bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Antioxidant Responses in Copepods Are Driven Primarily by Food Intake, Not by Toxin-Producing Cyanobacteria in the Diet
Authors: Gorokhova Elena , El-Shehawy Rehab
Published: January 2022

The association between oxidative processes and physiological responses has received much attention in ecotoxicity assessment. In the Baltic Sea, bloom-forming cyanobacterium Nodularia spumigena is a significant producer of various bioactive compounds, and both positive and adverse effects on grazers feeding in cyanobacteria blooms are reported. To elucidate the effect mechanisms and species sensitivity to the cyanobacteria-dominating diet, we exposed two Baltic copepods, Acartia bifilosa and Eurytemora affinis, to a diet consisting of toxin-producing cyanobacteria N. spumigena and a high-quality food Rhodomonas salina at 0–300 μg C L−1; the control food was R. salina provided as a monodiet at the same food levels. The subcellular responses to food type and availability were assayed using a suite of biomarkers – antioxidant enzymes [superoxide dismutases (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione S-transferases (GST)] and acetylcholinesterase (AChE). In parallel, we measured feeding activity using gut content (GC) assayed by real-time PCR analysis that quantified amounts of the prey DNA in copepod stomachs. As growth and reproduction endpoints, individual RNA content (a proxy for protein synthesis capacity), egg production rate (EPR), and egg viability (EV%) were used. In both toxic and nontoxic foods, copepod GC, RNA content, and EPR increased with food availability. Antioxidant enzyme activities increased with food availability regardless of the diet type. Moreover, CAT (both copepods), SOD, and GST (A. bifilosa) were upregulated in the copepods receiving cyanobacteria; the response was detectable when adjusted for the feeding and/or growth responses. By contrast, the diet effects were not significant when food concentration was used as a co-variable. A bimodal response in AChE was observed in A. bifilosa feeding on cyanobacteria, with up to 52% increase at the lower levels (5–25 μg C L−1) and 32% inhibition at the highest food concentrations. These findings contribute to the refinement of biomarker use for assessing environmental stress and mechanistic understanding of cyanobacteria effects in grazers. They also suggest that antioxidant and AChE responses to feeding activity and diet should be accounted for when using biomarker profiles in field-collected animals in the Baltic Sea and, perhaps other systems, where toxic cyanobacteria are common.
Integrated Analysis of miRNAs Associated With Sugarcane Responses to Low-Potassium Stress
Authors: Zhang Nannan , Feng Xiaomin , Zeng Qiaoying , Lin Huanzhang , Wu Zilin , Gao Xiaoning , Huang Yonghong , Wu Jiayun , Qi Yongwen
Published: January 2022

Sugarcane is among the most important global crops and a key bioenergy source. Sugarcane production is restricted by limited levels of available soil potassium (K+). The ability of plants to respond to stressors can be regulated by a range of microRNAs (miRNAs). However, there have been few studies regarding the roles of miRNAs in the regulation of sugarcane responses to K+-deficiency. To understand how these non-coding RNAs may influence sugarcane responses to low-K+ stress, we conducted expression profiling of miRNAs in sugarcane roots under low-K+ conditions via high-throughput sequencing. This approach led to the identification of 324 and 42 known and novel miRNAs, respectively, of which 36 were found to be differentially expressed miRNAs (DEMs) under low-K+ conditions. These results also suggested that miR156-x/z and miR171-x are involved in these responses as potential regulators of lateral root formation and the ethylene signaling pathway, respectively. A total of 705 putative targets of these DEMs were further identified through bioinformatics predictions and degradome analyses, and GO and KEGG enrichment analyses revealed these target mRNAs to be enriched for catalytic activity, binding functions, metabolic processes, plant hormone signal transduction, and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling. In summary, these data provide an overview of the roles of miRNAs in the regulation of sugarcane response to low-K+ conditions.
Outdoor Plant Segmentation With Deep Learning for High-Throughput Field Phenotyping on a Diverse Wheat Dataset
Authors: Zenkl Radek , Timofte Radu , Kirchgessner Norbert , Roth Lukas , Hund Andreas , Van Gool Luc , Walter Achim , Aasen Helge
Published: January 2022

Robust and automated segmentation of leaves and other backgrounds is a core prerequisite of most approaches in high-throughput field phenotyping. So far, the possibilities of deep learning approaches for this purpose have not been explored adequately, partly due to a lack of publicly available, appropriate datasets. This study presents a workflow based on DeepLab v3+ and on a diverse annotated dataset of 190 RGB (350 x 350 pixels) images. Images of winter wheat plants of 76 different genotypes and developmental stages have been acquired throughout multiple years at high resolution in outdoor conditions using nadir view, encompassing a wide range of imaging conditions. Inconsistencies of human annotators in complex images have been quantified, and metadata information of camera settings has been included. The proposed approach achieves an intersection over union (IoU) of 0.77 and 0.90 for plants and soil, respectively. This outperforms the benchmarked machine learning methods which use Support Vector Classifier and/or Random Forrest. The results show that a small but carefully chosen and annotated set of images can provide a good basis for a powerful segmentation pipeline. Compared to earlier methods based on machine learning, the proposed method achieves better performance on the selected dataset in spite of using a deep learning approach with limited data. Increasing the amount of publicly available data with high human agreement on annotations and further development of deep neural network architectures will provide high potential for robust field-based plant segmentation in the near future. This, in turn, will be a cornerstone of data-driven improvement in crop breeding and agricultural practices of global benefit.
Synergy of Effectuation and Causation: An Emotional Complexity Perspective
Authors: Chen Huangen , Xu Qian
Published: January 2022

