Purpose:For a set of 1,561 Open Access(OA)and non-OA journals in business and economics,this study evaluates the relationships between four citation metrics-five-year Impact Factor(5IF),CiteScore,Article Influence(AI)...Purpose:For a set of 1,561 Open Access(OA)and non-OA journals in business and economics,this study evaluates the relationships between four citation metrics-five-year Impact Factor(5IF),CiteScore,Article Influence(AI)score,and SCImago Journal Rank(SJR)-and the journal ratings assigned by expert reviewers.We expect that the OA journals will have especially high citation impact relative to their perceived quality(reputation).Design/methodology/approach:Regression is used to estimate the ratings assigned by expert reviewers for the 2021 CABS(Chartered Association of Business Schools)journal assessment exercise.The independent variables are the four citation metrics,evaluated separately,and a dummy variable representing the OA/non-OA status of each journal.Findings:Regardless of the citation metric used,OA journals in business and economics have especially high citation impact relative to their perceived quality(reputation).That is,they have especially low perceived quality(reputation)relative to their citation impact.Research limitations:These results are specific to the CABS journal ratings and the four citation metrics.However,there is strong evidence that CABS is closely related to several other expert ratings,and that 5IF,CiteScore,AI,and SJR are representative of the other citation metrics that might have been chosen.Practical implications:There are at least two possible explanations for these results:(1)expert evaluators are biased against OA journals,and(2)OA journals have especially high citation impact due to their increased accessibility.Although this study does not allow us to determine which of these explanations are supported,the results suggest that authors should consider publishing in OA journals whenever overall readership and citation impact are more important than journal reputation within a particular field.Moreover,the OA coefficients provide a useful indicator of the extent to which anti-OA bias(or the citation advantage of OA journals)is diminishing over time.Originality/value:This is apparently the first study to investigate the impact of OA status on the relationships between expert journal ratings and journal citation metrics.展开更多
In the article“Deep Learning-Enhanced Brain Tumor Prediction via Entropy-Coded BPSO in CIELAB Color Space”by Mudassir Khalil,Muhammad Imran Sharif,Ahmed Naeem,Muhammad Umar Chaudhry,Hafiz Tayyab Rauf,Adham E.Ragab C...In the article“Deep Learning-Enhanced Brain Tumor Prediction via Entropy-Coded BPSO in CIELAB Color Space”by Mudassir Khalil,Muhammad Imran Sharif,Ahmed Naeem,Muhammad Umar Chaudhry,Hafiz Tayyab Rauf,Adham E.Ragab Computers,Materials&Continua,2023,Vol.77,No.2,pp.2031–2047.DOI:10.32604/cmc.2023.043687,URL:https://www.techscience.com/cmc/v77n2/54831,there was an error regarding the affiliation for the author Hafiz Tayyab Rauf.Instead of“Centre for Smart Systems,AI and Cybersecurity,Staffordshire University,Stoke-on-Trent,ST42DE,UK”,the affiliation should be“Independent Researcher,Bradford,BD80HS,UK”.展开更多
The author regrets that the paper titled“Gauging scholars’acceptance of Open Access journals by examining the relationship between perceived quality and citation impact”(DOI:10.2478/jdis-2025-0002),as published,con...The author regrets that the paper titled“Gauging scholars’acceptance of Open Access journals by examining the relationship between perceived quality and citation impact”(DOI:10.2478/jdis-2025-0002),as published,contains errors in four of the table captions.For Tables 12-15,“CABS business journals”should read“CABS economics journals.”The tables do have the correct values for the economics journals,and the findings reported in the text do not need revision.The author apologizes for any inconvenience.展开更多
Numerous former military sites worldwide require environmental cleanup from buried unexploded ordnance(UxO)that pose hazards such as leaching toxic chemicals and explosion risks.However,selecting the appropriate mitig...Numerous former military sites worldwide require environmental cleanup from buried unexploded ordnance(UxO)that pose hazards such as leaching toxic chemicals and explosion risks.However,selecting the appropriate mitigation technology relies on prior knowledge of UxO depth of burial(DoB)at specific sites.This study utilizes numerical simulations,employing large deformation explicit finite element(LDEFE)analysis and the Coupled Eulerian-Lagrangian(CEL)approach,to model the penetration of ordnances into clay targets.A modified Tresca constitutive model is implemented in ABAQUS software to capture key features of clay behavior under high strain rate(HSR)loading.The role of various parameters on DoB is investigated,including undrained shear strength,stiffness,and density of the soil.The findings highlight the paramount importance of undrained shear strength in clayey soil penetrability,in addition to the role of soil stiffness,and density.The simulations were employed to calibrate model parameters for Young's empirical penetration model,as well as the Poncelet phenomenological penetration model,demonstrating the efficacy of the numerical simulations in extrapolating its findings within the relevant parameter space.In particular,the calibrated parameters of Young's and Poncelet's models can be identified as a direct function of the various discussed soil properties,which was previously unavailable.展开更多
There has been an increase in mental health problems in Sub-Saharan Africa.Considering this,it is critical to track the region’s level of mental health literacy(MHL)to identify key mental health priorities and to dir...There has been an increase in mental health problems in Sub-Saharan Africa.Considering this,it is critical to track the region’s level of mental health literacy(MHL)to identify key mental health priorities and to direct the most effective interventions.The purpose of this study was to review the existing literature on MHL in sub-Saharan Africa.EBSCOhost(inclusive of Academic Search Ultimate,MEDLINE,APA PsycINFO,APA Psych Articles,and Global Health),CINAHL with full text,Wiley Online Library,Taylor and Francis Online Journals and Google Scholar databases were searched to retrieve relevant articles.The study only considered original full-text,peer-reviewed,English-written research on MHL carried out in sub-Saharan Africa and published between 2015 and 2023.Scoping review steps by Arksey and O’Malley(2005)were followed.Grey literature,review studies,and review protocols were excluded.The data was analysed using reflexive thematic analysis(RTA).The results showed that MHL varies within the region,making it difficult to determine the exact state.Furthermore,the study uncovered factors that contribute to both poor and better MHL in the region.Poor MHL was linked to residing in the township and being male.Better MHL was associated with higher education levels,being female,urban residence,and having a history of mental illness,among other factors.The studyfindings provide evidence-based recommendations for regional,policy,or legislative-led interventions and prioritisations of mental health education programs and public mental health campaigns to increase awareness of mental health.展开更多
Agricultural drought,characterized by insufficient soil moisture crucial for crop growth,poses significant chal lenges to food security and economic sustainability,particularly in water-scarce regions like Senegal.Thi...Agricultural drought,characterized by insufficient soil moisture crucial for crop growth,poses significant chal lenges to food security and economic sustainability,particularly in water-scarce regions like Senegal.This study addresses this issue by developing a comprehensive geospatial monitoring system for agricultural drought using the Regional Hydrologic Extremes Assessment System(RHEAS).This system,with a high-resolution of 0.05°,effectively simulates daily soil moisture and generates the Soil Moisture Deficit Index(SMDI)-based agricultural drought monitoring.The SMDI derived from the RHEAS has effectively captured historical droughts in Senegal over the recent 30 years period from 1993 to 2022.The SMDI,also provides a comprehensive understanding of regional variations in drought severity(S),duration(D),and frequency(F),through S-D-F analysis to identify key drought hotspots across Senegal.Findings reveal a distinct north-south gradient in drought conditions,with the northern and central Senegal experiencing more frequent and severe droughts.The study highlights that Senegal experiences frequent short-duration droughts with high severity,resulting in extensive spatial impact.Addition ally,increasing trends in drought severity and duration suggest evolving climate change effects.These findings emphasize the urgent need for sustainable interventions to mitigate drought impacts on agricultural productiv ity.Specifically,the study identifies recurrent and intense drought hotspots affecting yields of staple crops like maize and rice,as well as cash crops like peanuts.The developed high-resolution drought monitoring system for Senegal not only identifies hotspots but also enables prioritizing sustainable approaches and adaptive strategies,ultimately sustaining agricultural productivity and resilience in Senegal’s drought-prone regions.展开更多
