bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Leaf Intracellular Water Transport Rate Based on Physiological Impedance: A Possible Role of Leaf Internal Retained Water in Photosynthesis and Growth of Tomatoes
Authors: Xing Deke , Mao Renlong , Li Zhenyi , Wu Yanyou , Qin Xiaojie , Fu Weiguo
Published: April 2022

Water consumed by photosynthesis and growth rather than transpiration accounts for only 1–3% of the water absorbed by roots. Leaf intracellular water transport rate (LIWTR) based on physiological impedance (Z) provides information on the transport traits of the leaf internal retained water, which helps determine the intracellular water status. Solanum lycopersicum plants were subjected to five different levels of relative soil water content (SWCR) (e.g., 100, 90, 80, 70, and 60%) for 3 months. The leaf water potential (ΨL), Z, photosynthesis, growth, and water-use efficiency (WUE) were determined. A coupling model between gripping force and physiological impedance was established according to the Nernst equation, and the inherent LIWTR (LIWTRi) was determined. The results showed that LIWTRi together with ΨL altered the intracellular water status as water supply changed. When SWCR was 100, 90, and 80%, stomatal closure reduced the transpiration and decreased the water transport within leaves. Net photosynthetic rate (PN) was inhibited by the decreased stomatal conductance (gs) or ΨL, but constant transport of the intracellular water was conducive to plant growth or dry matter accumulation. Remarkably, increased LIWTRi helped to improve the delivery and WUE of the retained leaf internal water, which maintained PN and improved the WUE at 70% but could not keep the plant growth and yields at 70 and 60% due to the further decrease of water supply and ΨL. The increased transport rate of leaf intracellular water helped plants efficiently use intracellular water and maintain growth or photosynthesis, therefore, adapting to the decreasing water supply. The results demonstrate that the importance of transport of the leaf intracellular water in plant responses to water deficit by using electrophysiological parameters. However, the LIWTR in this research is not directly linked to the regulation of photosynthesis and growth, and the establishment of the direct relationship between leaf internal retained water and photosynthesis and growth needs further research.
Gender Difference in Psychological, Cognitive, and Behavioral Patterns Among University Students During COVID-19: A Machine Learning Approach
Authors: Zhao Yijun , Ding Yi , Shen Yangqian , Liu Wei
Published: April 2022

The COVID-19 pandemic affects all population segments and is especially detrimental to university students because social interaction is critical for a rewarding campus life and valuable learning experiences. In particular, with the suspension of in-person activities and the adoption of virtual teaching modalities, university students face drastic changes in their physical activities, academic careers, and mental health. Our study applies a machine learning approach to explore the gender differences among U.S. university students in response to the global pandemic. Leveraging a proprietary survey dataset collected from 322 U.S. university students, we employ association rule mining (ARM) techniques to identify and compare psychological, cognitive, and behavioral patterns among male and female participants. To formulate our task under the conventional ARM framework, we model each unique question-answer pair of the survey questionnaire as a market basket item. Consequently, each participant's survey report is analogous to a customer's transaction on a collection of items. Our findings suggest that significant differences exist between the two gender groups in psychological distress and coping strategies. In addition, the two groups exhibit minor differences in cognitive patterns and consistent preventive behaviors. The identified gender differences could help professional institutions to facilitate customized advising or counseling for males and females in periods of unprecedented challenges.
The Influence of Orthographic Units Across Korean Children of Different Ages in Hangul Reading
Authors: Ju Yeongsil , Sambai Ami , Uno Akira
Published: April 2022

Using the dual-route reading model as a framework, this study investigated the following research questions on Hangul reading: Which orthographic units (e.g., letters, syllable blocks, and words) influence the reading performance of Korean-speaking children? In addition, do the influential units change as the children grow up? To answer these questions, we tested the effects of age, frequency, lexicality, and two types of length—the numbers of letters (letter length) and syllable blocks (syllable block length)—and the interactions of these factors in the reading performance of Korean-speaking preschool and primary school children from first to third grade. Regarding reading latencies, there was a significant three-way interaction of age × lexicality × length regardless of the type of length. This interaction indicated that, for words only, the interaction between age and length was significant. Accordingly, the length effect decreased as children’s age increased. When reading latencies for words were analyzed with a mixed-effect model consisting of three factors—age, frequency, and length—neither a main effect of syllable block length nor an interaction of syllable block length with age was significant. In contrast, the interaction of age × letter length in word reading latencies remained significant. The length effect was smaller as children’s age increased. In addition, the frequency effect was significant and interacted significantly with age. The frequency effect increased as children’s age increased. In conclusion, significant frequency effects indicate that Korean-speaking children use the lexical process in addition to the non-lexical process when reading Hangul words. Importantly, as children grow up, a larger orthographic unit, that is, words, is more strongly related to reading performance, whereas the influence of the smaller orthographic unit, that is, letters, decreases.
Animal Crossing and COVID-19: A Qualitative Study Examining How Video Games Satisfy Basic Psychological Needs During the Pandemic
Authors: Yee Andrew Z. H. , Sng Jeremy R. H.
Published: April 2022

