bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Case report: Misdiagnosis of accessory spleen in the left adrenal region as an adrenal tumour after splenectomy
Authors: Zou Yuhua , Xie Xiaojuan , Yan Sheng , Wu Gengqing , Liu Quanliang
Published: October 2022

Background

Adrenal tumours are common in urology and endocrinology, and the diagnosis of adrenal tumours were mainly depends on imaging diagnosis. Howerver, misdiagnosis can still occur for some adrenal space-occupying lesions without specific manifestations or abnormal biochemical indexes.

Methods

We report the case of a 55-year-old patient with a soft-tissue mass in the left adrenal region, and have no specific manifestations or abnormalities in biochemical indexes. The patient had undergone open splenectomy 20 years ago for splenic rupture caused by traffic-accident trauma, and had a 10-year special history of hypertension. Because of the uncertain nature of the mass, surgical treatment was recommended.

Results

The surgeon managed to remove the left adrenal region mass. During the surgery, the adrenal source was excluded. In the histological examination, the splenic corpuscle and splenic medullary structure were seen under the microscope, and an accessory spleen was diagnosed.

Conclusions

The accessory spleen was located in the adrenal region rarely, and can easily be misdiagnosed as an adrenal tumour. When the cases show abnormal adrenal space-occupying lesions in imaging examinations, non-adrenal diseases should be considered. we need to combine different imaging techniques for analysis, and think more about it, avoid misdiagnosis leading to unnecessary surgery.
Antimicrobial susceptibility and multilocus sequence typing of Clostridium perfringens isolated from yaks in Qinghai-Tibet plateau, China
Authors: Wu Dan , Luo Runbo , Gong Ga , Zhang Lihong , Huang Jiaqi , Cai Chongzhen , Li Yupeng , Irshad Irfan , Song Rende , Suolang Sizhu
Published: October 2022

Clostridium perfringens (C. perfringens) is an opportunistic pathogen that cause necrotic enteritis, food poisoning and even death in animals. In this study, we explored the prevalence, antibiotic resistance and genetic diversity of Clostridium perfringens isolated from yak in the Qinghai-Tibet plateau, China. A total of 744 yak fecal samples were collected and assessed for toxin genes, antimicrobial susceptibility and multilocus sequence typing (MLST). Results indicated that 144 out of 744 (19.35%) yak fecal samples were tested to be positive for C. perfringens, 75% (n = 108, 108/144) were C. perfringens type A, 17.36% (n = 25, 25/144) were C. perfringens type C, 2.78% (n = 4, 4/144) were C. perfringens type D, and 4.86% (n = 7, 7/144) were C. perfringens type F. In addition, 2.78% (n = 4, 4/144) of the isolates were positive for cpb2 toxin gene. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing revealed that 98.61% (142/144) of the isolates showed multiple-antibiotic resistance. According to MLST and phylogenetic tree, 144 yak-derived C. perfringens isolates had an average of 12.95 alleles and could be divided into 89 sequence types (STs) and clustered in 11 clonal complexes (CCs). The most of isolates belong to type A with a considerable genetic diversity, having Simpson index up to 0.9754. MLST and phylogenetic analysis showed that the isolates under the same clade came from multiple regions. Cross-transmission among isolates and interconnectedness were observed in the genetic evolution. According to the study, the most of the isolates exhibited broad-spectrum antibacterial resistance, diverse alleles, and multiple lethal toxin genes of C. perfringens.
miRNA-150_R-1 mediates the HIF-1/ErbB signaling pathway to regulate the adhesion of endometrial epithelial cells in cows experiencing retained placenta
Authors: Lv Chen , Li Zongshuai , Wang Qi , Wang Yue , Zhao Xingxu , Zhang Yong
Published: October 2022

Retained placenta (RP) refers to reproductive disorders caused by the failure of fetal membranes to be expelled 12 h after delivery in dairy cows. Postpartum adhesion of the fetal membranes to the uterus causes diseases such as mastitis or endometritis, which threatening the profitability of the dairy industry. Emerging evidence suggests that micro RNAs (miRNAs) play crucial roles in various processes, such as the occurrence and progression of fetal membranes discharge. However, the molecular mechanisms of miRNAs in RP remain unknown. In this study, we performed RNA-sequencing to characterize the expression profiles of mRNAs and miRNAs in caudal vein blood samples of postpartum Holstein cows whose fetal membranes were discharged normally or retained to identify RP-related genes and evaluate their molecular mechanisms. We identified 44 differentially expressed miRNAs (19 upregulated and 25 downregulated) and 706 differentially expressed mRNAs (325 upregulated and 381 downregulated) in the RP group compared to the normal fetal membranes discharge group. Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes analysis revealed that differentially expressed mRNAs were mainly enriched in the extracellular matrix, cell adhesion, and autoimmunity-related biological processes or pathways. Further analyses using RNA-sequencing, a dual luciferase reporter system, quantitative reverse transcription-PCR, immunofluorescence, and western blotting verified that endothelial PAS domain protein 1 (EPAS1) is regulated by miR-150_R-1 in endometrial epithelial cells. We demonstrated the relationship between EPAS1 and RP and confirmed that EPAS1 is upregulated in the blood and placenta of cows that experience RP. Further, we proposed a model of the miRNA-mRNA negative regulatory network mediated by the HIF-1/ErbB signaling pathway to show its regulatory role in RP.
Allele frequency of SLC4A3 (PRA1), TTC8 (PRA2), and PRA-prcd mutations in golden retrievers in Brazil
Authors: Trecenti-Santana Anelize Souza , Guiraldelli Giulia Gumiero , Albertino Lukas Garrido , Ferreira Julia Franco , Andrade Fabiana Michelsen , Borges Alexandre Secorun , Oliveira-Filho José Paes
Published: October 2022

Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) is a term used in veterinary medicine to describe inherited and progressive retinal diseases characterized by progressive retinal degeneration and loss of vision. In the Golden Retriever (GR) breed, the mutations associated with PRA have an autosomal recessive inheritance pattern. This study aimed to verify the allele frequencies of PRA1, PRA2, and PRA-prcd in the GR breed in Brazil. A total of 121 GR DNA samples (n = 66 females and n = 55 males) were analyzed. All animals assessed in this study were identified as wild-type (121/121 animals; 100%) for PRA1 and PRA2 mutations; therefore, no carrier or homozygous animals were identified in this population. For the PRA-prcd mutation, 118 animals (118/121 animals; 97.52%) were wild-type. Three animals were genotyped as heterozygous for PRA-prcd (3/121 animals; 2.47%), demonstrating that this mutation is still present in some bloodlines and animals in Brazil, even with a rare prevalence. Five animals (5/121 animals, 4.2%) had a previous eye disease, which was diagnosed by a veterinarian as entropion (2 animals), keratoconjunctivitis sicca (1 animal), corneal ulcer (1 animal), and bilateral blindness (1 animal). This dog with bilateral blindness was identified as wild type homozygous for three mutations assessed in this study; therefore, blindness was not associated with the investigated mutations. In addition, the vast majority (98.3%) of Brazilian breeders assessed in this study were unaware of these mutations as a cause of blindness in the Golden Retriever. Therefore, the present study will serve to disseminate knowledge about PRA and its genetic etiologies, as well as to support future studies with other Brazilian GR populations.
Workplace Bullying and Violence on Burnout Among Bangladeshi Registered Nurses: A Survey Following a Year of the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Chowdhury Saifur Rahman , Kabir Humayun , Chowdhury Mahmudur Rahman , Hossain Ahmed
Published: October 2022

Objectives: To investigate burnout among Bangladeshi nurses and the factors that influence it, particularly the association of workplace bullying (WPB) and workplace violence (WPV) with burnout.

Methods: This cross-sectional study collected data from 1,264 Bangladeshi nurses. Mixed-effects Poisson regression models were fitted to find the adjusted association between WPB, WPV, and burnout.

Results: Burnout was found to be prevalent in 54.19% of 1,264 nurses. 61.79% of nurses reported that they had been bullied, and 16.3% of nurses reported experience of “intermediate and high” levels of workplace violence in the previous year. Nurses who were exposed to “high risk bullying” (RR = 2.29, CI: 1.53–3.41) and “targeted bullying” (RR = 4.86, CI: 3.32–7.11) had a higher risk of burnout than those who were not. Similarly, WPV exposed groups at “intermediate and high” levels had a higher risk of burnout (RR = 3.65, CI: 2.40–5.56) than WPV non-exposed groups.

Conclusion: Nurses’ burnout could be decreased if issues like violence and bullying were addressed in the workplace. Hospital administrators, policymakers, and the government must all promote and implement an acceptable working environment.
Mechanism of Thrust–Power Ratio Improvement Using Plasma Actuator with Discretized Encapsulated Electrodes
Authors: Shima Yoshiki , Imai Ryuya , Ishikawa Hitoshi , Segawa Takehiko
Published: October 2022

Plasma actuators (PA) can be utilized as fluid control devices without moving parts, but further improvement in drive efficiency is necessary. Herein, string-type PAs with up to 12 insulated conductive wires were evaluated to replace sheet-type PAs having a single encapsulated electrode. The thrust–power ratio of string-type PAs with eight or more wires is nine times that of a single-wire PA. This is due to the substantial increase in the width of the encapsulated electrode and the discrete arrangement of conductors in the streamwise direction. To determine the factors influencing the performance of PAs with discrete encapsulated electrodes, sheet-type PAs with and without discretized encapsulated electrodes and with the same configuration as string-type PAs were characterized. The measurement results revealed that no significant difference exists in the plasma extension length (LDBD) between sheet-type PAs without and with discretization under the same applied voltage, but 25% and 45% decreases in the thrust and power consumption, respectively, were observed compared to those of string-type PAs. The discretization of the encapsulated electrodes in the sheet-type plasma actuator increased the thrust–power ratio by 30%. Efficient non-mechanical fluid control using dielectric barrier discharge is therefore possible with string-type PAs with discrete electrodes.
Image-Based Multi-Agent Reinforcement Learning for Demand–Capacity Balancing
Authors: Mas-Pujol Sergi , Salamí Esther , Pastor Enric
Published: October 2022

