bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Kinetics of Phosphorus Uptake through Roots of Habanero Pepper (Capsicum chinense Jacq. cv. Mayapán)
Authors: Yam-Chimal Carmen , Ramírez-y-Avilés Luis , Navarro-Alberto Jorge , Solorio-Sánchez Francisco , Villanueva-Couoh Eduardo , Noh-Medina José
Published: September 2022

The application of enzymatic kinetics theory on the nutrition of horticultural species is scarce. Imax and Km describe the kinetics of nutrient absorption by the plant. Imax and Km are necessary to predict phosphorus (P) uptake from soil using mathematical models, and their estimation gives information about the efficient use of P in plants. Imax and Km for habanero pepper (Capsicum chinense Jacq. cv. Mayapán) were determined using the modified exhaustion method. Depletion of P by the roots was obtained with 0.01, 0.125, 0.25, 0.50, and 1.00 mM P L−1. P-depletion data over time were fitted to an exponential-regression model to obtain the initial P-uptake rates by the roots. Initial P-uptake rates were significantly different (p < 0.001) depending on the levels of P in the solution. Imax and Km were predicted by iteratively fitting the initial P-absorption rates in terms of the concentration of P to the Michaelis–Menten model. The average Imax was 3.49 × 10−7 mM cm2 s−1 and Km was 2.59 × 10−2 mM P L−1. These results show that the habanero pepper root can uptake 1.08 × 10−5 mg P L−1 per cm2 in the soil solution per second and P transporters are saturated with 2.59 × 10−2 mM P L−1.
Tourists’ Perceived Attitudes toward the Famous Terraced Agricultural Cultural Heritage Landscape in China
Authors: Yang Xiaopiao , Zhao Yuluan , Zhao Jia , Shi Chao , Deng Bailu
Published: September 2022

Terraces are the major vehicle for agricultural activities in mountainous areas and are an important component of the agro-cultural heritage landscape. This work explores tourists’ perceived attitudes toward, and characteristics of terraced agro-cultural heritage landscapes based on online web travel notes. A framework of visitor perception types of terraced agricultural cultural heritage landscapes was constructed, and each type was analyzed in a targeted manner. The results obtained can provide a reference for the conservation of heritage farming culture and the development of strategies to improve landscape quality for such sites. This study used crawler software to collect online travelogue data from 3991 notes by visitors to seven note-worthy terraced agro-cultural heritage sites in China and used the ROST Content Mining 6 tool to analyze high-frequency feature words, semantic networks, and sentiment distribution and ten-dency. We found that the tourist perception of the diversity of terraced agro-cultural heritage landscape is rich, with a high overall evaluation. The tourists‘ perceptions focused on four elements: landscape, ecology, culture, and service. They were more likely to have a high perception of the landscape than service, which in turn was higher than culture and ecology. The emotional tendency of tourists‘ perceptions is mainly highly positive and neutral, and negative emotions account for a lower proportion and are mostly mild.
Research and Design of Precision Fertilizer Application Control System Based on PSO-BP-PID Algorithm
Authors: Meng Zihao , Zhang Lixin , Wang Huan , Ma Xiao , Li He , Zhu Fenglei
Published: September 2022

China has had the highest fertilizer use rate in the world for years, but today a large number of farmlands still use traditional manual fertilizer application methods, which rely entirely on personal experience and not only cause the waste of fertilizer and water resources but also make the local ecological environment polluted. This paper researches and designs a BP neural network PID controller based on PSO optimization to address the above problems. The PSO algorithm is used to optimize the initial weights of the BP neural network, and then optimize the control parameters of the PID to achieve accurate control of the liquid fertilizer flow. A precision fertilizer control system based on the STM32 microcontroller was also developed, and the performance of this controller was verified in tests. The results showed that compared with the conventional PID controller and BP neural network-based PID controller, this controller had good control accuracy and robustness, the average maximum overshoot was 6.35%, and the average regulation time was 41.17 s; when the fertilizer application flow rate was 0.6 m3/h, the shortest adjustment time is 30.85 s, which achieves the effect of precise fertilizer application.
Comparison of Application Effects of Capillary Radiation Heat Pump and Electric Heating Wire in Greenhouse Seedling Cultivation
Authors: Tu Qiu , Zhang Lina , Li Linzhang , Deng Chenmian , Wang Bingjun , Gu Binquan , Dai Zhengwu
Published: September 2022

Heat pumps with water as heat exchange medium applied in greenhouse heating have not been used for vegetable seedling cultivation. In this work, a multi-connected direct expansion capillary radiation heat pump (MDCRHP) was designed for vegetable seedling cultivation, and a closed local temperature control (CLTC) method was proposed to accurately control air and substrate temperatures in seedling beds, enhance the heating effect and reduce the equipment cost. The results show that the CLTC method can achieve good heating effect and quickly raise air/substrate temperature at a speed of 1 °C/min from 8 °C to about 20 °C within 12 min. The air and substrate temperature fields in the seedling beds were evenly distributed. The temperature differences at different horizontal positions and different heights were less than 1 °C, and the relative humidity was 100%, which is conducive to vegetable grafting seedling. It can be concluded from test results that the MDCRHP had strong adaptability for greenhouse heating and was obviously superior to the electric heating wire (EWH). The output capacity of the compressor can be controlled by adjusting the operation frequency to meet the temperature requirements at different stages of seedling cultivation. Under the conditions of similar external ambient temperature and heating effect in the seedling beds, the energy saving rate of the MDCRHP was 47–50.7% compared with the EWH. The cost of the MDCRHP is about 7.2% lower than that of the conventional heat pump. It takes 3–3.5 years to recover the equipment investment.
Neonicotinoid Residues in Earthworms and Ground Beetles under Intensive Sugar Beet Production: Preliminary Study in Croatia
Authors: Viric Gasparic Helena , Lemic Darija , Bazok Renata
Published: September 2022

