bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Thinking of Me or Thinking of You? Behavioral Correlates of Self vs. Other Centered Worry and Reappraisal in Late-Life
Authors: Mizuno Akiko , Karim Helmet Talib , Newmark Jordyn , Khan Faiha , Rosenblatt Matthew Joseph , Neppach Alyssa M. , Lowe MaKayla , Aizenstein Howard Jay , Mennin Douglas S. , Andreescu Carmen
Published: June 2022

Psychotherapeutic approaches in late-life anxiety have limited effect on reducing worry severity. The self-referential processing of worry contents (self- vs. other-focused worry) and reappraisal styles (internal vs. external locus of control) are important elements in psychotherapy, but little is known about these processes in late-life. We aimed to characterize severe worry from a self-referential processing perspective. We recruited 104 older adults with various levels of worry and used a personalized task to induce and reappraise worry. We analyzed the association between (1) worry severity/frequency for worry content (self- or other-focused) and (2) for reappraisal style (internal vs. external locus of control) with clinical inventories measuring anxiety, worry, depression, rumination, neuroticism, emotion regulation strategies, perceived stress, and physical illness burden. Higher self-worry severity was associated with higher scores of clinical inventories of worry, depression, perceived stress, and neuroticism, whereas other-worry severity did not show any association. Greater self-worry frequency was associated with higher medical burden. External locus of control in reappraisal statements was associated with lower worry severity in men. Overall, more severe and frequent self-focused worry was associated with a greater psychological and physiological burden. These results are useful in tailoring psychotherapy for older adults with severe worry.
Relationship Between Negative Emotions and Job Burnout in Medical Staff During the Prevention and Control of the COVID-19 Epidemic: The Mediating Role of Psychological Resilience
Authors: Chen Yao , Zhang Libin , Qi Huan , You Wei , Nie Chencong , Ye Li , Xu Ping
Published: June 2022

We herein investigated the relationship between psychological status and the various emotions of medical staff during the prevention and control of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) epidemic. In this study, the convenience sampling method was used to select medical staff members as participants, and a cross-sectional study design was implemented. The instruments included the Burnout Clinical Subtype Questionnaire (BCSQ-36), the 10-item Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC-10), the self-rated 16-item Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology (QIDS-SR16), and the Self-rating Anxiety Scale (SAS). In total, 876 medical staff members were selected in this study. The CD-RISC-10 was negatively correlated with all other scales (P < 0.01). The hierarchical regression coefficients of the SAS and QIDS-SR16 against the BCSQ-36 mediated by the CD-RISC-10 were P < 0.01, and the significance of the F values in all hierarchical regression equations was P < 0.01 (Sobel test, P < 0.01). Medical staff burnout during the COVID-19 epidemic was affected by anxiety and depression, and psychological resilience had a mediating role. Attending to changes in the negative emotions of medical staff and improving their psychological resilience are beneficial to alleviate job burnout.
Cannabinoids in the Treatment of Cannabis Use Disorder: Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials
Authors: Vuilleumier Caroline , Scherbaum Norbert , Bonnet Udo , Roser Patrik
Published: June 2022

Background

The prevalence of cannabis use and cannabis use disorders (CUD) has significantly increased over time. However, there are no approved pharmacological treatments for CUD. The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy and safety of various medical cannabinoids in the treatment of CUD.

Methods

We conducted a systematic review of randomized controlled trials which evaluated the therapeutic potential of medical cannabinoids in individuals with CUD and summarized the main study outcomes in terms of cannabis use, abstinence, withdrawal symptoms, craving, retention in treatment and adverse events.

Results

We identified eight trials with a total of 667 study participants. Dronabinol reduced cannabis withdrawal symptoms whereas nabiximols, cannabidiol and PF-04457845, a fatty acid amide inhibitor, also reduced cannabis use and improved abstinence, compared to placebo. Nabilone failed to demonstrate efficacy in the treatment of CUD. All medications were well-tolerated.

Conclusions

Cannabinoid receptor agonists, i.e., dronabinol and nabilone, showed only limited or no therapeutic potential in the treatment of CUD. In contrast, modulators of endocannabinoid activity, i.e., nabiximols, cannabidiol and PF-04457845, demonstrated broader efficacy which covered almost all aspects of CUD. Endocannabinoid modulation appears to be a promising treatment approach in CUD, but the evidence to support this strategy is still small and future research in this direction is needed.
Integrated Health and Social Services for People With Chronic Mental Health Problems: People Are More Important Than Processes. Insights From a Multiple Case Study in Swedish Psychiatry
Authors: Carlsson Karin Solberg , Brommels Mats
Published: June 2022

Three mental health organizations, one merged with, one formally cooperating with, and one without formal links to social services were analyzed through the experience of staff, patients and relatives in order to elucidate what approaches best promoted service coordination. Seventeen staff and eight patients or relatives, recruited from the three organizations, participated in semi-structured interviews, guided by pre-selected categories derived from previous research about coordination and care processes. Directed content analysis was used to identify and categorize meaning units. Both staff and patients raised the same concerns. Organized collaboration between psychiatric care and social services addressed only some of patients' challenges. More important was patient access to financial and social assistance. The organizational arrangements were not referred to, whereas case management was seen as crucial. In many instances relatives have to act as case managers. Service integration in mental health has to include, in addition to social services, other authorities like social insurance and employment agencies. A case manager knowledgeable about all welfare services is best positioned to promote that “extended integration”. Relatives often have to take this responsibility to support this fragile group of patients. This observed importance of case management is supported by previous research in mental health and primary care. The role of relatives should be acknowledged and supported by those services.
Prevalence and Unmet Need for Mental Healthcare of Major Depressive Disorder in Community-Dwelling Chinese People Living With Vision Disability
Authors: Zhong Bao-Liang , Xu Yan-Min , Li Yi
Published: June 2022

Objective

Mental health services have been recognized as an essential part of the comprehensive eye care services, but data regarding the mental health of people living with vision disability (PLwVD) remain very limited. This study examined the epidemiology of major depressive disorder (MDD) among Chinese PLwVD, as well as their perceived needs for and utilization of mental health services.

