Systematic Review of Back-Support Exoskeletons and Soft Robotic Suits

Lower back pain and musculoskeletal injuries are serious concerns for workers subjected to physical workload and manual material handling tasks. Spine assistive exoskeletons are being developed to support the spine and distribute the spine load. This article presents a detailed up-to-date review on the back support exoskeletons by discussing their type (Active/Passive), structure (Rigid/Soft), power transmission methods, weight, maximum assistive force, battery technologies, tasks (lifting, bending, stooping work), kinematic compatibility and other important features. This article also assesses the back support exoskeletons in terms of their ability to reduce the physical load on the spine. By reviewing functional and structural characteristics, the goal is to increase communication and realization among ergonomics practitioners, developers, customers, and factory workers. The search resulted in reviewing 34 exoskeletons of which 16 were passive and 18 were active. In conclusion, back support exoskeletons have immense potential to significantly reduce the factors regarding work-related musculoskeletal injuries. However, various technical challenges and a lack of established safety standards limit the wide adaptation of exoskeletons in industry.

Transcriptomics and Metagenomics of Common Cutworm (Spodoptera Litura) and Fall Armyworm (Spodoptera Frugiperda) Reveal Their Differences on Detoxification and Development

BackgroundSpodoptera litura is an important polyphagous pest that causes great damage to agriculture. We performed RNA-seq from 15 individuals of S. litura, including different larval (fifth and sixth instar larvae), chrysalis, and adult developmental stages. We also sequenced the Spodoptera frugiperda to compared with the S. litura. ResultsA total of 101,885 differentially expressed transcripts (DETs) were identified in the S. litura. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses indicated that the S. litura may undergo active development and basic metabolism, such as xenobiotic and detoxifying metabolism, during its larvae and adult stages, which explains the difficulty to control it. We also found that DETs of single-copy orthologous genes between S. litura and S. frugiperda were involved in basic metabolism and developmental, but S. litura were highly enriched in energy and metabolic processes, whereas S. frugiperda had stronger nervous and olfactory functions. Metagenomics analysis in larval S. litura and S. frugiperda revealed that microbiota can both participate in the detoxification and metabolism processes in them, but the relative abundance of detoxification-related microbiota was more abundant in S. frugiperda. Transcriptome results also confirmed the detoxification-related pathway of S. frugiperda was more abundant than that of S. litura. ConclusionsTherefore, we can conclude that the detoxification ability of S. frugiperda is stronger than that of in S. litura, which is related to the wide adaptation and strong resistance of S. frugiperda. Our study might provide clues to the development of novel pest control strategies.

ANALYTICAL MODEL FOR THE PREDICTION OF THE ELASTIC RESPONSE OF CURVED T-STUBS

Composite steel-concrete columns utilise the advantages of both materials, by combining high strength and ductility of steel with the compressive strength of the concrete. But the wide adaptation of composite structures is limited, mainly because of the lack of cheap and easy to construct connections, as many of which require costly and timeconsuming on-site welding, when circular concrete filled steel tubes (CFST) are adopted. New connections, like those incorporating the use of blind bolts and curved end-plates, may represent a valuable alternative. Such joints can be adapted to circular CFST to eliminate on-site welding, but they require the creation of new curved T-stub components. This paper proposes an analytical model for the evaluation of bolt forces in the curved T-stubs within the elastic range. The model is then validated against experimental results of joints between circular CFST columns and steel beams, with both preloaded and snug tightened bolts. Analytical model shows good agreement with experimental data, but needs further development to take into account the prying forces.

What Are the Keys to the Adaptive Success of European Wild Rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) in the Iberian Peninsula?

The European wild rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) plays an important ecological role in the ecosystems of the Iberian Peninsula. Recently, rabbit populations have drastically reduced, so the species is now considered endangered. However, in some places, this animal is considered a pest. This is the conservation paradox of the 21st century: the wild rabbit is both an invasive alien and an endangered native species. The authors of this review aimed to understand the keys to the adaptive success of European rabbits, addressing all aspects of their biology in order to provide the keys to the ecological management of this species. Aspects including nutrition, genetics, immunity interactions with the environment, behaviour, and conflict with human activities were reviewed. Ultimately, rabbits are resilient and adaptable. The main adaptations that explain the rabbit’s adaptive success are its nutrition (wide adaptation to food and good nutritional use of caecotrophy), immune system (powerful and developed), and other aspects related to genetics and behaviour. Rabbits’ relationship with humans has led them to colonise other places where they have become pests. Despite these adaptations, populations in native places have been drastically reduced in recent years. Since it serves as a bastion of the Mediterranean ecosystem, a specific conservation program for this species must be carried out. Therefore, a study of the rabbit’s response to diseases and nutrition (especially protein), as well as the interaction between them, is of special interest.

