bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effect of physical activity on prevention of postpartum depression: A dose-response meta-analysis of 186,412 women
Authors: Yuan Mengqi , Chen Hongyang , Chen Dongmei , Wan Donggui , Luo Fan , Zhang Chenyang , Nan Yunxin , Bi Xiaoning , Liang Jing
Published: November 2022

Background

Physical activity (PA) is considered a favorable preventive intervention for postpartum depression (PPD), but evidence defining a corresponding dose-response relationship is lacking. This meta-analysis was conducted to assess the protective effects of PA on PPD and define a potential dose-response relationship between them.

Methods

PubMed, Medline, Embase, and Web of Science were searched from 1968 to May 2022. Only randomized control trials (RCTs) and prospective studies were considered, and the PICOS tool was used to identify eligible articles based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Effect-size estimates were unified as odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI). We calculated the ORs and their 95% CI for studies that did not report them using the Practical Meta-Analysis Effect Size Calculator.

Results

A total of 23 studies were eligible, including 14 RCTs and 9 prospective cohort studies. The overall analysis showed a statistically significant positive association between PA and PPD prevention (adjusted OR = 0.73; 95% CI: 0.61–0.87; P < 0.001). Subgroup analyses indicated that studies conducted in Europe demonstrated a significant correlation between PA and reduced PPD risk (adjusted OR = 0.85, 95% CI: 0.76–0.95, P = 0.004). Concerning PA type, sports activity was associated with relieving PPD symptoms (adjusted OR = 0.89, 95% CI: 0.78 to 1.00, P < 0.001), while work (adjusted OR = 1.05, 95% CI: 0.37–2.97, P = 0.065) and household activities (adjusted OR = 1.16, 95% CI: 0.89–1.52, P = 0.986) contributed to a greater risk of PPD. Our dose-response analysis revealed a reverse J-shaped trend between ascending PA duration and PPD incidence.

Conclusion

This meta-analysis identified PA as a potential intervention to reduce the risk of PPD. The dose-response analysis revealed that at least 90 min of PA per week could efficiently decrease the risk of PPD.

Systematic review registration

https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/, identifier: CRD42022335731.
Establishing childhood disability clinics may help reduce the prevalence of disability among children in Africa: A viewpoint
Authors: Abdullahi Auwal , Wong Thomson W. L. , Ng Shamay S. M.
Published: November 2022

Globally, there are about a billion people comprising of about 95 million children who experience disability. The number of people in Africa living with disability is about 80 million people; out of which 10%−15% are children of school age. The causes of disability among these children include epilepsy, vision loss, or hearing loss, cerebral palsy, poliomyelitis, tetanus, cerebrospinal meningitis and malaria. However, these causes of disability are preventable and can be managed with proper care. The aim of this article is to propose the establishment of childhood disability clinics in Africa in order to help prevent or reduce the incidence/ prevalence of disability among children. Some of the mandates of the clinics will be to carry out routine assessment of children for disability, to provide education on disability and strategies for disability prevention to parents and caregivers, to promptly prevent and manage disability or its causes. However, establishing these clinics requires shared commitment of all the stakeholders.
Risk perception of COVID-19 among college students in China: Latent profile analysis
Authors: Ren Juanjuan , Zhang Zhenxiang , Mei Yongxia , Wang Wenna , Sun Qianqian , Wang Mingxu , Hui Zhaozhao
Published: November 2022

Background

The outbreak of the new coronavirus-2019 (COVID-19) has had a significant impact on people's mental and physical health. Meanwhile, people's perceptions of risk may influence their emotional states and preventative behavior during an epidemic. Previous research have revealed the diversity and uniqueness of risk perception, and college students may have a different perspective on risk perception. The objective of this study was to describe the subtypes of risk perception for COVID-19 among college students in China, identify the subtypes' traits, and investigate their affecting variables.

Methods

College students from 10 Chinese provinces participated in a cross-sectional study (n = 2,000) that from January 16 to 30, 2022. The latent profiles and influencing factors for risk perception were investigated using latent profile analysis, one-way analysis of variance, and multinomial logistical regression.

Results

The sample group of this survey was 1,946 students, and the response rate was 97.3%. The best model was suggested to consist of three profiles: “neutral risk perception” (20.3%), “perception seriously without susceptible” (52.8%), and “low risk perception” (26.9%). Risk perception of COVID-19 was positively associated with attention to negation information (r = 0.372, p < 0.01), anxiety (r = 0.232, p < 0.01), and depression (r = 0.241, p < 0.01), and negatively associated with perceived social support (r = −0.151, p < 0.01). Logistic-regressions analyses mainly revealed that the risk perception of three profiles related to having chronic diseases (OR = 2.704, p < 0.01), medical major (OR = 0.595, p < 0.01; OR = 0.614, p < 0.05), without having COVID-19 confirmed cases around (OR = 0.539, p < 0.01), attention to negative information (OR = 1.073, p < 0.001; OR = 1.092, p < 0.001), and perceived social support (OR = 0.0.975, p < 0.01).

