bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Optimization of Material for Key Components and Parameters of Peanut Sheller Based on Hertz Theory and Box–Behnken Design
Authors: Wang Jiannan , Xie Huanxiong , Hu Zhichao , Liu Minji , Peng Jinyi , Ding Qishuo , Peng Baoliang , Ma Chenbin
Published: January 2022

Poor shelling quality degrades the performance and profit of the peanut industry. The Hertz theory and the wear resistance experimental method were applied to identify a highly wear-resistant material guaranteeing a low mechanical damage rate (MDR) of peanut kernels. The Box–Behnken design method was applied in the experiment to illustrate the influence of the material’s elastic modulus (X1), radius of curvature of the key parts (X2), rotating speed of the shelling drum (X3), and clearance between the shelling drum and concave screen (X4) on MDR and shelling efficiency (SE). Depending on the analysis of variance, the weights of the influential factors were observed as X1 > X3 > X4 > X2. The mathematical models of MDR and SE were derived from the least squares’ method, and four-dimensional slice diagrams of the three most significant factors were used to illustrate the trends of MDR and SE. A multi-objective analysis provided the optimal combination of parameters as: X1 = 10 MPa, X2 = 12.77 mm, X3 = 277.48 r/min, and X4 = 24.24 mm, yielding MDR = 4.89% and SE = 97.91%. The results were further verified by a production trial test, proving that the proposed solution with the selected material, machine design, and working parameters were effective in improving peanut shelling quality.
Genome-Wide Identification and Expression Analysis of the BTB Domain-Containing Protein Gene Family in Sugar Beet
Authors: Yang Qiao , Liu Yu , Zhao Chunlei , Wang Xi , Ding Guangzhou , Li Yanli , Chen Li
Published: January 2022

Cercospora leaf spots (CLSs) is a fungal disease of sugar beet caused by C. beticola, which damages leaves and leads to yield cut on sugar beet worldwide. BTB protein genes are critical to plant defense against bacterial infection. Here, 49 members of the BTB protein gene family were identified from the big data of the sugar beet genome, and bioinformatics was used to analyze the BTB protein family. Through molecular techniques, C. beticola of CLS was identified. In addition, the transcriptome data of sugar beet resistant and susceptible materials after C. beticola infection were obtained. Three BTB genes most significantly related to C. beticola stress were screened from the transcriptome data. The three genes are BvBTB1, BvBTB2, and BvBTB3, their full-length cDNA sequences were acquired by RT-PCR. The phenotypes of sugar beet resistant and susceptible materials under different spore concentrations of C. beticola were analyzed. Further, under the stress of C. beticola, qRT-PCR results showed that the expression levels of BvBTB1, BvBTB2, and BvBTB3 in roots and leaves were tissue-specific and expressed differently in various tissues. BvBTB1, BvBTB2, and BvBTB3 were overexpressed in the resistant and susceptible materials within five days after C. beticola infection: the peak appeared on the fifth day, and the highest expression was 25 times that of the control group. However, the lowest was 1.1 times of the control group, moreover, the expression in the resistant material was higher than that in the susceptible material. Overall, these results showed that BvBTB genes were involved in the response in sugar beet to C. beticola infection. Therefore, the study provided a scientific theoretical basis for developing new resistant varieties in sugar beet.
Impacts of House Mice on Sustainable Fodder Storage in Australia
Authors: Brown Peter R. , Henry Steve
Published: January 2022

Mice cause substantial economic, social, and environmental damage to rural production systems and communities in Australia, especially during mouse plagues. The losses and damage caused by mice to hay/fodder storage are not well understood, given the size of the industry, so a pilot study (survey of 14 growers) was designed to better understand the physical and economic damage, consider disease implications, and identify the management strategies available. During a mouse plague, mice were regarded as the only factor (other than weather) that affected the long-term sustainability of fodder storage. Growers were feeding fodder to livestock (sheep/cattle) at twice the rate they normally would because of mouse damage and contamination. Mice damaged strings and the structure of bales, making transport impractical, leading to destruction of some stacks. Losses caused by mice were estimated at AUD 140,000 (range = AUD 7000–461,580; equivalent to 30–40% loss of value) and included estimates of physical damage to hay/fodder bales, rodenticides, and labour costs. Growers were concerned about contamination and disease transfer to livestock (and workers) from mice through urine/faeces and their carcasses, especially during mouse plagues. There are significant gaps in our knowledge on the impacts of mice to fodder storage in Australia. Research is needed to (1) identify effective mouse control options, (2) determine the economic impact of mice, and (3) undertake a disease study of mice, to help inform appropriate management strategies for effective control.
Assessment of the Impact of Soil Contamination with Cadmium and Mercury on Leaf Nitrogen Content and Miscanthus Yield Applying Proximal Spectroscopy
Authors: Šestak Ivana , Bilandžija Nikola , Perčin Aleksandra , Fadljević Ivana , Hrelja Iva , Zgorelec Željka
Published: January 2022

