bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Case report: Successful administration of cariprazine in a young, severely ill patient with recurrent relapses of schizophrenia and persistent negative symptoms
Authors: Vrublevska Jelena
Published: March 2023

The present case report describes a young man diagnosed with schizophrenia and presents a “revolving door” (RD) phenomenon. He was hospitalized in an acute psychiatric clinic three times in 1 year. After each hospitalization, he was discharged with incompletely reduced psychotic symptoms, persistent negative symptoms, low functioning, lack of insight, and adherence. He had an insufficient response to maximally tolerated doses of antipsychotic monotherapy with haloperidol and risperidone. Moreover, his treatment was complicated due to the low accessibility of long-acting injectable atypical antipsychotics (LAI) in the country and his refusal of the only available atypical LAI paliperidone palmitate and refusal to take clozapine. Due to limited alternatives, the decision to administer combinations of antipsychotics was made. Since his diagnosis, he received several combinations of antipsychotics, i.e., haloperidol + quetiapine, risperidone + quetiapine, haloperidol + olanzapine, risperidone + olanzapine, but without sufficient clinical effectiveness. Although combinations of antipsychotics reduced his positive symptoms to some degree, persistent negative symptoms and extrapyramidal side effects were observed. After initiating cariprazine, which was combined with olanzapine, improvement in the patient’s positive symptoms, negative symptoms, and overall functioning was detected. The combination of medications mentioned above facilitated the therapeutic alliance, thus providing control over the symptoms and preventing psychiatric hospitalizations.
The roles of extracellular vesicles in major depressive disorder
Authors: Li Ying , Gui Yan , Zhao Miaomiao , Chen Xuanqiang , Li Haimei , Tian Chen , Zhao Haoyang , Jiang Chaonan , Xu Pengfeng , Zhang Shiyi , Ye Shaoyong , Huang Manli
Published: March 2023

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a serious mental disease characterized by depressed mood, loss of interest and suicidal ideation. Its rising prevalence has rendered MDD one of the largest contributors to the global disease burden. However, its pathophysiological mechanism is still unclear, and reliable biomarkers are lacking. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are widely considered important mediators of intercellular communication, playing an important role in many physiological and pathological processes. Most preclinical studies focus on the related proteins and microRNAs in EVs, which can regulate energy metabolism, neurogenesis, neuro-inflammation and other pathophysiological processes in the development of MDD. The purpose of this review is to describe the current research progress of EVs in MDD and highlight their potential roles as biomarkers, therapeutic indicators and drug delivery carriers for the treatment of MDD.
Adjunct tele-yoga on clinical status at 14 days in hospitalized patients with mild and moderate COVID-19: A randomized control trial
Authors: Majumdar Vijaya , Manjunath N. K. , Nagarathna Raghuram , Panigrahi Suryanarayan , Kanchi Muralidhar , Sahoo Sarthak , Nagendra Hongasandra R. , Giridharan Adithi , Reddy Mounika , Nayak Rakshitha
Published: March 2023

Background

The initial insights from the studies on COVID-19 had been disappointing, indicating the necessity of an aggravated search for alternative strategies. In this regard, the adjunct potential of yoga has been proposed for enhancing the effectiveness of the standard of care with respect to COVID-19 management. We tested whether a telemodel of yoga intervention could aid in better clinical management for hospitalized patients with mild-to-moderate COVID-19 when complemented with the standard of care.

Methods

This was a randomized controlled trial conducted at the Narayana Hrudyalaya, Bengaluru, India, on hospitalized patients with mild-to-moderate COVID-19 infection enrolled between 31 May and 22 July 2021. The patients (n = 225) were randomized in a 1:1 ratio [adjunct tele-yoga (n = 113) or standard of care]. The adjunct yoga group received intervention in tele-mode within 4-h post-randomization until 14 days along with the standard of care. The primary outcome was the clinical status on day 14 post-randomization, assessed with a seven-category ordinal scale. The secondary outcome set included scores on the COVID Outcomes Scale on day 7, follow-up for clinical status and all-cause mortality on day 28, post-randomization, duration of days at the hospital, 5th-day changes post-randomization for viral load expressed as cyclic threshold (Ct), and inflammatory markers and perceived stress scores on day 14.

Results

As compared with the standard of care alone, the proportional odds of having a higher score on the 7-point ordinal scale on day 14 were ~1.8 for the adjunct tele-yoga group (OR = 1.83, 95% CI, 1.11–3.03). On day 5, there were significant reductions in CRP (P = 0.001) and LDH levels (P = 0.029) in the adjunct yoga group compared to the standard of care alone. CRP reduction was also observed as a potential mediator for the yoga-induced improvement of clinical outcomes. The Kaplan–Meier estimate of all-cause mortality on day 28 was the adjusted hazard ratio (HR) of 0.26 (95% CI, 0.05–1.30).

