bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Psychoactive Substance Use and Its Relationship to Stress, Emotional State, Depressive Symptomatology, and Perceived Threat During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Mexico
Authors: Martínez-Vélez Nora Angélica , Tiburcio Marcela , Natera Rey Guillermina , Villatoro Velázquez Jorge Ameth , Arroyo-Belmonte Miriam , Sánchez-Hernández Graciela Yazmín , Fernández-Torres Morise
Published: August 2021

People can increase their use of psychoactive substances in response to stressful situations as a maladaptive mechanism for reducing negative affective states. It is therefore necessary to examine changes in the use of such substances and their relationship to mental health in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Objective: Evaluate the relationship between psychoactive substances and stress, emotional state, and symptomatology during the COVID-19 lockdown in Mexico.

Method: A national survey was conducted, using the free Google Forms platform, of residents of Mexico aged 18 and older. The survey was disseminated through social media.

Results: The sample comprised 4,122 individuals, mostly women (71.8%), with an age range of 18–81 years (M = 37.08, SD = 12.689), of which 46.8% were single, and 42.9% married. In general, there was a reduction in substance use during the first 2 months of the quarantine; the most commonly used substances were alcohol, tobacco, and tranquilizers. Respondents who described having greater use than before the pandemic presented greater stress, depressive symptomatology, and perceived threat than those who did not use substances.

Conclusions: Respondents who did not use substances reported lower levels of stress, depressive symptomatology, impact of the coronavirus pandemic, and perception of its threat. Women reported greater stress, depressive symptomatology, and emotional intensity than men.
Preventing Re-Emergence of COVID-19: A National Survey of Public Risk Perceptions and Behavioural Intentions Concerning Travel Plan Among Taiwanese
Authors: Wong Li Ping , Chiu Ching-Ju , Alias Haridah , Lee Tony Szu-Hsien , Hu Zhijian , Lin Yulan
Published: August 2021

Background: The objectives of this study were to investigate risk perceptions and travel intention among the general public in Taiwan during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Methods: This study used a cross-sectional online survey to collect data. The questionnaire was disseminated via the social media platform (LINE and Facebook) to the general public.

Results: A total of 3,237 complete responses were received, of whom 5.8% (95% CI 5.1–6.7) of the participants reported intent to travel to overseas countries with an apparent community spread and 5.5% (95% CI 4.7–6.3) reported intent to travel to other overseas countries in the next 1 month. A relatively higher proportion (46.5%; 95% CI 44.7–48.2) reported intention for domestic travelling. Participants who viewed travelling to only be risky for older adults or those with medical conditions (OR = 2.19; 95% CI 1.38–3.47) and who perceived that one will not get infected if one takes recommended precautionary measures (OR = 3.12; 95% CI 1.85–5.27) reported higher travelling intention to overseas countries with an apparent community spread.

Conclusions: Overall, the findings suggest that risk perceptions were depicted as a strong influence of travel intentions.
The Structural Characteristics of Economic Network and Efficiency of Health Care in China
Authors: Chai Kuang-Cheng , Yang Yang , Xie De-Cong , Ou Yang-Lu , Chang Ke-Chiun , Han Xiao
Published: August 2021

With the rapid development of the economy of China, the interactivity between provinces and the mobility of the population is increasing. Some patients who could have received the same treatment in their residential areas still choose to receive services in areas with higher economic development and concentrated high-quality medical resources, resulting in a huge waste of medical resources. Blindly increasing medical resources everywhere does not necessarily increase the output effectively. In this study, the data envelopment analysis (DEA) model, social network analysis (SNA), cluster analysis, and regression analysis are used to analyze the structural characteristics of the economic network structure and efficiency of health care in China. The results show that indegree and eigenvector centrality have a significant positive correlation with the efficiency of health care, and the clustering coefficient has a significant negative correlation with the efficiency of health care in China. This study uses a k-means algorithm to classify 31 provinces into three groups and extract their characteristics. As for the supply of health care resources, the government should command and dispatch the resources in the whole country through a top-down design based on the characteristics of each province.
Occupation-Based Life Expectancy: Actuarial Fairness in Determining Statutory Retirement Age
Authors: Deeg Dorly J.H. , De Tavernier Wouter , de Breij Sascha
Published: August 2021

This study examines occupation-based differences in life expectancy and the extent to which health accounts for these differences. Twentyseven-year survival follow-up data were used from the Dutch population-based Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam (n = 2,531), initial ages 55–85 years. Occupation was based on longest-held job. Results show that the non-skilled general, technical and transport domains had an up to 3.5-year shorter life expectancy than the academic professions, accounting for the compositional characteristics age and gender. Statutory retirement age could be made to vary accordingly, by allowing a proportionally greater pension build-up in the shorter-lived domains. Health accounted for a substantial portion of the longevity difference, ranging from 20 to 66%, depending on the health indicator. Thus, health differences between occupational domains today can be used as a means to tailor retirement ages to individuals’ risks of longevity. These data provide a proof of principle for the development of an actuarially fair method to determine statutory retirement ages.
Fatty Acid Profiles of Serum Lipid Fractions Change Minimally in Sled Dogs Before and After Short Bouts of Exercise
Authors: Templeman James R. , Trevizan Luciano , Ma David W. L. , Shoveller Anna K.
Published: August 2021

