bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Healthy and sustainable development of sports economy based on artificial intelligence and mental model
Authors: Liu Yue , Dong Bo , Zeng Xiangcheng
Published: July 2022

In recent years, sports have achieved rapid development worldwide, and the global economy has been significantly improved and improved. With the in-depth development of the two, the connection between sports and the economy has also become closer. Sports economy is a new type of economic form bred by specialization of sports organization, participation in consumerization, and profit-oriented operation under the condition of market economy. And the development of sports economy cannot be developed at once; it needs healthy and sustainable development. In order to find a better way to study the healthy and sustainable development of sports economy, this paper uses deep learning network algorithm and supports vector machine learning algorithm to build a mental model. It then uses the model to analyze various indicators of the sports industry in a province in China. This article is looking for information and summarizes the province’s sports data from 2017 to 2021. The sports indicators of this experiment include regional GDP, total output of sports industry, sports practitioners, local financial sports expenditures, the number of policies, the number of people participating in physical exercise, and fitness venues and facilities. The realization results show that these variables develop at a relatively small rate under normal conditions, and then predict the data in the next few years under the healthy and sustainable development of the next few years through the mental model. The growth rates of various indicators of the sports economy have increased significantly, and they have been optimized by about 20% compared with the normal development.
Psychological factors of college students’ learning pressure under the online education mode during the epidemic
Authors: Fu Leiming , Li Junlong , Chen Yifei
Published: July 2022

The emergence of the network environment is the product of the combination of the development of computer technology and the development of network technology. Internet technology is slowly penetrating into all aspects of people’s lives and has had a huge impact and change on people’s lives. With the repeated outbreak of the epidemic in recent years, online education has been increasingly applied to the study and life of college students. The epidemic has lasted for 3 years, while the life of college students is only 4 years. In recent years, most of the campus study and life of college students have been carried out in the online education mode. This not only changed the mode of class, but also changed the mental health of college students. Taking the online education model during the epidemic as the research background, this paper selects the psychological factors of college students’ learning pressure to analyze, combined with the design and implementation of the questionnaire, to understand the impact of online education on college students’ cognition, emotion, willpower, and social interaction. The purpose is to find out the psychological factors of college students’ learning pressure under the online education mode, and to propose effective solutions. The analysis of the psychological factors of college students’ learning pressure in the form of questionnaires is more accurate than other forms of experimental investigation, the efficiency is increased by 32%, and the accuracy is also increased by 18%.
The effect of age on the early stage of face perception in depressed patients: An ERP study
Authors: Shi Hui , Sun Gang , Zhao Lun
Published: July 2022

The aim of the present study was to investigate the age effect on face perceptual processing in MDD patients by analyzing the N170 component in response to faces and objects presented in upright and inverted conditions. For controls, although the N170 amplitude, overall, did not differ between young and middle-aged participants, the size of N170 inversion effect was larger for young than for middle-aged controls, but the N170 face effect was not influenced by age. For young participants, MDD patients showed N170 amplitude similar to controls and neither the N170 face effect nor the N170 inversion effect were influenced by depression. For middle-aged participants, MDD patients revealed larger N170 than did controls, and both the size of N170 inversion effect and the N170 face effect were larger for MDD patients than controls. These data indicate that, at least at the early stage of face perception, there is altered face perception in middle-aged but not in young MDD patients. This research could provide new evidence for clinical assessment of cognitive function in MDD patients.
Comparative efficacy of face-to-face and internet-based cognitive behavior therapy for generalized anxiety disorder: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trial
Authors: Zhang Wenle , Du Yun , Yang Xiangyun , Wang Encong , Fang Jiexin , Liu Ziqi , Wu Shanqian , Liu Qinqin , Hu Yongdong
Published: July 2022

Objective

The study aimed to ascertain the comparative efficacy of these two forms on reducing anxiety scores of scales in patients with a generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) by examining the available evidence for face-to-face cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) and internet-based cognitive behavior therapy (ICBT). Moreover, this study attempted to determine whether ICBT can obtain similar benefits as CBT for GAD patients during coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) due to the quarantine policy and the requirement of social distance.

Methods

This meta-analysis was registered with the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) according to the guidelines in the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses statement (registration number CRD42021241938). Therefore, a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) examining CBT or ICBT was conducted in this study to treat GAD patients diagnosed with DMS-IV. The researchers searched PubMed, MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews for relevant studies published from 2000 to July 5, 2022. Evidence from RCTs was synthesized by Review Manager 5.4 as mean difference (MD) for change in scores of scales through a random-effects meta-analysis.

Results

A total of 26 trials representing 1,687 participants were pooled. The results demonstrated that ICBT and CBT were very close in the effect size of treating GAD (MD = −2.35 vs. MD = −2.79). Moreover, they still exhibited a similar response (MD = −3.45 vs. MD = −2.91) after studies with active control were removed.

Conclusion

Regarding the treatment of GAD, ICBT can achieve a similar therapeutic effect as CBT and could be CBT's candidate substitute, especially in the COVID-19 pandemic era, since the internet plays a crucial role in handling social space constraints.

