bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Xanthogranulomatous inflammation involving the gallbladder, bile duct, and pancreas: a case report
Authors: Zhang Jinchang , Lin Haomin , Li Xujia , Wang Piao , Yang Xiaoli , Li Bo , Guo Qinxi , Su Song
Published: May 2023

Xanthogranulomatous inflammation (XGI) is a rare, benign condition that can affect several organs, including the gallbladder, kidney, skin, gastrointestinal tract, lymph nodes, and soft tissues. It is often misdiagnosed as a malignancy. In this report, we present the case of a 79-year-old male who presented with persistent jaundice for 11 months. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging revealed pancreatic head enlargement, gallbladder thickening, and common bile duct thickening, leading to a preoperative diagnosis of malignant neoplasm of the pancreatic head. During surgery, dense adhesions were found around the portal vein, suggestive of mass invasion. To relieve obstruction, choledochojejunostomy was performed. Postoperative pathological examination revealed xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis (XGCc), xanthogranulomatous cholangitis (XGCg), and xanthogranulomatous pancreatitis (XGP). XGI affecting the bile ducts and pancreas is extremely rare, and there are no reported cases of simultaneous involvement of the gallbladder, bile duct, and pancreas by XGI. This study provides valuable insight into the differential diagnosis of XGI by presenting the imaging features of XGI patients.
Genetic polymorphisms influencing deferasirox pharmacokinetics, efficacy, and adverse drug reactions: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Yampayon Kittika , Anantachoti Puree , Chongmelaxme Bunchai , Yodsurang Varalee
Published: May 2023

Objective: Deferasirox is an iron-chelating agent prescribed to patients with iron overload. Due to the interindividual variability of deferasirox responses reported in various populations, this study aims to determine the genetic polymorphisms that influence drug responses.

Methods: A systematic search was performed from inception to March 2022 on electronic databases. All studies investigating genetic associations of deferasirox in humans were included, and the outcomes of interest included pharmacokinetics, efficacy, and adverse drug reactions. Fixed- and random-effects model meta-analyses using the ratio of means (ROM) were performed.

Results: Seven studies involving 367 participants were included in a meta-analysis. The results showed that subjects carrying the A allele (AG/AA) of ABCC2 rs2273697 had a 1.23-fold increase in deferasirox Cmax (ROM = 1.23; 95% confidence interval [CI]:1.06–1.43; p = 0.007) and a lower Vd (ROM = 0.48; 95% CI: 0.36–0.63; p < 0.00001), compared to those with GG. A significant attenuated area under the curve of deferasirox was observed in the subjects with UGT1A3 rs3806596 AG/GG by 1.28-fold (ROM = 0.78; 95% CI: 0.60–0.99; p = 0.04). In addition, two SNPs of CYP24A1 were also associated with the decreased Ctrough: rs2248359 CC (ROM = 0.50; 95% CI: 0.29–0.87; p = 0.01) and rs2585428 GG (ROM = 0.47; 95% CI: 0.35–0.63; p < 0.00001). Only rs2248359 CC was associated with decreased Cmin (ROM = 0.26; 95% CI: 0.08–0.93; p = 0.04), while rs2585428 GG was associated with a shorter half-life (ROM = 0.44; 95% CI: 0.23–0.83; p = 0.01).

Conclusion: This research summarizes the current evidence supporting the influence of variations in genes involved with drug transporters, drug-metabolizing enzymes, and vitamin D metabolism on deferasirox responses.
Perspectives on precision cut lung slices—powerful tools for investigation of mechanisms and therapeutic targets in lung diseases
Authors: Lam Maggie , Lamanna Emma , Organ Louise , Donovan Chantal , Bourke Jane E.
Published: May 2023

Precision cut lung slices (PCLS) have emerged as powerful experimental tools for respiratory research. Pioneering studies using mouse PCLS to visualize intrapulmonary airway contractility have been extended to pulmonary arteries and for assessment of novel bronchodilators and vasodilators as therapeutics. Additional disease-relevant outcomes, including inflammatory, fibrotic, and regenerative responses, are now routinely measured in PCLS from multiple species, including humans. This review provides an overview of established and innovative uses of PCLS as an intermediary between cellular and organ-based studies and focuses on opportunities to increase their application to investigate mechanisms and therapeutic targets to oppose excessive airway contraction and fibrosis in lung diseases.
Different doses of dual orexin receptor antagonists in primary insomnia: a Bayesian network analysis
Authors: Xue Tao , Wu Xin , Li Jiaxuan , Chen Shujun , Wang Zilan , Tan Xin , Wang Zhong , Zhang Jianguo
Published: May 2023

Background: Systematic comparisons of the doses of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved dual orexin receptor antagonists (DORAs) for people with insomnia are limited.

Methods: PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Clinicaltrials. gov were systematically searched to identify relevant studies published before 31 October 2022. We assessed the certainty of evidence using the confidence in network meta-analysis (CINeMA) framework.