Air traffic flow management (ATFM) is of crucial importance to the European Air Traffic Control System due to two factors: first, the impact of ATFM, including safety implications on ATC operations; second, the possible consequences of ATFM measures on both airports and airlines operations. Thus, the central flow management unit continually seeks to improve traffic flow management to reduce delays and congestion. In this work, we investigated the use of reinforcement learning (RL) methods to compute policies to solve demand–capacity imbalances (a.k.a. congestion) during the pre-tactical phase. To address cases where the expected demands exceed the airspace sector capacity, we considered agents representing flights who have to decide on ground delays jointly. To overcome scalability issues, we propose using raw pixel images as input, which can represent an arbitrary number of agents without changing the system’s architecture. This article compares deep Q-learning and deep deterministic policy gradient algorithms with different configurations. Experimental results, using real-world data for training and validation, confirm the effectiveness of our approach to resolving demand–capacity balancing problems, showing the robustness of the RL approach presented in this article.
Prediction of Crack Growth Life at Elevated Temperatures with Neural Network-Based Learning Schemes
Authors: Lu Songsong , Liu Binchao , Yang Rong , Wang Qiuyi , Bao Rui
Published: October 2022

Applying the machine learning (ML) technique in the modelling of crack growth (CG) behavior is a potential way to improve the efficiency and precision of CG assessment. However, research in this field at elevated temperatures is limited, although a lot of achievements have been obtained in CG assessment at room temperature. Neutral network (NN)-based methods to model the CG at elevated temperatures were therefore investigated in this paper. An “indirect” method (NNK method) assessing the CG by modelling and integrating the crack growth rate (CGR) was established. A “direct” method (ENNIL method) was built by further developing the NN-based increment learning scheme. The NNK method shows high accuracy in CG prediction with relatively short CG life, while the ENNIL method gives perfectly predicted results for cases with relatively long CG life. The combination of these two methods may be an effective way to further improve CG assessment at elevated temperatures.
Dynamics, Deployment and Retrieval Strategy for Satellite-Sail Transverse Formation with Model Inaccuracy
Authors: Zhong Yini , Zhong Rui
Published: October 2022

One of the important applications of the space tethered system is formation flying. To satisfy the requirement for interferometry of ground targets by remote-sensing satellites, a new type of tethered solar sail spacecraft has been proposed in recent research. The replacement of subsatellites of conventional tethered satellite systems with solar sail spacecraft allows for a special formation configuration in which the main satellite is in sun-synchronous orbit and the subsolar sail is in displaced orbit. If the solar sail is at the appropriate attitude, the main satellite and the solar sail spacecraft connected by metal tethers could move side by side, hence this formation system is called transverse formation. The relative baseline of this transverse formation system is perpendicular to the ground trajectory of the satellite, effectively solving the problem that the relative baseline of conventional orbital formations varies in a trigonometric cycle. Researchers on the past ignored the mass and elasticity of the tether, and considered the tether just a constraint in the model system. Since the solar sail is generally quite light compared to the other components of the system, the model inaccuracy caused by ignoring the mass of the tether on the dynamic model and control is extremely obvious. This paper investigates the relative dynamics and control of a proposed system during the deployment process with the mass of the tether. Two precise models of satellite-sail systems are established. One is based on the dumbbell model with the mass tether for the tethered satellite system, and the other is on the basis of the beads model of a tethered satellite system. The rigid one is for control design and the flexible one is for dynamic simulation. It is concluded that the length of the tether and attitude angle of the transverse formation configuration can be decoupled and controlled separately. On the basis of the models, a length rate and LQR control law is developed and the control of the deployment and retrieval process of the tethered solar sail system is investigated. Numerical simulations are performed to verify the accuracy of the conclusions.
Physics-Informed MTA-UNet: Prediction of Thermal Stress and Thermal Deformation of Satellites
Authors: Cao Zeyu , Yao Wen , Peng Wei , Zhang Xiaoya , Bao Kairui
Published: October 2022

The rapid analysis of thermal stress and deformation plays a pivotal role in the thermal control measures and optimization of the structural design of satellites. For achieving real-time thermal stress and thermal deformation analysis of satellite motherboards, this paper proposes a novel Multi-Task Attention UNet (MTA-UNet) neural network which combines the advantages of both Multi-Task Learning (MTL) and U-Net with an attention mechanism. Furthermore, a physics-informed strategy is used in the training process, where partial differential equations (PDEs) are integrated into the loss functions as residual terms. Finally, an uncertainty-based loss balancing approach is applied to weight different loss functions of multiple training tasks. Experimental results show that the proposed MTA-UNet effectively improves the prediction accuracy of multiple physics tasks compared with Single-Task Learning (STL) models. In addition, the physics-informed method brings less error in the prediction of each task, especially on small data sets.
Advanced Control of an Electric Fuel-Oil Pump for Small Turbojet Engines
Authors: Főző Ladislav , Andoga Rudolf
Published: October 2022

