bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Predictors for adherent behavior in the COVID-19 pandemic: A cross-sectional telephone survey
Authors: Siebenhofer Andrea , Könczöl Clemens , Jeitler Klaus , Schmid Daniela , Elliott Phillip , Avian Alexander
Published: October 2022

Background

During the COVID-19 pandemic, protective measures have been prescribed to prevent or slow down the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus and protect the population. Individuals follow these measures to varying degrees. We aimed to identify factors influencing the extent to which protective measures are adhered to.

Methods

A cross-sectional survey (telephone interviews) was undertaken between April and June 2021 to identify factors influencing the degree to which individuals adhere to protective measures. A representative sample of 1,003 people (age >16 years) in two Austrian states (Carinthia, Vorarlberg) was interviewed. The questionnaire was based on the Health Belief Model, but also included potential response-modifying factors. Predictors for adherent behavior were identified using multiple regression analysis. All predictors were standardized so that regression coefficients (β) could be compared.

Results

Overall median adherence was 0.75 (IQR: 0.5–1.0). Based on a regression model, the following variables were identified as significant in raising adherence: higher age (β = 0.43, 95%CI: 0.33–0.54), social standards of acceptable behavior (β = 0.33, 95%CI: 0.27–0.40), subjective/individual assessment of an increased personal health risk (β = 0.12, 95%CI: 0.05–0.18), self-efficacy (β = 0.06, 95%CI: 0.02–0.10), female gender (β = 0.05, 95%CI: 0.01–0.08), and low corona fatigue (behavioral fatigue: β = −0.11, 95%CI: −0.18 to −0.03). The model showed that such aspects as personal trust in institutions, perceived difficulties in adopting health-promoting measures, and individual assessments of the risk of infection, had no significant influence.

Conclusions

This study reveals that several factors significantly influence adherence to measures aimed at controlling the COVID-19 pandemic. To enhance adherence, the government, media, and other relevant stakeholders should take the findings into consideration when formulating policy. By developing social standards and promoting self-efficacy, individuals can influence the behavior of others and contribute toward coping with the pandemic.
Social position and economic system justification in Canada: Implications for advancing health equity and social justice from an exploratory study of factors shaping economic system justification
Authors: Card Kiffer G. , Hepburn Kirk
Published: October 2022

Objective

Many socio-economic reforms that could reduce health disparities are not implemented because people justify existing systems and fear changes thereto. This study aimed to identify socio-demographic factors associated with system justifying beliefs to better understand how they are maintained in Canada. In doing so, we hypothesized that (1) systems justification is a default cognitive position, buttressed by the palliative benefits of system-justification, (2) lack of success in a given system generally motivates people to doubt the legitimacy of that system, and (3) system-justifying beliefs are rejected only when the costs of doing so are low enough and/or the benefits are high enough to outweigh the innate needs-fulfillment benefits of system-justification.

Methods

Testing these hypotheses, we recruited participants living in Canada, aged 16+, to complete an online survey after being recruitedviapaid social media advertisements. Multivariable regression models identified factors associated with Economic System Justification Scale (ESJS) scores. Explanatory variables included demographic measures of social position, self-rated health, and patterns of social inclusion.

Results

Among 2,619 participants, system-justifying beliefs were wide-spread, with the average level of support across ESJS scale items exceeding 50%. Lower ESJS scores were associated with worse health, more loneliness, and lower socioeconomic status. Despite the pattern that marginalization erodes system-justification, several historically marginalized characteristics (e.g., non-white ethnicity and non-binary gender) were associated with relatively high system-justification, compared to matching privileged characteristics (e.g., white ethnicity; masculine gender).

Conclusion

Supporting our hypotheses, we identify a general trend that social marginalization is associated with less system-justification. Those benefitting from the status quo (e.g., healthier, wealthier, less lonely) were more likely to hold system-justifying beliefs. However, some groups who are disadvantaged within the existing system reported higher system-justification—suggesting that system oppression may be a key moderator of the effect of social position on system justification.
The vicious cycle of the public's irrational use of antibiotics for upper respiratory tract infections: A mixed methods systematic review
Authors: Duan Lixia , Liu Chaojie , Wang Dan , Lin Rujiao , Qian Pan , Zhang Xinping , Liu Chenxi
Published: October 2022

Background

The public's irrational use of antibiotics for upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs) is prevalent worldwide. This study aims to synthesize evidence on how people use antibiotics to treat URTIs, its prevalence and determinants.

Methods

A mixed methods systematic review was conducted using a convergent segregated approach. Relevant studies were searched from PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, and Web of Science. A qualitative analysis was initiated, exploring the public's antibiotic use experience for URTIS based on the Consumer Behavior Model (CBM). This was followed by a quantitative synthesis, tapping into the prevalence and predictors of public behavior in antibiotic usage for URTIs. The segregated syntheses complemented each other and were further integrated.

