bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Next generation immuno-oncology tumor profiling using a rapid, non-invasive, computational biophysics biomarker in early-stage breast cancer
Authors: Cook Daniel , Biancalana Matthew , Liadis Nicole , Lopez Ramos Dorys , Zhang Yuhan , Patel Snehal , Peterson Joseph R. , Pfeiffer John R. , Cole John A. , Antony Anuja K.
Published: April 2023

Background

Immuno-oncology (IO) therapies targeting the PD-1/PD-L1 axis, such as immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) antibodies, have emerged as promising treatments for early-stage breast cancer (ESBC). Despite immunotherapy's clinical significance, the number of benefiting patients remains small, and the therapy can prompt severe immune-related events. Current pathologic and transcriptomic predictions of IO response are limited in terms of accuracy and rely on single-site biopsies, which cannot fully account for tumor heterogeneity. In addition, transcriptomic analyses are costly and time-consuming. We therefore constructed a computational biomarker coupling biophysical simulations and artificial intelligence-based tissue segmentation of dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRIs), enabling IO response prediction across the entire tumor.

Methods

By analyzing both single-cell and whole-tissue RNA-seq data from non-IO-treated ESBC patients, we associated gene expression levels of the PD-1/PD-L1 axis with local tumor biology. PD-L1 expression was then linked to biophysical features derived from DCE-MRIs to generate spatially- and temporally-resolved atlases (virtual tumors) of tumor biology, as well as the TumorIO biomarker of IO response. We quantified TumorIO within patient virtual tumors (n = 63) using integrative modeling to train and develop a corresponding TumorIO Score.

Results

We validated the TumorIO biomarker and TumorIO Score in a small, independent cohort of IO-treated patients (n = 17) and correctly predicted pathologic complete response (pCR) in 15/17 individuals (88.2% accuracy), comprising 10/12 in triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) and 5/5 in HR+/HER2- tumors. We applied the TumorIO Score in a virtual clinical trial (n = 292) simulating ICI administration in an IO-naïve cohort that underwent standard chemotherapy. Using this approach, we predicted pCR rates of 67.1% for TNBC and 17.9% for HR+/HER2- tumors with addition of IO therapy; comparing favorably to empiric pCR rates derived from published trials utilizing ICI in both cancer subtypes.

Conclusion

The TumorIO biomarker and TumorIO Score represent a next generation approach using integrative biophysical analysis to assess cancer responsiveness to immunotherapy. This computational biomarker performs as well as PD-L1 transcript levels in identifying a patient's likelihood of pCR following anti-PD-1 IO therapy. The TumorIO biomarker allows for rapid IO profiling of tumors and may confer high clinical decision impact to further enable personalized oncologic care.
Emergency obstetric referrals in public health facilities: A descriptive study from urban Maharashtra, India
Authors: Das Sushmita , Patil Sarita , Pathak Sweety , Chakravarthy Sahana , Fernandez Armida , Pantvaidya Shanti , Jayaraman Anuja
Published: April 2023

Background

An effective referral system is key to access timely emergency obstetric care. The criticality of referrals makes it necessary to understand its pattern at the health system level. This study aims to document the patterns and primary reasons of obstetric case referral and the maternal and perinatal outcome of the cases in public health institutions in select areas of urban Maharashtra, India.

Methods

The study is based on the health records of public health facilities in Mumbai and its adjoining three municipal corporations. The information on pregnant women referred for obstetric emergencies was collected from patient referral forms of municipal maternity homes and peripheral health facilities between 2016 and 2019. Maternal and child outcome data was obtained from “Received-In” peripheral and tertiary health facilities to track whether the referred woman reached the referral facility for delivery. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze demographic details, referral patterns, reasons of referrals, referral communication and documentation, time and mode of transfer and delivery outcomes.

Results

14% (28,020) women were referred to higher health facilities. The most common reasons for referral were pregnancy-induced hypertension or eclampsia (17%), previous caesarean section (12%), fetal distress (11%) and Oligohydramnios (11%). 19% of all referrals were entirely due to unavailability of human resources or health infrastructure. Non-availability of emergency Operation Theatre (47%) and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (45%) were the major non-medical reasons for referrals. Absence of health personnel such as anaesthetist (24%), paediatrician (22%), physician (20%) or obstetrician (12%) was another non-medical reason for referrals. Referring facility had a phone-based communication about the referral with the receiving facility in less than half of the cases (47%). 60% of the referred women could be tracked in higher health facilities. Of the tracked cases, 45% women delivered via caesarean section. Most of the deliveries (96%) resulted in live birth outcomes. 34% of the newborns weighed less than 2,500 grams.