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected the way many people live their lives. The increasing amount of time spent indoors and isolated during periods of lockdown has been accompanied by an increase in the time people spend playing video games. One such game which soared in popularity during the early stages of the pandemic was Animal Crossing: New Horizons. Through semi-structured interviews with players, and using a theory-informed qualitative analysis, we document and examine players’ motivations and experiences playing Animal Crossing: New Horizons during the pandemic. Findings suggest that playing the game helped satisfy various psychological needs—autonomy, relatedness, and competence—as described by Self-Determination Theory. Conversely, players stopped playing the game when they found that their psychological needs were thwarted or better met through other activities. Our findings offer support that video games can offer psychological relief in stressful contexts by providing opportunities for people to satisfy key psychological needs. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.
RETRACTED: Integration of Neuroscience and Entrepreneurship: A Systematic Review and Bibliometric Analysis
Authors: Liu Weiwei , Xu Yimeng , Xu Tiantian , Ye Zijian , Yang Jiani , Wang Yan
Published: April 2022

In this study, we investigated the integration between neuroscience and entrepreneurship. First, we explored the concept of neuroentrepreneurship and the investigation of neuroentrepreneurship using scientific research methods. Second, we constructed a road map for entrepreneurial researchers interested in conducting neuroentrepreneurship-related research. This is an emerging research area; therefore, to more clearly analyze the dynamics of the research trends, we used a bibliometric method to capture patterns in current publications on subjects related to neuroentrepreneurship, examining papers published between 1999 and 2021 using the keywords “neuroscience” and “entrepreneurship” or “neuroentrepreneurship.” To identify the keywords, we used two academic databases—the Social Science Citation Index and Science Citation Index—accessed through the Web of Science website. The three keywords were identified from studies integrating neuroscience with entrepreneurship. After carefully reviewing the research papers, we identified neuroentrepreneurship as a novel research area. The outcomes of this study provide a guide for describing the theoretical connection between neuroscience and entrepreneurship. In the future, this field of study should be empirically investigated.
Extracting Additional Influences From Physician Profiles With Topic Modeling: Impact on Ratings and Page Views in Online Healthcare Communities
Authors: Wei Xiaoling , Hsu Yuan-Teng
Published: April 2022

How physicians can get better ratings and more page views in online healthcare communities is an important issue. Based on 38,457 physicians' profiles from a popular online healthcare community in China, we used Latent Dirichlet Allocation model, which is a common topic model, to analyze the non-English text to obtain more doctor's latent characteristics. We found five of the most frequently mentioned topics. In addition to the first topic (doctor's academic rank and practice name), “research ability,” “foreign experience,” “committee position,” and “clinical experience” were included as unstructured descriptions in the doctor's profile. Inferences about physician ratings and page views could be improved if these themes were set as characteristics of physicians. Specifically, in our findings, Physicians' mentions of their “research ability” and “foreign experience” had a significant positive impact on physician ratings. Surprisingly, physicians mentioning more “clinical experience” had a significant negative impact on physician ratings. Moreover, while descriptions about “foreign experience” and “committee position” had a significant positive impact on page views, physician mentions of “research ability” had a significant negative impact on page views. These results provide new insights into the ways in which online healthcare community managers or physicians create their personal online profiles.
Impact of Destination Image Formation on Tourist Trust: Mediating Role of Tourist Satisfaction
Authors: Jebbouri Abdelhamid , Zhang Heqing , Imran Zahid , Iqbal Javed , Bouchiba Nasser
Published: April 2022

Tourist destinations with cultural heritage have arisen as a prominent issue in tourism literature. Creating a positive image of the destination can influence tourists’ satisfaction and willingness to return. The goal of this research is to investigate the relationship between destination image formation (DIF), tourist satisfaction (TS), and tourist trust (TT). As a result, the structural relationships between local community participation (LCP), authenticity (A), access to local products (ALP), TS, and TT were investigated in this study. This study used a quantitative approach based on a survey of 644 domestic and foreign tourists visiting the Guangdong cities of Guangzhou, Foshan, and Shenzhen. The statistical software SmartPLS 3.3.3 was used to determine the relationship between variables in the research model using structural equation modeling. The outcomes show a positive correlation between LCP, A, and ALP, which led to tourist satisfaction and, eventually, tourist trust. It is concluded that the DIF and TS may result in increased tourist trust. There is also a discussion of additional theoretical contributions, practical implications, and limitations. The outcomes of this study will help to shed light on the variables that encourage and promote tourism in developing countries.
Ageing Together: Interdependence in the Memory Compensation Strategies of Long-Married Older Couples
Authors: Harris Celia B. , Sutton John , Keil Paul G. , McIlwain Nina , Harris Sophia A. , Barnier Amanda J. , Savage Greg , Dixon Roger A.
Published: April 2022