Bacterial infections of avian embryos can lead to an increase in embryo mortality,and the proliferation of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria aggravates the situation.A low hatching rate also poses a challenge to the po...Bacterial infections of avian embryos can lead to an increase in embryo mortality,and the proliferation of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria aggravates the situation.A low hatching rate also poses a challenge to the population of artificially bred Crested Ibises(Nipponia nippon).This study aims to determine the potential association between bacterial infection and the death of Crested Ibis embryos,and whether there is convergence between antimicrobial resistance and virulence in strain.In this study,13 Escherichia coli and 12 Proteus mirabilis isolates were recovered from dead Crested Ibis embryos.The pathogenicity examination confirmed the pathogenicity of all isolates,and multiple virulence genes detected by PCR-sequencing demonstrated the presence of irp2 and iuc D(100%),fim C and iss(92.31%)in E.coli,and uca A(58.33%)in P.mirabilis.Antimicrobial susceptibility test demonstrated that isolates were mainly resistant to amoxicillin(E.coli:76.92%,P.mirabilis:91.67%),cefazolin(E.coli:76.92%,P.mirabilis:91.67%),oxytetracycline(E.coli:92.31%,P.mirabilis:75.00%)and sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim(E.coli:53.85%,P.mirabilis:33.33%),and more than 30%of isolates showed multidrug-resistance(MDR).Further analyses detected extended-spectrumβ-lactamase(ESBL)genes,of which blaTEM-1(E.coli:100%,P.mirabilis:100%)had the highest frequency,followed by the blaCTX-M-55(E.coli:92.31%,P.mirabilis:50%),blaCTX-M-14(E.coli:76.92%,P.mirabilis:33.33%),blaCTX-M-65(E.coli:15.38%,P.mirabilis:16.67%),and all isolates were negative for blaSHV and blaOXA.Pearson's correlation analysis showed a positive correlation between the presence ofβ-lactam resistance and ESBL genes,while mainly negative correlations were observed between the presence of ESBL genes and virulence genes.Furthermore,the conjugation experiment and PFGE revealed that the isolates were primarily polyclonal,and there was horizontal transfer of resistance or virulence genes by plasmids.Based on the results,E.coli and P.mirabilis were responsible for embryonic mortality of the ibises in this study.The co-presence and co-transfer of ESBL genes and virulence genes can pose a potential threat to the health of the Crested Ibis,and measures such as prudent use of antimicrobials,and constant surveillance of resistance and pathogenicity,must be implemented at the Crested Ibis breeding base.展开更多
Emerging new races of wheat stem rust(Puccinia graminis f.sp.tritici)are threatening global wheat(Triticum aestivum L.)production.Host resistance is the most effective and environmentally friendly method of controllin...Emerging new races of wheat stem rust(Puccinia graminis f.sp.tritici)are threatening global wheat(Triticum aestivum L.)production.Host resistance is the most effective and environmentally friendly method of controlling stem rust.The stem rust resistance gene Sr59 was previously identified within a T2DS 2RL wheat-rye whole arm translocation,providing broad-spectrum resistance to various stem rust races.Seedling evaluation,molecular marker analysis,and cytogenetic studies identified wheat-rye introgression line#284 containing a new translocation chromosome T2BL 2BS-2RL.This line has demonstrated broad-spectrum resistance to stem rust at the seedling stage.Seedling evaluation and cytogenetic analysis of three backcross populations between the line#284 and the adapted cultivars SLU-Elite,Navruz,and Linkert confirmed that Sr59 is located within the short distal 2RL translocation.This study aimed physical mapping of Sr59 in the 2RL introgression segment and develop a robust molecular marker for marker-assisted selection.Using genotyping-by-sequencing(GBS),GBS-derived SNPs were aligned with full-length annotated rye nucleotide-binding leucine-rich repeat(NLR)genes in the parental lines CS ph1b,SLU238,SLU-Elite,Navruz,and Linkert,as well as in 33 BC4F5progeny.Four NLR genes were identified on the 2R chromosome,with Chr2R_NLR_60 being tightly linked to the Sr59resistance gene.In-silico functional enrichment analysis of the translocated 2RL region(25,681,915 bp)identified 223 genes,with seven candidate genes associated with plant disease resistance and three linked to agronomic performance,contributing to oxidative stress response,protein kinase activity,and cellular homeostasis.These findings facilitate a better understanding of the genetic basis of stem rust resistance provided by Sr59.展开更多
Reliable surface height observations over inland water bodies are useful for understanding the hydrological cycle.Satellite radar altimetry particularly contributed with its long-term archive and minimal cloud interfe...Reliable surface height observations over inland water bodies are useful for understanding the hydrological cycle.Satellite radar altimetry particularly contributed with its long-term archive and minimal cloud interference.Specialized inland water altimetry,developed from oceanography and geodesy,is still being extensively investigated.By synthesizing pioneering studies on“retracking algorithms”,this review demonstrates,from a user perspective,why optimizing conventional retracking is still important and how it can extend reliable historical water level retrieval over more ungauged sites.Numerous unrevealed inland water bodies have small sizes or complex surroundings,posing challenges to maintaining accuracy.Applications have shown that a critical key lies in the retracking correction during range retrieval(uncertainty likely on the order of meters),compared with other corrections(on the order of centimeters or decimeters).From multiple uncertainty factors in range retrieval,signal entanglements from land contamination and off-nadir effects are core issues.We evaluate and compared key strategies from prototype retrackers to improved retrackers,especially the empirical ones optimized for inland waters.Sub-waveform extraction and adjustment for Delay-Doppler modes has advanced range retrieval to a new stage.Four innovative inland-water-compatible retrackers are introduced in detail,with a highlight on their distinct approaches to robustly improve performance.Considering the selection of different data and retrackers in varying scenarios,a synthesis analysis is conducted based on results reported in previous literature.In conclusion,the empirical retracking has been enhanced to offer stable decimeter-level accuracy in intricate landscapes(e.g.,small lakes and rivers with varied surroundings).In comparison,the physical retracking has been upgraded to provide greater precision for homogeneous surface in large lakes.For future inland water altimetry,we articulate how additionally retracked results can benefit hydrological applications,and what difficulties would arise when extending study scales.展开更多
Low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 2(LRP2)is a multifunctional endocytic receptor expressed in epithelial cells.In mammals,it acts as an endocytic receptor that mediates the cellular uptake of cholestero...Low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 2(LRP2)is a multifunctional endocytic receptor expressed in epithelial cells.In mammals,it acts as an endocytic receptor that mediates the cellular uptake of cholesterol-containing apolipoproteins to maintain lipid homeostasis.However,little is known about the role of LRP2 in lipid homeostasis in insects.In the present study,we investigated the function of LRP2 in the migratory locust Locusta migratoria(LmLRP2).The mRNA of LmLRP2 is widely distributed in various tissues,including integument,wing pads,foregut,midgut,hindgut,Malpighian tubules and fat body,and the amounts of LmLRP2 transcripts decreased gradually in the early stages and then increased in the late stages before ecdysis during the nymphal developmental stage.Fluorescence immunohistochemistry revealed that the LmLRP2 protein is mainly located in cellular membranes of the midgut and hindgut.Using RNAi to silence LmLRP2 caused molting defects in nymphs(more than 60%),and the neutral lipid was found to accumulate in the midgut and surface of the integument,but not in the fat body,of dsLmLRP2-treated nymphs.The results of a lipidomics analysis showed that the main components of lipids(diglyceride and triglyceride)were significantly increased in the midgut,but decreased in the fat body and hemolymph.Furthermore,the content of total triglyceride was significantly increased in the midgut,but markedly decreased in the fat body and hemolymph in dsLmLRP2-injected nymphs.Our results indicate that LmLRP2 is located in the cellular membranes of midgut cells,and is required for lipid export from the midgut to the hemolymphand fat body in locusts.展开更多
The use of titanium dioxide nanoparticles (nTiO<sub>2</sub>) is gaining interest in agriculture because of their impact on many aspects of plant growth. The present study examines the effects of nTiO<su...The use of titanium dioxide nanoparticles (nTiO<sub>2</sub>) is gaining interest in agriculture because of their impact on many aspects of plant growth. The present study examines the effects of nTiO<sub>2</sub> (5 nm and 10 nm) applied to seeds and the seedlings as a foliar application on various aspects of growth characteristics and biomass accumulation in lettuce (Lactuca sativa, cv. Grand Rapids). Application of 10 nm nTiO<sub>2</sub> to seeds through imbibition resulted in a significant reduction in shoot biomass accumulation while 5 nm nTiO<sub>2</sub> did not affect the biomass accumulation in lettuce. The application of 10 nm nTiO<sub>2</sub> reduced the fresh shoot biomass accumulation by about 18% compared to the control plants. Other growth characteristics such as shoot dry biomass, root fresh and dry biomass, plant height, and leaf area were not affected by the application of both 5 nm and 10 nm nTiO<sub>2</sub>. In addition, foliar application of these nanoparticles to the lettuce seedlings did not have a significant effect on most of the growth parameters examined, and the increasing concentration ranging from 5 nm/L to 400 mg/L did not produce a consistent response in lettuce. Thus, nTiO<sub>2</sub> application to lettuce seeds had a notable negative impact on shoot growth while foliar application did not have a significant effect on many plant growth characteristics. However, foliar applications produced some symptoms of toxicity to the foliage in the form of necrotic or chlorotic patches on the leaves, which were more pronounced with increasing concentrations of both 5 nm and 10 nm nTiO<sub>2</sub>. However, these symptoms were apparent at a concentration as low as 50 mg/L of nTiO<sub>2</sub>. Thus, foliar application of nTiO<sub>2</sub> may not have a significant impact on many of the growth characteristics in lettuce, but it can result in foliar toxicity.展开更多