Methods

By using stratified cluster sampling method, a total of 1,753 PLwVD were successfully recruited from 73 urban communities and 169 rural villages in Wuhan, China, and interviewed with the Mini-international Neuropsychiatric Interview 5.0. Standardized questions were used to measure perceived mental healthcare needs and use of mental health services of PLwVD with MDD.

Results

The one-month prevalence of MDD was 24.4%. Among the PLwVD with MDD, 26.0% perceived needs for mental healthcare and only 1.2% sought treatment from mental health specialists for their emotional problems. Factors associated with MDD were middle age [vs. young adulthood, odds ratio (OR) = 1.96, P < 0.001], older adulthood (vs. young adulthood, OR = 1.79, P = 0.004), being never-married (vs. married, remarried, and cohabiting, OR = 1.96, P < 0.001), being separated, divorced, and widowed (vs. married, remarried, and cohabiting, OR = 12.30, P < 0.001), a low level of objective social support (vs. high, OR = 1.83, P < 0.001), currently drinking (OR = 1.81, P < 0.001), having childhood-onset eye conditions (OR = 1.89, P = 0.005), and having difficulties in performing daily activities (OR = 2.78, P < 0.001).

Conclusions

Chinese PLwVD are at high risk for MDD and have a high level of unmet need for mental healthcare. Public strategies are warranted to improve the mental health literacy of PLwVD and make the mental health services available, accessible, and affordable for PLwVD.
Assessing the Quality of Hearing Aids-Related Videos on TikTok
Authors: Chen Kai , Zhou Li , Zhao Rui , Tang Yuedi
Published: June 2022

Hearing aids are effective at improving listening ability and health-related quality of life. Recently, we observed that there are many hearing aids-related videos published on TikTok. However, the quality of the information they offer remains unstudied. This study aimed to evaluate the information quality of hearing aids videos on TikTok. We collected a sample of 155 hearing aids-related videos in Chinese and extracted the basic information. First, we identified the source of each video. Two independent raters assessed the quality of the information in the videos, using the PEMAT-A/V tool and DISCERN instrument. Regarding content, the results showed that the video contents on TikTok mainly about features, functionalities, and suggestions of purchase or fitting of hearing aids, while the information about the disadvantages and complications of hearing aids was limited. The overall quality of the hearing aids-related videos was acceptable on average, although the quality varies greatly depending on the type of source. Patients should be cautious in obtaining information about hearing aids on TikTok.
Comparison of Biogenic Amorphous Silicas Found in Common Horsetail and Oat Husk With Synthetic Amorphous Silicas
Authors: Lindner Gottlieb Georg , Drexel Claus-Peter , Sälzer Katrin , Schuster Tobias B. , Krueger Nils
Published: June 2022

The present study summarizes the current literature on the presence and the structure of biogenic amorphous silica (BAS) in nature. Based on this review, it is shown that BAS is ubiquitous in nature and exhibits a structure that cannot be differentiated from the structure of synthetic amorphous silica (SAS). The structural similarity of BAS and SAS is further supported by our investigations—in particular, specific surface area (BET) and electron microscope techniques—on oat husk and common horsetail. Many food products containing BAS are considered to be beneficial to health. In the context of the use of SAS in specific applications (e.g., food, feed, and cosmetics), this is of particular interest for discussions of the safety of these uses.
Mediating Effects of Adolescent Physical Activity, Self-Rated Health and Family Income
Authors: Wang Meng , Shen Xi , Deng Lamei , Yu Feng , Lou Yin , Liu JunJi , Huang Yibing
Published: June 2022

Objective

To investigate and analyse the situation and relationship between adolescent physical activity and self-assessment of health to provide a reference for adolescent physical activity research.

Methods

A questionnaire was used to investigate the physical activity and self-rated health of 1,804 adolescents aged 14–18 years.

Results

There was a significant relationship between adolescents' physical activity and self-rated health. The coefficient was 0.109 (P < 0.01) in urban areas and 0.127 (P < 0.01) in rural areas. At the same time, it was found that when family income was used as the intermediary variable between physical activity and self-rated health, the intermediary effect was 0.12 (P < 0.01), and the intermediary effect accounted for 25.97%.

Conclusion

Adolescent obesity, physical activity, smoking, wellbeing and physical activity can affect adolescents' self-rated health status. At the same time, it is also found that adolescents' family income is an intermediary variable between physical activity and self-rated health.

