bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Recycling Electric Arc Furnace Slag into Fertilizer: Effects of “Waste Product” on Growth and Physiology of the Common Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.)
Authors: Radić Sandra , Sandev Dubravka , Maldini Krešimir , Vujčić Bok Valerija , Lepeduš Hrvoje , Domijan Ana-Marija
Published: September 2022

The aim of this study was to investigate if electric arc furnace (EAF) slag generated during steel production could have an application as a soil enhancer in agriculture. For that purpose, a greenhouse experiment was conducted on common beans (Phaseolus vulgaris) cultivated in soil enriched with EAF slag (at 1% and 2% level), synthetic fertilizer (NPK), combined EAF slag and synthetic fertilizer, or in control (untreated) soil. The beans were exposed to test soils until maturity (for 8 weeks). Following that period, physico-chemical properties of the soils, as well as nutrient status, growth, photosynthetic and oxidative stress parameters of bean plants were determined. EAF slag improved the mineral status of the soil and significantly increased Fe, Mg, N, P and K in different bean plant organs. EAF slag and/or NPK increased plant height. EAF slag, especially at lower levels, positively affected dry weight of leaf and seed. Soil supplementation with a lower level of EAF slag, as well as with a combination of EAF slag and NPK, led to significant improvement in gas exchange parameters (net photosynthetic rate, intercellular CO2 concentration and stomatal conductance) and nitrate reductase activity, indicating a positive influence on bean plants. Potential phytotoxicity of EAF slag was not detected, as evidenced by the oxidative stress parameters. Thus, EAF slag applied at a low level shows promising potential as an efficient soil enhancer, and as a valuable source of nutrients essential to plants, with an equal or even better performance compared to synthetic fertilizer.
Semi-Arid-Habitat-Adapted Plant-Growth-Promoting Rhizobacteria Allows Efficient Wheat Growth Promotion
Authors: Saadaoui Nora , Silini Allaoua , Cherif-Silini Hafsa , Bouket Ali Chenari , Alenezi Faizah N. , Luptakova Lenka , Boulahouat Sarah , Belbahri Lassaad
Published: September 2022

Plant-growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) introduced into agricultural ecosystems positively affect agricultural production and constitute an ecological method for sustainable agriculture. The present study demonstrated the effects of two PGPR, Pantoea agglomerans strain Pa and Bacillus thuringiensis strain B25, on seed germination, on the plant growth of two durum wheat varieties, Bousselam and Boutaleb, and on the frequency of the cultivable beneficial bacterial community. The bacterial strains were used as seed primers (individually or in consortia) by coating them with carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC 1%). The effect of PGPR was negligible on germinative ability but improved seed vigor in the Boutaleb variety after inoculation with the Pa strain alone or in combination with the B25 strain. The results showed that the germination capacity depends on the wheat variety. It seemed to be better in the Bousselam variety. Analysis of the results of morphological plant parameters in sterile compost after 75 days under controlled conditions (16 h light, 26/16 °C day/night) showed a significant improvement in plant growth in both wheat varieties with the Pa strain alone or in combination. Chlorophyll (a, and total), carotenoid, and total soluble sugars were significantly increased, while proline and MDA were strongly reduced by inoculation of the Bousselam variety. Bacterial survival of the Pa and B25 strains in the rhizosphere of sterile compost was appreciable (105–107 CFU/g) for both the Pa and B25 strains. Only the Pa strain was endophytic and able to colonize roots. Contrary to sterile compost, the different inoculation treatments in natural soil (after 114 days) significantly improved all morphological parameters and chlorophyll pigments in both wheat varieties. The reduction of proline contents at the leaf level was observed with Pa, mainly in Bousselam. Bacterial densities of the rhizosphere and endophyte cultivable communities did not differ significantly. However, the number of cultivable beneficial bacteria isolated from roots and rhizosphere with multiple PGP traits was significantly increased. Bacterial survival of CMC-coated seed inoculum was appreciable and remained constant, especially for the Pa strain, during 21 months at room temperature. Based on these results, the PGPR used after seed priming would be a feasible and sustainable strategy to improve soil fertility and promote growth of durum wheat in stressful and non-stressful environments.
Influencing Factors of the Distribution Accuracy and the Optimal Parameters of a Pneumatic Fertilization Distributor in a Fertilizer Applicator
Authors: Yuan Wensheng , Ji Changying , Liu Zhiyuan , Jin Chengqian , Feng Yugang
Published: September 2022