With the increased interest of plants in space, gravity cannot be ignored when studying soil-plant-water relations. Therefore, it is important to understand the water relations of soils under zero gravity in space or ...With the increased interest of plants in space, gravity cannot be ignored when studying soil-plant-water relations. Therefore, it is important to understand the water relations of soils under zero gravity in space or under reduced gravity on the Moon or Mars. This paper outlines the problems of moving water in soils under zero gravity or microgravity, as well as growing plants in these soils. It is suggested that microgravity experiments could be done on Earth using both soils and plants. Results from such experiments could be used to grow plants when mankind establishes bases on the Moon and Mars.展开更多
In Kansas, productivity of grain sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] is affected by weather conditions at planting and during pollination. Planting date management and selection of hybrid maturity group can help to ...In Kansas, productivity of grain sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] is affected by weather conditions at planting and during pollination. Planting date management and selection of hybrid maturity group can help to avoid severe environmental stresses during these sensitive stages. The hypothesis of the study was that late May planting improves grain sorghum yield and yield components compared with late June planting. The objectives of this research were to investigate the influence of planting dates yield and yield components of different grain sorghum hybrids, and to determine the optimal planting date and hybrid combination for maximum biomass and grains production. Three sorghum hybrids (early, medium, and late maturing) were planted in late May and late June without irrigation in Kansas at Manhattan/Ashland Bottom Research Station, and Hutchinson in 2010;and at Manhattan/North Farm and Hutchinson in 2011. Data on dry matter production, yield and yield components were collected. Grain yield and yield components were influenced by planting date depending on environmental conditions. At Manhattan (2010), greater grain yield, number of heads per plant, were obtained with late-June planting compared with late May planting, while at Hutchinson (2010) greater yield was obtained with late May planting for all hybrids. The yield component most affected at Hutchinson was the number of kernels∙panicle<sup>−1</sup> and plant density. Late-May planting was favorable for late maturing hybrid (P84G62) in all locations. However, the yield of early maturing hybrid (DKS 28-05) and medium maturing hybrid (DKS 37-07) was less affected by delayed planting. The effects of planting dates on yield and yield components of grain sorghum hybrids were found to be variable among hybrid maturity groups and locations.展开更多
The spike protein(S)of SARS-CoV-2 is responsible for viral attachment and entry,thus a major factor for host suscep-tibility,tissue tropism,virulence and pathogenicity.The S is divided with S1 and S2 region,and the S1...The spike protein(S)of SARS-CoV-2 is responsible for viral attachment and entry,thus a major factor for host suscep-tibility,tissue tropism,virulence and pathogenicity.The S is divided with S1 and S2 region,and the S1 contains the receptor-binding domain(RBD),while the S2 contains the hydrophobic fusion domain for the entry into the host cell.Numerous host proteases have been implicated in the activation of SARS-CoV-2 S through various c leavage sites.In this article,we review host proteases including furin,trypsin,transmembrane protease serine 2(TMPRSS2)and cathepsins in the activation of SARS-CoV-2 S.Many betacoronaviruses including SARS-CoV-2 have polybasic residues at the S1/S2 site which is subjected to the cleavage by furin.The S1/S2 cleavage facilitates more assessable RBD to the receptor ACE2,and the binding triggers further conformational changes and exposure of the S2'site to proteases such as type Il transmembrane serine proteases(TTPRs)including TMPRSS2.In the presence of TMPRSS2 on the target cells,SARS-CoV-2 can utilize a direct entry route by fusion of the viral envelope to the cellular membrane.In the absence of TMPRSS2,SARS-CoV-2 enter target cells via endosomes where multiple cathepsins cleave the S for the successful entry.Additional host proteases involved in the cleavage of the S were discussed.This article also includes roles of 3C-like protease inhibitors which have inhibitory activity against cathepsin L in the entry of SARS-CoV-2,and discussed the dual roles of such inhibitors in virus replication.展开更多
Background Reduction of the particle size of corn increases energy digestibility and concentrations of digestible and metabolizable energy.Pelleting may also reduce particle size of grain,but it is not known if there ...Background Reduction of the particle size of corn increases energy digestibility and concentrations of digestible and metabolizable energy.Pelleting may also reduce particle size of grain,but it is not known if there are interactions between particle size reduction and pelleting.The objective of this experiment was to test the hypothesis that particle size reduction and pelleting,separately or in combination,increase N balance,apparent total tract digestibility(ATTD)of fiber and fat,and net energy(NE)in corn-soybean meal diets fed to group-housed pigs.Methods Six corn-soybean meal-based diets were used in a 3×2 factorial design with 3 particle sizes of corn(i.e.,700,500,or 300μm)and 2 diet forms(i.e.,meal or pelleted).Pigs were allowed ad libitum access to feed and water.Twenty-four castrated male pigs(initial weight:29.52 kg;standard diviation:1.40)were allotted to the 6 diets using a 6×6 Latin square design with 6 calorimeter chambers(i.e.,4 pigs/chamber)and 6 periods.Oxygen consumption and CO_(2)and CH_(4)productions were measured during fed and fasting states and fecal and urine samples were collected.Results Regardless of particle size of corn,the ATTD of gross energy(GE),N,and acid-hydrolyzed ether extract(AEE),and the concentration of NE were greater(P<0.05)in pelleted diets than in meal diets.Regardless of diet form,the ATTD of GE,N,and AEE,and the concentration of NE were increased(linear;P<0.05)by reducing the particle size of corn,but the increase was greater in meal diets than in pelleted diets(interaction;P<0.05).Conclusions Both pelleting and reduction of corn particle size increased nutrient digestibility and NE,but increases were greater in meal diets than in pelleted diets.展开更多
Background Dairy cows experiencing ketosis after calving suffer greater disease incidence and are at greater risk of leaving the herd. In vitro administration of beta-hydroxybutyric acid(BHBA;the primary blood ketone)...Background Dairy cows experiencing ketosis after calving suffer greater disease incidence and are at greater risk of leaving the herd. In vitro administration of beta-hydroxybutyric acid(BHBA;the primary blood ketone) has inhibitory effects on the function of bovine leukocytes. BHBA is a ligand of HCAR2 and the activation of these receptors promotes an anti-inflammatory response which may be related with immunosuppression observed in transition dairy cattle. The objective of this study was to identify and test antagonists for HCAR2 in bovine immune cells cultured with BHBA.Results We observed expression of HCAR2 at the protein level within lymphocytes, monocytes, and granulocytes. The proportion of cells expressing HCAR2 tended to be greater in mid-lactation compared to early lactation cows;the increase was a result of increased proportion of T and B cells expressing HCAR2. Stimulation of HCAR2 with niacin or BHBA promoted Ca^(2+) mobilization in neutrophils and mononuclear cells. Mononuclear cells treated with BHBA had diminished intracellular Ca^(2+) responses when HCAR2 was knocked down by si RNA silencing, indicating Ca^(2+) mobilization was mediated by HCAR2 signaling. Two candidate antagonists for HCAR2, synthesized from niacin(NA-1 and NA-5), were tested;monocytes and neutrophils pre-treated with NA-1 and NA-5 had reduced Ca^(2+) mobilization after incubation with BHBA. Furthermore, NA-5 but not NA-1 prevented BHBA-associated reductions in cyclic AMP.Conclusions We demonstrated that HCAR2 is present on bovine leukocytes and has greater expression later in lactation. We confirmed that BHBA and niacin derived HCAR2 antagonists alter bovine leukocyte activity. Our results demonstrate that both BHBA and niacin affect bovine leukocyte Ca^(2+) mobilization in a HCAR2-dependent manner.展开更多
