bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Transcriptome-based analysis of key pathways relating to yield formation stage of foxtail millet under different drought stress conditions
Authors: Wang Jing , Sun Zexin , Wang Xinning , Tang Ying , Li Xinyi , Ren Chuanyou , Ren Jingyao , Wang Xiaoguang , Jiang Chunji , Zhong Chao , Zhao Shuli , Zhang He , Liu Xibo , Kang Shuli , Zhao Xinhua , Yu Haiqiu
Published: February 2023

Although foxtail millet, as small Panicoid crop, is of drought resilient, drought stress has a significant effect on panicle of foxtail millet at the yield formation stage. In this study, the changes of panicle morphology, photosynthesis, antioxidant protective enzyme system, reactive oxygen species (ROS) system, and osmotic regulatory substance and RNA-seq of functional leaves under light drought stress (LD), heavy drought stress (HD), light drought control (LDCK) and heavy drought control (HDCK) were studied to get a snap-shot of specific panicle morphological changes, physiological responses and related molecular mechanisms. The results showed that the length and weight of panicle had decreased, but with increased empty abortive rate, and then yield dropped off 14.9% and 36.9%, respectively. The photosynthesis of millet was significantly decreased, like net photosynthesis rate, stomatal conductance and transpiration rate, especially under HD treatment with reluctant recovery from rehydration. Under LD and HD treatment, the peroxidase (POD) was increased by 34% and 14% and the same as H2O2 by 34.7% and 17.2% compared with LDCK and HDCK. The ability to produce and inhibit O2- free radicals under LD treatment was higher than HD. The content of soluble sugar was higher under LD treatment but the proline was higher under HD treatment. Through RNA-seq analysis, there were 2,393 and 3,078 different genes expressed under LD and HD treatment. According to the correlation analysis between weighted gene coexpression network analysis (WGCNA) and physiological traits, the co-expression network of several modules with high correlation was constructed, and some hub genes of millet in response to drought stress were found. The expression changes relating to carbon fixation, sucrose and starch synthesis, lignin synthesis, gibberellin synthesis, and proline synthesis of millet were specifically analyzed. These findings provide a full perspective on how drought affects the yield formation of foxtail millet by constructing one work model thereby providing theoretical foundation for hub genes exploration and drought resistance breeding of foxtail millet.
Surface energy partitioning and evapotranspiration in a Pinus tabuliformis plantation in Northeast China
Authors: Gao Xiang , Zhang Jinsong , Cai Jinfeng , Pei Songyi , Liu Linqi , Meng Ping , Huang Hui
Published: February 2023

Examining the land-atmosphere interaction in vegetation rehabilitation areas is important for better understanding of land surface processes affected by human activities. In this study, energy flux observations were used to investigate surface energy partitioning and evapotranspiration (ET) in a Pinus tabuliformis plantation in Northeast China in 2020 and 2021. The sensible heat flux (H) was the dominant component of Rn, and the ratio of H to the latent heat flux was higher than 1 at all growth stages. The two most important factors influencing the midday evaporative fraction and daily ET were the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and soil water content at 10 cm depth (SWC10). Cumulative precipitation (P) minus ET was 62.83 and 239.90 mm in 2020 (annual P of 435.2 mm) and 2021 (annual P of 632.8 mm), respectively. The midday Priestley–Taylor coefficient (α), surface conductance (gs), and decoupling coefficient increased gradually from the onset of the mid-growing stage and decreased from the later growing stage. Midday α and gs increased with NDVI and SWC10 increasing until the NDVI (0.5) and SWC10 (0.17 mm3 mm−3) thresholds were reached, respectively. Midday α and gs were significantly influenced by vapor pressure deficit below 3 kPa, and the threshold value of midday gs was approximately 12 mm s−1. In conclusion, this Pinus tabuliformis plantation regulated surface energy partitioning properly, and left a part of P for surface runoff and groundwater recharge in the semiarid region of Northeast China.
EmergeNet: A novel deep-learning based ensemble segmentation model for emergence timing detection of coleoptile
Authors: Das Aankit , Das Choudhury Sruti , Das Amit Kumar , Samal Ashok , Awada Tala
Published: February 2023

The emergence timing of a plant, i.e., the time at which the plant is first visible from the surface of the soil, is an important phenotypic event and is an indicator of the successful establishment and growth of a plant. The paper introduces a novel deep-learning based model called EmergeNet with a customized loss function that adapts to plant growth for coleoptile (a rigid plant tissue that encloses the first leaves of a seedling) emergence timing detection. It can also track its growth from a time-lapse sequence of images with cluttered backgrounds and extreme variations in illumination. EmergeNet is a novel ensemble segmentation model that integrates three different but promising networks, namely, SEResNet, InceptionV3, and VGG19, in the encoder part of its base model, which is the UNet model. EmergeNet can correctly detect the coleoptile at its first emergence when it is tiny and therefore barely visible on the soil surface. The performance of EmergeNet is evaluated using a benchmark dataset called the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Maize Emergence Dataset (UNL-MED). It contains top-view time-lapse images of maize coleoptiles starting before the occurrence of their emergence and continuing until they are about one inch tall. EmergeNet detects the emergence timing with 100% accuracy compared with human-annotated ground-truth. Furthermore, it significantly outperforms UNet by generating very high-quality segmented masks of the coleoptiles in both natural light and dark environmental conditions.
Calcium-dependent protein kinase CDPK16 phosphorylates serine-856 of glutamate receptor-like GLR3.6 protein leading to salt-responsive root growth in Arabidopsis#
Authors: Silamparasan Dhanasekar , Chang Ing-Feng , Jinn Tsung-Luo
Published: February 2023