Although emerging data suggests a greater influence of gluconeogenic precursors, endurance sled dogs have long appeared to rely heavily on fatty acid oxidation for sustained energy production. However, much of the research investigating lipid utilization during exercise in sled dogs has been carried out with dogs subjected to extended bouts of endurance exercise. Less is known about changes in fatty acid composition in endurance training sled dogs subjected to short bouts of exercise, and fewer data define how fatty acid composition may change in distinct lipid fractions. As such, the study objective was to assess whether short bouts of submaximal exercise would affect fatty acid profiles of serum lipid fractions in endurance training sled dogs. Fifteen privately-owned Siberian huskies were used (8 females: 4 intact, 4 spayed; 7 males: 2 intact, 5 neutered), with an average age of 4.6 ± 2.5 years and body weight of 24.8 ± 4.2 kg. Throughout the diet acclimation and remainder of the study, all dogs were fed a dry extruded diet that met or exceeded all AAFCO nutrient recommendations. Dogs were weighed weekly and fed to maintain baseline body weight. A 12-week exercise regimen was designed to incorporate weekly increases in running distance, but weather played a role in setting the daily distance. On weeks 2, 5, and 11, an exercise challenge was implemented whereby dogs would run 4 km at 15 km/h in teams of 4. Pre- and post-exercise blood samples were taken, and gas chromatography was used to evaluate fatty acid profiles of all identified serum lipid fractions (cholesterol ester, diacylglycerol, free fatty acid, phospholipids, triglyceride). Data were analyzed using PROC MIXED of SAS, with dog as a random effect and week and sampling time point as fixed effects. Composition of oleic (18:1n9), linoleic (18:2n6), and alpha-linolenic (18:3n3) acids in the free fatty acid fraction decreased by ~9, 10, and 60%, respectively, following exercise (P≤ 0.05). The results presented herein suggest that aside from a degree of depletion of these 18-carbon unsaturated fatty acids, short bouts of submaximal exercise do not induce considerable changes to sled dog fatty acid profiles.
Impact of Contract Farming on Farmers’ Income in the Food Value Chain: A Theoretical Analysis and Empirical Study in Vietnam
Authors: Hoang Viet
Published: August 2021

This study empirically analyzes the influence of contract farming on income and farming difficulties in Vietnam by using the econometric models and theoretically identifying the affecting mechanism of contract farming on income, sustainability, and welfare by using the qualitative method. The empirical results show that contract farming insignificantly impacts farms’ income while it can facilitate farming activities and decrease difficulties. The factors of education—head, gender of head, type of crop, and technology may affect farmers’ income. The impacting mechanism of contract farming on income, sustainability, and welfare is theoretically proposed as follows: Contract farming initially impacts the intermediate factors such as cooperative, market access, knowledge and skill, product quality, technology, and support. These factors then affect capacity, linkage, quality, and certification which can enhance farmers’ competitiveness. In the long term, stronger competitiveness, higher price, increasing productivity, and lower cost may significantly improve income, sustainability, and welfare. In general, contract farming may have positive impacts on income, sustainability, and welfare in the medium term and long term. In the short term, the result is not significant due to the similar or lower price comparing with the spot market price, growing production cost, decreasing productivity, and weak contract performance. The findings may help policymakers decide how to expand contract farming and its benefits. Economic scholars can test and compare both quantitative and qualitative findings in other contexts.
Global Wheat Market Dynamics: What Is the Role of the EU and the Black Sea Wheat Exporters?
Authors: Svanidze Miranda , Đurić Ivan
Published: August 2021

Over the last two decades, three countries in the Black Sea Region—Russia, Ukraine, and Kazakhstan—became global leaders in grain production and trade, and replaced the USA and France as the most previous largest wheat exporting countries. In this study we investigate world wheat price linkages and identify the current “price leaders” of the global wheat market. This empirical analysis is focused on the price relationships between eight of the largest wheat exporting countries and uses a cointegration framework and a vector error-correction model. The results show that, regarding price formation on the world wheat market, the French price is more important for transmitting price signals to other wheat export markets compared to the USA. Furthermore, our results indicate that, despite being leaders in wheat export volumes, the Black Sea wheat prices in Russia and Ukraine adjust to price changes in France, the USA, and Canada. Albeit unrealistic in the short run, the creation of the futures market in the Black Sea region might significantly improve the participation of Black Sea markets in price formation of the global wheat market.
Potential Ecological Risks of Heavy Metals in Agricultural Soil Alongside Highways and Their Relationship with Landscape
Authors: Xu Cong , Pu Jie , Wen Bo , Xia Min
Published: August 2021

