bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Strategies for the development of stimuli-responsive small molecule prodrugs for cancer treatment
Authors: Tu Yuxuan , Gong Jianbao , Mou Jing , Jiang Hongfei , Zhao Haibo , Gao Jiake
Published: July 2024

Approved anticancer drugs typically face challenges due to their narrow therapeutic window, primarily because of high systemic toxicity and limited selectivity for tumors. Prodrugs are initially inactive drug molecules designed to undergo specific chemical modifications. These modifications render the drugs inactive until they encounter specific conditions or biomarkers in vivo, at which point they are converted into active drug molecules. This thoughtful design significantly improves the efficacy of anticancer drug delivery by enhancing tumor specificity and minimizing off-target effects. Recent advancements in prodrug design have focused on integrating these strategies with delivery systems like liposomes, micelles, and polymerosomes to further improve targeting and reduce side effects. This review outlines strategies for designing stimuli-responsive small molecule prodrugs focused on cancer treatment, emphasizing their chemical structures and the mechanisms controlling drug release. By providing a comprehensive overview, we aim to highlight the potential of these innovative approaches to revolutionize cancer therapy.
Successful development of molecular diagnostic technology combining mini-barcoding and high-resolution melting for traditional Chinese medicine agarwood species based on single-nucleotide polymorphism in the chloroplast genome
Authors: Feng Jian , Liu Yangyang , Xie Anzhen , Yang Yun , Lv Feifei , Wei Jianhe
Published: July 2024

Agarwood is a valuable traditional medicine and fragrance. The production process is a typical injury-induced defense response. Currently, there are approximately 22 known species in the genus Aquilaria Lam., all of which can produce agarwood, whereas there are only two legal species of traditional Chinese medicinal agarwood, Aquilaria sinensis (Lour.) Spreng. and Aquilaria agallocha (Lour.) Roxb. The Taiwan herbal Pharmacopoeia of China stipulates that the medicinal agarwood species are A. sinensis and its relatives in the same genus. Moreover, there are five species of agarwood available for clinical medicinal use in Japan, including A. agallocha and A. sinensis, which are often confused with each other or used in a mixed way in the trade process. Therefore, accurate identification of traditional Chinese medicinal agarwood species is important to ensure the authenticity of traditional medicines and to guide the safety of clinical medication. In this study, 59 specific single-nucleotide polymorphism loci were screened and obtained from the chloroplast genomes of 12 species of the genus Aquilaria Lam. We established an identification method for traditional Chinese medicinal agarwood using mini-barcoding combined with high-resolution melting (HRM) and designed and validated 10 pairs of primers from the psbM-trnD, psbA, rps16, petN, ndhE-psaC, rps4, atpE, ycf1, rps15-trnN, and matK regions. The amplification products were all less than 200 bp, with a high success rate of amplification. The method was applied to successfully identify traditional Chinese medicinal agarwood species from commercial agarwood samples. Overall, the sensitivity of this method was sufficient to detect 1% of adulterants in medicinal agarwood products, proving that mini-barcoding HRM is a powerful and flexible tool. This method can be used as a fast and effective high-throughput method for authenticity testing of traditional Chinese medicinal agarwood and its raw materials containing agarwood-containing proprietary Chinese medicines and is recommended for industrial applications.
How the perfectionistic climate of a sports team predicts the athletic performance of elite athletes: a case study of the CUBAL women’s basketball team
Authors: Meng Meng , Su Rong-Hai , Kogiso Kohei , Zheng Rong-Rong , Chen Lin , Wei Wei , Li Wei , Hsu Mao-Chou
Published: July 2024

Objective

In competitive sports, understanding how the perfectionistic climate within teams influences the performance of elite female athletes can provide valuable insights for enhancing coaching practice and athletic achievement. Based on the cognitive appraisal theory of stress, this study constructs a dual-path model using stressors and coping strategies as mediators, referred to as the Perfectionistic Climate on Athletic Performance model (PCPM). The study explores the predictive role of the perfectionistic climate within sports teams on the athletic performance of elite female basketball players.

Methods

The empirical study the relationships among the variables in the model using a sample of 125 core players from the top-level women’s basketball teams in the 24th CUBAL24 tournament in 2022. A Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) analysis was conducted using AMOS 20.0, primarily employing the bias-corrected Bootstrap method to test the dual-path model.

Results

The findings reveal double-edged paths towards a perfectionistic climate on athletic performance. In the positive pathway, a perfectionistic climate can positively predict athletic performance through challenge-related sources of stress and positive coping strategies. In the negative pathway, a perfectionistic climate can negatively predict athletic performance through threat-related sources of stress and negative coping strategies.

