bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Apulian Autochthonous Olive Germplasm: A Promising Resource to Restore Cultivation in Xylella fastidiosa-Infected Areas
Authors: Savoia Michele Antonio , Fanelli Valentina , Miazzi Monica Marilena , Taranto Francesca , Procino Silvia , Susca Leonardo , Montilon Vito , Potere Oriana , Nigro Franco , Montemurro Cinzia
Published: September 2023

The olive tree (Olea europaea subsp. europaea var. europaea) represents the cornerstone crop of Apulian agriculture, which is based on the production of oil and table olives. The high genetic variability of the Apulian olive germplasm is at risk of genetic erosion due to social, economic, and climatic changes. Furthermore, since 2013, the spread of the Gram-negative bacterium Xylella fastidiosa subsp. pauca responsible for the olive quick decline syndrome (OQDS) has been threatening olive biodiversity in Apulia, damaging the regional economy and landscape heritage. The aim of this study was to investigate the differential response to X. fastidiosa infection in a collection of 100 autochthonous Apulian olive genotypes, including minor varieties, F1 genotypes, and reference cultivars. They were genotyped using 10 SSR markers and grown for 5 years in an experimental field; then, they were inoculated with the bacterium. Symptom assessments and the quantification of bacterium using a qPCR assay and colony forming units (CFUs) were carried out three and five years after inoculation. The study allowed the identification of nine putatively resistant genotypes that represent a first panel of olive germplasm resources that are useful both for studying the mechanisms of response to the pathogen and as a reserve for replanting in infected areas.
Do Chinese Farmers Misuse Pesticide Intentionally or Not?
Authors: Zhao Li , Wang Changwei , Gu Haiying , Yue Chengyan
Published: September 2023

Nonstandard pesticide-application behavior leads to excessive pesticide residue and even affects the quality and safety of agricultural products and agricultural sustainability. Based on 968 valid samples randomly selected in Jiangsu Province of China, it focuses on the impact of incident shock and yield fluctuation avoidance on the pesticide-application behavior of farmers. Then, it investigated the impact of intentional factors, such as insufficient cognition and lack of knowledge, on their improper pesticide-application behavior. This study shows that, besides the pursuit of improper income, inadequate awareness and preventive actions to avoid operational risks are also important factors in farmers’ nonstandard pesticide application. In addition, the study also shows that farmers who understand the responsibility unit of agricultural product quality and safety supervision are more inclined to choose standardized application of pesticides. The higher the education level of farmers, the higher the probability of standardized application of pesticides. Therefore, farmers’ nonstandard pesticide-application behavior is largely due to the farmers’ insufficient awareness of the harm of pesticide residues or the lack of trust in the efficacy of pesticides. Moreover, the study also shows that adverse selection phenomenon exists in pesticide-application training.
Nutritional and Antinutritional Potentials of Sorghum: A Comparative Study among Different Sorghum Landraces of Tigray, Northern Ethiopia
Authors: Semere Tesfakiros , Tsehaye Yemane , Tareke Lijalem , Westengen Ola T. , Fjellheim Siri
Published: September 2023

Sorghum is one of the staple food crops in Tigray, northern Ethiopia. Despite this, limited research attention was given to the nutritional and antinutritional profiling of sorghum. Thus, this research was initiated to profile and evaluate the variabilities in protein, starch, minerals, flavonoid, tannin, and antioxidant activities among sorghum landraces of Tigray, northern Ethiopia. Protein and starch were analyzed using an infrared spectrophotometer, whereas mineral elements were estimated using an atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Antioxidant activity was analyzed using DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) free radical scavenging, ferric-reducing antioxidant power, and phosphomolybdenum assays. The result revealed significant variation among the landraces for all the evaluated parameters. Protein and starch contents ranged from 6.21 to 18% and 33.42 to 78.30%, respectively. Wider variations were observed for Fe (32–101), Zn (16.9–42.98), Cu (1.48–5.25), Mn (9.21–20.23), and Cr (0–1.5) as measured in mg/100 g. The variabilities were high for total flavonoid (0–665 mg CE/g) and tannin (0.18–7.5 mgCE/100 g). DPPH (EC50 = 29.09–818.37 µg/mL), ferric reducing antioxidant power (17.85–334.81 mgAAE/g), and total antioxidant activity (1.71–63.88 mgBHTE/g) were also highly variable among the samples. The relationship between seed color and phenolics, as well as antioxidant activities, are discussed. Multivariate analysis revealed that the landraces were clustered into four distinct groups. The rich genetic diversity in the nutritional and antinutritional attributes may be an opportunity for breeding for grain quality improvements of sorghum that, in turn, helps in addressing malnutrition.
The Impact of Income on Rural Residents’ Retirement Saving: Evidence from China
Authors: Sun Ruiting , Xiong Xueping
Published: September 2023

