bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Bracket Chats: Promoting Bureaucratic Knowledge through Tournament Brackets
Authors: Phillips Stephen , Trask Tara
Published: January 2025

In-class games engage students in active learning through the application of theoretical concepts, sparking class discussion, and creating interaction between instructors and students. While students often know a great deal about the presidency, many have little knowledge of the executive branch beyond the Office of the President. The bureaucracy is more abstract and unfamiliar to students, in terms of its breadth, responsibilities, and power. To increase knowledge of bureaucratic organizations, as well as their importance and functions, students complete a March Madness-style tournament bracket of executive departments, agencies, and bureaus. Students must navigate the tricky venture of seeding, evaluating, and comparing agencies, always mindful of a potential upset. The completion of individual and collective brackets spurs classroom discussion on the purpose, roles, and variety of bureaucratic agencies, including the influence of executive agencies on our everyday lives.
Assessing the Effectiveness of Teaching Career Readiness
Authors: Schmitt Carly
Published: January 2025

In response to the growing need for colleges and universities to engage with students on career and world readiness, I developed a course that focuses on student career competencies and that fosters engagement in career exploration. This “Working in Politics” course introduces the career competencies that students will need in the 21st century, and allows students the opportunity to connect their curricular, co-curricular, and life experiences to these competencies to develop their understanding of how these experiences map onto what employers are looking for. This course is a required course in our major geared towards second-year students (or first year, if a transfer student). I investigate the effectiveness of implementing career planning and development in a course designed for such purposes on student career readiness.
A Metamodernist Reading of Don DeLillo’s Zero K
Authors: Abootalebi Hassan , Amjad Fazel Asadi 
Published: January 2025

This article offers a critical analysis of Don DeLillo’s 2016 novel, Zero K, through the lens of a metamodernist framework. While DeLillo’s work is often associated with either modernism or, predominantly, postmodernism, this study argues that in Zero K, he can be categorized as a metamodernist writer. Metamodernism, a term introduced and proposed by cultural theorists Vermeulen and Akker, is conceptualized as a mediation between modernism and postmodernism, amalgamating elements from both movements. Zero K, as we will discuss, exhibits a fluctuation between modernist and postmodernist characteristics, encompassing themes of optimism and pessimism, utopia and dystopia, irony and enthusiasm, belief and disbelief. Furthermore, it demonstrates a tendency towards presenting a genuine human experience in metamodernist fiction, accentuating empathy, sincerity, and interconnectedness in order to rehumanize the subject.
Envisaging Human-Nature Conflict in the Trailer for Oppenheimer (2023): A Multimodal Ecolinguistic Study
Authors: ElMansy Sara  Yahya , Hassan Inas Hussein
Published: January 2025

Ecolinguistics is widely acknowledged as a field of study that cares about the relationship between language and ecology. Since the conflict between humans and nature has been intensifying, ecolinguists have concentrated on ecological studies adopting discourse analysis approaches to demonstrate how discourse constructs the relationship between humans and the ecosystem. This study aims to conduct a multimodal analysis of ecological dynamic discourse in an attempt to integrate multimodality with ecolinguistic studies, an area which is still under-researched. The trailer for Oppenheimer (2023) comprises the data of the study. The movie is a dramatization of the life story of Oppenheimer, the leader of the Manhattan Project that produced the first nuclear weapons. The research focuses on exploring how the human-nature conflict is rendered via multimodal resources. The theoretical framework of the study dwells upon Visual Environmental Communication Research (Hansen 2018) supported by the updated version of the Relevance Theory (RT) as extended to multimodal communication (Forceville 2020). By utilizing ecolinguistics as an analytical lens and applying RT, this study uncovers how movie trailers significantly underscore the urgency and cruciality of the human-nature interconnection amid tragedy and destruction. The findings of the study indicate that multimodal affordances in Oppenheimer trailer, both verbal and non-verbal, contribute to portraying the complexities of nature-human interface.
Unlocking the therapeutic potential of Saussurea costus: purification and functional characterization of α-amylase inhibitors
Authors: Ben Abdelmalek Imen , Alhmdi Tomather A. A. , Ben Bacha Abir , Krayem Najeh
Published: January 2025

Introduction

Regulating the catalytic activity of alpha-Amylase enzymes can decrease glucose production during the postprandial phase, potentially offering therapeutic benefits for diabetes. This research aimed to assess the inhibition of α-amylase using crude extracts from Saussurea costus, a medicinal plant traditionally used for treating diabetes and its associated complications.

Methods

Two novel potent proteinaceous amylase inhibitors: ScAI-R and ScAI-L were purified and characterized from Saussurea costus roots and leaves.