People live and age together in social groups. Across a range of outcomes, research has identified interdependence in the cognitive and health trajectories of ageing couples. Various types of memory decline with age and people report using a range of internal and external, social, and material strategies to compensate for these declines. While memory compensation strategies have been widely studied, research so far has focused only on single individuals. We examined interdependence in the memory compensation strategies reported by spouses within 58 older couples. Couples completed the Memory Compensation Questionnaire, as well as an open-ended interview about their memory compensation practices. We found that internal, intra-individual memory compensation strategies were not associated within couples, but external, extra-individual strategies showed interdependence. Individuals’ scores on material/technological compensation strategies were positively correlated with their partners’. Reported reliance on a spouse was higher for men and increased with age. Our open-ended interviews yielded rich insights into the complex and diverse resources that couples use to support memory in day-to-day life. Particularly evident was the extent of interaction and coordination between social and material compensation, such that couples jointly used external compensation resources. Our results suggest that individuals’ reports of their compensation strategies do not tell the whole story. Rather, we propose that older couples show interdependence in their memory compensation strategies, and adopt complex systems of integrated material and social memory compensation in their day-to-day lives.
The Mediating Role of Psychological Inflexibility in the Relationship Between Anxiety, Depression, and Emotional Eating in Adult Individuals With Obesity
Authors: Guerrini Usubini Anna , Varallo Giorgia , Giusti Emanuele Maria , Cattivelli Roberto , Granese Valentina , Consoli Simone , Bastoni Ilaria , Volpi Clarissa , Castelnuovo Gianluca
Published: April 2022

The aim of this cross-sectional study is to investigate the role of psychological inflexibility in the relationship between anxiety and depression and emotional eating in a sample of 123 inpatient Italian adult individuals with obesity. Participants completed the Anxiety and Depression subscales of the Psychological General Well-Being Inventory, the Acceptance and Action Questionnaire, and the Emotional Eating subscale of the Dutch Eating Behavior Questionnaire to assess anxiety and depression, psychological inflexibility, and emotional eating, respectively. Results showed that the indirect effect of PGWBI-A on DEBQ-EE through AAQ-II was significant [b = −0.0155; SE = 0.076; 95% BC-CI (−0.0320 to −0.023)]. Similarly, the indirect effect of PGWBI-D on DEBQ-EE through AAQ-II was significant [b = −0.0383; SE = 0.0207; 95% BC-CI (−0.0810 to −0.0002)]. These findings may help to plan and develop specific psychological interventions aimed at addressing emotional eating through targeting psychological inflexibility to be included in obesity treatment programs.
Restoration of Attention by Rest in a Multitasking World: Theory, Methodology, and Empirical Evidence
Authors: Schumann Frank , Steinborn Michael B. , Kürten Jens , Cao Liyu , Händel Barbara Friederike , Huestegge Lynn
Published: April 2022

In this work, we evaluate the status of both theory and empirical evidence in the field of experimental rest-break research based on a framework that combines mental-chronometry and psychometric-measurement theory. To this end, we (1) provide a taxonomy of rest breaks according to which empirical studies can be classified (e.g., by differentiating between long, short, and micro-rest breaks based on context and temporal properties). Then, we (2) evaluate the theorizing in both the basic and applied fields of research and explain how popular concepts (e.g., ego depletion model, opportunity cost theory, attention restoration theory, action readiness, etc.) relate to each other in contemporary theoretical debates. Here, we highlight differences between all these models in the light of two symbolic categories, termed the resource-based and satiation-based model, including aspects related to the dynamics and the control (strategic or non-strategic) mechanisms at work. Based on a critical assessment of existing methodological and theoretical approaches, we finally (3) provide a set of guidelines for both theory building and future empirical approaches to the experimental study of rest breaks. We conclude that a psychometrically advanced and theoretically focused research of rest and recovery has the potential to finally provide a sound scientific basis to eventually mitigate the adverse effects of ever increasing task demands on performance and well-being in a multitasking world at work and leisure.
Development and Validation of a Nomogram for Predicting the Unresolved Risk of Parents of Adolescents With Psychiatric Diagnoses
Authors: Sheng Qingqing , Cai Chunfeng , Li Pingdong , Chen Lihua , Zhang Xi , Wang Xinyu , Gong Yucui
Published: April 2022

Evaluating the resolution of parents of ill children can help in taking measures to alleviate their distress in a timely manner and promote children's rehabilitation. This study aims to develop and validate a nomogram for predicting the unresolved risk of parents of adolescents with psychiatric diagnoses. The data for 130 parents (modeling dataset = 90; validation dataset = 40) were collected. A nomogram was first developed to predict the unresolved risk for parents based on the logistic regression analysis in the modeling dataset. The internal and external validation then were conducted through quantifying the performance of the nomogram with respect to discrimination and calibration, respectively, in the modeling and validation datasets. Finally, the clinical use was evaluated through decision curve analyses (DCA) in the overall dataset. In the results, the nomogram consisted of six risk factors and provided a good discrimination with areas under the curve of 0.920 (95% CI, 0.862–0.978) in internal validation and 0.886 (95% CI, 0.786–0.986) in external validation. The calibration with good consistency between the observed probability and predicted probability was also found in both internal and external validation. DCA showed that the nomogram had a good clinical utility. In conclusion, the proposed nomogram exhibited a favorable performance with regard to its predictive accuracy, discrimination capability, and clinical utility, and, thus, can be used as a convenient and reliable tool for predicting the unresolved risk of parents of children with psychiatric diagnoses.
Mental Health in Australia: Psychological Distress Reported in Six Consecutive Cross-Sectional National Surveys From 2001 to 2018
Authors: Enticott Joanne , Dawadi Shrinkhala , Shawyer Frances , Inder Brett , Fossey Ellie , Teede Helena , Rosenberg Sebastian , Ozols AM Ingrid , Meadows Graham
Published: April 2022

Purpose

To examine Australian psychological distress trends from 2001 to 2017/18, including analysis by age, sex, location, and household income.

