bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Comparing Surgical and Conservative Treatment on Achilles Tendon Rupture: A Comprehensive Meta-Analysis of RCTs
Authors: She Guorong , Teng Qiang , Li Jieruo , Zheng Xiaofei , Chen Lin , Hou Huige
Published: February 2021

Background: The Achilles tendon is the strongest tendon in human and is frequently injured, mainly in the young to middle age active population. Increasing incidence of Achilles tendon rupture (ATR) is still reported in several studies. Surgical repair and conservative treatment are two major management strategies widely adopted in ATR patients, but the consensus of the optimal treatment strategy is still debated. We aimed at thoroughly reviewing the ATR topic with additional assessments and performed a most comprehensive meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs).

Method: We comprehensively searched PubMed, Embase, Cochrane, and ClinicalTrial.gov and retrieved all RCTs comparing surgical and conservative treatment on ATR for further analysis. Two independent reviewers performed data extraction and random effect model was adopted when I2 > 50%, with data presentation of risk ratio, risk difference, or mean difference and 95% confidence interval.

Results: A total of 13 RCTs were included in this meta-analysis. A significant difference was observed in re-rupture, complication rate, adhesion to the underlying tendon, sural nerve injury, and superficial infection. A substantial reduction in re-rupture rate could be observed for surgical treatment while the complication rate was higher compared with conservative treatment.

Conclusion: Surgical treatment revealed significance in reducing the re-rupture rate but was associated with a higher complication rate, while conservative treatment showed similar outcomes with a lower complication rate. Collectively, we recommend conservative treatment if patients' status and expectations are suitable, but surgeon and physician discretion is also crucial in decision making.
Ex situ Normothermic Split Liver Machine Perfusion: Protocol for Robust Comparative Controls in Liver Function Assessment Suitable for Evaluation of Novel Therapeutic Interventions in the Pre-clinical Setting
Authors: Attard Joseph A. , Osei-Bordom Daniel-Clement , Boteon Yuri , Wallace Lorraine , Ronca Vincenzo , Reynolds Gary , Perera M. T. P. R. , Oo Ye Htun , Mergental Hynek , Mirza Darius F. , Afford Simon C.
Published: February 2021

Background:Ex situ donor liver machine perfusion is a promising tool to assess organ viability prior to transplantation and platform to investigate novel therapeutic interventions. However, the wide variability in donor and graft characteristics between individual donor livers limits the comparability of results. We investigated the hypothesis that the development of a split liver ex situ machine perfusion protocol provides the ideal comparative controls in the investigation of machine perfusion techniques and therapeutic interventions, thus leading to more comparable results.

Methods: Four discarded human donor livers were surgically split following identification and separation of right and left inflow and outflow vessels. Each lobe, on separate perfusion machines, was subjected to normothermic perfusion using an artificial hemoglobin-based oxygen carrier solution for 6 h. Metabolic parameters as well as hepatic artery and portal vein perfusion parameters monitored.

Results: Trends in hepatic artery and portal vein flows showed a general increase in both lobes throughout each perfusion experiment, even when normalized for tissue weight. Progressive decreases in perfusate lactate and glucose levels exhibited comparable trends in between lobes.

Conclusion: Our results demonstrate comparability between right and left lobes when simultaneously subjected to normothermic machine perfusion. In the pre-clinical setting, this model provides the ideal comparative controls in the investigation of therapeutic interventions.
Assessment of Surgical Complications With Respect to the Surgical Indication: Proposal for a Novel Index
Authors: Morand Grégoire B. , Anderegg Nanina , Kleinjung Tobias , Bohlender Jörg E. , Veraguth Dorothe , Broglie Martina A. , Holzmann David , Huber Alexander M. , Röösli Christof , Soyka Michael B.
Published: February 2021

Introduction: The Clavien–Dindo classification is a broadly accepted surgical complications classification system, grading complications by the extent of therapy necessary to resolve them. A drawback of the method is that it does not consider why the patient was operated on primarily.

Methods: We designed a novel index based on Clavien–Dindo but with respect to the surgical indication. We surveyed an international panel of otolaryngologists who filled out a questionnaire with 32 real case-inspired scenarios. Each case was graded for the surgical complication, surgical indication, and a subjective rating whether the complication was acceptable or not.

Results: Seventy-seven otolaryngologists responded to the survey. Mean subjective rating and surgical complication grading for each scenario showed an inverse correlation (r2 = 0.147, p = 0.044). When grading the surgical complication with respect to the surgical indication, the correlation with the subjective rating increased dramatically (r2 = 0.307, p = 0.0022).