The research objective was to use proximal spectroscopy in visible and near infrared (VNIR) spectra to determine the total leaf nitrogen (TN) content and the above-ground biomass of Miscanthus × giganteus (MxG) grown in the open-roof greenhouse experiment on soil contaminated with cadmium and mercury (100 mg Cd/kg soil; 20 mg Hg/kg soil), in dependence of different soil amendments in four treatments (I-soil without amendment; II-sludge; III-mycorrhizae; IV-MxG ash). Leaf reflectance was acquired using a field spectroradiometer (350–1050 nm) at the end of the vegetation period between 2018 and 2019 (n = 24). TN content was determined using the dry combustion method, while biomass was weighted immediately after the harvest. In terms of the treatment effect, sludge showed the greatest contribution in TN content. Regarding the biomass quantity, MxG ash revealed the best results as soil amendment. Applying the partial least squares regression, complete correlation and low root mean squared error (RMSE) were obtained between predicted and measured values for the validation dataset of TN content (R2 = 0.87, RMSE = 0.139%), while a strong correlation was calculated for biomass (R2 = 0.53, RMSE = 0.833 t/ha). As an additional tool with analytical methods, proximal spectroscopy is suitable to integrate the optical and physiological properties of MxG, and to assess nutrient stress in crop grown on contaminated soils.
Variations in Plant Growth Characteristics Due to Oxygen Plasma Irradiation on Leaf and Seed
Authors: Hayashi Nobuya , Yamamoto Kyotaro
Published: January 2022

Gene expression variations of plant leaf are investigated by irradiating seed and leaf with oxygen or air plasmas. Enhancement of leaf growth is induced by oxygen plasma irradiation on seeds, which is supported by increased gene expression for protein synthesis, oxidative-reduction reactions, and decreased gene expression concerning DNA methylation and histone modification. Suppression of leaf growth is observed by the oxygen plasma, which would be owing to increased gene expression concerning heat shock protein and redox reaction, and decreased expression of photosynthesis and glycoprotein. Moreover, gene expression variation due to air plasma irradiation is almost the same as that of oxygen plasma. Active oxygen species are major factors in both oxygen and air plasmas for the variation of gene expressions in plants.
Responses of N-Cycling Enzyme Activities and Functional Diversity of Soil Microorganisms to Soil Depth, Pedogenic Processes and Cultivated Plants
Authors: Piotrowska-Długosz Anna , Długosz Jacek , Gryta Agata , Frąc Magdalena
Published: January 2022

The rates of N cycling and soil enzyme activities involved in the transformation of soil N-related nutrients are rarely measured in soils below a 30 cm depth, even though substantial amounts of nitrogen are also stored in deep soils. The aim of this study was to determine how soil microbial and enzymatic properties changed as a function of depth across soil profiles that were developed on the same parent material but differed in terms of soil-forming processes. Two soil profiles were excavated in fields with lucerne and two under winter wheat. We assessed the N-cycling enzymes, the microbial utilization of the N-substrates, the microbial biomass carbon and nitrogen (MBC, MBN) content, and the related physicochemical properties. The most beneficial enzymatic (on a soil mass) and microbial properties, as well as nitrogen substrate utilization, were found in the Ap horizons and decreased with depth to varying degrees. The specific enzymatic activity (per unit of soil TOC and MBC), was more variable in response to the depth of the profile, but did not exhibit clear trends. The potential enzyme activities in the subsurface layers were also affected by factors that are associated with the pedogenic processes (e.g., the lessivage process, clay content). Only nitrate reductase activity was significantly higher in the horizons with potential reducing conditions compared to oxidative horizons, while the opposite trend was found for N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase (NAG) activity. The cultivated plants had a significant impact on the degree of enzymatic activity and N-substrate utilization. The lessivage process significantly reduced microbial biomass and enzymatic activity (except for NAG activity). In general, nitrogen substrate utilization decreased with increasing soil depth and was greater in lucerne than the winter wheat profiles. Mollic Stagnic Gleysols (MSG) and Cambic Stagnic Phaeozems (CSP) horizons also have higher nitrogen substrate utilization than Luvisol profiles.
Fruit Composition of Eggplant Lines with Introgressions from the Wild Relative S. incanum: Interest for Breeding and Safety for Consumption
Authors: Rosa-Martínez Elena , Adalid-Martínez Ana M. , García-Martínez Maria Dolores , Mangino Giulio , Raigón Maria Dolores , Plazas Mariola , Gramazio Pietro , Prohens Jaime , Vilanova Santiago
Published: January 2022

The wild species Solanum incanum has been used as a donor parent for the development of a set of eggplant introgression lines (ILs), which are of interest for breeding for stress tolerances and relevant morpho-agronomic traits but could also be useful for breeding for fruit quality, due to the generally higher content in health-promoting compounds of S. incanum. The use of eggplant ILs with introgressions from S. incanum requires ensuring that glycoalkaloids levels are below safety limits. We evaluated 25 fruit composition traits, including proximate composition, sugars, acids, phenolics, glycoalkaloids, and minerals in a set of 16 eggplant ILs with S. incanum, both parents and the F1, grown under two environments (open field and screenhouse). The results demonstrated that the parents were significantly different regarding most fruit composition traits. Large variation was found among the 16 ILs for all traits analyzed and a strong influence of the environment accounted for the variation of 17 out of the 25 traits evaluated. Although the S. incanum parent produced fruits with high levels of glycoalkaloids, the 16 ILs showed mean values of total glycoalkaloids below the currently accepted safety limit for human consumption (200 mg kg−1 fresh weight). Overall, the ILs produced fruits that are safe for consumption, with nutritional and functional quality similar to the recipient parent. Furthermore, six putative QTLs were detected spread over chromosomes 3 for crude protein, 5 for malic and total acids, and 7 for chlorogenic acid and solamargine, and potential candidate genes were spotted for most of them, which provide new relevant information for eggplant breeding.
Effects of Degreening Treatment on Quality and Shelf-Life of Organic Lemons
Authors: Serna-Escolano Vicente , Giménez María José , García-Pastor María Emma , Dobón-Suárez Alicia , Pardo-Pina Sofía , Zapata Pedro J.
Published: January 2022

