bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Non-Linear Offset-Free Model Predictive Control Design Approach
Authors: Zhang Haoran , Prempain Emmanuel
Published: August 2024

This paper presents a non-linear model predictive control approach for offset-free tracking and the rejection of piece-wise constant disturbances. The approach involves augmenting the system’s state vector with the integral of the tracking error, enabling the design of a non-linear model predictive controller for this augmented system. Nominal closed-loop stability is enforced thanks to a terminal equality constraint and proven by a Lyapunov argument. Compared to the existing offset-free approaches in the literature, our method offers greater simplicity, as it does not rely on linear approximations of the system to control. Furthermore, it eliminates the need to estimate disturbances, a task that is especially challenging with non-linear systems. Comprehensive simulations and experimental tests are conducted according to a non-linear, coupled, two-tank laboratory experiment, demonstrating the robustness and effectiveness of the proposed approach.
Wind Vortex Target Control of a Plant Protection UAV Based on a Rice Wind Vortex–Flight Parameter Model
Authors: Xing Hang , Liu Zhijie , Huang Taoran , Dong Minyue , Lv Jia , Tang Feng
Published: August 2024

The strong airflow beneath a rotary drone generates a wind vortex within the rice canopy; precise control of the wind vortex distance and wind vortex area can improve pesticide utilization efficiency. This paper calculates the flight parameter curve based on the wind vortex target from the wind vortex target parameter control model of the four-rotor plant protection drone, designs a flight control system using a Cube Orange flight controller and a Jetson AGX Xavier onboard computer, and implements flight parameter control using both PID control and fuzzy control algorithms. Experimental results indicate that when using PID control and fuzzy control, the average deviation values of UAV flight altitude and speed are 0.08 m, 0.08 m/s, 0.06 m, and 0.08 m/s, respectively. When using PID control, the average distance and area errors of the target downwind and upwind are 0.17 m and 0.37 m2 and 0.20 m and 0.46 m2, respectively. The corresponding values for fuzzy control are 0.12 m, 0.38 m2, 0.09 m, and 0.31 m2. In the twelve voyage experiments, the target parameter variance using fuzzy control was relatively smaller for eight voyages compared to PID control, which had a smaller variance for four voyages. On the whole, the effect of fuzzy control is superior. The wind vortex control method proposed in this paper can effectively enable precise pesticide spraying by drones. This has significant implications for reducing agricultural production costs and safeguarding the natural environment.
Drought Stress in Quinoa: Effects, Responsive Mechanisms, and Management through Biochar Amended Soil: A Review
Authors: Akram Muhammad Zubair , Libutti Angela , Rivelli Anna Rita
Published: August 2024

Chenopodium quinoa Willd. (quinoa), a highly nutritious pseudocereal, is a promising crop to address global food insecurity challenges intensified by population growth and climate change. However, drought stress remains a significant constraint for quinoa cultivation. The plant exhibits several morphophysiological adaptations to water stress conditions, including root system modifications, reduced growth rate, leaf abscission, and stomatal closure. While these adaptations enhance drought tolerance, they can also negatively impact plant growth, potentially through alterations in root architecture, physiological changes, e.g., stomatal regulations, and anatomical changes. Different studies have suggested that soil amendment with biochar, a pyrolyzed organic material, can improve quinoa growth and productivity under drought stress conditions. Biochar application to the soil significantly enhances soil physiochemical characteristics and maintains plant water status, thereby promoting plant growth and potentially mitigating the negative consequences of drought on quinoa production. This review focuses on the current understanding of quinoa behavior under drought stress and the potential of soil amendment with biochar as a management strategy. We summarize existing research on applying biochar-amended soil to alleviate quinoa drought stress.
LP-YOLO: A Lightweight Object Detection Network Regarding Insect Pests for Mobile Terminal Devices Based on Improved YOLOv8
Authors: Yu Yue , Zhou Qi , Wang Hao , Lv Ke , Zhang Lijuan , Li Jian , Li Dongming
Published: August 2024

To enhance agricultural productivity through the accurate detection of pests under the constrained resources of mobile devices, we introduce LP-YOLO, a bespoke lightweight object detection framework optimized for mobile-based insect pest identification. Initially, we devise lightweight components, namely LP_Unit and LP_DownSample, to serve as direct substitutes for the majority of modules within YOLOv8. Subsequently, we develop an innovative attention mechanism, denoted as ECSA (Efficient Channel and Spatial Attention), which is integrated into the network to forge LP-YOLO(l). Moreover, assessing the trade-offs between parameter reduction and computational efficiency, considering both the backbone and head components of the network, we use structured pruning methods for the pruning process, culminating in the creation of LP-YOLO(s). Through a comprehensive series of evaluations on the IP102 dataset, the efficacy of LP-YOLO as a lightweight object detection model is validated. By incorporating fine-tuning techniques during training, LP-YOLO(s)n demonstrates a marginal mAP decrease of only 0.8% compared to YOLOv8n. However, it achieves a significant reduction in parameter count by 70.2% and a remarkable 40.7% increase in FPS, underscoring its efficiency and performance.
Phenotypic-Based Maturity Detection and Oil Content Prediction in Xiangling Walnuts
Authors: Guo Puyi , Chen Fengjun , Zhu Xueyan , Yu Yue , Lin Jianhui
Published: August 2024