The agricultural soil alongside highways has experienced multiple potential ecological risks from human activities. In this study, 100 soil samples near the highways were collected in Lishui District, Nanjing City. Using the single-factor pollution index, the Nemerow comprehensive pollution index, and the potential ecological risk index, the study investigated the heavy metal contents and distribution in roadside agricultural soil. PCA and a multiple regression model were applied to quantitatively analyze the spatial relationships between sampling soil heavy metal accumulation and the surrounding man-made landscape. The mean contents of Cu and Pb exceeded the background, while Cd, Cr, and Zn were lower than that. The potential ecological risk index exhibited a very low ecological hazard and only Cr in soils rarely showed moderate risk. Furthermore, quantitative analysis for the sources of contamination revealed that agricultural practices were the dominant contributors to the heavy metals, including Cd, Cu, and Zn, while road and heavy industrial practices contributed to Cr and Pb. The study provides sources of heavy metal pollution from human activities in roadside agricultural land and serves as a reference for ecological restoration.
Development of a Quarantine Postharvest Treatment against Guatemalan Potato Moth (Tecia solanivora Povolny)
Authors: Lobo María Gloria , González-García Cristina , Cabrera Raimundo , Ríos Domingo
Published: August 2021

Tecia solanivora is a quarantine organism regarded as one of the insect pests causing major economic losses during potato cultivation and storage in Central America. The potatoes trade between countries, the interest in introducing new potato varieties, the great adaptability of the insect to different agro-ecological conditions, and the globalization world are serious risks in other potato growing countries. This pest was first recorded in Europe in the Canary Islands, Spain, in 1999, later in Galicia (2015) and then in Asturias (2016). Unfortunately, there are no effective chemical treatments for field control, and their integrated management has variable efficacy. Therefore, the implementation of a postharvest treatment to eradicate the insect, at any stage, during storage and marketing of potato becomes essential to achieve a product free of the insect that prevents its dissemination while maintaining the quality during its commercialization. This article presents the development of a new postharvest treatment of potatoes to eliminate all developmental stages of the Guatemalan moth by the application of a control atmosphere enriched in carbon dioxide. Infested potatoes were exposed to different control atmospheres combination (10, 20, 30, 40, or 50% CO2, 20% O2, and rest of N2). These treatments were applied for 4, 7, and 10 days at 18 ± 2 °C. The 10 days duration treatment (30 ± 2% CO2, 20 ± 2% O2 and 50 ± 2% N2) killed the insect in the semi and commercial trials performed without affecting potatoes quality and postharvest life, giving the possibility of its consideration as a quarantine postharvest treatment against T. solanivora.
Deep-Learning Temporal Predictor via Bidirectional Self-Attentive Encoder–Decoder Framework for IOT-Based Environmental Sensing in Intelligent Greenhouse
Authors: Jin Xue-Bo , Zheng Wei-Zhen , Kong Jian-Lei , Wang Xiao-Yi , Zuo Min , Zhang Qing-Chuan , Lin Seng
Published: August 2021

Smart agricultural greenhouses provide well-controlled conditions for crop cultivation but require accurate prediction of environmental factors to ensure ideal crop growth and management efficiency. Due to the limitations of existing predictors in dealing with massive, nonlinear, and dynamic temporal data, this study proposes a bidirectional self-attentive encoder–decoder framework (BEDA) to construct the long-time predictor for multiple environmental factors with high nonlinearity and noise in a smart greenhouse. Firstly, the original data are denoised by wavelet threshold filter and pretreatment operations. Secondly, the bidirectional long short-term-memory is selected as the fundamental unit to extract time-serial features. Then, the multi-head self-attention mechanism is incorporated into the encoder–decoder framework to improve the prediction performance. Experimental investigations are conducted in a practical greenhouse to accurately predict indoor environmental factors (temperature, humidity, and CO2) from noisy IoT-based sensors. The best model for all datasets was the proposed BEDA method, with the root mean square error of three factors’ prediction reduced to 2.726, 3.621, and 49.817, and with an R of 0.749 for temperature, 0.848 for humidity, and 0.8711 for CO2 concentration, respectively. The experimental results show that the favorable prediction accuracy, robustness, and generalization of the proposed method make it suitable to more precisely manage greenhouses.
Research Progress of Minimal Tillage Method and Machine in China
Authors: He Dong , Lu Caiyun , Tong Zhenwei , Zhong Guangyuan , Ma Xinchun
Published: August 2021

Minimal tillage methods mainly include subsoiling technology and topsoil tillage technology. Based on the analysis of domestic technical modes and application status of minimal tillage, this paper reviewed the working principle, technical characteristics and research status of subsoiling and topsoil tillage in two key parts. Current technical difficulties were analyzed and generalized, combined with the research progress and application requirements of minimal tillage in China, and future research emphasis and development direction were provided.
Nutrient Dynamics in Sandy Soil and Leaf Lettuce Following the Application of Urea and Urea-Hydrogen Peroxide Impregnated Co-Pyrolyzed Animal Manure and Bone Meal
Authors: Luyima Deogratius , Egyir Michael , Yun Yeo-Uk , Park Seong-Jin , Oh Taek-Keun
Published: August 2021

