bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Practical tips by peer support in chronic vestibular hypofunction: an exploratory survey
Authors: Vermorken Bernd Lode , Schouten Anna C. , van Laer Lien , van Toor Alonda , Devocht Elke M. J. , van de Berg Raymond
Published: January 2024

Introduction

Patients with chronic vestibular hypofunction typically suffer from dizziness, imbalance and oscillopsia (blurred vision); symptoms that pose challenges to everyday life. Currently, advice on how to deal with such challenges is mainly provided by health care professionals (i.e., ENT-surgeons, neurologists, physiotherapists and psychologists). However, fellow patients with a similar condition and a true appreciation of the lived experiences, are likely to provide valuable support and advice as well. The purpose of this study, therefore, was to collect tips and advice from patients with chronic vestibular hypofunction.

Methods

An exploratory survey was designed to collect tips from fellow chronic vestibular hypofunction patients on how to cope with disease-related challenges in everyday life. The survey was distributed both online and in person. The list of tips was coded and analyzed thematically and deductively, by using the international classification of functioning, disability, and health (ICF) model.

Results

In total, 425 tips were obtained from the 179 participants. Most tips were coded under “environmental factors” (46%) and “activities and participation” (39%). The remaining tips were categorized as “body functions” (15%). No tips were about “body structures.” The participants coped with their daily struggles by investing in assistive products and technology, like adapted bikes, special footwear, walking frames. They described the importance of ensuring minimal light intensity for visibility (i.e., installing light sources in dark places). During activities, participants gave the advice to avoid bumpy roads and obstacles, and highlighted the necessity of adequate visual fixation to maintain balance. To ensure optimal activity, participants emphasized the importance of managing energy and taking sufficient rest.

Discussion

This study gives insight into how patients with chronic vestibular hypofunction cope with everyday struggles due to their symptoms. These tips can expand advice given by healthcare professionals. Knowing that fellow patients experience similar struggles and learned to deal with their struggles in adequate ways, might offer support and help patients focus on possibilities rather than on disabilities. Further research should investigate the effect of sharing tips to see whether improvement in (mental) health can be achieved in patients with chronic vestibular hypofunction.
Asymmetries and hemispheric interaction in the auditory system of elderly people
Authors: Angenstein Nicole
Published: January 2024

Age-related changes of asymmetries in the auditory system and decreasing efficiency of hemispheric interaction have been discussed for some time. This mini-review discusses recent neuroimaging studies on alterations in lateralization of cortical processing and structural changes concerning the division of labor and interaction between hemispheres during auditory processing in elderly people with the focus on people without severe hearing loss. Several changes of asymmetries in anatomy, function and neurotransmitter concentration were observed in auditory cortical areas of older compared to younger adults. It was shown that connections between left and right auditory cortex are reduced during aging. Functionally, aging seems to lead to a reduction in asymmetry of auditory processing. However, the results do not always point into the same direction. Furthermore, correlations between function, anatomy and behavior in the left and right hemisphere appear to differ between younger and older adults. The changes in auditory cortex asymmetries with aging might be due to compensation of declining processing capacities, but at the same time these mechanisms could impair the balanced division of labor between the two hemispheres that is required for the processing of complex auditory stimuli such as speech. Neuroimaging studies are essential to follow the slow changes with aging as in the beginning no behavioral effects might be visible due to compensation. Future studies should control well for peripheral hearing loss and cognitive decline. Furthermore, for the interpretability of results it is necessary to use specific tasks with well-controlled task difficulty.
Relationship between vaginal microecology and human papillomavirus infection as well as cervical intraepithelial neoplasia in 2,147 women from Wenzhou, the southeast of China
Authors: Zang Lejing , Feng Renqian , Huang Yitong , Huang Jiahe , Hu Yan
Published: January 2024

Objective

The female reproductive tract is a significant microecological region, and its micro-environment can directly affect women’s cervical health. This research aimed to investigate the effect of vaginal microecology on human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and cervical intraepithelial neoplasia(CIN).

Methods

A retrospective cohort study enrolling 2,147 women who underwent a colposcopic examination between August 2021 and August 2022 was conducted. The relationship between vaginal microecology and HPV infection as well as cervical lesions were assessed using the chi-square test, univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses, and Cochran-Armitage trend test.

Results

HPV infection was linked to the imbalance of vaginal microecology [odds ratio (OR)=3.00, 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.66–5.43; P<0.001]. Clue cell (OR=1.59, 95% CI=0.99–2.54; P=0.054) and sialidase (OR=1.54, 95% CI=1.01–2.35; P<0.046) were considered as significant risk factors for HPV infection. Further analysis showed that vaginal microecological disorder was more likely to be detected in patients infected with HPV 16/18 subtypes (OR=9.86, 95% CI=2.37–41.80; P=0.002). Although there was no significant correlation between the incidence of vaginal microecological disorder and the severity of cervical lesions (P > 0.05), the proportions of abnormal PH value (OR=2.6, 95% CI=1.63–10.42; P=0.001) and abnormal vaginal cleanliness (OR=2.6, 95% CI=1.36–4.0; P= 0.004) increased as the histological stage progressed.