Systematic Review Registration

https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/display_record.php?RecordID=241938, identifier CRD42021241938.
Emotional Dysregulation and Trauma Symptoms Mediate the Relationship Between Childhood Abuse and Nonsuicidal Self-Injury in Adolescents
Authors: Andersson Hedvig , Aspeqvist Erik , Dahlström Örjan , Svedin Carl Göran , Jonsson Linda S. , Landberg Åsa , Zetterqvist Maria
Published: July 2022

Background

Nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) is common in adolescents. Emotion dysregulation has been identified as a core mechanism in the development and maintenance of NSSI and it is therefore an important target when addressing NSSI. The pathogenic connection between different kinds of childhood abuse, difficulties in emotion regulation and NSSI needs further investigation. The objective of this study was to examine whether difficulties with emotion regulation and trauma symptoms, separately and together, mediate the relationships between sexual, physical and emotional abuse and NSSI.

Method

Cross-sectional data was collected from 3,169 adolescent high-school students aged 16–19 years (M = 18.12, SD = 0.45). Data from self-reported experiences of childhood abuse, current difficulties with emotion regulation (measured with the Difficulties with Emotion Regulation Scale, DERS-16) and trauma symptoms (measured with the Trauma Symptom Checklist for Children, TSCC), and NSSI were collected. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was used to test the proposed relationships between variables.

Results

The prevalence of life-time NSSI was 27.4%. Prevalence of reported childhood abuse was 9.2, 17.5, and 18.0% for sexual, physical, and emotional abuse, respectively. Childhood abuse, difficulties with emotion regulation and trauma symptoms exhibited significant positive associations with NSSI in adolescents. Emotional dysregulation and trauma symptoms were both found to mediate the relationship between childhood abuse and NSSI. Latent variable models were found to fit data well.

Conclusion

Results indicate that increased levels of emotional dysregulation and trauma symptoms in relation to childhood abuse contribute to the increased risk of NSSI. Further, results point to some aspects of emotional dysregulation and trauma symptoms being more important in this regard. Clinical implications are discussed.
FASE-family and social engagement model for prevention and management of self harm behavior–a study protocol for cluster randomized control trial in India
Authors: Devassy Saju Madavanakadu , Scaria Lorane , Benny Anuja Maria , Cheguvera Natania , Varghese Jaicob , Joubert Lynette
Published: July 2022

Background

Suicide is a substantial public health concern for countries worldwide. Effective preventive and curative interventions for self-harm behavior (SHB) are imperative for nations with an alarmingly high rate of suicide and self-harm behaviors. The intervention protocol named FASE (Family and Social Engagement) consists of comprehensive assessment, Attachment-Based Family Therapy (ABFT), and community linkages for people presenting with suicide or self-harm in emergency departments of tertiary hospitals.

Methods

This article reports the design and protocol for a cluster randomized control trial for suicide prevention and management. After the developed intervention is pilot tested in a tertiary hospital in Kerala, the intervention will be scaled up to be implemented in various tertiary hospitals in Kerala. Each hospital emergency department will be considered a cluster, and these clusters will be randomized to the intervention group and control group in a 1:1 ratio. The eligible people from the intervention clusters will undergo a baseline assessment, a structured moderate intense intervention with twelve sessions spread across 6 months by the trained social workers supervised by the Mental health team, and a follow-up assessment at the end. Participants will be recruited after obtaining consent and explaining the study. The primary outcome includes suicidality measured by the Depressive Symptom Inventory–Suicidality Subscale (DSI-SS), Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS), MOS Social Support Survey, and Brief resilience scale (BRS).

Discussion

Knowledge generated from this trial can significantly affect new programmatic policy and clinical guidelines that will improve the reduction of suicide rates in the country.

Trial registration

Prospectively registered in Clinical Trial Registry India (ICMR-NIMS) on 18/10/2021 (ref number- REF/2021/10/048264).
Problematic substance use and its associated factors among street youth in Bahir Dar city, Ethiopia
Authors: Shegaw Maregu , Fekadu Wubalem , Beka Michael , Menberu Melake , Yohannes Kalkidan , Yimer Solomon , Seid Mohammed , Necho Mogesie , Moges Solomon , Anbesaw Tamrat
Published: July 2022

Background

Problematic substance use is becoming a common problem in marginalized groups such as street youths. However, there is a dearth of studies on the prevalence and factors associated with problematic substance use among street youth in Ethiopia.

Objective

The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of problematic substance use and identify its associated factors among street youth.

Methods

This community-based cross-sectional study was conducted between June and July 2020. A total of 252 participants were included in this study. Systematic random sampling was used to recruit participants. Cut down, annoyed, guilty feeling, and eye opening-adapted to include drugs (CAGE-AIDs) were used to assess problematic substance use. The data were entered into epidata and exported to SPSS version 25 for analysis. Logistic regression with a 95% confidence interval (CI) was used to show the strength of association. A p-value < 0.5 was statistically significant.

