bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Traditional Food Environment and Factors Affecting Indigenous Food Consumption in Munda Tribal Community of Jharkhand, India
Authors: Ghosh-Jerath Suparna , Kapoor Ridhima , Barman Satabdi , Singh Geetanjali , Singh Archna , Downs Shauna , Fanzo Jessica
Published: February 2021

Indigenous food (IF) systems, derived from natural ecosystems are perceived to be sustainable and nutritionally adequate. Mundas, an indigenous tribal community in Jharkhand India, are surrounded by rich agroforestry resources, yet display high levels of malnutrition. Our study explored the food environment of Munda community, different IFs they accessed, levels of utilization of IFs in routine diets, their nutritional attributes and factors influencing IF consumption. A cross-sectional mixed-methods study was conducted in nine villages of Murhu and Torpa blocks in Khunti district, Jharkhand. Using focus group discussions and key informant interviews, we did free-listing of IFs known to the community. This was followed by enumerating preferred and little used/historically consumed IFs, along with reasons. Qualitative enquiries were recorded and transcribed verbatim; data were coded and analyzed using thematic framework approach. The listed IFs were identified through common names and photographs, and verified by ethnobotanist in the team. The nutritive values of identified IFs were searched in literature or nutritional analysis of specific plant based foods were undertaken in an accredited laboratory. The community demonstrated traditional ecological knowledge of several IFs (n= 194), which are accessed from wild, cultivated and built food environments. Taxonomic classification was available for 80% (n= 156) IFs, out of which 60 foods had nutritive values in secondary literature and 42 foods were analyzed in laboratory. Many IFs were rich in micronutrients like calcium, iron, folate, vitamin A and C. Among the listed IFs, only 45% were commonly consumed, while rest were little used/historically consumed. Factors like desirable taste, satiety, perceived nutrition benefits, adaptability to climate variability, traditional practice of food preservation and their cultural importance promoted IF consumption. However, local climatic impacts on agroforestry systems, easy access to foods bought from markets or distributed under government food security schemes, and promotion of hybrid seeds by local agricultural organizations, emerged as potential barriers. Thus, reinforcement of traditional ecological knowledge and informal food literacy, along with promotion of climate resilient attributes of IFs, can contribute to sustainable food systems in Munda community.
Predictive Values of Programmed Cell Death-Ligand 1 Expression for Prognosis, Clinicopathological Factors, and Response to Programmed Cell Death-1/Programmed Cell Death-Ligand 1 Inhibitors in Patients With Gynecological Cancers: A Meta-Analysis
Authors: Zhang Chen , Yang Qing
Published: February 2021

Background

The prognostic value of programmed cell death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) in gynecological cancers has been explored previously, but the conclusion remains controversial due to limited evidence. This study aimed to conduct an updated meta-analysis to re-investigate the predictive significance of PD-L1 expression.

Methods

PubMed, EMBASE and Cochrane Library databases were searched. The associations between PD-L1 expression status and prognosis [overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), recurrence-free survival (RFS), cancer-specific survival (CSS) or disease-free survival (DFS)], clinical parameters [FIGO stage, lymph node metastasis (LNM), tumor size, infiltration depth, lymphovascular space invasion (LVSI) or grade] and response to anti-PD-1/PD-L1 treatment [objective response rate (ORR)] were analyzed by hazard ratios (HR) or relative risks (RR).

Results

Fifty-five studies were enrolled. Overall, high PD-L1 expression was not significantly associated with OS, PFS, RFS, CSS and DFS of gynecological cancers. However, subgroup analysis of studies with reported HR (HR = 1.27) and a cut-off value of 5% (HR = 2.10) suggested that high PD-L1 expression was correlated with a shorter OS of gynecological cancer patients. Further sub-subgroup analysis revealed that high PD-L1 expressed on tumor-infiltrating immune cells (TICs) predicted a favorable OS for ovarian (HR = 0.72), but a poor OS for cervical cancer (HR = 3.44). PD-L1 overexpression was also correlated with a lower OS rate in non-Asian endometrial cancer (HR = 1.60). High level of PD-L1 was only clinically correlated with a shorter PFS in Asian endometrial cancer (HR = 1.59). Furthermore, PD-L1-positivity was correlated with LNM (for overall, ovarian and endometrial cancer expressed on tumor cells), advanced FIGO stage (for overall, ovarian cancer expressed on tumor cells, endometrial cancer expressed on tumor cells and TICs), LVSI (for overall and endometrial cancer expressed on tumor cells and TICs), and increasing infiltration depth/high grade (only for endometrial cancer expressed on TICs). Patients with PD-L1-positivity may obtain more benefit from anti-PD-1/PD-L1 treatment than the negative group, showing a higher ORR (RR = 1.98), longer OS (HR = 0.34) and PFS (HR = 0.61).

Conclusion

Our findings suggest high PD-L1 expression may be a suitable biomarker for predicting the clinical outcomes in patients with gynecological cancers.
Clinicopathological Characteristics and Treatment Strategies of Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Patients With a Survival Longer than 5 Years
Authors: Xie Ning , Xu Ying , Zhong Ying , Li Junwei , Yao Herui , Qin Tao
Published: February 2021

Purpose

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is characterized by high malignancy and a poor prognosis. Patients with TNBC who survive longer than 5 years represent a unique portion of the population. This study aimed to analyze the clinicopathological features, explore prognostic factors, and evaluate treatment options for these patients.