Conclusion

Vaginal microecology associates with HPV infection and the progression of cervical lesions. Detection of vaginal secretion may contribute to the development of targets for micro-environmental modulation with probiotics and the reduction of the incidence of cervical cancer.
Case report: EBV-positive epithelioid follicular dendritic cell sarcoma with CD30 expression: a highly challenging diagnosis
Authors: Chen Ying , He Xin , Zhu Xingyan , Xu Yujuan , Guo Deyu
Published: January 2024

Introduction

Follicular dendritic cell sarcoma (FDCS) is a rare tumor entity with a wide range of anatomical sites and strong heterogeneity in morphology and immunohistochemistry, making it highly susceptible to misdiagnosis. There are two types of FDCS: conventional FDCS and EBV+ inflammatory FDCS. It is currently suggested that the former has nothing to do with EBV infection. Moreover, they have distinctively different clinicopathological characteristics.

Case description

A 69-year-old male patient was admitted to our hospital after 4 months of progressive enlargement of the neck mass. Positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) examination showed multiple enlarged lymph nodes in the body. After cervical lymph node excision and biopsy, it was found that the tumor cells were epithelioid and diffusely expressed EBER and CD30. It was initially diagnosed as poorly differentiated cancer and lymphoma. In subsequent differential diagnosis, we found that it strongly stained CD21 and CD23, which was approved the diagnosis of EBV+ FDCS.

Conclusion

Epithelioid FDCS is very rare. EBV-positive FDCS with abnormal expression of CD30 has not been reported. Whether EBV also plays an important role in conventional FDCS requires more cases to be verified. Our case provides valuable research clues for further understanding the pathological characteristics of this tumor entity.
Cholesterol and oxysterols in retinal neuron-glia interactions: relevance for glaucoma
Authors: Masson Elodie A.Y. , Serrano Jeanne , Leger-Charnay Elise , Acar Niyazi
Published: January 2024

Cholesterol is an essential component of cellular membranes, crucial for maintaining their structural and functional integrity. It is especially important for nervous tissues, including the retina, which rely on high amounts of plasma membranes for the transmission of the nervous signal. While cholesterol is by far the most abundant sterol, the retina also contains cholesterol precursors and metabolites, especially oxysterols, which are bioactive molecules. Cholesterol lack or excess is deleterious and some oxysterols are known for their effect on neuron survival. Cholesterol homeostasis must therefore be maintained. Retinal glial cells, especially Müller cells, the principal glial cells of the vertebrate retina, provide mechanical, nutritional, and metabolic support for the neighboring neurons. Several pieces of evidence indicate that Müller cells are major actors of cholesterol homeostasis in the retina, as it is known for other glial cells in the brain. This process is based on a close cooperation with neurons, and sterols can be signaling molecules participating in glia-neuron interactions. While some implication of cholesterol in age-related macular degeneration is now recognized, based on epidemiological and laboratory data, evidence for its role in glaucoma is still scarce. The association between cholesterolemia and glaucoma is controversial, but experimental data suggest that sterols could take part in the pathological processes. It has been demonstrated that Müller glial cells are implicated in the development of glaucoma through an ambivalent reactive retinal gliosis process. The early steps contribute to maintaining retinal homeostasis and favor the survival of ganglion cells, which are targeted during glaucoma. If gliosis persists, dysregulation of the neuroprotective functions, cytotoxic effects of gliotic Müller cells and disruption of glia-neuron interactions lead to an acceleration of ganglion cell death. Sterols could play a role in the glial cell response to glaucomatous injury. This represents an understudied but attractive topic to better understand glaucoma and conceive novel preventive or curative strategies. The present review describes the current knowledge on i) sterol metabolism in retinal glial cells, ii) the potential role of cholesterol in glaucoma, and iii) the possible relationships between cholesterol and oxysterols, glial cells and glaucoma. Focus is put on glia-neuron interactions.
Investigating pupillometry to detect preoperative anxiety: a pilot study
Authors: Richez Jason , Rothschild Pierre-Raphaël , Baillard Christophe , Guerrier Gilles
Published: January 2024

Guidelines from the European Society of Anesthesia (ESA) insist on the importance of preoperative anxiety management. However, its assessment currently relies on questionnaires that are long to submit and sometimes difficult to interpret. Exploring the balance between sympathetic and parasympathetic neural systems through the use of pupillometry is a promising path to identify anxiety and thus provides an objective and reproducible assessment tool. A single-center prospective observational study was conducted in a population of ambulatory ophthalmological surgery patients. Preoperative anxiety was assessed using the Surgical Fear Questionnaire (SFQ). Measurements were taken using an Algiscan® (IDMed) type pupillometer before, during, and after insertion of the peripheral IV catheter. A statistical correlation test was carried out between the different evaluations of anxiety and the coefficient of variation of the pupillary diameter (VCPD). A total of 71 patients were included in the study between July 2020 and February 2021, with a median SFQ score of 23 [IQR 11-34]. No significant statistical correlation was found between the baseline pupillary diameter, or VCPD, and preoperative anxiety levels. Similarly, the pupillometric variables did not differ significantly when adjusting for the level of anxiety during and after painful stimulation due to canulation. More studies are necessary to explore the potential correlation between preoperative anxiety and pupillometry.
Age- and sex-specific normative values for muscle mass parameters in 18,625 Brazilian adults
Authors: Coelho-Júnior Hélio José , Marques Fillipi Lopes , Sousa Caio Victor , Marzetti Emanuele , Aguiar Samuel da Silva
Published: January 2024

Background

The present study aimed to provide age- and sex-specific normative values for muscle mass parameters in Brazilian adults.

