bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
What Drives Task Performance in Fluency Tasks in People With HIV?
Authors: Rofes Adrià , Sampedro Bárbara , Abusamra Lorena , Cañataro Paola , Jonkers Roel , Abusamra Valeria
Published: December 2021

Introduction: Fluency tasks require language (i.e., semantics, phonological output lexicon, and phonological assembly) and executive functions (i.e., inhibition; mental set shifting; updating, and monitoring). Little is known about whether people with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) are more impaired on a specific type of fluency task and what aspects of language and executive functions drive such performance.

Aims: To understand (1) whether people with HIV are more impaired in animal, letter, or unconstrained fluency relative to a normative sample; (2) whether there exist differences between tasks relative to the total number of words; and (3) which aspects of executive function and language are involved in their performance.

Methods: Data from animal, letter, and unconstrained fluency of 50 Spanish-speaking people with HIV were analyzed. The number of switches and mean cluster size for each task and 10 word properties (e.g., frequency, age of acquisition, length in graphemes) for each of the correct words were measured. A chi-square test was used to address Aim 1, linear mixed effects models for Aim 2, and random forests and conditional inference trees for Aim 3. The results were cross-validated with a normative sample.

Results: People with HIV were not more impaired in animal, letter, or unconstrained fluency relative to a normative sample. People with HIV produced fewer words in letter fluency compared to animal and unconstrained fluency. In addition, they produced fewer words in animal fluency compared to unconstrained fluency. Number of switches emerged as the most important variable to predict the total number of correct words when considering the three tasks together and for each task separately. Word frequency was relevant to predict animal fluency, age of acquisition to predict letter fluency, and cluster size to predict unconstrained fluency. These results were cross-validated with the exception cluster size.

Conclusion: People with HIV rely on language (phonological output lexicon, not necessarily semantics) and executive functioning (updating and monitoring) to produce words in fluency tasks. These results concur with the current literature. Future work may correlate fluency scores with other tests measuring language and executive functions or study other types of fluency tasks (e.g., action, cities, supermarket, and professions).
Bio-Psycho-Socio-Spirito-Cultural Factors of Burnout: A Systematic Narrative Review of the Literature
Authors: Listopad Ian W. , Michaelsen Maren M. , Werdecker Lena , Esch Tobias
Published: December 2021

Background: Burnout is a widespread, multifactorial, and mainly psychological phenomenon. The pathogenesis of burnout is commonly described within the bio-psycho-social model of health and disease. Recent literature suggests that the phenomenon of burnout may be broader so that the three dimensions might not reflect the multifaceted and complex nature of the syndrome. Consequently, this review aims to identify the diversity of factors related to burnout, to define overarching categories based on these, and to clarify whether the bio-psycho-social model adequately describes the pathogenesis of burnout—holistically and sufficiently.

Method: Five online databases (PubMed, PubPsych, PsychARTICLES, Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection, and Google Scholar) were systematically searched using defined search terms to identify relevant studies. The publication date was set between January 1981 and November 2020. Based on the selected literature, we identified factors related to burnout. We aggregated these factors into a comprehensible list and assigned them to overarching categories. Then, we assigned the factors to the dimensions of an extended model of health and disease.

Results: We identified a total of 40 burnout-related factors and 10 overarching categories. Our results show that in addition to biological, psychological, and socio-environmental factors, various factors that can be assigned to a spiritual and work cultural dimension also play an important role in the onset of burnout.

Conclusion: An extended bio-psycho-socio-spirito-cultural model is necessary to describe the pathogenesis of burnout. Therefore, future studies should also focus on spiritual and work cultural factors when investigating burnout. Furthermore, these factors should not be neglected in future developments of diagnosis, treatment, and prevention options.
Flexible, Self-Determined… and Unhealthy? An Empirical Study on Somatic Health Among Crowdworkers
Authors: Schlicher Katharina D. , Schulte Julian , Reimann Mareike , Maier Günter W.
Published: December 2021

Crowdwork is a new form of digitally enabled work in which organizations assign tasks to an anonymous group of workers via platform intermediaries. For crowdworkers, crowdwork offers both opportunities and risks. On the one side, crowdworkers enjoy high flexibility on when, where, and how much to work. On the other side, risks comparable to other forms of atypical employment arise: no labor regulation, unstable income, and uncertainty about whether enough tasks are available. Regulation of working hours lies within the crowdworkers’ own authority. Also, crowdwork in industrialized nations is often conducted during leisure times as a side-job to some other kind of employment. In accordance with Conservation of Resources Theory, we state that when leisure time gets used up with crowdwork, regeneration cannot occur and health declines. On a sample of N=748 German crowdworkers recruited from four different platform types, we analyzed whether participation in crowdwork is linked to increased somatic symptoms compared to regularly employed personnel. We found that crowdworkers show significantly increased somatic symptoms as compared to a German norm sample, that are stable across different kinds of tasks and platforms, gender, and age groups, and that is statistically due to the extent of participation in crowdwork. Specifically, we found that total work hours per week were not associated with an increase in somatic symptoms, but we did find associations with strain-based work–family conflict and the primary motivation to do crowdwork being to earn money. Consequences for research and labor regulations are discussed.
Affect, Belief, and the Arts
Authors: Gabriel Rami
Published: December 2021