Methods

A total of 24,943 TNBC patients were enrolled from the national Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database between January 2010 and December 2016. The patients were divided into three groups: group 1, survival time <3 years; group 2, 3–5 years; and group 3, survival time ≥5 years. The overall survival (OS) and breast cancer cause-specific survival (BCSS) were primarily assessed in this study. A propensity score analysis was used to avoid bias caused by the data selection criteria. We used a Cox hazard ratio analysis to determine prognostic factors, which were selected as nomogram parameters to develop a model for predicting patient survival.

Results

Patients who survived longer than 5 years were more likely to be younger than 55 years, Caucasian, and exhibit a lower AJCC stage, N stage, distant metastasis, lymph node (LN) involvement, and tumor size than those with a shorter survival time (p < 0.05). The multivariable Cox regression analysis showed that age, race, tumor size, LN status, and chemotherapy were independent prognostic factors. Subgroup analyses for patients with tumors ≤20 mm displayed a superior OS and BCSS for breast-conserving surgery (BCS) not treated with a mastectomy. BCS provided at least an equivalent prognosis to a mastectomy in patients with tumors larger than 20 mm. A nomogram with a C-index of 0.776 (95% confidence interval: 0.767–0.785) was developed to predict the 3- and 5-year survival probability for the patients with TNBC.

Conclusion

A localized surgical approach may represent a superior choice for TNBC patients with a survival time longer than 5 years. Our study indicated that age, race, tumor size, LN status, and chemotherapy were independent prognostic factors. A prognostic nomogram directly quantified patient risk and was better able to predict long-term survival in TNBC patients.
Neoadjuvant Cabozantinib in an Unresectable Locally Advanced Renal Cell Carcinoma Patient Leads to Downsizing of Tumor Enabling Surgical Resection: A Case Report
Authors: Bilen Mehmet A. , Jiang James F. , Jansen Caroline S. , Brown Jacqueline T. , Harik Lara R. , Sekhar Aarti , Kissick Haydn , Maithel Shishir K. , Kucuk Omer , Carthon Bradley , Master Viraj A.
Published: February 2021

Introduction

Cabozantinib (XL-184) is a small molecule inhibitor of the tyrosine kinases c-Met, AXL, and VEGFR2 that has been shown to reduce tumor growth, metastasis, and angiogenesis. After the promising results from the METEOR and CABOSUN trials, cabozantinib was approved for use in the first- and second-line setting in patients with advanced RCC. Previously, targeted therapies have been used in the neoadjuvant setting for tumor size reduction and facilitating nephrectomies. The increased response rates with cabozantinib in metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC), along with the other neoadjuvant TKI data, strongly support an expanded role for cabozantinib in the neoadjuvant setting.

Case Description

We report on a 59-year-old gentleman presenting with an unresectable 21.7 cm left renal cell carcinoma (RCC) with extension to soft tissue and muscles of the thoracic cage, psoas muscle, posterior abdominal wall, tail of pancreas, splenic flexure of colon, and inferior margin of spleen. Presurgical, neoadjuvant systemic therapy with cabozantinib was initiated for 11 months in total. Initially after 2 months of cabozantinib, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a significant reduction (44.2%) in tumor diameter from 21.7 to 12.1 cm with decreased extension into adjacent structures. After 11 months total of cabozantinib, the corresponding MRI showed grossly stable size of the tumor and significant resolution of invasion of adjacent structures. After washout of cabozantinib, radical resection, including nephrectomy, was successfully performed without any major complications, either intra-operative or perioperative. Negative margins were achieved.

Conclusions

This is a report of neoadjuvant cabozantinib downsizing a tumor and enabling surgical resection in this patient with locally advanced RCC. Our findings demonstrate that neoadjuvant cabozantinib to facilitate subsequent surgical resection may be a feasible option for patients presenting with unresectable RCC.
Crizotinib and Sunitinib Induce Hepatotoxicity and Mitochondrial Apoptosis in L02 Cells via ROS and Nrf2 Signaling Pathway
Authors: Guo Lin , Gong Hui , Tang Ting-Li , Zhang Bi-Kui , Zhang Lei-Yi , Yan Miao
Published: February 2021

Considerable attention has been raised on crizotinib- and sunitinib-induced hepatotoxicity, but the underlying mechanisms need further examination. In addition, limited therapeutic strategies exist to reduce the liver damage caused by crizotinib and sunitinib. This study investigated the mechanisms of crizotinib- and sunitinib-induced hepatotoxicity and the potential mitigation through ROS and Nrf2 signaling. Firstly, crizotinib and sunitinib reduced cell viability in human liver cells (L02 cells) and triggered dramatic liver injury in mice. Subsequently, we found that crizotinib and sunitinib activated the oxidative stress response (decreased level of GPx and SOD, and increased MDA content) in vivo. Crizotinib and sunitinib also stimulated hepatocyte mitochondrial apoptosis and necrosis in L02 cells in a dose-dependent manner. In vivo studies further confirmed that crizotinib and sunitinib decreased mitochondrial membrane potential and activated apoptosis-associated proteins (cleaved-PARP, cleaved caspase3, cytochrome c, Bcl2 and Bax). Furthermore, mechanistic investigations demonstrated that crizotinib and sunitinib accumulated ROS and inhibited Nrf2 signaling, and that ROS scavenger NAC and Nrf2 agonist tBHQ alleviated the extent of cell damage and the mitochondrial apoptosis during crizotinib- and sunitinib-induced hepatotoxicity in L02 cells. Collectively, these findings indicated that NAC and tBHQ play the crucial roles in crizotinib- and sunitinib-induced mitochondrial apoptosis via the regulation of oxidative stress.
SeedExtractor: An Open-Source GUI for Seed Image Analysis
Authors: Zhu Feiyu , Paul Puneet , Hussain Waseem , Wallman Kyle , Dhatt Balpreet K. , Sandhu Jaspreet , Irvin Larissa , Morota Gota , Yu Hongfeng , Walia Harkamal
Published: February 2021