The maturity grading of walnuts during harvesting relies on experience. In this paper, walnut images in a natural environment were collected to construct a dataset, and deep learning algorithms were utilized to combine walnut internal physical and chemical indicators to carry out research on walnut maturity detection methods and further research on walnut oil content prediction by combining walnut images with walnut oil content indicators. The main contents of this paper include collecting walnut images in a natural environment, constructing datasets, and using deep learning algorithms combined with internal physical and chemical indexes of walnuts to study walnut maturity detection and oil content prediction methods. First, two walnut image acquisition schemes were designed, and a total of 9504 images were collected from 23 August to 21 September 2021. The dataset was expanded to 18,504 images through data preprocessing and image enhancement. A self-supervised Gaussian attention network (GATCluster) walnut ripeness detection method based on image clustering is proposed to develop ripeness criteria through unsupervised clustering, and the accuracy of the criteria is verified by analysis of variance (ANOVA). The maturity detection accuracy of the test set of 1500 images is 88.33%. Secondly, a walnut oil content prediction method based on improved ResNet34 is proposed. The feature extraction capability is improved by introducing the Squeeze-and-Excitation Networks (SENet) channel attention mechanism and the convolutional self-attention module. The prediction results on 50 images show that the root mean square error, average absolute percentage error, and regression coefficient are 2.96, 0.103, and 0.8822, respectively. The experiments show that the method performs well in predicting the oil content of walnuts at different maturity levels.
Soil Traits and Grapevine Rootstock Genotypes Modulate Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Rate and Species in a Mediterranean Environment
Authors: Catalani Alessia , Brunori Elena , Chilosi Gabriele , Bernardini Alessandra , Vanino Silvia , Migliore Melania , Farina Roberta , Biasi Rita
Published: August 2024

The soil microbiota is a key component of agroecosystems, and understanding its traits is crucial for effective agronomic management. Among beneficial microorganisms, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMFs) are mutually associated with grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.), enhancing the ability of this cropping system to adapt to soil conditions and bolstering its resistance and resilience against abiotic stresses, particularly drought, by promoting root growth and enhancing the roots’ absorption surface. The objective of this on-field study was to determine AMF species richness and diversity along with their relation to soil chemical, physical, and biological characteristics in two adjacent organic vineyards in Central Italy. The two tested vineyards of the autochthonous cv. Aleatico differed by the presence of grafted (Vitis berlandieri × V. riparia rootstock; AL-420) or own-rooted (ungrafted V. vinifera L.; AL-ORV) vines. To this aim, soil and root samples were collected and geo-referenced. Analysis of the AMF species colonizing roots of both AL-ORV and AL-420 revealed the presence of four species: Scutellospora alterata, Paraglomus laccatum, Acaulospora laevis, and A. baetica, with S. alterata being the most frequent. Mycorrhization parameters were higher in the roots of grafted plants compared to ungrafted ones. A high beta-glucosidase (BG):N-acetylglusosaminidase (NAG) ratio in two tested vineyards indicated that microbes utilized more cellulose than chitin and peptidoglycan as dominant C resources. A negative correlation between mycorrhization rate (MyCP) and BG was observed, likely because AMFs form mutualistic relationships with plants, depending on the host plant for carbon. Results revealed a positive correlation between the degree of mycorrhizal association and the species involved, with the presence of copper and nickel among metals. Negative correlations were found concerning soil clay content along with beta-glucosidase. In conclusion, the grapevine root system was characterized by a differential symbiotic relationship with AMF species, whose development is influenced by the root genotype, soil texture, and biochemistry. Specifically, the increased frequency of AMFs in relation to copper content strengthens the evidence of their role in maintaining a vine’s production capacity in the event of soil contamination by this element.
Obtaining Phenolic-Enriched Liquid Fractions and Compostable Pomace for Agriculture from Alperujo Using Standard Two-Phase Olive Oil Mill Equipment
Authors: Rodríguez Márquez Manuel , Rodríguez Gutiérrez Guillermo , Giménez Marianela , Rizzo Pedro Federico , Bueno Luis , Deiana Cristina , Monetta Pablo
Published: August 2024

Olive oil extraction by two-phase systems generates a by-product called “alperujo” which presents several difficulties for its valorization. The present work evaluated an industrial approach, based on the application of thermal treatments to alperujo followed by solid/liquid separation using standard two-phase olive oil mill equipment. Treatments consisted of the thermo-malaxation of alperujo at 70 °C for 45 or 90 min, with or without acid addition, followed by solid/liquid separation in an industrial decanter. The solid was characterized concerning subsequent use for composting, while total and hydrophilic phenolics were analyzed in liquid for their recovery. Additionally, a laboratory-scale trial to compare phenolic purification by ethylic acetate extraction with chromatographic procedures was also included. The static respiration index showed that solid fractions presented higher susceptibility to biodegradation processes than raw alperujo. The phenolic content of treated liquid fractions was higher than in raw alperujo. Total phenolics were maximum at the longest exposure time without acid addition, while hydrophilic phenolics were highest at the shortest exposure time in acidified samples. The use of non-ionic resins seemed attractive for obtaining highly concentrated phenolic fractions. The proposed thermal treatments can be applied in olive oil industries, allowing in situ pomace valorization and the recovery of phenolic-enriched liquid fractions.
Influence of Biogas Slurry and a Nitrification Inhibitor Application in Nitrous Oxide Emissions by Soil
Authors: Lei Jilin , Sun Yingying , Yin Junhui , Liu Rui , Chen Qing
Published: August 2024