The cultural project is a therapeutic melding of emotion, symbols, and knowledge. In this paper, I describe how spiritual emotions engendered through encounters in imaginative culture enable fixation of metaphysical beliefs. Evolved affective systems are domesticated through the social practices of imaginative culture so as to adapt people to live in culturally defined cooperative groups. Conditioning, as well as tertiary-level cognitive capacities such as symbols and language are enlisted to bond groups through the imaginative formats of myth and participatory ritual. These cultural materializations can be shared by communities both synchronically and diachronically in works of art. Art is thus a form of self-knowledge that equips us with a motivated understanding of ourselves in the world. In the sacred state produced through the arts and in religious acts, the sense of meaning becomes noetically distinct because affect infuses the experience of immanence, and one's memory of it, with salience. The quality imbued thereby makes humans attentive to subtle signs and broad “truths.” Saturated by emotions and the experience of alterity in the immanent encounter of imaginative culture, information made salient in the sacred experience can become the basis for belief fixation. Using examples drawn from mimetic arts and arts of immanence, I put forward a theory about how sensible affective knowledge is mediated through affective systems, direct perception, and the imagination.
Engaging a Whole Child, School, and Community Lens in Positive Education to Advance Equity in Schools
Authors: Chafouleas Sandra M. , Iovino Emily A.
Published: December 2021

Recent decades of education policy, research, and practice have brought focus on a positive education approach as applied within tiered service delivery frameworks to meet diverse needs of varied intensities. Related, the science of implementation has begun to increase understanding of supports to strengthen use of a positive education approach within tiered service delivery frameworks. To date, the body of work has fostered important shifts in how problems are viewed and addressed using a positive lens, supporting more equitable opportunity in education. To realize the full potential, however, there is a need to integrate theory and science as embedded within a whole child, school, and community lens. We propose that positive education will advance equity when grounded in integrated theory and science across developmental systems theory, prevention science, ecological systems theory, and implementation science. We first provide a brief overview of schools as a context to serve as assets or risks to equity, followed by a discussion of theory and science using a whole child, whole school, and whole community lens. We end with directions for science and practice in advancing a positive education approach.
Shared and Distinct Fractional Amplitude of Low-Frequency Fluctuation Patterns in Major Depressive Disorders With and Without Gastrointestinal Symptoms
Authors: Fu Xiaoya , Li Huabing , Yan Meiqi , Chen Jindong , Liu Feng , Zhao Jingping , Guo Wenbin
Published: December 2021

Objective: Gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms are fairly common somatic symptoms in depressed patients. The purpose of this study was to explore the influence of concomitant GI symptoms on the fractional amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (fALFF) patterns in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) and investigate the connection between aberrant fALFF and clinical characteristics.

Methods: This study included 35 MDD patients with GI symptoms (GI-MDD patients), 17 MDD patients without GI symptoms (nGI-MDD patients), and 28 healthy controls (HCs). The fALFF method was used to analyze the resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging data. Correlation analysis and pattern classification were employed to investigate the relationship of the fALFF patterns with the clinical characteristics of patients.

Results: GI-MDD patients exhibited higher scores in the HRSD-17 and suffered more severe insomnia, anxiety/somatization, and weight loss than nGI-MDD patients. GI-MDD patients showed higher fALFF in the right superior frontal gyrus (SFG)/middle frontal gyrus (MFG) and lower fALFF in the left superior medial prefrontal cortex (MPFC) compared with nGI-MDD patients. A combination of the fALFF values of these two clusters could be applied to discriminate GI-MDD patients from nGI-MDD patients, with accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity of 86.54, 94.29, and 70.59%, respectively.

Conclusion: GI-MDD patients showed more severe depressive symptoms. Increased fALFF in the right SFG/MFG and decreased fALFF in the left superior MPFC might be distinctive neurobiological features of MDD patients with GI symptoms.
Writing Skills Development for Graduate Studies and Career Readiness in Science and Aging Fields: A Case Study Approach
Authors: McRell Amanda Stafford , Wilson Betty L. , Levkoff Sue E.
Published: December 2021

