bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Unfairness in Society and Over Time: Understanding Possible Radicalization of People Protesting on Matters of Climate Change
Authors: Jansma Amarins , van den Bos Kees , de Graaf Beatrice A.
Published: May 2022

In this manuscript, we introduce a theoretical model of climate radicalization that integrates social psychological theories of perceived unfairness with historical insights on radicalization to contribute to the knowledge of individuals’ processes of radicalization and non-radicalization in relation to climate change. We define climate radicalization as a process of growing willingness to pursue and/or support radical changes in society that are in conflict with or could pose a threat to the status quo or democratic legal order to reach climate goals. We describe how perceptions of unfairness can play a pivotal role in processes of climate change related radicalization. Without taking any position or judgment regarding climate concerns and associated actions, we suggest that although these behaviors drive many people to participate in peaceful climate protest, they may also lead others to radicalize into breaking the law to achieve their climate goals, possibly in violent ways. This process of climate radicalization, we argue, can be driven by people perceiving certain situations to be blatantly unfair. Specifically, we discuss how radical attitudes and behaviors can be products of perceived unfairness stemming from the past, the future, the immediate social environments of perceivers, as well as those that are spatially distant from them. We further argue that because radicalization processes are shaped by an interaction between individuals and movements, on the one hand, and societal actors and developments, on the other, they tend to develop in non-linear and dynamic ways. We therefore propose that climate radicalization is a (1) dynamic, contingent, and non-linear process, often of an escalating (and sometimes de-escalating) kind, (2) that develops over time, (3) through various interactions between individuals and their contexts, and (4) in which people and groups move back and forth from peaceful protest, through disobedient and unlawful methods, to violent actions. Implications, strengths, and limitations of our model are discussed.
Influence of Flexible Classroom Seating on the Wellbeing and Mental Health of Upper Elementary School Students: A Gender Analysis
Authors: Bluteau Jonathan , Aubenas Solène , Dufour France
Published: May 2022

While traditional seating (also known asfixed seatingorfixed classroom) remains the preferred classroom seating arrangement for teachers, a new type of seating arrangement is becoming more common in schools: the flexible classroom (also known asflexible seating). The purpose of this type of arrangement is to meet the needs of students by providing a wide variety of furniture and workspaces, to put students at the center of learning, and to allow them to make choices based on their preferences and the objectives of the task at hand. This study aimed to examine the influence of flexible seating on the wellbeing and mental health of elementary school students. This article presents the results of exploratory research conducted in Quebec among Grade 5 and 6 students comparing the wellbeing and mental health of students in fixed and flexible classrooms. The study was conducted with 107 students in three Grade 5 and 6 flexible classrooms (n = 51) and three Grade 5 and 6 fixed classrooms (n = 56). It is based on a quasi-experimental, quantitative design with post-test only and a control group. The groups were matched based on natural conditions (i.e., from a convenience sample). Furthermore, the study included a gender-differentiated analysis for each group. The results showed that flexible classroom seating had a positive influence on the girls’ wellbeing and mental health. In contrast, for the boys, fixed classroom seating was most conducive to their wellbeing and mental health. However, our study has some limitations that are discussed in the article.
Restaurant Diners’ Switching Behavior During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Protection Motivation Theory
Authors: Mahmood Hamid , Rehman Asad Ur , Sabir Irfan , Rauf Abdul , Afthanorhan Asyraf , Nawal Ayesha
Published: May 2022

The unsettling fear of COVID-19 infections has caused a new trend in consumer behavior in the food and beverage industry. The unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic has shifted consumers’ preferences from eat-in to online delivery. This research aims to measure the impact of consumers’ motivation to protect themselves from contracting COVID-19, which explains why people switch from eat-in to online food delivery. We adopted the theory of protection motivation (PMT) to explain consumer switching behavior during the COVID-19 pandemic. The present study investigated the mediating effect of switching intention on the relationship between vulnerability, altruistic fear, anticipated regret, and switching behavior. Simultaneously, we examined the role of brand awareness as a moderator of behavioral choices of consumers switching from eat-in to online delivery. We collected data from 681 eatery consumers in Kuala Terengganu, Malaysia, using scenario-based survey questionnaires (327 eat-in respondents and 354 online delivery respondents). Then, the data were analyzed using structural equation modeling (SEM). This new generation analysis was conducted using the analysis of moment structure (AMOS) (v.24.0) and the statistical package for social science (SPSS—version 25.0). The results indicated that consumer vulnerability, altruistic fear, and anticipated regret of COVID-19 increased consumers’ propensity to shift from eat-in to online food delivery. Allegedly, consumer behavioral control and intention of switching toward online delivery were pointedly affected by switching behavior. The results indicated that consumer vulnerability, altruistic fear, and anticipated regret of COVID-19 increased the shifting of restaurant dine-in patterns and made the intention to switch to online delivery. Consumers’ alleged behavioral control and their intention of switching toward online delivery were pointedly affected by switching behavior. We also found that brand awareness moderately affects switching behavior toward restaurant settings. The present research contributes to developing the consumer behavior model of switching from eat-in to online delivery. This study also provides eatery customers and the business community with a safer and healthier proposition of shifting to online food delivery during the pandemic.
Inter-Group Face Recognition Bias Was Modulated by the Group Status
Authors: Hu Bingjie , Yan Linlin , Zheng Chengyan , Tang Yuhao , Lin Qiuye , Xia Wenling , Wang Zhe
Published: May 2022