Results: We pooled 7257 participants from 9 randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Moderate to high certainty evidence demonstrated suvorexant (20 and 40 mg) and daridorexant (10 and 50 mg) as the most effective in latency to persistent sleep (LPS) reduction. Lemborexant at 5 and 10 mg was the most effective in subjective sleep onset time (sTSO) reduction. For wake time after sleep onset (WASO), all drugs except daridorexant 5 mg were more effective than placebo. Lemborexant 5 mg was among the best in subjective WASO (sWASO) (moderate to high certainty) and had the highest surface under the curve ranking area (SUCRA) values for sWASO (100%). For total sleep time (TST), suvorexant and daridorexant, except the respective minimum doses, were more effective than placebo, while suvorexant 40 mg and lemborexant 10 mg may have been the most effective for subjective TST (sTST) (low to very low certainty). Suvorexant 40 mg (RR 1.09), suvorexant 80 mg (RR 1.65), and daridorexant 25 mg (RR 1.16) showed a higher safety risk than placebo.

Conclusion: Suvorexant 20 mg, lemborexant 5 mg, lemborexant 10 mg, and daridorexant 50 mg represent suitable approaches for insomnia.

Clinical Trial Registration:clinicaltrials.gov, PROSPERO (CRD42022362655).
Characterization of histone acetyltransferases and deacetylases and their roles in response to dehydration stress in Pyropia yezoensis (Rhodophyta)
Authors: Zhang Zehao , Qian Huijuan , Wang Zhongshi , Pang Ying , Guan Xiaowei , Poetsch Ansgar , Wang Dongmei
Published: May 2023

Histone acetylation is one of the most pivotal epigenetic mechanisms in eukaryotes and has been tightly linked to the regulation of various genes controlling growth, development and response to environmental stresses in both animals and plants. Till date, the association of histone acetylation to dehydration stress in red algae and genes encoding the enzymes responsible for histone acetylation: histone acetyltransferases (HATs) or histone deacetylases (HDACs), remains largely unknown. In this study, in silico analysis of the red seaweed Pyropia yezoensis identified 6 HAT genes and 10 HDAC genes. These genes displayed good synteny in genome loci with their Pyropia haitanensis orthologs except for a putative gene duplication event in HDAC and a loss of one HAT gene in P. yezoensis. According to the conserved domains and phylogenetic analysis, they encoded three GCNA5-, one TAFII250- and one MYST-HAT, as well as five HDA1-and five SIRT-HDACs. The sirtuin-domain of Py06502 harbored a ~100 aa insert and interestingly, this insertion was specifically observed in Bangiales species. Two nuclear-localized HATs were transcriptionally up-regulated at the early stage of dehydration and so were two nuclear HDA1s when moderate dehydration started, suggesting their potential roles in modulating downstream gene expression to facilitate dehydration adaptation by changing histone acetylation patterns on relevant regulatory elements. This was experimentally confirmed by the increased decline in photosynthesis efficiency during dehydration when HAT and HDAC activities were inhibited by SAHA and MB-3, respectively. Transcriptional patterns of multiple dehydration-responsive genes after water loss were strongly affected by MB-3 or SAHA treatment. This study provides the first insight into the regulation and function of HAT/HDAC during stress adaptation in red algae.
Identification and characterization of the LDAP family revealed GhLDAP2_Dt enhances drought tolerance in cotton
Authors: Zhao Yanyan , Duan Bailin , Liu Yuxin , Wu Yuqing , Yu Dongliang , Ke Liping , Cai Fangfang , Mei Jun , Zhu Ning , Sun Yuqiang
Published: May 2023

Lipid droplet-associated proteins (LDAPs) play essential roles in tissue growth and development and in drought stress responses in plants. Cotton is an important fiber and cash crop; however, the LDAP family has not been characterized in cotton. In this study, a total of 14, six, seven, and seven genes were confirmed as LDAP family members in Gossypium hirsutum, Gossypium raimondii, Gossypium arboreum, and Gossypium stocksii, respectively. Additionally, expansion in the LDAP family occurred with the formation of Gossypium, which is mirrored in the number of LDAPs found in five Malvaceae species (Gossypioides kirkii, Bombax ceiba, Durio zibethinus, Theobroma cacao, and Corchorus capsularis), Arabidopsis thaliana, and Carica papaya. The phylogenetic tree showed that the LDAP genes in cotton can be divided into three groups (I, II, and III). The analysis of gene structure and conserved domains showed that LDAPs derived from group I (LDAP1/2/3) are highly conserved during evolution, while members from groups II and III had large variations in both domains and gene structures. The gene expression pattern analysis of LDAP genes showed that they are expressed not only in the reproductive organs (ovule) but also in vegetative organs (root, stem, and leaves). The expression level of two genes in group III, GhLDAP6_At/Dt, were significantly higher in fiber development than in other tissues, indicating that it may be an important regulator of cotton fiber development. In group III, GhLDAP2_At/Dt, especially GhLDAP2_Dt was strongly induced by various abiotic stresses. Decreasing the expression of GhLDAP2_Dt in cotton via virus-induced gene silencing increased the drought sensitivity, and the over-expression of GhLDAP2_Dt led to increased tolerance to mannitol-simulated osmotic stress at the germination stage. Thus, we conclude that GhLDAP2_Dt plays a positive role in drought tolerance.
Outcome trajectories in a county mental health clinic before and after telemental health: a retrospective COVID-19 cohort study
Authors: Harris Bethany A. , Aajmain Syed , Scharff Adela , Boswell James F.
Published: May 2023

