bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The core of the matter: How do scientists judge trustworthiness of physical samples?
Authors: Darch Peter Thomas
Published: October 2022

In recent years, research funding agencies, universities, and governments have become increasingly concerned with promoting the reuse of research datasets. Enabling researchers to evaluate the trustworthiness and fitness-for-use of research datasets produced by others is critical for facilitating the reuse of these datasets. Understanding how researchers make these evaluations is crucial for developing digital infrastructure and tools, such as data repositories and metadata schema, in a way that better supports researchers in making these evaluations. Physical samples such as rocks are critical for generating datasets in many scientific domains. Often, samples are collected on field expeditions conducted by large infrastructural projects. These projects comprise many human and non-human components that affect the quality and integrity of samples. However, little is known about whether and how prospective dataset users evaluate the samples' trustworthiness and sample collection processes underlying these datasets. Researchers‘strategies for evaluating sample trustworthiness are explored through a longitudinal qualitative case study (ethnographic observation, interviews (n= 66), and document analysis) of subseafloor biosphere research, an earth sciences domain. Domain researchers use rock samples collected on research cruises conducted by the International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP). Subseafloor biosphere researchers are primarily concerned about samples being compromised by microbiological contamination. Researchers vary regarding the components of IODP infrastructure they consider when evaluating sample trustworthiness. These components include methods to process samples, people handling samples, IODP policies and procedures, and IODP organizational politics. Researchers‘strategies vary according to their disciplinary background, with microbiologists employing more fine-grained judgments about methods; whether researchers have participated in IODP expeditions, with those who have employing more fine-grained judgments about people involved; and whether researchers have ever been involved in organizing cruises or serving on IODP committees, with those who have employing more fine-grained judgments about many aspects of cruises. Researchers who make less complex decisions may be prone to erroneously trusting contaminated samples; researchers who make more complex decisions may be prone to erroneously discarding uncontaminated samples. The paper concludes by considering implications for the design of digital infrastructures to support researchers in evaluating sample trustworthiness.
Trends characterizing technological innovations that increase environmental pressure: A typology to support action for sustainable consumption
Authors: Lefèvre Thierry , Déméné Claudia , Arpin Marie-Luc , Elzein Hassana , Genois-Lefrançois Philippe , Morin Jean-François , Cheriet Mohamed
Published: October 2022

Technological innovation is widely recognized as an endogenous element of capitalism driving economic growth and consumption. Although technological innovations have benefited human health, quality of life, and comfort, especially in high-income countries, uncontrolled industrialization of technological innovations and mass consumption exert strong environmental pressure on natural resources and contribute to the degradation of the environment. Apart from their endogenous role in economy and consumption, these innovations are characterized by specific trends that affect the sustainability of manufactured goods and consumption patterns, such as rate of market penetration, ownership of manufactured goods, product lifespan, reparability, and recyclability. This paper aims to contribute to a theorization of the relationship between technological innovation, consumption, and sustainability. To this end, we propose a typology of trends characterizing technological innovation to constitute a coherent framework. These trends are then documented to evaluate their magnitude, drivers, and related issues, following the broad principles of integrative literature reviews through a purposeful review sampling. The following trend framework emerged with regards to technological innovations: (a) accumulation; (b) diversification; (c) substitution; (d) complexification. The work contributes to identifying and formalizing: (1) the terminology regarding each trend, (2) related concepts that should be considered to theorize the relationship between technological innovation and (un)sustainable consumption patterns, (3) the main drivers that sustain these trends, (4) interactions between these trends, and (5) societal consequences on material and energy consumption and waste management.
It Takes Two: The Importance of the Coach-Athlete Relationship
Authors: Shanmuganathan-Felton Vaithehy , Felton Luke , Jowett Sophia
Published: October 2022

Have you wondered why coaches are often the first people athletes turn to, both when they are performing poorly and when they are winning? It is because the coach-athlete relationship is the most important relationship developed in sport. Athletes spend more time with their coaches than with any other people in their lives generally. They look up to their coaches and rely on them for technical, tactical, and personal advice. Gold medal-winning Olympic athletes like Wayde van Niekerk, Simone Biles, Michael Phelps, Laura Muir, and LeBron James have said that their coaches are the reason for their success. In this article, we will discuss what makes a successful coach-athlete relationship, describe the impact of the coach-athlete relationship on an athlete’s success, and provide tips that you and your coaches can use to develop a good working partnership.
Ideological polarization during a pandemic: Tracking the alignment of attitudes toward COVID containment policies and left-right self-identification
Authors: Dochow-Sondershaus Stephan
Published: October 2022