Methods

Data pertaining to Brazilian adults (18+ years) who attended a nutritional clinical between January 2018 and July 2022 were analyzed. Muscle mass parameters were assessed using a bioimpedance digital scale (InBody 230, GBC BioMed NZ). Assessments were conducted under standard conditions, with participants refraining from physical exercise for 96 h and from eating or drinking (including water) for 8 h before evaluations.

Results

A total of 18,625 Brazilian adults were analyzed. Normative values for absolute and relative (height, m2) muscle mass and appendicular muscle mass (ASM) were calculated. In addition, specific age-related changes in muscle mass parameters were observed. In women, muscle mass peaked between the ages of 40–49 before gradually declining at an average rate of 5.7% per decade from the sixth decade of life onwards. ASM reached its peak earlier, during the third decade of life, and started to decline later, from 50 to 59 years. In contrast, absolute and ASM peaked at 40–49 years and declined from the sixth decade of life in men. Both sexes displayed a slightly greater decline in ASM than in muscle mass (13 vs. 12%).

Conclusions

The present study provides normative values for absolute and relative muscle mass and ASM in Brazilian adults. Furthermore, important specific age-related changes in muscle mass parameters were observed. These data have public health implications and might serve as a reference tool to guide health professionals.
Algorithms for Fractional Dynamical Behaviors Modelling Using Non-Singular Rational Kernels
Authors: Sabatier Jocelyn , Farges Christophe
Published: December 2023

This paper proposes algorithms to model fractional (dynamical) behaviors using non-singular rational kernels whose interest is first demonstrated on a pure power law function. Two algorithms are then proposed to find a non-singular rational kernel that allows the input-output data to be fitted. The first one derives the impulse response of the modeled system from the data. The second one finds the interlaced poles and zeros of the rational function that fits the impulse response found using the first algorithm. Several applications show the efficiency of the proposed work.
Electric Actuation of Transport Vehicles: Overview of Technical Characteristics and Propulsion Solutions through a Systematic Patent Analysis
Authors: Consolati Davide , Marmaglio Paolo , Canziani Lorenzo , Tiboni Monica , Amici Cinzia
Published: December 2023

Electric transport vehicles offer sustainable transportation solutions with benefits, such as reduced emissions, noise, and operating costs. This paper draws an overview of the available technical solutions to actuate transport vehicles with electric drives, as depicted by patent literature. A dataset of 1784 patents was created; the documents were selected through a systematic approach, and the patents were then classified according to a number of user-defined categories. The dataset was analyzed by applying two different methods: (i) a quantitative analysis (literature overview), enabling glance evaluations about the defined categories, and (ii) a qualitative analysis (detailed analysis), which focuses on the detection of interesting design features or innovative solutions. The results of this work not only provide an alternative and complementary overview to the analysis of solutions that may emerge from a scientific literature review, but can also offer support in strategic planning to companies wishing to protect their innovations and remain competitive in the evolving market of transport vehicles.
Factors Affecting the Adoption of Digital Marketing in Non-Profit Organizations: An Empirical Study
Authors: Yoon Cheolho
Published: December 2023

The study aims to enhance the sustainability of non-profit organizations by analyzing factors contributing to the adoption of digital marketing by non-profit organizations. For this purpose, this study presented a research model on digital marketing adoption reflecting the characteristics of non-profit organizations based on the technology–organization–environment (TOE) framework. The research model was analyzed using structural equation modeling on a sample of 303 staff members of non-profit organizations in South Korea. The results of the study suggest that entrepreneurship, competitive pressures, digital environment change, compatibility, and lack of human resources have an effect on the adoption of digital marketing in non-profit organizations. The findings can contribute to helping non-profit organizations better engage in digital marketing activities and, therefore, strengthen their sustainability by being more efficient in obtaining the financial resources they need.
Perspectives Matter: Insecure Residency Status Accounts for Aggressive Emotions in Adolescent Refugees
Authors: Eder Lara L. , Martin Alexandra , Hapfelmeier Gerhard , Walg Marco
Published: January 2024

