bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Impact of Agricultural Machinery Services on Food Loss at the Producer Level: Evidence from China
Authors: Xu Yan , Lyu Jie , Yuan Dandan , Yin Guanqiu , Zhang Junyan
Published: January 2025

Reducing food loss can improve environmental sustainability, resource use, and food security. Agricultural machinery services have considerable advantages in enhancing the adaptability and competitiveness of farms, but little is known about its potential for addressing food loss. Here, this work attempts to reveal a strong yet under-discussed connection between agricultural machinery services and food loss. Using survey data covering 483 corn farmers in the Heilongjiang, Jilin, and Liaoning provinces of China from October to December 2024, this study examined the extent to which participation in agricultural machinery services reduced food loss. Our results confirmed the existence of this significant causal effect and estimated 0.864% and 0.862% reductions in weight and value losses in response to a 1% increase in the purchase of agricultural machinery services. The possible mechanisms driving this relationship, including factor allocation optimization and technology introduction, were further verified. A variety of robustness tests were conducted to validate the strength and reliability of the empirical results and address endogeneity issues. Also, to better contextualize the heterogeneous effects of agricultural machinery services on food loss, the differences across production links, land fragmentation, and service quality were explored. By highlighting the important roles of agricultural machinery services in reducing food loss, our analysis contributed to contemporary debates about the long-term linkage between the wide popularization of agricultural machinery services and achieving food security, particularly providing insights for developing countries.
Agricultural Machinery Path Tracking with Varying Curvatures Based on an Improved Pure-Pursuit Method
Authors: Zhou Jiawei , Wen Junhao , Yao Liwen , Yang Zidong , Xu Lijun , Yao Lijian
Published: January 2025

The current research on path tracking primarily focuses on improving control algorithms, such as adaptive and predictive models, to enhance tracking accuracy and stability. To address the issue of low tracking accuracy caused by variable-curvature paths in automatic navigation within agricultural environments, this study proposes a fuzzy control-based path-tracking method. Firstly, a pure-pursuit model and a kinematic model were established based on a Four-Wheel Independent Steering and Four-Wheel Independent Driving (4WIS-4WID) structure. Secondly, a fuzzy controller with three inputs and one output was designed, using the lateral deviation, de; heading deviation, θe; and bending degree, c, of the look-ahead path as the input variables. Through multiple simulations and adjustments, 75 control rules were developed. The look-ahead distance, Ld, was obtained through fuzzification, fuzzy inference, and defuzzification processes. Next, a speed-control function was constructed based on the agricultural machinery’s pose deviations and the bending degree of the look-ahead path to achieve variable speed control. Finally, field tests were conducted to verify the effectiveness of the proposed path-tracking method. The tracking experiment results for the two types of paths indicate that under the variable-speed dynamic look-ahead distance strategy, the average lateral deviations for the variable-curvature paths were 1.8 cm and 3.3 cm while the maximum lateral deviations were 10.1 cm and 10.5 cm, respectively. Compared to the constant-speed fixed look-ahead pure-pursuit model, the average lateral deviation was reduced by 56.1% and the maximum lateral deviation by 50.4% on the U-shaped path. On the S-shaped path, the average lateral deviation was reduced by 56.0% and the maximum lateral deviation by 58.9%. The proposed method effectively improves the path-tracking accuracy of agricultural machinery on variable-curvature paths, meeting the production requirements for curved operations in agricultural environments.
Enhancing Rural Economic Sustainability in China Through Agricultural Socialization Services: A Novel Perspective on Spatial-Temporal Dynamics
Authors: Liao Ruofan , Chen Zhengtao , Sirisrisakulchai Jirakom , Liu Jianxu
Published: January 2025

Rural economic development faces significant challenges in the context of rapid urbanization and agricultural transformation, particularly in developing countries like China. Agricultural socialization services (ASSs) play a crucial role in promoting rural economic sustainability by enhancing household income and fostering regional development. This study investigates the impact of ASSs on rural economic sustainability in China from both temporal and spatial perspectives, employing the entropy weight method, double fixed effects model, and Spatial Durbin Model. Analyzing panel data from 30 Chinese provinces from 2011 to 2021 reveals significant positive effects of ASSs on rural income, along with spatial spillovers to neighboring regions. The results highlight regional heterogeneity in the impact of ASSs, with the eastern region benefiting from local spillovers, while the central and western regions gain from intensification and scale effects. These findings suggest that policymakers should adopt region-specific ASSs strategies, such as facilitating technology transfer in the eastern regions while leveraging intensification and scale advantages in the central and western regions, to optimize the effectiveness of agricultural support measures. Moreover, the relationship between ASSs and rural income exhibits a non-linear trend across various urbanization stages, implying that ASS policies should be tailored to the specific challenges and opportunities associated with different levels of urbanization to maximize their impact on rural economic sustainability. These findings underscore the importance of optimizing ASSs, tailoring policies to local conditions, and harnessing the role of ASSs in the urbanization process to promote inclusive rural development and foster sustainable rural economic growth.
Lipidomics Reveals Dietary Alpha Linolenic Acid Facilitates Metabolism Related to Division of Labor in Honeybee Workers
Authors: Zeng Qingxiao , Zong Deqin , Li Xiabing , Zhang Zihong , Qiu Jing
Published: January 2025

