Journal Articles, Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI)

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Heavy Rainfall Impact on Agriculture: Crop Risk Assessment with Farmer Participation in the Paravanar Coastal River Basin
Muthiah, Krishnaveni; Arunya, K. G.; Sridhar, Venkataramana; Patakamuri, Sandeep Kumar (MDPI, 2025-02-24)
Heavy rainfall significantly impacts agriculture by damaging crops and causing substantial economic losses. The Paravanar River Basin, a coastal river basin in India, experiences heavy rainfall during the monsoon season. This study analyzed both ground-level rainfall measurements and farmers’ experiences to understand the effects of heavy rainfall on agriculture. Rainfall data from nine rain gauge locations were analyzed across three cropping seasons: Kharif 1 (June to August), Kharif 2 (September to November), and Rabi (December to May). To determine the frequency of heavy rainfall events, a detailed analysis was conducted based on the standards set by the India Meteorological Department (IMD). Villages near stations showing increasing rainfall trends and a higher frequency of heavy rainfall events were classified as vulnerable. The primary crops cultivated in these vulnerable areas were identified through a questionnaire survey with local farmers. A detailed analysis of these crops was conducted to determine the cropping season most affected by heavy rainfall events. The impacts of heavy rainfall on the primary crops were assessed using the Delphi technique, a score-based crop risk assessment method. These impacts were categorized into eight distinct types. Among them, yield reduction, waterlogging, crop damage, soil erosion, and crop failure emerged as the most significant challenges in the study area. Additional impacts included nutrient loss, disrupted microbial activity, and disease outbreaks. Based on this evaluation, risks were classified into five categories: low risk, moderate risk, high risk, very high risk, and extreme risk. This categorization offers a framework for understanding potential consequences and making informed decisions. To address these challenges, the study recommended mitigation measures such as crop management, soil management, and drainage management. Farmers were also encouraged to conduct a cause-and-effect analysis. This bottom-up approach raised awareness among farmers and provided practical solutions to reduce crop losses and mitigate the effects of heavy rainfall.
Human Recombinant Interleukin-6 and Leukemia Inhibitory Factor Improve Inner Cell Mass Cell Number but Lack Cryoprotective Activities on In Vitro-Produced Bovine Blastocysts
Oliver, Mary A.; Alward, Kayla J.; Rhoads, Michelle L.; Ealy, Alan D. (MDPI, 2025-02-25)
This work explored whether supplementing recombinant human interleukin-6 (IL6), interleukin-11 (IL11), or leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) improves IVP bovine embryo development, morphology, and cryosurvivability. Embryos were treated from day 5 to 8 post-fertilization with either the carrier only (control) or 100 ng/mL of IL6, IL11, or LIF. Blastocyst formation and stage were determined on day 7 and 8. A subset of day 8 blastocysts was processed for immunofluorescence to count trophectoderm (TE) and inner cell mass (ICM) cell numbers and another subset was slow frozen and stored in liquid nitrogen until thawing. No differences in the blastocyst rate or blastocyst stage of development were detected. Increases in ICM cell numbers were observed for IL6 and LIF but not the IL11 treatment. None of the cytokine treatments applied before freezing affected post-thaw survival, TE or ICM cell number, or cell death 24 h after thawing. In conclusion, supplementing IL6 and LIF improves ICM cell numbers in non-frozen blastocysts, but there was no evidence that any of these cytokine treatments contain cryoprotective properties in bovine embryos.
