bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A pooled analysis of temporal trends in the prevalence of anxiety-induced sleep loss among adolescents aged 12–15 years across 29 countries
Authors: Xu Guodong , Li Lian , Yi Lijuan , Li Tao , Chai Qiongxia , Zhu Junyang
Published: October 2023

Background

Previous studies examining trends in sleep loss among adolescents have mainly focused on single countriy and region. This study aims to analyze temporal trends in the prevalence of anxiety-induced sleep loss among adolescents from 29 countries in five regions.

Methods

This study used data from the Global School-based Student Health Survey 2003–2018, which surveyed 215,380 adolescents from 29 countries with at least two cross-sectional surveys per country. The weighted country-specific prevalence of anxiety-induced sleep loss and trends across the survey years were evaluated. Random- or fixed-effects meta-analyses were used to calculate pooled prevalence and temporal trends across 29 countries.

Results

Temporal variations in anxiety-induced sleep loss across countries were identified. Increasing (Suriname, Vanuatu, and Myanmar), decreasing (Namibia, Jamaica, the Philippines, Samoa, and Indonesia), and stable (all other countries) trends in anxiety-induced sleep loss were noted. The pooled weighted prevalence of anxiety-induced sleep loss was 11.35 and 10.67% in the first and last surveys, respectively. There was no meaningful change in the propensity to have anxiety-related sleep disorders over time, with the reduction and OR of these two surveys being 0.54 (−0.53–1.61) and 0.98 (0.88–1.10). For subgroup analyses, no significant differences in pooled anxiety-induced sleep loss trends were seen between the two surveys for different sexes, regions, incomes, survey years in the first wave, survey periods, or number of surveys.

Conclusion

Trends in the prevalence of anxiety-induced sleep loss in adolescents varied significantly across different countries. Generally, a stable trend was observed in 21 of the 29 countries surveyed. Our study provides data that can aid policymakers in establishing country-specific strategies for reducing anxiety-induced sleep loss in adolescents.
Exploring factors influencing health-related quality of life in adult females with injuries: a cross-sectional nationwide study
Authors: Kwak YeunHee , Jang Insil
Published: October 2023

Objectives

This study aimed to identify the types of injury experiences affecting adult females and the associations between injury experiences and health-related quality of life.

Methods

This study used a secondary analysis of cross-sectional data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, which employed a stratified multistage probability sampling design to obtain nationally representative data. Health-related quality of life was measured with the EuroQol Five-Dimension and consisted of mobility, self-care, usual activity, pain/discomfort, and anxiety/depression.

Results

Among women aged 19–64, the prevalence of injury experience was 5.9%. Women’s injury experience varied by age, subjective health perception, menstruation details, osteoporosis status, and osteoarthritis status. The following injury experience–related factors were significantly associated with health-related quality of life: self-care (odds ratio [OR] = 0.32, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.17–0.60), usual activity (OR = 0.43, 95% CI: 0.27–0.70), and pain/discomfort (OR = 0.56, 95% CI: 0.44–0.72).

Conclusion

Health-related quality of life among adult women was significantly associated with injury experience. The results of this study highlight risk factors for injury that are associated with aging, such as menopause, osteoporosis, and osteoarthritis. Accurate assessments of pain and discomfort, as well as daily activities, are essential for designing effective interventions for injured women. Tailored training and education can promote self-management and improve outcomes for recovery.
An integrated public health response to an outbreak of Murray Valley encephalitis virus infection during the 2022–2023 mosquito season in Victoria
Authors: Braddick Maxwell , O’Brien Helen M. , Lim Chuan K. , Feldman Rebecca , Bunter Cathy , Neville Peter , Bailie Christopher R. , Butel-Simoes Grace , Jung Min-Ho , Yuen Aidan , Hughes Nicole , Friedman N. Deborah
Published: October 2023

Introduction

Murray Valley encephalitis virus (MVEV) is a mosquito-borne flavivirus known to cause infrequent yet substantial human outbreaks around the Murray Valley region of south-eastern Australia, resulting in significant mortality.

Methods

The public health response to MVEV in Victoria in 2022–2023 included a climate informed pre-season risk assessment, and vector surveillance with mosquito trapping and laboratory testing for MVEV. Human cases were investigated to collect enhanced surveillance data, and human clinical samples were subject to serological and molecular testing algorithms to assess for co-circulating flaviviruses. Equine surveillance was carried out via enhanced investigation of cases of encephalitic illness. Integrated mosquito management and active health promotion were implemented throughout the season and in response to surveillance signals.

Findings

Mosquito surveillance included a total of 3,186 individual trapping events between 1 July 2022 and 20 June 2023. MVEV was detected in mosquitoes on 48 occasions. From 2 January 2023 to 23 April 2023, 580 samples (sera and CSF) were tested for flaviviruses. Human surveillance detected 6 confirmed cases of MVEV infection and 2 cases of “flavivirus-unspecified.” From 1 September 2022 to 30 May 2023, 88 horses with clinical signs consistent with flavivirus infection were tested, finding one probable and no confirmed cases of MVE.

