bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Geochemical bio-signatures in Martian analogue basaltic environments using laboratory experiments and thermochemical modelling
Authors: Cogliati Simone , Wolsey Elliot , Ramkissoon Nisha K. , Schwenzer Susanne P. , Pearson Victoria K. , Olsson-Francis Karen
Published: November 2022

The identification of geochemical bio-signatures is important for assessing whether life existed on early Mars. In this paper, experimental microbiology and thermochemical modelling were combined to identify potential inorganic bio-signatures for life detection on early Mars. An analogue mixed microbial community from an analogue terrestrial fluvio-lacustrine environment similar to an ancient lacustrine system at Gale Crater was used to study microbial dissolution of a basalt regolith simulant and the formation of bio-signatures over a short time frame (1°month) at 14°C, 2 bar. Microbial growth influenced element dissolution (Mg, Fe, Mn, Ca and K) and the formation of morphologies and Fe-Si amorphous layers on mineral surfaces. Thermochemical models were performed at 14°C, 2 bar; the results were compared with experimental data to predict bio-signatures that would occur over geological timescales. The pH was varied to simulate abiotic and biotic experimental conditions. Model results suggest that, at water to rock ratios of 100 to 38, a less complex secondary mineral assemblage forms during biotic dissolution compared to abiotic weathering. Carbonates, quartz, pyrite and hydroxyapatite form under biotic conditions, whereas in the abiotic system magnetite and phyllosilicates would also precipitate. These results could be used to distinguish between abiotic and biotic basalt weathering processes, aiding the interpretation of data from Mars exploration missions.
Parasitism of terrestrial gastropods by medically-important nematodes in Brazil
Authors: Thiengo Silvana C. , Ramos-de-Souza Jucicleide , Silva Guilherme M. , Fernandez Monica A. , Silva Elizangela F. , Sousa Arielly K. P. , Rodrigues Paulo S. , Mattos Aline C. , Costa Ruam A. F. , Gomes Suzete R.
Published: November 2022

An ample variety of parasitic associations are found between mollusks and nematodes, in which the mollusks may act as intermediate, paratenic or definitive hosts. Some free-living nematodes, in particular those of the order Rhabditida, are also found frequently in terrestrial mollusks. The present study reviews the results of the parasitological testing on samples of terrestrial mollusks conducted at the Brazilian National Reference Laboratory for Schistosomiasis and Malacology between 2008 and 2021. The samples were supplied primarily by the public health authorities from the different regions of Brazil, but also by research institutions and general population. The mollusks were processed individually and the obtained larvae were identified from their morphology and, whenever necessary, by molecular analysis. A total of 1,919 service orders were registered during the period, including 19,758 mollusk specimens collected from 23 of the 26 Brazilian states, as well as the Federal District, totalizing 145 municipalities. There was a marked predominance of the synanthropic species that are widely distributed in Brazil—Achatina fulica (87.08%), Bulimulus tenuissimus (4.18%), Bradybaena similaris (2.06%), and Sarasinula linguaeformis (1.50%). Of the 16,750 terrestrial mollusks examined, nematodes were recorded in 1,308 service orders, with the predominance of the superfamily Metastrongyloidea, in 616 service orders. They included Angiostrongylus cantonensis, rat lungworm, which was found in 252 samples, and Aelurostrongylus abstrusus in 145 samples. Free-living nematodes were found in 952 samples, Ancylostoma caninum and Cruzia tentaculata (previously identified as Strongyluris sp.) in one and 275 samples, respectively, and other parasites in 210 samples (not identified). The results highlight the diversity of the associations between nematodes and terrestrial mollusks in Brazil, in particular invasive and synanthropic species, with emphasis on the giant African land snail, Achatina fulica. They demonstrate the prominent role of this species of mollusk in the transmission of medically-important nematodes, which affect the health of both humans and animals, in particular eosinophilic meningitis, which is caused by Angiostrongylus cantonensis. This reinforces the need for more studies, and justify the growing demand for information as well as parasitological diagnosis of this mollusk, given its wide distribution in Brazil and its impact as an urban pest.
Switzerland-wide Neospora caninum seroprevalence in female cattle and identification of risk factors for infection
Authors: Gliga Diana S. , Basso Walter , Ardüser Flurin , Moore-Jones Gaia , Schares Gereon , Zanolari Patrik , Frey Caroline F.
Published: November 2022

Introduction

Neospora caninum is an important cause of abortion in cattle worldwide. Infection in cattle occurs horizontally by ingestion of oocysts shed by canids or vertically, from an infected dam to the fetus, and may result in abortion, stillbirth, or birth of seropositive offspring. The control of bovine neosporosis is difficult and costly. The objectives of this study were to estimate the current nationwide seroprevalence of N. caninum infections in Swiss cattle and to assess risk factors for infection with this parasite.

Methods

We conducted a cross-sectional study with cattle farms randomly selected and stratified according to population size, resulting in a sample of 780 female cattle. The cattle originated from 161 farms distributed over all Switzerland. The serum samples were tested for antibodies against N. caninum using a commercial ELISA and if inconclusive, retested using an in-house immunoblot technique. To collect farm parameters relevant to N. caninum transmission and prevention, farm owners were mailed a questionnaire which addressed topics putatively related to N. caninum infection such as husbandry, history of abortion, and presence of dogs on farm. Univariate analysis by generalized linear mixed model (with animal seropositivity as outcome variable) and logistic regression modeling (with farm seropositivity as outcome variable) was conducted on farm parameters investigated in the questionnaire.