Conclusion

Improving referral processes are critical to enhance the overall performance of emergency obstetric care. Our findings emphasize the need for a formal communication and feedback system between referring and receiving facilities. Simultaneously, ensuring EmOC at different levels of health facilities by upgradation of health infrastructure is recommended.
Dynamics of the extended and intermediate range order in model polymer electrolyte poly(ethylene oxide) and lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide
Authors: Falus Peter , Faraone Antonio , Förster Stephan , Hong Kunlun , Ohl Michael
Published: April 2023

The dynamics of lithium ions and polymer chains were investigated at the molecular scale in the model polymer electrolyte Poly (ethylene oxide) (PEO)/Lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide as a function of temperature. This system is known to present an intermediate range order from the arrangement of neighboring chain segments as well as an extended range order of cylindrically arranged chains. The collective dynamics of the systems at lengthscales matching these structural features was measured using Neutron Spin Echo spectroscopy, gaining insights into their lifetime. Moreover, using isotope substitution techniques the dynamics of the lithium ions with respect to the other atoms was probed. The obtained results are compared with the conductivity and the lithium self-diffusion coefficient measured by NMR to gain experimental insight on the molecular processes triggering lithium transport.
Inspired by Insects: New Implants for Bone Repair
Authors: Ziegelmeyer Théo , Le Clainche Tristan , Coll Jean-Luc , Ivanova Elena P. , Martel-Frachet Véronique
Published: April 2023

Bones are vital and strong, but not invincible—they can be broken. Normally, bones can repair themselves. However, sometimes broken bones must be supported using what is called an implant. An implant is a man-made device used to replace or support a missing part of the human body. In the case of a bone, an implant aims at helping the bone regain its natural function. However, inserting a foreign object into the body has several possible complications. In particular, bone-repair implants are often associated with difficult-to-fight bacterial infections. Many approaches and materials are being studied to improve bone implants. Our team based our bone implants on the bacteria-killing structures present on certain insects. Our results provide evidence that these natural structures could help us develop materials to improve bone repair, while helping to prevent bacterial infections.
Degree modeling of pistachio farmers' resilience against climate change (Study subject: Rural areas of Rafsanjan and Anar counties, Iran)
Authors: Asrari Amirreza , Omidi Najafabadi Maryam , Farajollah Hosseini Jamal
Published: April 2023

The counties of Rafsanjan and Anar are some of the main production centers of pistachio, an important strategic commodity of Iran that is recently facing major environmental problems such as climate change. Therefore, the present research has modeled the degree of resilience of Rafsanjan pistachio and pomegranate farmers against climate change. The study's statistical population was pistachio farmers in the rural areas of Rafsanjan and Anar, which were 27,860 people. To determine the sample size of the research, a sample size of 588 users was calculated using Cochran's formula, with an error level of 4%. Users were then randomly selected in each village as a proportional assignment. A questionnaire was used for data collection. A group of experts determined its validity, and Cronbach's alpha method was used to determine its reliability and internal consistency. The combined method of Vaikor-entropy was used to measure the resilience behavior of Rafsanjan pistachio and pomegranate farmers against climate change. Data processing was done using MATLAB 7.10, AMOSver24, SPSSver25, and Arc-GIS 10.5 software. The results show that the behavior of the studied farmers' resilience against climate change is at an average level. Also, after analysis, the studied villages were divided into six levels, ranging from lack of endurance to resilient. None of the villages fell into the lowest or highest level. There are 8 villages with a very weak resilience level and 22 villages in the weak resilience level. There are 26 villages at the relatively resistant level and 4 villages in the good resilience level. This finding indicates that the investigated pistachio growers are not in good shape in terms of climate change resilience, and they are unable to deal with larger climate change variations, which can have serious effects on the agricultural sector and the villages' livelihoods.
Dual-mobility cup total hip arthroplasty improves the quality of life compared to internal fixation in femoral neck fractures patients with severe neuromuscular disease in the lower extremity after stroke: a retrospective study
Authors: Liang Chaolun , Chen Bojian , Hu Zhifeng , Li Xing , Huang Yongming
Published: April 2023

Background

This study aimed to demonstrate that dual-mobility cup total hip arthroplasty (DMC-THA) can significantly improve the quality of life (QOL) of elderly femoral neck fracture patients with severe neuromuscular disease in unilateral lower extremities due to stroke hemiplegia compared to internal fixation (IF).

Methods

Fifty-eight cases of severe neuromuscular disease in the unilateral lower extremities with muscle strength < grade 3/5 due to stroke were retrospectively examined From January 2015 to December 2020. Then, patients were divided into DMC and IF groups. The QOL was examined using the EQ-5D and SF-36 outcome measures. The physical and mental statuses were assessed using the Barthel Index (BI) and e Fall Efficacy Scale-International (FES-I), respectively.

Results

Patients in the DMC group had higher BI scores than those in the IF group at different time point. Regarding mental status, the FES-I mean score was 42.1 ± 5.3 in the DMC group and 47.3 ± 5.6 in the IF group (p = 0.002). For the QOL, the mean SF-36 score was 46.1 ± 18.3 for the health component and 59.5 ± 15.0 for the mental component in the DMC group compared to 35.3 ± 16.2 (p = 0.035), and 46.6 ± 17.4 (p = 0.006) compared to the IF group. The mean EQ-5D-5L values were 0.733 ± 0.190 and 0.303 ± 0.227 in the DMC and IF groups (p = 0.035), respectively.

Conclusion

DMC-THA significantly improved postoperative QOL compared to IF in elderly patients with femoral neck fractures and severe neuromuscular dysfunction in the lower extremity after stroke. The improved outcomes were related to the enhanced early, rudimentary motor function of patients.
Influence of adverse effects of neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy on the prognosis of patients with early-stage esophageal cancer (cT1b-cT2N0M0) based on the SEER database
Authors: Cao Xiying , Wu Bingqun , Li Hui , Xiong Jianxian
Published: April 2023

Objective

To analyze the prognostic impact of neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (NCRT) on early-stage (cT1b-cT2N0M0) esophageal cancer (ESCA) and construct a prognostic nomogram for these patients.

