bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Diazepam nasal spray administration is effective to control seizure clusters irrespective of time of day
Authors: Liow Kore , Wheless James W. , Cook David F. , Rabinowicz Adrian L. , Carrazana Enrique
Published: May 2024

Introduction

Neurologic circadian influences, including sleep/wake transitions, processes (e.g., hormonal variation), and behavioral patterns (e.g., consumption of food and oral medications), may affect seizure patterns. Specific circadian patterns of seizures have been reported depending on type, onset location, and severity; however, data on patterns for patients with seizure clusters and effectiveness of rescue therapy by time of day are limited.

Methods

We conducted post hoc analyses using patient diary data from the phase 3 safety study of diazepam nasal spray, which is indicated for acute treatment of seizure clusters in patients with epilepsy aged ≥6 years. Patients were administered age- and weight-based doses; second doses could be administered if needed to control a seizure cluster. We assessed clock timing of seizure-cluster onset along with second-dose use as a proxy for effectiveness. Treatment-emergent adverse events were recorded.

Results

Seizure-cluster onset was observed to be generally highest during mornings and late evenings and lowest in the early evening and middle of the night. Second-dose use was not consistently associated with a specific time of day. The safety profile was consistent with that expected from previous studies of diazepam nasal spray.

Conclusion

These results suggest that diazepam nasal spray can be effectively administered at any time of day.
Exploring the rules of related parameters in acupuncture for post-stroke dysphagia based on data mining
Authors: Wu Minmin , Song Wenjing , Wang Xue , Tang Qiang , Gao Weibin , Zhu Luwen
Published: May 2024

Background

Post-stroke dysphagia (PSD) affects the efficacy and safety of swallowing, causing serious complications. Acupuncture is a promising and cost-effective treatment for PSD; however, as the number of randomized controlled trials increases, scientific analysis of the parameters and acupoint prescription is required. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the effects of acupuncture on parameters related to post-stroke dysphagia (PSD).

Methods

We searched the Cochrane Library, PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang Database, Chinese Biomedical Literature, and Chongqing VIP Database for randomized controlled trials of acupuncture for PSD in the last 15 years and relevant parameters were analyzed using data mining techniques.

Results

In total, 3,205 records were identified, of which 3,507 patients with PSD were included in 39 studies. The comprehensive analysis demonstrated that the closest parameter combinations of acupuncture on PSD were 0.25 mm × 40 mm needle size, 30 min retention time, five treatments per week, and a 4-week total course of treatment. Additionally, the gallbladder and nontraditional meridians, crossing points, and head and neck sites are the most commonly used acupoint parameters. The core acupoints identified were GB20, RN23, EX-HN14, Gongxue, MS6, SJ17, EX-HN12, EX-HN13, and the commonly used combination of EX-HN12, EX-HN13, GB20, and RN23.

Conclusion

This study analyzed the patterns of PSD-related needling and acupoint parameters to provide evidence-based guidelines for clinical acupuncturists in treating PSD, potentially benefitting affected patients.
Meaning as mentalization
Authors: Forgács Bálint
Published: May 2024

The way we establish meaning has been a profound question not only in language research but in developmental science as well. The relation between linguistic form and content has been loosened up in recent pragmatic approaches to communication, showing that code-based models of language comprehension must be augmented by context-sensitive, pragmatic-inferential mechanisms to recover the speaker’s intended meaning. Language acquisition has traditionally been thought to involve building a mental lexicon and extracting syntactic rules from noisy linguistic input, while communicative-pragmatic inferences have also been argued to be indispensable. Recent research findings exploring the electrophysiological indicator of semantic processing, the N400, have raised serious questions about the traditional separation between semantic decoding and pragmatic inferential processes. The N400 appears to be sensitive to mentalization—the ability to attribute beliefs to social partners—already from its developmental onset. This finding raises the possibility that mentalization may not simply contribute to pragmatic inferences that enrich linguistic decoding processes but that the semantic system may be functioning in a fundamentally mentalistic manner. The present review first summarizes the key contributions of pragmatic models of communication to language comprehension. Then, it provides an overview of how communicative intentions are interpreted in developmental theories of communication, with a special emphasis on mentalization. Next, it discusses the sensitivity of infants to the information-transmitting potential of language, their ability to pick up its code-like features, and their capacity to track language comprehension of social partners using mentalization. In conclusion, I argue that the recovery of meaning during linguistic communication is not adequately modeled as a process of code-based semantic retrieval complemented by pragmatic inferences. Instead, the semantic system may establish meaning, as intended, during language comprehension and acquisition through mentalistic attribution of content to communicative partners.
Binocularly suppressed stimuli induce brain activities related to aesthetic emotions
Authors: Hoshi Hideyuki , Ishii Akira , Shigihara Yoshihito , Yoshikawa Takahiro
Published: May 2024

Introduction

Aesthetic emotions are a class of emotions aroused by evaluating aesthetically appealing objects or events. While evolutionary aesthetics suggests the adaptive roles of these emotions, empirical assessments are lacking. Previous neuroscientific studies have demonstrated that visual stimuli carrying evolutionarily important information induce neural responses even when presented non-consciously. To examine the evolutionary importance of aesthetic emotions, we conducted a neuroscientific study using magnetoencephalography (MEG) to measure induced neural responses to non-consciously presented portrait paintings categorised as biological and non-biological and examined associations between the induced responses and aesthetic ratings.