Degreening treatment is used in early cultivars of the lemon crop in the Mediterranean area to enhance the commercially desired colour when fruits have reached the proper ripening stage for harvesting and marketing. In the organic market, temperature and relative humidity are controlled to promote the degradation of chlorophylls, allowing the visualisation of the lower layer formed by carotenoids. Although this is a stressful procedure, the degreening treatment showed greater results in terms of weight loss and firmness, the control of the respiration rate, total soluble solids, titratable acidity, and the total phenolic content in flavedo and juice compared to the non-treated lemons, without significant differences on the overall liking between both treatments. During postharvest storage, significant differences in fruit quality were observed compared to at harvest, due to the decreasing tendency observed on the quality parameters analysed along with development and on-tree fruit ripening. In conclusion, the results obtained suggest that the application of a degreening treatment in early cultivars of lemon would not lead to a detriment of fruit quality other than the quality changes associated with the on-tree fruit-ripening process.
Agronomic Practices to Increase the Yield and Quality of Common Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.): A Systematic Review
Authors: Karavidas Ioannis , Ntatsi Georgia , Vougeleka Vasiliki , Karkanis Anestis , Ntanasi Theodora , Saitanis Costas , Agathokleous Evgenios , Ropokis Andreas , Sabatino Leo , Tran Fanny , Iannetta Pietro P. M. , Savvas Dimitrios
Published: January 2022

Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) is the most important legume for human consumption worldwide and an important source of vegetable protein, minerals, antioxidants, and bioactive compounds. The N2-fixation capacity of this crop reduces its demand for synthetic N fertilizer application to increase yield and quality. Fertilization, yield, and quality of common bean may be optimised by several other agronomic practices such as irrigation, rhizobia application, sowing density, etc. Taking this into consideration, a systematic review integrated with a bibliometric analysis of several agronomic practices that increase common bean yield and quality was conducted, based on the literature published during 1971–2021. A total of 250 publications were found dealing with breeding (n = 61), sowing density and season (n = 14), irrigation (n = 36), fertilization (n = 27), intercropping (n = 12), soilless culture (n = 5), tillage (n = 7), rhizobia application (n = 36), biostimulant/biofertilizer application (n = 21), disease management (n = 15), pest management (n = 2) and weed management (n = 14). The leading research production sites were Asia and South America, whereas from the Australian continent, only four papers were identified as relevant. The keyword co-occurrence network analyses revealed that the main topics addressed in relation to common bean yield in the scientific literature related to that of “pod”, “grain”, “growth”, “cultivar” and “genotype”, followed by “soil”, “nitrogen”, “inoculation”, “rhizobia”, “environment”, and “irrigation”. Limited international collaboration among scientists was found, and most reported research was from Brazil. Moreover, there is a complete lack in interdisciplinary interactions. Breeding for increased yield and selection of genotypes adapted to semi-arid environmental conditions combined with the suitable sowing densities are important agronomic practices affecting productivity of common bean. Application of fertilizers and irrigation practices adjusted to the needs of the plants according to the developmental stage and selection of the appropriate tillage system are also of high importance to increase common bean yield and yield qualities. Reducing N-fertilization via improved N-fixation through rhizobia inoculation and/or biostimulants application appeared as a main consideration to optimise crop performance and sustainable management of this crop. Disease and weed management practices appear neglected areas of research attention, including integrated pest management.
Characterization of VOCs Emitted by Foliage of Grapevine cv. Isabella for Prospecting Innovative Cropping Systems
Authors: Rodríguez-Declet Arleen , Castro-Marín Antonio , Moretti Conti Luca , Lombini Alessandra , Chinnici Fabio , Rombolà Adamo Domenico
Published: January 2022

Volatile organic compounds play an important role in communication within plants as well as with other organisms. In this work we identified the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted from the foliage of the grapevine cv. Isabella, a largely known hybrid of Vitis vinifera × Vitis labrusca. Our data show 25 VOCs emitted by cv. Isabella. Different compound classes were found, including alcohols, hydrocarbons, esters, terpenes, ketones, and a green leaf volatile (GLV). The study highlighted differences between volatile profiles for diurnal and nocturnal treatments. The compounds: trans-3-dodecene, 5,5 dibutylnonane, ethyl 2-methyllactate, 2-hexanol, 3-ethyl-2-heptanol, 3-nonanol, and 2-nonanol, have not been previously reported for Vitis vinifera foliage. Notably, eight compounds emitted by cv. Isabella, 1-heptanol, 1-octanol, 2-hexanol, 2-nonanone, β-pinene, camphene, cis-hexenyl acetate, and phenethyl alcohol, are of relevant interest for their role in plant defense. New knowledge on the emission of these compounds in cv. Isabella can help to understand the mechanisms of pathogen tolerance of this genotype and could be an important step in prospecting innovative cropping systems.
Efficient Irrigation Methods and Optimal Nitrogen Dose to Enhance Wheat Yield, Inputs Efficiency and Economic Benefits in the North China Plain
Authors: Yuan Yuan , Lin Feng , Maucieri Carmelo , Zhang Yaojun
Published: January 2022