Population aging is a fundamental national condition that runs through China in the 21st century. The aging degree of rural areas in China is high, but the government-sponsored retirement plans have difficulty in meeting the retirement living needs. Guiding rural residents to save for retirement is the main way to alleviate the economic pressure of retirement life in rural areas. This paper uses data from the CAFF50 Survey to examine the impact of income level and income uncertainty on the retirement saving behavior of rural residents. Different from existing literature, this paper categorizes the retirement saving behavior into three aspects: “retirement saving decision”, “retirement saving amount”, and “retirement saving way choice”. The results show the following: (1) Income level has a positive impact on the retirement saving decision, saving amount, the choice of real estate, and a negative impact on the choice of bank savings. (2) Income uncertainty has a positive impact on retirement saving decision, the choice of stock and fund, and a negative impact on the choice of bank savings, but the impact of income uncertainty on the amount is not significant. (3) There is an interaction effect between income level and income uncertainty on the impact on retirement saving amount, bank savings choice, and real estate choice. Based on the above conclusions, we think that it is necessary to increase fiscal subsidies and tax incentives, optimize retirement financial products, provide retirement financial education, and increase the participation enthusiasm of rural residents in retirement savings.
Blockchain-Based Traceability for Agricultural Products: A Systematic Literature Review
Authors: Lv Guangjie , Song Caixia , Xu Pengmin , Qi Zhiguo , Song Heyu , Liu Yi
Published: September 2023

In recent years, with the frequent crises of trust in the food industry, food safety issues have become an issue of particular concern to consumers. The traditional agricultural food logistics and transportation model can no longer guarantee the traceability of food safety information, and it is particularly important to establish an effective traceability system. Therefore, a traceability system is applied as a tool to assist in the assurance of food safety and quality, as well as to achieve consumer confidence. Blockchain is a new decentralized infrastructure and distributed computing paradigm that has gradually emerged. Blockchain has the characteristics of decentralization, immutable information and trustworthiness. When blockchain is applied to the traceability system of agricultural products, the quality of agricultural products will be well guaranteed. This article aims to provide a comprehensive review of the recent research efforts on traceability in agricultural products based on blockchain technology. First, the method of content analysis used in this article to sort out the papers is introduced. Second, the background concepts of blockchain and the key technologies are presented. Thirdly, the traceability applications based on blockchain technology for agricultural products are described in detail. Finally, we expand on the current trends and provide new perspectives pertaining to this exciting application of this field.
Innovations in Agriculture for Sustainable Agro-Systems
Authors: Lykas Christos , Vagelas Ioannis
Published: September 2023

Agriculture has changed dramatically and has been improved due to new technologies [...]
Buckwheat Plant Height Estimation Based on Stereo Vision and a Regression Convolutional Neural Network under Field Conditions
Authors: Zhang Jianlong , Xing Wenwen , Song Xuefeng , Cui Yulong , Li Wang , Zheng Decong
Published: September 2023

Buckwheat plant height is an important indicator for producers. Due to the decline in agricultural labor, the automatic and real-time acquisition of crop growth information will become a prominent issue for farms in the future. To address this problem, we focused on stereo vision and a regression convolutional neural network (CNN) in order to estimate buckwheat plant height. MobileNet V3 Small, NasNet Mobile, RegNet Y002, EfficientNet V2 B0, MobileNet V3 Large, NasNet Large, RegNet Y008, and EfficientNet V2 L were modified into regression CNNs. Through a five-fold cross-validation of the modeling data, the modified RegNet Y008 was selected as the optimal estimation model. Based on the depth and contour information of buckwheat depth image, the mean absolute error (MAE), root mean square error (RMSE), mean square error (MSE), and mean relative error (MRE) when estimating plant height were 0.56 cm, 0.73 cm, 0.54 cm, and 1.7%, respectively. The coefficient of determination (R2) value between the estimated and measured results was 0.9994. Combined with the LabVIEW software development platform, this method can estimate buckwheat accurately, quickly, and automatically. This work contributes to the automatic management of farms.
Antioxidant Responses of Water-Stressed Cherry Tomato Plants to Natural Biostimulants
Authors: Gil-Ortiz Ricardo , Naranjo Miguel Ángel , Atares Sergio , Vicente Oscar
Published: September 2023

Biostimulants’ application to plants can reduce the damage caused by abiotic factors such as drought or salinity and improve crop yield under these stressful conditions. In this work, several biostimulants, namely Terrabion Aminovit® (a commercial product based on amino acids), potassium fulvate, humic acids, and a seaweed extract, were applied to cherry tomato plants using fertigation at two doses of 0.2 and 1.0 g L−1. The plants were then subjected to a water stress treatment by completely withholding irrigation for 12 days. After the treatments, all plants were harvested to determine several growth and biochemical parameters. Pre-treatment with all biostimulants protected the tomato plants against dehydration, as indicated by a significant increase in leaf water content compared to the non-irrigated controls. Leaf fresh weight and root water content also increased, except in the plants treated with humic acids, by about 2 fold in plants pre-treated with Terrabion Aminovit® and 1.5 fold in the presence of potassium fulvate and the seaweed extract. The water stress treatment caused a significant increase in leaf proline content, up to 113.6 μmol g−1 DW, approximately 18 fold higher than in well-irrigated control plants; this value was significantly lower in Terrabion Aminovit® pre-treated plants but even higher, ca. 180 μmol g−1 DW, in those treated previously with the seaweed extract. These results indicate that proline is a suitable water stress biomarker in tomatoes and that the biostimulants probably differ in their mode of action, suggesting that the effect of the seaweed extract is mediated by proline accumulation. A significant activation of antioxidant enzymes, namely superoxide dismutase, ascorbate peroxidase, and glutathione reductase, was also observed in water-stressed plants; application of the biostimulants resulted in all cases, in a significant reduction in the specific activities of the three enzymes, indicating reduced levels of drought-induced oxidative stress in the plants. We conclude that applying these biostimulants, particularly Terrabion Aminovit®, may help minimise the adverse effects of water stress on tomatoes by maintaining turgor and improving growth through mechanisms still unknown but which appear to involve, at least in part, enhancing the plants’ antioxidant defence responses.
Genetic Diversity as a Key to Understanding Physiological and Biochemical Mechanisms
Authors: Merah Othmane , Abhilash Purushothaman C. , Gharnaout Mohammed Lotfi
Published: September 2023