Methods

MEG and pre-rating data were collected from 23 participants. The pre-rating included visual analogue scales for object saliency, facial saliency, liking, and beauty scores, in addition to ‘biologi-ness,’ which was used for subcategorising stimuli into biological and non-biological. The stimuli were presented non-consciously using a continuous flash suppression paradigm or consciously using binocular presentation without flashing masks, while dichotomic behavioural responses were obtained (beauty or non-beauty). Time-frequency decomposed MEG data were used for correlation analysis with pre-rating scores for each category.

Results

Behavioural data revealed that saliency scores of non-consciously presented stimuli influenced dichotomic responses (beauty or non-beauty). MEG data showed that non-consciously presented portrait paintings induced spatiotemporally distributed low-frequency brain activities associated with aesthetic ratings, which were distinct between the biological and non-biological categories and conscious and non-conscious conditions.

Conclusion

Aesthetic emotion holds evolutionary significance for humans. Neural pathways are sensitive to visual images that arouse aesthetic emotion in distinct ways for biological and non-biological categories, which are further influenced by consciousness. These differences likely reflect the diversity in mechanisms of aesthetic processing, such as processing fluency, active elaboration, and predictive processing. The aesthetic processing of non-conscious stimuli appears to be characterised by fluency-driven affective processing, while top-down regulatory processes are suppressed. This study provides the first empirical evidence supporting the evolutionary significance of aesthetic processing.
Automated quantification of photoreceptor outer segments in developing and degenerating retinas on microscopy images across scales
Authors: Seidemann Suse , Salomon Florian , Hoffmann Karl B. , Kurth Thomas , Sbalzarini Ivo F. , Haase Robert , Ader Marius
Published: May 2024

The functionality of photoreceptors, rods, and cones is highly dependent on their outer segments (POS), a cellular compartment containing highly organized membranous structures that generate biochemical signals from incident light. While POS formation and degeneration are qualitatively assessed on microscopy images, reliable methodology for quantitative analyses is still limited. Here, we developed methods to quantify POS (QuaPOS) maturation and quality on retinal sections using automated image analyses. POS formation was examined during the development and in adulthood of wild-type mice via light microscopy (LM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). To quantify the number, size, shape, and fluorescence intensity of POS, retinal cryosections were immunostained for the cone POS marker S-opsin. Fluorescence images were used to train the robust classifier QuaPOS-LM based on supervised machine learning for automated image segmentation. Characteristic features of segmentation results were extracted to quantify the maturation of cone POS. Subsequently, this quantification method was applied to characterize POS degeneration in “cone photoreceptor function loss 1” mice. TEM images were used to establish the ultrastructural quantification method QuaPOS-TEM for the alignment of POS membranes. Images were analyzed using a custom-written MATLAB code to extract the orientation of membranes from the image gradient and their alignment (coherency). This analysis was used to quantify the POS morphology of wild-type and two inherited retinal degeneration (“retinal degeneration 19” and “rhodopsin knock-out”) mouse lines. Both automated analysis technologies provided robust characterization and quantification of POS based on LM or TEM images. Automated image segmentation by the classifier QuaPOS-LM and analysis of the orientation of membrane stacks by QuaPOS-TEM using fluorescent or TEM images allowed quantitative evaluation of POS formation and quality. The assessments showed an increase in POS number, volume, and membrane coherency during wild-type postnatal development, while a decrease in all three observables was detected in different retinal degeneration mouse models. All the code used for the presented analysis is open source, including example datasets to reproduce the findings. Hence, the QuaPOS quantification methods are useful for in-depth characterization of POS on retinal sections in developmental studies, for disease modeling, or after therapeutic interventions affecting photoreceptors.
Amino acid metabolomics and machine learning for assessment of post-hepatectomy liver regeneration
Authors: Yan Yuqing , Chen Qianping , Dai Xiaoming , Xiang Zhiqiang , Long Zhangtao , Wu Yachen , Jiang Hui , Zou Jianjun , Wang Mu , Zhu Zhu
Published: May 2024

Objective

Amino acid (AA) metabolism plays a vital role in liver regeneration. However, its measuring utility for post-hepatectomy liver regeneration under different conditions remains unclear. We aimed to combine machine learning (ML) models with AA metabolomics to assess liver regeneration in health and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH).

Methods

The liver index (liver weight/body weight) was calculated following 70% hepatectomy in healthy and NASH mice. The serum levels of 39 amino acids were measured using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry analysis. We used orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis to determine differential AAs and disturbed metabolic pathways during liver regeneration. The SHapley Additive exPlanations algorithm was performed to identify potential AA signatures, and five ML models including least absolute shrinkage and selection operator, random forest, K-nearest neighbor (KNN), support vector regression, and extreme gradient boosting were utilized to assess the liver index.

