bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A hypothermia mimetic molecule (zr17-2) reduces ganglion cell death and electroretinogram distortion in a rat model of intraorbital optic nerve crush (IONC)
Authors: Contartese Daniela S. , Rey-Funes Manuel , Peláez Rafael , Soliño Manuel , Fernández Juan C. , Nakamura Ronan , Ciranna Nicolás S. , Sarotto Aníbal , Dorfman Verónica B. , López-Costa Juan J. , Zapico José M. , Ramos Ana , de Pascual-Teresa Beatriz , Larrayoz Ignacio M. , Loidl César F. , Martínez Alfredo
Published: January 2023

Introduction: Ocular and periocular traumatisms may result in loss of vision. Our previous work showed that therapeutic hypothermia prevents retinal damage caused by traumatic neuropathy. We also generated and characterized small molecules that elicit the beneficial effects of hypothermia at normal body temperature. Here we investigate whether one of these mimetic molecules, zr17-2, is able to preserve the function of eyes exposed to trauma.

Methods: Intraorbital optic nerve crush (IONC) or sham manipulation was applied to Sprague-Dawley rats. One hour after surgery, 5.0 µl of 330 nmol/L zr17-2 or PBS, as vehicle, were injected in the vitreum of treated animals. Electroretinograms were performed 21 days after surgery and a- and b-wave amplitude, as well as oscillatory potentials (OP), were calculated. Some animals were sacrificed 6 days after surgery for TUNEL analysis. All animal experiments were approved by the local ethics board.

Results: Our previous studies showed that zr17-2 does not cross the blood-ocular barrier, thus preventing systemic treatment. Here we show that intravitreal injection of zr17-2 results in a very significant prevention of retinal damage, providing preclinical support for its pharmacological use in ocular conditions. As previously reported, IONC resulted in a drastic reduction in the amplitude of the b-wave (p < 0.0001) and OPs (p < 0.05), a large decrease in the number of RGCs (p < 0.0001), and a large increase in the number of apoptotic cells in the GCL and the INL (p < 0.0001). Interestingly, injection of zr17-2 largely prevented all these parameters, in a very similar pattern to that elicited by therapeutic hypothermia. The small molecule was also able to reduce oxidative stress-induced retinal cell death in vitro.

Discussion: In summary, we have shown that intravitreal injection of the hypothermia mimetic, zr17-2, significantly reduces the morphological and electrophysiological consequences of ocular traumatism and may represent a new treatment option for this cause of visual loss.
Ageing-induced shrinkage of intervessel pit membranes in xylem of Clematis vitalba modifies its mechanical properties as revealed by atomic force microscopy
Authors: Carmesin Cora F. , Port Fabian , Böhringer Samuel , Gottschalk Kay-Eberhard , Rasche Volker , Jansen Steven
Published: January 2023

Bordered pit membranes of angiosperm xylem are anisotropic, mesoporous media between neighbouring conduits, with a key role in long distance water transport. Yet, their mechanical properties are poorly understood. Here, we aim to quantify the stiffness of intervessel pit membranes over various growing seasons. By applying an AFM-based indentation technique “Quantitative Imaging” we measured the effective elastic modulus (Eeffective) of intervessel pit membranes of Clematis vitalba in dependence of size, age, and hydration state. The indentation-deformation behaviour was analysed with a non-linear membrane model, and paired with magnetic resonance imaging to visualise sap-filled and embolised vessels, while geometrical data of bordered pits were obtained using electron microscopy. Eeffective was transformed to the geometrically independent apparent elastic modulus Eapparent and to aspiration pressure Pb. The material stiffness (Eapparent) of fresh pit membranes was with 57 MPa considerably lower than previously suggested. The estimated pressure for pit membrane aspiration was 2.20+28 MPa. Pit membranes from older growth rings were shrunken, had a higher material stiffness and a lower aspiration pressure than current year ones, suggesting an irreversible, mechanical ageing process. This study provides an experimental-stiffness analysis of hydrated intervessel pit membranes in their native state. The estimated aspiration pressure suggests that membranes are not deflected under normal field conditions. Although absolute values should be interpreted carefully, our data suggest that pit membrane shrinkage implies increasing material stiffness, and highlight the dynamic changes of pit membrane mechanics and their complex, functional behaviour for fluid transport.
Fostering Resilience in Adolescents at Risk: Study protocol for a cluster randomized controlled trial within the resilience school-based intervention
Authors: Llistosella Maria , Torné Clara , García-Ortiz Mercedes , López-Hita Griselda , Ortiz Ramona , Herández-Montero Laura , Guallart Erika , Uña-Solbas Estefanía , Miranda-Mendizabal Andrea
Published: January 2023

Introduction

Resilience is considered of high relevance when developing interventions to cope with stressful situations. Schools are one of the key settings to promote resilience among adolescents. The purpose of this cluster randomized controlled trial is to assess the effectiveness of an intervention in adolescents at risk, aged 12-to-15 years old, to increase resilience and emotional regulation strategies.

Methods

The recruitment period started in January 2022. Schools will be randomly allocated to control and intervention groups by an external researcher using computer-generated random numbers. The minimum sample size was estimated to be 70 participants per group. Primary health care nurses will carry out the intervention during the school period (January to June 2022). Students will follow a specific training consisting of six 55-min sessions, for 6 weeks. Each session will consist of 5 min of mindfulness, followed by 45 min of the corresponding activity: introducing resilience, self-esteem, emotional regulation strategies, social skills, problem-solving, community resources, social and peer support, and 5 min to explain the activity to do at home. Data will be collected at baseline, 6 weeks, and 24 weeks after the intervention. The child youth resilience measure-32 (CYRM-32) scale will be used to assess the effectiveness of the intervention. This study received a grant in June 2021.