Transmissible spongiform encephalopathies(TSEs)are a group of progressive and ultimately fatal neurologic diseases of man and animals,all resulting from the propagated misfolding of the host's normal cellular prio...Transmissible spongiform encephalopathies(TSEs)are a group of progressive and ultimately fatal neurologic diseases of man and animals,all resulting from the propagated misfolding of the host's normal cellular prion protein.These diseases can be spontaneous,heritable,anthropogenic/iatrogenic,or in some cases horizontally transmissible,and include such notable TSEs as bovine spongiform encephalopathy(BSE)of cattle and chronic wasting disease(CWD)of cervids.Although they are both unequivocally protein misfolding disorders,they differ markedly in their pathogenesis,transmissibility,and zoonotic potential.While the BSE epidemic has largely abated over the past three decades following global feed bans on ruminant meat and bone meal,CWD,which is readily transmitted through various forms of excreta,has rapidly expanded from its original endemic zone to encompass much of North America,along with recently identified foci in Scandinavia.Most importantly,although the classical form of BSE has proven transmissible to humans consuming contaminated beef or beef products,so far there have been no conclusive reports on the zoonotic transmission of cWD to humans.The underlying basis for these differences-whether host or agent directed-are not well understood,though may be due to inherent differences in the three-dimensional structure of the misfolded BSE or CWD prion proteins or the expression levels and tissue distribution of respective cellular prion proteins.With the uncontrolled geographic spread of CWD,it is imperative that we improve our understanding of the factors governing prion disease pathogenesis,transmission,and zoonotic potential.展开更多
Mature wheat kernels contain three main parts:endosperm,bran,and germ.Flour milling results in multiple streams that are chemically different;however,the distribution of antioxidants and phenolic compounds has not bee...Mature wheat kernels contain three main parts:endosperm,bran,and germ.Flour milling results in multiple streams that are chemically different;however,the distribution of antioxidants and phenolic compounds has not been well documented in terms of conventional milling by-product streams.In this study,multiple analytical methods were used to investigate antioxidant activity and phenolic compound compositions of hard red winter wheat(whole ground wheat),the parts of a wheat kernel(bran,flour,germ),and wheat by-product streams(mill feed,red dog,shorts)for the first time.For each mill stream,phenolic compounds(total,flavonoid,and anthocyanin contents)were determined and antioxidant activities were evaluated with 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl(DPPH)radical-scavenging activity,ferric reducing/antioxidant power(FRAP),and total antioxidant capacity assays.Significant differences(P<0.05)were observed in phenolic concentrations among fractions of bran,flour,and germ milled from the same kernels and noted that germ accounts for the majority of antioxidant properties,whereas bran contains a substantial portion of phenolic compounds and anthocyanins.Mill feed was high in phenolic content(5.29 mg FAE/g),total antioxidant capacity(866 mg/g),and antioxidant activity(up to 75% DPPH inhibition and 20.26μmol FeSO_(4)/g).The comprehensive information on distribution of antioxidants and phenolic compounds provides insights for future human consumption of commonly produced co-products from flour milling,and for selecting and using different milling fractions to make foods with improved nutritional properties.展开更多
Increased nighttime respiratory losses decrease the amount of photoassimilates available for plant growth and yield. We hypothesized that the increased respiratory carbon loss under high night temperatures(HNT) could ...Increased nighttime respiratory losses decrease the amount of photoassimilates available for plant growth and yield. We hypothesized that the increased respiratory carbon loss under high night temperatures(HNT) could be compensated for by increased photosynthesis during the day following HNT exposure. Two rice genotypes, Vandana(HNT-sensitive) and Nagina 22(HNT-tolerant), were exposed to HNT(4 ℃ above the control) from flowering to physiological maturity. They were assessed for alterations in the carbon balance of the source(flag leaf) and its subsequent impact on grain filling dynamics and the quality of spatially differentiated sinks(superior and inferior spikelets). Both genotypes exhibited significantly higher night respiration rates. However, only Nagina 22 compensated for the high respiration rates with an increased photosynthetic rate, resulting in a steady production of total dry matter under HNT. Nagina 22 also recorded a higher grain-filling rate, particularly at 5 and 10 d after flowering, with 1.5- and 4.0-fold increases in the translocation of ^(14)C sugars to the superior and inferior spikelets, respectively. The ratio of photosynthetic rate to respiratory rate on a leaf area basis was negatively correlated with spikelet sterility, resulting in a higher filled spikelet number and grain weight per plant, particularly for inferior grains in Nagina 22. Grain quality parameters such as head rice recovery, high-density grains, and gelatinization temperature were maintained in Nagina 22. An increase in the rheological properties of rice flour starch in Nagina 22 under HNT indicated the stability of starch and its ability to reorganize during the cooling process of product formation. Thus, our study showed that sink adjustments between superior and inferior spikelets favored the growth of inferior spikelets, which helped to offset the reduction in grain weight under HNT in the tolerant genotype Nagina 22.展开更多
Production of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.), a staple legume crop in Sub-Saharan Africa, faces challenges due to biotic and abiotic constraints. Induced mutagenesis was deployed to create genetic variation in ...Production of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.), a staple legume crop in Sub-Saharan Africa, faces challenges due to biotic and abiotic constraints. Induced mutagenesis was deployed to create genetic variation in two cowpea varieties (KVX396-4-5-2D and Moussa local). The radio-sensitivity tests led to determe the lethal dose 50 (LD50) corresponding to 230 Gy and 220 Gy for KVX396-4-5-2D and Moussa local varieties, respectively. Dried seeds (M0) of each variety were gamma-ray irradiated with LD50 − 50, LD50 and LD50 + 50. M1 seeds were advanced to generate M2, M3 and M4 mutants using the single-seed-descent method. M4 mutant lines were evaluated in rain-fed conditions using a randomized complete block design to assess phenotypic differences. Data on seven qualitative and eleven quantitative traits were collected. The results indicated that the mutation induced variability in three qualitative traits: in KVX 396-4-5-2D mutant lines, with flower and seed color frequencies at 2.61% and 0.56% respectively, and pod dehiscence at a frequency of 0.24%. While in Moussa local mutants, a pod color changed at a frequency of 17%. ANOVA results revealed significant differences between mutants of both varieties for all quantitative traits, including photosynthetic parameters. Positive correlations were observed between leaf diameter and 100-seed weight, and between branch number and 100-seed weight. Hierarchical clustering revealed three clusters among KVX 396-4-5-2D mutants and six clusters among Moussa local mutants. Early maturity and high foliage were induced traits in Cluster 3 of KVX 396-4-5-2D mutants while high hundred-seed weight was induced in Cluster 6 of Moussa local mutants.展开更多
文摘Purpose:For a set of 1,561 Open Access(OA)and non-OA journals in business and economics,this study evaluates the relationships between four citation metrics-five-year Impact Factor(5IF),CiteScore,Article Influence(AI)score,and SCImago Journal Rank(SJR)-and the journal ratings assigned by expert reviewers.We expect that the OA journals will have especially high citation impact relative to their perceived quality(reputation).Design/methodology/approach:Regression is used to estimate the ratings assigned by expert reviewers for the 2021 CABS(Chartered Association of Business Schools)journal assessment exercise.The independent variables are the four citation metrics,evaluated separately,and a dummy variable representing the OA/non-OA status of each journal.Findings:Regardless of the citation metric used,OA journals in business and economics have especially high citation impact relative to their perceived quality(reputation).That is,they have especially low perceived quality(reputation)relative to their citation impact.Research limitations:These results are specific to the CABS journal ratings and the four citation metrics.However,there is strong evidence that CABS is closely related to several other expert ratings,and that 5IF,CiteScore,AI,and SJR are representative of the other citation metrics that might have been chosen.Practical implications:There are at least two possible explanations for these results:(1)expert evaluators are biased against OA journals,and(2)OA journals have especially high citation impact due to their increased accessibility.Although this study does not allow us to determine which of these explanations are supported,the results suggest that authors should consider publishing in OA journals whenever overall readership and citation impact are more important than journal reputation within a particular field.Moreover,the OA coefficients provide a useful indicator of the extent to which anti-OA bias(or the citation advantage of OA journals)is diminishing over time.Originality/value:This is apparently the first study to investigate the impact of OA status on the relationships between expert journal ratings and journal citation metrics.