Nitrogen (N) and water irrigation are two vital factors influencing the agriculture sustainability in various regions across the world, such as the North China Plain (NCP). Exploring optimal N application and water-efficient irrigation methods are needed for achieving greater crop productivity benefits and increasing the efficiency of inputs (N and water) in winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) production in the NCP. For this reason, we conducted a two-year field experiment with four N application rates interacting with three irrigation methods to examine the effects of N fertilization and water-efficient irrigation on grain yield, biomass production, economic benefits, and N- and water-use efficiencies of winter wheat in the NCP. The optimal N fertilization rate was ≈200 kg N ha−1, achieving a high grain yield of winter wheat (≈6000 kg ha−1). At this N dose, the highest net economic benefit was also achieved by the local farmer due to the increased grain yield, which was accompanied by more water-efficient irrigation. N recovery efficiency, agronomy efficiency, and the partial factor productivity of wheat decreased sharply with the N application rate. Water-use efficiency was significantly increased through drip irrigation and sprinkler irrigation. Considering the wheat productivity, input (N and water) efficiencies, and economic performance, water-efficient irrigation accompanied with an N application rate of 200 kg N ha−1 is optimal for achieving high economic returns for local farmers in the NCP.
Relationship between Postpartum Metabolic Status and Subclinical Endometritis in Dairy Cattle
Authors: Yáñez Uxía , Herradón Pedro G. , Becerra Juan J. , Peña Ana I. , Quintela Luis A.
Published: January 2022

The aim of this study was to verify the importance of postpartum serum levels of certain metabolic markers as risk factors for subclinical endometritis (SE). Ninety-four Holstein cows were included in the study, and examinations were carried out between 30–45 days postpartum. Rectal palpation, vaginoscopy, transrectal ultrasound, endometrial cytology, and blood sample collections were performed. The percentage of polymorphonuclear neutrophils (%PMN) on the endometrium was evaluated, as well as serum levels of glucose, cholesterol, triglyceride, albumin, hepatic enzymes, urea, non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA), and β-hydroxybutyrate acid (BHBA). Samples with ≥8% PMN were classified as positive to subclinical endometritis. According to the serum levels of BHBA, cows were classified as clinical ketosis (>2.6 mmol/L), subclinical ketosis (1.2–2.6 mmol/L), and healthy (<1.2 mmol/L). Additionally, body condition score, parity, date of last labor, peripartum issues, insemination date, date of pregnancy diagnosis and milk production information were collected. Data were analyzed using a multiple regression analysis. The results showed that as serum levels of BHBA rose, also did the %PMN, so that up to 60% of cows with clinical ketosis suffered from SE. On the other hand, the %PMN fell as serum levels of urea and albumin increased. Consequently, good postpartum management practices and early detection of metabolic alterations are necessary measures to control predisposing factors and reduce the incidence of SE.
The Effect of Frequency of Fresh Pasture Allocation on the Feeding Behaviour of High Production Dairy Cows
Authors: Pollock Jessica G. , Gordon Alan W. , Huson Kathryn M. , McConnell Deborah A.
Published: January 2022

For ruminants, grazing and ruminating activities are essential in nutrient capture and ultimately animal performance however these activities can demand significant time and energy. This study evaluated the effect of three different pasture allocation frequencies (PAF’s; 12, 24 and 36 h) on the feeding behaviour of grazing dairy cows. Eighty-seven spring calving dairy cows were divided into three treatments. Animals were rotationally grazed with fixed paddock sizes of 0.14 ha, 0.28 ha and 0.42 ha paddocks for the 12 h, 24 h and 36 h treatments, respectively. Animals (14 per treatment) were fitted with behaviour halters that monitored feeding activity. Diurnal feeding patterns were evident for all animals irrespective of PAF, concentrating the majority of grazing during daytime (90%) and ruminating activity during night (73%). Treatment significantly affected feeding behavior patterns. Peak grazing activity coincided with fresh pasture allocation in the 12 h and 24 h treatments. In the 36 h treatment, grazing was more evenly distributed over each 24 h period with peak grazing activity witnessed daily between 17:00 and 19:00 regardless of fresh pasture allocation, suggesting lack of anticipation of fresh feed delivery. In the 12 h treatment primiparous animals exhibited greater grazing and ruminating activity relative to multiparous animals in the 12 h treatment highlighting the impact of competition for resources within each feed on lower dominance animals.
Factors Affecting the Survival of Ram Spermatozoa during Liquid Storage and Options for Improvement
Authors: Rizkallah Natalie , Chambers Caitlin G. , de Graaf Simon P. , Rickard Jessica P.
Published: January 2022