Discussion

The intervention is intended to improve mental health through resilience. Different factors related to resilience will be promoted, such as self-esteem, emotional regulation, social and communication skills, problem-solving and peer support, among others. As it has been designed as a cluster-randomized school-based intervention, we will directly ameliorate the participation and engagement of the target population. With the present intervention, we expect to improve coping skills in adolescents by enhancing resilience capacities.
Temporal learning analytics to explore traces of self-regulated learning behaviors and their associations with learning performance, cognitive load, and student engagement in an asynchronous online course
Authors: Sun Jerry Chih-Yuan , Liu Yiming , Lin Xi , Hu Xiao
Published: January 2023

Self-regulated learning (SRL) plays a critical role in asynchronous online courses. In recent years, attention has been focused on identifying student subgroups with different patterns of online SRL behaviors and comparing their learning performance. However, there is limited research leveraging traces of SRL behaviors to detect student subgroups and examine the subgroup differences in cognitive load and student engagement. The current study tracked the engagement of 101 graduate students with SRL-enabling tools integrated into an asynchronous online course. According to the recorded SRL behaviors, this study identified two distinct student subgroups, using sequence analysis and cluster analysis: high SRL (H-SRL) and low SRL (L-SRL) groups. The H-SRL group showed lower extraneous cognitive load and higher learning performance, germane cognitive load, and cognitive engagement than the L-SRL group did. Additionally, this study articulated and compared temporal patterns of online SRL behaviors between the student subgroups combining lag sequential analysis and epistemic network analysis. The results revealed that both groups followed three phases of self-regulation but performed off-task behaviors. Additionally, the H-SRL group preferred activating mastery learning goals to improve ethical knowledge, whereas the L-SRL group preferred choosing performance-avoidance learning goals to pass the unit tests. The H-SRL group invested more in time management and notetaking, whereas the L-SRL group engaged more in surface learning approaches. This study offers researchers both theoretical and methodological insights. Additionally, our research findings help inform practitioners about how to design and deploy personalized SRL interventions in asynchronous online courses.
Chinese comprehenders’ interpretation of underinformativeness in L1 and L2 accented speech narratives
Authors: Li Yanrui , Feng Shuo
Published: January 2023

Second language (L2) speakers with foreign accents are well-known to face disadvantages in terms of language processing; however, recent research has demonstrated possible social benefits for foreign-accented L2 speakers. While previous research has focused on the ways in which first language (L1) speakers of English comprehend L2 speech, the present article contributes to this line of research by exploring the ways in which comprehenders from a different culture and linguistic background perceive L2 speech narratives. This study investigates this issue by exploring how comprehenders with Mandarin Chinese as the first language interpret underinformative utterances containing scalar and ad hoc implicature in L1, accent-free L2, and foreign-accented L2 speech narratives. The sentence judgment task with a guise design used written sentences rather than oral utterances as stimuli in order to isolate the role of intelligibility factors. The results indicate that foreign accent confers social benefits on L2 speakers in that their omission of information in communication is tolerated and they are viewed as more likely to possess positive attributes. More importantly, we find that the bilingual characteristics of Chinese participants, as well as the different linguistic complexity of deriving scalar and ad hoc implicature, affect Chinese participants’ explanations of underinformative sentences of L2 speakers. This study contributes to our understanding of L2 language processing.
School climate and left-behind children’s achievement motivation: The mediating role of learning adaptability and the moderating role of teacher support
Authors: Zhao Keyun , Chen Ning , Liu Guanling , Lun Zhijun , Wang Xinghua
Published: January 2023

School climate has been reported to have an important impact on children’s achievement motivation, but the mechanism for the impact of school climate on left-behind children has not been fully explored. The purpose of this study is to investigate the roles of left-behind children’s learning adaptability and teacher support in mediating and moderating the relationship between school climate and achievement motivation. In this study, 1,417 left-behind children were surveyed. The results showed that: (1) after controlling for gender and age, the school climate still had a positive effect on the achievement motivation of left-behind children (c′ = 0.177, p < 0.001). (2) School climate perceived by left-behind children directly predicted their achievement motivation, and indirectly through their learning adaptability (a1 = 0.338, p < 0.001; b = 0.341, p < 0.001). In other words, left-behind children’s learning adaptability may play an intermediary role between school climate and achievement motivation. (3) The indirect effect of school climate on achievement motivation through learning adaptability was moderated by teacher support (a2 = 0.153, p < 0.001), and this indirect effect was more significant for left-behind children who perceived high teacher support. The research reveals the importance of school climate and teacher support to the growth and development of left-behind children, thus holding theoretical significance for improving the achievement motivation of left-behind children.
Habitual night sleep duration is associated with general obesity and visceral obesity among Chinese women, independent of sleep quality
Authors: He Jiangshan , Fan Yaqi , Zhang Li , Li Chunjun , Guo Fenghua , Zhu Jiahui , Guo Pei , Zhang Binbin , Zhang Mianzhi , Zhang Minying
Published: January 2023

Purpose

Research on the relationship between sleep duration and obesity defined using multiple anthropometric and bioelectrical indices in women remains scarce. We aimed to explore the association between sleep duration and body mass index (BMI), waist-hip ratio (WHR), body fat percentage (PBF) and visceral fat area (VFA) among females.