Results

A total of 86 studies were included: 48 quantitative, 30 qualitative, eight mixed methods studies. The included studies were conducted in Europe (n = 29), Asia (n = 27) and North America (n = 21), assessing the behaviors of patients (n = 46), their parents or caregivers (n = 31), or both (n = 9). Eleven themes emerged covering the six CBM stages: need recognition, information searching, alternative evaluation, antibiotic obtaining, antibiotic consumption, and post-consumption evaluation. The six stages reinforce each other, forming a vicious cycle. The high prevalence of the public's irrational use of antibiotics for URTIs is evident despite the high heterogeneity of the studies (ranging from 0.0 to 92.7%). The perceived seriousness of illness and misbelief in antibiotics were identified consistently across the studies as the major motivation driving the public's irrational use of antibiotics for URTIs. However, individual capacity (e.g., knowledge) and opportunity (e.g., contextual restriction) in reducing antibiotic use have mixed effect.

Conclusion

Systemic interventions concerning both supply and demand sides are warranted. The public needs to be educated about the appropriate management of URTIs and health care providers need to re-shape public attitudes toward antibiotic use for URTIs through communication and prescribing practices.

Systematic review registration

https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero, identifier: CRD42021266407.
Rapid and sensitive detection of botulinum toxin type A in complex sample matrices by AlphaLISA
Authors: Zhang Liwen , Lv Qingyu , Zheng Yuling , Gao Shan , Huang Wenhua , Liu Peng , Kong Decong , Wang Ye , Yu Yunzhou , Jiang Yongqiang , Jiang Hua
Published: October 2022

Botulinum toxin A(BoNT/A) is a neurotoxin produced by the bacteria Clostridium botulinum, which can cause serious food poisoning and is recognized as a potential biological warfare agent. BoNT/A is does not degrade easily and can remain in the complex matrix for a long time. Meanwhile, the poisonous dose of botulinum toxin exceptionally low and intravenous human lethal doses estimated at 1-3 ng/kg. Therefore, sensitive and accurate detection methods suitable for testing a wide range of complex samples are urgently needed. To this end, the “amplified luminescent proximity homogeneous assay linked immunosorbent assay” (AlphaLISA) was established for the detection of BoNT/A and its detection efficacy in plasma, beverage, food, and other complex samples was evaluated. The results showed that this method can very effectively resist matrix interference. The detection time is rapid, reaching a detection limit for all samples of up to 0.1 ng/mL in only 30 min. BoNT/A can also be accurately detected in vomit samples of patients with clinical food poisoning. This study demonstrates that AlphaLISA is an effective tool for the detection of BoNT/A in complex samples and can potentially be developed for commercial use in the future.
Urban heat vulnerability: A dynamic assessment using multi-source data in coastal metropolis of Southeast China
Authors: Wu Chaowei , Shui Wei , Huang Zhigang , Wang Chunhui , Wu Yuehui , Wu Yinpan , Xue Chengzhi , Huang Yunhui , Zhang Yiyi , Zheng Dongyang
Published: October 2022

Extreme heat caused by global climate change has become a serious threat to the sustainable development of urban areas. Scientific assessment of the impacts of extreme heat on urban areas and in-depth knowledge of the cross-scale mechanisms of heat vulnerability forming in urban systems are expected to support policymakers and stakeholders in developing effective policies to mitigate the economic, social, and health risks. Based on the perspective of the human-environment system, this study constructed a conceptual framework and index system of “exposure-susceptibility-adaptive capacity” for urban heat vulnerability (UHV) and proposed its assessment methods. Taking Xiamen City, a coastal metropolis, as an example, spatial analysis and Geodetector were used to explore the spatial and temporal changes, spatial characteristics, and patterns of UHV under multiple external disturbances from natural to anthropological factors, and to reveal the main factors influencing UHV forming and spatial differentiation. Results showed that the exposure, susceptibility, adaptive capacity, and UHV in Xiamen City had a spatial structure of “coastal-offshore-inland”. On the hot day, both the exposure and UHV showed a temporal pattern of “rising and then falling, peaking at 14:00” and a spatial pattern of “monsoonal-like” movement between coast and inland. Coastal zoning with favorable socioeconomic conditions had less magnitude of changes in UHV, where the stability of the urban system was more likely to be maintained. During the hot months, the high UHV areas were mainly distributed in the inland, while coastal areas showed low UHV levels. Further, coastal UHV was mainly dominated by “heat exposure”, offshore by “comprehensive factors”, and inland in the northern mountainous areas by “lack of adaptive capacity”. Multi-scale urban adaptive capacity was confirmed to alter spatial distribution of exposure and reshape the spatial pattern of UHV. This study promotes the application of multi-scale vulnerability framework to disaster impact assessment, enriches the scientific knowledge of the urban system vulnerability, and provides scientific references for local targeted cooling policy development and extreme heat resilience building programs.
A real-time driver fatigue identification method based on GA-GRNN
Authors: Wang Xiaoyuan , Chen Longfei , Zhang Yang , Shi Huili , Wang Gang , Wang Quanzheng , Han Junyan , Zhong Fusheng
Published: October 2022