Conclusions

The level of risk perception for COVID-19 among Chinese college students was unsatisfactory, and the risk perception of COVID-19 had significant group characteristics and heterogeneity. Colleges and public health practitioners could have a theoretical and empirical basis to implement risk perception intervention efforts by identifying latent subgroups during the COVID-19 epidemic.
COVID-19 classification using chest X-ray images based on fusion-assisted deep Bayesian optimization and Grad-CAM visualization
Authors: Hamza Ameer , Attique Khan Muhammad , Wang Shui-Hua , Alhaisoni Majed , Alharbi Meshal , Hussein Hany S. , Alshazly Hammam , Kim Ye Jin , Cha Jaehyuk
Published: November 2022

The COVID-19 virus's rapid global spread has caused millions of illnesses and deaths. As a result, it has disastrous consequences for people's lives, public health, and the global economy. Clinical studies have revealed a link between the severity of COVID-19 cases and the amount of virus present in infected people's lungs. Imaging techniques such as computed tomography (CT) and chest x-rays can detect COVID-19 (CXR). Manual inspection of these images is a difficult process, so computerized techniques are widely used. Deep convolutional neural networks (DCNNs) are a type of machine learning that is frequently used in computer vision applications, particularly in medical imaging, to detect and classify infected regions. These techniques can assist medical personnel in the detection of patients with COVID-19. In this article, a Bayesian optimized DCNN and explainable AI-based framework is proposed for the classification of COVID-19 from the chest X-ray images. The proposed method starts with a multi-filter contrast enhancement technique that increases the visibility of the infected part. Two pre-trained deep models, namely, EfficientNet-B0 and MobileNet-V2, are fine-tuned according to the target classes and then trained by employing Bayesian optimization (BO). Through BO, hyperparameters have been selected instead of static initialization. Features are extracted from the trained model and fused using a slicing-based serial fusion approach. The fused features are classified using machine learning classifiers for the final classification. Moreover, visualization is performed using a Grad-CAM that highlights the infected part in the image. Three publically available COVID-19 datasets are used for the experimental process to obtain improved accuracies of 98.8, 97.9, and 99.4%, respectively.
Resilience resources and coping strategies of COVID-19 female long haulers: A qualitative study
Authors: Aghaei Atefeh , Aggarwal Abhishek , Zhang Ran , Li Xiaoming , Qiao Shan
Published: November 2022

Background

Female long haulers deal with persistent post-acute COVID-19 symptoms that have serious health implications. This study aimed to identify resilience resources at multiple socio-ecological levels for female long haulers and describe how resilience resources affect their responses to long COVID.

Methods

Purposive sampling was adopted to recruit participants through social media from April to June 2021 followed by 15 semi-structured interviews. An inductive analytical approach was adopted to categorize themes by open and axial coding that were verified by peer review.

Results

Female long haulers relied on resources at various socio-ecological levels to foster their resilience in response to long COVID. At the individual level, they utilized cognitive and emotional resources to increase knowledge, learn new skills, set goals, and manage emotions; behavioral resources (e.g., internal motivation and executive functioning) to perform physical, creative, and recreational activities, and adopt healthier eating habits; and spiritual resources to perform spiritual rituals and connect with God. At the social level, the support from existing relationships and/or online social support groups enhanced their social identity and provided material and informational resources. At the health systems level, the guidance from counselors and physicians and availability of clinics, medicines, and health equipment assisted them in symptom management and medication adherence.

Conclusion

The resilience of female long haulers can be enhanced through (1) offering financial and health-related resources, (2) developing online social-support groups, (3) counseling and care service training for healthcare professionals, and (4) implementing more psychosocial interventions by labor organizations.
Action-control mappings of interfaces in virtual reality: A study of embodied interaction
Authors: Lachmair Martin , Fischer Martin H. , Gerjets Peter
Published: November 2022

The development of interface technologies is driven by the goal of making interaction more positive through natural action-control mappings. In Virtual Reality (VR), the entire body is potentially involved for interaction, using such mappings with a maximum of degrees of freedom. The downside is the increase in interaction complexity, which can dramatically influence interface design. A cognitive perspective on detailed aspects of interaction patterns is lacking in common interface design guidelines, although it can be helpful to make this complexity controllable and, thus, make interaction behavior predictable. In the present study, the distinction between grounding, embodiment, and situatedness (the GES framework) is applied to organize aspects of interactions and to compare them with each other. In two experiments, zooming into or out of emotional pictures through changes of arm span was examined in VR. There are qualitatively different aspects during such an interaction: i) perceptual aspects caused by zooming are fundamental for human behavior (Grounding: closer objects appear bigger) and ii) aspects of gestures correspond to the physical characteristics of the agents (Embodiment: little distance of hands signals little or, in contrast, “creating more detail”). The GES-framework sets aspects of Grounding against aspects of Embodiment, thus allowing to predict human behavior regarding these qualitatively different aspects. For the zooming procedure, the study shows that Grounding can overrule Embodiment in interaction design. Thus, we propose GES as a cognitive framework that can help to inform interaction guidelines for user interface design in VR.
Detecting industrial discharges at an advanced water reuse facility using online instrumentation and supervised machine learning binary classification
Authors: Thompson Kyle A. , Branch Amos , Nading Tyler , Dziura Thomas , Salazar-Benites Germano , Wilson Chris , Bott Charles , Salveson Andrew , Dickenson Eric R. V.
Published: November 2022