A pneumatic fertilization distributor used for fertilizing in a fertilizer applicator is a key component of the applicator. The parameters of a pneumatic fertilization distributor affect the uniformity and accuracy of the fertilization of a fertilizer applicator. To obtain the optimal design parameters of a pneumatic fertilization distributor, a fluidstructure coupling simulation test and a bench test were carried out in the Intelligent Agricultural Machinery Laboratory of the Nanjing Institute of Agricultural Mechanization from March 2021 to July 2022. The curvature–diameter ratios of the elbow, bellow length, and air velocity were selected as the experimental factors, and the variation coefficient of the fertilizer discharge at each discharge outlet within 0.5–3 s was selected as the experimental index. A five-level quadratic regression orthogonal rotation combined test was carried out. The results showed that: (1) all three factors had a significant impact on the uniformity of the fertilizer discharge. The reasonable ranges of the curvature–diameter ratio, bellow length, and air velocity were 0.5–1.5, 350–550 mm, and 25–35 m/s, respectively. (2) The order of the influence of the three factors on the uniformity of the fertilizer discharge in descending order was as follows: the curvature–diameter ratio of the elbow, the bellow length, and the air velocity. When the bellow length was 460 mm, the curvature–diameter ratio was 0.6, and the inlet air velocity was 28 m/s. The uniformity of the fertilizer discharge was optimal. A pneumatic conveying system was redesigned according to the optimal parameters, and a bench test was carried out. The results showed that at different speeds, the coefficient of variation of each row’s displacement was not greater than 5%, and the simulation test results were consistent with the bench test results.
The Effect of Plug Height and Inflow Rate on Water Flow Characteristics in Furrow Irrigation
Authors: Yu Juan , Liu Keyao , Li Anbin , Yang Mingfei , Gao Xiaodong , Zhao Xining , Cai Yaohui
Published: September 2022

Despite its wide application across arid land types, furrow irrigation is often associated with numerous environmental problems related to deep percolation, runoff, and soil erosion. In this study, a straightforward approach was proposed to achieve higher uniformity and reduce erosion. Here, the impacts that a moveable “plug” has on the behavior of irrigation water in the furrow were simulated using FLOW-3D and HYDRUS-2D, where three plug heights and two flow rates were set. The effect of inflow rate and plug height on the water advance, water level, cumulative infiltration in the furrow, and uniformity coefficient was determined. Results indicate that the plug was able to slow water velocity by approximately 60% in the furrow and increase the furrow advance time by 3–4 times; the water level was increased by nearly 10 cm compared with no plug. Moreover, an irrigation uniformity range of 90.18–99.22% was associated with this plugging. The addition of a plug in the furrow irrigation practices for smallholder farmers in developing countries demonstrates great potential in reducing the probability of erosion under large slopes and can effectively improve irrigation uniformity.
Precision Agriculture Implementation Factors and Adoption Potential: The Case Study of Polish Agriculture
Authors: Yarashynskaya Aksana , Prus Piotr
Published: September 2022

Some of the current economic, social and environmental challenges could potentially be addressed by Precision Agriculture (PA) introduction. However, the pace of PA introduction is found to be slower than expected in developed, transitioning and developing countries, with the PA adoption literature is predominantly been focused on research on PA adoption in developed world. This paper addresses these shortcomings by identification and explanation of PA adoption factors and compilation of the regional ranking of PA adoption potential for 16 Polish voivodships. It contributes to the PA adoption factors’ literature by filling the gap on under-researched transitioning economies using Poland as a case-study. The key PA adoption factors were identified by Systematic Literature Review (SLR) based on the final sample of 21 papers from journals indexed in Scopus or Web of Science databases and were organized in 5 groups (socio-economic, agro-technological, financial, technological, and informational factors). These factors formed the conceptual framework for the ranking of PA adoption potential of 16 Polish voivodships based on the application of Sturgess rule. The analysis of PA adoption potential of 16 Polish voivodships shows the clear “core-periphery” divergence: i.e., well-developed metropolitan areas got the highest ranking and less developed peripheral regions were ranked low.
Complete Mitogenomes of Polypedates Tree Frogs Unveil Gene Rearrangement and Concerted Evolution within Rhacophoridae
Authors: Cui Lin , Huang An , He Zhi , Ao Lisha , Ge Fei , Fan Xiaolan , Zeng Bo , Yang Mingyao , Yang Deying , Ni Qingyong , Li Yan , Yao Yongfang , Xu Huailiang , Yang Jiandong , Wei Zhimin , Li Tongqing , Yan Taiming , Zhang Mingwang
Published: September 2022

New developments in sequencing technology and nucleotide analysis have allowed us to make great advances in reconstructing anuran phylogeny. As a clade of representative amphibians that have radiated from aquatic to arboreal habitats, our understanding of the systematic status and molecular biology of rhacophorid tree frogs is still limited. We determined two new mitogenomes for the genus Polypedates (Rhacophoridae): P. impresus and P. mutus. We conducted comparative and phylogenetic analyses using our data and seven other rhacophorid mitogenomes. The mitogenomes of the genera Polypedates, Buergeria, and Zhangixalus were almost identical, except that the ATP8 gene in Polypedates had become a non-coding region; Buergeria maintained the legacy “LTPF” tRNA gene cluster compared to the novel “TLPF” order in the other two genera; and B. buergeri and Z. dennysi had no control region (CR) duplication. The resulting phylogenetic relationship supporting the above gene rearrangement pathway suggested parallel evolution of ATP8 gene loss of function (LoF) in Polypedates and CR duplication with concerted evolution of paralogous CRs in rhacophorids. Finally, conflicting topologies in the phylograms of 185 species reflected the advantages of phylogenetic analyses using multiple loci.
Determination of Thermal, Chemical and Physical Properties of Bedding Materials for Compost Dairy Barns
Authors: Damasceno Flávio Alves , Day George B. , Taraba Joseph L. , Barbari Matteo , Oliveira Carlos Eduardo Alves , Frigeri Karen Dal Magro , Vieira Frederico Márcio Corrêa , Bambi Gianluca
Published: September 2022