Results

Eleven and twenty-two differential AAs were identified in the healthy and NASH groups, respectively. Among these metabolites, arginine and proline metabolism were commonly disturbed metabolic pathways related to liver regeneration in both groups. Five AA signatures were identified, including hydroxylysine, L-serine, 3-methylhistidine, L-tyrosine, and homocitrulline in healthy group, and L-arginine, 2-aminobutyric acid, sarcosine, beta-alanine, and L-cysteine in NASH group. The KNN model demonstrated the best evaluation performance with mean absolute error, root mean square error, and coefficient of determination values of 0.0037, 0.0047, 0.79 and 0.0028, 0.0034, 0.71 for the healthy and NASH groups, respectively.

Conclusion

The KNN model based on five AA signatures performed best, which suggests that it may be a valuable tool for assessing post-hepatectomy liver regeneration in health and NASH.
Stem elongation and gibberellin response to submergence depth in clonal plant Alternanthera philoxeroides
Authors: Jing Shufang , Ren Xinyi , Lin Feng , Niu Hangang , Ayi Qiaoli , Wan Binna , Zeng Bo , Zhang Xiaoping
Published: May 2024

Clonal plants are widely distributed in the riparian zone and play a very important role in the maintenance of wetland ecosystem function. Flooding is an environmental stress for plants in the riparian zone, and the response of plants varies according to the depth and duration of flooding. However, there is a lack of research on the growth response of clonal plants during flooding, and the endogenous hormone response mechanism of clonal plants is still unclear. In the present study, Alternanthera philoxeroides, a clonal plant in the riparian zone, was used to investigate the time-dependent stem elongation, the elongation of different part of the immature internodes, and the relationship between growth elongation and the phytohormone gibberellin (GA) under a series of submergence depths (0 m, 2 m, 5 m, and 9 m). The results showed that stem elongation occurred under all treatments, however, compared to 0 m (control), plants grew more under 2 m and 5 m submergence depth, while grew less under 9 m water depth. Additionally, basal part elongation of the immature internode was the predominant factor contributing to the stem growth of A. philoxeroides under different submergence depths. The phytohormone contents in basal part of the mature and immature internodes showed that GA induced the differential elongation of internode. Plant submerged at depth of 2 m had the highest GA accumulation, but plant submerged at depth of 9 m had the lowest GA concentration. These data suggested that GA biosynthesis are essential for stem elongation in A. philoxeroides, and the basal part of the immature internode was the main position of the GA biosynthesis. This study provided new information about the rapid growth and invasion of the clonal plant A. philoxeroides around the world, further clarified the effects of submergence depth and duration on the elongation of the stem, and deepened our understanding of the growth response of terrestrial plants in deeply flooded environments.
Growth and yield of maize in response to reduced fertilizer application and its impacts on population dynamics and community biodiversity of insects and soil microbes
Authors: Zou Yan , Li Likun , Wang Yanhui , Duan Ruichuan , Dong Hejie , Zhang Yuhan , Du Zhengze , Chen Fajun
Published: May 2024

In the North China Plain, farmers are using excessive amounts of fertilizer for the production of high-yield crop yield, which indirectly causes pollution in agricultural production. To investigate an optimal rate of fertilizer application for summer maize, the fertilizer reduction experiments with 600 kg/ha NPK (N: P2O5: K2O = 28: 8: 10) as normal fertilizer application (NFA), (i.e., 100F), were conducted successively during 2020 and 2021 to study the effects of reduced fertilizer rates, including 90% (540 kg/ha; i.e., 90F), 80% (480 kg/ha; i.e., 80F), 62.5% (375 kg/ha; i.e., 62.5F) and 50% (300 kg/ha; i.e., 50F) of NFA, on the plant growth of maize, the dynamics of key population abundances and community diversity of insects, and the composition and diversity of microbial community and finally to find out the N-metabolic enzymes’ activity in soil. Our findings revealed that the fertilizer reduction rates by 10% - 20% compared to the current 100% NFA, and it has not significantly affected the plant growth of maize, not only plant growth indexes but also foliar contents of nutrients, secondary metabolites, and N-metabolic enzymes’ activity. Further, there was no significant alteration of the key population dynamics of the Asian corn borer (Ostrinia furnacalis) and the community diversity of insects on maize plants. It is interesting to note that the level of N-metabolic enzymes’ activity and microbial community diversity in soil were also not affected. While the fertilizer reduction rate by 50% unequivocally reduced field corn yield compared to 100% NFA, significantly decreased the yield by 17.10%. The optimal fertilizer application was calculated as 547 kg/ha (i.e., 91.17% NFA) based on the simulation analysis of maize yields among the five fertilizer application treatments, and the fertilizer application reduced down to 486 kg/ha (i.e., 81.00% NFA) with a significant reduction of maize yield. These results indicated that reduced the fertilizer application by 8.83% - 19.00% is safe and feasible to mitigate pollution and promote sustainable production of maize crops in the region.
Laser weeding of common weed species
Authors: Andreasen Christian , Vlassi Eleni , Salehan Najmeh
Published: May 2024