Results

The prevalence of problematic substance use was 55.8%, 95% CI (49–63%). Peer pressure [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 3.01, 95% CI: 1.38, 6.59], family conflict [AOR = 5.05, 95% CI: 1.67, 15.25], physical abuse [AOR = 2.56, 95% CI: 1.11, 5.84], and substance use in the family [AOR = 2.85, 95% CI: 1.29, 6.27] were the factors significantly associated with problematic substance use.

Conclusion

The prevalence of problematic substance use was high. It was also found that peer pressure, family conflict, substance use in the family, and physical abuse were the factors associated with problematic substance use. Therefore, proper screening and intervention for individuals with problematic substance use are needed, and further research should be conducted for marginalized groups.
Predictors of functional impairment and awareness in people with dementia, mild cognitive impairment and healthy older adults from a middle-income country
Authors: Hartle Larissa , Mograbi Daniel C. , Fichman Helenice Charchat , Faria Camila Assis , Sanchez Maria Angélica , Ribeiro Pricila C. C. , Lourenço Roberto Alves
Published: July 2022

Objective

To investigate the demographic, clinical and cognitive correlates of functional capacity and its awareness in people with dementia (PwD; n = 104), mild cognitive impairment (PwMCI; n = 45) and controls (healthy older adults; n = 94) in a sample from a middle-income country.

Methods

Dementia and MCI were diagnosed, respectively, with DSM-IV and Petersen criteria. Performance in activities of daily living (ADL) at three different levels [basic (The Katz Index of Independence), instrumental (Lawton instrumental ADL scale) and advanced (Reuben’s advanced ADL scale)], measured through self- and informant-report, as well as awareness (discrepancy between self- and informant-report), were compared between groups. Stepwise regression models explored predictors of ADL and their awareness.

Results

PwD showed impairment in all ADL levels, particularly when measured through informant-report. No differences were seen between controls and PwMCI regardless of measurement type. PwD differed in awareness of instrumental and basic, but not of advanced ADL, compared to controls. Age, gender, education and fluency were the most consistent predictors for ADL. Diagnosis was a significant predictor only for instrumental ADL. Awareness of basic ADL was predicted by memory, and awareness of instrumental ADL was predicted by general cognitive status, educational level, and diagnosis.

Conclusion

Results reinforce the presence of lack of awareness of ADL in PwD. Use of informant-reports and cognitive testing for fluency are suggested for the clinical assessment of ADL performance. Finally, assessment of instrumental ADL may be crucial for diagnostic purposes.
Identifying factors associated with COVID-19 related deaths during the first wave of the pandemic in Europe
Authors: Klement Rainer Johannes , Walach Harald
Published: July 2022

Aim

To clarify the high variability in COVID-19-related deaths during the first wave of the pandemic, we conducted a modeling study using publicly available data.

Materials and methods

We used 13 population- and country-specific variables to predict the number of population-standardized COVID-19-related deaths in 43 European countries using generalized linear models: the test-standardized number of SARS-CoV-2-cases, population density, life expectancy, severity of governmental responses, influenza-vaccination coverage in the elderly, vitamin D status, smoking and diabetes prevalence, cardiovascular disease death rate, number of hospital beds, gross domestic product, human development index and percentage of people older than 65 years.

Results

We found that test-standardized number of SARS-CoV-2-cases and flu vaccination coverage in the elderly were the most important predictors, together with vitamin D status, gross domestic product, population density and government response severity explaining roughly two-thirds of the variation in COVID-19 related deaths. The latter variable was positively, but only weakly associated with the outcome, i.e., deaths were higher in countries with more severe government response. Higher flu vaccination coverage and low vitamin D status were associated with more COVID-19 related deaths. Most other predictors appeared to be negligible.

Conclusion

Adequate vitamin D levels are important, while flu-vaccination in the elderly and stronger government response were putative aggravating factors of COVID-19 related deaths. These results may inform protection strategies against future infectious disease outbreaks.
Prevalence of hyperuricemia and the population attributable fraction of modifiable risk factors: Evidence from a general population cohort in China
Authors: He Huijing , Guo Pei , He Jiangshan , Zhang Jingbo , Niu Yujie , Chen Shuo , Guo Fenghua , Liu Feng , Zhang Rong , Li Qiang , Ma Shitao , Zhang Binbin , Pan Li , Shan Guangliang , Zhang Minying
Published: July 2022