Methods

Secondary analysis of the working age population (18–64 years) in six successive representative national health surveys. Measures were prevalence of psychological distress at very-high symptom level (defined by a Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10) score of 30 or more) and combined high/very-high level (K10 score of 22 or more). Very-high K10 scores are associated with mental health problems meeting diagnostic thresholds in past year.

Results

From 2001 to 2017/18 Australian rates of K10 very-high distress rose significantly from 3.8 to 5.1% and combined high/very-high from 13.2 to 14.8%. In women aged 55–64, very-high distress rose significantly and substantially from 3.5 to 7.2% and high/very-high distress from 12.4 to 18.7%. In men aged 25–34, very-high distress increased from 2.1 to 4.0% and high/very-high from 10.6 to 11.5%. Income was strongly and inversely associated with distress (lowest vs. highest quintile adjusted OR 11.4). An apparent association of increased distress with regional location disappeared with adjustment for income.

Conclusion

Australia’s population level of psychological distress increased significantly from 2001–2017/18, with levels highest in women and with rates inversely associated with income. This is likely to be indicative of increased community rates of mental disorders. Given that this has occurred whilst mental healthcare expenditure has increased, there is an urgent need to reconsider how best to respond to mental illness, including targeting the most vulnerable based on social determinants such as age, gender, and lower incomes.
The Correlation Between Probiotics and Anxiety and Depression Levels in Cancer Patients: A Retrospective Cohort Study
Authors: Ye Ziqi , Zhang Yanfang , Du Mengfei , Lu Shaojia , Zhao Qingwei , Yang Si
Published: April 2022

Objective

Studies have shown a correlation between gut microbiota and anxiety and depression levels. However, these studies are mainly animal studies or clinical studies of non-cancer patients, there is still a lack of relevant studies in cancer patients. The main objective of this trial was to analyze the correlation between probiotics and anxiety and depression levels in cancer patients.

Methods

We screened all cancer patients consecutively admitted to the inpatient department of the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine in May 2020. A total of 292 cancer patients met our inclusion criteria. Then, we followed up all patients for 24 weeks. Patients who had incomplete data or loss of follow-up were excluded. In addition, in patients who took probiotics, those did not take probiotics consistently or did not take specific probiotics were excluded. Ultimately, the number of patients enrolled was 82 in probiotics cohort and 100 in non-probiotics cohort. The 17-item Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD-17) questionnaire was used to measure the depression levels of the patients, and we also used Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA) questionnaire to assess the patients’ anxiety levels. A logistic regression model was used to analyze whether the difference in baseline data of two cohorts would affect the final result.

Results

Demographic and clinical characteristics of all cancer patients enrolled in probiotics cohort and non-probiotics cohort were similar except the cancer therapy (P = 0.004). According to the HAMA score, we divided cancer patients into non-anxiety group (HAMA score < 14) and anxiety group (HAMA score ≥ 14). Similarly, cancer patients were also divided into non-depression group (HAMD-17 score ≤ 7) and depression group (HAMD-17 score > 7). The results demonstrated that there was no statistical difference in the proportion of patients with anxiety (6.1 and 13.0%, respectively, P = 0.121) and depression (30.5 and 23.0%, respectively, P = 0.254) between probiotics and non-probiotics cohorts. The results of logistic regression model analysis further proved that the baseline difference in cancer therapy did not affect the conclusions.

Conclusion

Our results still suggest that there is no significant correlation between probiotics and anxiety and depression levels in cancer patients. Therefore, we do not recommend supplementing probiotics for cancer patients to prevent anxiety and depression. Moreover, high-quality RCTs are also needed to further confirm the conclusions of this study.
A Network Analysis of the Relationships Between Behavioral Inhibition/Activation Systems and Problematic Mobile Phone Use
Authors: Gao Lingfeng , Zhao Wan , Chu Xiaowei , Chen Haide , Li Weijian
Published: April 2022

Background

It is of great concern to society that individuals can be vulnerable to problematic mobile phone use (PMPU). However, there are a few studies in the field evaluating associations between behavioral inhibition/activation systems (BIS/BAS) and PMPU, and the results have been inconsistent. This study aimed to explore the relationships between BIS/BAS and PMPU by network analysis.

Methods

A total of 891 young adults participated in the study. BIS/BAS and PMPU were assessed by using the behavioral inhibition and activation systems scale and smartphone application-based addiction scale, respectively. The structure of the BIS/BAS-PMPU network was characterized using “strength,” “closeness” and “betweenness” as centrality indices. Edge-weight accuracy and centrality stability were tested using a bootstrap procedure.