Conclusion: We describe a novel index grading surgical complications with respect to the surgical indication. In our survey, most respondents judged a complication as acceptable or not according to its grade but kept in mind the surgical indication. This subjective judgment could be quantified with our novel index.
Maintaining Optimal Mammary Gland Health and Prevention of Mastitis
Authors: Zigo František , Vasil' Milan , Ondrašovičová Silvia , Výrostková Jana , Bujok Jolanta , Pecka-Kielb Ewa
Published: February 2021

In dairy industry, quality of produced milk must be more important than quantity without a high somatic cells count (SCC) or pathogens causing mastitis of dairy cows and consumer diseases. Preserving the good health of dairy cows is a daily challenge for all involved in primary milk production. Despite the increasing level of technological support and veterinary measures, inflammation of the mammary gland–mastitis, is still one of the main health problems and reasons for economic losses faced by cow farmers. The mammary gland of high-yielding dairy cows requires making the right decisions and enforcing the proper measures aimed at minimizing external and internal factors that increase the risk of intramammary infection. Due to the polyfactorial nature of mastitis related to its reduction, the effectiveness of commonly used antimastitis methods tends to be limited and therefore it is necessary to find the areas of risk in udder health programs and monitoring systems. Only by implementing of complete udder health programs should be accompanied by research efforts to further development these complete udder health control. The present review analyses the current knowledge dealing with damping and prevention of mastitis include SCC control, proper nutrition, housing and management, milking and drying as practiced in dairy farming conditions. This information may help to improve the health of the mammary gland and the welfare of the dairy cows as well as the production of safe milk for consumers.
Identification of Host Bloodmeal Source in Ornithodoros turicata Dugès (Ixodida: Argasidae) Using DNA-Based and Stable Isotope-Based Techniques
Authors: Kim Hee J. , Hamer Gabriel L. , Hamer Sarah A. , Lopez Job E. , Teel Pete D.
Published: February 2021

The ecology and host feeding patterns of many soft ticks (Ixodida: Argasidae) remain poorly understood. To address soft tick–host feeding associations, we fedOrnithodoros turicataDugès on multiple host species and evaluated quantitative PCR (qPCR) and stable isotope analyses to identify the vertebrate species used for the bloodmeal. The results showed that a qPCR with host-specific probes for thecytochrome bgene successfully identified bloodmeals from chicken (Gallus gallusL.), goat (Capra aegagrus hircusL), and swine (Sus scrofa domesticus) beyond 330 days post-feeding and through multiple molting. Also, qPCR-based bloodmeal analyses could detect multiple host species within individual ticks that fed upon more than one species. The stable isotope bloodmeal analyses were based on variation in the natural abundance of carbon (13C/12C) and nitrogen (15N/14N) isotopes in ticks fed on different hosts. When compared to reference isotope signatures, this method discerned unique δ13C and δ15N signatures in the ticks fed on each host taxa yet could not discern multiple host species fromO. turicatathat fed on more than one host species. Given the significance of soft tick-borne zoonoses and animal diseases, elucidating host feeding patterns from field-collected ticks using these methods may provide insight for an ecological basis to disease management.
A Meta-Analysis of the Effect of Bacillus Calmette-Guérin Vaccination Against Bovine Tuberculosis: Is Perfect the Enemy of Good?
Authors: Srinivasan Sreenidhi , Conlan Andrew J. K. , Easterling Laurel A. , Herrera Christian , Dandapat Premanshu , Veerasami Maroudam , Ameni Gobena , Jindal Naresh , Raj Gopal Dhinakar , Wood James , Juleff Nick , Bakker Douwe , Vordermeier Martin , Kapur Vivek
Published: February 2021

More than 50 million cattle are likely exposed to bovine tuberculosis (bTB) worldwide, highlighting an urgent need for bTB control strategies in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) and other regions where the disease remains endemic and test-and-slaughter approaches are unfeasible. While Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) was first developed as a vaccine for use in cattle even before its widespread use in humans, its efficacy against bTB remains poorly understood. To address this important knowledge gap, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to determine the direct efficacy of BCG against bTB challenge in cattle, and performed scenario analyses with transmission dynamic models incorporating direct and indirect vaccinal effects (“herd-immunity”) to assess potential impact on herd level disease control. The analysis shows a relative risk of infection of 0.75 (95% CI: 0.68, 0.82) in 1,902 vaccinates as compared with 1,667 controls, corresponding to a direct vaccine efficacy of 25% (95% CI: 18, 32). Importantly, scenario analyses considering both direct and indirect effects suggest that disease prevalence could be driven down close to Officially TB-Free (OTF) status (<0.1%), if BCG were introduced in the next 10-year time period in low to moderate (<15%) prevalence settings, and that 50–95% of cumulative cases may be averted over the next 50 years even in high (20–40%) disease burden settings with immediate implementation of BCG vaccination. Taken together, the analyses suggest that BCG vaccination may help accelerate control of bTB in endemic settings, particularly with early implementation in the face of dairy intensification in regions that currently lack effective bTB control programs.
Galanty i galancie jako leksykalne wykładniki stopnia natężenia cechy w gwarach i polszczyźnie ogólnej.
Authors: Jaros Irena
Published: February 2021