Background/objectives

Telemental health (TMH) care has received increased attention, most recently due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Many treatment settings and clinicians were forced to rapidly shift to TMH modalities, including clinicians with limited exposure to and possibly negative attitudes toward alternative treatment delivery formats. With the shift to new modalities, effectiveness research is necessary to understand if patients are receiving the same quality of care as before the pandemic and their receipt of mostly in person services. This study compared the naturalistic treatment outcome trajectories for a cohort of patients who received in-person services prior to the pandemic and a distinct cohort of patients who received TMH services after the onset of the pandemic, in a community mental health setting with limited exposure to TMH prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Materials and methods

We adopted a retrospective cohort design to examine treatment modality as a between-group moderator of symptom change trajectory on the self-report Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) in a sample of N = 958 patients in the Northeast United States. Treatment durations differed in the naturalistic treatment setting and we examined patient-reported outcomes up to a maximum of one year.

Results

Statistically significant average decreases in symptom severity were found over the course of up to one year of treatment, yet the average outcome trajectory was not significantly different between two modality cohorts (in person delivery before the pandemic versus TMH delivery after pandemic onset).

Conclusion

These findings suggest that even in a setting with limited exposure to or training in TMH, the average outcome trajectory for patients who received TMH was statistically similar to the outcome trajectory for patients in an earlier cohort who received in-person services prior to the pandemic onset. Overall, the results appear to support continued use of TMH services in community treatment settings.
Effect of home-based group conversation intervention using smartphone application on cognitive health and psychological well-being of older adults with subjective cognitive concerns in Japan: a randomized controlled trial protocol
Authors: Miura Kumi Watanabe , Tokunaga Seiki , Sekiguchi Takuya , Sugimoto Hikaru , Otake-Matsuura Mihoko
Published: May 2023

Background

Social activity is a key component in the prevention of cognitive decline. However, face-to-face social intervention has limited accessibility. To address this issue, we developed the “Photo-Integrated Conversation Moderated by Application” (PICMOA), a home-based group conversation intervention using smartphones. This paper introduces the PICMOA intervention and the protocol of the ongoing randomized controlled trial (RCT), which aims to evaluate the effects of PICMOA on the cognitive functioning and psychological well-being of Japanese community dwelling older adults at the risk of cognitive function decline.

Methods

This study uses an RCT design in two parallel group trials with 1:1 allocation. The participants are community dwelling older adults aged 65 years and above, living in an urban city in Japan, with subjective cognitive concerns. In total, 81 participants were allocated to the intervention or control groups. The intervention group receives 30 min of weekly PICMOA sessions at their home for 12 weeks. The PICMOA intervention consists of (1) a photo preparation period before the session and (2) a structured group conversation session talking about the photos that participants took according to a specific theme. The control group receives 30 min of weekly health education videos on a tablet device. The primary outcome is cognitive functioning at pre- and post-phases of the 12-week intervention measured using the Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status in Japanese, semantic and phonemic fluency tests, and the Digit Span Forward and Backward tests. The secondary outcomes are psychological and social aspects including mental status, well-being, loneliness, and social support.

Discussion

Interest is growing in internet-based activities for preventing social isolation. However, the effect of remote conversation interventions on cognitive functioning remains unclear. This study addresses this issue and provides a new avenue of social participation for older adults.

Clinical trial registration

https://www.umin.ac.jp/ctr/, identifier: UMIN000047247.
Learning from mothers' success in breastfeeding maintenance: coping strategies and cues to action
Authors: Liao Qiuyan , Yuan Jiehu , Lok Kris Yuet Wan , Ngu Siew Fei , Chen Yuyi , Lam Wendy Wing Tak
Published: May 2023

This study aimed to gain insight from mothers who were successful in breastfeeding maintenance to develop interventions for promoting breastfeeding maintenance. Following the phenomenological framework, this qualitative study recruited mothers who had maintained breastfeeding for at least 4 months for in-depth interviews. A total of 30 in-depth interviews were completed. We found that almost all participants had experienced an initial adjustment period. During this period, a social support network, personal perseverance in “trying” breastfeeding and “pumping,” and adjusting expectations for breastfeeding to relieve themselves from the pressure of exclusive breastfeeding were important coping strategies. All participants then entered a stage of getting more attuned when breastfeeding was easier. During this period, seeking support from the online mother groups, deliberating medication that might affect breastfeeding, adjusting to accommodate breastfeeding and lives, and managing breastfeeding in public were the main strategies. For working mothers, despite workplace and employers' support, proactive adjustment for using the facilities and lactation breaks for breast milk expression was essential for breastfeeding continuation after returning to work. Throughout the whole journey, positive cues identified from their breastfeeding experiences that helped breastfeeding maintenance included enjoying breastfeeding, breastfeeding as a personal achievement, a healthy and thriving child, positive social feedback, bodily response, the convenience of breastfeeding, and breastfeeding as a motherhood commitment. To conclude, while mothers should be mentally prepared for the difficulties of breastfeeding, they should also be encouraged that things will always get easier as they persevere. Adjustments should be made to accommodate lives and other personal needs. Future studies should consider integrating relevant cues into existing psychosocial interventions for promoting breastfeeding maintenance.
A review of critical brain oscillations in depression and the efficacy of transcranial magnetic stimulation treatment
Authors: Tsai Yi-Chun , Li Cheng-Ta , Juan Chi-Hung
Published: May 2023