Research on opinion polarization has focused on growing divides in positions toward political issues between the more politically and ideologically engaged parts of the population. However, it is fundamentally difficult to track the alignment process between ideological group identity and issue positions because classically controversial political issues are already strongly associated with ideological or partisan identity. This study uses the COVID pandemic as an unique opportunity to investigate polarizing trends in the population. Pandemic management policies were not a politicized issue before COVID, but became strongly contested after governments all across the world initiated policies to contain the pandemic. We use data from the Austrian Corona Panel Project (ACPP) to track trajectories in attitudes toward current COVID measures over the course of more than a year of the pandemic. We differentiate individuals by their ideological self-identity as measured by left-right self-placement. Results suggest that all ideological groups viewed the containment measures as similarly appropriate in the very beginning. However, already in the first weeks, individuals who identify as right-wing increasingly viewed the policies as too extreme, whereas centrists and left-wing identifiers viewed them as appropriate. Opinion differences between left-wing and right-wing identifiers solidified over the course of the pandemic, while centrists fluctuated between left and right self-identifiers. However, at the end of our observation period, there are signs of convergence between all groups. We discuss these findings from the perspective of theoretical models of opinion polarization and suggest that polarization dynamics are likely to stop when the political context (salience of certain issues and concrete material threats) changes.
To defend or to attack? Antagonistic interactions between Serratia plymuthica and fungal plant pathogens, a species-specific volatile dialogue
Authors: Rybakova Daria , Müller Henry , Olimi Expedito , Schaefer Angelika , Cernava Tomislav , Berg Gabriele
Published: October 2022

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are involved in microbial interspecies communication and in the mode of action of various antagonistic interactions. They are important for balancing host-microbe interactions and provide the basis for developing biological control strategies to control plant pathogens. We studied the interactions between the bacterial antagonist Serratia plymuthica HRO-C48 and three fungal plant pathogens Rhizoctonia solani, Leptosphaeria maculans and Verticillium longisporum. Significant differences in fungal growth inhibition by the Serratia-emitted VOCs in pairwise dual culture assays and changes in the transcriptome of the bacterium and in the volatilomes of both interacting partners were observed. Even though the rate of fungal growth inhibition by Serratia was variable, the confrontation of the bacterium with the VOCs of all three fungi changed the levels of expression of the genes involved in stress response, biofilm formation, and the production of antimicrobial VOCs. Pairwise interacting microorganisms switched between defense (downregulation of gene expression) and attack (upregulation of gene expression and metabolism followed by growth inhibition of the interacting partner) modes, subject to the combinations of microorganisms that were interacting. In the attack mode HRO-C48 significantly inhibited the growth of R. solani while simultaneously boosting its own metabolism; by contrast, its metabolism was downregulated when HRO-C48 went into a defense mode that was induced by the L. maculans and V. longisporum VOCs. L. maculans growth was slightly reduced by the one bacterial VOC methyl acetate that induced a strong downregulation of expression of genes involved in almost all metabolic functions in S. plymuthica. Similarly, the interaction between S. plymuthica and V. longisporum resulted in an insignificant growth reduction of the fungus and repressed the rate of bacterial metabolism on the transcriptional level, accompanied by an intense volatile dialogue. Overall, our results indicate that VOCs substantially contribute to the highly break species-specific interactions between pathogens and their natural antagonists and thus deserving of increased consideration for pathogen control.
International research on labor in agri-food value chains: A bibliometric review from web of science
Authors: Malanski Priscila Duarte , Schiavi Sandra Mara de Alencar , Dedieu Benoît , Damansceno Julio César
Published: October 2022

Value chains are an important driver for the current labor dynamics in the agri-food sector, and agri-food value chain sustainability strongly depends on decent work conditions. An increasing literature body have been investigated the interactions between chain agents and how it impacted labor issues. Our aim was to map the scientific landscape of the scientific knowledge on labor in agri-food value chains. We performed a bibliometric review of 343 articles indexed in the Web of Science based on descriptive and network analysis of articles metadata, which covered authors, journals, citation times, keywords and countries. We showed that labor in agri-food value chains has an international audience, despite that knowledge production was largely built by a restraint leading scientific network. Overall, the scientific knowledge is organized into four main research domains on labor in agri-food value chains: (1) labor governance in global value chains through standards, (2) employment in value chains and impacts on socioeconomic conditions of rural areas, (3) gender issues and value chains, (4) labor and upgrading in global value chains. The controversies in the international literature regarding labor issues in the agri-food value chains, and blind spots of current research are discussed.
Effect of GS-441524 in combination with the 3C-like protease inhibitor GC376 on the treatment of naturally transmitted feline infectious peritonitis
Authors: Lv Jinbao , Bai Yang , Wang Yingyun , Yang Liu , Jin Yipeng , Dong Jun
Published: October 2022

Objectives

The main objectives of this study were to investigate the efficacy of the nucleotide analog GS-441524 in combination with the 3C-like protease inhibitor GC376 for the treatment of naturally aquired feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) and to test whether their combination shortens the dosing period and improves the cure rate.

Methods

In total, 46 FIP-affected cats were enrolled in this experiment, including 36 with wet FIP (29 with abdominal effusion, six with thoracic effusion, and one with thoracic+abdominal effusion), and 10 with dry FIP. The cats were aged from 3 to 96 months. Thoracic+abdominal effusion, lymph-node puncture fluid and perirenal puncture fluid was collected from the affected cats for qPCR testing, and all 46 cats were positive for feline coronavirus (FCoV). The cats divided into different dose groups, all treated for 4 weeks: group 1 (GS-441524, 5 mg/kg.sc.q.24 h; GC376, 20 mg/kg.sc.q.12 h), group 2 (GS-441524, 2.5 mg/kg.sc.q.24 h; GC376, 20 mg/kg.sc.q.12 h), group 3 (GS-441524, 2.5 mg/kg.sc.q.24 h; GC376, 10 mg/kg.sc.q.12 h), and group 4 (GS-441524, 5 mg/kg.sc.q.24 h; GC376, 10 mg/kg.sc.q.12 h).

