bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Antibiotics Resistance and Plasmid Curing Studies of Staphylococcus aureus associated with Wound Infection amongst Patients Accessing University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, Rivers State, Nigeria
Authors: J. Alexander , T. Sampson , C. J. Ugboma
Published: July 2023

Staphylococcus aureus is a common hospital and community-acquired pathogen known to be frequently associated with wound infections, and has become important for its increasing level of resistance to antibiotics. Resistance of Staphylococcus aureus to antibiotics could be as a result of the presence of plasmids or resistance genes. The need to carry out plasmid curing of the isolates is very essential. The aim of the study was therefore to determine the antibiotics resistance pattern of staphylococcus aureus associated with wound infection amongst patients accessing university of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, Rivers State, Nigeria. A total of 150 specimens from different types of wounds (traumatic wound, caesarean section, scrotal wound, surgical wounds, burns, diabetic foot, and plastic surgery) were collected from the Hospital for a period of six months and processed for isolation of S. aureus, following standard microbiological procedures. The specimens were cultured on sterile Mannitol Salt Agar (MSA) plates and incubated at 37ºC for 24 hours. Antibiotic susceptibility tests of the isolates was performed using the Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method, following CLSI guidelines. Plasmid genes of the isolates were cured using acridine orange. The study showed a decrease in antibiotic resistance of 17.3% for ofloxacin (OFL), 13.8% for gentamicin (GEN) and 3.5% for both ceftazidime (CAZ) and ceftriatone (CTR) after plasmid curing, with no apparent change in resistance for the rest of the antibiotics. The results of this study represent serious public health concerns, thus emphasizing the need for proper wound management.
Public health intelligence challenges for local public health authorities responding to disease outbreaks: a mixed-methods systematic review protocol
Authors: Parr Janette , Chen Yen-Fu , Damery Sarah , Grove Amy
Published: July 2023

Background: Information management capacity is crucial for controlling risks from health emergencies. But little is known about how sub-national public health bodies overcome public health intelligence challenges when responding to disease outbreaks. This paper describes a protocol for a mixed-methods systematic review to fill this knowledge gap. In addition to describing the evidence base and characterising public health intelligence responses, it will explore reported facilitators and barriers to response.

Methods: Research on sub-national public health intelligence disease outbreak responses will be synthesised. The review will be limited to articles published in English, during or after 2019. Key electronic databases will be searched for peer-reviewed, primary research studies. Two reviewers will independently screen articles for relevance. Articles that refer to a public health intelligence response to a propagated disease outbreak by a sub-national Public Health Authority will be included. Quality assessment of included articles will be undertaken using published tools. Data integration will be by the Pillar Integration Process (PIP).

Discussion: This review will describe and synthesise the recent literature on sub-national Public Health Authorities’ responses to propagated disease outbreaks. The systematic design will limit bias and the inclusion of data from quantitative, qualitative and mixed-methods studies will ensure relevant evidence is considered regardless of the methodology used to produce it. The review is part of a larger research project which aims to explore the role of sub-national Public Health Intelligence during the COVID-19 pandemic and investigate how public health intelligence preparedness could be improved in the future. This could provide information to support the development of training, preparedness indicators and/or ways of implementing directives.

PROSPERO registration: CRD42022308042 (08/02/2022)
Investigating University EFL Teachers’ Perception, Practice, and Challenges in Self-Initiated Professional Development
Authors: Tessema Mitiku Garedew , Belihu Girma Gezahegn
Published: July 2023

The topic of self-initiated professional development has garnered increasing attention among English as a Foreign Language (EFL) teachers who are motivated to identify and address gaps in their professional development. This study aimed to investigate the perceptions, practices, and challenges of EFL teachers at Addis Ababa Science and Technology University with regard to self-initiated professional development. The participants consisted of 35 EFL instructors with 12 holding PhD degrees and the remaining 23 holding MA degrees at Addis Ababa Science and Technology University. The study adopted a concurrent mixed methods research design, utilizing both a questionnaire and semi-structured interviews for data collection. The study employed a total population sampling method and conducted semi-structured interviews with four randomly selected EFL teachers. Data analysis was performed separately for the questionnaire and interview data, followed by a mixed analysis to triangulate and corroborate the results. The findings revealed that the majority of the EFL teachers had a positive perception of self-initiated professional development, which was reflected in their practice of self-monitoring and analyzing critical incidents. However, the teachers did not engage in practices such as keeping a teaching journal, conducting action research, reflecting on their teaching, or developing a teaching portfolio. The challenges to self-initiated professional development were identified as lack of commitment, collaboration among colleagues, communication, and institutional support. This study highlights the potential of self-initiated professional development as an alternative means of addressing professional development needs among EFL teachers.
Investigating English Vocabulary Difficulties and Its Learning Strategies of Lower Secondary School Students
Authors: Rosyada-AS Amrina , Apoko Tri Wintolo
Published: July 2023