Previous studies have shown that social categorization can induce an own-group face recognition bias. However, similar and better other-group face recognition emerged recently. In this research, we aimed to examine whether competitive cues and group status accompanied by social categorization can modulate the inter-group face recognition bias. Moreover, we investigated how the group identification of individuals with different statuses affected the inter-group face recognition bias. The results indicated that an own-group face recognition bias emerged for targets with in-group labels compared to out-group labels. Moreover, when the group labels signaled competitive cues, the own-group face recognition bias was reversed. Furthermore, low-status and similar-status individuals exhibited out-group face recognition bias, but high-status individuals did not. In addition, the higher the in-group identification scores of participants from the low-status group, the stronger the out-group face recognition bias. These results suggested that competitive cues would reverse the own-group face recognition bias and the group status would play a modulating role in face recognition bias.
A Phenomenological Study of Educators’ Experience After a Year of the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Annamalai Nagaletchimee , Ab Rashid Radzuwan , Saed Hadeel , Al-Smadi Omar Ali , Yassin Baderaddin
Published: May 2022

This phenomenological study investigated educators’ lived experiences of teaching online in higher institutions in Malaysia. Data, which was generated through semi-structured interviews with 20 lecturers from three universities in the country, was analysed based on the thematic analysis approach guided by the Technological, Pedagogical, and Content Knowledge (TPACK)-self-efficacy framework. The findings revealed that after a year of teaching online, the potential of technology has been acknowledged by the educators after some trials and constraints were addressed. The domains related to Technology Content Knowledge (TCK), Technology Pedagogical Knowledge (TPK), and TPACK were evident in the findings. However, Pedagogical Content Knowledge (PCK) was not given emphasis, hence this manuscript argues that educators need to be constantly reminded of the significance of PCK. The findings discussed in this manuscript can be a helpful guide for educators when there is a need for them to teach online.
Family Supportive Leadership and Counterproductive Work Behavior: The Roles of Work-Family Conflict, Moral Disengagement and Personal Life Attribution
Authors: Jin Shan , Zhu Xiji , Fu Xiaoxia , Wang Jian
Published: May 2022

Counterproductive work behavior (CWB) is one of the most common behavioral decisions of employees in the workplace that negatively impacts the sustainable development of enterprises. Previous studies have shown that individuals make CWB decisions for different reasons. Some individuals engage in CWB due to cognitive factors (i.e., perceived organizational justice and psychological contract breakdown), whereas others engage in CWB in response to leadership behaviors (i.e., abusive management). The conservation of resources (COR) theory holds that individuals have the tendency to preserve, protect and acquire resources. When experiencing the loss of resources, individuals will show irrational and aggressive behaviors in order to regain resources. When obtaining resources, individuals’ tension and pressure will be relieved. To maintain or continue obtaining resources, individuals will show more positive work attitudes and behaviors. Therefore, using the COR theory as the main theoretical framework, this study explores a serial mediation model between family supportive leadership and CWB through work-family conflict and moral disengagement, moderated by personal life attribution. A three-wave survey of 251 medical workers from three hospitals found that family supportive leadership can reduce employees’ perceived work-family conflict, which leads to less moral disengagement, resulting in lower CWB. Personal life attribution strengthens the negative indirect effect of family supportive leadership on CWB by reinforcing the negative association between family supportive leadership and work-family conflict. This study uses the COR theory to explore the mechanism and boundary conditions of family supportive leadership and CWB from the perspective of negative work-family relationship, which enrichis the research content of existing theories. Moreover, this study has important guiding significance for managers to take effective measures to reduce CWB.
Stable Consciousness? The “Hard Problem” Historically Reconstructed and in Perspective of Neurophenomenological Research on Meditation
Authors: Schleim Stephan
Published: May 2022

Finding a scientific, third-person explanation of subjective experience or phenomenal content is commonly called the “hard problem” of consciousness. There has recently been a surge in neuropsychological research on meditation in general and long-term meditators in particular. These experimental subjects are allegedly capable of generating a stable state of consciousness over a prolonged period of time, which makes experimentation with them an interesting paradigm for consciousness research. This perspective article starts out with a historical reconstruction of the “hard problem,” tracing it back to Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz and Emil du Bois-Reymond in the 18th and 19th century, respectively, and the problem of introspection as already acknowledged by Wilhelm Wundt in the 19th century. It then discusses the prospects of research on long-term meditators from a contemporary perspective and with respect to the neurophenomenological research program already advocated by Francisco J. Varela.
Individuals' Awareness of and Willingness to Accept Hospital-at-Home Services and Related Factors: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Xu Siyu , Wang Jingjun , Wang Ya , Wang Mengmeng , Huang Xia , Huang Hao
Published: May 2022

Introduction

Hospital-at-home (HaH) services have become increasingly popular. However, the experience of HaH implementation in Asia is inadequate. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate individuals' willingness to accept HaH services and the potential related factors.