Methods

We recruited women for medical examination using multistage cluster sampling. Sleep was assessed using Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and sleep duration was categorized into short (<7 h), optimal (7 <9 h) and long sleep (≥ 9 h). Weight and height were measured using a calibrated stadiometer. Waist circumference was manually measured. PBF, and VFA were estimated by bioelectrical impedance analysis. Data on sociodemographic characteristics and lifestyle factors were also collected and included in the logistic regression models to explore the independent association between sleep duration and obesity defined by different indices.

Results

A total of 7,763 women with a mean age of 42.6 ± 13.5 years were included. The percentage of women reporting short and long sleep was 10.3 and 13.4% respectively. The mean BMI, WHR, PBF and VFA were 23.07 ± 3.30 kg/m2, 0.78 ± 0.06, 32.23 ± 6.08% and 91.64 ± 35.97cm2, respectively. Short sleep was independently associated with 35% (95% CI: 1.05–1.75) increased odds of general obesity (BMI ≥ 28 kg/cm2), and long sleep was associated with 18% (95% CI: 1.01–1.37) increased odds of visceral obesity (VFA > 100 cm2). No association was observed between sleep deprivation or excessive sleep and high WHR or high PBF.

Conclusion

In women, short sleep was associated with an increased odds of general obesity, whereas long sleep was associated with an increased odds of visceral obesity. Longitudinal observations are needed to confirm this cross-sectional relationship.
Could HoLEP change the further management of incidental prostate cancer?
Authors: Di Gianfrancesco Luca , Crestani Alessandro , Amodeo Antonio , Corsi Paolo , Miglioranza Eugenio , De Marchi Davide , Busetto Gian Maria , Maggi Martina , Porreca Angelo
Published: January 2023

Introduction

Holmium Laser Enucleation of the Prostate (HoLEP) represents an effective and well-established technique in the treatment of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) related to benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH). We evaluated patients with BPH and concomitant or incidentally detected prostate cancer (PCa) treated with HoLEP and the subsequent clinical management.

Materials and Methods

We performed a retrospective review of patients treated with HoLEP at a single institution. We analyzed total pre- and postoperative prostate-specific antigen (tPSA), multi-parametric magnetic resonance (mpMRI) imaging, and pathology results in patients with a PCa diagnosis performed before HoLEP (group 1) and incidentally at HoLEP (group 2).

Results

We analyzed a total of 147 consecutive patients: 16 (10.9%) patients already had a PCa diagnosis before HoLEP, and in 18 (12.2%) patients PCa was incidentally detected at HoLEP. The tPSA level at 3 months after HoLEP dropped by 85.8% (from 14.34 ng/ml to 2.04 ng/ml) in patients of group 1 and by 86.5% (from 3.94 ng/ml to 0.53 ng/ml) in patients of group 2; the values remained stable up to 12 months after HoLEP. By including even those patients who underwent cancer treatment post-HoLEP, all patients in both groups survived without cancer progression (based on their initial PCa status).

Conclusions

Patients undergoing HoLEP might receive a PCa diagnosis in more than 10% of cases. The HoLEP technique can be performed even in patients with PCa, at any stage of the disease, to treat LUTS. The procedure does not negatively impact oncological outcomes even when PCa is diagnosed before or at HoLEP. Surely, the durability of the success of this approach to management needs further investigation.
Growing Healthier Chickens by Feeding Their Gut Microbes
Authors: Johl Jasmine , Park Yuna , Hess Matthias
Published: January 2023

All living things need nutrients to grow and stay healthy. Like humans, animals get most of their nutrients from food. Supplements added to animal feed to boost its nutritional value are called feed additives and they come in various forms to suit an animal’s unique needs. Despite their differences, feed additives have one common purpose: to improve an animal’s health. One way to promote animal health is by helping good gut microbes to grow. Feed additives that support good microbes are called pre-biotics. Plant-based pre-biotics are commonly used in the poultry industry. Some examples of plant-based pre-biotics are essential oils, fruit peels, and herbs. This article focuses on these plant-based feed pre-biotics and explores how they improve the health of chickens by changing the microbial diversity in their digestive system.
The efficiency of ultrasound-guided erector spinae plane block in early cervical cancer patients undergoing laparotomic radical hysterectomy: A double-blind randomized controlled trial
Authors: Zhou Ling , Wang Shan , Liu Chunmei , Yan Tingting , Song Youping , Shu Shuhua , Wang Sheng , Wei Xin
Published: January 2023

Aims

We aim to compare the efficiency of erector spinae plane block (ESPB) with transversus abdominis plane block (TAPB) in patients undergoing laparotomic radical hysterectomy because only a few studies are reported exploring this matter.

Methods

In this randomized controlled trail, 154 eligible patients were randomly allocated into ESPB group [ESPB + patient-controlled intravenous analgesia (PCIA)] and TAPB group (TAPB + PCIA) at 1:1 ratio. The primary outcome was visual analog scale (VAS) score at rest state at 12 h.

Results

We found that ESPB group was associated with the lower VAS scores at rest and cough state than TAPB group at 2, 4, 6, 12, and 24 h postoperatively (P < 0.05). Less analgesic consumption and sufentanil consumption in PCIA pump were found in the ESPB group (P < 0.05). Moreover, ESPB group was followed by fewer rescue analgesia requirements, less rescue analgesic consumption, less adverse reactions, and higher analgesia satisfaction (P < 0.05).

