bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Semi-supervised-based automatic modulation classification with domain adaptation for wireless IoT spectrum monitoring
Authors: Zhou Quan , Zhang Ronghui , Jing Zexuan , Jing Xiaojun
Published: March 2023

Dramatic advances in wireless networks have led to the Smart IoT, which may enable new modes of information transfer. Generally, data-driven advanced artificial intelligence (AI) techniques can be used in smart IoT networks, which prones to a lot of unexpected challenges. Enabling efficient management of spectrum resources based on cognitive radio is considered to be an effective means to address the limited spectrum resources. As a key technology in CR, automatic modulation recognition (AMR) is developing towards intelligence with deep learning as the main approach. Deep learning (DL) has been widely applied to AMR for possible improvement of recognition accuracy, while the superb performance highly depends on high-quality and well-labeled datasets. Consequently, these requirements prone to poor performance in the environments where the datasets are not well-labeled. Motivated by this, domain adaptation is considered for AMR in this paper, and a novel network architecture is proposed therein, termed semi-supervised automatic modulation recognition (SemiAMR). Specifically, source domain high SNR data are mapped by the source encoder to the classification domain and classified by the classifier, where the source data with labels enable this training process. Next, the discriminator and the target domain encoder are trained by determining whether the data is from the target or source domain. Finally, the target domain encoder and classifier are combined and are used to infer the data labels of the target domain. Experimental results state that the accuracy of proposed SemiAMR achieves 1\% to 27\% improvements when compared with classical schemes under the target domain condition where there is no corresponding labeled data and signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs) varies from −20 dB to −4 dB.
The arms race between beet necrotic yellow vein virus and host resistance in sugar beet
Authors: Liebe Sebastian , Maiss Edgar , Varrelmann Mark
Published: March 2023

Beet necrotic yellow vein virus (BNYVV) causes rhizomania disease in sugar beet (Beta vulgaris), which is controlled since more than two decades by cultivars harboring the Rz1 resistance gene. The development of resistance-breaking strains has been favored by a high selection pressure on the soil-borne virus population. Resistance-breaking is associated with mutations at amino acid positions 67-70 (tetrad) in the RNA3 encoded pathogenicity factor P25 and the presence of an additional RNA component (RNA5). However, natural BNYVV populations are highly diverse making investigations on the resistance-breaking mechanism rather difficult. Therefore, we applied a reverse genetic system for BNYVV (A type) to study Rz1 resistance-breaking by direct agroinoculation of sugar beet seedlings. The bioassay allowed a clear discrimination between susceptible and Rz1 resistant plants already four weeks after infection, and resistance-breaking was independent of the sugar beet Rz1 genotype. A comprehensive screen of natural tetrads for resistance-breaking revealed several new mutations allowing BNYVV to overcome Rz1. The supplementation of an additional RNA5 encoding the pathogenicity factor P26 allowed virus accumulation in the Rz1 genotype independent of the P25 tetrad. This suggests the presence of two distinct resistance-breaking mechanisms allowing BNYVV to overcome Rz1. Finally, we showed that the resistance-breaking effect of the tetrad and the RNA5 is specific to Rz1 and has no effect on the stability of the second resistance gene Rz2. Consequently, double resistant cultivars (Rz1+Rz2) should provide effective control of Rz1 resistance-breaking strains. Our study highlights the flexibility of the viral genome allowing BNYVV to overcome host resistance, which underlines the need for a continuous search for alternative resistance genes.
Targeted insertion of regulatory elements enables translational enhancement in rice
Authors: Shen Rundong , Yao Qi , Zhong Dating , Zhang Xuening , Li Xinbo , Cao Xuesong , Dong Chao , Tian Yifu , Zhu Jian-Kang , Lu Yuming
Published: March 2023

In-locus editing of agronomically-important genes to optimize their spatiotemporal expression is becoming an important breeding approach. Compared to intensive studies on mRNA transcription, manipulating protein translation by genome editing has not been well exploited. Here, we found that precise knock-in of a regulating element into the 5’UTR of a target gene could efficiently increase its protein abundance in rice. We firstly screened a translational enhancer (AMVE) from alfalfa mosaic virus using protoplast-based luciferase assays with an 8.5-folds enhancement. Then the chemically modified donor of AMVE was synthesized and targeted inserted into the 5’UTRs of two genes (WRKY71 and SKC1) using CRISPR/Cas9. Following the in-locus AMVE knock-in, we observed up to a 2.8-fold increase in the amount of WRKY71 protein. Notably, editing of SKC1, a sodium transporter, significantly increased salt tolerance in T2 seedlings, indicating the expected regulation of AMVE knock-in. These data demonstrated the feasibility of such in-locus editing to enhance protein expression, providing a new approach to manipulating protein translation for crop breeding.
Calcium dynamics and modulation in carrot somatic embryogenesis
Authors: Calabuig-Serna Antonio , Mir Ricardo , Arjona Paloma , Seguí-Simarro Jose María
Published: March 2023