Results

By ELISA and immunoblot, 4.2% (33/780) of cattle sera yielded positive results. At the farm level, 16.2% (26/161) of the sampled farms had at least one seropositive animal. The return rate of the valid questionnaires was 54.0%. At the animal level, odds for farm seropositivity were 3.8 times higher when rodents had been recorded by the farmer as a problem on the farm. At the farm-level, two protective factors were identified: rearing of replacement heifers and feeding of concentrated feed.

Conclusion

We recorded a low seroprevalence of N. caninum in a random sample of Swiss cattle representative for the years 2017–2018. Based on a questionnaire survey, we could identify risk and protective factors for infection with N. caninum, however their biological relevance needs to be confirmed in further studies.
Fellow cows and conflicting farmers: Public perceptions of dairy farming uncovered through frame analysis
Authors: Jackson Amy , Green Martin J. , Kaler Jasmeet
Published: November 2022

Divergence in opinion over how farm animals should be cared for is creating a disconnect between livestock farming and the public that risks a loss of “social license” to farm. One proposed solution for the dairy farming community is to engage more constructively with the public to develop a shared vision of the industry's future; however, farmers and veterinarians remain reluctant to validate public opinions on farm animal care, in particular, often viewing them as naïve or impractical. Understanding the interpretive frames through which people make sense of dairy farming could help the dairy farming community engage more constructively with public opinion, thereby reducing conflict and providing opportunities to change communication or practice. Hence, frame analysis was conducted on transcripts of 60 face-to-face interviews with members of the UK public, first defining frames using reflexive thematic analysis, then considering the effect of these frames on those holding them. The results showed that dairy farming was mainly characterized by two entities: the cow and the farmer. Three frames were developed for the cow: she was perceived as i) enduring, which induced a sense of moral responsibility for her well-being among participants; ii) a fellow or companion, which led to feelings of a shared or parallel life with her; and iii) a force of nature, where the cow's connection with the natural world and “otherness” was appreciated, or even longed for. These connections were unexpectedly widespread within the sample, with many participants simultaneously holding two or even three frames. The farmer was seen through two frames: i) traditional; or ii) modernizing, but both frames had positive and negative narratives depending on the perceived care of the cow, causing confusion or even conflict about the care the farmer actually delivered. These findings provide new insights into the interpretive lenses through which the public makes sense of the dairy cow and her care, not least the bond the public themselves feel with the animal. They offer fresh opportunities for the dairy industry to improve engagement through more reflexive communication or modification of farming practices to better fit societal expectations about dairy cow welfare.
Psychometric Properties of the South Oaks Gambling Screen Revised for Adolescents in Chinese Adolescent Gamblers
Authors: Zhou Hui , Chen Juliet Honglei , Ling Haofeng , Tong Kwok Kit , Wu Anise M. S.
Published: November 2022

Objectives: Adolescent gambling is a public health concern of increasing importance. The lack of comprehensive evaluations on adolescent gambling disorder (GD) assessment tools hinders the timely detection of Chinese adolescents with gambling problems. This study aimed to evaluate the psychometric properties of South Oaks Gambling Screen-Revised for Adolescents (SOGS-RA) and determine its optimal screening cutoff score among Chinese adolescent gamblers to address this gap.

Methods: We surveyed 1407 Chinese secondary school students aged 11–19 years in Macao, China, among which 258 past-year gamblers’ data was used for assessing SOGS-RA’s performance in detecting risk for adolescent GD.

Results: SOGS-RA displayed satisfactory reliability and validity for assessing probable GD among Chinese adolescent gamblers. Under the DSM-5 GD framework, we proposed ≥4 as SOGS-RA’s optimal cutoff score of screening for probable GD and further identified 5.8% of past-year gamblers prone to probable GD in the present study.

Conclusion: SOGS-RA can provide a reliable and valid assessment of adolescent’ GD risk in the Chinese context, facilitate early identification of probable GD cases, and alleviate the public health concern for Chinese adolescents.
Redefining Risk Stratification and Endpoints for Clinical Trials in Kidney Transplantation: Rationale and Methodology of Proposals Submitted to the European Medicines Agency by the European Society for Organ Transplantation
Authors: Naesens Maarten , Schneeberger Stefan ,   the ESOT Working Group
Published: November 2022

The European Society for Organ Transplantation (ESOT) submitted a Broad Scientific Advice request to the European Medicines Agency (EMA) in 2018, to explore whether updating guidelines on clinical trial endpoints would encourage innovations in kidney transplantation research, thereby improving long-term outcomes for allograft recipients. The request was refined collaboratively by the EMA and ESOT, with the EMA issuing a final response in December 2020. This Transplant International special issue explores the topics that were the focus of these interactions between the EMA and ESOT. Articles explore the current issues and dilemmas in kidney transplantation, primarily relating to unclear or outdated risk stratification and markers of transplantation success, although several potential improvements for outcomes assessment are also suggested. Discussions between the EMA and ESOT and recommendations are summarized, in the hope that this project will generate further discussion eventually generating a consensus on clinical trial endpoints and risk stratification, increase the quality of research in transplantation medicine, and improve long-term outcomes for kidney transplant recipients.
Topic Scaling: A Joint Document Scaling–Topic Model Approach to Learn Time-Specific Topics
Authors: Diaf Sami , Fritsche Ulrich
Published: November 2022