This study enriches the literature on entrepreneurial decisions by investigating the antecedents of the synergetic use of causal and effectual logic. Based on entrepreneurial metacognition and emotional complexity theories, we argued that the emotional complexity of an entrepreneur, referred to as the granular experience of, or variety in, experienced emotions during the entrepreneurial task, would contribute to the synergetic use of decision logic. With survey data gathered from 218 Chinese entrepreneurs, we found that entrepreneurs with higher emotional complexity are more likely to adopt two types of entrepreneurial logic in tandem, and cognitive flexibility mediates this positive relationship. Thereby, this study helps to unravel some of the complexities behind the choice of decision logic of entrepreneurs.
Deflation-Corrected Estimators of Reliability
Authors: Metsämuuronen Jari
Published: January 2022

Underestimation of reliability is discussed from the viewpoint of deflation in estimates of reliability caused by artificial systematic technical or mechanical error in the estimates of correlation (MEC). Most traditional estimators of reliability embed product–moment correlation coefficient (PMC) in the form of item–score correlation (Rit) or principal component or factor loading (λi). PMC is known to be severely affected by several sources of deflation such as the difficulty level of the item and discrepancy of the scales of the variables of interest and, hence, the estimates by Rit and λi are always deflated in the settings related to estimating reliability. As a short-cut to deflation-corrected estimators of reliability, this article suggests a procedure where Rit and λi in the estimators of reliability are replaced by alternative estimators of correlation that are less deflated. These estimators are called deflation-corrected estimators of reliability (DCER). Several families of DCERs are proposed and their behavior is studied by using polychoric correlation coefficient, Goodman–Kruskal gamma, and Somers delta as examples of MEC-corrected coefficients of correlation.
The Influence of Cognitive Biases and Financial Factors on Forecast Accuracy of Analysts
Authors: Nardi Paula Carolina Ciampaglia , Ribeiro Evandro Marcos Saidel , Bueno José Lino Oliveira , Aggarwal Ishani
Published: January 2022

The objective of this study was to jointly analyze the importance of cognitive and financial factors in the accuracy of profit forecasting by analysts. Data from publicly traded Brazilian companies in 2019 were obtained. We used text analysis to assess the cognitive biases from the qualitative reports of analysts. Further, we analyzed the data using statistical regression learning methods and statistical classification learning methods, such as Multiple Linear Regression (MRL),k-dependence Bayesian (k-DB), and Random Forest (RF). The Bayesian inference and classification methods allow an expansion of the research line, especially in the area of machine learning, which can benefit from the examples of factors addressed in this research. The results indicated that, among cognitive biases, optimism had a negative relationship with forecasting accuracy while anchoring bias had a positive relationship. Commonality, to a lesser extent, also had a positive relationship with the analyst’s accuracy. Among financial factors, the most important aspects in the accuracy of analysts were volatility, indebtedness, and profitability. Age of the company, fair value, American Depositary Receipts (ADRs), performance, and loss were still important but on a smaller scale. The results of the RF models showed a greater explanatory power. This research sheds light on the cognitive as well as financial aspects that influence the analyst’s accuracy, jointly using text analysis and machine learning methods, capable of improving the explanatory power of predictive models, together with the use of training models followed by testing.
Development and Psychometric Evaluation of the Gender Identity Scale for Transgender Women in China
Authors: Han Meng , Pan Bailin , Wang Yuanyuan , Wilson Amanda , Chen Runsen , Wu Rengang
Published: January 2022

Transgender women are an important subgroup of the transgender umbrella and have their own unique gender identity. This article aimed to understand and measure the latent concept of gender identity among Chinese transgender women from a multi-dimensional perspective. Through a two-phase, iterative scale development process, we developed the Gender Identity Scale for Transgender Women (GIS-TW) in Chinese. Literature reviews, expert consultations, and focus groups constitute phrase 1 of the study, which resulted in the first version of GIS-TW with 30 items. In phrase 2, exploratory factor analysis on a sample of 244 Chinese transgender women revealed a six-factor solution across the 22 items. The Bem Sex Role Inventory was included to test for convergent validity, and the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale was used to test discriminant validity. Then we conducted the confirmatory factor analysis with an independent sample of 420 Chinese transgender women, which produced the final version of GIS-TW with 21 items. The internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.71–0.87) and test-retest stability (r = 0.73–0.87) of each factor was good. In conclusion, the GIS-TW is a reliable and valid psychometric tool for the assessment of Chinese transgender women’s gender identity. Future application of the scale will help transgender women obtain better gender confirmative interventions.
The Role of EFL Teachers' Self-Efficacy and Emotional Resilience in Appraisal of Learners' Success
Authors: Xue Yuxiu
Published: January 2022

