bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Rural Raccoons (Procyon lotor) Not Likely to Be a Major Driver of Antimicrobial Resistant Human Salmonella Cases in Southern Ontario, Canada: A One Health Epidemiological Assessment Using Whole-Genome Sequence Data
Authors: Vogt Nadine A. , Hetman Benjamin M. , Vogt Adam A. , Pearl David L. , Reid-Smith Richard J. , Parmley E. Jane , Kadykalo Stefanie , Janecko Nicol , Bharat Amrita , Mulvey Michael R. , Ziebell Kim , Robertson James , Nash John , Allen Vanessa , Majury Anna , Ricker Nicole , Bondo Kristin J. , Allen Samantha E. , Jardine Claire M.
Published: February 2022

Non-typhoidal Salmonella infections represent a substantial burden of illness in humans, and the increasing prevalence of antimicrobial resistance among these infections is a growing concern. Using a combination of Salmonella isolate short-read whole-genome sequence data from select human cases, raccoons, livestock and environmental sources, and an epidemiological framework, our objective was to determine if there was evidence for potential transmission of Salmonella and associated antimicrobial resistance determinants between these different sources in the Grand River watershed in Ontario, Canada. Logistic regression models were used to assess the potential associations between source type and the presence of select resistance genes and plasmid incompatibility types. A total of 608 isolates were obtained from the following sources: humans (n = 58), raccoons (n = 92), livestock (n = 329), and environmental samples (n = 129). Resistance genes of public health importance, including blaCMY−2, were identified in humans, livestock, and environmental sources, but not in raccoons. Most resistance genes analyzed were significantly more likely to be identified in livestock and/or human isolates than in raccoon isolates. Based on a 3,002-loci core genome multi-locus sequence typing (cgMLST) scheme, human Salmonella isolates were often more similar to isolates from livestock and environmental sources, than with those from raccoons. Rare instances of serovars S. Heidelberg and S. Enteritidis in raccoons likely represent incidental infections and highlight possible acquisition and dissemination of predominantly poultry-associated Salmonella by raccoons within these ecosystems. Raccoon-predominant serovars were either not identified among human isolates (S. Agona, S. Thompson) or differed by more than 350 cgMLST loci (S. Newport). Collectively, our findings suggest that the rural population of raccoons on swine farms in the Grand River watershed are unlikely to be major contributors to antimicrobial resistant human Salmonella cases in this region.
Canine Geriatric Rehabilitation: Considerations and Strategies for Assessment, Functional Scoring, and Follow Up
Authors: Frye Christopher , Carr Brittany Jean , Lenfest Margret , Miller Allison
Published: February 2022

Geriatric animals account for half of the pet population in the United States with their numbers increasing annually. Furthermore, a significant percentage of veterinary patients with movement limitations could be grossly categorized as geriatric and living within the end stage of their predicted lifespans. Because mobility is correlated to quality of life and time to death in aging dogs, a major goal in optimizing canine geriatric health is to improve functional movement. Within the geriatric population, identifying disabilities that affect daily living and quality of life may be used by the rehabilitation practitioner to provide stronger prognoses, treatment goals, and outcome measures. Examples of such means are described within this review. In human medicine, the concept of “optimal aging”, or “healthy aging”, has emerged in which inevitable detrimental age-related changes can be minimized or avoided at various levels of physical, mental, emotional, and social health. Both environment and genetics may influence aging. Identifying and improving environmental variables we can control remain a key component in optimizing aging. Furthermore, diagnosing and treating age related comorbidities common to older populations allows for improved quality of life and is often directly or indirectly affecting mobility. Obesity, sarcopenia, and a sedentary lifestyle are a trifecta of age-related morbidity common to both people and dogs. Healthy lifestyle choices including good nutrition and targeted exercise play key roles in reducing this morbidity and improving aging. Disablement models act as essential tools for creating more effective physiotherapy plans in an effort to counter dysfunction and disability. Within these models, functional testing represents a standard and validated means of scoring human geriatric function as well as monitoring response to therapy. Because of the great need in dogs, this review aims to provide a reasonable and testable standardized framework for canine functional scoring. We believe a complete assessment of canine geriatric patients should comprise of identifying environmental variables contributing to health status; diagnosing comorbidities related to disease and aging; and characterizing disability with standardized methods. Only through this process can we construct a comprehensive, reasonable, and targeted rehabilitation plan with appropriate follow up aimed at healthy aging.
Associations of Sustainable Development Goals Accelerators With Adolescents’ Well-Being According to Head-of-Household’s Disability Status–A Cross-Sectional Study From Zambia
Authors: Chipanta David , Estill Janne , Stöckl Heidi , Hertzog Lucas , Toska Elona , Chanda Patrick , Mwanza Jason , Kaila Kelly , Matome Chisangu , Tembo Gelson , Keiser Olivia , Cluver Lucie
Published: February 2022

Objectives: We examined associations between accelerators (interventions impacting ≥2 SDG targets) and SDG-aligned well-being indicators among adolescents 16–24 years old in Zambia.

Methods: We surveyed adults from 1,800 randomly sampled households receiving social cash transfers. We examined associations between accelerators (social cash transfers, life-long learning, mobile phone access) and seven well-being indicators among adolescents using multivariate logistic regressions.