Neonicotinoids are pesticides widely used for pest control in agriculture with undesirable effects on pollinators. However, other beneficial insects are exposed to insecticides that are not lethal to them but may accumulate and affect their vital characteristics. The objective of this study was to determine neonicotinoid residues in two types of beneficial soil organisms. The first group includes ground beetles (family: Carabidae, order: Coleoptera). They are important in the food web within existing ecosystems, especially in agricultural areas. The second group includes earthworms (family: Lumbricidae, order: Opisthopora) as humifiers, important members of the soil fauna. Fauna was collected at two sugar beet growing areas in Croatia under intensive sugar beet management. Ground beetles were collected from six plots of sugar beet fields treated with imidacloprid and thiamethoxam or left untreated with neonicotinoids. Earthworms were collected from the eight fields involved in four-year sugar beet crop rotation (sugar beet, maize, soybean, oilseed rape). Detection of neonicotinoid residues was performed by LC-MS/MS, SPE-QuEChERS method. The limit of quantification (LOQ) was 0.001 mg/kg. In ground beetles, the highest concentration of imidacloprid was detected at 0.027 mg/kg, while the residues of thiamethoxam and clothianidin were below LOQ. The highest concentration of imidacloprid in earthworms was 0.2141 mg/kg, while residues of thiamethoxam did not exceed 0.0008 mg/kg. This is the first study of this kind on Croatian territory and provides a valuable first insight into the ecotoxicological status of beneficial soil fauna. More comprehensive studies are needed to assess the extent of accumulation in and to take further steps regarding conservation programs for beneficial soil organisms.
Rice (Oryza sativa L.)–Baby Corn (Zea mays L.) Cropping System Response to Different Summer Green Manuring and Nutrient Management
Authors: Kumar Vikash , Singh Manoj Kumar , Raghuvanshi Nikhil , Sahoo Monalisa
Published: September 2022

The nutrient and biomass supply capacity of green manure (GM) and its complimentary and synergistic relationship with chemical nutrients is needed for a sustainable rice–baby corn cropping system in the eastern part of North India. A two-year field study was performed to assess the effect of GM and nitrogen management (NM) on yield attributes (YA), the yield of rice, and their residual (R) effect with the half-recommended dose of fertilizers on the succeeding baby corn crop. The combination of GM and N levels had significant effects on rice yield, which also influenced the succeeding baby corn crop. A higher number of tillers/m2, panicle length (cm), number of grains/panicles, panicle weight (g), grain yield (Mg/ha), straw yield (Mg/ha), and biological yield (Mg/ha) were found with Sesbania aculeata incorporated at 45 DAS (SA), which was statistically on par with water hyacinth 5 t/ha dry weight basis (WH) during both years of the field study. Among the rates of nitrogen fertilizers, 100% RDN (50% N through FYM + 50% N through inorganic) (RDN100) was the best treatment with a corresponding increase in all YA and yields of rice. It has been proven that integrated nitrogen management (INM), or the use of organic material along with fertilizer, is an effective way of managing nitrogen. In the present investigation, green manuring and integrated nitrogen management on rice sustainably increased the yield attributes and yield of the succeeding baby corn. These results illustrated the complementary effects of summer green manuring in conjunction with INM in maximizing the yield attributes and yields of rice, its residual effect on succeeding baby corn, and the economics of the system.
At-ore1 Gene Induces Distinct Novel H2O2-NACs Signaling in Regulating the Leaf Senescence in Soybeans (Glycine max L.)
Authors: La Van Hien , Nguyen Trinh Hoang Anh , Ngo Xuan Binh , Tran Van Dien , Khuat Huu Trung , Bui Tri Thuc , Tran Thi Thu Ha , Chung Young Soo , Nguyen Tien Dung
Published: September 2022