文摘In the article“Deep Learning-Enhanced Brain Tumor Prediction via Entropy-Coded BPSO in CIELAB Color Space”by Mudassir Khalil,Muhammad Imran Sharif,Ahmed Naeem,Muhammad Umar Chaudhry,Hafiz Tayyab Rauf,Adham E.Ragab Computers,Materials&Continua,2023,Vol.77,No.2,pp.2031–2047.DOI:10.32604/cmc.2023.043687,URL:https://www.techscience.com/cmc/v77n2/54831,there was an error regarding the affiliation for the author Hafiz Tayyab Rauf.Instead of“Centre for Smart Systems,AI and Cybersecurity,Staffordshire University,Stoke-on-Trent,ST42DE,UK”,the affiliation should be“Independent Researcher,Bradford,BD80HS,UK”.
文摘The author regrets that the paper titled“Gauging scholars’acceptance of Open Access journals by examining the relationship between perceived quality and citation impact”(DOI:10.2478/jdis-2025-0002),as published,contains errors in four of the table captions.For Tables 12-15,“CABS business journals”should read“CABS economics journals.”The tables do have the correct values for the economics journals,and the findings reported in the text do not need revision.The author apologizes for any inconvenience.
基金the support of the Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program(SERDP)of the United States of America(Grant No.MR23-3855).
文摘Numerous former military sites worldwide require environmental cleanup from buried unexploded ordnance(UxO)that pose hazards such as leaching toxic chemicals and explosion risks.However,selecting the appropriate mitigation technology relies on prior knowledge of UxO depth of burial(DoB)at specific sites.This study utilizes numerical simulations,employing large deformation explicit finite element(LDEFE)analysis and the Coupled Eulerian-Lagrangian(CEL)approach,to model the penetration of ordnances into clay targets.A modified Tresca constitutive model is implemented in ABAQUS software to capture key features of clay behavior under high strain rate(HSR)loading.The role of various parameters on DoB is investigated,including undrained shear strength,stiffness,and density of the soil.The findings highlight the paramount importance of undrained shear strength in clayey soil penetrability,in addition to the role of soil stiffness,and density.The simulations were employed to calibrate model parameters for Young's empirical penetration model,as well as the Poncelet phenomenological penetration model,demonstrating the efficacy of the numerical simulations in extrapolating its findings within the relevant parameter space.In particular,the calibrated parameters of Young's and Poncelet's models can be identified as a direct function of the various discussed soil properties,which was previously unavailable.
文摘There has been an increase in mental health problems in Sub-Saharan Africa.Considering this,it is critical to track the region’s level of mental health literacy(MHL)to identify key mental health priorities and to direct the most effective interventions.The purpose of this study was to review the existing literature on MHL in sub-Saharan Africa.EBSCOhost(inclusive of Academic Search Ultimate,MEDLINE,APA PsycINFO,APA Psych Articles,and Global Health),CINAHL with full text,Wiley Online Library,Taylor and Francis Online Journals and Google Scholar databases were searched to retrieve relevant articles.The study only considered original full-text,peer-reviewed,English-written research on MHL carried out in sub-Saharan Africa and published between 2015 and 2023.Scoping review steps by Arksey and O’Malley(2005)were followed.Grey literature,review studies,and review protocols were excluded.The data was analysed using reflexive thematic analysis(RTA).The results showed that MHL varies within the region,making it difficult to determine the exact state.Furthermore,the study uncovered factors that contribute to both poor and better MHL in the region.Poor MHL was linked to residing in the township and being male.Better MHL was associated with higher education levels,being female,urban residence,and having a history of mental illness,among other factors.The studyfindings provide evidence-based recommendations for regional,policy,or legislative-led interventions and prioritisations of mental health education programs and public mental health campaigns to increase awareness of mental health.
基金supported by the NASA(Grant No.80NSSC21K0403)USAID Kansas State University subcontract KSU-A20-0163-S035 with Michigan State University.
文摘Agricultural drought,characterized by insufficient soil moisture crucial for crop growth,poses significant chal lenges to food security and economic sustainability,particularly in water-scarce regions like Senegal.This study addresses this issue by developing a comprehensive geospatial monitoring system for agricultural drought using the Regional Hydrologic Extremes Assessment System(RHEAS).This system,with a high-resolution of 0.05°,effectively simulates daily soil moisture and generates the Soil Moisture Deficit Index(SMDI)-based agricultural drought monitoring.The SMDI derived from the RHEAS has effectively captured historical droughts in Senegal over the recent 30 years period from 1993 to 2022.The SMDI,also provides a comprehensive understanding of regional variations in drought severity(S),duration(D),and frequency(F),through S-D-F analysis to identify key drought hotspots across Senegal.Findings reveal a distinct north-south gradient in drought conditions,with the northern and central Senegal experiencing more frequent and severe droughts.The study highlights that Senegal experiences frequent short-duration droughts with high severity,resulting in extensive spatial impact.Addition ally,increasing trends in drought severity and duration suggest evolving climate change effects.These findings emphasize the urgent need for sustainable interventions to mitigate drought impacts on agricultural productiv ity.Specifically,the study identifies recurrent and intense drought hotspots affecting yields of staple crops like maize and rice,as well as cash crops like peanuts.The developed high-resolution drought monitoring system for Senegal not only identifies hotspots but also enables prioritizing sustainable approaches and adaptive strategies,ultimately sustaining agricultural productivity and resilience in Senegal’s drought-prone regions.