The division of labor among honeybee workers contributes to efficient pollination activities. Lipids play a crucial role in behavioral regulation, with pollen serving as a primary source of these lipids. However, the regulatory effect of pollen lipids on the division of labor of honeybee workers remains to be studied. In this study, an in-depth lipidomic analysis based on HPLC-QTOF-MS and UPLC-IM-QTOF-MS was applied. We conducted the first comprehensive lipidomic profiling of the abdomen, brain, and intestine of emerging, nursing, and foraging bees, as well as pollen, thereby establishing a lipid library comprising 646 lipid species. The lipid composition of pollen was found to exhibit characteristics similar to those of honeybee workers, with alpha linolenic acid (ALA) validated as a key labor characteristic lipid. Moderate dietary ALA supplementation reshaped lipid levels and facilitated metabolism related to the labor of division. These findings advance the field of lipidomic analysis in honeybee workers, revealing a novel behavioral regulator and extending the understanding of the nutritional regulation of ALA in the division of labor among honeybee workers.
Performance of Camellia oleifera Seedlings Under Alkali Stress Improved by Spraying with Types of Exogenous Biostimulants
Authors: Kong Qingbo , Zheng Shiheng , Li Wei , Liang Heng , Zhou Lijun , Yang Hongyu , Jiang Xiaoyu , Feng Shiling , Chen Tao , Ding Chunbang
Published: January 2025

Exogenous biostimulants (EB) are crucial for reducing abiotic stress in plants. It is currently unclear how EB such as melatonin (MT), betaine (BA), and salicylic acid (SA) regulate the stress in Camellia oleifera seedlings under alkali stress (XP). This study demonstrates the moderating effect of SA (0.5, 1, and 2 mmol/L), BA (0.2, 0.4, and 0.8 g/L), and MT (200, 400, and 800 μmol/L) on the relative chlorophyll content, photosynthetic parameters, chlorophyll fluorescence parameters, osmoregulatory substances, and antioxidant enzymes in C. oleifera seedlings under XP. The results showed that spraying different types and different concentrations of EB under alkali stress had a certain alleviating effect on the phenotype of C. oleifera seedlings. Whether 7 or 15 days after the application of EB, the relative chlorophyll content (SPAD) and the degree of yellowish-green in the control group were different from those in the other 10 treatment groups, but the difference in brightness was not significant. As far as the malondialdehyde (MDA) content is concerned, the SA2, BA3, MT2, and MT3 treatment groups can significantly reduce the MDA content on the 7th day of EB application. The electrolytic leakage (EL) is also significantly reduced by MT2 and MT3. It was found that treatment groups SA3 and MT2 could improve the photosynthetic parameters of C. oleifera seedlings to different degrees on the 7th day of EB application. On the 15th day of EB application, treatment groups SA1, SA3, BA1, and BA2 all increased the photosynthetic rate of C. oleifera compared to the XP treatment group, but other treatments did not increase. At the same time, the results showed that the fluorescence parameters of the seedlings showed different degrees of improvement under different EB spraying conditions. Under alkali stress, soluble proteins (SP) and soluble sugars (SS) increased in the XP group, but it was found that the SA3, BA3, and MT2 treatment groups could reduce the content of osmoregulatory substances both on the 7th and 15th days of EB application. In terms of proline (Pro) content, BA1, BA2, and MT2 treatment groups could reduce Pro content on the 7th and 15th days of EB spraying, respectively. As for the antioxidant enzymes, the SA2, BA3, MT2, and MT3 treatment groups could basically increase the activity of antioxidant enzymes and further reduce oxidative damage on the 7th day of application of EB. According to the comprehensive results of the membership function, whether on the 7th or 15th day of EB spraying, the MT2 treatment group has the best overall mitigation effect of the three EB applications, ranking in the top three. This study will help to improve the scientific understanding of C. oleifera’s alkali resistance and interaction with EB while filling the knowledge gap on the physiological response to oleofylline stress.
Effects of Green-Synthesised Copper Oxide–Zinc Oxide Hybrid Nanoparticles on Antifungal Activity and Phytotoxicity of Aflatoxin B1 in Maize (Zea mays L.) Seed Germination
Authors: Ngwenya Simangele C. , Sithole Nkanyiso J. , Mthiyane Doctor M. N. , Jobe Martha C. , Babalola Olubukola O. , Ayangbenro Ayansina S. , Mwanza Mulunda , Onwudiwe Damian C. , Ramachela Khosi
Published: January 2025

Maize contamination with aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is of significance on a global scale due to its major contribution to food security. It is very probable that substantial amounts of AFB1 may be absorbed by germinating seeds grown in contaminated soil and cause deleterious effects on the growth and development of maize. In this study, the effect of green-synthesised ZnO-CuO hybrid nanoparticles (NPs) on antifungal activity and reducing the toxic effects of AFB1 on seed germination was examined. A notable inhibitory effect of green-synthesised ZnO-CuO nanoparticles (NPs) on A. flavus was observed at a concentration of 0.5 ppm, resulting in 13.1% inhibition, which was more effective than the higher concentration of 1.0 ppm and the control. The results showed that the final germination percentage of the seeds that were inoculated with 320 ppb was significantly increased by the treatment with 125 mg/mL of green ZnO-CuO hybrid NPs. This study indicated the potential of green-synthesised ZnO-CuO hybrid NPs as alternative antifungal agents to control aflatoxin production in maize to improve food security and safety by supressing the threat posed by AFB1.
Preliminary Investigation on Resistance of Beckmannia syzigachne to Clodinafop-Propargyl and Mesosulfuron-Methyl from China
Authors: Peng Licun , Li Xiangju , Zhang Shuai , Guo Xiaotong , Li Zheng , Chen Jingchao , Wei Shouhui , Cui Hailan
Published: January 2025