Vocabulary plays a crucial role in language proficiency as it serves as the foundation for effective language acquisition. The ability to acquire vocabulary is considered a prerequisite for learning a language. Therefore, the primary objective of this research is to investigate the difficulties encountered by students in their vocabulary learning process as well as the strategies they employ to overcome these obstacles in the context of English vocabulary acquisition. The participants in this study consisted of nine students at various proficiency levels in a lower secondary school, along with one English teacher. Employing a descriptive qualitative method, semi-structured interviews were conducted to gather data for this research. The interview questions focused on investigating the difficulties students faced in learning English vocabulary and the strategies they utilized to address these challenges. To facilitate data analysis, each interview was meticulously recorded and transcribed. The data analysis technique employed in this research entailed descriptive analysis. The findings of this study revealed that a significant number of students encountered difficulties in acquiring vocabulary. Specifically, these challenges manifested in areas such as the correct pronunciation of new words, accurate spelling, proper usage of word meanings, and effective retention or memorization of vocabulary. In order to mitigate these difficulties, students employed various strategies, including utilizing media resources such as smartphones, the internet, and games as well as employing note-taking techniques and consulting dictionaries to aid their vocabulary learning process.
Outcome Of Cervical Cerclages In Semino Specialist Hospital: A 5-Case Series
Authors:   Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Enugu State University of Science & Technology Teaching Hospital/College of Medicine, Enugu, Nigeria, Odugu BU ,   SEMINO Specialist Hospital, Abakpa-Nike, Enugu, Nigeria, Onyekpa IJ ,   Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Enugu State University of Science & Technology Teaching Hospital/College of Medicine, Enugu, Nigeria,   SEMINO Specialist Hospital, Abakpa-Nike, Enugu, Nigeria, Ogili JJ ,   Department of Anaesthesiology, Enugu State University of Science & Technology Teaching Hospital/ Department of Surgery, ESUT College of Medicine, Enugu, Nigeria,   SEMINO Specialist Hospital, Abakpa-Nike, Enugu, Nigeria
Published: July 2023

Background: Cervical cerclage is simply the use of a specialized non-absorbable suture to tie the cervix at the level of the internal os to prevent recurrent abortions, preterm labour and delivery especially in women with short cervix or cervical weakness. It was introduced in the 1950s by Shirodkar and McDonald and has since become a common obstetric practice. There still exist a lot of controversies concerning its efficacy and the factors determining its success. This study is aimed at unraveling the factors that determined a successful cerclage in a private hospital setting in Enugu, south-east Nigeria. Aim: To audit the pregnancy outcomes and its determinants following prophylactic cervical cerclage in a private centre Methodology: This was a case series of five women who had prophylactic cerclage between 2020 and 2022 in SEMINO Hospital, Enugu, following either a clinical or ultrasound diagnosis of cervical incompetence or both. SEMINO Hospital receives referrals from some maternity homes and other private centres not manned by obstetrician/gynaecologist in and around Abakpa-Nike. These women were seen and managed by the authors in SEMINO Hospital over the period under review. Data were collected from the patients’ case notes and presented in tabular form for easy analysis and comparison. Conclusion: The use of adjunctive therapies and insertion of cerclages at earlier gestational ages may enhance the outcome of cervical cerclages.
Anaphylaxis Due to Aedes Mosquito Bites: Case Report And Literature Review
Authors:   Immunology and Allergy, Department of Pediatrics, King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, King Abdulaziz Medical city-WR, Jeddah 9515, Saudi Arabia, AL-Zahrani Daifulah
Published: July 2023

Allergic reactions to mosquito bites are underdiagnosed and undertreated but can cause life-threatening anaphylaxis particularly in patients with underlying allergic rhinitis and asthma. We report a patient who developed two episodes of local allergic reactions due to mosquito bites, then subsequently developed anaphylaxis after the third mosquito bites
Success Rates, Complications And Patient Satisfaction With Revision Rhinoplasty: A Comprehensive Review Of Existing Literature
Authors:   Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, University of Bisha, Saudi Arabia, Alqarny Mohammed
Published: July 2023

Objectives: Rhinoplasty is a popular cosmetic surgery, but many patients remain dissatisfied with the outcome of primary rhinoplasty. Revision rhinoplasty is a complex procedure but can yield successful outcomes for patients. This study aims to analyse the success rates, complications, and patient satisfaction of revision rhinoplasty through a comprehensive review of existing literature and statistical analysis of relevant data. Methods: A thorough review of the existing literature on revision rhinoplasty was conducted using various online databases, including PubMed and Google Scholar. Studies published between 2000 and 2022 were included in this review. Data was extracted from these studies and analysed to evaluate the success rates, complications, and patient satisfaction of revision rhinoplasty. Statistical analysis was conducted using SPSS software. Results: The analysis of 24 studies showed that the success rate of revision rhinoplasty was around 70- 80%, which is significantly lower than that of primary rhinoplasty. The most common complications of revision rhinoplasty were bleeding, infection, and nasal obstruction. However, these complications were generally minor and could be managed effectively. Patient satisfaction rates with revision rhinoplasty were high, with most patients reporting improvement in their nasal appearance and function. Conclusions: The results of this study suggest that revision rhinoplasty can lead to significant improvements in both nasal function and aesthetics, despite a lower success rate than primary rhinoplasty
Risk Factors For Treatment-Induced Hearing Impairment: Perspective From A Resource-Poor African Setting
Authors:   Department of Ear, Nose and Throat Surgery, Federal Medical Centre, Owerri, Nigeria, Uchechukwu, Nduagu Samuel , Oritsemajemite Ogisi Festus ,   Department of Ear, Nose and Throat Surgery, University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin-City, Nigeria
Published: July 2023