The thermal, chemical, and physical properties of compost bedding materials play an important role in every phase of compost production. Based on this, we aimed to assess the thermal, chemical and physical properties of bedding materials for compost-bedded pack (CBP) barns. The database for this study was registered from 42 CBP barns, distributed throughout the state of Kentucky (USA). The thermal conductivity showed a linear relationship with moisture content and bulk density, while thermal resistivity decreased with increasing particle size. The bedding moisture average was 46.8% (±11.5). The average finer index (p < 0.05) was the highest weight percentage (30.1%) in the samples studied. Water-holding capacity (WHC) increased with increasingly fine particle size. The higher bulk density value was 3.6 times that of the lowest bulk density value. The chemical characterization of the bedding material provided the following results: 42.7% (±3.8%) C, 1.6% (±0.4%) N, and 28.2 (±8.0) C:N ratio. However, thermal properties are strongly dependent on particle size. Producers can use the bedding material as fertilizer in their crops, due to the chemical characteristics of the materials. Beds with good physical and chemical properties improve their moisture content.
Influence of Two Types of Guide Harnesses on Ground Reaction Forces and Step Length of Guide Dogs for the Blind
Authors: Weissenbacher Anna , Tichy Alexander , Weissenbacher Karl , Bockstahler Barbara
Published: September 2022

Few studies exist addressing the effects of guide dog harnesses on dogs biomechanics. The aim of this study was to investigate how two different harness types affect ground reaction forces and stride length. Twelve certified guide dogs were tested under different conditions: walking with a collar and leash, walking with the harness used daily (Norwegian type with straight handle) and walking with a Y-harness using a straight or a curved handle. The parameters studied included maximum vertical force, vertical impulse and stride length. Compared to walking with a collar and leash, none of the harnesses, when used with a leash, had an effect on the evaluated parameters. However, both harnesses, when used with a handle and under re-enactment of the lead work, showed clear effects on the impulse. Stride length was shortened if the Y-harness with handles was used. Future studies should focus on the type of attachment of the harness, as well as the angle of attachment, which is altered by the size of the handler. The development of individually adapted harnesses in order to subject these animals to as little stress as possible during their daily work should be one of the future areas of research.
Does the Domestication Syndrome Apply to the Domestic Pig? Not Completely
Authors: Collarini Edoardo , Gioia Marika , Cordoni Giada , Norscia Ivan
Published: September 2022

The ‘domestication syndrome’ defines a suite of features that domesticated animals possess as the result of the artificial selection operated by Homo sapiens since the Neolithic. An interesting anthropological question is whether such features, including increased tameness and reduced aggression, apply to all domesticated forms. We investigated this issue in the domestic pig (Sus scrofa). We video-recorded and analysed aggression and social play (mostly play-fighting) sessions from piglets (three litters; n = 24) and wild boar hybrids (domestic pig mother x wild boar father; three litters; n = 27) from 6–50 days of age, raised in the same woodland/grassland habitat and extensive farming management (ethical farm ‘Parva Domus’, Cavagnolo, Torino). Play and aggression session structure was assessed via Asymmetry (AI; offensive/defensive pattern balance), Shannon (H′; pattern variability), and Pielou (J; pattern evenness) indices. We found that piglets played more (especially after the 20th day of life) and engaged in less variable and uniform sessions than wild boar hybrids. Compared to hybrids, piglets showed less variable but more frequent (especially when approaching weaning) and asymmetrical aggressive events. Thus, the domestication syndrome does not seem to fully apply to either social play or aggression, possibly because artificial selection has produced greater tameness of pigs towards humans than towards conspecifics.
Role of Topical Anaesthesia in Pain Management of Farm Animals, a Changing Paradigm
Authors: Windsor Peter Andrew
Published: September 2022

Field evidence indicates that livestock producers are motivated by access to products that readily deliver pain management during husbandry interventions and, more recently, viral epidermal infectious diseases, including FMD. There has been impressive adoption in Australia of a farmer-applied spray-on topical anaesthetic wound formulation (TAF; Tri-Solfen®, Medical Ethics, Australia), initially for managing pain of the breech modification ‘mulesing’ procedure that reduces susceptibility of sheep to flystrike. Over 120 million lambs have now received pain relief and cattle producers have commenced using the TAF for a range of husbandry procedures. This product has demonstrated efficacy for surgical castration and tail docking of lambs, surgical castration and dehorning of calves, surgical castration of piglets, debridement of lesions of the hoof for lame cattle and, importantly, treatment of clinical FMD lesions, including decubitus ulcerations occurring from prolonged recumbency. Multimodal use of an NSAID for improved pain management is advocated, particularly meloxicam, available by prescription from veterinarians for injection and as an oral formulation (Ilium Buccalgesic®, Troy Laboratories, Australia), with current work assessing the potential for prolonged delivery in molasses blocks. Increased use of TAF with NSAIDs significantly reduces pain and suffering in livestock, with enhanced healing of FMD lesions, reduced viral loads from Orf infections in lambs and diminished necessity of ‘antibiotic cover’, assisting antimicrobial-resistance (AMR) stewardship.
The Prevalence of Salmonella and Campylobacter on Broiler Meat at Different Stages of Commercial Poultry Processing
Authors: Thames Hudson T. , Fancher Courtney A. , Colvin Mary G. , McAnally Mika , Tucker Emily , Zhang Li , Kiess Aaron S. , Dinh Thu T. N. , Sukumaran Anuraj T.
Published: September 2022