Conclusions

Our study found that ESPB had advantages on analgesic effect and opioids consumption. In the future, more studies were needed to confirm our findings.

Systematic Review Registration:https://www.chictr.org.cn/index.aspx, identifier: ChiCTR2100044240.
Szemidefinit optimalizálásra vonatkozó algoritmusok implementálása javában
Authors: Darvay Zsolt , Garfield Adrienne
Published: January 2023

A szemidefinit optimalizálási feladat belsőpontos algoritmusokkal történő megoldási lehetőségét tárgyaljuk. Bevezetjük a primál, illetve duál szemidefinit programozásai feladatokat, majd ezt követően meghatározzuk a belsőpont-feltételt és az optimalitási kritériumot. Elemezzük a centrális útnak megfelelő rendszert, valamint ennek módosítását az algebrailag ekvivalens átalakítás módszerével. A Nesterov–Todd skálázási technikát használjuk a megfelelő keresési irányok meghatározása érdekében. Az implementáció szemszögéből módosított változatát adjuk meg a teljes Nesterov–Todd-lépéses belsőpontos algoritmusnak. Numerikus eredményeket mutatunk be egy Java programozási nyelvben fejlesztett kód segítségével. Az algebrailag ekvivalens átalakítás technikája keretében használt azonos függvényre, illetve négyzetgyökfüggvényre vonatkozó eredményeket hasonlítjuk össze.
Változtatható frekvenciájú és erősségű szinuszos váltóáram előállítása villamosmotorok elektromágneses jellemzőinek méréséhez
Authors: Elek Patrícia , Szántó Attila , Sziki Gusztáv Áron
Published: January 2023

Az elektromos járműhajtás manapság széles körben elterjedt a mindennapi közlekedésben. Ezeknek a járműveknek egyik fontos eleme a villanymotor. A különböző motorokhoz szimulációs programokat fejlesztünk, amihez elengedetlen az elektromágneses és dinamikai jellemzőik, mint bemenő paraméterek ismerete. Ezeket az adatokat általában nem közlik a gyártók, ezért mérésekkel kell őket meghatározni. Ehhez a Debreceni Egyetem Műszaki Karán folyamatban van egy mérőrendszer felépítése, mellyel minden, a járműiparban alkalmazott villanymotor esetén meg tudjuk határozni a szimulációhoz szükséges motorparamétereket. Jelen publikációban a villanymotorok egyik jellemző elektromágneses paraméterének, a tekercsek induktivitásának meghatározásával foglalkozunk, és részletesen ismertetjük a tekercsek gerjesztéséhez szükséges, változtatható frekvenciájú és erősségű szinuszos váltóáram előállítására szolgáló áramforrás terveit.
Az I4.0 gyártási rendszerekben alkalmazott modern mérési módszerek
Authors: Ledenyak Daniel , Rosta Tamás
Published: January 2023

A kutatás fő célja, a többi I4.0-hoz kapcsolódó kutatáshoz hasonlóan, egy olyan rendszer létrehozása, amely segítségével a tényleges gyártási, előállítási műveletekbe lényegesen alacsonyabb élőmunka-mennyiséget vonhatunk be. Ennek köszönhetően a dolgozók a magasabb értékteremtő folyamatokra összpontosíthatnak. A kutatómunka fókuszában egy I4.0 kompatibilis adatfeldolgozó rendszer és algoritmus létrehozása áll, amely képes tárolni és továbbítani a különböző szerszámgépekről és mérőberendezésekről származó adatokat. A mérési értékek megfelelő kezeléséhez és felhasználásához fontos az adatok legoptimálisabb feldolgozása. Első lépésként a rendszerünkhöz kapcsolható, megfelelő adatátvitelre alkalmas mérőberendezések bemutatását és eredményeik kiértékelését határoztuk meg. Jelen tanulmány ezeket a rendszereket kívánja bemutatni, az elérhető elméleti és gyakorlati mérési pontosságra összpontosítva.
Vízszintes polárgráf fejlesztése ipari célokra
Authors: Menyhárt Hunor , Forgó Zoltán
Published: January 2023

Ebben a cikkben egy kompakt rajzolórobotnak a különböző működéséhez szükséges alkatrészeit, valamint ezek funkcióinak a megfelelő céljait mutatom be, valamint hogy ezek az elemek miként kapcsolódnak egymáshoz. Mind a mechanikai,elektronikai és informatikai rendszerek egymásba beágyazódásáról szó lesz, valamint ezek a rendszerek szükségéről is.
Locating the Parameters of RBF Networks Using a Hybrid Particle Swarm Optimization Method
Authors: Tsoulos Ioannis G. , Charilogis Vasileios
Published: January 2023

In the present work, an innovative two-phase method is presented for parameter tuning in radial basis function artificial neural networks. These kinds of machine learning models find application in many scientific fields in classification problems or in function regression. In the first phase, a technique based on particle swarm optimization is performed to locate a promising interval of values for the network parameters. Particle swarm optimization was used as it is a highly reliable method for global optimization problems, and in addition, it is one of the fastest and most-flexible techniques of its class. In the second phase, the network was trained within the optimal interval using a global optimization technique such as a genetic algorithm. Furthermore, in order to speed up the training of the network and due to the use of a two-stage method, parallel programming techniques were utilized. The new method was applied to a number of famous classification and regression datasets, and the results were more than promising.
Multi-Row Turbomachinery Aerodynamic Design Optimization by an Efficient and Accurate Discrete Adjoint Solver
Authors: Wu Hangkong , Da Xuanlong , Wang Dingxi , Huang Xiuquan
Published: January 2023