Beckmannia syzigachne is one of the most competitive weeds in winter wheat fields in China. In this study, 120 suspected resistant populations of Beckmannia syzigachne were collected from the Anhui, Hubei, Jiangsu, and Shandong Provinces from 2017 to 2019. In total, 110 populations exhibited different levels of resistance to clodinafop-propargyl, 114 populations expressed different levels of resistance to mesosulfuron-methyl, and 105 populations were resistant to both herbicides at different levels. The resistant weeds were mainly distributed in Anhui and Jiangsu Provinces. The detection results of acetyl coA carboxylase (ACCase) and acetolactate synthase (ALS) genes in the resistant populations indicated that ACCase gene mutations occurred in 97 out of 110 populations resistant to clodinafop-propargyl and ALS gene mutations occurred in 25 out of 114 populations resistant to mesosulfuron-methyl. There were several mutation types, including Ile-1781-Leu, Trp-2027-Cys, Ile-2041-Asn, Ile-2041-Val, Asp-2078-Gly, and Gly-2096-Ala in the ACCase sequence and Pro-197-Ser, Pro-197-Thr, Pro-197-His, Pro-197-Leu, Asp-376-Glu, and Trp-574-Leu in the ALS sequence. Among these mutation types, Pro-197-His, Asp-376-Glu, and Trp-574-Leu in the ALS sequence were the first identified in Beckmannia syzigachne.
Molecular Marker-Assisted Breeding and Seed Production Techniques for Shenyou R3, a New Premium Aromatic Hybrid Japonica Rice
Authors: Zhang Anpeng , Zhang Jianming , Cheng Can , Niu Fuan , Zhou Jihua , Sun Bin , Dai Yuting , Xie Kaizhen , Chu Huangwei , Cao Liming
Published: January 2025

The advancement of hybrid japonica rice is pivotal for securing japonica rice supplies and bolstering food security. To address prevalent issues such as inconsistent yields, subpar rice quality, and inadequate seed production in existing cultivars, Shenyou R3 was developed using advanced high-density rice gene chip technology, which is characterized by the expression of specific genes. This late-season, premium aromatic variety, characterized by a popcorn-like aroma, was bred by the Crop Breeding and Cultivation Research Institute of the Shanghai Academy of Agricultural Sciences. Shenyou R3 incorporates superior genes such as badh2-E7, Pi2, Xa21, Sdt97, and Hd17, among which, badh2-E7 and Hd17 are inherited from the maternal line, while Pi2, Xa21, and Sdt97 are inherited from both the maternal and paternal lines. Shenyou R3 offers high-quality rice that adheres to national premium grade 2 standards, with level 1 resistance to blast disease, and yields surpassing the control variety Huayou 14 by over 5% in 2022 Shanghai trials. The new hybrid japonica rice Shenyou R3 has high yield potential and nitrogen utilization efficiency. This paper elaborates on the molecular marker-assisted selection process, key traits, quality metrics, and yield performance of Shenyou R3, while also outlining essential cultivation practices.
Effect of Peanut Intercropping on Arsenic Uptake and Remediation Efficiency of Plants in Arsenic-Contaminated Soil
Authors: Li Miao , Huang Xingxiu , Li Wanlin , Huang Peiyi , Kou Zhansheng , Li Huashou
Published: January 2025

Phytoremediation is an economically viable and environmentally friendly technique among various arsenic-contaminated soil remediation technologies. Field plot experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of peanut intercropping with sunflower, lucerne, and jute on the growth and development of intercropped crops and the efficiency of arsenic (As) remediation in polluted soil within the intercropping system. The results indicate that intercropping peanuts with other crops can enhance the biomass and yield of the crops. The land equivalent ratios (LER) of the three intercropping patterns were 1.03, 1.70, and 1.17, respectively. The intercropping pattern also influences the absorption and accumulation of As in crops. Total arsenic accumulation in peanuts intercropped with jute reached 493 μg·plant−1, which was significantly higher by 29.5% compared to peanut monoculture. Additionally, the translocation factor (TF) and bioaccumulation factor (BCF) of peanut seeds were significantly higher in peanut-jute intercropping compared to other treatments, but the As content of peanut seeds in all treatments complied with national food safety standards (GB2762-2022, 0.5 mg·kg−1). Intercropping of peanuts altered the pH and Eh values of rhizosphere soil, further influencing the percentage content of various forms of As in the soil, and reducing the mobility and effectiveness of As. The metal removal equivalent ratios (MRER) for the three intercropping patterns were 1.30, 2.11, and 1.26, respectively. The intercropping of peanuts and lucerne resulted in an MRER of 2.11. It indicates that peanut intercropping has a significant promotion and high restoration efficiency on the growth and development of lucerne. Therefore, among the three patterns, the peanut intercropping lucerne pattern has the best effect in applying to contaminated soil, and can better realize the integration of economic and ecological benefits.
Effects of Different Nursery Substrates on the Growth Physiology and Rhizosphere Microorganisms of Two Species of Ornamental Bamboo
Authors: Yang Menglian , Jiang Mingyan , Quan Yixuan , Yang Meng , Li Zhi , Yao Jieying , Wang Kaiqing , Luo Zhenghua , Chen Qibing
Published: January 2025