Results

The pure inhibitors exhibited an apparent molecular weight of about 16 kDa and a high N-terminal sequence identity (81%) with the monomeric α-amylase inhibitors from Kengyili amelanthera and Triticum dicoccoides. In addition to their significant stability at extreme pH values (2.0–12.0) and temperatures (100°C), the structural integrity of both inhibitors was remarkably enhanced in the presence of divalent cations such as Mg2+, Ca2+, and Hg2+ at 5 mM. Interestingly, the half-maximal inhibitory concentrations of ScAI-R (IC50 = 23 μg/mL) or ScAI-L (IC50 = 28 μg/mL) against human salivary amylase against were comparable to that of the standard drug acarbose (IC50 = 23 μg/mL). Both purified inhibitors acted as non-competitive inhibitors with Ki values of 0.38 and 0.32 µM, respectively, and displayed the highest affinities towards human salivary and pancreatic α-amylases (up to 90% inhibitory activity) and, to a lesser extent, porcine pancreatic α-amylase (∼70% inhibitory activity). Furthermore, these inhibitors exhibited efficient antimicrobial activities against Gram (−) and Gram (+) bacteria, as well as fungal strains. Cytotoxicity towards the human cancer colorectal cells LoVo and HCT-116 with an IC50 of up to 50 μg/mL was also observed.

Discussion

Thus, Saussurea costus α-amylase inhibitors could be potential candidates for hyperglycemic control in diabetic and colorectal cancer patients.
Association of triglyceride-glucose-body mass index with all-cause mortality among individuals with cardiovascular disease: results from NHANES
Authors: Sun Yiaoran , Hu Yuecheng
Published: January 2025

Background

The objective of this study was to explore the relationship between the triglyceride-glucose-body mass index (TyG-BMI) and all-cause mortality rate and to determine valuable predictive factors for the survival status of patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD).

Methods

Conduct a study on CVD patients in the NHANES database from 2007 to 2016. Patients were divided into four groups based on the weighted quartiles of TyG-BMI. Kaplan-Meier curves, Cox regression, and restricted cubic spline (RCS) were used to analyze the correlation between this index and all-cause mortality. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to evaluate its predictive ability, sensitivity, and specificity.

Results

This study included 1085 patients, and revealed significant differences in survival rates among patients with different TyG-BMI levels. Patients in the higher TyG-BMI group have a lower mortality risk, yet there is no evident non-linear relationship. The ROC curve indicates that this indicator can serve as a predictive value for mortality in CVD patients, demonstrating good sensitivity and specificity.

Conclusion

This study found a significant association between TyG-BMI index and all-cause mortality in patients with CVD. TyG-BMI can be used as a predictive indicator of all-cause mortality in CVD patients.
A bibliometric analysis of studies on artificial intelligence in neuroscience
Authors: Tekin Ugur , Dener Murat
Published: January 2025

The incorporation of artificial intelligence (AI) into neuroscience has the potential to significantly enhance our comprehension of brain function and facilitate more effective diagnosis and treatment of neurological disorders. Artificial intelligence (AI) techniques, particularly deep learning and machine learning, offer transformative solutions by improving the analysis of complex neural data, facilitating early diagnosis, and enabling personalized treatment approaches. A bibliometric analysis is a method that employs quantitative techniques for the examination of scientific literature, with the objective of identifying trends in research, evaluating the impact of influential studies, and mapping the networks of collaboration. In light of the accelerated growth and interdisciplinary scope of AI applications in neuroscience, a bibliometric analysis is vital for mapping the landscape, identifying pivotal contributions, and underscoring emerging areas of interest. This study aims to address this need by examining 1,208 studies published between 1983 and 2024 from the Web of Science database. The analysis reveals a notable surge in publications since the mid-2010s, with substantial advancements in neurological imaging, brain-computer interfaces (BCI), and the diagnosis and treatment of neurological diseases. The analysis underscores the pioneering role of countries such as the United States, China, and the United Kingdom in this field and highlights the prevalence of international collaboration. This study offers a comprehensive overview of the current state and future directions of AI applications in neuroscience, as well as an examination of the transformative potential of AI in advancing neurological research and healthcare. It is recommended that future research address the ethical issues, data privacy concerns, and interpretability of AI models in order to fully capitalize on the benefits of AI in neuroscience.
Decanoic acid-enriched ketogenic diet in refractory epilepsy
Authors: Shin Hui Jin , Ryu Seonae , Lee NaRae , Lee Eunjoo , Ko Ara , Kang Hoon-Chul , Lee Joon Soo , Kim Se Hee , Kim Heung Dong
Published: January 2025

Objective

To assess the anti-seizure efficacy and safety of a C10-enriched medium-chain triglyceride (MCT) ketogenic diet (KD) compared with the classic KD in pediatric patients with refractory epilepsy.

Methods

This 16-week, open-label, randomized, controlled, crossover pilot study was conducted at Severance Children’s Hospital, Seoul, South Korea, between August 2022 and September 2023. Fifteen pediatric patients with refractory epilepsy were enrolled and received classic KD and C10-enriched KD for 8 weeks each. The study compared seizure reduction rate, tolerability, and safety of the two diets.

Results

Fifteen patients were enrolled. Patients were divided into 2 groups depending on the type of KD initiated. Ten patients completed the trial. Initial treatment with the C10-enriched KD resulted in seizure reduction in all five patients, with two becoming seizure-free. Initial treatment with classic KD was effective in two out of five patients. Upon crossover, those initially on C10-enriched KD maintained their seizure reduction, while patients initially on the classic KD showed additional seizure reduction when switched to C10-enriched KD. Adverse effects included transient hypoglycemia, metabolic acidosis, hypercalciuria, and gastrointestinal symptoms, all of which were manageable.