Calcium-permeable channels in the plasma membrane play vital roles in plant growth, development, and response to environmental stimuli. Arabidopsis possesses 20 glutamate receptor-like proteins that share similarities with animal ionotropic glutamate receptors and mediate Ca2+ influx in plants. Calcium-dependent protein kinases (CDPKs) phosphorylate serine (Ser)-860 of glutamate receptor-like (GLR)3.7 protein, which interacts with 14-3-3ω and plays an essential role in salt and abscisic acid response in Arabidopsis by modulating Ca2+ signaling. However, the significance of CDPK- mediated phosphorylation status of Ser residues of GLR3.6 with regard to the functioning of GLR3.6 remains to be elucidated. In this study, we performed an in vitro kinase assay using CDPK16 and peptides containing the 14-3-3ω interacting domain of GLR3.6. We showed that Ser861/862 of GLR3.6 are required for the interaction with 14-3-3ω and that Ser856 of GLR3.6 is specifically phosphorylated by CDPK16 but not by CDPK3 and CDPK34. In addition, the expression of GLR3.6 was quickly downregulated by salt stress, and plants of glr3.6 mutants and GLR3.6-overexpression lines presented shorter and longer root lengths, respectively, under normal growth conditions than Col. Overexpression of the GLR3.6-Ser856 to Ala mutation resulted in a less sensitive phenotype in response to salt stress similar to glr3.6. Our results indicated that the Ser861/862 residues of GLR3.6 are required for interaction with 14-3-3ω. Additionally, the phosphorylation status of Ser856 residue of GLR3.6, which is mediated specifically by CDPK16, regulates root growth in normal and salt stress and conditions.
Grapevine mono- and sesquiterpenes: Genetics, metabolism, and ecophysiology
Authors: Bosman Robin Nicole , Lashbrooke Justin Graham
Published: February 2023

Mono- and sesquiterpenes are volatile organic compounds which play crucial roles in human perception of table grape and wine flavour and aroma, and as such their biosynthesis has received significant attention. Here, the biosynthesis of mono- and sesquiterpenes in grapevine is reviewed, with a specific focus on the metabolic pathways which lead to formation of these compounds, and the characterised genetic variation underlying modulation of this metabolism. The bottlenecks for terpene precursor formation in the cytosol and plastid are understood to be the HMG-CoA reductase (HMGR) and 1-deoxy-D-xylylose-5-phosphate synthase (DXS) enzymes, respectively, and lead to the formation of prenyldiphosphate precursors. The functional plasticity of the terpene synthase enzymes which act on the prenyldiphosphate precursors allows for the massive variation in observed terpene product accumulation. This diversity is further enhanced in grapevine by significant duplication of genes coding for structurally diverse terpene synthases. Relatively minor nucleotide variations are sufficient to influence both product and substrate specificity of terpene synthase genes, with these variations impacting cultivar-specific aroma profiles. While the importance of these compounds in terms of grape quality is well documented, they also play several interesting roles in the grapevine’s ecophysiological interaction with its environment. Mono- and sesquiterpenes are involved in attraction of pollinators, agents of seed dispersal and herbivores, defence against fungal infection, promotion of mutualistic rhizobacteria interaction, and are elevated in conditions of high light radiation. The ever-increasing grapevine genome sequence data will potentially allow for future breeders and biotechnologists to tailor the aroma profiles of novel grapevine cultivars through exploitation of the significant genetic variation observed in terpene synthase genes.
Integrative analysis of transcriptome and metabolome revealed the mechanisms by which flavonoids and phytohormones regulated the adaptation of alfalfa roots to NaCl stress
Authors: Wang Xiaoshan , Yin Juncheng , Wang Jing , Li Junhao
Published: February 2023

Introduction

Salinity critically affects the growth and development of alfalfa (Medicago sativa), making it necessary to understand the molecular mechanism of alfalfa’s adaptation to salt stress.

Methods

In this study, alfalfa roots were subjected to salt stress and transcriptomics and metabolomics analyses were performed.

Results

The results showed that flavonoid synthesis, hormone synthesis, and transduction pathways may be involved in the alfalfa salt stress adaptation reaction, and that they are related. Combined analysis of differential genes and differential metabolites found that dihydroquercetin and beta-ring hydroxylase (LUT5), ABA responsive element binding factor 2 (ABF2), protein phosphatase PP2C (PP2C) and abscisic acid (ABA) receptor PYL2 (PYL), luteolinidin was significantly correlated with PP2C and phytochrome-interacting factor 4 (PIF4) and (+)-7-isomethyl jasmonate were significantly correlated with flavonol synthase (FLS) gene. (+)-7-isomethyl jasmonate and homoeriodictyol chalcone were significantly correlated with peroxidase (POD). POD was significantly up-regulated under NaCl stress for 6 and 24 h. Moreover, flavonoids, gibberellin (GA), jasmonic acid (JA) and ABA were suggested to play an important role in alfalfa’s response to salt stress. Further, GA,ABA, and JA may be involved in the regulation of flavonoids to improve alfalfa’s salt tolerance, and JA may be a key signal to promote the synthesis of flavonoids.