Free calcium (Ca2+) is a pivotal player in different in vivo and in vitro morphogenic processes. In the induction of somatic embryogenesis, its role has been demonstrated in different species. In carrot, however, this role has been more controversial. In this work, we developed carrot lines expressing cameleon Ca2+ sensors. With them, Ca2+ levels and distribution in the different embryogenic structures formed during the induction and development of somatic embryos were analyzed by FRET. We also used different chemicals to modulate intracellular Ca2+ levels (CaCl2, ionophore A23187, EGTA), to inhibit calmodulin (W-7) and to inhibit callose synthesis (2-deoxy-D-glucose) at different times, principally during the first stages of embryo induction. Our results showed that high Ca2+ levels and the development of a callose layer are markers of cells induced to embryogenesis, which are the precursors of somatic embryos. Disorganized calli and embryogenic masses have different Ca2+ patterns associated to their embryogenic competence, with higher levels in embryogenic cells than in callus cells. The efficiency of somatic embryogenesis in carrot can be effectively modulated by allowing, within a range, more Ca2+ to enter the cell to act as a second messenger to trigger embryogenesis induction. Once induced, Ca2+-calmodulin signaling seems related with the transcriptional remodeling needed for embryo progression, and alterations of Ca2+ or calmodulin levels negatively affect the efficiency of the process.
Comprehensive evolutionary analysis of growth-regulating factor gene family revealing the potential molecular basis under multiple hormonal stress in Gramineae crops
Authors: Wang Wei , Cheng Mingxing , Wei Xiao , Wang Ruihua , Fan Fengfeng , Wang Zhikai , Tian Zhihong , Li Shaoqing , Yuan Huanran
Published: March 2023

Growth-regulating factors (GRFs) are plant-specific transcription factors that contain two highly conserved QLQ and WRC domains, which control a range of biological functions, including leaf growth, floral organ development, and phytohormone signaling. However, knowledge of the evolutionary patterns and driving forces of GRFs in Gramineae crops is limited and poorly characterized. In this study, a total of 96 GRFs were identified from eight crops of Brachypodium distachyon, Hordeum vulgare, Oryza sativa L. ssp. indica, Oryza rufipogon, Oryza sativa L. ssp. japonica, Setaria italic, Sorghum bicolor and Zea mays. Based on their protein sequences, the GRFs were classified into three groups. Evolutionary analysis indicated that the whole-genome or segmental duplication plays an essential role in the GRFs expansion, and the GRFs were negatively selected during the evolution of Gramineae crops. The GRFs protein function as transcriptional activators with distinctive structural motifs in different groups. In addition, the expression of GRFs was induced under multiple hormonal stress, including IAA, BR, GA3, 6BA, ABA, and MeJ treatments. Specifically, OjGRF11 was significantly induced by IAA at 6 h after phytohormone treatment. Transgenic experiments showed that roots overexpressing OjGRF11 were more sensitive to IAA and affect root elongation. This study will broaden our insights into the origin and evolution of the GRF family in Gramineae crops and will facilitate further research on GRF function.
The effects of audio-visual perceptual characteristics on environmental health of pedestrian streets with traffic noise: A case study in Dalian, China
Authors: Ren Xinxin , Wei Peng , Wang Qiran , Sun Wei , Yuan Minmin , Shao Shegang , Zhu Dandan , Xue Yishan
Published: March 2023

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected city dwellers’ physical and mental health and has raised concerns about the health of urban public spaces. This field investigation research in Dalian, China, examined the perceived audio-visual environment characteristics of urban pedestrian streets with traffic noise and their influences on the environmental health of the pedestrian streets. Five indicators reflecting psychological responses to environmental characteristics (willingness to walk, relaxation, safety, beauty, and comprehensive comfort) were used to measure environmental health of pedestrian streets with traffic noise. The results showed that safety was rated the highest, and willingness to walk was evaluated as the lowest among health evaluation indicators. The imageability and openness of the streetscape were associated with each health evaluation indicator. In contrast, the rhythm and continuity of the street buildings had a greater effect on willingness to walk than the other health indicators. There were negative correlations between LAeq for traffic noise and health evaluations. Positive health evaluations were observed when LAeq was less than 55 dBA. In contrast, soundscape indicators showed positive correlations with health evaluations, and acoustic comfort and noise annoyance, rather than sound preference and subjective loudness were associated with each health evaluation indicator. In terms of the combined audio-visual factors, acoustic comfort, the quantity of greening, annoyance, sky visibility, spatial scale, and building distance were examined as the determining factors affecting health evaluations, and 55.40% of the variance in health evaluations was explained by the soundscape and streetscape indicators. The findings provide references for better understanding the relationships between healthy experience and audio-visual perceptions. Moreover, they enable environmental health quality optimisation of pedestrian spaces considering audio-visual indicators and approaches in the post-epidemic era.
Measuring attentional bias in smokers during and after psychosocial stress induction with a Trier Social Stress Test in virtual reality via eye tracking
Authors: Schröder Benedikt , Mühlberger Andreas
Published: March 2023

Introduction

Attentional bias (AB) is considered an important factor not only in the etiology of addiction, but also with respect to relapse. However, evidence for the predictive ability of AB for relapse is not robust. One reason for this might be fluctuations of AB due to stress. Therefore, the current study investigated whether AB was present during and after stress induction and whether AB was enhanced by stress induction.

Methods

A Virtual Reality (VR) adaptation of the Trier Social Stress Test (VR-TSST) was used to induce psychosocial stress in smokers (n = 34) and non-smokers (n = 37) followed by a novel free-viewing task in VR. Eye tracking data was recorded to examine gaze behavior to smoking-related and neutral stimuli presented in the VR-TSST and the free-viewing task.