Conclusion

The observed 1.8-fold improvement in the clinical status on day 14 of patients of COVID-19 with adjunct use of tele-yoga contests its use as a complementary treatment in hospital settings.
Exploring family caregiver challenges in caring for patients with COVID-19 in intensive care units
Authors: Najafi Ghezeljeh Tahereh , Rezaei Masoud , Keyvanloo Shahrestanaki Sahar , Sheikh Milani Arezoo
Published: March 2023

Background

Families of individuals hospitalized in an intensive care unit (ICU) with severe illnesses, such as COVID-19, are experiencing a range of physical and emotional stressors. Identifying the challenges faced by family members and providing support to loved ones battling life-threatening diseases can lead to improved treatment and care for the said family members in a healthcare setting.

Aim

The current study was conducted to explore and understand the experiences of family caregivers caring for their loved ones battling COVID-19 in an ICU.

Methods

This descriptive qualitative study was conducted from January 2021 to February 2022, based on the experiences of 12 family caregivers of patients with COVID-19 hospitalized in the ICU. Data collection was conducted through purposeful sampling using semi-structured interviews. MAXQDA10 software was used for data management, and conventional content analysis was used for qualitative data analysis.

Results

The present study conducted interviews with caregivers to understand their experiences while caring for a loved one in an ICU. Three main themes emerged from the analysis of these interviews: hardship of care trajectory, pre-loss mourning, and contributing factors in resolving family health crises. The first theme, the hardship of care trajectories, encompasses categories such as immersion in the unknown, lack of care facilities, negligence in care, neglect of families by healthcare providers, self-ignorance, and perceived stigma. The second these was pre-loss mourning that included some categories such as emotional and psychological turmoil, witnessing the exhaustion of loved ones, separation suffering, the fearing of loss, anticipatory grief, blame related to the disease causative agents, and perceived helplessness and despair. The third theme was contributing factors in resolving family health crises that included categories of the critical role of family caregivers in health engagement, the role of healthcare professionals in health engagement, and the role of interpersonal factors in health engagement. A total of 80 subcategories were also obtained based on the experiences of the family caregivers.

Conclusion

This study's findings indicate that families can play an important role in resolving their loved ones' health problems in life-threatening situations such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Moreover, healthcare providers must recognize and prioritize family-based care and trust the families' ability to effectively manage health crises. Healthcare providers should also be attentive to the needs of both the patient and their family members.
Blended learning in physical education: A systematic review
Authors: Wang Chen , Omar Dev Roxana Dev , Soh Kim Geok , Mohd Nasirudddin Nasnoor Juzaily , Yuan Yubin , Ji Xueyan
Published: March 2023

This review aims to provide a detailed overview of the current status and development trends of blended learning in physical education by reviewing journal articles from the Web of Science (WOS) database. Several dimensions of blended learning were observed, including research trends, participants, online learning tools, theoretical frameworks, evaluation methods, application domains, Research Topics, and challenges. Following the guidelines of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA), a total of 22 journal articles were included in the current review. The findings of this review reveal that the number of blended learning articles in physical education has increased since 2018, proving that the incorporation of online learning tools into physical education courses has grown in popularity. From the reviewed journal articles, most attention is given to undergraduates, emphasizing that attention in the future should be placed on K-12 students, teachers, and educational institutions. The theoretical framework applied by journal articles is also limited to a few articles and the assessment method is relatively homogeneous, consisting mostly of questionnaires. This review also discovers the trends in blended learning in physical education as most of the studies focus on the topic centered on dynamic physical education. In terms of Research Topics, most journal articles focus on perceptions, learning outcomes, satisfaction, and motivation, which are preliminary aspects of blended learning research. Although the benefits of blended learning are evident, this review identifies five challenges of blended learning: instructional design challenges, technological literacy and competency challenges, self-regulation challenges, alienation and isolation challenges, and belief challenges. Finally, a number of recommendations for future research are presented.
Sports-related leisure behavior in Alpine regions during the COVID-19 pandemic—A cross-sectional study in Austria, Germany and Italy
Authors: Kogler Anna-Maria , Schöttl Stefanie Elisabeth
Published: March 2023

Introduction

As a planetary health challenge, COVID-19 forced governments around the world to take action to prevent the most severe consequences resulting from the spread of the virus. These measures ranged from stay-at-home orders to limitations on indoor and outdoor activities, travel restrictions and the cancelation of sports events, all of which affected people's leisure activities and daily lives. Therefore, the aim of this study is to examine changes in sports-related leisure behavior in terms of attending major sports events, following major sports events via media, travel intentions and the use of new sports offerings. Furthermore, we aimed to identify variables associated with changed sports-related leisure behavior during the pandemic.

Methods

A cross-sectional online survey (n = 1,809) was conducted from December 2020 to January 2021 in the Alpine regions of Austria, Germany and Italy. Sports-related leisure behavior was investigated for changes during the pandemic compared to the time before the coronavirus outbreak and for differences between the three countries.

