bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation for apathy in patients with neurodegenerative conditions, cognitive impairment, stroke, and traumatic brain injury: a systematic review
Authors: Espiritu Adrian I. , Hara Takatoshi , Tolledo Joy Kirsten , Blair Mervin , Burhan Amer M.
Published: November 2023

Background

We aimed to determine the effects and tolerability of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) on apathy in patients with neurodegenerative conditions, mild cognitive impairment (MCI), stroke, and traumatic brain injury (TBI) via systematic review.

Methods

We conducted a systematic search in major electronic health databases, including PubMed, Scopus, and PsycINFO, covering the period from inception to June 2023. Comparative clinical trials and cohort studies, and studies with before-after designs were considered for inclusion. We used the Cochrane Risk of Bias and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) tools to assess methodological quality.

Results

Out of 258 records identified, 14 studies met our eligibility criteria (11 randomized controlled trials (RCT) and 3 studies utilized before-and-after designs) with a total of 418 patients (overall female-to-male ratio 1:1.17) included in the review. The overall methodological quality of the included studies was assessed to be fair to good. The stimulation parameters used varied considerably across the studies. The summary findings of our review indicate the following observations on the effects of rTMS on apathy: (1) the results of all included studies in Alzheimer’s disease investigating the effects of rTMS on apathy have consistently shown a positive impact on apathy; (2) the majority of studies conducted in Parkinson’s disease have not found statistically significant results; (3) a single study (RCT) on patients with primary progressive aphasia demonstrated significant beneficial effects of rTMS on apathy; (4) the trials conducted on individuals with MCI yielded varying conclusions; (5) one study (RCT) in chronic stroke suggested that rTMS might have the potential to improve apathy; (6) one study conducted on individuals with mild TBI did not find a significant favorable association on apathy; and (7) the use of different rTMS protocols on the populations described is generally safe.

Conclusion

The feasibility of utilizing rTMS as a treatment for apathy has been suggested in this review. Overall, limited evidence suggests that rTMS intervention may have the potential to modify apathy among patients with AD, PPA, MCI and chronic stroke, but less so in PD and mild TBI. These findings require confirmation by larger, well-designed clinical trials.
Designing a new physical activity calorie equivalent food label and comparing its effect on caloric choices to that of the traffic light label among mothers: a mixed-method study
Authors: Seyedhamzeh Shirin , Nedjat Saharnaz , Shakibazadeh Elham , Doustmohammadian Azam , Hosseini Hedayat , Kazemi Asma , Azizolahi Nafiseh , Chamary Maryam , Clark Cain C. T. , Motlagh Ahmadreza Dorosty
Published: November 2023

Objective

We designed a new type of ‘physical activity calorie equivalent’ (PACE) food label in Iran to compare its effect with that of the traffic light food label (TLL) on caloric choices.

Design

Mixed-method study.

Participants

Mothers of school children between the ages of 6–12 years.

Setting

In the qualitative phase, 10 focus group discussions (FGDs) were conducted with various groups of mothers, and two FGDs were conducted with food science and nutrition experts to design a new PACE label. In the quantitative phase, 496 mothers were randomly assigned to five groups: (1) no nutrition label, (2) current TLL, (3) current TLL + educational brochure, (4) PACE label, and (5) PACE label + brochure. Samples of dairy products, beverages, cakes, and biscuits were presented. ANOVA and multiple linear regressions were applied to examine the association between label types and calories of the selected products as our main outcome.

Results

The mothers’ perspectives were classified into two sub-themes, the PACE label’s facilitators and barriers. The new PACE label’s characteristics were divided into two subcategories: (a) appearance, and (b) nutritional information, including 14 codes. In the quantitative section, mean calories of the selected foods were lowest in the TLL + brochure group (831.77 kcal; 95% CI: 794.23–869.32), and highest in the PACE label group (971.61; 95% CI: 926.37–1016.84).

Conclusion

The new PACE label was a combination of PACE, TLL, and warning labels. It did not significantly affect lower caloric choice, however, the TLL + brochure option was effective in choosing foods with fewer calories.

Clinical trial registration: The study was registered in the Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials 23 (IRCT20181002041201N1).
Contraceptive use and discontinuation among women aged 15–24 years in Kenya
Authors: Kungu Wambui
Published: November 2023

Introduction

The 15–24-year-old age group of young women make up about 15% of the population of 47 million Kenyans which comes to 7 million. Addressing the reproductive health goals of this cohort is thus a policy priority because of the high potential they pose for unintended pregnancy through incorrect and intermittent use of contraception.

Objective

The study sought to present evidence on contraceptive use among women aged 15–24 in Kenya between 2012 and 2014 using Kenya Demographic and Health Survey (KDHS) 2014 Contraceptive calendar data and make recommendations on enhancing the correct and consistent use of contraception.

Methodology

The data used was obtained from the Choices and Challenges tool developed by Population Reference Bureau (PRB) and visualized innovatively using Sankey Diagrams that show contraceptive use/non-use, continuation, switching/discontinuation, and pregnancy.