The massive use of herbicides since the 1950s has resulted in increasing problems with herbicideresistant weeds and pollution of the environment, including food, feed, and water. These side effects have resulted in political pressures to reduce herbicide application. The European Commission aims to reduce the use and risk of chemicals and more hazardous pesticides in the EU. Therefore, new weed control methods are in demand. Laser weeding might be an alternative to replace or supplement herbicides and other weed control methods in an Integrated Weed Management (IPM) strategy. This work aimed to investigate how increasing laser energy affected common weeds when the apical meristem was exposed to irradiation at the early stages of development. A 50 W thulium-doped fibre laser with a diameter of 2 mm and a wavelength of 2 µm was used. The highest efficacy of laser irradiation was achieved when the grass weed (Alopecurus myosuroides) had one leaf and the dicot species were at the cotyledon stage. There was a large difference between the species’ susceptibility to irradiation probably caused by differences in morphology and growth habit. At the 4-leaf stage, most of the species regrew after irradiation. Laser weeding may be a solution to replace or supplement other weed control methods in some crops, but in general the weeds must be irradiated when they are at the cotyledon to 2-leaf stage to avoid regrowth.
Our gloomy future and glorious past: societal discontent, national nostalgia and support for populist radical-right parties in the Netherlands
Authors: Smeekes Anouk , Lubbers Marcel
Published: May 2024

Political campaign slogans, such as “Make America Great Again” or “The Netherlands Ours Again,” indicate that right-wing populists in Western countries use nostalgia to depict the national past as glorious. At the same time, populist radical-right parties (PRRP) portray this glorious past as being in stark contrast with the gloomy present of their country, which is portrayed as being in a state of decline. This suggests that PRRP in Western societies draw on both societal discontent (i.e., the belief that society is in decline and poorly functioning) and national nostalgia (i.e., a longing for the good old days of the country) to mobilize their voters. Although there is a burgeoning literature on reasons for PRRP electoral support, fewer studies have focused on its emotional or affective underpinnings. While scholars have proposed that both societal discontent and national nostalgia are an integral piece of a new master-frame employed by PRRP in Western countries to increase their electoral appeal, these elements have hardly been empirically studied in reference to voters. Relying on an integration of research in political science and social psychology, we hypothesized that both societal discontent and national nostalgia go together with a greater sympathy, and likelihood of voting, for PRRP. In addition, we predicted that national nostalgia is an explanatory mechanism that links societal discontent to more support for PRRP. These hypotheses were tested in the context of the Netherlands, among a representative sample of native Dutch voters, using the Dutch Parliamentary Elections Study of 2021. Results demonstrated that while both societal discontent and national nostalgia were relevant predictors of PRRP support, there was no strong evidence for national nostalgia as an explanatory mechanism of the link between societal discontent and PRRP support.
Analysis of writing in personality disorders in prison population
Authors: Muñoz-López Lucas , Fernández-García-Valdecasas Borja , López-Rodríguez Slava , Sánchez-Barrera María Blanca
Published: May 2024

Writing involves the activation of different processing modes than reading comprehension, and therefore the level of activation varies depending on the moment and the task.

Objectives

to analyze the profiles in terms of the proposed coding from the PROESC in terms of personality disorders [Antisocial Personality Disorder (ASPD) with drugs possession and consumption crimes (DPCC) and Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder (OCPD)] with gender violence crimes (GVC) in the prisoners.

Design

The sample was composed of 194 men. The participants were divided into two groups. Group 1 (ASPD; DPCC) consisted of 81 men, and Group 2 (OCPD; GVC) consisted of 113 men.

Main outcome measures

They completed the Demographic, Offense, and Behavioral Interview in Institutions, the International Personality Disorders Examination (IPDE), and Writing Processes Evaluation Battery (PROESC).

Results

Group 2 made more mistake than Group 1 in narratives tasks.

Conclusion

Participants know phoneme-grapheme correspondence rules, language disturbances of a reiterative and persistent nature may appear in those who show compulsive behavior.
Utilizing portable electroencephalography to screen for pathology of Alzheimer’s disease: a methodological advancement in diagnosis of neurodegenerative diseases
Authors: Hata Masahiro , Miyazaki Yuki , Mori Kohji , Yoshiyama Kenji , Akamine Shoshin , Kanemoto Hideki , Gotoh Shiho , Omori Hisaki , Hirashima Atsuya , Satake Yuto , Suehiro Takashi , Takahashi Shun , Ikeda Manabu
Published: May 2024

Background

The current biomarker-supported diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is hindered by invasiveness and cost issues. This study aimed to address these challenges by utilizing portable electroencephalography (EEG). We propose a novel, non-invasive, and cost-effective method for identifying AD, using a sample of patients with biomarker-verified AD, to facilitate early and accessible disease screening.

Methods

This study included 35 patients with biomarker-verified AD, confirmed via cerebrospinal fluid sampling, and 35 age- and sex-balanced healthy volunteers (HVs). All participants underwent portable EEG recordings, focusing on 2-minute resting-state EEG epochs with closed eyes state. EEG recordings were transformed into scalogram images, which were analyzed using “vision Transformer(ViT),” a cutting-edge deep learning model, to differentiate patients from HVs.

