bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The moderating effect of parental mediation in the longitudinal associations among cyberbullying, depression, and self-harm among Chinese and American adolescents
Authors: Wright Michelle F.
Published: December 2024

Researchers have concentrated on identifying factors that might mitigate the negative consequences associated with cyber victimization. One key factor that has garnered significant attention is parental mediation in adolescents’ digital technology usage and its role in reducing the risk of cyber victimization. Additionally, the buffering effects of parental mediation on the longitudinal associations among cyberbullying victimization, depression, and self-harm have been underexplored, especially cross-cultural investigations of such effects. To address this gap, the present study examined the role of parental mediation in buffering against depression and self-harm, both measured 1 year later, associated with cyberbullying victimization among 463 Chinese (49% female) and 445 American (52% female) eighth graders (ages 13–15). The findings revealed that Chinese adolescents reported higher levels of parental mediation across a one-year period compared to their American counterparts. High levels of parental mediation were associated with a more negative relationship between cyberbullying victimization, depression, and self-harm for both Chinese and American adolescents, but these effects were stronger for Chinese adolescents. These results are discussed in the context of cultural values and how these values shape the role of adults in adolescents’ lives.
Emotional and visual responses to trypophobic images with object, animal, or human body backgrounds: an eye-tracking study
Authors: Yu Pengfei , Yu Li , Li Yuting , Qian Cheng , Hu Jia , Zhu Weiyi , Liu Fang , Wang Qi
Published: December 2024

Background

Trypophobia refers to the visual discomfort (e.g., disgust or anxiety) experienced by some people when viewing clusters of bumps or holes. The spectral profile framework suggests that the spectral components of clustered patterns induces trypophobia. In contrast, the cognitive framework speculates that cognitive appraisal of dangerous objects (e.g., ectoparasites) causes trypophobia. A background effect (e.g., more disgust toward trypophobic patterns on the skin than on a desk) seems to support the cognitive framework. However, there is no study providing objective evidence for that effect and verifying these frameworks at the same time. This study aims to address that limitation by psychometric and eye-tracking experiments.

Methods

We recruited 183 participants from colleges. Initially, participants finished a personality questionnaire. The cohort then completed an eye-tracking experiment which showed the trypophobic pattern of lotus seed on three categories of background images (objects, animals and human bodies). Finally, participants rated the image’s disgust and arousal levels using a self-assessment rating scale. Meanwhile, we compared all images’ luminosity and power spectra.

Results

Trypophobic images with the human body or animal backgrounds induced a higher level of disgust and arousal than those with the object backgrounds. Participants gazed faster and dwelled longer at the trypophobic patterns on human body images than on object or animal images. Furthermore, trypophobic images with human body or animal backgrounds induced more substantial pupil dilation than those upon object backgrounds. No significant difference was detected between the power of trypophobic images with human body backgrounds and objects backgrounds. As the trypophobic images with human body backgrounds induced significant emotional or visual responses compared to those with inanimate object backgrounds. Such inconsistent results imply that the differential emotional or visual responses to trypophobic images are probably not induced by the difference in power spectra. Finally, the disgust/arousal level toward trypophobic images did not correlate with personality traits.

Conclusion

These results supported the background effect of trypophobia, namely, trypophobic images with animal or human body backgrounds induce more severe disgust and cause more arousal than those with object backgrounds. Our results support the cognitive, but not spectral profile, framework of trypophobia.
Links between self-regulation patterns and prosocial behavior trajectories from middle childhood to early adolescence: a longitudinal study
Authors: Ritgens Carolin , Bondü Rebecca , Warschburger Petra
Published: December 2024

Prosocial behavior that conforms to social norms and serves the good of others requires particularly high self-regulatory competences, because it is often in contrast with one’s own interests. It is unknown which self-regulatory competences are particularly important for prosocial-behavior development and whether they may distinguish between children on different prosocial-behavior trajectories. This longitudinal study examined differences in self-regulatory competences, including inhibition, emotional reactivity, planning behavior, emotion regulation, working-memory updating, affective decision making, flexibility, and delay of gratification, between trajectories of prosocial behavior in 1,657 German 6- to 13-year-olds (52% female). LCGA suggested four trajectories of stable high, stable low, increasing, and decreasing prosocial behavior. MANOVAs showed differences between trajectories in inhibition and emotional reactivity at all three measurement points, as well as planning behavior at the second measurement point. Early patterns of these self-regulatory skills may help identifying children at risk for impaired long-term prosocial-behavior development and should primarily be addressed by prevention and intervention measures.
Why do students drop out of regular sport in late adolescent? The experience of a systematic review
Authors: Zhang Yuancai , Wang Feng , Szakál Zsolt , Bíró Zsolt , Kovács Mátyás , Őrsi Balázs , Kovács Karolina Eszter
Published: December 2024

Introduction

The positive impact of youth sport on physical, mental and social health has been highlighted in several research which reinforces further investigations concerning the reasons for dropout of athletes. As one of the most emergent difficulties in youth sports is to prevent athletes from dropping out, it is important to explore what factors play important part in this process. The purpose of this study was to identify barriers and challenges related to sport persistence and dropout.