Results

The use of contraceptives went up by about 30% during the study period while the use of modern methods went up by 83%. The uptake of Long-Acting Reversible Contraception (LARC) went up by 87% while that of Short Acting Methods (SAM) went up by 70% but the progress was clouded by discontinuation rates of 35% with side effects being the leading reason for the abandonment of contraception.

Conclusion

For Kenya to achieve transformative results in ending the unmet need for contraception and preventable maternal deaths, it is critical to sustaining the current gains in contraceptive prevalence rate (CPR) by promoting the retention of youth users and encouraging new users.
Development and testing of the Sleep Health And Wellness Questionnaire (SHAWQ) in adolescents and university students: composite SHAWQ scores are associated with sleep problems, depression symptoms, and academic performance
Authors: Loke Yng Miin , Lim Samantha , Rukmini A. V. , Chen Patricia , Wang John C. K. , Gooley Joshua J.
Published: November 2023

Introduction

Sleep problems frequently arise during adolescence and early adulthood and may contribute to the onset of depression. However, few sleep health instruments have been developed for use in student populations. Here, we developed a brief sleep health questionnaire for identifying adolescents and university students with sleep problems who may be at risk of depression.

Methods

In Study 1, sleep survey data in adolescents (n = 1,733) were analyzed by best-subsets regression to identify the strongest predictors of self-reported depression symptoms: sleep quality, daytime sleepiness, self-rated health, frequency of staying up until 3:00 am, school day sleep latency, and gender. A 6-item Sleep Health And Wellness Questionnaire (SHAWQ) was developed using these items. Students were categorized into good, fair, and bad sleep health groups based on their composite SHAWQ scores. In Study 2, the SHAWQ was tested in adolescents (n = 1,777) for associations with depression symptoms and excessive daytime sleepiness. In Study 3, the SHAWQ was tested in university students (n = 2,040) for convergent validity with instruments for measuring sleep quality and insomnia severity, and for associations with major depressive disorder symptoms and anxiety disorder symptoms. Test-retest reliability was determined in a subset of 407 students who re-took the SHAWQ several weeks later. In Study 4, we tested whether SHAWQ scores in university freshmen (cohort 1, n = 1,529; cohort 2, n = 1,488) were prospectively associated with grade point average (GPA) over their first year.

Results

Across studies, SHAWQ scores were associated with higher depression and anxiety scores, excessive daytime sleepiness, lower sleep quality scores, and higher insomnia severity scores, demonstrating good convergent validity. Associations of SHAWQ scores with depression symptoms were stronger compared with anxiety symptoms. SHAWQ scores showed moderate test-retest reliability. Large effect sizes were observed for bad vs. good sleep health for all sleep and mental health variables. In both cohorts of university freshmen, students with bad sleep health had lower academic performance based on their GPA and percentile rank.

Conclusion

Our findings suggest that the SHAWQ could be used to screen for students in their teens and twenties with bad sleep health who would benefit from counseling for sleep and mental health.
Orphanage tourism and orphanage volunteering: implications for children
Authors: van Doore Kathryn E. , Nhep Rebecca
Published: November 2023

Orphanage tourism refers to visits or volunteering in orphanages as part of a holiday or tourist experience. Orphanage tourism is a consumer product which represents the intersection of the desire of orphanage operators to gain access to international funding and the desire of tourists and volunteers to give back to less developed countries. Despite its popularity amongst tourists and volunteers, orphanage tourism has come under increasing scrutiny and criticism for its impacts on child rights, development, and the role it plays in driving the unnecessary institutionalization of children, child trafficking and exploitation in residential care settings. This article outlines differing perspectives on orphanage tourism and volunteering from the last decade of research. It examines the contexts in which orphanage tourism occurs and outlines the drivers for this form of tourism. In addition, it discusses the implications of orphanage tourism for children including impacts on child agency, child rights, child development, child protection, and child trafficking and exploitation. We conclude that the limited benefits for children involved in orphanage tourism are outweighed by child protection concerns coupled with negative impacts on child agency, rights, and development.
Recognition and control of Mycobacterium tuberculosis-infected cells: from basics to the clinic: a NIAID/WGNV workshop report 2023
Authors: Young Carly , Mkhonza Mbali N. , Ogongo Paul
Published: November 2023

Vaccination is crucial for the control of tuberculosis (TB), and safe, more effective, and accessible vaccines against Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) infection are critically needed to achieve TB control milestones envisioned in the End TB Strategy. TB vaccine research and development faces numerous challenges including, but not limited to, insufficient knowledge of the most informative antigens to prioritize as potential vaccine candidates, lack of defined correlates of protection, and incomplete knowledge of anatomical and cellular locations of the Mtb-infected cell in vivo, among others. To take stock of the progress, challenges, and opportunities in TB vaccine R&D, the Stop TB Partnership Working Group on New TB Vaccines (WGNV), in partnership with the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) cohosted a two-day virtual workshop on 13–14 June 2023 with experts from all over the world. In this report, we summarize key themes and discussions from the meeting, highlighting progress and gaps in the TB vaccine research.
Age-Specific Quantification of Overweight/Obesity Risk Factors From Infancy to Adolescence and Differences by Educational Level of Parents
Authors: Börnhorst Claudia , Ahrens Wolfgang , De Henauw Stefaan , Hunsberger Monica , Molnár Denéz , Moreno Luis A. , Russo Paola , Schreuder Anton , Sina Elida , Tornaritis Michael , Vandevijvere Stefanie , Veidebaum Thomas , Vrijkotte Tanja , Wijnant Kathleen , Wolters Maike
Published: November 2023

Objectives: To explore the age-dependent associations between 26 risk factors and BMI in early life, and differences by parental educational level.