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) and intermittent theta burst stimulation (iTBS) have been proven effective non-invasive treatments for patients with drug-resistant major depressive disorder (MDD). However, some depressed patients do not respond to these treatments. Therefore, the investigation of reliable and valid brain oscillations as potential indices for facilitating the precision of diagnosis and treatment protocols has become a critical issue. The current review focuses on brain oscillations that, mostly based on EEG power analysis and connectivity, distinguish between MDD and controls, responders and non-responders, and potential depression severity indices, prognostic indicators, and potential biomarkers for rTMS or iTBS treatment. The possible roles of each biomarker and the potential reasons for heterogeneous results are discussed, and the directions of future studies are proposed.
Satisfaction of beneficiaries with community-based health insurance and associated factors in Legambo District, North-East Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Getaneh Melaknesh Minda , Bayked Ewunetie Mekashaw , Workneh Birhanu Demeke , Kahissay Mesfin Haile
Published: May 2023

Background

The fundamental concept of community-based health insurance is to strengthen the healthcare financing system to access universal healthcare by reducing costly risk-coping strategies. The scheme’s sustainability and the quality of services provided by it are highly dependent on the satisfaction of its beneficiaries. Despite beneficiaries’ satisfaction being the key determinant for providing evidence for policy revision and decision-making, it has often been neglected. Therefore, the study investigated the community-based health insurance beneficiaries’ satisfaction and associated factors in Legambo district, North-East Ethiopia.

Methods

The study was conducted in the Legambo district with a community-based cross-sectional study design from October to November 2019. The data were collected from 838 households that had been the beneficiaries of the scheme using multi-stage and systematic random sampling. Twelve trained data collectors were employed and gathered the data using a pre-tested, structured questionnaire. We ran descriptive, bivariate, and logistic regression analyses. A value of p less than 0.05 with a 95% CI was used in multivariate logistic regression to determine the association of variables with the beneficiaries’ satisfaction.

Results

The overall satisfaction level of the beneficiaries of the scheme was 58.6% and was associated with the following factors: merchandize (AOR = 1.92, 95% CI = 1.02–3.63), living in rural areas (AOR = 1.52, 95% CI = 1.02–2.27), an early office opening time (AOR = 3.81, 95% CI = 2.04–7.10), a short time interval to use benefit packages (AOR = 4.85, 95% CI = 2.08–11.31), an inexpensive membership premium (AOR =10.58, 95% CI = 3.56–31.44), availability of laboratory services (AOR =2.95, 95% CI = 1.71–5.09), presence of referral services (AOR =1.93, 95% CI = 1.33–2.80), having immediate care at health facilities (AOR = 1.73, 95% CI = 1.01–2.97) and non-compulsory enrolment (AOR = 6.31, 95% CI = 1.64–24.20).

Conclusion

The beneficiaries’ satisfaction with the scheme was suboptimal and found to be determined by occupation, residence, laboratory and referral services, immediate care, office opening time, time interval to use benefit packages, premium amount, and situation of enrollment, most of which are service-related variables. Thus, to improve the satisfaction level, the stakeholders that should work hard seem to be the health insurance agency (the insurer) and the health facilities (the provider or supplier).
Small-area deprivation index does not improve the capability of multisource comorbidity score in mortality prediction
Authors: Rea Federico , Ferrante Mauro , Scondotto Salvatore , Corrao Giovanni
Published: May 2023

Background

The stratification of the general population according to health needs allows to provide better-tailored services. A simple score called Multisource Comorbidity Score (MCS) has been developed and validated for predicting several outcomes. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the ability of MCS in predicting 1-year mortality improves by incorporating socioeconomic data (as measured by a deprivation index).

Methods

Beneficiaries of the Italian National Health Service who in the index year (2018) were aged 50–85 years and were resident in the Sicily region for at least 2 years were identified. For each individual, the MCS was calculated according to his/her clinical profile, and the deprivation index of the census unit level of the individual’s residence was collected. Frailty models were fitted to assess the relationship between the indexes (MCS and deprivation index) and 1-year mortality. Akaike information criterion and Bayesian information criterion statistics were used to compare the goodness of fit of the model that included only MCS and the model that also contained the deprivation index. The models were further compared by means of the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC).

Results

The final cohort included 1,062,221 individuals, with a mortality rate of 15.6 deaths per 1,000 person-years. Both MCS and deprivation index were positively associated with mortality.

The goodness of fit statistics of the two models were very similar. For MCS only and MCS plus deprivation index models, Akaike information criterion were 17,013 and 17,038, respectively, whereas Bayesian information criterion were 16,997 and 17,000, respectively. The AUC values were 0.78 for both models.

Conclusion

The present study shows that socioeconomic features as measured by the deprivation index did not improve the capability of MCS in predicting 1-year risk of death. Future studies are needed to investigate other sources of data to enhance the risk stratification of populations.
Active learning-based systematic reviewing using switching classification models: the case of the onset, maintenance, and relapse of depressive disorders
Authors: Teijema Jelle Jasper , Hofstee Laura , Brouwer Marlies , de Bruin Jonathan , Ferdinands Gerbrich , de Boer Jan , Vizan Pablo , van den Brand Sofie , Bockting Claudi , van de Schoot Rens , Bagheri Ayoub
Published: May 2023

Introduction

This study examines the performance of active learning-aided systematic reviews using a deep learning-based model compared to traditional machine learning approaches, and explores the potential benefits of model-switching strategies.