Different elements in education should be taken into account in the development of education which affects learners' success. Educators are one of the main elements of any educational program, primarily in mainstream education, and there is considerable research recognizing this and the fact that educators have a significant effect on learners' success. Therefore, education can be enhanced simply by enhancing educators' effectiveness. Moreover, because of the importance of educators' factors, many researchers have emphasized educator attributes over the last 20 years. In an attempt to better explain the interaction between educator-related concepts in the setting of English as a Foreign Language (EFL), educator self-efficacy has a significant impact on the educators' everyday lives as well as on their learners and is regarded as an important factor in successful education and instruction. Furthermore, as one of the characteristics, teacher resilience is a multifaceted and developmental concept that has newly captured the interest of some scholars, specifically in the last 20 years, allowing educators not only to face difficult situations to survive but also to recover and prosper. To this end, the current review tries to emphasize these two significant factors in regulating learners' success. Corresponding to this review, some suggestions for further research are provided and pedagogical implications are proposed.
Motivations and Experiences of Volunteering Medical Students in the COVID-19 Pandemic—Results of a Survey in Germany
Authors: Büssing Arndt , Lindeberg Alexander , Stock-Schröer Beate , Martin David , Scheffer Christian , Bachmann Hagen S.
Published: January 2022

Introduction: During the first lockdown of the COVID-19 pandemic, several medical students volunteered as assistants in hospitals, public health departments, and other healthcare services to support and substitute permanent staff. The underlying motivations to help are unclear. Therefore, we aimed to assess medical students' motivations and influencing variables such as perceived stress and burden, compassion, and indicators of spirituality.

Materials and Methods: Cross-sectional survey (convenience sample) from May to June 2020, directly after the first lockdown, among medical students with standardized instruments. One of them is the 12-item Motivations to Help Scale (MtHS) which was designed to fit to the population of medical students.

Results: Among the 731 completers, 52% were working as volunteers during the pandemic in different medical areas, most in hospitals and only a few in other areas (9% in public health departments, 6% in outpatient services), 37% would have liked to work but did not get an appropriate employment, and 21% did not intend to voluntarily support the hospital staff. Their mental burden during work was rather low, while they were somewhat affected by the personal fate of the patients. With respect to their motivations to volunteer as measured with the MtHS, Altruistic Intentions/Helping (Cronbach's alpha = 0.898) scored highest, followed by Practical Application/Learning (Cronbach's alpha = 0.808), while Role Testing/Recognition (Cronbach's alpha = 0.702) scored lowest. Those who volunteered had significantly higher scores for Altruistic Intentions/Helping and Practical Application/Learning, while the different phases of medical study (preclinical phase, clinical phase, and higher semester) had no influence on the extent of the students' motivation. The motivations to help were not at all or only marginally (inversely) related to indicators of stress and burden, while Altruistic Intentions/Helping was weakly related to affections by patients' fate.

Conclusions: Medical students' intention to support healthcare professionals as supplementary assistants were both prosocial and proself motivated. With this opportunity to practically apply their current knowledge and to improve their skills and competences, volunteering students might be more motivated for their further studies and their future career as compassionate medical doctors.
Estimating the Effects of Public Health Measures by SEIR(MH) Model of COVID-19 Epidemic in Local Geographic Areas
Authors: Qiu Tianyi , Xiao Han , Brusic Vladimir
Published: January 2022

The COVID-19 pandemic of 2020–21 has been a major challenge to public health systems worldwide. Mathematical models of epidemic are useful tools for assessment of the situation and for providing decision-making support for relevant authorities. We developed and implemented SEIR(MH) model that extends the conventional SEIR model with parameters that define public lockdown (the level and start of lockdown) and the medical system capacity to contain patients. Comparative modeling of four regions in Europe that have similar population sizes and age structures, but different public health systems, was performed: Baden-Württemberg, Lombardy, Belgium, and Switzerland. Modeling suggests that the most effective measure for controlling epidemic is early lockdown (exponential effect), followed by the number of available hospital beds (linear effect if the capacity is insufficient, with diminishing returns when the capacity is sufficient). Dynamic management of lockdown levels is likely to produce better outcomes than strict lockdown.
Case Report: Next-Generation Sequencing in Diagnosis of Atypical Aspiration Pneumonia
Authors: Zhang Quan , Xu Wei , Peng Fei , Lei Si , Zhong Yanjun , Yi Jun , Wu Shangjie
Published: January 2022

Since the pandemic of Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), especially in the centers most affected, the symptoms such as fever, cough, myalgia or fatigue, and radioactive signs typically related to COVID-19 like ground-glass opacity (GGO) often distract the attention of physicians from other diseases. Aspiration pneumonia and COVID-19 share similarities in some aspects. There may be risk of misdiagnosis in the case of considering radiological patterns of pneumonia. Early diagnosis and treatment often greatly improve prognosis. We herein reported a case of 40-year-old patient who underwent chest CT scan with the discovery of ground-glass opacity, intralobular reticular opacity and interlobular septal thickening, consolidation, and air bronchogram sign, which were mainly located in the middle and upper lobes of the right lung. It was considered to be infection related pneumonia based on the negative reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR) result of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The next-generation sequencing (NGS) of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) was performed and detected nucleic acid sequences of Klebsiella sp. Consequently, the patient accepted sensitive intravenous antibiotics therapy for 13 days and had a remarkable clinical and radiological improvement. His case was followed up through imaging procedures. Because of possible radiologic and clinical similarities between aspiration and COVID-19 pneumonia, COVID-19 can be of some value in proposing a differential diagnosis of aspiration pneumonia. Clinicians could suggest a correct diagnosis by careful examination of the CT images together with attention to the clinical history and judicious utilization of NGS, especially.
Identification of COM Controller of a Human in Stance Based on Motion Measurement and Phase-Space Analysis
Authors: Sugihara Tomomichi , Kaneta Daishi , Murai Nobuyuki
Published: January 2022