The author presents the functions of the lexical exponents of gradations
with a dialectal origin, namely of: the adjective galanty and the averbs galancie,
galancio, galanto in the colloquial Polish language and Polish dialects. Based
on dialectal and general Polish data coming from published works (dictionaries,
atlases, dialectal monographs) and unpublished collections of vocabulary, she
discusses their gradational meanings falling into three semantic categories:
sufficiency (e.g. galancie osób pojechało (‘quite many’ people have gone)),
completeness (e.g. zupa galanta (‘quite a good’ soup)), and intensity (e.g. galancie
wąski (a ‘very’ narrow)). The identifi cation of the meanings of the discussed
forms as exponents of the intensity of a characteristic is, in most cases,
conditioned on the context. They express various values of many gradational
characteristics which are extracted while being actualised in a sentence. Due to
their limited distribution (mainly Greater Poland, Kuyavia, Łęczyce and Sieradz
Land, northern Lesser Poland, Masovia, Chełmno and Dobrzyń Land) and
presence in the colloquial Polish language, the discussed forms can be classifi ed
as regionalisms with a dialectal origin.
Janusze, halyny, sebixy i karyny. Memy internetowe jako źródło nowych eponimów.
Authors: Burkacka Iwona
Published: February 2021

Internet memes are an important element of the modern culture and their
vocabulary is transmitted to other texts thus becoming an important component
of communication and familiarity with it becomes necessary for the understanding
of various statements and utterances. The object of the description is the meme
eponyms and their derivatives. In the analysis of derivative words, the nest
methodology and synchronic word formation principles were applied, and in the
description of their bases, i.e. eponyms identical to the base ones, references
were made to the studies by B. Dereń and M. Rutkowski. The research permitted
the determination of a high word formation activity of meme eponyms the status
of which varies: some of them are stabilised, which allows their recognition as
dictionary units, while others are textual. A large number of the structures have
been created with the use of the same formants and word formation techniques.
What deserves particular attention is verbs, which are very seldom coined based
on fi rst names. Similarities to creating eponyms based on last names can be
seen in derivation. Adjectives with the suffi xes –owat(y) and –ow(y) are coined
fairly often. The analysed eponyms and their derivatives refer to the stereotypes
of Poles functioning in online texts, which differ from the self-stereotypes
functioning in the Polish culture to date.
Kategoria inwestycji w języku life coachingu.
Authors: Kiełpińska Kaja
Published: February 2021

This paper is a part of the research on the language of life coaching. The text
describes the infl uence of the language of business on the way of speaking of
a man. In the examined text corpus containing, among others, business cards
on websites and blogs of Polish life coaches, press articles, and training offers,
a man is presented as capital to invest in to achieve an undefi ned success.
A part of the study is the examination of the lexemes inwestycja (investment) and
inwestować (to invest) and their collocations. The whole discussion is consistent
with a broader refl ection on the expansion of the language of business, the
language of economics, and the language of neoliberalism over the domains of
life which had not been associated with the world of entrepreneurship before.
Współczesna polska terminologia astronomiczna – dziedzictwo i przyszłość
Authors: Waniakowa Jadwiga , Waniak Wacław
Published: February 2021

This text addresses the Polish scientifi c terminology of astronomy. This
subject is relatively rarely discussed in the linguistic literature. The authors
handle the divisions of astronomical terms by specifi c criteria, the process of
coining the Polish astronomical terminology, and tendencies noticeable in its
formation over time. They also deal with the old astronomical vocabulary, which
has survived to date and is used as the basisfor modern terms. Furthermore,
they analyse awareness of the language and terminology among astronomers in
the past and in the present. Finally, they discuss the current state of the Polish
astronomical terminology. In the conclusion, they postulate the creation of
a web portal dedicated to it, which would not only be a useful terminographical
solution but also improve its situation in the face of the dominance of English.
O kształtowaniu się polskiej terminologii gramatycznej
Authors: Decyk-Zięba Wanda
Published: February 2021

The fi rst Polish grammatical terms came into existence as early as in the
Middle Ages. Due to the role played by Latin in the Polish culture and science,
the relations between the Polish terminology under forma tion and the already
formed Latin terminology are signifi cant. This is noticeable not only in bilingual
(Latin–Polish) grammar book by E. Donat but also in the fi rst Polish-language
grammar books by W. Szylarski and O. Kopczyński. The latter rendered
considerable services to the codifi cation of grammatical terminology. In the
19th century, it was impossible to popularise J. Przybylski’s and A. Morzycki’s
innovative terminological propositions. The development of the Polish scientifi c
linguistics gives rise to a revision of the earlier grammatical systematics, which
results also in a change in the nomenclature. The distinctness of grammatical
lexis is evidenced by the glossaries attached to the grammar books. Some of the
terms have entered the vocabulary common to various varieties of Polish over
time.
Rozwój świadomości językowej obywateli II Rzeczypospolitej na tle procesów integracyjnych.
Authors: Sagan-Bielawa Mirosława
Published: February 2021

The subject matter of this paper is the development of language awareness
in the society in the context of the integration of diverse social classes in Poland
in the period 1918–1939. This study covers several specifi c aspects: 1) language
awareness of the Polish intelligentsia, 2) language integration of the Polish
dialectal environments, 3) language integration of other nationalities, 4) role
of the regionalistic movement and the Polish school in integrating the state. In
the linguistic studies on the interwar period, the researchers have concentrated
on the language used by the educated class and the Polish national identity,
and – as emphasised by the author – not enough attention has been given
to the evolution of the language awareness of the lower social class and the
complicated language and national awareness in the borderline between ethnical
groups. This paper briefl y discusses the source material, which could be used
in further research: peasants’ diaries, Sejm records, linguistic and sociological
studies from the interwar period.
Szacun, szacuneczek, uszanowanko! O derywatach wyrażających szacunek (?)
Authors: Lisczyk Karolina
Published: February 2021