Breeding Potential for Increasing Carbon Sequestration via Rhizomatous Grain Sorghum
Zheng, Yaojie; Hays, Dirk B.; Jessup, Russell W.; Zhang, Bo (MDPI, 2025-02-26)
Rhizomes, key carbon sequestration sinks in perennial crops, are hypothesized to exhibit a trade-off with grain yield. This study evaluated rhizomatous grain sorghum populations for increasing carbon sequestration potential. Twelve F_3:4 heterogeneous inbred families (HIFs) from a Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench × Sorghum propinquum (Kunth) Hitchc cross were tested in a greenhouse, and two F_4:5 HIF progenies were field tested. Traits measured included rhizome biomass, root biomass, total belowground biomass, and grain yield. Rhizome biomass showed high heritability (0.723) and correlated strongly with belowground biomass (r₁ = 0.95; r₂ = 0.97) in both F_4:5 HIFs, suggesting the potential of rhizomes to sequester carbon. Contrary to the hypothesized trade-off, a positive relationship between rhizome biomass and grain yield was observed, potentially via rhizome-derived shoots, and individual plants pyramiding high rhizome biomass, biomass yield, and grain yield were also identified. Using bulked segregant analysis (BSA), twenty simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers linked to eight genomic regions associated with rhizome presence were identified, with five regions potentially being novel. This study suggests that breeding rhizomatous grain sorghum with high rhizome biomass could enhance carbon sequestration while preserving agronomic yields, offering new insights for future breeding and mapping initiatives.
Effect of Supplemental Trace Mineral Source on Haircoat and Activity Levels in Senior Dogs
Amundson, Laura A.; Millican, Allison A.; Swensson, Erik; McGilliard, Michael L.; Tomlinson, Dana (MDPI, 2025-02-26)
Trace minerals (TMs) are pivotal for animal wellbeing and appearance. This study evaluated the effects of TM (Zn, Mn, Cu, and Fe) sources on senior dogs’ haircoat and activity. Dogs (mean age 9.16 yr) were fed a control diet (inorganic TM) for 14 d before being assigned to one of three treatments for 3 mo. Treatments included inorganic (Control; n = 10), amino acid-complexed (TMC; n = 17; ZINPRO^® ZnMet + Zinpro^® Availa^® Mins) or lysine and glutamic acid-complexed (TMC-LG; n = 16; Zinpro^® ProPath^®) supplemental TM. Treatments were formulated to provide standard (Control—100 ppm Zn, 5 ppm Mn, 12 ppm Cu, 45 ppm Fe) or product-recommended (TMC and TMC-LG—100 ppm Zn, 25 ppm Mn, 7 ppm Cu, 45 ppm Fe) TM levels (DM basis). Hair length, regrowth, and shedding were measured along with activity. Dogs fed TMC (26.43 mm; 11.64 mm/mo) and TMC-LG (27.87 mm; 12.6 mm/mo) had significantly (p ≤ 0.05) longer hair that grew faster compared to the Control (18.93 mm; 9.14 mm/mo). At 3 mo TMC-LG-fed dogs had 0.38 g less shed hair, and TMC-fed dogs had 0.87 h more active time/d compared to the Control (p ≤ 0.05). Dogs fed TMC and TMC-LG had superior haircoat characteristics and activity compared to the Control.
Morphological and Genetic Assessments of Coyote Diet in Qualla Boundary, North Carolina, Show Interaction with Humans
Miller, Caitlin M.; Linzey, Donald; Hallerman, Eric M. (MDPI, 2025-03-05)
Throughout the 20th century, coyotes (Canis latrans) expanded from their historical geographic range west of the Mississippi River to a current range of almost all of North America. Over the course of this expansion, coyotes have demonstrated diverse and variable omnivorous diets that change with the food resources available. This study examined the stomach contents of 25 coyotes in an area where they are relatively new, the Qualla Boundary in North Carolina, to better understand the diets of coyotes in this area. A combination of morphological identification and DNA barcoding was used to characterize the stomach contents of coyotes. Both plant and animal material were identified from anthropogenic and natural sources, the latter including native mammals. This study provides one example of the breadth and flexibility of coyote diets and helps build an understanding of how coyotes can adapt to new conditions.