Semen preservation is an essential component of reproductive technologies, as it promotes genetic gain and long-distance semen transport and multiplies the number of ewes able to be inseminated per single ejaculate. However, the reduced temperature during cold storage at 5 or 15 °C inflicts sub-lethal damage to spermatozoa, compromising sperm quality and the success of artificial breeding. New and emerging research in various species has reported the advantages of storing spermatozoa at higher temperatures, such as 23 °C; however, this topic has not been thoroughly investigated for ram spermatozoa. Despite the success of storing spermatozoa at 23 °C, sperm quality can be compromised by the damaging effects of lipid peroxidation, more commonly when metabolism is left unaltered during 23 °C storage. Additionally, given the biosafety concern surrounding the international transport of egg-yolk-containing extenders, further investigation is critical to assess the preservation ability of synthetic extenders and whether pro-survival factors could be supplemented to maximise sperm survival during storage at 23 °C.
Molecular Sexing and Species Detection of Antlered European Hunting Game for Forensic Purposes
Authors: Zenke Petra , Zorkóczy Orsolya Krisztina , Lehotzky Pál , Ózsvári László , Pádár Zsolt
Published: January 2022

Molecular sexing techniques are widely applied in conservation biology, although the range of forensically validated methods is fairly limited. The primary aim of this work was to develop forensically validated assays, using two PCR panels for sex and species assignment for the abundant antlered European game species: red deer (Cervus elaphus), roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) and fallow deer (Dama dama). Segments of the SRY and Amelogenin X/Y genes for sex determination, additionally species-specific cytochrome b regions for species detection were targeted and separately amplified in two multiplex reactions. These assays can reliably analyze trace amounts of DNA. The results of both can easily be visualized and interpreted practically, either on agarose gel or by capillary electrophoresis. These simple, fast molecular assays are able to affect the early-stage resolution of disputed or unsolved poaching cases, without the need of individualization or sequencing of forensic samples.
Pharmacokinetic Profile of Doxycycline in Koala Plasma after Weekly Subcutaneous Injections for the Treatment of Chlamydiosis
Authors: Chen Chien-Jung , Gillett Amber , Booth Rosemary , Kimble Benjamin , Govendir Merran
Published: January 2022

Six mature, male koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus), with clinical signs of chlamydiosis, were administered doxycycline as a 5 mg/kg subcutaneous injection, once a week for four weeks. Blood was collected at standardised time points (T = 0 to 672 h) to quantify the plasma doxycycline concentrations through high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC). In five koalas, the doxycycline plasma concentration over the first 48 h appeared to have two distinct elimination gradients; therefore, a two-compartmental analysis was undertaken to describe the pharmacokinetic (PK) profile. The average ± SD maximum plasma concentration (Cmax) was 312.30 ± 107.74 ng/mL, while the average time ± SD taken to reach the maximum plasma concentration (Tmax) was 1.68 ± 1.49 h. The mean ± SD half-life of the distribution phase (T1/2 α) and the elimination phase (T1/2 β) were 10.51 ± 7.15 h and 82.93 ± 37.76 h, respectively. The average ± SD percentage of doxycycline binding to koala plasma protein was 83.65 ± 4.03% at three different concentrations, with a mean unbound fraction (fu) of 0.16. Using probability of target attainment modelling, doxycycline plasma concentrations were likely to inhibit 90% of pathogens with the doxycycline minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 8.0–31.0 ng/mL, and the reported doxycycline MIC to inhibit Chlamydia pecorum isolates at the area under the curve/minimum inhibitory concentration (AUC/MIC) target of ≥24. All koalas were confirmed to be negative for Chlamydia pecorum using loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP), from ocular and penile urethra swabs, three weeks after the last doxycycline injection.
A Multi-Institutional Collaboration to Understand Neoplasia, Treatment and Survival of Snakes
Authors: Duke Elizabeth G. , Harrison Scott H. , Moresco Anneke , Trout Tim , Troan Brigid V. , Garner Michael M. , Smith Madison , Smith Sidney , Harrison Tara M.
Published: January 2022

This multi-institutional collaborative study of neoplasia in snakes reviewed medical records of snakes at each facility to determine species prevalence, survival, and methods of treatment. Complete species numbers of snakes were also collected at each facility. In total, 65 species, 133 snakes, and 149 unique neoplasias were included in this study. Affected species, age, sex, and their tumor prevalence, tumor type and location, metastasis, treatment, and survival data are reported. The highest species-specific tumor prevalence was in Common or Northern Watersnakes (Nerodia sipedon) (30.8%, n = 4 of 13), Eastern Diamond-Backed Rattlesnakes (Crotalus adamanteus) (26.3%, n = 5 of 19), and Timber rattlesnakes (Crotalus horridus) (22.7%, n = 5 of 22). Malignant tumors predominated (86.6%, n = 129 of 149) with soft tissue sarcomas being the most common (30.2%, n = 45 of 149). Snakes with malignant neoplasia, metastases, or indeterminate presence of metastases were statistically more likely to die from their neoplasms than snakes having either benign neoplasia or no diagnosed metastases (p < 0.05). Gender, taxonomic family, and species of those evaluated did not significantly affect the outcome of snakes with neoplasia. Only 27.1% (n = 36 of 133) of snakes received a reported form of treatment and, for those treated, surgical excision was the most common treatment modality. There was not a significant difference in outcome based on treatment; however, surgery and chemotherapy were associated with death from a cause other than their tumor.
Effects of Different Ammonia Concentrations on Pulmonary Microbial Flora, Lung Tissue Mucosal Morphology, Inflammatory Cytokines, and Neurotransmitters of Broilers
Authors: Wang Guangju , Liu Qingxiu , Zhou Ying , Feng Jinghai , Zhang Minhong
Published: January 2022