Discussion

The C10-enriched KD demonstrated comparable efficacy and tolerability to the classic KD, offering a promising option for patients with refractory epilepsy who do not respond adequately to the classic KD alone. This study, the first to directly compare a C10-enriched KD with a classic KD, highlights the potential synergistic effects of decanoic acid.
Knockdown ATG5 gene by rAAV9 alleviates doxorubicin-induced cardiac toxicity by inhibiting GATA4 autophagic degradation
Authors: Xu Ai-Li , Shen Zheng , Wang Shi-Hao , Luan Hai-Yun , Xu Yong , Kang Ze-Chun , Liao Zi-Qi , Liu Jie , Duan Xiao-Lei , Bian Wei-Hua , Sun Hui , Xie Xin
Published: January 2025

Doxorubicin (DOX) is a prevalent chemotherapeutic drug for treating several malignancies. However, the mechanisms of DOX induced cardiac toxicity is not fully understood. Previous studies have demonstrated that autophagy activation is essential in DOX-induced cardiac toxicity. Nevertheless, studies on the role of autophagy protein 5 (ATG5) in DOX-induced cardiac toxicity remain limited. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the role of ATG5 in DOX-induced cardiac toxicity. Mice were intravenously administered DOX (5 mg/kg) for 4 weeks to establish a cardiac toxicity model. Heart function was determined using echocardiography, and cardiac tissue was assessed for protein expression, mRNA levels, fibrosis, and immunofluorescent staining. DOX treatment upregulated autophagy-related gene expression but inhibited autophagic flux in vitro and in vivo. DOX–treated mice exhibited decreased heart function and cardiomyocyte size and increased cardiac fibrosis, oxidative stress, and apoptosis. These effects of DOX were partially alleviated by rAAV9 expressing shRNA-ATG5 and deteriorated by rAAV9-ATG5. We demonstrated that genetic ATG5 knockdown or autophagy inhibition by chemical inhibitors increased GATA4 protein expression, which was reduced by ATG5 overexpression or autophagy activator in vitro and in vivo, suggesting that ATG5-mediated autophagy promoted GATA4 degradation. Moreover, enforced GATA4 re-expression significantly counteracted the toxic effects of ATG5 on DOX-treated hearts. In conclusion, our study demonstrated that manipulating ATG5 expression to regulate GATA4 degradation in the heart may be a promising approach for DOX-induced cardiac toxicity.
A bibliometric analysis of metonymy in SSCI-indexed research (2000–2023): retrospect and prospect
Authors: Sun Yi , Lin Mocheng
Published: January 2025

Introduction

Metonymy has gained increasing attention for its role in shaping language, thought, and communication. Despite its prominence, the thematic evolution and future directions of metonymy research remain underexplored. This study seeks to address this gap by analyzing metonymy research published between 2000 and 2023, providing a comprehensive overview of its key trends and emerging themes.

Methods

A bibliometric analysis was conducted using data sourced from the Social Science Citation Index (SSCI) within the Web of Science Core Collection. Co-citation and co-word analysis were employed alongside k-means clustering techniques to identify research themes. Predictive modeling, including ARIMA and LSTM approaches, was used to forecast future research topics based on keyword trends.

Results

The analysis identified 11 key research clusters, highlighting the central role of cognitive and conceptual linguistics in metonymy research, along with its applications in semantics, pragmatics, and multimodal contexts. Predictive modeling suggested the emergence of seven new research themes for 2024–2028, including the interaction between metonymy and discourse, its role in multimodal communication, and its application in social and cultural narratives.

Discussion

This study underscores the interdisciplinary nature of metonymy research, bridging linguistic, cognitive, and social dimensions. The findings highlight promising areas for future exploration, namely, its integration into digital communication and its impact on cultural identity construction. The methodological approach offers a robust framework for analyzing and predicting research trends, paving the way for innovative contributions to the field.
Common features of environmentally and socially engaged community programs addressing the intersecting challenges of planetary and human health: mixed methods analysis of survey and interview evidence from creative health practitioners
Authors: Thomson Linda J. M. , Critten Ailsa , Hume Victoria , Chatterjee Helen J.
Published: January 2025

