bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Entrenched Opportunity: Medicaid, Health Systems, and Solutions to Homelessness
Authors: Willison Charley E. , Unwala Naquia A. , Klasa Katarzyna
Published: September 2024

Context: As inequality grows, politically powerful health care institutions—namely Medicaid and health systems—are increasingly assuming social policy roles, particularly related to solutions to homelessness. Medicaid and health systems regularly interact with persons experiencing homelessness who are high users of emergency health services and who experience frequent loss of or inability to access Medicaid services because of homelessness. This research examines Medicaid and health system responses to homelessness, why they may work to address homelessness, and the mechanisms by which this occurs.

Methods: The authors collected primary data from Medicaid policies and the 100 largest health systems, along with national survey data from local homelessness policy systems, to assess scope and to measure mechanisms and factors influencing decision-making.

Findings: Nearly one third of states have Medicaid waivers targeting homelessness, and more than half of the 100 largest health systems have homelessness mitigation programs. Most Medicaid waivers use local homelessness policy structures as implementing entities. A plurality of health systems rationalizes program existence based on the failure of existing structures.

Conclusions: Entrenched health care institutions may bolster local homelessness policy governance mechanisms and policy efficacy. Reliance on health systems as alternative structures, and implementing entities in Medicaid waivers, may risk shifting homelessness policy governance and retrenchment of existing systems.
Immunity beyond Spheres
Authors: Sorace Christian
Published: September 2024

This essay is a critical exploration of Peter Sloterdijk's philosophy of spherology. It asks whether we can live apart from protective spheres, find new forms of being-in-common, and discover new forms of immunity in the wreckage of sphere-based existence. It argues that the relationality associated with the placenta—or afterbirth—is a source of immunity distinctive from the politics of birth, identity, and belonging. To show this, it turns to the appearances of the placenta in the thirteenth-century text The Secret History of the Mongols, which challenge the political authority and genealogical foundation for Chinggis Khan's sovereignty. The second half of the essay examines the persistence of spheres as infrastructures of survival at the end of the world and imagines ways of moving beyond them.
Relations beyond Colonial Borders
Authors: Brizuela Natalia , Esmeir Samera , Goldstein Alyosha , Schreiber Rebecca
Published: September 2024

This section presents selected contributions to the workshop “Relations beyond Colonial Borders: Indigeneity, Racialization, Hospitality,” convened by the International Consortium of Critical Theory Programs at the Three Sisters Kitchen in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in April 2023. Natalia Brizuela, Samera Esmeir, Alyosha Goldstein, and Rebecca Schreiber brought together scholars, activists, poets, and artists whose work critically engages the modern border regime as a geopolitical technology indispensable to practices of colonial occupation and imperial management. The workshop focused on a number of key questions: How are we to think movement and inhabitation without reproducing the political and the legal frameworks that the modern border regime solidifies? Could it be that these irrepressible struggles, resistances, and worlds not only show the violence of borders but also illuminate what remains in their excess? How do Indigenous relational practices unsettle or otherwise challenge colonial border regimes? How does Indigeneity “travel” for those Indigenous peoples who have been displaced or who have chosen to live in places other than their historical homelands? How might the practices of people in the context of forced mobility, who aspire to cross a border to elsewhere or to return to their homes, be reflective of something other than the desire to settle in a land?
Neurosurgical Residency Training at Veterans Affairs Medical Centers, the Resident Perspective
Authors: Yearley Alexander G. , Altshuler Marcelle , Patel Ruchit V. , Rachlin Jacob R. , Mooney Michael A.
Published: September 2024

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE:

Department of Veteran's Affairs (VA) Medical Centers play a crucial role in training neurosurgery residents. Although previous studies have examined the impact of VA rotations from the attending perspective, the resident experience remains unexplored. We present a national survey of neurosurgery residents to assess their perceptions of VA rotations, focusing on operative experience, call burden, longitudinal patient care experiences, and overall strengths and limitations.