Accurate measurement of seed size parameters is essential for both breeding efforts aimed at enhancing yields and basic research focused on discovering genetic components that regulate seed size. To address this need, we have developed an open-source graphical user interface (GUI) software, SeedExtractor that determines seed size and shape (including area, perimeter, length, width, circularity, and centroid), and seed color with capability to process a large number of images in a time-efficient manner. In this context, our application takes ∼2 s for analyzing an image, i.e., significantly less compared to the other tools. As this software is open-source, it can be modified by users to serve more specific needs. The adaptability of SeedExtractor was demonstrated by analyzing scanned seeds from multiple crops. We further validated the utility of this application by analyzing mature-rice seeds from 231 accessions in Rice Diversity Panel 1. The derived seed-size traits, such as seed length, width, were used for genome-wide association analysis. We identified known loci for regulating seed length (GS3) and width (qSW5/GW5) in rice, which demonstrates the accuracy of this application to extract seed phenotypes and accelerate trait discovery. In summary, we present a publicly available application that can be used to determine key yield-related traits in crops.
Tissue-Specific Hormonal Variations in Grapes of Irrigated and Non-irrigated Grapevines (Vitis vinifera cv. “Merlot”) Growing Under Mediterranean Field Conditions
Authors: Ribalta-Pizarro Camila , Muñoz Paula , Munné-Bosch Sergi
Published: February 2021

Agricultural practices in grapevines management include water restrictions due to its positive effect on wine quality, especially when applied at fruit ripening. Although the effects of water stress in some groups of phytohormones have already been described in leaves and whole grapes, information regarding tissue-specific variations in hormones during ripening in grapes is scarce. Field-grown grapevines from the cv. “Merlot” were subjected to two differential water supplies, including only rainfed, non-irrigated vines (T0) and vines additionally irrigated with 25Lweek−1 vine−1 (T1). Tissue-specific variations in the hormonal profiling of grapes [including changes in the contents of abscisic acid (ABA), jasmonic acid (JA), salicylic acid (SA), the ethylene precursor 1-amino-cyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC), the auxin indole-3-acetic acid, gibberellins 1, 3, 4, and 7 (GA1, GA3, GA4, and GA7), the cytokinins trans-zeatin, and 2-isopentenyl adenine, including as well their respective ribosylated forms] were periodically evaluated from veraison to harvest. The hormonal profiling in leaves was also measured at the beginning and end of the season for comparison. Results showed that grape growth dynamics were transiently affected by the differences in water regimes, the increased water supply leading to an accelerated growth, slightly reduced accumulation of sugars, and transiently lowered pH, although grape quality did not differ between treatments at harvest. Hormonal profiling of whole berries did not reveal any difference in the endogenous contents of phytohormones between treatments, except for a transient decrease in GA4 contents in T1 compared to T0 vines, which was not confirmed at the tissular level. Hormonal profiling at the tissue level highlighted a differential accumulation of phytohormones during ripening in berry tissues, with pulps being particularly poor in ABA, JA, and SA contents, seeds particularly accumulating ACC, gibberellins, and zeatin-type cytokinins, and the skin being particularly rich in auxin and active cytokinins. Changes in water supply led to very small and transient changes in the endogenous contents of phytohormones in the seeds, pulp, and skin of berries, the most remarkable variations being observed in cytokinin contents, which increased earlier [between 5 and 12days after veraison (DAV)] but later kept more constant in the skin from T1 compared to T0 vines and were also 3-fold higher at 40 DAV in seeds of T1 compared to T0 vines. It is concluded that small changes in water supply can trigger hormonal-driven physiological adjustments at the tissular level affecting the evolution of fruit growth and quality throughout grape berry ripening.
Episodic Autobiographical Memory in Adults With Autism Spectrum Disorder: An Exploration With the Autobiographical Interview
Authors: Coutelle Romain , Goltzene Marc-André , Canton Marie , Campiglia-Sabourin Mélodie , Rabot Juliette , Bizet Éric , Schoenberger Marie , Berna Fabrice , Danion Jean-Marie
Published: February 2021

Introduction: The literature has provided contradictory results regarding the status of episodic memory in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This might be explained by methodological differences across studies. In the present one, the well-recommended Autobiographical Interview was used in which important aspects of episodic memory were assessed, namely, the number and richness of phenomenological memory details, before and after a retrieval support.

Method: Twenty-five well-documented adults with ASD without Intellectual Disability (nine women) and 25 control participants were included and asked to recall six specific autobiographical events. The number and richness of details were assessed globally and for five categories of details (perceptual/sensory, temporal, contextual, emotional, and cognitive), firstly before and then after a specific cueing phase consisting in a series of specific questions to elicit more precise memory details.