Number Recognition Through Color Distortion Using Convolutional Neural Networks
Henshaw, Christopher; Dennis, Jacob; Nadzam, Jonathan; Michaels, Alan J. (MDPI, 2025-01-22)
Machine learning applied to image-based number recognition has made significant strides in recent years. Recent use of Large Language Models (LLMs) in natural language search and generation of text have improved performance for general images, yet performance limitations still exist for data subsets related to color blindness. In this paper, we replicated the training of six distinct neural networks (MNIST, LeNet5, VGG16, AlexNet, and two AlexNet modifications) using deep learning techniques with the MNIST dataset and the Ishihara-Like MNIST dataset. While many prior works have dealt with MNIST, the Ishihara adaption addresses red-green combinations of color blindness, allowing for further research in color distortion. Through this research, we applied pre-processing to accentuate the effects of red-green and monochrome colorblindness and hyper-parameterized the existing architectures, ultimately achieving better overall performance than currently published in known works.
Long-Term Effects of Adverse Maternal Care on Hypothalamic–Pituitary–Adrenal (HPA) Axis Function of Juvenile and Adolescent Macaques
McCormack, Kai; Bramlett, Sara; Morin, Elyse L.; Siebert, Erin R.; Guzman, Dora; Howell, Brittany; Sanchez, Mar M. (MDPI, 2025-02-15)
Early life adversity (ELA) is a known risk factor for psychopathology, including stress-related anxiety and depressive disorders. The underlying mechanisms and developmental changes remain poorly understood. A likely underpinning is the impact of ELA on the development of stress response systems, including the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis. Our group studied a translational ELA model of spontaneous infant maltreatment by the mother in rhesus macaques, where we used a cross-fostering design to randomly assign infant macaques to either Control or Maltreating (MALT) foster mothers at birth to examine the impact of adverse caregiving on the development of the HPA axis, while controlling for the confounding effects of heritable and prenatal factors. We previously reported higher levels of plasma and hair cortisol (CORT) across the first 6 postnatal months (equivalent to the first 2 years of life in humans) in the MALT than in the Control infants. Here, we followed the same cohort of infants longitudinally to assess the long-term developmental impact of this adverse experience on HPA axis function during the juvenile (12, 18 months) and late adolescent (~5 years) periods. For this, we collected measurements of diurnal CORT rhythm and glucocorticoid negative feedback using the dexamethasone suppression test (DST). At 12 months, we found higher diurnal CORT secretion in MALT females compared to Control females, and impaired negative feedback in response to the DST in both sexes in the MALT group. However, ELA group differences in the HPA axis function disappeared by 18 months and late adolescence, while sex differences in diurnal CORT rhythm emerged or became stronger. These results suggest that infant maltreatment causes dysregulation of the HPA axis during the first year of life, with HPA axis function normalizing later, during the pre-pubertal juvenile period and adolescence. This suggests that the impact of maltreatment on HPA axis function may be transient, at least if the adverse experience stops. Our findings are consistent with human evidence of recalibration/normalization of HPA axis function during adolescence in children that switch from adverse/deprived environments to supportive adoptive families. This research has broad implications regarding the biological processes that translate ELA to psychopathology during development and the pathways to resiliency.
Neuropathogenesis of Encephalitic Alphaviruses in Non-Human Primate and Mouse Models of Infection
Woodson, Caitlin M.; Carney, Shannon K.; Kehn-Hall, Kylene (MDPI, 2025-02-14)
Encephalitic alphaviruses, including eastern, Venezuelan, and western equine encephalitis virus (EEEV, VEEV, and WEEV, respectively) are New World alphaviruses primarily transmitted by mosquitos that cause debilitating and lethal central nervous system (CNS) disease in both humans and horses. Despite over one hundred years of research on these viruses, the underpinnings of the molecular mechanisms driving virally induced damage to the CNS remain unresolved. Moreover, virally induced encephalitis following exposure to these viruses causes catastrophic damage to the CNS, and survivors of infection often suffer from permanent neurological sequelae as a result of sustained neuroinflammation and neurological insults encountered. Animal models are undoubtedly invaluable tools in biomedical research, where physiologically relevant models are required to study pathogenesis and host–pathogen interactions. Here, we review the literature to examine nonhuman primate (NHP) and mouse models of infection for EEEV, VEEV, and WEEV. We provide a brief overview of relevant background information for each virus, including geography, epidemiology, and clinical disease. The primary focus of this review is to describe neuropathological features associated with CNS disease in NHP and mouse models of infection and compare CNS invasion and neuropathogenesis for aerosol, intranasal, and subcutaneous routes of exposure to EEEV, VEEV, and WEEV.
