bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
ZjFAS2 is involved in the fruit coloration in Ziziphus jujuba Mill. by regulating anthocyanin accumulation
Authors: Li Shipeng , Shen Yuanyuan , Zheng Shipei , Zhu Qihang , Cai Linfang , Wang Yian , Zhao Xusheng
Published: March 2023

Fruit color is one of the most important traits of jujube (Ziziphus jujuba Mill.). However, the differences in the pigments of different varieties of Jujube are not well studied. In addition, the genes responsible for fruit color and their underlying molecular mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, two jujube varieties, namely “Fengmiguan” (FMG) and “Tailihong” (TLH), were considered. The metabolites from jujube fruits were investigated using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry. Transcriptome was used to screen anthocyanin regulatory genes. The gene function was confirmed by overexpression and transient expression experiments. The gene expression was analyzed by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction analyses and subcellular localization. Yeast-two-hybrid and bimolecular fluorescence complementation were used to screen and identify the interacting protein. These cultivars differed in color owing to their respective anthocyanin accumulation patterns. Three and seven types of anthocyanins were found in FMG and TLH, respectively, which played a key role in the process of fruit coloration. ZjFAS2 positively regulates anthocyanin accumulation. The expression profile of ZjFAS2 exhibited its different expression trends in different tissues and varieties. Subcellular localization experiments showed that ZjFAS2 was localized to the nucleus and membrane. A total of 36 interacting proteins were identified, and the possibility of ZjFAS2 interacting with ZjSHV3 to regulate jujube fruit coloration was studied. Herein, we investigated the role of anthocyanins in the different coloring patterns of the jujube fruits and provided a foundation for elucidating the molecular mechanism underlying jujube fruit coloration.
Exploring the effects of a wearable biocueing app (Sense-IT) as an addition to aggression regulation therapy in forensic psychiatric outpatients
Authors: ter Harmsel Janna F. , Noordzij Matthijs L. , van der Pol Thimo M. , Swinkels Lise T. A. , Goudriaan Anna E. , Popma Arne
Published: March 2023

Objective

Preventing and reducing violence is of high importance for both individuals and society. However, the overall efficacy of current treatment interventions aimed at reducing aggressive behavior is limited. New technological-based interventions may enhance treatment outcomes, for instance by facilitating out-of-session practice and providing just-in-time support. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the effects of the Sense-IT biocueing app as an addition to aggression regulation therapy (ART) on interoceptive awareness, emotion regulation, and aggressive behavior among forensic outpatients.

Methods

A combination of methods was used. Quantitatively, a pretest-posttest design was applied to explore group changes in aggression, emotion regulation, and anger bodily sensations associated with the combination of biocueing intervention and ART. Measures were assessed at pretest, after 4 weeks posttest, and after one-month follow-up. During the 4 weeks, a single-case experimental ABA design was applied for each participant. Biocueing was added in the intervention phase. During all phases anger, aggressive thoughts, aggressive behavior, behavioral control, and physical tension were assessed twice a day, and heart rate was measured continuously. Qualitative information regarding interoceptive awareness, coping, and aggression was collected at posttest. 25 forensic outpatients participated.

Results

A significant decrease in self-reported aggression was found between pre- and posttest. Furthermore, three-quarters of participants reported increased interoceptive awareness associated with the biocueing intervention. However, the repeated ambulatory measurements of the single-case experimental designs (SCEDs) did not indicate a clear effect favoring the addition of biocueing. On group level, no significant effects were found. On the individual level, effects favoring the intervention were only found for two participants. Overall, effect sizes were small.

Conclusion

Biocueing seems a helpful addition to increase interoceptive awareness among forensic outpatients. However, not all patients benefit from the current intervention and, more specifically, from its behavioral support component aimed at enhancing emotion regulation. Future studies should therefore focus on increasing usability, tailoring the intervention to individual needs, and on integration into therapy. Individual characteristics associated with effective support by a biocueing intervention should be further investigated, as the use of personalized and technological-based treatment interventions is expected to increase in the coming years.
A meta-review of systematic reviews and meta-analyses on outcomes of psychosocial interventions in heart failure
Authors: Nahlén Bose Catarina
Published: March 2023

Introduction

Chronic heart failure is a severe condition that influences not just the physical dimension but also the mental dimension in patients. Comorbidity of depression and anxiety are prevalent and the quality of life is reduced. Despite the psychological impact there are no recommendations in the guidelines for psychosocial interventions for people with heart failure. The aim of this meta-review is to synthesize results of systematic reviews and meta-analyses on the outcomes of psychosocial interventions in heart failure.

Methods

Searches were conducted in PubMed, PsychInfo, Cinahl and the Cochrane Library. In total, seven articles were included after screening 259 studies for eligibility.

Results

The included reviews had, in total, 67 original studies included. The measured outcomes in the systematic reviews and meta-analyses were; depression, anxiety, quality of life, hospitalization, mortality, self-care and physical capacity. The results are inconsistent but show some short-term benefit of psychosocial interventions for reduced depression and anxiety and improved quality of life. However, the long-term effects were sparsely followed up.