The cultivation of ornamental bamboos in pots and gardens has a higher demand for light and clean cultivation substrates, and the effects of such cultivation substrates on the growth of ornamental bamboos are rarely seen. In this study, we compared the effects of physicochemical properties of different cultivation substrates on the growth physiology of ornamental bamboos and analysed the composition of rhizosphere microbial communities by cultivating Pleioblastus chino f. holocrysa (PC), and Arundinaria fortune (AF), in both common soil (CS) and soilless substrate (SS). In PC and AF, compared to biomass at the start of cultivation the aboveground biomass of CS and SS increased by 13.71% and 0.81%, the root biomass increased by 16.01% and 25.52%, and the bamboo whip biomass decreased by 29.72% and 24.75% at the end of the cultivation. In both PC and AF, the abundance of Proteobacteria in SS (42.28% and 48.42%, respectively) was higher than in CS (38.52% and 34.92%, respectively), the abundance of Ascomycota in SS (76.55% and 87.89%, respectively) was higher than that of CS (72.46% and 68.80%, respectively), the abundance of Bacteroidota in SS (10.35% and 9.16%, respectively) was higher in CS (7.42% and 7.61%, respectively), and was positively correlated with organic matter and available nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. The abundance of beneficial microbial genera (Haliangium, Acidibacter, BIrii41, Pseudeurotium) increased in SS, and the abundance of pathogenic fungi Fusarium in SS (1.87% and 0.10%, respectively) was lower than in CS (3.97% and 3.10%, respectively). Taken together, the results reveal that SS increased the growth of aboveground parts of ornamental bamboo, inhibited the growth of bamboo whips, and reduced the allocation of biomass to foraging organs compared with CS. The increase in beneficial microbial genera promoted the development of the root system and the accumulation of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium in the leaves of ornamental bamboo, and the decrease in pathogenic genera lowered the risk of disease infection in the ornamental bamboo.
Scalable Prediction of Northern Corn Leaf Blight and Gray Leaf Spot Diseases to Predict Fungicide Spray Timing in Corn
Authors: Peddicord Layton , Xavier Alencar , Cryer Steven , Barr Jeremiah , Heijden Gerie van der
Published: January 2025

Managing foliar corn diseases like northern leaf blight (NLB) and gray leaf spot (GLS), which can occur rapidly and impact yield, requires proactive measures including early scouting and fungicides to mitigate these effects. Decision support tools, which use data from in-field monitors and predicted leaf wetness duration (LWD) intervals based on meteorological conditions, can help growers to anticipate and manage crop diseases effectively. Effective crop disease management programs integrate crop rotation, tillage practices, hybrid selection, and fungicides. However, growers often struggle with correctly timing fungicide applications, achieving only a 30–55% positive return on investment (ROI). This paper describes the development of a disease-warning and fungicide timing system, equally effective at predicting NLB and GLS with ~70% accuracy, that utilizes historical and forecast hourly weather data. This scalable recommendation system represents a valuable tool for proactive, practicable crop disease management, leveraging in-season weather data and advanced modeling techniques to guide fungicide applications, thereby improving profitability and reducing environmental impact. Extensive on-farm trials (>150) conducted between 2020 and 2023 have shown that the predicted fungicide timing out-yielded conventional grower timing by 5 bushels per acre (336 kg/ha) and the untreated check by 9 bushels per acre (605 kg/ha), providing a significantly improved ROI.
Oxidation Kinetics of FeCr and FeCrAl Alloys: Influence of Secondary Processes (Continuation)
Authors: Nakhutsrishvili Irakli , Tevzadze Revaz
Published: January 2025

This paper discusses the influence of the secondary processes of reaction product evaporation and the reduction of the effective diffusion area into the scale on the kinetics (change in sample mass–time) of the high-temperature oxidation processes, in air, of alumina- and chromia-forming alloys.
A Review of Laboratory Biosafety and Infection Prevention and Control Guidelines on the Management of High-Risk Pathogens in Canada
Authors: Yeung Eugene Y. H.
Published: January 2025

The safety precautions required for certain pathogens are different in clinical laboratories and patient-facing healthcare settings, causing confusion for laboratorians and infection preventionists. The current review aims to summarize information from reputable Government of Canada guidance commonly used in clinical laboratories in Canada, including the Government of Canada Human Pathogens and Toxins Act and Regulations, the ePATHogen—Risk Group Database, biosafety directives and advisories, Transportation of Dangerous Goods Regulations, and the Canadian Biosafety Standard (2022). Guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories (2020), Clinical and Laboratory Standard Institution’s (CLSI) M29 Protection of Laboratory Workers from Occupationally Acquired Infections (2014), and Association of Public Health Laboratories’s Biothreat Agent Bench Cards for the Sentinel Laboratory (2018) were also used to supplement specific details. In comparison, information regarding infection prevention and control practices in patient-facing healthcare settings was summarized: Public Health Agency of Canada: Routine Practices and Additional Precautions for Preventing the Transmission of Infection in Healthcare Settings (2017) and CDC Infection Control Guideline for Isolation Precautions: Preventing Transmission of Infectious Agents in Healthcare Settings (2007). Contrasting levels of precautions exist between laboratories and patient-facing settings, especially for endemic fungi and certain security-sensitive biological agents. Acknowledging this contrast may facilitate risk communication relative to the counterparts to minimize the threat and disease effects and ensure public confidence.
Maternal Ferrous Sucrose Supplementation Improves Reproductive Performance of Sows and Hepatic Iron Stores of Neonatal Piglets
Authors: Tian Wen , Ma Xiaofan , Liu Hongwei , Wang Zhefeng , Liu Chunxue , Xie Chunyan
Published: January 2025