Methods

The researchers visited households to select appropriate participants. An online questionnaire survey was conducted among the inhabitants of selected communities. An individual's awareness, willingness to accept HaH services, and demands such as ideal service providers and more detailed information to accept HaH care were investigated. The outcome measure was the willingness to accept HaH services. Chi-square tests and logistic regression models were used to analyze the factors.

Results

A total of 622 subjects participated in this study. The findings indicate that 55.9% of the participants were not aware of HaH services, while most of the subjects (88.4%) were willing to accept them. Regression models indicated that having health insurance (OR = 2.170, 95% CI: 1.003–4.697), an awareness of the necessity of HaH services (OR = 4.721, 95% CI: 2.471–9.019), very much hoping staff from central hospitals would be service providers (OR = 20.299, 95% CI: 5.718–72.068), and somewhat hoping that staff from central hospitals would be service providers (OR = 9.139, 95% CI: 2.714–30.775) were the factors associated with a greater willingness to accept HaH services.

Conclusion

The study indicates that compared to the awareness of HaH care, residents had a greater willingness to accept such care. The willingness to utilize HaH services among individuals was associated with enabling factors, predisposing factors, and HaH-related demand factors.
LipidClock: A Lipid-Based Predictor of Biological Age
Authors: Unfried Maximilian , Ng Li Fang , Cazenave-Gassiot Amaury , Batchu Krishna Chaithanya , Kennedy Brian K. , Wenk Markus R. , Tolwinski Nicholas , Gruber Jan
Published: May 2022

Complexity is a fundamental feature of biological systems. Omics techniques like lipidomics can simultaneously quantify many thousands of molecules, thereby directly capturing the underlying biological complexity. However, this approach transfers the original biological complexity to the resulting datasets, posing challenges in data reduction and analysis. Aging is a prime example of a process that exhibits complex behaviour across multiple scales of biological organisation. The aging process is characterised by slow, cumulative and detrimental changes that are driven by intrinsic biological stochasticity and mediated through non-linear interactions and feedback within and between these levels of organization (ranging from metabolites, macromolecules, organelles and cells to tissue and organs). Only collectively and over long timeframes do these changes manifest as the exponential increases in morbidity and mortality that define biological aging, making aging a problem more difficult to study than the aetiologies of specific diseases. But aging’s time dependence can also be exploited to extract key insights into its underlying biology. Here we explore this idea by using data on changes in lipid composition across the lifespan of an organism to construct and test a LipidClock to predict biological age in the nematode Caenorhabdits elegans. The LipidClock consist of a feature transformation via Principal Component Analysis followed by Elastic Net regression and yields and Mean Absolute Error of 1.45 days for wild type animals and 4.13 days when applied to mutant strains with lifespans that are substantially different from that of wild type. Gompertz aging rates predicted by the LipidClock can be used to simulate survival curves that are in agreement with those from lifespan experiments.
Detection of COVID-19 Using Deep Learning Techniques and Cost Effectiveness Evaluation: A Survey
Authors: M. V. Manoj Kumar , Atalla Shadi , Almuraqab Nasser , Moonesar Immanuel Azaad
Published: May 2022

Graphical-design-based symptomatic techniques in pandemics perform a quintessential purpose in screening hit causes that comparatively render better outcomes amongst the principal radioscopy mechanisms in recognizing and diagnosing COVID-19 cases. The deep learning paradigm has been applied vastly to investigate radiographic images such as Chest X-Rays (CXR) and CT scan images. These radiographic images are rich in information such as patterns and clusters like structures, which are evident in conformance and detection of COVID-19 like pandemics. This paper aims to comprehensively study and analyze detection methodology based on Deep learning techniques for COVID-19 diagnosis. Deep learning technology is a good, practical, and affordable modality that can be deemed a reliable technique for adequately diagnosing the COVID-19 virus. Furthermore, the research determines the potential to enhance image character through artificial intelligence and distinguishes the most inexpensive and most trustworthy imaging method to anticipate dreadful viruses. This paper further discusses the cost-effectiveness of the surveyed methods for detecting COVID-19, in contrast with the other methods. Several finance-related aspects of COVID-19 detection effectiveness of different methods used for COVID-19 detection have been discussed. Overall, this study presents an overview of COVID-19 detection using deep learning methods and their cost-effectiveness and financial implications from the perspective of insurance claim settlement.
Water and Sanitation as a Wicked Governance Problem in Brazil: An Institutional Approach
Authors: Carvalho Denise Moraes , van Tulder Rob
Published: May 2022