Unaccompanied refugees are a high-risk group for trauma-induced psychiatric disorders. Besides traumatic experiences pre- and during migration, post-migration stressors such as insecure residency status affect refugees’ mental health and foster aggressive emotions. High levels of psychological distress and psychopathology distort time perspectives. Consequently, an insecure residency status linked to distress may influence a refugee’s time perspective. This study investigated psychological distress, PTSD symptoms, aggressive emotions, and time perspectives in 33 unaccompanied adolescent refugees with and without secure residency status in Germany. Refugees with precarious residency status showed higher levels of overall distress and aggression than individuals with secure residency status. Both groups revealed a distorted time perspective profile, but individuals with a residence permit showed a stronger orientation toward the present hedonistic perspective than those without a permit. Higher aggressive emotions were related to insecure status, higher levels of psychological distress, more pronounced PTSD symptoms, and lower orientation to future time perspective. Distorted time perspectives among refugees may be caused by traumatic experiences and having been uprooted, independently of their residency status in the host country. A higher future orientation may buffer the association between distorted time perspectives and aggressive emotions in the highly stressed group of unaccompanied adolescent refugees.
Mapping of Communication in Space Crews
Authors: Bahbouh Radvan , Hoschlova Eva , Huzva Michal , Bernardova Sykorova Katerina
Published: December 2023

(1) Background: Starting in 1993, the sociomapping method was used in the Czech Army to map communication. After initial pilot tests in military aviation, where we verified the reliability and validity of the basic subjective scales (for example, by correlations with physiological data), this method was utilized for communication mapping in the HUBES (Human Behavior in Extended Spaceflight) experiment conducted between 1994 and 1995, and since then has been repeatedly used in experiments simulating long-term space flights. (2) Methods: In this article, we summarize the key findings obtained through sociomapping in eight space experiments with crews including women, conducted between 2015 and 2023, including five experiments at the Mars Desert Research Station (MDRS) and in three stages of the SIRIUS project (Scientific International Research in Unique Terrestrial Station). (3) Results: The median test-retest correlation for both the frequency and quality of communication was 0.64, ranging widely from −0.74 to 1. The quantity and quality of communication showed a moderately strong correlation (0.40). Control charts demonstrated diverse developmental trends in crew communication across the experiments. Sociomapping allowed for more detailed visualization of the structure and dynamics of communication throughout the missions, as well as the detection of subgrouping and isolation of individuals in the crews. (4) Conclusions: The experiments showed that scaled assessments of mutual communication in terms of both quantity (frequency) and quality are a reliable and valid tool that enables the capture of significant one-time fluctuations and/or long-term trends. The experiments highlighted the possibility of increased risk of significant fluctuations and gradual deterioration of communication in the second half of the mission, which, however, does not have to be the rule, especially in shorter isolations. Continuous monitoring of communication through simple rating scales allows for timely intervention and stabilization of communication.
Maize Leaf Compound Disease Recognition Based on Attention Mechanism
Authors: Dong Ping , Li Kuo , Wang Ming , Li Feitao , Guo Wei , Si Haiping
Published: December 2023

In addition to the conventional situation of detecting a single disease on a single leaf in corn leaves, there is a complex phenomenon of multiple diseases overlapping on a single leaf (compound diseases). Current research on corn leaf disease detection predominantly focuses on single leaves with single diseases, with limited attention given to the detection of compound diseases on a single leaf. However, the occurrence of compound diseases complicates the accuracy of traditional deep learning algorithms for disease detection, necessitating the exploration of new models for the identification of compound diseases on corn leaves. To achieve rapid and accurate identification of compound diseases in corn fields, this study adopts the YOLOv5s model as the base network, chosen for its smaller size and faster detection speed. We propose a corn leaf compound disease recognition method, YOLOv5s-C3CBAM, based on an attention mechanism. To address the challenge of limited data for corn leaf compound diseases, a CycleGAN model is employed to generate synthetic images. The scarcity of real data is thereby mitigated, facilitating the training of deep learning models with sufficient data. The YOLOv5s model is selected as the base network, and an attention mechanism is introduced to enhance the network’s focus on disease lesions while mitigating interference from compound diseases. This augmentation results in improved recognition accuracy. The YOLOv5s-C3CBAM compound disease recognition model, incorporating the attention mechanism, achieves an average precision of 83%, an F1 score of 81.98%, and a model size of 12.6 Mb. Compared to the baseline model, the average precision is improved by 3.1 percentage points. Furthermore, it outperforms Faster R-CNN and YOLOv7-tiny models by 27.57 and 2.7 percentage points, respectively. This recognition method demonstrates the ability to rapidly and accurately identify compound diseases on corn leaves, offering valuable insights for future research on precise identification of compound agricultural crop diseases in field conditions.
Rural E-Commerce and Agricultural Carbon Emission Reduction: A Quasi-Natural Experiment from China’s Rural E-Commerce Demonstration County Program Based on 355 Cities in Ten Years
Authors: Ji Kaiwen , Hou Qiaoyun , Yu Yi , Pan Dan
Published: December 2023