Modern agriculture is at the heart of economic and societal functioning for feeding a galloping world population, but also for ensuring a profit for producers, processors, and traders [...]
Comprehensive Effects of N Reduction Combined with Biostimulants on N Use Efficiency and Yield of the Winter Wheat–Summer Maize Rotation System
Authors: Li Junji , Ma Haiyan , Ma Hongliang , Lei Fang , He Dahai , Huang Xiulan , Yang Hongkun , Fan Gaoqiong
Published: September 2023

Biostimulants sprayed exogenously boost crop yield and quality. However, the effects of the co-application of biostimulants and fertilizers as base fertilizers in soil are still uncertain. The objective of this study was to investigate the overall effects of reducing N levels in conjunction with the application of biostimulants on the yield formation and N utilization of wheat and maize. Therefore, based on the winter wheat–summer maize rotation system in the modern R&D base of Sichuan Agricultural University, soil enzyme activities, soil inorganic nitrogen dynamic content, crop nitrogen accumulation and transportation, crop yields, and composition were determined. To achieve this, a total of nine treatments were established based on the winter wheat–summer maize rotation system. The experiment included the following treatments: no fertilization (CK0); one-time application of common compound fertilizer (CK1, applied at a rate of 225 kg ha−1); common compound fertilizer as base fertilizer + urea as topdressing fertilizer (CK2, applied at a rate of 225 kg ha−1, base/topdressing, 6/4); biostimulant + common compound fertilizer with 20% or 30% N reduction (jf-20%, jf-30%); biostimulant chelated urea-formaldehyde fertilizer reducing N by 20%, 30%, or 40% (jn-20%, jn-30%, or jn-40%); and biostimulant chelated urea-formaldehyde fertilizer reducing N by 40% and combined with organic fertilizer, thereby totally reducing N by 27% (jny-27%). The results demonstrated that the application of a biostimulant increased the activities of urease, nitrate reductase, and nitrite reductase in the soil of wheat and maize during the flowering stage. At the same time, the amount of residual nitrate and ammonium N in the soil at maturity was reduced. Furthermore, when N application was appropriately reduced, wheat and maize plants treated with jf, jn, and jny showed a significant increase in N assimilation after the flowering stage, resulting in higher N accumulation in the grains at maturity and ultimately improving the yield compared to CK1 and CK2. The combined use of biostimulants also had a significant positive impact on N use efficiency (NUE). During the two-year period, the NUE in the wheat season showed an increase ranging from 6.70% to 24.00% compared to CK1 and from 5.30% to 22.60% compared to CK2. Similarly, in the maize season, the NUE increased by a range of 11.60% to 22.57% compared to CK1 and from 11.78% to 22.75% compared to CK2. Overall, biostimulants enhanced N absorption and transportation by matching crop N requirements in the mid-to-late stages and improved NUE and yield under appropriate N reduction. This study contributes to the design of improved measures for N reduction and yield stabilization in order to promote sustainable agricultural development.
Enhancing Maize Yield and Resource Efficiency through Controlled-Release Nitrogen Fertilization on the Semiarid Loess Plateau
Authors: Zhang Jianjun , Zhao Gang , Dang Yi , Fan Tinglu , Wang Lei , Li Shangzhong , Zhou Gang , Fudjoe Setor Kwami , Wang Linlin , Palta Jairo A.
Published: September 2023

Drought stress is one of the premier limitations to global agricultural production. Increasing water and nitrogen (N) use efficiencies in dryland agroecosystems to maintain high agricultural output are key responsibilities to assure food security, especially on the semiarid Loess Plateau region of China, as it is one of the important grain production areas in China. The impact of controlled-release urea (CRU) on the soil water content, soil enzyme activities, soil N content, biomass accumulation, grain yield, water use efficiency (WUE), and agronomic use efficiency of N fertilizer (AEN) were examined on the maize production of the rainfed Loess Plateau during 2020–2021. Two-growing-season field treatments at the Zhengyuan Agri-ecological Station, Qingyang, Gansu, including six N treatments, were investigated for maize: a control without N fertilization (CK) and five application proportions of CRU (i.e., 0, 30, 50, 70, and 100%CRU) under a N rate of 225 kg ha−1. Results showed that compared with common urea (0%CRU), on average, CRU applications significantly increased soil enzyme activity related to N conversion and improved biomass accumulation by 4–11% at the silking stage and by 2–12% at the maturity stage, respectively. As the proportion of CRU increased, the grain no. per ear, 100-grain weight, and harvest index first increased and then decreased. Grain yield was increased by 5.3, 11.4, 20.1, and 5.7% under 30, 50, 70 and 100%CRU, respectively, compared to common urea. Compared to common urea, 70%CRU combined with 30% common urea achieved the highest yield. These results indicate that optimal controlled-release N fertilization increases the yield and water and nitrogen use efficiencies of maize, and 70%CRU combined with 30% common urea under a single application of nitrogen fertilizer at sowing was the optimal application proportion of controlled-release urea for increasing water and nitrogen use efficiencies in dryland agroecosystems. The results of this study can provide a theoretical basis for the efficient fertilization of maize on the semiarid Loess Plateau of China.
Luteotropic and Luteolytic Factors Modulate the Expression of Nuclear Receptor Coregulators in Bovine Luteal Cells Independently of Histone Acetyltransferase and Histone Deacetylase Activities
Authors: Rekawiecki Robert , Wrobel Michal Hubert , Zajac Paulina , Serej Oliwia , Kowalik Magdalena Karolina
Published: September 2023