Methods

We conducted a systematic literature review using the EBSCO Discovery Service Search Engine. Our method followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines.

Results

Out of the initially examined 512 publications, 11 papers were included in our final sample. Original empirical research published in a peer-reviewed journal, papers focusing on participants age below 25 years and exploring factors influencing dropout determined by any levels of Bronfenbrenner’s model were analyzed. Results showed that gender differences were extensively examined and did, in fact, contribute to dropout ratios, while socio-cultural and ethnic backgrounds were largely disregarded in most studies. From presented individual psychological factors perception of ability and success, enjoyment, sports satisfaction and life satisfaction all protected against dropout.

Discussion

Achievement, goal, social and win orientation emerged as positive predictors of sport persistence in many studies, along with motivation and commitment. Many non-psychological factors were also mentioned. Sports requiring more training may lead to increased dropout rates, just as well as the lack of knowledge acquisition and competitiveness. Lastly, social environment and status also often play a significant role in dropout. Individuals with more resourceful socio-economical background find it easier to keep up the pace and have the opportunity to participate in more wealth-consuming sports. Social support received from the family and peers is a very strong preventive factor against dropout and both the personality and leadership of the coach were mentioned in multiple studies. A lack of methodological diversity, paired with the presence of only cross-sectional studies fulfilling the inclusivity criteria raises attention to the importance of examining underrepresented factors and the need for longitudinal research on the topic.

Systematic review registration

https://inplasy.com/inplasy-2024-11-0015/, INPLASY2024110015.
Women in gender equality movement: a systematic literature review
Authors: Aulia Syifa Siti , Marzuki  , Suyato  , Arpannudin Iqbal
Published: December 2024

This study employs a rigorous Systematic Literature Review (SLR) methodology to examine the role of women’s leadership in advancing social movements for gender equality. Utilizing Scopus-indexed articles, we provide a comprehensive review of the relevant literature, analyzing factors contributing to the success of women leaders, effective leadership strategies, and the impacts of these efforts on communities and structural change. The findings indicate that women’s leadership plays a crucial role in fostering sustainable social change by enhancing women’s participation in decision-making, increasing public awareness of gender issues, and advocating for policies that promote gender equity. Additionally, this review identifies key challenges faced by women leaders in social movements, including gender stereotypes, institutional barriers, and inequities in resource access. In conclusion, strengthening women’s leadership in social movements is essential for advancing gender equality, though significant systemic obstacles must still be addressed to fully realize the transformative potential of such leadership.
Discerning of Hall Effect in Technology using New Data Acquisition Technique
Authors: Zaidi Anum , Din Amad Ud , Husnain Hammad Ul , Sahil Muhammad
Published: December 2024

Certain areas of Physics are revolutionized by modern technology and the Hall Effect Apparatus (HEA) is one of those as this apparatus has a lot of importance. To study the HE apparatus, an electronics-based system is designed through which one can be informed about the Hall Voltage (), Hall Coefficient (RH), type of majority charge carriers in semiconductor samples using microcontrollers with built-in graphic user interface (GUI) as a stand-alone system. The purpose is to develop and upgrade the HE apparatus using advanced data acquisition techniques and introducing microcontrollers for GUI to obtain electronic data and graphical representations. The measured results show that the system can produce 90% results at 10-times lower cost. Generally, three semiconductor samples were taken to observe the Hall Effect parameters using HE Apparatus and remarkable relative results with Literature were observed. Carrier concentration for CdHgTe, ZnO and Silicon were -10×1020/cm3, -2×1018/cm3 and 7.5×1018/cm3 respectively using the I/V slope from the plots obtained at different Magnetic fields. Similarly, the Hall coefficients, Hall Mobility and the Resistivity.
Design and Testing of a Low-Speed, High-Frequency Straw Chopping and Returning Machine Using a Constant Breath Cam Mechanism
Authors: Lin Han , He Jin , Zhong Guangyuan , Yang Hanyu
Published: December 2024

Straw incorporation offers significant advantages in agricultural crop cultivation systems. Mechanized methods constitute the predominant approach, potentially reducing yield costs and enhancing operational efficiency. The imperative to enhance the quality of straw chopping within the field is of particular significance, as suboptimal chopping quality can engender a cascade of issues, particularly seeding blockages. The straw chopping pass rate (CPR) is a pivotal metric for assessing the quality of straw chopping. Therefore, enhancing the CPR during the straw chopping process is necessary. This study introduces a novel maize-straw-chopping device with the ground as its supporting base. This device facilitates the rapid vertical chopping of maize straw through a constant breath cam transmission mechanism. Critical parameters were determined to optimize the performance of the chopping device by establishing mathematical models and kinematic simulation analysis methods. With the help of Rocky 2022.R2 software, the influence of the rotational velocity of the draft, tractor velocity, and blade edge angles on the CPR during the operation of the device was analyzed. The Box–Behnken test methodology was used to carry out a three-factor, three-level orthogonal rotation test to obtain the optimal working parameter combination. The results indicated that the maximum CPR value was achieved with a draft rotational velocity of 245 rpm, a tractor velocity of 3.8 km/h, and a blade edge angle of 20.75°. Finally, field validation experiments were conducted under these optimized conditions, with the average CPR of maize straw reaching an impressive 91.45%. These findings have significant implications for enhancing crop production practices.
Assessing Different Artificial Diets to Improve the Life History Parameters of the Almond Moth, Ephestia cautella (Walker) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae)
Authors: Ali Hafiz Muhammad Sajid , Mirza Jawwad Hassan , Kamran Muhammad , Alatawi Fahad Jaber
Published: December 2024