As global efforts to combat climate change intensify, agricultural emissions are increasingly scrutinized. Biogas slurry (BS), a by-product of agricultural waste, not only provides essential nutrients for crops but can also elevate soil nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions. This study investigates the immediate and long-term impacts of BS application on N2O emissions, taking into account the frequency of application and evaluating the effectiveness of nitrification inhibitor 3,4-dimethylpyrazole-phosphate (DMPP) in reducing emissions. Through a microcosm incubation experiment with a 108 h robotized incubation-monitoring system, it was found that N2O emissions spiked immediately following a single BS application, with emissions decreasing within 30 days. Repeated BS applications yielded lower cumulative emissions. Elevated N2O emissions were linked to higher soil pH and ammonium (NH4+) levels, along with reduced nitrate (NO3−) concentrations after a single BS application. The combined application of BS and DMPP proved most effective in inhibiting nitrification and cumulative N2O emissions, achieving reductions of 63.0% and 94.6%, respectively. High soil pH, NH4+, and low NO3− were identified as pivotal factors in this effect. These findings highlight the need for mitigation strategies such as dilution or splitting applications to reduce emissions. Integrating BS with DMPP offers a sustainable approach to achieving both agricultural and environmental goals.
HvWOX3A Gene Controls Plant Height and Leaf Size in Barley
Authors: Hong Xinyao , Deng Hui , Zhao Yuxuan , Qi Jiang , Huang Xinyu , Lv Chao , Wang Feifei , Zhu Juan , Xu Rugen , Guo Baojian
Published: August 2024

Plant height and leaf morphology are considered complex agronomy traits; both are significantly related to nutrient utilization, lodging resistance, and photosynthetic efficiency, which ultimately affect biomass and yield. However, the molecular mechanism of leaf morphogenesis is still unclear. WOX is a group of plant-specific transcription factor families that regulate growth and development, cell division, and differentiation in plants. In the present study, we identified and characterized the m-876 mutant in barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), which exhibited an extreme reduction in leaf width and plant height. Using a map-based cloning strategy, the m-876 mutant was narrowed down to an 11.4 Mb genomic interval on the long arm of chromosome 5. By analyzing the gene annotation information and nucleotide sequences, we found that HvWOX3A (HORVU.MOREX.r3.5HG0467090) had a G-to-A substitution at the second exon in the m-876 mutant, resulting in a change of the coding amino acid from Tryptophan to a premature stop codon at the 200th amino acid position. Remarkably, the mutation of the HvWOX3A gene leads to changes in gene expression in the m-876 mutant. Collectively, our results indicate that the loss function of the HORVU.MOREX.r3.5HG0467090 gene might be responsible for the phenotypic variation in barley mutants.
Improvement of Yield and Quality Properties of Radish by the Organic Fertilizer Application Combined with the Reduction of Chemical Fertilizer
Authors: Jin Duo , Lu Zewei , Song Xiangcan , Ahammed Golam Jalal , Yan Yan , Chen Shuangchen
Published: August 2024

Chemical fertilizers can improve crop productivity, but irrational fertilization often results in low crop quality and yield, poor soil fertility, and severe environmental pollution. Nevertheless, little research has been conducted with a close focus on the cultivation of radish in high mountain regions, a widely cultivated root vegetable known for its nutritional value and economic importance. Here, a method of reducing chemical fertilizers combined with the application of organic fertilizers is proposed upon studying four different ratios of chemical and organic fertilizers, including control (375 kg·ha−1 chemical fertilizer + 4500 kg·ha−1 organic fertilizer) and combinations (T1: 12% reduction in chemical fertilizer + 4500 kg·ha−1 organic fertilizer; T2: 20% reduction in chemical fertilizer + 4500 kg·ha−1 organic fertilizer; T3: 28% reduction in chemical fertilizer + 4500 kg·ha−1 organic fertilizer). Their effects on radish quality, yield, and soil environment were investigated. Compared with the control group, T2 significantly increased radish yield by 12.92% and improved the contents of vitamin C, soluble sugars, sulforaphane soluble solids, and titratable acidity in the radish roots by 10.62%, 2.15%, 50.00%, 26.90%, and 43.90%, respectively. The soil nutrient content was increased by the T2 treatment, with a 7.69% and 14.29% increase in total nitrogen and total phosphorus content, respectively, compared with the control. Moreover, soil urease activity, sucrase activity, alkaline phosphatase activity, and catalase activity were significantly enhanced by the T2 treatment, showing an improvement of 11.13%, 44.30%, 26.41%, and 9.33% compared with the control, respectively (p < 0.05). The relative abundance of beneficial bacterial phyla such as Proteobacteria and Actinobacteria was increased in the T2 treatment, potentially helping to maintain better soil health and long-term fertility. In summary, a promising fertilizer management strategy is herein unveiled through the reduction of chemical fertilizers and the application of organic fertilizer that not only improves radish yield and quality but also optimizes the soil environment, providing an effective means for sustainable crop production.
Genome-Wide Association Study of Yield-Related Traits in a Nested Association Mapping Population Grown in Kazakhstan
Authors: Amalova Akerke , Griffiths Simon , Abugalieva Saule , Turuspekov Yerlan
Published: August 2024