Background - Treatment-induced hearing impairment can result from prolonged administration of potentially ototoxic medications often in the pharmacotherapeutic management of chronic illnesses such as drug-resistant tuberculosis. Whereas drug ototoxicity may be idiosyncratic, it is imperative to be aware of its potential risk factors while treating patients. We aimed in our study to identify risks factors for hearing impairment in patients treated for drug-resistant pulmonary tuberculosis at our Centre. Patients and methods – This study was a 24-month prospective study of drug-resistant tuberculosis patients treated at the pulmonology unit of Federal Medical Centre, Owerri, Nigeria. Each patient had pure tone audiometry before commencement of treatment (baseline) and after three months of treatment for comparison. Clinical data was obtained using pre-tested examiner-administered questionnaire. Data collected was analyzed with SPSS version 25.0 and statistical significance set at p < 0.05. Results - Thirty-eight (38) participants completed the study with a male-to-female (M:F) ratio of 1.53:1. The modal age group was 41-50 years and median duration of presenting complaints 9.9 weeks. HIV seroprevalence was 18.4% among the study participants. The baseline prevalence of hearing impairment was 73.7% but increased to 89.5% after three months of treatment with a cumulative incidence of 15.8% which was statistically significant (p < 0.001). The identified risk factors for hearing impairment were age (>50 years), family history of hearing impairment, kanamycin administration and BMI <18.5kg/m2 . Conclusion – Kanamycin was associated with more severe hearing impairment than capreomycin. Advancing age, family history of hearing impairment and BMI < 18.5kg/m2 were risk factors for development of hearing impairment in patients treated for drug-resistant tuberculosis in our setting.
Sigmoid Colon Endometriosis Case Report: A Rare Large Bowel Entity
Authors:   Consultant General and Bariatric Surgeon, Kuwait Board of General Surgery (KBGS), Fellowship Minimal Invasive and Bariatric and Endoscopy (Brazil), Fellowship American College of Surgeons (FACS), Department of Surgery Farwaniya Hospital, Ministry of Health Kuwait (MOH), Farwaniya, Kuwa, Essam Al-Mulla Ahmad , E Sultan , Abdulla , Al-Azemi Bashayer ,   Senior House Officer General Surgery (SHO), Department of Surgery, Farwaniya Hospital, Ministry of Health Kuwait (MOH), Farwaniya, Kuwait, Waleed Alansari Mohammad ,   General Surgeon trainee, Department of Surgery, Farwaniya Hospital, Ministry of Health Kuwait (MOH), Farwaniya, Kuwait, Alqattan Khalid Mohammed ,   General Surgeon trainee, Department of Surgery, Farwaniya Hospital, Ministry of Health Kuwait (MOH), Farwaniya, Kuwait
Published: July 2023

Endometriosis refers to the extrauterine presentation of ectopic functional uterine tissue. It is a common gynaecological condition in reproductive females. Its clinical presentation involves irregular menstrual cycles, pelvic pain, and infertility. However, it is highly unusual for Endometriosis to present as a large bowel mass with symptoms of obstruction. Here, we present a 41-year-old female with symptoms of chronic constipation and abdominal discomfort due to an endometrial colonic mass
Pengaruh Lingkungan Kerja terhadap Work Engagement Melalui Motivasi Intrinsik Dosen
Authors: Muchtadin
Published: July 2023

Penelitian ini bertujuan mengetahui seberapa besar lingkungan kerja berdampak terhadap work engagement melalui motivasi intrinsik. Sampel penelitian berjumlah 73 orang dosen. Pengambilan sampel dilakukan di Indonesia melalui purposive sampling dengan kriteria yaitu dosen.  Data dianalisa menggunakan PLS-SEM. Hasil penelitian menemukan bahwa lingkungan kerja berpengaruh positif signifikan terhadap motivasi intrinsik dan juga work engagement. Motivasi intrinsik ditemukan memediasi pengaruh lingkungan kerja terhadap work engagement. Penelitian ini berkontribusi pada peningkatan work engagement melalui motivasi intrinsik dan lingkungan kerja pada dosen di program studi terakreditasi Baik Sekali di Indonesia.
The socioeconomic context of stigma: examining the relationship between economic conditions and attitudes towards people with mental illness across European countries
Authors: Pybus Katie , Pickett Kate E. , Lloyd Charlie , Wilkinson Richard
Published: July 2023

Introduction

Efforts to reduce the stigma associated with mental illness have intensified over the past 30 years with a particular focus on improving public attitudes. Difficult economic circumstances can be harmful to intergroup relations, but little is known about whether there is a relationship between socioeconomic conditions and attitudes towards people with mental illnesses.

Methods

Random effects logistic regression modelling was employed to explore the relationship between individual financial circumstances, contextual socioeconomic factors and difficulty speaking to a person with a significant mental illness across European countries.

Results

Lower GDP per capita and higher income inequality at the country level, alongside individual financial difficulties, were each associated with a greater likelihood of reporting difficulty speaking to a person with a significant mental illness.