Senescence is modulated by ORESARA1 (ORE1), a NAC transcription factor that interacts with hormones to fully induce senescence. The At-ore1 gene acts as a suppressor of leaf senescence; however, its exact role in this respect has not been clearly defined. In this study, the function of At-ore1 during leaf senescence was analyzed in soybeans. The precocious leaf senescence of the ore1-1 line was associated with greater chlorophyll loss, leaf necrosis, and redox imbalance in the early vegetative stage during the hyper-accumulation of endogenous abscisic acid (ABA) by enhancing the expression of GmNECD3-related ABA synthesis. At-ore1 induced ABA regulation of the H2O2-GmARF2-GmNAC081 signaling circuit, which relays the At-ore1-induced cell death signal mediation to the caspase-1-like vacuolar processing enzyme (VPE) expression, triggering programmed cell death. In contrast, it was found that At-ore1 functions in IAA to delay leaf-senescence-mediated suppression of the expression of ABA, ROS, and senescence-associated gene 39 (GmSAG39). The IAA-induced GmNAC065 expression controls soybean leaves’ longevity, as discovered by screening At-ore1 expression in ore1-6 for a more stay-green leaf phenotype by helping to increase seed yields. These results uncover a mechanism that modulates ore1 plants’ amplitude expression involved in the ABA/IAA balance in the activation of GmNAC081- or GmNAC065-dependent H2O2 levels, which are crucial in the senescence or delayed leaf senescence of soybeans.
Mapping Soil Organic Matter Content Based on Feature Band Selection with ZY1-02D Hyperspectral Satellite Data in the Agricultural Region
Authors: Guo Hengliang , Zhang Rongrong , Dai Wenhao , Zhou Xiaowen , Zhang Dujuan , Yang Yaohuan , Cui Jian
Published: September 2022

Soil organic matter (SOM) is an essential nutrient for crop growth and development. Hyperspectral satellite images with comprehensive spectral band coverage and high spectral resolution can be used to estimate and draw a spatial distribution map of SOM content in the region, which can provide a scientific management basis for precision agriculture. This study takes Xinzheng City, Henan Province’s agricultural area, as the research object. Based on ZY1-02D hyperspectral satellite image data, the first derivative of reflectance (FDR) was processed on the original reflectance (OR). The SOM characteristic spectral bands were extracted using the correlation coefficient (CC) and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (Lasso) methods. The prediction model of SOM content was established by multiple linear regression (MLR), partial least squares regression (PLSR), and random forest (RF) algorithms. The results showed that: (1) FDR processing can enhance SOM spectral features and reduce noise; (2) the Lasso feature band extraction method can reduce the model’s input variables and raise the estimation precision; (3) the SOM content prediction ability of the RF model was significantly better than that of the MLR and PLSR models. The FDR-Lasso-RF model was the best SOM content prediction model, and the validation set R2 = 0.921, MAEV = 0.512 g/kg, RMSEV = 0.645 g/kg; (4) compared with laboratory hyperspectral data-SOM prediction methods, hyperspectral satellite data can achieve accurate, rapid, and large-scale SOM content prediction and mapping. This study provides an efficient, accurate, and feasible method for predicting and mapping SOM content in an agricultural region.
Effect of the Altitude Gradient on the Physiological Performance of Quinoa in the Central Region of Colombia
Authors: García-Parra Miguel , Roa-Acosta Diego , Bravo-Gómez Jesús Eduardo
Published: September 2022

The conditions of the agroecological environment play a fundamental role in the physiological performance of quinoa; however, due to the accelerated expansion of quinoa cultivation and the great diversity of cultivars present in the world, it has not been possible to study the effect that their interaction can have, which brings with it problems in productivity and even in the adaptability of cultivars. The aim of this research was to evaluate the physiological performance of seven quinoa cultivars under three altitude gradients in the central region of Colombia (cold, temperate and warm climates). The research was developed using a completely randomized design with a 3 × 7 factorial arrangement where the first factor corresponded to the study areas and the second factor to the selected cultivars. The results showed a highly differential performance between the phenological, physiological and compositional variables, mainly between the quinoa cultivars planted in cold climates and those established in temperate and warm climates. In this sense, the time elapsed between the phenophases, the physiological activity associated with the chlorophyll content and the quantum efficiency of photosystem II, as well as the grain yield and its protein content, are highly influenced by the cultivar and the altitudinal gradient. The results obtained support the notion that the physiological performance of quinoa depends largely on the edaphoclimatic environment by influencing different agronomic and compositional parameters of the seeds. Additionally, it was possible to identify that the evaluated quinoa cultivars were grouped into two large groups. The first group is made up mainly of the Nueva and Soracá cultivars, while the second group includes the Nariño and Puno cultivars. These four cultivars show a lower effect of the factors and their interaction on the parameters evaluated.
Variable Selection on Reflectance NIR Spectra for the Prediction of TSS in Intact Berries of Thompson Seedless Grapes
Authors: Chariskou Chrysanthi , Vrochidou Eleni , Daniels Andries J. , Kaburlasos Vassilis G.
Published: September 2022

Fourier-transform near infrared (FT-NIR) reflection spectra of intact berries of the grape variety Thompson seedless were used to predict total soluble solids (TSS) content. From an initial dataset, 12 subsets were considered by applying variable selection to extract the reflectance values at wavenumbers most correlated to the chemometrically measured TSS content. The datasets were processed by both multiple linear regression (MLR) and partial least squares (PLS) methods towards predicting the TSS content from the reflection values of each spectrum. Prediction accuracy was measured in terms of both the coefficient of determination R2 and the root mean squared error (RMSE). It was found that variable selection improved the prediction accuracy with both processing methods; values of R2 of up to 0.972 and 0.926 and RMSE of up to 0.306 and 0.472 were reported with MLR and PLS, respectively. The combination of variable selection and MLR displayed (a) higher accuracy when the spectra dataset variation was limited, (b) lower accuracy with datasets of large variation such as those with spectra from a variety of maturity stages, and (c) failed with more complex spectra sets such as those from different harvest years. The combination of variable selection and PLS has demonstrated reliable prediction results with various degrees of dataset complexity.
Transcriptome Analysis of Dauer Moulting of a Plant Parasitic Nematode, Bursaphelenchus xylophilus Promoted by Pine Volatile β-Pinene
Authors: Zhang Wei , Li Yongxia , Liu Zhenkai , Li Dongzhen , Wen Xiaojian , Feng Yuqian , Wang Xuan , Zhang Xingyao
Published: September 2022