Results

Results showed that the self-reported importance of attending major sports events decreased significantly in the Alpine regions of all three countries during COVID-19. Prevailing restrictions affected vacation planning for over 80% of participants. A majority of approximately three quarters of respondents stated they had spent their holidays at home during the travel restrictions. Sports facilities and opportunities played an important role in the choice of vacation destination for more than half of participants. A binary logistic regression showed significant correlations between vacation planning during COVID-19 and the variables gender, income, quality of life and mental health. 31.9% of all respondents tried new sports offerings during extended restrictions, with a large proportion (72.4%) using apps, online tools or courses. Furthermore, approximately 30% of respondents increased their e-sports consumption.

Discussion

The results showed that sports-related leisure behavior in Alpine regions changed in the course of the COVID-19 pandemic. In the future, policymakers as well as sports and leisure providers should react to these behavioral changes and adapt their portfolio and services to meet consumers92 demands.
How do long COVID patients perceive their current life situation and occupational perspective? Results of a qualitative interview study in Germany
Authors: Schmachtenberg Tim , Müller Frank , Kranz Jennifer , Dragaqina Anita , Wegener Greta , Königs Gloria , Roder Sascha
Published: March 2023

Introduction

Many people experience persistent or new-onset symptoms such as fatigue or cognitive problems after an acute infection with COVID-19. This phenomenon, known as long COVID, impacts physical and mental wellbeing, and may affect perceived quality of life and occupational perspectives likewise. The aim of this study is to gain a deeper understanding of how people with long COVID experience health-related restrictions in their daily life and their occupational situation, and to identify key challenges they face.

Methods

Guided qualitative interviews were conducted with 25 people with long COVID. The interviews were transcribed according to Dresing/Pehl and Kuckartz and analyzed using qualitative content analysis. Afterward, a systematic comparison of the data and a reflection under consideration of lifeworld-theoretical approaches (Berger and Luckmann) were carried out.

Results

The interviews revealed that many participants have severe symptoms which strongly impair them in perform daily and work-related activities, and in their personal interests. Many interviewees already reach their stress limit during routine household activities or childcare. Of the 25 participants, 19 experienced limitations in pursuing leisure activities, and 10 of the 23 interviewees with jobs reported being on sick leave for several months. Several respondents who had vocational reintegration are still affected by ongoing symptoms that affect their work performance considerably. This leads to uncertainty, role conflicts, a decline in social contacts, and decreased incomes, which contribute to an impairment in their quality of life.

Conclusions

This study shows the huge need for specific support for people with long COVID in different areas of life. To prevent people with long COVID from finding themselves in social and economic precarity, decision-makers should develop strategies to systematically support them in their sustainable reintegration into the workforce. The focus should be on creating long COVID-sensitive workplaces, compensating for decreased incomes, and improving access to relief services such as vocational reintegration. We argue, that a shift of perspectives is necessary and that long COVID should be considered rather as a “social disease” with considerably impairments in the social life of those affected.

Trial registration

The study is registered in the German register for clinical trials (DRKS00026007).
She adapts to her student: An expert pragmatic speaker tailoring her referring expressions to the Layman listener
Authors: Greco Claudio , Bagade Diksha , Le Dieu-Thu , Bernardi Raffaella
Published: March 2023

Communication is a dynamic process through which interlocutors adapt to each other. In the development of conversational agents, this core aspect has been put aside for several years since the main challenge was to obtain conversational neural models able to produce utterances and dialogues that at least at the surface level are human-like. Now that this milestone has been achieved, the importance of paying attention to the dynamic and adaptive interactive aspects of language has been advocated in several position papers. In this paper, we focus on how a Speaker adapts to an interlocutor with different background knowledge. Our models undergo a pre-training phase, through which they acquire grounded knowledge by learning to describe an image, and an adaptive phase through which a Speaker and a Listener play a repeated reference game. Using a similar setting, previous studies focus on how conversational models create new conventions; we are interested, instead, in studying whether the Speaker learns from the Listener's mistakes to adapt to his background knowledge. We evaluate models based on Rational Speech Act (RSA), a likelihood loss, and a combination of the two. We show that RSA could indeed work as a backbone to drive the Speaker toward the Listener: in the combined model, apart from the improved Listener's accuracy, the language generated by the Speaker features the changes that signal adaptation to the Listener's background knowledge. Specifically, captions to unknown object categories contain more adjectives and less direct reference to the unknown objects.
Making the objectively best choice for side-stream resources—Verification of a debiasing method based on cognitive maps and attribute substitution
Authors: Schrøder Søren Espersen , San Martin David , Foti Giuseppe , Gutierrez Monica , Iñarra Chastagnol Bruno , Nielsen J. Rasmus , Larsen Erling
Published: March 2023

Multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) tools are essentially methods to enable a decision maker to achieve a more objective approach to a given decision scenario using quantitative methods. One such complex decision scenario is the underutilization of side-streams in the seafood industry, which is brought about by a combination of complex decision challenges related to processing methods, storage methods, logistics, technical viability, status quo mindset, and the attitude of the decision maker. However, the influence and identification of cognitive biases (e.g., loss aversion bias) in MCDM tools are rarely accounted for and may result in a less objective decision process due to subjective influences, which can influence the valorization and utilization of seafood side-streams in a company. To enable a more objective approach where the influence of these cognitive biases is corrected, in this paper, we propose a debiasing method based on the UN’s 14 SDGs, cognitive mapping (CM), and attribute substitution (AS) as an extension of MCDM tools and the modeling of seafood processing. The results of the case-specific implementation show that the proposed method can identify cognitive biases and correct these by enabling the implementation of relevant debiasing techniques that can aid a decision marker in choosing the best alternative when it comes to decisions on reducing wasted side-streams and increasing the sustainability of their food processing. It was found that the debiasing application provided a correction of the user ranking for the best-evaluated alternative within a side-stream scenario to be in line with the experts’ ranking for the same scenario in terms of environmentally and economically efficient production. This is a novel approach combining existing theories and methods into a single bias identification and debiasing method, which is designed to be generic and can be implemented in other sectors and industries using MCDM tools in their decision process. The approach provides industry and science with a verified and structured method to achieve objectivity through the identification and correction of decision-making biases that also supports a balance between a company’s economic and environmental goals.
What Will Your Future Look Like Under Climate Change?
Authors: Thiery Wim
Published: March 2023

Will a child born today experience more heatwaves, wildfires, or droughts compared to a 60-year-old? The answer to this question might seem obvious: “Yes, of course.” But when it comes to the question “How much more?” climate scientists did not have the answer—until recently. In this article, we will describe a study in which we figured out how many extreme climate events a real person in a real location will face, depending on the year they were born and how many years they will probably live. These numbers are not the same across the world—the impacts are especially severe in low-income countries, many of which contribute only minimally to the climate crisis. Our results are a call to action—if the world does not take serious steps to limit global warming, young people everywhere will face a never-before-seen number of extreme climate events during their lifetimes.
Governing landscapes: An agenda for the assessment of grasslands and savannahs
Authors: Eufemia Luca , Wawrzynowicz Ingrid , Bonatti Michelle , Partelow Stefan , Fischer Joern , Sieber Stefan
Published: March 2023

In this article, we propose an agenda promoting the development of a new integrated assessment toolkit (theory-based toolkit) of environmental governance in overlooked ecosystems of grasslands and savannahs in the Global South. To explore the complexity of social-ecological and governance systems, a growing number of systems-thinking approaches provide academics/practitioners with numerous analytical frameworks, theories, and methodologies that are potentially useful for unveiling institutional aspects along with their causal variables for the access, use and management of natural resources. Yet, we argue that achieving a comprehensive understanding of environmental governance systems only by using one single framework or theory is limiting. Further, there is a growing need of more social science knowledge and grassland and savannah context-specific frameworks that are tailored and applicable to policy settings. Therefore, by building on the five approaches of the political ecological framework of community-based governance (CBG) relating to key environmental governance frameworks, such as the community-based natural resource management (CBNRM) and the institutional and development framework (IAD), we propose a theory-based toolkit that would review, synthesize, connect, relate and test multiple core principles in a way that more fully accounts for social-ecological interactions in focal ecosystems. We are convinced that future empirical analysis/research following our agenda and the toolkit approach can generate hypotheses that are testable in real-life contexts. To this end, we suggest guiding research questions, research methods, as well as comparable cases and their rationales.
Honey characterization and identification of fructophilic lactic acid bacteria of fresh samples from Melipona beecheii, Scaptotrigona pectoralis, Plebeia llorentei, and Plebeia jatiformis hives
Authors: Andrade-Velásquez Amaury , Hernández Sánchez Humberto , Dorantes-Álvarez Lidia , Palmeros-Sánchez Beatriz , Torres-Moreno Raymundo , Hernández-Rodríguez Dolores , Melgar-Lalanne Guiomar
Published: March 2023

Stingless bees are essential to preser tropical ecosystems. They pollinate native flora, producing honey with properties for traditional health uses. Lactic acid bacteria spontaneously ferment honey in stingless bee honey (SBH). This study aims to determine the main physicochemical characteristics of Melipona beecheii, Scraptotrigona pectoralis, Plebeia jatiformis and Plebeia llorentei honey and to isolate and identify FLAB present in SBH samples. The physicochemical properties of SBH, such as color, pH, acidity, sugars, protein, total soluble solids, water activity, total polyphenols, and antioxidant activity, were determined since these parameters can be related to the presence of some bacteria groups, and with health benefits for humans and the hive ecosystems. FLAB harvested from honey, taken directly from storing pots of the hives, were identified by 16S ribosomal RNA sequencing and preserved for future biotechnological use due to their resistance to non-ionic osmotic stress. The results showed significant differences in the physicochemical characteristics of SBH samples. Seven FLAB from four stingless bee species were identified as Fructobacillus pseudoficulneus and F. tropaeoli. In addition, three other strains of Fructilactobacillus spp. were identified only at the genus level. All species showed the ability to grow under different carbon sources, resulting in negative hemolysis and sensitivity to cefuroxime, erythromycin, and chloramphenicol. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time that the physicochemical and FLAB characterization of SBH from P. jatiformis and P. llorentei has been reported. Therefore, the future following research should be focused on the environmental, health and food biotechnological applications implications of FLAB from SBH.
Cytokines in equine platelet lysate and related blood products
Authors: Moellerberndt Julia , Hagen Alina , Niebert Sabine , Büttner Kathrin , Burk Janina
Published: March 2023