What Is the Significance of Placental Lakes in Pregnancy? A Historic Literature Review
Choi-Klier, Joanna; Masters, Stephanie; Lewis, Danielle; Taylor, Kaitlyn; Magann, Everett F. (MDPI, 2025-02-14)
Background/Objectives: The presence of placental lakes has been recognized on obstetric ultrasounds for many years, although their influence on pregnancy and perinatal outcomes remains uncertain. Most studies evaluating outcomes are small and many outcomes are conflicting. The question remains whether placental lakes affect pregnancy outcomes and, if so, how and under what circumstances? The purpose of this review was to determine the incidence, diagnosis, pathology, management, and pregnancy outcomes to determine the influence of an isolated lake versus the influence of a lake with the presence of other factors on pregnancy and perinatal outcomes. Methods: Electronic databases (PubMed, OVID, CINAHI, Embase, and Web of Science) were searched. The only limitation was the abstract/paper had to be in English. The search years were 1980–2023. The search terms included “placenta lake” AND “pregnancy outcomes”. Results: Of 323 abstracts identified, 26 full articles were selected as the basis of this review. A number of adverse outcomes have been reported with placenta lakes, including hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, fetal growth restriction, and intrauterine fetal demise. Other studies reported no adverse outcomes. A number of factors in addition to the placental lake, such as the size of the lake, number of lakes, and presence of a thick placenta, might increase the risk of adverse outcomes. Conclusions: Unfavorable pregnancy outcomes may be related to placental lakes, particularly if the lakes are multiple and large and the placenta is thick. Additional large studies are needed to determine if antenatal surveillance is helpful.
The Impact Aerobic and Anaerobic Incubations of Poultry Litter Have on Class 1 Integron Resistome and Microbiome
Maurer, John J.; Hoke, Alexa; Das, Keshav C.; Wu, Jian; Williams, Mark A.; Kinstler, Sydney; Ritz, Casey; Pittman, Gregory P.; Berghaus, Roy; Lee, Margie D. (MDPI, 2025-02-13)
Animal manure is a desirable fertilizer because of its rich nitrogen, but it also contains a large and diverse reservoir of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) genes (ARGs). To reduce this AMR reservoir, five treatments (passive aeration, forced aeration, static or anaerobic incubations, autoclaving) were assessed for their impact on the poultry litter resistome. Bacterial DNA was extracted from the litter and the qPCR-estimated copy number of 16S rrs, class1 integrons (intI1) and associated resistance genes (aadA, sul1). Then, 16S amplicon metagenomic sequencing was used to determine community diversity and composition. Depending on incubation conditions, class 1 integrons and their associated ARGs were reduced by 0.5 to 1.0 Log₁₀/g poultry litter. Only autoclaving reduced integrons and associated AMR genes by three Log₁₀. Changes in AMR abundance reflected fluctuations in litter bacteriome composition at the family, genus, and sequence variant level. There was a negative correlation between class 1 integron and AMR genes, with genera belonging to Actinobacteria, Firmicutes, and Proteobacteria phyla. While these poultry litter treatments failed to reduce AMR abundance, aerobic and anaerobic treatments reduced taxons that contained pathogenic species. The approach to remediating resistance in poultry litter may be more effective if is focused on reducing bacterial pathogens.