The aims of this study were to examine the effect of luteotropic and luteolytic factors on the mRNA and protein expression of the coactivators HAT: histone acetyltransferase p300 (P300), cyclic adenosine monophosphate response element-binding protein (CREB), and steroid receptor coactivator-1 (SRC-1) and the corepressor: nuclear receptor corepressor-2 (NCOR-2) in bovine luteal cells on days 6–10 and 16–20. HAT and HDAC activities were also measured. The obtained results showed that luteotropic and luteolytic factors influence changes in the mRNA and protein levels of the coregulators of PGRs. However, they did not affect the activity of related HAT and HDAC, respectively. Therefore, it is possible that these factors, through changes in the expression of nuclear receptor coactivators and corepressors, may affect the functioning of the nuclear receptors, including PGRs, in the bovine CL.
The Fecundity Characteristics and Spawning Strategy of Uroteuthis edulis in the East China Sea
Authors: Guo Rongpei , Li Nan , Fang Zhou
Published: September 2023

The fecundity characteristics and spawning strategy of Uroteuthis edulis in the East China Sea were investigated by observing the potential fecundity (PF), relative fecundity by dorsal mantle length (PFML) and relative fecundity by body weight (PFBW). The relationship between fecundity and a single biological indicator was measured, and generalized additive models (GAMs) were fit by adding environmental variables to help better understand this comprehensive relationship. The long diameter and short diameter of the ovarian oocytes ranged from 0.72 mm to 4.74 mm and from 0.46 mm to 3.67 mm, respectively. The long and short diameters of oviducal eggs ranged from 0.61 mm to 5.12 mm and from 0.39 mm to 3.81 mm, respectively. The egg diameter had a unimodal distribution. The PF, PFML and PFBW ranged from 540 to 13,743 cells, 5 to 86 cells/mm and 6 to 53 cells/g, respectively. Three fecundity indicators were unimodally distributed, and the PFBW was more stable than the PFML (δ2PFBW < δ2PFML). The fecundity and single biological indicators were fitted, and it was found that the PF and PFML were positively correlated with dorsal mantle length (ML) and body weight (BW). The generalized additive model (GAM) fitting showed that when considering the interaction between dorsal mantle length and sea surface height (M13), the deviation explanation rate of the PF and PFML was the highest. Studies have shown that the ovary oocytes of U. edulis mature in batches, and then the eggs are laid in batches. The dorsal mantle length (ML), water temperature at 25 m depth (T25) and sea surface height (SSH) are important indicators to measure the fecundity of U. edulis. These findings allow for a deeper understanding of the U. edulis population dynamics for the future management of this economically and ecologically important species.
The Association between Socioeconomic Profiles, Attitudes, and Knowledge of Dairy Farmers Regarding Somatic Cell Count and Milk Quality
Authors: Cortinhas Cristina Simões , Fidelis Carlos Eduardo , Sharma Neelesh , Santos Marcos Veiga dos
Published: September 2023

The primary objective of this study was to investigate the association between the bulk tank somatic cell count (SCC) and dairy farmers’ knowledge about milk quality, mastitis control, and their socioeconomic characteristics. Additionally, we estimated the association between the bulk tank SCC and bulk tank milk hygienic quality in dairy herds. Bulk tank milk samples from 120 dairy herds enrolled in the milk quality payment program were collected for the determination of the SCC, the total bacterial count (TBC), the preliminary incubation count (PIC), the laboratory pasteurization count (PC), and the coliform count (CC). Based on the bulk tank SCC results, 63 herds were selected and categorized into three groups: (a) low SCC: ≤250,000 cells/mL (n = 16); (b) medium SCC: >250,000 ≤ 400,000 cells/mL (n = 24); and (c) high SCC: >400,000 cells/mL (n = 23). Socioeconomic profiles, attitudes, and knowledge of somatic cell count and milk quality were assessed using previously tested questionnaires, which were used to interview the herd managers of the 63 selected dairy herds. Among the findings, 87.0% of the dairy herds had an SCC < 400 × 103 cells/mL, and presented milk production as the main economic activity of the farm, whereas only 47.0% of dairy herds with an SCC > 400 × 103 cells/mL had milk production as the main economic activity of the farm (p < 0.031). In a total of 95% of the selected herds (n = 60), milking machines were used, with pipeline milking machines being more predominant, accounting for 70.8% in herds with a medium somatic cell count (SCC) and 78.3% in herds with a high SCC, as opposed to herds with a low SCC at 50% (p < 0.031). The frequency of dairy producers’ awareness of the maximum legal requirements for the bulk tank SCC and TBC was higher in herds with a higher SCC than in herds with a medium SCC. In conclusion, the results of this study indicate a significant association between the bulk tank somatic cell count (SCC) and dairy farmers’ knowledge about milk quality, mastitis control, and socioeconomic characteristics. These findings emphasize the importance of knowledge and the socioeconomic profiles of dairy farms in maintaining and enhancing milk quality in dairy herds.
The Role of Reproduction and Genetic Variation in Polish White-Backed Cows in the Breed Restoration Process
Authors: Sawicka-Zugaj Wioletta , Chabuz Witold , Kasprzak-Filipek Karolina
Published: September 2023