Discussion

The expanded, climate-informed vector surveillance system in Victoria detected MVEV in mosquitoes in advance of human cases, acting as an effective early warning system. This informed a one-health oriented public health response including enhanced human, vector and animal surveillance, integrated mosquito management, and health promotion.
XBot2D: towards a robotics hybrid cloud architecture for field robotics
Authors: Muratore Luca , Tsagarakis Nikos
Published: October 2023

Nowadays, robotics applications requiring the execution of complex tasks in real-world scenarios are still facing many challenges related to highly unstructured and dynamic environments in domains such as emergency response and search and rescue where robots have to operate for prolonged periods trading off computational performance with increased power autonomy and vice versa. In particular, there is a crucial need for robots capable of adapting to such settings while at the same time providing robustness and extended power autonomy. A possible approach to overcome the conflicting demand of a computational performing system with the need for long power autonomy is represented by cloud robotics, which can boost the computational capabilities of the robot while reducing the energy consumption by exploiting the offload of resources to the cloud. Nevertheless, the communication constraint due to limited bandwidth, latency, and connectivity, typical of field robotics, makes cloud-enabled robotics solutions challenging to deploy in real-world applications. In this context, we designed and realized the XBot2D software architecture, which provides a hybrid cloud manager capable of dynamically and seamlessly allocating robotics skills to perform a distributed computation based on the current network condition and the required latency, and computational/energy resources of the robot in use. The proposed framework leverage on the two dimensions, i.e., 2D (local and cloud), in a transparent way for the user, providing support for Real-Time (RT) skills execution on the local robot, as well as machine learning and A.I. resources on the cloud with the possibility to automatically relocate the above based on the required performances and communication quality. XBot2D implementation and its functionalities are presented and validated in realistic tasks involving the CENTAURO robot and the Amazon Web Service Elastic Computing Cloud (AWS EC2) infrastructure with different network conditions.
From real-time adaptation to social learning in robot ecosystems
Authors: Szorkovszky Alex , Veenstra Frank , Glette Kyrre
Published: October 2023

While evolutionary robotics can create novel morphologies and controllers that are well-adapted to their environments, learning is still the most efficient way to adapt to changes that occur on shorter time scales. Learning proposals for evolving robots to date have focused on new individuals either learning a controller from scratch, or building on the experience of direct ancestors and/or robots with similar configurations. Here we propose and demonstrate a novel means for social learning of gait patterns, based on sensorimotor synchronization. Using movement patterns of other robots as input can drive nonlinear decentralized controllers such as CPGs into new limit cycles, hence encouraging diversity of movement patterns. Stable autonomous controllers can then be locked in, which we demonstrate using a quasi-Hebbian feedback scheme. We propose that in an ecosystem of robots evolving in a heterogeneous environment, such a scheme may allow for the emergence of generalist task-solvers from a population of specialists.
Adherence to daily, oral TDF/FTC PrEP during periconception among HIV-exposed South African women
Authors: Hurwitz Kathleen E. , Isehunwa Oluwaseyi O. , Hendrickson Kayla R. , Jaggernath Manjeetha , Kriel Yolandie , Smith Patricia M. , Mathenjwa Mxolisi , Bennett Kara , Psaros Christina , Baeten Jared M. , Bangsberg David R. , Haberer Jessica E. , Smit Jennifer A. , Matthews Lynn T.
Published: October 2023

Background

Daily, oral tenofovir disoproxil fumarate/emtricitabine (TDF/FTC) as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) reduces HIV acquisition for African women. Adherence is key to efficacy and patterns of adherence can be highly variable in real-world settings. Using group-based trajectory modeling (GBTM), we sought to identify distinct patterns of periconception PrEP adherence and evaluate potential baseline predictors of such adherence trajectories.

Methods

We conducted a single-arm longitudinal study for women aged 18–35 years living in Durban, South Africa with personal or partner plans for pregnancy with a partner with HIV or of unknown serostatus. Participants were offered safer conception counseling, including daily oral PrEP; women who initiated PrEP were given a bottle with an electronic pillcap that recorded when device opens. Weekly adherence to daily PrEP was modeled using GBTM with a censored normal outcome distribution as a function of weeks since PrEP initiation. The number and functional form of the adherence trajectory groups were primarily selected based on Bayesian information criteria (BIC) and confirmed by mean estimated probabilities of group membership. A multivariable version of the selected model assessed baseline predictors of membership in adherence trajectory groups.

Results

Overall mean (95% CI) adherence to PrEP was 63% (60%, 67%). We identified four groups of women with distinct patterns of adherence: (1) high (i.e., ≥6 doses per week) steady adherence throughout follow-up (22% of PrEP initiators); (2) moderate (i.e., 4–5 doses per week), but steady adherence (31%); (3) initially high, but consistently declining adherence (21%); and (4) initially moderate adherence, followed by a rapid decline and subsequent rebound (26%). In multivariable-adjusted analyses, older age was associated with membership in the high, steady adherence group as compared to the group identified with an adherence trajectory of initially high, then decline, and finally a rebound.