This paper proposes a new methodology to study sequential corpora by implementing a two-stage algorithm that learns time-based topics with respect to a scale of document positions and introduces the concept of Topic Scaling, which ranks learned topics within the same document scale. The first stage ranks documents using Wordfish, a Poisson-based document-scaling method, to estimate document positions that serve, in the second stage, as a dependent variable to learn relevant topics via a supervised Latent Dirichlet Allocation. This novelty brings two innovations in text mining as it explains document positions, whose scale is a latent variable, and ranks the inferred topics on the document scale to match their occurrences within the corpus and track their evolution. Tested on the U.S. State Of The Union two-party addresses, this inductive approach reveals that each party dominates one end of the learned scale with interchangeable transitions that follow the parties’ term of office, while it shows for the corpus of German economic forecasting reports a shift in the narrative style adopted by economic institutions following the 2008 financial crisis. Besides a demonstrated high accuracy in predicting in-sample document positions from topic scores, this method unfolds further hidden topics that differentiate similar documents by increasing the number of learned topics to expand potential nested hierarchical topic structures. Compared to other popular topic models, Topic Scaling learns topics with respect to document similarities without specifying a time frequency to learn topic evolution, thus capturing broader topic patterns than dynamic topic models and yielding more interpretable outputs than a plain Latent Dirichlet Allocation.
How to Find the Right Partner? Open Innovation Partner Selection Process
Authors: Arsanti Tutuk Ari , Rupidara Neil Semuel , Bondarouk Tanya
Published: November 2022

The aim of this paper is to gain an understanding of the partner selection process for open innovation. The inability to choose partners can lead to problems such as opportunistic behavior, the failure of open innovation, and a reluctance to collaborate. Therefore, partner selection is crucial in open innovation. Attention is directed to the determining factors that must be considered in the selection of a partner. The contents of the paper are mainly based on in-depth interviews with experts and practitioners who represent both organizations and individuals as actors in open innovation activities. The results show that complementarity, compatibility, and trust are important considerations in selecting the right partner. The implication of this research is that a managerial approach is needed that supports the company’s ability to find and evaluate external sources of knowledge to support innovation. The originality of this article is to provide an understanding that the existence of an organization in a network helps organizations access external knowledge resources. Involving external parties in the company’s innovation process accelerates innovation. In this case, getting the right partner is very important.
It Is Time for Anti-Bribery: Financial Institutions Set the New Strategic “Roadmap” to Mitigate Illicit Practices and Corruption in the Market
Authors: Ragazou Konstantina , Passas Ioannis , Garefalakis Alexandros
Published: November 2022

The financial sector is characterized by complexity due to the management of a large volume of transactions, which can lead to the difficulty of considering, identifying, and monitoring them. The lack of mechanisms in monitoring and control transactions can contribute to the development of illegal practices within a company, such as fraud, corruption, bribery, and money laundering. These phenomena can affect financial institutions negatively. Therefore, the development of an appropriate corporate governance system can ensure to members of the board and executives in a company that any illegal practice can be detected. This study aims to highlight the factors that contribute to the development of illegal practices within European financial institutions. This can help executives to plan and mitigate the illicit practices that may emerge. For this purpose, a binary logit regression analysis on panel data from 2018 to 2020 was applied to 336 European financial companies. The findings of this research emphasize the crucial role of corporate governance in the prevention of the development of illicit issues within European financial institutions, while human resources can be characterized as a pathway to corruption. Both factors, corporate governance and human resources, are main pillars of environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG), which indicates the need of the financial sector in Europe for the elaboration of anti-corruption strategies. Thus, companies within the sector can improve their ESG score.
Fusion of Sustainability in the Tourism Industry for Improved Competitiveness: Investigation of Five-Star Hotels in Kuwait
Authors: Abdelkader Ahmed
Published: November 2022

Examining the influence of adopting sustainability strategies on the competitiveness of five-star hotels operating in the State of Kuwait is the aim of this study. Sustainability strategies are represented by the responsibility towards four components, namely: the society, the employees, the environment, and the customers. The competitiveness variable is represented by hotels’ competitive advantage (cost, quality, flexibility, delivery, and creativity). The study is applied to the population of five-star hotels in the state of Kuwait (19 registered at the time of the study), and the final sample consisted of 294 hotel employees, and 360 hotel guests and customers totalling 654 observations. Responses were collected between November 2021 and January 2022 using an electronic questionnaire that was sent by email to hotels’ public relations managers for the hotel employees’ sample; and it was posted on several social media platforms and tourism forums for the customers’ sample. The findings indicate that five-star hotels in Kuwait are committed to sustainability implementation. The results of the regression model show a medium influential power of sustainability criteria in achieving a competitive advantage from both the employees’ and customers’ perspectives, indicating a statistical relationship between the variables. It is recommended that hotels should take advantage of the conclusions the study has reached in terms of the relationship between sustainability criteria and the achievement of a competitive advantage that would trigger favourable outcomes.
Trajectory Optimization with Complex Obstacle Avoidance Constraints via Homotopy Network Sequential Convex Programming
Authors: Li Wenbo , Li Wentao , Cheng Lin , Gong Shengping
Published: November 2022