Results: Cumulatively, from the spontaneous recall to the cueing phase, the number of internal details was lower in ASD individuals compared to controls, but this difference was relevant only after the specific cueing procedure and observed only for contextual details. In contrast, no relevant group difference was observed during spontaneous recall. The detail richness was not impaired in ASD throughout the Autobiographical Interview procedure.

Conclusion: Our results speak against a clear impairment of episodicity of autobiographical memory in ASD individuals. They thus challenge previous ones showing both a reduced specificity and episodicity of autobiographical memory in this population and call for further studies to get a better understanding on the status of episodic autobiographical memory in ASD.
COVID-19 Pandemic: Demographic Predictors of Self-Isolation or Self-Quarantine and Impact of Isolation and Quarantine on Perceived Stress, Anxiety, and Depression
Authors: Nkire Nnamdi , Mrklas Kelly , Hrabok Marianne , Gusnowski April , Vuong Wesley , Surood Shireen , Abba-Aji Adam , Urichuk Liana , Cao Bo , Greenshaw Andrew J. , Agyapong Vincent I. O.
Published: February 2021

Introduction: With the sudden onset and global dispersal of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, many nations including Canada attempted to reduce spread of the resultant COVID-19 syndrome with self-isolation and quarantine, while seeking a cure or vaccine for this disease. Understanding impacts of self-isolation and self-quarantine on stress, anxiety, and depression will help us to mitigate these issues through appropriate development of mental health services.

Methods: The sample was drawn from individuals who self-subscribed to Text4Hope, a service that delivers text messages based on a cognitive behavioral therapy framework. Text4Hope was developed to support Albertans during the COVID-19 pandemic. Subscribers were asked for demographic information and if they had to self-isolate or self-quarantine during the pandemic via a survey link. Mental health was assessed using the validated instruments: Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 item scale (GAD-7), and the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). Descriptive statistics and Chi-Square test results were derived using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version-26.

Results: 6,041 of 32,805 Text4Hope subscribers (18.4%) completed the survey. Of these respondents, 19.2% had self-isolated or self-quarantined in Alberta as of March 31, 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. Post-hoc analysis using adjusted residuals suggested that individuals aged 60 years of age or older, and retirees had a higher likelihood of self-isolation or self-quarantine, compared to respondents with other age or employment characteristics. One-week prevalence rates for self-reported measures of moderate to high stress, likely Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), and likely Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) were 84.9, 46.7, and 41.4%, respectively. Respondents who had to self-isolate or self-quarantine during the COVID-19 pandemic were significantly more likely to present with moderate to high stress, significant anxiety symptomatology, and significant depressive symptomatology.

Conclusions: Older age and employment status were significantly associated with the likelihood of self-isolation or self-quarantine. We found elevated self-reported levels of anxiety and depression associated with self-reported COVID-19 pandemic-related self-isolation and self-quarantine activity. These findings have mental health implications both during and after the pandemic and demonstrate the need for greater focus on psychological complications of self-isolation and self-quarantine, and development of optimal ways to manage these pandemic consequences.
Correlation of Demographics, Healthcare Availability, and COVID-19 Outcome: Indonesian Ecological Study
Authors: Wirawan Gede Benny Setia , Januraga Pande Putu
Published: February 2021

Objective: To analyze the correlation between demographic and healthcare availability indicators with COVID-19 outcome among Indonesian provinces.

Methods: We employed an ecological study design to study the correlation between demographics, healthcare availability, and COVID-19 indicators. Demographic and healthcare indicators were obtained from the Indonesian Health Profile of 2019 by the Ministry of Health while COVID-19 indicators were obtained from the Indonesian COVID-19 website in August 31st 2020. Non-parametric correlation and multivariate regression analyses were conducted with IBM SPSS 23.0.

Results: We found the number of confirmed cases and case growth to be significantly correlated with demographic indicators, especially with distribution of age groups. Confirmed cases and case growth was significantly correlated (p < 0.05) with population density (correlation coefficient of 0.461 and 0.491) and proportion of young people (−0.377; −0.394). Incidence and incidence growth were correlated with ratios of GPs (0.426; 0.534), hospitals (0.376; 0.431), primary care clinics (0.423; 0.424), and hospital beds (0.472; 0.599) per capita. For mortality, case fatality rate (CFR) was correlated with population density (0.390) whereas mortality rate was correlated with ratio of hospital beds (0.387). Multivariate analyses found confirmed case independently associated with population density (β of 0.638) and demographic structure (−0.289). Case growth was independently associated with density (0.763). Incidence growth was independently associated with hospital bed ratio (0.486).