Results

The application of ViT to the scalogram images derived from portable EEG data demonstrated a significant capability to distinguish between patients with biomarker-verified AD and HVs. The method achieved an accuracy of 73%, with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.80, indicating robust performance in identifying AD pathology using neurophysiological measures.

Conclusions

Our findings highlight the potential of portable EEG combined with advanced deep learning techniques as a transformative tool for screening of biomarker-verified AD. This study not only contributes to the neurophysiological understanding of AD but also opens new avenues for the development of accessible and non-invasive diagnostic methods. The proposed approach paves the way for future clinical applications, offering a promising solution to the limitations of advanced diagnostic practices for dementia.
Assessment of knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) among older individuals of rural Bangladesh: findings from a face-to-face interview
Authors: Siddique Abu Bakkar , Hosen Md. Shohag , Akter Hasna , Hossain Syed Mujakkir , Al Mamun Md.
Published: May 2024

Introduction

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) stand as the foremost contributor to global mortality, claiming roughly 17.9 million lives each year, constituting 32.1% of total fatalities. Their impact is notably profound in economies such as Bangladesh, exacting a substantial economic burden. Consequently, grasping the landscape of knowledge, attitudes, and practices is essential for timely identification and prevention strategies.

Methods

This cross-sectional study, carried out between January and May 2023 in the rural regions of Zirani, Savar Upazila, Dhaka, Bangladesh, utilized convenient sampling and conducted face-to-face interviews using a semi-structured questionnaire. It encompassed socio-demographic factors, as well as knowledge, attitudes, and practices concerning CVDs. Data analysis employed descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and regression analyses, utilizing both the R programming language and SPSS (Version 26).

Result

A total of 424 participants aged 60 years and above were included. The majority were male (60.8%), and the mean age was 71.21 ± 9.21 years, 57.3% were between 60 and 70 years old. Factors such as education, monthly family income, high blood pressure, diabetes, and non-smoking. Were significantly associated with higher knowledge, attitudes and practices scores.

Conclusion

This study illuminates CVD-related KAP among rural Older Individuals in Bangladesh, revealing significant associations between factors such as education, monthly family income, high blood pressure, and non-smoking, with higher scores in knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding cardiovascular health. These insights underscore the importance of addressing socio-economic factors and health behaviors in developing targeted interventions for the prevention and management of cardiovascular diseases in this demographic.
Boredom and its perceived impact in adolescents with exceptional mathematical talent: a sequential mixed-methods study in Paraguay
Authors: Vuyk Alexandra , Montania Maureen , Barrios Liz
Published: May 2024

Introduction

Boredom, a state where the task at hand presents difficulties in attentional resources and attributed meaning, can be detrimental to talent development by reducing cognitive engagement. This study employed a mixed sequential design to assess boredom in adolescents with exceptional mathematical talent in Paraguay participating in a talent development program.

Methods

First, in the quantitative phase 54 students completed the Boredom Short Scale, School Attitudes Assessment Survey-Revised, and Psychological Well-Being Scale for Adolescents. Next, in the qualitative phase 50 students participated in focus groups to explore their personal experiences of boredom, along with their perception of possible factors that impact boredom.

Results

Boredom in this population was similar to the general population of adolescents, albeit significant differences existed in items and subscales showing a pattern unique to this population; they tended to become bored quicker but had an easier time sparking interest in activities. Higher boredom had small to moderate correlations with worse attitudes at school and with teachers, lower motivation and self-regulation in academic activities, lower self-control, and lower involvement in personal projects. Higher valuation of goals and academic self-perception related with a lower tendency toward boredom only in the context of a talent development program, but not at school. Boredom seemed multifaceted, with dimensions such as the absence of meaning, superficial entertainment, and wasted time. Contributing factors included waiting for other people’s slower pace, limited choices, lack of novelty, insufficient intellectual challenge, and the influence of teachers and social dynamics. Coping mechanisms included inner intellectual stimulation, seeking entertainment and escape, pursuing independent learning, extracurricular activities, like-minded peers, and extreme sensation-seeking.

Discussion

Fostering adequate challenge and support in advanced academic endeavors for the development of mathematical talent can prevent negative consequences associated with boredom in exceptionally talented populations.
Conversations in couple relationships: a trustful foundation when making future parenthood “real”
Authors: Flisbäck Marita
Published: May 2024