Increasing the number of racially and ethnically underrepresented students who pursue scientific graduate studies in programs focusing on science and aging offers an opportunity to increase the number of aging specialists while simultaneously promoting diversity in the research labor market and supporting new ideas. This case study aims to better understand how students participating in an academic preparatory program experience a writing class contextualized within (1) students' writing background and (2) students' future ambitions related to science and aging. The individually-tailored writing class was taught as a critical component of a comprehensive educational program that targets underrepresented racial and ethnic minority undergraduate students who are interested in pursuing scientific graduate studies in fields related to aging. The researchers conducted semi-structured qualitative interviews with students (n = 4) enrolled in the 24-month fellowship training program, which included participation in the writing course during the summer prior to their senior year of undergraduate education. All participants were young adult college students who identified as Black or African American and female. Using thematic coding, statements about professional writing skills were divided into four primary themes: (1) prior experiences, (2) class experiences, (3) future goals and ambitions, and (4) structural considerations. These themes suggest potential implications for effective interventions aimed to advance the writing skills and academic and career readiness of racially and ethnically diverse students entering fields of science and aging.
Identification and Characterization of Campylobacter Species in Livestock, Humans, and Water in Livestock Owning Households of Peri-urban Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: A One Health Approach
Authors: Chala Gemechu , Eguale Tadesse , Abunna Fufa , Asrat Daniel , Stringer Andrew
Published: December 2021

Campylobacter is the most common cause of bacterial infectious diarrhea and acute gastroenteritis globally, and is recognized as a significant zoonotic pathogen. Antimicrobial resistance amongst Campylobacter isolates is a significant global concern. A cross-sectional study was conducted to identify and characterize Campylobacter species in humans, animals and water sources in livestock owning households of peri-urban Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; and to characterize antimicrobial resistance. A total of 519 fecal samples from humans (n = 99), livestock (n = 179), poultry (n = 69), and water (n = 172) were collected. Samples were cultured for viable Campylobacter spp. and multiplex PCR utilized for the identification and confirmation. Antimicrobial susceptibility of the isolates was assessed using the Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method. Campylobacter spp. was detected in 67/519 (13.0%) of the total tested samples, and the household level prevalence of Campylobacter was 42.4%. The prevalence of Campylobacter spp. was: humans (10.1%), cattle (18.5%), poultry (13.0%), sheep (13.3%), goats (7.1%), and water (10.5%). Campylobacter jejuni and C. fetus were the most frequently isolated species, followed by C. coli. The majority of isolates obtained from human samples had co-occurrence with isolates from cattle, poultry or water samples from the same household. The use of stored water, the practice of indoor and outdoor manure collecting, and animal species Campylobacter positivity were significantly associated with greater odds of human Campylobacter spp. positivity. All Campylobacter isolates from humans, poultry, sheep, goats and water, and 96.0% of isolates from cattle were resistant to at least one or more of the tested antimicrobials, with 95.5% of isolates resistant to three or more classes of antimicrobials. A One Health approach is recommended to further investigate Campylobacter species infections, and other zoonotic infectious diseases, in the livestock owning populations in Ethiopia, where there is close interaction between humans, animals and the environment.
Speculating About Robot Moral Standing: On the Constitution of Social Robots as Objects of Governance
Authors: De Pagter Jesse
Published: December 2021

In recent years, the governance of robotic technologies has become an important topic in policy-making contexts. The many potential applications and roles of robots in combination with steady advances in their uptake within society are expected to cause various unprecedented issues, which in many cases will increase the demand for new policy measures. One of the major issues is the way in which societies will address potential changes in the moral and legal status of autonomous social robots. Robot standing is an important concept that aims to understand and elaborate on such changes in robots’ status. This paper explores the concept of robot standing as a useful idea that can assist in the anticipatory governance of social robots. However, at the same time, the concept necessarily involves forms of speculative thinking, as it is anticipating a future that has not yet fully arrived. This paper elaborates on how such speculative engagement with the potential of technology represents an important point of discussion in the critical study of technology more generally. The paper then situates social robotics in the context of anticipatory technology governance by emphasizing the idea that robots are currently in the process of becoming constituted as objects of governance. Subsequently, it explains how specifically a speculative concept like robot standing can be of value in this process.
Development of a Tablet Computer Application for HIV Testing and Risk History Calendar for Use With Older Africans
Authors: Parvin Dilruba , Mosa Abu Saleh Mohammad , Knight Lucia , Schatz Enid J.
Published: December 2021

Life history calendars (LHCs) are able to capture large-scale retrospective quantitative data, which can be utilized to learn about transitions of behavior change over time. The Testing and Risk History Calendar (TRHC) is a version of life history calendar (LHC) which correlates critical social, sexual and health variables with the timing of HIV testing. In order to fulfill the need for time-bound data regarding HIV testing and risk of older persons in South Africa, a pilot of the TRHC was performed using a paper fold-out grid format. Though the TRHC study in this format was effective as older persons were able to recall details about their HIV testing and risk contexts, the interview process was tedious as data were collected manually. Development of a tablet application for TRHC study will improve data quality and make data entry and collection more automated. This paper presents the development of the TRHC application prototype in order to collect TRHC data electronically and provides a platform for efficient large-scale life history calendar data collection.
Machine Learning-Based HIV Risk Estimation Using Incidence Rate Ratios
Authors: Haas Oliver , Maier Andreas , Rothgang Eva
Published: December 2021