Atmospheric ammonia is one of the main environmental stressors affecting the performance of broilers. Previous studies demonstrated that high levels of ammonia altered pulmonary microbiota and induced inflammation. Research into the lung–brain axis has been increasing in recent years. However, the molecular mechanisms in pulmonary microbiota altered by ambient ammonia exposure on broilers and the relationship between microflora, inflammation, and neurotransmitters are still unknown. In this study, a total of 264 Arbor Acres commercial meal broilers (21 days old) were divided into 4 treatment groups (0, 15, 25, and 35 ppm group) with 6 replicates of 11 chickens for 21 days. At 7 and 21 D during the trial period, the lung tissue microflora was evaluated by 16S rDNA sequencing, and the content of cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-10) and norepinephrine (NE), 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) in lung tissue were measured. Correlation analysis was established among lung tissue microflora diversity, inflammatory cytokines, and neurotransmitters. Results showed that the broilers were not influenced after exposure to 15 ppm ammonia, while underexposure of 25 and 35 ppm ammonia resulted in significant effects on pulmonary microflora, inflammatory cytokines, and neurotransmitters. After exposure to ammonia for 7 and 21 days, both increased the proportion of Proteobacteria phylum and the contents of IL-1β and decreased the content of 5-HT. After exposure to ammonia for 7 days, the increase in Proteobacteria in lung tissue was accompanied by a decrease in 5-HT and an increase in IL-1β. In conclusion, the microflora disturbance caused by the increase in Proteobacteria in lung tissue may be the main cause of the changes in inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β) and neurotransmitters (5-HT), and the damage caused by ammonia to broiler lungs may be mediated by the lung–brain axis.
Drug-Dosing Adjustment in Dogs and Cats with Chronic Kidney Disease
Authors: De Santis Francesca , Boari Andrea , Dondi Francesco , Crisi Paolo Emidio
Published: January 2022

Chronic kidney disease is a common kidney disorder in adult and aged dogs and cats; the management of associated complications and comorbidities generally requires a life-long medical treatment to ensure a good quality of life of affected patients. However, indications and the literature on drug dosing in dogs and cats with chronic kidney disease are often lacking. The aim of this review is to revise the current literature on drug dosing in canine and feline patients with renal impairment, with a special focus on the most commonly used medications to manage chronic kidney disease and possible comorbidities.
Antibodies against Platelet Factor 4 and Their Associated Pathologies: From HIT/HITT to Spontaneous HIT-Like Syndrome, to COVID-19, to VITT/TTS
Authors: Favaloro Emmanuel J. , Pasalic Leonardo , Lippi Giuseppe
Published: January 2022

Antibodies against platelet factor 4 (PF4), a protein released from alpha-granules of activated platelets, may cause a number of pathophysiological conditions. The most commonly known is heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT), which develops in a small proportion of people treated with the anticoagulant drug heparin. Notably, PF4 binds with high affinity to heparin, and in HIT, complexes of PF4/H may, in a small proportion of susceptible patients, trigger the development of anti-PF4 antibodies and subsequent platelet activation and aggregation, ultimately leading to the development of pathological thrombosis at sites of vessel occlusion. Of more modern interest, antibodies against PF4 may also arise in patients with COVID-19 (Coronavirus Disease 2019) or in patients who have been vaccinated against COVID-19, especially in recipients of adenovirus-based vaccines. For this latter group of patients, the terms VITT (vaccine-induced [immune] thrombotic thrombocytopenia) and TTS (thrombotic thrombocytopenia syndrome) have been coined. Another category associated with this pathophysiology comprises those in whom a precipitating event is not clear; this category is referred to as ‘spontaneous HIT-like syndrome’. Despite its name, it arises as an HIT-mimicking disorder but without antecedent heparin exposure. In this narrative review, we describe the development of antibodies against PF4, and associated pathophysiology, in such conditions.
Groin Surgical Site Infection in Vascular Surgery: Systemic Review on Peri-Operative Antibiotic Prophylaxis
Authors: Amato Bruno , Compagna Rita , De Vivo Salvatore , Rocca Aldo , Carbone Francesca , Gentile Maurizio , Cirocchi Roberto , Squizzato Francesco , Spertino Andrea , Battocchio Piero
Published: January 2022

Objectives: Surgical site infections (SSIs) in lower extremity vascular surgeries, post-groin incision, are not only common complications and significant contributors to patient mortality and morbidity, but also major financial burdens on healthcare systems and patients. In spite of recent advances in pre- and post-operative care, SSI rates in the vascular surgery field remain significant. However, compliant antibiotic therapy can successfully reduce the SSI incidence pre- and post-surgery. Methods: In October 2021, we conducted a systematic literature review using OVID, PubMed, and EMBASE databases, centered on studies published between January 1980 and December 2020. The review adhered to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta Analyses checklist. Inclusion/exclusion criteria have been carefully selected and reported in the text. For analyses, we calculated 95% confidence intervals (CI) and weighted odds ratios to amalgamate control and study groups in publications. We applied The Cochrane Collaboration tool to assess bias risk in selected studies. Results: In total, 592 articles were identified. After the removal of duplicates and excluded studies, 36 full-texts were included for review. Conclusions: The review confirmed that antibiotic therapy, administered according to all peri-operative protocols described, is useful in reducing groin SSI rate in vascular surgery.
Antibiotic Prophylaxis in Torso, Maxillofacial, and Skin Traumatic Lesions: A Systematic Review of Recent Evidence
Authors: Cicuttin Enrico , Sartelli Massimo , Scozzafava Emanuele , Tartaglia Dario , Cremonini Camilla , Brevi Bruno , Ramacciotti Niccolò , Musetti Serena , Strambi Silvia , Podda Mauro , Catena Fausto , Chiarugi Massimo , Coccolini Federico
Published: January 2022