It is of great practical and theoretical significance to identify driver fatigue state in real time and accurately and provide active safety warning in time. In this paper, a non-invasive and low-cost method of fatigue driving state identification based on genetic algorithm optimization of generalized regression neural network model is proposed. The specific work is as follows: (1) design simulated driving experiment and real driving experiment, determine the fatigue state of drivers according to the binary Karolinska Sleepiness Scale (KSS), and establish the fatigue driving sample database. (2) Improved Multi-Task Cascaded Convolutional Networks (MTCNN) and applied to face detection. Dlib library was used to extract the coordinate values of face feature points, collect the characteristic parameters of driver's eyes and mouth, and calculate the Euler Angle parameters of head posture. A fatigue identification model was constructed by using multiple characteristic parameters. (3) Genetic Algorithm (GA) was used to find the optimal smooth factor of Generalized Regression Neural Network (GRNN) and construct GA-GRNN fatigue driving identification model. Compared with K-Nearest Neighbor (KNN), Random Forest (RF), and GRNN fatigue driving identification algorithms. GA-GRNN has the best generalization ability and high stability, with an accuracy of 93.3%. This study provides theoretical and technical support for the application of driver fatigue identification.
Gut dysbiosis following organophosphate, diisopropylfluorophosphate (DFP), intoxication and saracatinib oral administration
Authors: Gage Meghan , Vinithakumari Akhil A. , Mooyottu Shankumar , Thippeswamy Thimmasettappa
Published: October 2022

Organophosphate nerve agents (OPNAs) act as irreversible inhibitors of acetylcholinesterase and can lead to cholinergic crisis including salivation, lacrimation, urination, defecation, gastrointestinal distress, respiratory distress, and seizures. Although the OPNAs have been studied in the past few decades, little is known about the impact on the gut microbiome which has become of increasing interest across fields. In this study, we challenged animals with the OPNA, diisopropylfluorophosphate (DFP, 4mg/kg, s.c.) followed immediately by 2mg/kg atropine sulfate (i.m.) and 25mg/kg 2-pralidoxime (i.m.) and 30 minutes later by 3mg/kg midazolam (i.m.). One hour after midazolam, animals were treated with a dosing regimen of saracatinib (SAR, 20mg/kg, oral), a src family kinase inhibitor, to mitigate DFP-induced neurotoxicity. We collected fecal samples 48 hours, 7 days, and 5 weeks post DFP intoxication. 16S rRNA genes (V4) were amplified to identify the bacterial composition. At 48 hours, a significant increase in the abundance of Proteobacteria and decrease in the abundance of Firmicutes were observed in DFP treated animals. At 7 days there was a significant reduction in Firmicutes and Actinobacteria, but a significant increase in Bacteroidetes in the DFP groups compared to controls. The taxonomic changes at 5 weeks were negligible. There was no impact of SAR administration on microbial composition. There was a significant DFP-induced reduction in alpha diversity at 48 hours but not at 7 days and 5 weeks. There appeared to be an impact of DFP on beta diversity at 48 hours and 7 days but not at 5 weeks. In conclusion, acute doses of DFP lead to short-term gut dysbiosis and SAR had no effect. Understanding the role of gut dysbiosis in long-term toxicity may reveal therapeutic targets.
Designing for culturally responsive social robots: An application of a participatory framework
Authors: Louie Belinda , Björling Elin A. , Kuo Annie Camey , Alves-Oliveira Patrícia
Published: October 2022

Integrating cultural responsiveness into the educational setting is essential to the success of multilingual students. As social robots present the potential to support multilingual children, it is imperative that the design of social robot embodiments and interactions are culturally responsive. This paper summarizes the current literature on educational robots in culturally diverse settings. We argue the use of the Culturally Localized User Experience (CLUE) Framework is essential to ensure cultural responsiveness in HRI design. We present three case studies illustrating the CLUE framework as a social robot design approach. The results of these studies suggest co-design provides multicultural learners an accessible, nonverbal context through which to provide design requirements and preferences. Furthermore, we demonstrate the importance of key stakeholders (students, parents, and teachers) as essential to ensure a culturally responsive robot. Finally, we reflect on our own work with culturally and linguistically diverse learners and propose three guiding principles for successfully engaging diverse learners as valuable cultural informants to ensure the future success of educational robots.
Devilfish bone char, an alternative material to be used as bioanode in microbial fuel cells
Authors: Aguilera Flores Miguel Mauricio , Avila Vázquez Verónica , Medellín Castillo Nahum Andrés
Published: October 2022

This work aimed to evaluate the devilfish bone char as an alternative material to be used as a bioanode in a microbial fuel cell (MFC) applied in bioenergy production from the pantoprazole biodegradation. The devilfish is an invasive species in Mexico and other countries, so its control and eradication are based on the integral use of its biomass. In addition, the bones are unusable waste and could be used as a raw material to manufacture the bioanode. Two MFCs with an anaerobic anode single chamber of 125 mL were operated independently using the fabricated bioanode and the carbon felt (conventional anode). Both MFCs were fed with 1 g/L of pantoprazole as substrate with a chemical oxygen demand (COD) of 210 ± 1.3 mg/L and 1.2 g of soil as inoculum. The two MFCs were characterized electrochemically, and the COD removal percentage was measured as an indicator of the pantoprazole biodegradation. The results showed that the MFC operated with the bioanode had a better performance than the conventional anode, since it reached a maximum power density of 1.22 mW/m2, being 156% higher than carbon felt. These values were consistent with the COD removal percentages reached in 10 days with values of 47.17 ± 0.23 and 43.34 ± 0.41%, respectively. Therefore, these findings provide a low-cost alternative carbonaceous material for the sustainable construction of MFC applied to produce bioenergy from the biodegradation of pharmaceutical products.
What the Barn Owl Can Teach Us About Human Visual Attention
Authors: Beeri Hadar , Gutfreund Yoram
Published: October 2022

