Association between dietary variety status and sarcopenia as defined by the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia 2019 consensus in older outpatients at a hospital specializing in geriatric medicine: A cross­sectional study with baseline data of prospective cohort study (JUSTICE­TOKYO study).

To the best of our knowledge, little is known about the association between dietary variety status and sarcopenia in university-affiliated geriatric hospital in elderly. The present study aimed to investigate, in a multidisciplinary setting, the prevalence of sarcopenia and association between dietary variety status and sarcopenia in older outpatients at Juntendo Tokyo Koto Geriatric Medical Center (Tokyo, Japan). Between October 2020 and December 2021, a cross-sectional study of outpatients aged ≥65 years [458 male (44%) and 584 female (56%); mean age, 78.2±6.1 years] was conducted to assess prevalence of sarcopenia, according to Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia 2019 criteria, and the relationship between dietary variety status and sarcopenia. Patient profile, comorbidities, drug use, neuropsychological data, abdominal symptoms, pulmonary function and dietary variety status were collected. Of 1,042 subjects, there were 223 (21.4%) with [142 male (63.7%) and 81 female (36.3%); mean age, 80.6±6.3 years] and 819 (78.6%) without sarcopenia [316 male (38.6%) and 503 female (61.4%); mean age, 77.6±5.8]. In multivariate analysis, older age, male sex, low body mass index, high Brinkman Index and phase angle, low quality of life, history of daycare use, diabetes mellitus, osteoporosis and low Mini-Mental State Examination and Dietary Variety Score were related to sarcopenia. The prevalence of sarcopenia was higher in than in community-dwelling individuals. Dietary variety status was associated with sarcopenia.

A comparative study on cadmium tolerance and applicability of two Solanum lycopersicum L. cultivars.

Solanum lycopersicum L. can be classified into low Cd-accumulating and high Cd-accumulating types based on their accumulation characteristics of cadmium (Cd). There are many common S. lycopersicum varieties available in the market, but their specific Cd tolerance and enrichment abilities are not well understood. This article uses two S. lycopersicum cultivars, Yellow Cherry and Yellow Pearl, as experimental materials. The experimental method of soil pot planting was adopted, and Cd concentrations in the soil were added at 0, 0.6, 1.5, 2.5, 5, and 10 mg/kg. The changes in Cd content, biomass, photosynthetic pigment content, and photosynthetic parameters of the two S. lycopersicum cultivars were analyzed to screen for low-accumulation S. lycopersicum cultivars. The results showed that S. lycopersicum are Cd-sensitive plants. The Cd accumulation, photosynthetic parameters, and other basic indicators of Yellow Cherry basically showed significant differences when the soil Cd concentration was 0.6 mg/kg, and the biomass showed significant differences when the soil Cd concentration was 1.5 mg/kg. Except for the Cd accumulation in the roots and leaves of Yellow Pearl, which showed significant differences at a soil Cd concentration of 0.6 mg/kg, the other indicators basically showed significant differences when the soil Cd concentration was 1.5 mg/kg. When the soil Cd concentration was 0.6 mg/kg, the Cd accumulation in the fruit of Yellow Pearl was 0.04 mg/kg, making it a low-accumulation S. lycopersicum variety suitable for promoting cultivation in Cd-contaminated soil at 0.6 mg/kg. In conclusion, the Cd accumulation in the fruit of Yellow Pearl is significantly lower than that of Yellow Cherry and even below the Cd limit value for fresh vegetables specified in GB2762-2017. Therefore, Yellow Pearl can be grown as edible crops in soils with Cd concentrations ≤0.6 mg/kg. Furthermore, Yellow Cherry demonstrate strong Cd tolerance and can be used for the remediation of Cd-contaminated soils.

Characterisation and traceability of extra virgin olive oil and table olive of Azapa variety marketed in Chile using Microsatellite Molecular Markers / Caracterización y trazabilidad de aceite de oliva virgen extra y aceituna de mesa de la variedad Azapa comercializados en Chile mediante marcadores moleculares microsatélites

Chile has two certified origin olive products: Extra-Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO) from Huasco valley and the Azapa variety table olive from the Azapa valley. However, efficient methodologies are needed to determine the varieties and raw materials involved in the end products. In this study, we assessed the size of alleles from ten microsatellites in 20 EVOOs and in leaves and fruits of 16 olive varieties cultivated in Chile to authenticate their origins. The identification of varieties relied on specific allele sizes derived from microsatellites markers UDO99-011 and DCA18-M found in leaves and fruit mesocarp. While most Chilean single-variety EVOOs matched the variety declared on the label, inconsistencies were observed in single-variety EVOOs containing multiple varieties. Our findings confirm that microsatellites serve as a valuable as diagnostic tools for ensuring the quality control of Geographical Indication certification for Azapa olives and EVOO with Designation of Origin from Huasco.