Use of antibiotic prophylaxis (AP) in trauma patients is a common practice. However, considering the increasing rates of antibiotic resistance, AP use should be questioned and limited only to specific cases. We performed a systematic review of recent literature (from year 2000), aiming to summarize the state of the art on efficacy and appropriateness of AP in patients with traumatic injuries of torso, maxillofacial complex and skin (including burns). Twenty-six articles were selected. In thoracic trauma, AP could be useful in reducing infective complications in tube thoracostomy for penetrating trauma. In maxillo-facial trauma, AP could find a role in the peri-operative trauma setting in the case of a graft or prosthetic implant. In abdominal trauma, there is a lack of consensus on the definition of contamination, infection, antibiotic therapy, and prophylaxis. In burned patients, routine AP is not suggested. In the case of human bites to the extremities, AP could find an indication. Future studies should focus on the subcategories of patients at higher risk of infection, identifying those who would benefit from AP. Attention to antimicrobial stewardship and guidelines focused on AP in trauma are required, to reduce antibiotic abuse, and increase quality research.
Development of 5-DOF Piezoelectric Actuator for Planar—Angular Positioning
Authors: Čeponis Andrius , Jūrėnas Vytautas , Mažeika Dalius
Published: January 2022

A novel five degrees of freedom (5-DOF) piezoelectric actuator is proposed and analyzed in this paper. The actuator can provide unlimited self-motion in the plane and angular positioning of the spherical payload. The actuator is composed of a cylindrical bronze frame and a piezo ceramic ring glued on top of the cylinder. The cylinder has three cut-outs used to form three supports. The top electrode of the piezo ceramic ring is divided into six equal sections. Three electrodes are used to control the direction of the planar motion, while the remaining three electrodes allow controlling angular motion. The planar motion of the actuator is induced by employing radial vibrations of the supports, while the rotational motion of the sphere is obtained when radial vibrations of the corresponding sections of the piezo ceramic ring are excited. The proposed design of the actuator allows reducing coupling between vibrations of the different segments and ensures the possibility to obtain 5-DOF motion. The piezoelectric actuator is excited using a single harmonic signal switched between electrodes via a digitally controlled switch box. The numerical and experimental studies of the actuator were performed, and the operating principle was validated. The maximum linear velocity of 19.8 mm/s and angular speed of 31.3 RPM were obtained when the payload of 55.68 g and excitation voltage of 200 Vp-p was applied.
Recent Advances in Cereals, Legumes and Oilseeds Grain Products Rheology and Quality
Authors: Codină Georgiana Gabriela
Published: January 2022

Grains and the products obtained from them have a central importance in human nutrition, representing the main source of food for humans [...]
Research and Verification of Trajectory Tracking Control of a Quadrotor Carrying a Load
Authors: Fan Yunsheng , Guo Hongrun , Han Xinjie , Chen Xinyu
Published: January 2022

This paper assumes that considering the unknown and time-varying nature of different strong and weak wind field disturbances and considering the nonlinear, under-driven, strongly coupled quadrotor carrying, a load is disturbed by the complex and variable wind field and unmodeled parts when flying in the real external environment, which will reduce the control effect of the nonlinear controller and make the vehicle fail to affect the flight effect. In order to ensure that the quadrotor carrying a load can carry supplies in the harsh environment for stable trajectory tracking, a neural network adaptive control algorithm is introduced in the article. The neural network algorithm has the role of online dynamic approximation, the compensation of arbitrary external disturbance and the compensation of external disturbance. Its structure is simple and low computation. In the article, the Lyapunov method is used to design the adaptive weight and estimate the weight of the online neural network, and the stability of the system is proved. Finally, the comparison of three algorithms verified by simulation proves that the above interference problem can be solved effectively by the proposed algorithm.
Data Security-Based Routing in MANETs Using Key Management Mechanism
Authors: Bondada Praveen , Samanta Debabrata , Kaur Manjit , Lee Heung-No
Published: January 2022

A Mobile Ad Hoc Network (MANET) is an autonomous network developed using wireless mobile nodes without the support of any kind of infrastructure. In a MANET, nodes can communicate with each other freely and dynamically. However, MANETs are prone to serious security threats that are difficult to resist using the existing security approaches. Therefore, various secure routing protocols have been developed to strengthen the security of MANETs. In this paper, a secure and energy-efficient routing protocol is proposed by using group key management. Asymmetric key cryptography is used, which involves two specialized nodes, labeled the Calculator Key (CK) and the Distribution Key (DK). These two nodes are responsible for the generation, verification, and distribution of secret keys. As a result, other nodes need not perform any kind of additional computation for building the secret keys. These nodes are selected using the energy consumption and trust values of nodes. In most of the existing routing protocols, each node is responsible for the generation and distribution of its own secret keys, which results in more energy dissemination. Moreover, if any node is compromised, security breaches should occur. When nodes other than the CK and DK are compromised, the entire network’s security is not jeopardized. Extensive experiments are performed by considering the existing and the proposed protocols. Performance analyses reveal that the proposed protocol outperforms the competitive protocols.
Semantic Segmentation Based on Depth Background Blur
Authors: Li Hao , Liu Changjiang , Basu Anup
Published: January 2022