Visual attention is the brain’s process of extracting information we receive through the eyes. It guides our gaze to the most important things around us. How do scientists research such a complicated subject? And can birds, which are separated from humans by 300 million years of evolution, help us understand attention in the human brain? The barn owl is a member of the owl family, and its extremely sharp vision and hearing allow it to hunt in total darkness. Researchers can use the barn owl to learn about attention, both in animals and humans. This article will explain the visual attention experiments we performed using barn owls and what we learned from them. An understanding of visual attention may help doctors and scientists to treat important brain disorders and may also help with the development of technologies that need to “pay attention,” like self-driving cars.
Automated bow shock and magnetopause boundary detection with Cassini using threshold and deep learning methods
Authors: Cheng I Kit , Achilleos Nicholas , Smith Andy
Published: October 2022

Two algorithms set for automatic detection of bow shock (BS) and magnetopause (MP) boundaries at Saturn using in situ magnetic field and plasma data acquired by the Cassini spacecraft are presented. Traditional threshold-based and modern deep learning algorithms were investigated for the task of boundary detection. Sections of Cassini’s orbits were pre-selected based on empirical BS and MP boundary models, and from outlier detection in magnetic field data using an autoencoder neural network. The threshold method was applied to pre-selected magnetic field and plasma data independently to compute parameters to which a threshold was applied to determine the presence of a boundary. The deep learning method used a type of convolutional neural network (CNN) called ResNet on images of magnetic field time series data and electron energy-time spectrograms to classify the presence of boundaries. 2012 data were held out of the training data to test and compare the algorithms on unseen data. The comparison showed that the CNN method applied to plasma data outperformed the threshold method. A final multiclass CNN classifier trained on plasma data obtained F1 scores of 92.1% ± 1.4% for BS crossings and 84.7% ± 1.9% for MP crossings on a corrected test dataset (from use of a bootstrap method). Reliable automated detection of boundary crossings could enable future spacecraft experiments like the PEP instrument on the upcoming JUICE spacecraft mission to dynamically adapt the best observing mode based on rapid classification of the boundary crossings as soon as it appears, thus yielding higher quality data and improved potential for scientific discovery.
The SpacePy space science package at 12 years
Authors: Niehof Jonathan T. , Morley Steven K. , Welling Daniel T. , Larsen Brian A.
Published: October 2022

For over a decade, the SpacePy project has contributed open-source solutions for the production and analysis of heliophysics data and simulation results. Here we introduce SpacePy’s functionality for the scientific user and present relevant design principles. We examine recent advances and the future of SpacePy in the broader scientific Python ecosystem, concluding with some of the work that has used SpacePy.
The effects of bicarbonated versus acetated Ringer's solutions on acid-base status and kidney injury following orthotopic liver transplantation: Protocol for a single-centre, randomised controlled trial (The BETTER trial)
Authors: Lv Cheng , Zhou Bin , Zhang Donghua , Lin Jiajia , Sun Lingling , Zhang Zhenzhen , Ding Yuan , Sun Rong , Zhang Jie , Zhou Chuyao , Zhang Li , Wang Xuan , Ke Lu , Li Weiqin , Li Baiqiang
Published: October 2022

Background

The ideal crystalloid fluid of choice for fluid therapy during liver transplantation is unknown. Conventional balanced crystalloids are buffered with organic anions, which requires liver metabolism to prevent matabolic acidosis and protect renal function. Therefore they can not function properly during liver transplantation. On the contrary, the bicarbonated Ringer's solution (BRS) can maintain acid-base status regardless of liver function. In this study, we aimed to test the hypothesis that, in patients undergoing orthotopic liver transplantation, compared with acetated Ringer's solutions (ARS), perioperative fluid therapy with BRS could better maintain the acid-base status.

Methods

This is a prospective, single-centre, randomised controlled trial. 72 eligible patients will be randomised to receive either BRS or ARS perioperatively. The primary endpoint is the difference in standard base excess (SBE) before and after operation. Secondary endpoints include the incidence of acute kidney injury (AKI) within 48 h post operation and free and alive days to day 14 for intensive care admission, invasive ventilation, vasopressors, and renal replacement therapy (RRT).

Discussion

Metabolic acidosis is common perioperatively, potentially leading to decreased renal blood flow and reduced glomerular filtration rate. The use of balanced solutions can prevent hyperchloremic metabolic acidosis, thereby avoiding AKI in some patients. However, during liver transplantation, when well-functioning liver metabolism is lacking, the organic anions in conventional balanced solutions may remain strong anions and thus fail to maintain the acid-base status, but no solid clinical evidence exists now. This study will, for the first time, provide evidence on the relative effects of BRS vs. ARS on acid-base status and renal injury in patients undergoing liver transplantation.

Clinical Trial Registration

The trial has been registered at the Chinese Clinical Trials Registry (ChiCTR2100046889) on 29 May 2021.
Research trends on endoscopic mucosal resection: A bibliometric analysis from 1991 to 2021
Authors: Yang Yihan , Xu Xuan , Wang Menghui , Zhang Yang , Zhou Pinglang , Yang Sifan , Shu Xu , Xie Chuan
Published: October 2022

Background

In recent years, the rapid development of digestive endoscopy technology has brought revolutionary changes to endoscopic therapy. A growing number of articles have been published annually. We aimed to explore global scientific outputs and hotspots of endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) published by different countries, organizations, and authors.