As one of the most important trace elements required by sows, especially in the late gestation period, iron plays a crucial role in the growth and development of a fetus. To explore the effects of dietary supplementation with ferrous sucrose on the reproductive performance of sows and the hepatic iron stores in offspring, sixty primiparous Landrace × Yorkshire sows on day 95 of gestation with an average body weight of 174.1 ± 7.7 kg were randomly assigned to two groups of a basic diet (control) and a basic diet supplemented with 109 mg/kg ferrous sucrose (FS) in a fully randomized block design. The trial lasted for 20 days. The results showed that maternal supplementation with ferrous sucrose significantly increased litter weight (p = 0.002) in neonatal piglets. Compared with the control group, the serum iron and serum transferrin saturation of farrowing sows increased by 45.67% (p = 0.002) and 37.01% (p = 0.033), respectively, and umbilical cord serum iron (p = 0.012) also increased in the FS group. Finally, the serum iron (p < 0.001) and hepatic iron stores (p = 0.071) of neonatal piglets were both increased to varying degrees. Taken together, supplementation of pregnant sows with ferrous sucrose has positive effects on the growth and hepatic iron stores of their offspring.
Ecosystem Services Linked to Extensive Sheep and Goat Farming in Mountain Areas: A Global Literature Analysis Using Text Mining and Topic Analysis
Authors: Primi Riccardo , Bernabucci Gloria , Evangelista Chiara , Viola Paolo , Girotti Pedro , Spina Raffaello , Compagnucci Silvia , Ronchi Bruno
Published: January 2025

Mountain ecosystems are unique and complex environments characterised by their high altitudes, steep slopes, and significant climatic variations [...]
Typification of the Economically Important Species Thyreophagus entomophagus (Acari: Astigmata: Acaridae) Used for the Industrial Production of Predatory Mites: The Designation of a Neotype with Detailed Morphological and DNA Sequence Data
Authors: Klimov Pavel B. , Kolesnikov Vasiliy B. , Khaustov Alexander A. , Khaustov Vladimir A. , Merckx Jonas , Duarte Marcus V. A. , Vangansbeke Dominiek , Geudens Ilse , Pepato Almir
Published: January 2025

The mite Thyreophagus entomophagus is a cosmopolitan species of significant economic importance in biocontrol applications, serving as a factitious prey for the mass rearing of predatory mites. This species has been reported from a variety of habitats. However, the taxonomic reliability of its name is questionable due to inconsistencies in historical species identifications, the absence of type specimens, and misidentified GenBank sequences. Here, to address these issues and to standardize the nomenclature, we redescribe Thyreophagus entomophagus based on a commercial culture with known COX1 barcoding sequence data and designate a neotype from this culture. As part of delimiting the species boundaries of Th. entomophagus, the question of whether this species forms heteromorphic deutonymphs is particularly important. While the literature suggests that most populations lack them, at least one population in Germany has been reported to produce heteromorphic deutonymphs. However, after careful examination, we identified this population as a new species, Thyreophagus holda, indicating that previous identifications of this population as Th. entomophagus were incorrect. The absence of the heteromorphic deutonymphal stage is a beneficial trait for mass production, as it simplifies the life cycle by eliminating the energetically costly heteromorphic deutonymph. Our preliminary molecular phylogenetic analyses of Th. entomophagus and other species of Thyreophagus indicate that the loss of heteromorphic deutonymphs and the emergence of asexual reproduction (another beneficial trait for mass production) are derived traits that arose after the divergence of the most recent common ancestor of Thyreophagus. These insights enhance our understanding of the evolutionary traits that increase the effectiveness of Th. entomophagus and related species in biocontrol settings. Our study points to the need for additional bioprospecting efforts to identify new candidate species for biocontrol that possess both asexual reproduction and the absence of heteromorphic deutonymphs.
An Investigation of Dairy Cattle Welfare in Commercial Iranian Farms: Results from Animal- and Stockperson-Based Measures
Authors: Jafari-Gh. Ali , Laven Richard , Khaloubagheri Fatima , Mirrahimi Mohsen Haji , Jafari-Gh. Saeid , Banadaky Mehdi Dehghan , Mueller Kristina Ruth , Vallee Emilie
Published: January 2025