The world is facing a large number of interrelated crises that have seriously increased the level of uncertainty and ambiguity in many areas. In 2018, the UN anticipated that the world was careering toward a global water crisis with a 40% shortfall in freshwater resources by 2030 coupled with a rising population. This nascent crisis represents a “connected challenge” for countries: it contains a multitude of causes and consequences, a multitude of actors and interests for which no “one-size-fits-all” solutions are available. The adequate approach to this type of complex—or “wicked”—problems is not to search for technological solutions only, but to consider new forms of governance that make use of complementary institutional logics. Effective governance depends on the extent of alignment with the complexity and the root causes of the issues. This paper applies wicked problem theory to identify the root institutional and governance causes of uncertainty in a developing country like Brazil, which provides insights to (also) identify approaches that could navigate change in less uncertain and ambiguous directions. We distinguish three types of relevant institutional constraints: logics, complementarities, and voids. Based on semi-structured interviews with representatives from Brazil's water and sanitation sector, we delineate institutional constraints precipitated by the plurality of the governance system. We argue why a tripartite partnership approach—as for instance pioneered by Dutch international water projects in the global South—presents a way out of the wicked water and sanitation problems in Brazil.
A Fair and Safe Usage Drug Recommendation System in Medical Emergencies by a Stacked ANN
Authors: Bhimavarapu Usharani , Chintalapudi Nalini , Battineni Gopi
Published: May 2022

The importance of online recommender systems for drugs, medical professionals, and hospitals is growing. Today, the majority of people use online consultations for drug recommendations for all types of health issues. Emergencies such as pandemics, floods, or cyclones can be helped by the medical recommender system. In the era of machine learning (ML), recommender systems produce more accurate, quick, and reliable clinical predictions with minimal costs. As a result, these systems maintain better performance, integrity, and privacy of patient data in the decision-making process and provide precise information at any time. Therefore, we present drug recommender systems with a stacked artificial neural network (ANN) model to improve the fairness and safety of treatment for infectious diseases. To reduce side effects, drugs are recommended based on a patient’s previous health profile, lifestyle, and habits. The proposed system produced results with 97.5% accuracy. A system such as this could be useful in recommending safe medicines to patients, especially during health emergencies.
North Expansion of Winter Wheat Planting Area in China under Different Emissions Scenarios
Authors: Wu Maowei , Xu Yang , Zheng Jingyun , Hao Zhixin
Published: May 2022

Suitable planting areas for winter wheat in north China are expected to shift northwardly due to climate change, however, increasing extreme events and the deficient water supply are threatening the security of planting systems. Thus, based on predicted climate data for 2021–2050 under the Shared Socioeconomic Pathways (SSP1-2.6, SSP3-7.0, and SSP5-8.5) emission scenarios, as well as historical data from 1961–1990, we use four critical parameters of percentages of extreme minimum temperature years (POEMTY), first day of the overwintering period (FD), sowing date (SD), and precipitation before winter (PBW), in order to determine the planting boundary of winter wheat. The results show that the frequency of extreme minimum temperature occurrences is expected to decrease in the North winter wheat area, which will result in a northward movement of the western part of northern boundary by 73, 94, and 114 km on average, in addition to FD delays ranging from 6.0 to 10.5 days. Moreover, agrometeorological conditions in the Huang-Huai winter wheat area are expected to exhibit more pronounced changes than the rest of the studied areas, especially near the southern boundary, which is expected to retreat by approximately 213, 215, and 233 km, northwardly. The north boundary is expected to move 90–140 km northward. Therefore, the change in southern and northern boundaries will lead the potential planting areas of the entire North winter wheat area to increase by 10,700 and 28,000 km2 on average in the SSP3-7.0 and SSP5-8.5 scenarios, respectively, but to decrease by 38,100 km2 in the SSP1-2.6 scenario; however, the lack of precipitation remains a limitation for extending planting areas in the future.
Heterosis for Nitrogen Use Efficiency of Maize Hybrids Enhanced over Decades in China
Authors: Li Rongfa , Gao Julin , Li Yuanyuan , Yu Shaobo , Wang Zhigang
Published: May 2022

The nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) of modern maize hybrids has been greatly improved, but for decades, little was known on whether the NUE heterosis of maize hybrids had increased. A two-year field study was conducted on eight maize hybrids and their parental inbred lines from the 1970s to 2000s under two N levels (0, 150 kg N ha−1). These were the most popular hybrids in China’s main maize-growing areas at the time. The results showed that the yield of the maize hybrids increased significantly at an average rate of 37.5% every 10 years. The evolution of NUE heterosis was mainly related to the increased kernel number per ear. The absolute NUE heterosis (AHNUE) and the mid-parent NUE heterosis (MPHNUE) of maize hybrids increased by 151.4% and 76.4% in the past four decades, or an average rate of 2.11 kg kg−1 and 19.1% every 10 years. Based on the coefficient of determination, the contribution of the mid-parent nitrogen internal efficiency heterosis (MPHNIE) to MPHNUE (43–57%) was significantly higher than that of the mid-parent nitrogen recovery efficiency heterosis (MPHNRE) (19–32%), indicating that the evolution of maize NUE heterosis was mainly derived from its NIE heterosis evolution. The increase of NIE heterosis in the past 40 years was closely related to the increased heterosis of kernel number per ear, the pre-silking N accumulation and the post-silking N remobilization. Therefore, the enhancement of maize NUE heterosis can be attributed to (i) heterosis improvement in post-silking N remobilization, which results mainly from greater heterosis in pre-silking N accumulation; (ii) heterosis improvement in carbon and nitrogen sink capacity, which exhibit as heterosis enhancement in grain yield and grain nitrogen concentration. To further improve yield and NUE, the pre-silking N and carbon accumulation and post-silking N remobilization should both continue to increase in maize breeding. Our results will provide new insights into NUE and help breeders select genotypes with both higher yields and higher NUE for the future.
Efficiency of Four Extraction Methods to Assess the Bioavailability of Oxyfluorfen to Earthworms in Soil Amended with Fresh and Aged Biochar
Authors: Wu Chi , Zhang Lan , Mao Liangang , Zhu Lizhen , Zhang Yanning , Jiang Hongyun , Zheng Yongquan , Liu Xingang
Published: May 2022