One way to efficiently control the fuel flow of small turbojet engines is to use direct control of the speed of a suitable electric fuel pump, as opposed to using relief valves. Brushless drive electric (BLDC) motors are suitable for this application, especially for small turbojet engines. This, however, comes with certain problems, which are caused by the backpressure of the engine on the fuel system, delays in data acquisition, sensor noise and so on. This paper presents a comprehensive approach in the methodological design of a dynamic model of a fuel system with a BLDC fuel/oil pump and control algorithms, which can overcome the mentioned problems. Three approaches are evaluated to obtain a stable and precise fuel metering of the engine. This article describes the design of an inverse control model, a standard PID controller and an adaptive fuzzy controller for fuel-flow control during engine operation. The main scientific contribution of the presented study is a simple, yet robust, fuzzy adaptive controller with a lean and comprehensive rule base that can precisely and efficiently meter fuel for small turbojet engines, validated in laboratory conditions using the iSTC-21v turbojet engine.
Remaining Useful Life Prediction for Aero-Engines Based on Time-Series Decomposition Modeling and Similarity Comparisons
Authors: Wang Mingxian , Wang Hongyan , Cui Langfu , Xiang Gang , Han Xiaoxuan , Zhang Qingzhen , Chen Juan
Published: October 2022

The aero-engine is the heart of an aircraft; its performance deteriorates rapidly due to the high temperature and high-pressure environment during flights. It is necessary to predict the remaining useful life (RUL) to improve the reliability of aero-engines and provide security for reliable flights. In previous flights, the sensors collected a lot of performance parameter data and formed a database regarding the aero-engine degradation process. These performance parameters cannot reflect the degradation process directly. In this paper, fuzzy clustering is applied to divide the degradation stages of the aero-engine, construct the health indicator, and describe the degradation process. Time-series decomposition modeling is applied to predict the degradation process of the health indicator. Based on the idea of similarity comparison, the RUL is predicted by comparing the similarity of time series through example learning. The method is verified and analyzed on the dataset published by National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), and the mean square error (MSE) is 528. The result is better than the comparative method.
Dynamic Modeling and Analysis of Thrust Reverser Mechanism Considering Clearance Joints and Flexible Component
Authors: Zhao Jingchao , Wang Xiaoyu , Meng Chao , Song Huitao , Luo Zhong , Han Qingkai
Published: October 2022

As a high-precision motion mechanism, the kinematics and dynamics of cascade thrust reverser are sensitive to the changes of nonlinear factors which are rarely considered in traditional dynamic modeling and optimization. In order to study the effect of nonlinear factors on the dynamics behavior of cascade thrust reverser mechanism, the dynamic model considering joint clearance and flexible component is established. Lankarani–Nikravesh and modified-Coulomb model are used to establish the contact force at the clearance, and the flexible component in the mechanism is modeled by the absolute node coordinate method. The effects of joint clearance value, clearance position, flexible component, and driving speed on the dynamic response of the mechanism are studied. Specifically, the nonlinear characteristics of the mechanism increase with the clearance value, and the joint clearance near the mobile fairing has greater influence on the kinematics and dynamics of blocker door. For the mechanical system with clearances, the flexible component can partially reduce the vibration of the system. The analysis of the motion synchronization of the thrust reverser actuators indicates that the asynchronous movement of actuators may increase the driving forces of actuators especially for the middle actuator.
Screening for Antagonistic Yeasts to Manage Alternaria spp. in Organic Farming
Authors: Kowalska Jolanta , Krzymińska Joanna , Matysiak Kinga , Jakubowska Magdalena
Published: October 2022

Early blight of potatoes when not controlled can lead to major yield loss. In organic farming, disease control methods using beneficial microorganisms are needed. This study aimed to use commercially available yeast strains to prevent early blight in organically grown potatoes. Six commercially yeast strains used in the food industry, mainly in baking, brewing and winemaking, were evaluated against Alternaria alternata and A. solani. An in vitro test was conducted to assess yeast antagonistic properties. Production of lytic exoenzymes by yeast strains was determined. In the greenhouse experiments, the abilities of yeast strains to colonize potato leaf surface and to minimize Alternaria symptoms on plants were assessed. Saccharomyces cerevisiae Coobra strain inhibited in vitro Alternaria mycelium growth and most effectively reduced Alternaria symptoms on inoculated plants (from approximately 60% to 9% for A. solani and 14% for A. alternata) after seven days. This strain produced the most enzymes, i.e., amylase, pectinase and protease. After eighteen days, only the S. cerevisiae Coobra population was isolated from the leaves. In conclusion, the Coobra strain shows antagonistic properties against Alternaria spp. and is promising for further field tests.
Determinants of Buying Produce on Short-Video Platforms: The Impact of Social Network and Resource Endowment—Evidence from China
Authors: Jiang Shu , Wang Zhanpeng , Sun Zilai , Ruan Junhu
Published: October 2022

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, selling by short video has become a new online selling model that enhances the communication between buyers and sellers. Therefore, it is necessary to identify the key factors influencing consumers’ purchase of agricultural products on short-video platforms. Additionally, it is also important to figure out the influencing mechanism and action path. Specifically, based on the ‘Stimulus-Organism-Response (SOR)’ framework and structural equation model, we delineate and empirically test hypotheses regarding the effects of key components on consumers’ purchase intentions and behaviors. The key components refer to three external stimuli of consumers’ social network, sellers’ resource endowment, and both sides’ infrastructure development levels. Simultaneously, we analyze the mediating role of consumers’ perceived value and perceived risk between external stimuli and consumers’ purchase intentions. This paper argues that short-video merchants improving the influence of their stores and platforms strengthening supervision and management are the keys to ensuring stable growth in consumers’ willingness to purchase agricultural products sold on short videos and promoting the development of the short-video live industry.
Effect of Urease Inhibitors and Nitrification Inhibitors Combined with Seaweed Extracts on Urea Nitrogen Regulation and Application
Authors: Xiao Furong , Li Dongpo , Zhang Lili , Du Yandi , Xue Yan , Cui Lei , Gong Ping , Song Yuchao , Zhang Ke , Zhang Yiji , Li Yonghua , Zhang Jinming , Cui Yongkun
Published: October 2022