Discussion

Micro and macro-economic factors are associated with public attitudes towards people with mental illness across Europe. With prolonged economic instability predicted over the coming years in Europe it is important that these findings are taken into consideration when designing mental health and social policies, in order to safeguard the progress that has been made in reducing mental health stigma to date.
Assessing causal relationships between gut microbiota and asthma: evidence from two sample Mendelian randomization analysis
Authors: Li Rong , Guo Qi , Zhao Jian , Kang Wenhui , Lu Ruoyu , Long Zichong , Huang Lili , Chen Yiting , Zhao Anda , Wu Jinhong , Yin Yong , Li Shenghui
Published: July 2023

Background

Accumulating evidence has suggested that gut microbiota dysbiosis is commonly observed in asthmatics. However, it remains unclear whether dysbiosis is a cause or consequence of asthma. We aimed to examine the genetic causal relationships of gut microbiota with asthma and its three phenotypes, including adult-onset asthma, childhood-onset asthma, and moderate-severe asthma.

Methods

To elucidate the causality of gut microbiota with asthma, we applied two sample Mendelian randomization (MR) based on the largest publicly available genome-wide association study (GWAS) summary statistics. Inverse variance weighting meta-analysis (IVW) was used to obtain the main estimates; and Weighted median, MR-Egger, Robust Adjusted Profile Score (MR-RAPS), Maximum likelihood method (ML), and MR pleiotropy residual sum and outlier (MR-PRESSO) methods were applied in sensitivity analyses. Finally, a reverse MR analysis was performed to evaluate the possibility of reverse causation.

Results

In the absence of heterogeneity and horizontal pleiotropy, the IVW method revealed that genetically predicted Barnesiella and RuminococcaceaeUCG014 were positively correlated with the risk of asthma, while the association between genetically predicted CandidatusSoleaferrea and asthma was negative. And for the three phenotypes of asthma, genetically predicted Akkermansia reduced the risk of adult-onset asthma, Collinsella and RuminococcaceaeUCG014 increased the risk of childhood-onset asthma, and FamilyXIIIAD3011group, Eisenbergiella, and Ruminiclostridium6 were correlated with the risk of moderate-severe asthma (all P<0.05). The reverse MR analysis didn’t find evidence supporting the reverse causality from asthma and its three phenotypes to the gut microbiota genus.

Conclusion

This study suggested that microbial genera were causally associated with asthma as well as its three phenotypes. The findings deepened our understanding of the role of gut microbiota in the pathology of asthma, which emphasizes the potential of opening up a new vista for the prevention and diagnosis of asthma.
Distribution and clinical significance of anti-carbamylation protein antibodies in rheumatological diseases among the Chinese Han population
Authors: Dong Rongrong , Sun Yuanyuan , Xu Wei , Xiang Weizhen , Li Meiqi , Yang Qingrui , Zhu Ling , Ma Zhenzhen
Published: July 2023

Objective

Several studies have demonstrated that anti-carbamylation protein antibodies (Anti-CarPA) are persistent in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), systemic sclerosis (SSC), primary Sjögren’s syndrome (pSS), and interstitial lung disease associated with RA (RA-ILD). However, the relationship between anti-CarPA and other rheumatic diseases (RDs) and non-RA-ILD is not known till now. This study sought to examine the presence of anti-CarPA in Chinese Han patients with RDs and its clinical significance.

Methods

The study included 90 healthy controls (HCs) and 300 patients with RDs, including RA, SLE, polymyositis/dermatomyositis (PM/DM), pSS, SSC, spondyloarthritis (SpA), anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibodies associated with vasculitis (AAV), undifferentiated connective tissue disease (UCTD), and Behcet’s disease (BD). Antibodies against carbamylated human serum albumin were detected using commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits. Correlations between clinical and laboratory parameters were analyzed.

Result

Serum levels of anti-CarPA in RA (34.43 ± 33.34 ng/ml), SLE (21.12 ± 22.23 ng/ml), pSS (16.32 ± 13.54 ng/ml), PM/DM (30.85 ± 17.34 ng/ml), SSC (23.53 ± 10.70 ng/ml), and UCTD (28.35 ± 21.91 ng/ml) were higher than those of anti-CarPA in the HCs (7.30 ± 5.05 ng/ml). The concentration of serum anti-CarPA was higher in patients with rheumatic disease-related interstitial lung disease (RD-ILD), especially RA-ILD, PM/DM-ILD, and pSS-ILD. Patients with RD-ILD who tested positive for anti-CarPA were more likely to have a more severe radiographic classification (grades II, p = 0.045; grades III, p = 0.003). Binary logistic regression analysis suggested that anti-CarPA had an association with ILD in RA (p = 0.033), PM/DM (p = 0.039), and pSS (p = 0.048). Based on receiver operating characteristics (ROC) analysis, anti-CarPA cutoffs best discriminated ILD in RA (>32.59 ng/ml, p = 0.050), PM/DM (>23.46 ng/ml, p = 0.038), and pSS (>37.08 ng/ml, p = 0.040). Moreover, serum levels of anti-CarPA were correlated with antibodies against transcription intermediary factor 1 complex (anti-TIF1) (R = –0.28, p = 0.044), antibodies against glycyl-transfer ribonucleic acid synthetase (anti-EJ) (R = 0.30, p = 0.031), and antibodies against melanoma differentiation-associated gene 5 (anti-MDA5) (R = 0.35, p = 0.011).