A Highly Stabilized Current Source Topology with Slope Compensation for a High-Power Microwave Guiding Coil
Zhang, Dandi; Ding, Hongfa; He, Zhou; Zhou, Wentao; Zhang, Ziqi (MDPI, 2025-02-13)
For the waveguide coil in a High-Power Microwave (HPM) source, a strong repetitive Flat-top Pulsed Magnetic Field (FTPMF) is needed, which requires the power supply system to generate a high load current (3∼5 kA) with high stability (<1000 ppm) and a long pulse-width (15∼20 ms). To achieve this, this article proposes a novel topology which includes a capacitor bank as the main power supply to guarantee a long pulse-width, combined with an active current compensator to regulate the load current precisely. A PI control scheme with slope compensation is used to solve the current fluctuation caused by capacitor switching. The novel topology also features a fast rising and falling time, thus it is suitable for repetitive working applications. The parameters of the topology are calculated by analysis to guarantee the working condition of a 45 GHz HPM source, and the operating principle of this topology is verified through low-power-scale experiments.
Addressing Food Insecurity Through Community Kitchens During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Case Study from the Eastern Cape, South Africa
Carlos Bezerra, Joana; Nqowana, Thandiswa; Oosthuizen, Rene; Canca, Monica; Nkwinti, Nosipho; Mantel, Sukhmani Kaur; New, Mark; Ford, James; Zavaleta-Cortijo, Carol Claudia; Galappaththi, Eranga K.; Perera, Chrishma D.; Jayasekara, Sithuni M.; Amukugo, Hans Justus; Namanya, Didacus B.; Togarepi, Cecil; Hangula, Martha M.; Nkalubo, Jonathan; Akugre, Francis A.; Pickering, Kerrie; Mensah, Adelina M.; Chi, Guangqing; Reckford, Lenworth; Chicmana-Zapata, Victoria; Dharmasiri, Indunil P.; Arotoma-Rojas, Ingrid (MDPI, 2025-02-07)
One of the most critical impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic was on food security. Food insecurity increased in many communities, with some showing signs of resilience through autonomously creating community kitchens that enhanced food security and built support networks. These initiatives filled gaps left by government programmes and provided a critical lifeline for vulnerable communities during the pandemic, fostering community solidarity. This paper aims to investigate the experiences and perceptions of community kitchen managers in addressing food insecurity during the COVID-19 pandemic by using a town in South Africa in 2020–2022 as a case study. Using arts-based participatory approaches, researchers interviewed 11 community kitchen managers representing 10 community kitchens in four sessions between June and November 2021. The results showed that a lack of jobs and food insecurity were identified as the main threats, whereas COVID-19 was not even identified as a threat by all of the community kitchen managers. Lacking support from the local government, these initiatives depended on individuals and community-based organisations for backing. However, this support decreased in 2021 and 2022, raising concerns about the sustainability of these efforts.
Vegetation Succession Patterns at Sperry Glacier’s Foreland, Glacier National Park, MT, USA
Bryant, Ami; Resler, Lynn M.; Gielstra, Dianna; Pingel, Thomas (MDPI, 2025-02-02)
Plant colonization patterns on deglaciated terrain give insight into the factors influencing alpine ecosystem development. Our objectives were to use a chronosequence, extending from the Little Ice Age (~1850) terminal moraine to the present glacier terminus, and biophysical predictors to characterize vegetation across Sperry Glacier’s foreland—a mid-latitude cirque glacier in Glacier National Park, Montana, USA. We measured diversity metrics (i.e., richness, evenness, and Shannon’s diversity index), percent cover, and community composition in 61 plots. Field observations characterized drainage, concavity, landform features, rock fragments, and geomorphic process domains in each plot. GIS-derived variables contextualized the plots’ aspect, terrain roughness, topographic position, solar radiation, and curvature. Overall, vegetation cover and species richness increased with terrain age, but with colonization gaps compared to other forelands, likely due to extensive bedrock and slow soil development, potentially putting this community at risk of being outpaced by climate change. Generalized linear models revealed the importance of local site factors (e.g., drainage, concavity, and process domain) in explaining species richness and Shannon’s diversity patterns. The relevance of field-measured variables over GIS-derived variables demonstrated the importance of fieldwork in understanding alpine successional patterns and the need for higher-resolution remote sensing analyses to expand these landscape-scale studies.