Methods

Comprising four parts, the study: 1) analyzes the performance and stability of active learning-aided systematic review; 2) implements a convolutional neural network classifier; 3) compares classifier and feature extractor performance; and 4) investigates the impact of model-switching strategies on review performance.

Results

Lighter models perform well in early simulation stages, while other models show increased performance in later stages. Model-switching strategies generally improve performance compared to using the default classification model alone.

Discussion

The study's findings support the use of model-switching strategies in active learning-based systematic review workflows. It is advised to begin the review with a light model, such as Naïve Bayes or logistic regression, and switch to a heavier classification model based on a heuristic rule when needed.
Fire in highland grasslands in the Atlantic Forest Biome, a burned areas time series analysis and its correlation with the legislation
Authors: Herrmann Pamela Boelter , Nascimento Victor Fernandez , Freitas Marcos Wellausen Dias de , Ometto Jean Pierre
Published: May 2023

Fire has been an intrinsic ecological component of the ecosystems, affecting the public, economic, and socio-cultural policies of human-nature interactions. Using fire over grassland vegetation is a traditional practice for livestock in the highland grasslands and has economic and environmental consequences that have not yet been understood. A better description of the spatio-temporal biomass burning patterns is needed to analyze the effects of creation and application in these areas. This study used remote sensing techniques based on Sentinel-2 data and machine learning algorithms to identify burning scars and compare them with a national fire collection database for the highland grasslands in the Atlantic Forest Biome in Brazil. The aim is to evaluate public management tools and legislation evolution during the 35 years of the time series analyzed. The results indicated that 12,285 ha of grasslands were converted to other uses, losing about 24% of their original formation, with 10% occurring after banned this practice in 2008. The burned areas classification using the Random Forest algorithm obtained an AUC = 0.9983. Divergences in the burned area’s extent and frequency were found between the municipality’s authorized license and those classified as burned. On average, only 43% of the burned area in the Parque Estadual do Tainhas and its buffer zone had an environmental permit in the last 5 years. This research’s results provide subsidies for revising and creating public policies and consequently help territorial management.
Well-Separated Pair Decompositions for High-Dimensional Datasets
Authors: Matijević Domagoj
Published: May 2023

Well-separated pair decomposition (WSPD) is a well known geometric decomposition used for encoding distances, introduced in a seminal paper by Paul B. Callahan and S. Rao Kosaraju in 1995. WSPD compresses O(n2) pairwise distances of n given points from Rd in O(n) space for a fixed dimension d. However, the main problem with this remarkable decomposition is the “hidden” dependence on the dimension d, which in practice does not allow for the computation of a WSPD for any dimension d>2 or d>3 at best. In this work, I will show how to compute a WSPD for points in Rd and for any dimension d. Instead of computing a WSPD directly in Rd, I propose to learn nonlinear mapping and transform the data to a lower-dimensional space Rd′, d′=2 or d′=3, since only in such low-dimensional spaces can a WSPD be efficiently computed. Furthermore, I estimate the quality of the computed WSPD in the original Rd space. My experiments show that for different synthetic and real-world datasets my approach allows that a WSPD of size O(n) can still be computed for points in Rd for dimensions d much larger than two or three in practice.
Effect of Foliar Application of Phosphorus, Zinc, and Silicon Nanoparticles along with Mineral NPK Fertilization on Yield and Chemical Compositions of Rice (Oryza sativa L.)
Authors: Elekhtyar Nehal M. , AL-Huqail Arwa A.
Published: May 2023

The traditional techniques of adding fertilizers to soil have a number of drawbacks in regard to the availability of nutrients for plants. The foliar application of nanoparticles causes them to be absorbed easily, and consequently, this is the most efficient method of dealing with nutritional deficiencies, reducing rice disease, and enhancing crop production and quality. Moreover, by using less fertilizer on the soil, it minimizes environmental pollution and improves the efficiency of nutrient utilization. In order to assess the impact of foliar applications of phosphorus, zinc, and silicon nanoparticles (PNPs, ZnNPs, and SiNPs) combined with mineral nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (NPK) fertilizers as a basal application on the Egyptian Giza 179 rice variety, a field experiment was carried out in two consecutive growing seasons: 2019 and 2020. With four replications, a Randomized Complete Block Design was applied, which included N165:P36:K60 (Recommended NPK; 165 Urea: 36 P2O5: 60 K2O kg ha−1); N110:P24:K40 (2/3 NPK); 2/3 NPK+ PNPs1000; 2/3 NPK+ PNPs3000; 2/3 NPK+ PNPs5000; 2/3 NPK+ ZnNPs25; 2/3 NPK+ ZnNPs50; 2/3 NPK+ ZnNPs100; 2/3 NPK+ SiNPs50; 2/3 NPK+ SiNPs100; 2/3 NPK+ SiNPs200; and N0:P0:K0. Results indicated that the grain yield (10.05 and 9.79 t ha−1) and straw yield (13.68 and 12.45 t ha−1) in the 2019 and 2020 seasons, respectively, as well as the yield attributes, chemical compositions in the plant, and milling characteristics, were significantly altered by the application of 2/3 NPK+ Zn50NPs without any significant difference in comparison to the N165P36K60 treatment. Moreover, 2/3 NPK+ P3000NPs and 2/3 NPK+ Si200NPs recorded positive effects on all studied characteristics. The findings of this study will be useful for future investigations, including the use of nanofertilizers in rice.
Effect of Nitrogen Application and Cutting Frequency on the Yield and Forage Quality of Alfalfa in Seasonal Cultivation
Authors: Zhang Kun , Zhai Chenyuan , Li Yonglong , Li Yan , Qu Hui , Shen Yixin
Published: May 2023