Chloroplast Phylogenomic Analyses Resolve Multiple Origins of the Kengyilia Species (Poaceae: Triticeae) via Independent Polyploidization Events

Kengyilia is a group of allohexaploid species that arose from two hybridization events followed by genome doubling of three ancestral diploid species with different genomes St, Y, and P in the Triticeae. Estimating the phylogenetic relationship in resolution of the maternal lineages has been difficult, owing to the extremely low rate of sequence divergence. Here, phylogenetic reconstructions based on the plastome sequences were used to explore the role of maternal progenitors in the establishment of Kengyilia polyploid species. The plastome sequences of 11 Kengyilia species were analyzed together with 12 tetraploid species (PP, StP, and StY) and 33 diploid taxa representing 20 basic genomes in the Triticeae. Phylogenomic analysis and genetic divergence patterns suggested that (1) Kengyilia is closely related to Roegneria, Pseudoroegneria, Agropyron, Lophopyrum, Thinopyrum, and Dasypyrum; (2) both the StY genome Roegneria tetraploids and the PP genome Agropyron tetraploids served as the maternal donors during the speciation of Kengyilia species; (3) the different Kengyilia species derived their StY genome from different Roegneria species. Multiple origins of species via independent polyploidization events have occurred in the genus Kengyilia, resulting in a maternal haplotype polymorphism. This helps explain the rich diversity and wide adaptation of polyploid species in the genus Kengyilia.

alfaNET: A Database of Alfalfa-Bacterial Stem Blight Protein–Protein Interactions Revealing the Molecular Features of the Disease-Causing Bacteria

Alfalfa has emerged as one of the most important forage crops, owing to its wide adaptation and high biomass production worldwide. In the last decade, the emergence of bacterial stem blight (caused by Pseudomonas syringae pv. syringae ALF3) in alfalfa has caused around 50% yield losses in the United States. Studies are being conducted to decipher the roles of the key genes and pathways regulating the disease, but due to the sparse knowledge about the infection mechanisms of Pseudomonas, the development of resistant cultivars is hampered. The database alfaNET is an attempt to assist researchers by providing comprehensive Pseudomonas proteome annotations, as well as a host–pathogen interactome tool, which predicts the interactions between host and pathogen based on orthology. alfaNET is a user-friendly and efficient tool and includes other features such as subcellular localization annotations of pathogen proteins, gene ontology (GO) annotations, network visualization, and effector protein prediction. Users can also browse and search the database using particular keywords or proteins with a specific length. Additionally, the BLAST search tool enables the user to perform a homology sequence search against the alfalfa and Pseudomonas proteomes. With the successful implementation of these attributes, alfaNET will be a beneficial resource to the research community engaged in implementing molecular strategies to mitigate the disease. alfaNET is freely available for public use at http://bioinfo.usu.edu/alfanet/.

Winter Wheat Cultivar Recommendation Based on Expected Environment Productivity

We used 5 years of data from multi-environmental trials conducted in Poland to assess average winter wheat yield based on selected environmental factors to recommend cultivars depending on their performance in environments of different productivity. Average expected yields in particular environments were calculated using a model based on analysis of covariance (ANCOVA), which describes the relationship between winter wheat yield and environmental factors of soil suitability and pH, drought length and Selyaninov’s Hydrothermal Coefficient (HTC) in 10-day periods. The cultivar performance was evaluated using linear regression. The cultivar yield estimated by the mixed model was considered the dependent variable, whereas the environmental mean yields, estimated by ANCOVA, were considered independent variables. The cultivars were ranked according to the estimated yield in environments of determined average wheat productivity. Higher yielding cultivars were divided into two groups: widely and narrowly adapted cultivars, which were then recommended. The novelty of this study stems from the consideration of the environmental productivity in the recommendation process, the indication of widely adapted cultivars to be grown in a broad range of productivity sites and the selection of cultivars with narrow adaptation, which may outperform cultivars of wide adaptation in homogeneous fields. This study confirmed the importance of soil suitability and HTC for winter wheat yield. Direct application of our results is possible in Poland and in other countries with similar conditions.