Conclusion

Coaches need to pay attention to athletes’ cognitive evaluations of the perfectionistic climate as a source of pressure. By setting challenging goals, coaches can guide athletes to view the perfectionistic climate of the sports team as a source of challenging pressure, thus unleashing their potential. Coaches should actively guide athletes in coping with the pressure brought about by the perfectionistic climate, enhancing their ability to handle stress. This will enable athletes to better adapt to the team’s perfectionistic climate and further improve individual and team athletic performance.
Assessing inoculation’s effectiveness in motivating resistance to conspiracy propaganda in Finnish and United States samples
Authors: Bessarabova Elena , Banas John A. , Reinikainen Hanna , Talbert Neil , Luoma-aho Vilma , Tsetsura Katerina
Published: July 2024

Introduction

This study tested the motivational power of inoculation to foster resistance to conspiracy propaganda (9/11 Truth Movement), comparing inoculation effects across United States and Finnish study participants.

Method

We used a 2 inoculation (treatment vs. control)  ×  2 national culture (American vs. Finnish) independent groups design (N = 319), while examining the effects of motivational threat and thinking modes—analytic vs. intuitive—on the inoculation process. To test the effectiveness of the inoculation strategy, we used an excerpt from a conspiracy film Loose Change as a counterattitudinal attack message.

Results

Our results indicated that inoculation was effective at motivating resistance regardless of national culture. Inoculation effects emerged mostly as a direct effect on resistance and two indirect effects wherein motivational threat mediated the relationship between inoculation and resistance as well as inoculation and analytic mode of message processing. Although we found that an increase in analytic mode of processing facilitated resistance and intuitive processing increased conspiracy-theory endorsement, the indirect effects between inoculation and resistance via message processing modes were not significant. Finally, the data revealed national culture differences in analytic mode and cultural-context differences mostly pertaining to the relationships between thinking styles, media literacy, and modes of thinking.

Discussion

These results offer important theoretical implications for inoculation scholarship and suggest viable practical solutions for efforts to mitigate misinformation and conspiratorial beliefs.
HGSHS-5:G—First results with the short version of the test for the Harvard Group Scale of Hypnotic Susceptibility and a comparison with the full version
Authors: Zech Nina , Riegel Bjoern , Rasch Bjoern , Peter Burkhard , Hansen Ernil
Published: July 2024

Introduction

The HGSHS:A is one of the most commonly used measures of hypnotic suggestibility. However, this test suffers from low feasibility due to a time requirement exceeding 1 h, and from a questionable representation of the normal population. Recently, a short version of HGSHS-5:G was developed and published, and now the first results are available. The scope of this investigation was to verify the assumption of equally positioned and normally distributed scores, resulting in equally sized suggestibility groups in a number of different studies with full or short versions of HGSHS, and to compare the results of the 11-item score with the 5-item score, the latter being calculated from either the full version or the short version test.

Methods

Data from 21 studies with testing for HGSHS were analyzed, 15 using the HGSHS:A full version and six using the HGSHS-5:G short version, for a total of 2,529 data sets. Position and distribution of both the 11-item score and the 5-item score were tested. Linear regression analysis was used to compare the two scores, as well as cross-table and weighted Cohen’s kappa to determine the match of grouping into low and high suggestibility. To evaluate contributing factors to the observed differences in the study results, a multifactorial analysis of variance was performed.

Results

In the different studies, position and distribution of scores, as well as group sizes for low and high suggestibles, varied. All score distributions were found to be non-normal and shifted to the right from the middle score; the shift was more extensive with the 11-item score. The correlation between both scores calculated from full version tests was moderate (R2 = 0.69), as was the match of suggestibility grouping (κ = 0.58). Studies using the short version involving less student-dominated populations showed sufficient agreement with the full version, but lower scores were caused by an increase in the zero score.

Conclusion

A normal population is not represented in most applications of HGSHS, and grouping into low and high suggestibles varies, mainly due to different positions of score distributions. A direct comparison of full and short versions of HGSHS tested in the same subjects is still missing.
Hospitalised patients as stewards of their own antibiotic therapy: a qualitative analysis informing the strategic design of interventions to encourage shared decision-making in tertiary hospital settings in Singapore
Authors: Guo Huiling , Lye David Chien , Ng Tat Ming , Somani Jyoti , Kwa Andrea Lay Hoon , Chung Shimin Jasmine , Chow Angela
Published: July 2024

Background

Shared decision-making (SDM) on antibiotic therapy may improve antibiotic use in tertiary hospitals, but hospitalised patients are apprehensive about being involved in it. Understanding the facilitators and barriers to SDM can inform the design and implementation of interventions to empower these patients to engage in SDM on their antibiotic therapies.

Methods

We conducted qualitative interviews with 23 adult patients purposively sampled with maximum variation from the three largest tertiary-care hospitals in Singapore (April 2019─October 2020). Thematic analysis was conducted using the Theoretical Domains Framework and Capability, Opportunity, Motivation, Behaviour (COM-B) model to identify areas for intervention.