Methods: Data of 10,310 children (24,155 measurements) aged 2–16 years participating in a multi-centre European cohort from 2007 to 2014 were utilized. Trajectories of overweight/obesity risk factors and their age-specific associations with BMI were estimated using polynomial mixed-effects models.

Results: Exposure to most unfavourable factors was higher in the low/medium compared to the high education group, e.g., for PC/TV time (12.6 vs. 10.6 h/week). Trajectories of various risk factors markedly changed at an age of 9–11 years. Having a family history of obesity, maternal BMI, pregnancy weight gain and birth weight were positively associated with BMI trajectories throughout childhood/adolescence in both education groups; associations of behavioural factors with BMI were small. Parental unemployment and migrant background were positively associated with BMI in the low/medium education group.

Conclusion: Associations of risk factors with BMI trajectories did not essentially differ by parental education except for social vulnerabilities. The age period of 9–11 years may be a sensitive period for adopting unfavourable behaviours.
Automatic Multiorgan Segmentation in Pelvic Region with Convolutional Neural Networks on 0.35 T MR-Linac Images
Authors: Koutoulakis Emmanouil , Marage Louis , Markodimitrakis Emmanouil , Aubignac Leone , Jenny Catherine , Bessieres Igor , Lalande Alain
Published: November 2023

MR-Linac is a recent device combining a linear accelerator with an MRI scanner. The improved soft tissue contrast of MR images is used for optimum delineation of tumors or organs at risk (OARs) and precise treatment delivery. Automatic segmentation of OARs can contribute to alleviating the time-consuming process for radiation oncologists and improving the accuracy of radiation delivery by providing faster, more consistent, and more accurate delineation of target structures and organs at risk. It can also help reduce inter-observer variability and improve the consistency of contouring while reducing the time required for treatment planning. In this work, state-of-the-art deep learning techniques were evaluated based on 2D and 2.5D training strategies to develop a comprehensive tool for the accurate segmentation of pelvic OARs dedicated to 0.35 T MR-Linac. In total, 103 cases with 0.35 T MR images of the pelvic region were investigated. Experts considered and contoured the bladder, rectum, and femoral heads as OARs and the prostate as the target volume. For the training of the neural network, 85 patients were randomly selected, and 18 were used for testing. Multiple U-Net-based architectures were considered, and the best model was compared using both 2D and 2.5D training strategies. The evaluation of the models was performed based on two metrics: the Dice similarity coefficient (DSC) and the Hausdorff distance (HD). In the 2D training strategy, Residual Attention U-Net (ResAttU-Net) had the highest scores among the other deep neural networks. Due to the additional contextual information, the configured 2.5D ResAttU-Net performed better. The overall DSC were 0.88 ± 0.09 and 0.86 ± 0.10, and the overall HD was 1.78 ± 3.02 mm and 5.90 ± 7.58 mm for 2.5D and 2D ResAttU-Net, respectively. The 2.5D ResAttU-Net provides accurate segmentation of OARs without affecting the computational cost. The developed end-to-end pipeline will be merged with the treatment planning system for in-time automatic segmentation.
An Intelligent Injury Rehabilitation Guidance System for Recreational Runners Using Data Mining Algorithms
Authors: Tzelepis Theodoros , Matlis George , Dimokas Nikos , Karvelis Petros , Malliou Paraskevi , Beneka Anastasia
Published: November 2023

In recent years the number of people who exercise every day has increased dramatically. More precisely, due to COVID period many people have become recreational runners. Recreational running is a regular way to keep active and healthy at any age. Additionally, running is a popular physical exercise that offers numerous health advantages. However, recreational runners report a high incidence of musculoskeletal injuries due to running. The healthcare industry has been compelled to use information technology due to the quick rate of growth and developments in electronic systems, the internet, and telecommunications. Our proposed intelligent system uses data mining algorithms for the rehabilitation guidance of recreational runners with musculoskeletal discomfort. The system classifies recreational runners based on a questionnaire that has been built according to the severity, irritability, nature, stage, and stability model and advise them on the appropriate treatment plan/exercises to follow. Through rigorous testing across various case studies, our method has yielded highly promising results, underscoring its potential to significantly contribute to the well-being and rehabilitation of recreational runners facing musculoskeletal challenges.
Utilizing Mixture Regression Models for Clustering Time-Series Energy Consumption of a Plastic Injection Molding Process
Authors: Pacella Massimo , Mangini Matteo , Papadia Gabriele
Published: November 2023