The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of different compositions of poultry-based artificial diets on the biological and morphometric parameters of the almond moth, Ephestia cautella. Three artificial diets (ADs) were prepared, where the complete diet (AD1) consisted of a bird diet, poultry feed, brown wheat flour, glycerin, and brewer’s yeast. The other two tested diets were poultry-feed-deficient (AD2) and brewer’s yeast-deficient (AD3—control). The tested parameters were differences in the length and weight of eggs, larvae, and pupae, larval developmental duration, adult reproductive period, fecundity, and fertility. The results showed significant differences in larval developmental period, female longevity, life span, reproductive parameters, and morphometric measurements among the tested diets. The life span was distinctly longer (40.38 ± 0.81 days) when the larvae were reared on a poultry feed-deficient diet (AD2), while a shorter lifespan (29.93 ± 0.33 and 32.17 ± 0.61 days) was recorded when larvae were reared on a complete diet (AD1) and brewer’s yeast-deficient diet (AD3), respectively. The complete diet (AD1), composed of bird diet, poultry feed, brown wheat flour, glycerin, and brewer’s yeast with (2:2:2:1:1) ratios, resulted in the shortest larval and pupal duration and average life span, as well as the highest fertility percentage. The highest fecundity (eggs/female: 366.77 ± 9.61) was recorded on AD3, while fertility reached almost 100% on AD1. The sex ratio was recorded as equal for both diets AD1 and AD3, while a male-biased sex ratio was recorded for AD2. Similarly, the morphometric data showed increased weight and sizes of eggs, larvae, and pupae when provided with complete (AD1) and brewer’s yeast-deficient diets (AD3). The results signified the importance of poultry feed and brewer’s yeast in AD1 for the mass rearing of E. cautella.
Biomethane Production from Untreated and Treated Brewery’s Spent Grain: Feasibility of Anaerobic Digestion After Pretreatments According to Biogas Yield and Energy Efficiency
Authors: Di Mario Jessica , Gambelli Alberto Maria , Gigliotti Giovanni
Published: December 2024

The increasing global energy demand, coupled with the urgent need to reduce CO2 emissions, has intensified the search for renewable energy sources. Biogas, produced from agro-industrial biomass, presents a viable solution. In beer production, brewery’s spent grain (BSG), the largest by-product by volume, offers potential for bioenergy recovery. This study applied a biorefinery approach to BSG, extracting protein hydrolysates (PH) through mild alkaline hydrolysis and nanostructured lignin (LN) via the Ionic Liquid Method. The objective was to assess biogas production from the residual biorefinery biomass and evaluate the co-digestion of BSG with Olive Mill Wastewater (OMWW) and Olive Pomace (OP), by-products of the olive oil industry. Biogas was produced in lab-scale batch reactors and the quantity of biogas produced was measured via the volumetric method. Conversely, the amount of biomethane obtained was evaluated by introducing, in the production chain, an alkaline trap. Biogas yields were the highest for untreated BSG (1075.6 mL), co-digested BSG with OMWW (1130.1 mL), and BSG residue after PH extraction (814.9 mL). The concentration of biomethane obtained in the various samples ranged from 54.5 vol % (OMWW + BSG) to 76.59 vol % (BSG). An energy balance analysis considering both the theoretical energy consumed by a semi-continuous anaerobic digestion bioreactor and the energy produced as bio-CH4 revealed that BSG after PH extraction was the most energy-efficient treatment, producing a net energy gain of 5.36 kJ. For the scope, the energy consumption was calculated by considering a PEIO index equal to 33% of the energy produced during the day, showing the highest biogas production. In contrast, the co-digested BSG with OMWW yielded the lowest net energy gain of 1.96 kJ. This comprehensive analysis highlights the energy efficiency of different treatments, identifying which process should be improved.
Exploring the Physiological and Molecular Mechanisms by Which Potassium Regulates Low-Temperature Tolerance of Coconut (Cocos nucifera L.) Seedlings
Authors: Lu Lilan , Wang Yuping , Sayed Md. Abu , Iqbal Amjad , Yang Yaodong
Published: December 2024