Methods

We extracted the clinical data about patients diagnosed with early-stage esophageal cancer from the 2004–2015 period of the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. We applied the independent risk factors affecting the prognosis of patients with early-stage esophageal cancer obtained after screening by univariate and multifactorial COX regression analyses to establish the nomogram and performed model calibration using bootstrapping resamples. The optimal cut-off point for continuous variables is determined by applying X-tile software. After balancing the confounding factors by propensity score matching (PSM) and inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) method, Kaplan-Meier(K-M) curve, and log-rank test were applied to evaluate the prognostic impact of NCRT on early-stage ESCA patients.

Results

Among patients who met the inclusion criteria, patients in the NCRT plus esophagectomy (ES) group had a poorer prognosis for overall survival (OS) and esophageal cancer-specific survival (ECSS) than patients in the ES alone group (p < 0.05), especially in patients who survived longer than 1 year. After PSM, patients in the NCRT + ES group had poorer ECSS than patients in the ES alone group, especially after 6 months, while OS was not significantly different between the two groups. IPTW analysis showed that, prior to 6 months patients in the NCRT + ES group had a better prognosis than patients in the ES group, regardless of OS or ECSS, whereas after 6 months, patients in the NCRT + ES group had a poorer prognosis. Based on multivariate COX analysis, we established a prognostic nomogram which showed areas under the ROC curve (AUC) for 3-, 5-, and 10-year OS 0.707, 0.712, and 0.706, respectively, with the calibration curves showing that the nomogram was well calibrated.

Conclusions

Patients with early-stage ESCA (cT1b-cT2) did not benefit from NCRT, and we established a prognostic nomogram to provide clinical decision aid for the treatment of patients with early-stage ESCA.
The ovine HIAT1 gene: mRNA expression, InDel mutations, and growth trait associations
Authors: Luo Yunyun , Akhatayeva Zhanerke , Mao Cui , Jiang Fugui , Guo Zhengang , Xu Hongwei , Lan Xianyong
Published: April 2023

Background

The hippocampal abundant transcript 1 (HIAT1) gene, also known as major facilitator superfamily domain-containing 14A (MFSD14A), encodes for a transmembrane transporter protein and has been previously shown to be associated with milk production in buffalo and sheep breeds, as well as growth traits in chicken and goats. However, tissue level distribution of the ovine HIAT1 gene, as well as its effect on body morphometric traits in sheep, has yet to be studied.

Methods

The HIAT1 mRNA expression profile of Lanzhou fat-tailed (LFT) sheep was determined by quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR). A total of 1498 sheep of three indigenous Chinese sheep breeds were PCR-genotyped for polymorphisms of HIAT1 gene. Student's t-test was used to observe the association between the genotype and sheep morphometric traits.

Results

HIAT1 was widely expressed in all examined tissues, and was particularly abundant in the testis of male LFT sheep. Additionally, a 9-bp insertion mutation (rs1089950828) located within the 5'-upstream region of HIAT1 was investigated in Luxi black-headed (LXBH) sheep and Guiqian semi-fine wool (GSFW) sheep. The wildtype allele frequency 'D' was found to be more prevalent than that of the mutant allele ‘I'. Furthermore, low genetic diversity was confirmed in all sampled sheep populations. Subsequent association analyses indicated an association between the 9-bp InDel mutation of interest and the morphometric traits of LXBH and GSFW sheep. Furthermore, yearling ewes with a heterozygous genotype (ID) demonstrated smaller body sizes, while yearling rams and adult ewes with the heterozygous genotype were found to have overall better growth performance.

Conclusion

These findings imply that functional InDel polymorphism (rs1089950828) has the potential to be utilized for marker-assisted selection (MAS) of growth traits in domestic Chinese sheep populations.
Computational fluid dynamic analysis of upper airway procedures in equine larynges
Authors: Tucker Michelle L. , Wilson David G. , Bergstrom Donald J. , Carmalt James L.
Published: April 2023

Introduction

Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) has proven useful in the planning of upper airway surgery in humans, where it is used to anticipate the influence of the surgical procedures on post-operative airflow. This technology has only been reported twice in an equine model, with a limited scope of airflow mechanics situations examined. The reported study sought to widen this application to the variety of procedures used to treat equine recurrent laryngeal neuropathy (RLN). The first objective of this study was to generate a CFD model of an ex-vivo box model of ten different equine larynges replicating RLN and four therapeutic surgeries to compare the calculated impedance between these procedures for each larynx. The second objective was to determine the accuracy between a CFD model and measured airflow characteristics in equine larynges. The last objective was to explore the anatomic distribution of changes in pressure, velocity, and turbulent kinetic energy associated with the disease (RLN) and each surgical procedure performed.

Methods

Ten equine cadaveric larynges underwent inhalation airflow testing in an instrumented box while undergoing a concurrent computed tomographic (CT) exam. The pressure upstream and downstream (outlet) were measured simultaneously. CT image segmentation was performed to generate stereolithography files, which underwent CFD analysis using the experimentally measured outlet pressure. The ranked procedural order and calculated laryngeal impedance were compared to the experimentally obtained values.