In order to improve the application effect of inhibitors, the combination of seaweed extracts (SE), urease inhibitors (UIs) and nitrification inhibitors (NIs) were added to urea fertilizers for providing a theoretical basis to develop the efficient stabilized nitrogen (N) fertilizer. The combinations were tested in outdoor pots with no N fertilizer (CK) and application of urea alone (U) as control, and SE, N-butyl phosphorothioate triamine (NBPT), 3,4-dimethylpyrazole phosphate (DMPP), 2-chloro-6-trimethylpyridine (CP), and combinations of SE with each of the three inhibitors were added to urea to make seven fertilizer prototypes. The results showed that the addition of inhibitors and SE could regulate the N transformation, enzyme activity and microbial biomass carbon (MBC) contents and significantly improve maize yield and N use efficiency (NUE) (p < 0.05). Compared with the addition of inhibitor alone, the addition of SE was beneficial to N uptake by plants at the early growth stage of maize, but reduced the inhibitors effect; DMPP + S significantly increased the maize total biomass and NUE (p < 0.05), and the grain yield, N uptake and NUE by 15.6%, 28.5% and 30.6%, respectively. Therefore, the addition of DMPP with SE to urea significantly improved yield when planting maize in loess areas.
Utility of Comprehensive GC×GC Gas Chromatography in Finding Varietal Markers among Volatile Compounds in Non-Aromatic Red Wines
Authors: Lukić Igor , Carlin Silvia , Vrhovsek Urska
Published: October 2022

To investigate the utility of comprehensive GC×GC gas chromatography metabolomics in finding varietal markers among volatile compounds in non-aromatic red wines, representative samples of the two most important Croatian monovarietal red wines, Plavac mali and Teran, were subjected to analysis by both conventional gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography with time-of-flight mass spectrometry (GC×GC-TOF-MS) after headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME). GC-MS was useful for the determination of the basic volatile profile composed mainly of major esters and acids, followed by terpenes and C13-norisoprenoids. GC×GC-TOF-MS allowed the identification of 209 volatiles, among which 49 were significantly different across monovarietal wines. The compounds most characteristic for Teran were two theaspirane isomers, ethyl 3-(methylsulfanyl)propanoate, ethyl methyhexanoate, and ho-trienol, whereas Plavac mali stood out with higher concentrations of tridecane and a 2,3-butanediol isomer. The two monovarietal wines were successfully differentiated between each other by multivariate statistical methods mostly based on GC×GC-TOF-MS data. The presented approach that combines conventional GC-MS and advanced GC×GC-TOF-MS showed a great potential for tracking chemical markers of varietal origin and could be practically applied in managing wine production, quality and typicity, marketing, and protection from forgery.
New Biodegradable Mulching Films for Strawberry (Fragaria × Ananassa Duch.): Effects on the Volatile Profiles of the Fruit
Authors: Cozzolino Rosaria , Amato Giuseppe , Siano Francesco , Picariello Gianluca , Stocchero Matteo , Morra Luigi , Mignoli Emiliana , Sicignano Mariarosaria , Petriccione Milena , Malorni Livia
Published: October 2022

The effects of mulching films on the profiles of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from two strawberry cultivars, namely Elide and Sabrina, were evaluated by headspace solid-phase micro-extraction coupled to gas chromatography mass spectrometry (HS-SPME/GC-MS). Strawberries were grown on two biodegradable mulching films, named N5 and N18, in comparison to black polyethylene (PE). PCA models, separately performed on the VOCs dataset of the two cultivars, showed that the observations for each of the three mulching films lie in corresponding regions of the PCA plot, suggesting that the mulching films represented the main source of data variation, and hence, the variability of the VOCs profile induced by the mulching films overcame the cv-related one. For both the cultivars, a higher number of VOCs with a positive impact on the “sweet” taste sensation and consumers’ preference were positively correlated with strawberries produced on the biodegradable films compared to PE. However, there was an interaction between the type of cultivar and the mulches, as Elide responded better to N18 and N5 mulching films, while Sabrina responded better only to N18. Altogether, these results could contribute to assessing the effects of mulching type on putative volatile markers of the desirable sensory perception and consumers’ acceptability of strawberries.
Determining Type of Sterility, Thresholds, Seeding Date and Rates of Arkansas Male Sterile Lines for Hybrid Seed Production
Authors: North Dustin G. , Counce Paul , Fei Shuizhang , Shakiba Ehsan
Published: October 2022