In equine medicine, the use of regenerative therapeutics has gained growing attention, but is still a new and complex field with room for improvement. Platelet lysate (PL) can be used as therapeutic agent but is also a promising supplement for the culture of multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells. To enable a targeted use of PL both in clinic and laboratory, it is crucial to learn more details on its effective ingredients. While so far, mainly growth factor components have been analyzed in platelet-based products such as PL, the current study focuses on the content of cytokines in serum, plasma, platelet concentrate and PL. Blood was harvested from 20 clinically healthy horses and subjected to blood count and chemistry analysis, as well as to further processing to PL. Plasma and platelet concentrate were produced by a buffy-coat-based method and PL was produced from the concentrate by freeze-thawing. Samples from each horse were analyzed regarding interleukin (IL)-1β, −4, −6 and −10, interferon-γ and tumor necrosis factor-α concentrations using sandwich ELISAs. Cytokine concentrations in serum, plasma, concentrate and PL were similar and correlated significantly. However, there was a large inter-individual variability in cytokine concentrations between the different donor horses. The samples from some donor animals had overall very high cytokine concentrations, while samples from other donors had no measurable cytokine ingredient. This pattern was observed for all cytokines. There was a noticeable link between high cytokine concentrations in the blood products and abnormal findings in blood chemistry. Cytokine concentrations in samples from horses with abnormal findings were significantly higher than in samples from the remaining horses. The interindividual differences in cytokine concentrations could be highly relevant when using PL for therapy and cell culture, as the mode of action of the PL is likely changed depending on the presence of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines. Blood chemistry might be useful to predict cytokine concentrations in blood products.
Effect of high-copper diet on transference of blaCTX−M genes among Escherichia coli strains in rats' intestine
Authors: Liu Kang , Li Linqian , Weng Mengwei , Zhang Feng , Guo Rong , Huang Jinhu , Yao Wen
Published: March 2023

Both ceftiofur (CTO) and high copper are widely utilized in animal production in China, and the occurrence of CTX-M-carrying Escherichia coli in food-producing animals is increasing. There are some specific associations between in-feed high-level copper and antibiotic resistance, but research in Gram-negative bacteria such as E. coli remains scarce. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of high-copper diet on the horizontal transfer of blaCTX−M−1 among E. coli. A total of 32 male SPF rats aged 21 days were randomly assigned to the following four groups: control (6 mg/kg in-feed copper, C−), high copper (240 mg/kg in-feed copper, H−), CTO (6 mg/kg in-feed copper with oral CTO administration, C+), and high copper plus CTO (240 mg/kg in-feed copper with oral CTO administration, H+). All rats were orally inoculated with an E. coli strain harboring a conjugative plasmid carrying blaCTX−M−1, and the C+ and H+ groups were given 10 mg/kg of body weight (BW) CTO hydrochloride at 26, 27, and 28 days, while the C− and H− groups were given salad oil at the same dose. Fecal samples collected at different time points were used for the enumeration of E. coli on Mac plates or for molecular analysis using PCR, pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), S1-PFGE, and Southern-blot hybridization. The results showed that the number of the blaCTX−M−1 gene in the H− group was higher and that the loss speed of this gene was slower compared with the C− group. After administration of CTO, the counts of cefotaxime-resistant E. coli were significantly higher in the C+ group than that in the corresponding control group (C+ vs. C−; H+ vs. H−). In the in vitro test, the results showed that the transfer rates of the conjugation induced by the H− (12 mmol/L) group were significantly higher than that of low copper (2 mmol/L) group. The indigenous sensitive isolates, which were homologous to the blaCTX−M-positive isolates of rat feces, were found by PFGE. The further analysis of S1-PFGE and Southern-blot hybridization confirmed that the blaCTX−M−1 gene in new transconjugants was derived from the inoculated strain. Taken together, high-copper diet facilitates the horizontal transfer and maintenance of the resistant genes in the intestine of rats, although the effects of antibiotics on bacterial resistance appearance and maintenance are more obvious.
Botanicals as a zinc oxide alternative to protect intestinal cells from an Escherichia coli F4 infection in vitro by modulation of enterocyte inflammatory response and bacterial virulence
Authors: Bonetti Andrea , Piva Andrea , Grilli Ester
Published: March 2023