Conclusion: Pre-existing inequality of healthcare availability correlates with current reported incidence and mortality rate of COVID-19. Lack of healthcare availability in some provinces may have resulted in artificially low numbers of cases being diagnosed, lower demands for COVID-19 tests, and eventually lower case-findings.
Potential of Lacto-Gypsum as an Amendment to Build Soil Quality
Authors: Bondi Giulia , Fenton Owen , Sawdekar Parikshit , Keane Hilda , Wall David P.
Published: February 2021

Strategies for the use of amendments on agricultural soils are needed to help build resilience against potential soil threats. Gypsum is commonly applied to improve soil quality and nutrient supply. However, the sustainability and environmental safety of some gypsum sources is uncertain. This study aims to i. characterize a new by-product, lacto-gypsum, derived from a dairy whey side stream over a 1 year pilot production cycle and ii. assess the temporal variability of the raw form of lacto-gypsum and the stability of its physico-chemical and compositional properties when stored under three potential storage regimes. Results showed that lacto-gypsum compares favorably with conventional equivalents in terms of nutrient and trace element concentrations and represents an environmentally safe material free of contaminants. Storage form did not affect its main physico-chemical characteristics over time and the raw lacto-gypsum remained stable up to 20 days when stored at 4°C. In contrast to conventional gypsum, the lacto-gypsum had very low pH. In general this new lacto-gypsum shows potential as a suitable product for use as a soil amendment or as an acidification agent for animal slurry to reduce ammonia gas emissions during storage. However, further evaluation of this by-product in real life scenarios is required.
Efficiency Quality Index (EQI)—Implementing a Novel Metric That Delivers Overall Institutional Excellence and Value for Patients
Authors: Cerfolio Robert J. , Chang Stephanie H.
Published: February 2021

In the last decade, healthcare systems have shifted their focus from increased volume of patients and procedures to improving patient outcomes and quality. While there are many societies and companies that have surrogate measures of excellence, these metrics are determined by those who do not directly participate and fully understand the best measurements of quality. In order to better assess quality and value, the Efficiency Quality Index (EQI) was created. The novel aspect of the EQI is the determination of metrics by the physicians who actually perform the procedures, in order to create an accurate and fair measurement of performance and outcomes. In this article, we describe how to create and implement the EQI, as well as outline its benefits.
Early Life Modifiable Exposures and Their Association With Owner Reported Inflammatory Bowel Disease Symptoms in Adult Dogs
Authors: Hemida Manal , Vuori Kristiina A. , Moore Robin , Anturaniemi Johanna , Hielm-Björkman Anna
Published: February 2021

Background: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is an idiopathic multifactorial disease in humans and dogs, usually assigned to the interactions between genes, gut microbiota, diet, environment, and the immune system. We aimed to investigate the modifiable early life exposures associated with IBD in dogs.

Materials and Methods: The study data was extracted from the validated owner-reported DogRisk food frequency questionnaire. This was a cross-sectional questionnaire-based study that tested 21 different early life dietary and environmental, demographic and genetic variables for their association with IBD or not, in adult dogs. A total of 7,015 dogs participated in this study. The study covered early life periods; prenatal, neonatal, early, and late postnatal periods. Two feeding patterns, a non-processed meat-based diet (NPMD) and an ultra-processed carbohydrate-based diet (UPCD) were studied. Data was analyzed using logistic regression analysis with a backward stepwise deletion.

Results: From the final models we found that the NPMD during early and late postnatal periods were significantly associated with lower IBD risk later in life. The UPCD during the same periods was associated with a higher risk of IBD incidence. Also, the maternal diet during the neonatal period showed a non-significant trend of lower IBD risk in the offspring with the NPMD and a higher IBD risk with the UPCD. Additionally, the normal body weight of puppies during the first 6 months of age was associated with a lower risk of IBD in adulthood while, slim puppies associated significantly with IBD in adulthood. From the non-modifiable background variables, we identified the maternal history of IBD as the strongest risk factor for later incidence of IBD. Furthermore, male dogs were twice as likely to develop IBD as female dogs were.

Conclusions: It is reassuring for owners to know that they themselves can have an impact on their dog's health. A high-fat, low-carbohydrate NPMD exposure during early life, and a normal body condition in puppyhood were significantly associated with less IBD in adult dogs. The opposite was true for UPCD exposure and abnormal body condition score in 6 month old puppies.
Case Report: Surgical Correction of a Cystic Duct Stump Leakage Following Cholecystectomy Using an Autologous Rectus Sheath Graft in a Dog
Authors: Han Hyun-Jung , Kim Kyu-Cahng , Yoon Hun-Young
Published: February 2021

A 2.7 kg, 13-year-old, castrated male Yorkshire Terrier was presented with bile peritonitis after cholecystectomy. Exploratory coeliotomy to identify and correct bile leakage revealed that the transected end of the cystic duct was open with no in-situ ligatures or vascular clips. The residual cystic duct stump was too short to ligate or seal directly. An autologous rectus sheath graft, harvested from the internal leaf of the rectus sheath, was used to patch the cystic duct stump. The graft was secured over the open duct using several simple interrupted sutures and covered with an omentalization. The clinical signs resolved after surgery, except for a transient increase in hepatobiliary enzyme levels and intrahepatic bile duct dilatation. The enzyme levels returned to near normal on day 25 after surgery. No intrahepatic bile duct dilatation was detected on day 55 after surgery. The owner was contacted for 3 years post-operatively and reported that the dog remained healthy without any long-term complications. Grafting using autologous rectus sheath can be used to treat cystic duct stump leakage that cannot be managed with direct closure using traditional modalities due to spatial constraints.
Intake Vaccinations Reduced Signs of Canine Respiratory Disease During an Outbreak at an Animal Shelter
Authors: Andrukonis Allison , Brown Kelsea M. , Hall Nathaniel J. , Protopopova Alexandra
Published: February 2021