Discussion

This study revealed the possible molecular mechanism of alfalfa adaptation to salt stress, and identified a number of salt-tolerance candidate genes from the synthesis and signal transduction pathways of flavonoids and plant hormones, providing new insights into the regulatory network of alfalfa response to salt stress.
Chinese undergraduates’ English reading self-efficacy, intrinsic cognitive load, boredom, and performance: A moderated mediation model
Authors: Jiang Chenjuan
Published: February 2023

Introduction

Research findings from various academic domains have demonstrated that students’ self-efficacy (SE) influences their academic performance while limited studies have explored how foreign language reading SE influences reading performance. The purpose of this quantitative study was to explore the relationship between reading SE, intrinsic cognitive load (CL), boredom, and reading performance.

Methods

The participants were 272 English-as-a-foreign-language (EFL) learners at a comprehensive university in China, who attended a compulsory English course for improving their English reading and writing proficiency. Data were analyzed through SPSS and structural equation modeling (SEM).

Results

The result of the study provided support for the hypothesized relationships. Students’ English reading SE is positively related to their reading performance and negatively related to intrinsic CL. Their intrinsic CL during reading comprehension is negatively related to reading performance. Reading boredom is negatively related to reading SE and reading performance but positively related to CL. Furthermore, students’ CL mediates the relationship between reading SE and performance while the negative achievement emotion of boredom moderates the relationship between reading SE and CL.

Discussion

The research highlights the importance of cognitive and emotional factors in influencing the relationship between foreign language reading self-efficacy and reading performance. Implications for EFL teachers and researchers are discussed.
Higher stress response and altered quality of life in schizophrenia patients with low membrane levels of docosahexaenoic acid
Authors: Adrien Vladimir , Bosc Nicolas , Fumat Hugo , Tessier Cédric , Ferreri Florian , Mouchabac Stéphane , Tareste David , Nuss Philippe
Published: February 2023

Schizophrenia is a severe, chronic, and heterogeneous mental disorder that affects approximately 1% of the world population. Ongoing research aims at clustering schizophrenia heterogeneity into various “biotypes” to identify subgroups of individuals displaying homogeneous symptoms, etiopathogenesis, prognosis, and treatment response. The present study is in line with this approach and focuses on a biotype partly characterized by a specific membrane lipid composition. We have examined clinical and biological data of patients with stabilized schizophrenia, including the fatty acid content of their erythrocyte membranes, in particular the omega-3 docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Two groups of patients of similar size were identified: the DHA− group (N = 19) with a lower proportion of membrane DHA as compared to the norm in the general population, and the DHAn group (N = 18) with a normal proportion of DHA. Compared to DHAn, DHA− patients had a higher number of hospitalizations and a lower quality of life in terms of perceived health and physical health. They also exhibited significant higher interleukin-6 and cortisol blood levels. These results emphasize the importance of measuring membrane lipid and immunoinflammatory biomarkers in stabilized patients to identify a specific subgroup and optimize non-pharmacological interventions. It could also guide future research aimed at proposing specific pharmacological treatments.
Rapid-cycle evaluation and learning for the effective delivery of integrated interventions in early childhood in rural India
Authors: Gaidhane Abhay , Telrandhe Shital , Patil Manoj , Holding Penny A. , Khatib Mahalaqua Nazli , Gaidhane Shilpa , Quazi Syed Zahiruddin , Choudhari Sonali G. , Umate Roshan , Pathade Aniket
Published: February 2023

Background

Effective and real-time data analytics plays an essential role in understanding gaps and improving the quality and coverage of complex public health interventions. Studies of public health information systems identify problems with data quality, such as incomplete records and untimely reporting. Effective data collection and real-time analysis systems for rapid-cycle learning are necessary to monitor public health programs and take timely evidence-based decisions. Early childhood development (ECD) programs are very diverse. Rapid-cycle evaluation and learning (REAL) guides the implementation process of such complex interventions in real time. Stepping stones was one such early childhood development program implemented in Central India.

Objective

The objective was to improve the delivery of complex, integrated public health interventions for early childhood development in remote areas of rural India.

Methodology

The program was developed according to the principles of inclusion and community-centeredness, which can be tested quickly and iteratively. To enhance the decision-making process and improve delivery and coverage, the core team implemented an information system for rapid-cycle learning. We developed performance indicators and a performance measurement matrix after defining the specific needs. Following that, we trained staff to collect complete data using electronic data collection tools and transfer it the same day to the server for quality review and further analysis. A variety of data/information was triangulated to address the gaps in intervention delivery, and those decisions were subsequently implemented.

Results

We observed that the quality of data collection improved, and errors were reduced by 50% in the third quarter. The quality of the narrative was also enhanced; it became more elaborate and reflective. Sharing their field output in meetings and improving the quality of the narrative enhanced the self-reflection skills of field staff and consequently improved the quality of the intervention delivery. Refresher training and mentoring by supervisors helped to improve the data quality over time.