Results

Hospitalised patients lacked comprehensive knowledge of their antibiotic therapies and the majority did not have the skills to actively query their doctors about them. There was a lack of opportunities to meet and interact with doctors, and patients were less motivated to engage in SDM if they had a self-perceived paternalistic relationship with doctors, trusted their doctors to provide the best treatment, and had self-perceived poor knowledge to engage in SDM. To empower these patients, they should first be educated with antibiotic knowledge. Highlighting potential side effects of antibiotics could motivate them to ask questions about their antibiotic therapies. Environment restructuring, as facilitated by nurses and visual cues to nudge conversations, could create opportunities for interactions and motivating patients into SDM on their antibiotic therapies.

Conclusion

Education and environmental restructuring should be explored to empower hospitalised patients to engage in SDM on their antibiotic therapies.
Rural–urban disparity in community-based health insurance enrollment in Ethiopia: a multivariate decomposition analysis using Ethiopian Mini Demographic Health Survey 2019
Authors: Tsega Yawkal , Alemu Hiwot Tadesse , Geberu Demiss Mulatu , Hagos Asebe , Jejaw Melak , Abera Kaleab Mesfin , Tiruneh Misganaw Guadie , Demissie Kaleb Assegid , Asmare Lakew , Endawkie Abel , Negash Wubshet Debebe , Workie Amare Mesfin , Yohannes Lamrot , Getnet Mihret , Worku Nigusu , Belay Adina Yeshambel
Published: July 2024

Background

In sub-Saharan Africa, achieving universal health coverage (UHC) and protecting populations from health-related financial hardship remain challenging goals. Subsequently, community-based health insurance (CBHI) has gained interest in low and middle-income countries, such as Ethiopia. However, the rural–urban disparity in CBHI enrollment has not been properly investigated using multivariate decomposition analysis. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the rural–urban disparity of CBHI enrollment in Ethiopia using the Ethiopian Mini Demographic Health Survey 2019 (EMDHS 2019).

Methods

This study used the latest EMDHS 2019 dataset. STATA version 17.0 software was used for analyses. The chi-square test was used to assess the association between CBHI enrollment and the explanatory variables. The rural–urban disparity of CBHI enrollment was assessed using the logit-based multivariate decomposition analysis. A p-value of <0.05 with a 95% confidence interval was used to determine the statistical significance.

Results

The study found that there was a significant disparity in CBHI enrollment between urban and rural households (p < 0.001). Approximately 36.98% of CBHI enrollment disparities were attributed to the compositional (endowment) differences of household characteristics between urban and rural households, and 63.02% of the disparities were due to the effect of these characteristics (coefficients). The study identified that the age and education of the household head, family size, number of under-five children, administrative regions, and wealth status were significant contributing factors for the disparities due to compositional differences between urban and rural households. The region was the significant factor that contributed to the rural–urban disparity of CBHI enrollment due to the effect of household characteristics.

Conclusion

There were significant urban–rural disparities in CBHI enrollment in Ethiopia. Factors such as age and education of the household head, family size, number of under-five children, region of the household, and wealth status of the household contributed to the disparities attributed to the endowment, and region of the household was the contributing factor for the disparities due to the effect of household characteristics. Therefore, the concerned body should design strategies to enhance equitable CBHI enrollment in urban and rural households.
Enjoying the golden years: social participation and life satisfaction among Chinese older adults
Authors: Wu Min , Yang Dan , Tian Yihao
Published: July 2024

Introduction

Older adults commonly face the risk of social isolation, which poses a significant threat to their quality of life. This study explores the association between social participation and life satisfaction among older Chinese adults.

Methods

Data were sourced from the 2018 China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study. Regression analysis and mediation analysis were employed to examine the relationship between social participation and life satisfaction, with a focus on the roles of loneliness and self-rated health.

Results

The results indicate that social participation is significantly positively associated with older adults' life satisfaction. Furthermore, the positive association is more pronounced with increased diversity in social activities. Mediation analysis reveals that reductions in feelings of loneliness and improvements in health levels mediate the relationship between social participation and life satisfaction. Further analysis showed that social participation had a greater positive association among rural older adults and those lacking family companionship.

Discussion

This study provides evidence for enhancing life satisfaction among older adults and highlights the importance of diversity in social participation.
COVID-19: ramifications of the pandemic on mental health and substance abuse
Authors: Munipalli Bala , Al-Soleiti Majd , Morris Anjali , Rummans Teresa
Published: July 2024

Objective

To explore the ramifications of the COVID-19 pandemic on Mental Health and Substance Use.

Patients and methods

Relevant literature examining the correlation between COVID-19 and mental health/substance use was reviewed, and findings were summarized.

Results

Specific mechanisms regarding COVID-19’s effects on the brain are unclear, but preliminary studies and biomarkers have been suggested in the literature. Numerous studies demonstrated COVID-19 has immediate and lingering neuropsychiatric impacts on affected patients. Psychiatric disorders and substance abuse increased during the COVID-19 pandemic due to biological and psychosocial factors, with a significant burden on individuals and societies worldwide, particularly in the United States.