This study evaluated 290 recombinant inbred lines (RILs) from the Nested Association Mapping (NAM) population in the UK, consisting of 24 hybrid families. All genotypes were grown in Southeastern Kazakhstan (Kazakh Research Institute of Agriculture and Plant Growing, Almaty region, 2021–2022) and Northern Kazakhstan (Alexandr Barayev Scientific-Production Center for Grain Farming, Akmola region, 2020). The studied traits included six yield-related characteristics: spike length (SL, cm), number of productive spikes per plant (NPS, pcs), number of kernels per spike (NKS, pcs), weight of kernels per spike (WKS, g), thousand kernel weight (TKW, g), and yield per square meter (YM2, g/m2). The significant phenotypic variability among genotypes was observed, which was suitable for the genome-wide association study of yield-related traits. Pearson’s index showed positive correlations among most yield-related traits, although a negative correlation was found between NKS and TKW in southeastern regions, and no correlation was recorded for northern regions. Top-performing RILs, surpassing local checks, were identified for NKS, TKW, and YM2, suggesting their potential for breeding programs. The application of GWAS allowed the identification of 72 quantitative trait loci (QTLs), including 36 QTLs in the southeastern region, 16 QTLs in the northern region, and 19 in both locations. Eleven QTLs matched those reported in previous QTL mapping studies and GWAS for studied traits. The results can be used for further studies related to the adaptation and productivity of wheat in breeding projects for higher grain productivity.
Comparative Physiological and Gene Expression Analyses Provide Insights into Ion Transports and Osmotic Adjustment of Sweet Sorghum under Salt Stress
Authors: Kang Jie , Wang Xiao-Long , Yan Shi-Jie , Guo Huan , Cui Yan-Nong
Published: August 2024

Sweet sorghum is an important sugar crop and forage with a strong tolerance to soil salinity. We have previously analyzed the ion accumulation traits and transcriptome of a sweet sorghum cultivar under NaCl treatments. However, the mechanisms underlying Na+, K+, Cl−, and NO3− transports and the osmotic adjustment of sweet sorghum under salt stresses need further investigations. In this study, the growth, photosynthesis, inorganic ion and organic solute contents, and leaf osmotic adjustment ability of the sweet sorghum cultivars “Lvjuren” and “Fengtian” under NaCl treatments were determined; meanwhile, the expressions of key genes associated with the Na+, K+, Cl−, and NO3− transport were analyzed using the qRT-PCR method. The results showed that NaCl treatments more severely inhibited the growth and photosynthesis of “Lvjuren” than those of “Fengtian”. After NaCl treatments, “Fengtian” could more efficiently restrict the overaccumulation of Na+ and Cl− in leaf blades than “Lvjuren” by withholding large amounts of Na+ in the roots or reserving high quantities of Cl− in the leaf sheaths, which could be attributed to the upregulated expressions of SbNHX2, SbHKT1;4, SbHKT1;5, SbCLCc, and SbCLCg or the downregulated expression of SbNPF6.4. “Fengtian” exhibited significantly lower leaf osmotic potential but higher leaf water potential and turgor pressure under NaCl treatments, suggesting that the former possessed a stronger osmotic ability than the latter. The contents of K+, NO3−, soluble sugar, and betaine in leaf blades, as well as the contributions of these osmolytes to the leaf osmotic potential, in “Fengtian” were significantly higher than those in “Lvjuren”. In addition, the upregulated expressions of SbAKT1, SbHAK5, SbSKOR, SbNPF3.1, SbNPF6.3, and SbNPF7.3 should be responsible for maintaining K+ and NO3− homeostasis under NaCl treatment. These results lay a foundation for uncovering the salt tolerance mechanisms of sweet sorghum and large-scale cultivation of this species in saline areas.
The Effects of Struvite on Biomass and Soil Phosphorus Availability and Uptake in Chinese Cabbage, Cowpea, and Maize
Authors: Sun Linglulu , Wei Bingli , Wu Dongxun , Sun Kai , Jiao Jiabin , Zhang Wei
Published: August 2024

Struvite (MgNH4PO4·6H2O), a mineral with low water solubility that can be recovered from industrial wastewater, has the potential to be used as a slow-release phosphorus (P) fertilizer. However, the effect of struvite on the yield and P uptake efficiency of different crops remains unclear. In this study, the effects of struvite, diammonium phosphate (DAP), and a mixed fertilizer consisting of struvite + DAP (MIX) on biomass, P uptake, and soil P fractions of Chinese cabbage, cowpea, and maize were investigated in pot experiments. The results showed that compared to DAP, the mixed fertilizer reduced the biomass of Chinese cabbage by 47%, while there was no difference in the biomass of cowpea and maize under P fertilizer application. There was no difference in total P concentration in Chinese cabbage and cowpea plants between DAP and MIX, while total P concentration in maize under mixed fertilizer treatment decreased by 16.73% compared to DAP treatment. Compared to DAP, the MIX treatment reduced total P uptake in Chinese cabbage and maize by 45.82% and 33.41%, respectively, with no direct difference in cowpea. Soil Olsen-P and CaCl2-P concentrations were highest in DAP among the different treatments. The MIX treatment significantly increased the water-soluble P in Chinese cabbage and cowpea by 5.87% and 5.23%, respectively, while the water-soluble P in maize was lower in the mixed fertilizer treatment than in the DAP treatment. In addition, mixed fertilizer significantly increased soil pH and soil phosphatase activity compared to DAP. This result suggested that among the three treatments of struvite, DAP, and MIX, struvite had the weakest effect on crop growth. In addition, among the three crops, Chinese cabbage, cowpea, and maize, the compatibility between struvite and maize was the highest. These results provide valuable insights for the future application of struvite in agricultural production for achieving stable yields while mitigating environmental risks.
A Meta-Analysis of 67 Studies on the Control of Grape Sour Rot Revealed Interesting Perspectives for Biocontrol
Authors: Brischetto Chiara , Rossi Vittorio , Fedele Giorgia
Published: August 2024