Results

After the 4-week combination treatment, 45 of the 46 (97.8%) cats survived, and 43 of those became clinically normal. Two cats required longer (7 to 12 weeks) treatment to achieve full recovery. As of writing (10 months after completion of the trial), all 45 cats were alive and no relapse was observed.

Conclusions and relevance

GS-441524 combined with GC376 can be safely and effectively used to treat FIP and reduces the treatment period to 4 weeks, with an excellent cure rate.
Vancomycin drug resistance, an emerging threat to animal and public health
Authors: Aqib Amjad Islam , Alsayeqh Abdullah F.
Published: October 2022

The need to supply quality food for the growing human population has led to the revolutionization of food production and processing in recent years. Meanwhile, food production sources are at risk of microbial attack, while the use of antibiotics to counter them is posing another threat to food safety and security. Vancomycin was used as the first line of defense against multiple drug-resistant bacteria salient of which is methicillin-resistantS. aureus. The emergence of the vancomycin resistance gene in bacteria impairs the efficacy of antibiotics on the one hand while its harmful residues impart food safety concerns on the other. Currently, a novel set of resistance genes “Van cluster” is circulating in a wider range of bacteria. Considerable economic losses in terms of low production and food safety are associated with this emerging resistance. The current review focuses on the emergence of vancomycin resistance and its impact on food safety. The review proposes the need for further research on the probable routes, mechanisms, and implications of vancomycin resistance from animals to humans and vice versa.
Antioxidative and anti-inflammatory effects of vitamin C on the liver of laying hens under chronic heat stress
Authors: Du Jun , Shi Yan , Zhou Changming , Guo Lianying , Hu Ruiming , Huang Cheng , Hu Guoliang , Gao Xiaona , Guo Xiaoquan
Published: October 2022

In this study, we investigated the therapeutic effect and mechanism of action of vitamin C on chronic heat stress (CHS)-induced liver oxidative damage and inflammation in laying hens. The thermoneutral control group (TN group) was kept at a constant temperature of 22 ± 1°C, while the chronic heat stress group (CHS group) and the vitamin C supplemented group (HSV group) were exposed to heat stress (HS) (36 ± 1°C, 8 h/d). The TN and HS groups were fed the basic diet at will, and the HSV group was supplemented with 300 mg/kg of vitamin C on top of the basic diet. The experimental results showed a significant improvement in body weight and feed intake in the HSV group compared to the HS group. A significantly lower pH and higher HCO3- and PCO2 levels were observed in the HSV group compared to the CHS group. As laying hens were supplemented with vitamin C, serum malondialdehyde (MDA) level was declined, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activities were increased, and total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) was increased. Further, CHS induced an increase in the expression of inflammation-related genes and a decrease in the expression of antioxidant-related genes. In contrast, the addition of vitamin C reversed the effects of CHS, resulting in an increase in the expression of antioxidant-related genes and a decrease in the expression of inflammation-related genes. In conclusion, vitamin C can effectively alleviate CHS-induced acid-base imbalance in body fluids of laying hens and the oxidative damage and inflammatory response caused to the liver. Therefore, vitamin C can be used clinically as an effective drug to alleviate chronic heat stress in laying hens. This experiment provides clinical evidence and theoretical basis for the use of vitamin C as an effective drug to alleviate chronic heat stress in laying hens.
Caudal epidural catheterization for pain management in 48 hospitalized horses: A descriptive study of demographics, complications, and outcomes
Authors: Douglas Hope , Midon Monica , Shroff Kavita , Floriano Dario , Driessen Bernd , Hopster Klaus
Published: October 2022

The placement of caudal epidural catheters in horses has become more frequent as a multi-modal analgesic strategy. Despite its integration into clinical practice, there are limited reports describing the use of caudal epidural catheterization for prolonged use in horses. The purpose of this study was to characterize the hospitalized caseload undergoing epidural catheterization for long-term epidural analgesic administration, to report the response to epidural therapy and observed complications, and to describe patient outcomes. Medical records of hospitalized equine patients that underwent placement of a caudal epidural catheter for analgesic management between 2017 and 2021 were analyzed retrospectively. For the 62 catheters placed in the 48 cases, the most frequent diagnosis category prompting epidural analgesia was orthopedic (43/48, 89.6%). Synovial sepsis was the most frequent specific diagnosis prompting epidural catheter placement (11/48, 22.9%). The initial response to epidural therapy was characterized as positive for 37/62 (59.7%) catheters. Complications were documented for 46/62 (74.2%) catheters. However, most of these complications were classified as mild (51.6%) or moderate (14.5%), and exaggerated physiologic responses were observed most frequently. Of the horses studied, 52.1% survived to be discharged from the hospital. With awareness of potential complications and vigilant monitoring, caudal epidural catheters should be considered for equine patients as an analgesic strategy.
Repatriates’ Job Dimensions, Career Ambition, Career Expectation, and Work Adjustment in the Gulf Cooperation Council Countries
Authors: Aljofan Ali , Ali Anees J.
Published: October 2022

Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries have seen a significant increase in the number of expatriated students since 2005; despite the high rates, adequate examinations of the lived experiences of students repatriating to the region are lacking. This study aimed to examine the job role determinants of work adjustment among repatriated students in the GCC. It examined the mediating effects of career ambition and the moderating effect of career expectation on repatriates’ work adjustment. Data from 317 employed repatriates were gathered through an online survey. SPSS and Smart PLS 3.0 were used to analyze the data. Findings showed that repatriates’ job roles are positively correlated with their work adjustment, except for role discretion. Career ambition and career expectation have positively impacted repatriates’ work adjustment. However, repatriates’ lived experiences from the GCC area have not been empirically documented, particularly from those adjusting to work conditions. Little is known about the influences of career ambition and career expectations on repatriates’ work adjustment, how individuals experience their job roles, and what effect those roles have on work adjustment outcomes. This research offered an in-depth understanding of the influence of job roles on repatriates in the GCC, which can be utilized by repatriates and organizations to ensure better adjustment.
Is Online Teaching Challenging Faculty Well-Being?
Authors: Mosquera Pilar , Albuquerque Paula C. , Picoto Winnie Ng
Published: October 2022

Organizations that practice Sustainable Human Resource Management are socially responsible and concerned with the safety, health and satisfaction of their employees. Under this sustainability orientation, it is very relevant to analyze whether the sudden transition to e-learning as a strategy of adaptation to the COVID-19 pandemic affected the well-being of faculty. One hundred and two college teachers at a business school in Lisbon completed a web-based questionnaire administrated during the second lockdown due to the pandemic. The questionnaire included the Online Faculty Satisfaction Survey (OFSS) and the Work-Related Quality of Life (WRQoL) questionnaire. We use Partial Least Squares Path Modeling to derive to what extent the satisfaction with online teaching has impacted faculty well-being measured by the quality of working life. Results show that interaction with students, student engagement, flexibility and technology are the most relevant factors to faculty satisfaction with online teaching. Having control at work, good working conditions and general well-being are the most relevant factors for faculty overall well-being. As proposed, faculty satisfaction with online teaching positively and significantly influences faculty general well-being, home–work interface and job and career satisfaction.
Autonomous Maneuver Decision of Air Combat Based on Simulated Operation Command and FRV-DDPG Algorithm
Authors: Li Yongfeng , Lyu Yongxi , Shi Jingping , Li Weihua
Published: October 2022

With the improvement of UAV performance and intelligence in recent years, it is particularly important for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to improve the ability of autonomous air combat. Aiming to solve the problem of how to improve the autonomous air combat maneuver decision ability of UAVs so that it can be close to manual manipulation, this paper proposes an autonomous air combat maneuvering decision method based on the combination of simulated operation command and the final reward value deep deterministic policy gradient (FRV-DDPG) algorithm. Firstly, the six-degree-of-freedom (6-DOF) model is established based on the air combat process, UAV motion, and missile motion. Secondly, a prediction method based on the Particle swarm optimization radial basis function (PSO-RBF) is designed to simulate the operation command of the enemy aircraft, which makes the training process more realistic, and then an improved DDPG strategy is proposed, which returns the final reward value to the previous reward value in a certain proportion of time for offline training, which can improve the convergence speed of the algorithm. Finally, the effectiveness of the algorithm is verified by building a simulation environment. The simulation results show that the algorithm can improve the autonomous air combat maneuver decision-making ability of UAVs.
Characterization of the Volatile Profiles of Six Industrial Hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) Cultivars
Authors: Kumeroa Fern , Komahan Shanika , Sofkova-Bobcheva Svetla , Clavijo McCormick Andrea
Published: October 2022

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) play an important role in plant ecology and can be useful in pest management. This work characterises, for the first time, the VOC emissions of six industrial hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) cultivars grown in New Zealand: CFX-2, CRS-1, Ferimon 12, Katani, Futura 75, and Finola. Volatiles emitted from flowers and foliage of eight-week-old plants were collected using a dynamic headspace sampling method and analysed using gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry. We assessed the effect of cultivar, sex (monoecious, male, and female), and site (i.e., two sites differing in soil types, maintained under irrigation and rain-fed conditions) on VOC emissions. Thirty-five volatile compounds were tentatively identified from the headspace samples of hemp plants, but none of the cultivars emitted all 35 compounds. β-Myrcene was the most abundant compound in most cultivars. Overall, there was a significant effect of sex, and the interaction of sex and cultivar on the volatile profiles, but no effect of site. Female plants typically emitted more volatiles than their male counterparts and monoecious cultivars. The main compounds driving the difference between cultivars and sexes were (Z)- and (E)-β-ocimene. We hypothesize that differences in emission emerged as a defence strategy to protect costly female flowers from herbivores (since C. sativa is wind pollinated), but this hypothesis needs further testing. We recommend additional studies exploring how biotic and abiotic factors influence hemp VOC emissions, changes in VOCs throughout the crop cycle, the role of VOCs in plant-insect interactions and their use in pest management.
Differences in the Mode of Action of Florpyrauxifen-Benzyl between Barnyardgrass and Yerbadetajo
Authors: Gao Yuan , Li Jun , Shen Guohui , Tian Zhihui
Published: October 2022