In poultry processing, Salmonella and Campylobacter contaminations are major food safety concerns. Peracetic acid (PAA) is an antimicrobial commonly used in commercial poultry processing to reduce pathogen prevalence so as to meet the USDA-FSIS performance standards. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of Salmonella and Campylobacter on broiler meat in various steps of commercial poultry processing in plants that use PAA. Post-pick, pre-chill, post-chill, and drumstick chicken samples were collected from three processing plants and mechanically deboned meat (MDM) was collected from two of the three plants. Each plant was sampled thrice, and 10 samples were collected from each processing step during each visit. Among the 420 samples, 79 were contaminated with Salmonella and 155 were contaminated with Campylobacter. Salmonella and Campylobacter contamination on the post-pick samples averaged 32.2%. Significant reductions in Salmonella and Campylobacter were observed in pre-chill to post-chill samples, where the prevalence was reduced from 34% and 64.4% to nondetectable limits and 1.1%, respectively (p < 0.001). Salmonella and Campylobacter remained undetectable on the drumstick samples in all three processing plants. However, the prevalence of Salmonella and Campylobacter on MDM was similar to the post-pick prevalence, which suggests substantial cross-contamination from post-chill to MDM.
Feeding Dairy Ewes with Fresh or Dehydrated Sulla (Sulla coronarium L.) Forage. 2. Effects on Cheese Enrichment in Bioactive Molecules
Authors: Ponte Marialetizia , Maniaci Giuseppe , Di Grigoli Antonino , Gannuscio Riccardo , Ashkezary Mansour Rabie , Addis Margherita , Pipi Marianna , Alabiso Marco , Todaro Massimo , Bonanno Adriana
Published: September 2022

Sulla is a tanniferous legume species largely used as fresh or preserved forage in the ruminants’ diets. Due to its content in polyphenols with antioxidant activity, especially condensed tannins (CT), fresh sulla forage (FSF), when eaten by ruminants, is able to enrich animal products with antioxidant molecules and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) that are beneficial for consumers’ health. Dehydration represents a valid alternative to haymaking to preserve these properties also in periods when FSF is unavailable. In this research, the effects of ewes’ diets based on sulla hay (SH), pelleted dehydrated sulla forage (DSF) or FSF were evaluated on cheese physico-chemical traits, including fatty acid (FA) profile, vitamins A and E, polyphenols, antioxidant capacity and oxidative stability. The individual daily milk from 10 first lambing (FL) and 10 third lambing (TL) Valle del Belìce ewes at about 60 days in milk, divided homogeneously into 5 groups fed different diets in a partial 5 × 2 Latin square design with 2 phases, and the bulk milk of farming ewes fed only on natural pasture, were used in 2 sessions of micro cheese-making to manufacture cheeses, sampled at 48 h of ripening. The experimental diets were: SHL = SH ad libitum; DSF2 = 2 kg/day DSF per head plus SH ad libitum; FSF2 = 2 kg/day FSF per head plus SH ad libitum; FSF4 = 4 kg/day FSF per head plus SH ad libitum; FSFL = FSF ad libitum. Concentrate was supplied at the amount of 0.8 or 1.2 kg/day per head for FL and TL, respectively. Cheese health properties greatly improved with FSFL diet, based on the exclusive use of fresh forage, that induced the increase in the content of molecules with antioxidant activity, as vitamin A, vitamin E and polyphenols, enhancing the oxidative stability, and the level of PUFA as rumenic acid (C18:2 c9t11) and α-linolenic acid (ALA, C18:3n-3). Cheeses from the DSF2 group showed levels of vitamin A, vitamin E and PUFA higher than SHL cheeses and comparable to those of FSF4 cheeses, whereas their ALA content was not different from that of FSFL cheeses. Evaluating those molecules affected by the level of fresh forage in the diet for their ability to trace the animals’ feeding regime, ALA and its ratio with linoleic acid (LA, C18:2n-6) (LA/ALA) exhibited an effective role as biomarker in discriminating cheese from animals fed fresh forage-based diets. The results showed how dehydrated sulla pellets, as an alternative to hay in periods of limited availability of fresh forage, can preserve the nutritional and health properties of dairy products with regards to their antioxidant capacity and FA profile.
The Implication of Serum Autoantibodies in Prognosis of Canine Mammary Tumors
Authors: Yuan Stephen Hsien-Chi , Chang Shih-Chieh , Chou Pei-Yi , Yang Youngsen , Liu Hao-Ping
Published: September 2022

