports, and relevant legal documents. The study revealed that, out of the 35,512 certified housing cooperative members since 2014, only 31,596 of them had received residential land plots. However, a relatively small fraction, i.e., less than 7,000 cooperative members, managed to partially or fully construct their homes. This indicates that the scheme has not fully achieved its intended goal and remains unaffordable for many members. The main challenges faced by cooperative members include lengthy delays in obtaining serviced land, high construction costs, and unrealistic building standards for cooperative housing units. In light of these findings, it is recommended that the Amhara National Regional State revise its housing cooperative policy to become affordable for cooperative housing members, particularly in terms of land acquisition costs and building standards.
Feasibility and performance of continuous glucose monitoring in hyperglycemia after lung transplantation
Authors: Munoz Pena Juan M. , Algarra Kimberly , Kennedy Hannah , Leong Man Chong , Salloum Ramzi G.
Published: January 2024

Background

Post-Transplant Diabetes Mellitus (PTDM) affects 20%–40% of lung transplant recipients within five years, impacting rejection, infection, cardiovascular events, and mortality. Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) is used in diabetes but not well-studied in PTDM.

Objective

This study assessed CGM performance in detecting hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia post-lung transplantation, compared to self-monitoring blood glucose.

Methods

A prospective pilot study included 15 lung transplant patients (mean age 58.6 years; 53.3% men; 73.3% with pre-transplantation diabetes) managing hyperglycemia with insulin. Patients used a blinded CGM and self-monitored glucose for ten days. Data were categorized (% time in range, % high, % very high, % low, % very low) and compared using paired t-tests.

Results

CGM showed superior hyperglycemia detection. Mean differences for “% very high”, “% high”, and “% high and % very high” were 7.12 (95% CI, 1.8–12.4), 11.1 (95% CI, 3.5–18.8), and 18.3 (95% CI: 7.37–29.24), respectively. No significant difference was found for “% low and % very low”. All patients reported a positive CGM experience.

Conclusion

CGM use post-lung transplantation seems feasible and offers advantages in detecting hyperglycemia and in optimizing glucose management. Study limitations include a small sample size, requiring larger studies to assess glycemic control, hypoglycemia detection, and transplant outcomes.
A discussion of gender, ethnicity, and intersectionality, at the Serb Business Association forum
Authors: Paravina Aleksandra
Published: January 2024

Qualitative transdisciplinary research has contributed to the development of a dynamic scientific area that is best suited to analyze real-life data from real people. To determine how ethnicity and gender intersect to shape the social worlds of the participants in a Serb business discussion forum, I apply two theoretical orientations based on ethnomethodology: Conversation Analysis (CA) and membership categorization analysis (MCA). I analyze 15 videos with predominantly female Serb discussants. My findings from this project reveal a significant presence of stigma in the perceptions of Serb ethnicity in Croatia. I argue that due to patriarchal values as a type of cultural cache, Serb women experience demeaning gender categories in various areas of their lives. To improve this situation, it is suggested that there is a need for feminist ethics of care and a coalition with men.
Land use classification in mine-agriculture compound area based on multi-feature random forest: a case study of Peixian
Authors: Xu Jiaxing , Chen Chen , Zhou Shutian , Hu Wenmin , Zhang Wei
Published: January 2024

Introduction

Land use classification plays a critical role in analyzing land use/cover change (LUCC). Remote sensing land use classification based on machine learning algorithm is one of the hot spots in current remote sensing technology research. The diversity of surface objects and the complexity of their distribution in mixed mining and agricultural areas have brought challenges to the classification of traditional remote sensing images, and the rich information contained in remote sensing images has not been fully utilized.

Methods

A quantitative difference index was proposed quantify and select the texture features of easily confused land types, and a random forest (RF) classification method with multi-feature combination classification schemes for remote sensing images was developed, and land use information of the mine-agriculture compound area of Peixian in Xuzhou, China was extracted.