Coconut holds significant importance as a fruit and oilseed crop in tropical and subtropical regions. However, low-temperature (LT) stress has caused substantial reductions in yield and economics and impedes coconut production, therefore constraining its widespread cultivation and utilization. The appropriate application of potassium (K) has the potential to enhance the cold tolerance of crops and mitigate cold damage, but the regulatory mechanisms by which K improves coconut adaptability to cold stress remain poorly understood. Transcriptome and metabolomic analyses were performed on coconut seedlings treated with LT (5 °C) and room temperature (25 °C) under various K conditions: K0 (0.1 mM KCL), KL (2 mM KCL), KM (4 mM KCL), and KH (8 mM KCL). Correlation analysis with physiological indicators was also conducted. The findings indicated that K absorption, nutrient or osmotic regulation, accumulation of substances, photosynthesis, hormone metabolism, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) clearance pathways played crucial roles in the adaptation of coconut seedlings to LT stress. LT stress disrupted the homeostasis of hormones, antioxidant enzyme activity, chlorophyll, K, and the regulation of nutrients and osmolytes. This stress also leads to the downregulation of genes and metabolites related to K transporters, hormone metabolism, transcription factors, and the metabolism of nutrients and osmolytes. Applying K helped maintain the homeostasis of hormones, antioxidant enzyme activity, chlorophyll, K, and the regulation of nutrients and osmolytes, promoted the removal of ROS, and reduced malondialdehyde, consequently diminishing the damage caused by LT stress to coconut seedlings. Furthermore, the comprehensive analysis of metabolomics and transcriptomics highlighted the importance of carbohydrate metabolism, biosynthesis of other secondary metabolites, amino acid metabolism, lipid metabolism, and ABC transporters in K’s role in improving coconut seedlings’ tolerance to LT stress. This study identified the pivotal biological pathways, regulatory genes, and metabolites implicated in K regulation of coconut seedlings to acclimate to LT stress.
ECVNet: A Fusion Network of Efficient Convolutional Neural Networks and Visual Transformers for Tomato Leaf Disease Identification
Authors: Zou Fendong , Hua Jing , Zhu Yuanhao , Deng Jize , He Ruimin
Published: December 2024

Tomato leaf diseases pose a significant threat to plant growth and productivity, necessitating the accurate identification and timely management of these issues. Existing models for tomato leaf disease recognition can primarily be categorized into Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) and Visual Transformers (VTs). While CNNs excel in local feature extraction, they struggle with global feature recognition; conversely, VTs are advantageous for global feature extraction but are less effective at capturing local features. This discrepancy hampers the performance improvement of both model types in the task of tomato leaf disease identification. Currently, effective fusion models that combine CNNs and VTs are still relatively scarce. We developed an efficient CNNs and VTs fusion network named ECVNet for tomato leaf disease recognition. Specifically, we first designed a Channel Attention Residual module (CAR module) to focus on channel features and enhance the model’s sensitivity to the importance of feature channels. Next, we created a Convolutional Attention Fusion module (CAF module) to effectively extract and integrate both local and global features, thereby improving the model’s spatial feature extraction capabilities. We conducted extensive experiments using the Plant Village dataset and the AI Challenger 2018 dataset, with ECVNet achieving state-of-the-art recognition performance in both cases. Under the condition of 100 epochs, ECVNet achieved an accuracy of 98.88% on the Plant Village dataset and 86.04% on the AI Challenger 2018 dataset. The introduction of ECVNet provides an effective solution for the identification of plant leaf diseases.
Optimizing Terminal Water Management in Irrigation District Using Water Balance and Genetic Algorithm
Authors: Zhao Siyuan , Chen Jing , Chen Dan , Luo Zhaohui , Bi Bo , Lin Lan , Du Xinhao , Liu Yuanyuan , Xia Qibing
Published: December 2024

Water delivery management in China’s irrigation districts has traditionally prioritized the main canal system, often overlooking the water-saving potential of the final canals and field irrigation, which offer substantial opportunities to enhance water use efficiency and conserve agricultural water resources. This study summarizes and defines the integrated water management of final canals and field irrigation as terminal water management. An optimization method was developed to improve terminal water management, which includes optimizing irrigation quotas based on water balance and scheduling final canal water delivery to minimize seepage losses. A genetic algorithm was employed to solve the problem. The method was applied to the Hongjin irrigation district in Jiangsu Province, China. In 2020, paddy water management was observed, revealing that the irrigation amount for organic and traditional rice was 1113 mm and 956 mm, respectively. Conventional irrigation and water delivery practices have led to extensive drainage, significant rainwater wastage, and inefficient water use. The optimized irrigation quotas for organic and traditional rice resulted in water savings of 302.5 mm and 325.9 mm, respectively, compared to the 2020 monitored data. An irrigation event in early August during a 75% hydrological frequency year was selected as an example. With conventional scheduling, optimized final canal water delivery scheduling reduced the seepage losses from 6.3% to 4.6%, shortened the irrigation time from 17 h to 14 h, and stabilized canal flow rates. The proposed optimization method is a valuable tool for enhancing terminal water management and supporting better irrigation decisions in irrigation districts.
Changes in Plant Genetic Resources in the Southeast Region of Poland from the 1980s to 2023
Authors: Dostatny Denise F. , Bakalarska Anna , Korzeniewska Aleksandra , Bartoszewski Grzegorz
Published: December 2024