A trend for manifesting various attitudes and feelings by means of derivatives
of the nouns szacunek, uszanowanie, and poszanowanie (respect) is noticeable in
modern Polish. However, their meanings and grammatical statuses are unclear.
Therefore, this paper aims to characterise units such as szacun, szacuneczek,
uszanowanko as well as poszan and poszanowanko in terms of grammar and
semantics. They are formally analysed by describing their structure and their
semantic interpretation is made based on an overview of the material excerpted
using Mocno PL, a corpus search engine, and Google, a web search engine.
The analyses lead to the conclusion that the examined derivatives are stylistic
synonyms of the noun szacunek in certain contexts only. In a majority of cases,
they express approval, while in some contexts they function also as formulas
opening or closing a statement or an utterance.
O tak zwanym samooszustwie w świetle znaczeń wybranych czasowników.
Authors: Zaucha Joanna
Published: February 2021

This paper is dedicated to the analysis of semantic properties of three Polish
verbs: okłamywać się, że [p] (to lie to oneself that [p]), oszukiwać się, że [p] (to
deceive oneself that [p]) and wmówić//wmawiać sobie, że [p] (to convince oneself
that [p]). The author presents arguments in favour of the thesis that these are
separate lexical units, which cannot be reduced to appropriate addressative
verbs. In their semantic structure, she distinguishes, apart from the agent
(epistemic subject), also the position of the controller-sender (metasender), and
uses a conceptual distinction between quotative speech (present in the structure
of the examined units) and assertoric speech in her analysis. By clashing the
properties of Polish exponents of ‘samooszustwo’ (self-deception) and two
competing types of philosophical interpretation of the phenomenon, the author
supports anti-reductionist approaches, which do not identify self-deception with
a lie or deception. She emphasises that none of the lexical exponents referring
to this phenomenon implies ‘oszustwo’ (a deception) or ‘kłamstwo’ (a lie). None
implies such a characteristic of the agent as is a sine qua non condition for the
occurrence of any of the two situations either. From the perspective of language,
‘samooszustwo’ (self-deception) is not deception. It is a kind of an irrational
action that is inconsistent with the agent’s knowledge.
Implementation of the Biological Muscle Mechanism in HASEL Actuators to Leverage Electrohydraulic Principles and Create New Geometries
Authors: Tynan Levi , Naik Ganesh , Gargiulo Gaetano D. , Gunawardana Upul
Published: February 2021

Biomimicry is a field of research that uses the functional and structural components of nature, at macroscopic and microscopic scales, to inspire solutions to problems in our industrial world. Soft robotics is an area of research that uses biomimicry, in this case, mimicking skeletal muscles (referred to in this field as “muscle-mimicking actuators”, to perform task of high difficulty, that can be operated in a harmlessly in different environments. One of the most recent advancements to develop from this field is the “Hydraulically amplified self-healing electrostatics (HASEL) actuator”. However, this method also brings many of the issues associated with the geometry of its design, especially with respect to the efficiency of the system. Though this system mimics the functionality of the skeletal muscle, there is room to adjust the existing electrostatic mechanisms, that distribute the locally produced force, to mimic the structure of the mechanism that distributes the force to the skeletal muscular, which is also locally produced. In this paper, we show that the current electrostatic parallel electrodes, as well as the zipping mechanisms, can be replaced with the sliding mechanism. This eliminates issues associated with compartmentalizing of the primary electrostatic force and the secondary hydraulic forces leading to a more efficient and controlled transmission electrostatic and hydrostatic forces to the load compared to current iterations and their geometric components.
Feeding Behavior of Lactating Dairy Cattle Fed Sorghum-Based Diets and Increasing Levels of Tannic Acid
Authors: Santos José Danrley Cavalcante dos , Saraiva Edilson Paes , Gonzaga Neto Severino , Saraiva Carla Aparecida Soares , Pinheiro Antônio da Costa , Fonsêca Vinícius de França Carvalho , Santos Severino Guilherme Caetano Gonçalves dos , Souza Carla Giselly de , Almeida Maria Elivânia Vieira , Veríssimo Tarsys Noan Silva , Morais Larissa Kellen da Cunha
Published: February 2021