Conclusion

COVID-19 has shown us that underlying causes of mental health and substance abuse problems are more complicated than we have appreciated. Neuroinflammation and psychosocial stresses impact mental health and substance use. These factors need to be explored further for a better understanding and intervention.
Psychosocial factors play a central role in determining SNAP utilization for farm workforce
Authors: Rockler Briana E. , Grutzmacher Stephanie K. , Garcia Jonathan , Smit Ellen , Braverman Marc
Published: July 2024

Introduction

Federal food safety net programs, like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), may not reach vulnerable populations like rural residents, immigrants, and Latinx individuals. Because these groups are overrepresented among the farm workforce, exploring SNAP utilization among farm communities may clarify the role it plays in alleviating food insecurity.

Methods

In-depth interviews were conducted with 31 farmworkers and farm owners. Patterns and predictors of SNAP utilization were organized using an adapted Andersen Behavioral Model of Health Service Utilization.

Results

Psychosocial factors played the central role in participants’ use of SNAP. Discussion: Opportunities to improve the design and delivery of SNAP include expanded eligibility cut-offs and targeted engagement mechanisms.
Exploring the group heterogeneity in the impact of social cohesion on the walking frequency of older adults in China
Authors: Ma Jingwen , Li Wu
Published: July 2024

Background

Walkable neighborhoods are closely related to an increase in walking frequency and the strengthening of social cohesion. These factors, in turn, contribute to lower BMI and other positive health-related outcomes. However, with a rapid increase in aging populations in China and the fact that women are facing more challenges than men as they age, especially mobility challenges because they tend to live longer leading to probabilities to become widowed. Nevertheless, less attention has been paid to understanding the gender difference between these relationships.

Methods

Based on a survey of 533 older adults in Dalian, China, this study tried to investigate the intertwined relationship between perceived walkability, social cohesion, walking frequency, and BMI. A Structural Equation Model (SEM) and multiple-group analysis were applied to test the proposed framework.

Results

First, results show that gender differences existed among the above interrelationships, and the most substantial gender gap was found in effects of social cohesion on BMI. Second, perceived walkability only has a direct effect (0.149) on walking frequencies for female seniors. Third, although the relationships between perceived walkability and BMI are not directly related in both male and female models, the indirect connection (−0.053) is substituted for female seniors. Besides, the inhibiting effect of walking on BMI, which is −0.511, is also valid for female seniors. Finally, in terms of the role of social cohesion, both the positive impacts of perceived walkability on it (0.225 for males and 0.325 for females) and its promoting effects on walking have been confirmed in male (0.142) and female models (0.103). The negative direct effect of social cohesion on BMI (−0.083) is only confirmed in male seniors.

Conclusion

Insights derived from this analysis can help bring forward gender-specific interventions to build a more inclusive walkable and social environment to improve the mobility and physical health of older adults.
A unified Foot and Mouth Disease dataset for Uganda: evaluating machine learning predictive performance degradation under varying distributions
Authors: Kapalaga Geofrey , Kivunike Florence N. , Kerfua Susan , Jjingo Daudi , Biryomumaisho Savino , Rutaisire Justus , Ssajjakambwe Paul , Mugerwa Swidiq , Kiwala Yusuf
Published: July 2024

In Uganda, the absence of a unified dataset for constructing machine learning models to predict Foot and Mouth Disease outbreaks hinders preparedness. Although machine learning models exhibit excellent predictive performance for Foot and Mouth Disease outbreaks under stationary conditions, they are susceptible to performance degradation in non-stationary environments. Rainfall and temperature are key factors influencing these outbreaks, and their variability due to climate change can significantly impact predictive performance. This study created a unified Foot and Mouth Disease dataset by integrating disparate sources and pre-processing data using mean imputation, duplicate removal, visualization, and merging techniques. To evaluate performance degradation, seven machine learning models were trained and assessed using metrics including accuracy, area under the receiver operating characteristic curve, recall, precision and F1-score. The dataset showed a significant class imbalance with more non-outbreaks than outbreaks, requiring data augmentation methods. Variability in rainfall and temperature impacted predictive performance, causing notable degradation. Random Forest with borderline SMOTE was the top-performing model in a stationary environment, achieving 92% accuracy, 0.97 area under the receiver operating characteristic curve, 0.94 recall, 0.90 precision, and 0.92 F1-score. However, under varying distributions, all models exhibited significant performance degradation, with random forest accuracy dropping to 46%, area under the receiver operating characteristic curve to 0.58, recall to 0.03, precision to 0.24, and F1-score to 0.06. This study underscores the creation of a unified Foot and Mouth Disease dataset for Uganda and reveals significant performance degradation in seven machine learning models under varying distributions. These findings highlight the need for new methods to address the impact of distribution variability on predictive performance.
Visitor safety and security compliance as a key component of event planning and implementation? Findings from a German research project on COVID-19
Authors: Schütte Patricia M. , Schulte Yannic , Schmitt Alexandra , Schönefeld Malte , Barber Vivien , Fiedrich Frank
Published: July 2024

Introduction: Event Safety and Security Production (ESSP) typically involves event organizers, private security firms, authorities, police, fire brigades, and others. Their joint responsibility is to ensure safety, decide on measures, communicate them, and enforce them when necessary. Effective ESSP relies on visitor cooperation and rule compliance. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the importance of rule compliance in event safety and security. With the event industry’s standstill and subsequent reopening under strict conditions, organizers had to implement comprehensive safety and hygiene measures. Studies on crowd compliance under pandemic conditions identified influencing factors. These include perceived threats, sociodemographic characteristics, group behavior, trust in institutions, etc..