HIV/AIDS is an ongoing global pandemic, with an estimated 39 million infected worldwide. Early detection is anticipated to help improve outcomes and prevent further infections. Point-of-care diagnostics make HIV/AIDS diagnoses available both earlier and to a broader population. Wide-spread and automated HIV risk estimation can offer objective guidance. This supports providers in making an informed decision when considering patients with high HIV risk for HIV testing or pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). We propose a novel machine learning method that allows providers to use the data from a patient's previous stays at the clinic to estimate their HIV risk. All features available in the clinical data are considered, making the set of features objective and independent of expert opinions. The proposed method builds on association rules that are derived from the data. The incidence rate ratio (IRR) is determined for each rule. Given a new patient, the mean IRR of all applicable rules is used to estimate their HIV risk. The method was tested and validated on the publicly available clinical database MIMIC-IV, which consists of around 525,000 hospital stays that included a stay at the intensive care unit or emergency department. We evaluated the method using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). The best performance with an AUC of 0.88 was achieved with a model consisting of 53 rules. A threshold value of 0.66 leads to a sensitivity of 98% and a specificity of 53%. The rules were grouped into drug abuse, psychological illnesses (e.g., PTSD), previously known associations (e.g., pulmonary diseases), and new associations (e.g., certain diagnostic procedures). In conclusion, we propose a novel HIV risk estimation method that builds on existing clinical data. It incorporates a wide range of features, leading to a model that is independent of expert opinions. It supports providers in making informed decisions in the point-of-care diagnostics process by estimating a patient's HIV risk.
Do Polarization Narratives Apply to Politics on the Periphery? The Case of Atlantic Canada
Authors: McLay Rachel , Ramos Howard
Published: December 2021

Researchers, policymakers, and the public often claim that “extreme” political views have become increasingly commonplace and that polarization on issues of race and immigration has become a central dilemma for contemporary politics. The popular narrative of political polarization captures tensions that many are noticing and experiencing. However, there is also significant confusion around the concept, as well as gaps between popular perceptions and empirical findings on the different forms of polarization and their prevalence across regions. It is unclear to what extent polarization describes a global phenomenon, as its national and subnational manifestations vary considerably, produced from distinct local histories as well as diffuse transnational forces. While the United States is often treated as ground zero for political polarization, nearby Canada does not appear to be experiencing polarization to nearly the same degree. Using data from a 2019 survey on Atlantic Canadians’ political views and perceptions of change, this paper examines whether underlying forms of political polarization are manifesting in the region. We assess whether mass ideological polarization and partisan sorting can be found in Atlantic Canada, looking at socio-cultural and economic dimensions of political values. We also examine perceptions of polarization in the region, using Multiple Correspondence Analysis to observe underlying associations between perceptions, extreme or polarized views, and partisanship. This mapping approach provides insight into latent patterns often missed by more traditional methods.
Developing Future Physical Education Teachers' Intercultural Competence: The Potential of Intertwinement of Transformative, Embodied, and Critical Approaches
Authors: Siljamäki Mariana Elisabet , Anttila Eeva Helena
Published: December 2021

Purpose: This article is based on a study that explored learning processes related to intercultural competence of PE teacher trainees. The context of the study was the Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences at the University of Jyväskylä, Finland. The study was conducted in connection to two courses that focused on equality in physical education and sport in 2020–2021.

Methods: Adopting an interpretive, as well as a critical approach, the authors focused on how the students described their conceptions and learning experiences. Based on their analysis they have then aimed to shed light on how interculturality, equality, equity, and diversity may be addressed in higher education in a more profound manner. The students' accounts were analyzed first through an open reading and subsequently through a more critical lens. The analysis was supported by theories of transformative learning, embodied learning, and intercultural education.

Results: Students' initial interest toward equity, equality, and interculturality seemed to expand during the courses. They increasingly reflected on the complexity of these issues and discussed the widening professional responsibilities of future PE teachers in promoting equality and supporting pupils in cultural heterogeneous classes. Discussions and practical activities that involved emotional and embodied elements seemed to be important in facilitating their learning processes. However, it is difficult to foresee how permanent the changes in their habits of mind and subsequent actions are.