Dairy cow welfare can impact both the economic performance of an individual farm and the public perception of the sector, thus influencing the sustainability of the dairy farming industry. Intensive dairy farming in Iran started in the 1940s, but there is limited data available regarding dairy cattle welfare in the country. Therefore, the aim of this study was to design and use a comprehensive bespoke welfare assessment protocol in intensive Iranian dairy farms to provide baseline data for Iran and other countries with similar farming systems. The protocol consists of animal-based, stockperson-based, and resource-based measures. The first part of the welfare assessment protocol (being presented in this paper) was developed from the existing literature and contained 11 animal-based and 2 stockmanship measures. The protocol was applied in 62 intensive dairy cattle farms in five arid and semi-arid provinces of Iran. Welfare Quality sample size suggestions were used to reach the minimum sample size for all animal-based measures except for the locomotion score, where either the whole milking herd was scored or all cows in the early lactation (<150 days in milk) group. Results show that there was a good focus on nutrition management on the farms. Lameness prevalence and the incidence of hock lesions were too high, although within the range seen in many housed cows outside Iran. In addition, 13.5% of cows had damaged ears. The prevalence of dirty legs was high (≥80% of cows), and the hygiene score was unrelated to the farming system. Finally, the extremely high median prevalence of tail damage (60%) indicates a significant welfare issue that needs to be addressed with urgency.
Hemp Hay (Cannabis sativa L.) in Grazing Goats’ Diet: Effects on Oxidative and Inflammatory Status
Authors: Zicarelli Fabio , Lotito Daria , Iommelli Piera , Amato Ruggero , Mahayri Tiziana Maria , Musco Nadia , Pacifico Eleonora , Infascelli Federico , Tudisco Raffaella , Moniello Giuseppe , Lombardi Pietro
Published: January 2025

Hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) is a versatile and multipurpose crop with a wide range of industrial, commercial, environmental and medicinal applications. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of hemp hay on the oxidative and inflammatory status of grazing goats. The high content of polyunsaturated fatty acids with anti-inflammatory activity makes hemp hay a promising feed that can be used to improve animals’ health by means of its metabolic profile, as well as its oxidative and inflammatory status. Studies on hemp hay suggest that its usage could replace alfalfa hay to obtain beneficial effects in terms of the milk yield and health status of goats. Indeed, because of the various biological compounds in hemp hay, the effects of its administration should be accurately explored. A total of 20 multiparous goats were equally divided immediately after calving (February) into two groups (C: control vs. H: hemp) that were homogeneous in terms of live weight (49 ± 2 kg) and milk yield at the previous lactation (2250 ± 200 g/head/day). The animals remained in the pasture but received 500 g/head/day of a barley and corn meal mixture. In addition, group H received 250 g/head/day of hemp hay, and group C was fed the same amount of alfalfa hay. Blood samples were taken before the trial and four months later and analyzed for clinical biochemistry, oxidative status, and anti-inflammatory profile. Reactive oxygen metabolites, biological antioxidant potential, Interleukins 6 (IL-6) and 10 (IL-10), and TNF-α were determined. In group H, a significant decrease in TNF-α level (22.7 vs. 12.7 pg/mL, p = 0.01) and an opposite but not significant trend for IL-10 was detected. In addition, there was a significant decrease (184.6 vs. 111.4 UCARR, p = 0.001) in d-ROM content and an increase in the biological antioxidant potential (BAP) values (3238.1 vs. 3886 μmol/L). A significant anti-inflammatory effect was only registered for TNF-α, whereas IL6 and IL10 were not affected.
Trends in the Application of Citizen Science in Waterbird Conservation: A Bibliometric Analysis
Authors: Wang Ruilin , Ma Keming
Published: January 2025

Waterbirds serve as indicator species for the quality and health of wetland ecosystems, and their conservation is of critical significance for global biodiversity. Citizen science has gradually emerged in recent years, playing an increasingly positive role in scientific research, particularly in ornithological studies. However, a systematic description of the application of citizen science data in waterbird conservation remains lacking. Bibliometrics is an effective method for analyzing the development of scientific disciplines, exploring trends, and examining thematic evolution. This paper utilizes bibliometric analysis of citation data from the Web of Science database, covering the period from 1970 to September 2024. The analysis reveals that this research field has undergone three distinct developmental phases, with a significant increase in annual publication volume during the third phase. Research focus has shifted from specific species and types of waterbirds to key hotspots and ecological phenomena. Future research hotspots are expected to include migratory birds, China, citizen science, and biodiversity. Influential papers within the field emphasize that the primary focus of waterbird conservation is habitat protection and the construction of habitat networks. As the discipline has developed, there is growing recognition that increasing public awareness of waterbird conservation, starting with student education, plays a crucial role in the accumulation of citizen science data and the advancement of waterbird conservation efforts.
In Vitro Antioxidant, Antithrombotic and Anti-Inflammatory Activities of the Amphiphilic Bioactives Extracted from Avocado and Its By-Products
Authors: Marra Anita , Manousakis Vasileios , Koutis Nikolaos , Zervas Georgios Panagiotis , Ofrydopoulou Anna , Shiels Katie , Saha Sushanta Kumar , Tsoupras Alexandros
Published: January 2025