Conclusions

GBTM is useful for exploring potential heterogeneity in longitudinal patterns of medication adherence. Although a large proportion of women in this study achieved high levels of adherence by electronic pillcap initially, far fewer women maintained these levels consistently. Knowledge of different adherence trajectories could be used to develop targeted strategies for optimizing HIV prevention during periconception.
A Decision-Making Model to Determine Dynamic Facility Locations for a Disaster Logistic Planning Problem Using Deep Learning
Authors: Tanti Lili , Efendi Syahril , Lydia Maya Silvi , Mawengkang Herman
Published: October 2023

Disaster logistics management is vital in planning and organizing humanitarian assistance distribution. The planning problem faces challenges, such as coordinating the allocation and distribution of essential resources while considering the severity of the disaster, population density, and accessibility. This study proposes an optimized disaster relief management model, including distribution center placement, demand point prediction, prohibited route mapping, and efficient relief goods distribution. A dynamic model predicts the location of post-disaster distribution centers using the K-Means method based on impacted demand points’ positions. Artificial Neural Networks (ANN) aid in predicting assistance requests around formed distribution centers. The forbidden route model maps permitted and prohibited routes while considering constraints to enhance relief supply distribution efficacy. The objective function aims to minimize both cost and time in post-disaster aid distribution. The model deep location routing problem (DLRP) effectively handles mixed nonlinear multi-objective programming, choosing the best forbidden routes. The combination of these models provides a comprehensive framework for optimizing disaster relief management, resulting in more effective and responsive disaster handling. Numerical examples show the model’s effectiveness in solving complex humanitarian logistics problems with lower computation time, which is crucial for quick decision making during disasters.
Experimental and Numerical Modal Analysis of a Composite Rocket Structure
Authors: Qaumi Taruansh , Hashemi Seyed M.
Published: October 2023

Finite Element Analysis (FEA) is a powerful tool that can aid in the engineering design process to reduce cost and time. However, it is best used in conjunction with experimental data, through which its numerical results can be verified. This paper presents the experimental and numerical modal analyses of an experimental rocket aerostructure to verify the accuracy of the numerical models. This aerostructure has been through flight loads and a recovery. The first numerical results for the rocket showed a 96% difference with the experimental ones. Subsequently, three mass refinements were made to create calibrated FEM models whose results differed from the experimental ones by 19% to 8%. Additionally, as expected, the FEM results tended to overestimate the stiffness of structures. The numerical simulations for all components were performed through ANSYS software, and the experiments were conducted using the hammer tap test with laser vibrometers as sensors.
The Effects of Light Treatments on Growth and Flowering Characteristics of Oncidesa Gower Ramsey ‘Honey Angel’ at Different Growth Stages
Authors: Chang Chia-Man , Wang Ching-Wen , Huang Meng-Yuan , Chen Chung-I , Lin Kuan-Hung , Shen Chih-Pei
Published: October 2023

In our previous work, we observed that Oncidesa Gower Ramsey ‘Honey Angel’ (HA) plants became stunned on hot summer afternoons, and the seasonal trend in solar radiation affected its production schedule by limiting flower yield and quality. The objective of this work was to study the growth and flowering characteristics of HA pseudobulbs at three stages of growth (G2–G4) in response to three types of light-emitting diode (LED) lighting treatments, including full spectrum (FS), deep red/white-medium blue (DR/W-MB), and deep red/white-low blue (DR/W-LB), for two additional time intervals. The supplementary LED lighting time intervals (S) applied daily were carried out for 1 h (4:00~5:00 a.m., as S-1) or 2 h (4:00~6:00 a.m., as S-2) from March to September, 2022. Natural light without supplemental lighting was the control. The length of pseudobulb (PL), width of pseudobulb (PW), thickness of pseudobulb (PT), length of inflorescence (FL), number of branches (FB), number of florets (FN), and days to flowering (FD) per plant were recorded andcalculated when 80% of florets became mature. Light treatments significantly affected all pseudobulb growth and flower quality traits at different Gs, especially pseudobulb length (PL) and flower number (FN) under different LED types and lighting time intervals. MB-1 treatment promoted PT at both G3 and G4, whereas MB-2 treatment increased PW at both G2 and G4. Both MB-1 and LB-1 treatments had augmented effects on PL, respectively, at G2 and G3. The PW, FL, FB, and FN increased with additional light time and reached maxima under MB-2 treatment at G4 compared to other treatments and controls. Early flowering and an increased number of flowers at G4 were observed in plants grown under MB-2 treatment. Controlling light quality and supplementary light time intervals enables the production of HA plants with the desired growth and flowering quality characteristics of the pseudobulbs.
Evaluation of the Intermediate Values of the TGA Curves as Indicators of the Proximal Analysis of Biomass
Authors: Velázquez Martí Borja , Gaibor-Chavez Juan , López Cortés Isabel , Olivares Aguilar Luis Eduardo
Published: October 2023

Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) is becoming popular for the evaluation of biomass to determine the content of ashes, volatiles, and fixed carbon and to simulate pyrolysis, gasification, and combustion processes. This analysis consists of heating a sample recording the weight variation as the temperature increases over time. The final temperature of the analyzes is usually set at 550 °C or 900 °C. The aim of this paper is to use the intermediate weight values obtained in short times from heating process in TGA to calculate the percentage of volatile, ash, or the residual mass remaining at the end of the experiment. Under the hypothesis that the curve does not vary when the analysis is carried out under certain conditions for the same type of biomass, these values must be similar and are related to the searched values. Nevertheless, given that the behavior of the thermogravimetric curves can be influenced by different factors, such as the species, temperature variation with time, final temperature reached, and presence of leaves, these factors are analyzed in this article. The results show models developed for the ash and volatiles determination from TGA time reduced to 75 s when a temperature increase of 200 °C per minute is used (CR-200 and VR-200 models). The curves obtained have R2 coefficients of between 0.75 and 0.95, being validated through independent samples. It is shown that the plot of the curve is influenced by the composition, the rate of heating and the percentage of leaves. This variability makes it necessary to select an analytical method that is efficient and as brief as possible. In this article, rapid analyses combined with the application of the equations obtained are proposed.
Inheritance of the Resistance to Acanthoscelides obtectus (Say.) in a Heterogeneous Inbred Families Population of Common Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.)
Authors: Ayala-Ruiz Adriana Yuzaleth , Castellanos-Pérez Gloria , Jiménez-Galindo José Cruz , Ramírez-Cabral Nadiezhda , Ramírez-Valle Orlando , Figueroa-González Juan José , Malvar Rosa A.
Published: October 2023

The bean weevil Acanthoscelides obtectus is one of the world’s main pests of stored beans. The heterogeneous inbred family (HIF) population of near-isogenic lines (NILs) could be an exceptional strategy to study the inheritance of the resistance against A. obtectus. We developed a HIF population of 148 NILs of R-bufa-80-12. The objectives of this research were as follows: (1) to study and understand the genetics of the attack resistance to A. obtectus in a HIF population and (2) to identify the best lines to provide weevil resistance. The pure lines of the HIF population showed a great variability for all the analyzed traits. The traits studied in this research have a normal distribution showing continuous variation, so they are considered to be quantitatively inherited. The heritabilities for resistance traits were low and very low, ranging from 0.09 to 0.17. The heritability for 100 seed weight was the highest, with a significant value of 0.90. The best lines of the HIF population for resistance to A. obtectus comprised Line-45, Line-129, Line-124, Line-142 and Line-47. In general, these lines presented lower preference of adults, and lower consumption in grams and in percentages. However, lines 45 and 129 are the most interesting from a commercial point of view because they combine resistance and seed weight.
Does Vaccine-Induced Maternally-Derived Immunity Protect Swine Offspring against Influenza a Viruses? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Challenge Trials from 1990 to May 2021
Authors: Keay Sheila , Poljak Zvonimir , Alberts Famke , O’Connor Annette , Friendship Robert , O’Sullivan Terri L. , Sargeant Jan M.
Published: October 2023

It is unclear if piglets benefit from vaccination of sows against influenza. For the first time, methods of evidence-based medicine were applied to answer the question: “Does vaccine-induced maternally-derived immunity (MDI) protect swine offspring against influenza A viruses?”. Challenge trials were reviewed that were published from 1990 to April 2021 and measured at least one of six outcomes in MDI-positive versus MDI-negative offspring (hemagglutination inhibition (HI) titers, virus titers, time to begin and time to stop shedding, risk of infection, average daily gain (ADG), and coughing) (n = 15). Screening and extraction of study characteristics was conducted in duplicate by two reviewers, with data extraction and assessment for risk of bias performed by one. Homology was defined by the antigenic match of vaccine and challenge virus hemagglutinin epitopes. Results: Homologous, but not heterologous MDI, reduced virus titers in piglets. There was no difference, calculated as relative risks (RR), in infection incidence risk over the entire study period; however, infection hazard (instantaneous risk) was decreased in pigs with MDI (log HR = −0.64, 95% CI: −1.13, −0.15). Overall, pigs with MDI took about a ½ day longer to begin shedding virus post-challenge (MD = 0.51, 95% CI: 0.03, 0.99) but the hazard of infected pigs ceasing to shed was not different (log HR = 0.32, 95% CI: −0.29, 0.93). HI titers were synthesized qualitatively and although data on ADG and coughing was extracted, details were insufficient for conducting meta-analyses. Conclusion: Homology of vaccine strains with challenge viruses is an important consideration when assessing vaccine effectiveness. Herd viral dynamics are complex and may include concurrent or sequential exposures in the field. The practical significance of reduced weaned pig virus titers is, therefore, not known and evidence from challenge trials is insufficient to make inferences on the effects of MDI on incidence risk, time to begin or to cease shedding virus, coughing, and ADG. The applicability of evidence from single-strain challenge trials to field practices is limited. Despite the synthesis of six outcomes, challenge trial evidence does not support or refute vaccination of sows against influenza to protect piglets. Additional research is needed; controlled trials with multi-strain concurrent or sequential heterologous challenges have not been conducted, and sequential homologous exposure trials were rare. Consensus is also warranted on (1) the selection of core outcomes, (2) the sizing of trial populations to be reflective of field populations, (3) the reporting of antigenic characterization of vaccines, challenge viruses, and sow exposure history, and (4) on the collection of non-aggregated individual pig data.
Invited Review: Increasing Milk Yield and Negative Energy Balance: A Gordian Knot for Dairy Cows?
Authors: Martens Holger
Published: October 2023