This paper presents data from sixteen collecting missions conducted over three decades (2000–2023) in the Lubelskie Voivodeship, located in Southeastern Poland. During these missions, 756 samples of functional plants were collected, along with accompanying species such as weeds, crop wild relatives, ornamental plants, spice plants, and grafts of fruit trees. These materials were compared with those collected during six expeditions in two earlier decades (1980–1999), which resulted in the collection of 665 genotypes. The samples were primarily obtained from local farmers or gathered directly from fields. This study aims to summarise and compare the results of the collecting missions across decades. The analysis indicates that the Lubelskie region remains a place where old varieties of annual vegetable plants, rare weed species (on a national scale), crop wild relatives, and old varieties of fruit trees can still be found. However, old cereal varieties have nearly disappeared. The collected materials were characterised and stored as a base collection under long-term storage conditions at the Plant Breeding and Acclimatization Institute—National Research Institute. Vegetable plant materials were deposited in the active collection at the National Institute of Horticultural Research (INHORT). Fruit tree collections were also deposited at INHORT, as well as in the Botanical Garden of the Polish Academy of Sciences in Poland.
Do Cockatiels Choose Their Favourite Tunes? Use of Touchscreen for Animal Welfare Enhancement and Insights into Musical Preferences
Authors: Le Covec Mathilde , Di Stasi Romain , Aimé Carla , Bouet Léa , Watanabe Shigeru , Bovet Dalila
Published: December 2024

Music may be one of the oldest forms of art, and its appreciation is thought to be universal among humans. Music could also represent a useful tool to improve captive animals’ welfare, especially if individuals can choose the music they prefer. The ability to discriminate between different kinds of music or composers has been demonstrated in numerous non-human species. However, a reinforcing effect of music was found in only a few species, particularly in vocal learner birds such as Passeriformes and Psittaciformes. In this study, we explored whether cockatiels could learn to use a touchscreen to choose between two different pieces of music: first between rock and roll and calm music, and then between consonant and dissonant music. Some birds showed individual preferences for either rock and roll or calm music, but no preferences were found for consonance or dissonance. These results are in line with the hypothesis that vocal learners would be sensitive to music. Our findings offer new prospects for the study of musicality in non-humans and its potential applications for promoting welfare in captive animals: interacting with a touchscreen would allow them to have some control over their environment and to choose their preferred type of music as a form of environmental enrichment.
Genetic Analysis of Days Open in Moroccan Holstein Using Different Models to Account for Censored Data
Authors: Chafai Narjice , Badaoui Bouabid
Published: December 2024

Reproductive efficiency is a key element of profitability in dairy herds. However, the genetic evaluation of fertility traits is often challenged by the presence of high censorship rates due to various reasons. An easy approach to address this challenge is to remove the censored data from the dataset. However, removing data might bias the genetic evaluation. Therefore, addressing this issue is crucial, particularly for small populations and populations with limited size. This study uses a Moroccan Holstein dataset to compare two Gaussian linear models and a threshold linear model to handle censored records of days open (DO). Data contained 8646 records of days open across the first three parities of 6337 Holstein cows. The pedigree file comprised 11,555 animals and 14.51% of the dataset was censored. The genetic parameters and breeding values of DO were computed using three different methods: a linear model where all censored records were omitted (LM), a penalty method in which a constant equal to one estrus cycle in cattle was added to the maximum value of DO in each contemporary group to impute the censored records (PLM), and a bivariate threshold model with a penalty (PTM). The heritability estimates were equal to 0.021 ± 0.01 (PLM), 0.029 ± 0.01 (LM), and 0.033 ± 0.01 (PTM). The penalty method and the threshold linear model with a penalty showed better prediction accuracy calculated using the LR method (0.21, and 0.20, respectively). PLM and PTM had a high Spearman correlation (0.99) between the estimated breeding values of the validation dataset, which explains the high percentage of common animals in the top 20% of selected animals. The lack of changes in the ranking of animals between PLM and PTM suggests that both methods can be used to address censored data in this population.
Witnessing Self-Affirming Moments in Persons with Dementia While Interacting with Therapy Dogs: A Case Report
Authors: Brooks Carolyn , Dell Colleen A. , Chalmers Darlene , Carey Ben D. B.
Published: December 2024

Individuals, families, and communities are impacted by Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias worldwide. In Canada and elsewhere, family members commonly see loved ones living with dementia experience difficult moments, including anxiety, stress, and fear. Struggling health care systems strive to apply the latest evidence-based interventions. In this case report, we explore how individuals who care for people with dementia can help redirect difficult personal and interpersonal moments towards hopeful moments in the presence of therapy dogs. The cases of four individuals diagnosed with dementia and interacting with therapy dog intervention in one of three environments—at a family home, in a hospital awaiting placement to a long-term care facility, and in a psychiatric centre—are reviewed from the perspectives of two attending therapy dog handlers. In addition to being researchers in the therapy dog field and authors on this case report, both handlers were guided in a 110 min focused conversational method by a third author, from which self-affirmation theory surfaced as a guiding framework for explaining their observations and experiences. Therapy dog visiting appears to facilitate positive social interactions that can help redirect difficult moments to moments defined by self-affirmation or experiencing a positive sense of self. This is an under-recognized association in the dementia literature. Self-affirmation is demonstrated through four themes during therapy dog visits: (a) physical movement, (b) psychological shift, (c) a transition in the experience of time, and (d) connective interactions. Therapy dogs are identified here as a promising self-affirming psychosocial intervention for individuals with dementia and their caregivers worthy of further research and practice attention.
Effects of Concentrate Feed Starch Source Offered Twice a Day on Feed Intake and Milk Production of Cows During the Early Postpartum Period
Authors: Albornoz Rodrigo I. , Russo Victoria M. , Ho Christie K. M. , Giri Khageswor , Allen Michael S. , Lock Adam L. , Wales William J. , Knight Matthew I.
Published: December 2024