This article proposes a process to identify the standing stabilizer, namely, the controller in humans to keep upright posture stable against perturbations. We model the controller as a piecewise-linear feedback system, where the state of the center of mass (COM) is regulated by coordinating the whole body so as to locate the zero-moment point (ZMP) at the desired position. This was developed for humanoid robots and is possibly able to elaborate the fundamental control scheme used by humans to stabilize themselves. Difficulties lie on how to collect motion trajectories in a wide area of the state space for reliable identification and how to identify the piecewise-affine dynamical system. For the former problem, a motion measurement protocol is devised based on the theoretical phase portrait of the system. Regarding the latter problem, some clustering techniques including K-means method and EM (Expectation-and-Maximization) algorithm were examined. We found that a modified K-means method produced the most accurate result in this study. The method was applied to the identification of a lateral standing controller of a human subject. The result of the identification quantitatively supported a hypothesis that the COM-ZMP regulator reasonably models the human’s controller when deviations of the angular momentum about the COM are limited.
Discovery Of A Bone In Chimpanzee Hearts
Authors: Sturrock Craig J. , Stanford Kelly , Moittie Sophie , Baiker Kerstin , Redrobe Sharon , Rutland Catrin Sian
Published: January 2022

The os cordis (heart bone) is a rare bone found only in a few animals in the world. We discovered an os cordis in some chimpanzees. The os cordis was found in males and females, and in young and old animals. It was not present in chimps with healthy hearts, only in those with severe heart disease. We also discovered that a tissue called cartilage was present around the bone. The presence of cartilage gives us clues about how and why these rare bones develop.
A Review of Observations of Molecular Ions in the Earth’s Magnetosphere-Ionosphere System
Authors: Lin Mei-Yun , Ilie Raluca
Published: January 2022

Ionospheric molecular ions, such as NO+, N2+ and O2+, are gravitationally bound, and are expected to undergo recombination to form a pair of neutral atoms, due to short dissociative recombination lifetime. Therefore, they are expected to be relatively cold in the Earth’s atmosphere, compared with light ions such as H+ and He+, or even heavier ions such as N+ or O+. However, several spacecraft missions observed their presence in the high-altitude ionosphere and the magnetosphere, predominantly during the geomagnetically active times. This hints to the possibility that molecular ions have the ability to acquire sufficient energy in a very short time, and can be used as tracers of mass differentiated vertical transport to understand the mechanisms responsible for “fast ionospheric outflow.” In this letter, we review the observational data sets that reported on the abundances of molecular ions in the Earth’s magnetosphere-ionosphere system, starting from their first observations by the Sputnik III mission, to the current Arase (ERG) satellite and Enhanced Polar Outflow Probe (e-POP) missions. The available data suggests that molecular ions are quite abundant in the lower atmosphere at all times, but are only seen in the high-altitude ionosphere and magnetosphere during the times of increased geomagnetic activity.
Optimal Design of Multimissile Formation Based on an Adaptive SA-PSO Algorithm
Authors: Liu Shuangxi , Huang Fengping , Yan Binbin , Zhang Tong , Liu Ruifan , Liu Wei
Published: January 2022

In an effort to maximize the combat effectiveness of multimissile groups, this paper proposes an adaptive simulated annealing–particle swarm optimization (SA-PSO) algorithm to enhance the design parameters of multimissile formations based on the concept of missile cooperative engagement. Firstly, considering actual battlefield circumstances, we establish an effectiveness evaluation index system for the cooperative engagement of missile formations based on the analytic hierarchy process (AHP). In doing so, we adopt a partial triangular fuzzy number method based on authoritative assessments by experts to ascertain the weight of each index. Then, considering given constraints on missile performance, by selecting the relative distances and angles of the leader and follower missiles as formation parameters, we design a fitness function corresponding to the established index system. Finally, we introduce an adaptive capability into the traditional particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm and propose an adaptive SA-PSO algorithm based on the simulated annealing (SA) algorithm to calculate the optimal formation parameters. A simulation example is presented for the scenario of optimizing the formation parameters of three missiles, and comparative experiments conducted with the traditional and adaptive PSO algorithms are reported. The simulation results indicate that the proposed adaptive SA-PSO algorithm converges faster than both the traditional and adaptive PSO algorithms and can quickly and effectively solve the multimissile formation optimization problem while ensuring that the optimized formation satisfies the given performance constraints.
Identification of Grain Size-Related QTLs in Korean japonica Rice Using Genome Resequencing and High-Throughput Image Analysis
Authors: Shin Yunji , Won Yong Jae , Lee Chaewon , Cheon Kyeong-Seong , Oh Hyoja , Lee Gang-Seob , Baek Jeongho , Yoon In Sun , Kim Song Lim , Cha Young-Soon , Kim Kyung-Hwan , Ji Hyeonso
Published: January 2022