Discussion

This meta-review appears to be the first in the field of the efficacy of psychosocial interventions in chronic heart failure. This meta-review identifies gaps in the current available evidence that need to be further explored, such as booster sessions, longer follow-up time for evaluation and incorporating clinical outcomes and measures of stress processes.
Characterization and susceptibility of non-albicans Candida isolated from various clinical specimens in Lebanese hospitals
Authors: Husni Rola , Bou Zerdan Maroun , Samaha Nadia , Helou Mariana , Mahfouz Youssef , Saniour Rim , Hourani Sawsan , Kolanjian Harout , Afif Claude , Azar Eid , El Jisr Tamima , Mokhbat Jacques , Abboud Emma , Feghali Rita , Abboud Edmond , Matta Hiam , Karayakouboglo Gilbert , Matar Madonna , Moghnieh Rima , Daoud Ziad
Published: March 2023

Background

Invasive fungal infections have presented a challenge in treatment. In the past, it was known that the frontrunner in such infections is Candida albicans with little emphasis placed on non-albicans Candida species (NAC). Studies worldwide have shown a rise in fungal infections attributed to non-albicans Candida species. The aim of this study is to describe the epidemiology of NAC infections along with an overview of resistance in Lebanese hospitals.

Methods

This is a two-year observational multi-central descriptive study. Between September 2016 and May of 2018, a total of 1000 isolates were collected from 10 different hospitals distributed all over the country. For the culture, Sabouraud Dextrose Agar was used. Antifungal Susceptibility was evaluated by determining the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) in broth (microdilution) of the different antifungal treatments.

Results

Out of the 1000 collected isolates, Candida glabrata, being the most isolated species (40.8%), followed by Candida tropicalis: 231(23.1%), Candida parapsilosis: 103(10.3%), and other NAC species at lower percentage. Most of these isolates (88.67%) were susceptible to posaconazole, 98.22% were susceptible to micafungin, and 10% were susceptible to caspofungin.

Conclusion

The change of etiology of fungal infections involving a significant increase in NAC cases is alarming due to the different antifungal susceptibility patterns and the lack of local guidelines to guide the treatment. In this context, proper identification of such organisms is of utmost importance. The data presented here can help in establishing guidelines for the treatment of candida infections to decrease morbidity and mortality. Future surveillance data are needed.
Psychological status of medical staff dedicated to nucleic acid collection in COVID-19 epidemic during closed-loop management: A cross-sectional study
Authors: Sun Mingzhu , Li Xiaowei , Yao Jie , Huang Xi , Kang Yujuan , Li Zixuan
Published: March 2023

Background

To investigate the depression, anxiety and somnipathy situation occurred in the nucleic acid collection staff during the closed-loop management period of COVID-19. And try to understand the influencing factors of related psychological status.

Methods

A cross-sectional study of 1,014 nucleic acid collection staff from seven Chinese hospitals was conducted. Various investigation methods were involved in the questionnaires to collect data, including 12-items self-made questionnaire survey of basic demographic information, 9-items patient health questionnaire depression scale (PHQ-9), 7-items generalized anxiety disorder scale (GAD-7) and Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI). Data analysis was performed using SPSS version 26.0 and Excel software. Mann-Whitney U-test, Chi-square test, correlation analysis, mono-factor analysis and binary logistic regression were applied accordingly for further analysis.

Results

The positive rate of depression, anxiety and sleep disorder of 1,014 nucleic acid collectors under closed-loop management were 33.5, 27.2, and 50.1%, respectively. Depression was significantly positively correlated with anxiety and sleep (P < 0.05). The scores of depression scale were positively correlated with the age and the fear for infection (r = 0.106, 0.218, both P < 0.05); The scores of anxiety scale were also positively correlated with the age and the fear for infection (r = 0.124, 0.225, both P < 0.05); The length of service, collection time and the degree of worry about infection and was positively correlated with the score of sleep scale (r = 0.077, 0.074, 0.195, both P < 0.05); Education level had a significant negative association with PHQ-9, GAD-7 and PSQI (r = −0.167,−0.172, both P < 0.05). Binary logistic regression analysis showed that age, technical title, education level, collection time, collection frequency, collection location, fear for infection and external environment were important influencing factors of depression, anxiety and sleep disorders.

Conclusion

The results of this study suggested that when carrying out nucleic acid collection mission, managers should intervene to optimize the collection location, control the duration of each collection mission, replace the collection staff in time and pay close attention to the psychological state of the collection staff.
A study on the influence of community spiritual comfort service on the mental health of older people
Authors: Dai Jing , Liu Yang , Zhang Xue , Wang Zongyue , Yang Yunjuan
Published: March 2023

Background

China is experiencing rapid population aging, with the proportion of older adult people aged 60 and above reaching 19. 8% of the total population in 2022. With the growth of age, the physical function of older adults declines and their mental health is getting worse, with the increasing trend of empty nesting and childlessness, older adults lack information and social interaction with others and fall into social isolation, loneliness and some mental health problems, the proportion of older adults with mental health problems gradually rises and the mortality rate increases incrementally, requiring effective ways to intervene in the mental health of older adults and promote healthy aging.