There is a paucity of data regarding the effect of nutrient-enriched biochar amendments on nutrient dynamics in both soil and crops. This is important because unlike pristine biochar, nutrient-enriched biochar is applied to the soil in minute quantities as large amounts may led to over application of the nutrients loaded in it. The current study examined the effects of both phosphorus- and nitrogen-enriched biochars on the dynamics of both macro and micronutrients in the sandy soil and leaf lettuce grown thereon. The phosphorus enrichment followed co-pyrolysis of animal manure (cow dung) with 25% and 50% bone meal (w/w), while the nitrogen enrichment was achieved by soaking the co-pyrolyzed biochar into urea and urea-hydrogen peroxide. The performances of the nutrient-enriched biochar were compared with the conventional amendment of urea and triple superphosphate (TSP) in the production of leaf lettuce over a period of two seasons in a pot experiment. The nutrient-enriched biochar amendments resulted into higher microbial biomass carbon and carbon to nitrogen ratios than the conventional amendment. The conventional amendment caused more phosphorus, potassium, and magnesium accumulations in the leaf lettuce than the nutrient-enriched biochar amendments. The nutrient-enriched biochar amendments led to more accumulations of nitrogen, calcium, and micronutrient elements in the leaf lettuce and availabilities of all the nutrient elements in the soil and thus, nutrient-enriched biochar acted as a reservoir that could provide nutrients to the growing lettuce beyond a single growing season.
A Survey of Five Plant Viruses in Weeds and Tobacco in Poland
Authors: Korbecka-Glinka Grażyna , Przybyś Marcin , Feledyn-Szewczyk Beata
Published: August 2021

Weeds may contribute to the spread of plant virus epidemics by acting as reservoirs of viruses or/and their vectors. The aim of this research was to study the prevalence of five viral pathogens in weeds in the fields of solanaceous crops in six provinces in Poland differing with soil and climate conditions. Most of the sampled sites were associated with tobacco production. The total number of 157 samples of tobacco and 600 samples of weeds were subjected to DAS-ELISA detection of tomato spotted wilt orthotospovirus (TSWV), cucumber mosaic virus (CMV), potato virus Y (PVY), tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) and tobacco ringspot virus (TRSV). Twenty nine percent of samples of weeds were infected with at least one virus. TSWV and TMV were the most frequently detected in 17.5% and 14.7% of samples, respectively. In most provinces where infected tobacco was found, the same virus was also detected in weeds. Results of this survey are discussed in the context of the current status of virus epidemics in tobacco fields in Poland.
Expression of AtAAP Gene Family and Endosperm-Specific Expression of AtAAP1 Gene Promotes Amino Acid Absorption in Arabidopsis thaliana and Maize
Authors: Chen Zhanyu , Zhang Yingying , Zhang Jiating , Fan Bei , Zhou Ying , Cui Xiyan
Published: August 2021

The amino acid permease (AAP) is an important transmembrane protein that is involved in the absorption and transport of amino acids in plants. We investigated the expression patterns of AtAAP genes in Arabidopsis thaliana, based on quantitative real-time PCR. The results revealed differential expression patterns of eight AtAAP genes in different tissues, with five genes (AtAAP1, AtAAP2, AtAAP6, AtAAP7, and AtAAP8) expressed at relatively high levels in both flowers and siliques, suggesting their shared functions in the accumulation of amino acids. In transgenic plants, with endosperm-specific overexpression of AtAAP1, both AtAAP1 and AtAAP6 were up-regulated in both the roots and siliques, while AtAAP2, AtAAP3, AtAAP4, and AtAAP5 showed similar expression levels in the stems and siliques, whereas AtAAP7 and AtAAP8 were expressed at their highest levels in the stems and roots. The results of the amino acid affinity experiments revealed varied absorption capacities for different amino acids, by AtAAP1, and increased acid amino contents in the reproductive organs. These results were verified in transgenic maize plants, with the overexpression of AtAAP1, revealing higher amino acid contents in the reproductive organs than those of the vegetative organs. Our study clearly demonstrated that the endosperm-specific promoter increased the amino acid contents in the reproductive organs and improved the effective utilization of organic nitrogen in plants.
Chemical Characterization of Brown and Red Seaweed from Southern Peru, a Sustainable Source of Bioactive and Nutraceutical Compounds
Authors: Vilcanqui Yesica , Mamani-Apaza Luis Omar , Flores Marcos , Ortiz-Viedma Jaime , Romero Nalda , Mariotti-Celis María Salomé , Huamán-Castilla Nils Leander
Published: August 2021

The southern coast of Peru presents a wide diversity of seaweed, which could be used as a new sustainable source of nutritional and bioactive compounds. For the first time, we chemically characterized two species of brown (Macrocystis pyrifera) and red (Chondracanthus chamissoi) Peruvian seaweed. Both species contained significant amounts of proteins (5–12%), lipids (0.16–0.74%), carbohydrates (43.29–62.65%) and minerals (1300–1800 mg kg−1 dw: dry weight). However, the profiles of amino acids, fatty acids and minerals were highly dependent on species type. C. chamissoi had a higher content of essential amino acids and minerals than M. pyrifera (170% and 45%, respectively), while the presence of polyunsaturated fatty acids (ω 6) as well as the content of tocopherols was higher in M. pyrifera (15.77 g 100 g−1 and 2.37 μg 100 g−1, respectively). Additionally, both species presented significant concentrations of total polyphenols (39–59 mg GAE g−1) and a high antioxidant capacity (67–98 µM TE g−1). Although M. pyrifera and C. chamissoi seem to be excellent raw materials for the food and nutraceutical industry, both species contained toxic heavy metals (cadmium: Cd and nickel: Ni) which could affect the safety of their direct use. Therefore, new separation strategies that allow the selective recovery of nutrients and bioactive compounds from Peruvian seaweed are required.
The Genetic Control of Stomatal Development in Barley: New Solutions for Enhanced Water-Use Efficiency in Drought-Prone Environments
Authors: Robertson Brittany Clare , He Tianhua , Li Chengdao
Published: August 2021