Pharmacological doses of zinc oxide (ZnO) have been widely used in pig industry to control post-weaning diarrhea (PWD) symptoms exacerbated by enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli F4 infections. Because of environmental issues and regulatory restrictions, ZnO is no longer sustainable, and novel nutritional alternatives to manage PWD are urgently required. Botanicals represent a wide class of compounds employed in animal nutrition because of their diverse beneficial functions. The aim of this study was to investigate the in vitro protective action of a panel of essential oils and natural extracts on intestinal Caco-2 cells against an E. coli F4 infection. Moreover, we explored the potential mechanisms of action of all the botanicals compared to ZnO. Amongst the others, thyme essential oil, grape seed extract, and Capsicum oleoresin were the most effective in maintaining epithelial integrity and reducing bacterial translocation. Their mechanism of action was related to the modulation of cellular inflammatory response, the protection of tight junctions' expression and function, and the control of bacterial virulence, thus resembling the positive functions of ZnO. Moreover, despite their mild effects on the host side, ginger and tea tree essential oils provided promising results in the control of pathogen adhesion when employed during the challenge. These outcomes support the advantages of employing selected botanicals to manage E. coli F4 infections in vitro, therefore offering novel environmentally-friendly alternatives to pharmacological doses of ZnO capable to modulate host-pathogen interaction at different levels during PWD in pigs.
Bolstering the Moderating Effect of Supervisory Innovative Support on Organisational Learning and Employees’ Engagement
Authors: Joel Opeyemi Olunike , Moses Chinoyen Love , Igbinoba Ebeguki Edith , Olokundun Maxwell Ayodele , Salau Odunayo Paul , Ojebola Oluwatunmise , Adebayo Olufunke P.
Published: March 2023

Organisational learning, as the process of continuous information acquisition, dissemination and exploitation, often leads to an organisation’s competitiveness. Hence, this study examined the relationship between organisational learning and employee engagement. The study also investigated the extent to which supervisory innovative support moderates organisational learning and the effectiveness of employee engagement. Five hundred forty-one (541) participants were surveyed using stratified and purposive sampling methods to make up the sample size. To be more precise, Smart Partial Least Square (PLS 3.0) was used to analyse the relationship between the study’s variables. The hypothesis test found that supervisory innovative support moderated the relationship between organisational learning and employee engagement to a significant extent (R2 = 0.810 Adjusted R2 = 0.806 p-value 0.05). As a result, the study recommends that pharmaceutical companies clarify their policies and culture to employees so that supervisory support can lead to higher employee engagement through organisational learning. Pharmaceutical firms should also provide financial incentives based on employee duration or distinctive contributions to company goals.
Legacy Effect of Long-Term Elevated CO2 and Warming on Soil Properties Controls Soil Organic Matter Decomposition
Authors: Li Jie , Sun Baobao , Liu Cheng , Drosos Marios , Zhang Xuhui , Liu Xiaoyu , Li Lianqing , Pan Genxing
Published: March 2023

Plant litter quality is one of the key factors that control soil organic matter (SOM) decomposition. Under climate change, although significant change in litter quality has been intensively reported, the effect of litter quality change on SOM decomposition is poorly understood. This limits our ability to model the dynamics of soil carbon under climate change. To determine the effect of litter quality and soil property change on SOM decomposition, we performed a controlled, reciprocal transplant and litter decomposition experiments. The soils and plant litters were collected from a long-term field experiment, where four treatments were designed, including: (1) the control without warming at ambient CO2; (2) elevated atmospheric CO2 up to 500 ppm (C); (3) warming plant canopy by 2 °C (T); (4) elevated CO2 plus warming (CT). We found that elevated CO2 and warming altered the litter quality significantly in terms of macronutrients’ content and their stoichiometry. Elevated CO2 decreased the concentration of N in rice and wheat straw, while warming decreased the concentration of N and K in wheat straw. However, the change in plant litter quality did not lead to a shift in SOM decomposition. On the contrary, the legacy effect of long-term elevated CO2 and warming on soil properties dominated the decomposition rate of SOM. Elevated atmospheric CO2 suppressed SOM decomposition mainly by increasing phosphorous availability and lowering the soil C/N, fungi/bacteria ratio, and N-acetyl-glucosaminidase activity, while warming or elevated CO2 plus warming had no effect on SOM decomposition. Our results demonstrated that the changes in soil property other than litter quality control the decomposition of SOM under climate change, and soil property change in respond to climate change should be considered in model developing to predict terrestrial soil carbon dynamics under elevated atmospheric CO2 and warming.
Profiling of Fatty Acids and Rumen Ecosystem of Sheep Fed on a Palm Kernel Cake-Based Diet Substituted with Corn
Authors: Saeed Osama A. , Sani Umar M. , Sazili Awis Q. , Akit Henny , Alimon Abdul R. , Samsudin Anjas A.
Published: March 2023