Aim of the study

The present study investigated the influence of spiritual comfort older adult services on the mental health of 12,624 older adults aged 60 years or older in 23 provinces in China from 2017 to 2018, with the aim of providing a case for the development of more targeted mental health strategies for older people.

Methods

Using the data from the 2018 CLHLS Survey, the influencing factors of the mental health of older people were analyzed using chi-square test and the logit regression model. The mechanism of the health care facilities and the spiritual comfort services on mental health was analyzed using the chain mediation effect.

Results

The spiritual comfort services decreased the risk of negative emotion and mental health of older adults, with female (OR = 1.168), rural residents (OR = 1.385), no drinking (OR = 1.255), not exercising (OR = 1.543), not having pension insurance (OR = 1.233), and low annual household income (OR = 1.416) being the characteristics as risk factors. The mediating effect results showed that the health care facilities had a partial mediating effect between the spiritual comfort services and the mental health status of older people, and the mediating effect accounted for 40.16% of the total effect.

Conclusions

The use of spiritual comfort services can effectively reduce and alleviate the adverse mental health symptoms of older people, promote guidance and health education for healthy older people and chronically ill patients, and improve the good health perception of older people in order to improve their quality of life and mental health status.
Analysis of the anxiety level and influencing factors during the coronavirus disease 2019 epidemic among the parents of students in China
Authors: Han Jing , Zhang Xi , Zhang Shengchao , Li Yuting , Zhang Dongmei , Chen Qingsong
Published: March 2023

Background

Due to the outbreak of Coronavirus Disease 2019, there has been a significant impact on the mental health of parents. However, no detailed study on the mental health status of parents has been conducted to date.

Methods

This study was a cross-sectional used a whole-group random sampling method to conduct an online questionnaire survey with 102,883 parents in Guangdong Province, China, April 25, 2020 and May 14, 2020. Anxiety was assessed by using the Generalized Anxiety Disorder tool (GAD-7). Potential factors of anxiety were estimated using univariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression analysis by SPSS 22.0 statistical software.

Results

Among the total 94,705 parents who have completed the questionnaire survey (92.05% response rate). The incidence of anxiety was 23.77%. Parents' anxiety symptoms are more likely to be caused by female family roles, higher levels of education, unemployed or jobless employment status, children not being an only child, and children having negative attitudes toward online courses.

Conclusions

Our research shows that most parents experienced mild anxiety during the Coronavirus Disease 2019 epidemic. Our findings provide strong evidence for investigating and focusing on the mental health of this population during the COVID-19 epidemic. Therefore, governments and healthcare departments at all levels should actively provide psychological counseling services to relieve their anxiety symptoms.
The association between Chinese eye exercises and myopia in children and adolescents: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Tang Jie , Pei Yifei , Wang Jingjing , Yan Na , Luo Yunjiao , Zhou Wen , Wang Xiaojuan , Wang Wei
Published: March 2023

Objective

This study aims to summarize the relevant evidence on the association between eye exercises and myopia in children and adolescents in China.

Methods

The meta-analysis pooled the results of 12 studies, with a total of 134,201 participants. Another five studies (no OR for myopia as an outcome and meeting inclusion criteria) were reported in the systematic review. We searched PubMed, Web of Science, CNKI, Wan Fang, and reference lists of retrieved studies. Association estimates were pooled using random-effects meta-analyses. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for eye exercises and myopia were pooled from a meta-analysis.

Results

After standardizing the reference values, a pooled OR of the univariate analysis showed a 24% reduction in myopia in children and adolescents who performed eye exercises (OR = 0.76; 95% CI: 0.62–0.89). After adjusting the covariate, a pooled OR of multiple logistic analysis for myopia (OR = 0.87; 95% CI: 0.72–1.02) showed that there is no significance between eye exercises and myopia. However, in subgroup studies of the multivariate analysis, the large sample (OR = 0.84; 95% CI: 0.74–0.94) and Chinese database (OR = 0.80; 95% CI: 0.67–0.93) subgroup showed modest protective effects. In addition, five studies in the systematic review also evaluated the risk of myopia events, and Chinese eye exercises had a modest protective effect on myopic control, but the incorrect performance of and attitude toward eye exercises posed negative effects on their eyesight health.