Pinewood nematode, Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, a pine-parasitic nematode, poses a serious threat to pine trees globally, causing pine wilt disease. When dispersal-stage juvenile 4 (dauer, JIV, a durable stage) of B. xylophilus enters the new pine, it transforms into a propagative adult (dauer moulting) and reproduces quickly. Our previous studies have found that pine-volatile β-pinene promotes dauer moulting of B. xylophilus; however, this mechanism is not clear. Here, this study is attempting to unravel the molecular process underlying dauer moulting of B. xylophilus through signal chemical tests and transcriptome analysis. The results showed that β-pinene could promote dauer moulting of B. xylophilus, while other common dauer moulting signals, such as dafachronic acid (DA), part of the TGF/insulin signal pathway, were inoperative. Moreover, the JIV soaked in 1% β-pinene for only 6 h could transform into adults at a significant rate. Therefore, the transcriptomes of JIV soaked in 1% β-pinene for 6 h were sequenced. It was found that 15,556 genes were expressed; however, only 156 genes were expressed differentially and enriched in the metabolism of xenobiotics, peroxisome, fatty acid metabolism, and carbon metabolism, indicating that energy metabolism was active at the early stage of dauer moulting. With a stricter parameter, the number of differential genes fell to 19, including 4 sterol hydroxylase, 5 dehydrogenase, 2 glucuronosyltransferase, 5 nuclear-related factor, 1 calcium-binding protein, 1 nitrogen metabolic regulation protein, and 1 cystathionine gamma-lyase. These results indicated that dauer moulting of B. xylophilus into adults might not be regulated by the TGF-β/insulin signal pathway but by another new signal pathway related to the 19 differential genes which need more exploration. Our results contribute to the understanding of the molecular mechanisms behind dauer moulting and may be useful in reducing pine wilt disease by suppressing this moulting to cut the life cycle of B. xylophilus.
Critical Shape for the Growth of Grain Boundary Twin Embryos in Mg and Mg Alloys: Crystal Plasticity Modeling
Authors: Su Yanqing , Arul Kumar M. , Beyerlein Irene J.
Published: September 2022

Application of polycrystalline hexagonal close packed (HCP) metals in engineering designs has been constrained by their anisotropic responses due to twinning and limited plasticity. In deformation, twins most often initiate at grain boundaries (GBs), and thicken and propagate across the grain. In this work, the GB twin embryos in Mg and Mg alloys, and the conditions that influence their propagation are investigated. Using a micromechanical crystal plasticity model, the role of embryo shape on the driving forces prevailing at the embryo boundaries that could support its expansion is studied. The modeled embryos are either planar, extending more in the shear direction than normal to the twin plane, or equiaxed. Results show that the thinner the embryo, the greater the driving forces for both thickening and forward propagation. Alloys with low prismatic-to-basal critical resolved shear stress (CRSS) ratios promote embryo thickening and large CRSS values for the slip mode that primarily accommodates the twin shear encourage propagation. The neighboring grains with orientations that enable local accommodation of the embryo twin shear by pyramidal slip promote forward propagation but have little effect on thickening. When two like embryos lie along the same GB, their paired interaction promotes forward propagation but hinders thickening.
Measurement of Radon Concentration in Water within Ojo Axis of Lagos State, Nigeria
Authors: Mostafa Mostafa , Olaoye M. A. , Ademola A. K. , Jegede O. A. , Saka A. A. , Khalaf Hyam
Published: September 2022

Background: The problem of radon (Radon-222) in water is one of the daily health hazards faced by those in Ojo Axis, Nigeria. Therefore, continuous monitoring of radon contamination in different types of water is essential. In the present work, sixteen groundwater and surface-water samples (wells, boreholes, and sachets) were collected from six different locations within the Ojo Local Government area in Nigeria. The water samples collected were stored in 75 cl bottles that were already sterilized with distilled water to avoid contamination. Water samples were then taken to the laboratory for the analysis of radon levels using a RAD7, an active electronic device produced by the Durridge Company in the USA. The radon level in the water is higher than the safe limits of 11.1 Bq/L, as per EPA regulations, except for two sample points from the studied areas. The total annual effective doses from ingestion and inhalation for drinking and groundwater were higher than the safe limit of 0.1 mSv y−1 that is recommended by the World Health Organization and the European Union Commission. Conclusions: The obtained results underline the importance of the development and/or updating of databases regarding radon levels in drinking and groundwater in the Ojo Local Government area in Nigeria.
Comparative Study of the Use of Doxycycline and Oxytetracycline to Treat Anaplasmosis in Fattening Lambs
Authors: Lacasta Delia , Ruiz Héctor , Ortín Aurora , Villanueva-Saz Sergio , Estrada-Peña Agustín , González José María , Ramos Juan José , Ferrer Luis Miguel , Benito Alfredo Ángel , Labanda Raquel , Malo Carlos , Verde María Teresa , Fernández Antonio , Ruiz de Arcaute Marta
Published: September 2022