Depending on environmental and social determinants, planetary health impacts unequally on human health. As it is likely that creativity and culture are under-tapped resources, the potential to address community and environmental issues to tackle health inequalities, especially those resulting from climate injustice, has not yet been fully realized. The study aimed to identify common features of environmentally and socially engaged UK community programs addressing the intersecting challenges of planetary and human health. A short survey was used to screen participants for in-depth semi-structured interviews. Inclusion criteria comprised adult practitioners offering environmentally and socially engaged community programs of creative and cultural activities leading to health and environmental outcomes. Thematic analysis of 19 surveys and eight interviews identified 146 responses, from which 12 themes with 98 subthemes were derived. Seventy per cent of responses were distributed across five major themes: ‘Collaboration and partnerships’, ‘Community health and wellbeing’, ‘Connection to nature’, ‘Funding’ and ‘Mental health’. Within these five themes, 10 subthemes which resulted from three or more similar responses by different participants were deemed common features of community programs. Two of the 10 subthemes: ‘Connection to nature in children’ and ‘Relationship with natural world’ within the major theme: ‘Connection to nature’ addressed planetary and human health directly through practices recognizing environmental and human interdependency. Four of the 10 subthemes: ‘Influencing wider systems’ within the major theme ‘Collaboration and partnerships’; and ‘Looking after our staff’, ‘Preventative measures’ and ‘Research evidence’ within the major theme ‘Mental health’; addressed planetary and human health indirectly through practitioner partnership influence over policies relating to climate change and by addressing concern for the environment manifesting in eco-anxiety. The study indicates the need for inclusive practice, partnership work, and sustainable funding that can support practitioner wellbeing and the process, outputs and impacts of natural and sustainable environment-based health interventions and other resources instrumental in preventative healthcare.
Sex differences in delivery and neonatal characteristics of new-borns from the “MAMI-MED” cohort
Authors: Magnano San Lio Roberta , Barchitta Martina , Maugeri Andrea , Campisi Elisabetta , Favara Giuliana , Granados Claudia Ojeda , La Mastra Claudia , La Rosa Maria Clara , Galvani Fabiola , Pappalardo Elisa , Ettore Carla , Ettore Giuseppe , Agodi Antonella
Published: January 2025

Introduction

Exploring modifiable and non-modifiable determinants—like sex of new-borns, maternal characteristics, and lifestyle—of maternal and child health is a priority in Public Health. Understanding these sex-based differences is essential for tailored care and informed public health policies.

Methods

The present study aimed to delineate sex disparities in delivery and neonatal characteristics within the “MAMI MED” cohort, an ongoing prospective study involving mother–child pairs from Catania, Italy. The analysis included 1,090 mother–child pairs.

Results

The comparison of birth weight and birth length distribution showed some differences between sexes, confirmed by higher birth weight (β = 0.121; 95% CI = 0.071–0.172) and greater birth length (β = 0.659; 95% CI = 0.360–0.958) in males compared to females. However, the comparison of small and adequate for gestational age (SGA vs. AGA) revealed that the likelihood of being SGA was higher in males than in females (OR = 1.592; 95% CI = 1.005–2.563).

Discussion

Thus, the focus should be on improving the assessment of gender-based differences in diagnostic criteria and incorporating gender-specific aspects into existing preventive guidelines to deeply understand the effect of gender disparities and risk factors on maternal-child health.
A comparative analysis of autograft choices of anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction and their effects on muscle strength and joint biomechanics
Authors: Issaoui Wiem , Dergaa Ismail , Ghouili Hatem , El Omri Abdelfatteh , Guelmami Noomen , Chomier Philippe , Ghrairi Mourad , Ben Saad Helmi , Moalla Wassim
Published: January 2025

Introduction

Anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) is crucial to restore knee stability and function after ACL injuries, especially in physically active individuals. Despite advances in surgical techniques and rehabilitation protocols, the choice of autograft has a significant impact on postoperative recovery, particularly on muscle strength and joint biomechanics. In this study, the effects of four autografts are investigated: Iliotibial band (ITB), combined ITB and hamstring tendon (ITB + HT), hamstring tendon (HT) and bone-tendon-bone (BTB) on quadriceps and hamstring peak torque (QPT and HPT) recovery and hamstring to quadriceps ratio (H:Q) to assess knee stability and function.

Methods

Forty-two active males (mean ± standard deviation of age: 31.5 ± 6.1 years, height: 177 ± 6 cm, weight: 76 ± 11 kg, body mass index: 24.5 ± 2.2 kg/m²) with primary ACL ruptures were allocated to the four graft groups (ITB: n = 16, ITB + HT: n = 12, HT: n = 7, BTB: n = 7) and underwent a standardized rehabilitation protocol. Quadriceps and hamstring peak torque (QPT and HPT, respectively) as indicators of isokinetic muscle strength were assessed both postoperatively and follow-up after approximately six months (mean 6.29 ± 1.70 months)

Results

Significant differences in QPT and HPT recovery between the healthy and injured legs were found in all graft groups (P < 0.001). The BTB group showed the largest QPT deficit between healthy and injured legs (Δ = 133.4 Nm, Cohen's d = 8.05) and HPT deficit (Δ = 41.1 Nm, Cohen's d = 4.01). In contrast, the ITB + HT group showed the smallest deficits in QPT (Δ = 22.5 Nm, Cohen's d = 0.73) and HPT (Δ = 13.5 Nm, Cohen's d = 1.21). The BTB group also showed the largest deviation in H:Q ratios (Δ = −0.23, Cohen's d = 2.70), while the HT group showed a more balanced recovery with smaller significant deficits in H:Q ratios (Δ = −0.07, Cohen's d = 0.46).