Due to its high persistence in soil, oxyfluorfen has negative effects on environmental and human health. To reduce soil contamination and impacts on non-target organisms, biochar is introduced into soils to immobilize and sequestrate oxyfluorfen as a remediation practice. Three types of soils common in China were selected and biochar (rice hull, BCR) was added to investigate the desorption and bioavailability of oxyfluorfen after aging BCR for 0, 1, 3, and 6 months. Four chemical extraction methods were used to predict oxyfluorfen bioavailability. Results indicated that after addition of 0.5–2% unaged BCR, the desorption values of oxyfluorfen increased from 64–119 to 176–920 (μg/g)/(mg/L)n in the three soils compared with unamended soil. The bioaccumulation factor (BCF) values of oxyfluorfen in earthworms decreased from 0.80–1.7 to 0.10–1.56 after BCR addition. However, the desorption values decreased from 170–868 to 144–701 (μg/g)/(mg/L)n after aging. The bioavailability of oxyfluorfen in earthworms also increased after the aging treatments, while the BCF was still lower than with unaged BCR. The reduced BCF indicated lower exposure risk of oxyfluorfen to earthworms after amendment with biochar, even after aging 6 months. The bioavailability after extraction by Tenax showed a high linear correlation with uptake in earthworms, even after the 6-month aging treatment (R2 > 0.80). Consequently, BCR could be a practical method to remediate contaminated soil and the 6h Tenax method could be a sensitive and feasible tool to assess the bioavailability of oxyfluorfen in soil.
Effect of Selenium Nanocomposites Based on Natural Polymer Matrices on the Biomass and Storage of Potato Tubers in a Field Experiment
Authors: Perfileva Alla I. , Graskova Irina A. , Sukhov Boris G. , Krutovsky Konstantin V.
Published: May 2022

The effect of chemically synthesized selenium (Se) nanocomposites (NCs) based on the natural polymer matrices arabinogalactan (AG), carrageenan (CAR), and starch (ST) on potato tuber traits, storage, and crop structure was studied in a field trial. Parental potato tubers were sprayed by Se/AG NC, Se/ST NC, and Se/CAR NC 14 days before planting in the field. The results showed that Se/AG NC and Se/CAR NC increased the number and weight of tubers in the first generation (F1) obtained from the plants grown from the treated tubers. It was found that Se/AG NC and Se/ST NC decreased the median weight of shoots after 230 days of storage of the F1 tubers, preventing their premature germination, and Se/AG NC decreased the number of rotten tubers. All three Se NCs significantly improved the storage by increasing the number of healthy scab-, dry-pitted-rot-, and wireworm-free tubers in the F1 after 230-day-long storage, except Se/CAR NC regarding dry pitted rot. Selenium/ST NC significantly increased the number of tubers, and Se/CAR NC their mass, and both decreased the number of rotten tubers in the second generation (F2). Selenium NCs affected crop structure in both generations.
Gender and Age Effects on Public Attitudes to, and Knowledge of, Animal Welfare in China
Authors: Carnovale Francesca , Xiao Jin , Shi Binlin , Arney David , Descovich Kris , Phillips Clive J. C.
Published: May 2022

A person’s gender and age can influence their attitudes towards animal welfare, with more benign attitudes generally ascribed to women. Given that attitudes influence consumer behaviour and the rapid recent social development in China (globally the biggest livestock producer), we surveyed over 1300 individuals across China to elucidate the role of gender and age in determining attitudes towards animals. Respondents self-identified their gender as male, female, other or not revealed. There were interactions between age and gender for many of the survey items, demonstrating that the effects of gender were dependent on the respondents’ age. Women aged 18–24 reported more benign attitudes towards animals than older men (aged between 25 and 54 years, depending on the survey question) and more empathetic responses were found in young respondents generally, although this did not necessarily translate into a willingness to pay more for higher-welfare animal products. We propose, drawing on Social Identity Theory, that women see animals as part of their social group, whereas men tend not to do this. Those responding as neither male nor female, i.e., as another gender, and those not revealing their gender appeared to have different relationships to animals than those responding as men or women. It is concluded that within Chinese culture, attitudes towards animals and their welfare are complex and influenced by an interaction between gender and age.
Dynamics of Growth and Egg Traits in Three Dietary Balanced Protein Scenarios Applied for Laying Hens
Authors: Da Nóbrega Ingryd Palloma Teodósio , Reis Matheus de Paula , Morillo Freddy Alexander Horna , De Freitas Luis Filipe Villas-Bôas , Bittencourt Letícia Cardoso , Fernandes João Batista Kochenborger , Sakomura Nilva Kazue
Published: May 2022