Two-line hybrid rice production requires environmental genetic male-sterile (EGMS) lines that become sterile in certain environmental conditions. In this study, we aimed to identify the genetic type(s), sterility thresholds, optimum planting date, and efficient seeding density of eight male-sterile lines, including four lines developed at the University of Arkansas, Rice Research and Extension Center (RREC) and four at the Dale Bumpers National Rice Research Center (DBNRRC) both located in Stuttgart, AR, USA. The lines were screened in growth chambers using different temperatures and day lengths to identify the type of EGMS line and sterility thresholds. A single location was used in testing the first year of the study and three locations used in the second year of the planting date study. All experiments were arranged in randomized blocks with three replications to identify the optimum planting date and seeding rate. Three planting dates were tested each year for the planting date experiment, and three seeding densities were used in the seed density study. The growth chamber study showed that all RREC lines were thermosensitive genic male-sterile lines, and the sterility threshold temperature for one of these lines was >32.2 °C while that of others was >29.4 °C. The type of sterility and threshold of DBNRRC lines were inconclusive due to their genetic heterogenicity and environmental response inconsistency. In Arkansas, April 25 was the optimum planting date for sterile conditions, and a 431 seed/m2 seeding rate was required to produce an adequate number of panicles for hybrid seed production while avoiding wasting expensive male-sterile seeds.
Effect of Different Cover Crops on Suppression of the Weed Oxalis pes-caprae L., Soil Nutrient Availability, and the Performance of Table Olive Trees ‘Kalamon’ cv. in Crete, Greece
Authors: Volakakis Nikolaos , Kabourakis Emmanouil M. , Rempelos Leonidas , Kiritsakis Apostolos , Leifert Carlo
Published: October 2022

Winter cover crops are used in organic olive production to increase N-supply and yields, and to reduce weed competition. However, there is limited information on the effect of different cover crops on weed suppression, soil fertility and productivity of organic olive orchards. Here, we compared the relative effect of four contrasting cover crops established from (i) untreated vetch seed, (ii) vetch seed inoculated with a commercial Rhizobium seed inoculum, (iii) an untreated vetch/barley/pea seed mixture and (iv) untreated seed of Medicago polymorpha L. (a native legume species which establishes naturally in olive orchards in Crete) in a 35-year-old experimental table olive orchard. The use of a vetch/barley/pea mixture resulted in the greatest suppression of the dominant weed species Oxalis pes-caprae. Rhizobium inoculation of vetch seed resulted in significantly lower vetch establishment and significantly higher Oxalis suppression but had no significant effect on the root nodulation of vetch plants. There was no significant difference in fruit yield between cover crop treatments, but the fruit weight was significantly higher when cover crops were established from un-treated vetch seeds and the vetch/barley/pea seed mixture compared with the cover crops based on inoculated vetch or Medicago seed. However, although Medicago establishment was very low (<10 plants/m2), fruit yields were numerically 20% higher in the Medicago plots. These findings suggests that, overall, legume cover crops had no effect on fruit yields. This conclusion is supported by the results of the olive leaf analyses which detected no significant differences in nitrogen and other mineral macro- and micronutrient concentration between treatments, except for B (highest in olive leaves from Medicago and lowest in untreated vetch plots) and Mo (highest in olive leaves from Medicago and lowest in vetch/barley/pea mixture plots). Overall, our results suggest that the current recommendation to establish legume-based cover crops in organic olive orchards every year, may need to be revised and that establishing cover crops every 2–4 years may reduce costs without affecting olive fruit yields.
Using Soil, Plant, Topographic and Remotely Sensed Data to Determine the Best Method for Defining Aflatoxin Contamination Risk Zones within Fields for Precision Management
Authors: Kerry Ruth , Ingram Ben , Ortiz Brenda V. , Salvacion Arnold
Published: October 2022

Contamination of crops by aflatoxins (AFs) is a real risk in the South-Eastern USA. Contamination risk at the county level based on soil type and weather in different years has been investigated. However, defining AFs contamination risk zones within fields has not yet been attempted. Drought conditions, particularly within the month of June have been linked to high levels of AFs contamination at the county level. Soil characteristics and topography are the factors influencing drought status that vary most within fields. Here, soil, plant, topography and remotely sensed information are used to define AFs contamination risk zones within two fields using different approaches. Normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) data were used to indicate potential droughty areas and thermal IR data from LandSat imagery were used to identify hot areas. Topographic variables were also computed. Comparison tests showed that a combination of regression analysis of soil, plant and imagery data and bi-variate local Moran’s I analysis of NDVI and Thermal IR data from several years was the best way to define zones for mean and maximum AFs levels. An approach based on principal components analysis of soil, plant and imagery data from 2010, a high-risk year, was best for defining zones for minimum AFs levels. Analysis of imagery from several years suggested that the zones are likely to be relatively stable in time and could be defined using only freely available sensor, topographic and soil series data. Once defined, such zones can be managed to increase profitability and reduce waste.
Effects of Population Regulation on the Source–Sink System of Hybrid Wheat Jingmai 6
Authors: Yang Weibing , Wang Zheng , Ren Liping , Ye Zhijie , Gao Xinhuan , Gao Jiangang , Lou Hongyao , Du Bing , Chen Zhaobo , Zhang Shengquan
Published: October 2022