Barnyardgrass (a monocotyledon) and yerbadetajo (a dicotyledon) are the most troublesome weeds in rice fields in China. The synthetic auxin herbicide florpyrauxifen-benzyl can effectively control both weeds. The objective of this research was to clarify modes of action of florpyrauxifen-benzyl in barnyardgrass and yerbadetajo. Our results showed that yerbadetajo was more sensitive to florpyrauxifen-benzyl than barnyardgrass: the 50% growth rate inhibition in barnyardgrass and yerbadetajo was 4.14 and 0.38 g a.i. ha−1, respectively. Florpyrauxifen-benzyl induced the ethylene precursor 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) and abscisic acid (ABA) in yerbadetajo within 24 h, while in barnyardgrass, the highest production occurred at 12 h and decreased at 24 h. ACC and ABA levels in yerbadetajo at 24 h of treatment were significantly higher than those in barnyardgrass at any time. There were less differentially expressed genes related to ethylene and ABA synthesis in barnyardgrass than in yerbadetajo. There were five genes induced to increase by florpyrauxifen-benzyl in barnyardgrass and eleven genes in yerbadetajo. More ACC oxidase genes (ACO) were induced in barnyardgrass and more ACC synthesis genes (ACS) in yerbadetajo, especially three ACS3 (>30 fold). We speculated that differences in gene expression caused differences in ethylene and ABA production, leading to differences in phytotoxicity.
The Impact of Polymer on the Productivity and Photosynthesis of Soybean under Different Water Levels
Authors: Pereira Lucas Felisberto , Ribeiro Júnior Walter Quadros , Ramos Maria Lucrecia Gerosa , Soares Guilherme Filgueiras , de Lima Guimarães Cristiane Andréa , da Silva Neto Sebastião Pedro , Muller Onno , Vinson Christina Cleo , Pereira André Ferreira , Williams Thomas Christopher Rhys
Published: October 2022

In order to practice sustainable and resource-efficient agriculture, the use of new technologies such as water-retaining polymers is essential. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of a polymer incorporated into the soil on gas exchange and yield under different water regimes (WR) in three soybean cultivars. The experiment was conducted at Embrapa Cerrados under field conditions in 2016 and 2017, using three different cultivars (BRS 5980IPRO, NA 5909RG and BRS 7280RR). Soybean cultivars were submitted to four water regimes (representing 30%, 50%, 83% and 100% of evapotranspiration replacement, namely WR1, WR2, WR3 and WR4). No beneficial results were observed in 2016 with Polymer. Most of the reductions in photosynthesis and transpiration by adding the polymer can be attributed to stomatal control, but such reductions did not influence productivity. In 2017, the yield was higher using Polymer in WR4 and WR3 by 40 to 20%, depending on the cultivar. Under severe stress (WR2 and WR1), reduced gas exchange was obtained with Polymer, but the yield was not reduced. These results indicate that Polymer contributed to the prolongation of photosynthetic activity during the reproductive phase of soybean and may represent a potential strategy for increasing yield under moderate drought stress.
Research on the Classification of Complex Wheat Fields Based on Multi-Scale Feature Fusion
Authors: Mu Fei , Chu Hongli , Shi Shuaiqi , Yuan Minxin , Liu Qi , Yang Fuzeng
Published: October 2022

This study uses UAV multi-spectral remote sensing images to carry out ground object classification research in complex wheat field scenes with diverse varieties. Compared with satellite remote sensing, the high spatial resolution remote sensing images obtained by UAVs at low altitudes are rich in detailed information. In addition, different varieties of wheat have different traits, which makes it easy to misclassify categories in the process of semantic segmentation, which reduces the classification accuracy and affects the classification effect of ground object. In order to effectively improve the classification accuracy of ground object in complex wheat field scenes, two Multi-Scale U-Nets based on multi-scale feature fusion are proposed. Multi-Scale U-Net1 is a network model that adds a multi-scale feature fusion block in the copy process between U-Net encoding and decoding. Multi-Scale U-Net2 is a network model that adds a multi-scale feature fusion block before U-Net inputs an image. Firstly, the wheat field planting area of Institute of Water-saving Agriculture in Arid Areas of China (IWSA), Northwest A&F University was selected as the research area. The research area was planted with a variety of wheat with various types of traits, and some traits were quite different from one another. Then, multi-spectral remote sensing images of different high spatial resolutions in the study area were obtained by UAV and transformed into a data set for training, validation, and testing of network models. The research results showed that the overall accuracy (OA) of the two Multi-Scale U-Nets reached 94.97% and 95.26%, respectively. Compared with U-Net, they can complete the classification of ground object in complex wheat field scenes with higher accuracy. In addition, it was also found that within the effective range, with the reduction of the spatial resolution of remote sensing images, the classification of ground object is better.
Convolutional Neural Networks in Computer Vision for Grain Crop Phenotyping: A Review
Authors: Wang Ya-Hong , Su Wen-Hao
Published: October 2022