基金supported by Research on Breeding and Healthy Breeding Technology of Xueyu White Chicken(mating line)in Tibet Science and Technology Program(XZ202101ZY0002N)the National Key R&D Program Project(2022YFD1600902-4)Sichuan Province Regional Innovation Cooperation Project(2023YFQ0050)。
文摘Bacterial infections of avian embryos can lead to an increase in embryo mortality,and the proliferation of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria aggravates the situation.A low hatching rate also poses a challenge to the population of artificially bred Crested Ibises(Nipponia nippon).This study aims to determine the potential association between bacterial infection and the death of Crested Ibis embryos,and whether there is convergence between antimicrobial resistance and virulence in strain.In this study,13 Escherichia coli and 12 Proteus mirabilis isolates were recovered from dead Crested Ibis embryos.The pathogenicity examination confirmed the pathogenicity of all isolates,and multiple virulence genes detected by PCR-sequencing demonstrated the presence of irp2 and iuc D(100%),fim C and iss(92.31%)in E.coli,and uca A(58.33%)in P.mirabilis.Antimicrobial susceptibility test demonstrated that isolates were mainly resistant to amoxicillin(E.coli:76.92%,P.mirabilis:91.67%),cefazolin(E.coli:76.92%,P.mirabilis:91.67%),oxytetracycline(E.coli:92.31%,P.mirabilis:75.00%)and sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim(E.coli:53.85%,P.mirabilis:33.33%),and more than 30%of isolates showed multidrug-resistance(MDR).Further analyses detected extended-spectrumβ-lactamase(ESBL)genes,of which blaTEM-1(E.coli:100%,P.mirabilis:100%)had the highest frequency,followed by the blaCTX-M-55(E.coli:92.31%,P.mirabilis:50%),blaCTX-M-14(E.coli:76.92%,P.mirabilis:33.33%),blaCTX-M-65(E.coli:15.38%,P.mirabilis:16.67%),and all isolates were negative for blaSHV and blaOXA.Pearson's correlation analysis showed a positive correlation between the presence ofβ-lactam resistance and ESBL genes,while mainly negative correlations were observed between the presence of ESBL genes and virulence genes.Furthermore,the conjugation experiment and PFGE revealed that the isolates were primarily polyclonal,and there was horizontal transfer of resistance or virulence genes by plasmids.Based on the results,E.coli and P.mirabilis were responsible for embryonic mortality of the ibises in this study.The co-presence and co-transfer of ESBL genes and virulence genes can pose a potential threat to the health of the Crested Ibis,and measures such as prudent use of antimicrobials,and constant surveillance of resistance and pathogenicity,must be implemented at the Crested Ibis breeding base.
基金the financial support from FORMAS(2018-01029)the Swedish Institute(01132-2022)for supporting Ivan Motsnyi’s visit and research at Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences。
文摘Emerging new races of wheat stem rust(Puccinia graminis f.sp.tritici)are threatening global wheat(Triticum aestivum L.)production.Host resistance is the most effective and environmentally friendly method of controlling stem rust.The stem rust resistance gene Sr59 was previously identified within a T2DS 2RL wheat-rye whole arm translocation,providing broad-spectrum resistance to various stem rust races.Seedling evaluation,molecular marker analysis,and cytogenetic studies identified wheat-rye introgression line#284 containing a new translocation chromosome T2BL 2BS-2RL.This line has demonstrated broad-spectrum resistance to stem rust at the seedling stage.Seedling evaluation and cytogenetic analysis of three backcross populations between the line#284 and the adapted cultivars SLU-Elite,Navruz,and Linkert confirmed that Sr59 is located within the short distal 2RL translocation.This study aimed physical mapping of Sr59 in the 2RL introgression segment and develop a robust molecular marker for marker-assisted selection.Using genotyping-by-sequencing(GBS),GBS-derived SNPs were aligned with full-length annotated rye nucleotide-binding leucine-rich repeat(NLR)genes in the parental lines CS ph1b,SLU238,SLU-Elite,Navruz,and Linkert,as well as in 33 BC4F5progeny.Four NLR genes were identified on the 2R chromosome,with Chr2R_NLR_60 being tightly linked to the Sr59resistance gene.In-silico functional enrichment analysis of the translocated 2RL region(25,681,915 bp)identified 223 genes,with seven candidate genes associated with plant disease resistance and three linked to agronomic performance,contributing to oxidative stress response,protein kinase activity,and cellular homeostasis.These findings facilitate a better understanding of the genetic basis of stem rust resistance provided by Sr59.
基金funded by the National Key Research and Development Program of China(2022YFF0711603)the Strategic Priority Research Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences(Grant No.XDA28020503)+2 种基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.42371399,42301431)Basic Research Program of Jiangsu(Grant No.BK20240112)the Science and Technology Planning Project of NIGLAS(Grant No.2022NIGLAS-CJH04).
文摘Reliable surface height observations over inland water bodies are useful for understanding the hydrological cycle.Satellite radar altimetry particularly contributed with its long-term archive and minimal cloud interference.Specialized inland water altimetry,developed from oceanography and geodesy,is still being extensively investigated.By synthesizing pioneering studies on“retracking algorithms”,this review demonstrates,from a user perspective,why optimizing conventional retracking is still important and how it can extend reliable historical water level retrieval over more ungauged sites.Numerous unrevealed inland water bodies have small sizes or complex surroundings,posing challenges to maintaining accuracy.Applications have shown that a critical key lies in the retracking correction during range retrieval(uncertainty likely on the order of meters),compared with other corrections(on the order of centimeters or decimeters).From multiple uncertainty factors in range retrieval,signal entanglements from land contamination and off-nadir effects are core issues.We evaluate and compared key strategies from prototype retrackers to improved retrackers,especially the empirical ones optimized for inland waters.Sub-waveform extraction and adjustment for Delay-Doppler modes has advanced range retrieval to a new stage.Four innovative inland-water-compatible retrackers are introduced in detail,with a highlight on their distinct approaches to robustly improve performance.Considering the selection of different data and retrackers in varying scenarios,a synthesis analysis is conducted based on results reported in previous literature.In conclusion,the empirical retracking has been enhanced to offer stable decimeter-level accuracy in intricate landscapes(e.g.,small lakes and rivers with varied surroundings).In comparison,the physical retracking has been upgraded to provide greater precision for homogeneous surface in large lakes.For future inland water altimetry,we articulate how additionally retracked results can benefit hydrological applications,and what difficulties would arise when extending study scales.
基金supported by the National Key R&D Program of China (2022YFE0196200)the National Natural Science Foundation of China–Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft of Germany (31761133021)+3 种基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China (31970469 and 31701794)the earmarked fund for Modern Agro-industry Technology Research System, China (2023CYJSTX01-20)the Scientific and Technological Innovation Programs of Higher Education Institutions in Shanxi, China (2017104)the Fund for Shanxi “1331 Project”, China
文摘Low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 2(LRP2)is a multifunctional endocytic receptor expressed in epithelial cells.In mammals,it acts as an endocytic receptor that mediates the cellular uptake of cholesterol-containing apolipoproteins to maintain lipid homeostasis.However,little is known about the role of LRP2 in lipid homeostasis in insects.In the present study,we investigated the function of LRP2 in the migratory locust Locusta migratoria(LmLRP2).The mRNA of LmLRP2 is widely distributed in various tissues,including integument,wing pads,foregut,midgut,hindgut,Malpighian tubules and fat body,and the amounts of LmLRP2 transcripts decreased gradually in the early stages and then increased in the late stages before ecdysis during the nymphal developmental stage.Fluorescence immunohistochemistry revealed that the LmLRP2 protein is mainly located in cellular membranes of the midgut and hindgut.Using RNAi to silence LmLRP2 caused molting defects in nymphs(more than 60%),and the neutral lipid was found to accumulate in the midgut and surface of the integument,but not in the fat body,of dsLmLRP2-treated nymphs.The results of a lipidomics analysis showed that the main components of lipids(diglyceride and triglyceride)were significantly increased in the midgut,but decreased in the fat body and hemolymph.Furthermore,the content of total triglyceride was significantly increased in the midgut,but markedly decreased in the fat body and hemolymph in dsLmLRP2-injected nymphs.Our results indicate that LmLRP2 is located in the cellular membranes of midgut cells,and is required for lipid export from the midgut to the hemolymphand fat body in locusts.