Hybrid wheat is considered to be one of the main ways to greatly improve the wheat yield in the future, and population construction is an important factor affecting their yield heterosis formation. In order to clarify the effect of population regulation of hybrid wheat on source–sink systems, the two-line hybrid wheat variety Jingmai 6 was used to carry out relevant research in this experiment. The leaf area index (LAI) of Jingmai 6 showed an increasing trend, while the tiller-spike rate exhibited a downward trend with the increase of planting density. The total accumulation of dry matter at maturity increased with the increase of planting density, among which the relative proportion of dry matter pre-anthesis gradually increased, while that after anthesis gradually decreased. The sink capacity and spikes number of hybrid wheat were positively correlated with the grain yield. There was higher sink capacity, spike to leaf ratio and grain to leaf ratio under A2 and A3 conditions. With the increase of planting density, the hybrid wheat yield showed a unimodal curve, and A3 had the highest grain yield. Combined with the change trend of dry matter accumulation before and after anthesis, it was proved that suitable planting density was the key to obtaining high yield of hybrid wheat.
Proposal for Structured Histopathology of Nasal Secretions for Endotyping Chronic Rhinosinusitis: An Exploratory Study
Authors: Vlaminck Stephan , Prokopakis Emmanuel , Kawauchi Hideyuki , Haspeslagh Marc , Van Huysse Jacques , Simões João , Acke Frederic , Gevaert Philippe
Published: October 2022

Background: The EPOS guidelines promote cellular analysis as a primary goal in endotyping chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). Current analysis is mainly based on biopsy or operative tissue collection, whereas the use of sinonasal secretions for inflammatory endotyping is not advocated in clinical practice. Early endotyping is crucial though, especially regarding the increasing evidence of patient-tailored therapy. We aimed to investigate the diagnostic value and reproducibility of sinonasal secretions sampling. Methods: First, preoperative secretion analysis of 53 Caucasian CRS patients was compared to subsequent operative tissue analysis. Second, secretion analysis at two different time points was compared for 10 postoperative Caucasian CRS patients with type 2 (T2) inflammation and 10 control participants. Secretions were collected by both endoscopic aspiration and nasal blown secretions in all participants. Results: The sensitivity to detect T2 inflammation was higher in nasal aspiration samples (85%) compared to nasal blow secretions (32%). A specificity of 100% for both techniques was obtained. A 90% reproducibility for T2 eosinophil detection was found by sampling at different time points regardless of the technique. Of the T2 patients, 60% showed no T2 inflammatory pattern more than one year after endoscopic sinus surgery. Conclusions: Nasal secretion sampling, especially aspiration of nasal secretions, is useful in the detection of T2 inflammation in CRS pathology. We proposed a structured histopathology analysis to be useful in daily clinical practice, which includes Congo red staining sensitive for eosinophilic cells and free eosinophil granules. Analysis of nasal secretions enables endotyping in an early stage, allowing more directed therapy.
Innovations for Reducing Methane Emissions in Livestock toward a Sustainable System: Analysis of Feed Additive Patents in Ruminants
Authors: Caprarulo Valentina , Ventura Vera , Amatucci Achille , Ferronato Giulia , Gilioli Gianni
Published: October 2022

An important challenge for livestock systems is the mitigation of environmental impacts while ensuring food security, and feed additives are considered as one of the most promising mitigation strategies. This study analyzed the innovation landscape of feed additives to reduce methane emissions in ruminants. The analysis is based on patent data to evaluate the development, scientific importance, and market-level impact of the innovations in this field. The results reveal that the EU is on the innovation frontier, with substantial and quality patent production. The innovation field is dominated by private players, characterized by high specificity in the R&D pipeline. Additives derived from plant or botanical extracts, together with 3-nitrooxypropanol (3-NOP), represent the emerging innovations, indicating a clear orientation toward more sustainable livestock systems. Despite the regulatory and semantic limitations related to the use of patent databases, data reveal a growing innovation activity at global level, which could lead to macroeconomic benefits for the entire livestock sector.
A Questionnaire Survey on Long-Term Outcomes in Cats Breed-Screened for Feline Cardiomyopathy
Authors: Follby Anna , Pettersson Anna , Ljungvall Ingrid , Ohlsson Åsa , Häggström Jens
Published: October 2022

Feline cardiomyopathy (FCM) is an important contributor to feline morbidity and mortality. This explorative follow-up questionnaire study was aimed at investigating the long-term outcome in cats breed-screened for FCM (BS-FCM) in three Nordic countries. Records of cats with ≥1 BS-FCM between 2004–2015 were included. Of the 1113 included cats, 104/1113 (9.3%) had developed FCM at some time-point. Fifty-nine of the 104 (56.7%) FCM cats were diagnosed within the screening program (ScreenFCM), and 33/59 (55.9%) of these were diagnosed at the first BS-FCM. ScreenFCM cats or with an owner-reported FCM diagnosis at a later time-point had a higher risk of cardiac-related death compared to cats that never developed FCM. A shorter lifespan was found in ScreenFCM cats compared to those with normal screen results (p < 0.001). Times to all-cause mortality were shorter (p < 0.001) in cats that developed FCM at any time-point compared to those that did not. Non-cardiac morbidities were similar in all screen classification groups. The large proportion of cats that developed FCM at a later time-point underscores the need for repeated screenings later in life. Cats that developed FCM at any time-point had a shorter lifespan, with a similar proportion and in line with the nature of non-cardiac morbidities, compared to those without FCM.
Maternal, Postnatal, and Management-Related Factors Involved in Daily Weight Gain and Survivability of Suckling Zaraibi Goat Kids in Egypt
Authors: El-Raghi Ali Ali , Hashem Nesrein M.
Published: October 2022