Sour rot (SR) is a disease complex that affects grape berries during ripening and can cause severe yield losses and deterioration of wine quality. The etiology and epidemiology of the disease remain uncertain, which has severely limited the development of specific, targeted management strategies. In this study, a network meta-analysis was applied to data collected through a previous systematic literature review for statistically comparing the efficacy of different methods for the control of SR and some filamentous fungi isolated from rotten berries. Use of either synthetic fungicides (CHEM) and natural compounds or biocontrol microorganisms (BIO) provided partial and variable control of SR; however, the efficacy of BIO was similar to, or higher than, that provided by CHEM. Agronomic practices (AGRO) had a significant but lower effect on SR. The integration of different control methods (IPM) provided better and less variable disease control than any single method. Natural compounds, such as zeolites and bicarbonates, and microorganisms (e.g., yeasts Candida and Aureobasidium) are also promising alternatives to synthetic fungicides in SR control.
Impact of Irrigation Management Decisions on the Water Footprint of Processing Tomatoes in Southern Spain
Authors: Egea Gregorio , Castro-Valdecantos Pedro , Gómez-Durán Eugenio , Munuera Teresa , Domínguez-Niño Jesús M. , Nortes Pedro A.
Published: August 2024

The water footprint is an increasingly demanded environmental sustainability indicator for certifications and labels in agricultural production. Processing tomatoes are highly water-intensive, and existing studies on water footprint have uncertainties and do not consider the impact of different irrigation configurations (e.g., surface drip irrigation (SDI) and subsurface drip irrigation (SSDI)) and irrigation strategies. This study presents a two-year experimental investigation to determine the water footprint of processing tomatoes grown in southern Spain (Andalusia) and the impact of SSDI and deficit irrigation. Five irrigation treatments were established: SDI1 (surface drip irrigation without water limitation), SDI2 (surface drip irrigation without water limitation adjusted by soil moisture readings), SSDI1 (subsurface drip irrigation without water limitation and a dripline depth of 15 cm), SSDI2 (similar to SSDI1 but with mild/moderate water deficit during the fruit ripening stage), and SSDI3 (subsurface drip irrigation without water limitation and a dripline depth of 35 cm (first year) and 25 cm (second year)). Measurements included crop vegetative growth, leaf water potential, leaf gas exchange, nitrate concentration in soil solution, and crop yield and quality. The soil water balance components (actual evaporation, actual transpiration, deep drainage), necessary for determining the total crop water footprint, were simulated on a daily scale using Hydrus 2D software. Results indicated that SSDI makes more efficient use of irrigation water than SDI. The water footprint of SSDI1 was 20–35% lower than that of SDI1. SSDI2 showed similar water footprint values to SDI1 under highly demanding environmental conditions and significantly lower values (≈40%) in a year with lower evaporative demand. The dripline depth in SSDI was critical to the water footprint. With a 35 cm installation depth, SSDI3 had a significantly higher water footprint than the other treatments, while the values were similar to SSDI1 when the depth was reduced to 25 cm.
Effect of Dietary Restriction on Gut Microbiota and Brain–Gut Short Neuropeptide F in Mud Crab, Scylla paramamosain
Authors: Bao Chenchang , Yang Yanan , Ye Haihui
Published: August 2024

Aquatic animals frequently undergo feed deprivation and starvation stress. It is well-known that the gut microbiota and the gut–brain short neuropeptide F (sNPF) play essential roles in diet restriction. Therefore, investigating the responses of the gut microbiota and sNPF can enhance our understanding of physiological adaptations to feed deprivation and starvation stress. In this study, we examined the alterations in the gut microbiota of juvenile mud crabs under feed deprivation and starvation conditions. The results reveal differences in the richness and diversity of gut microbiota among the satisfied, half food, and starvation groups. Moreover, the microbial composition was affected by starvation stress, and more than 30 bacterial taxa exhibited significantly different abundances among the three feeding conditions. These results indicate that the diversity and composition of the gut microbiota are influenced by diet restriction, potentially involving interactions with the gut–brain sNPF. Subsequently, we detected the location of sNPF in the brains and guts of mud crabs through immunofluorescence and investigated the expression profile of sNPF under different feeding conditions. The results suggest that sNPF is located in both the brains and guts of mud crabs and shows increased expression levels among different degrees of diet restriction during a 96 h period. This study suggested a potential role for sNPF in regulating digestive activities and immunity through interactions with the gut microbiota. In conclusion, these findings significantly contribute to our understanding of the dynamic changes in gut microbiota and sNPF, highlighting their interplay in response to diet restriction.
Lactobacillus salivarius and Berberine Alleviated Yak Calves’ Diarrhea via Accommodating Oxidation Resistance, Inflammatory Factors, and Intestinal Microbiota
Authors: He Qing , Lu Sijia , Wang Jia , Xu Chang , Qu Weijie , Nawaz Shah , Ataya Farid Shokry , Wu Yi , Li Kun
Published: August 2024