Results

The quantitative difference index proved effective in reducing the dimensionality of feature parameters and resulted in a reduction of the optimal feature scheme dimension from 57 to 22. Among the four classification methods based on the optimal feature classification scheme, the RF algorithm emerged as the most efficient with a classification accuracy of 92.38% and a Kappa coefficient of 0.90, which outperformed the support vector machine (SVM), classification and regression tree (CART), and neural network (NN) algorithm.

Conclusion

The findings indicate that the quantitative differential index is a novel and effective approach for discerning distinct texture features among various land types. It plays a crucial role in the selection and optimization of texture features in multispectral remote sensing imagery. Random forest (RF) classification method, leveraging a multi-feature combination, provides a fresh method support for the precise classification of intricate ground objects within the mine-agriculture compound area.
Laparoscopic transabdominal preperitoneal herniorrhaphy performed using an articulating laparoscopic instrument is feasible and more efficient
Authors: Park Jung Hyun , Kim Dong Jin
Published: January 2024

Introduction

Ipsilateral left-sided-approach laparoscopic transabdominal preperitoneal herniorrhaphy (LA-TAPP) is a procedure used for inguinal hernia. However, conventional laparoscopic instruments may limit the operator's ability to approach certain areas during the procedure. This study aims to assess the feasibility of using an articulating bipolar grasper (ArtiSential®).

Material and methods

Between January 2017 and May 2022, 184 patients with inguinal hernia underwent LA-TAPP and were divided into an articulating group (AG) and a conventional group (CG). The two groups were compared for clinical characteristics, surgical outcomes, and recurrence rates. Learning curve analysis was also performed using the CUSUM score.

Results

The AG and CG included 72 and 112 patients, respectively. Both groups had similar age, sex, BMI, hernia location, and hernia type. The AG had a significantly shorter operation time (59.2 ± 29.4 vs. 77.8 ± 22.4 min, p < 0.001) than the CG. The duration of hospitalization was slightly shorter in the AG (2.2 ± 0.5 vs. 2.5 ± 1.4 days, p = 0.056). Postoperative complications were lower in the AG (5.6%) than in the CG (9.8%). Scrotal neuralgic pain was observed in 1.4% of patients in the AG and 3.6% of patients in the CG. Learning curve analysis revealed that 24 cases were needed to overcome the learning curve for using an articulating device.

Conclusion

IP-TAPP with an articulating instrument is a safe and efficient procedure. The operation time can be reduced by improving the surgeon's procedural autonomy and reducing collisions between the instruments and the patient's ribs.
Post-mortem feasibility of dual-energy computed tomography in the detection of bone edema-like lesions in the equine foot: a proof of concept
Authors: Germonpré Jolien , Vandekerckhove Louis M. J. , Raes Els , Chiers Koen , Jans Lennart , Vanderperren Katrien
Published: January 2024

Introduction

In this proof-of-concept study, the post-mortem feasibility of dual-energy computed tomography (DECT) in the detection of bone edema-like lesions in the equine foot is described in agreement with the gold standard imaging technique, which is magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Methods

A total of five equine cadaver feet were studied, of which two were pathological and three were within normal limits and served as references. A low-field MRI of each foot was performed, followed by a DECT acquisition. Multiplanar reformations of DECT virtual non-calcium images were compared with MRI for the detection of bone edema-like lesions. A gross post-mortem was performed, and histopathologic samples were obtained of the navicular and/or distal phalanx of the two feet selected based on pathology and one reference foot.

Results

On DECT virtual non-calcium imaging, the two pathological feet showed diffuse increased attenuation corresponding with bone edema-like lesions, whereas the three reference feet were considered normal. These findings were in agreement with the findings on the MRI. Histopathology of the two pathologic feet showed abnormalities in line with bone edema-like lesions. Histopathology of the reference foot was normal.

Conclusion

DECT virtual non-calcium imaging can be a valuable diagnostic tool in the diagnosis of bone edema-like lesions in the equine foot. Further examination of DECT in equine diagnostic imaging is warranted in a larger cohort, different locations, and alive animals.
Chinese equestrian policy development: a narrative review
Authors: Li Jiaxin , Sánchez-García Raúl
Published: January 2024

Introduction

This paper provides an overview of the Chinese equestrian policy documents and regulations from 1978 to 2022. While the horse business is shifting from traditional to leisure and sport pattern in China, through the analysis of the policies and regulations.