Conclusion

The BTB graft showed the most pronounced variations in QPT and HPT between healthy and injured legs in the short term, indicating the importance of longitudinally monitoring knee stability to determine the best autograft choice for ACLR. While all graft types contribute to muscle strength recovery, the HT graft may provide advantages in balancing muscle strength and potentially enhancing knee stability.
Application Framework and Optimal Features for UAV-Based Earthquake-Induced Structural Displacement Monitoring
Authors: Ji Ruipu , Sorosh Shokrullah , Lo Eric , Norton Tanner J. , Driscoll John W. , Kuester Falko , Barbosa Andre R. , Simpson Barbara G. , Hutchinson Tara C.
Published: January 2025

Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) vision-based sensing has become an emerging technology for structural health monitoring (SHM) and post-disaster damage assessment of civil infrastructure. This article proposes a framework for monitoring structural displacement under earthquakes by reprojecting image points obtained courtesy of UAV-captured videos to the 3-D world space based on the world-to-image point correspondences. To identify optimal features in the UAV imagery, geo-reference targets with various patterns were installed on a test building specimen, which was then subjected to earthquake shaking. A feature point tracking-based algorithm for square checkerboard patterns and a Hough Transform-based algorithm for concentric circular patterns are developed to ensure reliable detection and tracking of image features. Photogrammetry techniques are applied to reconstruct the 3-D world points and extract structural displacements. The proposed methodology is validated by monitoring the displacements of a full-scale 6-story mass timber building during a series of shake table tests. Reasonable accuracy is achieved in that the overall root-mean-square errors of the tracking results are at the millimeter level compared to ground truth measurements from analog sensors. Insights on optimal features for monitoring structural dynamic response are discussed based on statistical analysis of the error characteristics for the various reference target patterns used to track the structural displacements.
Economic Impact Analysis of Mega Events for Sustainable Tourism: Insights from the Giro d’Italia and Tour de France
Authors: Sardi Alberto , Rizzi Alessandro , Sorano Enrico
Published: January 2025

The growing awareness of economic, environmental, and social issues related to tourism highlights the need to identify innovative practices that promote sustainability in tourist destinations. This study investigates mega sporting events and their fundamental role in sustainable tourism; these events contribute to tourism promotion by regenerating and revitalizing host areas. However, the increasing demand for transparency in the management of public resources, aimed at ensuring the economic sustainability of the areas hosting these events, has heightened the focus on monitoring resource allocation. Beyond the use of technological innovations, it becomes essential to study the role of innovation in promoting sustainable tourism management practices to guarantee the economic sustainability of destinations hosting major sporting events. A key tool for planning tourism promotion and ensuring economic sustainability is undoubtedly economic impact analysis. Although numerous methods are available, the integration of multiple approaches enhances both the completeness and accuracy of such evaluations. This study proposes an innovative approach that combines different methods to provide a robust approach for economic impact analysis. This research validates the proposed approach through the analysis of two prestigious cycling competitions: the Giro d’Italia and the Tour de France. The proposed approach enables the identification of areas where targeted investments and strategic improvements can promote sustainable and long-term economic benefits for host regions. It can support decision-making processes to plan tourism promotion and ensure economic sustainability.
Analysing the Impact of Entrepreneurship Education on Early-Stage Entrepreneurship—Focusing on the Transitional Countries of Central and Eastern Europe
Authors: Csákné Filep Judit , Timár Gigi , Szennay Áron
Published: January 2025

Entrepreneurship is deeply rooted in tradition and culture in many countries; however, transitional market economies in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) underwent 40–45 years of socialism, which disrupted these traditions by collectivising private property. Education is recognised as a key tool for regional development and restoring entrepreneurial knowledge and skills, potentially enhancing entrepreneurial intentions within society. This paper investigates the impact of entrepreneurial education on entrepreneurial activity in transitional CEE countries. Pearson’s correlation analysis was conducted using a combined national-level dataset from the Annual Population Survey (APS) and the National Expert Survey of the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) spanning 2021–2023. Results reveal inconsistent findings across the years. In 2021 and 2022, there was a significant moderate correlation between total early-stage entrepreneurial activity (TEA) and an indicator of entrepreneurial education at primary and secondary levels in CEE countries. In contrast, no such relationship was observed in other regions. In 2023, however, no significant correlations were identified for any country group. These results highlight the temporal variability of education’s influence on entrepreneurship in transitional economies.
Spray Quality Assessment on Water-Sensitive Paper Comparing AI and Classical Computer Vision Methods
Authors: Simões Inês , Sousa Armando Jorge , Baltazar André , Santos Filipe
Published: January 2025

Precision agriculture seeks to optimize crop yields while minimizing resource use. A key challenge is achieving uniform pesticide spraying to prevent crop damage and environmental contamination. Water-sensitive paper (WSP) is a common tool used for assessing spray quality, as it visually registers droplet impacts through color change. This work introduces a smartphone-based solution for capturing WSP images within vegetation, offering a tool for farmers to assess spray quality in real-world conditions. To achieve this, two approaches were explored: classical computer vision techniques and machine learning (ML) models (YOLOv8, Mask-RCNN, and Cellpose). Addressing the challenges of limited real-world data and the complexity of manual annotation, a programmatically generated synthetic dataset was employed to enable sim-to-real transfer learning. For the task of WSP segmentation within vegetation, YOLOv8 achieved an average Intersection over Union of 97.76%. In the droplet detection task, which involves identifying individual droplets on WSP, Cellpose achieved the highest precision of 96.18%, in the presence of overlapping droplets. While classical computer vision techniques provided a reliable baseline, they struggled with complex cases. Additionally, ML models, particularly Cellpose, demonstrated accurate droplet detection even without fine-tuning.
A Multi-Scale Feature Focus and Dynamic Sampling-Based Model for Hemerocallis fulva Leaf Disease Detection
Authors: Wang Tao , Xia Hongyi , Xie Jiao , Li Jianjun , Liu Junwan
Published: January 2025

