Impact of pesticide outsourcing services on farmers’ low-carbon production behavior

Introduction: Promoting low-carbon development in agriculture is crucial for achieving agricultural modernization. One practical issue worth studying is whether outsourcing services can encourage farmers to adopt low-carbon production practices. This study analyzes the impact of pesticide outsourcing services on the low-carbon production behavior of farmers to provide China with practical recommendations.Methods: This empirical study investigates the impact of pesticide outsourcing services on farmers’ low-carbon production behavior using survey data from 450 rice growers in the Ningxia and Shaanxi provinces by endogenous switching regressions (ESR) model.Results and Discussion: Results showed that 1) outsourcing services have a significant negative impact on farmers’ manual weeding behavior, leading to a reduction in the frequency of manual weeding; 2) outsourcing services have a significant positive impact on farmers’ herbicide application behavior. In other words, participation in outsourcing leads to excessive pesticide application; 3) outsourcing services do not support a green and low-carbon production model where manual weeding replaces herbicide application. Due to the imperfect development of the outsourcing market in China, especially in the northwest region, the construction of outsourcing service system is lagging, and it is difficult for non-professional outsourcing services to play a driving role in green and low-carbon production for farmers, who will often choose the lower-cost mechanical application for maximum profit. The policy implication of this study is the need for a comprehensive and objective understanding of the impact and role of pesticide outsourcing services on farmers’ low-carbon production behavior. This understanding can help improve the market, policy, and other external environments for farmers to participate in outsourcing, ultimately promoting the sustainable development of green and low-carbon agriculture. This paper adds to the discussion of pesticide outsourcing services and farmers’ low-carbon production by drawing different conclusions from previous studies, providing a fresh foundation for policy-making

Effect of Dietary Components on the Bioavailability of Catechins and the Application of Polyphenol Synergism

Catechins are phenolic compounds with various health benefits such as anti-allergic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-bacterial. However, catechins have poor thermal stability and low bioavailability. Besides, dietary intake of carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, and other substances is prone to interact with catechins in the gastrointestinal tract, affecting the absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion process of catechins, which affects their bioavailability and physiological activity. In addition, synergistic effects may occur when two or more natural polyphenolic compounds are applied in combination, including inhibition of food production and processing contaminants, weight loss, hypoglycemia, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial. Therefore, this paper mainly reviews the effects of dietary components on the bioavailability of catechins and elucidates the mechanisms of interaction between catechins and dietary polyphenols and the application prospects in synergistic effects

Evaluation Kidney Layer Segmentation on Whole Slide Imaging using Convolutional Neural Networks and Transformers

The segmentation of kidney layer structures, including cortex, outer stripe, inner stripe, and inner medulla within human kidney whole slide images (WSI) plays an essential role in automated image analysis in renal pathology. However, the current manual segmentation process proves labor-intensive and infeasible for handling the extensive digital pathology images encountered at a large scale. In response, the realm of digital renal pathology has seen the emergence of deep learning-based methodologies. However, very few, if any, deep learning based approaches have been applied to kidney layer structure segmentation. Addressing this gap, this paper assesses the feasibility of performing deep learning based approaches on kidney layer structure segmetnation. This study employs the representative convolutional neural network (CNN) and Transformer segmentation approaches, including Swin-Unet, Medical-Transformer, TransUNet, U-Net, PSPNet, and DeepLabv3+. We quantitatively evaluated six prevalent deep learning models on renal cortex layer segmentation using mice kidney WSIs. The empirical results stemming from our approach exhibit compelling advancements, as evidenced by a decent Mean Intersection over Union (mIoU) index. The results demonstrate that Transformer models generally outperform CNN-based models. By enabling a quantitative evaluation of renal cortical structures, deep learning approaches are promising to empower these medical professionals to make more informed kidney layer segmentation

Spatial Pathomics Toolkit for Quantitative Analysis of Podocyte Nuclei with Histology and Spatial Transcriptomics Data in Renal Pathology

Podocytes, specialized epithelial cells that envelop the glomerular capillaries, play a pivotal role in maintaining renal health. The current description and quantification of features on pathology slides are limited, prompting the need for innovative solutions to comprehensively assess diverse phenotypic attributes within Whole Slide Images (WSIs). In particular, understanding the morphological characteristics of podocytes, terminally differentiated glomerular epithelial cells, is crucial for studying glomerular injury. This paper introduces the Spatial Pathomics Toolkit (SPT) and applies it to podocyte pathomics. The SPT consists of three main components: (1) instance object segmentation, enabling precise identification of podocyte nuclei; (2) pathomics feature generation, extracting a comprehensive array of quantitative features from the identified nuclei; and (3) robust statistical analyses, facilitating a comprehensive exploration of spatial relationships between morphological and spatial transcriptomics features.The SPT successfully extracted and analyzed morphological and textural features from podocyte nuclei, revealing a multitude of podocyte morphomic features through statistical analysis. Additionally, we demonstrated the SPT's ability to unravel spatial information inherent to podocyte distribution, shedding light on spatial patterns associated with glomerular injury. By disseminating the SPT, our goal is to provide the research community with a powerful and user-friendly resource that advances cellular spatial pathomics in renal pathology. The implementation and its complete source code of the toolkit are made openly accessible at https://github.com/hrlblab/spatial_pathomics