Results

Stress ratings increased significantly from baseline to post VR-TSST in smokers and non-smokers. During the VR-TSST we observed, more frequent, longer, and earlier fixations on smoke-related compared with neutral stimuli without significant group differences. However, in the free-viewing task following the stress induction, a specific AB of smokers in terms of earlier and longer fixations on smoke stimuli was found.

Conclusion

Results indicate that AB is not a persistent trait in smokers, but is context dependent. It is suggested that emotional learning processes such as smoking in the context of relief after stress may contribute to changes of AB both in terms of increased initial attention and deeper stimulus processing. Additionally, the potential of the VR-TSST to induce psychosocial stress could be replicated.
Carbon nanotubes and silver nanoparticles modification of PVDF membranes for improved seawater desalination in direct contact membrane distillation
Authors: Mpala Tshepiso J. , Richards Heidi , Etale Anita , Mahlangu Oranso T. , Nthunya Lebea N.
Published: March 2023

Membrane distillation (MD) has emerged as a novel technology capable of recovering fresh water from brackish, saline, and wastewater. However, its industrial application is limited to various challenges including membrane properties. In this work, the polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) membranes were modified to improve their performance towards desalination of simulated seawater particularly, acid treated carbon nanotubes (f-CNTs) and cellulose nanocrystals-capped silver nanoparticles (CNC-AgNPs) were incorporated into the PVDF matrix prior to casting. Simulated seawater (33.59 g/L) was used as the feed during DCMD tests. The modified membrane displayed improved tensile strength, surface roughness, and hydrophobicity. Interestingly, minimal leaching of AgNPs (0.378 ± 0.0628 ppm) was recorded within 72 h. Although water flux (0.179 ± 0.0303 kg/m2/hr) remained relatively low, salt rejection (99.8%) improved upon incorporation of NPs. This provides a one-step solution towards better performance in MD for recovery of freshwater from high saline seawater.
Inside the flux footprint: The role of organized land cover heterogeneity on the dynamics of observed land-atmosphere exchange fluxes
Authors: Hernandez Rodriguez Leila C. , Goodwell Allison E. , Kumar Praveen
Published: March 2023

Eddy covariance measurements quantify the magnitude and temporal variability of land-atmosphere exchanges of water, heat, and carbon dioxide (CO2) among others. However, they also carry information regarding the influence of spatial heterogeneity within the flux footprint, the temporally dynamic source/sink area that contributes to the measured fluxes. A 25 m tall eddy covariance flux tower in Central Illinois, USA, a region where drastic seasonal land cover changes from intensive agriculture of maize and soybean occur, provides a unique setting to explore how the organized heterogeneity of row crop agriculture contributes to observations of land-atmosphere exchange. We characterize the effects of this heterogeneity on latent heat (LE), sensible heat (H), and CO2 fluxes (Fc) using a combined flux footprint and eco-hydrological modeling approach. We estimate the relative contribution of each crop type resulting from the structured spatial organization of the land cover to the observed fluxes from April 2016 to April 2019. We present the concept of a fetch rose, which represents the frequency of the location and length of the prevalent upwind distance contributing to the observations. The combined action of hydroclimatological drivers and land cover heterogeneity within the dynamic flux footprint explain interannual flux variations. We find that smaller flux footprints associated with unstable conditions are more likely to be dominated by a single crop type, but both crops typically influence any given flux measurement. Meanwhile, our ecohydrological modeling suggests that land cover heterogeneity leads to a greater than 10% difference in flux magnitudes for most time windows relative to an assumption of equally distributed crop types. This study shows how the observed flux magnitudes and variability depend on the organized land cover heterogeneity and is extensible to other intensively managed or otherwise heterogeneous landscapes.
A comparative study on the role of microcredit on agricultural production improvement among resource-poor rural women
Authors: Namayengo Faith Muyonga Mayanja , van Ophem Johan A. C. , Antonides Gerrit
Published: March 2023

The objective of the study was to compare agricultural investment and agricultural production of rural agrarian women in Uganda that had received microcredit to those that had not. A quasi-experimental was used to assess differences between performance indicators of agricultural enterprises for existing and incoming borrowers of Bangladesh Rural and Advancement Committee (BRAC) microfinance. Propensity score matching was used to ensure the comparability of the groups and to assess differences between existing borrowers and in-coming borrowers, before they received their first loan. Results indicated that the major reason for borrowing was education of children. There was no difference in investment in agricultural production between the study groups. The existing borrowers had lower monetary value of all harvested crops and for maize and beans than the in-coming borrowers. Total number of animals owned, types of animals kept and reported monetary value for goats and local cattle were also less for existing borrowers than for in-coming borrowers. It was observed that the loan repayment protocols did not match income from agriculture. The results reveal a need to modify loan repayment protocols to address the latent period between agricultural investment and output.
Analysis of genomic copy number variations through whole-genome scan in Chinese Qaidam cattle
Authors: Liu Yangkai , Mu Yanan , Wang Wenxiang , Ahmed Zulfiqar , Wei Xudong , Lei Chuzhao , Ma Zhijie
Published: March 2023