Although nitrogen application and cutting frequency (CF) are two important factors affecting forage productivity and quality, their effects on alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.), particularly in humid areas, remain less understood. Here, we investigated the fertilization and cutting regimes for seasonal alfalfa cultivation in humid areas in southern China. Treatments performed over a 2-year period were of a split-plot design with four N application rates (60, 120, 180, and 240 kg N ha−1) and three CFs (five, four, and three times.). After cutting, forage components, yield, and quality were measured. In both 2-year cutting cycles, the effects of N application × CF interactions on forage yield and quality were non-significant. N application and CFs influenced plant height, mass shoot−1, leaf area shoot−1, and shoots plant−1. CF had remarkable effects on forage quality under different N applications, with forage cut five times having the best nutritive value and quality. However, neutral and acid detergent fiber contents were lower than when cutting three times, and produced the lowest yields. Forage cut four times had the highest in vitro digestible dry matter. In conclusion, to obtain high yields and desirable quality, the application of 180 kg N ha−1 and cutting three to four times in spring could be a suitable strategy for alfalfa forage production during seasonal cultivation in humid areas of southern China.
Composition of Soil Bacterial and Nematode Communities within Soil Aggregates in a Kiwifruit Orchard under Cover Crop Treatment
Authors: Li Qingmei , Qi Xiaoxu , Zhang Lingling , Zhang Yanjun , Zhang Haifang , Liu Hongmei , Yang Dianlin , Wang Hui
Published: May 2023

Soil, which exhibits difference in nutrient contents and aggregate sizes, provides spatially distinct habitats for biota. Cover crops influence the compositions of soil organism communities, playing an indispensable role in regulation of underground food webs and ecosystem functions. However, the effect of cover crops on soil microbes and nematodes distribution within different aggregate sizes remains unknown. Thus, a field experiment in a kiwifruit orchard with cover crops was conducted to estimate the distribution of soil nematodes and bacteria with different soil aggregate sizes (mega-aggregate (>2 mm, LMA), macro-aggregate (0.25–2 mm, SMA), and micro-aggregate (<0.25 mm, MA)) and cover crop treatments (four cover crop species (CC) and no cover crop as control (CK)). The results showed that bacterial compositions varied with both aggregate sizes and cover crop treatments. The composition of bacterial community was significantly different between mega-aggregate and micro-aggregate, and bacterial community diversity was significantly higher in micro-aggregate compared with mega-aggregate. Moreover, cover crop treatment dramatically changed the compositions of bacterial communities. However, the nematode communities were mainly impacted by soil aggregate sizes. Larger aggregates (mega- and macro-aggregates) contained higher abundance of omnivores/predators and lower abundance of fungivores. In contrast to bacterial community, the richness of nematode community was lower in micro-aggregates compared with larger aggregates (mega- and macro-aggregates). Redundancy analysis (RDA) and structural equation model (SEM) showed soil organic carbon (SOC) was the main soil factor that directly and indirectly affected both bacterial and nematode communities. The investigations of both bacterial and nematode communities could provide a better understanding on carbon and nutrient cycling across aggregate size fractions.
The Influence of Humic Acids and Nitrophenols on Metabolic Compounds and Pesticide Behavior in Wheat under Biotic Stress
Authors: Iwaniuk Piotr , Łuniewski Stanisław , Kaczyński Piotr , Łozowicka Bożena
Published: May 2023

Organic biostimulators support wheat growth in unfavorable conditions; however, to date, multifactorial assessments of their role in the plant–pesticide–pathogen system have been poorly investigated. The goal of this study was to evaluate the changes in the metabolite profile (protein, carbohydrate, phenolic compounds, acid phosphatases, and amino acids) and the antioxidant potential (antioxidant enzymes) of wheat that is infested with F. culmorum and exposed to humic acids, nitrophenols, and six pesticides. Additionally, the concentration of the mycotoxins in the wheat grain and the dissipation time of the six pesticides in the wheat plants were determined. In this multifactorial experiment, we explored differentiated activities of humic acids and nitrophenols in wheat metabolism during fungal pathogenesis and pesticide protection. Nitrophenols decreased oxidative stress through induced catalase activity. In contrast, humic acids contributed to the highest enhancement of the total level of carbohydrates (27%) in the inoculated wheat. Both biostimulators reduced the mycotoxin concentration (DON, 3-AcDON, 15-AcDON, NIV) by 32% and nitrophenols increased the concentration of amino acids (13%). Unexpectedly, humic acids and nitrophenols shortened the degradation time (DT50) of spiroxamine by up to 60% in inoculated wheat. The overall results of this study provide novel information on the changes in wheat metabolites, antioxidant defense, and pesticide dissipation in the pesticide–biostimulator–pathogen system.
Mitigation of Elevated CO2 Concentration on Warming-Induced Changes in Wheat Is Limited under Extreme Temperature during the Grain Filling Period
Authors: Yang Jing , Feng Yue , Chi Tian , Wen Qiang , Liang Pan , Wang Aiping , Li Ping
Published: May 2023