Conclusion

Chinese eye exercises have a modest protective effect on myopic control, but considering that the incorrect performance of and attitude toward eye exercises have a significant influence on the effect of eye exercises, the effect of eye exercises may not be enough to prevent the progress of myopia in the long term, and more standardized eye exercises need to be conducted.
Design and management considerations for control groups in hybrid effectiveness-implementation trials: Narrative review & case studies
Authors: Jurczuk Magdalena , Thakar Ranee , Carroll Fran E. , Phillips Lizzie , Meulen Jan van der , Gurol-Urganci Ipek , Sevdalis Nick
Published: March 2023

Hybrid effectiveness-implementation studies allow researchers to combine study of a clinical intervention's effectiveness with study of its implementation with the aim of accelerating the translation of evidence into practice. However, there currently exists limited guidance on how to design and manage such hybrid studies. This is particularly true for studies that include a comparison/control arm that, by design, receives less implementation support than the intervention arm. Lack of such guidance can present a challenge for researchers both in setting up but also in effectively managing participating sites in such trials. This paper uses a narrative review of the literature (Phase 1 of the research) and comparative case study of three studies (Phase 2 of the research) to identify common themes related to study design and management. Based on these, we comment and reflect on: (1) the balance that needs to be struck between fidelity to the study design and tailoring to emerging requests from participating sites as part of the research process, and (2) the modifications to the implementation strategies being evaluated. Hybrid trial teams should carefully consider the impact of design selection, trial management decisions, and any modifications to implementation processes and/or support on the delivery of a controlled evaluation. The rationale for these choices should be systematically reported to fill the gap in the literature.
Knowledge of danger signs in pregnancy and their associated factors among pregnant women in Hosanna Town, Hadiya Zone, southern Ethiopia
Authors: Mesele Tiruye Tilahun , Syuom Asmra Tesfahun , Molla Eshetie Amare
Published: March 2023

Background

Danger signs in pregnancy can warn of maternal health problems. In developing African countries, including Ethiopia, the rate of maternal mortality is high. There is little knowledge of danger signs during pregnancy and their associated factors at the community level in the study area.

Methods

A community-based, cross-sectional study was conducted to assess knowledge about danger signs among pregnant women in Hosanna Zuria Kebeles between 30 June and 30 July 2021. A simple random sampling method was used to select eligible pregnant women. The sample size was proportionally allocated based on the number of pregnant women in each kebele. Data were collected in face-to-face interviews using a pretested questionnaire. The descriptive results were presented as proportions, whereas the analytic results were presented as adjusted odds ratios (AOR).

Results

The prevalence of good knowledge of danger signs in pregnancy was 259/410 (63.2%, 95% confidence interval (CI) 58.3–67.8). The most common known danger signs during pregnancy were severe vaginal bleeding (n = 227, 55.4%), followed by blurred vision (n = 224, 54.6%). In the multivariable analysis, the age of the respondent (AOR = 3.29, 95% CI 1.15–9.38), the tertiary education of the mother (AOR = 5.40, 95% CI 2.56–11.34), and the number of live births (AOR = 3.95, 95% CI 2.08–7.48) were statistically significant factors.

Conclusion

There was an adequate prevalence of knowledge of danger signs in pregnancy among pregnant mothers compared with different studies in Ethiopia and different countries. Advanced maternal age, the respondent's level of education, and the number of live births were found to be independent determining factors for the level of knowledge on danger signs in pregnancy among pregnant mothers. Health facilities and healthcare providers should focus on antenatal care and the age and parity of the mother when giving information about danger signs in pregnancy. The Ministry of Health should provide reproductive health services in rural areas and encourage education for women. Further studies need to be conducted and include danger signs in the three trimesters using a qualitative study design.
Probing interfaces of pea protein-stabilized emulsions with a fluorescent molecular rotor
Authors: Velandia Santiago F. , Bittermann Marius R. , Mirzahossein Elham , Giubertoni Giulia , Caporaletti Federico , Sadtler Véronique , Marchal Philippe , Roques-Carmes Thibault , Meinders Marcel B. J. , Bonn Daniel
Published: March 2023

Pea protein isolate (Pisum sativum L., PPI) has been much studied in the last decade because of its potential as a bio-based alternative for surfactants to produce innovative and environmentally friendly emulsion products. PPI is ideal due to its favorable nutritional properties, low allergenicity and low environmental impact. Despite its growing popularity, understanding the stabilisation mechanism of emulsions stabilized with PPI remains a key question that requires further investigation. Here, we use fluorescence lifetime microscopy with molecular rotors as local probes for interfacial viscosity of PPI stabilized emulsions. The fluorescence lifetime correlates to the local viscosity at the oil-water interface allowing us to probe the proteins at the interfacial region. We find that the measured interfacial viscosity is strongly pH-dependent, an observation that can be directly related to PPI aggregation and PPI reconformation. By means of molecular rotor measurements we can link the local viscosity of the PPI particles at the interface to the Pickering-like stabilisation mechanism. Finally, this can be compared to the local viscosity of PPI solutions at different pH conditions, showing the importance of the PPI treatment prior to emulsification.
Intelligent Fault Prognosis Method Based on Stacked Autoencoder and Continuous Deep Belief Network
Authors: Zhang Chao , Zhang Yibin , Huang Qixuan , Zhou Yong
Published: March 2023