Chile cuenta con dos productos de oliva de origen certificado: El aceite de oliva virgen extra (AOVE) del valle del Huasco y la aceituna de mesa de la variedad Azapa del valle de Azapa. Sin embargo, se necesitan metodologías eficientes para determinar las variedades y materias primas involucradas en los productos finales. En este estudio, evaluamos el tamaño de los alelos de diez microsatélites en 20 AOVEs y en hojas y frutos de 16 variedades de aceituna cultivadas en Chile para autentificar sus orígenes. La identificación de las variedades se basó en los tamaños alélicos específicos derivados de los marcadores microsatélites UDO99-011 y DCA18-M encontrados en las hojas y el mesocarpio de los frutos. Aunque la mayoría de los AOVEs chilenos monovarietales coincidían con la variedad declarada en la etiqueta, se observaron incoherencias en los AOVEs monovarietales que contenían múltiples variedades. Nuestros hallazgos confirman que los microsatélites sirven como valiosas herramientas de diagnóstico para asegurar el control de calidad de la certificación de Indicación Geográfica para aceitunas de Azapa y AOVE con Denominación de Origen de Huasco.

Higher resonance schemes and Koszul modules of simplicial complexes.

Each connected graded, graded-commutative algebra A of finite type over a field k of characteristic zero defines a complex of finitely generated, graded modules over a symmetric algebra, whose homology graded modules are called the (higher) Koszul modules of A. In this note, we investigate the geometry of the support loci of these modules, called the resonance schemes of the algebra. When A = k ⟨ Δ ⟩ is the exterior Stanley-Reisner algebra associated to a finite simplicial complex Δ , we show that the resonance schemes are reduced. We also compute the Hilbert series of the Koszul modules and give bounds on the regularity and projective dimension of these graded modules. This leads to a relationship between resonance and Hilbert series that generalizes a known formula for the Chen ranks of a right-angled Artin group.

A phenomenological inquiry into farmers' experiences growing cotton in Punjab, Pakistan.

Sustainability in cotton production is inevitable because producing more cotton means more employment, economic acceleration, and industrial expansion. India, China, the United States, Brazil, and Pakistan contribute 74% of worldwide cotton production. Pakistan is contributing only 5%, despite the high potential of cotton. The average yield of cotton in Pakistan is stagnant at 570.99 kg hm-2, whereas it entails the highest cost of production among all other crops. The yield obtained in Pakistan is less than the potential, profitability is drastically lessening, and farmers are abandoning cotton for alternative kharif crops. Some traditional quantitative studies have unveiled different factors that affect cotton production. However, an in-depth qualitative study has never been conducted in Pakistan to explore the root causes of growing cotton crop failure. Following Moustakas's traditional phenomenological guidelines, this phenomenological study was conducted in the district of Rahim Yar Khan in the core cotton zone of Punjab province. A total of 10 interviews were conducted with purposively selected cotton growers based on a criterion: (i) having more than 10 years of cotton growing experience, (ii) being a cotton grower, and (iii) having at least 10 years of formal schooling. Interviews were conducted face to face on an interview guide. One interview lasted 45-50 min, and responses were recorded and analyzed using a thematic analysis approach. A total of 6 themes emerged from the collected data, including (i) climate change, (ii) varietal problems, (iii) pesticide usage, (iv) sense of institutional services, (v) attitude of farmers and (vi) soil health and environment. These six merging themes contributed to cotton crop failure and yield decline. The deep exploration further summarized that researchers, extensionists, and farmers need to seriously consider variety, sowing time, and the environment to revive cotton crops. The detailed recommendations and policy guidelines are presented in this paper, highlighting the cotton sector's research, development and investment areas.

Metabolomics comparison of four varieties apple with different browning characters in response to pretreatment during pulp processing.