This experiment determined the effects of two different starch sources when offered twice a day to cows during the early postpartum period (1 to 23 d postpartum, treatment period) on dry matter intake (DMI), feeding behavior, and milk production. The subsequent effects on milk production in the carryover period (24 to 72 d) where cows received a common diet (grazed perennial ryegrass pasture plus concentrate supplements) were also measured. Thirty-two multiparous dairy cows were offered concentrate feed (8 kg DM/d) containing 5 kg DM of crushed wheat grain or ground corn grain (7 h in vitro starch digestibility of 65.8% and 58.8%, respectively). At each milking (morning and afternoon), cows were offered half of the concentrate feed, and upon return to their individual stalls, they were offered perennial ryegrass pasture silage (56.2% neutral detergent fiber (NDF), 39.8% acid detergent fiber (ADF), 16.6% crude protein (CP)) at 130% of their expected daily intake. Dry matter intake, milk yield, and body weight were recorded daily. Blood and milk sampling, body condition score, and feeding behavior measurements were performed weekly during the treatment period. During the carryover period, milk sampling and body condition score measurements were conducted on a weekly and fortnightly basis, respectively. In the treatment and carryover periods, there was no significant effect of starch source treatment on DMI, milk yield, milk composition, change in body weight, or body condition. Similarly, the starch source did not affect the concentrations of blood markers of energy status or inflammatory response. Despite differences in the in vitro starch fermentability between treatments, the starch source did not significantly affect production responses. It is possible that the elevated NDF and ADF concentrations of the forage offered during the treatment period, the limited difference in starch fermentability between treatments, and the temporal supply of fuels to the liver when starch sources were offered twice a day may have offset the effects of the type of starch source on DMI and production via physical signals associated with rumen fill and distention.
Comparative Diagnostic Efficacy of Ultrasonography and Radiography for Gas Embolism in Loggerhead (Caretta caretta) Turtles
Authors: Valastro Carmela , Franchini Delia , Ciccarelli Stefano , Paci Serena , Freggi Daniela , Boscia Diego , Salvemini Pasquale , Di Bello Antonio
Published: December 2024

Sea turtles face numerous threats, often stemming from human activities, resulting in high mortality rates. One of the primary risks they encounter is posed by fishing activities. In the South Adriatic Sea, the extensive trawling fleet often impacts sea turtles, and in recent years, a specific disorder, known as gas embolism (GE), and the associated disease known as decompression sickness (DCS), has emerged as a new threat. Our study aims to compare the statistical concordance and sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy between ultrasonography and radiography for evaluating GE in marine turtles. The study involved the analysis of 29 loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta) admitted to the Sea Turtle Clinic (STC) at the Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari, Italy, between December 2022 and March 2023. The sea turtles underwent X-ray evaluation using the three standard projections (dorso-ventral, latero-lateral, cranial-caudal), followed by ultrasound examination to visualize blood vessels through cervical, axillary, and inguinal ultrasound windows. Color Doppler ultrasonography was utilized to assess blood flow, gas localization, and quantity, but this technique proved to be less helpful in detecting GE. Our results confirm the statistically valid performance of ultrasonographic examinations, highlighting the significant role of combining ultrasonography and radiography to enhance sensitivity, especially in complex and challenging cases for identifying gas embolism (GE) in sea turtles.
European Hedgehogs as Hosts of Chaphamaparvovirus, Italy
Authors: Di Profio Federica , Di Martino Barbara , Lanave Gianvito , Robetto Serena , Prandi Ilaria , Capucchio Maria Teresa , Mandola Maria Lucia , Quaranta Giuseppe , Orusa Riccardo , Marsilio Fulvio , Martella Vito , Sarchese Vittorio
Published: December 2024