Space vehicles’ real-time trajectory optimization is the key to future automatic guidance. Still, the current sequential convex programming (SCP) method suffers from a low convergence rate and poor real-time performance when dealing with complex obstacle avoidance constraints (OACs). Given the above challenges, this work combines homotopy and neural network techniques with SCP to propose an innovative algorithm. Firstly, a neural network was used to fit the minimum signed distance field at obstacles’ different “growth” states to represent the OACs. Then, the network was embedded with the SCP framework, thus smoothly transforming the OACs from simple to complex. Numerical simulations showed that the proposed algorithm can efficiently deal with trajectory optimization under complex OACs such as a “maze”, and the algorithm has a high convergence rate and flexible extensibility.
Effects of Restricted Availability of Drinking Water on Blood Characteristics and Constituents in Dorper, Katahdin, and St. Croix Sheep from Different Regions of the USA
Authors: Hussein Ali Hussein , Patra Amlan Kumar , Puchala Ryszard , Wilson Blake Kenyon , Goetsch Arthur Louis
Published: November 2022

Different hair sheep breeds originated from diverse climatic regions of the USA may show varying adaptability to water deprivation. Therefore, the objective of this study was to assess the effects of restricted availability of drinking water on blood characteristics and constituent concentrations in different breeds of hair sheep from various regions the USA. For this study, 45 Dorper (initial age = 3.7 ± 0.34 yr), 45 Katahdin (3.9 ± 0.36 yr), and 44 St. Croix (2.7 ± 0.29 yr) sheep from 45 farms in 4 regions of the USA (Midwest, Northwest, Southeast, and central Texas) were used. Ad libitum water intake was determined during wk 2 of period one, with 75% of ad libitum water intake offered during wk 2 of period two, and 50% of ad libitum water intake offered for 5 wk (i.e., wk 5–9) in period three. Water was offered at 07:00 or 07:30 h, with blood samples collected at 08:00 and(or) 14:00 h in wk 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, and 9 for variables such as hemoglobin and oxygen saturation and wk 2, 4, 6, 8, and 9 for concentrations of glucose and other constituents. The blood oxygen concentration at 08:00 h was 4.86, 4.93, and 5.25 mmol/L in period one and 4.89, 4.81, and 5.74 mmol/L in period three for Dorper, Katahdin, and St. Croix, respectively (SEM = 0.160; p = 0.001). Blood oxygen at 14:00 h was 4.37, 4.61, and 4.74 mmol/L in period one and 4.66, 4.81, and 5.46 mmol/L in period three for Dorper, Katahdin, and St. Croix, respectively (SEM = 0.154; p = 0.003). St. Croix were able to maintain a higher (p < 0.001) blood oxygen concentration than Dorper and Katahdin regardless of water availability. The pattern of change in blood concentrations with advancing time varied considerably among constituents. However, concentrations of glucose (55.3 and 56.2 mg/dL; SEM = 0.84), lactate (24.1 and 22.5 mg/dL; SEM = 0.79), total protein (7.08 and 7.17 g/dL; SEM = 0.0781), and albumin (2.59 and 2.65 g/dL in wk 2 and 9, respectively; SEM = 0.029) were similar (p > 0.05) between periods one and three. Conversely, concentrations of cholesterol (56.2 and 69.3 mg/dL; SEM = 1.33) and triglycerides (28.6 and 34.5 mg/dL in wk 2 and 9, respectively; SEM = 0.98) were greater (p < 0.05) in period three vs. 1. In conclusion, water restriction altered almost all the blood variables depending upon severity and duration of restriction, but the hair sheep breeds used from different regions of the USA, especially St. Croix, displayed considerable capacity to adapt to limited drinking water availability.
Would the Cephalic Development in the Purebred Arabian Horse and Its Crosses Indicate a Paedomorphic Process?
Authors: Salamanca-Carreño Arcesio , Parés-Casanova Pere M. , Monroy-Ochoa Néstor Ismael , Vélez-Terranova Mauricio
Published: November 2022

This study examined paedomorphosis in PAH and F1 crossbreds. A sample of 99 horses was selected from 40 different breeders and consisted of three groups: stallions (n = 16), mares (n = 53), and geldings (n = 30), ranging from 10 months to 27 years in age. All horses presented a concave celloid lateral left head profile in the acquired photographic images. The hypothesis proposed in this study suggested the lateral profile of the head in juveniles was representational in the adult form due to the neonate’s facial bones (part of the splanchnocranium) developing at a different rate to those of the skull. The methodology utilized geometric morphometrics to identify 23 landmarks so as to identify profile curvature indicative between the three groups (stallions, mares, and geldings). Principal component analysis reduced the number of variables to 14 examinable landmarks. Using a two-NPMANOVA and multivariate regression test, it was demonstrated that an isometric relationship between the concave celloid profile in the juvenile and its adult counterpart existed. This result supported the hypothesis that PAH and F1 crossbreds expressed a paedomorphic trait due to the adult form retaining the concave celloid profile identified in the juvenile.
Contemporary Cultural Trade of Lion Body Parts
Authors: Coals Peter G. R. , Mbongwa Nolwazi S. , Naude Vincent N. , Williams Vivienne L.
Published: November 2022