Increased drought frequency due to climate change is limiting the agronomic performance of cereal crops globally, where cultivars often experience negative impacts on yield. Stomata are the living interface responsible for >90% of plant water loss through transpiration. Thus, stomata are a prospective target for improving drought tolerance by enhancing water-use efficiency (WUE) in economically important cereals. Reducing stomatal density through molecular approaches has been shown to improve WUE in many plant species, including the commercial cereals barley, rice, wheat and maize. Rice with reduced stomatal density exhibit yields 27% higher than controls under drought conditions, reflecting the amenability of grasses to stomatal density modification. This review presents a comprehensive overview of stomatal development, with a specific emphasis on the genetic improvement of WUE in the grass lineage. Improved understanding of the genetic regulation of stomatal development in the grasses, provides significant promise to improve cereal adaptivity in drought-prone environments whilst maximising yield potential. Rapid advances in gene-editing and ‘omics’ technologies may allow for accelerated adaption of future commercial varieties to water restriction. This may be achieved through a combination of genomic sequencing data and CRISPR-Cas9-directed genetic modification approaches.
Cadmium Accumulation and Depuration in the Muscle of Prussian Carp (Carassius gibelio Bloch) after Sub-Chronic Cadmium Exposure: Ameliorating Effect of Melatonin
Authors: Drąg-Kozak Ewa , Łuszczek-Trojnar Ewa , Socha Magdalena
Published: August 2021

The aim of this study was to investigate the bioaccumulation of cadmium in the muscle tissue of Prussian carp during 7 and 13 weeks of exposure to different concentrations of this metal in water (0.4 and 4.0 mg/L), and the depuration of cadmium from muscle during the following 6-week depuration period in the presence of melatonin implants. Furthermore, the relationship between cadmium accumulation and the levels of essential bioelements (copper, zinc, iron) in muscle was evaluated, as well as the bioconcentration factor of cadmium. Heavy metal concentration was determined using atomic absorption spectrometry. Cadmium accumulation in fish muscle increased with the duration of exposure. Cd concentrations exceeded the permissible levels for human consumption in groups exposed to the higher concentration of this metal. Moreover, a significant increase of Zn and Fe levels in the muscle was observed. In the fish that received melatonin implants and were exposed to Cd, its level in the muscle was significantly lower. The depuration of accumulated cadmium depended mainly on the duration of the elimination period. This is the first study to report that melatonin co-administration can effectively protect the fish from the accumulation of cadmium in muscle tissue and changes in trace metal levels.
Quality of Reporting in Preclinical Urethral Tissue Engineering Studies: A Systematic Review to Assess Adherence to the ARRIVE Guidelines
Authors: Abbas Tariq O. , Elawad Abubakr , Pullattayil S. Abdul Kareem , Pennisi Cristian Pablo
Published: August 2021

Preclinical research within the area of urethral tissue engineering has not yet been successfully translated into an efficient therapeutic option for patients. This gap could be attributed, in part, to inadequate design and reporting of the studies employing laboratory animals. In this study, a systematic review was conducted to investigate the quality of reporting in preclinical studies utilizing tissue engineering approaches for urethral repair. The scope was on studies performed in rabbits, published between January 2014 and March 2020. Quality assessment of the data was conducted according to the Animal Research: Reporting of in Vivo Experiments (ARRIVE) guidelines by the scoring of a 38-item checklist in different categories. A total of 28 articles that fulfilled the eligibility criteria were included in the study. The range of ARRIVE score was from 0 to 100, taking into consideration having reported the item in question or not. The mean checklist score was 53%. The items that attained the highest scores included the number of animals utilized, the size of control and experimental groups, and the definition of experimental outcomes. The least frequently reported items included the data regarding the experimental procedure, housing and husbandry, determination and justification of the number of animals, and reporting of adverse events. Surprisingly, full disclosure about ethical guidelines and animal protocol approval was missing in 54% of the studies. No paper stated the sample size estimation. Overall, our study found that a large number of studies display inadequate reporting of fundamental information and that the quality of reporting improved marginally over the study period. We encourage a comprehensive implementation of the ARRIVE guidelines in animal studies exploring tissue engineering for urethral repair, not only to facilitate effective translation of preclinical research findings into clinical therapies, but also to ensure compliance with ethical principles and to minimize unnecessary animal studies.
Hybrid Genotype of Anisakis simplex (s.s.) and A. pegreffii Identified in Third- and Fourth-Stage Larvae from Sympatric and Allopatric Spanish Marine Waters
Authors: Roca-Geronès Xavier , Alcover M. Magdalena , Godínez-González Carla , Montoliu Isabel , Fisa Roser
Published: August 2021