Objectives

This paper aims to provide a concise overview of the government's policies which growth of equestrian sports in China over the past four decades (since 1978).

Method

Under the guidance of Whitemore and Knafl's 5-step approach to policy analysis, a systematic analysis of policy content, context, and governance processes is conducted. As of 2022, 29 documents from official and semi-official sources had been extracted, classified, and examined for records.

Results and conclusion

As of 2022, 29 documents from official and semi-official sources had been extracted, classified, and examined for records. The first is whether the policy is useful or not, its goals are vague and unclear. And there isn't much interaction between the areas it affects. Second, the policies are inconsistent and unstable. Third, there is a deficiency in terms of professional evaluation and relevancy. Fourth, pre-development preparation is not done due to the lack of an industry chain cycle. The complex causes of these issues include the sports management system, the government's policy ideals, and the competition of interests among policy stakeholders.
Prevention of War: A Scoping Review on Primary Preventive Measures in Public Health
Authors: Brake Tessa-Maria , Razum Oliver
Published: January 2024

Objectives: Wars and armed conflicts have a major impact on population health. As the discipline of public health aims to increase the health at population level, professionals play a significant role in dealing with war and armed conflict. There is need for research on prevention. This study aims to map the literature on existing public health approaches addressing the primary prevention of war and/or armed conflict.

Methods: We performed a scoping review in the databases Web of Science, PubMed and Google Scholar, followed by a narrative synthesis.

Results: We included 15 studies. We identified three main themes regarding preventive measures: 1) research on root causes of conflicts, surveillance and documentation of its health consequences; 2) education and awareness raising on the consequences of conflicts; and 3) interventions to change socio-economic and political conditions conducive to conflicts.

Conclusion: A two-tiered conceptual framework emerges: For primary prevention of war, public health should promote human rights and the rule of law. To prevent armed conflict within states, public health should address the social determinants of health and aim to reduce poverty and inequity.
Decision Science-Driven Assessment of Ti Alloys for Aircraft Landing Gear Beams
Authors: Canumalla Ramachandra , Jayaraman Tanjore V.
Published: January 2024

Titanium alloys, with their low density, exceptional mechanical properties, and outstanding corrosion resistance, play a vital role in various aerospace applications. Our decision science-driven assessment focused on metastable β, near-β, α + β, and near-α Ti alloys for landing gear applications, integrating multiple-attribute decision-making (MADM) methods, principal component analysis (PCA), and hierarchical clustering (HC) is based on current literature. The ranks of the alloys evaluated by diverse MADM methods were consistent. The methodology identifies five top-ranked Ti alloys assists and verifies the guidelines for alloy design. The top-ranked alloy, Ti1300-BM-nano-α (alloy chemistry: Ti-5Al-4V-4Mo-3Zr-4Cr, solution treatment: 800 °C for 1 h followed by air cooling—solution treated below β transus, and aging: 500 °C for 4 h followed by air cooling), stands out with a percentage elongation (%EL) ~3.3 times greater than the benchmark or goal (density, d = ~4.6 g/cm3; yield strength YS = ~1250 MPa; %El = ~5), while maintaining similar density and yield strength. The analyses underline that metastable β Ti alloys comprising globular primary α + trans β matrix coupled with α precipitates in trans β are the base optimal microstructure to fine-tune using thermomechanical processing for aircraft landing gear applications.
Copper- or Zinc-Fortified Nutrient Solution in Vertical Farming System Enriches Copper or Zinc and Elevates Phenolic Acid and Flavonoid Contents in Artemisia annua L.
Authors: Son Yang-Ju , Park Jai-Eok , Lee Nakhyun , Ju Young-Woong , Pyo Su-Hyeon , Oh Changmin , Yoo Gyhye , Nho Chu Won
Published: January 2024