This paper proposes an approach that combines manual differentiation (MD) and automatic differentiation (AD) to develop an efficient and accurate multi-row discrete adjoint solver. In this approach, the structures of adjoint codes generated using an AD tool are first analyzed. Then, the AD-generated codes are manually adjusted to reduce memory and CPU time consumption. This manual adjustment is performed by replacing the automatically generated low-efficient differentiated codes with manually developed ones. To demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach, the single-stage transonic compressor–NASA Stage 35 and the 1.5-stage Aachen turbine–are used. The solution information exchange at a rotor-stator/stator-rotor interface is achieved by a conservative, non-reflective, and robust discrete adjoint mixing plane method. The results show that the discrete adjoint solver developed by hybrid automatic and manual differentiation is more economical in computational cost than that developed purely by an AD tool and has higher sensitivity accuracy than the adjoint solver with the constant eddy viscosity (CEV) assumption. Moreover, the multi-row turbomachinery design optimizations can be efficiently performed by the discrete adjoint solver developed by the hybrid automatic and manual differentiation.
Agricultural IoT Data Storage Optimization and Information Security Method Based on Blockchain
Authors: Zhao Yingding , Li Qiude , Yi Wenlong , Xiong Huanliang
Published: January 2023

Given the issues of low efficiency of agricultural Internet of Things (IoT) data collection and data storage security, this study proposes a fast and reliable storage method for IoT data based on blockchain. Firstly, it performs RC5 encryption for data in the IoT sensor module. Secondly, it aggregates the same batch of collected data in the gateway into a transaction and reconstructs the Merkle ordered tree to verify the data integrity. Finally, it modifies the configuration rules of blockchain to improve the efficiency of blockchain data storage. Compared with experimental results for hash values of blockchain storage data and the stored data itself in the blockchain, the proposed method has significant advantages in data writing, and its efficiency in data reading was nearly 10 times higher than the other methods. At the same time, the method has the advantages of confidentiality, integrity, availability, controllability and non-repudiation of information security. The study can provide a solution for efficient collection and secure storage of agricultural IoT data, and it can provide technical support for realizing decentralized agricultural IoT data collection.
Performance of Winter Wheat (Triticum aestivum) Depending on Fungicide Application and Nitrogen Top-Dressing Rate
Authors: Gaile Zinta , Bankina Biruta , Pluduma-Paunina Ieva , Sterna Linda , Bimsteine Gunita , Svarta Agrita , Kaneps Janis , Arhipova Irina , Sutka Aigars
Published: January 2023

Winter wheat (Triticum aestivum) is a crop of which production is associated with rather large investments for nitrogen fertilization and disease control. The aim of this study was to estimate the effect of five variants of fungicide application and four levels of N (nitrogen) top-dressing rate on the yield and grain quality of winter wheat. Field trials were carried out in Latvia (56° 31′ N; 23° 42′ E) for four seasons. Grain yield and quality depended significantly on the conditions of the trial year, as three of them were characterized by drought in varying degrees. Although the average four-year grain yield increased significantly in all fungicide application variants, the effect of this factor was different in individual years. The application of fungicides increased the yield significantly in one year, decreased significantly in another year, while it had no significant effect on the yield in remaining two seasons. The enhancement of N top-dressing rate increased the grain yield significantly every year. The interaction between both examined factors was significant; however, the use of higher N rates not always means that also spraying with fungicides has to be more intensive. A clear effect of fungicide application was observed on 1000 grain weight and volume weight, while the effect of N top-dressing rate was observed on the crude protein, wet gluten and starch content, and Zeleny index.
Influence of Heat Stress and Water Availability on Productivity of Silage Maize (Zea mays L.) under Different Tillage and Fertilizer Management Practices in Rostov Region of Russia
Authors: Gaevaya Emma , Ilyinskaya Izida , Bezuglova Olga , Klimenko Alexander , Taradin Sergei , Nezhinskaya Ekaterina , Mishchenko Anna , Gorovtsov Andrey
Published: January 2023

The aridization of the climate negatively affects the growth and development of plants and their productivity. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of heat stress and water availability on maize for silage under aridization and to find out the effectiveness of technological methods to maximize the use of available moisture. A long-term multifactorial experiment was performed during the period 1991–2020 in the region south of Rostov, Russia. The long-term multifactorial experiment is located in a zone of high heat supply and insufficient moisture, so the latter factor limits the yield of corn and dictates the need to find solutions to increase its environmental sustainability in extreme weather conditions. The values of the hydrothermal coefficient (HTC) were determined for the period of maize cultivation for each year of the study, ranked in ascending order and grouped into clusters. The results were mathematically processed by calculating the mean values (M) and their standard deviations (±SEM) with Statistica 13.3 software. The optimum conditions for silage maize development were found under the combination of 265 mm of rainfall and a 19.8 °C average temperature during the growing season. The maximum yield of silage maize was 33.8–45.2 t ha−1. In dry years (HTC = 0.3), tillage had an advantage: the yield increase was 0.2–1.6 t ha−1. In wet years, moldboard tillage was preferable: the yield increase was 0.3–2.9 t ha−1. The application of farmyard manure for fertilization increased the yield by 10.5–41.9%. Increasing the fertilizer rate by 1.5 times increased the yield by 21.0–59.8%. In drought, tillage and average fertilizer rate provided returns by increasing yields up to 7.7 kg/kg. Our study provides valuable recommendations in fodder production, promotes moisture conservation, preserves soil fertility on the slopes when cultivating corn for silage, and will be useful to specialists in improving the efficiency of agricultural production.
Application of Precision Agriculture for the Sustainable Management of Fertilization in Olive Groves
Authors: Roma Eliseo , Laudicina Vito Armando , Vallone Mariangela , Catania Pietro
Published: January 2023