Yaks are important food animals in China; however, bacterial diarrheal diseases frequently occur on the plateau, with limited effective therapies. The objective of this research was to evaluate the effectiveness of Lactobacillus salivarius (LS) and berberine in alleviating diarrhea in yak calves. For this purpose, eighteen healthy yak calves were divided into control (JC), infected (JM), and treatment (JT) groups. Yaks in the JT group were treated with 2 × 1010 CFU/calf L. salivarius and 20 mg/kg berberine, and yaks in the JM and JT groups were induced with multi-drug-resistant Escherichia coli. The results showed that the weight growth rate in the JM group was significantly lower than that in the JC and JT groups. The diarrhea score in the JM group was significantly higher than that in both the JC and JT groups. Additionally, the contents of T-AOC, SOD, GSH-Px, and IL-10 were significantly lower in the JM group than those in the JC and JT groups, while MDA, TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 were significantly higher in the JM group. Microbiota sequencing identified two phyla and twenty-seven genera as significant among the yak groups. Notably, probiotic genera such as Faecalibaculum and Parvibacter were observed, alongside harmful genera, including Marvinbryantia and Lachnospiraceae UCG-001. Our findings indicate that treatment with L. salivarius and berberine significantly reduced diarrhea incidence, improved growth performance, and positively modulated intestinal microbiota, which could provide novel insights for developing new therapies for ruminant diarrhea.
Identification of Individuals of Two Takin Subspecies Using Biological and Ecological Criteria in Eastern Himalayas of China
Authors: Wang Yuan , Lv Yonglei , Wang Guanglong , Liu Feng , Ji Yingxun , Liu Zheng , Zhao Wanglin , Liu Wulin , Dun Zhu Pu Bu , Jin Kun
Published: August 2024

Limited background data are available on the Mishmi takin (Budorcas taxicolor taxicolor) and Bhutan takin (Budorcas taxicolor whitei) subspecies in the Eastern Himalayas of China because of the lack of systematic field investigations and research. Therefore, mature-animal ecological methods were used to evaluate these takin subspecies’ phenotypic characteristics, distribution range, activity rhythm, and population size. From 2013 to 2022, 214 camera traps were installed for wild ungulate monitoring and investigation in all human-accessible areas of the Eastern Himalayas, resulting in 4837 distinguishable takin photographs. The external morphological characteristics were described and compared using visual data. Artificial image correction and related technologies were used to establish physical image models based on the differences between subspecies. MaxEnt niche and random encounter models obtained distribution ranges and population densities. Mishmi takins have a distribution area of 17,314 km2, population density of 0.1729 ± 0.0134 takins/km2, and population size of 2995 ± 232. Bhutan takins have a distribution area of 25,006 km2, population density of 0.1359 ± 0.0264 takins/km2, and population size of 3398 ± 660. Long-term monitoring data confirmed that the vertical migration within the mountain ecosystems is influenced by climate. Mishmi takins are active at 500–4500 m, whereas Bhutan takins are active at 1500–4500 m. The two subspecies were active at >3500 m from May to October yearly (rainy season). In addition, surveying combined with model simulation shows that the Yarlung Zangbo River is not an obstacle to migration. This study provides basic data that contribute to animal diversity knowledge in biodiversity hotspots of the Eastern Himalayas and detailed information and references for species identification, distribution range, and population characteristics.
Comparison of PCR, Nested PCR, and RT-LAMP for Rapid Detection of Feline Calicivirus Infection in Clinical Samples
Authors: Khamsingnok Piyamat , Rapichai Witsanu , Rattanasrisomporn Amonpun , Rungsuriyawiboon Oumaporn , Choowongkomon Kiattawee , Rattanasrisomporn Jatuporn
Published: August 2024

Feline calicivirus (FCV) is a highly contagious virus that causes upper respiratory tract disease, commonly known as cat flu. It is widely distributed worldwide and poses a major threat to feline health. Therefore, it is essential to find an efficient and rapid method for detecting FCV. In this study, the colorimetric reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP) assay, using neutral red as an indicator, was developed and validated to target the ORF2 gene of FCV for the first time. Additionally, the study compared the diagnostic abilities of polymerase chain reaction (PCR), nested PCR, and RT-LAMP assays for detecting FCV in clinical samples. The optimized RT-LAMP amplification was carried out at 56.3 °C. The technique visually detected FCV within 70 min, with a limit of detection of 14.3 × 101 copies/µL, and showed no cross-reactivity with other feline pathogens. Out of 54 oropharyngeal swab samples, 17 tested positive for FCV using both nested PCR and RT-LAMP, while only one tested positive using conventional PCR. The positivity rate was higher with nested PCR and RT-LAMP (31.48%) compared to conventional PCR (1.85%). Consequently, these results demonstrated the effectiveness of the colorimetric RT-LAMP assay developed in this study as an alternative for diagnosing FCV in cats.
A Life Cycle Assessment Study of the Impacts of Pig Breeding on the Environmental Sustainability of Pig Production
Authors: Thoma Greg J. , Baker Banks , Knap Pieter W.
Published: August 2024