Sociologists often argue that communication in long-term couple relationships is the basis on which expectations, trust, and equality are created in contemporary society. However, what is the role of these everyday conversations in uncertain life situations such as expecting one’s first child? This article examines concerns reported by prospective Swedish parents in order to explain the role of communication to alleviate these. Concerns, related to the formation of new relationships with one’s partner, oneself, and one’s future child, are mitigated by referring to the couple’s “good” communication. In the present prenatal situation, the communication pattern (established in the past) seems to serve three functions in mitigating future concerns: (1) the communication generates a trust capital in the relationship, allowing the couple to venture into the uncertain future, (2) the communication makes social perceptions of family life “real” by constructing a common nomos that is internalized in the individual as an existential motto, and (3) the communication legitimizes family practices as democratic when referring to future plans as emerging from responsive and consensual dialogs. In the article it is emphasized that welfare policy needs to be based on an existential legitimacy, often developed in couple conversations, and particularly shaped in life situations characterized by change. However, the stability offered at the conversational micro level may simultaneously prevent macro level changes, a complexity that needs to be considered when developing a gender equality policy that is to resonate with people’s existential meaning making. With the aim of consensus, and the means of balancing conflicts, there is a risk that the conversation will consolidate the interests of the stronger party. In this way, the responsive conversations in long-term relationships may consolidate gender inequality and counteract the welfare policy goal of equalizing power relationships.
The carbon footprint of livestock farms under conventional management and silvopastoral systems in Jalisco, Chiapas, and Campeche (Mexico)
Authors: Andrade Hernán J. , Vega Andrés , Martínez-Salinas Alejandra , Villanueva Cristóbal , Jiménez-Trujillo José Antonio , Betanzos-Simon Juan Edduardo , Pérez Edwin , Ibrahim Muhammad , Sepúlveda L Claudia J.
Published: May 2024

Livestock production is one of the most important agricultural sources of greenhouses gasses (GHG). Transforming the livestock sector is a critical task to mitigate the effects of climate change, and the implementation of silvopastoral systems (SPS) may be a way to do so. Carbon footprint (CF) estimation was carried out for 131 conventional livestock farms (CONF) and SPS farms (SPSF) selected in the states of Jalisco, Chiapas and Campeche (Mexico). GHG emissions were estimated based on interviews with the farmers and farm monitoring to collect information about management, milk production and the live weight gain (LWG) of calves (for meat production) using national emission factors. Emissions from animals, fossil fuels, electricity and nitrogen fertilizers were estimated using Tier I and II criteria. Land use distribution was recorded for each farm, and their carbon fixation in total biomass and soils was estimated using studies from tropical Latin America. CF was estimated for area and for production of milk and the LWG of calves. SPSF had lower GHG emissions, higher carbon fixation rates and a better CF than CONF (5.7 vs. 8.0 t CO2e/ha/year; 6.9 vs. 5.5 t C/ha/year and − 5.0 vs. −2.9 t CO2e/ha/year, respectively). The CF of milk production and calf LWG were − 68.6 to −4.6 kg CO2e/kg and − 3.2 to −0.1 t CO2e/kg, respectively. Our results highlight the importance of implementing SPS to mitigate climate change in livestock production, given its contribution to GHG emissions and the importance of capturing atmospheric carbon in biomass and soils. National and regional policies should focus on promoting implementing SPS as an active and effective strategy for improving CF in livestock farms.
Mitigating Co-Activity Conflicts and Resource Overallocation in Construction Projects: A Modular Heuristic Scheduling Approach with Primavera P6 EPPM Integration
Authors: Ninpan Khwansiri , Huang Shuzhang , Vitillo Francesco , Assaad Mohamad Ali , Benmiloud Bechet Lies , Plana Robert
Published: May 2024

This paper proposes a heuristic approach for managing complex construction projects. The tool incorporates Primavera P6 EPPM and Synchro 4D, enabling proactive clash detection and resolution of spatial conflicts during concurrent tasks. Additionally, it performs resource verification for sufficient allocation before task initiation. This integrated approach facilitates the generation of conflict-free and feasible construction schedules. By adhering to project constraints and seamlessly integrating with existing industry tools, the proposed solution offers a comprehensive and robust approach to construction project management. This constitutes, to our knowledge, the first dynamic digital twin for the delivery of a complex project.
Vibration Response of Metal Plate and Shell Structure under Multi-Source Excitation with Welding and Bolt Connection
Authors: Ding Zhexuan , Tang Zhong , Zhang Ben , Ding Zhao
Published: May 2024

There are many excitation sources and complex vibration environments in combine harvesters. The coupling and superposition of different vibration signals on the plate and shell seriously affect the working parts of the body. This also reduces the reliability of the whole machine. At present, domestic and foreign research on existing harvesters mainly focuses on harvesting performance, with less research on vibration characteristics. Therefore, in this paper, the vibration response of the metal plate–shell under the two connection modes of bolt connection and welding is studied, in order to optimize the design and structure of the plate–shell structure of the combine harvester and improve the overall performance. First, the welded and bolted plates are numerically modeled using Hypermesh pre-processing functions. Then, the boundary conditions are simulated by continuous variable stiffness elastic constraint experiments. Finally, the intrinsic vibration dynamic model of the four-sided simply supported plate and four-sided solidly supported plate is established using the modal superposition method. By analyzing the modal frequencies and vibration patterns, the following results are obtained. The connection method between the plate and the frame has a significant impact on the inherent vibration characteristics of the plate. The bolt connection will make the plate’s intrinsic vibration frequency higher than that of the welding method, but the effect on the plate’s intrinsic vibration pattern is more minor. At the same time, in order to verify the accuracy of the model, the actual modal vibration patterns and frequencies of the same proportion of plates in the modal test are compared with the results of modal vibration patterns and frequencies obtained by Ansys. The errors of the two dynamic model analytical methods are within 1% and 3%, respectively. This result verifies the accuracy of the dynamic model of the metal plate and shell structure under different connection methods.
Exploring Resistant Sources of Chickpea against Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. ciceris in Dryland Areas
Authors: Maleki Hamid Hatami , Pouralibaba Hamid Reza , Ghiasi Roghayeh , Mahmodi Farshid , Sabaghnia Naser , Samadi Soheila , Zeinalzadeh-Tabrizi Hossein , Rezaee Danesh Younes , Farda Beatrice , Pellegrini Marika
Published: May 2024