Local breeds are the main reservoir of biodiversity of farm animals. According to FAO, they account for 87% of all described breeds in the world. To ensure that they are adequately protected, they should be continually monitored for genetic variation. Another crucial factor is reproduction, which is the most important guarantee of population growth. In the present study, genetic variation in 372 Polish White-Backed cows was determined using DNA microsatellite sequences, taking into account their parentage. Reproductive parameters were analysed as well, based on data from 3658 lactations of 1128 Polish White-Backed cows. The results indicate that despite the small initial population and the implementation of a moderate selection of animals, the existing population of Polish White-Backed cattle has a high level of genetic variation, reflected in the degree of heterozygosity (0.761). Regarding reproductive traits, despite their late age at first calving, Polish White-Backed cows were shown to be distinguished by very good fertility parameters in comparison to other breeds raised in Poland. These findings not only confirm the value of protecting local cattle breeds around the world but may also be of importance in developing selection indices for highly productive breeds, in which reproductive functioning should be one of the most important factors considered.
Prevalence of Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli O157 in Wild Scottish Deer with High Human Pathogenic Potential
Authors: Fitzgerald Stephen F. , Mitchell Mairi C. , Holmes Anne , Allison Lesley , Chase-Topping Margo , Lupolova Nadejda , Wells Beth , Gally David L. , McNeilly Tom N.
Published: September 2023

Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) infections associated with wildlife are increasing globally, highlighting many ‘spillover’ species as important reservoirs for these zoonotic pathogens. A human outbreak of STEC serogroup O157 in 2015 in Scotland, associated with the consumption of venison meat products, highlighted several knowledge gaps, including the prevalence of STEC O157 in Scottish wild deer and the potential risk to humans from wild deer isolates. In this study, we undertook a nationwide survey of wild deer in Scotland and determined that the prevalence of STEC O157 in wild deer is low 0.28% (95% confidence interval = 0.06–0.80). Despite the low prevalence of STEC O157 in Scottish wild deer, identified isolates were present in deer faeces at high levels (>104 colony forming units/g faeces) and had high human pathogenic potential based on whole genome sequencing and virulence gene profiling. A retrospective epidemiological investigation also identified one wild deer isolate from this study as a possible source of a Scottish human outbreak in 2017. These results emphasise the importance of food hygiene practices during the processing of wild deer carcasses for human consumption.
The Emerging Role of Hypoxic Training for the Equine Athlete
Authors: Davie Allan , Beavers Rosalind , Hargitaiová Kristýna , Denham Joshua
Published: September 2023

This paper provides a comprehensive discussion on the physiological impacts of hypoxic training, its benefits to endurance performance, and a rationale for utilizing it to improve performance in the equine athlete. All exercise-induced training adaptations are governed by genetics. Exercise prescriptions can be tailored to elicit the desired physiological adaptations. Although the application of hypoxic stimuli on its own is not ideal to promote favorable molecular responses, exercise training under hypoxic conditions provides an optimal environment for maximizing physiological adaptations to enhance endurance performance. The combination of exercise training and hypoxia increases the activity of the hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) pathway compared to training under normoxic conditions. Hypoxia-inducible factor-1 alpha (HIF-1α) is known as a master regulator of the expression of genes since over 100 genes are responsive to HIF-1α. For instance, HIF-1-inducible genes include those critical to erythropoiesis, angiogenesis, glucose metabolism, mitochondrial biogenesis, and glucose transport, all of which are intergral in physiological adaptations for endurance performance. Further, hypoxic training could conceivably have a role in equine rehabilitation when high-impact training is contraindicated but a quality training stimulus is desired. This is achievable through purpose-built equine motorized treadmills inside commercial hypoxic chambers.
Hunting Site Behaviour of Sympatric Common Buzzard Buteo buteo and Rough-Legged Buzzard Buteo lagopus on Their Wintering Grounds
Authors: Cieśluk Paweł , Cmoch Maciej , Kasprzykowski Zbigniew
Published: September 2023