Results: The sample comprised 1,725 adolescents, 881 (51.1%) girls. Mobile phone access was associated with no poverty (adjusted Odds Ratio [aOR] 2.08, p < 0.001), informal cash transfers (aOR 1.82, p = 0.004), and seeking mental health support (aOR 1.61, p = 0.020). Social cash transfers were associated with no disability-related health restrictions (aOR 2.56, p = 0.004) and lesser odds of seeking mental health support (aOR 0.53, p = 0.029). Life-long learning was associated with informal cash transfers (aOR 3.49, p < 0.001) and lower school enrollment (aOR 0.70, p = 0.004). Adolescents with disabled head-of-household reported worse poverty, good health but less suicidal ideation.

Conclusions: Social cash transfers, life-long learning, and mobile phone access were positively associated with well-being indicators. Adolescents living with disabled head-of-household benefited less. Governments should implement policies to correct disability-related inequalities.
Self-Esteem, Happiness, and Flourishing in Times of COVID-19: A Study During the Lockdown Period in Ecuador
Authors: Paz Clara , Hermosa-Bosano Carlos , Hidalgo-Andrade Paula , García-Manglano Javier , Sábada Chalezquer Charo , López-Madrigal Claudia , Serrano Cecilia
Published: February 2022

Objective:Several studies have investigated the negative toll the pandemic has had on people’s mental health. However, there is limited research on the pandemic’s effect on positive mental health variables. This article reports on the levels of self-esteem and well-being (flourishing and happiness) in a sample of adults living in Ecuador and their relationships with the characteristics of their personal situation and the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic had on their personal lives.

Methods:A total of 766 adults completed an anonymous online survey between March and August 2020.

Results:Participants reported average scores in the flourishing scale, the majority considered themselves to be happy or very happy people, and more than half presented high levels of self-esteem. Age, education, socioeconomic status, time spent using mobile phones and on hobbies, among others, explained self-esteem, happiness, and flourishing.

Conclusion:The relationships between sociodemographic and situational variables of confinement during the pandemic are discussed, as well as the possible predictors of happiness, flourishing, and self-esteem.
Data Management and Integration of Low Power Consumption Embedded Devices IoT for Transforming Smart Agriculture into Actionable Knowledge
Authors: Ouafiq El Mehdi , Saadane Rachid , Chehri Abdellah
Published: February 2022

Smart agriculture today uses a wide range of wireless communication technologies. Low Power Consumption Embedded Devices (LPCED), such as the Internet of Things (IoT) and Wireless Sensor Networks, make it possible to work over great distances at a reduced cost but with limited transferable data volumes. However, data management (DM) in intelligent agriculture is still not well understood due to the fact that there are not enough scientific publications available on this. Though data management (DM) benefits are factual and substantial, many challenges must be addressed in order to fully realize the DM’s potential. The main difficulties are data integration complexities, the lack of skilled personnel and sufficient resources, inadequate infrastructure, and insignificant data warehouse architecture. This work proposes a comprehensive architecture that includes big data technologies, IoT components, and knowledge-based systems. We proposed an AI-based architecture for smart farming. This architecture called, Smart Farming Oriented Big-Data Architecture (SFOBA), is designed to guarantee the system’s durability and the data modeling in order to transform the business needs for smart farming into analytics. Furthermore, the proposed solution is built on a pre-defined big data architecture that includes an abstraction layer of the data lake that handles data quality, following a data migration strategy in order to ensure the data’s insights.
Characterization of the Endophytic Mycobiome in Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) from a Single Location Using Illumina Sequencing
Authors: Kinge Tonjock Rosemary , Ghosh Soumya , Cason Errol D. , Gryzenhout Marieka
Published: February 2022

Cowpea is an important crop for small-scale farmers in poor areas but is also being developed for commercial agriculture as a possible substitute for commercial legumes. Endophytic fungi are omnipresent and play crucial but diverse roles in plants. This study characterized the endophyte component of the cowpea mycobiome from leaves, main and crown stems and roots using Illumina MiSeq of the ITS2 region of the ribosomal operon. Ascomycetes exhibited the highest diversity, with Molecular Operational Taxonomic Units (MOTUs) assigned as Macrophomina, Cladosporium, Phoma, Fusarium and Cryptococcus, among the most dominant genera. Certain MOTUS showed preferential colonization patterns for above or below ground tissues. Several MOTU generic groups known to include phytopathogenic species were found, with relative abundances ranging from high to very low. Phylogenetic analyses of reads for some MOTUs showed that a level of identification could be obtained to species level. It also confirmed the absences of other species, including phytopathogens. This is the first study that adopted a holistic metagenomic typing approach to study the fungal endophytes of cowpea from a single location, a crop that is so integral for low-income households of the world.
Grain Quality Affected by Introducing Photorespiratory Bypasses into Rice
Authors: Zhang Chuanling , Zhong Xiaofen , Lin Dagen , Wu Kaixin , Wu Zhan , Zhang Zhisheng , Peng Xinxiang
Published: February 2022