Grain size is a key factor influencing the grain yield in rice. To identify the as-yet-unknown genes regulating grain size in Korean japonica rice, we developed a recombinant inbred line population (n = 162) from a cross between Odae (large-grain) and Joun (small-grain), and measured six traits including the thousand-grain weights of unhulled and hulled seeds, grain area, grain length, grain width and grain length-to-width ratio using high-throughput image analysis at the F8 and F9 generations. A genetic map was constructed using 248 kompetitive allele-specific PCR (KASP) markers that were polymorphic between the parental genotypes, and 29 QTLs affecting the six traits were identified, of which 15 were stable in both F8 and F9 generations. Notably, three QTL clusters affecting multiple traits were detected on chromosomes 6, 7 and 11. We analyzed whole-genome resequencing data of Odae and Joun, and selected candidate genes for the stable QTLs in the identified clusters that have high- or moderate-impact variations between Odae and Joun and encode proteins the families of which have been reported to be related to grain size regulation. These results will facilitate the identification of genes underlying the QTLs and promote molecular breeding of high-yielding Korean japonica rice varieties.
A Polysaccharide of Ganoderma lucidum Enhances Antifungal Activity of Chemical Fungicides against Soil-Borne Diseases of Wheat and Maize by Induced Resistance
Authors: Yang Xiu , Sun Shoumin , Chen Qiqi , Zhang Zhongxiao , Wang Jie , Liu Yali , Wang Hongyan
Published: January 2022

Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharide (GLP), which is the primary active ingredient in G. lucidum, has been widely used in functional food and clinical medicine. However, it is rarely reported in the prevention and control of plant diseases. In this study, we found that the GLP can increase the germination rates and seedling heights of maize and wheat. We also found that the combination of GLP and chemical fungicides as a seed coating chemical compound has a control effect of more than 75% on the primary soil-borne diseases of the wheat and maize growing areas in both greenhouse and field trials. Furthermore, the combination of GLP and chemical fungicides prolongs the lasting period and reduces the application dosage of the chemical fungicides by half. In addition, GLP seed dressing could increase the resistance-related gene expression of the TPS and WRKY53 in maize and WMS533, NbPR1a, and RS33 in wheat. The combination of GLP and low-dose chemical fungicides proved to be an effective way to effectively prevent wheat sharp eyespot, root rot, and maize stalk rot in the wheat and maize continuous cropping areas in the North China Plain and to reduce pesticide use and increase crop yield.
Boot Swabs to Evaluate Cleaning and Disinfection Success in Poultry Barns
Authors: Mateus-Vargas Rafael H. , Butenholz Kira , Volkmann Nina , Sürie Christian , Kemper Nicole , Schulz Jochen
Published: January 2022

Due to the relevance of cleaning and disinfection in farm hygiene management, accurate evaluation of the success of such procedures remains a fundamental challenge for producers. This study aimed to use boot swab sampling to quantify the effects of such practices in poultry barns. For this purpose, the counts of both the total and fecal indicator bacteria were detected after the application of a cleaning and disinfection protocol in identical barns that were occupied by turkeys and broilers. Boot swab samples were compared to an established agar contact plating method to evaluate disinfection success. Statistical analyses showed no correlations between the bacterial counts that were obtained with either method. In contrast to the agar contact plating method, boot swab sampling permitted the assessment of the hygienic conditions of the barn floors before and after cleaning procedures. Furthermore, according to observations with the boot swab method, factors related to the species being farmed influenced the initial bacterial loads but did not affect the effectiveness of cleaning and disinfection. Species identification by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF) also suggested that non-fecal bacteria grow on selective media. Further studies should validate the use of this sampling technique by comparing different cleaning and disinfection protocols.
Interaction and Coupling Mechanism between Recessive Land Use Transition and Food Security: A Case Study of the Yellow River Basin in China
Authors: Yin Dengyu , Yu Haochen , Ma Jing , Liu Junna , Liu Gangjun , Chen Fu
Published: January 2022

The Yellow River Basin (YRB) plays an important role in China’s socioeconomic development and ecological security. From the perspective of recessive land use transition (RLUT), exploring the watershed food security (FS) coordination mechanism is of strategic significance to territorial space optimization and high-quality development. To this end, a coordinated evaluation system was built for analyzing the coupling coordination degree (CCD), spatiotemporal evolution characteristics, and driving mechanism between RLUT and FS of 74 cities in the YRB from 2003 to 2018, using methods such as the coupling coordination degree model, spatial autocorrelation analysis, and the geo-detector model. The results are as follows: (1) Spatial imbalance of RLUT and FS in the YRB is significant. RLUT has significant differences between east and west, and FS has significant differences between north and south. (2) From 2003 to 2018, the CCD between RLUT and FS increased from 0.6028 to 0.6148, maintaining a steady upward trend, and the cold and hot characteristics of spatial agglomeration are significant. (3) The CCD between RLUT and FS depends on population density, average annual temperature, and average elevation. The driving effect of natural factors is higher than the socioeconomic factors on the total basin scale, but the opposite is true on the sub-basin scale. Clarifying the spatiotemporal pattern, characteristics, and mechanism of the coupling and the coordination of RLUT and FS can provide a scientific basis for territorial space planning.
Rice (Oryza sativa L.) Growth Modeling Based on Growth Degree Day (GDD) and Artificial Intelligence Algorithms
Authors: Liu Li-Wei , Lu Chun-Tang , Wang Yu-Min , Lin Kuan-Hui , Ma Xingmao , Lin Wen-Shin
Published: January 2022