The sibling species Anisakis simplex (s.s.) and Anisakis pegreffii are parasites of marine mammals and fish worldwide and the main causative agents of human anisakiasis. In sympatric areas, a hybrid genotype between the two species has been identified, mainly in third-stage larvae, but rarely in fourth-stage and adult forms. The aim of this study was to confirm the presence of hybrid genotypes in larvae parasitizing fish caught in sympatric and allopatric Spanish marine waters, the North-East Atlantic and West Mediterranean, respectively, and to study possible differences in the growth behaviour between genotypes. Of the 254 molecularly analysed larvae, 18 were identified as hybrids by PCR-RFLP analysis of the rDNA ITS region, 11 of which were subsequently confirmed by EF1 α-1 nDNA gene sequencing. These results therefore indicate an overestimation of hybrid genotypes when identification is based only on the ITS region. We also report the detection of a hybrid specimen in a host from the West Mediterranean, considered an allopatric zone. Additionally, fourth-stage larvae with a hybrid genotype were obtained in vitro for the first time, and no differences were observed in their growth behaviour compared to larvae with A. simplex (s.s.) and A. pegreffii genotypes.
Strepsirrhine Primate Training Programs in North American Institutions: Status and Implications for Future Welfare Assessment
Authors: Fernández-Lázaro Gloria , Dye Meg H. , Eddie Christie , Ferrie Gina M.
Published: August 2021

Many articles have shown the benefits of operant conditioning training techniques in the care and welfare of several species of nonhuman primates; however, the information regarding their use in strepsirrhine species is scarce. We assessed the development and current status of training programs with these species in North American institutions. An online survey was distributed through members of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums using a multiple-choice format. We collected information related to training program details; animals, behaviors, and techniques; the evaluation process; and the impact of training. Seventy-one organizations completed the survey, with the results showing that 97% of respondents trained their strepsirrhines with the main objective of husbandry and veterinary care (around 80%). Sixty-eight percent of organizations did not report any risk in training these species. The benefits reported include increases in positive human–animal interactions (97%), psychological well-being (88%), and staff awareness of animal behaviors (90%). However, a multi-dimensional approach to measure the efficacy of training could provide a deeper understanding of its impact on the welfare of strepsirrhine primates. We hope that the data offered in this survey can help in this future assessment.
Canine Olfaction: Physiology, Behavior, and Possibilities for Practical Applications
Authors: Kokocińska-Kusiak Agata , Woszczyło Martyna , Zybala Mikołaj , Maciocha Julia , Barłowska Katarzyna , Dzięcioł Michał
Published: August 2021

Olfaction in dogs is crucial for gathering important information about the environment, recognizing individuals, making decisions, and learning. It is far more specialized and sensitive than humans’ sense of smell. Using the strength of dogs’ sense of smell, humans work with dogs for the recognition of different odors, with a precision far exceeding the analytical capabilities of most modern instruments. Due to their extremely sensitive sense of smell, dogs could be used as modern, super-sensitive mobile area scanners, detecting specific chemical signals in real time in various environments outside the laboratory, and then tracking the odor of dynamic targets to their source, also in crowded places. Recent studies show that dogs can detect not only specific scents of drugs or explosives, but also changes in emotions as well as in human cell metabolism during various illnesses, including COVID-19 infection. Here, we provide an overview of canine olfaction, discussing aspects connected with anatomy, physiology, behavioral aspects of sniffing, and factors influencing the olfactory abilities of the domestic dog (Canis familiaris).
Nitrogen Balance of Dairy Cows Divergent for Milk Urea Nitrogen Breeding Values Consuming Either Plantain or Perennial Ryegrass
Authors: Marshall Cameron J. , Beck Matthew R. , Garrett Konagh , Barrell Graham K. , Al-Marashdeh Omar , Gregorini Pablo
Published: August 2021

Inefficient nitrogen (N) use from pastoral dairy production systems has resulted in environmental degradation, as a result of excessive concentrations of urinary N excretion leaching into waterways and N2O emissions from urination events into the atmosphere. The objectives of this study were to measure and evaluate the total N balance of lactating dairy cows selected for milk urea N concentration breeding values (MUNBVs) consuming either a 100% perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) or 100% plantain (Plantago lanceolata L.) diet. Sixteen multiparous lactating Holstein-Friesian × Jersey cows divergent for MUNBV were housed in metabolism crates for 72 h, where intake and excretions were collected and measured. No effect of MUNBV was detected for total N excretion; however, different excretion characteristics were detected, per urination event. Low MUNBV cows had a 28% reduction in the concentration of urinary urea nitrogen (g/event) compared to high MUNBV cows when consuming a ryegrass diet. Cows consuming plantain regardless of their MUNBV value had a 62% and 48% reduction in urinary urea nitrogen (g/event) compared to high and low MUNBV cows consuming ryegrass, respectively. Cows consuming plantain also partitioned more N into faeces. These results suggest that breeding for low MUNBV cows on ryegrass diets and the use of a plantain diet will reduce urinary urea nitrogen loading rates and therefore estimated nitrate leaching values, thus reducing the environmental impact of pastoral dairy production systems.
Integrating Livestock Grazing and Sympatric Takin to Evaluate the Habitat Suitability of Giant Panda in the Wanglang Nature Reserve
Authors: Chen Xiaoyu , Wang Xiaorong , Li Junqing , Kang Dongwei
Published: August 2021