Qaidam cattle (CDM) are indigenous breed inhabiting Northwest China. In the present study, we newly sequenced 20 Qaidam cattle to investigate the copy number variants (CNVs) based on the ARS-UMD1.2 reference genome. We generated the CNV region (CNVR) datasets to explore the genomic CNV diversity and population stratification. The other four cattle breeds (Xizang cattle, XZ; Kazakh cattle, HSK; Mongolian cattle, MG; and Yanbian cattle, YB) from the regions of North China embracing 43 genomic sequences were collected and are distinguished from each of the other diverse populations by deletions and duplications. We also observed that the number of duplications was significantly more than deletions in the genome, which may be less harmful to gene formation and function. At the same time, only 1.15% of CNVRs overlapped with the exon region. Population differential CNVRs and functional annotations between the Qaidam cattle population and other cattle breeds revealed the functional genes related to immunity (MUC6), growth (ADAMTSL3), and adaptability (EBF2). Our analysis has provided numerous genomic characteristics of some Chinese cattle breeds, which are valuable as customized biological molecular markers in cattle breeding and production.
Editorial: Surveys in Algorithm Analysis and Complexity Theory (Special Issue)
Authors: Jansson Jesper
Published: March 2023

This is a Special Issue of the open-access journal Algorithms consisting of surveys in theoretical computer science [...]
A Novel Short-Memory Sequence-Based Model for Variable-Length Reading Recognition of Multi-Type Digital Instruments in Industrial Scenarios
Authors: Wei Shenghan , Li Xiang , Yao Yong , Yang Suixian
Published: March 2023

As a practical application of Optical Character Recognition (OCR) for the digital situation, the digital instrument recognition is significant to achieve automatic information management in real-industrial scenarios. However, different from the normal digital recognition task such as license plate recognition, CAPTCHA recognition and handwritten digit recognition, the recognition task of multi-type digital instruments faces greater challenges due to the reading strings are variable-length with different fonts, different spacing and aspect ratios. In order to overcome this shortcoming, we propose a novel short-memory sequence-based model for variable-length reading recognition. First, we involve shortcut connection strategy into traditional convolutional structure to form a feature extractor for capturing effective features from characters with different fonts of multi-type digital instruments images. Then, we apply an RNN-based sequence module, which strengthens short-distance dependencies while reducing the long-distance trending memory of the reading string, to greatly improve the robustness and generalization of the model for invisible data. Finally, a novel short-memory sequence-based model consisting of a feature extractor, an RNN-based sequence module and the CTC, is proposed for variable-length reading recognition of multi-type digital instruments. Experimental results show that this method is effective on variable-length instrument reading recognition task, especially for invisible data, which proves that our method has outstanding generalization and robustness in real-industrial applications.
Islamic Social Funds to Foster Yunusian Social Business and Conventional Social Enterprises
Authors: Islam Reazul , Omar Mustaffa , Rahman Mahfuzur
Published: March 2023

This paper proposes an integrated, comprehensive financial model that can provide startup capital to socially committed business ventures, such as social enterprises and Yunus Social Business (YSB), by using Islamic social funds (ISFs), Zakat (almsgiving), Waqf (endowments), Sadaqat (charity), and Qard Hasan (interest-free benevolent loans). The literature review method was adopted to explain this model’s architecture, applications, implications, and viability. On the basis of logical reasoning, it concludes that ISFs can yield greater social wellbeing if utilised in SEs and YSB than in unconditional charity because both business models work for social betterment in entrepreneurial ways while remaining operationally self-reliant and economically sustainable. Additionally, ISFs can complement Yunus Social Business’s zero-return investment approach to make it more robust towards social contributions. The implementation of the model orchestrated in this paper would enhance societal business practices and, hence, scale up social wellbeing while helping rejuvenate pandemic-stricken economies. It paves the way for new research too.
The Development of an LSTM Model to Predict Time Series Missing Data of Air Temperature inside Fattening Pig Houses
Authors: Kim Jun-gyu , Lee Sang-yeon , Lee In-bok
Published: March 2023

Because of the poor environment inside fattening pig houses due to high humidity, ammonia gas, and fine dust, it is hard to accumulate reliable long-term data using sensors. Therefore, it is necessary to conduct research for filling in the missing environmental data inside fattening pig houses. Thus, this research aimed to develop a model for predicting the missing data of the air temperature inside fattening pig houses using a long short-term memory (LSTM) model, which is one of the artificial neural networks (ANNs). Firstly, the internal and external environmental data of the fattening pig house were monitored to develop the LSTM models for data filling of the missing data and to validate the developed LSTM model. The LSTM model for data filling of the missing data was developed by learning the measured temperature inside the pig house. The LSTM model developed in this study was validated by comparing the air temperature data predicted by the LSTM model with the air temperature data measured in the fattening pig house. The LSTM model was accurate within a 3.5% error rate for the internal air temperature. Finally, the accuracy and applicability of the developed LSTM model were evaluated according to the order of learning data and the length of the missing data. In the future, for information and communication technologies (ICTs) and the convergence and application of smart farms, the LSTM models developed in this study may contribute to the accumulation of reliable long-term data at the fattening pig house.
Comparative Effect of Melatonin and 1-Methylcyclopropene Postharvest Applications for Extending ‘Hayward’ Kiwifruit Storage Life
Authors: Ruiz-Aracil María Celeste , Guillén Fabián , Ilea Mihaela Iasmina Madalina , Martínez-Romero Domingo , Lorente-Mento José Manuel , Valverde Juan Miguel
Published: March 2023