Trade in lion parts associated with cultural and traditional use is poorly understood. Here we sought to better understand the role and use of lion body parts in the commercial traditional medicine (muthi) trade of South Africa. In 2019 we conducted a semi-structured questionnaire survey of muthi traders (n = 10) and traditional healers (n = 20) which explored the significance and symbolism of lions, traded parts and preferences, sources and supply of lion parts, and perceived sustainability of lion derivatives in the South African muthi trade. Our results suggest a cultural importance of lion associated with the umndawu ancestral spirit in particular, as well as in the training and practice of cultural–spiritual healers. Lion paws and parts thereof were most frequently reported as sold by traders and demanded by healers, correlating with recent trends in body-part removals from lion mortalities. Respondents indicated that lion parts were obtained from a variety of sources including wild lion populations in neighbouring countries and captive-breeding farms. Our findings are discussed relative to current concerns in lion conservation and highlight a need for further understanding of the traditional medicine complex, the influence that ancestral spirits have on lion body-part trade, and increased engagement with traditional medicine stakeholders.
Molecular Investigation of Tick-Borne Haemoparasites Isolated from Indigenous Zebu Cattle in the Tanga Region, Tanzania
Authors: Ringo Aaron Edmond , Nonga Hezron Emanuel , Galon Eloiza May , Ji Shengwei , Rizk Mohamed Abdo , El-Sayed Shimaa Abd El-Salam , Mohanta Uday Kumar , Ma Zhuowei , Chikufenji Boniface , Do Thanh Thom , Xuan Xuenan
Published: November 2022

Tick-borne diseases (TBDs) are a major hindrance to livestock production in pastoral communities of Africa. Although information on tick-borne infections is necessary for setting up control measures, this information is limited in the pastoral communities of Tanzania. Therefore, this study aimed to provide an overview of the tick-borne infections in the indigenous cattle of Tanzania. A total of 250 blood samples were collected from the indigenous zebu cattle in the Tanga region, Tanzania. Then, we conducted a molecular survey using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and gene sequencing to detect and identify the selected tick-borne pathogens. The PCR was conducted using assays, based on Theileria spp. (18S rRNA), Theileria parva (p104), Theileria mutans and T. taurotragi (V4 region of the 18S rRNA), Babesia bigemina (RAP-1a), B. bovis (SBP-2), Anaplasma marginale (heat shock protein groEL) and Ehrlichia ruminantium (pCS20). The PCR screening revealed an overall infection rate of (120/250, 48%) for T. mutans, (64/250, 25.6%) for T. parva, (52/250, 20.8%) for T. taurotragi, (33/250, 13.2%) for B. bigemina and (81/250, 32.4%) for A. marginale. Co-infections of up to four pathogens were revealed in 44.8% of the cattle samples. A sequence analysis indicated that T. parva p104 and A. marginale groEL genes were conserved among the sampled animals with sequence identity values of 98.92–100% and 99.88–100%, respectively. Moreover, the B. bigemina RAP-1a gene and the V4 region of the 18S rRNA of T. mutans genes were diverse among the sampled cattle, indicating the sequence identity values of 99.27–100% and 22.45–60.77%, respectively. The phylogenetic analyses revealed that the T. parva (p104) and A. marginale (groEL) gene sequences of this study were clustered in the same clade. In contrast, the B. bigemina (RAP-1a) and the T. mutans V4 region of the 18S rRNA gene sequences appeared in the different clades. This study provides important basement data for understanding the epidemiology of tick-borne diseases and will serve as a scientific basis for planning future control strategies in the study area.
Exosomes Derived from Yak Follicular Fluid Increase 2-Hydroxyestradiol Secretion by Activating Autophagy in Cumulus Cells
Authors: Xu Ruihua , Wang Jinglei , Wang Meng , Gao Liqing , Zhang Rui , Zhao Ling , Liu Bin , Han Xiaohong , Baloch Abdul Rasheed , Cui Yan , Yu Sijiu , Pan Yangyang
Published: November 2022

Exosomes in the follicular fluid can carry and transfer regulatory molecules to recipient cells, thus influencing their biological functions. However, the specific effects of yak follicular fluid exosomes on 2-hydroxyestrodiol (2-OHE2) secretion remain unknown. Here, we investigated whether yak follicular fluid exosomes can increase 2-OHE2 secretion through the activation of autophagy in cumulus cells (YCCs). In vitro cultured YCCs were treated with yak follicular fluid exosomes for 6, 12, and 24 h. The effects of yak follicular fluid exosomes on autophagy and 2-OHE2 secretion were evaluated through real-time quantitative fluorescence PCR (RT-qPCR), Western blotting (WB), transfected with RFP-GFP-LC3, immunohistochemistry, and ELISA. To further investigate whether 2-OHE2 secretion was related to autophagy, YCCs were administered with yak follicular fluid exosomes, 3-methyladenine (3-MA), and rapamycin (RAPA). The results revealed that treatment with yak follicular fluid exosomes activated autophagy in YCCs and increased 2-OHE2 secretion. Conversely, the inhibition of autophagy with 3-MA blocked these effects, suggesting that autophagy has an important role in 2-OHE2 secretion in YCCs. Treatment of YCCs with rapamycin showed similar results with yak follicular fluid exosomes as there was an increase in 2-OHE2 secretion due to the activation of autophagy in the treated cumulus cells. Our results demonstrate that autophagy is enhanced by yak follicular fluid exosomes, and this is associated with an increase in 2-OHE2 secretion in YCCs.
Financial and Socio-Economic Effects of Investment in the Context of Dog Population Management
Authors: Ćetković Jasmina , Žarković Miloš , Knežević Miloš , Cvetkovska Meri , Vujadinović Radoje , Rutešić Snežana , Beljkaš Željka , Grujić Marija , Adžić Bojan
Published: November 2022