Suggestions

(1) Increase the methods of sports venues, sports organizations and sports activities, improve the possibility of teenagers participating in physical activities, and improve teenagers' self-rated health; (2) There is a large gap between the physical activity and self-rated health of urban and rural adolescents. Increasing the guidance of physical activity of adolescents in rural areas promotes the balance of self-rated health of urban and rural adolescents. (3) Family income is the intermediary variable of teenagers' physical activities and self-rated health. Reducing family expenditure through financial transfer payments or reducing taxes and fees can increase the level of teenagers' physical and mental health.
Prevalence, Risk Factors, Pathophysiology, Potential Biomarkers and Management of Feline Idiopathic Cystitis: An Update Review
Authors: He Chengxi , Fan Kai , Hao Zhihui , Tang Na , Li Gebin , Wang Shuaiyu
Published: June 2022

Feline idiopathic cystitis is a widespread disease in small animal clinics, which mainly presents with urinary signs like dysuria, stranguria, hematuria, pollakiuria, and periuria. The etiopathogenesis of the disease may involve interactions between the environmental stressors, neuroendocrine system and bladder of affected cats. Diagnostic biomarkers have not been tested in clinical studies though they are theoretically feasible, and since the clinical signs of the disease assemble those of other feline lower urinary diseases, its diagnosis is a procedure of exclusion. The primary treatment of the disease is long-term multimodal environmental modification (or enrichment) while anti-anxiety drugs and nutritional supplements are recommended for chronic recurrent cases. Still, many medicines need to be evaluated for their efficacy and safety. This review aims to provide readers with a comprehensive understanding of feline idiopathic cystitis by summarizing and updating studies concerning the prevalence, risk factors, etiological hypotheses, diagnostic procedures, possible treatments, and prognosis of the disease.
Design, Development and Experimental Assessment of a Cost-Effective Bellow Pneumatic Actuator
Authors: Gregov Goran , Ploh Tomislav , Kamenar Ervin
Published: June 2022

Soft pneumatic actuators offer great advantages compared to rigid ones, particularly due to their compliant nature, which allows them to adapt to uncertainties in the environment. As such, they enable human-safe interactions and are often applied to various applications, such as for example, soft grippers or wearable devices for human motion assistance. The presented research describes the process of design, development and finally control of two cost-effective bellow pneumatic actuators. The properties of the developed devices are experimentally assessed by performing three different types of experiments. In a first instance, the testing of blocking force was performed, followed by experimental assessment of velocity-displacement characteristics, and finally, the dynamical properties for sinusoidally forced motion were examined. It was shown that the actuator can provide over 100 N force and assure a contraction ratio over 40% of its full length, with maximum velocity exceeding 60 mm/s. Experimental responses to a sinusoidally forced motion allowed establishing that no significant change due to the fatigue, creep and relaxation occur in material properties. Finally, the positioning performances of both developed devices were assessed by employing PID and LQR controllers which allowed their precise position control with fast responses and steady-state errors within the 0.2 mm margin. The performed research gives some insights into the future development of the pneumatically driven mechatronics systems used for position control.
Flight Anomaly Detection via a Deep Hybrid Model
Authors: Qin Kun , Wang Qixin , Lu Binbin , Sun Huabo , Shu Ping
Published: June 2022

In the civil aviation industry, security risk management has shifted from post-accident investigations and analyses to pre-accident warnings in an attempt to reduce flight risks by identifying currently untracked flight events and their trends and effectively preventing risks before they occur. The use of flight monitoring data for flight anomaly detection is effective in discovering unknown and potential flight incidents. In this paper, we propose a time-feature attention mechanism and construct a deep hybrid model for flight anomaly detection. The hybrid model combines a time-feature attention-based convolutional autoencoder with the HDBSCAN clustering algorithm, where the autoencoder is constructed and trained to extract flight features while the HDBSCAN works as an anomaly detector. Quick access record (QAR) flight data containing information of aircraft landing at Kunming Changshui International and Chengdu Shuangliu International airports are used as the experimental data, and the results show that (1) the time-feature-based convolutional autoencoder proposed in this paper can better extract the flight features and further discover the different landing patterns; (2) in the representation space of the flights, anomalous flight objects are better separated from normal objects to provide a quality database for subsequent anomaly detection; and (3) the discovered flight patterns are consistent with those at the airports, resulting in anomalies that could be interpreted with the corresponding pattern. Moreover, several examples of anomalous flights at each airport are presented to analyze the characteristics of anomalies.
Soil Electrical Conductivity and Satellite-Derived Vegetation Indices for Evaluation of Phosphorus, Potassium and Magnesium Content, pH, and Delineation of Within-Field Management Zones
Authors: Mazur Piotr , Gozdowski Dariusz , Wójcik-Gront Elżbieta
Published: June 2022

The optimization of soil sampling is very important in precision agriculture. The main aim of this study was to evaluate the relationships between selected spectral indices (NDWI—normalized difference water index and NDVI—normalized difference vegetation index) and apparent soil electrical conductivity (EC) with soil nutrient content (phosphorus, potassium, and magnesium) and pH. Moreover, the usefulness of these variables for the delineation of within-field management zones was assessed. The study was conducted in 2021 in central Poland at three maize fields with a total area approximately 100 ha. The analyses were performed based on 47 management zones, which were used for soil sampling. Significant positive correlations were observed between the NDVI for the bare soil and all the studied nutrient contents in the soil and pH. A very strong positive correlation was observed between the soil EC and the potassium content and a moderate correlation was found with the magnesium content. A multiple-regression analysis proved that the soil nutrient content, especially potassium and phosphorus, was strongly related to the EC and NDVI. The novelty of this study is that it proves the relationships between soil and the crop attributes, EC and NDVI, which can be measured at field scale relatively simply, and the crucial soil nutrients, phosphorus and potassium. This allows the results to be used for optimized variable-rate fertilization.
Transformer Help CNN See Better: A Lightweight Hybrid Apple Disease Identification Model Based on Transformers
Authors: Li Xiaopeng , Li Shuqin
Published: June 2022