Artemisia annua L. is a well-known therapeutic herb that is widely used in folk medicine in Asian and African countries. A. annua can alleviate fever, wounds, and inflammation and is also popular as an anti-malarial agent. Cu and Zn are essential nutrients for human wellness and are vital to plants; they sometimes act as elicitors and induce stress mechanisms in plants to stimulate the production of secondary metabolites, which have bioactivities. Therefore, we added Cu or Zn to a nutrient solution and cultivated A. annua to enhance the Cu or Zn content. The Cu or Zn treatment during A. annua cultivation elevated their accumulation, and Zn showed a dramatic accumulation level in harvests. The aerial part of Zn16X contained 35 times higher Zn content than that of the control. Although the Cu or Zn contents were elevated, the plant height and yield were not affected, indicating the absence of toxic effects. The Cu or Zn treatment decreased the artemisinin content; however, these treatments increased the amounts of phenolic acids and flavonoids in A. annua. In particular, Zn4X showed a notable increase in the phenolic acids and flavonoids amounts. Moreover, the contents of certain types of caffeoylquinic acids were also highly elevated in Zn4X. Overall, Cu or Zn treatment in A. annua increased Cu or Zn accumulation and stimulated phenolic acid and flavonoid synthesis, which may have enhanced the therapeutic efficacy of A. annua.
Strip-Till Farming: Combining Controlled-Release Blended Fertilizer to Enhance Rainfed Maize Yield While Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Authors: Cheng Zhipeng , Bai Lanfang , Wang Zhen , Wang Fugui , Wang Yukai , Liang Hongwei , Wang Yongqiang , Rong Meiren , Wang Zhigang
Published: January 2024

The two major concerns of sustainable agriculture are safeguarding food security and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Studies on the performance of strip-till with controlled-release blended fertilizer on rainfed maize grain yield, greenhouse gas emissions, and net ecosystem economic budget are scarce in the hilly region of northeast China. In this study, the differences between strip-till (RST) and conventional ridge cropping (CP), straw off-field no-tillage (NT), and no-tillage with straw mulching (RNT) were comparatively investigated in the conventional fertilizer (Sd) mode. And meanwhile, four fertilization modes were also set up under strip-till (RST): conventional fertilization (Sd), controlled-release nitrogen fertilizer blended with normal urea 3:7 (30%Cr), controlled-release nitrogen fertilizer blended with normal urea 5:5 (50%Cr), and no-nitrogen fertilization. We analyzed maize yield, greenhouse gas emissions (GHG), greenhouse gas intensity (GHGI), net income and net ecosystem economic budget (NEEB) for different treatments. The results showed that, under conventional fertilizer (Sd) mode, the maize yield of RST increased by 4.2%, 6.0% and 7.2% compared with NT, CP and RNT and the net income increased by 7.0%, 9.7% and 10.0%, respectively. Compared with CP and NT, although RST increased CO2 and N2O emissions, the GHGI of RST was not significantly different from CP and NT, and was 8.0% lower than that of RNT. The NEEB of RST increased by 6.8%, 9.7% and 11.0%, respectively, compared with NT, CP and RNT. Under strip-till, compared with 30%Cr and Sd, the yield of 50%Cr increased by 4.0% and 9.2% and the net income increased by 3.5% and 6.9%, respectively. There was no significant difference in GHGI between 50%Cr and 30%Cr, and 50%Cr decreased by 10.4% compared with Sd. The NEEB of 50%Cr increased by 3.8% and 7.4% compared to 30%Cr and Sd. Strip-till combines controlled-release nitrogen fertilizer blended with normal urea 5:5 (50%Cr) and can be applied as a sustainable strategy to improve the economic efficiency of maize and reduce environmental costs in the hilly region of northeast China.
CLSM-Guided Imaging for Quantifying Endodontic Disinfection
Authors: Mattern Rebecca , Ernst Sabrina , Böcher Sarah , Braun Andreas , Wenzler Johannes-Simon , Conrads Georg
Published: January 2024