Results and discussion

The CFD model agreed with the measured results in predicting the procedure resulting in the lowest post-operative impedance in 9/10 larynges. Numerically, the CFD calculated laryngeal impedance was approximately 0.7 times that of the measured calculation. Low pressure and high velocity were observed around regions of tissue protrusion within the lumen of the larynx. RLN, the corniculectomy and partial arytenoidectomy surgical procedures exhibited low pressure troughs and high velocity peaks compared to the laryngoplasty and combined laryngoplasty/corniculectomy procedures. CFD modeling of the equine larynx reliably calculated the lowest impedance of the different surgical procedures. Future development of the CFD technique to this application may improve numerical accuracy and is recommended prior to consideration for use in patients.
Epidemiological characteristics and financial losses due to avian aspergillosis in households in the Almaty region, Republic of Kazakhstan
Authors: Kalkayeva Dinara , Maulanov Amangeldi , Sobiech Przemysław , Michalski Mirosław , Kuzembekova Gulnur , Dzhangabulova Ainur , Nurkhojayev Nurzhan , Aldayarov Nurbek
Published: April 2023

Aspergillosis is a severe fungal disease that affects all species and ages of poultry and leads to significant economic losses within the poultry industry. The economic significance of aspergillosis is associated with direct losses due to poultry mortality, a decline in the production of meat and eggs, feed conversion, and poor growth of recovering poultry. Although a decrease in the production of poultry meat and eggs in Kazakhstan due to this fungal disease has been widely reported, studies on the consequent financial losses on affected farms (households) have not been carried out. This study aimed to estimate the financial losses and epidemiological parameters of avian aspergillosis among households affected by the disease in the Almaty region. To achieve the objectives of the research, a survey was conducted involving affected households from February 2018 to July 2019. The affected poultry were diagnosed based on clinical, macroscopical, and microscopical procedures, and once the infection was confirmed, household owners were interviewed. Data were collected from 183 household owners. The median incidence risk and fatality rates were 39 and 26% in chickens, 42 and 22% in turkeys, and 37 and 33% in geese, respectively, with young poultry having a higher incidence risk and fatality rate than adults. Approximately 92.4% of the household owners treated the affected poultry using natural folk methods and 7.6% of household owners used antifungal drugs and antibiotics, spending a median of US $35.20 (min US $0; max US $400) per household throughout the course of the infection. Egg production was reduced by a median of 58.3% when households were affected. The price of poultry fell by a median of 48.6% immediately after recovery due to weight loss. The median of the overall financial losses of households was US $198.50 (min US $11; max US $1,269). The majority of household owners (65%) did not replace their poultry, 9.8% of household owners replaced all their poultry, and the remaining 25.1% replaced only a proportion of the poultry lost at the time of the study. Newly acquired poultry were purchased from neighbors (10.9%), fellow villagers (50%), and state poultry farms (39.1%). This study demonstrates that aspergillosis has an immediate impact on subsistence household owners' livelihoods in the Almaty region of Kazakhstan.
Detection of the dominant pathogens in diarrheal calves of Ningxia, China in 2021–2022
Authors: Wang Dong , Gao Haihui , Zhao Long , Lv Changrong , Dou Wei , Zhang Xiuping , Liu Yong , Kang Xiaodong , Guo Kangkang
Published: April 2023

Introduction

Calf diarrhea is a complex disease that has long been an unsolved problem in the cattle industry. Ningxia is at the forefront of China in the scale of cattle breeding, and calf diarrhea gravely restricts the development of Ningxia's cattle industry.

Methods

From July 2021 to May 2022, we collected diarrhea stool samples from calves aged 1–103 days from 23 farms in five cities in Ningxia, and performed PCR using specific primers for 15 major reported pathogens of calf diarrhea, including bacteria, viruses, and parasites. The effect of different seasons on the occurrence of diarrhea in calves was explored, the respective epidemic pathogens in different seasons were screened, and more detailed epidemiological investigations were carried out in Yinchuan and Wuzhong. In addition, we analyzed the relationship between different ages, river distributions and pathogen prevalence.

Results

Eventually, 10 pathogens were detected, of which 9 pathogens were pathogenic and 1 pathogen was non-pathogenic. The pathogens with the highest detection rate were Cryptosporidium (50.46%), Bovine rotavirus (BRV) (23.18%), Escherichia coli (E. coli) K99 (20.00%), and Bovine coronavirus (BCoV) (11.82%). The remaining pathogens such as Coccidia (6.90%), Bovine Astrovirus (BoAstV) (5.46%), Bovine Torovirus (BToV) (4.09%), and Bovine Kobuvirus (BKoV) (3.18%) primarily existed in the form of mixed infection.

Discussion

The analysis showed that different cities in Ningxia have different pathogens responsible for diarrhea, with Cryptosporidium and BRV being the most important pathogens responsible for diarrhea in calves in all cities. Control measures against those pathogens should be enforced to effectively prevent diarrhea in calves in China.
Potential of ferritin 2 as an antigen for the development of a universal vaccine for avian mites, poultry red mites, tropical fowl mites, and northern fowl mites
Authors: Win Shwe Yee , Murata Shiro , Fujisawa Sotaro , Seo Hikari , Sato Jumpei , Motai Yoshinosuke , Sato Takumi , Oishi Eiji , Taneno Akira , Htun Lat Lat , Bawm Saw , Okagawa Tomohiro , Maekawa Naoya , Konnai Satoru , Ohashi Kazuhiko
Published: April 2023