Lamb icteric carcasses condemnation due to Anaplasma ovis is causing relevant economic losses. A comparative study was developed on the effects of different antibiotics to treat ovine anaplasmosis in fattening lambs. A total of 100 A. ovis naturally infected lambs were selected and randomly divided into four groups of 25 lambs: Group ID, treated with injectable doxycycline; Group OD, oral doxycycline; Group O, injectable oxytetracycline; and Group C, untreated animals for the control group. Clinical, haematological, and molecular analyses were performed before the treatment and 12 and 45 days after the beginning of the treatments, and carcass condemnation was followed after slaughter. The A. ovis bacterial load was high before the treatments in the four groups and decreased significantly 45 days after treatment in the ID and O Groups (p < 0.001). The parameters that were related to haemolysis showed similar results. At the abattoir, 15 out of the 47 examined carcasses were condemned; 7 of C Group, 6 of OD Group, 2 of O Group, and 0 of ID Group. It can be concluded that injectable doxycycline and oxytetracycline significantly reduce A. ovis bacterial load in blood and carcass condemnation at the abattoir. Further studies are needed in order to confirm these encouraging findings.
Effect of Gardenia Pomace Supplementation on Growth Performance, Blood Metabolites, Immune and Antioxidant Indices, and Meat Quality in Xiangcun Pigs
Authors: Zou Sen , Sun Changchao , Li Feng , Xie Yingjie , Liang Tong , Yang Yuqing , Shi Baoming , Ma Qingquan , Shi Zhuo , Chai Sa , Shan Anshan
Published: September 2022

To investigate the effect of gardenia pomace (GP) as an unconventional feed of antioxidants, 180 Xiangcun pigs were randomly divided into 3 groups during the finishing period, with 6 replicates per group and 10 pigs per replicate. During the 47-day feeding period, the pigs were fed either a control diet based on corn and soybean meal (control group), or the control diet added with 50 g/kg or 100 g/kg GP (groups GP5 and GP10, respectively). Feed and water were provided ad libitum. One pig per replicate was slaughtered and sampled. The effects on growth performance, meat quality, digestibility, metabolism, and immunity and antioxidant properties of the pigs were investigated. The results showed that GP had no significant effect on the growth performance of Xiangcun pigs. Compared with the control group, the digestibility of crude ash, phosphorus, and crude fibre of pigs in the GP groups improved (p < 0.01), and the content of inosinic acid in the longissimus dorsi muscle increased (p < 0.05). The addition of GP to the diet significantly increased superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels in the liver and spleen, and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity in the longissimus dorsi muscle and spleen (p < 0.05). Additionally, it significantly reduced the contents of malondialdehyde (MDA) in the liver and spleen (p < 0.05). The GP5 group had a higher inosinic acid content in the longissimus dorsi and lower levels of the inflammatory factor interleukin-2 and interleukin-8 than those in the other groups (p < 0.05). The GP10 group had a higher IgA level (p < 0.05). Adding different proportions of GP to the diet improved the a* and b* of the longissimus dorsi muscles of Xiangcun pigs (p < 0.05). In summary, GP, as an unconventional feed, improved the apparent digestibility of the diet and body antioxidant capacity in Xiangcun pigs during the finishing period and did not negatively affect the growth performance or meat quality.
Conventional Gel Electrophoresis-Resolvable Insertion/Deletion Markers for Individual Identification and Analysis of Population Genetics in Red-Crowned Cranes in Eastern Hokkaido, Japan
Authors: Kawasaki Erika , Wenjing Dong , Sawada Akira , Nakajima Momoko , Momose Kunikazu , Yoshino Tomoo , Amano Tomoko , Endoh Daiji , Nakajima Nobuyoshi , Teraoka Hiroki
Published: September 2022

Red-crowned crane Grus japonensis is an endangered species in two separate populations: the mainland population in the Eurasian continent and the island population in eastern Hokkaido, Japan. We found 11 insertion/deletion (InDel) markers in the genome of the red-crowned crane and designed primer sets across these InDels that can be analyzed with conventional agarose gel electrophoresis. Sixty-six samples of whole blood and skeletal muscle obtained from red-crowned cranes, including 12 families in eastern Hokkaido from 1994 to 2021, showed different patterns in gel images of 11 InDel PCR reactions except for two pairs. The combined non-exclusion probability of the 11 markers indicates that individuals can be determined with a probability of 99.9%. In 39 non-relative chicks, the expected heterozygosity (He) was 0.316, suggesting low genetic diversity. This might not be caused by high levels of inbreeding since the average FIS was not significantly different from zero (0.095, p = 0.075). The results suggest that the 11 InDel primer sets can be used for fairly accurate individual identification as well as genetic population analyses in red-crowned cranes in the island population.
A Nationwide Survey of Animal Science Students’ Perceptions of Animal Welfare across Different Animal Categories at Institutions in the United States
Authors: Sullivan Paxton , Mijares Sage , Davis Melissa , Oselinsky Katrina , Cramer Catie , Román-Muñiz Noa , Stallones Lorann , Edwards-Callaway Lily
Published: September 2022