Methods: Little research focuses on actively promoting rule compliance. Therefore, this paper addresses three research questions (RQ): (1) To what extent does the compliance of visitor safety measures play a role in the planning and implementation of events? (2) To what extent have visitor safety measures been complied with at events during the pandemic and did that change throughout the pandemic? And finally (3) How can the compliance of measures for visitor safety explicitly be taken into account in event planning and implementation? Qualitative data from 11 expert interviews and quantitative data from a representative population survey (N = 10,239) from a German research project on non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) for the safe reopening of events during the pandemic are used to answer the first two questions (RQ1; RQ2). Results of the data triangulation point to recommendations for practical application (RQ3).

Results and Discussion: Findings suggest a high level of compliance with COVID-19 measures among the survey respondents, with expert consensus on the need for active and communicative visitor involvement in the implementation and enforcement of visitor safety measures. These insights extend beyond pandemic-specific events to traditional security and safety measures in crowd management. For event practice, this indicates the importance of consistent, transparent, and engaging communication strategies starting well before the event, with the customer journey approach as a potential solution. Suitable approaches to visitor safety by event organizers should be implementable and enforceable; this is the key to ensuring that event communication in relation to ESSP is effective.
Asserting the visibility of social work in science
Authors: Munté-Pascual Ariadna , Matulič-Domandzič María Virginia , López de Aguileta Ane , Aiello Emilia , Elboj Carmen , Valero Diana , Melgar Patricia
Published: July 2024

Scientific evidence has shown that Social Work has frequently been considered a second-level discipline in the traditional sexist hierarchy, because pioneers and most social workers are women. The twofold objective of this article is to analyze the dynamics that overcome this consideration and to put forward actions to go further in the near future. The factors that limit these actions and those that make them possible are studied. This article exposes the dynamics of the current transformation of Social Work, namely, the increase in the importance of social impact in social research, the increase in interdisciplinarity, and the impact of interdisciplinary research.
The influence of soil types and agricultural management practices on soil chemical properties and microbial dynamics
Authors: Poonia Tanuja , Choudhary Madhu , Kakraliya Manish , Dixit Bharti , Jat Hanuman Sahay
Published: July 2024

Soil provides essential nutrients for plant growth, but excess salts hinder development, making crops more vulnerable under climate change conditions. Soil microorganisms play a significant role in nutrient cycling. However, limited information is available on microbial behavior/community changes, and functional diversity in different soil types (normal, sodic, and highly sodic) and cropping systems [rice-wheat (RW); rice-wheat-mungbean (RWMb); maize-wheat-mungbean (MWMb)] and management practices in the north-western Indo-Gangetic Plains of India. We investigated the influence of different soil types on physical and chemical properties at the surface level (0–15 cm) in relation to soil microbial population, activities, and functional diversity, focusing on community-level physiological profiling (CLPP) under different agriculture systems. Seven treatment combinations of soil types, cropping systems, and management practices were evaluated. Soil pHs were found to be lower in zero-till (ZT)-based sodic soil than in conventional-till (CT) sodic soil. Soil organic carbon (SOC) (0.91 and 0.90%) content and available N (154.46 and 132.74 kg ha−1) were higher with the ZT-based system under normal (N) soils (ZT-RWMb-N and ZT-MWMb-N) than in CT-based normal soil (0.67 and 121.04 kg ha−1). Similarly, higher SOC and N (0.85 and 76.11 kg ha−1) were found under ZT management in sodic soils (S) than under CT management (0.73% and 121.05 kg ha−1). Substrate utilization (amino acids, amines, carbohydrates, carboxylic acids, phenolic compounds, and polymers) increased with the incubation period. During 0–120 h of incubation, the highest utilization of amino acids, amines, carboxylic acids, phenolic compounds, and polymers was observed for ZT-MWMb-S soils, while the lowest was recorded for ZT-MWMb-N soils. Under high salt conditions, soil enzymatic activities (dehydrogenase, acid phosphatase, alkaline phosphatase, etc.) declined significantly compared to normal soils, affecting soil chemical and physical conditions. Microbial population and enzyme activities decreased with increasing salt stress across all cropping systems. These findings suggest that adopting efficient crop management practices can help mitigate the adverse effects of soil salinity on microbial diversity and soil health, thereby enhancing sustainable agricultural productivity in salt-affected regions.
Cost–benefit analysis of intervention reducing young stock mortality in Ethiopia
Authors: Kirk Thomas W. D. , Byrne Timothy , Bessel Paul , Vance Ciara , Schnier Christian , Peters Andrew R.
Published: July 2024