Introduction

Poultry red mites (PRMs, Dermanyssus gallinae), blood-sucking ectoparasites, are a threat to the poultry industry because of reduced production caused by infestation. In addition, tropical fowl mites (TFMs, Ornithonyssus bursa) and northern fowl mites (NFMs, Ornithonyssus sylviarum) are hematophagous, distributed in various regions, genetically and morphologically close to PRMs, and cause similar problems to the poultry industry. Vaccine approaches have been studied for PRM control, and several molecules have been identified in PRMs as candidates for effective vaccine antigens. The development of an anti-PRM vaccine as a universal vaccine with broad efficacy against avian mites could improve the productivity of poultry farms worldwide. Molecules that are highly conserved among avian mites and have critical functions in the physiology and growth of mites could be ideal antigen candidates for the development of universal vaccines. Ferritin 2 (FER2), an iron-binding protein, is critical for the reproduction and survival of PRMs and has been reported as a useful vaccine antigen for the control of PRMs and a candidate for the universal vaccine antigen in some tick species.

Method and results

Herein, we identified and characterized FER2 in TFMs and NFM. Compared with the sequence of PRM, the ferroxidase centers of the heavy chain subunits were conserved in FER2 of TFMs and NFMs. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that FER2 belongs to clusters of secretory ferritins of mites and other arthropods. Recombinant FER2 (rFER2) proteins from PRMs, TFMs, and NFMs exhibited iron-binding abilities. Immunization with each rFER2 induced strong antibody responses in chickens, and each immune plasma cross-reacted with rFER2 from different mites. Moreover, mortality rates of PRMs fed with immune plasma against rFER2 from TFMs or NFMs, in addition to PRMs, were higher than those of control plasma.

Discussion

rFER2 from each avian mite exhibited anti-PRM effects. This data suggests that it has the potential to be used as an antigen candidate for a universal vaccine against avian mites. Further studies are needed to access the usefulness of FER2 as a universal vaccine for the control of avian mites.
Real-Time Detection of Apple Leaf Diseases in Natural Scenes Based on YOLOv5
Authors: Li Huishan , Shi Lei , Fang Siwen , Yin Fei
Published: April 2023

Aiming at the problem of accurately locating and identifying multi-scale and differently shaped apple leaf diseases from a complex background in natural scenes, this study proposed an apple leaf disease detection method based on an improved YOLOv5s model. Firstly, the model utilized the bidirectional feature pyramid network (BiFPN) to achieve multi-scale feature fusion efficiently. Then, the transformer and convolutional block attention module (CBAM) attention mechanisms were added to reduce the interference from invalid background information, improving disease characteristics’ expression ability and increasing the accuracy and recall of the model. Experimental results showed that the proposed BTC-YOLOv5s model (with a model size of 15.8M) can effectively detect four types of apple leaf diseases in natural scenes, with 84.3% mean average precision (mAP). With an octa-core CPU, the model could process 8.7 leaf images per second on average. Compared with classic detection models of SSD, Faster R-CNN, YOLOv4-tiny, and YOLOx, the mAP of the proposed model was increased by 12.74%, 48.84%, 24.44%, and 4.2%, respectively, and offered higher detection accuracy and faster detection speed. Furthermore, the proposed model demonstrated strong robustness and mAP exceeding 80% under strong noise conditions, such as exposure to bright lights, dim lights, and fuzzy images. In conclusion, the new BTC-YOLOv5s was found to be lightweight, accurate, and efficient, making it suitable for application on mobile devices. The proposed method could provide technical support for early intervention and treatment of apple leaf diseases.
Ruminal Solubility and Bioavailability of Inorganic Trace Mineral Sources and Effects on Fermentation Activity Measured in Vitro
Authors: Vigh Antal , Criste Adriana , Gragnic Kévin , Moquet Léa , Gerard Christine
Published: April 2023

The aim of this study was to assess the effects of supplementation with inorganic sources of manganese (MnO, MnSO4), zinc (ZnO, ZnSO4) and copper (CuSO4) at different levels (0.06%DM for Mn, 0.05%DM for Zn; 0.01 and 0.05%DM for Cu) on in vitro rumen fermentation, solubility and bioavailability. Fermentation activity was measured by total gas production (TGP) and dry matter degradability after 70 h of fermentation (dDM%). Trace mineral (TM) solubility was estimated via the TM concentration in the supernatant of the final fermentation medium (SOL) and TM bioavailability from the TM concentration in a bacterial-enriched fraction (BACT). Mn (regardless of source) and ZnO tended (p < 0.10) to decrease, while Cu showed no significant effect on TGP. The addition of inorganic Mn and of ZnO tended (p < 0.10) to decrease, ZnSO4 tended to increase (p < 0.10), whilst Cu showed no effect on dDM%. Concerning solubility, Mn (MnO and MnSO4), ZnSO4 and CuSO4 significantly (p < 0.05, p < 0.001 and p < 0.01) increased, while ZnO did not affect TM content in the SOL. These results indicate that MnSO4, ZnSO4 and CuSO4 are highly soluble, MnO is quite soluble, while ZnO has a low solubility in the rumen. Based on the TM content in BACT, MnO, MnS4 and CuSO4 have high bioavailability, while ZnO is poorly assimilated by rumen bacteria. However, the lack of clear inhibition or improvement in fermentations suggests that the rumen microbiota have a low requirement for TM supplementation.
Non-Destructive Method for Estimating Seed Weights from Intact Peanut Pods Using Soft X-ray Imaging
Authors: Qiu Guangjun , Liu Yuanyuan , Wang Ning , Bennett Rebecca S. , Weckler Paul R.
Published: April 2023