METHODS:

A 33-question survey was distributed by email to all neurosurgery residents who had previously completed a VA rotation within the past 7 years.

RESULTS:

Responses were received from 77 residents, representing 36 out of 40 neurosurgical residency programs with an active VA rotation. Most residents (79.2%) found their VA rotations adequate in length, having spent a median of 5 months at the VA. Residents completed an average of 11.7 (SD 7.2) cases per month while at the VA, including 8.9 (SD 5.5) spine, 1.7 (SD 2.0) cranial, and 1.4 (SD 1.6) peripheral nerve cases. Many residents reported completing a greater proportion of spine and peripheral nerve cases at the VA compared with their primary clinical sites. Across all postgraduate years, residents felt that the VA offered increased operative autonomy (79.0% agreement) at the expense of total operative volume (98.7% agreement) and complexity (81.9% agreement). Importantly, 94.8% of residents participated in longitudinal patient care experiences, and 59.7% followed all patients longitudinally.

CONCLUSION:

The resident experience at the VA varies, presenting both strengths and limitations. Addressing these factors could enhance the overall effectiveness of VA rotations in neurosurgical training programs in the future.
Optimally Imprecise Memory and Biased Forecasts
Authors: Azeredo da Silveira Rava , Sung Yeji , Woodford Michael
Published: September 2024

We propose a model of optimal decision-making subject to a memory constraint in the spirit of models of rational inattention. Our theory differs from that of Sims (2003) in not assuming costless memory of past cognitive states. The model implies that both forecasts and actions will exhibit idiosyncratic random variation; that average beliefs will exhibit a bias that fluctuates forever; and that more recent news will be given disproportionate weight in forecasts. The model provides a simple explanation for the overreaction to news observed in the laboratory by Afrouzi et al. (2023). (JEL D83, D84, D91, G12, G41)
Ο ρόλος των ανώτερων γνωστικών λειτουργιών και της συναισθηματικής νοημοσύνης στην αποτελεσματική ηγετική συμπεριφορά
Authors: Καρατοσίδη Χρυσοβαλάντο-Σοφία
Published: September 2024