Conclusion

Serum anti-CarPA could be detected in patients with RA, PM/DM, pSS, SSC, and UCTD among the Chinese Han population. And it may also assist in identifying ILD in patients with RA, PM/DM, and pSS, which emphasized attention to the lung involvement in anti-CarPA-positive patients.
Brain network characteristics between subacute and chronic stroke survivors in active, imagery, passive movement task: a pilot study
Authors: Lin Yifang , Jiang Zewu , Zhan Gege , Su Haolong , Kang XiaoYang , Jia Jie
Published: July 2023

Background

The activation patterns and functional network characteristics between stroke survivors and healthy individuals based on resting-or task-state neuroimaging and neurophysiological techniques have been extensively explored. However, the discrepancy between stroke patients at different recovery stages remains unclear.

Objective

To investigate the changes in brain connectivity and network topology between subacute and chronic patients, and hope to provide a basis for rehabilitation strategies at different stages after stroke.

Methods

Fifteen stroke survivors were assigned to the subacute group (SG, N = 9) and chronic group (CG, N = 6). They were asked to perform hand grasping under active, passive, and MI conditions when recording EEG. The Fugl-Meyer Assessment Upper Extremity subscale (FMA_UE), modified Ashworth Scale (MAS), Manual Muscle Test (MMT), grip and pinch strength, modified Barthel Index (MBI), and Berg Balance Scale (BBS) were measured.

Results

Functional connectivity analyses showed significant interactions on frontal, parietal and occipital lobes connections in each frequency band, particularly in the delta band. The coupling strength of premotor cortex, M1, S1 and several connections linked to frontal, parietal, and occipital lobes in subacute subjects were lower than in chronic subjects in low alpha, high alpha, low beta, and high beta bands. Nodal clustering coefficient (CC) analyses revealed that the CC in chronic subjects was higher than in subacute subjects in the ipsilesional S1 and occipital area, contralesional dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and parietal area. Characteristic path length (CPL) analyses showed that CPL in subacute subjects was lower than in chronic subjects in low beta, high beta, and gamma bands. There were no significant differences between subacute and chronic subjects for small-world property.

Conclusion

Subacute stroke survivors were characterized by higher transfer efficiency of the entire brain network and weak local nodal effects. Transfer efficiency was reduced, the local nodal role was strengthened, and more neural resources needed to be mobilized to perform motor tasks for chronic survivors. Overall, these results may help to understand the remodeling pattern of the brain network for different post-stroke stages on task conditions and the mechanism of spontaneous recovery.
Digestive α-L-fucosidase activity in Rhodnius prolixus after blood feeding: effect of secretagogue and nutritional stimuli
Authors: Gama Maiara do Valle Faria , Alexandre Yasmim do Nascimento , Pereira da Silva João Mario , Castro Daniele Pereira , Genta Fernando Ariel
Published: July 2023

Introduction:Rhodnius prolixus (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) is an important vector of Trypanosoma cruzi, the causative agent of Chagas Disease. This insect is a model for the study of insect physiology, especially concerning the digestion of blood. Among the enzymes produced in the midgut of R. prolixus after blood feeding there is a α-L-fucosidase activity. There are very few studies on α-L-fucosidase of insects, and the role of R. prolixus α-L-fucosidase is still not clear. In this work, we tested if the mechanism for production of this enzyme is similar to the observed for proteases, a secretatogue mechanism that respond to the protein contents of the meal.

Methods: We tested if specific proteins or sugars elicit this response, which may help to understand the nature of the physiological substrate for this enzyme.

Results: In general, our results showed that the Anterior Midgut was the only midgut fraction that responds to the blood meal in terms of α-L-fucosidase production. Besides that, this response was not triggered by midgut distension or by ingestion of the blood cell fraction. Conversely, the enzyme was produced after feeding with the plasma fraction. However, the production of α-L-fucosidase was also triggered by different biochemical stimuli, as protein or fucoidan ingestion.

Discussion: This suggested that the production of the enzyme in the anterior midgut was a general physiological response under control of different convergent signals. Besides that, the comparison between different treatments for artificial blood feeding showed that heparinated blood was the choice with minor side effects for the study of the midgut α-L-fucosidase, when compared to defibrinated or citrated blood.
Innovative tools and methods for toxicity testing within PARC work package 5 on hazard assessment
Authors: De Castelbajac Thalia , Aiello Kiara , Arenas Celia Garcia , Svingen Terje , Ramhøj Louise , Zalko Daniel , Barouki Robert , Vanhaecke Tamara , Rogiers Vera , Audebert Marc , Oelgeschlaeger Michael , Braeuning Albert , Blanc Etienne , Tal Tamara , Rüegg Joëlle , Fritsche Ellen , Marx-Stoelting Philip , Rivière Gilles
Published: July 2023