Livestock provide meat, milk, draught labour, are used for breeding, and act as a store of value for smallholder farmers. High young stock mortality (YSM) has the potential to cause significant financial loss. The Young Stock Mortality Reduction Consortium collaborated on a project to deliver a package of basic health and husbandry interventions to reduce YSM for cattle and small ruminants in mixed and pastoral production systems in Ethiopia. Prior to the intervention, YSM rates ranged from 9.8% for calves in mixed systems, to 35.6% for small ruminants in pastoral systems. Proportional reductions YSM from the intervention ranged from 60% for calves and for small ruminants in mixed systems, to 72% for calves in pastoral systems. This brief research report assesses the costs and benefits of the intervention ex-poste to determine its efficiency. NPVs for the intervention (per household) were calculated for a range of benefit periods (from 1 to 20 years), based on the cost of training enumerators and farmers and the net annual household benefits realised within each benefit period. We found in both pastoral and mixed systems the net annual household benefit for the intervention was positive. For pastoral households the intervention achieves a positive NPV after 2 years. For mixed households the intervention achieves a positive NPV after 11 years. Overall, we found the benefits of the intervention exceed the costs, by a very large amount in pastoral systems, and that benefits were larger for households that kept larger numbers of breeding females.
Validation of a semi-quantitative scoring system and workflow for analysis of fluorescence quantification in companion animals
Authors: Ram Ann S. , Matuszewska Kathy , McKenna Charly , Petrik Jim , Oblak Michelle L.
Published: July 2024

Significance

Many commercially available near-infrared (NIR) fluorescence imaging systems lack algorithms for real-time quantifiable fluorescence data. Creation of a workflow for clinical assessment and post hoc analysis may provide clinical researchers with a method for intraoperative fluorescence quantification to improve objective outcome measures.

Aim

Scoring systems and verified image analysis are employed to determine the amount and intensity of fluorescence within surgical specimens both intra and postoperatively.

Approach

Lymph nodes from canine cancer patients were obtained during lymph node extirpation following peritumoral injection of indocyanine green (ICG). First, a semi-quantitative assessment of surface fluorescence was evaluated. Images obtained with a NIR exoscope were analysed to determine fluorescence thresholds and measure fluorescence amount and intensity.

Results

Post hoc fluorescence quantification (threshold of Hue = 165–180, Intensity = 30–255) displayed strong agreement with semi-quantitative scoring (k = 0.9734, p < 0.0001). Fluorescence intensity with either threshold of 35–255 or 45–255 were significant predictors of fluorescence and had high sensitivity and specificity (p < 0.05). Fluorescence intensity and quantification had a strong association (p < 0.001).

Conclusion

The validation of the semi-quantitative scoring system by image analysis provides a method for objective in situ observation of tissue fluorescence. The utilization of thresholding for ICG fluorescence intensity allows post hoc quantification of fluorescence when not built into the imaging system.
Detection of caprine paratuberculosis (Johne's disease) in pre- and post-vaccinated herds: morphological diagnosis, lesion grading, and bacterial identification
Authors: Stefanova Elena Plamenova , Sierra Eva , Fernández Antonio , Quesada-Canales Oscar , Paz-Sánchez Yania , Colom-Rivero Ana , Espinosa de los Monteros Antonio , Herráez Pedro , Domínguez Lucas , Bezos Javier , Pérez-Sancho Marta , Moreno Inmaculada , Risalde María A. , Andrada Marisa
Published: July 2024

Samples from the mesenteric lymph nodes (MS LNs) and ileocecal valves (ICV) of 105 goats, comprising 61 non-vaccinated and 44 vaccinated against Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP), were collected at slaughter from a farm with a confirmed history of paratuberculosis (PTB). These goats had subclinical infections. PTB-compatible lesions in the MS LNs, ICV lamina propria (LP), and Peyer's patches (PPs) were graded separately. Furthermore, the load of acid-fast bacilli was quantified using Ziehl-Neelsen staining (ZN), MAP antigens by immunohistochemistry (IHC), and MAP DNA by PCR targeting the IS900 sequence. Gross PTB-compatible lesions were found in 39% of the goats, with 31.72% vaccinated (V) and 68.29% non-vaccinated (nV). Histopathological lesions induced MAP were observed in 58% of the animals, with 36.07% vaccinated and 63.93% non-vaccinated. The inclusion of histopathology as a diagnostic tool led to a 28% increase in diagnosed cases in MS LNs and 86.05% in ICV. Grade IV granulomas with central mineralization and necrosis were the most common lesions in MS LNs. In the ICV, mild granulomatous enteritis with multifocal foci of epithelioid macrophages was predominant, occurring more frequently in the PPs than in the LP. Furthermore, statistical differences in the presence of histopathological lesions between vaccinated and non-vaccinated goats were noted in MS LNs, ICV LPs, and ICV PPs. Non-vaccinated animals showed higher positivity rates in ZN, IHC, and PCR tests, underscoring the benefits of anti-MAP vaccination in reducing PTB lesions and bacterial load in target organs. Our findings emphasize the necessity of integrating gross and histopathological assessments with various laboratory techniques for accurate morphological and etiological diagnosis of PTB in both vaccinated and non-vaccinated goats with subclinical disease. However, further studies are required to refine sampling protocols for subclinical PTB in goats to enhance the consistency of diagnostic tools.
Estimation of withdrawal interval recommendations following administration of fenbendazole medicated feed to ring-necked pheasants (Phasianus colchicus)
Authors: Carreño Gútiez Marta , Mercer Melissa A. , Martínez-López Beatriz , Griffith Ronald W. , Wetzlich Scott , Tell Lisa A.
Published: July 2024