Olive tree growing (Olea europaea L.) has considerably increased in the last decades, as has the consumption of extra virgin olive oil in the world. Precision agriculture is increasingly being applied in olive orchards as a new method to manage agronomic variability with the aim of providing individual plants with the right input amount, limiting waste or excess. The objective of this study was to develop a methodology on a GIS platform using GEOBIA algorithms in order to build prescription maps for variable rate (VRT) nitrogen fertilizers application in an olive orchard. The fertilization plan was determined for each tree by applying its own nitrogen balance, taking into account the variability of nitrogen in soil, leaf, production, and actual biometric and spectral conditions. Each olive tree was georeferenced using the S7-G Stonex instrument with real-time kinematic RTK positioning correction and the trunk cross section area (TCSA) was measured. Soil and leaves were sampled to study nutrient variability. Soil and plant samples were analyzed for all major physical and chemical properties. Spectral data were obtained using a multispectral camera (DJI multispectral) carried by an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) platform (DJI Phantom4). The biometric characteristics of the plants were extracted from the achieved normalized vegetation index (NDVI) map. The obtained prescription map can be used for variable rate fertilization with a tractor and fertilizer spreader connected via the ISOBUS system. Using the proposed methodology, the variable rate application of nitrogen fertilizer resulted in a 31% reduction in the amount to be applied in the olive orchard compared to the standard dose.
Comparative Genetic Diversity Assessment and Marker–Trait Association Using Two DNA Marker Systems in Rice (Oryza sativa L.)
Authors: Al-daej Mohammed I. , Rezk Adel A. , El-Malky Mohamed M. , Shalaby Tarek A. , Ismail Mohamed
Published: January 2023

In this paper, the genetic diversities of 12 rice genotypes (Oryza sativa L.), representing Indica, Japonica, and Indica–Japonica varieties, were assessed using twelve ISSR and five SSR markers. In addition, the rice genotypes were evaluated for 11 agro-morphological traits in a two-year trial. Association mapping was performed to detect any association between the DNA markers and the agro-morphological traits. An association analysis was conducted considering the relative kinship among the genotypes and accounting for the population structure using the unified mixed-model approach to avoid possible false-positive associations. Seventy-three alleles were collectively produced by ISSRs and SSRs, with an average of 6.3 and 2.8 alleles per locus, respectively. Both marker systems were informative, and the average polymorphism information content (PIC) was 0.222 and 0.352 for ISSRs and SSRs, respectively. The average expected heterozygosity (Hexp) was 0.264 for ISSRs compared to 0.457 for SSRs. After using the false discovery rate (FDR) method, the association analysis revealed a total of 12 significant marker–trait associations with six agro-morphological traits, including the no. of unfiled grains panicle−1, panicle length, panicle weight, the no. of panicles plant−1, the no. of tillers plant−1, and 1000-grain weight. ISSRs showed seven significant associations with five markers, while SSRs showed three significant associations with three markers. The phenotypic variance (R2) explained by each marker ranged between 29.2% for the ISSR marker HB11 (associated with 1000-grain weight) and 49.3% for the ISSR marker HB8 (associated with the no. of tillers plant−1). The identified marker–trait associations reported herein may improve the expected gain of future molecular-based rice-breeding programs, particularly those designed for improving grain-related or harvest-related traits.
Spatio-Temporal Analysis of the Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI) for the Summertime in the Period 2000–2021 in Slovenia: The Implication of Heat Stress for Agricultural Workers
Authors: Črepinšek Zalika , Žnidaršič Zala , Pogačar Tjaša
Published: January 2023

Due to climate change crisis, the risk of occupational heat stress for agricultural workers has recently increased. The temporal and spatial biometeorological conditions in different climatic regions of Slovenia during summer were analyzed using the Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI), and additionally the water loss index (SW) and the accepted level of physical activity (MHR). Term values of air temperature, relative air humidity, wind speed at 10 m and cloud cover at 14:00 CEST were used as input for the BioKlima 2.6 software package and were retrieved from the Slovenian Environment Agency for the summer months in the period 2000–2021. The rise in the average UTCI values was shown to be positive and statistically significant for summer (0.7 °C/decade) as well as for all three months, the highest being for June (0.9 °C/decade). The percentage of summer days during 2000–2021 that were under strong or very strong heat stress varied widely by location, ranging from one-third to more than one-half. Average monthly UTCI values at 14:00 CEST were the highest in July, reaching 30 °C in a submediterranean climate, Črnomelj is the only station with this average higher than 32 °C. Daily highest UTCI value was 47 °C (Črnomelj). It was shown that conditions in the middle of a hot summer day are not suitable for moderate or severe agricultural workloads.
Reliability and Validity of UNESP-Botucatu Cattle Pain Scale and Cow Pain Scale in Bos taurus and Bos indicus Bulls to Assess Postoperative Pain of Surgical Orchiectomy
Authors: Tomacheuski Rubia M. , Oliveira Alice R. , Trindade Pedro H. E. , Oliveira Flávia A. , Candido César P. , Teixeira Neto Francisco J. , Steagall Paulo V. , Luna Stelio P. L.
Published: January 2023