Browning commonly appeared in apple processing, which varied in different apple varieties. Present work investigated the metabolomics of four varieties apple of Yataka, Gala, Sansa, and Fuji, which possessed different browning characteristics and related enzymes. Sansa as browning insensitive apple variety, exhibited the least chroma change with the lowest PPO activity and the highest SOD activity among the four apple varieties. Browning inhibition pretreatment increased the activity of SOD and PAL and decreased PPO and POD activity. In addition, metabolomic variances among the four apple varieties (FC), their browning pulp (BR) and browning inhibition pulp (CM) were compared. And the key metabolites were in-depth analyzed to match the relevant KEGG pathways and speculated metabolic networks. There were 487, 644, and 494 significant differential metabolites detected in FC, BR and CM, which were consisted of lipids, benzenoids, phenylpropanoids, organheterocyclic compounds, organic acids, nucleosides, accounting for 23 %, 11 %, 15 %, 16 %, 11 % of the total metabolites. The differential metabolites were matched with 39, 49, and 36 KEGG pathways in FC, BR, and CM, respectively, in which other secondary metabolites biosynthesis metabolism was the most significant in FC, lipid metabolism was the most significant in BR and CM, and energy metabolism was markedly annotated in CM. Notably, Sansa displayed the highest number of differential metabolites in both its BR (484) and CM (342). The BR of Sansa was characterized by flavonoid biosynthesis, while the other three apple varieties were associated with α-linolenic acid metabolism. Furthermore, in browning sensitive apple varieties, the flavonoid and phenylpropanoid biosynthesis pathway was significantly activated by browning inhibition pretreatment. Phenolic compounds, lipids, sugars, organic acids, nucleotides, and adenosine were regulated differently in the four apple varieties, potentially serving as key regulatory sites. Overall, this work provides novel insight for browning prevention in different apple varieties.

Exploring bitter characteristics of blue honeysuckle (Lonicera caerulea L.) berries by sensory-guided analysis: Key bitter compounds and varietal differences.

The taste of blue honeysuckle (Lonicera caerulea L.) berries is wrapped in bitterness, and awareness about the essence of bitterness is lacking. In the current study, 7-ketologanin, sweroside and loganin were isolated and identified as key bitter compounds using sensory-guided analysis. The bitterness thresholds of these compounds were determined to be 11.9 µg/mL, 33.5 µg/mL and 60.2 µg/mL. Subsequently, the differences in bitterness among 16 blue honeysuckle varieties were evaluated. The wild varieties A1 and A2 exhibited the highest bitter intensity. 7-Ketologanin, with the highest concentration of 34.70-37.11 mg/100 g and taste activity values of 29.16-31.18 in A1 and A2, was first identified as a bitter contributor in blue honeysuckle. There was no significant difference in bitter intensity between the reconstitution model and the original sample, confirming the contribution of the three bitter compounds. This study lays the foundation for the bitter improvement and variety selection of blue honeysuckle resources.

Plastid phylogenomics contributes to the taxonomic revision of taxa within the genus Sanicula L. and acceptance of two new members of the genus.

Introduction: The genus Sanicula L. is a taxonomically complicated taxa within Apiaceae, as its high variability in morphology. Although taxonomists have performed several taxonomic revisions for this genus, the interspecific relationships and species boundaries have not been satisfactorily resolved, especially for those endemic to China. This study mainly focused on S. giraldii var. ovicalycina, S. tienmuensis var. pauciflora, and S. orthacantha var. stolonifera and also described two new members of the genus. Methods: We newly sequenced sixteen plastomes from nine Sanicula species. Combined with eleven plastomes previously reported by us and one plastome downloaded, we performed a comprehensively plastid phylogenomics analysis of 21 Sanicula taxa. Results and Discussion: The comparative results showed that 21 Sanicula plastomes in their structure and features were highly conserved and further justified that two new species were indeed members of Sanicula. Nevertheless, eleven mutation hotspot regions were still identified. Phylogenetic analyses based on plastome data and the ITS sequences strongly supported that these three varieties were clearly distant from three type varieties. The results implied that these three varieties should be considered as three independent species, which were further justified by their multiple morphological characters. Therefore, revising these three varieties into three independent species was reasonable and convincing. Moreover, we also identified and described two new Sanicula species (S. hanyuanensis and S. langaoensis) from Sichuan and Shanxi, China, respectively. Based on their distinct morphological characteristics and molecular phylogenetic analysis, two new species were included in Sanicula. In summary, our study impelled the revisions of Sanicula members and improved the taxonomic system of the genus.