Fusarium wilt is a fungal disease that has a significant impact on chickpeas worldwide. This study examined the response of 58 chickpea genotypes to Fusarium wilt. The experiment was conducted over two growing seasons at the Sararoud and Maragheh research stations at the Drylands Agricultural Research Institute of Iran. Genotype resistance was screened through wilt incidence records and nonparametric stability statistic evaluation. The identified resistant genotypes were then evaluated in the greenhouse for their response to four isolates of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. ciceris (races 1/BC, 2, 4, and 6). Out of 58 genotypes, 32 exhibited moderate resistance, while 24 showed strong resistance abilities. Under warmer conditions, disease severity was higher, with scores at the Sararoud location being higher than those at the Maragheh location. Of the total genotypes across all locations and years, 41.4% were resistant, 55.17% were moderately resistant, 1.72% were susceptible, and 1.72% were highly susceptible. The nonparametric stability measures S(1), S(2), and S(3) identified FLIP 05-42C and FLIP 05-43C as stable and resistant genotypes. The study found that Azad/Hashem K3 was stable based on the non-parametric stability measure S(6). Other resistant genotypes were identified using stability parameters NP(1), NP(3), and NP(4), while FLIP 05-104C was identified by NP(2). The genotypes selected by nonparametric stability parameters showed resistance against at least two Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. ciceris races. The screening method and nonparametric stability statistics used in this study were effective in identifying sources of resistance to Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. ciceris.
Combining Ability, Heritability, and Heterosis for Seed Weight and Oil Content Traits of Castor Bean (Ricinus communis L.)
Authors: Peng Mu , Wang Zhiyan , He Zhibiao , Li Guorui , Di Jianjun , Luo Rui , Wang Cheng , Huang Fenglan
Published: May 2024

Hybridization is an important evolutionary force, and heterosis describes the phenomenon where hybrids exhibit superior traits compared to their parents. This study aimed to evaluate the one-hundred-seed weight and fatty acid content in F1 generations, investigating the effects of different parental crosses using a 9 × 3 incomplete diallel design (NCII). One of the challenges faced in this study was the complexity of accurately determining the influence of both genetic and environmental factors on trait inheritance. A total of 36 F1 crosses were analyzed for general combining ability (GCA), specific combining ability (SCA), and heritability. The results showed that the level of each index in F1 is closely related to its parents. Significant differences in GCA and SCA were observed among parental traits in most crosses. The ratio of GCA to SCA ranged from 0 to 3, indicating the pivotal role of SCA over GCA in castor breeding efforts. High narrow-sense heritability was recorded in palmitic acid (30.98%), oleic acid (28.68%), and arachidonic acid (21.34%), suggesting that these traits are predominantly under the control of additive gene action, and hence these characters can be improved by selection. Additionally, heterosis exhibited diverse patterns across traits. Based on the evaluated combining ability, heritability, and heterosis, the inbred lines CSR181 and 20111149 were recommended for castor crossbreeding due to their potential to yield progeny with optimal oil-related traits. This research contributes valuable knowledge to the field of castor breeding, providing a foundation for developing superior castor cultivars.
Research on Improved Road Visual Navigation Recognition Method Based on DeepLabV3+ in Pitaya Orchard
Authors: Zhu Lixue , Deng Wenqian , Lai Yingjie , Guo Xiaogeng , Zhang Shiang
Published: May 2024