The antioxidant, antithrombotic and anti-inflammatory effects of the amphiphilic compounds extracted from both avocado juice and by-products, were evaluated. All extracts were assessed for their total phenolic content (TPC) and total carotenoid content (TCC), and for their antioxidant activities by DPPH, ABTS and FRAP assays as well as for their anti-inflammatory and antithrombotic potency in human platelets. The extracts rich in TAC (Total Amphiphilic Content) showed much higher content in phenolics and carotenoids from the extracts of total lipophilic content (TLC), which was reflected by the much stronger antioxidant capacities of TAC extracts. ATR-FTIR spectroscopy revealed the presence of not only phenolics and carotenoids, but also of bioactive polar lipids (PLs) in avocado TAC extracts, the LC-MS based structural analysis of which further revealed a fatty acid composition favourable for unsaturated fatty acids (UFAs) versus saturated ones (SFAs), including monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) like the oleic acid (C18:1n9) and omega-3 (n3) polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) like the alpha linolenic acid (C18:3n3), with the subsequent anti-inflammatory low values of the n6/n3 PUFA ratio. The presence of such bioactive PLs that are rich in UFA within the TAC extracts of avocado juice and its by-products provide an explanation for the observed potent anti-inflammatory and antithrombotic activities of avocado TAC against thrombo-inflammatory mediators like platelet activating factor (PAF) and against standard platelet agonists like ADP, offering promise for such avocado TAC extracts, as ingredients in functional products for health/promoting applications either in cosmetics or in functional foods and nutraceuticals, or even drugs.
Do Lifestyle Interventions Mitigate the Oxidative Damage and Inflammation Induced by Obesity in the Testis?
Authors: Moreira Ruben J. , Oliveira Pedro F. , Spadella Maria Angélica , Ferreira Rita , Alves Marco G.
Published: January 2025

Obesity results from a disproportionate accumulation of fat and has become a global health concern. The increase in adipose tissue is responsible for several systemic and testicular changes including hormone levels (leptin, adiponectin, testosterone, estrogen), inflammatory cytokines (increase in TNF-α and IL-6 and decrease in IL-10), and redox state (increase in reactive oxygen species and reduction in antioxidant enzymes). This results in poor sperm quality and compromised fertility in men with obesity. Lifestyle modifications, particularly diet transition to caloric restriction and physical exercise, are reported to reverse these negative effects. Nevertheless, precise mechanisms mediating these benefits, including how they modulate testicular oxidative stress, inflammation, and metabolism, remain to be fully elucidated. The main pathway described by which these lifestyle interventions reverse obesity-induced oxidative damage is the Nrf2-SIRT1 axis, which modulates the overexpression of antioxidant defenses. Of note, some of the detrimental effects of obesity on the testis are inherited by the descendants of individuals with obesity, and while caloric restriction reverses some of these effects, no significant work has been carried out regarding physical exercise. This review discusses the consequences of obesity-induced testicular oxidative stress on adult and pediatric populations, emphasizing the therapeutic potential of lifestyle to mitigate these detrimental effects.
Dependence of Nonlinear Elastic Parameters of Consolidated Granular Media on Temperature in the Ambient Range
Authors: Ghorbani Ghezeljehmeidan Amir , Kober Jan , Scalerandi Marco , Zeman Radovan
Published: January 2025

Hysteretic nonlinear elasticity is often observed in consolidated granular media, including concrete, mortar, sandstones, or rocks. Nonlinearity is frequently quantified using Nonlinear Resonant Ultrasonic Spectroscopy (NRUS), which provides tools to define nonlinear parameters for both fast and slow dynamic effects, often observed when analyzing the propagation velocity dependence on strain in such materials. The dependence of these parameters on temperature was studied with the aim of using NRUS to quantify the induced thermal damage; thus, experiments were performed spanning a wide temperature range. However, since most of these materials are used in construction (concrete and sandstone, mostly), it is of interest to understand how sensitive the measured nonlinear parameters are to small environmental temperature fluctuations. In this paper, the dependence on temperature of elastic parameters is investigated, both linear (wave velocity and damping) and nonlinear (the slope and hysteresis of the curves describing the strain dependence of wave velocity and residual conditioning effect on wave velocity), separating the slow from the fast dynamic properties of nonlinearity. The observations reported here denote a different behavior for concrete and Berea sandstone.
Organic Sea Buckthorn or Rosehip Juices on the Physicochemical, Rheological, and Microbial Properties of Organic Goat or Cow Fermented Whey Beverages
Authors: Bartoń Maciej , Waraczewski Robert , Sołowiej Bartosz G.
Published: January 2025

This study was focused on the production of fermented whey beverages (goat—sweet or sour whey, and cow—sweet or sour whey) enriched with organic fruit juices: sea buckthorn or rosehip. Our research included trials with unpasteurized whey and the combination of this whey with organic sea buckthorn and wild rosehip juices, fermented with lactic acid bacteria. Assessments of the physicochemical, rheological, and microbial properties of the above-mentioned beverages were conducted. Our findings indicated that the addition of organic fruit juices significantly improved the properties of the fermented whey beverages. Microbiological safety was ensured, with low levels of pathogenic microorganisms detected. The incorporation of organic cow’s and goat’s whey, combined with organic fruit juices, not only enhanced the health benefits but also diversified the available range of functional dairy products on the market. The additional goal of this study was to utilize liquid whey, commonly considered a waste in organic farms, and transform it into a valuable product, offering a wider variety of fermented beverages to consumers. This research also addresses the scale limitations of organic farms in whey processing and its potential transformation into functional products. By employing selected strains of lactic acid bacteria, we enhanced the health-promoting properties of the final products, potentially benefiting local producers by reducing waste and aligning with the European Green Deal standards.
Coupling Secret Sharing with Decentralized Server-Aided Encryption in Encrypted Deduplication
Authors: Gan Chuang , Wang Weichun , Hu Yuchong , Zhao Xin , Dun Shi , Xiao Qixiang , Wang Wei , Huang Huadong
Published: January 2025