Data on updated hyperuricemia prevalence in Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei (BTH) region in China, which is one of the world-class urban agglomerations, is sparse. Overweight/obesity, alcohol consumption, smoking and sedentary behavior are modifiable risk factors (MRFs) for elevated serum uric acid (SUA), but their population attributable fractions (PAFs) for hyperuricemia is still unclear. Using baseline data from the BTH Physical Examination General Population Cohort, we calculated the crude- and adjusted-prevalence of hyperuricemia based on the 30,158 participants aged 18–80 years. Hyperuricemia was defined as SUA >420 μmol/L in men and >360 μmol/L in women, or currently use of uric acid lowering drugs. Overweight/obesity, alcohol consumption, smoking and sedentary behavior were considered as MRFs and their adjusted PAFs were estimated. The prevalence of hyperuricemia was 19.37%, 27.72% in men and 10.69% in women. The PAFs and 95% confidence intervals for overweight, obesity were 16.25% (14.26–18.25%) and 12.08% (11.40–12.77%) in men, 13.95% (12.31–15.59%) and 6.35% (5.97–6.74%) in women, respectively. Alcohol consumption can explain 4.64% (2.72–6.56%) hyperuricemia cases in men, but with no statistical significance in women. Cigarette smoking contributed to 3.15% (1.09–5.21%) cases in men, but a much lower fraction in women (0.85%, 0.49–1.22%). Compared with sedentary time <2 h per day, the PAFs of 2–4 h, 4–6 h, and more than 6 h per day were 3.14% (1.34–4.93%), 6.72% (4.44–8.99%) and 8.04% (4.95–11.13%) in men, respectively. Sedentary time was not found to be associated with hyperuricemia in women. These findings concluded that hyperuricemia is prevalent in this representative Chinese adult general population with substantial sex difference. Four MRFs (overweight/obesity, alcohol consumption, cigarette smoking and sedentary behavior) accounted for a notable proportion of hyperuricemia cases. The PAF estimations enable the exploration of the expected proportion of hyperuricemia cases that could be prevented if the MRFs were removed, which warrants the public health significance of life-style intervention.
Prevalence and Determinants of COVID-19 Vaccine Acceptance Among Healthcare Workers: A Systematic Review
Authors: Desye Belay
Published: July 2022

COVID-19 is a major public health problem that has been seriously affecting the global community. Healthcare workers (HCWs) are at high risk of infection due to being directly involved in diagnosing and taking care of patients. Due to this, they were prioritized to receive the initial supply of vaccines. However, vaccine hesitancy has been identified as a major global public health threat. Therefore, this review aimed to synthesize pieces of evidence on the prevalence of COVID-19 vaccine acceptance and determinate factors among HCWs. A systematic search of published articles was identified using PubMed, Science Direct, Web of Science, and Google Scholar for relevant studies of vaccine acceptance and determinant factors among HCWs. Published articles were identified using abstracts and titles of the articles, and articles were assessed for eligibility criteria. The review process was conducted according to the guidelines of Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA). An electronic database search identified 365 articles, from which 33 full-text articles were included in the systematic review. In this review, the highest rate of vaccine acceptance was reported at 95% and the lowest rate of vaccine acceptance was found at 21%. Factors such as sex (male), age, profession (medical doctors), and previous influenza vaccination were the main positive predictors for COVID-19 vaccine acceptance among HCWs. Concerns about vaccine safety, efficacy, and effectiveness were the main barriers and drivers for vaccine hesitancy. Therefore, to improve the COVID-19 vaccine acceptance among HCWs, governments, public health authorities, and private healthcare systems should work together to provide continuous professional development and training on the safety and effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccine.
Variability and reproducibility of multi-echo T2 relaxometry: Insights from multi-site, multi-session and multi-subject MRI acquisitions
Authors: Fischi-Gomez Elda , Girard Gabriel , Koch Philipp J. , Yu Thomas , Pizzolato Marco , Brügger Julia , Piredda Gian Franco , Hilbert Tom , Cadic-Melchior Andéol G. , Beanato Elena , Park Chang-Hyun , Morishita Takuya , Wessel Maximilian J. , Schiavi Simona , Daducci Alessandro , Kober Tobias , Canales-Rodríguez Erick J. , Hummel Friedhelm C. , Thiran Jean-Philippe
Published: July 2022

Quantitative magnetic resonance imaging (qMRI) can increase the specificity and sensitivity of conventional weighted MRI to underlying pathology by comparing meaningful physical or chemical parameters, measured in physical units, with normative values acquired in a healthy population. This study focuses on multi-echo T2 relaxometry, a qMRI technique that probes the complex tissue microstructure by differentiating compartment-specific T2 relaxation times. However, estimation methods are still limited by their sensitivity to the underlying noise. Moreover, estimating the model's parameters is challenging because the resulting inverse problem is ill-posed, requiring advanced numerical regularization techniques. As a result, the estimates from distinct regularization strategies are different. In this work, we aimed to investigate the variability and reproducibility of different techniques for estimating the transverse relaxation time of the intra- and extra-cellular space (T2IE) in gray (GM) and white matter (WM) tissue in a clinical setting, using a multi-site, multi-session, and multi-run T2 relaxometry dataset. To this end, we evaluated three different techniques for estimating the T2 spectra (two regularized non-negative least squares methods and a machine learning approach). Two independent analyses were performed to study the effect of using raw and denoised data. For both the GM and WM regions, and the raw and denoised data, our results suggest that the principal source of variance is the inter-subject variability, showing a higher coefficient of variation (CoV) than those estimated for the inter-site, inter-session, and inter-run, respectively. For all reconstruction methods studied, the CoV ranged between 0.32 and 1.64%. Interestingly, the inter-session variability was close to the inter-scanner variability with no statistical differences, suggesting that T2IE is a robust parameter that could be employed in multi-site neuroimaging studies. Furthermore, the three tested methods showed consistent results and similar intra-class correlation (ICC), with values superior to 0.7 for most regions. Results from raw data were slightly more reproducible than those from denoised data. The regularized non-negative least squares method based on the L-curve technique produced the best results, with ICC values ranging from 0.72 to 0.92.
Effect of an interprofessional small-group communication skills training incorporating critical incident approaches in an acute care and rehabilitation clinic specialized for spinal cord injury and disorder
Authors: Scheel-Sailer Anke , Eich Stephanie , Jelmoni Luca , Lampart Patricia , Schwitter Michael , Sigrist-Nix Diana , Langewitz Wolf
Published: July 2022