Mechanical fault prediction is one of the main problems in condition-based maintenance, and its purpose is to predict the future working status of the machine based on the collected status information of the machine. However, on one hand, the model health indices based on the information collected by the sensors will directly affect the evaluation results of the system. On the other hand, because the model health index is a continuous time series, the effect of feature learning on continuous data also affects the results of fault prognosis. This paper makes full use of the autonomous information fusion capability of the stacked autoencoder and the strong feature learning capability of continuous deep belief networks for continuous data, and proposes a novel fault prognosis method. Firstly, a stacked autoencoder is used to construct the model health index through the feature learning and information fusion of the vibration signals collected by the sensors. To solve the local fluctuations in the health indices, the exponentially weighted moving average method is used to smooth the index data to reduce the impact of noise. Then, a continuous deep belief network is used to perform feature learning on the constructed health index to predict future performance changes in the model. Finally, a fault prognosis experiment based on bearing data was performed. The experimental results show that the method combines the advantages of stacked autoencoders and continuous deep belief networks, and has a lower prediction error than traditional intelligent fault prognosis methods.
Selective Passive/Active Switchable Knee Prosthesis Based on Multifunctional Rotary Hydraulic Cylinder for Transfemoral Amputees
Authors: Shin Hyunjun , Park Jinkuk , Lee Huitae , Jung Sungyoon , Jeon Mankee , Park Sehoon
Published: March 2023

Significant advances have been made in prostheses with the aim of enhancing the quality of life for transfemoral amputees. While commercially available transfemoral prostheses mainly focus on the developing passive prostheses that act only as dampers, academic research is centered round powered prostheses that can provide net-positive knee torque. Although recent active-powered prostheses have made excellent progress in terms of weight and battery life, it remains unclear if these prostheses can be effectively used in everyday life. This study presents a rotary hybrid prosthesis based on the combination of a multifunctional rotary hydraulic cylinder that is designed to operate as a brake, clutch, and damper with a 100 W active motor system. This prosthesis enables long-term level ground walking while supplying active power as needed. The passive and active components of this hybrid prosthesis are designed such that they can be decoupled when operated independently, allowing for quick switching between passive and active modes in 50–100 ms. The study outlines the aims and procedures for the design of rotary hybrid prostheses, as well as the feasibility tests for each module and the amputee’s clinical test on the developed knee prosthesis.
Kriging-Based Framework Applied to a Multi-Point, Multi-Objective Engine Air-Intake Duct Aerodynamic Optimization Problem
Authors: Drężek Przemysław S. , Kubacki Sławomir , Żółtak Jerzy
Published: March 2023

The forecasted growth in dynamic global air fleet size in the coming decades, together with the need to introduce disruptive technologies supporting net-zero emission air transport, demands more efficient design and optimization workflows. This research focuses on developing an aerodynamic optimization framework suited for multi-objective studies of small aircraft engine air-intake ducts in multiple flight conditions. In addition to the refinement of the duct’s performance criteria, the work aims to improve the economic efficiency of the process. The optimization scheme combines the advantages of Kriging-based Efficient Global Optimization (EGO) with the Radial Basis Functions (RBF)-based mesh morphing technique and the Chebyshev-type Achievement Scalarizing Function (ASF) for handling multiple objectives and design points. The proposed framework is applied to an aerodynamic optimization study of an I-31T aircraft turboprop engine intake system. The workflow successfully reduces the air-duct pressure losses and mitigates the flow distortion at the engine compressor’s front face in three considered flight phases. The results prove the framework’s potential for solving complex multi-point air-intake duct problems and the capacity of the ASF-based formulation to guide optimization toward the designer’s preferred objective targets.
Bioclimatic Characterization Relating to Temperature and Subsequent Future Scenarios of Vine Growing across the Apulia Region in Southern Italy
Authors: Gentilesco Giovanni , Coletta Antonio , Tarricone Luigi , Alba Vittorio
Published: March 2023

The progressive climate change has an impact on the quantity and quality of grapes. Among meteorological parameters, air temperature is believed to have a direct influence on grape yield and composition, as well as on the organoleptic characteristics of wines. Therefore, in this work three bioclimatic indices based on temperature have been considered, with the aim of classifying the climate in the winegrowing region of Apulia (southern Italy) based on historical periods of thirty years (1961–1990 and 1991–2022) and verifying its evolution in the future in relation to global warming under two different Shared Socioeconomic Pathways, SSP2–4.5 and SSP5–8.5, by combining four global climate models. The results showed that the period 2021–2040 was almost unchanged compared to the last historical period of 1991–2022. The differences between the two SSPs became more pronounced as time progressed until the end of this century. By 2081–2100, SSP2–4.5, considered the most likely and mildest future scenario, demonstrated the existence of areas still suitable for quality viticulture, mainly in the higher altitudes of the Murgia plateau, the Gargano promontory and the Pre–Apennine area. In contrast, SSP5–8.5, described as “highly unlikely”, showed a dramatic shift of more than 90% of Apulia region to “too hot” classes to ensure the survival of viticulture for all the bioclimatic indices considered. These results suggest the winegrowers should consider short– and long–term solutions and adaptations in order to preserve the regional tradition and wine quality and to plan the Apulian viticulture for future scenarios.
Natural Farming Practices for Chemical-Free Agriculture: Implications for Crop Yield and Profitability
Authors: Kumar Ranjit , Kumar Sanjiv , Yashavanth BS , Venu Nakeertha , Meena PC , Dhandapani A , Kumar Alok
Published: March 2023