The complex backgrounds of crop disease images and the small contrast between the disease area and the background can easily cause confusion, which seriously affects the robustness and accuracy of apple disease- identification models. To solve the above problems, this paper proposes a Vision Transformer-based lightweight apple leaf disease- identification model, ConvViT, to extract effective features of crop disease spots to identify crop diseases. Our ConvViT includes convolutional structures and Transformer structures; the convolutional structure is used to extract the global features of the image, and the Transformer structure is used to obtain the local features of the disease region to help the CNN see better. The patch embedding method is improved to retain more edge information of the image and promote the information exchange between patches in the Transformer. The parameters and FLOPs (Floating Point Operations) of the model are significantly reduced by using depthwise separable convolution and linear-complexity multi-head attention operations. Experimental results on a complex background of a self-built apple leaf disease dataset show that ConvViT achieves comparable identification results (96.85%) with the current performance of the state-of-the-art Swin-Tiny. The parameters and FLOPs are only 32.7% and 21.7% of Swin-Tiny, and significantly ahead of MobilenetV3, Efficientnet-b0, and other models, which indicates that the proposed model is indeed an effective disease-identification model with practical application value.
Post-Anthesis Heat Influences Grain Yield, Physical and Nutritional Quality in Wheat: A Review
Authors: Fernie Edward , Tan Daniel K. Y. , Liu Sonia Y. , Ullah Najeeb , Khoddami Ali
Published: June 2022

Climate change threatens to impact wheat productivity, quality and global food security. Maintaining crop productivity under abiotic stresses such as high temperature is therefore imperative to managing the nutritional needs of a growing global population. The article covers the current knowledge on the impact of post-anthesis heat on grain yield and quality of wheat crops. The objectives of the current article were to review (1) the effect of post-anthesis heat stress events (above 30.0 °C) on wheat grain yield, (2) the effect of heat stress on both the physical and chemical quality of wheat grain during grain development, (3) identify wheat cultivars that display resilience to heat stress and (4) address gaps within the literature and provide a direction for future research. Heat stress events at the post-anthesis stage impacted wheat grain yield mostly at the grain filling stage, whilst the effect on physical and chemical quality was varied. The overall effect of post-anthesis heat on wheat yield and quality was genotype-specific. Additionally, heat tolerance mechanisms were identified that may explain variations in yield and quality data obtained between studies.
Genome-Wide Association Mapping Revealed SNP Alleles Associated with Spike Traits in Wheat
Authors: Eltaher Shamseldeen , Sallam Ahmed , Emara Hamdy A. , Nower Ahmed A. , Salem Khaled F. M. , Börner Andreas , Baenziger P. Stephen , Mourad Amira M. I.
Published: June 2022

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is one of the most important crops in the world. Four spike-related traits, namely, spike weight (SW), spike length (SL), the total number of spikelets per spike (TSNS), total kernels per spike (TKNS), and thousand-kernel weight (TKW), were evaluated in 270 F3:6 Nebraska winter wheat lines in two environments (Lincoln and North Platte, NE, USA). All genotypes in both locations exhibited high genetic variation for all yield traits. High positive correlations were observed among all yield-related traits in each location separately. No or low correlation in yield-related traits was observed between the two environments. The broad-sense heritability estimates were 72.6, 72.3, 71.2, 72.3, and 56.1% for SW, SL, TSNS, TKNS, and TKW, respectively. A genome-wide association study (GWAS) was used to identify SNPs associated with yield traits. In the Lincoln environment, 44 markers were found to be significantly associated with spike-related traits (SW, SL, TSNS, TKNS, and TKW), while 41 were detected in North Platte. Due to the strong significant genotype x environment, no common SNP markers were found between the two locations. Gene annotation of the significant markers revealed candidate genes encoded for important proteins that are associated directly or indirectly with yield traits. Such high genetic variation among genotypes is very useful for selection to improve yield traits in each location separately.
Optimum Plant Density for Increased Groundnut Pod Yield and Economic Benefits in the Semi-Arid Tropics of West Africa
Authors: Desmae Haile , Sako Dramane , Konate Djeneba
Published: June 2022