Η παρούσα διδακτορική διατριβή διερευνά τις σχέσεις εγκεφάλου-συμπεριφοράς στην ηγεσία, εισάγοντας τις επιτελικές λειτουργίες ως ατομική διαφορά. Εμπειρικά δεδομένα επιβεβαιώνουν ότι οι γνωστικές λειτουργίες όπως, η επίλυση προβλήματος, η ταχύτητα επεξεργασίας, η ενεργός μνήμη, η αυτοβιογραφική μνήμη παίζουν σημαντικό ρόλο στην αποτελεσματική ηγεσία (Ramchandran και συν., 2016; Foxall, 2014; Waldman, 2011). Ωστόσο υπάρχει ανάγκη περαιτέρω διερεύνησης του νευρογνωστικού προφίλ της ηγεσίας καθώς η υπάρχουσα βιβλιογραφία είναι μέχρι στιγμής αμφιλεγόμενη. Οι επιτελικές λειτουργίες παίζουν σημαντικό ρόλο στην ικανότητα απόκρισης και προσαρμογής σε νέες καταστάσεις, αποτελούν την βάση πολλών γνωστικών, συναισθηματικών και κοινωνικών δεξιοτήτων και εμπλέκουν τον προμετωπιαίο φλοιό. Οι ψυχρές επιτελικές λειτουργίες εκδηλώνονται σε συνθήκες απαλλαγμένες από συναίσθημα και σε ελεγχόμενα περιβάλλοντα. Οι θερμές επιτελικές λειτουργίες αναδύονται σε περιβάλλοντα που εμπλέκουν συναίσθημα, κίνητρο, άμεση ευχαρίστηση ή μακροπρόθεσμη ανταμοιβή. Αναλυτικότερα, η παρούσα διατριβή μελετά τον ρόλο των θερμών και των ψυχρών επιτελικών λειτουργιών στην αποτελεσματική ηγεσία λαμβάνοντας υπόψιν τον διαμεσολαβητικό ρόλο της προσωπικότητας, της γενικής νοητικής ικανότητας και της συναισθηματικής νοημοσύνης. Επίσης, διερευνά τη σχέση των επιτελικών λειτουργιών με τη συμπεριφορική συναισθηματική νοημοσύνη, λαμβάνοντας υπόψιν τις παραπάνω μεταβλητές. Το δείγμα αποτέλεσαν τριακόσια δεκαέξι άτομα αποτελούμενα από δύο ομάδες (φοιτητές/ριες και ηγέτες), τα οποία αξιολογήθηκαν με νευροψυχολογικές δοκιμασίες που εκτιμούν τομείς επιτελικών λειτουργιών και απάντησαν σε ερωτηματολόγια που αξιολογούν την προσωπικότητα, τη γενική νοητική ικανότητα, τη συναισθηματική νοημοσύνη ως χαρακτηριστικό, τη συναισθηματική κοινωνική νοημοσύνη και την αποτελεσματικότητα στην ηγεσία. Η μέτρηση της αποτελεσματικότητας και της συναισθηματικής κοινωνικής νοημοσύνης έγινε μέσω αυτοαξιολογήσεων και ετεροαξιολογήσεων. Τα αποτελέσματα έδειξαν ότι οι ψυχρές επιτελικές λειτουργίες επιδρούν στην ηγεσία, τονίζοντας τον διαμεσολαβητικό ρόλο της προσωπικότητας. Ακόμα, αναδείχθηκε η αντισταθμιστική σχέση των γνωστικών λειτουργιών με επιμέρους τομείς της συμπεριφορικής συναισθηματικής νοημοσύνης. Τέλος, βρέθηκε ότι οι ηγέτες εμφανίζουν καλύτερη επίδοση σε τομείς επικοινωνιακών ικανοτήτων, εύρους προσοχής και ενεργού μνήμης σε σχέση με τους φοιτητές/τριες. Η διαφορά αυτή είναι πιθανό να εξηγηθεί από τη διαφορά εμπειριών άσκησης ηγεσίας μεταξύ των δύο ομάδων και αναδεικνύει τη σημασία της ανάπτυξης των συγκεκριμένων γνωστικών λειτουργιών στους νέους και νέες ώστε να γίνουν οι αποτελεσματικοί ηγέτες του μέλλοντος. Συνοψίζοντας, οι θερμές και ψυχρές επιτελικές λειτουργίες ανοίγουν έναν νέο δρόμο στην έρευνα της οργανωσιακής νευροεπιστήμης, παρέχοντας μια άμεση μη επεμβατική σύνδεση της εγκεφαλικής λειτουργίας με την ηγετική συμπεριφορά.
Personality and attitudes towards risk as predictors of career success and labour market outcomes
Authors: Απέργης Εμμανουήλ
Published: September 2024

Η παρούσα διπλωματική εργασία επιδιώκει τη διερεύνηση βασικών συσχετίσεων συντελεστικών της επαγγελματικής επιτυχίας. Αναλύει την υπάρχουσα βιβλιογραφία αναφορικά της προσωπικότητας και της στάσης επί του κινδύνου και κατά πόσο αυτές διαμορφώνουν την επαγγελματική τροχιά καθώς και αποτελέσματα εντός της αγοράς εργασίας. Ειδικότερα, εξετάζει τη σύνδεση μεταξύ επαγγελματικής επιφάνειας και της ικανοποίησης προς τη ζωή. Επίσης, διερευνά με ποιο τρόπο η προσωπικότητα και η στάση επί του κινδύνου συνδέονται με τον καθορισμό ύψους αμοιβής, της ικανοποίησης με την εργασία και της ίδιας την ικανοποίησης προς τη ζωή. Εστιάζει σε μεγαλύτερο βάθος στη σχέση μεταξύ της στάσης επί του κινδύνου και της αμοιβής βάση απόδοσης, ενώ τέλος εξετάζει την επίδραση της προσωπικότητας και της στάσης επί του κινδύνου στην απόφαση κάποιος ή κάποια να ακολουθήσει υβριδική επιχειρηματικότητα.
Απόψεις Παιδαγωγών Πρώιμης Παιδικής Ηλικίας για τον Πολιτισμικό Γραμματισμό και τις Παιδαγωγικές Πρακτικές
Authors: Σωτηροπούλου Ελένη
Published: September 2024