Kiwifruit, like many other fruits, is susceptible to dehydration, leading to texture changes and a loss of flavour during storage. Exposing kiwifruit to suboptimal temperatures can control these changes but can cause internal browning. Postharvest treatments with substances such as 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) are some of the most successful commercial technologies in the conservation of fruits and vegetables. In recent years, there has been a growing interest among researchers in alternative technologies based in postharvest treatments with plant growth regulators. In this sense, melatonin (MT) has been shown to improve fruit quality, extending shelf life. The aim of this study was to compare these two different technologies applied at postharvest to evaluate the impact on kiwifruit quality. Optimal 1-MCP fumigations and MT solutions were assayed on ‘Hayward’ kiwifruit under similar conditions. Quality parameters were evaluated at 14-day intervals during 84 days of cold storage plus 5 days at 20 °C. The results showed that both treatments were similarly effective in maintaining quality parameters such as weight loss, respiration, firmness, and acidity. Although 1-MCP treatments delayed the evolution of kiwifruit colour and chlorophyll degradation as compared to MT, MT treatments controlled chilling injury better than 1-MCP. This effect was not related to a greater cell membrane integrity since fruit batches treated with 1-MCP were the ones that showed the lowest electrolyte leakage level. In conclusion, both treatments maintained fruit quality and delayed ripening in a similar way. In this sense, the results suggest that MT immersion treatments could act as efficient delaying senescence as fumigations with 1-MCP maintaining kiwifruit quality during refrigerated storage.
Dynamic, Mechanistic Modeling Approach as a Tool to Mitigate N Excretion in Broilers
Authors: Dukhta Galyna , Halas Veronika
Published: March 2023

The nitrogen (N) load of broiler meat production is known for its high contribution to the environmental footprint of animal agriculture. The modeling work presented here is to be used as a tool to understand and quantify N excretion via a dynamic mechanistic nutrient partitioning simulation. The model has been developed for broilers, representing energy and protein utilization. Three case studies are presented and discussed, such as (1) feeding schedules with adjusted protein content feeds; (2) feeding diets with different digestibility of crude protein; and (3) feeding diets with the same digestible protein and different SID lysine, methionine plus cystine or threonine contents. In addition to N retention and total N excretion, diagnostic variables for N excretion via urine and obligatory urinary N excretion were studied to evaluate N partitioning in response to different feeding schedules. The excess N was calculated in each scenario for the whole fattening period. This in silico study has confirmed that unprecise diet formulation has considerable consequences: overestimation of digestibility or oversupply of dietary protein increases the total ammonia N in the manure and thus the N emission potential of poultry meat production. The presented approach may be recommended to design alternative feeding strategies with a low environmental footprint.
From Endophyte Community Analysis to Field Application: Control of Apple Canker (Neonectria ditissima) with Epicoccum nigrum B14-1
Authors: Papp-Rupar Matevz , Olivieri Leone , Saville Robert , Passey Thomas , Kingsnorth Jennifer , Fagg Georgina , McLean Hamish , Xu Xiangming
Published: March 2023

Apple canker, caused by Neonectria ditissima (Tul. and C. Tul.) Samuels and Rossman, is a major disease of apples (Malus domestica) worldwide. N. ditissima infects through natural and artificial wounds. Infected wood develops canker lesions which girdle branches and main stems causing reduced yield and tree death. N. ditissima is difficult to control; removal of inoculum (cankers) is expensive and therefore seldom practiced, whilst effective chemical products are being banned and no biocontrol products have been found to be effective against N. ditissima. This study used cues from a previous apple endophyte community analysis to isolate and test fungal endophytes belonging to the genus Epicoccum as potential endophytic biocontrol agents. Epicoccum nigrum B14-1, isolated from healthy apple trees, antagonised N. ditissima in vitro and reduced the incidence of N. ditissima infections of leaf scars by 46.6% and pruning wounds by 5.3% in field conditions at leaf fall. Autumn application of B14-1 conidia increased E. nigrum abundance in apple tissues at 10–20 days post-inoculation by ca. 1.5×, but this returned to control levels after one year. E. nigrum B14-1 did not cause detrimental effects on apple foliage, buds, fruit, or growth and could therefore present a new biocontrol agent to manage N. ditissima in commercial apple production.
An Approach towards a Practicable Assessment of Neonatal Piglet Body Core Temperature Using Automatic Object Detection Based on Thermal Images
Authors: Küster Steffen , Haverkamp Lion , Schlather Martin , Traulsen Imke
Published: March 2023