Methods

We extracted relevant publications from the Web of Science Core Collection (WOSCC) on June 23, 2022. We examined the retrieved data by bibliometric analysis (e.g., cocited and cluster analysis, keyword co-occurrence) using the software CiteSpace and VOSviewer to analyze and predict the trends and hot spots in this field.

Results

A total of 2,695 papers were finally identified. The results showed that the number of articles fluctuated with the year and reached its peak in 2021. NATIONAL CANCER CENTER JAPAN was the most influential institution. MICHAEL J BOURKE and YUTAKA SAITO are two of the most prolific scholars. ENDOSCOPY and GASTROINTESTINAL ENDOSCOPY were the most productive journals. “Early gastric cancer” and “Barrett's esophagus” were the focus of EMR research. “Adverse events”, “cold snare polypectomy” and “outcomes” have become increasingly popular in recent years and could become hot spots in the future.

Conclusion

In this study, we summarized the characteristics of the publications; identified the most influential countries, institutions, and journals; and identified the leading topics in the EMR field.
Evaluation of lipidomic change in goat sperm after cryopreservation
Authors: Xu Bingbing , Wang Ruijun , Wang Zhiying , Liu Hongfu , Wang Zhen , Zhang Weihang , Zhang Yanjun , Su Rui , Liu Zhihong , Liu Yongbin , Li Jinquan , Zhang Jiaxin
Published: October 2022

The current study aimed to detect the relationship between the spermatozoa cryotolerance and the post-thawed sperm lipidome. Ejaculates from 20 goats, and performed a uniform frozen-thawed procedure in this study. According to the total motility of thawed sperm of goats, semen samples were classified into HF group (High Freezers, n = 8) with >60% total motility and LF group (Low Freezers, n = 8) with < 45% total motility. The lipidomic analysis based on UHPLC-MS/MS was utilized to investigate the relationship between sperm cryotolerance and their lipid metabolites expression. The results showed that the cryotolerance of sperm from different individual goats were in great variation. The total motility of post-thawed sperm in HF group (60.93 ± 2.43%) is significantly higher than that in LF group (34.04 ± 3.41%, P < 0.01). And the post-thawed sperm in HF group exhibited significantly higher plasma membrane (59.06 ± 2.34%) and acrosome integrity (62.93 ± 1.15%) than that in LF group (34.06 ± 4.85%, 44.92 ± 2.19% respectively, P < 0.01). The total of 29 lipid subclasses and 1,133 lipid molecules in the post-thawed goat sperm were identified by lipidomics analysis. The lipid content of thawed sperm in HF group was higher than that in LF group, the lipid profile in HF group was significantly separated from LF group, which indicated that the difference in lipid composition and lipid metabolism mode of sperm between the two groups was existed, especially the expression of phosphatidylcholine and triglyceride molecules. In conclusion, the cryotolerance of sperm from different individual goats were in great variation. Sperm with high cryotolerance may be able to uptake more lipids during cryopreservation. The increase in phosphatidylcholine and triglyceride content of thawed. Sperm may relate to more active lipid anabolic processes.
The effects of fucoidan as a dairy substitute on diarrhea rate and intestinal barrier function of the large intestine in weaned lambs
Authors: Guo Guangzhen , Yang Weiguang , Fan Chaojie , Lan Ruixia , Gao Zhenhua , Gan Shangquan , Yu Haibin , Yin Fuquan , Wang Zhijing
Published: October 2022

This paper explores the effects of fucoidan on the frequency of diarrhea, colon morphology, colon antioxidant status, cytokine content, short-chain fatty acids, and microflora of cecal contents in early weaned lambs in order to provide a reference for the intestinal health of young ruminants. Fucoidan is a natural active polysaccharide extracted from kelp and other large brown algae. It has many biological effects, such as improving immunity, nourishing the stomach and intestines, and anti-tumor properties. This study investigated the effects of fucoidan supplementation in milk replacer on the large intestine's ability to act as an intestinal barrier in weaned lambs. With six duplicate pens and one lamb per pen, a total of 24 weaned lambs (average starting body weight of 7.32 ± 0.37 kg) were randomly assigned to one of four milk replacer treatments. Four concentrations of fucoidan supplementation (0, 0.1, 0.3, and 0.6% dry matter intake) were employed to investigate the effects of fucoidan on cecal fermentation and colon microbial organization. The test period lasted 37 days (1 week before the test and 1 month after the test), and lamb cecal contents and colon organization were collected for examination. In addition, the fecal status of all lambs was observed and recorded daily, allowing us to calculate the incidence of diarrhea in weaned lambs. The findings demonstrated that fucoidan may significantly increase the concentration of short-chain fatty acids (propionic acid and butyric acid) in the cecal digesta of weaned lambs. In weaned lambs, 16S rDNA testing showed that fucoidan at 0.3–0.6% (dry matter intake) was beneficial for boosting the variety of the intestinal bacteria and modifying the relative abundance of a few bacterial strains. In addition, fucoidan enhanced colon antioxidant and immune functions and decreased the diarrhea rate to relieve weaning stress. This result demonstrates that milk replacer supplementation with fucoidan contributes to the improvement in the large intestinal health of weaned lambs.
Epidemiologic and economic considerations regarding persistently infected cattle during vaccinate-to-live strategies for control of foot-and-mouth disease in FMD-free regions
Authors: Yadav Shankar , Delgado Amy H. , Hagerman Amy D. , Bertram Miranda R. , Moreno-Torres Karla I. , Stenfeldt Carolina , Holmstrom Lindsey , Arzt Jonathan
Published: October 2022