The objective of this study was to evaluate laying hens from 8 to 102 weeks old, regarding their changes in performance, body composition, and egg components produced in three scenarios of nutrition. Three treatments designed to contain different levels of balanced protein (BP) were randomly assigned to the experimental units, performing ten replicates per treatment with 20 birds each. A standard feed was formulated to meet hen requirements and the ideal ratio between essential amino acids. Then, two experimental feeds were formulated to contain 20% above or below the dietary BP used in the standard feed. The responses evaluated were cumulated feed intake (g), daily feed intake (g/day), body weight (g), body composition (g of protein, fat, and ash), hen-housed egg production (%/hen-housed), egg production (%), egg weight (g), egg mass (g), and egg components (percentages of yolk, albumen, and eggshell). The dietary BP influenced the body composition, egg production, egg weight, and egg mass of white laying hens. The increase in dietary BP was related to an increase in body contents and egg weight, whereas hens consuming the low dietary balanced protein presented a lower body weight, leaner, and produced smaller eggs.
Predictive Models for Equine Emergency Exploratory Laparotomy in Spain: Pre-, Intra-, and Post-Operative-Mortality-Associated Factors
Authors: Iglesias-García Manuel , Rodríguez Hurtado Isabel , Ortiz-Díez Gustavo , De la Calle del Barrio Jorge , Fernández Pérez Cristina , Gómez Lucas Raquel
Published: May 2022

The extrinsic and intrinsic characteristics of an equine population may influence the onset of gastrointestinal lesions and affect the survival rate of patients. The equine population in Spain has been the focus of a small number of studies, none of which have involved more than one surgical center. In this retrospective cohort study, we aimed to analyze the survival rate, identify the variables that influenced death, and generate multivariate models using clinical variables. Data were collected from the clinical records of two surgical referral centers in the same region, and a total of 566 horses met the inclusion criteria. The statistical analysis was divided into three parts: The first and second included logistic analysis, in order to identify the variables most closely associated with survival. The third part assessed all previous variables in terms of survival and hospitalization time, using a COX survival analysis. The main risk factors associated with intra-operative mortality were related to seasonality (winter and summer), patient age (older than 9 years), distance from the hospital, the presence of a strangulating lesion, and the bowel segment affected (small intestine). Furthermore, the main factors associated with mortality during hospitalization were the characteristics of the lesions (strangulating) and the differences between surgical centers. The models generated in this study have good predictive value and use only reliable and easily obtainable variables. The most reliable characteristics are those related to the type of colic and the location of the lesion.
Kinetics of the Neutralizing and Spike SARS-CoV-2 Antibodies following the Sinovac Inactivated Virus Vaccine Compared to the Pfizer mRNA Vaccine in Singapore
Authors: Lau Chin Shern , Oh May Lin Helen , Phua Soon Kieng , Liang Ya Li , Li Yanfeng , Huo Jianxin , Huang Yuhan , Zhang Biyan , Xu Shengli , Aw Tar Choon
Published: May 2022

Introduction: We compared the early total spike antibody (S-Ab) and neutralizing antibody (N-Ab) responses to two vaccines. Methods: We studied 96 Pfizer and 34 Sinovac vaccinees over a 14-month period from January 2021 to February 2022. All vaccinees received three doses of one type of vaccine. Antibody levels (Roche Elecsys total S-Ab and the Snibe N-Ab) were tested 10 days after the first dose, 20 days after the second dose, and 20 days after the booster dose. Results: At all time points, the mRNA vaccine generated higher S-Ab and N-Ab responses than the inactivated virus vaccine (S-Ab: first dose 2.48 vs. 0.4 BAU/mL, second dose 2174 vs. 98 BAU/mL, third dose 15,004 vs. 525 BAU/mL; N-Ab: first dose 0.05 vs. 0.02 µg/mL, second dose 3.48 vs. 0.38 µg/mL, third dose 19.8 vs. 0.89 µg/mL). mRNA vaccine recipients had a 6.2/22.2/28.6-fold higher S-Ab and 2.5/9.2/22.2-fold higher N-Ab response than inactivated virus vaccine recipients after the first/second/third inoculations, respectively. Mann–Whitney U analysis confirmed the significant difference in S-Ab and N-Ab titers between vaccination groups at each time point. Conclusions: The mRNA vaccines generated a more robust S-Ab and N-Ab response than the inactivated virus vaccine at all time points after the first, second, and third vaccinations.
Epidemiology of Antibiotic Resistant Pathogens in Pediatric Urinary Tract Infections as a Tool to Develop a Prediction Model for Early Detection of Drug-Specific Resistance
Authors: Bagnasco Francesca , Piaggio Giorgio , Mesini Alessio , Mariani Marcello , Russo Chiara , Saffioti Carolina , Losurdo Giuseppe , Palmero Candida , Castagnola Elio
Published: May 2022