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) growth prediction is key for precise rice production. However, the traditional linear rice growth forecasting model is ineffective under rapidly changing climate conditions. Here we show that growth rate (Gr) can be well-predicted by artificial intelligence (AI)-based artificial neural networks (ANN) and gene-expression programming (GEP), with accumulated air temperatures based on growth degree day (GDD). In total, 10,246 Gr from 95 cultivations were obtained with three cultivars, TK9, TNG71, and KH147, in Central and Southern Taiwan. The model performance was evaluated by the Pearson correlation coefficient (r), root mean square error (RMSE), and relative RMSE (r-RMSE) in the whole growth period (lifecycle), as well as the average and specific key stages (transplanting, 50% initial tillering, panicle initiation, 50% heading, and physiological maturity). The results in lifecycle Gr modeling showed that ANN and GEP models had comparable r (0.9893), but the GEP model had the lowest RMSE (3.83 days) and r-RMSE (7.24%). In stage average and specific key stages, each model has its own best-fit growth period. Overall, GEP model is recommended for rice growth prediction considering the model performance, applicability, and routine farming work. This study may lead to smart rice production due to the enhanced capacity to predict rice growth in the field.
Isolation and Identification of Lipopeptide-Producing Bacillus velezensis Strains from Wheat Phyllosphere with Antifungal Activity against the Wheat Pathogen Zymoseptoria tritici
Authors: Platel Rémi , Sawicki Mélodie , Esmaeel Qassim , Randoux Béatrice , Trapet Pauline , El Guilli Mohammed , Chtaina Noureddine , Arnauld Ségolène , Bricout Alexandre , Rochex Alice , Bourdon Natacha , Halama Patrice , Jacquard Cédric , Barka Essaid Ait , Reignault Philippe , Magnin-Robert Maryline , Siah Ali
Published: January 2022

Septoria tritici blotch, caused by the fungal pathogen Zymoseptoria tritici, is a highly significant disease on wheat crops worldwide. The objective of the present study was to find out new bacterial strains with bio-antimicrobial activity against Z. tritici. Two phyllospheric bacteria (S1 and S6) were isolated from wheat ears and identified as Bacillus velezensis strains according to 16S rRNA Sanger sequencing. Antagonistic assays performed with either living strains or cell-free culture filtrates showed significant in vitro antifungal activities against Z. tritici. For the culture filtrates, the half-maximal inhibitory dilution and the minimal inhibitory dilution were 1.4% and 3.7% for the strain S1, and 7.4% and 15% for the strain S6, respectively. MALDI—ToF analysis revealed that both strains synthesize cyclic lipopeptides but from different families. Interestingly, only strain S1 produces putative bacillomycin D. Such differential lipopeptide production patterns might explain the difference observed between the antifungal activity of the culture filtrates of the two strains. This study allows the identification of new lipopeptide-producing strains of B. velezensis with a high potential of application for the biocontrol of Z. tritici.
Seasonal, Landscape, and Attractant Effects on Lesser Grain Borer, Rhyzopertha dominica (F.), Captures in Northeast Kansas
Authors: Scheff Deanna S. , Campbell James F. , Arthur Franklin H.
Published: January 2022

The lesser grain borer, Rhyzopertha dominica (F.), is a highly diverse feeder and widely distributed throughout the United States in agricultural and non-agricultural landscapes. Six four-funnel Lindgren traps were deployed in feed mill, grain elevator, and native prairie landscapes, to determine the most attractive food and pheromone combination (attractant) and patterns in seasonal captures. Traps were baited with combinations of wheat (crimped, high moisture, pre-fed) with or without an R. dominica specific aggregation pheromone in 2017 and 2018. Traps were deployed for 48 h, collected, and the number of R. dominica counted. Rhyzopertha dominica was captured among all landscapes with all attractants. There was a significant correlation between temperature and R. dominica captures, with peak captures occurring during the warmest months. Significantly more R. dominica adults were captured in traps containing the pheromone. In 2017, pheromone traps captured 818% more R. dominica and 543% more than in 2018. The pheromone component in the trap was more attractive than any natural stored wheat condition and should be included in future studies. Understanding the seasonal patterns and changes in capture rates in agricultural and non-agricultural landscapes may be useful in determining times of increased immigration pressure into the newly harvested grain.
Effects of Two Varieties and Fertilization Regimes on Growth, Fruit, and Silymarin Yield of Milk Thistle Crop
Authors: Liava Vasiliki , Karkanis Anestis , Danalatos Nicholaos , Tsiropoulos Nikolaos
Published: January 2022