Conclusion

Rapid-cycle evaluation and learning (REAL) can be implemented in resource-limited settings to improve the quality and coverage of integrated intervention in early childhood. It nurtures a reinforcing ecosystem that integrates providers, community, and family perspectives and guides interactions among stakeholders by integrating data from all available sources.
The quick pivot: Capturing real world modifications for the re-implementation of an early psychosis program transitioning to virtual delivery
Authors: Tempelaar Wanda , Kozloff Nicole , Crawford Allison , Voineskos Aristotle , Addington Don , Alexander Tallan , Baluyut Crystal , Bromley Sarah , Brooks Sandy , de Freitas Lauren , Jindani Seharish , Kirvan Anne , Morizio Andrea , Polillo Alexia , Roby Rachel , Sosnowski Alexandra , Villanueva Victoria , Durbin Janet , Barwick Melanie
Published: February 2023

Background

Team-based Early Psychosis Intervention (EPI) services is standard of care for youth with psychosis. The COVID-19 pandemic required most EPI services to mount an unplanned, rapid pivot to virtual delivery, with limited guidance on how to deliver virtual clinical services or whether quality of re-implementation and treatment outcomes would be impacted. We used a structured approach to identify essential modifications for the delivery of core components and explored facilitators and barriers for re-implementation and fidelity of a virtually delivered EPI intervention.

Materials and methods

NAVIGATE is a structured approach to team-based EPI. It provides detailed modules to guide delivery of core components including medication management, psychoeducation and psychotherapies, supported employment/education, and family education. Having initially implemented NAVIGATE at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) in 2017, the EPI service transitioned to virtual delivery amid the COVID pandemic. Using a practice profile developed to support implementation, we detailed how core components of NAVIGATE were rapidly modified for virtual delivery as reported in structured group meetings with clinicians. The Framework for Reporting Adaptations and Modifications for Evidence-Based Interventions (FRAME) was used to describe modifications. Fidelity to the EPI standards of care was assessed by the First Episode Psychosis Fidelity Scale (FEPS-FS). Re-implementation barriers and facilitators and subsequent mitigation strategies were explored using structured clinician interviews guided by the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR).

Results

Identified modifications related to the intervention process, context, and training. We identified contextual factors affecting the re-implementation of virtually delivered NAVIGATE and then documented mitigating strategies that addressed these barriers. Findings can inform the implementation of virtual EPI services elsewhere, including guidance on processes, training and technology, and approaches to providing care virtually.

Discussion

This study identified modifications, impacts and mitigations to barriers emerging from rapid, unplanned virtual delivery of EPI services. These findings can support delivery of high-quality virtual services to youth with psychosis when virtual care is indicated.
Benefit-sharing from protected area tourism: A 15-year review of the Rwanda tourism revenue sharing programme
Authors: Snyman Susan (Sue) , Fitzgerald Kathleen , Bakteeva Anastasiya , Ngoga Telesphore , Mugabukomeye Benjamin
Published: February 2023

The success of protected areas depends to a large degree on the support of local communities living in and around these areas. Research has shown that where communities receive tangible and/or intangible benefits, from protected areas they are often more supportive of conservation. Rwanda introduced a tourism revenue sharing policy in 2005 to ensure that local communities receive tangible benefits specifically from protected area tourism and to enhance trust between the Rwanda Development Board (the then Rwanda Office of Tourism and National Parks) and local communities, and to incentivize the conservation of wildlife and protected areas. This study reviewed the tourism revenue sharing programme over the last 15 years, including primary and secondary data, which included interviewing more than 300 community members living around three national parks, as well as other relevant stakeholders. The results show that the tourism revenue sharing programme has resulted in a positive linkage between the national parks and development. Since 2005, ~80% of the funding was used for infrastructure and education projects. The funds are distributed through local community cooperatives, and most local people who are members of these cooperatives had received or were aware of tangible benefits received by the community and tended to have more positive attitudes toward tourism and the national parks. Despite a large amount of tourism revenue being disbursed over the 15-year period, there are still challenges with the programme and the overall impact could be enhanced. Recommendations as to how to address these are presented.
The impact of curcumin on livestock and poultry animal's performance and management of insect pests
Authors: Sureshbabu Anjana , Smirnova Elena , Karthikeyan Adhimoolam , Moniruzzaman Mohammad , Kalaiselvi Senthil , Nam Kiwoong , Goff Gaelle Le , Min Taesun
Published: February 2023

Plant-based natural products are alternative to antibiotics that can be employed as growth promoters in livestock and poultry production and attractive alternatives to synthetic chemical insecticides for insect pest management. Curcumin is a natural polyphenol compound from the rhizomes of turmeric (Curcuma spp.) and has been suggested to have a number of therapeutic benefits in the treatment of human diseases. It is also credited for its nutritional and pesticide properties improving livestock and poultry production performances and controlling insect pests. Recent studies reported that curcumin is an excellent feed additive contributing to poultry and livestock animal growth and disease resistance. Also, they detailed the curcumin's growth-inhibiting and insecticidal activity for reducing agricultural insect pests and insect vector-borne human diseases. This review aims to highlight the role of curcumin in increasing the growth and development of poultry and livestock animals and in controlling insect pests. We also discuss the challenges and knowledge gaps concerning curcumin use and commercialization as a feed additive and insect repellent.
Evaluating oral swab samples for PRRSV surveillance in weaning-age pigs under field conditions
Authors: Osemeke Onyekachukwu Henry , VanKley Nathan , LeFevre Claire , Peterson Christina , Linhares Daniel C. L.
Published: February 2023

Introduction

The use of serum and family oral fluids for porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) surveillance in weaning-age pigs has been previously characterized. Characterizing more sample types similarly offers veterinarians and producers additional validated sample options for PRRSV surveillance in this subpopulation of pigs. Oral swab sampling is relatively easy and convenient; however, there is sparse information on how it compares to the reference sample type for PRRSV surveillance under field conditions. Therefore, this study's objective was to compare the PRRSV reverse-transcription real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-rtPCR) test outcomes of oral swabs (OS) and sera samples obtained from weaning-age pig litters.