Groundnut is a very important crop in the West and Central Africa (WCA) region, accounting for almost 70% of Africa’s groundnut production in 2019. Despite its economic importance, the crop’s yield is still low. For a high yield and profitable economic returns, optimal plant density is a fundamental crop management practice. Plant density experiments were conducted at the ICRISAT-Mali research station between 2016 and 2021 over the main rainy and dry seasons to determine the optimum density for maximum groundnut yield and economic benefits. The treatments contained row spacing of 20 cm, 30 cm, 40 cm, 50 cm, 60 cm, 70 cm, 80 cm, 90 cm, and 100 cm, with intra-row spacing of 10 cm, 15 cm, and 20 cm. Results showed that when plant density was increased, dry pod yield, production value, and net economic benefit per hectare increased in a no moisture stress scenario. During the rainy season, the 40 cm × 10 cm spacing gave the highest dry pod yield (1693 kg), production value ($891.6), and net benefit ($403.5) per hectare. The highest dry pod yield (3703 kg), production value ($2173), and net benefit ($1510.2) per hectare were obtained from 30 cm × 10 cm spacing during the dry season. The number of pods per plant and 100 SW increased with lower plant densities. Therefore, it is recommended to increase plant density to at least 222,000 plants per hectare in the Sudan Savannah agroecology of WCA.
Sewage Sludge Ash-Based Biofertilizers as a Circular Approach to Phosphorus: The Issue of Fe and Al in Soil and Wheat and Weed Plants
Authors: Jastrzębska Magdalena , Kostrzewska Marta K. , Saeid Agnieszka
Published: June 2022

Sewage sludge management for fertilizer purposes can be a step in the circular phosphorus (P) economy. Using microbial solubilization in manufacturing fertilizers from recycled materials is an innovative approach with the potential to increase P compounds’ bioavailability, and fertilizers from sewage sludge ash and P-solubilizing bacteria are promising products of this technology. In addition to P and a range of macronutrients, these fertilizers contain small amounts of micronutrients and potentially toxic elements. This paper discusses the effects of fertilizer on iron (Fe) and aluminum (Al) content in soil, test plants (spring or winter wheat; grain and straw), weeds and post-harvest residues, based on field experiments. Treatments with conventional P fertilizers (superphosphate, phosphorite) and without P fertilization provided references. The tested biofertilizers containing the Bacillus megaterium or Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans strain had no effect on total Fe and Al content in the soil or on the concentration of these elements in plant biomass when applied at P doses up to 35.2 kg ha–1. Fe and Al levels in grain did not suggest a potential risk to consumers.
Effects of Dietary Fiber Type on Growth Performance, Serum Parameters and Fecal Microbiota Composition in Weaned and Growing-Finishing Pigs
Authors: Lv Zhiqian , Zhang Zeyu , Wang Fenglai , Guo Jiyu , Zhao Xiaogang , Zhao Jinbiao
Published: June 2022

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of different SDF to IDF ratios on growth performance, serum indexes and fecal microbial community in pigs. Weaned and growing-finishing pigs were fed a diet containing five different ratios of SDF to IDF from 1:5 to 1:9 and from 1:3 to 1:7, respectively. Results showed a linear tendency that average daily gain (ADG) of weaned pigs decreased but the feed intake to weight gain ratio (F/G) increased as the ratio of SDF to IDF increased from 1:5 to 1:9 (p = 0.06). The ADG of growing-finishing pigs showed quadratic changes (p < 0.05) as ratios of SDF to IDF increased from 1:3 to 1:7. The Shannon index of fecal microbial diversity increased first and then decreased as the SDF to IDF ratio increased from 1:5 to 1:9 (p < 0.05). The Shannon and Chao indexes of fecal microbial diversity in growing-finishing pigs showed significant incremental linearly as the SDF to IDF ratio increased from 1:3 to 1:7 (p < 0.05). In conclusion, the recommended inclusion ratios of SDF to IDF in weaned and growing-finishing pigs diets are 1:7 and 1:5.
The Effects of Pen Size and Design, Bedding, Rooting Material and Ambient Factors on Pen and Pig Cleanliness and Air Quality in Fattening Pig Houses
Authors: Ocepek Marko , Andersen Inger Lise
Published: June 2022

There are several environmental and ambient factors that can affect pig eliminative behaviour. The aim of this survey was to investigate factors related to the physical and ambient environment that have the strongest effects on pig and pen cleanliness and ammonia concentration. Data were collected from 87 pig farms and analysed using mixed (ammonia concentration) or generalized linear (pen and pig cleanliness) model in SAS. The pen was cleaner when pen partitions were open compared to closed (p = 0.010) and increased with increasing amount of litter (p = 0.002), using straw (p = 0.002) as rooting material. Pig cleanliness was higher when pen partitions in the eliminative area were open compared to closed (p = 0.007) and increased with increasing space per pig in the resting area (p < 0.001), with decreasing temperature (p < 0.001), and lowering of air velocity (p = 0.003). Other factors that increased cleanliness was using straw as rooting material (p = 0.028) and increasing amount of litter in the resting area (p = 0.002). Ammonia concentration was reduced with increasing floor space in the eliminative area (p < 0.001) and increasing amount of litter (p = 0.006). Our results pinpoint physical and ambient conditions affecting pen and pig cleanliness and air quality.
Has the Australian Endemic Grey Falcon the Most Extreme Dietary Specialization among all Falco Species?
Authors: Schoenjahn Jonny , Pavey Chris R. , Walter Gimme H.
Published: June 2022