Pain assessment guides decision-making in pain management and improves animal welfare. We aimed to investigate the reliability and validity of the UNESP-Botucatu cattle pain scale (UCAPS) and the cow pain scale (CPS) for postoperative pain assessment in Bos taurus (Angus) and Bos indicus (Nelore) bulls after castration. Methods: Ten Nelore and nine Angus bulls were anaesthetised with xylazine–ketamine–diazepam–isoflurane–flunixin meglumine. Three-minute videos were recorded at -48 h, preoperative, after surgery, after rescue analgesia and at 24 h. Two evaluators assessed 95 randomised videos twice one month apart. Results: There were no significant differences in the pain scores between breeds. Intra and inter-rater reliability varied from good (>0.70) to very good (>0.81) for all scales. The criterion validity showed a strong correlation (0.76–0.78) between the numerical rating scale and VAS versus UCAPS and CPS, and between UCAPS and CPS (0.76). The UCAPS and CPS were responsive; all items and total scores increased after surgery. Both scales were specific (81–85%) and sensitive (82–87%). The cut-off point for rescue analgesia was >4 for UCAPS and >3 for CPS. Conclusions. The UCAPS and CPS are valid and reliable to assess postoperative pain in Bos taurus and Bos indicus bulls.
Genetic Parameters of Serum Total Protein Concentration Measured with a Brix Refractometer in Holstein Newborn Calves and Fresh Cows
Authors: Soufleri Aikaterini , Banos Georgios , Panousis Nikolaos , Kougioumtzis Alexandros , Tsiamadis Vangelis , Arsenos Georgios , Valergakis Georgios E.
Published: January 2023

The objective was to estimate the genetic parameters of serum total protein concentration in newborn calves (calfSTP) and post parturient dairy cows (cowSTP). The study included 1013 calves and 989 cows from 10 dairy farms. Calf blood samples were collected 24–48 h after parturition while cow blood and colostrum samples were collected in the first 24 h after calving. Blood serum total protein and colostrum total solids content were determined using a Brix refractometer. Chemical analysis of colostrum was performed with Milkoscan. Univariate mixed linear models were used to estimate the heritability of calfSTP and cowSTP and their genetic and phenotypic correlations with colostrum traits. The heritability estimates of calfSTP and cowSTP were 0.21 and 0.20 (p < 0.05), respectively. Strong genetic correlations (r > 0.90) were detected between calfSTP and colostrum total solids and protein content (p < 0.05). Corresponding phenotypic correlations were 0.31–0.33 (p < 0.05). No genetic or phenotypic correlations were detected with colostrum fat content while the respective correlations with lactose were negative (−0.82 and −0.19, p < 0.05). No genetic correlations were detected between cowSTP and colostrum traits and only a low negative phenotypic one with lactose was detected. The results confirm that genetic selection aiming to improve the passive transfer of immunity in newborn calves and general fresh cow health would be feasible.
Optimization of the Equine-Sperm Freeze Test in Purebred Spanish Horses by Incorporating Colloidal Centrifugation
Authors: Gutiérrez-Cepeda Luna , Crespo Francisco , Blazquez Juan Carlos , Serres Consuelo
Published: January 2023

The Purebred Spanish Horse, according to our clinical experience, is characterized by having a high number of stallions that do not meet the international commercial recommendations for equine-sperm cryopreservation. This means that artificial insemination with frozen semen from these stallions is less widespread than in other breeds. In this study, we investigated if the incorporation of single-layer colloidal centrifugation prior to cryopreservation in clinical conditions could increase the number of ejaculates of Purebred Spanish stallions suitable for this processing, observing the influence of centrifugation and freezing extender protocol on post-thawed sperm motility. Using colloidal centrifugation, the percentage of ejaculates available to be frozen was increased from 35% (6/17) to 71% (12/17), doubling the number of samples that could have been subjected to cryopreservation. We only found significant differences in linearity (LIN) and lateral head displacement (ALH) after 5 min of incubation at 37 °C between colloidal and simple centrifugation processing techniques. No significant differences were found between the two different colloidal protocols in any of the variables considered. Colloidal centrifugation allowed us to obtain, from worse fresh-quality ejaculates, thawed sperm doses with similar quality to that of good-quality ejaculates. BotuCrio® produced, in general, higher motility parameters and its characteristics than the other extenders analyzed, with significant differences found in comparison to Inra-Freeze® and Lac-Edta in both total (MOT) and progressive motility (PMOT) when using colloidal centrifugation and only in PMOT when applying simple centrifugation. Colloidal centrifugation optimized the efficiency of cryopreservation, as it allowed us to increase the number of ejaculates of Purebred Spanish Horses suitable to be frozen. Including these semen processing techniques in the freeze test could help to optimize equine-sperm cryopreservation protocols, especially when dealing with individuals or breeds for which initially low sperm quality prevents or limits their inclusion in sperm cryopreservation programs.
Antioxidant, Alpha-Glucosidase Inhibition Activities, In Silico Molecular Docking and Pharmacokinetics Study of Phenolic Compounds from Native Australian Fruits and Spices
Authors: Ali Akhtar , Cottrell Jeremy J. , Dunshea Frank R.
Published: January 2023