Industries occasionally discharge slugs of concentrated pollutants to municipal sewers. These industrial discharges can cause challenges at wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) and reuse systems. For example, elevated total organic carbon that is refractory through biological wastewater treatment increases the required ozone dose, or even exceeds the capacity of the ozone unit, resulting in a treatment pause or diversion. So, alert systems are necessary for potable reuse. Machine learning has many advantages for alert systems compared to the status quo, fixed thresholds on single variables. In this study, industrial discharges were detected using supervised machine learning and hourly data from sensors within a WWTP and downstream advanced treatment facility for aquifer recharge. Thirty-five different types of machine learning models were screened based on how well they detected an industrial discharge using default tuning parameters. Six models were selected for in-depth evaluation based in their training set accuracy, testing set accuracy, or event sensitivity: Boosted Tree, Cost-Sensitive C5.0, Oblique Random Forest with Support Vector Machines, penalized logistic regression, Random Forest Rule-Based Model, and Support Vector Machines with Radial Basis Function Kernel. After optimizing the tuning parameters and variable selection, Boosted Tree had the highest testing set accuracy, 99.2%. Over the 5-day testing set, it had zero false positives and would have detected the industrial discharge in 1 h. However, setting fixed thresholds based on the maximum normal datapoint within the training set resulted in nearly as good testing set accuracy, 98.3%. Overall, this study was a successful desktop proof-of-concept for a machine learning-based alert system for potable reuse.
Determinants of welfare benefit use of immigrant groups - longitudinal evidence from Germany
Authors: Frank Emily
Published: November 2022

While recent literature in Germany has compared predictors of welfare use between EU and non-EU immigrants, refugees have yet to be added to the analysis. Using survey data of approximately 4,000 immigrants living in Germany, I examine the determinants of basic unemployment benefits receipt for intra-EU immigrants, refugees, and third country immigrants. In particular, I investigate how education affects the likelihood of welfare use for each immigrant group. Even after controlling for human capital factors, sociodemographic characteristics, and factors related to migration such as legal status and age at migration, refugees remain significantly more likely to receive benefits. Results demonstrate that higher education significantly decreases the likelihood of welfare receipt for EU and third country immigrants, but much less so for refugees. These findings may indicate that refugees' education is not being used to its full potential in the labor market or that they face additional challenges hindering their labor market integration. A further and unanticipated finding is that immigrants who hold permanent residency or German citizenship are less likely to receive unemployment benefits, pointing either to positive effects of a secure residency or selection into permanent residency and citizenship among those with the greatest labor market success. Overall, this research shows that challenges beyond human capital deficiencies and sociodemographic characteristics must be considered when studying immigrants' receipt of social benefits, that not all educational credentials are valued equally, and that the experiences of refugees differ in significant ways from those of other immigrant groups.
Reality bites: An analysis of corona deniers in Germany over time
Authors: Eichhorn Jan , Spöri Tobias , Delhey Jan , Deutsch Franziska , Dragolov Georgi
Published: November 2022

The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in unprecedented government interventions in many people's lives. Opposition to these measures was not only based on policy disagreements but for some founded in an outright denial of basic facts surrounding the pandemic, challenging social cohesion. Conspiracy beliefs have been prolific within various protest groups and require attention, as such attitudes have been shown to be associated with lower rule compliance. Several studies have shown that the characteristics linked to holding COVID-19 conspiracy beliefs are complex and manifold; however, those insights usually rest on cross-sectional studies only. We have less knowledge on whether these cross-sectional correlates also reveal which parts of the population have been newly convinced by conspiracy theories or have dropped their support for them as the pandemic evolved. Using a unique panel data set from Germany, this paper explores a wide range of characteristics and compares the insights gained from cross-sectional associations on the one hand and links to the ways in which people change their views on the other hand. The findings show that cross-sectional analyses miss out on nuanced differences between different groups of temporary and more consistent conspiracy supporters. Specifically, this paper identifies major differences in the profiles of people who have been denying COVID-19 consistently compared to those who changed their minds on the question and those who assessed the reality correctly throughout. In doing so, socio-political and perception-based dimensions are differentiated and distinctions between respondents from East and West Germany explored.
Semitendinosus muscle morphology in relation to surface electrode placement in anterior cruciate ligament reconstructed and contralateral legs
Authors: Kositsky Adam , Barrett Rod S. , du Moulin William , Diamond Laura E. , Saxby David J.
Published: November 2022