The continued increase in milk production during the last century has not been accompanied by an adequate dry matter intake (DMI) by cows, which therefore experience a negative energy balance (NEB). NEB is low and of minor importance at low milk yield (MY), such as for the nutrition of one calf, and under these circumstances is considered “natural”. MY and low DMI around parturition are correlated and are the reason for the genetic correlation between increasing MY and increasing NEB up to 2000 MJ or more for 2–3 months postpartum in high-genetic-merit dairy cows. The extension and duration of NEB in high-producing cows cannot be judged as “natural” and are compensated by the mobilization of nutrients, particularly of fat. The released non-esterified fatty acids (NEFAs) overwhelm the metabolic capacity of the cow and lead to the ectopic deposition of NEFAs as triglycerides (TGs) in the liver. The subsequent lipidosis and the concomitant hampered liver functions cause subclinical and clinical ketosis, both of which are associated with “production diseases”, including oxidative and endoplasmatic stress, inflammation and immunosuppression. These metabolic alterations are regulated by homeorhesis, with the priority of the physiological function of milk production. The prioritization of one function, namely, milk yield, possibly results in restrictions in other physiological (health) functions under conditions of limited resources (NEB). The hormonal framework for this metabolic environment is the high concentration of growth hormone (GH), the low concentration of insulin in connection with GH-dependent insulin resistance and the low concentration of IGF-1, the so-called GH-IGF-1 axis. The fine tuning of the GH-IGF-1 axis is uncoupled because the expression of the growth hormone receptor (GHR-1A) in the liver is reduced with increasing MY. The uncoupled GH-IGF-1 axis is a serious impairment for the GH-dependent stimulation of gluconeogenesis in the liver with continued increased lipolysis in fat tissue. It facilitates the pathogenesis of lipidosis with ketosis and, secondarily, “production diseases”. Unfortunately, MY is still increasing at inadequate DMI with increasing NEB and elevated NEFA and beta–hydroxybutyric acid concentrations under conditions of low glucose, thereby adding health risks. The high incidences of diseases and of early culling and mortality in dairy cows are well documented and cause severe economic problems with a waste of resources and a challenge to the environment. Moreover, the growing public concerns about such production conditions in agriculture can no longer be ignored.
The Role and Mechanism of Retinol and Its Transformation Product, Retinoic Acid, in Modulating Oxidative Stress-Induced Damage to the Duck Intestinal Epithelial Barrier In Vitro
Authors: Zhang Li , Tang Rui , Wu Yan , Liang Zhenhua , Liu Jingbo , Pi Jinsong , Zhang Hao
Published: October 2023

This study aimed to investigate the effects and mechanisms of retinol and retinoic acid on primary duck intestinal epithelial cells under oxidative stress induced by H2O2. Different ratios of retinol and retinoic acid were used for treatment. The study evaluated the cell morphology, viability, antioxidative capacity, and barrier function of cells. The expression of genes related to oxidative stress and the intestinal barrier was analyzed. The main findings demonstrated that the treated duck intestinal epithelial cells exhibited increased viability, increased antioxidative capacity, and improved intestinal barrier function compared to the control group. High retinoic acid treatment improved viability and gene expression, while high retinol increased antioxidative indicators and promoted intestinal barrier repair. Transcriptome analysis revealed the effects of treatments on cytokine interactions, retinol metabolism, PPAR signaling, and cell adhesion. In conclusion, this study highlights the potential of retinol and retinoic acid in protecting and improving intestinal cell health under oxidative stress, providing valuable insights for future research.
Influence of Sex on Meat and Fat Quality from Heavy Alentejano Pigs Finished Outdoors on Commercial and High Fiber Diets
Authors: Martins José Manuel , Charneca Rui , Garrido Nicolás , Albuquerque André , Jerónimo Eliana , Guerreiro Olinda , Lage Patrícia , Marmelo Carla , Costa Filipa , Ramos Amélia , Martin Luísa
Published: October 2023