Computer vision (CV) combined with a deep convolutional neural network (CNN) has emerged as a reliable analytical method to effectively characterize and quantify high-throughput phenotyping of different grain crops, including rice, wheat, corn, and soybean. In addition to the ability to rapidly obtain information on plant organs and abiotic stresses, and the ability to segment crops from weeds, such techniques have been used to detect pests and plant diseases and to identify grain varieties. The development of corresponding imaging systems to assess the phenotypic parameters, yield, and quality of crop plants will increase the confidence of stakeholders in grain crop cultivation, thereby bringing technical and economic benefits to advanced agriculture. Therefore, this paper provides a comprehensive review of CNNs in computer vision for grain crop phenotyping. It is meaningful to provide a review as a roadmap for future research in such a thriving research area. The CNN models (e.g., VGG, YOLO, and Faster R-CNN) used CV tasks including image classification, object detection, semantic segmentation, and instance segmentation, and the main results of recent studies on crop phenotype detection are discussed and summarized. Additionally, the challenges and future trends of the phenotyping techniques in grain crops are presented.
Toward Field Soil Surveys: Identifying and Delineating Soil Diagnostic Horizons Based on Deep Learning and RGB Image
Authors: Yang Ruiqing , Chen Jiaying , Wang Junguang , Liu Shuyu
Published: October 2022

The diagnostic horizon in a soil is reflective of the environment in which it developed and the inherent characteristics of the material, therefore quantitative approaches to horizon delineation should focus on the diagnostic horizon. Moreover, it can enable the exchange and transfer of soil information between different taxonomic systems. This study aims to explore the use of deep learning and RGB images to train a soil diagnostic horizon identification model that can help field workers determine soil horizon information quickly, efficiently, easily, and cost-effectively. A total of 331 soil profile images of the main soil categories (five soil orders, including Primosols, Ferrosols, Argosols, Anthrosols, and Cambosols) from Hubei and Jiangxi Provinces were used. Each soil profile image was preprocessed and augmented to 10 images and then inputted into the UNet++ architecture. The mean intersection over union and pixel accuracy of the model were 71.24% and 82.66%, respectively. Results show that the model could accurately identify and delineate the soil diagnostic horizons. Moreover, the model performance varied considerably due to the definition of the horizon and whether the diagnostic conditions applied to a wide range of visual features on RGB images, the number of samples, and the soil characteristics of the study area.
Evaluation of Protective Immune Responses Induced in BALB/c Mice and Goats by the Neospora caninum Surface SRS Proteins and Interleukin-18
Authors: Wang Pu , Wang Xiaocen , Wang Weirong , Gong Pengtao , Zhang Nan , Zhang Renzhe , Zeng Huan , Sun Qian , Li Wanqing , Li Xin , Cheng Shuqin , Zhang Xu , Huang Xinyi , Gao Chenyang , Zheng Yadong , Li Jianhua , Zhang Xichen
Published: October 2022

Neosporosis is caused by Neospora caninum (N. caninum), which mainly infects cattle and goats and severely threatens the animal industry. In this study, the inhibitory effects of polyclonal antiserum anti-NcSRS17, NcSRS2 and NcSRS52 were explored. Cytokines in mice or goat serum were detected after immunization. After infection, the survival of mice was recorded. The pathological changes and parasite loads were observed and detected in tissues. The results showed that anti-NcSRS2, NcSRS17 and NcSRS52 antibodies all inhibit the invasion and proliferation of N. caninum. The IFN-γ level in the NcSRS17 group was higher than that in the NcSRS2 and NcSRS52 groups, and higher in the NcSRS2-mIL-18 group than in the NcSRS2 group. The survival rates of mice were 16% in the positive control group, 67% in the SRS52 group, 83% in the SRS2 and mIL-18 groups and 100% in the SRS17 and SRS2-mIL-18 groups. Goats immunized with NcSRS17-gIL-18 developed high levels of IL-4, IL-12 and IFN-γ compared with those immunized with NcSRS-17. Parasite loads in the brains of animals in the NcSRS17 and NcSRS17-gIL-18 groups were significantly reduced, and were significantly lower in the NcSRS17-gIL-18 group (p ≤ 0.01). This study indicates that SRS17 may be an antigen candidate for vaccine development against neosporosis, and IL-18 can enhance the immune protective efficiency of antigen candidates.
Duplication, Loss, and Evolutionary Features of Specific UDP-Glucuronosyltransferase Genes in Carnivora (Mammalia, Laurasiatheria)
Authors: Kondo Mitsuki , Ikenaka Yoshinori , Nakayama Shouta M. M. , Kawai Yusuke K. , Ishizuka Mayumi
Published: October 2022