Discussion: The authors suggest that embodied, practical approaches where the student is fully engaged in the learning process, and where conceptual, reflective, emotional, and affective levels are connected, may be a key in developing teachers' intercultural competence. They also suggest that it is crucial to revise higher education curricula from the perspectives of intercultural competence and structural inequality. In addition to separate courses, equality, equity, and diversity should be seen as red threads throughout higher education.
Transcriptional Analysis of Maize Leaf Tissue Treated With Seaweed Extract Under Drought Stress
Authors: Trivedi Khanjan , Gopalakrishnan Vijay Anand K. , Kumar Ranjeet , Ghosh Arup
Published: December 2021

Kappaphycus alvarezii seaweed extract (KSWE) has been known for its plant biostimulant and stress alleviation activities on various crops. However, very few reports are available depicting its impact at the molecular level, which is crucial in identifying the mechanism of action of KSWE on plants. Here, maize leaf tissue of control and KSWE-treated plants were analyzed for their transcriptional changes under drought stress. KSWE was applied foliarly at the V5 stage of maize crop under drought, and leaf transcriptome analysis was performed. It was found that a total of 380 and 631 genes were up- and downregulated, respectively, due to the application of KSWE. Genes involved in nitrate transportation, signal transmission, photosynthesis, transmembrane transport of various ions, glycogen, and starch biosynthetic processes were found upregulated in KSWE-treated plants, while genes involved in the catabolism of polysaccharide molecules such as starch as well as cell wall macromolecules like chitin and protein degradation were found downregulated. An overview of differentially expressed genes involved in metabolic as well as regulatory processes in KSWE-treated plants was also analyzed via Mapman tool. Phytohormone signaling genes such as cytokinin-independent 1 (involved in cytokine signal transduction), Ent-kaurene synthase and GA20 oxidase (involved in gibberellin synthesis), and gene of 2-oxoglutarate-dependent dioxygenase enzyme activity (involved in ethylene synthesis) were found upregulated while 9-cis-epoxycarotenoid dioxygenase (a gene involved in abscisic acid synthesis) was found downregulated due to the application of KSWE. Modulation of gene expression in maize leaf tissue in response to KSWE treatment elucidates mechanisms to ward off drought stress, which can be extended to understand similar phenomenon in other crops as well. This molecular knowledge can be utilized to make the use of KSWE more efficient and sustainable.
Characterization of Reproductive Microbiota of Primiparous Cows During Early Postpartum Periods in the Presence and Absence of Endometritis
Authors: Kudo Hayami , Sugiura Tomochika , Higashi Seiya , Oka Kentaro , Takahashi Motomichi , Kamiya Shigeru , Tamura Yutaka , Usui Masaru
Published: December 2021

Endometritis has a major impact on fertility in postpartum dairy cows. Since previous studies showed an association between reproductive microbiota and perinatal disease, we monitored both bovine uterine and vaginal microbiota in primiparous cows to elucidate the effect of early postpartum microbiota on endometritis. Uterine and vaginal samples were collected at time points from pre-calving to 35 days postpartum (DPP), and analyzed by 16S rRNA sequencing, combined with ancillary bacterial culture. A total of seven healthy cows and seven cows diagnosed with endometritis on 35 DPP were used in the current study. The uterine and vaginal microbiota showed a maximum of 20.1% shared amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) at linked time points. 16S rRNA based analysis and traditional culture methods revealed that Trueperella showed a higher abundance in both uterus and vagina of the endometritis group compared to the healthy group on 21 DPP (U-test p < 0.05). Differential abundance analysis of the uterine microbiota showed that Enterococcus and six bacterial genera including Bifidobacterium were unique to the healthy group on the day of calving (0 DPP) and 28 DPP, respectively. In contrast, Histophilus and Mogibacteriaceae were characteristic bacteria in the vagina pre-calving in cows that later developed endometritis, suggesting that these bacteria could be valuable to predict clinical outcomes. Comparing the abundances of bacterial genera in the uterine microbiota, a negative correlation was observed between Trueperella and several bacteria including Lactobacillus. These results suggest that building an environment where there is an increase in bacteria that are generally recognized as beneficial, such as Lactobacillus, may be one possible solution to reduce the abundance of Trueperella and control endometritis.
Citric Acid Promoting B Lymphocyte Differentiation and Anti-epithelial Cells Apoptosis Mediate the Protective Effects of Hermetia illucens Feed in ETEC Induced Piglets Diarrhea
Authors: Liu Mingming , Yuan Boyu , Jin Xinxin , Zhu Mingqiang , Xu Haidong , Xie Gaijie , Wang Zifan , Zhang Xue , Xu Zhaoyun , Li Bai , Huang Yanhua , Lv Yantao , Wang Wei
Published: December 2021

Newborn piglets are prone to diarrhea after weaning as a result of changes in their environment and feed. Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) K88 strain is a typical pathogen that causes diarrhea in such stage of piglets. Hermetia illucens larvae are widely used in livestock and poultry production because of their high nutritional value and immunoregulatory effects. This study aimed to evaluate the protective effects of H. illucens feed in protecting against ETEC induced diarrhea in piglets and to unravel the mechanisms of immune modulation and intestinal barrier maintenance. The results showed that after ETEC infection, citric acid in the serum of the groups fed on H. illucens larvae increased significantly, which stimulated macrophages to secrete cytokines that promote B lymphocyte differentiation, ultimately increasing the production of IgA and IgG in serum. Concomitantly, citric acid also had a positive effect on the intestinal barrier damaged due to ETEC infection by inhibiting the production of inflammatory cytokines, reducing the Bcl-2/Bax ratio, and promoting the expression of tight junction proteins. Correlation analysis showed that the increase of citric acid levels might be related to Massilia. Thus, citric acid derived from H. illucens larvae can improve the immune performance of weaned piglets and reduce ETEC-induced damage to the intestinal barrier in weaned piglets.
Genome-Wide Association Study of Body Weight Traits in Inner Mongolia Cashmere Goats
Authors: Zhang Lei , Wang Fenghong , Gao Gong , Yan Xiaochun , Liu Hongfu , Liu Zhihong , Wang Zhixin , He Libing , Lv Qi , Wang Zhiying , Wang Ruijun , Zhang Yanjun , Li Jinquan , Su Rui
Published: December 2021