Antibiotic resistance is an increasing problem, especially in children with urinary tract infections. Rates of drug-specific resistant pathogens were reported, and an easy prediction model to guide the clinical decision-making process for antibiotic treatment was proposed. Data on microbiological isolation from urinoculture, between January 2007–December 2018 at Istituto Gaslini, Italy, in patients aged <19 years were extracted. Logistic regression-based prediction scores were calculated. Discrimination was determined by the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve; calibration was assessed by the Hosmer and Lemeshow test and the Spiegelhalterz test. A total of 9449 bacterial strains were isolated in 6207 patients; 27.2% were <6 months old at the first episode. Enterobacteriales (Escherichia coli and other Enterobacteriales) accounted for 80.4% of all isolates. Amoxicillin-clavulanate (AMC) and cefixime (CFI) Enterobacteriales resistance was 32.8% and 13.7%, respectively, and remained quite stable among the different age groups. On the contrary, resistance to ciprofloxacin (CIP) (overall 9.6%) and cotrimoxazole (SXT) (overall 28%) increased with age. After multivariable analysis, resistance to AMC/CFI could be predicted by the following: sex; age at sampling; department of admission; previous number of bacterial pathogens isolated. Resistance to CIP/SXT could be predicted by the same factors, excluding sex. The models achieved very good calibration but moderate discrimination performance. Specific antibiotic resistance among Enterobacteriales could be predicted using the proposed scoring system to guide empirical antibiotic choice. Further studies are needed to validate this tool.
Occurrence, Pathogenic Potential and Antimicrobial Resistance of Escherichia coli Isolated from Raw Milk Cheese Commercialized in Banat Region, Romania
Authors: Imre Kálmán , Ban-Cucerzan Alexandra , Herman Viorel , Sallam Khalid Ibrahim , Cristina Romeo Teodor , Abd-Elghany Samir Mohammed , Morar Doru , Popa Sebastian Alexandru , Imre Mirela , Morar Adriana
Published: May 2022

The aim of the present study was to investigate the presence, pathogenic potential and antimicrobial susceptibility profile of Escherichia coli isolated from raw milk cheese, traditionally produced by farmers and marketed directly to the consumer in Banat region, Romania. A total of 81.1% (43/53) of the processed samples expressed positive results for E. coli, with a distribution of 83.8% (31/37), and 75.0% (12/16) in the cow- and sheep-milk-origin assortments, respectively. Overall, 69.8% (30/43) of the specimens had a contamination level ≤10 CFU/g. Molecular tests showed that, from the total number of E. coli isolates, 9.3% (4/43) harbored the stx2, and 2.3% (1/43), the stx1 virulence genes. The E. coli O157 (including H7) biovariety was identified in 7% (3/43) of the samples by the Vidas equipment. From the 27 antimicrobials tested with the Vitek2 automated system, the E. coli isolates displayed resistance to enrofloxacin (100%, 15 out of 15 tested isolates), ampicillin (39.5%, 17/43), norfloxacin (28.6%, 8/28), fosfomycin (25%, 7/28), amoxicillin/clavulanic acid (23.3%, 10/43), cefalexin (20%, 3/15), cefalotin (13.3%, 2/15), tetracycline (13.3%, 2/15), trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (9.3%, 4/43), piperacillin-tazobactam (7.1%, 2/28), cefotaxime (7.1%, 2/28), cefepime (7.1%, 2/28), ticarcillin/clavulanic acid (6.7%, 1/15), florfenicol (6.7%, 1/15), ceftazidime (3.6%, 1/28), and ertapenem (3.6%, 1/28). Ten (23.3%) strains were multidrug-resistant. The obtained preliminary results indicated hygienic–sanitary deficiencies throughout the cheese production process, and demonstrated that these products can harbor virulent and multidrug-resistant E. coli strains, which constitute a public health risk. However, future investigations, processing a higher number of samples, are still necessary to draw comprehensive conclusions.
Changes in Phenolic Acids and Antioxidant Properties during Baking of Bread and Muffin Made from Blends of Hairless Canary Seed, Wheat, and Corn
Authors: Abdel-Aal El-Sayed M. , Rabalski Iwona
Published: May 2022

Phenolic acids are the major polyphenols in cereal grains and they undergo changes in their composition and structure during processing. This study investigated changes in phenolic acids and antioxidant properties during baking of bread and muffin made from hairless canary seed (HCS), Phalaris canariensis L., alone or in blends with corn and wheat. The changes were monitored after dry mixing, dough/batter formation, and oven baking. Phenolic acids were quantified in products using HPLC and antioxidant activity was based on DPPH, ABTS, and ORAC assays. Eight phenolic acids were primarily present in the bound fraction extracts, while only a few phenolic acids were detected in the free or unbound fraction extracts. Ferulic was the dominant phenolic acid in wheat, corn, and HCS followed by p-coumaric acid but the latter was extremely high in HCS compared to wheat and corn. After baking, bound phenolic acids decreased in breads and muffins, while the unbound phenolic acids increased. Dough preparation resulted in about 5–13% reductions in bound ferulic acid in addition to 2–9% after oven baking with a total reduction of about 10–20% subject to bread formulation. On the contrary unbound ferulic acid increased by 48–307% after dough preparation and 138–225% after oven baking with a total increase 273–495%. Similarly, muffin-making process resulted in 26–30% reductions in bound ferulic acid after batter preparation and 4–7% after oven baking with reductions of 34–37% in muffins, while the unbound ferulic acid increased by about 35–105% and 9–29%, respectively, with a total increase 47–116%. The baking process resulted in improved DPPH, ABTS, and ORAC antioxidant activities in breads and muffins despite the initial reductions after dough preparation. In general, baking process resulted in tangible increases in unbound phenolic acids which eventually could improve their bioavailability and bioactivity.
Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH) and Atherosclerosis: Explaining Their Pathophysiology, Association and the Role of Incretin-Based Drugs
Authors: Galatou Eleftheria , Mourelatou Elena , Hatziantoniou Sophia , Vizirianakis Ioannis S.
Published: May 2022

Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is the most severe manifestation of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), a common complication of type 2 diabetes, and may lead to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Oxidative stress and liver cell damage are the major triggers of the severe hepatic inflammation that characterizes NASH, which is highly correlated with atherosclerosis and coronary artery disease. Regarding drug therapy, research on the role of GLP-1 analogues and DPP4 inhibitors, novel classes of antidiabetic drugs, is growing. In this review, we outline the association between NASH and atherosclerosis, the underlying molecular mechanisms, and the effects of incretin-based drugs, especially GLP-1 RAs, for the therapeutic management of these conditions.
Silicon- and Boron-Induced Physio-Biochemical Alteration and Organic Acid Regulation Mitigates Aluminum Phytotoxicity in Date Palm Seedlings
Authors: Bilal Saqib , Khan Adil , Imran Muhammad , Khan Abdul Latif , Asaf Sajjad , Al-Rawahi Ahmed , Al-Azri Masoud Sulaiman Abood , Al-Harrasi Ahmed , Lee In-Jung
Published: May 2022

The current study aimed to understand the synergistic impacts of silicon (Si; 1.0 mM) and boron (B; 10 µM) application on modulating physio-molecular responses of date palm to mitigate aluminum (Al3+; 2.0 mM) toxicity. Results revealed that compared to sole Si and B treatments, a combined application significantly improved plant growth, biomass, and photosynthetic pigments during Al toxicity. Interestingly, Si and B resulted in significantly higher exudation of organic acid (malic acids, citric acids, and acetic acid) in the plant’s rhizosphere. This is also correlated with the reduced accumulation and translocation of Al in roots (60%) and shoots (56%) in Si and B treatments during Al toxicity compared to in sole Al3+ treatment. The activation of organic acids by combined Si + B application has significantly regulated the ALMT1, ALMT2 and plasma membrane ATPase; PMMA1 and PMMA3 in roots and shoots. Further, the Si-related transporter Lsi2 gene was upregulated by Si + B application under Al toxicity. This was also validated by the higher uptake and translocation of Si in plants. Al-induced oxidative stress was significantly counteracted by exhibiting lower malondialdehyde and superoxide production in Si + B treatments. Experiencing less oxidative stress was evident from upregulation of CAT and Cyt-Cu/Zn SOD expression; hence, enzymatic activities such as polyphenol oxidase, catalase, peroxidase, and ascorbate peroxidase were significantly activated. In the case of endogenous phytohormones, Si + B application demonstrated the downregulation of the abscisic acid (ABA; NCED1 and NCED6) and salicylic acid (SA; PYL4, PYR1) biosynthesis-related genes. Consequently, we also noticed a lower accumulation of ABA and rising SA levels under Al-stress. The current findings illustrate that the synergistic Si + B application could be an effective strategy for date palm growth and productivity against Al stress and could be further extended in field trails in Al-contaminated fields.
Stress Optimization of Vent Holes with Different Shapes Using Efficient Switching Delayed PSO Algorithm
Authors: Yan Cheng , Hao Wenkang , Yin Yiqi , Zeng Nianyin , Du Han , Song Dandan
Published: May 2022

An effective integrated design optimization method is developed to reduce the maximum von Mises stress around vent holes of a high-pressure turbine sealing disk. It mainly includes four different shape designs (circular, elliptical, race-track, and four-arc) for holes, an updated self-developed modelling and meshing tool, an APDL-based strength analysis, and a self-proposed efficient switching delayed particle swarm optimization (SDPSO) algorithm. The main idea of SDPSO is: (1) by evaluating an evolutionary factor and utilizing a probability transition matrix, a non-homogeneous Markov chain is determined and auto-updated in each generation; (2) the evolutionary factor and the Markov chain are used to adaptively select the inertia weight, acceleration coefficients, and delayed information to adjust the particle’s velocity. The performance of SDPSO is evaluated through two benchmark optimization problems with constraints. The results show that SDPSO is superior to two well-known PSO algorithms in optimization capability, numerical robustness, and convergence speed. Furthermore, SDPSO is used for the stress optimization of vent holes with four different shapes. The results show that: (1) SDPSO is suitable and valuable for practical engineering optimization problems with constraints; (2) the developed integrated design optimization method is effective and advanced for reducing the maximum von Mises stress around the vent holes; and (3) the four-arc hole has more tremendous advantages in reducing the maximum von Mises stress, followed by the elliptical hole, the race-track hole, and the circular hole.