Body core temperature (BCT) is an important characteristic for the vitality of pigs. Suboptimal BCT might indicate or lead to increased stress or diseases. Thermal imaging technologies offer the opportunity to determine BCT in a non-invasive, stress-free way, potentially reducing the manual effort. The current approaches often use multiple close-up images of different parts of the body to estimate the rectal temperature, which is laborious under practical farming conditions. Additionally, images need to be manually annotated for the regions of interest inside the manufacturer’s software. Our approach only needs a single (top view) thermal image of a piglet to automatically estimate the BCT. We first trained a convolutional neural network for the detection of the relevant areas, followed by a background segmentation using the Otsu algorithm to generate precise mean, median, and max temperatures of each detected area. The best fit of our method had an R2 = 0.774. The standardized setup consists of a “FLIROnePro” attached to an Android tablet. To sum up, this approach could be an appropriate tool for animal monitoring under commercial and research farming conditions.
Comparative Analysis of Powdery Mildew Disease Resistance and Susceptibility in Brassica Coenospecies
Authors: Mir Zahoor Ahmad , Ali Sajad , Tyagi Anshika , Yadav Prashant , Chandrashekar N , El-Sheikh Mohamed A. , Alansi Saleh , Grover Anita
Published: March 2023

Erysiphe cruciferarum, a causative agent of powdery mildew disease, has emerged as a serious threat in Brassica juncea and its closely related species. To date, no resistant cultivars have been identified in Brassica species against powdery mildew. Here, we used histopathological, biochemical, and molecular approaches to elucidate the powdery mildew disease progression and host responses in three Brassica cenospecies, namely B. juncea, Camelina sativa, and Sinapis alba. Based on the results of disease progression, S. alba was found to be extremely resistant to powdery mildew infection, whereas B. juncea and C. sativa were highly vulnerable. In addition, the disease spread rate to uninfected parts was comparatively higher in B. juncea and C. sativa. Histopathological results revealed more pathogen-induced cell death in B. juncea and C. sativa compared to S. alba. We also examined the role of antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), and catalase (CAT) in B. juncea, C. sativa, and S. alba after powdery mildew infection. Based on our findings, the enzyme activity of SOD, POD, and CAT was relatively higher in S. alba then that of B. juncea and C. sativa after powdery mildew infection. Furthermore, we evaluated the expression levels of salicylic acid (SA) signature genes, including pathogenesis-related protein viz., PR1, PR2, and PR5 in B. juncea, C. sativa, and S. alba after E. cruciferarum infection. Based on our findings, the expression levels of SA marker genes PR1, PR2, and PR5 increased in all three species after infection. However, the fold change was relatively higher in S. alba than in B. juncea and C. sativa. In future, further studies are required to identify the potential candidates in S. alba that are involved in powdery mildew disease resistance.
The Role of Oxytocin in Domestic Animal’s Maternal Care: Parturition, Bonding, and Lactation
Authors: Mota-Rojas Daniel , Marcet-Rius Míriam , Domínguez-Oliva Adriana , Martínez-Burnes Julio , Lezama-García Karina , Hernández-Ávalos Ismael , Rodríguez-González Daniela , Bienboire-Frosini Cécile
Published: March 2023

Oxytocin (OXT) is one of the essential hormones in the birth process; however, estradiol, prolactin, cortisol, relaxin, connexin, and prostaglandin are also present. In addition to parturition, the functions in which OXT is also involved in mammals include the induction of maternal behavior, including imprinting and maternal care, social cognition, and affiliative behavior, which can affect allo-parental care. The present article aimed to analyze the role of OXT and the neurophysiologic regulation of this hormone during parturition, how it can promote or impair maternal behavior and bonding, and its importance in lactation in domestic animals.
5-Aza-2′-Deoxycytidine (5-Aza-dC, Decitabine) Inhibits Collagen Type I and III Expression in TGF-β1-Treated Equine Endometrial Fibroblasts
Authors: Alpoim-Moreira Joana , Szóstek-Mioduchowska Anna , Słyszewska Magda , Rebordão Maria Rosa , Skarzynski Dariusz J. , Ferreira-Dias Graça
Published: March 2023

Endometrosis negatively affects endometrial function and fertility in mares, due to excessive deposition of type I (COL1) and type III (COL3) collagens. The pro-fibrotic transforming growth factor (TGF-β1) induces myofibroblast differentiation, characterized by α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) expression, and collagen synthesis. In humans, fibrosis has been linked to epigenetic mechanisms. To the best of our knowledge, this has not been described in mare endometrium. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the in vitro epigenetic regulation in TGF-β1-treated mare endometrial fibroblasts and the use of 5-aza-2′-deoxycytidine (5-aza-dC), an epigenetic modifier, as a putative treatment option for endometrial fibrosis. Methods and Results: The in vitro effects of TGF-β1 and of 5-aza-dC on DNA methyltransferases (DNMT1, DNMT3A, and DNMT3B), COL1A1, COL3A1, and α-SMA transcripts were analyzed in endometrial fibroblasts, and COL1 and COL3 secretion in a co-culture medium. TGF-β1 upregulated DNMT3A transcripts and collagen secretion. In TGF-β1-treated endometrial fibroblasts, DNA methylation inhibitor 5-aza-dC decreased collagen transcripts and secretion, but not α-SMA transcripts. Conclusion: These findings suggest a possible role of epigenetic mechanisms during equine endometrial fibrogenesis. The in vitro effect of 5-aza-dC on collagen reduction in TGF-β1-treated fibroblasts highlights this epigenetic involvement. This may pave the way to different therapeutic approaches for endometrosis.
Risk Predictability in Early Life Shapes Personality of Mosquitofish in Adulthood
Authors: Si Mengdi , Zhang Wenwen , Li Chunlin , Su Li , Zhang Xinyu
Published: March 2023