Shape variety of food can boost its visual appeal.

We investigated whether food shape and its variety within a group affect visual appeal using a four-shaped fast-food chicken product known as Chicken McNuggets®. In Experiment 1, participants rated the visual appeal of each nugget shape both individually and when presented in groups of variously shaped nuggets. The results revealed that the rounder nugget was less visually appealing than those of other shapes. Additionally, assortments featuring various shapes were rated as more appealing than those of a single shape. In Experiment 2, the visual appeal of individual nuggets presented in groups and alone was assessed using a visual analog scale. The visual appeal of one specific nugget (target nugget) was higher when presented in a group than alone. Furthermore, a target nugget presented in a group with various shapes was more visually appealing than when presented in a group with the same shape, regardless of the shape of the target nugget. These results suggest that a food product with low visual appeal can be perceived as more appealing when it is presented alongside various food shapes. Indeed, the variety of food shapes presented in a group affected the perceived appeal both of the group and of the individual food item. These findings offer novel insights into the impact of food's visual variation on its appeal.

The diverse role of corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) and its CRF1 and CRF2 receptors under pathophysiological conditions: Insights into stress/anxiety, depression, and brain injury processes.

Corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF, corticoliberin) is a neuromodulatory peptide activating the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, widely distributed in the central nervous system (CNS) in mammals. In addition to its neuroendocrine effects, CRF is essential in regulating many functions under physiological and pathophysiological conditions through CRF1 and CRF2 receptors (CRF1R, CRF2R). This review aims to present selected examples of the diverse and sometimes opposite effects of CRF and its receptor ligands in various pathophysiological states, including stress/anxiety, depression, and processes associated with brain injury. It seems interesting to draw particular attention to the fact that CRF and its receptor ligands exert different effects depending on the brain structures or subregions, likely stemming from the varied distribution of CRFRs in these regions and interactions with other neurotransmitters. CRFR-mediated region-specific effects might also be related to brain site-specific ligand binding and the associated activated signaling pathways. Intriguingly, different types of CRF molecules can also influence the diverse actions of CRF in the CNS.

The dynamics of N6-methyladenine RNA modification in resistant and susceptible rice varieties responding to rice stem borer damage.

N6-methyladenosine (m6A) is the most prevalent modification in cellular RNA which orchestrates diverse physiological and pathological processes during stress response. However, the differential m6A modifications that cope with herbivore stress in resistant and susceptible crop varieties remain unclear. Here, we found that rice stem borer (RSB) larvae grew better on indica rice (e.g., MH63, IR64, Nanjing 11) than on japonica rice varieties (e.g., Nipponbare, Zhonghua 11, Xiushui 11). Then, transcriptome-wide m6A profiling of representative resistant (Nipponbare) and susceptible (MH63) rice varieties were performed using a nanopore direct RNA sequencing approach, to reveal variety-specific m6A modifications against RSB. Upon RSB infestation, m6A methylation occurred in actively expressed genes in Nipponbare and MH63, but the number of methylation sites decreased across rice chromosomes. Integrative analysis showed that m6A methylation levels were closely associated with transcriptional regulation. Genes involved in herbivorous resistance related to mitogen-activated protein kinase, jasmonic acid (JA), and terpenoid biosynthesis pathways, as well as JA-mediated trypsin protease inhibitors, were heavily methylated by m6A, and their expression was more pronounced in RSB-infested Nipponbare than in RSB-infested MH63, which may have contributed to RSB resistance in Nipponbare. Therefore, dynamics of m6A modifications act as the main regulatory strategy for expression of genes involved in plant-insect interactions, which is attributed to differential responses of resistant and susceptible rice varieties to RSB infestation. These findings could contribute to developing molecular breeding strategies for controlling herbivorous pests.

Associations between women's bargaining power and the adoption of rust-resistant wheat varieties in Ethiopia.