Genetic Advance and Grain Yield Stability of Moroccan Durum Wheats Grown under Rainfed and Irrigated Conditions

The development of high-yielding durum wheat genotypes requires the knowledge of the genetic variation for grain yield and its components. This study was performed to determine genetic gain and to evaluate the genotype × environment effect for grain yield and related traits in Moroccan durum wheat. A historical series of varieties developed during the last three decades was grown under two water regimes (rainfed and irrigated) during three growing seasons. Traits evaluated in the present work included grain yield, spikes per m2, kernels per spike, spikelets per spike, kernels per spikelet, spike length, kernel weight, plant height, harvest index, and fertile tillering. Results from ANOVA analyses revealed that grain yield and related traits were controlled to a large extent by water regime and growing season. Grain yield advance per year was estimated in 78 kg ha−1 under irrigated conditions, with no significant change under rainfed ones. Overall, the results indicated that most of the yield components changed by breeding activities during the last three decades. AMMI and joint regression analyses revealed that intermediate varieties have a wide adaptation, and old varieties were specifically acclimated to water-limit environments, while modern varieties were performed only under favorable conditions.

A New Modified Gant-Miwa-Thiersch Combined With Internal and External Rectal Sclerosant Injection Procedure for The Treatment of Full-Thickness Rectal Prolapse in Elderly Women

Background: Full-thickness rectal prolapse (FTRP) occurs frequently in in elderly women, and more than 100 surgical procedures have been proposed to restore FTRP. The Gant-Miwa-Thiersch (GMT) procedure is the most used treatment in China. However, the recurrence rates of GMT that reach as high as 23.8% is concerning. We described a new modified GMT combined with internal and external rectal sclerosant injection (nmGMTSI) procedure to address this problem.Methods: The nmGMTSI was performed under spinal anesthesia in 34 frail, elderly female patients with FTRP. The surgical results of FTRP were assessed. Fecal incontinence and constipation were evaluated using the Wexner score, and anal canal rest pressure (ACRP), maximum anal systolic pressure (MASP), anorectal sensation thresholds (AST), and maximum rectal tolerance (MRT) using anorectal manometry preoperatively and postoperatively. The causes of recurrence and complications were analyzed.Results: All patients were cured in accordance with clinical cure standard. The perioperative Wexner fecal incontinence score (WFIS) was 10.3±3.31, which became 3.7±2.43 (P <0.0001) postoperatively. The perioperative ACRP was 2.0±0.56 kPa, which became 8.5±2.25 kPa (P <0.0001) postoperatively. The perioperative MASP was 4.5±1.16 kPa, which became 18.6±2.50 kPa (P <0.0001) postoperatively. However, there was no significant change between preoperative and postoperative Wexner constipation scores (WCS) (17.3±2.25 vs. 15.4±2.89, P =0.1047). The AST were 38.1±5.34 mL; after the operation, it became 23.5±3.61 mL (P =0.0002).The maximum rectal tolerance (MRT) was 157.1±16.73 mL; after the operation, it became 121.2±12.45 mL (P =0.0009). The patients had no serious postoperative complications. The total relapse rate after nmGMTSI was 2.9% in the median 2 years follow-up period. The most common cause of relapse after nmGMTSI was the removal of infected threads used in the Thiersch procedure.Conclusion: The benefits of nmGMTSI include low recurrence, complications, mortality, cost and wide adaptation, minimally invasive, technically simple. It should be considered as the first option for the treatment of FTRP in frail elderly women.

Grain Yield Stability Analysis of Some Durum Wheat (Triticum durum Desf.) Genotypes Growing under Sub-humid Conditions

Background: Assessment of yield stability of durum wheat growing under different environments has been an important issue for wheat breeder. More Information about phenotypic stability is useful for the selection of adapted and stable genotypes which are suitable for wider range of planting.Methods: To calculate the parametric and non-parametric index, we use the program STABILITYSOFT. The aim of this study is the selection of adapted and stable genotypes based on the use of parametric and non-parametric index.Result: The graphic distribution of the genotypes tested based on the relationship between the mean grain yield and regression coefficient (bi), proved that the suitable genotypes for the tested conditions are Bidi17, Wahbi and Gta dur. The values of deviation from regression (S²di) classified the genotype Waha, as the most desirable genotypes. The Association between Wricke’s ecovalence (Wi²) indice and the grain yield proved that the best genotype for growing under these conditions are Bidi17, Wahbi and Gta dur. In addition, the non-parametric index confirmed the results which are registered by the selection based on the parametric index. Thus, the genotypes Bidi17 and Wahbi are the most stable genotypes. The classification based on the use of the principal component analysis classified the genotypes Wahbi and Bidi17 in dynamic stability group with highest grain yield. Therefore, genotypes with b values close to 1 (Wahbi, b = 0.95 and Bidi17, b = 0.98) are preferred since it is indicative of wide adaptation (dynamic stability), provided their mean yield is over the general mean. Overall, the uses of the parametric and non-parametric index are very suitable tools to select adapted and stable genotypes under sub-humid conditions.