Animal personality is of great ecological and evolutionary significance and has been documented in many animal taxa. Despite genetic background, personality might be prominently shaped by external environments, and it is significant to explore the environmental factors that influence the ontogeny of animal personality in early life. Here, we reared newborn mosquitofish Gambusia affinis under different treatments of risk predictability (i.e., no risks, unpredictable risks, risks at 5 min after feeding and risks at 2 h after feeding) and measured their two personality traits at sexual maturity. We measured the behavioral repeatability, correlation between behavioral characteristics, and the impact of risk predictability. We found that the fish showed repeatability in exploration in all risk treatments, as well as repeatability in shyness under predictable risks. When growing up in risk treatments, no matter predictable or unpredictable, shyness and exploration showed a negative correlation, suggesting a behavioral syndrome between the two behavioral traits. The fish reared under predictable risks were less explorative than those under unpredictable risks, while there were no differences in shyness among treatments. Besides, smaller fish were bolder and more explorative than larger ones. Our findings imply that risk predictability in early life may play an important role in shaping animal personality and modifying the average behavioral levels.
Body Condition Score in Danish Horses Related to Type, Use, and Training Level: Patterns, Risk, and Protective Factors
Authors: Uldahl Mette , Dahl Jan , Clayton Hilary Mary
Published: March 2023

Body condition in horses is a growing concern that has different patterns of development in horses that are above and below the ideal range. This study used professional and para-professional evaluators (veterinarians, farriers, trainers, Danish Equestrian Federation (DEF) officials) who were trained and certified in the use of a modified Henneke scoring system to assign a body condition score (BCS) on a scale of 1–9. Scores of 5–6 are regarded as ideal, and 78.6% of the evaluated horses were in these groups. Only 4.8% of horses were below ideal BCS but 16.5% were above ideal BCS, and this was influenced by type, age, and training. A significant protective effect towards above ideal BCS was shown for horses trained at higher intensities. Cold-blooded horses and traditional ponies had increased risk for being above ideal BCS. Although BCS increased with age, a large proportion of geriatric horses were both above and below ideal BCS. Discipline was not related to BCS. Patterns of BCS distribution for horses attended by different professionals were investigated. Veterinarians attended more horses with BCS above and below ideal values, farriers mostly saw horses that were above ideal BCS, and officials at competitions mainly saw horses with ideal BCS.
Dietary Fiber Level Improve Growth Performance, Nutrient Digestibility, Immune and Intestinal Morphology of Broilers from Day 22 to 42
Authors: Zhang Cheng , Hao Erying , Chen Xiangyu , Huang Chenxuan , Liu Gengyun , Chen Hui , Wang Dehe , Shi Lei , Xuan Fengling , Chang Dongmei , Chen Yifan
Published: March 2023

There are few systematic studies on the dietary fiber requirements of broilers in the late feeding stage, and there are not enough data to support this hypothesis. This experiment was conducted to examine the effects of dietary fiber level on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, immune function and intestinal morphology of broilers from day 22 to 42. A total of 480 one-day-old Arbor Acres broilers with half male and half female were randomly allocated into four groups, with eight replicates in each group and fifteen chickens in each replicate. The experimental period was 42 days. All broilers were fed a basal diet from 1 to 21 days. During the 22–42 day period, the four experimental groups were fed diets with soybean hulls as the fiber source, and crude fiber (CF) levels were 2%, 5%, 8% and 11%, respectively. The results showed that during the 29–42 day period, the average daily feed intake (ADFI) of broilers was higher in the 5% CF and 8% CF groups (p < 0.05), and during the 29–35 day period, the average daily gain (ADG) of broilers was higher and the ratio of feed and gain (F/G) of broilers was lower in the 5% CF and 8% CF groups (p < 0.05). The digestibility of crude protein (CP), ether extract (EE), CF, acid detergent fiber (ADF) and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) was higher in broilers of the 8% CF group (p < 0.05). The immunoglobulin A (IgA), immunoglobulin G (IgG) and immunoglobulin M (IgM) content of the plasma of broilers was higher in the 8% CF group (p < 0.05). The villus height (VH) of the duodenum, jejunum and ileum of broilers was higher, and the crypt depth (CD) was lower in the 8% CF group than that in the 2% CF group (p < 0.05). The ratio of VH and CD (V/C) of the duodenum and jejunum of broilers in the 8% CF group was higher than that in the 2% CF group (p < 0.05). The quadratic regression analysis showed that the optimum dietary CF level was 7–9%. In conclusion, under the conditions of this experiment, a diet of 7–9% CF may promote growth performance by improving the nutrient digestibility, immunity and intestinal morphology of broilers from day 22 to 42.
The Current Status and Future Perspectives of Beta-Lactam Therapeutic Drug Monitoring in Critically Ill Patients
Authors: Novy Emmanuel , Martinière Hugo , Roger Claire
Published: March 2023