Method

At an eligible breeding herd, six hundred twenty-three weaning-age piglets from 51 litters were each sampled for serum and OS and tested for PRRSV RNA by RT-rtPCR.

Results and Discussion

PRRSV RT-rtPCR positivity rate was higher in serum samples (24 of 51 litters, 83 of 623 pigs, with a mean cycle threshold (Ct) value of RT-rtPCR-positive samples per litter ranging from 18.9 to 32.0) compared to OS samples (15 of 51 litters, 33 of 623 pigs, with a mean Ct of RT-rtPCR positive samples per litter ranging from 28.2 to 36.9); this highlights the importance of interpreting negative RT-rtPCR results from OS samples with caution. Every litter with a positive PRRSV RT-rtPCR OS had at least one viremic piglet, highlighting the authenticity of positive PRRSV RT-rtPCR tests using OS; in other words, there was no evidence of environmental PRRSV RNA being detected in OS. Cohen's kappa analysis (Ck = 0.638) indicated a substantial agreement between both sample types for identifying the true PRRSV status of weaning-age pigs.
Veterinarian perceptions and practices in prevention and control of influenza virus in the Midwest United States swine farms
Authors: Moraes Daniel C. A. , L. Vincent Baker Amy , Wang Xin , Zhu Zhengyuan , Berg Emily , Trevisan Giovani , Zhang Jianqiang , Jayaraman Swaminathan , Linhares Daniel C. L. , Gauger Phillip C. , S. Silva Gustavo
Published: February 2023

Influenza A virus (IAV) is an endemic respiratory pathogen affecting swine worldwide and is a public health concern as a zoonotic pathogen. Veterinarians may respond to IAV infection in swine with varied approaches depending on their perception of its economic impact on human and animal health. This study considered three primary veterinary practice categories: swine exclusive veterinary practitioner, large animal practitioner, which corresponds to veterinarians that work predominantly with food animals including but not exclusively porcine, and mixed animal practitioner, which corresponds to veterinarians working with companion and food animals. This survey aimed to assess U.S. veterinarian perceptions, biosecurity practices, and control methods for IAV in swine. In this study, 54.5% (188/345) of the veterinarians that were targeted responded to all portions of the survey. The study results presented different perceptions regarding IAV among veterinarians in different types of veterinary practices and the current IAV mitigation practices implemented in swine farms based on strategic decisions. Collectively, this study also revealed the veterinarians' perceptions that IAV as a health problem in swine is increasing, IAV has a moderate economic impact, and there is a high level of concern regarding IAV circulating in swine. These findings highlight the need for IAV surveillance data, improved vaccine strategies, as well as important opportunities regarding methods of control and biosecurity. Additionally, results of this survey suggest biosecurity practices associated with the veterinarian's swine operations and prevention of zoonotic diseases can be strengthened through annual IAV vaccination of humans and support of sick leave policies for farm workers.
The influence of different examiners on the Body Condition Score (BCS) in South American camelids—Experiences from a mixed llama and alpaca herd
Authors: Wagener Matthias Gerhard , Schregel Johannes , Ossowski Nina , Trojakowska Anna , Ganter Martin , Kiene Frederik
Published: February 2023

Particularly in unshorn llamas and alpacas with a dense fiber coat, changes in body condition often remain undetected for a long time. Manual palpation of the lumbar vertebrae is hence a simple and practical method for the objective assessment of body condition in South American camelids (SAC). Depending on tissue coverage, a body condition score (BCS) of 1 (emaciated) to 5 (obese) with an optimum of 3 is assigned. To date, there is a lack of detailed information on the comparability of the results when the BCS in llamas or alpacas is assessed by different examiners. Reliability of BCS assessment of 20 llamas and nine alpacas during a veterinary herd visit by six examiners was hence evaluated in this study. A gold standard BCS (gsBCS) was calculated from the results of the two most experienced examiners. The other examiners deviated by a maximum of 0.5 score points from the gsBCS in more than 80% of the animals. Inter-rater reliability statistics between the assessors were comparable to those in body condition scoring in sheep and cattle (r = 0.52–0.89; τ = 0.43–0.80; κw = 0.50–0.79). Agreements were higher among the more experienced assessors. Based on the results, the assessment of BCS in SAC by palpation of the lumbar vertebrae can be considered as a simple and reproducible method to reliably determine nutritional status in llamas and alpacas.
Mathematical Modeling of Capillary Drawing Stability for Hollow Optical Fibers
Authors: Pervadchuk Vladimir , Vladimirova Daria , Derevyankina Anna
Published: February 2023