The modern world faces serious challenges associated with the presence of stray dogs on the streets, especially in urban areas. Vardar Planning Region in North Macedonia, which consists of nine municipalities, experiences such challenges. According to current reports, the number of stray dogs on the streets of cities in this region has increased, which has resulted in an increase in the number of dog attacks on residents. As the existing capacities are small in the registered shelters, we considered the possibility of building a new shelter for stray dogs to meet the needs of this region. The goal of our paper is the evaluation of the financial and socio-economic justifications for the construction of a shelter for stray dogs in the Vardar Planning Region (VPR). The results of the financial justification analysis show that the project does not provide satisfactory financial results. Namely, the Financial Net Present Value (FNPV) is negative, with a value of EUR 75,291. The Financial Internal Rate of Return (FIRR) is 0.57%, lower than the discount rate, which is not acceptable for a private investor. The Financial Benefit–Cost Ratio (FB/CR) of this project is 0.925, suggesting that the total discounted costs are greater than the total discounted revenues. On the other hand, the expected socio-economic benefits from this project are multifaceted, including savings in stray dog bite costs, savings in the cost of traffic accidents caused by stray dogs, and savings in the treatment of diseases caused by stray dogs. The results of the economic analysis show that this investment has full socio-economic justification and that it should be implemented. The Economic Net Present Value (ENPV) is positive and amounts to EUR 789,916. The Economic Internal Rate of Return (EIRR) is 25.94% and the Economic Benefit–Cost Ratio (EB/CR) amounts to 1.90, i.e., greater than 1. The results of the sensitivity analysis also confirm the justification for the realization of this project.
Effect of Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF) on Cryopreserved Piedmontese Bull Semen Characteristics
Authors: Alkhawagah Ahmed R. , Ricci Alessandro , Banchi Penelope , Martino Nicola A. , Poletto Mariagrazia Lucia , Donato Gian Guido , Nervo Tiziana , Vincenti Leila
Published: November 2022

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect on fresh and post-thaw beef bull semen quality of the supplementation of epidermal growth factor (EGF) to the semen extender at various concentrations (0-control, 50, 100, 200, and 400 ng/mL). For 8 weeks, sperm was collected from four fertile bulls, yielding a total of 32 ejaculates. Semen samples were pooled, diluted with Bullxcell® extender, and then cooled, equilibrated, and frozen. After thawing, semen was tested for motility and velocity parameters. Furthermore, semen was evaluated for vitality, integrity, mitochondrial and antioxidant (SOD) activities, mucus penetration distance, and in vitro fertilizing capability. The supplementation with EGF prior to cryopreservation improved the total sperm motility at various concentrations over long incubation periods (from 1 to 4 h). Interestingly, EGF addition improved both progressive and rapid motility, particularly at 50, 200, and 400 ng/mL. In addition, EGF, primarily at 200 and 400 ng/mL, significantly increased several velocity parameters after different incubation periods. We can conclude that adding EGF to bull sperm extender before cryopreservation has a positive stimulatory effect on sperm motility without affecting vitality, integrity, or in vitro fertilizing capability.
Ring Stiffened Cylindrical Shell Structures: State-of-the-Art Review
Authors: Pasternak Hartmut , Li Zheng , Juozapaitis Algirdas , Daniūnas Alfonsas
Published: November 2022

The cylindrical shell is a widely used structure in engineering practice, and its main form of failure is instability due to buckling. As a classical problem in the field of mechanics, the stability of cylindrical shells has been studied extensively. However, the large difference between the theoretically predicted results of the critical buckling load and the experimental results for the cylindrical shells subjected to uniform axial pressure has contributed to the continuous development of the shell stability theory. This paper briefly reviews the development of the shell stability theory, then presents an overview of the current status and trends of stability research on the stiffened cylindrical shell widely used in cylindrical shell structures in real engineering, and finally presents the difficulties and directions of future stability research on cylindrical shell structures in engineering applications.
Seasonal Population of Drosophila suzukii (Diptera: Drosophilidae) and Pesticide Use Pattern after Its Invasion in Caneberry Crops in Pennsylvania (USA)
Authors: Joshi Neelendra K. , Demchak Kathleen , Biddinger David
Published: November 2022