Objective: Body weight is an important economic trait for a goat, which greatly affects animal growth and survival. The purpose of this study was to identify genes associated with birth weight (BW), weaning weight (WW), and yearling weight (YW).

Materials and Methods: In this study, a genome-wide association study (GWAS) of BW, WW, and YW was determined using the GGP_Goat_70K single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) chip in 1,920 Inner Mongolia cashmere goats.

Results: We discovered that 21 SNPs were significantly associated with BW on the genome-wide levels. These SNPs were located in 10 genes, e.g., Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3 (MAPK3), LIM domain binding 2 (LDB2), and low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 1B (LRP1B), which may be related to muscle growth and development in Inner Mongolia Cashmere goats. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis revealed that these genes were significantly enriched in the regulation of actin cytoskeleton and phospholipase D signaling pathway etc.

Conclusion: In summary, this study will improve the marker-assisted breeding of Inner Mongolia cashmere goats and the molecular mechanisms of important economic traits.
Maternal Supply of Ruminally-Protected Lysine and Methionine During Close-Up Period Enhances Immunity and Growth Rate of Neonatal Calves
Authors: Wang Han , Elsaadawy Samy A. , Wu Zhaohai , Bu Dengpan P.
Published: December 2021

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of supplying ruminally-protected lysine (RPL), methionine (RPM), or the two in combination (RPML) to transition dairy cows on the immunity and performance of their offspring. Eighty heifer calves (n= 20 calves per group) were assigned to four treatments based on their dam diet; basal diet (CON), a basal diet with lysine [RPL, 0.33% of dry matter (DM)], a basal diet with methionine (RPM, 0.16% DM), or with the combination (RPML). Calves were fed colostrum from their dams within 2 h of birth. Calves were then fed milk only (d 2–22), a combination of milk and milk replacer (d 23–25), and milk replacer (d 25–60). Starter feed was fed to the calves twice daily after liquid feeding. Calves blood samples were collected after calving on 0, 12, 24, and 48 h and 5 and 7 d after birth. Data were analyzed by SAS software v9.4. Providing ruminally-protected amino acids (RPAA) to transition cows improved colostrum quality compared to the CON (Brix;P< 0.01). Serum total protein concentrations were higher in calves from supplemented cows than in calves from unsupplemented cows (P< 0.01). Calves born to dams in the RPM, RPL, and RPML groups had higher plasma immunoglobulin G (IgG) concentrations 0, 12, 24, and 48 h and 7 d after birth than those born to dams in the CON group (P< 0.05). The percentage of calves with adequate passive immunity transfer was increased with RPM and RPL or the two in combination (P< 0.01). However, there was no difference in the percentage of calves with adequate passive immunity transfer between the RPM and RPL groups (P= 0.21). Calves from cows that receive supplemental RPAA have a greater average daily gain (ADG) than those born to cows in the CON group (P< 0.01). These results indicate that maternal supplementation with RPM or RPL or the two in combination during the periparturient period could be an alternative strategy to improve the performance of calves, especially in accelerated growth programs in calves.
A Sequential Graph Neural Network for Short Text Classification
Authors: Zhao Ke , Huang Lan , Song Rui , Shen Qiang , Xu Hao
Published: December 2021

Short text classification is an important problem of natural language processing (NLP), and graph neural networks (GNNs) have been successfully used to solve different NLP problems. However, few studies employ GNN for short text classification, and most of the existing graph-based models ignore sequential information (e.g., word orders) in each document. In this work, we propose an improved sequence-based feature propagation scheme, which fully uses word representation and document-level word interaction and overcomes the limitations of textual features in short texts. On this basis, we utilize this propagation scheme to construct a lightweight model, sequential GNN (SGNN), and its extended model, ESGNN. Specifically, we build individual graphs for each document in the short text corpus based on word co-occurrence and use a bidirectional long short-term memory network (Bi-LSTM) to extract the sequential features of each document; therefore, word nodes in the document graph retain contextual information. Furthermore, two different simplified graph convolutional networks (GCNs) are used to learn word representations based on their local structures. Finally, word nodes combined with sequential information and local information are incorporated as the document representation. Extensive experiments on seven benchmark datasets demonstrate the effectiveness of our method.
Aristolochic Acid I-Induced Hepatotoxicity in Tianfu Broilers Is Associated with Oxidative-Stress-Mediated Apoptosis and Mitochondrial Damage
Authors: Xu Dan , Yin Lizi , Lin Juchun , Fu Hualin , Peng Xi , Chang Lijen , Zheng Yilei , Zhao Xiaoling , Shu Gang
Published: December 2021