Elevated CO2 concentration (eCO2) generally increases plant growth by improving photosynthesis, but it is unclear whether eCO2 can alleviate the negative effects of elevated temperatures, especially in high-temperature years. Manipulative experiments with elevated [CO2] and temperature were conducted in North China to understand the effect of elevated CO2 concentration and temperature on wheat. The photosynthesis, An–PAR and A–Ci curve parameters, growth period, biomass, yield component, and yield of wheat were investigated under different [CO2] (around 400 and 600 ppm) and temperatures (ambient temperature and ambient temperature +2 °C) for 3 years by using controlled chambers. Results showed that elevated temperature significantly shortened the growth period and decreased the yield and biomass of wheat. Elevated [CO2] significantly increased the maximum net photosynthetic rate (Anmax) but reduced the maximum carboxylation rate (Vcmax) and the maximum electron transport rate (Jmax). The extremely high temperature during the grain filling period in 2019 exerted a serious negative impact on wheat production. Elevated [CO2] stimulated photosynthesis, increased kernel number per spike, and extended the duration of the grain filling period, which consequently increased biomass and grain yield under elevated temperatures in normal years (2018 and 2020). Although the combination of CO2 and temperature reduced photosynthesis and biomass, it also alleviated the negative impact of elevated temperatures on grain yield to some extent under extremely high temperature during the grain filling period in 2019. The mitigative effect of eCO2 under extreme high temperature is limited, and planting early-maturing cultivars or increasing the genotypes of kernel number per spike help to escape the extreme high temperature of the critical growth period.
Evaluation of Rumen Fermentation and Microbial Adaptation to Three Red Seaweeds Using the Rumen Simulation Technique
Authors: Terry Stephanie A. , Krüger Ana M. , Lima Paulo M. T. , Gruninger Robert J. , Abbott D. Wade , Beauchemin Karen A.
Published: May 2023

Several red seaweeds have been shown to inhibit enteric CH4 production; however, the adaptation of fermentation parameters to their presence is not well understood. The objective of this study was to examine the effect of three red seaweeds (Asparargopsis taxiformis, Mazzaella japonica, and Palmaria mollis) on in vitro fermentation, CH4 production, and adaptation using the rumen simulation technique (RUSITEC). The experiment was conducted as a completely randomized design with four treatments, duplicated in two identical RUSITEC apparatus equipped with eight fermenter vessels each. The four treatments included the control and the three red seaweeds added to the control diet at 2% diet DM. The experimental period was divided into four phases including a baseline phase (d 0–7; no seaweed included), an adaptation phase (d 8–11; seaweed included in treatment vessels), an intermediate phase (d 12–16), and a stable phase (d 17–21). The degradability of organic matter (p = 0.04) and neutral detergent fibre (p = 0.05) was decreased by A. taxiformis during the adaptation phase, but returned to control levels in the stable phase. A. taxiformis supplementation resulted in a decrease (p < 0.001) in the molar proportions of acetate, propionate, and total volatile fatty acid (VFA) production, with an increase in the molar proportions of butyrate, caproate, and valerate; the other seaweeds had no effect (p > 0.05) on the molar proportions or production of individual VFA. A. taxiformis was the only seaweed to suppress CH4 production (p < 0.001), with the suppressive effect increasing (p < 0.001) across phases. Similarly, A. taxiformis increased (p < 0.001) the production of hydrogen (H2, %, mL/d) across the adaptation, intermediate, and stable phases, with the intermediate and stable phases having greater H2 production than the adaptation phase. In conclusion, M. japonica and P. mollis did not impact rumen fermentation or inhibit CH4 production within the RUSITEC. In contrast, we conclude that A. taxiformis is an effective CH4 inhibitor and its introduction to the ruminal environment requires a period of adaptation; however, the large magnitude of CH4 suppression by A. taxiformis inhibits VFA synthesis, which may restrict the production performance in vivo.
Reducing Weaning Stress in Piglets by Pre-Weaning Socialization and Gradual Separation from the Sow: A Review
Authors: Van Kerschaver Céline , Turpin Diana , Michiels Joris , Pluske John
Published: May 2023

The weaning of pigs in most commercial pork production systems is an abrupt event performed at a fairly young age, i.e., mostly between 2.5 and 5 weeks of age. This practice induces a stress response, and its impact on behavior, performance and the gastrointestinal tract has been well described. Historically, there has been a focus on pre- and post-weaning nutritional strategies and post-weaning housing conditions and medication to improve production and reduce mortality after weaning. However, alternative pre-weaning housing and management systems that promote the development of natural social behaviors of piglets before weaning have recently received more attention. Co-mingling of non-littermates before weaning is a strategy that aims to initiate social interactions prior to weaning. The separation of the litter from the sow in the period leading up to weaning, termed intermittent suckling, aims to enhance the gradual separation from the sow. In addition, these practices encourage the young pig to learn explorative nutrient sourcing. Altogether, they may reduce weaning-associated stress. In this review, these strategies are defined, and their effects on behavior, performance, mortality, gastrointestinal function and immunocompetence are described. Though these strategies may be adapted to a commercial setting, it also becomes clear that many factors can contribute to the success of these strategies.
A Bayesian Multivariate Gametic Model in a Reciprocal Cross with Genomic Information: An Example with Two Iberian Varieties
Authors: Srihi Houssemeddine , López-Carbonell David , Ibáñez-Escriche Noelia , Casellas Joaquim , Hernández Pilar , Negro Sara , Varona Luis
Published: May 2023