Tannins have been used to trigger positive effects on ruminal metabolism and increase ruminant production efficiency, since they increase the supply of dietary protein in the small intestine. Increasing levels of tannic acid in a sorghum-based diet on the feeding behavior of five Holstein/Zebu crossbred lactating dairy cows was evaluated. They were subjected to a 5 × 5 Latin square experimental design, with fivelevels of tannin as dry matter (DM) in the diet (0.46, 1.30, 2.60, 3.90, and 5.20%). The levels of the tannic acid added were established based on the quantity of condensed tannin in high-tannin sorghum. Thus, diets 2, 3, 4 and 5 were supplemented with 1.5 g (13% DM), 79.5 g (2.6% DM), 157.5 g (3.9% DM), and 235.5 g (5.2% DM) of tannic acid, totaling 0.078, 0.156, 0.234, and 0.321 kg of tannin/day, respectively. Feeding behavior variables included the following states and events: feeding, drinking, rumination, and inactivity; the frequency of visiting the feed and water troughs; and the occurrence of urination and defecation. Water was provided ad libitum, and its intake was measured during periods of behavioral data collection. The use of two tannin sources (hydrolysable and condensed) corresponding to the total level of 5.20% (on a DM basis) in the diet of lactating dairy cattle does not affect the animals’ health. Tannic acid can be included in the diet of lactating dairy cattle at a level of 3.93% (on a DM basis) without inducing variation in the total time spent daily on feed intake. Dairy cows dilute the effects of dietary tannin (5.20%) through greater fragmentation of food consumption in the hours following its supply (180 min). The astringent effects caused by tannin intake in lactating dairy cows are mitigated by increasing the daily water intake as the amount of tannin in the diet increases, starting at a level of 3.90% tannin (on a DM basis).
Pluralistic Seed System Development: A Path to Seed Security?
Authors: Mulesa Teshome Hunduma , Dalle Sarah Paule , Makate Clifton , Haug Ruth , Westengen Ola Tveitereid
Published: February 2021

Seed security is central to crop production for smallholder farmers in developing countries, but it remains understudied in relation to long-term seed sector development. Here, we compare seed systems in two districts of Central Ethiopia characterized by subsistence-oriented teff cultivation and commercially oriented wheat production and relate this to the country’s pluralistic seed system development strategy (PSSDS). Our analysis is based on quantitative and qualitative information from a household survey and focus group discussions with farmers, as well as document review and key informant interviews with actors that make up the seed sector in the study sites. Farmers in both districts used a range of seed sources but primarily obtained their seeds from informal sources. Evidence of seed insecurity was found in both districts, as apparent from discrepancies between what the seed farmers say they prefer and those they actually use, limited availability of improved varieties and especially certified seeds of these, challenges with seed quality from some sources, and differentiated access to preferred seed and information according to sex, age and wealth. We find that the interventions prioritized in the PSSDS address most of the seed security challenges and seed system dysfunctions identified, but implementation lags, particularly for the informal seed system, which is largely neglected by government programs. The intermediate system shows promise, but while some improvements have been made in the formal system, vested political, organizational, and economic interests within key institutions represent major obstacles that must be overcome to achieve truly integrative and inclusive seed sector development.
Investigating the Effect of Imputed Structural Variants from Whole-Genome Sequence on Genome-Wide Association and Genomic Prediction in Dairy Cattle
Authors: Chen Long , Pryce Jennie E. , Hayes Ben J. , Daetwyler Hans D.
Published: February 2021

Structural variations (SVs) are large DNA segments of deletions, duplications, copy number variations, inversions and translocations in a re-sequenced genome compared to a reference genome. They have been found to be associated with several complex traits in dairy cattle and could potentially help to improve genomic prediction accuracy of dairy traits. Imputation of SVs was performed in individuals genotyped with single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) panels without the expense of sequencing them. In this study, we generated 24,908 high-quality SVs in a total of 478 whole-genome sequenced Holstein and Jersey cattle. We imputed 4489 SVs with R2 > 0.5 into 35,568 Holstein and Jersey dairy cattle with 578,999 SNPs with two pipelines, FImpute and Eagle2.3-Minimac3. Genome-wide association studies for production, fertility and overall type with these 4489 SVs revealed four significant SVs, of which two were highly linked to significant SNP. We also estimated the variance components for SNP and SV models for these traits using genomic best linear unbiased prediction (GBLUP). Furthermore, we assessed the effect on genomic prediction accuracy of adding SVs to GBLUP models. The estimated percentage of genetic variance captured by SVs for production traits was up to 4.57% for milk yield in bulls and 3.53% for protein yield in cows. Finally, no consistent increase in genomic prediction accuracy was observed when including SVs in GBLUP.
Application of Next-Generation Sequencing for the Determination of the Bacterial Community in the Gut Contents of Brackish Copepod Species (Acartia hudsonica, Sinocalanus tenellus, and Pseudodiaptomus inopinus)
Authors: Chae Yeon-Ji , Oh Hye-Ji , Chang Kwang-Hyeon , Kwak Ihn-Sil , Jo Hyunbin
Published: February 2021

The gut bacterial communities of copepods can affect metabolic processes, and consequently, their activity can be related to the release of organic substances to the environment. Hence, they are important for organic matter cycling in marine coast food webs. However, information regarding the variation in gut bacterial communities based on copepod species and environmental variations is limited. We analysed the differences in gut bacterial communities from dominant copepod species, i.e., Acartia hudsonica, Sinocalanus tenellus, and Pseudodiaptomus inopinus, in a brackish reservoir. The core bacteria among the copepod species and locations consisted of the following main operational taxonomic units (OTUs): Novosphingobium capsulatum and the family Rhodobacteraceae belonging to Alphaproteobacteria, which is abundant in seawater and freshwater aquatic ecosystems as a zooplankton-associated bacterial community. The bacterial community composition of each copepod (except the core species) showed high variability. The bacterial community diversity differed depending on the copepod species and the sites’ environmental conditions, especially salinity, e.g., compositional variations in the bacterial community of P. inopinus were high at sites with low salinity. Therefore, the gut bacterial community of each copepod species responds differently to the environment.
Disease Surveillance during the Reintroduction of the Iberian Lynx (Lynx pardinus) in Southwestern Spain
Authors: Nájera Fernando , Grande-Gómez Rebeca , Peña Jorge , Vázquez Anastasio , Palacios María Jesús , Rueda Carmen , Corona-Bravo Ana Isabel , Zorrilla Irene , Revuelta Luis , Gil-Molino María , Jiménez José
Published: February 2021