Results

The network analysis showed that “mood modification,” “tolerance” and “withdrawal symptoms” had high centrality. In addition, the positive connection between BIS and “mood modification” or “tolerance” and between BAS-fun seeking and “mood modification” or “conflict” were also shown in the BIS/BAS-PMPU network.

Conclusion

These findings shed light on the central and bridge components between the BIS/BAS and PMPU communities, providing new evidence relevant to potential mechanisms that account for how high-BIS or high-BAS individuals develop PMPU, and inspiring component-based PMPU prevention or interventions.
Amplitude of Low-Frequency Fluctuation With Different Clinical Outcomes in Patients With Generalized Tonic–Clonic Seizures
Authors: Zu Meidan , Fu Lulan , Hu Mingwei , Cao Xiaoyan , Wang Long , Zhang Juan , Deng Ziru , Qiu Bensheng , Wang Yu
Published: April 2022

Background

Generalized tonic–clonic seizures (GTCS) are associated with significant disability and sudden unexpected death when they cannot be controlled. We aimed to explore the underlying neural substrate of the different responses to antiseizure drugs between the seizure-free (SF) and non-seizure-free (NSF) patients with GTCS through the amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (ALFF) method.

Methods

We calculated ALFF among the SF group, NSF group, and healthy controls (HCs) by collecting resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) data. One-way ANOVA was used to compare the ALFF of the three groups, and post-hoc analysis was done at the same time. Pearson's correlation analysis between ALFF in the discrepant brain areas and the clinical characteristics (disease course and age of onset of GTCS) was calculated after then.

Results

A significant group effect was found in the right fusiform gyrus (R.FG), left fusiform gyrus (L.FG), left middle occipital gyrus (L.MOG), right inferior frontal gyrus (R.IFG), right precentral gyrus (R.PreG), right postcentral gyrus (R.PostG), and left calcarine sulcus (L.CS). The SF and NSF groups both showed increased ALFF in all discrepant brain areas compared to HCs except the R.IFG in the NSF group. Significantly higher ALFF in the bilateral FG and lower ALFF in the R.IFG were found in the NSF group compared to the SF group.

Conclusions

Higher ALFF in the bilateral FG were found in the NSF group compared to the SF and HC groups. Our findings indicate that abnormal brain activity in the FG may be one potential neural substrate to interpret the failure of seizure control in patients with GTCS.
Cannabis Use Is Associated With Lower COVID-19 Susceptibility but Poorer Survival
Authors: Huang Da , Xu Roubing , Na Rong
Published: April 2022

Objectives

To investigate the impact of cannabis use on the infection and survival outcomes of COVID-19.

Study Design

Cross-sectional study based on the UK Biobank (UKB) dataset.

Methods

We identified 13,099 individuals with cannabis smoking history in the UKB COVID-19 Serology Study. The Charlson-Quan Comorbidity Index was estimated using inpatient ICD-10 records. Multivariable logistic regression characterized features associated with COVID-19 infection. Cox models determined the hazard ratios (HR) for COVID-19-related survival.

Results

Cannabis users were more likely to getting COVID-19 (odds ratio: 1.22, P = 0.001) but multivariable analysis showed that cannabis use was a protective factor of COVID-19 infection (adjusted odds ratio: 0.81, P = 0.001). Regular cannabis users, who smoked more than once per month, had a significantly poorer COVID-19-related survival, after adjusting for known risk factors including age, gender, smoking history, and comorbidity (adjusted hazard ratio: 2.81, P = 0.041).

Conclusions

The frequency of cannabis use could be considered as a candidate predictor for mortality risk of COVID-19.
The World’S Tallest Trees Can “Drink” Fog!
Authors: Dymond Salli F.
Published: April 2022

The world’s tallest tree, the coast redwood, can reach heights >115 meters. Its ability to reach such staggering heights is due to many interconnected factors—traits unique to the tree itself and favorable growing conditions. One of the unique coast redwood characteristics is the ability to absorb coastal fog water via its leaves and bark. These two processes (called foliar and bark uptake) replenish some of the water lost during the day when plants are acquiring carbon dioxide via transpiration. The coast redwood’s ability to exploit its foggy growing conditions allows it to thrive and reach unthinkable heights.
Descriptive and Time-Series Analysis of Rabies in Different Animal Species in Mexico
Authors: Ortega-Sánchez Reyna , Bárcenas-Reyes Isabel , Cantó-Alarcón Germinal Jorge , Luna-Cozar Jesús , E Rojas-Anaya , Contreras-Magallanes Yesenia G. , González-Ruiz Sara , Cortez-García Baltazar , Milián-Suazo Feliciano
Published: April 2022