INGA FOOD, S.A. initiated a crossbreeding program between two Iberian pig varieties, Retinto (R) and Entrepelado (E), with the goal of producing a hybrid sow (F1). Several studies have been conducted to evaluate its productive performance, and these studies have revealed differences in litter size between the two reciprocal crosses, suggesting the presence of genomic imprinting effects. To further investigate these effects, this study introduces a multivariate gametic model designed to estimate gametic correlations between paternal and maternal effects originating from both genetic backgrounds involved in the reciprocal crosses. The dataset consisted of 1258 records (the total number born—TNB and the number born alive—NBA) from 203 crossbred dams for the Entrepelado (sire) × Retinto (dam) cross and 700 records from 125 crossbred dams for the Retinto (sire) × Entrepelado (dam) cross. All animals were genotyped using the GeneSeek® GPP Porcine 70 K HDchip (Illumina Inc., San Diego, CA, USA). The results indicated that the posterior distribution of the gametic correlation between paternal and maternal effects was distinctly different between the two populations. Specifically, in the Retinto population, the gametic correlation showed a positive skew with posterior probabilities of 0.78 for the TNB and 0.80 for the NBA. On the other hand, the Entrepelado population showed a posterior probability of a positive gametic correlation between paternal and maternal effects of approximately 0.50. The differences in the shape of the posterior distribution of the gametic correlations between paternal and maternal effects observed in the two varieties may account for the distinct performance outcomes observed in the reciprocal crosses.
Stenotrophomonas maltophilia Infections: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Comparative Efficacy of Available Treatments, with Critical Assessment of Novel Therapeutic Options
Authors: Maraolo Alberto Enrico , Licciardi Federica , Gentile Ivan , Saracino Annalisa , Belati Alessandra , Bavaro Davide Fiore
Published: May 2023

Stenotrophomonas maltophilia (SM) represents a challenging pathogen due to its resistance profile. A systematic review of the available evidence was conducted to evaluate the best treatment of SM infections to date, focusing on trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (TMP/SMX), fluoroquinolones (FQs), and tetracycline derivatives (TDs). Materials: PubMed/MEDLINE and Embase were searched from inception to 30 November 2022. The primary outcome was all-cause mortality. Secondary outcomes included clinical failure, adverse events, and length of stay. A random effects meta-analysis was performed. This study was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42022321893). Results: Twenty-four studies, all retrospective, were included. A significant difference in terms of overall mortality was observed when comparing as a monotherapy TMP/SMX versus FQs (odds ratio (OR) 1.46, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.15–1.86, I2 = 33%; 11 studies, 2407 patients). The prediction interval (PI) did not touch the no effect line (1.06–1.93), but the results were not robust for the unmeasured confounding (E-value for point estimate of 1.71). When comparing TMP/SMX with TDs, the former showed an association with higher mortality but not significant and with a wide PI (OR 1.95, 95% CI 0.79–4.82, PI 0.01–685.99, I2 = 0%; 3 studies, 346 patients). Monotherapies in general exerted a protective effect against death opposed to the combination regimens but were not significant (OR 0.71, 95% CI 0.41–1.22, PI 0.16–3.08, I2 = 0%; 4 studies, 438 patients). Conclusions: Against SM infections, FQs and, possibly, TDs seem to be reasonable alternative choices to TMP/SMX. Data from clinical trials are urgently needed to better inform therapeutic choices in this setting by also taking into account newer agents.
Analysis of Antibiotics in Bivalves by Ultra-High Performance Liquid Chromatography–Quadrupole Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry
Authors: Pereira André M. P. T. , Freitas Andreia , Pena Angelina , Silva Liliana J. G.
Published: May 2023

The presence of pharmaceuticals in aquatic ecosystems mostly originates from wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) and such a situation can be responsible for significant negative impacts on natural ecosystems, such as estuarine and coastal areas. Bioaccumulation of pharmaceuticals, namely antibiotics, in exposed organisms is known to have remarkable effects on different trophic levels of non-target organisms such as algae, invertebrates and vertebrates, including the emergence of bacterial resistance. Bivalves are a highly appreciated seafood product, as they are fed by filtering water, and can bioconcentrate chemicals, being ideal for biomonitoring environmental health hazards in coastal and estuarine ecosystems. To use this sentinel species, an analytical strategy was developed to be used in accessing antibiotics, from human and veterinary medicine, and evaluate their occurrence as emerging pollutants in aquatic environments. The optimized analytical method was fully validated according to the European requirements defined by the Commission Implementing Regulation 2021/808. The validation comprised the following parameters: specificity, selectivity, precision, recovery, ruggedness, linearity, and the decision limit CCα, as well as the limit of detection (LoD) and limit of quantification (LoQ). The method was validated for 43 antibiotics to allow their quantification in both contexts, environmental biomonitoring and food safety.