The dynamics in intra-household decision-making are often neglected in literature on the adoption of agricultural innovations. However, households' farm management decisions are often made following negotiations between female and male farmers. These may differ in terms of individual bargaining power and personal preferences. A better understanding of the links between gender roles in household decision-making and the adoption of technologies is postulated to enhance the uptake of innovations in smallholder farming systems. In this study, we use survey data from 1,088 wheat-producing households in Ethiopia to analyze the links between women's role in household decisions concerning crop production and the adoption and turnover rates of rust-resistant wheat varieties. We interviewed female and male respondents from the same households, but separately, which facilitated capturing individual perceptions and the intra-household dynamics in decision-making. To account for observed heterogeneity that may simultaneously determine the level of women's agency and varietal adoption by households, we employed Inverse Probability-Weighted Regression Adjustment (IPWRA). A positive association was found between women's role in decision-making concerning choice of wheat seed and household adoption of rust-resistant wheat varieties and wheat varietal turnover. Spouses may be in agreement or have different opinions regarding their decision-making roles. The disagreement scenario in which the wife claims to have a role in decision-making is associated with lower adoption rates of rust-resistant wheat varieties and less frequent testing of new varties in recent growing seasons, compared to a scenario where both spouses agree that wives do not have a role. We conclude that gender-disaggregated data and the examination of intra-household decision-making can offer novel and valuable insights for designing and implementing strategies to enhance the uptake of agricultural technologies among smallholders. The results emphasize the need to include complementary perspectives on the intra-household decision-making process.

Visual effect of air pollution on the need for arousal and variety-seeking behavior.

Research on air pollution, one of the most common environmental factors, has primarily focused on its effects on physical, mental, and cognitive health. However, air pollution-induced achromatic color of an environment, which is a prominent feature of air pollution, has received little attention. This study explored the visual effects of air pollution on the variety-seeking purchase behavior of consumers through two scenario-based experiments and primed manipulation (Study 1 and Study 2) and one natural experiment using data from a local fruit chain store (Study 3). Study 1 tested the main effect of air pollution on the variety-seeking behavior and found that primed air pollution increased variety-seeking when consumers purchased beverages. Study 2 broadened the category and tested the mechanism, and the results indicated that primed air pollution increased the variety of purchased chocolates and demonstrated the mediating effect of the need for arousal. Study 3 tested the boundary condition and extended the external validity with actual purchases. The results revealed that severe air pollution increased the purchased SKUs by 22.9% and visibility reduced the moderation effect. This research extended the literature on the visual effect of air pollution by providing evidence of the effects of air pollution on variety-seeking behavior through the need for arousal. And, product managers could leverage the results by offering a greater variety of goods on days with air pollution to increase sales.

Molecular Regulatory Mechanisms Affecting Fruit Aroma.

Aroma, an important quality characteristic of plant fruits, is produced by volatile organic compounds (VOCs), mainly terpenes, aldehydes, alcohols, esters, ketones, and other secondary metabolites, in plant cells. There are significant differences in the VOC profile of various fruits. The main pathways involved in the synthesis of VOCs are the terpenoid, phenylalanine, and fatty acid biosynthesis pathways, which involve several key enzyme-encoding genes, transcription factors (TFs), and epigenetic factors. This paper reviews the main synthetic pathways of the main volatile components in fruit, summarizes studies on the regulation of aroma formation by key genes and TFs, summarizes the factors affecting the fruit aroma formation, describes relevant studies on the improvement of fruit flavor quality, and finally proposes potential challenges and prospects for future research directions. This study provides a theoretical basis for the further precise control of fruit aroma quality and variety improvement.

Diverse Mycena Fungi and Their Potential for Gastrodia elata Germination.

It remains to be determined whether there is a geographical distribution pattern and phylogenetic signals for the Mycena strains with seed germination of the orchid plant Gastrodia elata. This study analyzed the community composition and phylogenetics of 72 Mycena strains associated with G. elata varieties (G. elata. f. glauca and G. elata. f. viridis) using multiple gene fragments (ITS+nLSU+SSU). We found that (1) these diverse Mycena phylogenetically belong to the Basidiospore amyloid group. (2) There is a phylogenetic signal of Mycena for germination of G. elata. Those strains phylogenetically close to M. abramsii, M. polygramma, and an unclassified Mycena had significantly higher germination rates than those to M. citrinomarginata. (3) The Mycena distribution depends on geographic site and G. elata variety. Both unclassified Mycena group 1 and the M. abramsii group were dominant for the two varieties of G. elata; in contrast, the M. citrinomarginata group was dominant in G. elata f. glauca but absent in G. elata f. viridis. Our results indicate that the community composition of numerous Mycena resources in the Zhaotong area varies by geographical location and G. elata variety. Importantly, our results also indicate that Mycena's phylogenetic status is correlated with its germination rate.