Considering the issue of energy consumption reduction in industrial plants, we investigated a clustering method for mining the time-series data related to energy consumption. The industrial case study considered in our work is one of the most energy-intensive processes in the plastics industry: the plastic injection molding process. Concerning the industrial setting, the energy consumption of the injection molding machine was monitored across multiple injection molding cycles. The collected data were then analyzed to establish patterns and trends in the energy consumption of the injection molding process. To this end, we considered mixtures of regression models given their flexibility in modeling heterogeneous time series and clustering time series in an unsupervised machine learning framework. Given the assumption of autocorrelated data and exogenous variables in the mixture model, we implemented an algorithm for model fitting that combined autocorrelated observations with spline and polynomial regressions. Our results demonstrate an accurate grouping of energy-consumption profiles, where each cluster is related to a specific production schedule. The clustering method also provides a unique profile of energy consumption for each cluster, depending on the production schedule and regression approach (i.e., spline and polynomial). According to these profiles, information related to the shape of energy consumption was identified, providing insights into reducing the electrical demand of the plant.
Digitalization of Radial Piston Pumps through Internal Mechanically Actuated Designs
Authors: Pate Keith , Azzam Israa , Breidi Farid , Marschand James R. , Lumkes John H.
Published: November 2023

Digital hydraulics is a technology gaining perceptible growth in fluid power research. The advantages of digital fluid power systems can be realized through improved system efficiencies, energy savings, increased productivity, and system performance compared to traditional fluid power systems. Conventional check valve pumps use differential pressures to deliver pressurized flow to the system. Digital fluid power pumps enable conventional check valve pumps to achieve variable displacements by enhancing the controllability of the inlet and outlet valves through digital hydraulic technologies and techniques. The benefit of this technology is the use of positive sealing check valves with lower leakage losses compared to typical variable displacement pumps, increasing the unit’s overall efficiency. The primary focus of prior digital pump/motor research has been on digital actuation using electronic solenoids to actuate or latch the valves. While these electrical systems provide a platform for digital hydraulic techniques, they come with a cost: added energy sources, advanced controls, and expensive data acquisition systems. Research has also shown that minor valve timing inconsistencies can limit the potential energy savings of digital pumps in electrically actuated systems. A system configuration that promotes the advantages of digital hydraulics while mitigating the disadvantages associated with electrical systems is mechanically actuated systems. This work discusses variable cams and their advantages/disadvantages in digital radial piston pump/motor technologies. The significance of this work is the investigation of the digitalization of radial piston pumps through mechanically actuated valving systems, which has yet to be implemented in prior research. This paper evaluates various design concepts for commercializing digital radial piston pumps using mechanically actuated cams. A two-quadrant pump and a four-quadrant pump/motor design are simulated to assess their potential efficiency across the bandwidth of their displacement. The results show that the two systems can achieve relatively high efficiencies across their displacement bandwidth but show room for further improvement by optimizing these systems. This study is the first step in designing an integrated mechanically actuated variable cam system in digital radial piston pumps.
Research on Engine Thrust and Load Factor Prediction by Novel Flight Maneuver Recognition Based on Flight Test Data
Authors: Zhang Mengchuang , Xia Shasha , Huang Yongsheng , Tian Jiawei , Yin Zhiping
Published: November 2023

Flight maneuver recognition (FMR) is a critical tool for capturing essential information about the state of an aircraft, which is necessary to improve pilot training, flight safety, and autonomous air combat. However, due to the alignment of multidimensional, multimodal time series and insufficient data, challenges exist that limit the accuracy of FMR. In this paper, two FMR methods, including an improved dynamic time-warping distance-based algorithm (D-DTW) and a perceptually important point-based method, are proposed based on time series mining techniques. The differential dynamics equations of the aircraft’s center of gravity in the trajectory coordinate system are established. Subsequently, based on the obtained flight data, the engine thrust is derived by employing criteria based on flight mechanics and coordinate system transformation methods. Finally, the flight profile is clustered and divided based on the preprocessed data. The engine load factor is obtained through centroid transformation and coordinate system translation based on flight dynamics calculations. The results indicate that the two methods exhibit varying applicability with respect to FMR. However, the second method is more suitable regarding the recognition or prediction of engine thrust and load factor.
Can Modification of Sowing Date and Genotype Selection Reduce the Impact of Climate Change on Sunflower Seed Production?
Authors: Krstić Miloš , Mladenov Velimir , Banjac Borislav , Babec Brankica , Dunđerski Dušan , Ćuk Nemanja , Gvozdenac Sonja , Cvejić Sandra , Jocić Siniša , Miklič Vladimir , Ovuka Jelena
Published: November 2023