The spatio-temporal epidemiology of rabies has related the influence of environmental factors and anthropogenic changes on the movements of the hematophagous bat Desmodus rotundus. In Mexico, D. rotundus is the main transmitter of the rabies virus for different livestock species, modifying annually the fluctuation of the number of cases of rabies and its dissemination in subtropical areas and regions considered free of the disease. The purpose of this study was to perform a descriptive analysis of the distribution of cases of rabies in Mexico, and to perform a time-series analysis to evaluate stationarity and to predict the number of cases for the following year. A total of 3,469 cases were reported in the period of interest, of which the 89.1% occurred in cattle, 4.3% in horses, 1.5% in sheep, 0.6% in goats, 0.01% in pig, 3.1% in vampire bats, 0.3% in cervids, 0.2% in skunks, 0.1% in insectivorous bats, 0.1% in foxes, 0.1% in buffaloes, and 0.02% in coatis; 0.5% were not identified. The most frequent antigenic variants reported were AgV11, AgV5, and AgV3, associated with D. rotundus. The distribution of cases in bats correlates with the distribution of cases in domestic and wild animals; however, cases were observed in wild species in non-endemic areas of Mexico, like the State of Chihuahua. The additive model used in the time-series analysis showed a seasonal pattern with a peak of cases at the beginning of each year, from January to March. The model showed a good predicting value; the Pearson correlation coefficient R2 was 0.705. The highest probability for the occurrence of rabies cases in the different species estimated by Ordinary Kriging was in the coast of the Gulf of Mexico, involving the states of Tamaulipas, Veracruz, Tabasco, Chiapas, and Yucatan. This study confirms that rabies in domestic and wild species is endemic in tropical and subtropical areas—however, cases have been observed in new geographic areas—and provides useful information to support actions to stop the spread of the rabies virus or the reservoir, and for planning vaccination strategies considering time and place.
Ivermectin Plasma Concentration in Iberian Ibex (Capra pyrenaica) Following Oral Administration: A Pilot Study
Authors: Moroni Barbara , Granados Torres José Enrique , López-Olvera Jorge Ramón , Espinosa Cerrato José , Ráez Bravo Arián , Mentaberre Gregorio , Fandos Paulino , Pazzi Marco , Romagnoli Monica , Gardini Giulia , Rossi Luca , Valldeperes Marta , Serrano Emmanuel , Ramos Blanca , Odore Rosangela
Published: April 2022

Sarcoptic mange is considered the main driver of demographic declines occurred in the last decades in Iberian ibex (Capra pyrenaica) populations. Mass treatment campaigns by administration of in-feed acaricides are used as a measure to mitigate the impact of mange in the affected populations. However, there are no data on ivermectin (IVM) pharmacokinetics in this wild caprine, and the treatment through medicated feed is not endorsed by evidence on its effectiveness. The aim of this study is to determine the pharmacokinetic profile of IVM in plasma samples of ibexes after the experimental oral administration of IVM, using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with automated solid phase extraction and fluorescence detection. A dose of 500 μg of IVM per body weight was orally administered in a feed bolus to nine healthy adult ibexes (seven males and two females). Blood samples were collected by jugular venipuncture into heparin-coated tubes at day 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 10, 15, and 45 post-administration (dpa). The highest plasma concentration of IVM (Cmax = 3.4 ng/ml) was detected 24 h after the oral administration (T1), followed by a rapid decrease during the first week post-administration. Our results reveal that plasma IVM concentration drops drastically within 5 days of ingestion, questioning the effectiveness of a single in-feed dose of this drug to control sarcoptic mange. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study on plasma availability of oral IVM in ibexes and in any wild ungulate species.
Case Report: Imaging Features of Gallbladder Sessile Polyp Confirmed by Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasonography and Dynamic Computed Tomography in a Dog With Asymptomatic Chronic Cholecystitis
Authors: Lee Jeongmin , Kang Jinsu , Heo Suyoung , Lee Kichang , Yoon Hakyoung
Published: April 2022

A 6-year-old dog was presented for health screening. It never suffered from any disease. Ultrasonography confirmed mass-like thickening with irregular margins protruding toward the gallbladder (GB) lumen. On contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) and dynamic computed tomography (CT), contrast enhancement of the corresponding structures was confirmed in arterial phase. After cholecystectomy, cauliflower-like sessile polyps were identified. Histopathological examination revealed chronic lymphoplasmacytic cholecystitis. Bile culture revealed Escherichia coli growth. Our novel findings suggest that chronic cholecystitis should be considered as a differential diagnosis if contrast-enhanced sessile polyps of the GB are found on CEUS and dynamic CT.
Transition of Hungarian Companies to IFRS-based Reporting in Relation to Indicators Used in Credit Approval
Authors: Tarpataki Eleonóra , Filyó Janka , László Norbert
Published: April 2022

Legal requirements and opportunities are prompting more and more Hungarian companies to prepare their financial statements in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). In our study, we examine the impact of transition using typical indicators that are frequently included in financial institutions’ rating criteria. We compared the balance sheet, P/L account and cash flow data of 42 companies operating in different industries, as reported in their statements prepared in accordance with Hungarian and international regulations, and concluded that although there may be significant variations at an individual level, this is not the case in terms of the median of the aggregate data. Although the introduction of the European Single Electronic Format (ESEF), which allows for uniform interpretation and automatic processing of financial statements, has also been postponed for one year in Hungary due to the pandemic, it will open new perspectives for the development of rating systems, requiring preparations by credit institutions.
Combining Ability of Drought-Tolerant Bread Wheat Genotypes for Agronomic and Physiological Traits
Authors: Thungo Zamalotshwa Goodness , Shimelis Hussein , Mashilo Jacob
Published: April 2022