Aim

To investigate the impact of site-specific inter-professional small-group communication skills training (CST) that incorporates critical incident approaches to learning on patient satisfaction with communication.

Setting

Rehabilitation clinic specialized for spinal cord injury/disorder (SCI/D).

Methods

Retrospective observational cohort study design using patient and health-professional self-report data. Data for patient satisfaction with communication were collected in 2014 (existing records) and each year from 2015 to 2021 (post-program; volunteers) using the MECON survey.

Results

Fifteen basic (n = 161 participants), 16 refresher (n = 84), and five short (n = 17) CST seminars were conducted. Overall, 262 employees (105 physicians, 63 nurses, 36 physio- and occupational therapists, and 58 others) participated; 92 participants (response rate 37.6%) responded to feedback surveys. They rated the seminars positive concerning the alternation between theory, discussion, and practical exercise in 91.3%, and rated the length of the training ideal in 80.2%. Post-program patient satisfaction overall increased from 83.1% (confidence interval (CI) 2.6%) to 90% (CI 0.8%; R2 = 0.776; p= 0.004). It was higher in specific communication-related topics: “receiving information” (81.1%, CI 3.1–90.2%, CI 1.0%; p = 0.003), “being able to bring in concerns” (83%, CI 1.0–90.8%; R2 = 0.707; p = 0.009) and “being treated with respect” (89.4%, CI 2.6–94.4%, CI 0.8%; R2 = 0.708; p = 0.004).

Practice implications

Inter-professional CST is feasible and well accepted by professionals from various professional groups. During seven years of continuous training, independent patient ratings of satisfaction with professional communication have improved significantly. Participants attest to the training's high credibility and usefulness in everyday life.
Health professional perspectives on translation of cultural safety concepts into practice: A scoping study
Authors: Wilson Lynere , Wilkinson Amanda , Tikao Kelly
Published: July 2022

People from unique and diverse populations, (i.e., social groupings excluded by the dominant majority by, for example, ethnicity, gender, age, sexual orientation, disability or even rurality), experience dissimilar health outcomes. Members of such populations who have long-term health conditions experience further health disparities through inefficient management and treatment. This remains a significant hindrance to achieving equity in health outcomes. Being responsive and acting upon the cultural needs of unique and diverse populations within health services is pivotal in addressing health disparities. Despite provision of professional training to health professionals, cultural competency remains an elusive goal. This scoping study summarized available literature about what helped health professionals translate cultural safety concepts into practice. We searched electronic databases using MeSH terms and keywords for English language articles and reference lists of potentially included studies. Quality appraisal was undertaken using Joanna Briggs Institute critical appraisal tools. Data were charted, with a descriptive numerical summary and thematic analysis of study findings undertaken. Twelve qualitative studies with n = 206 participants were included. Learning through and from direct experience, and the individual qualities of professionals (i.e., individual capacity for relational skills and intentionality of engagement with one's own values and biases) facilitated translation of cultural safety concepts into practice. Also important was the need for cultural training interventions to address both issues of content and process within course design. Doing this would take into consideration the benefits that can come from learning as a part of a collective. In each of these themes was evidence of how health professionals needed the ability to manage emotional discomfort as part of the process of learning. A dearth of information exists exploring professionals' perspectives on translating cultural safety concepts into practice. There may be merit in designing educational interventions that look beyond the classroom. We also suggest that nurturing people's relational skills likely holds benefits to growing culturally safe practice as does increasing health professional's capacity to sit with the discomfort that occurs when paying attention to one's own and others values and biases.
Histological and hemodynamic characterization of corpus luteum throughout the luteal phase in pregnant and non-pregnant buffalos in relation to nitric oxide levels based on its anatomical determination
Authors: Daghash Samer M. , Yasin Noha A. E. , Abdelnaby Elshymaa A. , Emam Ibrahim A. , Tolba Ayman , Abouelela Yara S.
Published: July 2022