The semitendinosus tendon is commonly harvested as graft tissue for anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR). Although the semitendinosus tendon can regenerate following harvesting, ACLR results in substantial reductions in semitendinosus muscle size and length, potentially complicating electrode placement for electromyography. The purpose of this study was to assess whether the most commonly used electrode placement [recommended by the “Surface Electromyography for Non-Invasive Assessment of Muscles” (SENIAM) project] is appropriate for measuring semitendinosus electromyograms after ACLR. In nine participants (unilateral ACLR with a semitendinosus graft), B-mode ultrasonography was used to bilaterally determine (i) the semitendinosus muscle-tendon junction position and the state of tendon regeneration (latter for the ACLR leg only) and (ii) the anatomical cross-sectional area (ACSA) of the semitendinosus muscle at the SENIAM-recommended electrode placement site at rest and during isometric maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) at two knee joint angles. Depending on the contraction state and joint angle, the semitendinosus muscle had retracted past the recommended placement site in 33–78% of ACLR legs, but not in any contralateral legs. The ACSA of semitendinosus was smaller both at rest and MVC in the ACLR compared to contralateral leg. The ACSA for both legs decreased at MVC compared to rest and at deep compared to shallow knee flexion angles, likely due to sliding of the muscle under the skin. These results suggest SENIAM guidelines are likely unsuitable for recording surface electromyograms from the semitendinosus muscle after tendon harvesting for ACLR as the muscle of interest may not be within the electrode detection volume.
A functional mutation associated with piglet diarrhea partially by regulating the transcription of porcine STAT3
Authors: Chen Zhihua , Yao Diwen , Guo Dongchun , Sun Yuan , Liu Lu , Kou Mingxing , Yang Xiuqin , Di Shengwei , Cai Jiancheng , Wang Xibiao , Niu Buyue
Published: November 2022

The present study aimed to search for functional mutations within the promoter of porcineSTAT3and to provide causative genetic variants associated with piglet diarrhea. We firstly confirmed thatSTAT3expressed higher in the small intestine than in the spleen, stomach and large intestine of SPF piglets, respectively (P< 0.05). Then, 10 genetic variations in the porcine STAT3 promoter region was identified by direct sequencing. Among them, three mutations SNP1: g.−870 G>A, SNP2: g.−584 A>C and a 6-bp Indel in the promoter region that displayed significant differential transcriptional activities were identified. Association analyses showed that SNP1: g.−870 G>A was significantly associated with piglet diarrhea (P< 0.05) and the GG animals had lower diarrhea score than AA piglets (P< 0.01) in both Min and Landrace population. Further functional analysis revealed that E2F6 repressed the transcriptional efficiency ofSTAT3 in vitro, by binding the G allele of SNP1. The present study suggested that SNP1: g.−870 G>A was a piglet diarrhea-associated variant that directly affected binding with E2F6, leading to changes inSTAT3transcription which might partially contribute to piglet diarrhea susceptibility or resistance.
An economic analysis of high milk somatic cell counts in dairy cattle in Chiang Mai, Thailand
Authors: Dejyong Tosapol , Chanachai Karoon , Immak Nathawit , Prarakamawongsa Tippawon , Rukkwamsuk Theera , Tago Pacheco Damian , Phimpraphai Waraphon
Published: November 2022

Mastitis in dairy cattle can lead to significant financial losses due to a reduction in milk yield, the withdrawal period after treatment when milk cannot be sold, and an increase in somatic cell count (SCC) which can reduce the milk's per liter commercial value. Dairy cooperatives point at high-SCC problems as an important factor leading to suboptimal levels of milk quantity and quality. This study aims at describing farm characteristics and milking practices associated with high SCC, identifying risk factors, and assessing the economic loss due to high SCC in three dairy cooperatives in Chiang Mai, Thailand. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 208 dairy cattle farms from July to September 2018. Structured interviews were conducted to collect the data. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to determine the degree of association between factors and high SCC. A retrospective cost assessment of high SCC was conducted to estimate the losses in affected farms, and two potential coping strategies were assessed: (1) culling and (2) treating the cow. More than 12% of farms had high SCC (SCC > 500,000 cells/ml). Inappropriate vacuum pressure and inappropriate pulsation rate of milking machines were identified as significant risk factors according to the multiple logistic regression (P < 0.01). Both factors can decrease the natural protection of teat tissue, increasing the likelihood of bacterial infection. The average economic loss of high SCC in affected farms was 557 USD for a three-month period. When comparing response strategies (i.e., treatment vs. culling), treating the affected cow was found to be more cost-effective. With a probability of successful treatment of 54%, treating an affected cow leads to 1,158.7 USD in gains over 3 years (vs. doing nothing). The results of this economic analysis can be used to advocate to cooperatives the value of veterinarians and for investigating and treating cases of mastitis.
A specific reverse complement sequence for distinguishing Brucella canis from other Brucella species
Authors: Ye Yin-Bo , Yang Jiang-Hua , Li Dong-Liang , Hao Li-Hua , Zhang Zhao , Mei Si-Yao , Zhang Huan , Du Fang-Yuan , Yv Li-Hui , Liu Bao-Shan , Chen Ze-Liang
Published: November 2022