Hemerocallis fulva, essential to urban ecosystems and landscape design, faces challenges in disease detection due to limited data and reduced accuracy in complex backgrounds. To address these issues, the Hemerocallis fulva leaf disease dataset (HFLD-Dataset) is introduced, alongside the Hemerocallis fulva Multi-Scale and Enhanced Network (HF-MSENet), an efficient model designed to improve multi-scale disease detection accuracy and reduce misdetections. The Channel–Spatial Multi-Scale Module (CSMSM) enhances the localization and capture of critical features, overcoming limitations in multi-scale feature extraction caused by inadequate attention to disease characteristics. The C3_EMSCP module improves multi-scale feature fusion by combining multi-scale convolutional kernels and group convolution, increasing fusion adaptability and interaction across scales. To address interpolation errors and boundary blurring in upsampling, the DySample module adapts sampling positions using a dynamic offset learning mechanism. This, combined with pixel reordering and grid sampling techniques, reduces interpolation errors and preserves edge details. Experimental results show that HF-MSENet achieves mAP@50 and mAP%50–95 scores of 94.9% and 80.3%, respectively, outperforming the baseline model by 1.8% and 6.5%. Compared to other models, HF-MSENet demonstrates significant advantages in efficiency and robustness, offering reliable support for precise disease detection in Hemerocallis fulva.
Systemic Acquired Resistance: Plant Priming for Ecological Management of Mealybug-Induced Wilt in MD2 and Queen Victoria Pineapples
Authors: Soler Alain , Pochat Corentin , Perrin Marie , Mendoza Jessica , Latchimy Flora
Published: January 2025

Pineapples are highly susceptible to “Wilt disease”, caused by the biotrophic insect Dysmicoccus brevipes that also transmits several Wilt-associated viruses (PMWaVs). Conventional farms manage mealybugs and Wilt disease using chemicals. However, many of these chemicals have been banned in Europe due to safety concerns, leading to a critical need for studies on pesticide-free control methods. During their evolution, plants have developed natural defences, such as systemic acquired resistance (SAR), against pathogens and pests. In this study, salicylic acid (10−3 M) was applied to MD2 and Queen Victoria pineapple plants as a foliar spray or soil drench, followed by mealybug infestation. This treatment enhanced defences, assessed through mealybug multiplication rates, and biochemical and molecular responses of tissue-cultured plantlets under controlled conditions. Phenylalanine ammonia-lyase activity (PAL) was measured as a potential SAR signalling enzymatic marker. Additionally, the expression levels of four genes were analyzed, which included AcPAL and AcICS2, both linked to salicylic acid synthesis; AcMYB-like, a transcription factor regulating salicylic acid biosynthesis; and AcCAT, which is involved in H2O2 level control in plants. SA elicitation reduced the mealybug multiplication rate by 70% on pineapples compared to untreated plants. In this study, the biochemical marker (PAL) and three molecular markers (AcPAL, AcICS2, and AcCAT) showed significant differences between primed and unprimed plants, indicating SAR induction and its role in the pineapple–mealybug interaction. In MD2 and Queen Victoria, PAL increased by 2.3 and 1.5, respectively, while AcPAL increased by 4 and more than 10. The other molecular markers, AcICS2, AcCAT, and AcMYB-like (a transcription factor), increased by 3, except for the last one in Queen Victoria. The reduction in mealybug populations with SAR is less effective than with pesticides, but it provides a valuable alternative on Réunion Island, where the only remaining insecticide will soon be banned. In addition, SAR priming offers a promising, eco-friendly strategy for managing mealybug populations and reducing Wilt disease in pesticide-free pineapple cropping systems.
Design and Testing of a Peanut Roller Digging Harvester
Authors: Liu Daoqi , Liu Long , Qian Kai , Chen Kaiyang , Wang Dongwei , Sun Wenxi
Published: January 2025

In order to solve the problems that arise from poor fruit–soil separation, a high fruit burial rate, and a high crushing rate during peanut harvesting under clay-heavy soil conditions, a multistage roller peanut harvester that is suitable for operation in these environments was designed. Considering the growth conditions of peanuts and the agronomic requirements of planting, the movement process and separation operation mechanism of the seedling and fruit–soil were analyzed, coupled with the vibrating excavation device and the conveying roller group. A dynamic model of seedling fruit–soil coupled throwing and soil collisions on the conveyor roller was constructed. The structure and maximum swing angle of the vibrating excavation device, the number of stages of the conveying roller group, the diameter of the throwing roller, and other parameters were determined through analyses. Utilizing the design results, a prototype was built, and a multifactor test for the operation parameters was carried out. The forward speed of the machine, the excavation depth, and the speed of the conveyor roller were used as the test factors. The fruit burial rate and the peanut crushing rate were used as the test indexes. The Box–Behnken test method was used to establish a regression equation between the factors and the test indexes, and the influence law of each factor on the peanut harvest index was determined. When the optimal parameters were combined, i.e., 1.0 m/s, 150 mm, and 80 r/min, the fruit burial rate and crushing rate of peanuts were 6.2% and 6.4%, respectively. The performance of the machine meets the design requirements, and our research results can provide a reference for the research of mechanized peanut harvesting technology and equipment.
Genetic Dissection of Anthocyanin Accumulation in Tomato Using GWAS and Hybridization Probe Melting (HPM) for Marker-Assisted Breeding
Authors: Jeong Areum , Rajendran Sujeevan , Noh Sara , Kwon Dohyeon , Kim Chul Min , Lee Sang-Hoon , Nam Moon , Lee Bumkyu
Published: January 2025