Climate change projections for the 21st century pose great threats to semi-arid regions, impacting seed production and the quality of sunflowers. Crop yields are negatively affected by climate variability, especially in the event of droughts during the crucial growth stages. Understanding the relationships between agrometeorological, genetic, and agronomic factors is crucial for maintaining crop sustainability. Optimal sowing dates are an essential condition for maximizing crop genetic potential, but challenges come from annual weather variations. This study analyzes how sunflower genotypes respond to different sowing dates under climate change and focuses on the conditions for obtaining maximum seed yields and favorable agronomic traits. From 2020 to 2022, the experiment featured six genotypes sown across four different dates at two-week intervals, simulating seed sunflower production. The results obtained by ANOVA indicated that the seed yield and oil yield were significantly affected by the sowing date, the genotype, and their interaction, with coefficients of variation ranging from 7.6% for oil yield to 41.1% for seed yield. Besides seed yield and oil yield, LDA biplot and Discriminant Functions confirmed that seed germination energy also played a significant role in separating genotypes into clusters. A Visual Mixed Model showed that shifting the optimal sowing date (mid-April) to early May allows a reduction in the number of days the plants spend in critical growth stages, thereby escaping stressful conditions during pollination and seed filling. The findings resulted, on average, in increased yields and improved seed quality, which are the primary goals of seed production, but not in increased 1000-seed weight. Notably, high temperatures during the critical sunflower growth stages negatively affected the measured parameters of seed production. The increased precipitation during seed filling boosted the 1000-seed mass and seed yield. Extended flowering reduced the growth rate and seed germination, but longer seed filling increased the 1000-seed mass and seed yield. Our future breeding goals will be to create genotypes with a shorter flowering period and an extended seed-filling period to better respond to climate change.
Exploring the Drivers of Microregional Agricultural Labor Productivity: Empirical Insights from Portugal
Authors: Dinis Isabel
Published: November 2023

Understanding the factors that influence agricultural productivity is critical for promoting sustainable food production, economic growth, and rural livelihoods. Despite the fact that numerous theoretical and empirical studies on agricultural productivity have been conducted in recent decades, few have focused on the local geographical level, investigating the impact of specific agroecological conditions and farming systems. The current study examines the geographical micro-level determinants of labor productivity for all farmers and agricultural holdings in Portugal by estimating the parameters of an extended Cobb–Douglas production function and using panel data techniques. In general, the findings support major findings in empirical and theoretical literature that show a positive relationship between labor productivity and farm size, mechanization, irrigation, and human capital. Labor productivity is higher in regions with a higher prevalence of Mediterranean farming systems, such as orchards, vineyards, and horticultural crops, possibly due to crop suitability and ancient specialized knowledge, implying that a shift in farming techniques and crop selection, in balance with local natural and social specificities, may increase agricultural output and income for rural communities.
Assessment of the Geographic Origin of Romanian Common Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) Landraces Using Molecular Markers and Morphological Traits
Authors: Galan Paula-Maria , Leti Livia-Ioana , Strajeru Silvia , Petrescu Denisa-Elena , Cimpeanu Mirela-Mihaela , Tanasa Alina-Carmen , Sandru Dan-Marius , Gorgan Dragos-Lucian
Published: November 2023

The extreme weather that humanity has been confronting in recent years is the result of climate change. All over the world, unknown plant species are disappearing daily, which humankind has not discovered and will never know. Since 1900, the angiosperms and gymnosperms have been disappearing at a frequency of three species per year, but it is worrying that this rate of disappearance is up to 500 times higher currently. These data, correlated with the information provided by the United Nations (the world population will reach 10 billion by the year 2050) and FAO (food insecurity and the decrease of feedstock) lead to a crucial need to conserve and study plant germplasm. Therefore, plant germplasm conserved, especially in gene banks, can represent an important source for the development of varieties with an increased resistance to abiotic stress factors. Considering the origin of the current species of Phaseolus vulgaris L. as being in two distinct centers with different gene pools (Andean and Mesoamerica), the aim of the article is to infer the ancestry of 27 landraces according to their sampling geographical origin and morphological and molecular traits based on DNA sequences of three genes associated with abiotic stress tolerance (drought and thermal stress): PvREB5A, PvDREB6B, and PvRPS4. Phaseolus vulgaris L. has two different centers of origin: the Mesoamerican and the Andean basins. In this research, 27 landraces were evaluated from different counties in Romania. Three genes, PvREB5A, PvDREB6B, and PvRPS4, were amplified by the PCR reaction, sequenced by the Sanger technique, and the data obtained were analyzed using MEGA XI software. For morphological data, the GraphPad Prism 9 software was used. According to PvDREB5A, 81.5% of all studied landraces belong to the Mesoamerican gene pool and 18.5% belong to the Andean. PvDREB6B revealed a high nucleotide and amino acid diversity between the Andean and Mesoamerican genotypes compared to the other evaluated genes. Also, the PvRPS4 gene from the chloroplast genome showed one SNP within its coding region, different for those two gene pools, which is directly involved in a nonsynonymous substitution. The morphological characteristics, such as weight for 100 seeds, length, height, width, weight, seed flatness, flatness index, seed elongation, and eccentricity index were determined. European landraces of Mesoamerican origin indicated a large seed size compared to Andean genotypes. This work can be a foundation for the identification of interesting traits that establish plant adaptation to abiotic stress and conserve landraces of common beans from genetic depletion.
Assessing Soil Biodiversity Potentials in China: A Multi-Attribute Decision Approach
Authors: Yang Qijun , Wollschläger Ute , Vogel Hans-Jörg , Liu Feng , Feng Zhe , Wu Kening
Published: November 2023