The “Green Revolution” (GR) technology-induced agricultural intensification has transformed India from food scarcity to a food surplus country. However, this has also resulted into several adverse repercussions. Increased application of chemical fertilizers and pesticides with stagnating/declining crop productivity has dovetailed with uncertain market conditions and climate change effects which has resulted in un-remunerative agriculture. Consequently, farmers have fallen into the debt trap due to the rising cost of crop production apart from health hazards due to serious exposure to harmful chemical pesticides. Natural Farming (NF), an agro-ecological approach to farming is believed to be an effective way to counter some of these challenges. The present paper presents field-level farmers’ experiences of NF adoption in three states of India—Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Maharashtra. The study was conducted during February–March 2019 by surveying 295 NF adopted and 170 non-NF adopted farmers. It was found that NF practice has been followed by some farmers for more than 10 years but others have adopted during the recent past. There is variation in the practice followed by the NF farmers. There are farmers who are using Farm Yard Manure (FYM). A solid form of jeevamritha (liquid concoction of microbial inoculants) called as ghanajeevamritha was also found to be used by farmers in Andhra Pradesh. It was observed that non-NF yields are superior to NF yield without FYM. In most crops, however, NF with FYM had a greater yield than NF without FYM and non-NF farms. There has been a decrease in the variable cost and a marginal increase in the market price of NF produce. The study suggests that natural farming may be seen as one of the alternative practices which has potential to rejuvenate the agro-ecosystem, besides cost saving for the individual farmers.
Expectations of the Participants of the Crop Insurance System and Their Implementation
Authors: Rusteika Martynas , Skinulienė Lina
Published: March 2023

The manufacture of agriculture production products is the most sensitive to meteorological conditions. The main risks caused by adverse climate factors that Lithuania’s farmers confront are winterkill, hail, storms, and droughts. The aim of the study is to analyze the expectations of crop insurance system participants and to reveal the reasons for encouraging/discouraging farms in insuring their crops in Lithuania. All additional means (optimization of crop structure, changes in growing technologies) reduce the reliable harm of extreme climate change, but only technical, organizational means (crop insurance) can mostly reduce the loss of production. The investigation was underway using the analysis of scientific literature. Crop producers’ expectations of risk mitigation are influenced by a variety of factors: age, farm size, farming duration, locality, and farming practice. Farmers assess the government’s given support by way of compensation insurance fees. Farmers analyze the risk of the meteorological phenomenon and indicate that the farm would have huge damage from adverse climate conditions. The main obstacles to crop insurance are these: the farmers are too small for the insurance system; they want to separate risks insurance and to attain more possibilities to choose from; accent development of evaluation and payment of harms after agreeing that the evaluation is objective.
Ridge Cultivation for the Adaption of Fodder Maize (Zea mays L.) to Suboptimal Conditions of Low Mountain Ranges in Organic Farming in Central Europe
Authors: Krachunova Tsvetelina , Scholz Martin , Bellingrath-Kimura Sonoko D. , Schmidtke Knut
Published: March 2023

Fodder maize cultivation under low mountain conditions in Central Europe presents obstacles for organic dairy farmers; low temperatures and high precipitation values in spring delay the juvenile development of maize, which leads to lower and fluctuating yields. Increasing the soil temperature during the critical growth phase of maize in spring is beneficial for maize cultivation. For this reason, 0.15 m high ridge-row cultivation (RCM) of maize was compared to a typical flat surface cultivation method (FCM) with 0.75 m row spacing in three environments (En) in 2017, 2018 and 2020 on-farm at low mountain sites in Germany. In the experiment, with randomised block design and one-factorial arrangement, soil temperature (ST) at 0.05 m soil depth at midday, field emergence (FE) 4, 8, 16 and 20 days after sowing (DAS), dry matter yields (DM) in every En and plant development and N, P, K content in En 2020 were investigated. RCM led to a significantly higher ST 4 DAS in every En, 12 and 20 days in 2018 and 8 and 16 DAS in 2020. RCM did not accelerate maize FE but positively impacted plant development and starch content. RCM generated a higher dry matter (DM) yield of whole maize plants and corn cobs, and a higher protein yield than FCM. RCM slightly increased the plant-available P and Mg content from 0 to 0.3 m and influenced significantly the mineral N content from 0 to 0.3 m at the beginning of grain development. RCM, a simple cultivation technique, demonstrated benefits for maize cultivation, particularly for climatically marginal locations in Germany.
Candidate miRNAs from Oryza sativa for Silencing the Rice Tungro Viruses
Authors: Mohamed Noor Amni , Ngah Nik Muhammad Faris Nazmie Che , Abas Azlan , Talip Noraini , Sarian Murni Nazira , Hamezah Hamizah Shahirah , Harun Sarahani , Bunawan Hamidun
Published: March 2023