Birds wintering in the northern Palearctic compensate for substantial energy losses and prepare for a food deficit in winter by adjusting their foraging behavior. Apart from weather conditions, interspecific competition also drives hunting strategies. To describe this phenomenon, we observed the behavior of two sympatrically wintering raptor species: the Common Buzzard and the Rough-legged Buzzard. The study was carried out in east-central Poland during four seasons on a study plot where the densities of both species were high. Interspecific differences were detected in the use of available hunting sites. Rough-legged Buzzards conspicuously avoided using fence posts for scanning the surroundings and spent the most time standing on the ground. Common Buzzards more often used trees for this purpose when the snow cover was thick. Thicker snow cover resulted in fewer attempted attacks on prey in both species and caused Common Buzzards to change their hunting sites less frequently. The study also showed that the more often a bird changed its hunting site, the greater the number of attempted attacks. The outcome is that the ultimate effectiveness of hunting is mediated by the overview of the foraging area from different heights and perspectives, not by the type of hunting site. Snow cover was the most important factor in modifying foraging behavior and possibly intensifying interspecific competition.
Identification of a Sub-Clinical Salmonella spp. Infection in a Dairy Cow Using a Commercially Available Stool Storage Kit
Authors: Nishigaki Alice , Previdelli Renato , Alexander James L. , Balarajah Sharmili , Roberts Lauren , Marchesi Julian R.
Published: September 2023

Stool sampling is a useful tool for diagnosing gastrointestinal disease in veterinary medicine. The sub-clinical disease burden of Salmonella spp. in cattle can become significant for farmers. However, current methods of faecal sampling in a rural setting for diagnosis are not consistently sufficient for the preservation of Salmonella spp. in faeces. This study evaluated the use of a commercial stool storage kit for bacterial preservation in cow faecal samples compared to unpreserved stools placed into refrigeration at different time-points. A stool sample was collected per-rectum from one apparently healthy Holstein–Freisen cow. The sample was weighed and aliquoted into two sterile Falcon tubes and into two commercial kit tubes. The aliquots were then placed into refrigeration at 4 °C at 0, 24, and 96 h after processing. One commercial kit tube was not aliquoted and remained at ambient temperature. After 2 weeks, DNA was extracted from the samples and analysed using endpoint PCR, revealing a sub-clinical infection with Salmonella spp. The bacterium was best preserved when the stool was stored in the commercial kit at ambient temperature and re-homogenised immediately prior to DNA extraction. The unpreserved stool did not maintain obvious levels of Salmonella spp. after 24 h at ambient temperature. This commercial kit should be considered for use in the diagnosis of salmonellosis in cattle.
Reactive Oxygen Species and H. pylori Infection: A Comprehensive Review of Their Roles in Gastric Cancer Development
Authors: Sah Dhiraj Kumar , Arjunan Archana , Lee Bora , Jung Young Do
Published: September 2023

Gastric cancer (GC) is the fifth most common cancer worldwide and makes up a significant component of the global cancer burden. Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is the most influential risk factor for GC, with the International Agency for Research on Cancer classifying it as a Class I carcinogen for GC. H. pylori has been shown to persist in stomach acid for decades, causing damage to the stomach’s mucosal lining, altering gastric hormone release patterns, and potentially altering gastric function. Epidemiological studies have shown that eliminating H. pylori reduces metachronous cancer. Evidence shows that various molecular alterations are present in gastric cancer and precancerous lesions associated with an H. pylori infection. However, although H. pylori can cause oxidative stress-induced gastric cancer, with antioxidants potentially being a treatment for GC, the exact mechanism underlying GC etiology is not fully understood. This review provides an overview of recent research exploring the pathophysiology of H. pylori-induced oxidative stress that can cause cancer and the antioxidant supplements that can reduce or even eliminate GC occurrence.
Advances in the Use of N-Acetylcysteine in Chronic Respiratory Diseases
Authors: Mokra Daniela , Mokry Juraj , Barosova Romana , Hanusrichterova Juliana
Published: September 2023

N-acetylcysteine (NAC) is widely used because of its mucolytic effects, taking part in the therapeutic protocols of cystic fibrosis. NAC is also administered as an antidote in acetaminophen (paracetamol) overdosing. Thanks to its wide antioxidative and anti-inflammatory effects, NAC may also be of benefit in other chronic inflammatory and fibrotizing respiratory diseases, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, bronchial asthma, idiopathic lung fibrosis, or lung silicosis. In addition, NAC exerts low toxicity and rare adverse effects even in combination with other treatments, and it is cheap and easily accessible. This article brings a review of information on the mechanisms of inflammation and oxidative stress in selected chronic respiratory diseases and discusses the use of NAC in these disorders.
Sappanone A Alleviates the Severity of Carbon Tetrachloride-Induced Liver Fibrosis in Mice
Authors: Qi Jing , Li Lanqian , Yan Xueqing , Hua Wenxi , Zhou Zixiong
Published: September 2023