Grain quality is a critical component of high-yielding varieties to ensure acceptance by an ever-increasing population and living standards. During the past years, several photorespiration bypasses have been introduced into C3 plants, among which our GOC and GCGT bypasses exhibit increased photosynthesis and yield in rice. However, to the best of our knowledge, there are still no reports referring to effects of the bypasses on grain quality. Thus, the objective of this study is to determine the effect of GOC and GCGT bypasses on grain quality, and the mechanism of how photorespiratory bypasses affect grain quality was also investigated. Compared with the WT of Zhonghua 11, GOC4 and GCGT20 plants had higher nutritional quality and cooking quality as grain protein content was significantly increased by 11.27% and 14.97%, and alkali spreading value was significantly increased by 7.6% and 4.63%, respectively, whereas appearance quality appears to be negatively affected since the chalky rice rate was increased by 32.6% and 68%, respectively. Analyses also demonstrated that the changes in grain quality may result from the increased total nitrogen and constrained carbohydrate transport in the transgenic plants. Altogether, the results not only suggest that the increased photosynthesis and yield by introducing the photorespiratory bypasses can significantly affect grain quality parameters for rice, either positively or negatively, but also imply that the coordination of source–sink transport may play important roles in grain quality formation for high-yielding crops via increased photosynthetic efficiency.
Dual Role of Acid Rain and Pyricularia oryzae on Growth, Photosynthesis and Chloroplast Ultrastructure in Rice Seedlings
Authors: Li Hongru , Xu Qiuyuan , Li Chao , Zhang Jiaen , Wang Qi , Xiang Huimin , Liu Yiliang , Wei Hui , Qin Zhong
Published: February 2022

Rice is widely planted and serves as staple food in the world, but it is often exposed to acid rain and rice blast (Pyricularia oryzae). In this work, we analyzed the effects of co-exposure to simulated acid rain (SAR) and P. oryzae on the photosynthetic growth of rice seedlings. We found that the growth, photosynthesis, and chloroplast ultrastructure of rice seedlings were damaged under single treatments of P. oryzae and strong acid rain (pH 2.0) but increased under medium acidity acid rain (pH 4.0). Similarly, when plants were exposed to both P. oryzae and acid rain, pH 4.0 mitigated the changes of growth, photosynthetic characteristics, and chloroplast ultrastructure induced by P. oryzae, but pH 2.0 aggravated these changes. In addition, we found that significant differences in chlorophyll content (chlorophyll a and chlorophyll b) correlated with transpiration rate (Tr) under the combined stress of acid rain and P. oryzae at pH 4.0 and pH 2.0. Medium-acidity acid rain alleviated the harm caused by P. oryzae on rice growth by enhancing synergistic regulatory mechanisms of photosynthetic traits to increase plant resistance tolerance. The effect of P. oryzae on photosynthetic traits of rice was regulated by acidity of acid rain.
Soil Enzyme Activity Response under the Amendment of Different Types of Biochar
Authors: Wojewódzki Piotr , Lemanowicz Joanna , Debska Bozena , Haddad Samir A.
Published: February 2022

Biochar (BC) is a material that finds many applications in agriculture and environmental activities. The aim of the study was to define the influence of biochar produced from various organic materials: mellow compost (MC), stabilized municipal sewage sludge (MSS), pine sawdust (PS), sycamore sawdust (SS) and oak leaves (OL) on soil enzyme activity, as well as its relations with carbon and nitrogen content. After a 60-day incubation of soil and BC, the activity of dehydrogenases (DEH), catalase (CAT), alkaline (AlP) and acid (AcP) phosphatases was investigated. The basic parameters of soil were also determined: TOC, TN, DOM, pH in H2O, available phosphorus (AP). The highest AP content was obtained in the S + MSS, S + OL and S + MC variants. Enzyme activity was highest in soil with MSS BC, regardless of incubation time. After 60 days, the activity of soil enzymes was inhibited. The obtained results indicate that the response of enzymatic activity to biochar depends on the feedstock material and the incubation time. When using BC as an exogenous matter, it is necessary to determine the TOC/TN ratio. For the very wide range of this parameter, supplemental nitrogen fertilization or mixtures of different biochars should be applied.
Poultry Litter and Inorganic Fertilization: Effects on Biomass Yield, Metal and Nutrient Concentration of Three Mixed-Season Perennial Forages
Authors: Jaja Ngowari , Codling Eton E. , Rutto Laban K. , Timlin Dennis , Reddy Vangimalla R.
Published: February 2022

Poultry litter and fertilizers are normally added as soil amendments. The effects of poultry litter and inorganic fertilizers on three mixed-season perennial forages were studied for two years in the field to understand growth dynamics, metals, and nutrient uptake. The primary objective was to investigate the heavy metal and nutrient concentrations, biomass yield and forage potential of a cool-season forage, stinging nettle (Urtica dioica L.), relative to warm-season forages, bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.) and switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.). Forage cuttings and soil samples were analyzed for heavy metals and nutrients using inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES). Total biomass yield was higher by 66% and 50% in switchgrass and bermudagrass, respectively, compared with stinging nettle for the first year. While the warm-season forages yielded more biomass over the cool-season forage, metal concentrations were significantly higher for all elements in the cool-season forage. Stinging nettle showed greater macro-nutrient uptake with 103.20 kg ha−1, 0.87 kg ha−1, 27.49 kg ha−1 and 32.08 kg ha−1 for Ca, Fe, Mg, and P, except for K with 223.51 kg ha−1 compared with 267.29 kg ha−1 and 283.96 kg ha−1 for switchgrass and bermudagrass, respectively. Heavy metals were also higher in stinging nettle but were within the allowable limits for forages, indicating its potential as a resource for forages and nutrient cycling, particularly when double-cropped with warm-season forages.
Hydrogen Sulfide Interacts with 5-Aminolevulinic Acid to Enhance the Antioxidant Capacity of Pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) Seedlings under Chilling Stress
Authors: Wang Huiping , Liu Zeci , Li Jing , Luo Shilei , Zhang Jing , Xie Jianming
Published: February 2022