Introduction

Prescribing fenbendazole medicated feed for pheasants in the USA is considered extra-label drug use under CPG Sec 615.115, and a safe estimated withdrawal interval (WDI) must be applied following administration to this minor food-producing species. This study sought to determine the pharmacokinetic and residue depletion profile for fenbendazole and its major metabolites to estimate a WDI for pheasants following fenbendazole administration as an oral medicated feed.

Method

Pheasants (n = 32) were administered fenbendazole as an oral medicated feed (100 ppm) for 7 days. Fenbendazole, fenbendazole sulfoxide, and fenbendazole sulfone (FBZ-SO2) in liver and muscle samples were analyzed using HPLC-UV. Tissue WDIs were estimated using FDA, European Medicines Agency (EMA), and half-life multiplication methods for US poultry tolerances, EMA maximum residue limits, and the analytical limit of detection (LOD; 0.004 ppm). Terminal tissue elimination half-lives (T1/2) were estimated by non-compartmental analysis using a naïve pooled data approach.

Results

The tissue T1/2 was 14.4 h for liver, 13.2 h for thigh muscle, and 14.1 h for pectoral muscle. The maximum estimated withdrawal interval was 153 h (7 days) for FBZ-SO2 in pectoral muscle using the FDA tolerance method (95% confidence interval for the 99th percentile of the population), and the LOD as the residue limit.

Discussion

The results from this study support the use of FBZ-SO2 as the marker residue in the liver of pheasants and the provision of evidence based WDIs following the extra-label administration of fenbendazole medicated feed (100 ppm) for 7 days.
Orthostatic Ex-Vivo Lung Perfusion (EVLP): A Proof of Concept
Authors: Boffini Massimo , Costamagna Andrea , Marro Matteo , Simonato Erika , Cassoni Paola , Bertero Luca , Fanelli Vito , Barbero Cristina , Brazzi Luca , Rinaldi Mauro
Published: July 2024

The key goal in lung donation remains the improvement of graft preservation with the ultimate objective of increasing the number and quality of lung transplants (LTx). Therefore, in recent years the field of graft preservation focused on improving outcomes related to solid organ regeneration and restoration. In this contest Ex-Vivo Lung Perfusion (EVLP) plays a crucial role with the purpose to increase the donor pool availability transforming marginal and/or declined donor lungs suitable for transplantation. Aim of this proof of concept is to test the safety, suitability and feasibility of a new tilting dome for EVLP designed considering the dorsal lung areas as the “Achilles’ heel” of the EVLP due to a more fluid accumulation than in the supine standard position.
Postrzeganie polityki mieszkaniowej w kontekście poglądów politycznych Polaków w 2022 roku: między potrzebami człowieka a wolnym rynkiem
Authors: Przemysław Potocki
Published: July 2024

Polish housing policy, which was implemented after 1989, gradually evolved towards reducing the scale of state intervention in terms of the instruments used and the directions of influence on how to meet housing needs. The aim of the article is to analyze survey data collected in 2022, which indicate how adult residents of Poland perceive and evaluate activities implemented at the national and local level in this area of social policy, taking into account their declared political views. The results of the analysis indicate that this factor is not associated with clearly different assessments and expectations in this area of people with left-wing or right-wing political views.
Experimental Study on the Longitudinal Motion Performance of a Spherical Robot Rolling on Sandy Terrain
Authors: Li Minggang , Sun Hanxu , Ma Long , Huo Dongshuai , Gao Panpan , Wang Zhantong
Published: July 2024