Canine brucellosis is primarily caused by Brucella canis, but other Brucella species can also cause the disease. Identifying sequences specific to B. canis and establishing PCR assays that can distinguish between B. canis and other Brucella species is essential to determine the etiology of canine brucellosis and the source of infection and to achieve effective control. We analyzed the gaps and SNPs of genomes I and II from B. canis strain RM6/66 and B. melitensis strain 16M using the Mauve genome alignment software, and the specificity of each of these differential regions was analyzed by BLAST. A 132 bp specific sequence was found between the DK60_915 (glycosyl hydrolase 108 family protein) and DK60_917 (aldose 1-epimerase) loci in B. canis chromosome 1. Further comparative analysis revealed that this is a reverse complement sequence between B. canis and other Brucella species. Then, three primers were designed based on the sequence that could detect B. canis with a 310 bp amplification product or other Brucella species with a 413 bp product. The PCR based on these primers had reasonable specificity and a sensitivity of 100 copies of Brucella DNA. The detection results for the blood samples of the aborted dogs showed a favorable accordance with the Bruce-ladder multiplex PCR assay. In conclusion, we found a specific reverse complement sequence between B. canis and other Brucella and developed a PCR method that allows a more comprehensive identification of the pathogen involved in canine brucellosis. These findings provide an effective means for preventing and controlling brucellosis.
Relationship Between Occupational Noise and Hypertension in Modern Enterprise Workers: A Case–Control Study
Authors: Zhou Bo , Lan Yueyan , Bi Yifei , Li Chaoxiu , Zhang Xiaohong , Wu Xiaomei
Published: November 2022

Objective: The association between occupational noise exposure and hypertension is controversial. Thus, we aimed to assess the relationship between occupational noise exposure and hypertension.

Methods: This was a case‒control study, and 509 cases and 1,018 controls from an automobile company were included between July and October 2013. Occupational noise exposure was defined as exposure to noise level ≥80 dB(A) (Lex, 8 h) or cumulative noise exposure (CNE) ≥ 80 dB(A)-years. To assess the associations of noise level and CNE with hypertension, univariate and multivariate logistic regression were performed to calculate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). The restricted cubic spline function was used to establish dose‒response curves.

Results: A noise level ≥80 dB (A) (Lex, 8 h) was significantly associated with hypertension (OR 2.48, 95% CI 1.89–3.24). CNE ≥80 dB (A)-years was significantly associated with hypertension (OR 1.53, 95% CI 1.18–2.00). Nonlinear relationships between noise level, CNE and hypertension were found (p- nonlinear<0.05).

Conclusion: Our study suggests that occupational noise exposure is a potential risk factor for hypertension in automobile company workers.
Detecting Multilevel Poverty-Causing Factors of Farmer Households in Fugong County: A Hierarchical Spatial–Temporal Regressive Model
Authors: Jiang Yuewen , Wang Yanhui , Qi Wenping , Cai Benhe , Huang Chong , Liang Chenxia
Published: November 2022

Accurate examination of poverty-causing factors and their mechanisms of poverty-stricken farmer households from a fine scale is conducive to policy implementation and long-term effective poverty reduction. The spatial effects in most previous studies are not fully considered, resulting in less reliability of detection results. Therefore, by fully considering background effects and spatial–temporal effects, this study designs a hierarchical spatial–temporal regressive model (HSTRM) to accurately identify the factors as well as mechanisms that cause poverty more reasonably. The empirical study of Fugong County, Yunnan Province, China, shows that: (1) There has been a certain degree of spatial effects in the study area over the years; therefore, spatial effects should be considered. (2) The poverty degree of farmer households in the study area is affected by individual factors and background factors. Therefore, poverty-causing factors should be observed at different levels. (3) Poverty-causing factors feature different action mechanisms. The influence of the village-level factors on poverty is greater than that of the household level. In addition, the village-level factors have a certain impact on the contribution of household-level factors to poverty. This study offers technical support and policy guidance for sustainable poverty reduction and development of poor farmer households.
Numerical Study of Pneumatic Conveying of Rapeseed through a Pipe Bend by DEM-CFD
Authors: Xiao Yao , Ma Zitao , Wu Mingliang , Luo Haifeng
Published: November 2022

In the wide-width and high-speed operation of the rapeseed air-feeding planter, the air-feeding seed metering system adopts the top-down seed tube of different structural types in the production process, thus leading to significant differences in the discharge consistency and breakage rate of the respective row in the seeding process. Thus, the corrugated, hole-type, and ordinary round-tube seed tubes were taken as the research objects for this study, and virtual walls were introduced to compare and analyze the movement of seeds after collision with the seed tubes that had different wall structures. The effects of three types of seed tubes on the motion characteristics of seed particles were analyzed using DEM-CFD gas-solid coupling, and the simulation results were verified through bench experiments. The results indicated that when the inlet velocity was 16 m/s, and there was no material; the average error between the simulated value and the examined value of the airflow velocity at the same point of the vertical conveying pipe of the ordinary round-tube seed tube was 6.71%, thus verifying the feasibility of the simulation model built establishment of this study; when the inlet airflow velocity was 16 m/s and the seed particles were generated at the same per second, both the corrugated and hole-type seed tubes had a surge in airflow speed in the elbow part, and the highest airflow of the corrugated and hole-type pipes the velocities were 32.48 and 26.20 m/s, respectively. The corrugated and hole-type structure significantly affected the airflow field characteristics in the seed tube; the corrugated and hole-type seed tubes significantly improved the stable delivery of seeds, and the speed and force of the seeds were similar “sinusoidal fluctuation”, and the stagnation time of the seeds in the ordinary round-tube, corrugated, and hole-type seed tubes were 0.3, 0.38, and 0.48 s, respectively, and the seed velocities at the outlet were 5.18, 1.73, and 3.76 m/s, respectively. This study provides a reference for the optimization of the structure of the seed tube of the air-feeding seed metering system.
Treating Mares with the Long-Acting Kisspeptin Analog C6 Increases Circulating Gonadotropins but Does Not Trigger Ovulation
Authors: Derouin-Tochon Flavie , Lomet Didier , Robert Vincent , Reigner Fabrice , Barrière Philippe , Blard Thierry , Gesbert Amandine , Marulappa Vishwanatha , Hommet Elise , Decourt Caroline , Hellier Vincent , Aucagne Vincent , Duittoz Anne , Beltramo Massimiliano
Published: November 2022