Lifecycle assessment (LCA) quantified changes in environmental impact categories (global warming, eutrophication, etc.) from 2021 to 2030 due to genetic trends in (re)production traits in pig lines of the breeding company Genus-PIC. The 2030 levels were projected with selection index theory based on weightings of traits in the breeding goals and genetic covariances among them. The projected improvement was 0.9% annually for most impact categories. Another LCA compared the impacts of 2021 North American pig production based on PIC genetics versus the industry average. Software openLCA converted material and energy flows to impact categories of frameworks ReCiPe-2016, PEF-3.1, and IPCC-2021. Flows came from data recorded by customers (1.1/4.7 million sows/finishing pigs) and by subscribers to a third-party data aggregator (1.3/9.1 million). PIC genetics have a 7–8% better impact than industry average for 13/18 categories of ReCiPe-2016, 19/25 of PEF-3.1, and all categories of IPCC-2001. Pig breeding delivers positive environmental outcomes as correlated responses to selection for profitability-oriented breeding goals. This trend is additive; technology development will increase it. Different investment levels in breeding population structure and technology and different operational efficiencies of breeding companies cause substantial differences in the environmental impact of pig production.
Impact of Farm Management Practices on Tick Infestation in Punjab’s Livestock: A Comprehensive Epidemiological Study
Authors: Alvi Muhammad Husnain Ali , Rehman Abdul , Jamil Tariq , Iqbal Muhammad Zahid , Durrani Aneela Zameer , Khan Aman Ullah , Usman Muhammad , Sauter-Louis Carola , Conraths Franz J.
Published: August 2024

Tick infestation poses an important challenge to livestock in Pakistan. Farm management practices and environmental variables can influence tick infestation prevalence in animals. To this end, a cross-sectional survey of 96 farms in four different geographical districts (24 farms from each district) was conducted in Punjab, Pakistan, between October 2021 and January 2022. An epidemiological questionnaire was designed focusing on farm management practices and their impact on tick infestations at these farms. Data were collected via in-person interviews. Regional and farm-specific variables’ associations were evaluated using Pearson’s chi-square test and Fischer’s exact test, respectively. A multivariable logistic regression model was used to identify significant risk factors. This study identified that using soft bedding materials, e.g., wheat straw, leaf litter or plain soil posed a significant risk of tick infestation. Additionally, the absence of quarantine measures, open sheds and inadequate drainage were found as contributing factors in univariable analysis. Higher tick prevalence in the hotter seasons highlighted the influence of Punjab’s extreme weather on tick infestation. Despite regular veterinary visits and the use of acaricidal drugs, the prevalence of tick infestation at these farms suggested potential drug resistance in the ticks. The study recommended establishing quarantine practices, improving farms’ drainage systems and bedding and using a combination of chemical and traditional remedies to tackle drug resistance in ticks. Education and awareness programs on tick-borne diseases and control measures are advocated to reduce the tick infestation burden on animals. Further research on longitudinal studies to better understand tick population dynamics and develop effective acaricides is encouraged. This called for collaborative control efforts among farmers, veterinarians and research institutions.
Oxidation of Aminoacetaldehyde Initiated by the OH Radical: A Theoretical Mechanistic and Kinetic Study
Authors: Alam Ashraful , da Silva Gabriel
Published: August 2024

Aminoacetaldehyde (glycinal, NH2CH2CHO) is a first-generation oxidation product of monoethanolamine (MEA, NH2CH2CH2OH), a solvent widely used for CO2 gas separation, which is proposed as the basis for a range of carbon capture technologies. A complete oxidation mechanism for MEA is required to understand the atmospheric transformation of carbon capture plant emissions, as well as the degradation of this solvent during its use and the oxidative destruction of waste solvent. In this study, we have investigated the •OH radical-initiated oxidation chemistry of aminoacetaldehyde using quantum chemical calculations and RRKM theory/master equation kinetic modeling. This work predicts that aminoacetaldehyde has a tropospheric lifetime of around 6 h and that the reaction predominantly produces the NH2CH2C•O radical intermediate at room temperature, along with minor contributions from NH2•CHCHO and •NHCH2CHO. The dominant radical intermediate NH2CH2C•O is predicted to promptly dissociate to NH2•CH2 and CO, where NH2•CH2 is known to react with O2 under tropospheric conditions to form the imine NH = CH2 + HO2. The NH2•CHCHO radical experiences captodative stabilization and is found to form a weakly bound peroxyl radical upon reaction with O2. Instead, the major oxidation product of NH2•CHCHO and the aminyl radical •NHCH2CHO is the imine NH = CHCHO (+HO2). In the atmosphere, the dominant fate of imine compounds is thought to be hydrolysis, where NH = CH2 will form ammonia and formaldehyde, and NH = CHCHO will produce ammonia and glyoxal. Efficient conversion of the dominant first-generation oxidation products of MEA to ammonia is consistent with field observations and supports the important role of imine intermediates in MEA oxidation.
Physical and Statistical Links between Errors at the Surface, in the Boundary Layer, and in the Free Atmosphere in Medium-Range Numerical Weather Predictions
Authors: Bélair Stéphane , Alavi Nasim , Leroyer Sylvie , Carrera Marco L. , Abrahamowicz Maria , Bilodeau Bernard , Simjanovski Dragan , Charpentier Dorothée , Badawy Bakr
Published: August 2024