Fuel Resistance of Firefighting Surfactant Foam Formulations
Ateş, Ayşenur; Qiao, Rui; Lattimer, Brian Y. (MDPI, 2025-01-25)
Aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) is widely recognized for its excellent fire-extinguishing capabilities, yet the specific roles of its components remain insufficiently understood. AFFF typically consists of fluorocarbon and hydrocarbon surfactants, as well as organic solvents such as diethylene glycol butyl ether (DGBE), which can significantly influence foam performance. This study investigates the effects of surfactant mixtures and the DGBE additive on foam stability and fuel resistance at room temperature and ambient humidity. Static foam ignition experiments were conducted to assess fuel transport through foams using various hydrocarbon fuels, including n-octane, iso-octane, n-heptane, methylcyclohexane, methylcyclopentane, and a mixture of 25% trimethylbenzene with 75% n-heptane. Methylcyclopentane, with its higher vapor pressure and solubility, led to the shortest ignition times, indicating faster fuel transport. The addition of DGBE increased ignition times by a factor of 1.2 to 3.7 for individual surfactants, while the Capstone+Glucopon mixture improved ignition times by a factor of 2.4 to 5.5 compared to the individual surfactants. Further enhancement was observed with Capstone+Glucopon+DGBE, increasing ignition times by a factor of 3 to 7.3 compared to the individual surfactants. Additionally, combining DGBE with surfactant mixtures reduced fuel concentration in the bulk solution by over 60% compared to individual surfactants, significantly enhancing fuel resistance. Interface experiments showed that fuel presence, particularly methylcyclopentane and n-octane, altered the foam structure and accelerated drainage at the foam/fuel interface, impacting foam stability and fuel transport. These findings demonstrate that surfactant mixtures and DGBE-enhanced formulations substantially improve foam stability and fuel resistance.
Understanding the Effects of a Math Placement Exam on Calculus 1 Enrollment and Engineering Persistence
Ryan, Olivia; Sajadi, Susan; Barrera, Sergio; Jaghargh, Reza Tavakoli (MDPI, 2025-01-26)
Educational institutions are grappling with declining enrollments and low mathematical achievements. This study investigates how a math placement exam (ALEKS) influences enrollment in Calculus 1 and student persistence, taking into account academic preparation and demographic factors. It also evaluates the effects of remedial math courses for students near the placement cutoff. Using Astin’s input–environment–outcome model, this study analyzed data from 3380 students employing a Kitagawa-Oaxaca-Blinder decomposition and fuzzy regression discontinuity. These methods were used to identify unexplained differences across demographic groups and capture outcomes near the math placement cutoff. Based on the findings, a cutoff of 80% for the ALEKS exam is appropriate. This study underscores the role of math placement exams in shaping engineering enrollment and student success. These findings prompt reevaluating placement strategies and support mechanisms, particularly for URM, first-generation, and female students, to enhance equity and retention in engineering.