This study aims to compare the complete growth and development of corpus luteum (CL) in domestic buffalos from day 5 until day 40 after ovulation either in pregnant or non-pregnant animals and whether luteal vascularity (LV) with progesterone (P4) and nitric oxide (NO) could determine luteal functionality or not. Pluriparous buffalos (Bubalus bubalis) were categorized as pregnant (n = 6) or non-pregnant (n = 9) after pregnancy check at day 25. Animals were subjected to ultrasound analysis to determine the CL area (cm2) and LV. Blood sampling was performed following the Doppler examination. Ovarian tissue samples from non-pregnant buffalo genitalia (n = 18) and early pregnant buffalo genitalia (n = 3) were collected from great abattoirs. Luteal Doppler indices were lower in the pregnant group, while peak systolic velocity (PSV) was increased (p < 0.05) in the same pregnant females. Both P4 and NOMs were elevated (p < 0.05) in the pregnant group. There was a positive correlation (p < 0.01) between P4 and CL PSV. Based on our macroscopical examination, the CL of non-pregnant buffalos was classified into four stages. Histologically, stage I showed that CL was covered by a highly vascularized connective tissue (CT) capsule. It consisted of small and large lutein cells, whereas stage II was similar to stage I except for the presence of numerous fibroblast cells and vacuolated cells. Stage III was characterized by increasing the number of collagen fibers and the thickness of the blood vessels. Stage IV revealed thickening of the CT capsule and septae, regressed capillaries and arterioles, in addition to shrunken degenerated lutein cells. CL of pregnant buffalos revealed the same structure as CL at stage II. CL area was increased in the pregnant group. The collective data suggested that evaluation of the luteal artery could be extremely helpful to determine the potential benefits of colored and pulsed Doppler in CL vascularization assessment in both luteal and early pregnancy phases.
Efficiency of Algorithms for Computing Influence and Information Spreading on Social Networks
Authors: Kuikka Vesa , Aalto Henrik , Ijäs Matias , Kaski Kimmo K.
Published: July 2022

Modelling interactions on complex networks needs efficient algorithms for describing processes on a detailed level in the network structure. This kind of modelling enables more realistic applications of spreading processes, network metrics, and analyses of communities. However, different real-world processes may impose requirements for implementations and their efficiency. We discuss different transmission and spreading processes and their interrelations. Two pseudo-algorithms are presented, one for the complex contagion spreading mechanism using non-self-avoiding paths in the modelling, and one for simple contagion processes using self-avoiding paths in the modelling. The first algorithm is an efficient implementation that can be used for describing social interaction in a social network structure. The second algorithm is a less efficient implementation for describing specific forms of information transmission and epidemic spreading.
Technology Boom(ers): How US Multinational Technology Companies Are Preparing for an Ageing Workforce
Authors: Stone Alan , Harkiolakis Nicholas
Published: July 2022

This study addresses a lack of knowledge of how US multinational organizations are preparing for an ageing workforce. The study took the form of a qualitative multiple-case study, comprising in depth semi-structured interviews of senior managers in target companies selected through purposive sampling. The study used institutional theory and dynamic capabilities theory as theoretical frameworks. The findings of the study imply that there are still no rigorous processes in place to support the contribution of older workers to the success of the organization, that legislative compliance is a key current focus, and that considerations of intersectionality between age and other aspects of diversity are emerging. These findings suggest recommendations for practice that are related to the transparency of age-related data, implementation of considered recruitment and retention strategies for older workers, and the direct involvement of older workers in technological product and service development.
Corporate Web Positioning as a Strategic Communication Tool in Agriculture
Authors: Ruban Dmitry A. , Yashalova Natalia N.
Published: July 2022

Strategic communication is essential to corporations in all industries, including agriculture. In this paper, the idea of corporate web positioning is developed using the example of agricultural corporations (agroholdings) in Russia. This idea reflects companies’ self-understanding communicated online to its customers, partners, competitors, broad public, and state. In our study, webpages of 50 Russian agroholdings were examined to judge their web positioning. The principal approach was qualitative identification of the common themes, which was followed by the analysis of the frequency of these themes. The content analysis of the webpages allowed identification of five general themes of corporate web positioning, namely customer satisfaction, national leadership, the company itself, business focus, and innovative technologies, and three supplementary themes such as natural/ecological products, healthy products, and own products (full-cycle production). It was established that customer satisfaction and national leadership are the most common general themes (two-thirds of all considered corporations). Our other finding was that the supplementary themes were registered for a third of the analyzed corporations. All themes matched the urgent aspects of the modern agriculture. Further interpretations show that the Russian peculiarities of the corporate web positioning in agriculture can be explained within the national socio-economical context. It is recommended that top managers of agroholdings should realize the already existing diversity of web positioning and try to explore new themes for effective strategic communication.
Split Nitrogen Application Rates for Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Yield and Grain N Using the CSM-CERES-Wheat Model
Authors: Khan Gul Roz , Alkharabsheh Hiba M. , Akmal Mohammad , AL-Huqail Arwa Abdulkreem , Ali Nawab , Alhammad Bushra A. , Anjum Muhammad Mehran , Goher Rabia , Wahid Fazli , Seleiman Mahmoud F. , Hoogenboom Gerrit
Published: July 2022