Habitat suitability provides essential information for the management of protected species. However, studies that jointly consider the impacts of human disturbance and sympatric animals in habitat suitability assessments of giant panda are limited, which may overestimate the habitat status. To address this issue, we evaluated the habitat suitability of giant panda in Wanglang Nature Reserve by simultaneously investigating livestock grazing and sympatric takin via MAXENT, a new attempt at the assessment of the habitat suitability of giant panda. We focused on describing the habitat suitability of giant panda and determining the habitat overlap between livestock, takin, and panda to evaluate the impacts of livestock grazing and sympatric takin on the suitable giant panda habitat. Results revealed that only 16.33% of the area in Wanglang was suitable giant panda habitat, of which 67.66% was shared by livestock, and 97.99% of the remaining suitable panda habitat not shared by livestock was revealed to be shared by takin. The results indicate an unfavorable habitat status of giant panda in Wanglang, with the potential extensive habitat overlap between livestock, takin and panda exerting further pressure. Thus, to effectively protect giant pandas and their habitats, grazing activity should be controlled. Furthermore, to accurately protect sympatric animals, the monitoring of panda and takin activities in the overlapping areas must be maintained.
Predictivity of Antemortem Findings on Postmortem Inspection in Italian Heavy Pigs Slaughterhouses
Authors: Ghidini Sergio , Alborali Giovanni Loris , De Luca Silvio , Maisano Antonio Marco , Guadagno Federica , Conter Mauro , Ianieri Adriana , Zanardi Emanuela
Published: August 2021

Pigs slaughtered in European abattoirs must be submitted to antemortem inspection (AMI) and postmortem inspection (PMI), as required by the current European legislation in the matter of official controls. AMI and PMI are equally essential to guarantee food safety and to monitor swine health and welfare. However, little is known about the ability of AMI to predict conditions that are possibly found during PMI. In this study, such a correlation was explored together with the assessment of conditions typically found during AMI and PMI in heavy pigs slaughtered in two Italian slaughterhouses. An assessment scheme containing 13 variables for AMI and 34 lesions for PMI was used for the scope. The herd size was also considered as a variable and included in the study. A total of 24,510 pigs and 30,961 pigs were assessed during AMI and PMI, respectively. The most common conditions found were manure on the body covering more than 30% of the body (dirt >30%) and pluck lesions (‘pleurisy’, ‘pericarditis’, and ‘pneumonia’) for AMI and PMI, respectively. A significant correlation (p < 0.05) between some antemortem (AM) findings and postmortem (PM) conditions was found. In particular, the AM conditions ‘dirt >30%’and ‘skin lesions’ were positively related with PM conditions ‘skin wounds’ and ‘dermatitis’, while the complexes of respiratory and kidney lesions were predicted only by the condition ‘dirt >30%’. The variable ‘standardized herd size’ was negatively associated with ‘milk spot liver’ and positively associated with ‘arthritis/bursitis’. The results of this study show that findings reported during AMI can potentially be used to predict certain conditions found in pigs at PMI. These data can be useful for the competent authorities in characterizing swine farms using a risk-based approach and in developing systems and specific plans for official controls.
Choniomyzon taiwanensis n. sp. (Crustacea: Copepoda: Nicothoidae) Parasitic on the External Egg Mass of the Longlegged Spiny Lobster Panulirus longipes longipes (Crustacea: Decapoda: Palinuridae) from Taiwanese Waters
Authors: Cheng Yu-Rong , Wakabayashi Kaori , Pan Yen-Ju
Published: August 2021

Choniomyzon taiwanensis n. sp. is described based on specimens collected from examining external egg masses of spiny lobster Panulirus longipes longipes (Milne-Edwards, 1868), obtained from Hualien, Taiwan. The new species differs from its congeners in possessing the following characteristics: (1) small prosome (about 0.84 mm); (2) armature of antennule being 1, 1, 2, 2, 1, 1, 1, 2, 1, 1+1 (aesthetasc), 4, 6+1 (aesthetasc); (3) five-segmented antenna; (4) second segment of antenna bearing 1 inner seta; (5) two-segmented maxilla. Based on the evidence of distinctive morphological features and host preference, Choniomyzon taiwanensis n. sp. is a new species. Until now, four species of Choniomyzon have been known living on decapods, and the new species reported here is the first record of Choniomyzon species from spiny lobster in Taiwanese waters.
Polyphenols and Organic Acids as Alternatives to Antimicrobials in Poultry Rearing: A Review
Authors: Scicutella Federica , Mannelli Federica , Daghio Matteo , Viti Carlo , Buccioni Arianna
Published: August 2021