Traditional DeepLabV3+ image semantic segmentation methods face challenges in pitaya orchard environments characterized by multiple interference factors, complex image backgrounds, high computational complexity, and extensive memory consumption. This paper introduces an improved visual navigation path recognition method for pitaya orchards. Initially, DeepLabV3+ utilizes a lightweight MobileNetV2 as its primary feature extraction backbone, which is augmented with a Pyramid Split Attention (PSA) module placed after the Atrous Spatial Pyramid Pooling (ASPP) module. This improvement enhances the spatial feature representation of feature maps, thereby sharpening the segmentation boundaries. Additionally, an Efficient Channel Attention Network (ECANet) mechanism is integrated with the lower-level features of MobileNetV2 to reduce computational complexity and refine the clarity of target boundaries. The paper also designs a navigation path extraction algorithm, which fits the road mask regions segmented by the model to achieve precise navigation path recognition. Experimental findings show that the enhanced DeepLabV3+ model achieved a Mean Intersection over Union (MIoU) and average pixel accuracy of 95.79% and 97.81%, respectively. These figures represent increases of 0.59 and 0.41 percentage points when contrasted with the original model. Furthermore, the model’s memory consumption is reduced by 85.64%, 84.70%, and 85.06% when contrasted with the Pyramid Scene Parsing Network (PSPNet), U-Net, and Fully Convolutional Network (FCN) models, respectively. This reduction makes the proposed model more efficient while maintaining high segmentation accuracy, thus supporting enhanced operational efficiency in practical applications. The test results for navigation path recognition accuracy reveal that the angle error between the navigation centerline extracted using the least squares method and the manually fitted centerline is less than 5°. Additionally, the average deviation between the road centerlines extracted under three different lighting conditions and the actual road centerline is only 2.66 pixels, with an average image recognition time of 0.10 s. This performance suggests that the study can provide an effective reference for visual navigation in smart agriculture.
Continuous Intercropping Increases the Depletion of Soil Available and Non-Labile Phosphorus
Authors: He Jianyang , He Jun , Li Haiye , Yu Yumei , Qian Ling , Tang Li , Zheng Yi , Xiao Jingxiu
Published: May 2024

Background and aims: This research aimed to evaluate the effects of consecutive intercropping on soil phosphorus (P) partitioning, concentrations, and sensitivity to P fertilizer application, elucidating its impact on soil P bioavailability. Methods: A field experiment investigated soil P fractions and content under continuous wheat and faba bean intercropping. Three P levels (0, 45, and 90 kg P2O5 ha−1 denoted as P0, P1, and P2, respectively) and three planting patterns (monocropped wheat (MW), monocropped faba bean (MF), and wheat and faba bean intercropping (W//F)) were established since 2014. Aboveground P uptake by wheat and faba bean was determined. The soil P fractions and content were analyzed after six-, seven-, and eight-year continuous field experiments. Results: Wheat and faba bean intercropping increased wheat aboveground P uptake by 28.3–42.7% compared to MW under P1 and P2 levels and presented a P uptake advantage (LERPuptake > 1), although W//F had no impact on faba bean P uptake. Consequently, continuous intercropping for 8 years decreased soil available P reserves by 9.0–23.4% in comparison to the weighted average value of MW and MF (It). Faba bean consumed greater non-labile and labile P than wheat with low P input. W//F had nearly no impact on the labile P pool but reduced the non-labile P pool by 5.0–12.1% under all P levels and lowered the moderately labile P pool by 1.7–4.7% at P0 and P1 levels compared to It with consecutive intercropping for 8 years. Consecutive intercropping of wheat and faba bean primarily decreased the proportion of Resin-P in the labile P pool and the proportion of Residual-P in the non-labile P pool. According to the structural equation model, crop P uptake mainly originated from soil available P, which was directly affected by non-labile P (Residual-P and Conc. HCl-P). In addition, intercropping changed the contribution of each P faction to crop P uptake compared to MW and MF, and P uptake in intercropping primarily depended on Conc. HCl- P and Dil. HCl-P. Therefore, consecutive intercropping decreased soil non-labile P and drove soil available P depletion, and intercropping’s increase of P uptake was related to the non-labile P mobilized to moderately labile and labile P. Conclusions: Continuous wheat and faba bean intercropping reduced non-labile P and led to soil available P depletion under low P input. This practice stimulated non-labile P mobilization, enhancing soil P fraction effectiveness and facilitating P uptake in intercropping. Continuous intercropping of wheat and faba bean is as an effective method to maximize the biological availability of soil P and reduce P application rates.
Numerical Simulation of Structural Performance in a Single-Tube Frame for 12 m-Span Chinese Solar Greenhouses Subjected to Snow Loads
Authors: Li Ming , Wei Xiaoming , Zhao Qingsong , Wang Lichun
Published: May 2024

To address the structural concerns of a 12.0 m-span landing assembled single-tube frame (LASF) for Chinese solar greenhouses subjected to snow loads, the internal forces and deformations of LASF and its reinforced counterpart (RLASF) were numerically simulated to determine the ultimate bearing capacities (Lu) and the failure loads (Lf). During the simulations, steel tubes were modeled as beam188 elements and cables as link180 elements. The frame constraints and the connections were assumed to be fixed supports and rigid, respectively. The loads were determined according to the Chinese standard (GB51183-2016). Simulations revealed that the LASF and RLASF primarily withstand bending moments and are prone to strength failures under snow loads. Both exhibited lower Lu and Lf under non-uniform snow loads than under uniform snow loads. The results also indicated that crop loads could deteriorate the structural safety of the LASF and RLASF. Lu and Lf were found to be proportional to the section modulus of the tubes. The effects of wind loads and initial geometry imperfections on Lf of the LASF and RLASF can be neglected. Furthermore, the RLASF exhibited higher Lf compared to the LASF. Steel usage of the RLASF could be further reduced by replacing circular tubes with rectangular tubes, making the RLASF a feasible option for constructing Chinese solar greenhouses.