Rice tungro disease (RTD), caused by Rice tungro bacilliform virus (RTBV) and Rice tungro spherical virus (RTSV) is one of the most prominent viral diseases in Asian countries. This virus disease problem seems to have been accentuated in those countries by causing a series of outbreaks over the years after being first reported in International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), Philippines, in 1963. One of the effective ways to combat viruses is through RNA silencing. microRNA is an important player in the RNA silencing mechanism. Genome sequences analysis shows RTBV-SP isolate (8 Kb) is composed of four open reading frames (ORF 1, ORF 2, ORF 3, and ORF 4), meanwhile, RTSV-SP (12 Kb) consists of one open reading frame encoded by seven different polyproteins (P1, CP1, CP2, CP3, NTP, Pro, and Rep). Therefore, this study investigated possible rice-encoded miRNAs targeted on RTBV and RTSV using in silico analysis. Five bioinformatics tools were employed using five different prediction algorithms: miRanda, RNA22, RNAhybrid, Tapirhybrid, and psRNATarget. The results revealed each RTBV and RTSV can be silenced by three potentially best candidate rice-encoded miRNA. For RTBV, osa-miR5510 (accession no. MIMAT0022143), osa-miR3980a-3p (accession no. MIMAT0019676), and osa-miR3980b-3p (accession no. MIMAT0019678) are being predicted by all five algorithms. Meanwhile, for RTSV, three miRNAs predicted are osa-miR414 (accession no. MIMAT0001330), osa-miR5505 (accession no. MIMAT00221138) and osa-miR167a-3p (accession no. MIMAT0006780). The predicted data provide useful material for developing RTBV and RTSV-resistant rice varieties.
Drying of Gymnema sylvestre Using Far-Infrared Radiation: Antioxidant Activity and Optimization of Drying Conditions
Authors: Abhiram Gunaratnam , Briyangari Abhiram , Eeswaran Rasu
Published: March 2023

The leaf extracts of Gymnema sylvestre consist of secondary metabolites which are well known for antioxidant activity. This study aimed to measure the drying characteristics of G. sylvestre leaves under far-infrared radiation (FIR) and to optimize the specific energy consumption for drying and antioxidant activity of ethanol-water extract of dried leaves. Fresh leaves were harvested and exposed to combinations of four different temperatures (125, 150, 175 and 200 °C) and exposure times (5, 10, 15 and 20 min). Drying kinetics, energy consumption, color changes, total phenolic content (TPC) and antioxidant activities were quantified. Both temperature and drying time have significant (p < 0.05) effects on drying characteristics and antioxidant activity. The equilibrium moisture content was achieved at 200 °C and 18 min. The specific energy decreased and total color changes increased with temperature. Under lower temperatures (125 and 150 °C), TPC and antioxidant activity increased with exposure time, whereas higher exposure time (20 min) with high temperatures (175 and 200 °C) significantly decreased TPC and antioxidant activity. The highest TPC of 30.5 mg TAE/g leaf-fresh weight was achieved at 200 °C and 15 min. The optimal drying conditions achieved from the dissimilarity function method were 200 °C and 8.4 min.
Genome-Wide Association Analysis Identified Newly Natural Variation for Photosynthesis-Related Traits in a Large Maize Panel
Authors: Yi Qiang , López-Malvar Ana , Álvarez-Iglesias Lorena , Romay María Cinta , Revilla Pedro
Published: March 2023

High-yielding cultivars with high water use efficiency are a main target in maize breeding; yet, no comprehensive study about the genetic regulation of photosynthesis, or about the ranges of variability for gas exchange-related parameters in maize has been published. Here, a large maize panel of 731 inbred lines previously genotyped was evaluated to elucidate the genetic basis of photosynthesis-related parameters, measured 15–30 days after silking, across three years. Large phenotypic and genotypic variations were observed in this panel with dramatic fluctuations in heritability for various traits. We detected 27 minor Quantitative Trait Loci (QTL), comprising 39 significant trait-Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs), located mostly on chromosomes 5 and 8. Most candidates genes were novel, though a few of them were functionally associated with the theory of source-to-sink translocation presented in previous studies. Genomic selection of favorable alleles to enhance photosynthesis, along with other tools, could be a practical, and a promising, approach in the future. Leaf net photosynthesis and stomatal conductance are the most promising targets for breeding programs. We did not find any marker associated with intrinsic water use efficiency, which highlights that developing maize cultivars with more efficient use of water by genomic selection is not straightforward; however, given the high heritability value for this trait, phenotypic selection could be implemented.
Genomic and Transcriptomic Characterization of Alternaria alternata during Infection
Authors: Gai Yunpeng , Niu Qichen , Kong Jinchao , Li Lei , Liang Xingxing , Cao Yuwei , Zhou Xianqi , Sun Xuepeng , Ma Haijie , Wang Mingshuang , Shrivastava Neeraj , Li Hongye , Jiao Chen
Published: March 2023