5-Aminolevulinic acid (ALA) is the precursor of tetrapyrrole synthesis, and hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is a gas signal molecule. Studies have shown that exogenous ALA and H2S can alleviate abiotic stress. This study evaluated the roles of ALA and H2S and their interactions in regulating antioxidant activity in pepper seedlings under chilling stress. Chilling stress significantly inhibited the growth of pepper seedlings and increased the amounts of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), superoxide anion (O2•−), and malondialdehyde (MDA). ALA and/or H2S increased the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), and catalase (CAT). Moreover, ALA and/or H2S enhanced the ascorbate (AsA)-glutathione (GSH) cycle by increasing the contents of AsA and GSH, the ratio of AsA to dehydroascorbic acid and GSH to glutathione disulfide increased, and the activities of ascorbate peroxidase (APX), glutathione reductase (GR), dehydroascorbate reductase (DHAR) and monodehydroascorbate reductase (MDHAR) also increased. At the transcriptional level, ALA and/or H2S upregulated the expressions of CaSOD, CaPOD, CaCAT, CaAPX, CaGR, CaDHAR, and CaMDHAR in seedlings under chilling stress. ALA and/or H2S also reduced the contents of H2O2, O2•− and MDA, eventually mitigating the inhibitory effects of chilling stress on pepper seedling growth. The combination of ALA and H2S had a better effect than ALA or H2S alone. Moreover, ALA and H2S interact to regulate the oxidative stress response of pepper seedlings under chilling stress.
A Simple and Accurate Method Based on a Water-Consumption Model for Phenotyping Soybean Genotypes under Hydric Deficit Conditions
Authors: Simondi Sebastián , Casaretto Esteban , Quero Gastón , Ceretta Sergio , Bonnecarrère Victoria , Borsani Omar
Published: February 2022

Drought limits crop productivity and reduces yield stability. Drought tolerance as a selection criterion in breeding programs requires the development of high-throughput, precise, and low-cost phenotyping strategies. We developed a mathematical model, based on biological approaches, for evaluating soybean plants’ response to drought under controlled growth conditions. The model describes the kinetics of water consumption of a plant pot substrate system (PPS) with low sampling requirements. The model generated two parameters, t0.5 (time necessary for the PPS to reach half of the maximum amount of evapotranspirable water) and Gw(t0.5) (stomatal conductance [Gw] at t0.5), which determined the water- consumption curve of each genotype. An analysis of the kinetics of water consumption in response to a progressive water deficit in a biparental and breeding population was performed as a preliminary test of the model. A correspondence analysis between the t0.5 and Gw(t0.5) parameters with the genetic structure of the populations shows a genetic association. The phenotyping methodology presented in this work and drought susceptibility in field conditions are discussed based on previous results. This work could be useful for improving the selection of soybean genotypes in relation to their performance under drought conditions.
Client Selection in Federated Learning under Imperfections in Environment
Authors: Rai Sumit , Kumari Arti , Prasad Dilip K.
Published: February 2022

Federated learning promises an elegant solution for learning global models across distributed and privacy-protected datasets. However, challenges related to skewed data distribution, limited computational and communication resources, data poisoning, and free riding clients affect the performance of federated learning. Selection of the best clients for each round of learning is critical in alleviating these problems. We propose a novel sampling method named the irrelevance sampling technique. Our method is founded on defining a novel irrelevance score that incorporates the client characteristics in a single floating value, which can elegantly classify the client into three numerical sign defined pools for easy sampling. It is a computationally inexpensive, intuitive and privacy preserving sampling technique that selects a subset of clients based on quality and quantity of data on edge devices. It achieves 50–80% faster convergence even in highly skewed data distribution in the presence of free riders based on lack of data and severe class imbalance under both Independent and Identically Distributed (IID) and Non-IID conditions. It shows good performance on practical application datasets.
Residual Feed Intake and Rumen Metabolism in Growing Pelibuey Sheep
Authors: Arce-Recinos Carlos , Ojeda-Robertos Nadia Florencia , Garcia-Herrera Ricardo Alfonso , Ramos-Juarez Jesús Alberto , Piñeiro-Vázquez Ángel Trinidad , Canul-Solís Jorge Rodolfo , Castillo-Sanchez Luis Enrique , Casanova-Lugo Fernando , Vargas-Bello-Pérez Einar , Chay-Canul Alfonso Juventino
Published: February 2022

This study was carried out to evaluate the residual feed intake (RFI), volatile fatty acid (VFA) production and enteric methane (CH4) from growing Pelibuey sheep. In this case, 12 non-castrated Pelibuey with an initial average live weight (LW) of 21.17 ± 3.87 kg and an age of 3 months, were housed in individual pens and fed a basal diet with 16% of crude protein and 11 MJ ME for 45 days. Dry matter intake (DMI) was measured and the daily weight gain (DWG) was calculated using a linear regression between the LW and experimental period. Mean metabolic live weight (LW0.75) was calculated. RFI was determined by linear regression with DWG and LW0.75 as independent variables. Lambs were classified as low, medium, and high RFI. Feed efficiency was determined as DWG/DMI. For determining rumen pH, ammonia nitrogen concentration NH3-N), and VFA, ruminal fluid was obtained using an esophageal probe on day 40. Feed intake of low RFI lambs was approximately 16% lower (p < 0.05) while growth rate was not significantly different. Their average energy loss, expressed as CH4 production per kilogram of metabolic weight, was 17% lower (p < 0.05).
Multiplex Cytokine Analyses in Ear Canals of Dogs Suggest Involvement of IL-8 Chemokine in Atopic Otitis and Otodectic Mange—Preliminary Results
Authors: Lecru Line-Alice , Combarros Daniel , Moog Fabien , Marinovic Lukrecija , Kondratjeva Jevgenija , Amalric Nicolas , Pressanti Charline , Cadiergues Marie Christine
Published: February 2022