文摘The use of titanium dioxide nanoparticles (nTiO<sub>2</sub>) is gaining interest in agriculture because of their impact on many aspects of plant growth. The present study examines the effects of nTiO<sub>2</sub> (5 nm and 10 nm) applied to seeds and the seedlings as a foliar application on various aspects of growth characteristics and biomass accumulation in lettuce (Lactuca sativa, cv. Grand Rapids). Application of 10 nm nTiO<sub>2</sub> to seeds through imbibition resulted in a significant reduction in shoot biomass accumulation while 5 nm nTiO<sub>2</sub> did not affect the biomass accumulation in lettuce. The application of 10 nm nTiO<sub>2</sub> reduced the fresh shoot biomass accumulation by about 18% compared to the control plants. Other growth characteristics such as shoot dry biomass, root fresh and dry biomass, plant height, and leaf area were not affected by the application of both 5 nm and 10 nm nTiO<sub>2</sub>. In addition, foliar application of these nanoparticles to the lettuce seedlings did not have a significant effect on most of the growth parameters examined, and the increasing concentration ranging from 5 nm/L to 400 mg/L did not produce a consistent response in lettuce. Thus, nTiO<sub>2</sub> application to lettuce seeds had a notable negative impact on shoot growth while foliar application did not have a significant effect on many plant growth characteristics. However, foliar applications produced some symptoms of toxicity to the foliage in the form of necrotic or chlorotic patches on the leaves, which were more pronounced with increasing concentrations of both 5 nm and 10 nm nTiO<sub>2</sub>. However, these symptoms were apparent at a concentration as low as 50 mg/L of nTiO<sub>2</sub>. Thus, foliar application of nTiO<sub>2</sub> may not have a significant impact on many of the growth characteristics in lettuce, but it can result in foliar toxicity.
文摘With the increased interest of plants in space, gravity cannot be ignored when studying soil-plant-water relations. Therefore, it is important to understand the water relations of soils under zero gravity in space or under reduced gravity on the Moon or Mars. This paper outlines the problems of moving water in soils under zero gravity or microgravity, as well as growing plants in these soils. It is suggested that microgravity experiments could be done on Earth using both soils and plants. Results from such experiments could be used to grow plants when mankind establishes bases on the Moon and Mars.
文摘In Kansas, productivity of grain sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] is affected by weather conditions at planting and during pollination. Planting date management and selection of hybrid maturity group can help to avoid severe environmental stresses during these sensitive stages. The hypothesis of the study was that late May planting improves grain sorghum yield and yield components compared with late June planting. The objectives of this research were to investigate the influence of planting dates yield and yield components of different grain sorghum hybrids, and to determine the optimal planting date and hybrid combination for maximum biomass and grains production. Three sorghum hybrids (early, medium, and late maturing) were planted in late May and late June without irrigation in Kansas at Manhattan/Ashland Bottom Research Station, and Hutchinson in 2010;and at Manhattan/North Farm and Hutchinson in 2011. Data on dry matter production, yield and yield components were collected. Grain yield and yield components were influenced by planting date depending on environmental conditions. At Manhattan (2010), greater grain yield, number of heads per plant, were obtained with late-June planting compared with late May planting, while at Hutchinson (2010) greater yield was obtained with late May planting for all hybrids. The yield component most affected at Hutchinson was the number of kernels∙panicle<sup>−1</sup> and plant density. Late-May planting was favorable for late maturing hybrid (P84G62) in all locations. However, the yield of early maturing hybrid (DKS 28-05) and medium maturing hybrid (DKS 37-07) was less affected by delayed planting. The effects of planting dates on yield and yield components of grain sorghum hybrids were found to be variable among hybrid maturity groups and locations.
基金National Institutes of Health(NIH)(grants R01 A/130092 and Al161085).
文摘The spike protein(S)of SARS-CoV-2 is responsible for viral attachment and entry,thus a major factor for host suscep-tibility,tissue tropism,virulence and pathogenicity.The S is divided with S1 and S2 region,and the S1 contains the receptor-binding domain(RBD),while the S2 contains the hydrophobic fusion domain for the entry into the host cell.Numerous host proteases have been implicated in the activation of SARS-CoV-2 S through various c leavage sites.In this article,we review host proteases including furin,trypsin,transmembrane protease serine 2(TMPRSS2)and cathepsins in the activation of SARS-CoV-2 S.Many betacoronaviruses including SARS-CoV-2 have polybasic residues at the S1/S2 site which is subjected to the cleavage by furin.The S1/S2 cleavage facilitates more assessable RBD to the receptor ACE2,and the binding triggers further conformational changes and exposure of the S2'site to proteases such as type Il transmembrane serine proteases(TTPRs)including TMPRSS2.In the presence of TMPRSS2 on the target cells,SARS-CoV-2 can utilize a direct entry route by fusion of the viral envelope to the cellular membrane.In the absence of TMPRSS2,SARS-CoV-2 enter target cells via endosomes where multiple cathepsins cleave the S for the successful entry.Additional host proteases involved in the cleavage of the S were discussed.This article also includes roles of 3C-like protease inhibitors which have inhibitory activity against cathepsin L in the entry of SARS-CoV-2,and discussed the dual roles of such inhibitors in virus replication.
基金The financial support from the National Pork Board,Des Moines,IA,USA,is greatly appreciated。
文摘Background Reduction of the particle size of corn increases energy digestibility and concentrations of digestible and metabolizable energy.Pelleting may also reduce particle size of grain,but it is not known if there are interactions between particle size reduction and pelleting.The objective of this experiment was to test the hypothesis that particle size reduction and pelleting,separately or in combination,increase N balance,apparent total tract digestibility(ATTD)of fiber and fat,and net energy(NE)in corn-soybean meal diets fed to group-housed pigs.Methods Six corn-soybean meal-based diets were used in a 3×2 factorial design with 3 particle sizes of corn(i.e.,700,500,or 300μm)and 2 diet forms(i.e.,meal or pelleted).Pigs were allowed ad libitum access to feed and water.Twenty-four castrated male pigs(initial weight:29.52 kg;standard diviation:1.40)were allotted to the 6 diets using a 6×6 Latin square design with 6 calorimeter chambers(i.e.,4 pigs/chamber)and 6 periods.Oxygen consumption and CO_(2)and CH_(4)productions were measured during fed and fasting states and fecal and urine samples were collected.Results Regardless of particle size of corn,the ATTD of gross energy(GE),N,and acid-hydrolyzed ether extract(AEE),and the concentration of NE were greater(P<0.05)in pelleted diets than in meal diets.Regardless of diet form,the ATTD of GE,N,and AEE,and the concentration of NE were increased(linear;P<0.05)by reducing the particle size of corn,but the increase was greater in meal diets than in pelleted diets(interaction;P<0.05).Conclusions Both pelleting and reduction of corn particle size increased nutrient digestibility and NE,but increases were greater in meal diets than in pelleted diets.