Comparison of the Anesthetic Effects of Alfaxalone Combined with Xylazine or Dexmedetomidine in Captive Formosa Serows (Capricornis swinhoei)
Chang, Li-Jen; Ishihara, Toshitsugu; Lien, Chen-Yeh; Chen, Kuan-Sheng (MDPI, 2025-01-22)
Formosan serows are an endemic species in Taiwan. Alfaxalone, a γ-aminobutyric acid_A agonist, induces or maintains anesthesia in various veterinary species with reported potential adverse effects of respiratory depression and tachycardia. α2-Adrenoceptor agonists exert sedative and muscle relaxation effects, along with substantial cardiovascular adverse effects. Here, we aimed to evaluate the anesthetic effects of alfaxalone combined with xylazine or dexmedetomidine (AX vs. AD, respectively) in Formosan serows. In this randomized, masked study, AX was administered to four serows, and AD was administered to five serows intramuscularly via blow dart. The time and score of induction and recovery were recorded. Post-intubation, isoflurane was administered for maintenance anesthesia. Heart rate (HR), respiratory rate (RR), peripheral saturation of oxygenation (SpO₂), rectal temperature (RT), and end-tidal CO₂ (EtCO₂) were recorded every five to eight minutes. Atipamezole and tolazoline were administered to antagonize dexmedetomidine and xylazine post-procedure, respectively. Both combinations allowed smooth induction and recovery. The AD group exhibited significantly lower HR and SpO₂ and significantly higher RT and EtCO₂ than the AX group (both p < 0.01). The AD-treated serows exhibited notable muscle rigidity after induction and significant hypoventilation and hypoxemia during the procedure. Although alfaxalone combined with dexmedetomidine or xylazine can produce satisfactory induction and recovery in Formosa serows, notable hypoxemia and hypoventilation are induced by the alfaxalone–dexmedetomidine combination compared to the alfaxalone–xylazine combination.
Maternal Injectable Mineral Administration Effects on Calf Growth and Reproductive Parameters
Brenner, Makayla A.; Marques, Rodrigo S.; Posbergh, Christian J.; Zezeski, Abigail L.; Geary, Thomas W.; McCoski, Sarah R. (MDPI, 2025-01-24)
Limited trace mineral research has focused on the impacts of maternal trace mineral supplementation on offspring fertility. We hypothesized that maternal injectable mineral (INJ) administration during mid/late gestation would improve overall growth and reproductive parameters in offspring. Two-hundred and seventy-eight cows were enrolled in the study and blocked by body weight, parity, and day (d) of gestation, and randomly assigned to a treatment group: a group (MM, n = 138) that received a single INJ (Cu = 15 mg/mL, Mn = 10 mg/mL, Se = 5 mg/mL, and Zn = 60 mg/mL; Axiota, Ft. Collins, CO, USA) or control group (CON, n = 138), which did not. Following calving, adjusted birth weight and weaning weights were recorded. A subset of bulls was developed until one year of age (CON, n = 18; MM, n = 14) when two semen ejaculates were collected for sperm quality. Mineral injection calves were heavier at birth than CON (p = 0.05). A treatment by parity interaction was observed for an increase in progressive motility in MM bulls than CON (p = 0.10). Injectable mineral administration to the pregnant multiparous cow improved sperm progressive motility in bulls, but no improvements were observed when assessed via flow cytometry.
Analyzing the Efficacy of Water Treatment Disinfectants as Vector Control: The Larvicidal Effects of Silver Nitrate, Copper Sulfate Pentahydrate, and Sodium Hypochlorite on Juvenile Aedes aegypti
Turner, Sydney S.; Smith, James A.; Howle, Sophie L.; Hancock, Patrick I.; Brett, Karin; Davis, Julia; Bruno, Lorin M.; Cecchetti, Victoria; Ford, Clay (MDPI, 2025-01-26)
For communities without access to uninterrupted, piped water, household water storage (HWS) practices can lead to adverse public health outcomes caused by water degradation and mosquito proliferation. With over 700,000 deaths caused by vector-borne diseases annually, the objective of this study was to determine whether water disinfectants, at concentrations deemed safe for human consumption and beneficial for water treatment, are effective in reducing the emergence of adult mosquitoes that transmit disease. Laboratory bioassays, designed to resemble the context of treating HWS containers, were conducted to assess the larvicidal effects of chemicals at concentrations below regulatory limits for drinking water: silver (20, 40, 80 μg/L Ag), copper (300, 600, 1200 μg/L Cu), and chlorine (500, 1000, 2000 ug/L free chlorine). The water disinfectants demonstrated the ability to significantly reduce the population of juvenile Ae. aegypti. Sodium hypochlorite was found to be the most effective in decreasing the survival rate of late first instar larvae, while silver nitrate exhibited the highest effectiveness in inhibiting the emergence of late third instar larvae. Ultimately, this study highlights the potential of an integrated approach to Water, Sanitation, and Health (WASH) solutions with vector control management.