Beta-lactams (BL) are the first line agents for the antibiotic management of critically ill patients with sepsis or septic shock. BL are hydrophilic antibiotics particularly subject to unpredictable concentrations in the context of critical illness because of pharmacokinetic (PK) and pharmacodynamics (PD) alterations. Thus, during the last decade, the literature focusing on the interest of BL therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) in the intensive care unit (ICU) setting has been exponential. Moreover, recent guidelines strongly encourage to optimize BL therapy using a PK/PD approach with TDM. Unfortunately, several barriers exist regarding TDM access and interpretation. Consequently, adherence to routine TDM in ICU remains quite low. Lastly, recent clinical studies failed to demonstrate any improvement in mortality with the use of TDM in ICU patients. This review will first aim at explaining the value and complexity of the TDM process when translating it to critically ill patient bedside management, interpretating the results of clinical studies and discussion of the points which need to be addressed before conducting further TDM studies on clinical outcomes. In a second time, this review will focus on the future aspects of TDM integrating toxicodynamics, model informed precision dosing (MIPD) and “at risk” ICU populations that deserve further investigations to demonstrate positive clinical outcomes.
Timing of Revascularization and Parenteral Antibiotic Treatment Associated with Therapeutic Failures in Ischemic Diabetic Foot Infections
Authors: Altmann Dominique , Waibel Felix W. A. , Forgo Gabor , Grigorean Alexandru , Lipsky Benjamin A. , Uçkay Ilker , Schöni Madlaina
Published: March 2023

For ischemic diabetic foot infections (DFIs), revascularization ideally occurs before surgery, while a parenteral antibiotic treatment could be more efficacious than oral agents. In our tertiary center, we investigated the effects of the sequence between revascularization and surgery (emphasizing the perioperative period of 2 weeks before and after surgery), and the influence of administering parenteral antibiotic therapy on the outcomes of DFIs. Among 838 ischemic DFIs with moderate-to-severe symptomatic peripheral arterial disease, we revascularized 608 (72%; 562 angioplasties, 62 vascular surgeries) and surgically debrided all. The median length of postsurgical antibiotic therapy was 21 days (given parenterally for the initial 7 days). The median time delay between revascularization and debridement surgery was 7 days. During the long-term follow-up, treatment failed and required reoperation in 182 DFI episodes (30%). By multivariate Cox regression analyses, neither a delay between surgery and angioplasty (hazard ratio 1.0, 95% confidence interval 1.0–1.0), nor the postsurgical sequence of angioplasty (HR 0.9, 95% CI 0.5–1.8), nor long-duration parenteral antibiotic therapy (HR 1.0, 95% CI 0.9–1.1) prevented failures. Our results might indicate the feasibility of a more practical approach to ischemic DFIs in terms of timing of vascularization and more oral antibiotic use.
Carbonylated Proteins as Key Regulators in the Progression of Metabolic Syndrome
Authors: Kitamura Yuki , Oikawa Shinji , Chang Jie , Mori Yurie , Ichihara Gaku , Ichihara Sahoko
Published: March 2023

Based on the known role of oxidative stress in the pathogenesis and progression of metabolic syndrome, we used two-dimensional gel electrophoresis with immunochemical detection of protein carbonyls (2D-Oxyblot) to characterize the carbonylated proteins induced by oxidative stress in spontaneously hypertensive rats/NDmcr-cp (CP), an animal model of metabolic syndrome. We also profiled the proteins that showed change of expression levels in their epididymal adipose tissue at the pre-symptomatic (6-week-old) and the symptomatic (25-week-old) stages of the metabolic syndrome. Two-dimensional fluorescence difference gel electrophoresis (2D-DIGE) combined with matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF/TOF MS) was used to analyze proteins extracted from the epididymal adipose tissue. The up-regulated proteins identified at the pre-symptomatic stage were mainly associated with ATP production and redox reaction, while the down-regulated proteins found at the symptomatic stage were involved in antioxidant activity and the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle. Further analysis using the 2D-Oxyblot showed significantly high carbonylation levels of gelsolin and glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase [NAD+] at the symptomatic stage. These results suggest that reduced antioxidant capacity underlies the increased oxidative stress state in the metabolic syndrome. The identified carbonylated proteins, including gelsolin, are potential targets that may act as key regulators in the progression of the metabolic syndrome.
A Dynamic Analysis of the Cycloid Disc Stress-Strain State
Authors: Matejic Milos , Blagojevic Mirko , Disic Aleksandar , Matejic Marija , Milovanovic Vladimir , Miletic Ivan
Published: March 2023

The problem of internal forces that occur on the cycloid disc during the cycloid speed reducer operation so far has not been considered in a way that reflects its actual workloads and stresses in the cycloid disc itself. This paper presents a dynamic analysis of the stress-strain state of a cycloid disc by using experimental and numerical methods. The following cases of meshing are presented in the paper: a single-tooth, double-tooth, and triple-tooth meshing of the cycloid disc and the ring gear. The cycloid disc was chosen for this study because it is one of the main elements and the most critical element of the cycloid speed reducer. An experimental physical model of the cycloid disc and the meshing elements of the cycloid speed reducer was made based on a previously performed 3D CAD model. The numerical analysis of the stress-strain state of the cycloid disc was performed with the identically defined external load using the transient stress method. The paper presents a comparative analysis of the experimental and numerical results, which gives a solid insight into what is happening in the cycloid disc during the cycloid speed reducer operation. The experimental and simulation results both give the results with a deviation between 3% and 15%. After the detailed analyses, it is shown that the most critical element of cycloid speed reducer are output rollers, which need further study.