Canine mammary tumor (CMT) is the most prevalent neoplasm in female dogs. Tumor recurrence and metastasis occur in malignant CMT (MMT) dogs after surgery. Identification of serum prognostic biomarkers holds the potential to facilitate prediction of disease outcomes. We have identified CMT-associated autoantibodies against thymidylate synthetase (TYMS), insulin-like growth factor-binding protein 5 (IGFBP5), hyaluronan and proteoglycan link protein 1 (HAPLN1), and anterior gradient 2 (AGR2), i.e., TYMS-AAb, IGFBP5-AAb, HAPLN1-AAb, and AGR2-AAb, respectively, by conducting serological enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA). Herein we assessed serum AAb levels in 11 MMT dogs before and after surgery, demonstrating that IGFBP5-AAb and HAPLN1-AAb significantly decrease at 3- and 12-months post-surgery (p < 0.05). We evaluated the correlation between the presurgical AAb level and overall survival (OS) of 90 CMT dogs after surgery. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis reveals that IGFBP5-AAbHIgh and TYMS-AAbHigh are significantly correlated with worse OS (p = 0.017 and p = 0.029, respectively), while AGR2-AAbLow is correlated with somewhat poorer OS (p = 0.086). Areas under a time-dependent receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of IGFBP5-AAb and TYMS-AAb in predicting OS of MMT dogs are 0.611 and 0.616, respectively. Notably, MMT dogs presenting TYMS-AAbHigh/IGFBP5-AAbHigh/AGR2-AAbLow have worst OS (p = 0.0004). This study reveals an association between the serum AAb level and CMT prognosis.
Effects of Chitosan Oligosaccharide on Production Performance, Egg Quality and Ovarian Function in Laying Hens with Fatty Liver Syndrome
Authors: Tao Wenjing , Jin Feng , Fan Qiwen , Zhao Na , Wang Geng , Du Encun , Chen Fang , Guo Wanzheng , Huang Shaowen , Chen Mingxin , Wei Jintao
Published: September 2022

This study aimed to investigate the role of chitosan oligosaccharide (COS) as an additive in the feed of laying hens with fatty liver syndrome (FLS). Effects on production performance, egg quality as well as ovarian function were determined. A total of 360 Lohmann Pink-shell laying hens (28 weeks old) were randomly assigned to 5 groups (6 replicates × 12 birds). Hens were fed with a basal diet and a high-energy low-protein (HELP) diet supplemented with 0, 200, 400 and 800 mg/kg COS. COS reversed the lowered laying rates, increased feed-to-egg ratios and decreased albumen heights and Haugh units induced by the HELP diet. Additionally, COS improved the ovarian morphologies damaged by the HELP diet. Furthermore, COS enhanced antioxidant enzyme activities, reduced malonaldehyde levels and downregulated the mRNA expressions of nuclear factor kappa B, pro-inflammation cytokine genes and pro-apoptosis-related genes, while it upregulated the mRNA expression of anti-apoptosis-related genes in the ovaries of HELP-diet-fed hens. These findings suggested that dietary COS supplementation could improve production performance and egg quality in laying hens with FLS, and these beneficial effects were linked to improved ovarian morphology, which was attributed to decreased oxidative stress, inflammation and apoptosis in the ovaries.
Paraclinical Changes Occurring in Dairy Cows with Spontaneous Subacute Ruminal Acidosis under Field Conditions
Authors: Morar Doru , Văduva Cristina , Morar Adriana , Imre Mirela , Tulcan Camelia , Imre Kálmán
Published: September 2022

This study was undertaken to investigate the changes in the blood and milk biochemical parameters found in naturally occurring and long-lasting spontaneous subacute ruminal acidosis (SARA), with the aim of identifying the patterns of paraclinical changes and providing valuable data for more accurately identifying SARA in cows under field conditions. The study was conducted on a dairy herd with a history of the occurrence of SARA-associated clinical signs. Twelve cows, between 20 and 150 days in milk, were randomly selected and subsequently subjected to venous blood, milk, and ruminal fluid collection. The mean pH value of the ruminal fluid was 5.56 ± 0.32, and 58% (7/12) of the tested cows were SARA positive (ruminal pH ≤ 5.5). The albumin, calcium, and phosphorus serum concentration values were significantly lower (p < 0.05) in the SARA group than in the group of healthy cows. Serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and glutamate dehydrogenase (GLDH) activity were significantly higher in the SARA cows (p < 0.05) than in the group of healthy cows. The mean values of milk fat, milk protein content, and milk fat-to-protein ratio were significantly lower (p < 0.05) in the tested cows of the SARA group than in the healthy group of cows. In conclusion, the results of the current study indicate that long-term SARA triggered by a high-concentrate diet is associated with clinically significant changes in both the blood composition (hypoalbuminemia, hypocalcemia, and increased serum AST and GLDH activity) and the milk composition (decreased fat and protein percentage and milk fat-to-protein ratio). Altogether, the obtained results provide a more reliable pattern of paraclinical changes and useful insights for detecting SARA in dairy cows under field conditions.
Tailoring Antimicrobial Stewardship (AMS) Interventions to the Cultural Context: An Investigation of AMS Programs Operating in Northern Italian Acute-Care Hospitals
Authors: Vicentini Costanza , Blengini Valentina , Libero Giulia , Martella Manuela , Zotti Carla Maria
Published: September 2022

Antibiotic misuse and overuse are important contributors to the development of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) programs are coordinated sets of actions aiming to promote appropriate antibiotic use, improving patient outcomes whilst reducing AMR. Two main organizational models for AMS programs have been described: restrictive strategies (RS) vs. enabling strategies (ES). Evaluating and understanding social and cultural influences on antibiotic decision-making are critical for the development of successful and sustainable context-specific AMS programs. Characteristics and surrogate outcomes of AMS programs operating in acute-care hospitals of Piedmont in north-western Italy were investigated. The aim of this study was assessing whether RS vs. ES operating in our context were associated with different outcomes in terms of total antimicrobial usage and percentage of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and carbapenem-resistant enterobacteria (CRE) over invasive isolates. In total, 24 AMS programs were assessed. ES were more frequently chosen compared to RS, with the latter being implemented only in broader AMS programs involving enabling components (combined strategy, CS). This study found no difference in evaluated outcomes among hospitals implementing ES vs. CS, suggesting both approaches could be equally valid in our context.
Gastrointestinal Carriage of Antimicrobial Resistance in School-Aged Children in Three Municipalities of Timor-Leste
Authors: Oakley Tessa , Le Brandon , da Conceicao Virginia , Marr Ian , Maia Carolina , Soares Messias , Belo Joana Correia , Sarmento Nevio , da Silva Endang , Amaral Salvador , Vaz Nery Susana , Lynar Sarah , Francis Joshua R. , Yan Jennifer
Published: September 2022