Milk thistle is an alternative crop to winter cereals for southern Europe as this species is drought tolerant and its fruits contain silymarin. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of two varieties and fertilization regimes (sheep manure and inorganic fertilizer) on crop productivity. A two-factor experiment was conducted in a randomized split-plot design with three replicates. The varieties were Palaionterveno and Spata, while the fertilization treatments were control, sheep manure, and calcium ammonium nitrate applied at 75 and 125 kg N ha−1. Variety and fertilization significantly affected plants development and productivity, as well as oil and silymarin yield. The use of manure and inorganic nitrogen fertilizer increased rosette diameter, oil and silymarin yield, above-ground biomass, and fruit yield. The influence of inorganic fertilization, regardless of the application dose, was more apparent than organic fertilization. Moreover, variety significantly affected plants growth and silymarin content, as well as silymarin composition. The variety Spata had the greatest silymarin content, reaching 4.40%, and a high silybin B concentration. In conclusion, the selection of a suitable variety is important for achieving high fruit and silymarin yields, while inorganic nitrogen fertilization can maximize the productivity of the milk thistle crop.
Molecular Authentication, Propagation Trials and Field Establishment of Greek Native Genotypes of Sambucus nigra L. (Caprifoliaceae): Setting the Basis for Domestication and Sustainable Utilization
Authors: Karapatzak Eleftherios , Dichala Olga , Ganopoulos Ioannis , Karydas Antonis , Papanastasi Katerina , Kyrkas Dimitris , Yfanti Paraskevi , Nikisianis Nikos , Fotakis Dimitrios , Patakioutas Giorgos , Maloupa Eleni , Krigas Nikos
Published: January 2022

In the context of sustainable utilisation of valuable but neglected plant resources, a multifaceted study is presented herein for Greek native genotypes of elderberry (Sambucus nigra L., Caprifoliaceae), a species with an appreciated pharmaceutical and nutritional value. At the first phase, fresh plant materials (leaves, softwood cuttings) were collected from nine geographically separated genotypes originating from wild-growing Greek native germplasm of S. nigra. The leaf samples were genetically authenticated using DNA barcoding (ITS2). The next phase included the development of an asexual propagation protocol via cuttings which included screening of the collected genotypes in terms of propagation success, and further experimentation over a two-year period on a prioritised genotype. The propagation results highlighted the importance of external application of indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) rooting hormone at levels of 2000–4000 ppm, which consistently presented high rooting rates (100%) of summer softwood, leafy cuttings of apical or sub-apical type. At the same time, rooting quality in terms of root number and length as well as early plant growth after rooting, were improved by external hormone application resulting in high rates of plant survival. This study reports first-time data on multifaceted assessment of Greek native S. nigra genotypes on molecular authentication and asexual propagation, thus ultimately setting the basis for domestication and sustainable utilization of this species.
Cultivation of Edible Tropical Bolete, Phlebopus spongiosus, in Thailand and Yield Improvement by High-Voltage Pulsed Stimulation
Authors: Kumla Jaturong , Suwannarach Nakarin , Lumyong Saisamorn
Published: January 2022

Tropical bolete, Phlebopus spongiosus, is an edible ectomycorrhizal mushroom indigenous to northern Thailand. This mushroom has the ability to produce fruiting bodies without the need for a host plant. In this study, the technological cultivation of P. spongiosus was developed. Cultivation experiments indicated that fungal mycelia could completely colonize the cultivation substrate over a period of 85–90 days following inoculation of liquid inoculum. Primordia were induced under lower temperatures, high humidity and a 12-h photoperiod. Mature fruiting bodies were developed from young fruiting bodies within a period of one week. Consequently, yield improvement of P. spongiosus cultivation was determined by high-voltage pulsed stimulation. The results indicated that the highest degree of primordial formation, number of mature fruiting bodies and total weight values were obtained in cultivation experiments involving a high voltage of 40 kV. The total weight of the mushrooms increased by 1.4 times after applying high-voltage pulses when compared with the control. Additionally, the results revealed that the size of the fruiting body and the proximate composition of the fruiting bodies from high-voltage stimulation treatments were not different from the control. This research provides valuable information concerning successful cultivation techniques and yield improvement by high-voltage pulsed stimulation for the large-scale commercial fruiting body production of P. spongiosus.
Effects of Litter Size and Parity on Farrowing Duration of Landrace × Yorkshire Sows
Authors: Ju Mingming , Wang Xiaonv , Li Xinjian , Zhang Menghao , Shi Lidan , Hu Panyang , Zhang Ben , Han Xuelei , Wang Kejun , Li Xiuling , Zhou Lisheng , Qiao Ruimin
Published: January 2022