The stability problem solution of the manufacturing (drawing) of the quartz capillaries (pipes) for microstructured optical fibers (hole-assisted fiber) is important for determining the effective technological production modes. This importance is also caused by the high cost of fiber production and strict requirements for the accuracy of the fiber’s geometric characteristics. Therefore, a theoretical approach to this problem is relevant and necessary. A modified capillary drawing model that takes into account inertial, viscous, and surface tension forces, as well as all types of heat transfer is proposed in the research. Within the framework of the linear theory of stability, a mathematical model of isothermal and nonisothermal capillary drawing has been developed. The stability of the process is studied depending on the drawing ratio and the Reynolds number. The analysis of the sensitivity of the process to perturbations in the boundary conditions is carried out. The secondary flow that occurs upon transition to the region of instability is also studied. It has been found that at draw ratios above critical values (instability region), undamped oscillations arise. The existence of optimal parameters of the heating element is shown: temperature distribution over the furnace surface and furnace radius, at which the stability of the process of drawing quartz tubes increases significantly (several times).
Properties of Nano-Amendments and Their Effect on Some Soil Properties and Root-Knot Nematode and Yield Attributes of Tomato Plant
Authors: Khader Asmaa , Ibrahim Mahmoud , Alkhathami Fahad , Elsawy Hany , El-Kader Nasser Abd , Shaker Eman , Sedky Azza , Mahmoud Esawy
Published: February 2023

The use of green nano-amendments is a promising approach for improving soil health and providing sustainable options to reduce root-knot nematodes (RKN) and thus increase yields. Therefore, the purpose of this research was to identify the characteristics of nano-amendments such as nanobiochar (nB), green nanobiochar (GnB), and magnetic nanobiochar (MnB) and their effect on the root-knot nematodes and tomato yield at levels of 3 and 6 mg kg−1 in sandy loam soil. The results showed that the GnB and MnB contain many functional groups (such as O-H, C=C, S-H, H-C=O, C-O, and H–O–H) and minerals (such as magnetite, ferrous sulfate monohydrate, and quartz), and they also had an elevated specific surface area. The application of the investigated soil nano-amendments significantly increased soil organic matter (OM) and microbial biomass carbon (MBC) and decreased the root-knot nematodes, playing a major role in increasing tomato growth. The highest significant values of OM and MBC were found in the soil amended by GnB at 6 mg kg−1, with increases of 84.7% and 71.5% as compared to the control, respectively. GnB6 significantly decreased the number of root galls, the egg mass, and number of nematodes per 250 cm3 soil by 77.67, 88.65, and 74.46%, respectively, compared to the control. Green nanobiochar was more efficient in accelerating the growth and yield components of the tomato plant. The addition of GnB is an effective strategy and an environmentally friendly technology to control plant parasitic nematodes and increase tomato yield. Therefore, the results recommend adding GnB at a rate of 6 mg kg−1 in sandy loam soil.
Forming and Degradation Mechanism of Bowl Seedling Tray Based on Straw Lignin Conversion
Authors: Qi Liqiang , Zhang Bo , Ma Yongcai , Zhang Wei
Published: February 2023

In response to the problems of low straw utilization efficiency and poor returning effect in Northeast China, this paper takes rice straw containing cow dung as the experimental material, and according to the characteristics of lignin glass transformation of the material, proposes a new method to prepare biomass seedling trays. The seedling trays prepared by this method can meet the needs of corn seedling cultivation and transplantation. To study the molding mechanism, scanning electron microscopy and a universal testing machine were used to compare the changes in the internal structure and mechanical properties of the regularly- and hot-compressed seedling trays before and after seedling raising. The results show that the material with water content of 23% has the best hot-pressing effect. The forming mechanism is: that the strength of the molded seedling tray resulted from the mechanical setting force of the multilayered stem fibers with a mosaic structure within the seedling tray. The adhesion and wrapping by lignin prevented water penetration from damaging the multilayered stem fibers and slightly improved their strength. The seedling tray made of straw and manure was completely degraded over 40 days, and the straw degradation rate was improved. This method can increase the overall quality and benefits of straw, providing a foundational reference for high-quality and high-efficiency straw utilization.
Physio-Chemical and Agronomic-Based Characterization of Synthetic Hexaploid Wheat Germplasm under Field Imposed Conditions of Drought and Heat Stress
Authors: Alghabari Fahad , Shah Zahid Hussain , Seo Hyojin
Published: February 2023