Crop simulation models can be effective tools to assist with optimization of resources for a particular agroecological zone. The goal of this study was to determine the influence of N rates with different timing of application to wheat crop using prominent varieties using the CSM-CERES-Wheat model of the decision support system for agrotechnology transfer (DSSAT). Data were focused for yield traits, i.e., number of tillers, number of grains, grain weight, grain yield, biomass, and grain N content. To test the applicability of the CSM-CERES-Wheat version 4.7.5 model for agroclimatic conditions of Peshawar, Pakistan, experimental data from two years of experiments (2016–17 and 2017–18) were used for model calibration and evaluation. The simulation results of two years agreed well with field measured data for three commercial varieties. The model efficiency (R2) for wheat varieties was above 0.94 for variables tiller number per unit area (m−2), number of grains (m−2) and number of grains (spike−1), 1000 grain weight (mg), biomass weight (kg ha−1), grain yield (kg ha−1), and harvest N content (kg ha−1). Statistics of cultivars indicated that yield traits, yield, and N can be simulated efficiently for agroecological conditions of Peshawar. Moreover, different N rates and application timings suggested that the application of 140 kg N ha−1 with triple splits timings, i.e., 25% at the sowing, 50% at the tillering, and 25% at the booting stage of the crop, resulted in the maximum yield and N recovery for different commercial wheat varieties. Simulated N losses, according to the model, were highly determined by leaching for experimental conditions where a single N application of 100% or existing double splits timing was applied. The study concluded that 140 kg N ha−1 is most appropriate for wheat crop grown on clay loam soils under a flood irrigation system. However, the N fertilizer has to be given in triple splits of a 1:2:1 ratio at the sowing, tillering, and booting stages of the crop growth.
Worldwide Research Trends on Milk Containing Only A2 β-Casein: A Bibliometric Study
Authors: Jiménez-Montenegro Lucía , Alfonso Leopoldo , Mendizabal José A. , Urrutia Olaia
Published: July 2022

The protein fraction of β-casein may play a key role in the manifestation of a new intolerance: milk protein intolerance. The most common forms of β-casein among dairy cattle breeds are A1 and A2 β-casein. During gastrointestinal digestion of A1 β-casein, an opioid called peptide β-casomorphin-7 (BCM-7) is more frequently released, which can lead to adverse health outcomes. For that reason, novel products labelled as “A2 milk” or “A1-free dairy products” have appeared on the market. In this context, a bibliometric analysis on A2 β-casein research was carried out through the Web of Science (WoS) database. The main objective of this work was to provide an overview of the state of the art in the field of β-casein A2 by analyzing the number of publications per year, trends in thematic content, the most frequently used terms, and the most important institutions and countries in the field. This bibliometric study showed that a greater effort is needed to determine the possible implications of this novel product for human health and the market.
Physical Traits and Reproductive Measurements Associated with Early Conception in Beef Replacement Heifers
Authors: Hindman Megan S. , Huedepohl Brian , Dewell Grant A. , Brick Troy A. , Silva Gustavo S. , Engelken Terry J.
Published: July 2022

Developing and raising replacement heifers requires a large capital investment for producers. Therefore, it is imperative to discover traits and management practices to eliminate subfertile heifers prior to breeding and pregnancy determination. In this study, four years of data was analyzed from a centralized beef heifer development yard in the Midwest of the United States. The objective of this study was to analyze various heifer physical characteristics and management practices in order to quantify their impact on pregnancy and date of conception. Logistic regression models were built to investigate risk factors associated with conception to artificial insemination (AI), pregnancy by natural service after AI exposure, and pregnancy in the first 21-days of the breeding season. Age at entry, average daily gain from entry to breeding, pelvic width, and year were associated with AI pregnancy (p < 0.05). On the second model, average daily gain from entry to yearling weight, weight at breeding, weight at pregnancy diagnosis, and age at AI were significantly associated with pregnancy. There were no associations with reproductive tract score with any of the response variables analyzed. These results indicate there are physical measurements that can be used to improve the ability to select and develop heifers for improved reproductive performance.
Antimicrobial Resistance in Bacteria Isolated from Exotic Pets: The Situation in the Iberian Peninsula
Authors: Muñoz-Ibarra Eleonora , Molina-López Rafael A. , Durán Inma , Garcias Biel , Martín Marga , Darwich Laila
Published: July 2022

Literature related to antimicrobial resistant (AMR) bacteria in exotic pets is minimal, being essential to report objective data on this topic, which represents a therapeutic challenge for veterinary medicine and public health. Between 2016 and 2020, laboratory records of 3156 exotic pet specimens’ microbiological diagnoses and antibiotic susceptibility testing (AST) results were examined. The samples were classified into three animal classes: birds (n = 412), mammalia (n = 2399), and reptilian (n = 345). The most prevalent bacteria in birds and mammals were Staphylococcus spp. (15% and 16%), while in reptiles they were Pseudomonas spp. (23%). Pseudomonas was the genus with the highest levels of AMR in all animal groups, followed by Enterococcus spp. By contrast, Gram-positive cocci and Pasteurella spp. were the most sensitive bacteria. Moreover, in reptiles, Stenotrophomonas spp., Morganella spp., and Acinetobacter spp. presented high levels of AMR. Multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria were isolates from reptiles (21%), birds (17%), and mammals (15%). The Enterobacterales had the highest MDR levels: S. marcescens (94.4%), C. freundii (50%), M. morganii (47.4%), K. pneumoniae (46.6%), E. cloacae (44%), and E. coli (38.3%). The prevalence of MDR P. aeruginosa strains was 8%, detecting one isolate with an XDR profile. Regarding antimicrobial use, many antibiotics described as critically important for human use had significant AMR prevalence in bacteria isolated from exotic pets. Under the One-Health approach, these results are alarming and of public health concern since potential transmission of AMR bacteria and genes can occur from exotic pets to their owners in both senses. For this reason, the collaboration between veterinarians and public health professionals is crucial.
Whole-Genome Survey Analyses Provide a New Perspective for the Evolutionary Biology of Shimofuri Goby, Tridentiger bifasciatus
Authors: Zhao Xiang , Liu Yaxian , Du Xueqing , Ma Siyu , Song Na , Zhao Linlin
Published: July 2022