Aristolochic acid (AA) is a component of traditional Chinese herbs and commonly used for farm animals in China. Over-exposure of AA has been proven to be associated with hepatotoxicity; however, the mechanism of action of AA-I-induced hepatotoxicity remains unknown. In the current study, a subchronic toxicity test was conducted to evaluate the mechanism of AA-induced hepatotoxicity in Tianfu broilers. According to the results, AA-I-induced hepatotoxicity in Tianfu broilers was evidenced by the elevation of liver weight, levels of serum glutamic oxalacetic transaminase (GOT) and glutamic-pyruvic transaminase (GPT). Furthermore, hepatocyte swelling, vesicular degeneration and steatosis were observed. Additionally, AA-I elevated the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and induced oxidative stress, which further led to excessive apoptosis, characterized by mitochondrial depolarization, upregulation of Bax, and down-regulation of Bcl-2 expression. In conclusion, the mechanism of AA-I-induced hepatotoxicity was associated with oxidative-stress-mediated apoptosis and mitochondrial damage.
New Insights in Oral Health and Diets
Authors: Antoniadou Maria , Varzakas Theodoros
Published: December 2021

The aim of this Special Issue is to bring the most updated information on the innovative field of oral and general health coaching and nutritional education strategies for better oral and general health [...]
Effects of State-of-Charge and Penetration Location on Variations in Temperature and Terminal Voltage of a Lithium-Ion Battery Cell during Penetration Tests
Authors: Liu Yiqun , Li Yitian , Liao Y. Gene , Lai Ming-Chia
Published: December 2021

The nail penetration test has been widely adopted as a battery safety test for reproducing internal short-circuits. In this paper, the effects of cell initial State-of-Charge (SOC) and penetration location on variations in cell temperature and terminal voltage during penetration tests are investigated. Three different initial SOCs (10%, 50%, and 90%) and three different penetration locations (one is at the center of the cell, the other two are close to the edge of the cell) are used in the tests. Once the steel cone starts to penetrate the cell, the cell terminal voltage starts to drop due to the internal short-circuit. The penetration tests with higher initial cell SOCs have larger cell surface temperature increases during the tests. Also, the penetration location always has the highest temperature increment during all penetration tests, which means the heat source is always at the penetration location. The absolute temperature increment at the penetration location is always higher when the penetration is close to the edge of the cell, compared to when the penetration is at the center of the cell. The heat generated at the edges of the cell is more difficult to dissipate. Additionally, a battery cell internal short-circuit model with different penetration locations is built in ANSYS Fluent, based on the specifications and experimental data of the tested battery cells. The model is validated with an acceptable discrepancy range by using the experimental data. Simulated data shows that the temperature gradually reduces from penetration locations to their surroundings. The gradients of the temperature distributions are much larger closer to the penetration locations. Overall, this paper provides detailed information on the temperature and terminal voltage variations of a lithium-ion polymer battery cell with large capacity and high power under penetration tests. The presented information can be used for assessing the safety of the onboard battery pack of electric vehicles.
MALDI MS-Based Investigations for SARS-CoV-2 Detection
Authors: Preianò Mariaimmacolata , Correnti Serena , Pelaia Corrado , Savino Rocco , Terracciano Rosa
Published: December 2021

The urgent need to fight the COVID-19 pandemic has impressively stimulated the efforts of the international scientific community, providing an extraordinary wealth of studies. After the sequence of the virus became available in early January 2020, safe and effective vaccines were developed in a time frame much shorter than everybody expected. However, additional studies are required since viral mutations have the potential of facilitating viral transmission, thus reducing the efficacy of developed vaccines. Therefore, improving the current laboratory testing methods and developing new rapid and reliable diagnostic approaches might be useful in managing contact tracing in the fight against both the original SARS-CoV-2 strain and the new, potentially fast-spreading CoV-2 variants. Mass Spectrometry (MS)-based testing methods are being explored, with the challenging promise to overcome the many limitations arising from currently used laboratory testing assays. More specifically, MALDI-MS, since its advent in the mid 1980s, has demonstrated without any doubt the great potential to overcome many unresolved analytical challenges, becoming an effective proteomic tool in several applications, including pathogen identification. With the aim of highlighting the challenges and opportunities that derive from MALDI-based approaches for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 and its variants, we extensively examined the most promising proofs of concept for MALDI studies related to the COVID-19 outbreak.
Health Benefits and Pharmacological Properties of Carvone
Authors: Bouyahya Abdelhakim , Mechchate Hamza , Benali Taoufiq , Ghchime Rokia , Charfi Saoulajan , Balahbib Abdelaali , Burkov Pavel , Shariati Mohammad Ali , Lorenzo Jose M. , Omari Nasreddine El
Published: December 2021