SOCS3 Expression by Thymic Stromal Cells Is Required for Normal T Cell Development

The suppressor of cytokine signaling 3 (SOCS3) is a major regulator of immune responses and inflammation as it negatively regulates cytokine signaling. Here, the role of SOCS3 in thymic T cell formation was studied in Socs3fl/fl Actin-creER mice (Δsocs3) with a tamoxifen inducible and ubiquitous Socs3 deficiency. Δsocs3 thymi showed a 90% loss of cellularity and altered cortico-medullary organization. Thymocyte differentiation and proliferation was impaired at the early double negative (CD4-CD8-) cell stage and apoptosis was increased during the double positive (CD4+CD8+) cell stage, resulting in the reduction of recent thymic emigrants in peripheral organs. Using bone marrow chimeras, transplanting thymic organoids and using mice deficient of SOCS3 in thymocytes we found that expression in thymic stromal cells rather than in thymocytes was critical for T cell development. We found that SOCS3 in thymic epithelial cells (TECs) binds to the E3 ubiquitin ligase TRIM 21 and that Trim21−/− mice showed increased thymic cellularity. Δsocs3 TECs showed alterations in the expression of genes involved in positive and negative selection and lympho-stromal interactions. SOCS3-dependent signal inhibition of the common gp130 subunit of the IL-6 receptor family was redundant for T cell formation. Together, SOCS3 expression in thymic stroma cells is critical for T cell development and for maintenance of thymus architecture.publishedVersio

Study of Sexual Dimorphism in Metatarsal Bones: Geometric and Inertial Analysis of the Three-Dimensional Reconstructed Models

The aim of the present paper is to determine the sex of the individual using three-dimensional geometric and inertial analyses of metatarsal bones. Metatarsals of 60 adult Chinese subjects of both sexes were scanned using Aquilion One-320 Slice CT Scanner. The three-dimensional models of the metatarsals were reconstructed and thereafter a novel software using the center of mass set as the origin and the three principal axes of inertia was employed for model alignment. Eight geometric and inertial variables were assessed: the bone length, bone width, bone height, surface-area-to-volume ratio, bone density and principal moments of inertia around x, y and z axis. Furthermore, the discriminant functions were established using stepwise discriminant function analysis. A cross-validation procedure was performed to evaluate discriminant accuracy of functions. The results indicated that inertial variables exhibit significant sexual dimorphism, especially principal moments of inertia around z axis. The highest dimorphic values were found in surface-area-to-volume ratio, principal moments of inertia around z axis and bone height. The accuracy rate of the discriminant functions for sex determination ranged from 88.3% to 98.3% (88.3% - 98.3% cross-validated). The highest accuracy of function was established based on the 3rd metatarsal bone. This study showed for the first time that the principal moment of inertia of the human bone may be successfully implemented for sex estimation. In conclusion, the sex of the individual can be accurately estimated using a combination of geometric and inertial variables of the metatarsal bones. The accuracy should be further confirmed in a larger sample size and be tested or independently developed for distinct population/age groups before the functions are widely applied in unidentified skeletons in forensic and bioarchaeological contexts

The Role of Footwear in the Pathogenesis of Hallux Valgus: A Proof-of-Concept Finite Element Analysis in Recent Humans and Homo naledi