Abiotic stresses, such as a drought and heat, are potential constraints limiting wheat production across the globe. This current perspective study intended to characterize the performance of exotic synthetic hexaploid (SH) wheat genotypes on a physiological, biochemical, and agronomic basis under field-based drought and heat conditions. The tri-replicate experiments were conducted in two seasons using two-factorial arrangements in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with stresses as one factor and genotypes as another factor. The recorded data were statistically analyzed using computer-based software statistix8.1 and R-studio. In this study, all the physiological parameters (total chlorophyll, stomatal conductance, photosynthesis rate, transpiration rate, and cell membrane stability percentage), biochemical stress markers (antioxidant enzymes, glycine betaine, and proline), and agronomic traits (flag leaf area, plant height, tillers per plant, spike length, grains per spike, and thousand grain weight) varied significantly under separate and combined regimes of drought and heat stresses. All traits varied in same direction, excluding glycine betaine and proline, which varied in the opposite direction because of stress, as explicated by correlation analysis. Furthermore, PCA and heatmap analysis confirmed that the expression of the traits varied more significantly because of combined regimes of drought and heat stresses as compared to controlled and isolated applications. Interestingly, synthetic hexaploid (SH) genotypes depicted similar responses to individual and integrated regimes of drought and heat stresses. The current study proved that deciphering the physiological, biochemical, and agronomic performance of wheat genotypes under stress can provide effective criteria for the future selection of wheat germplasm for breeding against drought and heat stresses.
Effects of Black Cumin Seed (Nigella sativa) and Coconut Meals (Cocos nucifera) on Broiler Performance and Cecal Microbiota
Authors: Zaazaa Ahmed , Mudalal Samer , Sabbah Mohammed , Altamimi Mohammad , Dalab Abdelhafeed , Samara Maen
Published: February 2023

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of dietary supplementation with black cumin seed meal (BCSM) and coconut meal (CM) on the performance and cecal microbiota of Cobb 500 hybrid broilers. The study was conducted on 600 chicks on the first day of hatching; the chicks were randomly distributed equally into 12 equal-sized floor pens. Four dietary treatments (C, T1, T2 and T3) were replicated three times (50 chicks/replicate): C was the control group; T1 was supplemented with 10% BCSM; T2 was supplemented with 10% CM; T3 was supplemented with 5% BCSM and 5% CM. At slaughter age on day 35, our findings showed that treatment T2 increased significantly body weight and feed conversion ratio (FCR) compared to C, T1 and T3. In addition, the hot carcass dressing percentages in treatments T1, T2, and T3 were significantly higher than that of the C group. The results of relative normalized comparative gene expression of Clostridioides difficile, Roseburia and Streptococcus were not significantly changed in all treatments (p > 0.05). Treatment T1 resulted in a significant decrease in gene expression of the entire microbiota, while treatment T2 resulted in a significant increase in gene expression of all microbes, leading to an enriched and diverse microbial community. It can be concluded that supplementation with 10% BCSM is beneficial in inhibiting pathogenic microbes during early post-hatch days. In contrast, CM may promote and enhance the diversity of microbial communities during broiler growth. The inclusion of non-conventional feed ingredients in poultry diets may improve growth performance and may reduce the cost of broiler feed.
Two Are Better Than One: Integrating Spatial Geometry with a Conspicuous Landmark in Zebrafish Reorientation Behavior
Authors: Baratti Greta , Sovrano Valeria Anna
Published: February 2023

Within bounded environments of a distinctive shape, zebrafish locate two geometrically equivalent corner positions, based on surface metrics and left-right directions. For instance, the corners with a short surface right/long surface left cannot be distinguished as unique spatial locations unless other cues break the symmetry. By conjoining geometry with a conspicuous landmark, such as a different-color surface, one of the two geometric twins will have a short different-colored surface right, becoming identifiable. Zebrafish spontaneously combine a rectangular white arena’s shape with a blue wall landmark, but only when this landmark is near the target corner; when far, that cue triggers a steady attractiveness bias. In this study, we trained zebrafish to use a blue wall landmark in conjunction with a rectangular-shaped arena, providing them rewards over time. We found that trained zebrafish learned to locate the target corner, regardless of the landmark’s length and distance, overcoming the attractiveness bias. Zebrafish preferred geometry after removing the landmark (geometric test), but not if put into conflict geometry and landmark (affine transformation). Analysis on movement patterns revealed wall-following exploration as a consistent strategy for approaching the target corner, with individual left-right direction. The capacity of zebrafish to handle different sources of information may be grounds for investigating how environmental changes affect fish spatial behavior in threatened ecosystems.
Tigecycline Pharmacokinetic and Pharmacodynamic Profile in Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Exacerbation
Authors: Kipourou Maria , Begou Olga , Manika Katerina , Ismailos Georgios , Kontou Paschalina , Pitsiou Georgia , Gika Helen , Kioumis Ioannis
Published: February 2023

Background: We aimed to evaluate the pharmacokinetic profile of tigecycline in plasma and its penetration to sputum in moderately ill patients with an infectious acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Methods: Eleven patients hospitalized with acute respiratory failure due to an acute COPD exacerbation with clinical evidence of an infectious cause received tigecycline 50 mg twice daily after an initial loading dose of 100 mg. Blood and sputum samples were collected at steady state after dose seven. Results: In plasma, mean Cmax pl was 975.95 ± 490.36 ng/mL and mean Cmin pl was 214.48 ±140.62 ng/mL. In sputum, mean Cmax sp was 641.91 ± 253.07 ng/mL and mean Cmin sp was 308.06 ± 61.7 ng/mL. In plasma, mean AUC 0–12 pl was 3765.89 ± 1862.23 ng*h/mL, while in sputum mean AUC 0–12 sp was 4023.27 ± 793.37 ng*h/mL. The mean penetration ratio for the 10/11 patients was 1.65 ± 1.35. The mean Free AUC0–24 pl/MIC ratio for Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae was 25.10 ± 12.42 and 6.02 ± 2.97, respectively. Conclusions: Our findings support the clinical effectiveness of tigecycline against commonly causative bacteria in COPD exacerbations and highlight its sufficient lung penetration in pulmonary infections of moderate severity.
Polyphenol Extracts from Sage (Salvia lavandulifolia Vahl) By-Products as Natural Antioxidants for Pasteurised Chilled Yoghurt Sauce
Authors: Cedeño-Pinos Cristina , Jiménez-Monreal Antonia María , Quílez María , Bañón Sancho
Published: February 2023