A combining-ability analysis is key to select desirable parents and progenies with enhanced response to selection under water-limited environments. The objective of this study was to determine combining ability for agronomic and physiological traits among distantly related drought-tolerant bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) genotypes under well-watered (WW) and terminal-drought (TD) conditions to determine their genetic merit for breeding. Ten heat- and drought-tolerant wheat genotypes were crossed in a half-diallel mating design to generate 45 F1s, which were evaluated under WW and TD moisture regimes in rainout shelter (RS) and greenhouse (GH) environments. The following agronomic traits were assessed: days to 50% maturity (DTM), plant height (PH), spike length (SL), number of productive tillers (TN), spikelets number per spike (SPS), number of grains per spike (GPS), grain yield (GY) and thousand-kernel weight (TKW); and physiological traits (stomatal conductance (SC) and chlorophyll content index (CCI)). Variances attributable to general combining ability (GCA) and specific combining ability (SCA) were significant (p < 0.05) for GY, DTM, PH, SL, SPS, GPS, TKW and CCI. The parental genotypes LM72, LM81 and LM95 with positive and significant GCA effects on GY were selected to make crosses to develop high-yielding wheat genotypes for water-limited environments. Crosses LM71 × LM02, LM71 × LM81, LM82 × LM02, LM82 × LM81, LM22 × LM100, LM22 × LM81 and LM95 × LM22 were selected with positive and significant SCA effects for GY. The selected parents and crosses are valuable genetic resources for breeding and genetic advancement.
Effect of Integrated Organic–Inorganic Amendments on Leaf Physiological and Grain Starch Viscosity (Rapid Visco-Analyzer Profile) Characteristics of Rice and Ultisols Soil Quality
Authors: Iqbal Anas , Ali Izhar , Zhao Quan , Yuan Pengli , Huang Min , Liang He , Zeeshan Muhammad , Muhammad Ihsan , Wei Shanqing , Jiang Ligeng
Published: April 2022

Current farming systems are highly reliant on chemical fertilizers (CF), which negatively affect soil health, the environment, and crop productivity. Substituting organic fertilizer for chemical fertilizer (CF) is an important agricultural practice that improves soil health and crop productivity and is eco-friendly. To explore the effects of organic fertilizer in the form of cattle manure (CM) or poultry manure (PM) combined with CF on soil properties, leaf physiological traits, and grain physiochemical characteristics of rice, a 2-year field experiment was conducted in a dual cropping system with six treatments: Neg-CF (no N fertilizer control), Pos-CF (100% CF), High-CM (60% CM + 40% CF), Low-CM (30% CM + 70% CF), High-PM (60% PM + 40% CF), and Low-PM (30% PM + 70% CF). The results exhibited that the adding of organic manure significantly improved soil chemical traits such as soil organic C (SOC), total N (TN), and available N (AN). Similarly, applying the combined fertilizer led to significant increases in the leaf net photosynthetic rate (Pn), SPAD values, and rice grain nutritional and cooking characteristics according to Rapid Visco-Analyzer (RVA) profile. Average increases in SOC, TN, Pn, starch content (SC), and amylose content (AC) were 16%, 12%, 9%, 7%, 9%, and 12%, respectively, across the year in the Low-PM compared to the Pos-CF treatment. Moreover, the manure amendments significantly altered the RVA profile attributes, including peak viscosity, tough viscosity, final viscosity, and the setback and pasting temperatures compared to Pos-CF. Linear regression analysis revealed that SOC and TN were positively associated with leaf Pn and SPAD values. Further, leaf Pn and SPAD were positively correlated with rice grain SC and AC. The correlation heat map analyses revealed a positive correlation in the RVA profile between the soil properties and leaf physiological traits. These correlation analyses showed that the increase in soil chemical traits and leaf physiological activities played a significant role in higher rice grain nutritional and cooking quality. Overall, the findings of this study show that the integrated use of organic fertilizers and CF in rice fields enhances soil functionality and the quality of rice on a sustainable basis.
Boron and Zinc Diminish Grey Necrosis Incidence by the Promotion of Desirable Microorganisms on Hazelnut Orchards
Authors: Duran Paola , Barra Patricio Javier , Mora María de la Luz , Nunes-Nesi Adriano , Merino-Gergichevich Cristian
Published: April 2022

In the southern hemisphere, the commercial production of hazelnut has increased in recent years, with a concomitant detection of new pathogens associated with plant production, so-called emerging infectious diseases (EIDs). Gray necrosis (GN) is a hazelnut disease that causes 30% of economic losses in Europe. In this sense, we recently reported GN as an EID in Chile, the main hazelnut producer in the southern hemisphere. Therefore, control strategies are urgently required to avoid disease dissemination. In this study, the effect of boron (B) and zinc (Zn) fertilization on the incidence of GN was determined. Additionally, the community composition of microorganisms via Dendrogram Gradient Gel Electrophoresis (DGGE) was evaluated, and bacteria from internal tissue (endophytic) were isolated to study their bio-control traits under greenhouse conditions. The microbial occurrence and biocontrol ability was evaluated using MALDI-TOF/TOF. According to the results, B and Zn promote beneficial bacteria which may be able to diminish symptoms associated with GN. Thus, beneficial microorganisms, applied in combination with micronutrients, could be synergistically applied in sustainable agriculture.
Effects of Plant Density, Mepiquat Chloride, Early-Season Nitrogen and Water Applications on Yield and Crop Maturity of Ultra-Narrow Cotton
Authors: Roche Rose , Bange Michael
Published: April 2022