Animal welfare is an increasingly important topic across multiple academic disciplines; however, few studies have investigated student perceptions of animal welfare outside of veterinary medicine. The objective of the study was to evaluate animal science students’ perceptions of animal welfare to determine if perceptions differ across animal categories. An online survey was distributed to animal science programs at institutions across the United States. Quantitative and qualitative analyses were performed on 624 responses. Almost all respondents agreed welfare was important for all animal categories (≥97%). The survey asked respondents to rate the level of importance of 12 welfare parameters and there was evidence that the level of importance differed by animal category (p < 0.0001), e.g., fewer respondents indicated having positive interactions with humans was important for agricultural animals. In a subset of questions about agricultural animals, fewer respondents agreed that swine (325, 52.1%) and poultry (268, 43.0%) are raised with an appropriate level of welfare compared to dairy (425, 68.1%) and beef cattle (421, 67.5%). Four free-response questions asked respondents to report their general perceptions of welfare. Thematic analysis identified multiple themes, such as basic needs and human interaction, with most responses (75%) including two or more themes.
Genome-Wide Population Structure Analysis and Genetic Diversity Detection of Four Chinese Indigenous Duck Breeds from Fujian Province
Authors: Lin Ruiyi , Li Jiaquan , Yang Yue , Yang Yinhua , Chen Jimin , Zhao Fanglu , Xiao Tianfang
Published: September 2022

The assessment of population genetic structure is the basis for understanding the genetic information of indigenous breeds and is important for the protection and management of indigenous breeds. However, the population genetic differentiation of many local breeds still remains unclear. Here, we performed a genome-wide comparative analysis of Jinding, Liancheng white, Putian black, and Shanma ducks based on the genomic sequences using RAD sequencing to understand their population structure and genetic diversity. The population parameters showed that there were obvious genetic differences among the four indigenous breeds, which were separated groups. Among them, Liancheng white and Shanma ducks may come from the same ancestor because the phylogenetic tree forms three tree trunks. In addition, during the runs of homozygosity (ROH), we found that the average inbreeding coefficient of Liancheng white and Putian black ducks was the lowest and the highest, respectively. Five genomic regions were considered to be the hotspots of autozygosity among these indigenous duck breeds, and the candidate genes involved a variety of potential variations, such as muscle growth, pigmentation, and neuroregulation. These findings provide insights into the further improvement and conservation of Fujian duck breeds.
Genetic Polymorphisms Associated with Perioperative Joint Infection following Total Joint Arthroplasty: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Hijazi Adel , Hasan Ahmad , Pearl Adam , Memon Ramiz , Debeau Michael , Roldan Mariana , Awad Mohamed E. , Abdul-Kabir Ehsen , Saleh Khaled J.
Published: September 2022

The number of orthopedic procedures, especially prosthesis implantation, continues to increase annually, making it imperative to understand the risks of perioperative complications. These risks include a variety of patient-specific factors, including genetic profiles. This review assessed the current literature for associations between patient-specific genetic risk factors and perioperative infection. The PRISMA guidelines were used to conduct a literature review using the PubMed and Cochrane databases. Following title and abstract review and full-text screening, eight articles remained to be reviewed—all of which compared single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) to periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) in total joint arthroplasty (TJA). The following cytokine-related genes were found to have polymorphisms associated with PJI: TNFα (p < 0.006), IL-6 (p < 0.035), GCSF3R (p < 0.02), IL-1 RN-VNTR (p = 0.002), and IL-1B (p = 0.037). Protein- and enzyme-related genes that were found to be associated with PJI included: MBL (p < 0.01, p < 0.05) and MBL2 (p < 0.01, p < 0.016). The only receptor-related gene found to be associated with PJI was VDR (p < 0.007, p < 0.028). This review compiled a variety of genetic polymorphisms that were associated with periprosthetic joint infections. However, the power of these studies is low. More research must be conducted to further understand the genetic risk factors for this serious outcome.
Tissue Penetration of Antimicrobials in Intensive Care Unit Patients: A Systematic Review—Part II
Authors: Viaggi Bruno , Cangialosi Alice , Langer Martin , Olivieri Carlo , Gori Andrea , Corona Alberto , Finazzi Stefano , Di Paolo Antonello
Published: September 2022

In patients that are admitted to intensive care units (ICUs), the clinical outcome of severe infections depends on several factors, as well as the early administration of chemotherapies and comorbidities. Antimicrobials may be used in off-label regimens to maximize the probability of therapeutic concentrations within infected tissues and to prevent the selection of resistant clones. Interestingly, the literature clearly shows that the rate of tissue penetration is variable among antibacterial drugs, and the correlation between plasma and tissue concentrations may be inconstant. The present review harvests data about tissue penetration of antibacterial drugs in ICU patients, limiting the search to those drugs that mainly act as protein synthesis inhibitors and disrupting DNA structure and function. As expected, fluoroquinolones, macrolides, linezolid, and tigecycline have an excellent diffusion into epithelial lining fluid. That high penetration is fundamental for the therapy of ventilator and healthcare-associated pneumonia. Some drugs also display a high penetration rate within cerebrospinal fluid, while other agents diffuse into the skin and soft tissues. Further studies are needed to improve our knowledge about drug tissue penetration, especially in the presence of factors that may affect drug pharmacokinetics.
Clostridioides difficile in Food-Producing Animals in Romania: First Study on the Prevalence and Antimicrobial Resistance
Authors: Beres Corina , Colobatiu Liora , Tabaran Alexandra , Mihaiu Romolica , Iuhas Cristian , Mihaiu Marian
Published: September 2022