Στις μέρες μας, ο πολιτισμικός γραμματισμός, δηλαδή η ικανότητα κατανόησης και εκτίμησης της πολυπλοκότητας των διαφορετικών πολιτισμών αποτελεί αναπόσπαστο κομμάτι για την ευημερία όλων των σύγχρονων κοινωνιών. Στο πλαίσιο αυτό, αναγνωρίζεται όλο και περισσότερο η σημασία του ως απαραίτητο συστατικό της αγωγής των μικρών παιδιών, καθώς συμβάλλει στην καλλιέργεια συμπεριληπτικών και ενσυναισθητικών αξιών και στάσεων. Για τον λόγο αυτό, οι παιδαγωγοί που εργάζονται σε δομές αγωγής και φροντίδας στην πρώιμη παιδική ηλικία, θα πρέπει να φροντίζουν όχι μόνο για τη μετάδοση γνώσεων στα παιδιά σχετικά με τους διαφορετικούς πολιτισμούς, αλλά και για την διαμόρφωση ολόκληρης της κοσμοθεωρίας τους, αφού βρίσκονται σε ένα κρίσιμο αναπτυξιακό στάδιο κατά το οποίο διαμορφώνονται θεμελιώδεις αξίες και στάσεις. Λαμβάνοντας υπόψη τα παραπάνω, η παρούσα εργασία αποσκοπεί στη διερεύνηση του τρόπου με τον οποίο οι παιδαγωγοί αντιλαμβάνονται τον πολιτισμικό γραμματισμό και τον ενσωματώνουν στην παιδαγωγική διαδικασία. Για την επίτευξη του σκοπού αυτού, κατασκευάστηκε ένα ερωτηματολόγιο που απευθυνόταν σε παιδαγωγούς πρώιμης παιδικής ηλικίας και συνδύαζε την ποσοτική (κλειστού τύπου ερωτήσεις και ερωτήσεις τύπου Likert) και την ποιοτική ανάλυση (ανοιχτού τύπου ερωτήσεις). Τα δεδομένα που συλλέχθηκαν αναλύθηκαν με τη χρήση του SPSS για τα ποσοτικά στοιχεία και της θεματικής ανάλυσης για τα ποιοτικά. Τα ευρήματα της μελέτης, προσφέρουν πολύτιμες γνώσεις για τους υπεύθυνους χάραξης πολιτικής και τους παιδαγωγούς, τονίζοντας τη σημασία του πολιτισμικού γραμματισμού στην ανάπτυξη μιας πιο περιεκτικής και πολιτισμικά ευαισθητοποιημένης γενιάς παιδιών, ενώ παράλληλα αναδεικνύουν τις παιδαγωγικές πρακτικές που εφαρμόζονται στις δομές αγωγής και φροντίδας για την καλλιέργειά της.
Η μετάβαση του Ελληνικού εκπαιδευτικού συστήματος προς τον οπτικό γραμματισμό: Μια μελέτη των Νέων Προγραμμάτων Σπουδών των Εικαστικών Τεχνών
Authors: Ραπανάκη Μόιρα , Σιδηροπούλου Μαρέττα
Published: September 2024