In the U.S., peanut farmers receive premium prices for crops with high seed grades. One component of seed grade is the proportion of seed weight to that of pod hulls and other matter. Seed weight and size are also important traits for food processors. Current methods for evaluating peanut seed grade require the opening of the pod and are time-consuming and labor-intensive. In this study, a non-destructive and efficient method to determine peanut seed weights was investigated. X-ray images of a total of 513 peanut pods from three commercial cultivars, each representing three market types, were taken using a soft X-ray imaging system. The region of interest of each image, the seeds, was extracted two ways, manually and with a differential evolution segmentation algorithm. The comprehensive attenuation index (CAI) value was calculated from the segmented regions of interest. Lastly, linear regression models were established between peanut seed weights and the CAI. The results demonstrated that the X-ray imaging technology, coupled with the differential evolution segmentation algorithm, may be used to estimate seed weights efficiently from intact peanut pods.
Technologies and Data Analytics to Manage Grain Quality On-Farm—A Review
Authors: Walker Cassandra K. , Assadzadeh Sahand , Wallace Ashley J. , Delahunty Audrey J. , Clancy Alexander B. , McDonald Linda S. , Fitzgerald Glenn J. , Nuttall James G. , Panozzo Joe F.
Published: April 2023

Grains intended for human consumption or feedstock are typically high-value commodities that are marketed based on either their visual characteristics or compositional properties. The combination of visual traits, chemical composition and contaminants is generally referred to as grain quality. Currently, the market value of grain is quantified at the point of receival, using trading standards defined in terms of visual criteria of the bulk grain and chemical constituency. The risk for the grower is that grain prices can fluctuate throughout the year depending on world production, quality variation and market needs. The assessment of grain quality and market value on-farm, rather than post-farm gate, may identify high- and low-quality grain and inform a fair price for growers. The economic benefits include delivering grain that meets specifications maximizing the aggregate price, increasing traceability across the supply chain from grower to consumer and identifying greater suitability of differentiated products for high-value niche markets, such as high protein product ideal for plant-based proteins. This review focuses on developments that quantify grain quality with a range of spectral sensors in an on-farm setting. If the application of sensor technologies were expanded and adopted on-farm, growers could identify the impact and manage the harvesting operation to meet a range of quality targets and provide an economic advantage to the farming enterprise.
Quantification of Lignosulfonates and Humic Components in Mixtures by ATR FTIR Spectroscopy
Authors: Karpukhina Evgeniya A. , Volkov Dmitry S. , Proskurnin Mikhail A.
Published: April 2023

The existing techniques for lignosulfonate (LS) in humate fertilizers lack selectivity to humic substances (HS) as the main component; they involve labor- and time-consuming sample preparation to separate the components at the level of detectable LS concentrations. The procedure based on attenuated total reflectance (ATR) FTIR spectroscopy with simple sample preparation for directly quantifying lignosulfonates in aqueous solutions and lignosulfonates and HS in aqueous solutions of preparations based on HS of coal origin (Sigma Aldrich, Powhumus, and Life Force) was developed. Lignosulfonate quantification is possible by exploiting the bands at 1266, 1192, 1093, and 1042 cm−1 with limits of detection of 0.4–2 g/L. Quantifying LS in a mixture with humates includes centrifugation of prepared solutions to separate interfering silicate impurities. LS quantification in the range of 10–100 g/L against HS (up to a 2-fold excess) with an error of up to 5% is possible based on the spectral absorptions at 1093 and 1042 cm−1. Simultaneous quantification of humate in the mixture with an error of up to 10% is possible by exploiting the bands at 1570 and 1383 cm−1 (carboxylates). The study shows the possibility of determining lignosulfonate against an HS background several times higher than lignosulfonate. The developed technique is applicable for analyzing fertilizers of simple composition and quality control of pure humates used for plant growth. Obtaining the most accurate results needs calibration solutions from the same brands that make up the test mixture.
Comparative Analysis of Epididymis Cauda of Yak before and after Sexual Maturity
Authors: Ding Ziqiang , Xiong Lin , Wang Xingdong , Guo Shaoke , Cao Mengli , Kang Yandong , La Yongfu , Bao Pengjia , Pei Jie , Guo Xian
Published: April 2023

Epididymis development is the basis of male reproduction and is a crucial site where sperm maturation occurs. In order to further understand the epididymal development of yak and how to regulate sperm maturation, we conducted a multi-omics analysis. We detected 2274 differential genes, 222 differential proteins and 117 co-expression genes in the cauda epididymis of yak before and after sexual maturity by RNA-seq and proteomics techniques, which included TGFBI, COL1A1, COL1A2, COL3A1, COL12A1, SULT2B1, KRT19, and NPC2. These high abundance genes are mainly related to cell growth, differentiation, adhesion and sperm maturation, and are mainly enriched via extracellular matrix receptor interaction, protein differentiation and absorption, and lysosome and estrogen signaling pathways. The abnormal expression of these genes may lead to the retardation of epididymal cauda development and abnormal sperm function in yak. In conclusion, through single and combined analysis, we provided a theoretical basis for the development of the yak epididymal cauda, sperm maturation, and screening of key genes involved in the regulation of male yak reproduction.
Antibiotic Resistance among Gastrointestinal Bacteria in Broilers: A Review Focused on Enterococcus spp. and Escherichia coli
Authors: Ribeiro Jessica , Silva Vanessa , Monteiro Andreia , Vieira-Pinto Madalena , Igrejas Gilberto , Reis Filipa S. , Barros Lillian , Poeta Patrícia
Published: April 2023