To provide the necessary theoretical models of sphere–soil interaction for the structural design, motion control, and simulation of spherical robots, this paper derives analytical expressions for traction force and driving torque when spherical robots slide and sink into sandy terrain, based on terramechanics and multibody dynamics. Furthermore, orthogonal experimental analysis identifies the load, joint angular acceleration, and maximum joint angular velocity of spherical robots as influencing factors, highlighting that the load significantly affects their longitudinal motion performance. Experimental results indicate that rolling friction and additional resistance on sandy terrain cannot be ignored. The corrected theoretical model effectively replicates the temporal variation of driving torque exerted by spherical robots on sandy terrain. Numerical computations and experimental analyses demonstrate that increasing the radius of the sphere shell, the load, and the slip ratio all lead to increased traction force and driving torque. However, traction force and driving torque begin to decrease once the slip ratio reaches approximately 0.5. Therefore, in the design of spherical robot structures and control laws, appropriate parameters such as load and slip ratio should be chosen based on the established sphere–soil interaction theoretical model to achieve high-quality longitudinal motion performance on sandy terrain.
Bidirectional Long Short-Term Memory Development for Aircraft Trajectory Prediction Applications to the UAS-S4 Ehécatl
Authors: Hashemi Seyed Mohammad , Botez Ruxandra Mihaela , Ghazi Georges
Published: July 2024

The rapid advancement of unmanned aerial systems in various civilian roles necessitates improved safety measures during their operation. A key aspect of enhancing safety is effective collision avoidance, which is based on conflict detection and is greatly aided by accurate trajectory prediction. This paper represents a novel data-driven trajectory prediction methodology based on applying the Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) prediction algorithm to the UAS-S4 Ehécatl. An LSTM model was designed as the baseline and then developed into a Staked LSTM to better capture complex and hierarchical temporal trajectory patterns. Next, the Bidirectional LSTM was developed for a better understanding of the contextual trajectories from both its past and future data points, and to provide a more comprehensive temporal perspective that could enhance its accuracy. LSTM-based models were evaluated in terms of mean absolute percentage errors. The results reveal the superiority of the Bidirectional LSTM, as it could predict UAS-S4 trajectories more accurately than the Stacked LSTM. Moreover, the developed Bidirectional LSTM was compared with other state-of-the-art deep neural networks aimed at aircraft trajectory prediction. Promising results confirmed that Bidirectional LSTM exhibits the most stable MAPE across all prediction horizons.
Perspective of Water-Use Programs in Agriculture in Guanajuato
Authors: Hernández-Ruiz Jesús , Isiordia-Lachica Paula C. , Huerta-Arredondo Ilse A. , Cruz-Avalos Ana M. , Ángel Hernández Arturo , Rodriguez-Carvajal Ricardo A. , Ruiz-Nieto Jorge E. , Mireles-Arriaga Ana I.
Published: July 2024

Integrated agricultural water management (IAWM) encompasses multiple factors, necessitating the evaluation of performance across programs and involved entities and local consideration in different regions. This study analyzes the relation of allocation budgets and government agency programs in relation to the average annual availability of groundwater in Guanajuato State. Documentary investigation was conducted on public programs, aquifer availability, and agricultural land types over the period from 2017 to 2023. In the last six years, the amounts allocated to government programs from subsidies and donations have increased by 40%, leading to enhanced agricultural productivity in the state. Considering the agricultural types (rain-fed, irrigated, and protected) as separate variables, simple linear regression explains 97.8% of the variability in the DMA, indicating a decrease of 78.2 million m3 and an increase in irrigated agriculture. The estimator for the budget allocated to public programs is −2.21 × 10−7, indicating that even if the resources allocated to government programs related to the use and exploitation of water in the agricultural sector increase, the DMA will continue to decrease. Regarding the agriculture area type, the estimator has a value of −0.00237, indicating that each rain-fed or irrigated agriculture unit established would result in an approximate reduction of 2370 m3 of water in the DMA. Taking this into account, it is imperative to formulate strategies that consider intersectoral links, with a focus on prioritizing essential actions in rain-fed areas for water capture and/or irrigated agricultural areas for food production, which comprise 52% of the total land dedicated to the agricultural sector, and specifically targeting actions that promote groundwater management.
Hedonic Pricing Models in Rural Tourism: Analyzing Factors Influencing Accommodation Pricing in Romania Using Geographically Weighted Regression
Authors: Gordan Marius-Ionuț , Tudor Valentina Constanța , Popescu Cosmin Alin , Adamov Tabita Cornelia , Peț Elena , Milin Ioana Anda , Iancu Tiberiu
Published: July 2024

This study investigates the factors influencing pricing in Romanian rural tourism using a hedonic pricing model through a hybrid LASSO-OLS regression and geographically weighted regression (GWR). By analyzing data from 5028 unique accommodation units across 1170 local administrative units, we identify some key pricing determinants, including accommodation size, capacity, facilities, and environmental attributes. The results reveal that larger accommodations and those with higher guest capacities command higher prices. Luxurious facilities, such as massage services, pools, and fireplaces, significantly increase pricing, although the impact of such features varies by region, as do accommodation type and natural scenery, with agritouristic boarding houses and proximity to natural attractions like water bodies and forests being more valued in certain regions. These factors can aid rural entrepreneurs in optimizing pricing to enhance competitiveness and profitability.