Reducing carbon emissions is of paramount importance to the accomplishment of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. The effect of rural e-commerce on agricultural carbon emissions (ACEs) is controversial, and particularly the mechanism behind the effect is unknown. To identify the impact of rural e-commerce on agricultural carbon emissions and its mechanisms, we take advantage of China’s Rural E-Commerce Demonstration County Program (REDCP) as a quasi-natural experiment and use the multi-period difference-in-difference (DID) model to investigate the relationship between rural e-commerce and agricultural carbon emissions. Our data are based on panel data of 355 prefecture-level cities from 2010 to 2019 in China. We identify that rural e-commerce can reduce agricultural carbon emissions by an average of 14.4%, but this effect is not long-lasting. Mechanism analyses suggest that the reduction effect of rural e-commerce on agricultural carbon emissions is mainly due to fostering agricultural economic growth, increasing the share of low-carbon industry, and improving agricultural total factor productivity (TFP). Further heterogeneity analyses demonstrate that rural e-commerce has better carbon emissions reduction performance in eastern cities as well as in non-major grain-producing cities in China.
A Platform for GHG Emissions Management in Mixed Farms
Authors: Popa Dana Cătălina , Laurent Yolanda , Popa Răzvan Alexandru , Pasat Adrian , Bălănescu Mihaela , Svertoka Ekaterina , Pogurschi Elena Narcisa , Vidu Livia , Marin Monica Paula
Published: December 2023

This research introduces an innovative platform designed to manage greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in mixed farms. Emphasizing the urgent need to address GHG emissions, particularly methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O), the platform targets mixed farming systems where the interplay of livestock and crop production significantly contributes to environmental impacts. Our methodology is grounded in comprehensive data collection, encompassing soil data, energy consumption, and detailed livestock information. Utilizing the Agricultural Internet of Things (AIoT), it facilitates real-time data acquisition and analysis, providing insights into various farm activities’ GHG emissions. This approach allows for precise monitoring and management of emissions from different sources, including enteric fermentation in livestock and fertilizer use in crop production. Results from the application show its effectiveness in offering a clear and interactive visualization of GHG emissions, aiding farmers in making informed decisions for sustainable farm management. The platform’s user management system, coupled with advanced data processing and visualization capabilities, underscores its potential as a vital tool for sustainable farming. Conclusively, Solution4Farming represents a significant advancement in digital agriculture, combining IoT technology with sustainable practices. Though initially designed for Romanian cattle farming, Solution4Farming’s anticipated expansion to various farming environments suggests a broader impact and relevance in sustainable agriculture.
Production Traits, Blood Metabolic Profile, and Antioxidative Status of Dairy Goats Fed a Red Corn Supplemented Feed Mixture
Authors: Antunović Zvonko , Klir Šalavardić Željka , Novoselec Josip , Steiner Zvonimir , Đidara Mislav , Pavić Valentina , Jakobek Barron Lidija , Ronta Mario , Mioč Boro
Published: December 2023

This study investigated the effect of red corn in the feed mixture of dairy goats on production traits, blood metabolic profile, and antioxidative status. The study was conducted on 30 French Alpine dairy goats. The feed mixture for the goats in the control group (CC) contained yellow corn (100%). In the first experimental group (RC50), yellow corn was partially (50%) replaced by red corn (RC), and in the second experimental group (RC100), yellow corn was completely (100%) replaced by red corn. No significance variations (p > 0.05) were determined in production traits of dairy goats between dietary treatments. A significant increase in hemoglobin (84.43, 100.00 and 106.55 g/L), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (7.98, 9.70 and 12.54 pg), and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (293.57, 357.50 and 462.78 g/L) was found in the RC groups, and a decrease in erythrocytes in the RC100 compared with the RC50 group of goats (from 8.71 to 10.45 × 1012 L). A significant increase in blood superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in the RC groups was found (0.29, 0.53, and 0.44 U/mL). The results indicate maintaining production traits and a moderate effect on blood metabolic profile (most hematologic parameters) as well as a positive antioxidative effect RC.
Parametric Design and Genetic Algorithm Optimization of a Natural Light Stereoscopic Cultivation Frame
Authors: Jia Dongdong , Zheng Wengang , Wei Xiaoming , Guo Wenzhong , Zhao Qian , Gao Guohua
Published: December 2023

Vertical farming (VF) is an emerging cultivation frame that maximizes total plant production. However, the high energy-consuming artificial light sources for plants growing in the lower and middle layers significantly affect the sustainability of the current VF systems. To address the challenges of supplementary lighting energy consumption, this study explored and optimized the structural design of cultivation frames in VF using parametric modeling, a light simulation platform, and a genetic algorithm. The optimal structure was stereoscopic, including four groups of cultivation trough units in the lower layer, two groups in the middle layer, and one group in the upper layer, with a layer height of 685 mm and a spacing of 350 mm between the cultivation trough units. A field experiment demonstrated lettuce in the middle and lower layers yielded 82.9% to 92.6% in the upper layer. The proposed natural light stereoscopic cultivation frame (NLSCF) for VF was demonstrated to be feasible through simulations and on-site lettuce cultivation experiments without supplementary lighting. These findings confirmed that the NLSCF could effectively reduce the energy consumption of supplemental lighting with the ensure of lettuce’s regular growth. Moreover, the designing processes of the cultivation frame may elucidate further research on the enhancement of the sustainability and efficiency of VF systems.
Mapping the Research into Mental Health in the Farming Environment: A Bibliometric Review from Scopus and WoS Databases
Authors: Díaz Llobet Manel , Plana-Farran Manel , Riethmuller Micaela L. , Rodríguez Lizano Victor , Solé Cases Silvia , Teixidó Mercè
Published: December 2023