Litter size has increased and farrowing duration has also prolonged in recent years. The aim of this study was to analyze the effect of litter size and parity on farrowing duration (FAR) to estimate the possibility of selecting a short farrowing duration. We recorded 32,200 parturitions of 8420 Landrace × Yorkshire sows, determined farrowing duration, litter size, parity, gestation length. Results showed that total number of born (TNB) and parity obeyed a cubic (p = 0.0004, p = 0.004) relationship while number born alive (NBA) and number born dead (NBD) obeyed a linear (p = 0.0239, p = 0.0035) relationship with FAR. Gestation length obeyed a linear (p = 0.02) relationship with FAR. FAR of sows with stillbirth was longer than that of sows without stillbirth. Stillbirth rate increased rapidly from about 2% to 4%, especially when FAR was over 240 min. FAR gradually prolonged with the parities. FAR of 7th parity sows was longer than that of 1st~6th parity sows (p < 0.05), but different parity sows had little difference in the same FAR interval except for gilts. Results indicated it was possible and necessary to consider FAR into pig breeding without worrying about decreasing of live litter size or negative effect of parity if FAR was shorter than 300 min.
Retinol and α-Tocopherol Contents, Fat Color, and Lipid Oxidation as Traceability Tools of the Feeding System in Suckling Payoya Kids
Authors: Roncero-Díaz Mercedes , Panea Begoña , Córdoba María de Guía , Argüello Anastasio , Alcalde María J.
Published: January 2022

The effects of Payoya kid feeding systems on the fat-soluble vitamin (retinol/α-tocopherol) contents, fat content, fat color, and the oxidation index were evaluated to determine their potential for use as feeding system traceability tools. Four groups of Payoya kids (55 animals in total) fed milk exclusively were studied: a group fed a milk replacer (MR) and three groups fed natural milk from dams reared with different management systems (mountain grazing (MG), cultivated meadow (CM) and total mixed ration (TMR)). Kids were slaughtered around one month of age and 8 kg of live weight. Kids from the MG and CM groups presented lower retinol (5.56 and 3.72 µg/mL) and higher α-tocopherol plasma (11.43 and 8.85 µg/mL) concentrations than those from the TMR and MR groups (14.98 and 22.47 µg/mL of retinol; 2.49 and 0.52 µg/mL of α-tocopherol, respectively) (p < 0.001). With respect to fat, kids with a higher intramuscular fat percentage (CM and TMR groups) had lower retinol contents (16.52 and 15.99 µg/mL, respectively) than kids from the MG and MR groups (26.81 and 22.63 µg/mL, respectively) (p < 0.001). A dilution effect of vitamins on fat was shown: the higher the amount of fat, the lower the vitamin concentrations, the higher the lipid oxidation index (MDA), and the lower the SUM (absolute value of the integral of the translated spectra between 450 and 510 nm). A discriminant analysis that included all studied variables showed that 94.4% of the kids were classified correctly according to their feeding system and could allow traceability to the consumer.
Dog Ecology and Demographics in Several Areas in the Philippines and Its Application to Anti-Rabies Vaccination Programs
Authors: Chaudhari Amit , Kartal Tamara , Brill George , Amano Kazami Joanne , Lagayan Maria Glofezita , Jorca Daphne
Published: January 2022

Understanding dog population dynamics plays a vital role in planning both rabies and dog management interventions. Establishing a human to dog ratio and an understanding how the urban/rural nature of the community might affect the overall dog population estimate provides an easy-to-use reference to estimate approximate dog populations in a range of communities. A total of 10,664 households were interviewed in 10 locations in the Philippines (2017 and 2018) to understand the dog population variations among the urban, semi-urban and rural areas. Epicollect5 and OSM tracker applications were used to conduct household interviews using a predesigned fixed set of questions. All answers were recorded directly using mobile phone applications. The survey results showed that for every 1000 humans, there are 256.3 dogs in rural areas, 213.8 dogs in semi-rural areas, 208.7 dogs in urban areas and 170.0 dogs on small islands of the Philippines. We estimate a total dog population in the Philippines of 23.29 million dogs (CI 95%, 22.51–24.07 million). Based on the survey findings from Quezon City and Cebu City, targets, resources allocations and vaccination approach were adjusted for the anti-rabies vaccination program at two locations in 2018, which lead to a 3- to 4-fold increase in the total number of dogs vaccinated in each city compared to previous years.
Transient Receptor Potential (TRP) and Thermoregulation in Animals: Structural Biology and Neurophysiological Aspects
Authors: Lezama-García Karina , Mota-Rojas Daniel , Pereira Alfredo M. F. , Martínez-Burnes Julio , Ghezzi Marcelo , Domínguez Adriana , Gómez Jocelyn , de Mira Geraldo Ana , Lendez Pamela , Hernández-Ávalos Ismael , Falcón Isabel , Olmos-Hernández Adriana , Wang Dehua
Published: January 2022

This review presents and analyzes recent scientific findings on the structure, physiology, and neurotransmission mechanisms of transient receptor potential (TRP) and their function in the thermoregulation of mammals. The aim is to better understand the functionality of these receptors and their role in maintaining the temperature of animals, or those susceptible to thermal stress. The majority of peripheral receptors are TRP cation channels formed from transmembrane proteins that function as transductors through changes in the membrane potential. TRP are classified into seven families and two groups. The data gathered for this review include controversial aspects because we do not fully know the mechanisms that operate the opening and closing of the TRP gates. Deductions, however, suggest the intervention of mechanisms related to G protein-coupled receptors, dephosphorylation, and ligands. Several questions emerge from the review as well. For example, the future uses of these data for controlling thermoregulatory disorders and the invitation to researchers to conduct more extensive studies to broaden our understanding of these mechanisms and achieve substantial advances in controlling fever, hyperthermia, and hypothermia.