Liver fibrosis is a major challenge to global health because of its various complications, including cirrhosis and hepatocarcinoma, while no effective treatment is available for it. Sappanone A (SA) is a homoisoflavonoid extracted from the heartwood of Caesalpinia sappan Linn. with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. However, the effects of SA on hepatic fibrosis remain unknown. This study aimed to investigate the protective effects of SA on carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced liver fibrosis in mice. To establish a liver fibrosis model, mice were treated intraperitoneally (i.p.) with CCl4 for 4 weeks. SA (25, 50, and 100 mg/kg body weight) was i.p. injected every other day during the same period. Our data indicated that SA decreased liver injury, fibrotic responses, and inflammation due to CCl4 exposure. Consistently, SA reduced oxidative stress and its-mediated hepatocyte death in fibrotic livers. Of note, SA could not directly affect the activation of hepatic stellate cells. Mechanistically, SA treatment lessened oxidative stress-triggered cell death in hepatocytes after CCl4 exposure. SA down-regulated the expression of M1 macrophage polarization markers (CD86 and iNOS) and up-regulated the expression of M2 macrophage polarization markers (CD163, IL-10, and Arg1) in livers and macrophages. Meanwhile, SA induced the activation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ). However, decreased inflammatory responses and the trend of M2 macrophage polarization provided by SA were substantially abolished by SR202 (a PPARγ inhibitor) treatment in macrophages. Additionally, SA treatment promoted fibrosis regression. Taken together, our findings revealed that treatment with SA alleviated CCl4-induced fibrotic liver in mice through suppression of oxidative stress-mediated hepatocyte death and promotion of M2 macrophage polarization via PPARγ. Thus, SA might pave the way for a new hepatoprotective agent to treat liver fibrosis.
A Deep Learning-Based Approach for Extraction of Positioning Feature Points in Lifting Holes
Authors: Qian Jiahui , Xia Wenjun , Zhao Zhangyan , Qiu Faju
Published: September 2023

Due to uncontrollable influences of the manufacturing process and different construction environments, there are significant challenges to extracting accurate positioning points for the lifting holes in prefabricated beams. In this study, we propose a two-stage feature detection, which comprises the ADD (multi-Attention DASPP DeeplabV3+) model and the VLFGM (Voting mechanism line fitting based on Gaussian mixture model) method. Initially, the YoloV5s model is employed for image coarse localization to reduce the impacts of background noise, and the ADD model follows to segment the target region. Then, the multi-step ECA mechanism is introduced to the ADD. It can mitigate the loss of interest features in the pooling layer of the backbone as well as retain the details of the original features; DASPP is adopted to fuse features at different scales to enhance the correlation of features among channels. Finally, VLFGM is utilized to reduce the dependency of accuracy on segmentation results. The experimental results demonstrate that the proposed model achieves a mean intersection over union (mIoU) of 95.07%, with a 3.48% improvement and a mean pixel accuracy (mPA) of 99.16% on the validation set. The improved method reduces vertexes error by 30.00% (to 5.39 pixels) and centroid error by 28.93% (to 1.72 pixels), which exhibits superior stability and accuracy. This paper provides a reliable solution for visual positioning of prefabricated beams in complex environments.
Multi-Intent Natural Language Understanding Framework for Automotive Applications: A Heterogeneous Parallel Approach
Authors: Li Xinlu , Zhang Lexuan , Fang Liangkuan , Cao Pei
Published: September 2023

Natural language understanding (NLU) is an important aspect of achieving human–machine interactions in the automotive application field, consisting of two core subtasks, multiple-intent detection, and slot filling (ID-SF). However, existing joint multiple ID-SF tasks in the Chinese automotive domain face two challenges: (1) There is a limited availability of Chinese multi-intent corpus data for research purposes in the automotive domain; (2) In the current models, the interaction between intent detection and slot filling is often unidirectional, which ultimately leads to inadequate accuracy in intent detection. A novel multi-intent parallel interactive framework based on heterogeneous graphs for the automotive applications field (Auto-HPIF) was proposed to overcome these issues. Its improvements mainly include three aspects: firstly, the incorporation of the Chinese bidirectional encoder representations from transformers (BERT) language model and Gaussian prior attention mechanism allow each word to acquire more comprehensive contextual information; secondly, the establishment of a heterogeneous graph parallel interactive network efficiently exploits intent and slot information, facilitating mutual guidance; lastly, the application of the cross-entropy loss function to the multi-intent classification task enhances the model’s robustness and adaptability. Additionally, a Chinese automotive multi-intent dataset (CADS) comprising 13,100 Chinese utterances, seven types of slots, and thirty types of intents were collected and annotated. The proposed framework model demonstrates significant improvements across various datasets. On the Chinese automotive multi-intent dataset (CADS), the model achieves an overall accuracy of 87.94%, marking a notable 2.07% enhancement over the previous best baseline. Additionally, the model performs commendably on two publicly available datasets. Specifically, it showcases a 3.0% increase in overall accuracy on the MixATIS dataset and a 0.7% improvement on the MixSNIPS dataset. These findings showcase the efficacy and generalizability of the proposed model in tackling the complexity of joint multiple ID-SF tasks within the Chinese automotive domain.
Oxidative-Stress-Related Alterations in Metabolic Panel, Red Blood Cell Indices, and Erythrocyte Morphology in a Type 1 Diabetic Rat Model
Authors: Szalai Zita , Berkó Anikó Magyariné , Bódi Nikolett , Hermesz Edit , Ferencz Ágnes , Bagyánszki Mária
Published: September 2023