Habitat for biodiversity is a crucial soil function. When assessed at large spatial scales, subjective assessment models are usually constructed by integrating expert knowledge to estimate soil biodiversity potentials (SBP) and predict their trends. However, these regional evaluation methods are challenging to apply mechanistically to other regions, especially in China, where soil biodiversity surveys are still in their infancy. Taking China (9.6 × 106 km2) as the study area, we constructed a Decision EXpert (DEX) multi-attribute decision model based on abiotic factors from soil and climate data that are known to be relevant for the habitat of soil biota. It was used to indirectly assess and map national SBP based on the habitat suitability for fungi, bacteria, nematodes, and earthworms in the topsoil. The results show: (1) the SBP in China was classified into five grades: low, covering 19.8% of the area, medium-low (21.2%), medium (16.0%), medium-high (38.5%), and high (4.5%); (2) the national SBP is at a moderate level, with hotspot areas (1.3 × 106 km2) located in the Yangtze Plain Region, the southeastern Southwest China Region, and the central-eastern South China Region; while the coldspot areas (2.6 × 106 km2) are located in the Gansu–Xinjiang Region and the northeastern Qinghai–Tibet Region; (3) Soil (pH, SOC, CEC, texture, total P, and C/N ratio) and climate (arid/humid regions, temperature zones) were identified as driving this SBP variation. This study presents a general approach to describing soil habitat function on a broad scale based on environmental covariates. It provides a systematic basis for selecting indicators and maps them to SBP from an objective perspective. This approach can be applied to regions where no soil organism survey is available and can also serve as a pre-survey for planning soil resource utilization and conservation.
Regulation of Meat Duck Activeness through Photoperiod Based on Deep Learning
Authors: Duan Enze , Han Guofeng , Zhao Shida , Ma Yiheng , Lv Yingchun , Bai Zongchun
Published: November 2023

The regulation of duck physiology and behavior through the photoperiod holds significant importance for enhancing poultry farming efficiency. To clarify the impact of the photoperiod on group-raised duck activeness and quantify duck activeness, this study proposes a method that employs a multi-object tracking model to calculate group-raised duck activeness. Then, duck farming experiments were designed with varying photoperiods as gradients to assess this impact. The constructed multi-object tracking model for group-raised ducks was based on YOLOv8. The C2f-Faster-EMA module, which combines C2f-Faster with the EMA attention mechanism, was used to improve the object recognition performance of YOLOv8. Furthermore, an analysis of the tracking performance of Bot-SORT, ByteTrack, and DeepSORT algorithms on small-sized duck targets was conducted. Building upon this foundation, the duck instances in the images were segmented to calculate the distance traveled by individual ducks, while the centroid of the duck mask was used in place of the mask regression box’s center point. The single-frame average displacement of group-raised ducks was utilized as an intuitive indicator of their activeness. Farming experiments were conducted with varying photoperiods (24L:0D, 16L:8D, and 12L:12D), and the constructed model was used to calculate the activeness of group-raised ducks. The results demonstrated that the YOLOv8x-C2f-Faster-EMA model achieved an object recognition accuracy (mAP@50-95) of 97.9%. The improved YOLOv8 + Bot-SORT model achieved a multi-object tracking accuracy of 85.1%. When the photoperiod was set to 12L:12D, duck activeness was slightly lower than that of the commercial farming’s 24L:0D lighting scheme, but duck performance was better. The methods and conclusions presented in this study can provide theoretical support for the welfare assessment of meat duck farming and photoperiod regulation strategies in farming.
Breeding Behavior, Nestling Growth, and Begging Behavior in the Plain Laughingthrush (Garrulax davidi): Implications for Parent–Offspring Conflict
Authors: Zeng Jinyuan , Li Yueqi , Zhao Long , Shi Yurou , Gul Saba , Shi Hongquan , Song Sen
Published: November 2023

Investigation on food allocation among nestlings of altricial birds is crucial in understanding parent–offspring conflicts within avian families. However, there is no consensus in empirical studies regarding whether parents or offspring determine the food allocation pattern within a brood. In the Plain Laughingthrush (Garrulax davidi), we examine the relationship between parental feeding strategies and nestling begging behaviors. Due to hatching asynchrony, larger nestlings have a competitive advantage in food acquisition over their smaller brood-mates; nevertheless, if the initial food-receivers were already satiated and did not immediately consume the food, parents would retrieve the food and re-allocate it to another nestling. This re-feeding tactic employed by parents reduced the likelihood of early-hatched nestlings monopolizing the food solely due to their larger body size. Our findings indicate that parents primarily allocated food based on nestling begging intensity, while their re-feeding tactic is determined by whether the first food-receivers have consumed the food. To date, our research demonstrates that while parental food allocation primarily hinges on the begging intensity of the nestlings, the decision to re-feed is contingent upon whether the initial recipients of the food ingest it immediately.
Development of a New Marine Fish Continuous Cell Line Derived from Brain of Red Sea Bream (Pagrosomus major) and Its Application to Fish Virology and Heavy Metal Toxicology
Authors: Luo Xia , Fu Xiaozhe , Zhang Min , Liang Hongru , Niu Yinjie , Lin Qiang , Ma Baofu , Liu Lihui , Li Ningqiu
Published: November 2023