Tomato fruit color is primarily influenced by the accumulation of pigments such as carotenoids and anthocyanins, which are regulated by a complex network of genes and environmental factors. The presence of anthocyanins, in particular, contributes to the purple phenotype in tomatoes, which has been associated with improved nutritional quality and disease resistance. Previous studies have identified key regulatory genes, including SlMYBATV and SlANT1, that control anthocyanin biosynthesis in tomatoes. A total of 48 tomato accessions were selected, including both anthocyanin-producing and non-producing cultivars, to assess genetic variation in relation to fruit color. GWAS analysis identified significant associations between single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) on chromosomes 7 and 10 and the purple fruit phenotype. These genomic regions contained key anthocyanin regulatory genes, SlMYBATV on chromosome 7 and SlANT1 on chromosome 10, confirming their roles in anthocyanin biosynthesis. Linkage disequilibrium (LD) analysis further revealed strong correlations between SNPs within these regions, facilitating the selection of representative SNPs for genotyping. The genotyping of SNPs Ch07_60981501 and Ch10_64354129 using HPM demonstrated clear differentiation between purple and non-purple cultivars based on melting temperature differences, validating the functional significance of the identified loci. The results confirmed that the nonfunctional SlMYBATV allele at the atv locus allows for enhanced anthocyanin accumulation by relieving repression of anthocyanin activators like SlANT1. This interaction between the Aft and atv loci drives light-dependent anthocyanin biosynthesis in purple tomatoes. HPM genotyping offers a cost-effective tool for allele identification, supporting breeding programs for anthocyanin-rich tomatoes. SNP markers enable marker-assisted selection (MAS) for improved nutritional and aesthetic traits. This study highlights SlMYBATV and SlANT1 in anthocyanin biosynthesis, advancing efforts to develop enriched tomato varieties and supporting agricultural productivity and health.
Evaluation of the Possibility of Using Fuzzy C-Means Clustering, AMMI Analysis and GGE Biplot Methods to Predict the Yield of Chickpea Genotypes Cultivated in Different Environments
Authors: Tunc Murat , Rufaioglu Süreyya Betül , Ipekesen Sibel , Yakar Murat , Yorulmaz Levent , Bicer Behiye Tuba
Published: January 2025

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the potential of using fuzzy C-means clustering, AMMI and GGE biplot analysis methods to predict the yield of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) genotypes grown in various environments. The trials were conducted in the Central, Silvan and Hazro districts of Diyarbakir province and Kiziltepe district of Mardin province in the Southeastern Anatolia Region of Türkiye. During the 2016 growing season, 19 chickpea genotypes were tested across four distinct environments. Multiple location experiments were used to assess the genotypes’ performance and stability. The study employed a two-factor experimental design in randomized blocks with four replications in each environment. As a result, the genotype FLIP98-206C showed the highest performance for yield (1727.3 kg ha−1) at the Diyarbakır location among all locations. On the other hand, the Diyar-95 variety showed the lowest yield (723.5 kg ha−1) at the Hazro location among all locations. The Diyarbakir location was determined as an ideal test environment for genotype selection in fuzzy C-means clustering, AMMI and GGE biplot analysis. The Silvan region was determined as the weakest environment for this purpose. It is considered that the determination of genotypes with high yield and stability in this research, in which different analysis methods were used in combination, will contribute to agricultural production.
Detecting and Explaining Long-Term Trends in a Weed Community in a Biennial Cereal–Legume Rotation
Authors: Gonzalez-Andujar Jose L. , Gonzalez-Garcia Irene
Published: January 2025

The technique of Dynamic Factor Analysis (DFA), which aims to reduce the dimensionality of time-series data, was utilized in order to model the changes over time in eight different long-time-series weeds (26 years) growing in a biennial cereal–legume rotation. The aim of the present study was to determine the existence of long-term trends in a weed community and to identify the factors that determine them. A common trend was extracted that captured the main signal of abundance over time, indicating latent influences affecting all species. Canonical correlation analysis showed strong associations between the common trend and specific weed species, suggesting differential responses to this latent factor. Local (temperature and precipitation) and global weather factors (North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO)) were considered as explanatory variables to explain the common trend. The local weather variables considered did not play a significant role in explaining the commonly observed trend. Conversely, NAO showed a significant relationship with the weed community, indicating its potential role in shaping long-term weed dynamics. DFA was found to be useful for studying the variability in multivariate weed time-series without the need for detailed a priori information on the underlying mechanisms governing weed population dynamics. Overall, this study provided valuable insights into the long-term drivers of weed dynamics and set the stage for future research in this area.
Cytological Characterization of vrnp 1, a Pollen-Free Male Sterile Mutant in Mung Bean (Vigna radiata)
Authors: Cheng Yuxin , Lan Tianjiao , Deng Kunpeng , Wang Minghai , Bao Shuying , Han Dan , Xu Yapeng , Wang Han , Xu Ning , Guo Zhongxiao
Published: January 2025