Animal shelters provide an ideal environment for the spread of disease. Dogs are often housed in close quarters with others of unknown vaccine histories, and experience high levels of sustained stress. As a result, Canine Infection Respiratory Disease (CIRD) is often prevalent and difficult to control. The aims of this study were to (1) identify specific pathogens responsible for CIRD in a city shelter in West Texas, USA, and (2) determine whether intake vaccinations decrease proportion of dogs exhibiting signs of CIRD even during an outbreak. A laboratory analysis of conjunctival, pharyngeal, and nasal swabs (n = 15 dogs) and fecal samples (n = 6 kennels) showed prevalence of various CIRD pathogens (e.g., canine adenovirus-2, canine parainfluenza virus, canine distemper virus). All fifteen dogs tested positive for at least one pathogen, with the most prevalent pathogen being Canine Distemper Virus (CDV; n = 12). All of the kennels (n=6) tested positive for Canine Distemper Virus. Health data on dogs (n = 1,258) over the age of 6 weeks were assessed from May to August 2017. Beginning in July, both stray and owner-surrendered dogs were vaccinated with Nobivac® Canine 1-DAPPv 5 Way and Nobivac® Intra-Trac® 3 upon intake, which differed from the previous policy. For each day in the study, we calculated the proportion of dogs in each nasal discharge category, the proportion of dogs observed coughing, and the mean fecal score across all dogs. We conducted a linear regression between the proportion of the shelter vaccinated and the proportion of dogs coughing. At the beginning of the vaccination phase, ~25% of the dogs were coughing. However, as the proportion of the dogs vaccinated increased, the proportion of dogs coughing decreased. There was a significant decrease of 7% of the proportion of dogs coughing when vaccination was at least at 90% compared to when it was <90%. These data suggest that the shelter in this study was experiencing a CIRD outbreak, with CDV being primary pathogen, and that it is possible to substantially reduce illness by implementing a vaccination on intake protocol. The current study provides support for the importance of vaccination in animal shelter welfare.
Mitigation of Non-CO2 Aviation’s Climate Impact by Changing Cruise Altitudes
Authors: Matthes Sigrun , Lim Ling , Burkhardt Ulrike , Dahlmann Katrin , Dietmüller Simone , Grewe Volker , Haslerud Amund S. , Hendricks Johannes , Owen Bethan , Pitari Giovanni , Righi Mattia , Skowron Agnieszka
Published: February 2021

Aviation is seeking for ways to reduce its climate impact caused by CO2 emissions and non-CO2 effects. Operational measures which change overall flight altitude have the potential to reduce climate impact of individual effects, comprising CO2 but in particular non-CO2 effects. We study the impact of changes of flight altitude, specifically aircraft flying 2000 feet higher and lower, with a set of global models comprising chemistry-transport, chemistry-climate and general circulation models integrating distinct aviation emission inventories representing such alternative flight altitudes, estimating changes in climate impact of aviation by quantifying radiative forcing and induced temperature change. We find in our sensitivity study that flying lower leads to a reduction of radiative forcing of non-CO2 effects together with slightly increased CO2 emissions and impacts, when cruise speed is not modified. Flying higher increases radiative forcing of non-CO2 effects by about 10%, together with a slight decrease of CO2 emissions and impacts. Overall, flying lower decreases aviation-induced temperature change by about 20%, as a decrease of non-CO2 impacts by about 30% dominates over slightly increasing CO2 impacts assuming a sustained emissions scenario. Those estimates are connected with a large but unquantified uncertainty. To improve the understanding of mechanisms controlling the aviation climate impact, we study the geographical distributions of aviation-induced modifications in the atmosphere, together with changes in global radiative forcing and suggest further efforts in order to reduce long standing uncertainties.
Constrained Urban Airspace Design for Large-Scale Drone-Based Delivery Traffic
Authors: Doole Malik , Ellerbroek Joost , Knoop Victor L. , Hoekstra Jacco M.
Published: February 2021

Large-scale adoption of drone-based delivery in urban areas promise societal benefits with respect to emissions and on-ground traffic congestion, as well as potential cost savings for drone-based logistic companies. However, for this to materialise, the ability of accommodating high volumes of drone traffic in an urban airspace is one of the biggest challenges. For unconstrained airspace, it has been shown that traffic alignment and segmentation can be used to mitigate conflict probability. The current study investigates the application of these principles to a highly constrained airspace. We propose two urban airspace concepts, applying road-based analogies of two-way and one-way streets by imposing horizontal structure. Both of the airspace concepts employ heading-altitude rules to vertically segment cruising traffic according to their travel direction. These airspace configurations also feature transition altitudes to accommodate turning flights that need to decrease the flight speed in order to make safe turns at intersections. While using fast-time simulation experiments, the performance of these airspace concepts is compared and evaluated for multiple traffic demand densities in terms of safety, stability, and efficiency. The results reveal that an effective way to structure drone traffic in a constrained urban area is to have vertically segmented altitude layers with respect to travel direction as well as horizontal constraints imposed to the flow of traffic. The study also makes recommendations for areas of future research, which are aimed at supporting dynamic traffic demand patterns.
Repeated Application of Rice Straw Stabilizes Soil Bacterial Community Composition and Inhibits Clubroot Disease
Authors: Han Zhe , Di Chengqian , Rahman Muhammad Khashi u , Gao Danmei , Wu Fengzhi , Pan Kai
Published: February 2021