Research investigating row spacing in high-yielding, high-input cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) production systems has found higher lint yields but no maturity benefits using high plant density, 25 cm spaced ultra-narrow rows (UNR). Seven experiments comparing 38 cm UNR and conventionally spaced rows (100 cm) were conducted over three years to determine if changes in plant density or management could optimize yield and maturity in a high-input UNR cotton production system. Two of these experiments compared 25, 38 and 100 cm spaced rows under different intra-row plant density (12 to 36 plants m−2). Three experiments managed 38 cm UNR and 100 cm spaced rows separately and one had extra early application of nitrogen and water. Across the seven experiments there were no differences in lint yield or crop maturity for 38 cm UNR compared to conventionally spaced rows. The only significant response to changes in inter- or intra-row density or agronomic management was an 18% increase in handpicked lint yield in the 12 plants m−2 38 cm UNR treatment compared to the same plant density in 100 cm spaced rows in one of the two experiments. This stability of yield response across row spacings indicates that there is an opportunity to reduce seed rates whilst maintaining yields in high-input UNR systems. UNR cotton did not require any difference in mepiquat chloride or nitrogen management compared with conventionally spaced cotton, nor did extra early inputs of nitrogen or water, and we concluded that is likely that the current recommendations for mepiquat chloride or nitrogen nutrition in conventionally spaced systems are appropriate for managing high-input UNR cotton crops.
Separable Confident Transductive Learning for Dairy Cows Teat-End Condition Classification
Authors: Zhang Youshan , Porter Ian R. , Wieland Matthias , Basran Parminder S.
Published: April 2022

Teat-end health assessments are crucial to maintain milk quality and dairy cow health. One approach to automate teat-end health assessments is by using a convolutional neural network to classify the magnitude of teat-end alterations based on digital images. This approach has been demonstrated as feasible with GoogLeNet but there remains a number of challenges, such as low performance and comparing performance with different ImageNet models. In this paper, we present a separable confident transductive learning (SCTL) model to improve the performance of teat-end image classification. First, we propose a separation loss to ameliorate the inter-class dispersion. Second, we generate high confident pseudo labels to optimize the network. We further employ transductive learning to narrow the gap between training and test datasets with categorical maximum mean discrepancy loss. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed SCTL model consistently achieves higher accuracy across all seventeen different ImageNet models when compared with retraining of original approaches.
Effect of Fasting and Refeeding on Juvenile Leopard Mandarin Fish Siniperca scherzeri
Authors: Kim Yi-Oh , Oh Sung-Yong , Kim Taewon
Published: April 2022

To verify the effect of fasting on juvenile leopard mandarin fish (Siniperca scherzeri mean weight, 14.7 g), compensatory growth, body composition, and blood content of juveniles were investigated for six weeks following two-week feeding treatments: fed continuously (control), and fasted for 5 (F5), 10 (F10) and 14 days (F14). Full compensatory growth was evident after four weeks of food resupply in all fasting groups. Specific growth rate, feeding rate, and feed efficiency in all fasting groups were significantly higher than those of the control after the first 2 weeks of food resupply. At the end of fasting, the lipid content, ratio of lipid to lean body mass, hepatosomatic and viscerosomatic indices in all fasting groups, or total cholesterol content in F14 significantly decreased compared to the control. These results indicated that juvenile leopard mandarin fish subjected to 5–14 days of food deprivation could achieve full compensatory growth after feeding resumption for 4 weeks and that the morphological and biochemical indices, as well as body and blood composition, remained comparable to the control group after the completion of the study under our experimental conditions.
Changes in the Immunity, Histopathology, and Metabolism of Crayfish (Procambarus clarkii) in Response to Drought
Authors: Xu Hui , Bai Xuexia , Li Yu , Li Jiajia , Meng Yong , Xu Zhiqiang , Tang Jianqing , Lu Yan , Huang Yahong
Published: April 2022

Freshwater ecosystems are among the most threatened ecosystems on Earth. The freshwater biodiversity crisis has caused widespread global concern. Drought as one of the factors causing freshwater biodiversity is still poorly understood. Crayfish is often used in academic research as a biological indicator. In this study, flow cytometry, hematoxylin-eosin staining, and untargeted metabolomics were used to analyze the immune function, histopathology, and metabolism of crayfish under drought conditions. After drought exposure, the total hemocytes count (THC) was significantly decreased (from 8.9 × 105 mL−1 in the control group to 2.2 × 105 mL−1 at day 5). Phagocytosis decreased by 66% after 5 days of drought. The level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the hepatopancreas was upregulated. Moreover, histological disorder and metabolism changes in the hepatopancreas were obvious. These results indicate that drought suppresses immune function, disrupts the balance of oxidative and antioxidative systems, and induces tissue damage and metabolic changes in crayfish.