Outsourcing storage to the cloud can save storage costs and is commonly used in businesses. It should fulfill two major goals: storage efficiency and data confidentiality. Encrypted deduplication can achieve both goals via performing deduplication to eliminate the duplicate data within encrypted data. Traditional encrypted deduplication generates the encryption key on the client side, which poses a risk of offline brute-force cracking of the outsourced data. Server-aided encryption schemes have been proposed to strengthen the confidentiality of encrypted deduplication by distributing the encryption process to dedicated servers. Existing schemes rely on expensive cryptographic primitives to provide a decentralized setting on the dedicated servers for scalability. However, this incurs substantial performance slowdown and can not be applied in practical encrypted deduplication storage systems. In this paper, we propose a new decentralized server-aided encrypted deduplication approach for outsourced storage, called ECDedup, which leverages secret sharing to achieve secure and efficient key management. We are the first to use the coding matrix as the encryption key to couple the encryption and encoding processes in encrypted deduplication. We also propose a acceleration scheme to speed up the encryption process of our ECDedup. We prototype ECDedup in cloud environments, and our experimental results based on the real-world backup datasets show that ECDedup can improve the client throughput by up to 51.9% compared to the state-of-the-art encrypted deduplication schemes.
Predicting the Aquatic Toxicity of Pharmaceutical and Personal Care Products: A Multitasking Modeling Approach
Authors: Halder Amit Kumar , Pradhan Tanushree , Cordeiro M. Natália D. S.
Published: January 2025

Pharmaceutical and Personal Care Products (PPCPs) have become a significant environmental concern due to their widespread use, persistence, and potential toxicity, often referred to as forever chemicals. This study aims to develop and validate robust in silico models for predicting the aquatic toxicity of PPCPs. To do so, we resorted to the ECOTOX database and employed a Python-based tool to prepare and curate the dataset. Multitasking Quantitative Structure–Toxicity Relationship (mt-QSTR) models were then developed employing the Box–Jenkins moving average approach, incorporating both linear and non-linear frameworks based on diverse feature selection algorithms and machine learning techniques. To further improve the external predictivity, a consensus modeling approach was also implemented. The most accurate model achieved an overall predictive accuracy exceeding 85%, providing valuable insights into the structural features influencing PPCP toxicity. Key factors contributing to high aquatic toxicity included high lipophilicity, mass density, molecular mass, and reduced electronegativity. This work offers a foundation for designing safer PPCPs with reduced environmental impact, aligning with sustainable chemical development goals.
Development of a Clinical Decision Support System Using Artificial Intelligence Methods for Liver Transplant Centers
Authors: Yağanoğlu Mete , Öztürk Gürkan , Bozkurt Ferhat , Bilen Zeynep , Yetiş Demir Zühal , Kul Sinan , Şimşek Emrah , Kara Salih , Eygu Hakan , Altundaş Necip , Aksungur Nurhak , Korkut Ercan , Başar Mehmet Sinan , Öztürk Nurinnisa
Published: January 2025

The objective of this study is to utilize artificial intelligence techniques for the diagnosis of complications and diseases that may arise after liver transplantation, as well as for the identification of patients in need of transplantation. To achieve this, an interface was developed to collect patient information from Atatürk University Research Hospital, specifically focusing on individuals who have undergone liver transplantation. The collected data were subsequently entered into a comprehensive database. Additionally, relevant patient information was obtained through the hospital’s information processing system, which was used to create a data pool. The classification of data was based on four dependent variables, namely, the presence or absence of death (“exitus”), recurrence location, tumor recurrence, and cause of death. Techniques such as Principal Component Analysis and Linear Discriminant Analysis (LDA) were employed to enhance the performance of the models. Among the various methods employed, the LDA method consistently yielded superior results in terms of accuracy during k-fold cross-validation. Following k-fold cross-validation, the model achieved the highest accuracy of 98% for the dependent variable “exitus”. For the dependent variable “recurrence location”, the highest accuracy obtained after k-fold cross-validation was 91%. Furthermore, the highest accuracy of 99% was achieved for both the dependent variables “tumor recurrence” and “cause of death” after k-fold cross-validation.
Photoelasticity as a Tool for Stress Analysis of Re-Entrant Auxetic Structures
Authors: Schürger Barbara , Pástor Miroslav , Frankovský Peter , Lengvarský Pavol
Published: January 2025

The presented study illustrates the use of photoelasticity as an effective tool for validating the results of finite element method (FEM) simulations of auxetic structures. This research focuses on comparing stress distributions in planar auxetic models under symmetrical and asymmetrical loading conditions. Experimental measurements, conducted using an optically sensitive material (PSM-1), were found to align closely with FEM predictions, with deviations within 5%. This agreement highlights the accuracy of both methods, though discrepancies were noted in areas with lower stress levels due to fringe order reading precision. The experimental process makes it possible to take into account real conditions and inaccuracies in production, while numerical modelling is based on ideal conditions. The findings affirm the value of photoelasticity for stress field analysis in complex geometries, particularly for auxetic structures, and underscore its role in verifying and refining computational models. The study concludes that photoelasticity can be a valuable tool for designers and engineers in verifying FEM simulations, even without the use of digital processing and the evaluation of measured data.