The role of the neuropeptide kisspeptin (Kp) in mammalian reproduction is well established. Nevertheless, species-specific differences exist. In the horse, administration of the shortest endogenous Kp isoform, Kp10, is unable to trigger ovulation even though it increases plasma gonadotropins concentrations. To check if this issue would be dependent on Kp10 short half-life, we tested two degradation-resistant Kp analogs. The first analog was based on the equine Kp10 sequence (eC6), the second on the ovine Kp10 sequence (oC6). During the non-breeding season, a dose of 150 nmol/mare of either molecule had no significant effect on LH concentration, while oC6 provided a better stimulation of FSH than eC6 (p = 0.01). Furthermore, oC6 was more effective when injected intravenously than intramuscularly. Due to its best pharmacodynamics profile, oC6 (150 nmol/mare) was probed for ovulation induction during the breeding season. The molecule was injected during the preovulatory phase when the follicle diameter ranged from 34 to 37 mm and a uterine oedema was observed. oC6 consistently increased the total amount of gonadotropins released (FSH, p = 0.01 and LH, p = 0.02). However, as shown by transrectal ultrasonography and plasma progesterone levels, oC6 did not anticipate ovulation compared to the control group. Our results provide further evidence of the peculiar reproductive endocrinology of the mare but leave open questions regarding the exact role of Kp in the control of ovulation and breeding in the mare, which we attempt to identify and discuss.
Genome-Wide Identification, Structural Characterization, and Gene Expression Analysis of BES1 Transcription Factor Family in Tartary Buckwheat (Fagopyrum tataricum)
Authors: Gao Anjing , Weng Wenfeng , Yao Xin , Wu Weijiao , Bai Qing , Xiong Ruiqi , Ma Chao , Cheng Jianping , Ruan Jingjun
Published: November 2022

The transcription factor (TFs) BES1, which mediates brassinosteroid (BR) signaling, regulates plant growth and development. However, BES1 genes have not yet been reported in Tartary buckwheat. Here, ten FtBES1 genes were identified in the Tartary buckwheat genome, and they were named FtBES1-1 to FtBES1-10. These genes were divided into four groups according to the classification in Arabidopsis thaliana. Multiple sequence alignment indicated that all BES1 gene members contained the BES1_N structural domain. Phylogenetic relationship FtBES1 genes in the same group had similar gene structures and motifs. An analysis of cis-acting elements demonstrated that the BES1 TFs contains many light-responsive, hormonal, and abiotic stress-responsive elements, etc. The 10 FtBES1 genes were located on four chromosomes of Tartary buckwheat, and gene distribution and synteny analysis revealed that segmental duplications have played important roles in FtBES1 gene family expansion. Tissue specificity revealed that all of the ten FtBES1 members expressed highly in two periods, and relatively high expression levels were observed in mature leaves. Gene expression profiles under different hormone treatments demonstrated that FtBES1 gene family participated in the hormone stress response. This study enriches our knowledge of the Tartary buckwheat BES1 gene family and provides a theoretical basis for analyzing the biological functions and stress tolerance mechanisms of the Tartary buckwheat BES1 transcription factors.
Postharvest Geometric Characterization of Table Olive Bruising from 3D Digitalization
Authors: González-Merino Ramón , Hidalgo-Fernández Rafael E. , Rodero Jesús , Sola-Guirado Rafael R. , Sánchez-López Elena
Published: November 2022

The physical properties of table olive fruit are an important factor in the design of harvesting, transport, classification, and commercialization. The visual quality of the fruits harvested is the most important factor limiting the commercialization of table olives. The mechanical damage during harvesting consists of local tissue degradation, resulting in bruising of the fruits. In recent years, several studies have been carried out to identify physical properties and to calculate indices that characterize the damage to olives. However, all of them are based on 2D techniques. The aim of this work is the determination of new geometric parameters based on a 3D analysis of the scanned olives. The 3D shape parameters have been collated with those obtained by standard 2D shape analysis methods. From the results, it is observed that the use of high-resolution, medium-cost 3D technologies allows a more precise characterization of the shape of damages observed in table olives. To carry out three-dimensional analysis, Boolean operations of the solid and parametric surfaces of the meshes obtained by a 3D scanner have been used.
High-Throughput Plant Phenotyping (HTPP) in Resource-Constrained Research Programs: A Working Example in Ghana
Authors: Kassim Yussif Baba , Oteng-Frimpong Richard , Puozaa Doris Kanvenaa , Sie Emmanuel Kofi , Abdul Rasheed Masawudu , Abdul Rashid Issah , Danquah Agyemang , Akogo Darlington A. , Rhoads James , Hoisington David , Burow Mark D. , Balota Maria
Published: November 2022