Straw amendment can improve soil properties and is an effective strategy to control soil-borne diseases. However, gramineous straw application to vegetable fields has rarely been studied. In this study, rice straw was added to the field of Chinese cabbage for one or two years (repeated), and Chinese cabbage plant growth, disease occurrence and changes in soil chemical properties were measured. In addition, the bacterial community composition of Chinese cabbage was analyzed using Illumina MiSeq sequencing. Results showed that rice straw application increased the content of available nutrients, pH and electrical conductivity, but decreased the diversity and richness of the bacterial community. The relative abundances of Acidobacteria and Chloroflexi were increased after repeated rice straw application, which were associated with the available potassium and pH in the soil. Network analysis revealed that rice straw amendment differentially affected the key bacterial genera. These results suggest that repeated application of rice straw changed the soil chemical properties and altered the bacterial community composition to suppress the clubroot disease incidence in Chinese cabbage.
The Crucial Role of Soil Organic Matter in Satisfying the Phosphorus Requirements of Olive Trees (Olea europaea L.)
Authors: Christopoulou Niki , Chatzistathis Theocharis , Papatheodorou Efimia M. , Aschonitis Vassilis , Monokrousos Nikolaos
Published: February 2021

Under high organic matter content, even under low extractable soil P concentrations, sufficient or over-sufficient foliar P levels may be found. This multi-year study aimed at examining the effects of organic matter content and irrigation management on (a) soil fertility, (b) P-cycle related soil enzymes (acid and alkaline phosphatase, pyrophosphatase) and (c) foliar nutrient concentrations. Irrigated and non-irrigated groves of fully productive trees of the cultivar “Chondrolia Chalkidikis” with low organic matter (LOM < 1.5%), medium organic matter (1.5% < MOM < 2.5%) and high organic matter (HOM > 2.5%) were selected for the experimentation. It was hypothesized that olive groves receiving high inorganic fertilization and irrigation inputs (usually with medium to relatively low organic matter content) would show higher soil and foliar P concentrations compared to the non-irrigated groves with higher organic matter content receiving manure applications. Most of the soil variables (including the three enzymes’ activities) were affected by differences in organic matter content. However, organic matter content did not show a significant influence on foliar nutrient concentrations. Olive trees, especially those cultivated in soils with high organic matter content (receiving organic fertilization), can over-satisfy their P nutritional needs, even though soil analyses show low soil extractable P concentrations, probably due to the high enzymatic activity of acid and alkaline phosphatases. The practical conclusion of this study is that P fertilizer recommendations should be primarily based on foliar P rather than on extractable soil P.
Weed Management and Economic Analysis of a Robotic Lawnmower: A Case Study in a Japanese Pear Orchard
Authors: Hossain Muhammad Zakaria , Komatsuzaki Masakazu
Published: February 2021

The use of robots is increasing in agriculture, but there is a lack of suitable robotic technology for weed management in orchards. A robotic lawnmower (RLM) was installed, and its performance was studied between 2017 and 2019 in a pear orchard (1318 m2) at Ibaraki University, Ami. We found that the RLM could control the weeds in an orchard throughout a year at a minimum height (average weed height, WH: 44 ± 15 mm, ± standard deviation (SD) and dry weed biomass, DWB: 103 ± 25 g m−2). However, the RLM experiences vibration problems while running over small pears (33 ± 8 mm dia.) during fruit thinning periods, which can stop blade mobility. During pear harvesting, fallen fruits (80 ± 12 mm dia.) strike the blade and become stuck within the chassis of the RLM; consequently, the machine stops frequently. We estimated the working performance of a riding mower (RM), brush cutter (BC), and a walking mower (WM) in a pear orchard and compared the mowing cost (annual ownership, repair and maintenance, energy, oil, and labor) with the RLM. The study reveals that the RLM performs better than other conventional mowers in a small orchard (0.33 ha). For a medium (0.66 ha) and larger (1 ha) orchard, the RLM is not more cost-effective than RM and WM. However, the existing RLM performed weed control well and showed promise for profitability in our research field. We believe that, if field challenges like fallen fruit and tree striking problems can be properly addressed, the RLM could be successfully used in many small orchards.
The Relationship between Soil Electrical Parameters and Compaction of Sandy Clay Loam Soil
Authors: Pentoś Katarzyna , Pieczarka Krzysztof , Serwata Kamil
Published: February 2021

Soil spatial variability mapping allows the delimitation of the number of soil samples investigated to describe agricultural areas; it is crucial in precision agriculture. Electrical soil parameters are promising factors for the delimitation of management zones. One of the soil parameters that affects yield is soil compaction. The objective of this work was to indicate electrical parameters useful for the delimitation of management zones connected with soil compaction. For this purpose, the measurement of apparent soil electrical conductivity and magnetic susceptibility was conducted at two depths: 0.5 and 1 m. Soil compaction was measured for a soil layer at 0–0.5 m. Relationships between electrical soil parameters and soil compaction were modelled with the use of two types of neural networks—multilayer perceptron (MLP) and radial basis function (RBF). Better prediction quality was observed for RBF models. It can be stated that in the mathematical model, the apparent soil electrical conductivity affects soil compaction significantly more than magnetic susceptibility. However, magnetic susceptibility gives additional information about soil properties, and therefore, both electrical parameters should be used simultaneously for the delimitation of management zones.
Evaluation of Convolutional Neural Networks’ Hyperparameters with Transfer Learning to Determine Sorting of Ripe Medjool Dates
Authors: Pérez-Pérez Blanca Dalila , García Vázquez Juan Pablo , Salomón-Torres Ricardo
Published: February 2021