New approach methodologies (NAMs) have the potential to become a major component of regulatory risk assessment, however, their actual implementation is challenging. The European Partnership for the Assessment of Risks from Chemicals (PARC) was designed to address many of the challenges that exist for the development and implementation of NAMs in modern chemical risk assessment. PARC’s proximity to national and European regulatory agencies is envisioned to ensure that all the research and innovation projects that are initiated within PARC agree with actual regulatory needs. One of the main aims of PARC is to develop innovative methodologies that will directly aid chemical hazard identification, risk assessment, and regulation/policy. This will facilitate the development of NAMs for use in risk assessment, as well as the transition from an endpoint-based animal testing strategy to a more mechanistic-based NAMs testing strategy, as foreseen by the Tox21 and the EU Chemical’s Strategy for Sustainability. This work falls under work package 5 (WP5) of the PARC initiative. There are three different tasks within WP5, and this paper is a general overview of the five main projects in the Task 5.2 ‘Innovative Tools and methods for Toxicity Testing,’ with a focus on Human Health. This task will bridge essential regulatory data gaps pertaining to the assessment of toxicological prioritized endpoints such as non-genotoxic carcinogenicity, immunotoxicity, endocrine disruption (mainly thyroid), metabolic disruption, and (developmental and adult) neurotoxicity, thereby leveraging OECD’s and PARC’s AOP frameworks. This is intended to provide regulatory risk assessors and industry stakeholders with relevant, affordable and reliable assessment tools that will ultimately contribute to the application of next-generation risk assessment (NGRA) in Europe and worldwide.
Plant Height and Stem Diameter of Solanum quitoense Lamarck Improved with Applications of AMF and Biostimulants
Authors: Olguín-Hernández Ana Laura , Arévalo-Galarza Ma. de Lourdes , Cadena-Iñiguez Jorge , Jaén-Contreras David , Peña-Valdivia Cecilia B.
Published: July 2023

The lulo plant (Solanum quitoense Lamarck) is native to South America. In Mexico, this species shows potential for the conversion of agroecosystems. It is used as food and pharmaceutical sources for metabolites. However, there are few papers related to how this species can grow under conditions outside of the Andean countries (Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru). The objective of this research was to evaluate the development of lulo under cloud forest conditions and the effect of inoculating the plant with mycorrhizae (Funneliformis mosseae (T. H. Nicolson and Gerd.) C. Walker and A. Schüssler, and Entrophospora colombiana Spain and N. C. Schenck) and diammonium phosphate (DAP: NPK 18-46-00) fertilization. The plant growth, leaf area, mycorrhizal colonization, and leaf mineral content were evaluated from transplant to fruit formation. The experiment was conducted under field conditions in volcanic soils (clayey Vertisol) in a cloud forest. The inoculation of E. colombiana was 86.19% of the colonization, and the content of N, K, Ca, Mg, Mn, Cu, Zn, and Fe in the leaves was the higher in these plants. The highest P content was obtained from the DAP treatment and the height of the plant was 11.8% and 12.5% in the treatments using DAP and E. colombiana, respectively. The plant growth was significantly higher in the plants inoculated with E. colombiana followed by DAP. The plants inoculated with F. mosseae registered lower values than the control. Lulo plants grow in the climate and soils of volcanic origin of the cloud forest. The results showed that AMF colonization was beneficial and outperformed the native strains. The results are new for the introduced lulo plants in Mexico and can help reduce the learning path for commercial cultivation.
Administration of Estradiol Benzoate Enhances Ovarian and Uterine Hemodynamics in Postpartum Dairy Buffaloes
Authors: Samir Haney , El-Sherbiny Hossam R. , Ahmed Ahmed Ezzat , Ahmad Sindi Ramya , Al Syaad Khalid M. , Abdelnaby Elshymaa A.
Published: July 2023

The postpartum (PP) period is a crucial stage for the resumption of reproductive performance and ovarian cyclicity in dairy buffaloes. The present study aimed, for the first time, to assess the effect of the administration of estradiol benzoate (EB) on ovarian and uterine hemodynamics in PP dairy buffaloes. Eight pluriparous acyclic domestic buffaloes were enrolled in the present experiment and received a dose of 10 mg of estradiol benzoate (EB) intramuscularly 4 weeks after parturition. All animals were examined two times before EB administration (days −3, and −1) and on the day of EB administration (day 0), followed by examinations on days 1, 3, 5, 7, and 9 post-EB administration. The middle uterine artery (MUA) and ovarian artery (OA) blood flow patterns were assessed using a color Doppler ultrasound device. The reproductive parameters were (1) the cross-sectional diameters (cm) of the OA and MUA, (2) cranial uterine horn thickness (UHT; cm), and (3) hemodynamic changes within the MUA on both the ipsi- and contra-lateral sides of the previous pregnant horn and within the OA corresponding to the ovarian tissues. The examined blood flow parameters were the pulsatility index (PI), resistance index (RI), peak systolic/end-diastolic ratio (S/D), time-averaged maximum velocity (TAV; cm/s), uterine blood flow rate (BFR; bpm), and uterine blood flow volume (BFV; mL/min). Concomitantly, blood samples were collected from the coccygeal vein, and the sera were stored at −18 °C for use in estradiol (E2-17β) and nitric oxide (NO) assays. The results revealed increases in both OA and MUA cross-sectional diameter (cm) on the ipsi-lateral and contra-lateral (p < 0.05) sides within 24 h until day 9 post-treatment. The values of the RI and PI of blood flow within the OA and MUA on the ipsi-lateral and contra-lateral sides of the previous pregnancy were obviously lower (p < 0.05) at 24 h after the administration of EB, and then, started to gradually elevate, reaching the pre-treatment values on day 9 after EB administration. Both the BFR and BFV in the OA and MUA significantly increased from 24 h to 72 h after EB administration on both the ipsi-lateral and contra-lateral sides (p < 0.05); then, their values started to decrease to reach the pretreatment value on day 9 after EB administration. Both E2 and NO concentrations significantly increased (p < 0.05) from 24 h until day 3 after EB injection and then started to decline after that, reaching the pre-treatment value on day 9. In conclusion, the administration of EB enhances the ovarian and uterine blood flow concomitantly with increased levels of NO in PP dairy buffaloes.
Paratuberculosis, Animal Welfare and Biosecurity: A Survey in 33 Northern Italy Dairy Goat Farms
Authors: Gaffuri Alessandra , Barsi Filippo , Magni Edoardo , Bergagna Stefania , Dellamaria Debora , Ricchi Matteo , De Paolis Livia , Galletti Giorgio , Arrigoni Norma , Lorenzi Valentina , Fusi Francesca , Prosperi Alice , Garbarino Chiara
Published: July 2023