The purpose of this study was to analyze the effects of corn substitution on the rumen functions and fatty acid profile of Dorper lambs fed a diet based on palm kernel cake (PKC). Corn was replaced with PKC basal diet at the following levels: C0% = (0% corn + 75.3% PKC), C1% = (5% corn + 70.3% PKC) and C2% = (10% corn + 65.3% PKC) of diet. The rumen fermentation was carried out in vitro, and feeding trials were in vivo. Twenty-seven lambs were used to determine gastrointestinal tract content and rumen fluid fatty acid. Rumen liquor was obtained from four fistulae Dorper sheep and incubated with 200 mg of each treatment for 24 and 72 h. In vitro organic matter digestibility (IVOMD), in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD), volatile fatty acids (VFA), methane estimation (CH4), rumen microbial population and fatty acid biohydrogenation were determined. The results of the in vitro study showed there were no significant differences in IVDMD, IVOMD, NH3-N, pH and VFA at 72 h. Higher significant CH4 production was observed in C0% when compared with C1% and C2%. Microbial population did not differ significantly between treatment groups. The rates of biohydrogenation were not affected by corn substitution, although a significant difference was observed in C18:1n9 (in vitro) and C18:1 t-11 (in vivo). In conclusion, the present study indicated that the corn substitution in the PKC diets maintained fermentation characteristics with an increase in unsaturated fatty acids in the rumen.
Simulation of Potassium Availability in the Application of Biochar in Agricultural Soil
Authors: Doulgeris Charalampos , Kypritidou Zacharenia , Kinigopoulou Vasiliki , Hatzigiannakis Evangelos
Published: March 2023

Nutrient availability after fertilising agricultural soils is affected by many factors, including soil moisture conditions and physicochemical properties. Herein, the availability of potassium in soil enriched with biochar is studied, considering either saturated or unsaturated moisture conditions and questioning key ion exchange approaches, such as equilibrium exchange (E.E.) and kinetic exchange (K.E.). Potassium release is simulated from a soil–biochar mixture of 0, 0.5, 1 and 2% by coupling HYDRUS-1D and PHREEQC models. The water flow, mass transport and geochemical processes are simulated for a cultivation period that imitates agronomic and environmental conditions of a common agricultural field in Northern Greece. Potassium is released gradually during the irrigation period in the case of unsaturated flow conditions as opposed to its complete release over a few days in the case of saturated flow conditions in the soil. Regarding ion-exchange processes, the soluble amount of potassium is more readily available for transport in soil solution when using the E.E. approach compared to the K.E. approach that assumes a kinetically controlled release due to interactions occurring at the solid–solution interface. The increased proportion of biochar in soil results in a doubling of available potassium. Among the four modelling schemes, although the total mass of potassium released into soil solution is similar, there is a significant variation in release time, indicating that simplified saturated conditions may lead to unrealistic estimates of nutrient availability. Further experimental work will be valuable to decrease the uncertainty of model parameter estimation in the K.E. approach.
Genotypic Variation in Thai Fragrant Rice in Response to Manganese Application and Its Effects on 2-Acetyl-1-Pyrroline Content, Productivity and Gene Expression
Authors: Inpradit Worawat , Jamjod Sansanee , Prom-u-thai Chanakan , Pusadee Tonapha
Published: March 2023

The fragrance in rice plays a significant role in consumer decisions and is influenced by many environmental factors, e.g., water and fertilizer application during cultivation and post-harvest management. Manganese (Mn) is an essential micronutrient for plant growth and development, and its effects on the fragrance and yield of fragrant rice varieties have not been well-studied. The aim of this research was to determine the effects of Mn application rates on the 2-acetyl-1-pyrroline (2AP) content, yield and gene expression of Thai fragrant varieties. Three rice varieties, i.e., BNM4, KDML105 and KH-CMU, were grown in pots with varying concentrations of MnSO4—150, 200 and 250 mg kg−1 soil—and compared with a control with no Mn application (Mn0). At maturity, the grain yield was evaluated, and the 2AP was analyzed with GC-MS as the grain aroma content. Taken together, the results suggest that Mn application during cultivation tends to increase the 2AP content of fragrant rice and its productivity and tends to affect gene expression. However, it is important to conduct further studies to evaluate the responses for more fragrant rice varieties and additional gene expression, including the determination of key intermediate compounds along the 2AP biosynthesis pathway to confirm the effect of Mn application on fragrant rice. This information could be useful in assisting plant breeders and physiologists in their efforts to improve the crop productivity and grain quality of fragrant rice varieties.
Time Series Feature Extraction Using Transfer Learning Technology for Crop Pest Prediction
Authors: Tsai Ming-Fong , Lan Chun-Ying , Wang Neng-Chung , Chen Lien-Wu
Published: March 2023

Following the rapid development of information and communication technology, and the huge amounts of data that have undergone explosive growth, artificial intelligence and machine learning have been used for predictive analysis in many fields. However, the prediction accuracy of these machine learning recognition models depends on the quality of the features selected for training. It is therefore very important to analyse characteristics that are meaningful and in line with the target variables as the training conditions for machine learning recognition models. In this paper, we analyse the correlation between features and target variables using the Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient, and integrate transfer learning technology for sequential feature extraction to enhance the prediction accuracy of a machine learning recognition model for the prediction of multiple crop pests and diseases as the performance verification target of the proposed method. The performance of our machine learning recognition model is compared with schemes in related work, and our approach is shown to increase the prediction accuracy by between 3% and 15%.
The Effects of Natural Humus Material Amendment on Soil Organic Matter and Integrated Fertility in the Black Soil of Northeast China: Preliminary Results
Authors: Zhao Zhanhui , Zhang Congzhi , Wang Hongye , Li Fang , Pan Hui , Yang Qiang , Li Jianpeng , Zhang Jiabao
Published: March 2023