Στόχος αυτού του άρθρου είναι να αναδειχθεί η συνάφεια των εικαστικών τεχνών με τον οπτικό γραμματισμό και οι πολλαπλές συνδέσεις του με άλλα γνωστικά αντικείμενα, όπως οι θετικές επιστήμες και η γλώσσα. Γι’ αυτόν τον λόγο, έχει πραγματοποιηθεί βιβλιογραφική έρευνα για την χρήση του όρου “οπτικός γραμματισμός”, έτσι όπως εμφανίζεται αυτούσιος στα Νέα Προγράμματα Σπουδών των Εικαστικών Τεχνών Δημοτικού και Γυμνασίου. Παράλληλα, επιχειρείται να εντοπιστούν τα ίχνη του όρου ή οι έμμεσες αναφορές σε αυτόν στα Προγράμματα Σπουδών άλλων αντικειμένων. Επίσης, έχει γίνει μια καταγραφή της ιστορικής πορείας της εικαστικής εκπαίδευσης στο νεότερο ελληνικό κράτος από την ίδρυση του και εξής. Επιπροσθέτως, έχει πραγματοποιηθεί μια ανασκόπηση της πορείας της εικαστικής αγωγής στην πρωτοβάθμια εκπαίδευση από το 1995 μέχρι σήμερα. Να σημειωθεί, ότι ο επιθετικός προσδιορισμός που στα αγγλικά αποδίδεται ως “visual” στην \ελληνική γλώσσα έχει δύο τρόπους απόδοσης: είτε “εικαστικός” που σχετίζεται με τις εικαστικές τέχνες, είτε “οπτικός” που αναφέρεται σε οτιδήποτε γίνεται αντιληπτό διαμέσου της όρασης. Στα Νέα Προγράμματα, οι δύο αυτοί όροι συνδιαλέγονται σε μια διαρκή συνομιλία της τέχνης με την καθημερινή ζωή.
Emergent Multiliteracies: Towards an Understanding of the Theory and Pedagogical Practice
Authors: Papadopoulos Isaak , Bisiri Effrosyni
Published: September 2024

This paper explores the concept of emergent multiliteracies in early childhood education, delving into its theoretical underpinnings and pedagogical implications. Drawing upon the seminal work of scholars such as Cope & Kalantzis (2009), the New London Group (1996), and Arvanitis (2009; 2013), the paper examines how multiliteracies offer a transformative framework for nurturing holistic development in young learners. Emergent multiliteracies reflect the dynamic early and evolving stages of literacy development in which young children engage in diverse meaning-making activities across multiple modes and contexts. Through a detailed analysis of knowledge processes, including experiencing, conceptualising, analysing, and applying knowledge, the paper highlights the importance of hands-on exploration, collaborative problem-solving, and creative expression in early childhood education. Furthermore, the paper underscores the significance of flexibility, inclusivity, and cultural appreciation in pedagogical practices, emphasizing the need to tailor approaches to meet the diverse needs and preferences of individual learners. Ultimately, the exploration of emergent multiliteracies offers a compelling vision for the future of early childhood language education, laying the foundation for lifelong learning and success in an increasingly complex and interconnected world.
Isolation, identification and genetic variation analysis of pseudorabies virus mutant strain from Chinese pig farm
Authors: Zhou B , Wang X , Xin C , Lin J , Dong S , Wen Y , Zhang R , Shan H , Zhang Hongliang
Published: September 2024

ABSTRACT: Pseudorabies (PR) is an important infectious disease affecting pig farms worldwide. In this study, we reported a pseudorabies virus (PRV) isolated from a Bartha-K61-vaccinated pig farm in Linyi, Shandong Province, China. Evidence from virus isolation, electronic microscope observation，laboratory animal infection, and histopathologic examination confirmed that the etiological agent of the disease is PRV SD-2017. Sequence alignment of the gE gene indicated that it belongs to a new mutated PRV strain. The gB sequence alignment showed that compared with the Bartha and Kaplan genotype 1 strains, SD-2017 strain had a deletion of three amino acids at positions 75-78 (SPG) and an insertion of one amino acid at position 94 (G). The gC gene had 7 amino acids (A, A, A, S, T, P and A) inserted at positions 69-75 in comparison with the Bartha-K61 vaccine strain. The median lethal dose (LD50) of PRV SD-2017 strain on rabbits was 3.16×102.0TCID50/ml by Karber method. Histopathologic examinations showed that multiple lesion sites were observed in brains, lungs, livers and kidneys. PRV SD-2017 is different from other reports and should be paid more attention to avoid economic losses.
Keywords: Pseudorabies virus; Sequence alignment; Amino acid mutations；Mutant strain
Isolation, genotyping, and sub-genotyping of Newcastle disease virus from commercial broiler chickens in Northern Egypt
Authors: Ramzy N , Elsamadony H , Mekky H , Fedawy H , Saad A
Published: September 2024