The restoration of Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus) populations in Extremadura (Southwestern Spain) have been carried out since 2014. One of the measures to ensure the success of this program is to examine the effects that diseases may have on reintroduction. Since diseases may be greatly located at certain sites because of the specific ecological requirements of the pathogens and/or vectors, reintroduced individuals may present a risk of infection once released. To determine which pathogens the reintroduced individuals may encounter, we performed a molecular and sero-epidemiological survey in reintroduced and wild-born lynxes. From 2015 to 2019, 69 Iberian lynxes (40 reintroduced and 29 wild-born) were sampled and screened against 10 viral, bacterial and piroplasmid agents. In parallel, 195 sympatric carnivores from the families Canidae, Felidae, Viverridae, Herpestidae and Mustelidae were tested against current or past infections to six common canine/feline viruses. In the Iberian lynx, low contact rates of active infection were obtained for the feline leukemia provirus (FeLV: 1.5%; 1/67), feline parvovirus (FPV: 1.5%; 1/67) and Cytauxzoon sp. (6.7%; 1/15). We also confirmed the emergence of Aujeszky’s disease (suid herpesvirus-1) in this population (SuHV-1: 11.8%; 2/17). Evidence of previous exposure was detected for canine distemper virus (CDV: 5.8%; 3/52), feline coronavirus (1.9%; 1/52), FPV (7.7%; 1/13) and feline calicivirus (FCV: 5.3%; 1/19). From 25 recovered lynx carcasses, we could confirm infectious etiology involvement in the death of four individuals (SuHV-1 in two individuals, coinfection of Cytauxzoon spp. and Aeromonas veronii in one lynx and a Streptococcus canis myositis in another lynx). We confirmed the circulation of CDV, FPV, FeLV, FCV and the feline immunodeficiency virus within the sympatric carnivore community. Due to the low contact rate of infectious agents in such a small, endangered population, we recommend continuing a disease surveillance program to determine the prognostic factors of survival, understand the role that disease may play during the reintroduction and anticipate disease outbreaks that may pose a risk for the entire reintroduced population.
Investigating the Impact of Brief Outings on the Welfare of Dogs Living in US Shelters
Authors: Gunter Lisa M. , Gilchrist Rachel J. , Blade Emily M. , Barber Rebecca T. , Feuerbacher Erica N. , Platzer JoAnna M. , Wynne Clive D. L.
Published: February 2021

Social isolation likely contributes to reduced welfare for shelter-living dogs. Several studies have established that time out of the kennel with a person can improve dogs’ behavior and reduce physiological measures of stress. This study assessed the effects of two-and-a-half-hour outings on the urinary cortisol levels and activity of dogs as they awaited adoption at four animal shelters. Dogs’ urine was collected before and after outings for cortisol:creatinine analysis, and accelerometer devices were used to measure dogs’ physical activity. In total, 164 dogs participated in this study, with 793 cortisol values and 3750 activity measures used in the statistical analyses. We found that dogs’ cortisol:creatinine ratios were significantly higher during the afternoon of the intervention but returned to pre-field trip levels the following day. Dogs’ minutes of low activity were significantly reduced, and high activity significantly increased during the outing. Although dogs’ cortisol and activity returned to baseline after the intervention, our findings suggest that short-term outings do not confer the same stress reduction benefits as previously shown with temporary fostering. Nevertheless, it is possible that these types of outing programs are beneficial to adoptions by increasing the visibility of dogs and should be further investigated to elucidate these effects.
The Management of Lamb Heterogeneity is a Tool for Farmers’ Marketing Strategies
Authors: Nozieres-Petit Marie-Odile , Moulin Charles-Henri
Published: February 2021

The technical processes used in sheep farming systems are elaborate and difficult to control. The result is a certain heterogeneity in marketed lambs. The aim of this study was to understand how farmers use their practices and modes of marketing to manage and exploit this heterogeneity. We analyzed livestock farming systems in Languedoc-Roussillon (South of France) through eight case studies. We characterize the heterogeneity of lambs during their growth and sale and how the farmers cope with this. Our analysis shows how this heterogeneity, whether intentionally created or merely endured, can be used to invest in different marketing chains. Heterogeneity not only offers adaptable farmers marketing opportunities, but also a method of managing production risks.
Toward a New Future for Essential Oils
Authors: Napoli Edoardo , Di Vito Maura
Published: February 2021

Essential oils (EOs) are peculiar phytocomplexes in the already widely varied world of natural bioactive substances [...]
A Novel Ivermectin-Derived Compound D4 and Its Antimicrobial/Biofilm Properties against MRSA
Authors: Tan Xinyi , Xie Haoji , Zhang Bin , Zhou Jiale , Dou Zhende , Wang Xiao , Wang Ning
Published: February 2021