In 2022, a novel parvovirus was identified from an outbreak of fatal enteritis in weaned European hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus) at a wildlife rescue center in Southern Italy. During sequence analysis, the strain was found to be closely related (90.4% nucleotide identity) to a chaphamaparvovirus (ChPV) discovered in Amur hedgehogs (Erinaceus amurensis) during a large metaviromic investigation in game animals in China. In this study, we investigated the presence of this novel ChPV in necropsied European hedgehogs from different areas of North-Western Italy. Duodenal and liver samples collected from 194 necropsied hedgehogs were screened by using a specific quantitative PCR. A total of 38/194 animals (19.6%) tested positive, with ChPV DNA being detected in the duodenum (9.3%, 18/194), liver (7.2%, 14/194) or in both (3.1%, 6/194) tissue samples, with comparable rates and mean viral loads. The nearly full-length genome of four hedgehog ChPV strains was reconstructed. During phylogenetic analysis based on the NS1 and partial VP aa sequences, the four strains detected in this study tightly clustered with the prototype ChPVs previously identified in Amur and European hedgehogs within a potential novel candidate species of the genus Chaphamaparvovirus.
Ovine LncRSFD1 Mined from RNA-Seq: Identification, Expression Profile, Promotion of Preadipocyte Differentiation, Promoter Activity, and Its Polymorphisms Related to Phenotypic Traits
Authors: Xu Hongwei , Luo Yunyun , Zhang Mengyang , Pan Chuanying , Lan Xianyong , Zheng Juanshan
Published: December 2024

Tail fat is essential for sheep survival in extreme environments, yet its significance is often overlooked, leading to the decline of fat-tailed breeds. This study identified a novel lncRNA, lncRSFD1 (TCONS_00054953), through transcriptome sequencing, showing differential expression in the tail adipose tissues of Lanzhou Fat-Tailed (LFT) sheep and Tibetan (TS) sheep. Highly expressed in adipose tissues, lncRSFD1 inhibits preadipocyte proliferation and promotes 3T3-L1 differentiation, suggesting its role in regulating fat deposition. Located in both the cytoplasm and nucleus, lncRSFD1 targets the neighboring gene PDE4DIP and may function as a molecular sponge for conserved miRNAs, including oar-miR-30a-3p, oar-miR-329b-5p, and oar-miR-431, which are known to influence fat and muscle-related physiological processes. Moreover, the core promoter of lncRSFD1 (−2607 bp to −1776 bp) harbors four SNPs (g.-2429G>A, g.-2030T>C, g.-2016C>T, g.-2015G>A) significantly associated with growth traits such as body height in Guiqian Semi-Fine Wool (GSFW) sheep. These findings suggest lncRSFD1 plays a key role in fat deposition and growth regulation, offering new insights into the molecular mechanisms of lncRNAs in sheep. It provides a potential target for genetic improvement and molecular breeding to enhance fat deposition and adaptability in sheep breeds.
Pooled Antibiotic Susceptibility Testing Performs Within CLSI Standards for Validation When Measured Against Broth Microdilution and Disk Diffusion Antibiotic Susceptibility Testing of Cultured Isolates
Authors: Haley Emery , Cockerill Frank , Pesano Rick , Festa Richard , Luke Natalie , Mathur Mohit , Chen Xiaofei , Havrilla Jim , Baunoch David
Published: December 2024

Background/Objectives: While new methods for measuring antimicrobial susceptibility have been associated with improved patient outcomes, they should also be validated using standard protocols for error rates and other test metrics. The objective of this study was to validate a novel susceptibility assay for complicated and recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs): pooled antibiotic susceptibility testing (P-AST). This assay was compared to broth microdilution (BMD) and disk diffusion (DD), following Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) guidelines for assessment of error rates and agreement. Methods: This study analyzed consecutive fresh clinical urine specimens submitted for UTI diagnostic testing. Upon receipt, the urine samples were subjected in parallel to standard urine culture and multiplex polymerase chain reaction (M-PCR) for microbial identification and quantification. Specimens with the same monomicrobial non-fastidious bacteria detected by both M-PCR and standard urine culture (SUC) underwent standard antibiotic susceptibility testing (AST) and P-AST antibiotic susceptibility testing. Analysis was also undertaken to assess the presence of heteroresistance for specimens with P-AST-resistant and BMD/DD consensus-susceptible results. Results: The performance measures without correction for heteroresistance showed essential agreement (EA%) of ≥90%, very major errors (VMEs) of <1.5%, and major errors (MEs) of <3.0% for P-AST, all meeting the threshold guidelines established by CLSI for AST. The categorical agreement (CA%) also met acceptable criteria (>88%), as the majority of the errors were minor (mEs) with essential agreement. The very major and major error rates for P-AST decreased to <1.0% when heteroresistance was accounted for. Conclusions: The P-AST assay methodology is validated within acceptable parameters when compared to broth microdilution and disk diffusion using CLSI criteria.
The Role of Potato Glycoside Alkaloids Mediated Oxidative Stress in Inducing Apoptosis of Wolfberry Root Rot Pathogen Fungi
Authors: Sun Yuyan , Wang Bin , Chen Wei , Wang Yanbo , Zhou Dongdong , Zhang Mengyang , Zhang Chongqing , Li Ruiyun , He Jing
Published: December 2024