Samae Dam Chicken: A variety of the Pradu Hang Dam breed revealed from microsatellite genotyping data.

Objective: The remarkable adaptability to the environment, high growth rate, meat with good taste and aroma, and ornamental appearance of the Pradu Hang Dam (PDH) and Samae Dam (SD) chickens make them valuable for improvement of poultry production to enhance food security. However, despite their close phenotypic similarity, distinct classification of PDH and SD chickens remains controversial. Thus, this study aimed to clarify genetic origins and variation between PDH and SD chickens, genetic diversity and structures of PDH and SD chickens. Methods: This study analyzed 5 populations of PDH and 2 populations of SD chickens using 28 microsatellite markers and compared with those of other indigenous and local chicken breeds using Thailand's "The Siam Chicken Bioresource Project" database. Results: Considerably high genetic variability was observed within PDH (370 total alleles; 4.086 ± 0.312 alleles/locus) and SD chickens (179 total alleles; 3.607 ± 0.349 alleles/locus). A partial overlap of gene pools was observed between SD chickens from the Department of Livestock, Uthai Thani (SD1) and PDH chickens, suggesting a potentially close relationship between the two chicken breeds. A gene pool that is partially overlapped with that of the red junglefowl was observed in the SD chicken population from the Sanhawat Farm Uthai Thani population (SD2). Distinct subclusters were observed within SD chickens, indicating the possibility that genetic differentiation occurred early in the process of establishment of SD chickens. Conclusion: These findings could offer valuable insights into genetic verification of Thai local chicken breeds and their sustainable conservation and utilization.

Variable intraspecific response to climate change in a medicinally important African tree species, Vachellia sieberiana (DC.) (paperbark thorn).

Climate change is predicted to disproportionately impact sub-Saharan Africa, with potential devastating consequences on plant populations. Climate change may, however, impact intraspecific taxa differently. The aim of the study was to determine the current distribution and impact of climate change on three varieties of Vachellia sieberiana, that is, var. sieberiana, var. villosa and var. woodii. Ensemble species distribution models (SDMs) were built in "biomod2" using 66, 45, and 137 occurrence records for var. sieberiana, var. villosa, and var. woodii, respectively. The ensemble SDMs were projected to 2041-2060 and 2081-2100 under three general circulation models (GCMs) and two shared socioeconomic pathways (SSPs). The three GCMs were the Canadian Earth System Model version 5, the Institut Pierre-Simon Laplace Climate Model version 6A Low Resolution, and the Model for Interdisciplinary Research on Climate version 6. The suitable habitat of var. sieberiana predominantly occurs in the Sudanian and Zambezian phytochoria while that of var. villosa largely occurs in the Sudanian phytochorion. The suitable habitat of var. woodii mainly occurs in the Zambezian phyotochorion. There is coexistence of var. villosa and var. sieberiana in the Sudanian phytochorion while var. sieberiana and var. woodii coexist in the Zambezian phytochorion. Under SSP2-4.5 in 2041-2060 and averaged across the three GCMs, the suitable habitat expanded by 33.8% and 119.7% for var. sieberiana and var. villosa, respectively. In contrast, the suitable habitat of var. woodii contracted by -8.4%. Similar trends were observed in 2041-2060 under SSP5-8.5 [var. sieberiana (38.6%), var. villosa (139.0%), and var. woodii (-10.4%)], in 2081-2100 under SSP2-4.5 [var. sieberiana (4.6%), var. villosa (153.4%), and var. woodii (-14.4%)], and in 2081-2100 under SSP5-8.5 [var. sieberiana (49.3%), var. villosa (233.4%), and var. woodii (-30.7%)]. Different responses to climate change call for unique management and conservation decisions for the varieties.

Hyperspectral imaging combined with GA-SVM for maize variety identification.