Paratuberculosis is a notable infectious disease of ruminants. Goats appear to be particularly susceptible. The survey aimed to investigate the spread of paratuberculosis in Italian goat farming and evaluate whether the presence of the disease could be influenced by welfare and biosecurity deficiencies. A serological survey for paratuberculosis in 33 dairy farms in northern Italy was conducted. Contextually, animal welfare and biosecurity were assessed, using a standardized protocol of 36 welfare indicators and 15 biosecurity indicators which assigns to each farm a welfare and biosecurity score from 0 (any application) to 100% (full application). An overall result of less than 60% was considered insufficient. Nineteen farms (58%) tested positive for paratuberculosis, with a mean intra-herd seroprevalence of 7.4%. Total welfare ranged from 39.56 to 90.7% (mean 68.64%). Biosecurity scores ranged from 10.04 to 90.01% (mean 57.57%). Eight farms (24%) showed poor welfare conditions (welfare score < 60%) and 19 (58%) an unsatisfactory biosecurity condition (biosecurity score < 60%). With respect to the explorative character of the study, an indicative association between seven welfare and biosecurity indicators and paratuberculosis seropositivity was identified. The presence of paratuberculosis in northern Italy dairy goat farms was confirmed. The welfare and biosecurity assessment protocol proved to be an accurate tool, capable of identifying critical points for managing health, welfare and productivity.
You Are Not Welcome! A Media Analysis of Risk Factors, Prevalence and Management of Free-Roaming Dogs in Iran
Authors: Amiraslani Farshad
Published: July 2023

History has witnessed a long-term relationship between humans and animals. Historical documents and modern findings prove that humans’ needs to use animals for companions or services are commonplace in many parts of the world, leading to the domestication of certain animals. Yet, modern societies have degraded many natural habitats for wildlife, confining them to small patches of landscapes or urban areas. Whether a domesticated/free-roaming animal or a wild species, their close contact with humans can create cumbersome situations for both species. This paper explores a link between online media content and on-the-ground efforts to manage free-roaming dogs as a rare case study. As indicated by news articles, the municipal costs of managing free-roaming dogs in Iranian cities have increased, and this can potentially derail the control of such dogs in the long run. This paper lays out pivotal factors for recent increasing human–animal encounters, which have led to many challenges (e.g., rabies) across cities in Iran. We show that some urban features (e.g., topography) can influence the presence and behaviours of free-roaming animals in the cities. The findings of this paper can be related to other developing countries where the plague of rabies is rising.
Early Detection of Avian Diseases Based on Thermography and Artificial Intelligence
Authors: Sadeghi Mohammad , Banakar Ahmad , Minaei Saeid , Orooji Mahdi , Shoushtari Abdolhamid , Li Guoming
Published: July 2023

Non-invasive measures have a critical role in precision livestock and poultry farming as they can reduce animal stress and provide continuous monitoring. Animal activity can reflect physical and mental states as well as health conditions. If any problems are detected, an early warning will be provided for necessary actions. The objective of this study was to identify avian diseases by using thermal-image processing and machine learning. Four groups of 14-day-old Ross 308 Broilers (20 birds per group) were used. Two groups were infected with one of the following diseases: Newcastle Disease (ND) and Avian Influenza (AI), and the other two were considered control groups. Thermal images were captured every 8 h and processed with MATLAB. After de-noising and removing the background, 23 statistical features were extracted, and the best features were selected using the improved distance evaluation method. Support vector machine (SVM) and artificial neural networks (ANN) were developed as classifiers. Results indicated that the former classifier outperformed the latter for disease classification. The Dempster–Shafer evidence theory was used as the data fusion stage if neither ANN nor SVM detected the diseases with acceptable accuracy. The final SVM-based framework achieved 97.2% and 100% accuracy for classifying AI and ND, respectively, within 24 h after virus infection. The proposed method is an innovative procedure for the timely identification of avian diseases to support early intervention.
Infrared Spectroscopy to Assess Manufacturing Procedures of Bone Artefacts from the Chalcolithic Settlement of Vila Nova de São Pedro (Portugal)
Authors: Gonçalves David , Rosa Joana , Brandão Ana L. , Martins Andrea , Neves César , Diniz Mariana , Arnaud José M. , Marques Maria Paula M. , Batista de Carvalho Luís A. E.
Published: July 2023