A clear understanding of a species’ diet is crucial in understanding its spatio-temporal dynamics, and is, therefore, pertinent to conservation considerations. The diet of the Grey Falcon (Falco hypoleucos), a rare and threatened predator endemic to the Australian arid and semi-arid zone, is subject to diverging assertions; therefore, we studied its diet through direct observation of food ingestion during more than 17 years of fieldwork across the species’ distribution. We found that Grey Falcons of all ages fed almost exclusively on a single type of food, namely, birds, and non-avian food items never constituted a substantial portion of any individual’s diet. The extraordinary circumstances that were associated with the ingestion of non-avian food suggest strongly that, across its vast distribution, throughout the year, and throughout its life, the Grey Falcon feeds almost exclusively on birds. Further, we compared the diets of all Falco species and found that the dietary specialization is most extreme in the Grey Falcon, more so than even in the Taita (F. fasciinucha) and Peregrine Falcons (F. peregrinus). Based on aspects of the species’ environment and relative prey availability, we offer an evolutionary explanation of the apparently unique dietary specialization of the arid-adapted Grey Falcon.
Ecofriendly Usability of Mushroom Cultivation Substrate as a Ruminant Feed: Anaerobic Digestion Using Gas Production Techniques
Authors: Palangi Valiollah , Kaya Adem , Kaya Ali , Giannenas Ilias
Published: June 2022

The current study was carried out to evaluate the nutritive value of mushroom-uncultivated and -cultivated substrates, and their in vitro gas and methane production. The experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design, and analyzed with GLM using SAS 9.4. Analysis of the structural morphology of mushroom-cultivated substrate was performed using a scanning electron microscope. Mushroom cultivation led to lower ether extract, acid detergent fiber, and crude fiber level of substrate (p < 0.05). Mushroom-cultivated substrate showed higher in vitro cumulative gas production (p < 0.05). Moreover, mushroom cultivation led to a higher sample surface, and improved the microorganisms’ access to feed materials, thus stimulating rumen fermentation and increasing methane production (p < 0.05). The organic matter digestibility, metabolizable energy, and net energy lactation values were higher for mushroom-cultivated substrate than uncultivated substrate. The results demonstrate that mushroom-cultivation not only increases the contact surface of cellulose, leading to higher ruminal microorganisms’ access to feedstuff, but could also had higher nutritive value; this material might be used in ruminant ration formulation, to reduce environmental pollution and feed costs.
Identification of Genomic Regions and Candidate Genes for Litter Traits in French Large White Pigs Using Genome-Wide Association Studies
Authors: Chen Jianmei , Wu Ziyi , Chen Ruxue , Huang Zhihui , Han Xuelei , Qiao Ruimin , Wang Kejun , Yang Feng , Li Xin-Jian , Li Xiu-Ling
Published: June 2022

The reproductive traits of sows are one of the important economic traits in pig production, and their performance directly affects the economic benefits of the entire pig industry. In this study, a total of 895 French Large White pigs were genotyped by GeneSeek Porcine 50K SNP Beadchip and four phenotypic traits of 1407 pigs were recorded, including total number born (TNB), number born alive (NBA), number healthy piglets (NHP) and litter weight born alive (LWB). To identify genomic regions and genes for these traits, we used two approaches: a single-locus genome-wide association study (GWAS) and a single-step GWAS (ssGWAS). Overall, a total of five SNPs and 36 genomic regions were identified by single-locus GWAS and ssGWAS, respectively. Notably, fourof all five significant SNPs were located in 10.72–11.06 Mb on chromosome 7, were also identified by ssGWAS. These regions explained the highest or second highest genetic variance in the TNB, NBA and NHP traits and harbor the protein coding gene ENSSSCG00000042180. In addition, several candidate genes associated with litter traits were identified, including JARID2, PDIA6, FLRT2 and DICER1. Overall, these novel results reflect the polygenic genetic architecture of the litter traits and provide a theoretical reference for the following implementation of molecular breeding.
Evaluation of a Treadmill-Based Submaximal Fitness Test in Pugs, and Collecting Breed-Specific Information on Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome
Authors: Mach Rebekka , Wiegel Pia S. , Bach Jan-Peter , Beyerbach Martin , Kreienbrock Lothar , Nolte Ingo
Published: June 2022

Despite efforts of veterinarians and breeders, brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome (BOAS) is still a common problem in pugs, underlining the need for objective tests to identify and prevent breeding with affected dogs. In the current study, a submaximal, treadmill-based fitness test was evaluated as a tool to identify signs of airway obstruction not recognisable under rest conditions. In addition to this, different body conformation and measurements were assessed regarding their association with BOAS. A total of 62 pugs and 10 mesocephalic dogs trotted with an individual comfort speed on a treadmill for 15 min. Before and during the examination, dogs were examined for signs of respiratory distress, and a functional BOAS grading was applied. The influence of body conformation on BOAS grading was tested in a univariable and multivariable logistic regression model. During exercise, more respiratory noises were observed, and existing respiratory noises became more apparent in comparison to when at rest. In the multivariable logistic regression model, no factor had a statistically significant influence on BOAS classification. Submaximal fitness testing helped to identify signs of respiratory distress not apparent under resting conditions, and could be a valuable addition for identifying dogs with BOAS. Performing testing on a treadmill facilitates continuous observation of the patients, and enables standardisation of the test regarding the test environment, as well as provides an uninterrupted, steady workload.
fHER2, PR, ER, Ki-67 and Cytokeratin 5/6 Expression in Benign Feline Mammary Lesions
Authors: Soares Maria , Correia Assunção N. , Batista Mariana R. , Correia Jorge , Ferreira Fernando
Published: June 2022