Mung bean (Vigna radiata) plays a significant role in agricultural trade, food processing and utilization, and cropping structure adjustment due to its abundant nutritional components, medicine-food homology, capacity for nitrogen fixation, and soil improvement. The low yield level is a crucial limitation factor in the mung bean industry, while heterosis is an efficient path for increasing crop yields. The flexible utilization of male sterile mung bean materials may solve this pressing demand in the industry. This study identified a completely male-sterile mutant, vrnp 1, in the EMS-mutagenized mung bean cultivar Jilv 10 population, which is controlled by a single recessive nuclear gene. Furthermore, we employed a series of microscopical and histological techniques and observed that the tapetal cells in the vrnp 1 mutant did not perform as expected when reaching stage 8 of anther development, notably exhibiting a delay in entering PCD. This was accompanied by a failure to deposit cell wall components onto the pollen wall, culminating in a complete absence of mature pollen and the manifestation of male sterility. In conclusion, the vrnp 1 mutant could potentially serve as a promising candidate for male sterility in exploiting hybrid vigor in mung bean. Our research may elucidate how the delayed initiation of programmed cell death in tapetal cells contributes to a factor implicated in mung bean male sterility. Furthermore, the phenotypic data collected during pivotal developmental phases may have contributed to a better grasp of mung bean microspores and anther development.
Harnessing RSPCA Stakeholder Expertise to Co-Produce a Complex Intervention Addressing Childhood and Adolescent Animal Harm
Authors: Lawrie Suzanne , Blakey Claire , Hawkins Roxanne , Williams Joanne M.
Published: January 2025

Childhood and Adolescent Animal Harm (CAAH) is influenced by biological, psychological and socio-environmental risk factors. Interventions to prevent animal harm among children and young people are essential for fostering empathy and reducing future harm. This study explores the perspectives of RSPCA stakeholders, to co-produce a redeveloped version of ‘Breaking the Chain’, an intervention addressing youth animal harm. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 16 RSPCA employees across a range of departments and geographical locations in England, UK. Thematic analysis was used to identify key insights on target groups, intervention content, delivery methods, and evaluation strategies. Two primary target groups were identified: universal audiences (primary school-aged children) and high-risk youth. Participants advocated for retaining the core content of the existing intervention while modernising resources to address contemporary risk factors, such as online exposure to animal harm while ensuring accessibility for neurodiverse audiences. Face-to-face delivery was favoured, complemented by digital resources. Evaluation was viewed as critical, with a focus on both short-term outcomes and long-term impact. This study highlights the importance of stakeholder involvement in co-producing effective cruelty prevention interventions. Future steps will involve a coproduction study with children and young people to gather their perspectives on the intervention redesign. This will be followed by a pilot and evaluation of the redesigned intervention, incorporating feedback from both the implementers (e.g., teachers, youth offending teams, RSPCA employees) and the recipients (children and young people).
Shear Wave Elastography Evaluation of Testicular Stiffness in Dogs Affected by Testicular Pathology
Authors: Caspanello Tiziana , Zappone Viola , Orlandi Riccardo , Sforna Monica , Boiti Cristano , Sinagra Letizia , Donato Giulia , De Majo Massimo , Iannelli Nicola Maria , Troisi Alessandro
Published: January 2025

Shear wave elastography (SWE) is an advanced ultrasound technique that assesses tissue stiffness by measuring shear wave speed (SWS) produced after an acoustic impulse. It includes bidimensional (2D-SWE) and focal point (pSWE) methods, allowing qualitative and quantitative analysis of tissue stiffness. This study aimed to describe the elastographic features of testicular abnormalities in dogs, supported by histological findings. Eighteen dogs with testicular abnormalities underwent B-mode ultrasound, power and color Doppler ultrasound, 2D-SWE, and pSWE before orchiectomy. Five cryptorchid testes were excluded and thirty-one testes (12 normal, 7 with leydigomas, 6 with seminomas, 1 with a round cell tumor, and 5 with orchitis) were examined. Normal testes, lesions, and adjacent healthy tissues (no evident ultrasound changes, NEUC) were sampled. Testicular abnormalities presented SWS values of 1.05–4.89 m/s (2D-SWE) and 1.35–5.31 m/s (pSWE). Significant differences were observed among normal testes, NEUC areas, and those with orchitis, leydigomas, and seminomas by both 2D-SWE and pSWE. Normal testes were significantly softer than ones with leydigomas, seminomas, and orchitis, and NEUC areas also had different SWS values compared to those with tumors and orchitis (p < 0.05). However, SWE techniques lacked specificity in differentiating between orchitis and tumors. Diagnostic accuracy of SWE techniques for testicular lesions remains challenging and requires further investigation to fully address its clinical potential.