Development of a foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) carrier state following FMD virus (FMDV) infection is a well-established phenomenon in cattle. However, the proportion of cattle likely to become carriers and the duration of the carrier state at a herd or population-level are incompletely understood. The objective of this study was to examine the epidemiologic and economic impacts of vaccination-to-live strategy in a disease-free region or country. We developed and simulated scenarios of FMD spread and control in the US livestock population, which included depopulation for a limited period, followed by a vaccinate-to-live strategy with strong biosecurity and movement restrictions. Six scenarios of FMD spread and control were simulated in the InterSpread Plus (ISP) modeling tool. Data on the number of infected and depopulated cattle (by operation types) from ISP model runs were used to estimate the monthly number of infected but not depopulated (potential carrier) cattle after the infection. Using available literature data on the FMD carrier state, we estimated the monthly proportion of carrier cattle (from infected but not depopulated cattle) over time following infection. Among the simulated scenarios, the median (25th, 75th percentile) number of infected cattle ranged from 43,217 (42,819, 55,274) head to 148,907 (75,819, 205,350) head, and the epidemic duration ranged from 20 (11, 30) to 76 (38, 136) days. In general, larger outbreaks occurred when depopulation was carried out through longer periods, and the onset of the vaccination was late (p > 0.05). The estimated proportion of surviving cattle, which were infected and not depopulated and had the potential to become persistently infected ranged from 14 to 35% of total infected cattle. Production losses in beef and dairy sectors were higher when outbreaks started in multiple states simultaneously, but production losses were small compared to trade losses and consumer avoidance losses. These results can be used to inform the consideration of a vaccinate-to-live strategy for FMD outbreaks and the development of appropriate post-outbreak management strategies. Furthermore, this output will enable a more detailed examination of the epidemiologic and economic implications of allowing convalescent cattle to survive and remain in production chains after FMD outbreaks in FMD-free regions.
Whole genome re-sequencing reveals artificial and natural selection for milk traits in East Friesian sheep
Authors: Li Xiaolong , Yuan Lvfeng , Wang Weimin , Zhang Deyin , Zhao Yuan , Chen Jiangbo , Xu Dan , Zhao Liming , Li Fadi , Zhang Xiaoxue
Published: October 2022

The East Friesian sheep is one of the important high-yielding dairy sheep breeds, but still little is known about their genetic and genomic variation during domestication. Therefore, we analyzed the genomic data of 46 sheep with the aim of identifying candidate genes that are closely related to milk production traits. Our genomic data consisted of 20 East Friesian sheep and 26 Asian Mouflon wild sheep. Finally, a total of 32590241 SNPs were identified, of which 0.61% (198277) SNPs were located in exonic regions. After further screening, 122 shared genomic regions in the top 1% of FST and top 1% of Nucleotide diversity ratio were obtained. After genome annotation, these 122 candidate genomic regions were found to contain a total of 184 candidate genes. Finally, the results of KEGG enrichment analysis showed four significantly enriched pathways (P < 0.05): beta-Alanine metabolism (SMOX, HIBCH), Pathways in cancer (GLI2, AR, TXNRD3, TRAF3, FGF16), Non-homologous end-joining (MRE11), Epstein-Barr virus infection (TRAF3, PSMD13, SIN3A). Finally, we identified four important KEGG enrichment pathways and 10 candidate genes that are closely related to milk production in East Friesian sheep. These results provide valuable candidate genes for the study of milk production traits in East Friesian sheep and lay an important foundation for the study of milk production traits.
The immunomodulation–immunogenicity balance of equine Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs) is differentially affected by the immune cell response depending on inflammatory licensing and major histocompatibility complex (MHC) compatibility
Authors: Cequier Alina , Vázquez Francisco José , Romero Antonio , Vitoria Arantza , Bernad Elvira , García-Martínez Mirta , Gascón Isabel , Barrachina Laura , Rodellar Clementina
Published: October 2022