A significant part of the world economy is devoted to agriculture. The sector accounts for 27% of global employment and 4% of global GDP. Approximately 28.5 million farms are located in Europe and Latin America. In this sector, many uncertainties negatively impact farmers’ mental and emotional well-being. Many factors contribute to increased stress and a worsening of farmers’ mental health, including health problems resulting from the conducting their profession, economic uncertainty, the effects of climate change, and technological changes in the agricultural sector. Despite the existence of literature review studies related to mental health in agriculture, no bibliometric review study has been conducted. This article presents the first in-depth bibliometric analysis of the scientific literature on mental health in agriculture and operates based on Scopus and Web of Science databases. The results are presented as tables and explanatory diagrams describing the findings. The findings show the exponential increase in research in the last ten years and the evolution towards more social and health-related topics across the previous five years. The most common keywords are “suicide”, “stress”, and “depression”. No topic has been found where the current scientific production was significantly larger than the rest, indicating the wide variety of research sub-topics in this field.
Selection of Perennial Flax (Linum spp.) for Yield and Reproductive Traits for the Oilseed Ideotype
Authors: Tork David G. , Anderson Neil O. , Wyse Donald L. , Betts Kevin J.
Published: December 2023

Flaxseed has gained popularity as a health food. Wild, perennial Linum relatives of annual flax (L. usitatissimum) possess similar oil compositions, making them perennial oilseed (OS) alternatives. The objective of this study was to phenotype 25 OS and 17 cut flower (CF) breeding populations with 137 wild Linum species’ accessions in a common garden over three years (Y1–3) to quantify the impact of selection and identify top candidates. This study was intercepted by COVID-19, which prevented the same detailed phenotyping of Y1 from occurring in Y2–3. Traits measured from the perennial flax OS, in comparison with the CF ideotypes: weekly seed germination (Y1), yield per plant (Y1–3), seed weight (Y1–2), shattering (Y1–2), and seed capsule diameter (Y1). In Y1, OS selections had the highest yield per plant, followed by L. austriacum and then CF selections. The 1000 seed weights in Y1 were highest in annual flax, followed by L. grandiflorum and L. baicalense. Seed numbers/capsule were low in Y1–2, possibly due to shattering. Average yield per plant increased across Y1–3 indicating that, once plant establishment had occurred along with the potential for two harvests/year in Y2 onwards, significant OS yield can be realized. Harvest 1 yields were significantly higher than in harvest 2. In Y1–3, OS selections had the highest average seed yield. In Y1, OS and CF populations had smaller seeds, higher shattering, smaller capsule diameters, and lower germination than wild species. Significant breeding efforts are needed to increase perennial flax yield, using the multiple crop ideotypes.
Differential Responses of Bacterial Communities in Rhizosphere and Bulk Soils of Cotton to Long-Term Amelioration Practices Based on Freezing Saline Water Irrigation and Plastic Mulching in a Coastal Saline Soil
Authors: Wang Xiaogai , Wang Luming , Yu Zhenhua , Tian Yinping , Xu Yu , Wu Lianfu , Wang He , Guo Kai , Wang Xinzhen
Published: December 2023

Soil amelioration in coastal saline areas plays an important role in alleviating land resource shortages, improving regional ecological environments, ensuring food security, and promoting economic development. Plastic mulching (M) and the combination of freezing saline water irrigation and plastic mulching (WIM) are successful amelioration practices that dramatically reduce the salinity of surface soil and facilitate plant growth in coastal saline soil. However, the bacterial responses that are closely related to these amelioration practices in coastal saline soil remain poorly understood. In this study, bacterial richness and diversity, community composition, and potential ecological functions in the rhizosphere and bulk soils of cotton in M and WIM treatments, along with a control treatment, were investigated using high-throughput sequencing in a coastal saline field. The results showed that both the M and WIM treatments increased bacterial richness and alpha diversity, which were in general significantly higher in bulk soil than in rhizosphere soil. Non-metric multidimensional scaling and the Bray–Curtis dissimilarity analysis revealed that the bacterial community in rhizosphere soil was assembled far from those in the control and bulk soils and behaved more specifically in rhizosphere soil than in bulk soil. The relative abundances of most of the dominant phyla showed opposite trends of variation in bulk and rhizosphere soils compared to those in control soil in both M and WIM treatments; in particular, the specific bacterial groups of Proteobacteria and Actinobacteria decreased in bulk soil but significantly increased in rhizosphere soil. Functional groups of chemoheterotrophy, aerobic chemoheterotrophy, and nitrate reduction were predominant in rhizosphere rather than bulk soil, according to the Functional Annotation of Prokaryotic Taxa. These findings improve the understanding of the mechanism of bacterial responses to amelioration practices M and WIM in coastal saline soils and provide valuable information for the development of amelioration techniques based on agricultural practices and soil microbiome to enhance plants’ adaptability to saline soil in the future.
Transcriptome and Metabolome Jointly Revealed the Regulation and Pathway of Flower and Pod Abscission Caused by Shading in Soybean (Glycine max L.)
Authors: Sun Hexiang , He Dexin , Wang Nan , Yao Xingdong , Xie Futi
Published: December 2023