Drosophila suzukii (Diptera: Drosophilidae) is a major invasive pest of caneberries (e.g., blackberries and raspberries) and other thin-skinned fruit crops. In recent years, it has been reported as an economically important fruit pest in many countries. In caneberries, the timely detection and management of invasive insect pests such as D. suzukii is important to maintain profitability and avoid fruit export restriction. Invasions by such new pest species in commercial crop production often changes pesticide use patterns and frequency as growers try to control pest populations on their farms. In this study, we examined the seasonal population of D. suzukii and pesticide use patterns before and after D. suzukii invasion in primocane-fruiting raspberry and floricane-fruiting blackberry crop production in Pennsylvania. The results of seasonal monitoring conducted over two years showed higher populations of D. suzukii fruit flies during the settle period. The evaluation of crop-specific pesticide programs showed an increase in pesticide use frequency compared to the crop season before D. suzukii invasion in the blackberry planting. Similarly, over a five-fold increase in pesticide application was recorded in the raspberry planting in the year following invasion. The implications of increased pesticide use patterns in blackberry and raspberry production are discussed.
A Climatological Study of Successive Tropical Cyclone Events in North Atlantic
Authors: Sun Xia , Xie Lian
Published: November 2022

This study presents the climatological characteristics and key environmental features that are conducive to the development of successive tropical cyclone events (STCs) over the North Atlantic Ocean. Composite analyses were conducted to analyze the temporal, spatial, and mean characteristics of the environmental conditions associated with historical STC events during the study period of 1950–2020. The results show that the tropical cyclone (TC)-induced Rossby waves could explain a majority of Atlantic STCs when newly formed TCs develop to the east of the pre-existing TC during the study period. The remaining STCs which could not be explained by the Rossby wave dispersion theory were likely the result of favorable environmental conditions conducive to the occurrence of the successive development of TCs. The composite analysis of the environmental conditions at various time scales reveals that the low-frequency variability of the environmental conditions likely plays a significant role in modulating the STCs over the North Atlantic Ocean.
An Exploratory Study of MoS2 as Anode Material for Potassium Batteries
Authors: Fagiolari Lucia , Versaci Daniele , Di Berardino Federica , Amici Julia , Francia Carlotta , Bodoardo Silvia , Bella Federico
Published: November 2022

Potassium-based batteries represent one of the emerging classes of post-lithium electrochemical energy storage systems in the international scene, due to both the abundance of raw materials and achievable cell potentials not far from those of lithium batteries. In this context, it is important to define electrodes and electrolytes that give reproducible performance and that can be used by different research groups as an internal standard when developing new materials. We propose molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) as a valid anode choice, being a commercial and easily processable material, the 2D layered structure of which is promising for large potassium ions reversible storage. It has been proven to work for hundreds of cycles, keeping a constant specific capacity around 100 mAh g−1 while also preserving its electrochemical interphase and morphology.
Effective Capacitance from Equivalent Electrical Circuit as a Tool for Monitoring Non-Adherent Cell Suspensions at Low Frequencies
Authors: De León-Hernández Alma , Romero-Ornelas Luisa , Ramírez-Chavarría Roberto G. , Ramón-Gallegos Eva , Sánchez-Pérez Celia
Published: November 2022

Analyzing the electrical double layer (EDL) in electrical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) measurement at low frequencies remains a challenging task for sensing purposes. In this work, we propose two approaches to deal with the EDL in measuring impedance for particles and non-adherent cells in an electrolytic suspension. The first approach is a simple procedure to compute a normalized electrical impedance spectrum named dispersed medium index (DMi). The second is the EIS modeling through an equivalent electric circuit based on the so-called effective capacitance (Cef), which unifies the EDL phenomena. Firstly, as an experiment under controlled conditions, we examine polymer particles of 6, 15, and 48 μm in diameter suspended in a 0.9% sodium chloride solution. Subsequently, we used K-562 cells and leukocytes suspended in a culture medium (RPMI-1640 supplemented) for a biological assay. As the main result, the DMi is a function of the particle concentration. In addition, it shows a tendency with the particle size; regardless, it is limited to a volume fraction of 0.03 × 10−4 to 58 × 10−4. The DMi is not significantly different between K-562 cells and leukocytes for most concentrations. On the other hand, the Cef exhibits high applicability to retrieve a function that describes the concentration for each particle size, the K-562 cells, and leukocytes. The Cef also shows a tendency with the particle size without limitation within the range tested, and it allows distinction between the K-562 and leukocytes in the 25 cells/µL to 400 cells/µL range. We achieved a simple method for determining an Cef by unifying the parameters of an equivalent electrical circuit from data obtained with a conventional potentiostat. This simple approach is affordable for characterizing the population of non-adherent cells suspended in a cell culture medium.
Biomedical Applications of Microfluidic Devices: A Review
Authors: Gharib Ghazaleh , Bütün İsmail , Muganlı Zülâl , Kozalak Gül , Namlı İlayda , Sarraf Seyedali Seyedmirzaei , Ahmadi Vahid Ebrahimpour , Toyran Erçil , van Wijnen Andre J. , Koşar Ali
Published: November 2022