Elimination of microbes in the root canal system is crucial for achieving long-term success in endodontic treatment. Further efforts in study design and standardization are needed in order to improve the validity and comparability of in vitro results on endodontic disinfection procedures, in turn improving clinical outcomes. This study optimizes two models at all steps: tooth selection, pretreatment, inoculation method (by growth or centrifugation), and confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM)-guided imaging of LIVE/DEAD-stained specimens. Individual anatomical conditions lead to substantial differences in penetration depth. Sclerosis grading (SCG), a classification system introduced in this study, provides information about the sclerosis status of the dentine and is helpful for careful, specific, and comparable tooth selection in in vitro studies. Sonically activated EDTA for the pretreatment of roots, inoculation of Enterococcus faecalis in an overflow model, 3–4 weeks of incubation, as well as polishing of dentine slices before staining, led to advances in the visualization of bacterial penetration and irrigation depths. In contrast, NaOCl pretreatment negatively affected performance reproducibility and should be avoided in any pretreatment. Nonsclerotized teeth (SCG0) can be used for microbial semilunar-shaped inoculation by centrifugation as a “quick-and-dirty” model for initial orientation. In conclusion, CLSM-guided imaging for quantifying endodontic infection/disinfection is a very powerful method after the fine-tuning of materials and methods.
Method of Improving the Management of Cancer Risk Groups by Coupling a Features-Attention Mechanism to a Deep Neural Network
Authors: Onchis Darian M. , Costi Flavia , Istin Codruta , Secasan Ciprian Cosmin , Cozma Gabriel V.
Published: January 2024

(1) Background: Lung cancers are the most common cancers worldwide, and prostate cancers are among the second in terms of the frequency of cancers diagnosed in men. Automatic ranking of the risk groups of such diseases is highly in demand, but the clinical practice has shown us that, for a sensitive screening of the clinical parameters using an artificial intelligence system, a customarily defined deep neural network classifier is not sufficient given the usually small size of medical datasets. (2) Methods: In this paper, we propose a new management method of cancer risk groups based on a supervised neural network model that is further enhanced by using a features attention mechanism in order to boost its level of accuracy. For the analysis of each clinical parameter, we used local interpretable model-agnostic explanations, which is a post hoc model-agnostic technique that outlines feature importance. After that, we applied the feature-attention mechanism in order to obtain a higher weight after training. We tested the method on two datasets, one for binary-class in cases of thoracic cancer and one for multi-class classification in cases of urological cancer, to demonstrate the wide availability and versatility of the method. (3) Results: The accuracy levels of the models trained in this way reached values of more than 80% for both clinical tasks. (4) Conclusions: Our experiments demonstrate that, by using explainability results as feedback signals in conjunction with the attention mechanism, we were able to increase the accuracy of the base model by more than 20% on small medical datasets, reaching a critical threshold for providing recommendations based on the collected clinical parameters.
BWLM: A Balanced Weight Learning Mechanism for Long-Tailed Image Recognition
Authors: Fan Baoyu , Ma Han , Liu Yue , Yuan Xiaochen
Published: January 2024

With the growth of data in the real world, datasets often encounter the problem of long-tailed distribution of class sample sizes. In long-tailed image recognition, existing solutions usually adopt a class rebalancing strategy, such as reweighting based on the effective sample size of each class, which leans towards common classes in terms of higher accuracy. However, increasing the accuracy of rare classes while maintaining the accuracy of common classes is the key to solving the problem of long-tailed image recognition. This research explores a direction that balances the accuracy of both common and rare classes simultaneously. Firstly, a two-stage training is adopted, motivated by the use of transfer learning to balance features of common and rare classes. Secondly, a balanced weight function called Balanced Focal Softmax (BFS) loss is proposed, which combines balanced softmax loss focusing on common classes with balanced focal loss focusing on rare classes to achieve dual balance in long-tailed image recognition. Subsequently, a Balanced Weight Learning Mechanism (BWLM) to further utilize the feature of weight decay is proposed, where the weight decay as the weight balancing technique for the BFS loss tends to make the model learn smaller balanced weights by punishing the larger weights. Through extensive experiments on five long-tailed image datasets, it proves that transferring the weights from the first stage to the second stage can alleviate the bias of the naive models toward common classes. The proposed BWLM not only balances the weights of common and rare classes, but also greatly improves the accuracy of long-tailed image recognition and outperforms many state-of-the-art algorithms.
Parametric Investigation of Parallel Deposition Passes on the Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of 7075 Aluminum Alloy Processed with Additive Friction Stir Deposition
Authors: Cahalan L. P. , Williams M. B. , Brewer L. N. , McDonnell M. M. , Kelly M. R. , Lalonde A. D. , Allison P. G. , Jordon J. B.
Published: January 2024