The governments seek to take care of livestock; it plays a significant role in the national economy because of the nutritional and economic importance of poultry protein. In poultry, viral diseases, including the Newcastle virus, are considered among the causes of profitable losses in poultry, which directly affect livestock and the general health of birds. Therefore, this research was conducted to follow up on the Newcastle disease virus recently circulating in commercial poultry farms in northern Egypt and compare the master amino acids that determine the velogeneity of the ND virus. In addition, this research will compare their relationship to the vaccines currently in use. A specific-pathogen-free chicken (EE-SPF) egg was used to isolate NDV from chicken farms. We then tested the inoculated allantoic fluids for NDV using the Hemagglutination Test and Hyper-Immune Serum against LaSota NDV. Furthermore, the F gene was molecularly characterized and sequenced. From 15 allantoic fluids that were positive for NDV, seven isolates (ON497007, ON497008, ON497010, ON497011, ON497012, and ON497013 and ON532692) out of 9 ND sequenced isolates clustered into sub-genotype VII.1.1 and the other 2 (ON497006 and ON497009) into sub-genotype XXI.1.1. All the isolates in this investigation carry the velogenic strain's characteristic velogenic motif 112RKQKR*F117. In conclusion, the circulating ND in vaccinated chicken flocks in Egypt genotype VII.1.1 and XXI.1.1. Moreover, there was a residual substitution between most isolates, and genotype VII vaccine strain (R/K), and autogenous vaccine strain (E/R) at position 78. These results are expected to help provide the latest characteristic information on NDV in northern Egypt.
Nasal carriage, microbial resistance and genetic characterization of Staphylococcus aureus in cows in Turkey
Authors: Abughonem H , Halac B , Kekec AI , Maslak B , Bağcigil AF
Published: September 2024

The aim of this study is to determine the isolation rates of S. aureus from nasal swabs of healthy cattle, antibiotic resistance profiles of isolates and to investigate the resistance genes associated with antibiotic resistance. For this purpose; 250 nasal swab samples collected from healthy dairy cattle in farms located in four different provinces (Istanbul, Bursa, Kırklareli and Tekirdağ) examined for S. aureus. S.aureus was isolated from 7.6% (n=19) of the examined cows. Antibiotic susceptibility of isolates was determined by disc diffusion method. The isolates were resistant to penicillin (78.95%); tetracycline (68.42%); erythromycin (63.16%); doxycycline (36.84%); cefaperazone (31.58%); cefoxitin (26.32%); ceftiofur (26.32%) and clindamycin (21.05%), while all were sensitive to penicillin-novobiocin, linezolid, quinupristin-dalfopristin, chloramphenicol, gentamicin, trimethoprim-sulphametoxazole and enrofloxacin. It was determined that 5 of 12 isolates resistant to erythromycin had inducible clindamycin resistance. Antibiotic resistance genes and pvl gene were examined by Polymerase Chain Reaction method. The most common genes detected in the isolates were blaZ (93,33%), mecA (52.63%), tetL (23,08%), tetK (53,85%), ermB (8,33%) and ermC (41,67%). ermA, tetM, tetO and pvl genes were not detected in any of the isolates. In our study, the most common type of SCCmec was found to be type IV 90% (n=9) and only one isolate type I 10% (n=1).
The simultaneous presence of three different Newcastle Disease Virus Genotypes in various bird species in a public bird garden
Authors: Soltani M , Shoushtari AH , Molouki A , Babaeimarzangou SS , Abdoshah M , Bashashati M , Fallah Mehrabadi MH
Published: September 2024