Sage by-product extracts (SE) are a valuable source of phenolic acids and flavonoids for food applications. The objective was to test two SE as antioxidants in pasteurised chilled yoghurt sauces against oxidation. Two SE of different polyphenol total content and profile were selected: SE38 (37.6 mg/g) and SE70 (69.8 mg/g), with salvianic and rosmarinic acid as the main polyphenols, respectively. Four experimental low-fat yoghurt sauces were formulated: untreated; SE70/2 (0.16 g/kg); SE38 (0.3 g/kg); and SE70 (0.3 g/kg). The stability of phenolic acids, microbiological quality (mesophilic bacteria, moulds and yeasts, and L. monocytogenes), and oxidative stability (lipids, colour, and pH) were studied in the sauces after pasteurisation at 70 °C for 30 min (day 0) and stored by refrigeration (day 42). Pasteurisation and further chilling ensured the microbiological quality and inhibition of microbial growth could not be evidenced, although SE70 showed some antimicrobial potential. Both SE showed good properties as antioxidants for yoghurt sauces. This finding was based on two results: (i) their main polyphenols, salvianic and rosmarinic acids, resisted to mild pasteurisation and remained quite stable during shelf life; and (ii) SE improved radical scavenging capacity, delayed primary and secondary lipid oxidation, and increased colour stability, contributing to sauce stabilisation. SE38 had a better antioxidant profile than SE70; therefore, the selection criteria for SE should be based on both quantity and type of polyphenols. Due to their stability and antioxidant properties, sage polyphenols can be used as natural antioxidants for clean-label yoghurt sauces.
V2X-Based Highly Reliable Warning System for Emergency Vehicles
Authors: Arikumar Kochupillai Selvaraj , Prathiba Sahaya Beni , Basheer Shakila , Moorthy Rajalakshmi Shenbaga , Dumka Ankur , Rashid Mamoon
Published: February 2023

Vehicle-to-everything (V2X) in networks is a communication technology that allows vehicles to communicate with their surroundings. Traffic congestion and unawareness of the travel of emergency vehicles (EVs) lead to delays in reaching the destination of the EV. In order to overcome this time delay, we propose a jitter-to-highly reliable (J2H) approach of customizing the traffic signals and an alert passer mechanism to alert other vehicles. Once an EV is started, its source, destination and level of emergency will be updated on the network, and based on the traffic density, the fastest route to reach the destination is determined. The V2X system in the J2H approach passes an alert to all the traffic signals on that route. The traffic signals will continuously monitor the position of the vehicle by using the Global Positioning System (GPS). Based on the position of the vehicle, the distance between the vehicle and the traffic signal on that route is periodically updated. Once the vehicle comes within the range of the closest traffic signal, based on constraints such as number of lanes, emergency level, types of roads, traffic density, number of EVs approaching, and time of arrival of the vehicles, the traffic signal will be customized. The V2X then passes the information to all the traffic signals that are available in the route of the EV. The alert passer mechanism warns about the approaching EV to other vehicles on that route. Thus, by adapting the J2H technique, EVs can overcome the time delay to reach the destination. Traffic congestion is overcome by customizing the traffic signals. Path blockage can be cleared by vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communication.
A Machine Learning Approach to Prediction of the Compressive Strength of Segregated Lightweight Aggregate Concretes Using Ultrasonic Pulse Velocity
Authors: Migallón Violeta , Penadés Héctor , Penadés José , Tenza-Abril Antonio José
Published: February 2023

Lightweight aggregate concrete (LWAC) is an increasingly important material for modern construction. However, although it has several advantages compared with conventional concrete, it is susceptible to segregation due to the low density of the incorporated aggregate. The phenomenon of segregation can adversely affect the mechanical properties of LWAC, reducing its compressive strength and its durability. In this work, several machine learning techniques are used to study the influence of the segregation of LWAC on its compressive strength, including the K-nearest neighbours (KNN) algorithm, regression tree-based algorithms such as random forest (RF) and gradient boosting regressors (GBRs), artificial neural networks (ANNs) and support vector regression (SVR). In addition, a weighted average ensemble (WAE) method is proposed that combines RF, SVR and extreme GBR (or XGBoost). A dataset that was recently used for predicting the compressive strength of LWAC is employed in this experimental study. Two different types of lightweight aggregate (LWA), including expanded clay as a coarse aggregate and natural fine limestone aggregate, were mixed to produce LWAC. To quantify the segregation in LWAC, the ultrasonic pulse velocity method was adopted. Numerical experiments were carried out to analyse the behaviour of the obtained models, and a performance improvement was shown compared with the machine learning models reported in previous works. The best performance was obtained with GBR, XGBoost and the proposed weighted ensemble method. In addition, a good choice of weights in the WAE method allowed our approach to outperform all of the other models.