Invasive bacterial infections are a leading cause of death in children, primarily in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC). Links between carriage of antimicrobial-resistant organisms and more resistant infections have been established; however, little has been reported regarding community carriage of antibiotic-resistant organisms such as extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Enterobacterales in LMIC. The aim of this study was to determine colonic carriage of ESBL-producing fluoroquinolone- and aminoglycoside-resistant Enterobacterales in healthy children in three municipalities of Timor-Leste. In November 2020, 621 stool samples were collected from school-aged children and underwent screening for the presence of Enterobacterales species and antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Ciprofloxacin-resistant Gram-negative organisms were cultured from 16.5% (95% CI 6.2–26.9), and gentamicin resistance was identified in 6.8% (95% CI 2.8–10.7). Compared to the prevalence of ciprofloxacin resistance in Dili (36.1%), there was significantly lower prevalence in the rural municipalities of Ermera (12.9%; AOR 0.38, 95% CI 0.24–0.60, p < 0.001) and Manufahi (4.5%; AOR 0.07, 95% CI 0.01–0.51, p = 0.009). The overall cluster-adjusted prevalence of ESBL-producing bacteria was 8.3%, with no significant differences between municipalities. This study demonstrates high rates of carriage of AMR among school-aged children in Timor-Leste, with higher rates observed in Dili compared to rural municipalities. Empiric antibiotic guidelines should include recommendations for treating community-acquired infections that account for the possibility of antimicrobial resistance.
Effects of One-Stage Full-Mouth Scaling and Root Planing with Azithromycin on Diabetes and Periodontal Disease: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Komatsu Sho , Oshikiri Shotaro , Nagano Takatoshi , Yashima Akihiro , Matsushima Yuji , Shirakawa Satoshi , Komatsu Katsutoshi , Mokubo Akiko , Gomi Kazuhiro
Published: September 2022

Recent reports show that hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) can be lowered by improving chronic inflammation in periodontal patients with diabetes mellitus and that full-mouth scaling and root planing (FM-SRP), in combination with azithromycin (AZM) treatment, can reduce early periodontal inflammation. However, the association of FM-SRP and AZM with periodontitis and HbA1c in patients with diabetes is largely unknown. This study investigated periodontitis and HbA1c in patients with diabetes after receiving FM-SRP and AZM to evaluate which clinical parameters most reflect the diabetic condition. Fifty-one periodontal patients with diabetes mellitus were included in this study. In total, 25 patients were assigned to the FM-SRP group in which patients were treated with FM-SRP in combination with AZM, and 26 patients were assigned to the control group in which only supragingival calculus removal was performed along with the provision of oral hygiene instructions. We evaluated periodontal parameters (probing pocket depth, periodontal inflamed surface area (PISA), bleeding on probing), and periodontal bacteria and biochemical parameters (HbA1c, high-sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1)) at baseline (BL) and 1, 3, 6, and 9 months after treatment. Compared with BL values, the FM-SRP group showed improved clinical parameters, reduced periodontal pathogens, and significantly lower HbA1c. Inflammatory cytokines (hs-CRP, TNF-α, IL-6) were significantly reduced one month after treatment and remained low thereafter. MCP-1 did not change significantly during the experimental period. PISA showed a strong correlation with HbA1c, hs-CRP, and TNF-α. FM-SRP, in combination with AZM, produced clinical, microbiological, and HbA1c improvements in periodontal patients with previously diagnosed diabetes mellitus. Additionally, PISA was shown to be a useful index for assessing the diabetic status of patients with periodontal disease.
Differential Effects of Arsenic in Drinking Water on Mouse Hepatic and Intestinal Heme Oxygenase-1 Expression
Authors: Li Hui , Fan Xiaoyu , Wu Xiangmeng , Han Weiguo , Amistadi Mary Kay , Liu Pengfei , Zhang Donna , Chorover Jon , Ding Xinxin , Zhang Qing-Yu
Published: September 2022

Arsenic exposure has been associated with the risks of various diseases, including cancers and metabolic diseases. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of arsenic exposure via drinking water on the expression of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), a major responsive gene to arsenic-induced oxidative stress, in mouse intestinal epithelial cells which is the first site of exposure for ingested arsenic, and the liver, a known target of arsenic toxicity. The expression of HO-1 was determined at mRNA, protein, or enzymic activity levels in mice exposed to sodium arsenite through drinking water, at various doses (0, 2.5, 10, 25, 100 ppm), and for various time periods (1, 3, 7, or 28 days). HO-1 was significantly induced in the intestine, but not liver, at arsenic doses of 25 ppm or lower. The intestinal HO-1 induction was seen in both males and females, plateaued within 1–3 days of exposure, and was accompanied by increases in microsomal HO activity. In mice exposed to 25-ppm of arsenite for 7 days, total arsenic and As(III) levels in intestinal epithelial cells were significantly higher than in the liver. These findings identify intestinal epithelial cells as likely preferential targets for arsenic toxicity and support further studies on the functional consequences of intestinal HO-1 induction.
Chelerythrine-Induced Apoptotic Cell Death in HepG2 Cells Involves the Inhibition of Akt Pathway and the Activation of Oxidative Stress and Mitochondrial Apoptotic Pathway
Authors: Lin Yanling , Zhang Qinzhi , Xie Baofu , Jiang Haiyang , Shen Jianzhong , Tang Shusheng , Dai Chongshan
Published: September 2022