Cutaneous cytokines and chemokines are involved in the pathogenesis of human and canine atopic dermatitis. The aim of the present study was to discriminate cytokine expression in the ear canals of atopic dogs with otitis, dogs with non-allergic inflammatory otitis (otodectic mange) and healthy non-atopic dogs. The ear canals of nine atopic dogs suffering from non-infected otitis externa (n = 14 ears), 10 healthy dogs suffering from otodectic mange (n = 20 ears) and 21 healthy controls (39 ears) were swabbed. The concentrations of a panel of 13 cytokines and chemokines on the aural surface were measured by multiplex analyses (Milliplex Canine Cytokine Panel). In addition, Canine Atopic Dermatitis Extent and Severity Index (CADESI)-04 and Otitis Index Score (OTIS3) scores were used to evaluate the overall status of the dogs. The concentration of IL-8 was significantly higher in the ears of atopic dogs and dogs with otodectic mange compared to those of healthy dogs. Significant increases in the levels of IL-10 were also overexpressed in atopic otitis but at lower rates. The concentrations of interleukin(IL)-8 were positively correlated with the OTIS3 hyperplasia score in atopic dogs. Taken together, these results suggest that IL-8 is overexpressed in atopic otitis and otodectic mange and that levels correlate with the otitis severity in atopic dogs.
Case Distribution, Sources, and Breeds of Dogs Presenting to a Veterinary Behavior Clinic in the United States from 1997 to 2017
Authors: Anderson Katherine H. , Yao Yufan , Perry Pamela J. , Albright Julia D. , Houpt Katherine A.
Published: February 2022

The purpose of this retrospective case study was to evaluate trends over time in case distribution, sources, and breeds of dogs presenting to the behavioral medicine service at a veterinary college referral hospital in the United States. For case distribution and sources, the available records from the behavior service (n = 1923) from 1997 to 2017 were evaluated. Breeds of dogs presenting to all services (n = 51,052) were compared to behavior cases (n = 822) from 2007 to 2016. Over twenty years, 72.2% of dogs presented for aggression, 20.1% for anxieties/fears/phobias, and 7.4% for miscellaneous behavioral problems. Dogs acquired from breeders decreased and dogs from shelters, rescues, or adopted as a stray increased over twenty years (p < 0.0001). The Herding (p = 0.0124) and Terrier (p < 0.0001) groups were overrepresented for behavior problems as compared to all other services over ten years. Variations in terminology and diagnostic approach made comparisons with earlier studies difficult, which underscores a need for a more consistent methodology in veterinary behavioral medicine. Understanding trends in sources of dogs could direct resources aimed at guiding owners when acquiring a pet dog and preventing behavioral problems. Findings related to breeds could help guide research focused on the genetic contributions to behavior.
Handlers’ Representations on Therapy Dogs’ Welfare
Authors: Mignot Alice , de Luca Karelle , Servais Véronique , Leboucher Gérard
Published: February 2022

While research on the benefits of animal-assisted interventions is beginning to build a significant body of work, studies on the well-being of therapy dogs are still in their infancy. Since handlers are the people responsible for their therapy dog’s welfare, we interviewed 111 French handlers through an online questionnaire. Our results underlined that (i) therapy dogs’ welfare is multidimensional when physical and psychological welfare, a balance between work and dog life and the settings and interactions of sessions are all taken into consideration. (ii) The response of our handlers emphasized that considering therapy dog welfare is important for the quality and safety of AAI. (iii) Three categories of risks factors were highlighted: the spatio-temporal framework (planning and environment), the interactions with beneficiaries and the handler themselves. It is particularly important that handlers talk about the negative impact of interactions with beneficiaries since they are at the heart of AAI, however there are few studies focusing on interactions as a stressor for dogs in this practice. Moreover, since there is a potential for positive bias in the handlers’ representations, it is important that they be trained to identify and manage the stress in their dogs. Future research is particularly needed on the impact of interactions during sessions on therapy dog welfare.
Effect of Different Dietary Regimes on the Gut Microbiota and Fecal Metabolites of Père David’s Deer
Authors: Zhen Junai , Ren Yijun , Zhang Huidan , Yuan Xueli , Wang Libo , Shen Hua , Liu Ping , Chen Yuqing
Published: February 2022