The adequate representation of interactions between the land surface and the atmosphere is of crucial importance in modern numerical weather prediction (NWP) systems. In this context, this study examines how errors in the planetary boundary layer (PBL) depend on the quality of near-surface prediction over land for medium-range NWP. Two series of 10-day forecasts from Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC)’s global deterministic prediction system were evaluated: one similar to what is currently used in ECCC’s operational systems and the other with improved land surface modeling and land data assimilation. An objective evaluation was performed for the 2019 summer season in North America, with a special emphasis on three specific areas: northern Canada, the central US, and the southeastern US. The results indicate that the impact of the new land surface package is more difficult to interpret in the PBL than it is at the screen level. The error differences between the two experiments are quite distinct for the three regions examined. As expected, random errors (standard deviations) for air temperature and specific humidity in the PBL are directly linked with their own random errors at the screen level, with correlation coefficients decreasing from a value of one at the surface to values of about 0.2–0.3 a few kilometers above the surface. Less expected, however, is the fact that random errors in the lower atmosphere also strongly depend on changes in air temperature biases at the surface. Warmer near-surface conditions lead to increased random errors for air temperature in the lower atmosphere, in association with the development of the deeper PBL, with greater spatial variability. This finding is of particular interest when evaluating new configurations of NWP systems for implementation in national meteorological and environmental prediction centers.
Ensemble Predictions of Rainfall-Induced Landslide Risk under Climate Change in China Integrating Antecedent Soil-Wetness Factors
Authors: Zong Han , Dai Qiang , Zhu Jingxuan
Published: August 2024

Global warming has increased the occurrence of extreme weather events, causing significant economic losses and casualties from rainfall-induced landslides. China, being highly prone to landslides, requires comprehensive predictions of future rainfall-induced landslide risks. By developing a landslide-prediction model integrated with the CMIP6 GCMs ensemble, we predict the spatiotemporal distribution of future rainfall-induced landslides in China, incorporating antecedent soil-wetness factors. In this study, antecedent soil wetness is represented by the antecedent effective rainfall index (ARI), which accounts for cumulative rainfall, evaporation, and runoff losses. Firstly, we calculated landslide susceptibility using seven geographic factors, such as slope and geology. Then, we constructed landslide threshold models with two antecedent soil-wetness indicators. Compared to the traditional recent cumulative rainfall thresholds, the landslide threshold model based on ARI demonstrated higher hit rates and lower false alarm rates. Ensemble predictions indicate that in the early 21st century, the risk of landslides decreases in the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau, Southwest, and Southeast regions but increases in other regions. Mid-century projections show a 10% to 40% increase in landslide risk across most regions. By the end of the century, the risk is expected to rise by more than 15% nationwide, displaying a spatial distribution pattern that intensifies from east to west.
The Role of Tripartite Motif Family Proteins in Chronic Liver Diseases: Molecular Mechanisms and Therapeutic Potential
Authors: Cao Xiwen , Chen Yinni , Chen Yuanli , Jiang Meixiu
Published: August 2024

The worldwide impact of liver diseases is increasing steadily, with a consistent upswing evidenced in incidence and mortality rates. Chronic liver diseases (CLDs) refer to the liver function’s progressive deterioration exceeding six months, which includes abnormal clotting factors, detoxification failure, and hepatic cholestasis. The most common etiologies of CLDs are mainly composed of chronic viral hepatitis, MAFLD/MASH, alcoholic liver disease, and genetic factors, which induce inflammation and harm to the liver, ultimately resulting in cirrhosis, the irreversible final stage of CLDs. The latest research has shown that tripartite motif family proteins (TRIMs) function as E3 ligases, which participate in the progression of CLDs by regulating gene and protein expression levels through post-translational modification. In this review, our objective is to clarify the molecular mechanisms and potential therapeutic targets of TRIMs in CLDs and provide insights for therapy guidelines and future research.
MMFSyn: A Multimodal Deep Learning Model for Predicting Anticancer Synergistic Drug Combination Effect
Authors: Yang Tao , Li Haohao , Kang Yanlei , Li Zhong
Published: August 2024

Combination therapy aims to synergistically enhance efficacy or reduce toxic side effects and has widely been used in clinical practice. However, with the rapid increase in the types of drug combinations, identifying the synergistic relationships between drugs remains a highly challenging task. This paper proposes a novel deep learning model MMFSyn based on multimodal drug data combined with cell line features. Firstly, to ensure the full expression of drug molecular features, multiple modalities of drugs, including Morgan fingerprints, atom sequences, molecular diagrams, and atomic point cloud data, are extracted using SMILES. Secondly, for different modal data, a Bi-LSTM, gMLP, multi-head attention mechanism, and multi-scale GCNs are comprehensively applied to extract the drug feature. Then, it selects appropriate omics features from gene expression and mutation omics data of cancer cell lines to construct cancer cell line features. Finally, these features are combined to predict the synergistic anti-cancer drug combination effect. The experimental results verify that MMFSyn has significant advantages in performance compared to other popular methods, with a root mean square error of 13.33 and a Pearson correlation coefficient of 0.81, which indicates that MMFSyn can better capture the complex relationship between multimodal drug combinations and omics data, thereby improving the synergistic drug combination prediction.