Hallux valgus (HV), the bunion of the first metatarsophalangeal joint (MTPJ), bothers many adults. No consensus has been reached about the causes of HV, be it a hereditary, or acquired, or multifactorial disease. Nor has agreement been reached using MTPJ angle to assess HV based on X-ray because in most cases the assessment of MTPJ is not reliable as it depends on the posture during scanning. In this study, we assume that HV is predominately acquired and that shoe wearing per se is an important player in HV pathogenesis. To verify our hypothesis, a CT-based finite element (FE) model of the first MTPJ of fossil remains of bear-footed Homo naledi was created and compared to that of five contemporary shoe-wearing wrestlers (10 models from two scans at an interval of about 18 months) because Homo naledi's first MTPJ is an ideal model for non-shoe wearing with parallel sesamoid grooves. We developed the first MTPJ structure transformation method and created MTPJ joint capsule model for both Homo naledi and wrestlers. Constraint on the medial side of the first MTPJ capsule was set to simulate shoe-wearing conditions compared to the lack of medial constraint for barefooted conditions. Analysis of eight FE models of different angles for the first MTPJ of Homo naledi was performed by the first MTPJ transformation method and results showed that stress concentrated on the medial capsule of the first MTPJ in simulated shoe-wearing conditions, even at MTPJ angle of 0°. Increase in the first MTPJ angle further increased stress concentration on the medial side, and stress-growth relationship might reveal the causes of HV. We further developed a method to position the first MTPJ in wrestlers and created CT-based models at two time points. It was evident that the first MTPJ angle increased in all but one athlete, with a maximal increase of 4.03 degrees. This verifies our hypothesis that HV might be developed by wearing shoes. Further longitudinal studies with larger sample sizes are needed to additionally validate our results and determine the magnitude of the effects of shoe wearing on development and progression of HV

GJB2 mutation spectrum in 2063 Chinese patients with nonsyndromic hearing impairment

Background: Mutations in GJB2 are the most common molecular defects responsible for autosomal recessive nonsyndromic hearing impairment (NSHI). The mutation spectra of this gene vary among different ethnic groups. Methods: In order to understand the spectrum and frequency of GJB2 mutations in the Chinese population, the coding region of the GJB2 gene from 2063 unrelated patients with NSHI was PCR amplified and sequenced. Results: A total of 23 pathogenic mutations were identified. Among them, five (p.W3X, c.99delT, c.155_c.158delTCTG, c.512_c.513insAACG, and p.Y152X) are novel. Three hundred and seven patients carry two confirmed pathogenic mutations, including 178 homozygotes and 129 compound heterozygotes. One hundred twenty five patients carry only one mutant allele. Thus, GJB2 mutations account for 17.9% of the mutant alleles in 2063 NSHI patients. Overall, 92.6% (684/739) of the pathogenic mutations are frame-shift truncation or nonsense mutations. The four prevalent mutations; c.235delC, c.299_c.300delAT, c.176_c.191del16, and c.35delG, account for 88.0% of all mutantalleles identified. The frequency of GJB2 mutations (alleles) varies from 4% to 30.4% among different regions of China. It also varies among different sub-ethnic groups. Conclusion: In some regions of China, testing of the three most common mutations can identify at least one GJB2 mutant allele in all patients. In other regions such as Tibet, the three most common mutations account for only 16% the GJB2 mutant alleles. Thus, in this region, sequencing of GJB2 would be recommended. In addition, the etiology of more than 80% of the mutant alleles for NSHI in China remains to be identified. Analysis of other NSHI related genes will be necessary

Impacts of Green Production Behaviors on the Income Effect of Rice Farmers from the Perspective of Outsourcing Services: Evidence from the Rice Region in Northwest China

Along with the increasingly prominent contradiction between agricultural development and a healthy ecological environment, the adoption of agriculture green production (AGP) methods has become an important measure to reduce excessive pesticide application, avoid ecological environmental pollution and promote sustainable agricultural development. However, few studies have explored the impact of green production behaviors on the revenue effect from the perspective of outsourcing services, and existing studies have not subdivided outsourcing into multiple categories to examine their impact. In this study, the first-hand data of 447 rice farmers in Ningxia and Shaanxi in northwest China were collected. By using the endogenous switching regression model (ESR), we focuses on the influence of rice farmers’ AGP behaviors on their income effect, and analyzed whether outsourcing service categories can promote rice farmers’ AGP behaviors and income. The results showed that outsourcing services significantly promoted AGP behaviors and the income of rice farmers. Specifically, outsourcing pesticide application showed the greatest effect on the reduction of pesticide usage, rice harvesting after a safe interval after pesticide application, and the income of rice farmers; weeding and harvesting outsourcing had less effect. These indicate that outsourcing services can improve environmental and economic benefits by reducing pesticide input costs, to promote rice farmers to engage in AGP behaviors. Moreover, green production behaviors help to increase the income of rice farmers. If rice farmers who have not implemented AGP conduct physical control behaviors, their income will increase by 23.110%; the reduction of pesticide application ranks the second, and their income will increase by 5.970%. The implementation of rice harvesting at the safe intervals after pesticide application had the lowest degree of improvement, and the farmers’ income will increase by 4.505%. The study provides data for promoting outsourcing services and AGP in developing countries. Therefore, the government should further improve outsourcing services and AGP policies to maximize the income of rice farmers in low- and middle-income areas