Newcastle disease (ND) is one of the most important contagious bird diseases. Not only it continuously causes significant economic damage to the commercial poultry industry, but also it is of clinical importance as it occurs in a wide range of free-living and captive birds. Although different types of commercial vaccines are extensively used, the disease has not been eradicated. Between October 2018 and March 2019, three different outbreaks of ND were observed in three different captive bird species of pigeons, peafowls, and pheasants at the Saei public bird garden in Tehran. Genetic identification of viral isolates of AMMM116 (pheasant), AMMM122 (peafowl), and AMMM160 (pigeon) indicated the presence of genotypes VII.1.1, II, and VI.2.1.2, respectively. The virus isolated from the pheasants was closely related to the VII.1.1 subgenotypes obtained from commercial poultry farms in different parts of Iran. Moreover, the VI.2.1.2 isolate obtained from the ND outbreak in pigeons was related to the isolates obtained from pigeons in Nigeria and Kenya. Lastly, we isolated a genotype II NDV, identical to the common vaccine strains, from immature peacocks that had an acute death. The peacocks were not vaccinated, therefore, we speculated that the presence of genotype II could be because of the spillover of vaccine strains from commercial poultry flocks to wild birds that had visited the park and landed in the roofless aviary. The results of this study indicate the simultaneous circulation of different NDV genotypes in a small geographic location and emphasize the importance of imposing more restricted biosecurity measures.
Risk assessment about effectiveness of biosecurity implementations on horse properties in Turkey
Authors: Ince OB , Paksoy Y , Sait A
Published: September 2024

The present study was performed by conducting interviews with 382 horse owners and managers between April 2019 and March 2022 to examine biosecurity implementations on non-commercial horse properties in Turkey and the attitudes and behaviors of horse owners toward viral horse diseases and explain the procedures that visitors should follow. Data were collected with a semi-structured questionnaire. While collecting data from horse owners, 548 nasal swabs were taken from horses on properties to detect equine viral arteritis infection. Correlations between property-level variables and biosecurity implementations in horses were analyzed by logistic regression. Swap samples were investigated for equine arteritis virus antigen by PCR. While 341 (89.27%) of horse owners and managers reported that they applied biosecurity procedures to check the health of newly arrived horses on the property, 125 (32.72%) stated that they applied isolation as a standard procedure upon the entry of horses to the property. On properties where isolation was not routinely applied, the main reason for isolating horses was an illness that emerged on other properties (n=78). Few participants (n=44) checked new horses for fever or other clinical symptoms of infectious disease. Only 54 (14.14%) horse managers reported that they applied visitor procedures. Within the general framework, 301 (78.79%) of horse properties were visited by a horse specialist, but 51 (13.35%) reported the biosecurity procedure for these visits. The obtained findings simplify a better insight of property owners' effective decision-making processes behind horse health discretions and can meet feedback to the sector stakeholders on influential biosecurity implementations.
Comparison of Physiochemical, Biochemical and Antimicrobial Properties of Natural and Artificial Apis mellifera L. Beeswax
Authors: Ertürk Ö , Keskin M , Birinci C , Kolaylı S
Published: September 2024

The interest in bee products is increasing day by day. Beeswax is the honeycomb cells in which bees store their honey. Due to their rich biocompenents, it has both antioxidant and antimicrobial activity. Beeswax could be produced naturally by bees as well as it is commercially available. Commercial beeswax is processed by bees and get ready for honey storage. In this study, the physicochemical properties of commercial and natural beeswax such as water vacuum capacity, oil content, oral secretion and elemental composition were identificated. Then, the beeswax was extracted using different solvents, biochemical and antimicrobial activities of these samples were compared. Natural beeswax was found to have less water absorption capacity, higher oil content (52.79±0.12%) and contained more plant material. Y-acetone extract of beeswax had higher total phenolic content (3.74±0.03 mg GAE/g) and showed a good antioxidant activity (70.23±1.30 µM FeSO4.7H2O/g) than other extracts prepared different solvents. It was clear that both extracts had a good antimicrobial activity. Y-methanol extract was found to be effective on B. subtilis and M. luteus, D-ethanol on E. coli, Y-ethanol on L. monocytogenes, and Y-acetone on P. vulgaris. It was clear that both artificial and natural beeswax could be used in different applications in a wide range food to medicine.
Ιnfluence of increased dietary valine on broiler performance, serum components, nitrogen excretion and jejunum histomorphology
Authors: Gül ET , Yıldız A
Published: September 2024