The immunomodulatory properties of equine mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are important for their therapeutic potential and for their facilitating role in their escape from immune recognition, which may also be influenced by donor–recipient major histocompatibility complex (MHC) matching/mismatching and MHC expression level. Factors such as inflammation can modify the balance between regulatory and immunogenic profiles of equine MSCs, but little is known about how the exposure to the immune system can affect these properties in equine MSCs. In this study, we analyzed the gene expression and secretion of molecules related to the immunomodulation and immunogenicity of equine MSCs, either non-manipulated (MSC-naive) or stimulated by pro-inflammatory cytokines (MSC-primed), before and after their exposure to autologous or allogeneic MHC-matched/-mismatched lymphocytes, either activated or resting. Cytokine priming induced the immunomodulatory profile of MSCs at the baseline (MSCs cultured alone), and the exposure to activated lymphocytes further increased the expression of interleukin 6 (IL6), cyclooxygenase 2, and inducible nitric oxide synthase, and IL6 secretion. Activated lymphocytes were also able to upregulate the regulatory profile of MSC-naive to levels comparable to cytokine priming. On the contrary, resting lymphocytes did not upregulate the immunomodulatory profile of equine MSCs, but interestingly, MSC-primed exposed to MHC-mismatched lymphocytes showed the highest expression and secretion of these mediators, which may be potentially linked to the activation of lymphocytes upon recognition of foreign MHC molecules. Cytokine priming alone did not upregulate the immunogenic genes, but MSC-primed exposed to activated or resting lymphocytes increased their MHC-I and MHC-II expression, regardless of the MHC-compatibility. The upregulation of immunogenic markers including CD40 in the MHC-mismatched co-culture might have activated lymphocytes, which, at the same time, could have promoted the immune regulatory profile aforementioned. In conclusion, activated lymphocytes are able to induce the equine MSC regulatory profile, and their effects seem to be additive to the priming action. Importantly, our results suggest that the lymphocyte response against MHC-mismatched MSC-primed would promote further activation of their immunomodulatory ability, which eventually might help them evade this reaction. Further studies are needed to clarify how these findings might have clinical implications in vivo, which will help developing safer and more effective therapies.
The relationship between common data-based indicators and the welfare of Swiss dairy herds
Authors: Lutz Barbara , Zwygart Sibylle , Thomann Beat , Stucki Dimitri , Burla Joan-Bryce
Published: October 2022

The assessment of dairy cow welfare has become increasingly important in recent years. Welfare assessments that use animal-based indicators, which are considered the most direct indicators, are time consuming and therefore not feasible for assessments on a large number of farms. One approach to reducing this effort is the use of data-based indicators (DBIs) calculated from routine herd data. The aim of this study was to explore the relationship between common DBIs and the welfare of 35 dairy herds to evaluate the feasibility of a data-based welfare prediction method. For this purpose, the WelfareQuality®(WQ) protocol was used to assess the welfare of dairy cows on 35 Swiss farms, for each of which 10 commonly used DBIs were calculated from herd data. Spearman's rank correlations were used to investigate the relationship between DBIs and WQ criteria and measurements. The study found only a few statistically weak associations between DBIs and animal welfare, with no associations for measurements or criteria of resting comfort and appropriate behavior. Thus, the multidimensional welfare definition is insufficiently covered, and the present publication does not support the approach of a purely data-based prediction of dairy welfare status at the farm level. Instead, the regular calculation of DBIs that are indicative of isolated animal welfare problems or metrics of animal health could allow monitoring of these specific areas of animal welfare.
Theoretical and Experimental Study on Claw-Pole Magnetic Levitation Torque Motor for 2D Valve Using Cogging Torque
Authors: Huang Jiahiu , Xie Shulin , Song Zhankai , Li Sheng , Ruan Jian
Published: October 2022

In this paper, a claw-pole magnetic levitation torque motor (CPMLTM) utilizing cogging torque is proposed as an electromechanical converter (EMC) for two-dimensional valves (2D valve). Compared to the existing torque motor, CPMLTM utilizes the cogging torque between the stator and the rotor, and has the ability of automatic neutral adjustment, which greatly reduces the difficulty of neutral adjustment of two-dimensional valves and improves the accuracy of neutral adjustment. First, the structure and working principle of CPMLTM are introduced, followed by an analysis of the cogging torque of CPMLTM based on the energy method and Fourier expansion. The effects of the claw pole tooth (CPT) shape and slot opening coefficient on the cogging torque of CPMLTM are investigated. To analyze the sensitivity of the electromagnetic torque to each design parameter, a qualitative expression for the electromagnetic torque containing various design parameters was derived based on the equivalent magnetic circuit method, and a set of orthogonal tests were designed to calculate the electromagnetic torque using the finite element method (FEM). To demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed CPMLTM principle and to verify the correctness of the cogging torque analysis model and FEM, a prototype was fabricated and a test rig was constructed for experimental study. The experiments show that CPMLTM can indeed utilize cogging torque to achieve automatic neutral adjustment, and that the neutral adjustment is more accurate. Moreover, the CPMLTM has good static and dynamic characteristics: a neutral electromagnetic torque of 0.1 Nm at a coil magnetomotive force (MMF) of 100 A, step response time up to 4.575 ms, and amplitude frequency bandwidth and phase frequency bandwidth of 173.7 Hz and 86.5 Hz, respectively.
Numerical Investigation on Unsteady Shock Wave/Vortex/Turbulent Boundary Layer Interactions of a Hypersonic Vehicle during Its Shroud Separation
Authors: Cui Pengcheng , Jia Hongyin , Chen Jiangtao , Zhou Guiyu , Wu Xiaojun , Ma Mingsheng , Li Huan , Tang Jing
Published: October 2022