At present, the epidemiology of the gastrointestinal disease caused by Clostridioides difficile (C. difficile) is starting to be slowly elucidated internationally, although information about the bacteria in the food supply chain is insufficient and, in many countries, even absent. The study was conducted in order to investigate the prevalence of C. difficile isolated from animal feces, as well as to determine the antimicrobial susceptibility of such isolates. The presence of antibiotic resistance determinants has also been evaluated. Overall, a total of 24 (12.5%) C. difficile isolates were recovered (out of the 192 samples collected), the highest percentage of positive isolates being detected in the fecal samples collected from piglets (25%). The majority of the isolates recovered in the current study proved to be toxigenic. Moreover, all C. difficile isolates were susceptible to vancomycin, although a large proportion of the porcine isolates (50%) were resistant to levofloxacin. The tetW and erm(B) genes have also been identified in the porcine isolates. In conclusion, this is the first analysis of the prevalence of C. difficile in food-producing animals in Romania, and it adds further evidence about the possible role of animals as a source of resistant C. difficile strains and a reservoir of antimicrobial resistance determinants.
Cellular Uptake of Epigallocatechin Gallate in Comparison to Its Major Oxidation Products and Their Antioxidant Capacity In Vitro
Authors: Alfke Julian , Esselen Melanie
Published: September 2022

Depletion of reactive oxygen species and reduction of oxidative stress have been identified as key parameters in the prevention of cellular aging. In previous in vitro studies, the tea catechin epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) was found to have both pro- and antioxidant properties, disregarding the low stability under cell culture conditions. Besides hydrogen peroxide, theasinensin dimers amongst other oxidation products are formed. Exact quantities, cellular uptake and antioxidant capacities of these dimeric oxidation products remain unknown. Via high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS), formation kinetics and cellular uptake of EGCG and its major oxidation products are quantified. The antioxidant capacity is determined on a cellular level using a modified dichlorofluorescein (DCF) approach. As a first result, oxidation product quantities of up to 21 µM each are measured after incubation of 50 µM EGCG. While EGCG is taken up equimolarly, its major oxidation products are accumulated in hepatocarcinoma HepG2 cells at millimolar concentrations, especially theasinensin A (TSA). Lastly, the oxidation products show higher antioxidant properties than the monomer EGCG. In correlation with cellular uptake, TSA displays the highest capacity of all tested analytes. The findings reveal the strong influence of EGCG oxidation products on its bioactivity in vitro.
Nrf2 Pathway and Autophagy Crosstalk: New Insights into Therapeutic Strategies for Ischemic Cerebral Vascular Diseases
Authors: Hu Yue , Luo Yumin , Zheng Yangmin
Published: September 2022

Cerebrovascular disease is highly prevalent and has a complex etiology and variable pathophysiological activities. It thus poses a serious threat to human life and health. Currently, pathophysiological research on cerebrovascular diseases is gradually improving, and oxidative stress and autophagy have been identified as important pathophysiological activities that are gradually attracting increasing attention. Many studies have found some effects of oxidative stress and autophagy on cerebrovascular diseases, and studies on the crosstalk between the two in cerebrovascular diseases have made modest progress. However, further, more detailed studies are needed to determine the specific mechanisms. This review discusses nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) molecules, which are closely associated with oxidative stress and autophagy, and the crosstalk between them, with the aim of providing clues for studying the two important pathophysiological changes and their crosstalk in cerebrovascular diseases as well as exploring new target treatments.
Constant–Current Coulometry with Electrogenerated Titrants as a Novel Tool for the Essential Oils Screening Using Total Antioxidant Parameters
Authors: Ziyatdinova Guzel , Kalmykova Alena , Kupriyanova Olga
Published: September 2022

Essential oils are widely used in aromatherapy, medicine, and food industries due to a wide spectrum of bioactivity. Their antioxidant properties can be considered as markers of therapeutic effect and quality. Constant–current coulometry with electrogenerated titrants has been successfully applied for these purposes for the first time. Fifteen types of essential oils from various plant materials have been studied. Their composition has been identified by gas chromatography with mass-spectrometric detection (GC-MS). The reactivity of individual antioxidants of essential oils towards electrogenerated titrants (bromine and ferricyanide ions) has been estimated. Total antioxidant parameters, in particular total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and ferric reducing power (FRP) based on the reactions of essential oil antioxidants with electrogenerated bromine and ferricyanide ions, respectively, have been evaluated. Positive correlations (r = 0.7051–0.9558) with common antioxidant tests (antioxidant activity by reaction with 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH•) and total phenolic content by the Folin–Ciocalteu method) have been obtained. Coulometric approaches overcome the limitations of spectrophotometry and are applicable to a wider range of essential oils.
Dietary Supplementation of 25-Hydroxyvitamin D3 Improves Growth Performance, Antioxidant Capacity and Immune Function in Weaned Piglets
Authors: Zhou Xingjian , Zou Youwei , Xu Youhan , Zhang Zeyu , Wu Yujun , Cao Jindang , Qiu Baoqin , Qin Xiaoyu , Han Dandan , Piao Xiangshu , Wang Junjun , Zhao Jinbiao
Published: September 2022