This work aimed to examine the effects of sex on meat and fat quality traits from thirty Portuguese Alentejano (AL) pigs reared in outdoor conditions. These pigs were divided into three groups and fed ad libitum. From ~40 to 130 kg LW, castrated (C group) and intact animals (I and IExp) consumed commercial diets. Until slaughter (~160 kg), C and I pigs remained on commercial diets, and IExp changed to a more sustainable experimental diet with locally produced pulses and byproducts. Samples were collected from the Longissimus lumborum (LL), Psoas major (PM), and dorsal subcutaneous fat (DSF). At ~160 kg, the PM muscle of intact pigs presented lower intramuscular fat content than that of C pigs, while total collagen was higher. Additionally, PM myoglobin was lower and lightness (L*) was higher in intact pigs. Regarding DSF, moisture and total protein contents were higher and total lipids were lower in intact than in castrated pigs, while color parameters were not significantly different. Finally, antioxidant capacity measured in the LL muscle showed an overall lower value in intact pigs. However, lipid oxidation values were not significantly different between the experimental groups and only increased with storage time. Outdoor-reared intact AL pigs produced leaner and less saturated pork and fat compared to castrated ones. Despite the lower antioxidant activity observed in the LL muscles of intact pigs, the lipid oxidative stability of cooked meat was not different among the experimental groups.
Effects of the Mean Weight of Uniform Litters on Sows and Offspring Performance
Authors: Charneca Rui , Freitas Amadeu , Nunes José , Le Dividich Jean
Published: October 2023

This study aimed to determine the effects of uniform litters of different mean birth weights on colostrum production of sows and piglets performance. The study involved 98 multiparous sows from a commercial lean genotype and their piglets. Simultaneous farrowing were supervised and the piglets were divided into experimental litters of 12 piglets each of heterogenous litters (HET, CV = 23.8%, n = 20), uniform light litters (ULL, CV = 9.8%, n = 27), uniform average litters (UAL, CV = 8.2%, n = 23) or uniform heavy litters (UHL, CV = 8.6%, n = 28) piglets and allowed to suckle. Piglets were re-weighed at 24 h and 21 d of life and deaths registered. Colostrum intake (CI) of the piglets and sow’s colostrum yield (CY) was estimated using two prediction equations. Significant differences (p < 0.001) were observed in the CY of sows being higher in UHL, lower in ULL and intermediary in HET and UAL litters. CY was positively related to litter total weight at birth and litter weight gain in the first 24 h (p < 0.001). The CI differ between litter type being higher in UHL litters and lower in ULL litters. The coefficient of variation of CI in HET litters was higher than in uniform litters, regardless of their type. The mortality rate of piglets until 21 d was globally 9.6% and it was significantly higher in HET than in UAL (p = 0.033) and tended to be higher than in UHL litters (p = 0.052). No differences in piglet survival were observed between uniform litters. Results show the beneficial effect of uniformity in piglet survival and that the mean weight of uniform litter influences colostrum intake and piglet performance.
Comparison of Conformation and Movement Characteristics in Dressage and Jumping Sport Warmblood Mares Based on Point Evaluation and Linear Scoring System
Authors: Borowska Alicja , Lewczuk Dorota
Published: October 2023

The aim of this study was to analyze the influence of factors on the results of 100-point judging systems, linear scoring and basic measurements, as well as differences between systems for dressage and jumping warmblood mares. The research covered official data on 1547 warmblood mares. Analysis of variance and phenotypic correlations (Pearson and partial) were used. The analysis showed that sport type significantly influenced 1/3 of biometric measurements, 2/9 traits on the 100-point system and 7/37 of linear scored traits. The influence of horse type evaluation is more significant in linear scoring than in the 100-point evaluation, which provides an argument for using the first system in breeding. In the linear evaluation for warmblood mares grouped as jumping or dressage, the most significant differences (p < 0.001) were noted between the traits of shoulder position, line of the loins and shape of the croup. In the point-based evaluation, differences (p < 0.05) were found in forelimbs and walking, as well as chest circumference in basic measurements. None of the traits in the two evaluation systems is identical to any other (r > 0.8). The comparison of systems showed meaningful correlations only between general traits. The differences between sport types of warmblood mares were smaller than expected. More objective traits should be discovered to increase accuracy in discriminating between horse types.
Molecular Characteristics and Prevalence of Rifampin Resistance in Staphylococcus aureus Isolates from Patients with Bacteremia in South Korea
Authors: Kim Yong Kyun , Eom Yewon , Kim Eunsil , Chang Euijin , Bae Seongman , Jung Jiwon , Kim Min Jae , Chong Yong Pil , Kim Sung-Han , Choi Sang-Ho , Lee Sang-Oh , Kim Yang Soo
Published: October 2023