Chickens can acquire bacteria at different stages, and bacterial diversity can occur due to production practices, diet, and environment. The changes in consumer trends have led to increased animal production, and chicken meat is one of the most consumed meats. To ensure high levels of production, antimicrobials have been used in livestock for therapeutic purposes, disease prevention, and growth promotion, contributing to the development of antimicrobial resistance across the resident microbiota. Enterococcus spp. and Escherichia coli are normal inhabitants of the gastrointestinal microbiota of chickens that can develop strains capable of causing a wide range of diseases, i.e., opportunistic pathogens. Enterococcus spp. isolated from broilers have shown resistance to at least seven classes of antibiotics, while E. coli have shown resistance to at least four. Furthermore, some clonal lineages, such as ST16, ST194, and ST195 in Enterococcus spp. and ST117 in E. coli, have been identified in humans and animals. These data suggest that consuming contaminated animal-source food, direct contact with animals, or environmental exposure can lead to the transmission of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria. Therefore, this review focused on Enterococcus spp. and E. coli from the broiler industry to better understand how antibiotic-resistant strains have emerged, which antibiotic-resistant genes are most common, what clonal lineages are shared between broilers and humans, and their impact through a One Health perspective.
The Unique Cauda-Liked Structure Represents a New Subfamily of Cunaxidae: Description of New Taxa and Discussion on Functional Morphology
Authors: Chen Jianxin , Yao Maoyuan , Guo Jianjun , Yi Tianci , Jin Daochao
Published: April 2023

A cauda-like structure was found, firstly in Cunaxidae, and with it the new taxa Cunaxicaudinae Chen & Jin subfam. nov., and its two new genera, Cunaxicaudus Chen & Jin gen. nov. (type genus) and Brevicaudus Chen & Jin gen. nov., were erected. Cunaxicaudinae Chen & Jin subfam. nov. differs from the known members of the family Cunaxidae by the unique conspicuous cauda derived from the posterior end of the hysterosoma. The generic features of Cunaxicaudus Chen & Jin gen. nov. are as follows: the posterior of the hysterosoma elongated as a much longer cauda; palp between genu and tibiotarsus without apophysis; e1 closer to d1 than f1; and e1 closer to mid-line than c1 and d1. The generic features of Brevicaudus Chen & Jin gen. nov. are as follows: the posterior of hysterosoma elongated as a short cauda; palp between genu and tibiotarsus with one apophysis; distance between setae e1 and d1 approximately equal to e1; and f1, e1 as close to mid-line as c1 and d1 to mid-line. It is proposed that the specialized cauda may be the result of the evolution of the sperm transfer mode.
Dietary and Sexual Correlates of Gut Microbiota in the Japanese Gecko, Gekko japonicus (Schlegel, 1836)
Authors: Jiang Xin-Ru , Dai Ying-Yu , Wang Yu-Rong , Guo Kun , Du Yu , Gao Jian-Fang , Lin Long-Hui , Li Peng , Li Hong , Ji Xiang , Qu Yan-Fu
Published: April 2023

Numerous studies have demonstrated that multiple intrinsic and extrinsic factors shape the structure and composition of gut microbiota in a host. The disorder of the gut microbiota may trigger various host diseases. Here, we collected fecal samples from wild-caught Japanese geckos (Gekko japonicus) and captive conspecifics fed with mealworms (mealworm-fed geckos) and fruit flies (fly-fed geckos), aiming to examine the dietary and sexual correlates of the gut microbiota. We used 16S rRNA gene sequencing technology to determine the composition of the gut microbiota. The dominant phyla with a mean relative abundance higher than 10% were Verrucomicrobiota, Bacteroidota, and Firmicutes. Gut microbial community richness and diversity were higher in mealworm-fed geckos than in wild geckos. Neither community evenness nor beta diversity of gut microbiota differed among wild, mealworm-fed, and fly-fed geckos. The beta rather than alpha diversity of gut microbiota was sex dependent. Based on the relative abundance of gut bacteria and their gene functions, we concluded that gut microbiota contributed more significantly to the host’s metabolic and immune functions. A higher diversity of gut microbiota in mealworm-fed geckos could result from higher chitin content in insects of the order Coleoptera. This study not only provides basic information about the gut microbiota of G. japonicus but also shows that gut microbiota correlates with dietary habits and sex in the species.
Valorization of Food Waste as Animal Feed: A Step towards Sustainable Food Waste Management and Circular Bioeconomy
Authors: Nath Pinku Chandra , Ojha Amiya , Debnath Shubhankar , Sharma Minaxi , Nayak Prakash Kumar , Sridhar Kandi , Inbaraj Baskaran Stephen
Published: April 2023