Convolutional neural networks (CNNs) have proven their efficiency in various applications in agriculture. In crops such as date, they have been mainly used in the identification and sorting of ripe fruits. The aim of this study was the performance evaluation of eight different CNNs, considering transfer learning for their training, as well as five hyperparameters. The CNN architectures evaluated were VGG-16, VGG-19, ResNet-50, ResNet-101, ResNet-152, AlexNet, Inception V3, and CNN from scratch. Likewise, the hyperparameters analyzed were the number of layers, the number of epochs, the batch size, optimizer, and learning rate. The accuracy and processing time were considered to determine the performance of CNN architectures, in the classification of mature dates’ cultivar Medjool. The model obtained from VGG-19 architecture with a batch of 128 and Adam optimizer with a learning rate of 0.01 presented the best performance with an accuracy of 99.32%. We concluded that the VGG-19 model can be used to build computer vision systems that help producers improve their sorting process to detect the Tamar stage of a Medjool date.
Influence of the UAN Fertilizer Application on Quantitative and Qualitative Changes in Semi-Natural Grassland in Western Carpathians
Authors: Ranta Mirela , Rotar Ioan , Vidican Roxana , Mălinaș Anamaria , Ranta Ovidiu , Lefter Nicoleta
Published: February 2021

Semi-natural grasslands are particularly important in mountainous areas of Romania, being the only source of forage for many farmers. The aim of this study was to investigate the changes in forage quantity and quality as a result of Urea Ammonium nitrate (UAN) liquid fertilization. The experiment was carried out in the eastern part of Apuseni Mountains, Romania on a Festuca rubra L.-Agrostis capillaris L. grassland located at 1240 m altitude. Studies were made over three years of experimental trial (2014–2016) and covered four experimental plots in three replicates, as follows: V1–control plot, unfertilized; V2–plot fertilized with 50 kg UAN ha−1 year−1; V3–plot fertilized with 75 kg UAN ha−1 year−1, and V4–plot fertilized with 100 kg UAN ha−1 year−1. The experimental plots were harvested once per year and the botanical composition, dry matter yield and forage quality were assessed. Our results showed important changes in forage quantity, quality and diversity as a result of UAN fertilization. Starting from the second experimental year the dominance/co-dominance ratio changed favoring the species from Poaceae family. Dry matter increased as a result of UAN fertilization but forage quality was negatively affected by the higher percentage of participation of species from other botanical families which have higher crude fiber content and lower crude protein. Based on our results we recommend moderate fertilization with UAN up to 50 kg UAN ha−1 year−1 for semi-natural grasslands located in soil-climatic conditions similar to those in our experiment.
Assessing the Potential of Polymer Coated Urea and Sulphur Fertilization on Growth, Physiology, Yield, Oil Contents and Nitrogen Use Efficiency of Sunflower Crop under Arid Environment
Authors: Perveen Sonia , Ahmad Saeed , Skalicky Milan , Hussain Ijaz , Habibur-Rahman Muhammad , Ghaffar Abdul , Shafqat Bashir Muhammad , Batool Maria , Hassan Montaser M. , Brestic Marian , Fahad Shah , EL Sabagh Ayman
Published: February 2021

Nitrogen and sulphur are fundamental macronutrients for the production of sunflower crop. Nitrogen is required consistently in larger amounts for sunflower production while common urea has more losses due to high solubility. On the other hand, sulphur application increases oil contents and availability of other essential nutrients (N, P, and K). Therefore, combined application of polymer coated urea with sulphur fertilization might be a promising option which can increase achene yield, oil contents, and nitrogen use efficiency (NUE). However, no particular studies have been conducted to explore the main and interactive effects of polymer coated urea and sulphur fertilization on growth, physiology, yield, oil contents, and NUE under arid field conditions. Hence, the current field experiment consisted of two nitrogen fertilizers [polymer coated urea (PCU) and common urea (CU)] and three sulphur fertilizer rates [S0 (0), S1 (30) and S2 (60) kg ha−1)] in a split-plot arrangement under randomized complete block design (RCBD) during spring season of 2019 and 2020. Experimental results revealed that growth, physiology, yield, oil contents, and NUE of sunflower crop were significantly improved with the application of nitrogen fertilizers, sulphur fertilizer rates, and their interaction. Meanwhile, NUE, achene yield and oil contents were increased by 16.0–17.2%, 16.5–17.0%, and 2.96–3.19% respectively with the application of PCU compared with CU. Furthermore, NUE, achene yield and oil contents were also increased by 12.8–13.3%, 13.1–13.7%, and 10.7–10.9%, respectively, due to sulphur fertilization of 60 kg ha−1compared with no sulphur application. Similarly, NUE, achene yield, and oil contents were increased by 32.9–39.5%, 31.7–32.6%, and 13.1–13.2% respectively with the application of PCU in combination with sulphur fertilization of 60 kg ha−1compared with CU × S0, which also evidenced a clear and positive interaction between nitrogen and sulphur. Conclusively, PCU (130 kg ha−1) in combination with sulphur fertilization of 60 kg ha−1 is promising option for obtaining higher achene yield, oil contents, and NUE for sunflower crop under arid environment, and hence, it might be a good agronomic adaptation strategy for sustainable production of sunflower.