Rifampin resistance (RIF-R) in Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) with rpoB mutations as one of its resistance mechanisms has raised concern about clinical treatment and infection prevention strategies. Data on the prevalence and molecular epidemiology of RIF-R S. aureus blood isolates in South Korea are scarce. We used broth microdilution to investigate RIF-R prevalence and analyzed the rpoB gene mutation in 1615 S. aureus blood isolates (772 methicillin-susceptible and 843 methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA)) from patients with bacteremia, between 2008 and 2017. RIF-R prevalence and antimicrobial susceptibility were determined. Multilocus sequence typing was used to characterize the isolate’s molecular epidemiology; Staphylococcus protein A (spa), staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec), and rpoB gene mutations were detected by PCR. Among 52 RIF-R MRSA isolates out of 57 RIF-R S. aureus blood isolates (57/1615, 0.4%; 5 methicillin-susceptible and 52 MRSA), ST5 (44/52, 84.6%), SCCmec IIb (40/52, 76.9%), and spa t2460 (27/52, 51.9%) were predominant. rpoB gene mutations with amino acid substitutions showed that A477D (17/48, 35.4%) frequently conferred high-level RIF resistance (MIC > 128 mg/L), followed by H481Y (4/48, 8.3%). RIF-R S. aureus blood isolates in South Korea have unique molecular characteristics and are closely associated with rpoB gene mutations. RIF-R surveillance through S. aureus–blood isolate epidemiology could enable effective therapeutic management.
Smoking Induces a Decline in Semen Quality and the Activation of Stress Response Pathways in Sperm
Authors: Henriques Magda Carvalho , Santiago Joana , Patrício António , Herdeiro Maria Teresa , Loureiro Susana , Fardilha Margarida
Published: October 2023

Male infertility is a prevalent concern affecting couples worldwide. While genetic factors, hormonal imbalances, and reproductive system defects play significant roles, emerging evidence suggests that lifestyle choices also profoundly impact male fertility. This study aimed to explore the effects of several lifestyle factors, including tobacco and alcohol consumption, physical activity, and dietary habits, on semen quality parameters and molecular biomarkers. Thirty healthy male volunteers were recruited in the Urology service at Hospital Infante D. Pedro, Aveiro, Portugal. Participants completed lifestyle questionnaires and provided semen samples, which were analyzed according to the World Health Organization criteria by experienced technicians. We also analyzed the expression levels of antioxidant enzymes and heat-shock response-related proteins to explore the activation of signaling pathways involved in stress response within sperm cells. Our results revealed that tobacco consumption reduced semen volume and total sperm count. Although the changes in the percentage of total motility and normal morphology in the smokers’ group did not reach statistical significance, a slight decrease was observed. Moreover, we identified for the first time a significant association between tobacco consumption and increased levels of heat shock protein 27 (HSP27) and phosphorylated HSP27 (p-HSP27) in sperm cells, indicating the potential detrimental effects of tobacco on the reproductive system. This study highlights that lifestyle factors reduce semen quality, possibly by inducing stress in sperm, raising awareness about the effects of these risk factors among populations at risk of male infertility.
Preparation of Cosmetic Emulsions Containing Hippophae Oil Isolated by Various Methods: Study of Their Antioxidant, Sun-Blocking and Physicochemical Properties
Authors: Zosimidou Sofia S. , Vouvoudi Evangelia C. , Tsagkalias Ioannis S. , Lykidou Smaro S. , Nikolaidis Nikolaos F.
Published: October 2023

An industry listed as one of the largest globally is the cosmetic industry. In recent years, this industry has shown growing interest in the application of natural ingredients providing advanced properties to cosmetic creams such as moisturizing, antioxidant, sun-protecting and antimicrobial effects. In this context, the present study concerns the production of cosmetic emulsions containing hippophae oil obtained via the methods of extraction, hydro-distillation and maceration using sunflower oil as the carrier oil. Firstly, an IR-ATR analysis was performed showing that the oils prepared were close to those commercially obtained. Then, the stability of the emulsions was tested over a time period of four months through measuring their pH and viscosity values with positive outcomes, and their antioxidant ability was also measured using the DPPH method. The latter one showed that hippophae oil greatly improves the antioxidant capacity. Moreover, based on the fact that sea buckthorn contains carotenoids, the SPF value of the emulsions was determined. The results showed that the addition of hippophae oil to the emulsions gave higher absorption in UV-Vis, thus higher SPF values. Py-GC/MS analysis was used to identify decomposition compounds in the produced oils. Among those, valuable compounds such as Ω-6, Ω-7 and Ω-9 fatty acids and many aldehydes were found by the decomposition of the oils.
Epidemiology and Time-Loss Shoulder Injuries in Professional South African Rugby Players: A Prospective Study That Focuses on Real-Time Collision Data during a Tackle
Authors: Louwrens Jan Gerhardus , Jansen van Rensburg Audrey , Viljoen Carel T. , Hendricks Sharief , Botha Tanita , Janse van Rensburg Dina C. (Christa)
Published: October 2023