Biomarkers are essential in the characterization of neoplastic lesions and aid not only in the classification of the nature of the lesions, but also in the understanding of their ontogeny, development and prognosis. In cats, while mammary carcinomas are increasingly being characterized, information on their benign lesions is still scarce. Indeed, a better characterization of benign lesions could have an important role in unravelling mammary oncogenesis, similar to that in human breast cancer. Thus, in this study, the expression of five markers was analyzed in 47 benign mammary lesions (hyperplasia, dysplasia and benign tumors) collected from 27 queens. Dysplastic and hyperplastic lesions were the most common (41/47, 81.7%). Most of the lesions were classified as ER positive (43/47, 91.5%), PR negative (30/47, 63.8%), fHER2 negative (29/47, 64.4%), CK 5/6 negative (36/47, 76.6%) and with a low Ki-67 index (37/47, 78.7%). Statistical analysis revealed a correlation between younger ages and ER positivity (p = 0.013) and between larger lesions and negative PR status (p = 0.038). These results reinforce the importance of evaluating the expression of the ER status, prevalent in benign lesions, as a putative precursor in cancer progression.
Octorhopalona saltatrix, a New Genus and Species (Hydrozoa, Anthoathecata) from Japanese Waters
Authors: Toshino Sho , Yamamoto Gaku , Saito Shinsuke
Published: June 2022

Approximately 300 species of cnidarian jellyfish have been reported in Japanese waters. However, many specimens remain unidentified. In this study, taxonomic investigations, including morphological observations and molecular 16S phylogenetic analyses, were conducted on unknown specimens collected off Oarai, Sagami Bay, and Tosa Bay, Japan. The specimens have the following morphological characteristics: distinct peaks in jelly above the base of the manubrium, a red band on the manubrium, and cylindrical marginal bulbs, each with an abaxial ocellus that is common to the family Halimedusidae. However, the specimens can be distinguished from other Halimedusidae species by their eight radial canals, eight tentacles with numerous stalked nematocyst knobs, and eight nematocyst tracks on the exumbrella. Moreover, molecular phylogenetic analyses revealed that the Kimura two-parameter distance between the specimens and other Halimedusa species was 0.066–0.099, which is considered to represent intergeneric variability. Based on this result, we described it as a new species and established a new genus for taxonomic stabilization. We also emended the diagnostic characters of the family Halimedusidae owing to the establishment of the new genus. Halimedusidae comprises five species in four genera. This paper provides taxonomic keys for the identification of species in the family Halimedusidae.
Combining Abilities, Heterosis, Growth Performance, and Carcass Characteristics in a Diallel Cross from Black-Bone Chickens and Thai Native Chickens
Authors: Sungkhapreecha Piriyaporn , Chankitisakul Vibuntita , Duangjinda Monchai , Boonkum Wuttigrai
Published: June 2022

The purpose of this study was to determine the combining abilities and heterosis for the growth performance and carcass characteristics in crosses between Hmong black-bone (HB), Chinese black-bone (CB), and Thai native (TN) chickens using a mating system diallel crossing. Nine crossbred chickens including HB × HB, CB × CB, TN × TN, HB × TN, TN × HB, CB × HB, HB × CB, TN × CB, and CB × TN, were tested. The total data were 699 recorded at the beginning of the experiment to 595 recorded in weeks 14 of age. Body weight (BW), average daily gain (ADG), feed conversion ratio (FCR), and survival rate (SUR) were recorded. Heterosis and combining ability regarding general combining ability (GCA), specific combining ability (SCA), and reciprocal combining ability (RCA) were estimated. The study found that CB had the greatest BW and ADG at all weeks (p < 0.05) except for hatch, while those of HB were the lowest. The highest GCA was found in CB; meanwhile, GCA was significantly negative in HB of all ages. Crossing between TN × CB had the greatest BW from 8 weeks of age, which was related to positive SCA and RCA values. However, the RCA value of TN × CB was lower than the SCA value of CB × TN. The yield percentages of the carcass in CB (87.00%) were higher than those in TN (85.05%) and HB (82.91%) (p < 0.05). The highest breast and thigh meat lightness (L*) values were obtained in TN (p < 0.05), while those of CB and HB were not different (p > 0.05). In the crossbreed, the yield percentage of the carcass was highest in TN × CB (89.65%) and CB × TN (88.55%) (p > 0.05) and was lowest in TN × HB (71.91%) (p < 0.05). The meat and skin color of the breast and thigh parts in the crossbreed had the lowest lightness in HB × CB (27.91 to 38.23) (p < 0.05), while those of TN × CB and CB × TN were insignificant (p > 0.05). In conclusion, crossing between the TN sires and CB dams has the preferable potential to develop crossbred Thai native chickens for commercial use based on their high growth performance.
Heparin-Binding Protein (HBP), Neutrophil Gelatinase-Associated Lipocalin (NGAL) and S100 Calcium-Binding Protein B (S100B) Can Confirm Bacterial Meningitis and Inform Adequate Antibiotic Treatment
Authors: Obreja Maria , Miftode Egidia Gabriela , Stoleriu Iulian , Constantinescu Daniela , Vâță Andrei , Leca Daniela , Cianga Corina Maria , Dorneanu Olivia Simona , Pavel-Tanasa Mariana , Cianga Petru
Published: June 2022