In this paper, we present a procedure for implementing field-based high-throughput plant phenotyping (HTPP) that can be used in resource-constrained research programs. The procedure relies on opensource tools with the only expensive item being one-off purchase of a drone. It includes acquiring images of the field of interest, stitching the images to get the entire field in one image, calculating and extracting the vegetation indices of the individual plots, and analyzing the extracted indices according to the experimental design. Two populations of groundnut genotypes with different maturities were evaluated for their reaction to early and late leaf spot (ELS, LLS) diseases under field conditions in 2020 and 2021. Each population was made up of 12 genotypes in 2020 and 18 genotypes in 2021. Evaluation of the genotypes was done in four locations in each year. We observed a strong correlation between the vegetation indices and the area under the disease progress curve (AUDPC) for ELS and LLS. However, the strength and direction of the correlation depended upon the time of disease onset, level of tolerance among the genotypes and the physiological traits the vegetation indices were associated with. In 2020, when the disease was observed to have set in late in medium duration population, at the beginning of the seed stage (R5), normalized green-red difference index (NGRDI) and variable atmospheric resistance index (VARI) derived at the beginning pod stage (R3) had a positive relationship with the AUDPC for ELS, and LLS. On the other hand, NGRDI and VARI derived from images taken at R5, and physiological maturity (R7) had negative relationships with AUDPC for ELS, and LLS. In 2021, when the disease was observed to have set in early (at R3) also in medium duration population, a negative relationship was observed between NGRDI and VARI and AUDPC for ELS and LLS, respectively. We found consistently negative relationships of NGRDI and VARI with AUDPC for ELS and LLS, respectively, within the short duration population in both years. Canopy cover (CaC), green area (GA), and greener area (GGA) only showed negative relationships with AUDPC for ELS and LLS when the disease caused yellowing and defoliation. The rankings of some genotypes changed for NGRDI, VARI, CaC, GA, GGA, and crop senescence index (CSI) when lesions caused by the infections of ELS and LLS became severe, although that did not affect groupings of genotypes when analyzed with principal component analysis. Notwithstanding, genotypes that consistently performed well across various reproductive stages with respect to the vegetation indices constituted the top performers when ELS, LLS, haulm, and pod yields were jointly considered.
Race-Level Reporting of Incidents Using an Online System during Three Seasons (2019/2020–2021/2022) of Thoroughbred Flat Racing in New Zealand
Authors: Gibson Michaela J. , Legg Kylie A. , Gee Erica K. , Rogers Chris W.
Published: November 2022

In the 2019/20 Thoroughbred racing season, the paper-based reporting process of stipendiary steward reports was upgraded to an online system (‘Infohorse database’) to allow for the rapid entry of precise event and injury data. The objectives of this study were to describe the incident and non-incident examinations during the 2019/20, 2020/21, and 2021/22 Thoroughbred flat racing seasons in New Zealand and describe the primary injury and reporting outcomes. The introduction of the online system was associated with fewer miscoding events with horse identification (0.1%). An improvement in the definition and prompts in reporting within the online system compared with the previous paper-based system resulted in a greater frequency of non-incident examinations being undertaken. The increased frequency of reporting the clinical outcome, ‘no observable abnormalities detected’ (NOAD), demonstrates the role of stipendiary stewards to carry out routine screening. The frequency of most clinical findings, such as musculoskeletal fractures (0.5 per 1000 starts, 95% CI = 0.3–0.6), remained similar compared to previously reported data using the paper-based system. The online system provided a more structured dataset compared with the paper-based system, making it a useful tool for the monitoring of incidents, injuries, and potential risk factors within Thoroughbred racing in New Zealand. Therefore, evidence-based changes to the management and structure of racing can be undertaken to ensure the industry meets its duty of care for racehorse and jockey welfare.
Reproductive Losses and Their Causes in Alpacas—A Survey-Based Study
Authors: Kapustka Joanna , Budzyńska Monika
Published: November 2022

The profitability of alpaca breeding depends on satisfactory reproductive results. The study aimed to analyze the frequency and causes of reproduction-related problems in alpacas, in particular miscarriages, stillbirths, preterm births, twin pregnancies, and falls of crias within 12 months after birth. This analysis was carried out with the use of questionnaires completed voluntarily by 109 alpaca owners in three regions (British Isles, Continental Europe, and North America). Cases of miscarriage and stillbirths were reported from 44% and 36% of the farms, respectively. In half of the farms, the cases of falls of crias and young alpacas within 12 months after birth were reported. Preterm births were reported from almost half of the farms. A large number of alpaca owners did not identify the cause of fetal death. An important element increasing the cria survival rate of is the birth weight (the higher cria birth weight, the lower risk of perinatal complications and less necessity of bottle feeding). Crias from dams receiving mineral supplements had higher birth weight. This study indicated a relationship between fetal death and the occurrence of infectious diseases and scabies infestation in the herd. They may be potential causes of reproduction-related problems that are not discerned in time.
Comparing Data Collection Tools for Zoo Management Decision-Making: A Case Study Examining Behavioral Measures of Humboldt Penguin Bond Strength
Authors: Galante Julia , Margulis Susan W.
Published: November 2022