The demand for identification of maize varieties has increased dramatically due to the phenomenon of mixed seeds and inferior varieties pretending to be high-quality varieties continuing to occur. It is urgent to solve the problem of efficient and accurate identification of maize varieties. A hyperspectral image acquisition system was used to acquire images of maize seeds. Regions of interest (ROI) with an embryo size of 10 × 10 pixel were extracted, and the average spectral information in the range of 949.43-1709.49 nm was intercepted for the subsequent study in order to eliminate random noise at both ends. Savitzky-Golay (SG) smoothing algorithm and multiple scattering correction (MSC) were used to pretreat the full-band spectrum. The feature wavelengths were screened by successive projection algorithms (SPA), competitive adaptive reweighted sampling (CARS) single screening, and two combinations of CARS-SPA and CARS + SPA, respectively. Support vector machines (SVMs) and models optimized based on genetic algorithm (GA), particle swarm optimization (PSO) were established by using full bands (FB) and feature bands as the model input. The results showed that the MSC-(CARS-SPA)-GA-SVM model had the best performance with 93.00% of the test set accuracy, 8 feature variables, and a running time of 24.45 s. MSC pretreatment can effectively eliminate the scattering effect of spectral data, and the feature wavelengths extracted by CARS-SPA can represent all wavelength information. The study proved that hyperspectral imaging combined with GA-SVM can realize the identification of maize varieties, which provided a theoretical basis for maize variety classification and authenticity identification.

Antioxidant Activity and Effectiveness of Fig Extract in Counteracting Carbon Tetrachloride-Induced Oxidative Damage in Rats.

Figs are the edible fruits of the fig tree, Ficus carica L., that have been used for centuries for human consumption and in traditional medicine, to treat skin problems, inflammation, and gastrointestinal disorders. Our previous study investigated the presence of phenolic compounds in aqueous extracts of two Algerian popular fig varieties, azendjar (Az) and taamriouth (Ta), as well as their in vitro antioxidant activity. In this study, we assessed hydroethanolic extracts of these fig varieties. The total phenolic content was measured, along with the phenolic profile. Rutin was determined to be the dominant phenolic compound, followed by vanillic acid, 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid, quercetin, 4-hydroxybenzoic acid, rosmarinic acid (in Az only), and cinnamic acid. The antioxidant activity of the extracts was evaluated both in vitro (DPPH and FRAP assays) and in vivo, in rats intoxicated with carbon tetrachloride. In all assays, the fig extract-especially the dark-peeled fig variety azendjar-showed antioxidant potency. The administration of fig extract resulted in a reduction in liver damage, expressed by both different biochemical markers and histopathological study (less degraded liver architecture, reduced fibrosis, and only mild inflammation). A dose-dependent therapeutic effect was observed. The extract from the dark-peeled fig variety, Az, was characterized by a higher phenolic content and a stronger antioxidant activity than the extract from the light-peeled variety-Ta. Our study justifies the use of figs in traditional healing and shows the potential of using fig extracts in natural medicines and functional foods.

Hyperspectral Imaging and Machine Learning as a Nondestructive Method for Proso Millet Seed Detection and Classification.

Millet is a small-seeded cereal crop with big potential. There are many different cultivars of proso millet (Panicum miliaceum L.) with different characteristics, bringing forth the issue of sorting which are important for growers, processors, and consumers. Current methods of grain cultivar detection and classification are subjective, destructive, and time-consuming. Therefore, there is a need to develop nondestructive methods for sorting the cultivars of proso millet. In this study, the feasibility of using near-infrared (NIR) hyperspectral imaging (900-1700 nm) to discriminate between different cultivars of proso millet seeds was evaluated. A total of 5000 proso millet seeds were randomly obtained and investigated from the ten most popular cultivars in the United States, namely Cerise, Cope, Earlybird, Huntsman, Minco, Plateau, Rise, Snowbird, Sunrise, and Sunup. To reduce the large dimensionality of the hyperspectral imaging, principal component analysis (PCA) was applied, and the first two principal components were used as spectral features for building the classification models because they had the largest variance. The classification performance showed prediction accuracy rates as high as 99% for classifying the different cultivars of proso millet using a Gradient tree boosting ensemble machine learning algorithm. Moreover, the classification was successfully performed using only 15 and 5 selected spectral features (wavelengths), with an accuracy of 98.14% and 97.6%, respectively. The overall results indicate that NIR hyperspectral imaging could be used as a rapid and nondestructive method for the classification of proso millet seeds.