Carvone is a monoterpene ketone contained in the essential oils of several aromatic and medicinal plants of the Lamiaceae and Asteraceae families. From aromatic plants, this monoterpene is secreted at different concentrations depending on the species, the parts used, and the extraction methods. Currently, pharmacological investigations showed that carvone exhibits multiple pharmacological properties such as antibacterial, antifungal, antiparasitic, antineuraminidase, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer activities. These studies were carried out in vitro and in vivo and involved a great deal of knowledge on the mechanisms of action. Indeed, the antimicrobial effects are related to the action of carvone on the cell membrane and to ultrastructural changes, while the anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, and anticancer effects involve the action on cellular and molecular targets such as inducing of apoptosis, autophagy, and senescence. With its multiple mechanisms, carvone can be considered as natural compounds to develop therapeutic drugs. However, other investigations regarding its precise mechanisms of action as well as its acute and chronic toxicities are needed to validate its applications. Therefore, this review discusses the principal studies investigating the pharmacological properties of carvone, and the mechanism of action underlying some of these properties. Moreover, further investigations of major pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic studies were also suggested.
Corpus Callosotomy for Controlling Epileptic Spasms: A Proposal for Surgical Selection
Authors: Okanishi Tohru , Fujimoto Ayataka
Published: December 2021

In 1940, van Wagenen and Herren first proposed the corpus callosotomy (CC) as a surgical procedure for epilepsy. CC has been mainly used to treat drop attacks, which are classified as generalized tonic or atonic seizures. Epileptic spasms (ESs) are a type of epileptic seizure characterized as brief muscle contractions with ictal polyphasic slow waves on an electroencephalogram and a main feature of West syndrome. Resection surgeries, including frontal/posterior disconnections and hemispherotomy, have been established for the treatment of medically intractable ES in patients with unilaterally localized epileptogenic regions. However, CC has also been adopted for ES treatment, with studies involving CC to treat ES having increased since 2010. In those studies, patients without lesions observed on magnetic resonance imaging or equally bilateral lesions predominated, in contrast to studies on resection surgeries. Here, we present a review of relevant literature concerning CC and relevant adaptations. We discuss history and adaptations of CC, and patient selection for epilepsy surgeries due to medically intractable ES, and compared resection surgeries with CC. We propose a surgical selection flow involving resection surgery or CC as first-line treatment for patients with ES who have been assessed as suitable candidates for surgery.
Neoantigen-Reactive T Cells: The Driving Force behind Successful Melanoma Immunotherapy
Authors: Davis Lindy , Tarduno Ashley , Lu Yong-Chen
Published: December 2021

Patients with metastatic cutaneous melanoma have experienced significant clinical responses after checkpoint blockade immunotherapy or adoptive cell therapy. Neoantigens are mutated proteins that arise from tumor-specific mutations. It is hypothesized that the neoantigen recognition by T cells is the critical step for T-cell-mediated anti-tumor responses and subsequent tumor regressions. In addition to describing neoantigens, we review the sentinel and ongoing clinical trials that are helping to shape the current treatments for patients with cutaneous melanoma. We also present the existing evidence that establishes the correlations between neoantigen-reactive T cells and clinical responses in melanoma immunotherapy.
Prediction of Prostate Cancer Disease Aggressiveness Using Bi-Parametric Mri Radiomics
Authors: Rodrigues Ana , Santinha João , Galvão Bernardo , Matos Celso , Couto Francisco M. , Papanikolaou Nickolas
Published: December 2021

Prostate cancer is one of the most prevalent cancers in the male population. Its diagnosis and classification rely on unspecific measures such as PSA levels and DRE, followed by biopsy, where an aggressiveness level is assigned in the form of Gleason Score. Efforts have been made in the past to use radiomics coupled with machine learning to predict prostate cancer aggressiveness from clinical images, showing promising results. Thus, the main goal of this work was to develop supervised machine learning models exploiting radiomic features extracted from bpMRI examinations, to predict biological aggressiveness; 288 classifiers were developed, corresponding to different combinations of pipeline aspects, namely, type of input data, sampling strategy, feature selection method and machine learning algorithm. On a cohort of 281 lesions from 183 patients, it was found that (1) radiomic features extracted from the lesion volume of interest were less stable to segmentation than the equivalent extraction from the whole gland volume of interest; and (2) radiomic features extracted from the whole gland volume of interest produced higher performance and less overfitted classifiers than radiomic features extracted from the lesions volumes of interest. This result suggests that the areas surrounding the tumour lesions offer relevant information regarding the Gleason Score that is ultimately attributed to that lesion.