基金the National Institutes of Health, National Institute of General Medical Sciences (R01 GM128659) for financial supportThe Attune Cytpix, located in the MSU Flow Cytometry Core Facility, is supported by the Equipment Grants Program, award #2022-70410-38419, from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA)。
文摘Background Dairy cows experiencing ketosis after calving suffer greater disease incidence and are at greater risk of leaving the herd. In vitro administration of beta-hydroxybutyric acid(BHBA;the primary blood ketone) has inhibitory effects on the function of bovine leukocytes. BHBA is a ligand of HCAR2 and the activation of these receptors promotes an anti-inflammatory response which may be related with immunosuppression observed in transition dairy cattle. The objective of this study was to identify and test antagonists for HCAR2 in bovine immune cells cultured with BHBA.Results We observed expression of HCAR2 at the protein level within lymphocytes, monocytes, and granulocytes. The proportion of cells expressing HCAR2 tended to be greater in mid-lactation compared to early lactation cows;the increase was a result of increased proportion of T and B cells expressing HCAR2. Stimulation of HCAR2 with niacin or BHBA promoted Ca^(2+) mobilization in neutrophils and mononuclear cells. Mononuclear cells treated with BHBA had diminished intracellular Ca^(2+) responses when HCAR2 was knocked down by si RNA silencing, indicating Ca^(2+) mobilization was mediated by HCAR2 signaling. Two candidate antagonists for HCAR2, synthesized from niacin(NA-1 and NA-5), were tested;monocytes and neutrophils pre-treated with NA-1 and NA-5 had reduced Ca^(2+) mobilization after incubation with BHBA. Furthermore, NA-5 but not NA-1 prevented BHBA-associated reductions in cyclic AMP.Conclusions We demonstrated that HCAR2 is present on bovine leukocytes and has greater expression later in lactation. We confirmed that BHBA and niacin derived HCAR2 antagonists alter bovine leukocyte activity. Our results demonstrate that both BHBA and niacin affect bovine leukocyte Ca^(2+) mobilization in a HCAR2-dependent manner.
基金funded in part by the Center on Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases(CEZID)of the National Institutes of General Medical Sciences underaward number P20GM130448.
文摘Transmissible spongiform encephalopathies(TSEs)are a group of progressive and ultimately fatal neurologic diseases of man and animals,all resulting from the propagated misfolding of the host's normal cellular prion protein.These diseases can be spontaneous,heritable,anthropogenic/iatrogenic,or in some cases horizontally transmissible,and include such notable TSEs as bovine spongiform encephalopathy(BSE)of cattle and chronic wasting disease(CWD)of cervids.Although they are both unequivocally protein misfolding disorders,they differ markedly in their pathogenesis,transmissibility,and zoonotic potential.While the BSE epidemic has largely abated over the past three decades following global feed bans on ruminant meat and bone meal,CWD,which is readily transmitted through various forms of excreta,has rapidly expanded from its original endemic zone to encompass much of North America,along with recently identified foci in Scandinavia.Most importantly,although the classical form of BSE has proven transmissible to humans consuming contaminated beef or beef products,so far there have been no conclusive reports on the zoonotic transmission of cWD to humans.The underlying basis for these differences-whether host or agent directed-are not well understood,though may be due to inherent differences in the three-dimensional structure of the misfolded BSE or CWD prion proteins or the expression levels and tissue distribution of respective cellular prion proteins.With the uncontrolled geographic spread of CWD,it is imperative that we improve our understanding of the factors governing prion disease pathogenesis,transmission,and zoonotic potential.
基金Support for this student's (Lauren Brewer) training project is provided by USDA National Needs Graduate Fellowship Competitive Grant No. 2008-38420-04773 from the National Institute of Food and Agriculturenumber 12-473-J from the Kansas Agricultural Experiment Stationfinancially supported by Mahasarakham University.
文摘Mature wheat kernels contain three main parts:endosperm,bran,and germ.Flour milling results in multiple streams that are chemically different;however,the distribution of antioxidants and phenolic compounds has not been well documented in terms of conventional milling by-product streams.In this study,multiple analytical methods were used to investigate antioxidant activity and phenolic compound compositions of hard red winter wheat(whole ground wheat),the parts of a wheat kernel(bran,flour,germ),and wheat by-product streams(mill feed,red dog,shorts)for the first time.For each mill stream,phenolic compounds(total,flavonoid,and anthocyanin contents)were determined and antioxidant activities were evaluated with 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl(DPPH)radical-scavenging activity,ferric reducing/antioxidant power(FRAP),and total antioxidant capacity assays.Significant differences(P<0.05)were observed in phenolic concentrations among fractions of bran,flour,and germ milled from the same kernels and noted that germ accounts for the majority of antioxidant properties,whereas bran contains a substantial portion of phenolic compounds and anthocyanins.Mill feed was high in phenolic content(5.29 mg FAE/g),total antioxidant capacity(866 mg/g),and antioxidant activity(up to 75% DPPH inhibition and 20.26μmol FeSO_(4)/g).The comprehensive information on distribution of antioxidants and phenolic compounds provides insights for future human consumption of commonly produced co-products from flour milling,and for selecting and using different milling fractions to make foods with improved nutritional properties.
基金the financial assistance provided by ICAR-IARI in the form of IARI Fellowship and Department of Science and Technology, Innovation in Science Pursuit for Inspired Research during the PhD programme。
文摘Increased nighttime respiratory losses decrease the amount of photoassimilates available for plant growth and yield. We hypothesized that the increased respiratory carbon loss under high night temperatures(HNT) could be compensated for by increased photosynthesis during the day following HNT exposure. Two rice genotypes, Vandana(HNT-sensitive) and Nagina 22(HNT-tolerant), were exposed to HNT(4 ℃ above the control) from flowering to physiological maturity. They were assessed for alterations in the carbon balance of the source(flag leaf) and its subsequent impact on grain filling dynamics and the quality of spatially differentiated sinks(superior and inferior spikelets). Both genotypes exhibited significantly higher night respiration rates. However, only Nagina 22 compensated for the high respiration rates with an increased photosynthetic rate, resulting in a steady production of total dry matter under HNT. Nagina 22 also recorded a higher grain-filling rate, particularly at 5 and 10 d after flowering, with 1.5- and 4.0-fold increases in the translocation of ^(14)C sugars to the superior and inferior spikelets, respectively. The ratio of photosynthetic rate to respiratory rate on a leaf area basis was negatively correlated with spikelet sterility, resulting in a higher filled spikelet number and grain weight per plant, particularly for inferior grains in Nagina 22. Grain quality parameters such as head rice recovery, high-density grains, and gelatinization temperature were maintained in Nagina 22. An increase in the rheological properties of rice flour starch in Nagina 22 under HNT indicated the stability of starch and its ability to reorganize during the cooling process of product formation. Thus, our study showed that sink adjustments between superior and inferior spikelets favored the growth of inferior spikelets, which helped to offset the reduction in grain weight under HNT in the tolerant genotype Nagina 22.
文摘Production of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.), a staple legume crop in Sub-Saharan Africa, faces challenges due to biotic and abiotic constraints. Induced mutagenesis was deployed to create genetic variation in two cowpea varieties (KVX396-4-5-2D and Moussa local). The radio-sensitivity tests led to determe the lethal dose 50 (LD50) corresponding to 230 Gy and 220 Gy for KVX396-4-5-2D and Moussa local varieties, respectively. Dried seeds (M0) of each variety were gamma-ray irradiated with LD50 − 50, LD50 and LD50 + 50. M1 seeds were advanced to generate M2, M3 and M4 mutants using the single-seed-descent method. M4 mutant lines were evaluated in rain-fed conditions using a randomized complete block design to assess phenotypic differences. Data on seven qualitative and eleven quantitative traits were collected. The results indicated that the mutation induced variability in three qualitative traits: in KVX 396-4-5-2D mutant lines, with flower and seed color frequencies at 2.61% and 0.56% respectively, and pod dehiscence at a frequency of 0.24%. While in Moussa local mutants, a pod color changed at a frequency of 17%. ANOVA results revealed significant differences between mutants of both varieties for all quantitative traits, including photosynthetic parameters. Positive correlations were observed between leaf diameter and 100-seed weight, and between branch number and 100-seed weight. Hierarchical clustering revealed three clusters among KVX 396-4-5-2D mutants and six clusters among Moussa local mutants. Early maturity and high foliage were induced traits in Cluster 3 of KVX 396-4-5-2D mutants while high hundred-seed weight was induced in Cluster 6 of Moussa local mutants.