Native Australian fruits and spices are enriched with beneficial phytochemicals, especially phenolic compounds, which are not fully elucidated. Therefore, this study aimed to analyze native Australian mountain-pepper berries (Tasmannia lanceolata), rosella (Hibiscus sabdariffa), lemon aspen (Acronychia acidula), and strawberry gum (Eucalyptus olida) for phenolic and non-phenolic metabolites and their antioxidant and alpha-glucosidase inhibition activities. Liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry–electrospray ionization coupled with quadrupole time of flight (LC-ESI-QTOF-MS/MS) was applied to elucidate the composition, identities, and quantities of bioactive phenolic metabolites in Australian native commercial fruits and spices. This study identified 143 phenolic compounds, including 31 phenolic acids, 70 flavonoids, 10 isoflavonoids, 7 tannins, 3 stilbenes, 7 lignans, 10 other compounds, and 5 limonoids. Strawberry gum was found to have the highest total phenolic content (TPC—36.57 ± 1.34 milligram gallic acid equivalent per gram (mg GAE/g), whereas lemon aspen contained the least TPC (4.40 ± 0.38 mg GAE/g). Moreover, strawberry gum and mountain pepper berries were found to have the highest antioxidant and anti-diabetic potential. In silico molecular docking and pharmacokinetics screening were also conducted to predict the potential of the most abundant phenolic compounds in these selected plants. A positive correlation was observed between phenolic contents and biological activities. This study will encourage further research to identify the nutraceutical and phytopharmaceutical potential of these native Australian fruits.
Phytochemical Profile and Biological Activities of Different Extracts of Three Parts of Paliurus spina-christi: A Linkage between Structure and Ability
Authors: Zengin Gokhan , Fernández-Ochoa Álvaro , Cádiz-Gurrea María de la Luz , Leyva-Jiménez Francisco Javier , Segura-Carretero Antonio , Elbasan Fevzi , Yildiztugay Evren , Malik Sumira , Khalid Asaad , Abdalla Ashraf N. , Fawzi Mahomoodally Mohamad
Published: January 2023

Paliurus spina-christi Mill., a member of the Rhamnaceae family, is a traditionally used medicinal plant in the management of a panoply of human ailments. The current research focused on its phytochemical profile and biological properties evaluated by its antioxidant and enzyme inhibitory properties. The methanol extract was found to be the most effective antioxidant as evidenced by its DPPH and ABTS scavenging activities, cupric and ferric reducing power (CUPRAC and FRAP), and high activity in phosphomolybdenum (PBD) assay, and also displayed the highest anti-tyrosinase activity. The n-hexane extract was the most effective AChE inhibitor (8.89 ± 0.08 mg GALAE/g) followed by the methanol (8.64 ± 0.01 mg GALAE/g) while the latter showed the highest BChE inhibition (2.50 ± 0.05 mg GALAE/g). Among the different solvent extracts of the stem, the methanolic extract showed highest antioxidant activity in the following assays: DPPH (909.88 ± 4.25 mg TE/g), ABTS (3358.33 ± 51.14 mg TE/g), CUPRAC (781.88 ± 16.37 mg TE/g), FRAP (996.70 ± 47.28 mg TE/g), and PBD (4.96 ± 0.26 mmol TE/g), while the dichloromethane extract showed the highest MCA (28.80 ± 0.32 mg EDTAE/g). The methanol extracts revealed the highest TPC and TFC among the different solvents used, and as for plant part, the stem extracts had the highest TPC ranging from 22.36 ± 0.26 to 121.78 ± 1.41 (mg GAE/g), while the leaf extracts showed the highest TFC ranging from 8.43 ± 0.03 to 75.36 ± 0.92 (mg RE/g). Our findings tend to provide additional scientific evidence on the biological and chemical activities of P. spina-christi, which may serve as a source of naturally occurring bioactive chemicals with potential biomedical applications.
Dynamics Analysis of a Variable Stiffness Tuned Mass Damper Enhanced by an Inerter
Authors: Xu Ke-Fan , Zhang Ye-Wei , Niu Mu-Qing , Chen Li-Qun
Published: January 2023

A tuned mass damper with variable stiffness can achieve vibration reduction without changing the resonant frequency, but the large mass limits its engineering applications. To overcome this drawback, a novel tuned mass damper is proposed with the stiffness adjusted by a PI controller and the mass block replaced by an inerter. The tuned mass damper is attached to a two-degrees-of-freedom primary structure, and the dynamic equations are established. The frequency responses are obtained from a harmonic balance method and verified by numerical simulations. With the mass block of the tuned mass damper replaced by an inerter, the additional weight is reduced by 99%, and the vibration reduction performances are improved, especially in large excitation conditions. The vibration reduction rate increases with larger negative stiffness ratio and larger inertance ratio, while unstable responses appear with the parameters exceeding the thresholds. The optimum negative stiffness ratio and inertance ratio are searched by a frequency change indicator, and the maximum vibration reduction rate can reach 87.09%. The impulse response analysis shows that the proposed tuned mass damper improves the energy absorption rate. The primary structure and the vibration absorber engage in 1:1, 1:2, and 1:3 internal resonance with different impulse amplitudes. This paper aims to promote and broaden the engineering applications of the variable stiffness system and the inerter.