Precision Soil Moisture Monitoring Through Drone-Based Hyperspectral Imaging and PCA-Driven Machine Learning
Vahidi, Milad; Shafian, Sanaz; Frame, William Hunter (MDPI, 2025-01-28)
Accurately estimating soil moisture at multiple depths is essential for sustainable farming practices, as it supports efficient irrigation management, optimizes crop yields, and conserves water resources. This study integrates a drone-mounted hyperspectral sensor with machine learning techniques to enhance soil moisture estimation at 10 cm and 30 cm depths in a cornfield. The primary aim was to understand the relationship between root zone water content and canopy reflectance, pinpoint the depths where this relationship is most significant, identify the most informative wavelengths, and train a machine learning model using those wavelengths to estimate soil moisture. Our results demonstrate that PCA effectively detected critical variables for soil moisture estimation, with the ANN model outperforming other machine learning algorithms, including Random Forest (RF), Support Vector Regression (SVR), and Gradient Boosting (XGBoost). Model comparisons between irrigated and non-irrigated treatments showed that soil moisture in non-irrigated plots could be estimated with greater accuracy across various dates. This finding indicates that plants experiencing high water stress exhibit more significant spectral variability in their canopy, enhancing the correlation with soil moisture in the root zone. Moreover, over the growing season, when corn exhibits high chlorophyll content and increased resilience to environmental stressors, the correlation between canopy spectrum and root zone soil moisture weakens. Error analysis revealed the lowest relative estimation errors in non-irrigated plots at a 30 cm depth, aligning with periods of elevated water stress at shallower levels, which drove deeper root growth and strengthened the canopy reflectance relationship. This correlation corresponded to lower RMSE values, highlighting improved model accuracy.
Effects of Sericea Lespedeza Supplementation on Steers Grazing Wild-Type Endophyte-Infected Tall Fescue
Poudel, Sanjok; Pent, Gabriel J.; Fike, John H.; Zeller, Wayne E.; Davis, Brittany E. (MDPI, 2025-01-28)
Condensed tannins (CTs) in certain leguminous forages can mitigate toxic alkaloid absorption linked to fescue toxicosis due to their high affinity towards various steroidal and protein-like alkaloids. However, their use as feed supplements remains underexplored. This study evaluated the impact of CT-rich sericea lespedeza (Lespedeza cuneata) pellets on the post-ingestive effects of fescue toxicosis. Twelve steers on wild-type endophyte-infected tall fescue pastures received either sericea lespedeza pellets (LES) or LES with polyethylene glycol (LPEG; negative control) for 12 weeks over three consecutive summers. Body weight, hair coat scores, temperatures (rectal and extremity), cortisol levels, and caudal artery lumen area were measured every four weeks. Steers fed LES showed trends toward higher ADG (p = 0.0999) and reduced hair retention (p = 0.0547) compared to those fed LPEG. Steers on LES also showed hotter tail skin temperatures (p = 0.0053) and cooler rectal temperatures (p < 0.0001) compared to those fed LPEG. LES-fed steers had a 21% larger caudal artery lumen area (p < 0.01), suggesting reduced vasoconstriction. Additionally, LES-fed steers tended to have lower hair cortisol (p = 0.0746), indicating reduced chronic stress. These results suggest that supplementation with CTs may alleviate the post-ingestive effects of fescue toxicosis, potentially by improving blood flow and reducing stress. However, further research is needed to determine whether CTs directly reduce alkaloid absorption, as well as to validate the long-term efficacy of CT supplementation.

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