Background: In rugby, the shoulder contributes to attack/defence during collisions, tackling, falling, scrummaging, and mauling. We investigated the frequency, tissue, and pathology type of shoulder injuries per player position among professional South African rugby players, and compared injury severity in the context of momentum, intensity, and collision variables. Methods: A prospective study collecting shoulder injury data of 80 male Super Rugby players (>18 years) over 4 seasons (2018–2021). Players wore a Catapult Evo GPS unit during training and match-play, recording performance variables and collision forces during injury. We collected tissue and pathology types of injury from players’ medical files, clinical examinations, and special investigations. Results: Shoulder injuries contributed to 17% of all injuries, ranging from 2 to 34% per year. Forwards (63%) sustained most shoulder injuries, specifically locks (30%). Acromioclavicular (AC) joint (47%) was mostly involved, and ligament/joint capsule (65%) was the most common tissue type injured. Injuries with the highest average momentum resulted in players suffering minimal to mild severity injuries (1–7 days time-loss). Backs (631.15 kg·m/s) required less momentum than forwards (816.00 kg·m/s) to suffer injuries resulting in >28 days time-loss (p = 0.008). Backs encountered higher match intensity (67.76 m/min, p = 0.031) and highest average collisions (0.28/min) without suffering more severe (>28 days time-loss) injuries. Match intensity of >60 m/min resulted in more than 55% of shoulder injuries. Conclusion: One in six injuries in this cohort was shoulder-related. Forwards, specifically locks, sustained most shoulder injuries. The AC joint was the tissue type that mainly contributed. Backline players were involved in higher velocity contact, game intensity, and collision frequency but suffered fewer injuries. However, they required less momentum to sustain more severe injuries.
Drone Magnetic and Time Domain Electromagnetic Exploration in Metamorphic Formations: Tool for the Identification of Strategic Sites for Aquifer Exploitation
Authors: García Javier Carrasco , García Pedro Carrasco , Sanchiz Daniel Porras , Nieto Ignacio Martín , Blázquez Cristina Sáez , Hurtado Pedro Huerta
Published: October 2023

In the contemporary era, the exploitation of aquifers in the agricultural sector has become increasingly important. In response, researchers have directed their efforts towards the formulation of effective methodologies, with geophysical prospecting emerging as a fundamental tool in locating the best underground deposits. The magnetic prospecting technique can discriminate between different categories of rocks, which facilitates the localisation of geological contacts—an essential factor in determining the strategic location of boreholes, while electromagnetic time-domain prospecting helps in the definition of sedimentary strata. In particular, this process reveals the important influence of tertiary and metamorphic formations on the regional hydrogeological framework of the studied area. The variable yields recorded in the wells in the area that have yielded good results are a clear indication of the presence of aquifers. However, it is important to note that numerous wells have been drilled in this region that have yielded negligible or even zero flow rates. Prudent selection of the location and depth of boreholes is essential to ensure proper management of this resource. The use of drones equipped with magnetometers is essential to speed up the spatial mapping process. Empirical results corroborate the accurate classification of lithological units, thus facilitating the selection of sites for groundwater abstraction. These studies serve to validate initial hypotheses and profoundly enrich our understanding of the hydrogeological dynamics of the site, thus providing avenues for optimal and sustainable exploitation and future academic research.
Calibration of Micro-Parameters of a Mortar Cylinder Specimen under Simple Compression Using a 2D Discrete Element Model
Authors: Ortiz-Cahun Miguel , Fernandez-Baqueiro Luis , Medina-Cetina Zenon
Published: October 2023

Masonry systems have been used extensively in historical, commercial, and residential buildings. A large number of experimental and computational studies have been conducted to investigate the behavior of masonry components and systems, including mortar, units (e.g., blocks), and walls. The Discrete Element Method (DEM) has been used to analyze masonry systems with a macro modeling methodology (i.e., structural systems like walls). Masonry systems and their components have not been analyzed using a micro-modeling methodology with the DEM. The objective of this paper is the deterministic calibration of micro-parameters of the mortar cylinder model based on a computationally efficient DEM model. To achieve this objective, a parametric analysis is introduced through a series of models of a mortar specimen tested under simple compression to explore the impact of the model micro-parameters when trying to reproduce a set of experimental observations conducted at the Universidad Autonoma de Yucatan Mexico (UADY). A calibration process based on optimization is implemented to determine the best estimates of the model’s micro-parameters. This paper is divided into three analyses. First, the particle size distribution of the mortar’s aggregate is used as a reference (i.e., scale 1), and then up-scaled 1.5 and two times using four particle sizes; second, using the two-times scaled particle size, the influence of varying particle sizes within a reference particle size distribution was explored (from one particle size to 4 particle sizes following the aggregate particle size distribution); and third, a parametric analysis is performed varying seven micro-parameters, one at the time, varying from 0.25 to 1.5, at 0.25 scale increments, on a model including four particle sizes. The results show micro-parameters and stress-strain curves of mortar for the different analyses, and a representation of the cross sections of the models, indicating the distributions of contact forces. All proposed models showed good agreement with the experimental observations (i.e., stress-strain curve). Also, it was observed from the proposed analyses that some micro-parameters vary as the particle size and the scaled particle size distributions change when using the same experimental stress-strain curve. Also, it was found that the proposed DEM must contain at least two particle sizes to significantly improve the particle interlocking to ensure that the mechanistic behavior reproduces the same experimental observations. Finally, from the results presented in this work, it is concluded that it is possible to produce a computationally efficient model that can later serve as a reference for future research accounting for other control variables such as particle shape, particle size distributions, the exploration of damage propagation effects, and most importantly their corresponding uncertainty quantification and propagation effects in masonry systems.