The input of exogenous organic materials is an effective way to improve soil organic matter (SOM) content in cropland. The exploration of the impact of new organic materials such as woody peat on black soil fertility can provide an important reference for preventing the degradation of black soil in Northeast China. In this study, the effects of adding woody peat to SOM and the soil-integrated fertility of black cropland were studied by seven treatments (no organic matter addition, CK; crop straw returning, SR; decomposed straw addition, DS; organic manure addition, OM; 6 t/ha woody peat addition, LWP; 10.5 t/ha natural humus material addition, MWP; and 15 t/ha natural humus material addition, HWP). The results show that natural humus material additions (LWP, MWP, and HWP treatments) could significantly increase SOM (increased by 4.79~9.41 g/kg), labile SOM (increased by 2.49~4.52 g/kg), and recalcitrant SOM (increased by 2.13~6.39 g/kg) components, respectively. For comparison, traditional organic material inputs (SR, DS, and OM treatments) had no significant effect on SOM but induced an increase in the labile SOM component in the following year. This study also found that natural humus material additions could improve soil-integrated fertility in a year term, especially in promoting SOM accumulation. However, organic manure amendment showed both the advantage of increasing soil fertility slightly and the disadvantage of increasing soil salt sharply. In conclusion, compared with traditional exogenous organic materials, the natural humus material amendment technique can rapidly increase the total SOM quantity and its different stability components and has a great effect in improving the integrated fertility of black soil. Thus, it is of significance to further study the potential of natural humus material amendment in the fertility of black soil in future.
Mycotoxins and Crop Yield in Maize as Affected by Irrigation Management and Tillage Practices
Authors: Herrera Marta , Cavero José , Franco-Luesma Samuel , Álvaro-Fuentes Jorge , Ariño Agustín , Lorán Susana
Published: March 2023

In addition to the weather conditions, agronomic practices can have a major influence on maize crop yield and contamination with mycotoxins. In this work, the effect of different irrigation systems (flood vs. sprinkler irrigation), sprinkler irrigation management (low vs. high frequency, daytime vs. nighttime irrigation) and tillage practices (conventional tillage, no tillage with or without crop stover) on crop yield and the contamination with aflatoxins (AFs), fumonisins (FUM) and deoxynivalenol (DON) were evaluated in the maize grain from two experimental maize fields. No aflatoxins were detected in any of the samples analyzed. DON and FUM levels were significantly higher when the sprinkler irrigation was performed at nighttime (0.54 and 1.21 mg kg−1, respectively) as compared to daytime (0.38 and 0.45 mg kg−1). Likewise, DON and FUM were greater when irrigation frequency was low (0.61 and 1.09 mg kg−1, respectively) in comparison with high frequency (0.30 and 0.57 mg kg−1). DON concentrations were significantly higher in fields with sprinkler irrigation (0.53 mg kg−1) as compared to flood irrigation (0.19 mg kg−1), while the levels of FUM were very similar regardless of the maize irrigation system. Mycotoxin concentrations were not affected by the different soil tillage practices. This highlights the importance of implementing crop management practices to minimize the risk of mycotoxin contamination in maize.
Spread of blaCTX-M-9 and Other Clinically Relevant Resistance Genes, Such as mcr-9 and qnrA1, Driven by IncHI2-ST1 Plasmids in Clinical Isolates of Monophasic Salmonella enterica Serovar Typhimurium ST34
Authors: Vázquez Xenia , Fernández Javier , Alkorta Miriam , de Toro María , Rodicio M. Rosario , Rodicio Rosaura
Published: March 2023

The monophasic 4,[5],12:i:-variant of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium with sequence type ST34 has become one of the most prevalent non-typhoidal salmonellae worldwide. In the present study, we thoroughly characterized seven isolates of this variant detected in a Spanish hospital and selected based on cefotaxime resistance and cefoxitin susceptibility, mediated by blaCTX-M-9. For this, conventional microbiological techniques, together with whole genome sequencing performed with the Illumina platform, were applied. All selected isolates carried the resistance region RR or variants therein, and most also contained the SGI-4 genomic island. These chromosomal elements, typically associated with monophasic S. Typhimurium ST34, confer resistance to traditional antibiotics (ampicillin, streptomycin, sulfonamides, and tetracycline) and tolerance to heavy metals (mercury, silver, and copper). In addition, each isolate carried a large IncHI2-ST1 conjugative plasmid containing additional or redundant resistance genes. All harbored the blaCTX-M-9 gene responsible for cefotaxime resistance, whereas the qnrA1 gene mediating fluoroquinolone resistance was detected in two of the plasmids. These genes were embedded in ISCR1-bearing complex class 1 integrons, specifically In60-like and In36-like. The mcr-9 gene was present in all but one of the IncHI2-ST1 plasmids found in the analyzed isolates, which were nevertheless susceptible to colistin. Most of the resistance genes of plasmid origin clustered within a highly complex and variable region. The observed diversity results in a wide range of resistance phenotypes, enabling bacterial adaptation to selective pressure posed by the use of antimicrobials.