Red sea bream (Pagrosomus major) is one of the most popular farmed marine teleost fish species. Fish cell lines are becoming important research tool in the aquaculture field, and they are suitable models to study fish virology, immunology and toxicology. To obtain a Pagrosomus major cell line for biological studies, a continuous cell line from brain of red sea bream (designated as RSBB cell line) was established and has been successfully subcultured over 100 passages. The RSBB cell line predominantly consisted of fibroblast-like cells and multiplied well in M199 medium supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum at 28 °C. Karyotyping analysis indicated that the modal chromosome numbers of RSBB cells was 48. After transfection with pEGFP-N1, RSBB cells showed bright green fluorescence with a transfection efficiency approaching 8%. For toxicology study, it was demonstrated that metal Cd could induce cytotoxic effects of RSBB cells, accompanied with a dose-dependent MTT conversion capacity. Morphologically, cells treated with metal Cd produced rounding, shrinking and detaching and induced both cell apoptosis and necrosis. For virology study, the RSBB cells were highly susceptible to Nervous necrosis virus (NNV) and Singapore grouper iridovirus (SGIV) with steady titers (i.e., 108.0~8.3 TCID50 mL−1 and 107.0~7.2 TCID50 mL−1 respectively). Furthermore, an obvious cytopathic effect (CPE) could be observed in RSBB cells infected with Infectious spleen and kidney necrosis virus (ISKNV) and Siniperca chuatsi rhabdoviruses (SCRV). Meanwhile, all the infections were confirmed by polymerase chain reaction. The new brain cell line developed and characterized from red sea bream in this study could be used as an in vitro model for fish studies in the fields of toxicology and virology.
Aquarium Visitors Catch Some Rays: Rays Are More Active in the Presence of More Visitors
Authors: Truax Jordyn , Vonk Jennifer , Meri Eness , Troxell-Smith Sandra M.
Published: November 2023

Humans are a constant in the lives of captive animals, but the effects of human–animal interactions vary. Research on the welfare impacts of human–animal interactions focus predominantly on mammals, whereas fish have been overlooked. To address this lack of research, we assessed the impacts of aquarium visitors on the behaviors of ten members of four elasmobranch species: an Atlantic stingray (Dasyatis sabina), four southern stingrays (Hypanus americanus), two blue-spotted maskrays (Neotrygon kuhlii), and three fiddler rays (Trygonorrhina dumerilii). The rays engaged in a significantly higher proportion of active behaviors and a lower proportion of inactive behaviors when visitor density levels were high; however, there were no significant changes for negative or social behaviors. Individual analyses indicated that all three fiddler rays and one of the southern stingrays’ active behaviors differed across visitor density levels, whereas there was no association between active behavior and visitor density levels for the other rays. Further research is needed to determine whether this pattern is an adaptive or maladaptive response to visitors, but this research provides much needed initial data on activity budgets within elasmobranch species.
The Influence of Brief Outing and Temporary Fostering Programs on Shelter Dog Welfare
Authors: Gunter Lisa , Blade Emily , Gilchrist Rachel , Nixon Betsy , Reed Jenifer , Platzer JoAnna , Wurpts Ingrid , Feuerbacher Erica , Wynne Clive
Published: November 2023

Human interaction is one of the most consistently effective interventions that can improve the welfare of shelter-living dogs. Time out of the kennel with a person has been shown to reduce physiological measures of stress as can leaving the shelter for a night or more in a foster home. In this study, we assessed the effects of brief outings and temporary fostering stays on dogs’ length of stay and outcomes. In total, we analyzed data of 1955 dogs from 51 animal shelters that received these interventions as well as 25,946 dogs residing at these shelters that served as our controls. We found that brief outings and temporary fostering stays increased dogs’ likelihood of adoption by 5.0 and 14.3 times, respectively. While their lengths of stay were longer in comparison to control dogs, this difference was present prior to the intervention. Additionally, we found that these programs were more successful when greater percentages of community members (as compared to volunteers and staff) were involved in caregiving as well as when programs were implemented by better-resourced shelters. As such, animal welfare organizations should consider implementing these fostering programs as evidence-based best practices that can positively impact the outcomes of shelter dogs.
Intestinal Microbiota Community and Blood Fatty Acid Profiles of Albas Cashmere Goats Fed with Flaxseed Oil and Whole Flaxseed
Authors: Guo Yongmei , Liu Shulin , Li Yinhao , Guo Xiaoyu , Zhao Yanli , Shi Binlin , Yan Sumei
Published: November 2023