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and its biofilms infection is still a serious threat to global health. It is urgent to develop efficient drugs by repositioning or designing drugs to solve this problem. In this study, the antibacterial/biofilm activity and mechanisms of ivermectin (D) and its 4″-position amino substitution derivative (D4) against MRSA were investigated. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of D was 20 μg/mL, which is four times higher than D4 (MIC = 5 μg/mL). The mechanism research demonstrated that D4 was more potent than D at destroying bacterial cell wall, permeating cell membrane (6.25–36.0% vs 1.92–6.04%) and binding to MRSA genomic DNA. Moreover, after incubation with 10–40 μg/mL D4 for 24 h, the percentages of biofilm decreased by 21.2–92.9%, which was more effective than D (no significant change at 40 μg/mL). The antibiofilm effect is achieved by regulating the expression of related genes (RSH, relQ, rsbU, sigB, spA, and icaD). Additionally, though the higher hemolysis makes D4 a safety risk for intravenous injection, other administration options could be considered as well. Therefore, all the results have indicated that D4 may be a potential candidate compound for the treatment of MRSA and its biofilm infections.
Rapid Methods for Antimicrobial Resistance Diagnostics
Authors: Kaprou Georgia D. , Bergšpica Ieva , Alexa Elena A. , Alvarez-Ordóñez Avelino , Prieto Miguel
Published: February 2021

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is one of the most challenging threats in public health; thus, there is a growing demand for methods and technologies that enable rapid antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST). The conventional methods and technologies addressing AMR diagnostics and AST employed in clinical microbiology are tedious, with high turnaround times (TAT), and are usually expensive. As a result, empirical antimicrobial therapies are prescribed leading to AMR spread, which in turn causes higher mortality rates and increased healthcare costs. This review describes the developments in current cutting-edge methods and technologies, organized by key enabling research domains, towards fighting the looming AMR menace by employing recent advances in AMR diagnostic tools. First, we summarize the conventional methods addressing AMR detection, surveillance, and AST. Thereafter, we examine more recent non-conventional methods and the advancements in each field, including whole genome sequencing (WGS), matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) spectrometry, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and microfluidics technology. Following, we provide examples of commercially available diagnostic platforms for AST. Finally, perspectives on the implementation of emerging concepts towards developing paradigm-changing technologies and methodologies for AMR diagnostics are discussed.
The Antimicrobial Effect of Cold Atmospheric Plasma against Dental Pathogens—A Systematic Review of In-Vitro Studies
Authors: Jungbauer Gert , Moser Dominick , Müller Steffen , Pfister Wolfgang , Sculean Anton , Eick Sigrun
Published: February 2021

Interest in the application of cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) in the medical field has been increasing. Indications in dentistry are surface modifications and antimicrobial interventions. The antimicrobial effect of CAP is mainly attributed to the generation of reactive oxygen and reactive nitrogen species. The aim of this article is to systematically review the available evidence from in-vitro studies on the antimicrobial effect of CAP on dental pathogens. A database search was performed (PubMed, Embase, Scopus). Data concerning the device parameters, experimental set-ups and microbial cultivation were extracted. The quality of the studies was evaluated using a newly designed assessment tool. 55 studies were included (quality score 31–92%). The reduction factors varied strongly among the publications although clusters could be identified between groups of set pathogen, working gases, and treatment time intervals. A time-dependent increase of the antimicrobial effect was observed throughout the studies. CAP may be a promising alternative for antimicrobial treatment in a clinically feasible application time. The introduced standardized protocol is able to compare the outcome and quality of in-vitro studies. Further studies, including multi-species biofilm models, are needed to specify the application parameters of CAP before CAP should be tested in randomized clinical trials.
Attacins: A Promising Class of Insect Antimicrobial Peptides
Authors: Buonocore Francesco , Fausto Anna Maria , Della Pelle Giulia , Roncevic Tomislav , Gerdol Marco , Picchietti Simona
Published: February 2021

Insects produce a large repertoire of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) as the first line of defense against bacteria, viruses, fungi or parasites. These peptides are produced from a large precursor that contains a signal domain, which is cleaved in vivo to produce the mature protein with antimicrobial activity. At present, AMPs from insects include several families which can be classified as cecropins, ponericins, defensins, lebocins, drosocin, Metchnikowin, gloverins, diptericins and attacins according to their structure and/or function. This short review is focused on attacins, a class of glycine-rich peptides/proteins that have been first discovered in the cecropia moth (Hyalophora cecropia). They are a rather heterogeneous group of immunity-related proteins that exhibit an antimicrobial effect mainly against Gram-negative bacteria. Here, we discuss different attacin and attacin-like AMPs that have been discovered so far and analyze their structure and phylogeny. Special focus is given to the physiological importance and mechanism of action of attacins against microbial pathogens together with their potential pharmacological applications, emphasizing their roles as antimicrobials.
Relationship between Physical Activity, Oxidative Stress, and Total Plasma Antioxidant Capacity in Spanish Children from the GENOBOX Study
Authors: Llorente-Cantarero Francisco Jesús , Aguilar-Gómez Francisco Javier , Leis Rosaura , Bueno Gloria , Rupérez Azahara I. , Anguita-Ruiz Augusto , Vázquez-Cobela Rocío , Mesa María Dolores , Moreno Luis A. , Gil Ángel , Aguilera Concepción María , Gil-Campos Mercedes
Published: February 2021