Large-scale metal additive manufacturing (AM) provides a unique solution to rapidly develop prototype components with net-shape or near-net shape geometries. Specifically, additive friction stir deposition (AFSD) is a solid-state method for large-scale metal AM that produces near-net shape depositions capable of high deposition rates. As AFSD is utilized for a broader range of applications, there is a need to understand deposition strategies for larger and more complex geometries. In particular, components with larger surface areas will require overlapping deposition passes within a single layer. In this study, the AFSD process was used to create depositions utilizing multiple passes with a varying deposition path overlap width. The effects of overlapping parallel pass depositions on the mechanical and microstructural properties of aluminum alloy 7075 were examined. The grain size and microstructural features of the deposited material were analyzed to evaluate material mixing and plastic flow in the observed overlap regions. Additionally, hardness and tensile experiments were conducted to observe the relationship between the overlap width and as-deposited material behavior. In this study, an ideal overlap width was found that produced acceptable as-deposited material properties.
Effect of Drying–Wetting Cycle and Vibration on Strength Properties of Granite Residual Soil
Authors: Tang Jiarun , Chen Dongxia
Published: January 2024

Granite residual soil (GRS) exhibits favorable engineering properties in its natural state. However, a hot and rainy climate, combined with vibrations generated during mechanical construction, can cause a notable decrease in its strength. In this study, the evolution of stress–strain curves and strength parameters (cohesion c and internal friction angle φ), unconfined compression strength (UCS) under drying and wetting(DW) cycles and vibration were investigated by means of direct shear test and UCS test. Furthermore, modified formulas for calculating shear strength and UCS under DW cycles and vibration were proposed, and their accuracy was verified. The results are as follows: The stress–strain curve of shear strength exhibits strain-hardening characteristics, and the shear compressibility of the sample increases with the number of DW cycles and vibration time. However, the stress–strain curve of UCS shows strain-softening properties, and the peak strength shifts forward with the number of DW cycles and vibrations. With the increase in the number of DW cycles and the vibration time, c shows a non-linear degradation, with a maximum degradation of 58.6%. φ fluctuates and increases due to the densification effect of DW cycles, but the influence of vibration on φ decreases with the increase in the number of DW cycles. UCS rapidly decreases and gradually stabilizes after DW cycles and vibration, with a maximum degradation of 81.1%. This study can serve as a reference for the stability analysis of GRS pits subjected to long-term influences of hot and rainy climates and mechanical vibration, providing valuable insights for future research.
A Modified Protocol for Staining of Undecalcified Bone Samples Using Toluidine Blue—A Histological Study in Rabbit Models
Authors: Peev Stefan , Parushev Ivaylo , Yotsova Ralitsa
Published: January 2024

Undecalcified bone histology is a valuable diagnostic method for studying bone microarchitecture and provides information on bone formation, resorption, and turnover. It has various clinical and research applications. Toluidine blue has been widely adopted as a staining technique for hard-tissue specimens. It provides a clear identification of bone structural and cellular features and the distinctions between them. Furthermore, the method allows for an excellent definition of the cement lines that mark the fields of bone remodeling. Some of the suggested and currently used processing and staining protocols are too complex and time-consuming, which necessitates their modification and/or optimization. This research aims to develop a simplified protocol for staining plastic-embedded undecalcified bone specimens with toluidine blue. The samples were obtained from the tibial bones of rabbits, and experiments with and without pre-etching were conducted. Our results demonstrated that the optimal visualization of the bone microstructure and its cellular components was achieved in the samples without acid pre-etching and dehydration after staining.