For decades antibiotics have been used in poultry rearing to support high levels of production. Nevertheless, several problems have arisen because of the misuse of antibiotics (i.e., antibiotic resistance, residues in animal products, environmental pollution). Thus, the European Union (EU) as well as the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) promote action plans to diminish the use of antibiotics in animal production. Alternatives to antibiotics have been studied. Polyphenols (PPs) or organic acids (OAs) seem to be two accredited solutions. Phenolic compounds, such as phenols, flavonoids, and tannins exert their antimicrobial effect with specific mechanisms. In contrast, short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and medium chain fatty acids (MCFAs), the OAs mainly used as antibiotics alternative, act on the pathogens depending on the pKa value. This review aims to collect the literature reporting the effects of these substances applied as antimicrobial molecules or growth promoter in poultry feeding (both for broilers and laying hens). Organic acids and PPs can be used individually or in blends, exploiting the properties of each component. Collected data highlighted that further research needs to focus on OAs in laying hens’ feeding and also determine the right combination in blends with PPs.
Antimicrobial Resistance Genes and Diversity of Clones among Faecal ESBL-Producing Escherichia coli Isolated from Healthy and Sick Dogs Living in Portugal
Authors: Carvalho Isabel , Cunha Rita , Martins Carla , Martínez-Álvarez Sandra , Safia Chenouf Nadia , Pimenta Paulo , Pereira Ana Raquel , Ramos Sónia , Sadi Madjid , Martins Ângela , Façanha Jorge , Rabbi Fazle , Capita Rosa , Alonso-Calleja Carlos , de Lurdes Nunes Enes Dapkevicius Maria , Igrejas Gilberto , Torres Carmen , Poeta Patrícia
Published: August 2021

The purpose of this study was to analyse the prevalence and genetic characteristics of ESBL and acquired-AmpC (qAmpC)-producing Escherichia coli isolates from healthy and sick dogs in Portugal. Three hundred and sixty-one faecal samples from sick and healthy dogs were seeded on MacConkey agar supplemented with cefotaxime (2 µg/mL) for cefotaxime-resistant (CTXR) E. coli recovery. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing for 15 antibiotics was performed and the ESBL-phenotype of the E. coli isolates was screened. Detection of antimicrobial resistance and virulence genes, and molecular typing of the isolates (phylogroups, multilocus-sequence-typing, and specific-ST131) were performed by PCR (and sequencing when required). CTXRE. coli isolates were obtained in 51/361 faecal samples analysed (14.1%), originating from 36/234 sick dogs and 15/127 healthy dogs. Forty-seven ESBL-producing E. coli isolates were recovered from 32 sick (13.7%) and 15 healthy animals (11.8%). Different variants of blaCTX-M genes were detected among 45/47 ESBL-producers: blaCTX-M-15 (n = 26), blaCTX-M-1 (n = 10), blaCTX-M-32 (n = 3), blaCTX-M-55 (n = 3), blaCTX-M-14 (n = 2), and blaCTX-M-variant (n = 1); one ESBL-positive isolate co-produced CTX-M-15 and CMY-2 enzymes. Moreover, two additional CTXR ESBL-negative E. coli isolates were CMY-2-producers (qAmpC). Ten different sequence types were identified (ST/phylogenetic-group/β-lactamase): ST131/B2/CTX-M-15, ST617/A/CTX-M-55, ST3078/B1/CTX-M-32, ST542/A/CTX-M-14, ST57/D/CTX-M-1, ST12/B2/CTX-M-15, ST6448/B1/CTX-M-15 + CMY-2, ST5766/A/CTX-M-32, ST115/D/CMY-2 and a new-ST/D/CMY-2. Five variants of CTX-M enzymes (CTX-M-15 and CTX-M-1 predominant) and eight different clonal complexes were detected from canine ESBL-producing E. coli isolates. Although at a lower rate, CMY-2 β-lactamase was also found. Dogs remain frequent carriers of ESBL and/or qAmpC-producing E. coli with a potential zoonotic role.
Daptomycin versus Vancomycin for the Treatment of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Bloodstream Infection with or without Endocarditis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Maraolo Alberto Enrico , Giaccone Agnese , Gentile Ivan , Saracino Annalisa , Bavaro Davide Fiore
Published: August 2021

Background: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is an important cause of invasive infections, mainly bloodstream infections (BSI) with or without endocarditis. The purpose of this meta-analysis was to compare vancomycin, the mainstay treatment, with daptomycin as therapeutic options in this context. Materials: PubMed, Embase and the Cochrane Database were searched from their inception to 15 February 2020. The primary outcome was all-cause mortality. Secondary outcomes included clinical failure, infection recurrence, persistence of infection, length-of-stay, antibiotic discontinuation due to adverse events (AEs) and 30-day re-admission. This study was registered with PROSPERO, CRD42020169413. Results: Eight studies (1226 patients, 554 vs. 672 in daptomycin vs. vancomycin, respectively) were included. No significant difference in terms of overall mortality was observed [odds ratio (OR) 0.73, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.40–1.33, I2 = 67%]. Daptomycin was associated with a significantly reduced risk of clinical failure (OR 0.58, 95% CI 0.38–0.89, I2 = 60%), as confirmed by pooling adjusted effect sizes (adjusted OR against the use of vancomycin 1.94, 95%CI 1.33–1.82, I2 = 41%), and was linked with fewer treatment-limiting AEs (OR 0.15, 95%CI 0.06–0.36, I2 = 19%). No difference emerged between the two treatments as secondary outcomes. Results were not robust to unmeasured confounding (E-value lower than 95% CI 1.00 for all-cause mortality). Conclusions: Against MRSA BSI, with or without endocarditis, daptomycin seems to be associated with a lower risk of clinical failure and treatment-limiting AEs compared with vancomycin. Further studies are needed to better characterize the differences between the two drugs.