Hypersonic vehicles are drawing more and more attention now and for the near future, especially in the low-altitudes near space, from 20 km to 45 km. The reliable separation of the protecting shroud from the hypersonic vehicle is a prerequisite and critical issue for the success of the entire flight mission. The unsteady multi-body separation characteristics and flow characteristics of hypersonic shroud separation at Mach 7.0 are investigated based on numerical simulation in this paper. The improved delayed detached eddy simulation (IDDES) method, dynamic hybrid overset mesh method, and HLLE++ numerical scheme are used to ensure numerical accuracy. Numerical results show that there are four types of vortexes and three types of shock waves inside the shrouds during the separation process, which generate complex shock wave/vortex/boundary layer interactions. Further, an unsteady process of the expansion-transfer-dissipation of an A-type vortex is found, which is the result of strong shock/vortex/boundary layer interactions. The adverse pressure gradient is the root cause driving the generation and transfer of the A-type vortex during the shroud separation. Furthermore, the transfer process of the A-type vortex only lasts for 5.52 ms but causes a large disturbance to the aerodynamic force of the shroud. The results of this paper could provide a reference for the design of near-space hypersonic vehicles.
A New Mapped WENO Method for Hyperbolic Problems
Authors: Vevek U S , Zang Bin , New T. H.
Published: October 2022

In this study, a new family of rational mapping functions gRM(ω;k,m,s) is introduced for seventh-order WENO schemes. gRM is a more general family of mapping functions, which includes other mapping functions such as gM and gIM as special cases. The mapped WENO scheme WENO-IM(2,0.1), which uses gIM, performs excellently at fifth order but rather poorly at seventh order. The reason for this loss of accuracy was found to be the over-amplification of very small weights by the mapping process, which can be traced back to the large slope of gIM at ω = 0. For m > 1, gRM can be designed to have a unit slope at ω = 0, which will preserve small weights with little to no amplification. It has been demonstrated through several one-dimensional linear advection test cases that the mapped WENO scheme WENO-RM(6,3,2 × 103), which uses the mapping function gRM(ω;6,3,2 × 103), outperforms both WENO-M and WENO-IM(2,0.1) at seventh order. The proposed scheme also performs better at a number of one-dimensional inviscid gas flow problems compared to other popular WENO schemes such as the WENO-Z scheme.
The Effect of Dietary Fumonisin Exposure on Apparent Ileal Digestibility of Amino Acids in Fattening Pigs
Authors: Zeebone Yarsmin Yunus , Kovács Melinda , Bóta Brigitta , Halas Veronika
Published: October 2022

The cellular toxicity of the Fusarium mycotoxin fumonisins (FUMs) has been widely accounted for. However, the ability of FUMs to destroy intestinal functions is an emergence of growing concern. Thus, this experiment ascertained whether dietary FUMs obstruct the apparent ileal digestibility (AID) of crude protein (CP) and amino acids (AAs) in fattening pigs during either short (7 d)- or long (21 d)-term exposure. Ten Danbred fattening pigs (initial body weight (BW) of 67.5 ± 4.1) inserted with a post-valve T-cecum cannula in the terminal ileum were enrolled in the trial. The pigs were randomly divided into a control group fed a basal commercial diet and a group fed in vitro-produced FUMs to provide a 40 mg FUMs/kg-contaminated diet. Titanium dioxide was added at an inclusion rate of 0.5% as an indigestible marker to diets. During two separate periods, ileal digesta were collected for 3 consecutive days for the determination of the AID of CP and the various dispensable and indispensable AAs. Data were subjected to two-way ANOVA of SPSS version 20.0 software using FUMs dose (i = 2; 0 or 40 mg FUMs/ kg feed) and duration (j = 2; short- vs. long-term exposure) as fixed factors. According to our findings, a dietary intake of 40 mg/kg FUMs substantially interfered with the AID of arginine, histidine, and tyrosine (p = 0.003, 0.047, and 0.047, respectively) in terms of the dose and duration interaction effect. In addition, the main duration effect of the AID of histidine was significant (p < 0.001). It is, therefore, conceivable that a dietary dose of a 40 mg/kg FUMs-contaminated diet does not drastically affect CP and AAs digestibility in fattening pigs over a period of 7 or 21 days.
Design and Experiment of Anti-Blocking Components for Shallow Stubble Clearing Based on Soil Bin Test
Authors: Yao Wenyan , Diao Peisong , Miao Hequan , Li Shaochuan
Published: October 2022

In response to the problems of excessive wheat stubble blocking the opener during corn seeding in wheat–corn double cropping areas, an active-strip stubble removal method was proposed under the premise of conservation tillage. Firstly, the effects of two conventional rotary blade structures (inward and outward) on the stubble-cleaning effect and power consumption were studied under five rotary speeds (400, 500, 600, 700, 800 rpm). The results show that when the rotary speed was 400–600 rpm, the outward structure of the rotary blade was more suitable for stubble cleaning. Then, a torque sensor and a six-component force sensor were applied to the soil bin test platform to measure the relative data of four oblique angles (0°, 15°, 22.5°, 30°) on the stubble-cleaning effect, seedbed parameters, and power consumption at three rotary speeds (400, 500, 600 rpm). The results show that the straw residue on the seedbed was effectively reduced when increasing the oblique angle and rotary speed. Moreover, the quality parameters of the seedbed were improved and the power consumption was reduced when reducing the oblique angle and rotary speed. When the rotary speed was 400–500 rpm, the difference between the vertical resistance and lateral resistance was relatively small, while the difference between the horizontal resistance was large.