Systematic data collection has become increasingly important in zoos as it facilitates evidence-based decision-making. Here, we describe the results of a two-year study on exhibit use and pair-bonding in a colony of Humboldt penguins. We used two different data collection apps to evaluate their effectiveness and suitability for evaluating pair-bond strength. Data were collected using instantaneous scan sampling and all-occurrence sampling 2–3 times per week for 2 years for a total of nearly 240 h of observation (19 h with one system and 219 h with the other system). The activity patterns (in particular, time spent in the water) differed amongst penguins and between the two data collection tools. Patterns of courtship-related behaviors varied tremendously across individuals. The longer pairs had been bonded, the more time they spent in close proximity. We highlight two important considerations for institutions aiming to collect such systematic data. First, it is critical to interpret all findings in context by incorporating husbandry details and keeper insights to highlight explanations that may not be readily apparent from the data. Second, one must explore all aspects of any data collection system before committing to its use—system setup, ease of data collection, format and accessibility of exported data. Not doing so may negate the value of systematic data collection by limiting the use and interpretability of the data.
Effects of Vitamin D on the Renin–Angiotensin System and Acute Childhood Pneumonia
Authors: Zovi Andrea , Ferrara Francesco , Pasquinucci Roberta , Nava Livia , Vitiello Antonio , Arrigoni Roberto , Ballini Andrea , Cantore Stefania , Palmirotta Raffele , Di Domenico Marina , Santacroce Luigi , Boccellino Mariarosaria
Published: November 2022

Vitamin D promotes kidney calcium reabsorption and regulates calcium and phosphate metabolism, as well as the intestinal absorption of calcium and phosphorus and bone mineralization events. Vitamin D is also known for its immunomodulatory properties. It has been shown in the literature that the active form of vitamin D, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D, performs multiple functions in the adaptive and innate immune system, as well as acting on the endothelial membrane. Recent evidence shows that vitamin D is a negative endocrine modulator of the renin–angiotensin system (RAS), with protection from diseases leading to lung damage, such as pneumonia caused by various pathogens. Vitamin D support associated with the use of antibiotics could be crucial to counteract these infectious diseases.
Isolation and Characterization of a Novel Actinomycete Isolated from Marine Sediments and Its Antibacterial Activity against Fish Pathogens
Authors: Mondal Haimanti , Thomas John
Published: November 2022

Marine habitats are especially complex, with a varied diversity of living organisms. Marine organisms, while living in such intense conditions, have developed great physiological and metabolic potential to survive. This has led them to produce several potent metabolites, which their terrestrial counterparts are unable to produce. Over the past few years, marine Actinomycetes have been considered one of the most abundant sources of diverse and novel metabolites. In this work, an attempt was made to isolate Actinomycetes from marine sediments in terms of their ability to produce several novel bioactive compounds. A total of 16 different Actinomycete colonies were obtained from marine sediment samples. Among the 16 Actinomycete isolates, 2 isolates demonstrated in vitro antibacterial activity against Aeromonas hydrophila and Vibrio parahemolyticus. However, among them, only one isolate was found to have potent antibacterial activity, and hence, was taken for further analysis. This isolate was designated as Beijerinickia fluminensis VIT01. The bioactive components obtained were extracted and later subjected to Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and gas chromatography–mass spectroscopy (GC-MS) analyses for identification. Several novel bioactive compounds were reported from the data obtained and were found to have potent antibacterial activity. Hence, they could be used as an alternative to antibiotics for treating several fish pathogens in the aquaculture industry.
Synthesis and Antimicrobial Activity of Sulfenimines Based on Pinane Hydroxythiols
Authors: Ilchenko Nikita O. , Sudarikov Denis V. , Rumyantcev Roman V. , Baidamshina Diana R. , Zakarova Nargiza D. , Yahia Monyr Nait , Kayumov Airat R. , Kutchin Aleksandr V. , Rubtsova Svetlana A.
Published: November 2022

The widespread presence of multidrug-resistant pathogenic microorganisms challenges the development of novel chemotype antimicrobials, insensitive to microbial tools of resistance. To date, various monoterpenoids have been shown as potential antimicrobials. Among many classes of molecules with antimicrobial activity, terpenes and terpenoids are an attractive basis for the design of antimicrobials because of their low toxicity and availability for various modifications. In this work, we report on the synthesis of sulfenimines from chiral trifluoromethylated and non-fluorinated pinane-type thiols. Final compounds were obtained with yields of up to 81%. Among the 13 sulfenimines obtained, 3 compounds were able to repress the growth of both bacteria (S. aureus, both MSSA and MRSA; P. aeruginosa) and fungi (C. albicans) with an MIC of 8–32 µg/mL. Although compounds exhibited relatively high cytotoxicity (the therapeutic index of 3), their chemotype can be used as a starter point for the development of disinfectants and antiseptics for targeting multidrug-resistant pathogens.