A deep understanding of the effect of seasonal dietary changes on the nutrition and health of Père David’s deer in Dafeng Reserve will contribute greatly to Père David’s deer’s protection. In this reserve, there were three seasonal dietary regimes: feeding on naturally occurring plants (PLANT diet), silage (SILAGE diet), and a combination of natural plants and silage (COMB diet). To some extent, the COMB diet reflects the seasonal transition from silage to the all-natural plant diet, especially in early spring. However, little is known regarding the gut microbiota changes and metabolic consequences under the COMB diet. Based on 16S rRNA sequencing and ultra-high performance liquid chromatography combined with tandem mass spectrometry, the gut microbiota and fecal metabolites of Père David’s deer under these three diets were compared. Results showed the alpha diversity of the gut microbiota was significantly lower under the COMB diet compared to either the SILAGE or PLANT diets. Although no significant changes were observed in the core phyla, Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes, among the three dietary regimes, a significant lower abundance of several other phyla (Spirochaetes, Melainabacteria, Proteobacteria, and Verrucobacteria) was observed in the COMB diet compared to the SILAGE diet. A greater number of fecal metabolite differences was identified between the COMB and SILAGE or COMB and PLANT diets than between the SILAGE and PLANT diets, suggesting that the COMB diet had more of an effect on the metabolism of Père David’s deer. The integrated pathway analysis showed that several metabolic pathways were significantly affected by the different dietary regimes, such as tryptophan metabolism, vitamin metabolism, and the platelet activation pathways. These metabolic changes reflect the responses and adaptations of Père David’s deer to different diets. Taken overall, our data reveal the difference in the gut microbiota and metabolic pathways of Père David’s deer under three dietary regimes in Dafeng Reserve, which provides important information for Père David’s deer conservation.
Recent Trends in Prostate Biopsy Complication Rates and the Role of Aztreonam in Periprocedural Antimicrobial Prophylaxis—A Nationwide Population-Based Study from Korea
Authors: Nam Wook , Park Min Uk , Chae Han Kyu , Song Jihye , Kim Han Gwun , Park Jong Yeon , Lee Seokjoon , Kim Sung Jin
Published: February 2022

An increase in the rate of complications after prostate biopsy (PB) due to increased antibiotic-resistant bacteria is a global issue. We report the safety of aztreonam as a prophylactic antibiotic in patients undergoing PB. We investigated the complication rates according to several antibiotic regimens, including aztreonam. We hypothesized that PB complications increased following a rise in antibiotic-resistant bacteria. We examined the annual rates of complications among patients in our hospital (clinical cohort) and the Korea Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service (HIRA) cohort. Data regarding complications, hospitalization, emergency room (ER) visits, and febrile urinary tract infections occurring within 2 weeks after PB were recorded. The rate of complications was significantly lower in patients who received oral quinolone and intravenous aztreonam than in those who received oral quinolone. The complication rates did not increase throughout the study period. Additionally, 1754 patients from the HIRA cohort were included. The rates of complications, hospitalizations, and ER visits did not increase among these patients. Oral quinolone combined with intravenous aztreonam reduced the rate of febrile complications compared to quinolone alone and was safe to use after PB. Therefore, we recommend intravenous aztreonam with oral quinolone as a prophylactic antibiotic regimen before PB.
Co-Application of 24-Epibrassinolide and Titanium Oxide Nanoparticles Promotes Pleioblastus pygmaeus Plant Tolerance to Cu and Cd Toxicity by Increasing Antioxidant Activity and Photosynthetic Capacity and Reducing Heavy Metal Accumulation and Translocation
Authors: Emamverdian Abolghassem , Ding Yulong , Barker James , Liu Guohua , Hasanuzzaman Mirza , Li Yang , Ramakrishnan Muthusamy , Mokhberdoran Farzad
Published: February 2022

The integrated application of nanoparticles and phytohormones was explored in this study as a potentially eco-friendly remediation strategy to mitigate heavy metal toxicity in a bamboo species (Pleioblastus pygmaeus) by utilizing titanium oxide nanoparticles (TiO2-NPs) and 24-epibrassinolide (EBL). Hence, an in vitro experiment was performed to evaluate the role of 100 µM TiO2 NPs and 10−8 M 24-epibrassinolide individually and in combination under 100 µM Cu and Cd in a completely randomized design using four replicates. Whereas 100 µM of Cu and Cd reduced antioxidant activity, photosynthetic capacity, plant tolerance, and ultimately plant growth, the co-application of 100 µM TiO2 NPs and 10−8 M EBL+ heavy metals (Cu and Cd) resulted in a significant increase in plant antioxidant activity (85%), nonenzymatic antioxidant activities (47%), photosynthetic pigments (43%), fluorescence parameters (68%), plant growth (39%), and plant tolerance (41%) and a significant reduction in the contents of malondialdehyde (45%), hydrogen peroxide (36%), superoxide radical (62%), and soluble protein (28%), as well as the percentage of electrolyte leakage (49%), relative to the control. Moreover, heavy metal accumulation and translocation were reduced by TiO2 NPs and EBL individually and in combination, which could improve bamboo plant tolerance.
Algal Metabolites Can Be an Immune Booster against COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Kumar Ajay , Singh Rahul Prasad , Kumar Indrajeet , Yadav Priya , Singh Sandeep Kumar , Kaushalendra  , Singh Prashant Kumar , Gupta Rajan Kumar , Singh Shiv Mohan , Kesawat Mahipal Singh , Saratale Ganesh Dattatraya , Chung Sang-Min , Kumar Manu
Published: February 2022