Wolfberry (Lycium barbarum) is a vital economic tree species in northwest China, but root rot caused by Fusarium solani occurs frequently, which seriously endangers the quality and yield of wolfberry. In this study, potato glycoside alkaloids (PGAs), a plant-derived active substance, were used as materials to explore its inhibitory effect on F. solani. By analyzing the changes of reactive oxygen species (ROS) level, antioxidant capacity, and apoptosis, the role of PGAs-mediated oxidative stress in inducing apoptosis of F. solani was revealed. The findings suggest that PGAs treatment inhibited mycelium growth, reduced biomass and sporulation, and delayed spore germination in F. solani. The concentration for 50% of maximal effect (EC50) was 1.85 mg/mL. PGAs treatment induced an increase in caspase-3 activity, disrupting the cell membrane of fungi. In addition, PGAs treatment activated NADH oxidase (NOX) and superoxide dismutase (SOD), promoted hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and superoxide anion (O2−) accumulation, and decreased ascorbate peroxidase (APX), glutathione reductase (GR), and dehydroascorbate reductase (DHAR) activities as well as oxidized glutathione (GSSG), reduced glutathione (GSH), and electron donor NADPH content. In summary, PGAs has a strong inhibitory effect on F. solani, and its inhibitory effect may be related to the promotion of ROS accumulation by PGAs, causing the disorder of intracellular redox balance of fungi, the decrease of total antioxidant capacity, and finally the induction of apoptosis. This study provides a new insight into the antifungal mechanism of PGAs against F. solani.
A Broadband Ultra High Frequency (UHF) Fat-Dipole Antenna for Digital TV Applications
Authors: Perotoni Marcelo B. , Vieira Marcos S. , dos Santos Giovane G. B.
Published: December 2024

A broadband and compact planar UHF antenna is presented for use in MIMO Digital TV indoor applications. The choice of the element and its physical implementation is oriented towards a low-profile, low-cost, and single-layer deployment. Since it is intended to be used in a 2 × 1 MIMO array, two antennas were constructed and tested to minimize their coupling to provide larger MIMO gains. Regarding the excitation, two different structures were evaluated to observe their impact on the final impedance profile. The option of an infinite balun provided a 62% fractional bandwidth (394 MHz to 747 MHz), covering the desired band and with good isolation levels when analyzed in the array. Results regarding MIMO parameters are provided herein, such as Envelope Correlation Coefficient and Total Active Reflection Coefficient, proving the potential of the proposed antenna array to be used in MIMO Digital TV applications in covering the UHF band.
SAG’s Overload Forecasting Using a CNN Physical Informed Approach
Authors: Hermosilla Rodrigo , Valle Carlos , Allende Héctor , Aguilar Claudio , Lucic Erich
Published: December 2024

The overload problem in semi-autogenous grinding (SAG) mills is critical in the mining industry, impacting the extraction of valuable metals and overall productivity. Overloads can lead to severe operational issues, including increased wear, reduced grinding efficiency, and unscheduled shutdowns, which result in financial losses. Various strategies have been employed to address SAG mill overload, from real-time monitoring to predictive modeling and machine learning techniques. However, existing methods often lack the integration of domain-specific knowledge, particularly in handling class imbalance within operational data, leading to limitations in predictive accuracy. This paper presents a novel approach that integrates convolutional neural networks (CNNs) with physics-informed neural networks (PINNs), embedding physical laws directly into the model’s loss function. This hybrid methodology captures the complex interactions and nonlinearities inherent in SAG mill operations and leverages domain expertise to enforce physical consistency, ensuring more robust predictions. Incorporating physics-based constraints allows the model to remain sensitive to critical overload conditions while addressing the challenge of imbalanced data. Our method demonstrates a significant enhancement in prediction accuracy through extensive experiments on real-world SAG mill operational data, achieving an F1-score of 94.5%. The results confirm the importance of integrating physics-based knowledge into machine learning models, improving predictive performance, and offering a more interpretable and reliable tool for mill operators. This work sets a new benchmark in the predictive modeling of SAG mill overloads, paving the way for more advanced, physically informed predictive maintenance strategies in the mining industry.
Numerical and Experimental Determination of the Bore Throughput Controlling the Operation of the Differential Section of a Pneumatic Brake Valve
Authors: Kisiel Marcin , Szpica Dariusz , Czaban Jarosław
Published: December 2024

Purpose: To assess the applicability of computational fluid dynamics (CFDs) in determining the flow parameters of inter-chamber nozzle openings in the differential section of a trailer air brake valve. Methodology: Numerical calculations were performed using SolidWorks Flow Simulation (SW-FS) and Ansys Fluent (A-F) with defined boundaries and initial conditions. The results were validated experimentally using the reservoir method and the lumped method for throughput identification. Results: CFD calculations determined the functional dependence of the mass flow rate on the nozzle diameter for a range of control nozzle bore diameters. The SW-FS 2024 and A-F 2023 software showed a mean difference of 4.66% in the total characteristics. The experimental validation resulted in differences of 6.31% (SW-FS) and 5.79% (A-F) compared to the CFD results. Theoretical contribution: This study fills a research gap in applying CFDs to brake valve performance analyses, providing a foundation for developing more complex numerical models to evaluate individual valve sections. Practical implications: The findings suggest that CFDs can be used to accurately determine the flow parameters of control nozzle orifices, with an average of a 6.05% difference from experimental tests. This approach can potentially streamline the design and optimization process for pneumatic brake valves.