Host-pathogen interactions are the result of the continuously evolving dynamics of the genomic interphases between pathogens and the host plants. Alternaria brown spot (ABS) caused by the pathogen Alternaria alternata is a serious threat to tangerine production. Although recent studies have made significant advances in the characterization of A. alternata virulence factors, a gap exists in the regulation of virulent genes throughout the course of A. alternata infection on host plants. To gain a better understanding of the dynamic defense transcriptome in Alternaria alternata during Infection, we performed a comparative transcriptome approach. After inoculation on citrus, we found that 2142, 1964, 2359 genes were up-regulated, and 1948, 1434, 1996 genes were down-regulated at 12 hours-post-inoculation (hpi), 24 hpi and 48 hpi, respectively. Among these genes, 1333 genes were up-regulated at three time points, and 1054 genes were down-regulated, indicating that most of the differentially expressed genes at the early stage of infection tended to remain differentially expressed at the later stage of infection. In addition to the genes that are known to be part of the infection network in plant-pathogen interactions, many novel genes related to plant-pathogen interaction were identified. Interestingly, our results indicate that A. alternata is able to rapidly alter its gene expression pattern during infection process, which is vital for the successful colonization of the pathogen. Moreover, this rapid alteration of gene expression is likely to be an adaptive mechanism, enabling the pathogen to quickly respond to any changes in the environment and adapt to the host’s defense system. This ability to modify gene expression quickly in the face of environmental changes could play a critical role in the successful establishment of infection. RT-qPCR analysis confirmed that the expression pattern of nine randomly selected genes from the peroxisome pathway were consistent with the RNA-seq data. Our study provided a comprehensive study of the expression of genes during A. alternata infection of citrus, which may facilitate the understanding of host-plant interactions in A. alternata.
Effects of Processing Methods and Inclusion Levels of Dried Garlic on In Vitro Fermentation and Methane Production in a Corn Silage-Based Substrate
Authors: Vargas Juan , Tarnonsky Federico , Maderal Araceli , Fernandez-Marenchino Ignacio , Podversich Federico , Cuervo Wilmer , Gomez-Lopez Camila , Schulmeister Tessa , DiLorenzo Nicolas
Published: March 2023

Garlic (Allium sativum) contains secondary compounds that are known to modify rumen fermentation parameters and decrease methane (CH4) emissions. The objective was to evaluate the effects of increasing the inclusion levels and processing methods of garlic on in vitro fermentation and CH4 production. Treatments were arranged in a randomized complete block design with a 2 × 3 × 2 + 1 factorial arrangement, where the main factors were the initial condition of garlic (intact or smashed), drying process (freeze-dried, oven-dried, or autoclaved), and garlic proportion in the diet (2.5 and 5%) and one control (without garlic supplementation). Incubations were conducted using corn silage and cotton-gin trash (80:20, respectively) as basal substrates on three different days. Final pH, the concentration of volatile fatty acids (VFA) and ammonia nitrogen (NH3-N), in vitro organic matter digestibility (IVOMD), total gas production, and CH4 concentration were determined after 24 h. Initial garlic condition or drying processing neither modify (p > 0.05) the in vitro fermentation nor the CH4 production. However, increasing garlic inclusion linearly increased (p < 0.05) IVOMD, the concentration of the total VFA, and the proportion of propionate. Also, the concentration of NH3-N and the proportion of acetate increased quadratically (p < 0.05) with greater garlic inclusions. Finally, garlic inclusion did not affect (p > 0.05) gas and CH4 production. In conclusion, increasing garlic levels, but not the processing methods, improved in vitro fermentation but did not modify CH4 emissions under in vitro conditions.
Effects of Chia Seeds on Growth Performance, Carcass Traits and Fatty Acid Profile of Lamb Meat
Authors: Uribe-Martínez Selene , Rendón-Huerta Juan Antonio , Hernández-Briones Verónica Guadalupe , Grajales-Lagunes Alicia , Morales-Rueda Juan Ángel , Álvarez-Fuentes Gregorio , García-López Juan Carlos
Published: March 2023

The aim of this work was to supplement a diet with chia seeds (Salvia hispanica L.) based on the requirements of finishing lambs for meat, and to analyze biometric parameters and fatty acid profiles in meat. Eighteen male Rambouillet lambs with a bodyweight of 25 kg were used. Animals were kept in individual pens with water and feed provided ad libitum. Three finishing diets were designed with the inclusion of 0, 50 and 100 g dry matter chia seeds and divided among the animals (n = 6). The experimental period lasted 60 days. The weights of the individual lambs were recorded every 14 days. At the end of the experiment, the animals were slaughtered and the weights of the hot carcasses and non-meat components were registered. In addition, an analysis of the fatty acid composition was carried out in the muscles (Longissimus thoracis). The total weight gain and average daily gain displayed significant differences (p < 0.05). Initial and final bodyweights, such as the dry matter intake, did not display differences. The fatty acid profile of the meat tended to decrease the SFA (stearic acid) and increase MUFA (oleic acid) (p < 0.0001) when chia seeds were added to the lamb diets. In conclusion, chia seed supplementation did not increase meat production or other biometric parameters; however, it modified the fatty acid profile in L. thoracis.