Flowers and pod abscission significantly reduces soybean yield. This study aims to identify the main signaling pathways and key candidate genes in soybean leaves that affect flower and pod abscission under shade conditions. This information will be useful for the localization and cloning of genes related to abscission. Two soybean cultivars with different abscission rates (Liaodou 32 and Shennongdou 28) were used in this experiment. The soybean leaves were subjected to 50% shading treatment and the transcriptome and metabolome was sequenced during the light-sensitive period. The effects of weak light at different growth stages on the metabolic pathways of soybean leaves and organ abscission were investigated by analyzing plant phenotype and physiological changes. The results showed that both two cultivars triggered the same molecular mechanism and similar metabolite accumulation mode by shading, but the regulations of the two cultivars were different. The key candidate genes identified for soybean flower and pod abscission caused by shading were DIV, MYB06, MYB44, MY1R1, MYBS3, WRKY6, WRK53, WRK70, WRK40, DOF14, CDF3, CDF2, GATA5, DREB3 and ERF3; the differentially expressed genes that caused the variation between the cultivars were SRM1, MYB16, WRK24, COL16, MYB61 and TRB1. The main metabolic pathways involved in soybean flower and pod abscission caused by shading were secondary metabolite biosynthesis pathway, metabolic pathway, cofactor biosynthesis pathway, phenylpropanoid biosynthesis pathway, flavonoid biosynthesis pathway, fatty acid biosynthesis pathway and amino acid biosynthesis pathway; the DEMs that caused the differences among the cultivars were carbon metabolism, glutathione metabolism, biotin metabolism, nucleotide metabolism, purine metabolism, plant hormone signaling, flavone and flavonol biosynthesis, lysine degradation, arginine and proline metabolism, amino sugars and nucleotide sugars metabolism, etc. In conclusion, shading treatment in the light-sensitive period of soybean changed the physiological response and gene expression level of leaves, inhibited carbohydrate metabolism and transport and biosynthesis of secondary metabolites, and thereby leading to increased competition and hormonal disruption, which promoted the abscission of soybean flowers/pods and reduced grain yield.
Calming Hungarian Grey Cattle in Headlocks Using Processed Nasal Vocalization of a Mother Cow
Authors: Lenner Ádám , Papp Zoltán Lajos , Szabó Csaba , Komlósi István
Published: December 2023

Sound analysis is an important field of research for improving precision livestock farming systems. If the information carried by livestock sounds is interpreted correctly, it could be used to improve management and welfare assessment in this field. Therefore, we hypothesized that the nasal vocalization of a mother cow could have a calming effect on conspecifics. The nasal vocalization in our study was recorded from a mother cow (not part of the test herd) while it was licking its day-old calf. The raw sound was analyzed, cleaned from noises, and the most representative vocalization was lengthened to two minutes. Thirty cows having calves were randomly selected from eighty Hungarian grey cattle cows. Two test days were selected, one week apart; the weather circumstances in both days were similar. The herd was collected in a paddock, and the test site (a restraining crate with a headlock) was 21 m away from them. The cows from the herd were gently moved to the restraining crate, and, after the installation of the headlock, Polar® heart rate monitors were fixed on the animals. The recording of the RR intervals was carried out for two minutes. On day one of the test, the processed nasal sound was played to every second cow during the heart rate monitoring. When the sound ended, the heart rate monitor was removed. On test day two, the sound and no sound treatments were switched among the participating cows. At the end of the measurement, the headlock was opened, letting the animals out voluntarily, and a flight test was performed along a 5 m distance. The time needed to pass the 5 m length was measured with a stopwatch and divided by the distance. The RR intervals were analyzed with the Kubios HRV Standard (ver. 3.5.0) software. The following data were recorded for the entire measurement: average and maximum heart rate; SD1 and SD2; pNN50; VLF, LF, and HF. The quasi-periodic signal detected in the sound analyses can hardly be heard, even when it is enhanced to the maximum. This can be considered a vibration probably caused by the basis of articulation, such as a vibration of the tongue, for example. The SD2/SD1 ratio (0.97 vs. 1.07 for the animals having no sound and sound played, respectively, p = 0.0110) and the flight speed (0.92 vs. 1.08 s/m for the animals having no sound and sound played, respectively, p = 0.0409) indicate that the sound treatment had a calming effect on the restrained cows. The day of the test did not influence any of the measured parameters; therefore, no effect of the routine was observed. The yes–no sequence of the sound treatment significantly reduced the pNN50 and flight speed values, suggesting a somewhat more positive association with the headlock and the effectiveness of the processed nasal sound. In conclusion, we have demonstrated that, by means of sound analyses, not only information about individuals and the herd can be gathered but that, with proper processing, the sound obtained can be used to improve animal welfare.
Effect of the Meal Interval Setting of an Automated Concentrate Feeding System on Feed Intake and Feeding Behavior in Fattening Hanwoo Steers
Authors: Cho Hyunjin , Kang Kyewon , Kang Hamin , Jeon Seoyoung , Lee Mingyung , Park Eunkyu , Hong Seokman , Seo Seongwon
Published: December 2023