During the early period of an animal’s life, rapid growth and higher survival rates can provide more profits to producers by minimizing the rearing and replacement costs. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of some maternal, postnatal, and management-related factors (sex, the litter size [LS], the kid’s birth weight [KBW], the daily milk yield [DMY], and the parity order), as well as the kidding year and season on both the average daily weight gain (ADG) and survivability of suckling Zaraibi goat kids during the postnatal period. A total of 3005 kidding events were available from the herd of Zaraibi goats raised at El-Serw Experimental Station from 2008 to 2014, which belongs to the Animal Production Research Institute. Data revealed that the overall ADG was 131.14 ± 2.34, 94.22 ± 2.21, and 85.63 ± 2.33 g/day, whereas the survival rates were 94.68%, 91.81%, and 90.62% during the periods from birth to 1, 2, and 3 months, respectively. During all periods considered, the aforementioned maternal, postnatal, and management-related factors significantly affected the ADG. In males, the ADG increased compared with females. Singletons had a higher ADG compared with kids born to a litter of two or more. A higher KBW and DMY were associated with an increase in the ADG. Additionally, increasing the parity order was associated with an increased ADG. The kidding season did not have a significant effect on the ADG, whereas the kidding year showed a significant effect on the ADG. During the pre-weaning period, the hazard of death increased by 23.1% (hazard ratio (HR) = 1.231; 95% CI = 0.972–2.057) in males compared with females in terms of survival rates. A higher LS was associated with an increase in the incidence of mortality, increasing by 51.6% (HR = 1.516; 95% CI = 1.363–1.719) with each unit increase in the LS. Additionally, the KBW was an extremely important determinant of survivability, as the risk of death decreased by 62.8% (HR = 0.372; 95% CI = 0.229–0.504) with the increase in the KBW. Likewise, survival rates increased steadily along with an increase in both the DMY and parity number. The risk of death decreased by 52.7% (HR = 0.473; 95% CI = 0.376–0.808) and 38.2% (HR = 0.618; 95% CI = 0.512–1.724) with the increase in the DMY and parity number, respectively. The kidding season did not significantly affect the kid’s survivability, but with each passing year, there was a decrease of 2.8% (HR = 0.972; 95% CI = 0.952–0.991) in the probability of mortality. In conclusion, better growth and survival rates can be achieved by controlling the maternal, postnatal, and management-related factors, as well as upgrading management plans.
Dexmedetomidine Effectively Sedates Asian Elephants (Elephas maximus)
Authors: Buranapim Nithidol , Kulnanan Pawinee , Chingpathomkul Kullapassorn , Angkawanish Taweepoke , Chansitthiwet Saran , Langkaphin Warangkhana , Sombutputorn Petthisak , Monchaivanakit Natcha , Kasemjai Kankawee , Namwongprom Kittikul , Boonprasert Khajohnpat , Bansiddhi Pakkanut , Thitaram Niyada , Sharp Patrick , Pacharinsak Cholawat , Thitaram Chatchote
Published: October 2022

This study investigated the sedative effects of dexmedetomidine in Asian elephants. We hypothesized that 2 µg/kg dexmedetomidine would provide sufficient standing sedation. A crossover design study was performed in three Asian elephants. Each elephant was assigned to 1 of 3 treatment groups—1 (D1), 1.5 (D1.5) or 2 (D2) µg/kg dexmedetomidine (intramuscular injection, IM) with a two-week ‘washout period’ between doses. Elephants were monitored for 120 min. At 120 min (Ta), atipamezole was administered IM. Sedation and responsiveness scores were evaluated. Physiological parameters (pulse rate, respiratory rate, and %SpO2) and clinical observations were monitored during the study and for 3 days post drug administration. D2 provided the longest sedation (approximately 70 min), compared to D1 and D1.5. After Ta, each elephant’s sedative stage lessened within 10–15 min without complications. No significant abnormal clinical observations were noted throughout and during the 3-days post study period. These data suggest that a single 2 µg/kg IM dexmedetomidine injection provides sufficient standing sedation for approximately 70 min in Asian elephants.
Pathophysiology, Diagnosis, and Management of Canine Intestinal Lymphangiectasia: A Comparative Review
Authors: Jablonski Sara A.
Published: October 2022

Intestinal lymphangiectasia was first described in the dog over 50 years ago. Despite this, canine IL remains poorly understood and challenging to manage. Intestinal lymphangiectasia is characterized by variable intestinal lymphatic dilation, lymphatic obstruction, and/or lymphangitis, and is a common cause of protein-losing enteropathy in the dog. Breed predispositions are suggestive of a genetic cause, but IL can also occur as a secondary process. Similarly, both primary and secondary IL have been described in humans. Intestinal lymphangiectasia is definitively diagnosed via intestinal histopathology, but other diagnostic results can be suggestive of IL. Advanced imaging techniques are frequently utilized to aid in the diagnosis of IL in humans but have not been thoroughly investigated in the dog. Management strategies differ between humans and dogs. Dietary modification is the mainstay of therapy in humans with additional pharmacological therapies occasionally employed, and immunosuppressives are rarely used due to the lack of a recognized immune pathogenesis. In contrast, corticosteroid and immunosuppressive therapies are more commonly utilized in canine IL. This review aims toward a better understanding of canine IL with an emphasis on recent discoveries, comparative aspects, and necessary future investigations.