The empirical administration of antibiotics for suspected bacterial meningitis denotes a poor bacterial stewardship. In this context, the use of biomarkers can distinguish between bacterial and viral infections before deciding treatment. Our study assesses how levels of heparin-binding protein (HBP), neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL), S100 calcium-binding protein B (S100B), and neuron-specific enolase (NSE) in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and in blood can promptly confirm bacterial etiology and the need for antibiotic treatment. The CSF and blood levels of HBP, NGAL, S100B, and NSE of 81 patients with meningitis were measured and analyzed comparatively. Statistical sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values were evaluated. CSF levels of HBP and NGAL and the blood level of S100B in the bacterial meningitis group were significantly higher (p < 0.05). The area under curve (AUC) for predicting bacterial meningitis was excellent for the CSF level of HBP (0.808 with 93.54% sensitivity and 80.64% specificity), good for the CSF level of NGAL (0.685 with 75.00% sensitivity and 65.62% specificity), and good for the blood level of S100B (0.652 with 65.90% sensitivity and 57.14% specificity). CSF levels of HBP and NGAL, as well as the blood level of S100B, could help discriminate between bacterial and viral meningitis before considering antibiotic treatment.
Spread of Multidrug-Resistant Microorganisms
Authors: Di Lodovico Silvia , Fasciana Teresa , Di Giulio Mara , Cellini Luigina , Giammanco Anna , Rossolini Gian Maria , Antonelli Alberto
Published: June 2022

Multidrug-resistant organisms (MDRO) are bacteria that exhibit acquired resistance to multiple antibiotics, reducing the efficacy of antimicrobial therapies [...]
Antimicrobial Activity of Biogenic Silver Nanoparticles from Syzygium aromaticum against the Five Most Common Microorganisms in the Oral Cavity
Authors: Jardón-Romero Erika Alejandra , Lara-Carrillo Edith , González-Pedroza María G. , Sánchez-Mendieta Víctor , Salmerón-Valdés Elías Nahum , Toral-Rizo Víctor Hugo , Olea-Mejía Oscar F. , López-González Saraí , Morales-Luckie Raúl A.
Published: June 2022

Syzygium aromaticum (clove) has been used as a dental analgesic, an anesthetic, and a bioreducing and capping agent in the formation of metallic nanoparticles. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the antimicrobial effect in oral microorganisms of biogenic silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) formed with aqueous extract of clove through an ecofriendly method “green synthesis”. The obtained AgNPs were characterized by UV-Vis (ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy), SEM-EDS (scanning electron microscopy–energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy), TEM (transmission electron microscopy), and ζ potential, while its antimicrobial effect was corroborated against oral Gram-positive and Gram-negative microorganisms, as well as yeast that is commonly present in the oral cavity. The AgNPs showed absorption at 400–500 nm in the UV-Vis spectrum, had an average size of 4–16 nm as observed by the high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM), and were of a crystalline nature and quasi-spherical form. The antimicrobial susceptibility test showed inhibition zones of 2–4 mm in diameter. Our results suggest that AgNPs synthesized with clove can be used as effective growth inhibitors in several oral microorganisms.
Molecular Characterization of Carbapenem-Resistant Acinetobacter baumannii Isolated from Intensive Care Unit Patients in Jordanian Hospitals
Authors: Al-Sheboul Suhaila A. , Al-Moghrabi Salam Z. , Shboul Yasemin , Atawneh Farah , Sharie Ahmed H. , Nimri Laila F.
Published: June 2022

Acinetobacter baumannii is a common cause of healthcare-associated infections (HAI) worldwide, mostly occurring in intensive care units (ICUs). Extended-spectrum beta lactamases (ESBL)-positive A. baumannii strains have emerged as highly resistant to most currently used antimicrobial agents, including carbapenems. The most common mechanism for carbapenem resistance in this species is β-lactamase-mediated resistance. Carbapenem-hydrolyzing class D oxacillinases are widespread among multidrug-resistant (MDR) A. baumannii strains. The present study was conducted to determine the presence and distribution of blaOXA genes among multidrug-resistant A. baumannii isolated from ICU patients and genes encoding insertion sequence (IS-1) in these isolates. Additionally, the plasmid DNA profiles of these isolates were determined. A total of 120 clinical isolates of A. baumannii from various ICU clinical specimens of four main Jordanian hospitals were collected. Bacterial isolate identification was confirmed by biochemical testing and antibiotic sensitivity was then assessed. PCR amplification and automated sequencing were carried out to detect the presence of blaOXA-51, blaOXA-23, blaOXA-24, and blaOXA-58 genes, and ISAba1 insertion sequence. Out of the 120 A. baumannii isolates, 95% of the isolates were resistant to three or more classes of the antibiotics tested and were identified as MDR. The most frequent resistance of the isolates was against piperacillin (96.7%), cephalosporins (97.5%), and β-lactam/β-lactamase inhibitor combinations antibiotics (95.8%). There were 24 (20%) ESBL-producing isolates. A co-existence of blaOXA-51 gene and ISAba1 in all the 24 ESBL-producing isolates was determined. In addition, in the 24 ESBL-producing isolates, 21 (87.5%) carried blaOXA-51 and blaOXA-23 genes, 1 (4.2%) carried blaOXA-51 and blaOXA-24, but all were negative for the blaOXA-58 gene. Plasmid DNA profile A and profile B were the most common (29%) in ESBL-positive MDR A. baumannii isolates while plasmid DNA profile A was the most common in the ESBL-negative isolates. In conclusion, there was an increase in prevalence of MDR-A. baumannii in ICU wards in Jordanian hospitals, especially those having an ESBL phenotype. Thus, identification of ESBL genes is necessary for the surveillance of their transmission in hospitals.