The world has faced the challenges of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) for the last two years, first diagnosed at the end of 2019 in Wuhan and widely distributed worldwide. As a result, the WHO has proclaimed the illness brought on by this virus to be a global pandemic. To combat COVID-19, researcher communities continuously develop and implement rapid diagnoses, safe and effective vaccinations and other alternative therapeutic procedures. However, synthetic drug-related side effects and high costs have piqued scientists’ interest in natural product-based therapies and medicines. In this regard, antiviral substances derived from natural resources and some medicines have seen a boom in popularity. For instance, algae are a rich source of compounds such as lectins and sulfated polysaccharides, which have potent antiviral and immunity-boosting properties. Moreover, Algae-derived compounds or metabolites can be used as antibodies and vaccine raw materials against COVID-19. Furthermore, some algal species can boost immunity, reduce viral activity in humans and be recommended for usage as a COVID-19 preventative measure. However, this field of study is still in its early stages of development. Therefore, this review addresses critical characteristics of algal metabolites, their antioxidant potential and therapeutic potential in COVID-19.
HR-LC-ESI-Orbitrap-MS-Based Metabolic Profiling Coupled with Chemometrics for the Discrimination of Different Echinops spinosus Organs and Evaluation of Their Antioxidant Activity
Authors: Bouzabata Amel , Montoro Paola , Gil Katarzyna Angelika , Piacente Sonia , Youssef Fadia S. , Al Musayeib Nawal M. , Cordell Geoffrey A. , Ashour Mohamed L. , Tuberoso Carlo Ignazio Giovanni
Published: February 2022

This study aimed to assess and correlate the phenolic content and the antioxidant activity of the methanol extracts of the stems, roots, flowers, and leaves of Echinops spinosus L. from north-eastern Algeria. Qualitative analysis was performed by high-resolution mass spectrometry (HR) LC-ESI-Orbitrap-MS and (HR) LC-ESI-Orbitrap-MS/MS). Forty-five compounds were identified in the methanol extracts; some are described for the first time in E. spinosus. Targeted phenolic compounds were quantified by HPLC-DAD and it was shown that caffeoyl quinic derivatives were the most abundant compounds. Chemometric analysis was performed using principal component analysis (PCA) and hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) based on the qualitative and quantitative LC data. The score plot discriminates different Echinopsis spinosus organs into three distinct clusters, with the stems and flowers allocated in the same cluster, reflecting their resemblance in their secondary metabolites. The antioxidant activities of the methanol extracts were assessed using cupric reducing antioxidant capacity (CUPRAC), ferric reducing antioxidant assay (FRAP), diphenyl picryl hydrazyl radical-scavenging capacity assay (DPPH●), and 2,2′-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS●+). The root extract exhibited the highest antioxidant activity, evidenced by 3.26 and 1.61 mmol Fe2+/g dried residue for CUPRAC and FRAP, respectively, and great free radical-scavenging activities estimated by 0.53 and 0.82 mmol TEAC/g dried residue for DPPH● and ABTS●+, respectively. The methanol extract of the roots demonstrated a significant level of total phenolics (TP: 125.16 mg GAE/g dried residue) and flavonoids (TFI: 25.40 QE/g dried residue TFII: 140 CE/g dried residue). Molecular docking revealed that tricaffeoyl-altraric acid and dicaffeoyl-altraric acid exhibited the best fit within the active sites of NADPH oxidase (NO) and myeloperoxidase (MP). From ADME/TOPAKT analyses, it can be concluded that tricaffeoyl-altraric acid and dicaffeoyl-altraric acid also revealed reasonable pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic characteristics with a significant safety profile.
A Computational Study of the Role of Secondary Metabolites for Mitigation of Acid Soil Stress in Cereals Using Dehydroascorbate and Mono-Dehydroascorbate Reductases
Authors: Choudhury Shuvasish , Mazumder Muhammed Khairujjaman , Moulick Debojyoti , Sharma Parul , Tata Sandeep Kumar , Ghosh Dibakar , Ali Hayssam M. , Siddiqui Manzer H. , Brestic Marian , Skalicky Milan , Hossain Akbar
Published: February 2022

The present study investigates the potential ameliorative role of seven secondary metabolites, viz., ascorbate (AsA), reduced glutathione (GSH), jasmonic acid (JA), salicylic acid (SA), serotonin (5-HT), indole–3–acetic acid (IAA) and gibberellic acid (GA3), for mitigation of aluminium (Al3+) and manganese (Mn2+) stress associated with acidic soils in rice, maize and wheat. The dehydroascorbate reductase (DHAR) and mono-dehydroascorbate reductase (MDHAR) of the cereals were used as model targets, and the analysis was performed using computational tools. Molecular docking approach was employed to evaluate the interaction of these ions (Al3+ and Mn2+) and the metabolites at the active sites of the two target enzymes. The results indicate that the ions potentially interact with the active sites of these enzymes and conceivably influence the AsA–GSH cycle. The metabolites showed strong interactions at the active sites of the enzymes. When the electrostatic surfaces of the metabolites and the ions were generated, it revealed that the surfaces overlap in the case of DHAR of rice and wheat, and MDHAR of rice. Thus, it was hypothesized that the metabolites may prevent the interaction of ions with the enzymes. This is an interesting approach to decipher the mechanism of action of secondary metabolites against the metal or metalloid - induced stress responses in cereals by aiming at specific targets. The findings of the present study are reasonably significant and may be the beginning of an interesting and useful approach towards comprehending the role of secondary metabolites for stress amelioration and mitigation in cereals grown under acidic soil conditions.
The Natural Product Curcumin as an Antibacterial Agent: Current Achievements and Problems
Authors: Dai Chongshan , Lin Jiahao , Li Hui , Shen Zhangqi , Wang Yang , Velkov Tony , Shen Jianzhong
Published: February 2022