UDP-glucuronosyltransferases (UGTs) are one of the most important enzymes for xenobiotic metabolism or detoxification. Through duplication and loss of genes, mammals evolved the species-specific variety of UGT isoforms. Among mammals, Carnivora is one of the orders that includes various carnivorous species, yet there is huge variation of food habitat. Recently, lower activity of UGT1A and 2B were shown in Felidae and pinnipeds, suggesting evolutional loss of these isoforms. However, comprehensive analysis for genetic or evolutional features are still missing. This study was conducted to reveal evolutional history of UGTs in Carnivoran species. We found specific gene expansion of UGT1As in Canidae, brown bear and black bear. We also found similar genetic duplication in UGT2Bs in Canidae, and some Mustelidae and Ursidae. In addition, we discovered contraction or complete loss of UGT1A7–12 in phocids, some otariids, felids, and some Mustelids. These studies indicate that even closely related species have completely different evolution of UGTs and further imply the difficulty of extrapolation of the pharmacokinetics and toxicokinetic result of experimental animals into wildlife carnivorans.
Equus β-Defensin-1 Regulates Innate IMMUNE Response in S. aureus-Infected Mouse Monocyte Macrophage
Authors: Pei Le , Liu Kun , Wei Wei , Su Hong , Li Feng , Feng Ying , Wang Daqing , Li Xiunan , Hou Yongyue , Cao Guifang
Published: October 2022

Beta-defensin-1 (BD-1) is among the class of antibacterial peptides that are rich in disulfide bonds, have direct antibacterial activity and showed enhanced expression following external stimulation. However, existing research studies only treated BD-1 to cell models without stimulation from pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs), which will further influence our understanding of the role of BD-1. In this study, we map the tissue distribution of Equus BD-1 (i.e., eBD-1, ass BD-1, and mule BD-1) and compare their expression levels in various tissues. We further characterize the three kinds of Equus BD-1 by analyzing their full-length cDNA. We showed that eBD-1, ass BD-1, and mule BD-1 have an identical (100%) open reading frame (ORF). The ORF encoding OEBD-1 expressed the ORF in the E. coli Top10 expression system. This expression system was combined with an S. aureus-infected J774A.1 macrophage cell line to determine the influence on innate immune mediator expression. Using this expression model system, it was determined that the OEBD-1 protein enhanced IL-6 and TNF-α secretion. It can also promote TLR2, IL-1β, CCL2, CCL7, CXCL10 and NF-κB p65 mRNA expression. Moreover, OEBD-1 upregulates phosphorylation of ATK, Syk and IκB-α. In addition, OEBD-1 enhances the macrophage’s ability to phagocytose S. aureus. In conclusion, Equus BD-1 was shown to play an essential role in macrophage-involved innate immune responses in an in vitro system.
Comparative Performance of Line Probe Assay and GeneXpert in the Detection of Rifampicin Monoresistance in a TB-Endemic African Country
Authors: Mchaki Betty R. , Mgaya Fauster X. , Kunambi Peter P. , Hang’ombe Bernard , Matee Mecky I. , Munyeme Musso
Published: October 2022

Rapid, accurate and reliable assays are required for timely detection of drug-resistant tuberculosis and early initiation of second-line TB treatment as well as to minimize transmission of resistant strains. This study assessed diagnostic performance characteristics of two rapid molecular assays, line probe assay (LPA) and GeneXpert (MTB/RIF), in the detection rifampicin monoresistance using the phenotypic proportion method on Lowenstein–Jensen media as the gold standard. This study involved a total of 357 isolates, 74 rifampicin-resistant and 283 rifampicin-susceptible, collected at the Central Tuberculosis Reference Laboratory (CTRL) in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, between 2016 and 2019. Sensitivity, specificity and positive and negative predictive values were used to assess the performance characteristics of the two assays while kappa coefficient was used to determine agreement of test results. The receiver operating curve (ROC) was used to determine the discriminatory ability of the test in distinguishing resistant and susceptible TB isolates. Our results showed that GeneXpert had sensitivity, specificity and positive and negative predictive values of 93.2, 82.7, 58.5 and 97.9%, respectively; the corresponding performance for LPA was 86.5, 97.5, 90.1 and 96.5%, respectively. Compared with conventional phenotypic DST results, GeneXpert had a moderate agreement (kappa 0.621, p < 0.001), while LPA had high agreement (0.853, p < 0.001). LPA showed an accuracy of 95.2% compared to GeneXpert’s 84.9%. ROC curve depicted the ability of the tests to distinguish rifampicin-sensitive and rifampicin-resistant strains to be 87.9% for GeneXpert and 92.0% for LPA. Our results indicate the superiority of LPA over GeneXpert regarding detection of rifampicin monoresistance. However, logistic challenges such as longer turnaround time and need for skilled laboratory personnel may limit its use.
Astaxanthin Induces Transcriptomic Responses Associated with Lifespan Extension in Caenorhabditis elegans
Authors: Ding Feng , Zhao Yan
Published: October 2022