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 (25(OH)VD3) and Vitamin D3 (VD3) supplemented in the diet of weaned piglets on their growth performance, bone quality, intestinal integrity, immune function and antioxidant capacity. A total of 192 weaned piglets were allocated into four groups and they were fed a control diet containing 2000 IU VD3 (negative control, NC), NC + 100 ppm colistin sulfate (positive control, PC), NC + 2000 IU VD3 (VD3) and NC + 2000 IU 25(OH)VD3 (25(OH)VD3). The results showed that 25(OH)VD3 improved the growth performance, bone quality and antioxidase activity of piglets compared with the other groups. Meanwhile, 25(OH)VD3 up-regulated ileal mRNA expressions of tight junction proteins and host defense peptides. The VD3 group had an increased intestinal sIgA content and mRNA expression of pBD-1 compared with the NC group. Both groups of VD3 and 25(OH)VD3 altered the microbial β-diversity compared with the NC group, and 25(OH)VD3 increased ileal concentrations of acetate and butyrate. In conclusion, our findings indicated that a regular dosage of 2000 IU VD3 in the weaned piglets’ diet did not achieve optimal antioxidant capacity and immune function. 25(OH)VD3 had better growth performance than VD3 at the same inclusion level, which is associated with the improved intestinal integrity and antioxidant capacity.
Intracellular Oxidative Stress Induced by Physical Exercise in Adults: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Zhou Zhanyi , Chen Chaoyi , Teo Ee-Chon , Zhang Yan , Huang Jialu , Xu Yining , Gu Yaodong
Published: September 2022

A physical exercise program is one of the commonly used methods for improving an individual’s antioxidative capacity. However, an inappropriate physical exercise program would induce extra oxidative stress (OS), and the relationship between the details of a physical exercise protocol and the severity of intracellular OS is still unclear. A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials were conducted by searching PubMed, Medline, and Web of Science with the eligibility criteria: (1) participants over 18 years old; (2) physical exercise interventions; (3) 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine, F2-isoprostanes, and protein carbonyls (PCs) as outcome measures; (4) published in English and peer-reviewed. 12 studies were included, and the data of 8 in them were pooled together. The agreement between authors reached a kappa value of 0.73. The results of the meta-analysis showed that: (1) the level of OS did not depend on the absolute intensity of physical exercise but on both the intensity and the volume of exercise; (2) high-intensity aerobic exercise (HIAE) and a combined protocol of HIAE and resistance training had the highest potential to induce large OS in unhealthy people; (3) the OS induced by moderate-to-high intensity aerobic exercise was significantly larger than that induced by ordinary life activities in healthy adults; (4) high-intensity interval training and moderate-intensity aerobic exercise had the lowest and sub-lowest probabilities to induce high intracellular OS for unhealthy adults. activities induce OS in various tissues in the human body, and the severity of OS depends on many factors of physical exercises as well as the health condition of an individual. A high-intensity and high-volume physical exercise program has the largest possibility of inducing severe OS, while a moderate-intensity aerobic exercise program and a high-intensity interval training program with a relatively low volume might be beneficial to the redox balance for unhealthy individuals. In conclusion, continuous aerobic exercise under moderate-intensity or high-intensity interval training could be recommended to enhance the body’s capacity for maintaining redox balance, especially for unhealthy individuals. The PROSPERO Registration Number is CRD42022349687.
Unravelling the In Vitro and In Vivo Anti-Helicobacter pylori Effect of Delphinidin-3-O-Glucoside Rich Extract from Pomegranate Exocarp: Enhancing Autophagy and Downregulating TNF-α and COX2
Authors: Ragab Amany E. , Al-Madboly Lamiaa A. , Al-Ashmawy Ghada M. , Saber-Ayad Maha , Abo-Saif Mariam A.
Published: September 2022

Fruits containing antioxidants, e.g., anthocyanins, exhibit antimicrobial activities. The emergence of drug resistance represents a major challenge in eradicating H. pylori. The current study aims to explore the effect of pomegranate exocarp anthocyanin methanol extract (PEAME) against H. pylori isolates recovered from antral gastric biopsies. The UPLC-PDA-MS/MS and 1H NMR analyses indicated delphinidin-3-O-glucoside as the major anthocyanin in the extract. The PEAME showed activity against all tested resistant isolates in vitro recording minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) values of 128 and 256 µg/mL, respectively. In vivo investigation included evaluation of the rat gastric mucosa for malondialdehyde (MDA), catalase activity, COX2, TNF-α, and key autophagy gene expression. The combination of pomegranate with metronidazole markedly reduced the viable count of H. pylori and the level of COX2, with alleviation of H. pylori-induced inflammation and oxidative stress (reduction of MDA, p-value < 0.001; and increase in catalase activity, p-value < 0.001). Autophagy gene expression was significantly upregulated upon treatment, whereas TNF-α was downregulated. In conclusion, we comprehensively assessed the effect of PEAME against H. pylori isolates, suggesting its potential in combination with metronidazole for eradication of this pathogen. The beneficial effect of PEAME may be attributed to its ability to enhance autophagy.