Diabetes mellitus is often associated with vascular complications in which hyperglycemia-induced oxidative stress may be the cause of the impaired vessels and circulating blood cells. The aim of this study was to follow the hyperglycemia-related metabolic and morphological changes in blood and urine samples of Wistar rats. Animals were divided into streptozotocin-induced diabetic (acute and chronic), insulin-treated diabetic, reversed diabetic, and control groups. In chronic diabetic rats, decreases in albumin, total protein, and antioxidant glutation concentration were measured, while glutamic-pyruvic transaminase, alkaline phosphatase, red blood cell (RBC) count, hematocrit, and hemoglobin levels were increased. Moreover, an increased level of the phenotypic variants was detected in the RBC population of the diabetic animals. In conclusion, we verified the sensitivity of RBCs to long-lasting hyperglycemia, and to insulin deficiency, which were both accompanied with an increased level of RBC-derived parameters and the presence of eccentrocytes, hemolyzed RBCs, and codocytes. Moreover, our results show that the response of the RBC glutation system to oxidative stress depends on the duration of hyperglycemia, and that the short-term activation of this defense system is exhausted in a long-lasting oxidative environment. Insulin therapy was effective in the case of most parameters, which clearly emphasizes the importance of maintaining blood glucose at physiological level.
Integrating Mobile Devices and Wearable Technology for Optimal Sleep Conditions
Authors: Wang You-Kwang , Chen Chien-Yu
Published: September 2023

As medical technology continues to evolve, the importance of real-time feedback from physiological signals is increasingly being recognized. The advent of the Internet of Things (IoT) has facilitated seamless connectivity between sensors and virtual networks, enabling the integration of thoughtful medical care with real-time feedback capabilities. This project uses cloud storage technology and cloud software algorithms to enable data sharing and real-time feedback. Its main focus is to provide a system for real-time feedback on physiological signals and sleep quality analysis. The system uses smart wristbands and smart mobile devices to collect, transmit, and analyze physiological data. During sleep, users wear these devices, which capture and analyze their physiological data. The analyzed data are then stored in a cloud-based database. The research involves studying sleep quality and determining optimal sleep quality parameters based on the data stored in the cloud database. These parameters are designed to improve sleep quality. They are then transmitted to a mobile sleep aid device to control light conditions. The sleep aid software used in previous generations of mobile devices is the basis for expanding the integration of the sleep detection system. By combining the software of a mobile device platform with that of a smart wearable device, data can be obtained to monitor the wearer’s movements, such as turning over and heartbeat. The monitoring aspect includes tracking the turning time, distance, and speed, while the heartbeat monitoring includes detecting changes in heart rate, frequency, and interval using photoplethysmography (PPG) and smart wearable devices. Subsequently, artificial intelligence methods are employed to conduct statistical analysis and categorize the gathered extensive dataset. The system reads the data and provides the user with assessments and suggestions to improve sleep quality and overall sleep condition.
Assessing Glycosphingolipid Profiles in Human Health and Disease Using Non-Imaging MALDI Mass Spectrometry
Authors: Novaconi Cristina , Onulov Robert , Serb Alina , Sisu Eugen , Dinca Nicolae , Pascariu Mihai-Cosmin , Georgescu Marius
Published: September 2023

Glycosphingolipids (GSLs) are a glycolipid subtype which plays vital roles in numerous biological processes, cell–cell interactions, as well as oncogenesis and ontogenesis. They are ubiquitous molecules found mostly in cell membranes. Abnormal expression of GSLs as well as altered molecular structure have been linked with progression of cancer and metastasis and are involved in the pathophysiology of neurodegenerative, autoimmune, and infectious diseases as well as inherited enzyme defects—glycosphingolipidoses. Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI MS) plays a leading role in analyzing and characterizing different GSLs, and thus can help to distinguish altered GSL patterns. This review offers insights into the benefits and limitations when using MALDI MS in this field of lipidomic research, with an emphasis on which are the optimal matrices in analyzing GSLs from different tissues (normal and pathological) as well as highlighting GSLs’ particular profiles in various cell cultures, and normal and pathological human tissues obtained by MALDI non-imaging MS (non-IMS). These findings can have implications in further understanding the role of altered GSL expression in various pathological conditions and could be a target for future therapies.
Image Visualization and Classification Using Hydatid Cyst Images with an Explainable Hybrid Model
Authors: Yildirim Muhammed
Published: September 2023

Hydatid cysts are most commonly found in the liver, but they can also occur in other body parts such as the lungs, kidneys, bones, and brain. The growth of these cysts occurs through the division and proliferation of cells over time. Cysts usually grow slowly, and symptoms are initially absent. Symptoms often vary in size, location, and the affected organ. Common symptoms include abdominal pain, vomiting, nausea, shortness of breath, and foul odor. Early diagnosis and treatment are of great importance in this process. Therefore, computer-aided systems can be used for early diagnosis. In addition, it is very important that these cysts can be interpreted more easily by the specialist and that the error is minimized. Therefore, in this study, data visualization was performed using Grad-CAM and LIME methods for easier interpretation of hydatid cyst images via a reanalysis of data. In addition, feature extraction was performed with the MobileNetV2 architecture using the original, Grad-CAM, and LIME applied data for the grading of hydatid cyst CT images. The feature maps obtained from these three methods were combined to increase the performance of the proposed method. Then, the Kruskal method was used to reduce the size of the combined feature map. In this way, the size of the 2416 × 3000 feature map was reduced to 2416 × 700. The accuracy of the proposed model in classifying hydatid cyst images is 94%.