Both passive and active microfluidic chips are used in many biomedical and chemical applications to support fluid mixing, particle manipulations, and signal detection. Passive microfluidic devices are geometry-dependent, and their uses are rather limited. Active microfluidic devices include sensors or detectors that transduce chemical, biological, and physical changes into electrical or optical signals. Also, they are transduction devices that detect biological and chemical changes in biomedical applications, and they are highly versatile microfluidic tools for disease diagnosis and organ modeling. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the significant advances that have been made in the development of microfluidics devices. We will discuss the function of microfluidic devices as micromixers or as sorters of cells and substances (e.g., microfiltration, flow or displacement, and trapping). Microfluidic devices are fabricated using a range of techniques, including molding, etching, three-dimensional printing, and nanofabrication. Their broad utility lies in the detection of diagnostic biomarkers and organ-on-chip approaches that permit disease modeling in cancer, as well as uses in neurological, cardiovascular, hepatic, and pulmonary diseases. Biosensor applications allow for point-of-care testing, using assays based on enzymes, nanozymes, antibodies, or nucleic acids (DNA or RNA). An anticipated development in the field includes the optimization of techniques for the fabrication of microfluidic devices using biocompatible materials. These developments will increase biomedical versatility, reduce diagnostic costs, and accelerate diagnosis time of microfluidics technology.
Photonic Microfluidic Technologies for Phytoplankton Research
Authors: Algorri José Francisco , Roldán-Varona Pablo , Fernández-Manteca María Gabriela , López-Higuera José Miguel , Rodriguez-Cobo Luis , Cobo-García Adolfo
Published: November 2022

Phytoplankton is a crucial component for the correct functioning of different ecosystems, climate regulation and carbon reduction. Being at least a quarter of the biomass of the world’s vegetation, they produce approximately 50% of atmospheric O2 and remove nearly a third of the anthropogenic carbon released into the atmosphere through photosynthesis. In addition, they support directly or indirectly all the animals of the ocean and freshwater ecosystems, being the base of the food web. The importance of their measurement and identification has increased in the last years, becoming an essential consideration for marine management. The gold standard process used to identify and quantify phytoplankton is manual sample collection and microscopy-based identification, which is a tedious and time-consuming task and requires highly trained professionals. Microfluidic Lab-on-a-Chip technology represents a potential technical solution for environmental monitoring, for example, in situ quantifying toxic phytoplankton. Its main advantages are miniaturisation, portability, reduced reagent/sample consumption and cost reduction. In particular, photonic microfluidic chips that rely on optical sensing have emerged as powerful tools that can be used to identify and analyse phytoplankton with high specificity, sensitivity and throughput. In this review, we focus on recent advances in photonic microfluidic technologies for phytoplankton research. Different optical properties of phytoplankton, fabrication and sensing technologies will be reviewed. To conclude, current challenges and possible future directions will be discussed.
Comparative Colorimetric Sensor Based on Bi-Phase γ-/α-Fe2O3 and γ-/α-Fe2O3/ZnO Nanoparticles for Lactate Detection
Authors: Escalona-Villalpando Ricardo A. , Viveros-Palma Karen , Espinosa-Lagunes Fabiola I. , Rodríguez-Morales José A. , Arriaga Luis G. , Macazo Florika C. , Minteer Shelley D. , Ledesma-García Janet
Published: November 2022

This work reports on Fe2O3 and ZnO materials for lactate quantification. In the synthesis, the bi-phase γ-/α-Fe2O3 and γ-/α-Fe2O3/ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) were obtained for their application in a lactate colorimetric sensor. The crystalline phases of the NPs were analyzed by XRD and XPS techniques. S/TEM images showed spheres with an 18 nm average and a needle length from 125 to 330 nm and 18 nm in diameter. The γ-/α-Fe2O3 and γ-/α-Fe2O3/ZnO were used to evaluate the catalytic activity of peroxidase with the substrate 3,3,5,5-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB), obtaining a linear range of 50 to 1000 μM for both NPs, and a 4.3 μM and 9.4 μM limit of detection (LOD), respectively. Moreover, γ-/α-Fe2O3 and γ-/α-Fe2O3/ZnO/lactate oxidase with TMB assays in the presence of lactate showed a linear range of 50 to 1000 µM, and both NPs proved to be highly selective in the presence of interferents. Finally, a sample of human serum was also tested, and the results were compared with a commercial lactometer. The use of ZnO with Fe2O3 achieved a greater response toward lactate oxidation reaction, and has implementation in a lactate colorimetric sensor using materials that are economically accessible and easy to synthesize.
Aggregation-Induced Emission Luminogens for Enhanced Photodynamic Therapy: From Organelle Targeting to Tumor Targeting
Authors: Zhou Jiahe , Qi Fen , Chen Yuncong , Zhang Shuren , Zheng Xiaoxue , He Weijiang , Guo Zijian
Published: November 2022

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) has attracted much attention in the field of anticancer treatment. However, PDT has to face challenges, such as aggregation caused by quenching of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and short 1O2 lifetime, which lead to unsatisfactory therapeutic effect. Aggregation-induced emission luminogen (AIEgens)-based photosensitizers (PSs) showed enhanced ROS generation upon aggregation, which showed great potential for hypoxic tumor treatment with enhanced PDT effect. In this review, we summarized the design strategies and applications of AIEgen-based PSs with improved PDT efficacy since 2019. Firstly, we introduce the research background and some basic knowledge in the related field. Secondly, the recent approaches of AIEgen-based PSs for enhanced PDT are summarized in two categories: (1) organelle-targeting PSs that could cause direct damage to organelles to enhance PDT effects, and (2) PSs with tumor-targeting abilities to selectively suppress tumor growth and reduce side effects. Finally, current challenges and future opportunities are discussed. We hope this review can offer new insights and inspirations for the development of AIEgen-based PSs for better PDT effect.