Deep convolutional neural networks (CNNs) are effective in image classification, and are widely used in image segmentation tasks. Several neural netowrks have achieved high accuracy in segementation on existing semantic datasets, for instance PASCAL VOC, CamVid, and Cityscapes. However, there are nearly no studies on semantic segmentation from the perspective of a dataset itself. In this paper, we analyzed the characteristics of datasets, and proposed a novel experimental strategy based on bokeh to weaken the impact of futile background information. This crucial bokeh module processed each image in the inference phase by selecting an opportune fuzzy factor σ, so that the attention of our network can focus on the categories of interest. Some networks based on fully convolutional networks (FCNs) were utilized to verify the effectiveness of our method. Extensive experiments demonstrate that our approach can generally improve the segmentation results on existing datasets, such as PASCAL VOC 2012 and CamVid.
The Effect of Essential Oils on the Survival of Bifidobacterium in In Vitro Conditions and in Fermented Cream
Authors: Kozłowska Mariola , Ziarno Małgorzata , Rudzińska Magdalena , Majcher Małgorzata , Małajowicz Jolanta , Michewicz Karolina
Published: January 2022

Essential oils derived from plant materials are a mixture of compounds that exhibit antibacterial properties. Due to their distinct aroma, they also serve as a desirable natural additive for various food products, including dairy products. In this study, the essential oils of lemon peels, clove buds, and juniper berries were obtained by steam distillation and characterized using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry to determine their chemical compositions and effects on the viability of seven Bifidobacterium strains. Furthermore, the effect of essential oils on the viability of Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis Bb-12 was investigated in cream samples during fermentation and after storage for 21 days at 6 °C. The fatty acid composition of fat extracted from essential oils containing sour cream samples and the volatile aroma compound profile of the sour cream samples were also determined chromatographically. Among the 120 compounds identified, monoterpene hydrocarbons were dominant in the essential oils of lemon peels (limonene and γ-terpinene) and juniper berries (sabinene and β-myrcene), while eugenol and eugenol acetate were abundant in the essential oil of clove buds. In addition to these compounds, butanoic and acetic acids were found in the tested sour cream samples. In turn, fat extracted from these samples was rich in saturated fatty acids, mainly palmitic acid. Among the tested strains of the genus Bifidobacterium, B. animalis subsp. lactis Bb-12 was the most sensitive to the essential oils of clove and juniper, as indicated by the larger growth inhibition zones. However, both the concentration and type of essential oils used had no effect on the number of cells of this strain present in the cream samples immediately after fermentation and after its 21-day storage, which suggests that the tested essential oils could be a natural additive to dairy products.
Packet Injection Exploiting Attack and Mitigation in Software-Defined Networks
Authors: Li Jishuai , Qin Sujuan , Tu Tengfei , Zhang Hua , Li Yongsheng
Published: January 2022

Software-defined networking (SDN) decouples the control plane and data plane through OpenFlow technology and allows flexible network control. It has been widely applied in different areas and has become a focus of attention in the future network. With SDN’s development, its security problem has become a necessary point of research to be solved urgently. In this paper, we propose a novel attack, namely, the packet injection exploiting attack. By maliciously injecting false hosts into SDN network topology, attackers can further use them to launch a denial of service (DoS) attack. The consequences affect the throughput and processing capabilities of the controller, severely consume data plane resources, and ultimately affect the entire network. To prevent the packet-injection exploiting attack, we designed PIEDefender, an efficient, protocol-independent component built on SDN controllers to detect and mitigate attacks effectively. We implement the PIEDefender prototype on the Floodlight controller and assess the effectiveness in the software environment. Experimental results show that PIEDefender achieves a 97.8% injection detection precision and a 97.96% DoS detection precision, incurring an average CPU consumption of 10%. The evaluation demonstrates that the PIEDefender can effectively mitigate the attack against SDN with limited overhead.
Prediction of Run-Off Road Crash Severity in South Korea’s Highway through Tree Augmented Naïve Bayes Learning
Authors: Kim Hyungkyu , Kim Jin-Tae , Shin Somyoung , Lee Hyerin , Lim Joonbeom
Published: January 2022

The run-off road crash (RORC) is a representative type of lethal crash. The severity of RORC has increased owing to a combination of factors, such as roadside geometry, traffic conditions, and weather/climatic conditions. In this study, a model for estimating the RORC severity was developed based on various factors, including fixed objects, roadway geometry, traffic conditions, and road traffic environment. To develop the model, the accident data of crashes with roadside fixed objects on highways, as well as information on fixed object-related variables and roadway geometry-related variables, were collected. To improve the model in terms of implementing a close reflection of the real world, a learning method with tree augmented naïve Bayes (TAN), which takes into account the causal links between variables, was applied. The results of the analysis showed that the severity of crashes with roadside fixed objects increased sharply when the vertical slope was ≥4%, the radius of the curve was ≥250 m, the distance between the fixed object and the roadway was less than 3 m, or the density of fixed objects installation was greater than 2 for every 10 m. The proposed model allows for an analysis of sections with a high RORC severity on the roadways in operation and provides improvement measures to reduce the severity of RORC.