An automatic concentrate feeding system (ACFS) divides the day into several intervals, allowing cattle to consume a predetermined amount of concentrate mix per interval. This study investigated the impact of changing these intervals (four vs. six) in an ACFS on its precision in monitoring the feed intake and feeding behavior of fattening Hanwoo steers. The experiment, involving 29 fattening Hanwoo steers (688 ± 43.3 kg of body weight, 24 months old), employed a switchback design with two interval settings: four and six per day. Both individual forage and concentrate intakes and feeding behaviors were automatically recorded; however, the ACFS measured feed supply, not actual intake. The precision of the ACFS’s intake recordings was tested by manually assessing feed residuals per visit using video recordings. Although no difference was observed in the concentrate intake (p > 0.05), the six-interval setting reduced concentrate residuals by 0.2 kg per visit (p < 0.05). The increased interval setting also resulted in fewer visits for forage consumption and decreased forage and total dry matter intakes (p < 0.05). In conclusion, the increased interval setting for the ACFS reduced the visit frequency for forage consumption and actual forage consumption while improving the precision of the ACFS’s intake recordings.
Thermal Imaging as a Method to Indirectly Assess Peripheral Vascular Integrity and Tissue Viability in Veterinary Medicine: Animal Models and Clinical Applications
Authors: Mota-Rojas Daniel , Ogi Asahi , Villanueva-García Dina , Hernández-Ávalos Ismael , Casas-Alvarado Alejandro , Domínguez-Oliva Adriana , Lendez Pamela , Ghezzi Marcelo
Published: December 2023

Infrared thermography (IRT) is a technique that indirectly assesses peripheral blood circulation and its resulting amount of radiated heat. Due to these properties, thermal imaging is currently applied in human medicine to noninvasively evaluate peripheral vascular disorders such as thrombosis, thromboembolisms, and other ischemic processes. Moreover, tissular damage (e.g., burn injuries) also causes microvasculature compromise. Therefore, thermography can be applied to determine the degree of damage according to the viability of tissues and blood vessels, and it can also be used as a technique to monitor skin transplant procedures such as grafting and free flaps. The present review aims to summarize and analyze the application of IRT in veterinary medicine as a method to indirectly assess peripheral vascular integrity and its relation to the amount of radiated heat and as a diagnostic technique for tissue viability, degree of damage, and wound care.
The Effect of Sodium Alginate-Coated Nano-Zinc Oxide on the Growth Performance, Serum Indexes and Fecal Microbial Structure of Weaned Piglets
Authors: Xiao Xiao , Guo Kai , Liu Jinsong , Liu Yulan , Yang Caimei , Xu Yinglei , Deng Bo
Published: December 2023

High dose of zinc oxide (ZnO) could improve growth performance and alleviate disease status, whereas it caused serious environmental pollution and bacterial resistance. This study was to investigate whether low doses of sodium alginate-coated nano zinc oxide (saZnO), a new type of zinc resource, could serve as a potential alternative to pharmacological doses of traditional ZnO in weaned piglets. A total of 144 crossbred piglets were randomly allocated into three groups, including a basal diet without the addition of Zn (CON), a basal diet with 1600 mg Zn/kg from traditional ZnO (ZnO), and a basal diet with 500 mg Zn/kg from saZnO (saZnO). The experiment lasted for 28 days. The results showed that supplementing with ZnO and saZnO for 14 and 28 days significantly improved body weight (BW) and average daily gain (ADG) (p < 0.01) and markedly reduced the feed intake-to-gain ratio (F/G) (p < 0.05) and diarrhea rate. In addition, dietary ZnO and saZnO significantly increased the activities of the total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) (p < 0.01). Supplementing with saZnO also promoted the levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD), IgM and copper- and zinc-containing superoxide dismutase (Cu/Zn-SOD) in serum (p < 0.05), whereas a ZnO addition decreased the concentration of malondialdehyde (MDA) (p < 0.05), indicating the beneficial effect of Zn on antioxidant and immune functions. Piglets fed the ZnO diet showed higher serum Zn accumulations than those fed the CON and saZnO diets at d 28 (p < 0.01), and supplementing with ZnO and saZnO markedly contributed to Zn excretion in feces, especially in the ZnO diet (p < 0.01). Additionally, piglets fed the saZnO diet had greater valeric acid concentrations (p < 0.05) in their feces, while other short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) were not affected by different treatments (p > 0.05). Microbial alpha diversity was reduced in the saZnO group compared with the CON group (p < 0.05), while an obvious separation of microbial composition, the marker of beta diversity, was shown among the three groups (p < 0.05). At the genus level, six genera, including Clostridium_sensu_stricto_1, Terrisporobacter, f_Muribaculaceae, Subdoligranulum and Intestinibacter, were pronouncedly increased in the ZnO and saZnO groups (p < 0.05); another nine species were dramatically downregulated, such as f_Lachnospiraceae, f_Prevotellaceae, f_Butyricicoccaceae and f_Ruminococcaceae (p < 0.05). Finally, a functional analysis indicated that altered microbes significantly changed the “Metabolism” pathway (p < 0.05). These findings suggested that saZnO could act as a feasible substitute for ZnO to reduce Zn emission and enhance growth performance, antioxidant and immune functions, and to adjust the structure of gut microbiota in piglets.