The shimofuri goby (Tridentiger bifasciatus) is a small and highly adaptable goby, distributed along the coasts of China, the Sea of Japan, and the west coastal and estuarine areas of the Northwest Pacific. Next-generation sequencing was used to generate genome-wide survey data to provide essential characterization of the shimofuri goby genome and for the further mining of genomic information. The genome size of the shimofuri goby was estimated to be approximately 887.60 Mb through K-mer analysis, with a heterozygosity ratio and repeat sequence ratio of 0.47% and 32.60%, respectively. The assembled genome was used to identify microsatellite motifs (Simple Sequence Repeats, SSRs), extract single-copy homologous genes and assemble the mitochondrial genome. A total of 288,730 SSRs were identified. The most frequent SSRs were dinucleotide repeats (with a frequency of 61.15%), followed by trinucleotide (29.87%), tetranucleotide (6.19%), pentanucleotide (1.13%), and hexanucleotide repeats (1.66%). The results of the phylogenetic analysis based on single-copy homologous genes showed that the shimofuri goby and Rhinogobius similis can be clustered into one branch. The shimofuri goby was originally thought to be the same as the chameleon goby (Tridentiger trigonocephalus) due to their close morphological resemblance. However, a complete mitochondrial genome was assembled and the results of the phylogenetic analysis support the inclusion of the shimofuri goby as a separate species. PSMC analysis indicated that the shimofuri goby experienced a bottleneck event during the Pleistocene Glacial Epoch, in which its population size decreased massively, and then it began to recover gradually after the Last Glacial Maximum. This study provides a reference for the further assembly of the complete genome map of the shimofuri goby, and is a valuable genomic resource for the study of its evolutionary biology.
Local and Regional Anaesthetic Techniques in Canine Ovariectomy: A Review of the Literature and Technique Description
Authors: Cicirelli Vincenzo , Burgio Matteo , Lacalandra Giovanni M. , Aiudi Giulio G.
Published: July 2022

Canine ovariectomy is an elective surgery with a moderate level of pain. Despite its relative simplicity, it requires surgical pain management. This study aimed to collect all recent information about local and regional anaesthetic/analgesic techniques in a review of the literature describing the technique utilised. The various procedures described in this review use local anaesthetics to improve analgesia in the routine systemic anaesthetic protocol. The approach described in this paper is called multimodal analgesia and is used in addition to the normal standard anaesthetic protocol. These techniques proved effective in minimising responses to the surgical stimulus and ensured adequate intraoperative and postoperative analgesia. The routine use of multimodal analgesia is considered a useful alternative for pain management in canine ovariectomy, in that it minimises patient suffering, improves the recovery of rescue analgesia, increases drug savings, and improves animal outcomes. In addition, the use of these local and regional techniques ensures satisfactory analgesic coverage that lasts for the first hours postoperatively.
Assessment of Different Deep Learning Methods of Power Generation Forecasting for Solar PV System
Authors: Kuo Wen-Chi , Chen Chiun-Hsun , Hua Shih-Hong , Wang Chi-Chuan
Published: July 2022

An increase in renewable energy injected into the power system will directly cause a fluctuation in the overall voltage and frequency of the power system. Thus, renewable energy prediction accuracy becomes vital to maintaining good power dispatch efficiency and power grid operation security. This article compares the one-day-ahead PV power forecasting results of three models paired with three groups of weather data. Since the number, loss, and matching problem of weather data will all influence the training results of the model, a pre-processing data framework is proposed to solve the problem in this study. The models used are a deep learning algorithm-based artificial neural network (ANN), long short-term memory (LSTM), and gated recurrent unit (GRU). The weather data groups are Central Weather Bureau (CWB), local weather station (LWS), and hybrid data (the combination of CWB and LWS data). Compared to the other two groups, hybrid data showed a 5–8% improvement in measurements. In addition, when it comes to different weather conditions, the advantages of the LSTM model were highlighted. After further analysis, the LSTM model combined with hybrid data showed the most accurate measurements, which was proved through forecasting results for one month. Finally, the results indicate that when the amount of data is limited, using hybrid data and the five weather features is helpful for training the model. Accordingly, the proposed model shows better one-day-ahead PV forecasting.