The growing population and healthy food demands have led to a rise in food waste generation, causing severe environmental and economic impacts. However, food waste (FW) can be converted into sustainable animal feed, reducing waste disposal and providing an alternative protein source for animals. The utilization of FW as animal feed presents a solution that not only tackles challenges pertaining to FW management and food security but also lessens the demand for the development of traditional feed, which is an endeavour that is both resource and environmentally intensive in nature. Moreover, this approach can also contribute to the circular economy by creating a closed-loop system that reduces the use of natural resources and minimizes environmental pollution. Therefore, this review discusses the characteristics and types of FW, as well as advanced treatment methods that can be used to recycle FW into high-quality animal feed and its limitations, as well as the benefits and drawbacks of using FW as animal feed. Finally, the review concludes that utilization of FW as animal feed can provide a sustainable solution for FW management, food security, preserving resources, reducing environmental impacts, and contributing to the circular bioeconomy.
Effects of Processing Methods and Conditioning Temperatures on the Cassava Starch Digestibility and Growth Performance of Broilers
Authors: Wang Xuan , Du Baolong , Nian Fang , Ru Yingjun , Sun Likun , Qin Shizhen , Tang Defu
Published: April 2023

As an important food crop, cassava is rich in nutrients and high in starch content and is widely used in the production of industrial raw materials. However, the utilization value of cassava is limited due to the reduction of planting area and the existence of anti-nutritional factors. Therefore, we evaluated in vitro cassava starch digestibility and in vivo growth performance of broilers in a 3 × 3 factorial arrangement of treatments using three processing methods (mechanical crushing (MC), steam conditioning (SC), and puffing conditioning (PU)) and three conditioning temperatures (60, 75, and 90 °C) to screen for the optimal processing method and conditioning temperature to improve the utilization of cassava. In the in vitro cassava starch digestion study, the digestibility and digestion rate (p < 0.01) were higher at conditioned 90 °C than that at 60 or 75 °C, and PU was higher than SC and MC (p < 0.01) (0.25–2 h). The amylose content and amylose/amylopectin at conditioned 60 °C or PU were lower (p < 0.01) than that of 75 or 90 °C or SC, whereas the opposite was true for amylopectin content (p < 0.01). The resistant starch content of SC or PU was lower (p < 0.01) than MC. In the in vivo study, broilers fed diets conditioned at 60 °C or SC had a lower (p < 0.05) feed-to-gain ratio than those fed diets conditioned at 90 °C or PU diets. The ileum apparent digestibility of starch and AME were higher (p < 0.05) for broilers fed SC diets than for those fed MC diets. These results indicate that cassava starch promoted starch digestion rate by reducing amylose content and amylose/amylose under PU combined with a conditioning temperature of 60 °C, ileum digestibility of starch in broilers fed SC diets was higher than MC diets regardless of conditioning temperature, and SC diets increased AME and decreased F/G to promote growth performance of broilers.
Illegal Trade in Exotic Animals and Its Impacts in Slovenia—A Case Study
Authors: Dvojmoč Miha , Kubale Valentina
Published: April 2023

Currently, the illegal wildlife trade is one of the most profitable illegal enterprises in the world. The aim of our study was to determine the situation with respect to wildlife trade in Slovenia, which is mainly a transit country, before changes to the Schengen borders came into effect. The volume of trade is significant but not extensive. The most common endangered species involved in illegal trade in Slovenia are the brown bear, the peregrine falcon, the date mussel, the lady’s slipper orchid, the common snowdrop, the cyclamen, the sea turtle, the otter, and various reptile species. The smuggling of shells (date shells), ivory (ivory products), certain plants, and various hunting trophies (bears, big cats) has decreased in recent years. Nevertheless, counteracting crimes continues to be important for the conservation of some species in Slovenia, notably the lynx, and for the reduction of poaching. Improvements are needed in the detection and prevention of wildlife crime, especially in light of changes made to the Schengen borders and the consequent inclusion of new trading partners for Slovenia. The lack of people properly trained to identify, detect, and investigate wildlife crime is especially acute.
Prescribing Antibiotics in Public Primary Care Clinics in Singapore: A Retrospective Cohort Study
Authors: Koh Sky Wei Chee , Lee Vivien Min Er , Low Si Hui , Tan Wei Zhi , Valderas José María , Loh Victor Weng Keong , Sundram Meena , Hsu Li Yang
Published: April 2023

Background: Antibiotic prescription practices in primary care in Singapore have received little scholarly attention. In this study, we ascertained prescription prevalence and identified care gaps and predisposing factors. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted on adults (>21 years old) at six public primary care clinics in Singapore. Prescriptions >14 days were excluded. Descriptive statistics were used to showcase the prevalence data. We used chi-square and logistic regression analyses to identify the factors affecting care gaps. Results: A total of 141,944 (4.33%) oral and 108,357 (3.31%) topical antibiotics were prescribed for 3,278,562 visits from 2018 to 2021. There was a significant reduction in prescriptions (p < 0.01) before and after the pandemic, which was attributed to the 84% reduction in prescriptions for respiratory conditions. In 2020 to 2021, oral antibiotics were most prescribed for skin (37.7%), genitourinary (20.2%), and respiratory conditions (10.8%). Antibiotic use in the “Access” group (WHO AWaRe classification) improved from 85.6% (2018) to 92.1% (2021). Areas of improvement included a lack of documentation of reasons for antibiotic use, as well as inappropriate antibiotic prescription for skin conditions. Conclusion: There was a marked reduction in antibiotic prescriptions associated with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Further studies could address the gaps identified here and evaluate private-sector primary care to inform antibiotic guidelines and the local development of stewardship programs.