Vibrational spectroscopy was applied to study cylindrical engraved bone boxes from the Chalcolithic settlement of Vila Nova de São Pedro (VNSP, Azambuja, Portugal) which has the largest and richest artefact assemblage of Copper Age Western Iberia. The objectives were to reconstitute manufacturing techniques, determine the role of pyrotechnology in the production of cylindrical engraved bone boxes and assess oxygen conditions during burning. Four fragments of cylindrical engraved bone “boxes” from VNSP were used in this research. Anaerobic experimental burn conditions were recreated by using a home-made steel airtight chamber under vacuum. Human bone fragments were burnt at 400–1000 °C for 120–211 min. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy analyses were performed on bone powder samples. The resulting spectra and chemometric indices were used as a reference to establish comparisons with the archaeological artefacts. None of these presented spectral features compatible with anaerobic burning. Therefore, aerobic burns were used to achieve the whitish look and were most probably used to attain the darker shade displayed by the artefacts. Artefact manufacturing appears to have relied on bone cutting, bone engraving and maybe polishing, followed by heat treatment. The population from VNSP appears to have been highly specialized in the use of fire to work different raw materials.
Springback Prediction of Free Bending Based on Experimental Method
Authors: Hong Ming , Zhang Weiwei
Published: July 2023

The springback phenomenon has an impact on tube-processing quality during the free-bending process. For different pipe benders, the forming process is affected by different factors, such as gaps between the tube and the bending die and friction between the tube and the guiding mechanism and the bending die; thus, the theoretical U-R relationship cannot complete the precise processing required. In order to overcome the influence of springback during the free-bending forming process, a U-R experiment was performed first, and the actual U-R relationship was established. The U-R experiment demonstrated that when the bending die offset U increased, the tube-bending radius R decreased. Then, based on the results of the springback experiments, a springback prediction method was presented. The experimental method successfully predicted springback, demonstrating that the springback problem can be effectively solved through compensation of the arc section.
Psychological Training Method for Table Tennis Players Using Deep Learning
Authors: Peng Jingna , Kim Byung-Min
Published: July 2023

In China, table tennis has always been one of the most popular sports, with small field restrictions and it is simple and fun to play. But what is unknown is that with China’s major table tennis events thriving, the psychological pressure of table tennis players’ training is also increasing. However, the existing training methods obviously do not pay enough attention to psychological training, and there is no complete system for psychological training. Although the current dynamic heart rate measurement method can play a certain role in the detection, there is still the disadvantage of low detection accuracy. The heart rate is an important sign of life, and the monitoring of the heart rate of table tennis players should be strengthened, reflecting the functional state of the athletes’ heart, and facilitating the more intuitive adjustment of the psychological training method of athletes. The heart rate measurement method based on face recognition contains a plate content that is rich. Through deep learning face recognition, the heart rate measurement method has high calculation efficiency, can effectively eliminate the influence of other external environmental factors, can use video recording, and can use face recognition and physiological parameters’ quantification to monitor athletes’ heart rate changes in real time; the visible artificial intelligence auxiliary diagnosis potential is huge. To this end, this paper aims to provide effective suggestions for the psychological training of table tennis players with deep learning as the technical support. In response to this, the aim of this paper was to design a deep learning-based face recognition heart rate measurement method that judges the psychological fluctuations of athletes through changes in heart rate. We conducted a questionnaire survey with the table tennis players of the Hunan team as the object of investigation, so as to understand the source of the psychological pressure of athletes and make reasonable suggestions. The experimental results of this paper show that the heart rate error of the video heart rate measurement algorithm is within 3% in the calm state and within 4% in the post-exercise state. This can effectively measure psychological fluctuations, and through investigation and research, it can provide an effective method for the psychological training of table tennis players.
FREDA: Few-Shot Relation Extraction Based on Data Augmentation
Authors: Liu Junbao , Qin Xizhong , Ma Xiaoqin , Ran Wensheng
Published: July 2023

The primary task of few-shot relation extraction is to quickly learn the features of relation classes from a few labelled instances and predict the semantic relations between entity pairs in new instances. Most existing few-shot relation extraction methods do not fully utilize the relation information features in sentences, resulting in difficulties in improving the performance of relation classification. Some researchers have attempted to incorporate external information, but the results have been unsatisfactory when applied to different domains. In this paper, we propose a method that utilizes triple information for data augmentation, which can alleviate the issue of insufficient instances and possesses strong domain adaptation capabilities. Firstly, we extract relation and entity pairs from the instances in the support set, forming relation triple information. Next, the sentence information and relation triple information are encoded using the same sentence encoder. Then, we construct an interactive attention module to enable the query set instances to interact separately with the support set instances and relation triple instances. The module pays greater attention to highly interactive parts between instances and assigns them higher weights. Finally, we merge the interacted support set representation and relation triple representation. To our knowledge, we are the first to propose a method that utilizes triple information for data augmentation in relation extraction. In our experiments on the standard datasets FewRel1.0 and FewRel2.0 (domain adaptation), we observed substantial improvements without including external information.