Chelerythrine (CHE) is a majorly harmful isoquinoline alkaloid ingredient in Chelidonium majus that could trigger potential hepatotoxicity, but the pivotal molecular mechanisms remain largely unknown. In the present study, CHE-induced cytotoxicity and the underlying toxic mechanisms were investigated using human HepG2 cells in vitro. Data showed that CHE treatment (at 1.25–10 μM)-induced cytotoxicity in HepG2 cells is dose-dependent. CHE treatment increased the production of ROS and induced oxidative stress in HepG2 cells. Additionally, CHE treatment triggered the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential, decreased the expression of mitochondrial complexes, upregulated the expression of Bax, CytC, and cleaved-PARP1 proteins and the activities of caspase-9 and caspase-3, and downregulated the expression of Bcl-XL, and HO-1 proteins, finally resulting in cell apoptosis. N-acetylcysteine supplementation significantly inhibited CHE-induced ROS production and apoptosis. Furthermore, CHE treatment significantly downregulated the expression of phosphorylation (p)-Akt (Ser473), p-mTOR (Ser2448), and p-AMPK (Thr172) proteins in HepG2 cells. Pharmacology inhibition of Akt promoted CHE-induced the downregulation of HO-1 protein, caspase activation, and apoptosis. In conclusion, CHE-induced cytotoxicity may involve the inhibition of Akt pathway and the activation of oxidative stress-mediated mitochondrial apoptotic pathway in HepG2 cells. This study sheds new insights into understanding the toxic mechanisms and health risks of CHE.
PD-1 Alleviates Cisplatin-Induced Muscle Atrophy by Regulating Inflammation and Oxidative Stress
Authors: Liu Xiaoguang , Xu Miaomiao , Yu Yang , Chen Yingjie , Weng Xinyu , Zhu Lin
Published: September 2022

Skeletal muscle atrophy is an important characteristic of cachexia, which can be induced by chemotherapy and significantly contributes to functional muscle impairment. Inflammation and oxidative stress are believed to play important roles in the muscle atrophy observed in cachexia, but whether programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) is affected by this condition remains unclear. PD-1 is a membrane protein that is expressed on the surface of many immune cells and plays an important role in adaptive immune responses and autoimmunity. Thus, we investigated the role and underlying mechanism of PD-1 in cisplatin-induced muscle atrophy in mice. We found that PD-1 knockout dramatically contributed to skeletal muscle atrophy. Mechanistically, we found that E3 ubiquitin-protein ligases were significantly increased in PD-1 knockout mice after cisplatin treatment. In addition, we found that PD-1 knockout significantly exacerbated cisplatin-induced skeletal muscle inflammation and oxidative stress. Moreover, we found that there were significant increases in ferroptosis-related and autophagy-related genes in PD-1 knockout mice after cisplatin treatment. These data indicate that PD-1 plays an important role in cisplatin-induced skeletal muscle atrophy.
A Generalised Neural Network Model to Estimate Sex from Cranial Metric Traits: A Robust Training and Testing Approach
Authors: Del Bove Antonietta , Veneziano Alessio
Published: September 2022

The morphology of the human cranium allows for reconstructing important information about the identity of an individual, such as age, ancestry, sex, and health status. The estimation of sex from morphology is a key component of the work of physical anthropologists, and in the last decade, the field has witnessed an increase in the use of novel algorithm-based methodologies to tackle the aforementioned task. Nevertheless, several limitations (e.g., small training/testing sample size, training-test data relatedness, limited population inclusiveness, overfitting) have hampered the application of such methods as a standardised procedure in the field. Here, we propose a population-inclusive protocol for estimating sex from a small set of cranial metric traits (10 measurements) based on a neural network architecture trained to maximise the probability of sex attribution and prevent overfitting. The cross-validation returned an accuracy of 86.7% ± 0.02% and log loss of 0.34 ± 0.03. The protocol developed was tested on data unrelated to that of the training and validation phase and returned an estimated accuracy of 84.3% and log loss of 0.348. The model and the related code to use it are made publicly available.
Hybrid Model Based on an SD Selection, CEEMDAN, and Deep Learning for Short-Term Load Forecasting of an Electric Vehicle Fleet
Authors: Mohsenimanesh Ahmad , Entchev Evgueniy , Bosnjak Filip
Published: September 2022