The rapid spread of antibiotic resistance and lack of effective drugs for treating infections caused by multi-drug resistant bacteria in animal and human medicine have forced us to find new antibacterial strategies. Natural products have served as powerful therapeutics against bacterial infection and are still an important source for the discovery of novel antibacterial drugs. Curcumin, an important constituent of turmeric, is considered safe for oral consumption to treat bacterial infections. Many studies showed that curcumin exhibited antibacterial activities against Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. The antibacterial action of curcumin involves the disruption of the bacterial membrane, inhibition of the production of bacterial virulence factors and biofilm formation, and the induction of oxidative stress. These characteristics also contribute to explain how curcumin acts a broad-spectrum antibacterial adjuvant, which was evidenced by the markedly additive or synergistical effects with various types of conventional antibiotics or non-antibiotic compounds. In this review, we summarize the antibacterial properties, underlying molecular mechanism of curcumin, and discuss its combination use, nano-formulations, safety, and current challenges towards development as an antibacterial agent. We hope that this review provides valuable insight, stimulates broader discussions, and spurs further developments around this promising natural product.
Extension of PAR Models under Local All-Sky Conditions to Different Climatic Zones
Authors: García-Rodríguez Ana , García-Rodríguez Sol , Granados-López Diego , Díez-Mediavilla Montserrat , Alonso-Tristán Cristina
Published: February 2022

Four models for predicting Photosynthetically Active Radiation (PAR) were obtained through MultiLinear Regression (MLR) and an Artificial Neural Network (ANN) based on 10 meteorological indices previously selected from a feature selection algorithm. One model was developed for all sky conditions and the other three for clear, partial, and overcast skies, using a sky classification based on the clearness index (kt). The experimental data were recorded in Burgos (Spain) at ten-minute intervals over 23 months between 2019 and 2021. Fits above 0.97 and Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) values below 7.5% were observed. The models developed for clear and overcast sky conditions yielded better results. Application of the models to the seven experimental ground stations that constitute the Surface Radiation Budget Network (SURFRAD) located in different Köppen climatic zones of the USA yielded fitted values higher than 0.98 and RMSE values less than 11% in all cases regardless of the sky type.
Development of Eudragit® Nanoparticles for Intranasal Drug Delivery: Preliminary Technological and Toxicological Evaluation
Authors: Corsaro Roberta , Lombardo Rosamaria , Ghelardini Carla , Di Cesare Mannelli Lorenzo , Bani Daniele , Bonaccorso Angela , Pignatello Rosario
Published: February 2022

Intranasal administration has assumed in the last years an increasing value as an alternative strategy for the systemic adsorption of drugs, as an alternative to oral and parenteral routes thanks to the high vascularized nasal mucosa. Nevertheless, different drug features may restrict its absorption through the nasal mucosa with an insufficient diffusion to the systemic circulation. Several technological strategies are under investigation to improve drug absorption during nasal formulation design and production. The use of bioadhesive polymers can be considered a valid approach to pursue the aforementioned goal. Based on this consideration, Eudragit® Retard RS100 and RL100 resins were selected as positively charged copolymers to prepare polymeric NPs with potential mucoadhesive properties suitable for intranasal application. NPs were produced by the Quasi-emulsion Solvent Evaporation (QESD) method and loaded with diclofenac acid (DIC) or its epolamine salt (DIEP). Preliminary investigations were performed to obtain the optimized blank formulation and drugs loaded NPs evaluating different parameters that can affect particles size and polydispersity. The optimized formulations unloaded and loaded with DIC and DIEP were further evaluated for their thermotropic behavior by differential scanning calorimetry. Mucoadhesive evaluation was assessed by measuring variation in zeta potential and by turbidimetric assay after incubation of particles with mucin in simulated nasal fluid (SNF) at 37 °C at different time points (0, 1 and 24 h) compared to the pure suspensions. Stability of DIC and DIEP loaded NPs was also evaluated in SNF to predict potential aggregation phenomena after nasal administration. Finally, in vivo experiments showed absence of toxicity on the nasal mucosa of mice.
A Time-Scalable Posture Detection Algorithm for Paraplegic Patient Rehabilitation Using Exoskeleton-Type Wearable Robots
Authors: Lee Ho-Won , Lee Kyung-Oh , Chae Yoon-Jae , Kim Se-Yeob , Park Yoon-Yong
Published: February 2022

Traditionally, paraplegic patients have relied on a wheelchair to travel. However, new developments in walking assistance technology have led to promising exoskeleton-type wearable robots that can help paraplegic patients walk. Operation of this new robotic device requires that patients have appropriate training to ensure safe and optimal use. Here, we propose an algorithm that can optimize rehabilitation outcomes by comparing posture data generated during the rehabilitation of a paraplegic patient wearing a body-tracking sensor with reference posture data. The proposed algorithm guarantees a certain level of accuracy when comparing rehabilitation and reference posture data. It can also correct for timescale differences between reference and rehabilitation data to ensure a high level of accuracy. Compared with other algorithms that perform similar functions, this algorithm can accommodate different postures, including those associated with walking, and has the advantage of being able to derive the desired results by setting usability features in an intuitive way.