The present study investigated the effects of flaxseed oil or flaxseed grain on the intestinal microbiota and blood fatty acid profiles of Albas cashmere goats. Sixty kid goats were allocated to three treatments and fed for 90 days with a control treatment, comprising a basal diet (CON, total-mixed ration with flaxseed meal), or experimental treatments, comprising a basal diet with added flaxseed oil (LNO) and a basal diet with added heated flaxseed grain (HLS). On day 90, two goats were randomly selected from each pen (eight goats per treatment) for euthanizing; then, five of the eight goats were randomly selected, and we collected their intestinal (duodenum, jejunum, ileum, cecum, and colon) digesta for analysis of the bacteria community. The results indicated that Firmicutes are the most predominant phylum in different segments of the intestinal digesta. Compared with the CON group, the relative abundance of duodenal Firmicutes, jejunal Saccharibacteria, and Verrucomicrobia significantly decreased in the LNO and HLS groups (p < 0.05), but there was no significant difference between the LNO and HLS groups. Compared with the CON and HLS groups, the RA of duodenal and jejunal Proteobacteria remarkably increased in the LNO group (p < 0.05), and there was no significant difference between the CON and HLS groups. Compared with the CON and LNO groups, the RA of Actinobacteria remarkably increased in the small intestine of the HLS group (p < 0.05), but there was no significant difference between the CON and LNO groups in the duodenum and ileum. The results of linear discriminant analysis (LDA) effect size (LEfSe) analysis showed that the HLS group was characterized by a higher RA of the [Eubacterium]_coprostanoligenes_group in the small intestine and the LNO group was represented by a higher RA of the Lachnospiraceae_NK3A20_group in the cecum and colon, while the CON group was represented by a higher RA of Solobacterium, Pseudoramibacter, and Acetitomaculum in the small intestine and a higher RA of norank_o__Bradymonadales, the Prevotellaceae_Ga6A1_group, and Ruminiclostridium_1 in the cecum and colon. In conclusion, the addition of flaxseed oil and grain rich in c18:3n3 to the diet could reduce the microbial diversity of the small intestinal segments and the microbial diversity and richness of the cecum and colon in Albas cashmere goats. And flaxseed grain is more efficient than flaxseed oil in protecting intestinal health and promoting the absorption of c18:3n3.
Effects of Dietary Bacillus coagulans and Tributyrin on Growth Performance, Serum Antioxidants, Intestinal Morphology, and Cecal Microbiota of Growing Yellow-Feathered Broilers
Authors: Hou Jinwang , Lian Lina , Lu Lizhi , Gu Tiantian , Zeng Tao , Chen Li , Xu Wenwu , Li Guoqin , Wu Hongzhi , Tian Yong
Published: November 2023

This study investigated the impact of Bacillus coagulans (BC) and tributyrin (TB) supplementation on the growth performance, serum antioxidant capacity, intestinal morphology, and cecal microbiota of yellow-feathered broilers. Using a 2 × 2 factorial design, 480 broilers were randomly assigned to four experimental diets, comprising two levels of BC (0 and 1 g/kg) and two levels of TB (0 and 1 g/kg), over a 36-day period. A significant interaction was observed between BC and TB, impacting the average daily feed intake (ADFI) of broilers aged between 26 and 40 days (p < 0.01). BC and TB also displayed a significant interaction in relation to serum malondialdehyde levels and total antioxidant capacity (p < 0.05). Additionally, there was a significant interaction between BC and TB concerning the duodenal villus-to-crypt ratio, crypt depth, and jejunal villus-to-crypt ratio (p < 0.05). The addition of BC and TB significantly enhanced the richness and diversity of cecal microbiota, with a notable interactive effect observed for the abundance of Faecalibacterium, Ruminococcus_torques_group, and Phascolarctobacterium. In conclusion, supplementation with BC and TB can effectively improve the growth performance, serum antioxidant capacity, intestinal morphology, and cecal microbiota composition of yellow-feathered broilers, indicating the presence of an interactive effect.
Increase in Incidence Rates and Risk Factors for Multidrug Resistant Bacteria in Septic Children: A Nationwide Spanish Cohort Study (2013–2019)
Authors: Slocker-Barrio María , López-Herce-Cid Jesús , Bustinza-Arriortúa Amaya , Fresán-Ruiz Elena , Jordán-García Iolanda , de Carlos-Vicente Juan Carlos , Morteruel-Arizcuren Elvira , García-Soler Patricia , Nieto-Moro Montserrat , Schüffelmann Cristina , Belda-Hofheinz Sylvia , Herrera-Castillo Laura Ximena , Uriona-Tuma Sonia María , Pinós-Tella Laia , Peña-López Yolanda ,   on behalf of the Pediatric-ENVIN-HELICS Study Group
Published: November 2023

The emergence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria in children is a growing concern, particularly among septic patients, given the need for first-right dosing. Our aim was to determine the incidence rates and factors associated with MDR-sepsis in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU), using data from the Spanish ENVIN-HELICS PICU registry between 2013 and 2019. The rate of MDR bacteria among septic children ranged between 5.8 and 16.2% throughout this study period, with a significant increase since 2015 (p = 0.013). MDR-gram-negative bacteria (92%), particularly EBL-Enterobacterales (63.7%), were the most frequent causative microorganisms of MDR-sepsis. During this study period, sixteen MDR-sepsis (32.6%) corresponded to intrahospital infections, and 33 (67.4%) had community-onset sepsis, accounting for 10.5% of the overall community-onset sepsis. Independent risk factors associated with MDR-sepsis were antibiotics 48 h prior to PICU admission (OR 2.38) and PICU onset of sepsis (OR 2.58) in >1 year-old children, and previous malnourishment (OR 4.99) in <1 year-old children. Conclusions: There was an alarming increase in MDR among septic children in Spain, mainly by gram-negative (ESBL-Enterobacterales), mostly coming from the community setting. Malnourished infants and children on antibiotics 48 h prior to PICU are at increased risk and therefore require closer surveillance.