Forecasting the aggregate charging load of a fleet of electric vehicles (EVs) plays an important role in the energy management of the future power system. Therefore, accurate charging load forecasting is necessary for reliable and efficient power system operation. A hybrid method that is a combination of the similar day (SD) selection, complete ensemble empirical mode decomposition with adaptive noise (CEEMDAN), and deep neural networks is proposed and explored in this paper. For the SD selection, an extreme gradient boosting (XGB)-based weighted k-means method is chosen and applied to evaluate the similarity between the prediction and historical days. The CEEMDAN algorithm, which is an advanced method of empirical mode decomposition (EMD), is used to decompose original data, to acquire intrinsic mode functions (IMFs) and residuals, and to improve the noise reduction effect. Three popular deep neural networks that have been utilized for load predictions are gated recurrent units (GRUs), long short-term memory (LSTM), and bidirectional long short-term memory (BiLSTM). The developed models were assessed on a real-life charging load dataset that was collected from 1000 EVs in nine provinces in Canada from 2017 to 2019. The obtained numerical results of six predictive combination models show that the proposed hybrid SD-CEEMDAN-BiLSTM model outperformed the single and other hybrid models with the smallest forecasting mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) of 2.63% Canada-wide.
Genetic Diversity and Population Structure of the Endangered Ulmusvillosa in Pakistan Revealed by DNA Barcode Markers
Authors: Khan Rafi Ullah , Ali Niaz , Rahman Siddiq Ur , Rahman Inayat Ur , Hashem Abeer , Almutairi Khalid F. , Fathi Abd_Allah Elsayed , Harsonowati Wiwiek , Khan Muazzam Ali , Rahim Fazli , Khan Fahim Ullah , Haq Noor ul
Published: September 2022

Ulmus villosa Brandis ex Gamble, an economically and ecologically important forest tree, is native to the western Himalayas of Pakistan. The long pressure imposed by unsustainable utilization and market demands has resulted in the rapid decline of the U. villosa population in the wild. To date, very limited information on the genomic diversity of U. villosa is available and this can tremendously limit our understanding of distribution and future conservation of U. villosa. Therefore, the current study aimed to assess genetic diversity within U. villosa wild populations of the Hazara Division using four barcoding markers (i.e., rbcL, matK XF + 5R, matK 390F + 1326R and trnH-psbA). A total of six high quality sequences were obtained with rbcL, four with matK XF + 5R, four with matK 390F + 1326R, and fourteen with trnH-psbA. The sequenced regions contained insertions and deletions as well as several SNPs across the length of sequences, and PCR-based markers may be developed from these novel SNPs markers. The phylogenetic results supported the polyphyletic origin of the genus Ulmus, and the data indicated that multiple speciation events may have led to the evolution of U. villosa in this region. For deeper understanding of the origin and evolution of U. villosa, sequencing of the complete nuclear and chloroplast genomes will be pivotal. The results herein provide novel insights into the genomic diversity as well as phylogenetic relationships of U. villosa with other species, and may facilitate both in situ and ex situ conservation efforts for this endangered species.
Learning Analytics: Analysis of Methods for Online Assessment
Authors: Renò Vito , Stella Ettore , Patruno Cosimo , Capurso Alessandro , Dimauro Giovanni , Maglietta Rosalia
Published: September 2022

Assessment is a fundamental part of teaching and learning. With the advent of online learning platforms, the concept of assessment has changed. In the classical teaching methodology, the assessment is performed by an assessor, while in an online learning environment, the assessment can also take place automatically. The main purpose of this paper is to carry out a study on Learning Analytics, focusing in particular on the study and development of methodologies useful for the evaluation of learners. The goal of this work is to define an effective learning model that uses Educational Data to predict the outcome of a learning process. Supervised statistical learning techniques were studied and developed for the analysis of the OULAD benchmark dataset. The evaluation of the learning process of learners was performed by making binary predictions about passing or failing a course and using features related to the learner’s intermediate performance as well as the interactions with the e-learning platform. The Random Forest classification algorithm and other ensemble strategies were used to perform the task. The performance of the models trained on the OULAD dataset was excellent, showing an accuracy of 95% in predicting the students’ learning assessment.
A Study on the Practical Use of Synthetic Polymerized Rubber Gel Waterproofing Materials Based on the Mixture of Waste Oil and Waste Rubber
Authors: Park Sang-Tae , Lee Jong-Yong , Oh Sang-Keun
Published: September 2022

This study analyzed if process oil and synthetic rubber, the main materials of the previous synthetic polymerized rubber gel waterproofing materials (P-SPRG), can be replaced with waste oil and waste rubber to be recycled as raw waterproofing materials as a part of expanding the recycling of waste resources to waterproof areas. The synthetic polymerized rubber gel waterproofing materials (W-SPRG), based on the mixture of waste oil and waste rubber, were primarily analyzed for the trend of viscosity changes according to the mixture ratio between waste oil and waste rubber and were secondarily tested for eight performances, including viscosity, solid content, water permeability resistance, wet surface adhesion, structural behavior responsiveness, underwater loss resistance, chemical resistance safety, and temperature safety. After testing, the viscosity was the highest when the mixture ratio of waste oil and waste rubber was in the range of 2:1, and wet surface adhesion, structural behavior responsiveness, and temperature safety were relatively improved. Moreover, the comparative analysis of performance between W-SPRG and P-SPRG showed that W-SPRG secured the more stable performance in viscosity, solid content, wet surface adhesion, underwater loss resistance, and chemical resistance safety. Based on the results of this study, it has been confirmed that recycled waste oil and waste rubber can be commercialized as raw waterproof materials. This is expected to contribute to improvements in the cost reduction and environmental pollution arising due to waste disposal and incineration.