The World Health Organization has recommended performing at least 60 min a day of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and reducing sedentarism in children and adolescents to offer significant health benefits and mitigate health risks. Physical fitness and sports practice seem to improve oxidative stress (OS) status during childhood. However, to our knowledge, there are no data regarding the influence of objectively-measured physical activity (PA) and sedentarism on OS status in children and adolescents. The present study aimed to evaluate the influence of moderate and vigorous PA and sedentarism on OS and plasma total antioxidant capacity (TAC) in a selected Spanish population of 216 children and adolescents from the GENOBOX study. PA (light, moderate, and vigorous) and sedentarism (i.e., sedentary time (ST)) were measured by accelerometry. A Physical Activity-Sedentarism Score (PASS) was developed integrating moderate and vigorous PA and ST levels. Urinary 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) and isoprostane F2α (F2-IsoPs), as markers of OS, were determined by ELISA; and TAC was estimated by colorimetry using an antioxidant kit. A higher PASS was associated with lower plasma TAC and urinary 8-OHdG and F2-IsoPs, showing a better redox profile. Reduced OS markers (8-OHdG and F2-IsoPs) in children with higher PASS may diminish the need of maintaining high concentrations of antioxidants in plasma during rest to achieve redox homeostasis.
A Predictive Model on the Intention to Accept Taekwondo Electronic Protection Devices
Authors: Park Sung-Un , Kim Dong-Kyu , Ahn Hyunkyun
Published: February 2021

This study’s purpose was to establish a predictive model of the intention to accept Taekwondo electronic protector devices through the application of the technology acceptance model. Two hundred and twenty collegiate Taekwondo practitioners affiliated with the Korea Taekwondo Association participated in a survey that included 28 questions (4 relating to demographic characteristics, 12 to precursor variables, and 12 to the technology acceptance model). Correlation and structural equation modeling analyses were applied and a significance level of 0.05 was used. The results were as follows. Perceived quality had a significant influence on perceived ease of use (β = 0.380, t = 3.481, p < 0.001) and perceived usefulness (β = 0.544, t = 5.098, p < 0.001). Visual attractiveness had no significant influence on either perceived ease of use (β = 0.159, t = 1.798, p = 0.072) or perceived usefulness (β = −0.010, t = −0.131, p = 0.896). Wearability had a significant influence on perceived ease of use (β = 0.234, t = 2.867, p < 0.01), but a significantly negative influence on perceived usefulness (β = −0.218, t = −2.932, p < 0.01). Functionality had no significant influence on either perceived ease of use (β = 0.116, t = 1.031, p = 0.302) or perceived usefulness (β = 0.107, t = 1.093, p = 0.274). Perceived ease of use had a significant influence on perceived usefulness (β = 0.418, t = 4.361, p < 0.001) and acceptance intention (β = 0.361, t = 4.031, p < 0.001). Perceived usefulness had a significant influence on acceptance intention (β = 0.525, t = 5.758, p < 0.001). These results suggest that improving the perceived quality and wearability of the devices will enhance their acceptance. We believe that this study provides an appropriate verification model for the intention to accept Taekwondo electronic protection devices.
Robotic Precisely Oocyte Blind Enucleation Method
Authors: Zhao Xiangfei , Cui Maosheng , Zhang Yidi , Liu Yaowei , Zhao Xin
Published: February 2021

Oocyte enucleation is a critical procedure for somatic cell nuclear transfer. Yet, the main steps of oocyte enucleation are still manually operated, which presents several drawbacks such as low precision, high repetition error, and long training time for operators. For improving the operation efficiency and success rate, a robotic precise oocyte blind enucleation method is presented in this paper. The proposed method involves the following key techniques: oocyte translation control, oocyte immobilization and penetration control, and enucleation volume control based on the adaptive slide mode. Compared with the manual blind enucleation method, the proposed robotic blind enucleation method reduced the operation time by 44.5% (manual method: 62 s vs. proposed method: 34.4 s), increased the accuracy of enucleation by 83.1% (manual method: 30.7 vs. proposed method: 5.2), increased the success rate from 80% to 93.3%, and increased the cleavage rate from 41.7% to 63.3%.
The Use of Autogenous Teeth for Alveolar Ridge Preservation: A Literature Review
Authors: Cenicante João , Botelho João , Machado Vanessa , Mendes José João , Mascarenhas Paulo , Alcoforado Gil , Santos Alexandre
Published: February 2021

Alveolar ridge resorption is a natural consequence of teeth extraction, with unpleasant aesthetic and functional consequences that might compromise a future oral rehabilitation. To minimize the biological consequences of alveolar ridge resorption, several surgical procedures have been designed, the so-called alveolar ridge preservation (ARP) techniques. One important characteristic is the concomitant use of biomaterial in ARP. In the past decade, autogenous teeth as a bone graft material in post-extraction sockets have been proposed with very interesting outcomes, yet with different protocols of preparation. Here we summarize the available evidence on autogenous teeth as a biomaterial in ARP, its different protocols and future directions.