Astaxanthin is a marine xanthophyll carotenoid which effectively prevents intracellular oxidative stress and has beneficial effects against various human diseases. It has been shown that astaxanthin protects Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) from oxidative damages and extends the lifespan of C. elegans possibly by modulating genes involved in insulin/insulin-like growth factor (IGF) signaling (IIS) and the oxidoreductase system, although the exact mechanisms remain elusive. In this study, RNA sequencing analyses were employed to identify the differentially expressed genes in C. elegans in response to astaxanthin treatment. A total of 190 mRNAs and 6 microRNAs (miRNAs) were significantly changed by astaxanthin treatment in C. elegans. Gene ontology (GO) term and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analyses indicated that the mRNAs and miRNAs significantly altered by astaxanthin mainly function in innate immunity, lipid metabolism and stress responses, a significant portion of which are related to lifespan regulation in C. elegans. The study revealed novel mRNA and miRNA targets of astaxanthin, providing new insights for understanding the anti-aging mechanisms and the biological function of astaxanthin.
Exploring the Role of Lipid-Binding Proteins and Oxidative Stress in Neurodegenerative Disorders: A Focus on the Neuroprotective Effects of Nutraceutical Supplementation and Physical Exercise
Authors: Scarfò Giorgia , Piccarducci Rebecca , Daniele Simona , Franzoni Ferdinando , Martini Claudia
Published: October 2022

The human brain is primarily composed of lipids, and their homeostasis is crucial to carry on normal neuronal functions. In order to provide an adequate amount of lipid transport in and out of the central nervous system, organisms need a set of proteins able to bind them. Therefore, alterations in the structure or function of lipid-binding proteins negatively affect brain homeostasis, as well as increase inflammation and oxidative stress with the consequent risk of neurodegeneration. In this regard, lifestyle changes seem to be protective against neurodegenerative processes. Nutraceutical supplementation with antioxidant molecules has proven to be useful in proving cognitive functions. Additionally, regular physical activity seems to protect neuronal vitality and increases antioxidant defenses. The aim of the present review was to investigate mechanisms that link lipid-binding protein dysfunction and oxidative stress to cognitive decline, also underlining the neuroprotective effects of diet and exercise.
Serum Bilirubin and Markers of Oxidative Stress and Inflammation in a Healthy Population and in Patients with Various Forms of Atherosclerosis
Authors: Vítek Libor , Jirásková Alena , Malíková Ivana , Dostálová Gabriela , Eremiášová Lenka , Danzig Vilém , Linhart Aleš , Haluzík Martin
Published: October 2022

Oxidative stress and inflammation contribute significantly to atherogenesis. We and others have demonstrated that mildly elevated serum bilirubin levels protect against coronary and peripheral atherosclerosis, most likely due to the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of bilirubin. The aim of the present study was to assess serum bilirubin and the markers of oxidative stress and inflammation in both healthy subjects and patients with various forms of atherosclerosis. The study was performed in patients with premature myocardial infarction (n = 129), chronic ischemic heart disease (n = 43), peripheral artery disease (PAD, n = 69), and healthy subjects (n = 225). In all subjects, standard serum biochemistry, UGT1A1 genotypes, total antioxidant status (TAS), and concentrations of various pro- and anti-inflammatory chemokines were determined. Compared to controls, all atherosclerotic groups had significantly lower serum bilirubin and TAS, while having much higher serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) and most of the analyzed proinflammatory cytokines (p < 0.05 for all comparisons). Surprisingly, the highest inflammation, and the lowest antioxidant status, together with the lowest serum bilirubin, was observed in PAD patients, and not in premature atherosclerosis. In conclusion, elevated serum bilirubin is positively correlated with TAS, and negatively related to inflammatory markers. Compared to healthy subjects, patients with atherosclerosis have a much higher degree of oxidative stress and inflammation.
Performance of Lunar Regolith Shield under Meteoroid Impact: Uncertainties of a Numerical Prediction
Authors: Verdino Alessia , Arena Oscar , Bottiglieri Osvaldo , Cafaro Francesco , Dini Enrico
Published: October 2022

The protection of the future lunar base from radiation, thermal stresses and impacts of meteoroids can be achieved by several options, generally consisting in a shielding system, made of either regolith or combined materials. In the present paper, the incidence of two sources of uncertainty on the FEM calculation of stress propagation through the covering regolith layer has been assessed. First, the investigation has pointed out, for a given impact and a given constitutive model, the uncertainty in the stress prediction related to the strain interval adopted for the soil stiffness measurement. Thereafter, calculation has been performed, for a given stiffness value, changing the assumed collision duration of one order of magnitude for equal impact momentum, that is, changing the maximum impact force too, correspondingly. The simulation has been performed based on physical and mechanical parameters of DNA-1A lunar simulant. The results provide indication of the relative importance of the calculation assumptions, which could address the design of a regolith shield.
Soccer Scoring Techniques: How Much Do We Know Them Biomechanically?—A State-of-the-Art Review
Authors: Shan Gongbing
Published: October 2022

Biomechanics investigation on soccer scoring techniques (SSTs) has a relatively long history. Until now, there have been 43 SSTs identified. Yet, the body of biomechanical knowledge is still limited to a few SSTs. This paper aims to provide an up-to-date overview of idiographic biomechanical studies published from the 1960s to the 2020s in order to outline pertinent discoveries, investigation directions, and methodology progresses. Additionally, the challenges faced by SST studies are discussed. The main goal of the paper is to promote biomechanical investigation on SSTs through discussions on problem solving in the past, research progress in the present, and possible research directions for the future.