Current experiment was carried out to examine the effects of increasing valine levels in broiler diets based on corn-soybean meal on performance, slaughtering and serum parameters, nitrogen excretion, and jejunum histomorphology. A total of 480 male broiler chicks were randomly allocated to six treatment groups with eight replications, each containing 10 birds. In the three-period experiment, basal diets were prepared according to the needs of broilers and valine levels were determined as 100% (V100, control), 110% (V110), 120% (V120), 130% (V130), 140% (V140), and 150% (V150). The performance parameters were not affected in the first period, and best results were obtained in V120 group in the second period and cumulatively. Among the slaughtering characteristics, relative thigh+drumstick weight linearly increased and breast weight decreased. The glucose, total protein, globülin, and creatinine linearly increased, while triglyceride decreased quadratically. Nitrogen excretion decreased linearly with increasing dietary valine. In addition, highest villus height was obtained in V130 and best villus surface area was obtained in V120, while crypt depth was negatively affected by increasing valine. According to results, highest performance and villus surface area were obtained in V120 group. The high levels administration of valine (140 and 150%) adversely affected relative breast weight and jejunum histomorphology, but nitrogen excreted with feces decreased. Therefore, valine level in broiler diets can be increased by 20% of the recommended level.
Investigation of calpastatin (CAST) gene polymorphism in Norduz sheep by PCR-RFLP method
Authors: Yilmaz O , Çak B , Demirel AF
Published: September 2024

The objective of this research was to determine polymorphism in the calpastatin (CAST) gene in a group of 102 Norduz sheep. Polymorphism was identified using the PCR-RFLP technique. The amplified PCR product with the length of 622 bp was digested with restriction enzymes MspI.  It was found that the M and N alleles were present in CAST/MspI locus, their frequency being 78.43 and 21.57%, respectively. Homozygous for the M allele (MM) produced two bands of 336 and 286 bp. Three bands of sizes 622, 336 and 286 bp were seen in case of heterozygous genotype (MN), and homozygous for the N allele (NN) showed a 622 bp band only. The frequencies of homozygous MM, heterozygous MN and homozygous NN genotype were 64.7, 27.5 and 7.8%, respectively. The genotype frequency distributions were in Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium. In conclusion, the current study is the first study on genotyping of the CAST gene in Norduz sheep. The CAST gene was polymorphic in Norduz sheep. In the CAST gene, the predominant allele in the population was M, with a frequency of 78.43%. The MM and MN genotypes represented 92.2% of the genotype frequencies. The MM genotype was the most common, and NN genotype had the lowest genotype frequency. These results also indicate that in order to be used the polymorphism in the exon 1C/1D region of the CAST gene as a biomarker in Norduz sheep, primarily, association studies with economic traits should be performed.
Determination of the effect of Hypericum perforatum oil supplementation on silage quality in ruminant feeding
Authors: Arslan Duru A
Published: September 2024

This study evaluated the effect of Hypericum perforatum oil (HPO) on chemical composition, fermentation traits and metabolic energy, in vitro organic matter digestibility, and net energy lactation of Hungarian vetch-wheat silages. The treatments were: (i) control (No HPO), (ii) 20 mg/kg HPO, (iii) 40 mg/kg HPO, (iv) 80 mg/kg HPO and (v) 160 mg/kg HPO in Hungarian vetch-wheat silages. After 75 days of ensiling, dry matter, NDF and ADF were increased by adding 20 mg/kg and 40 mg/kg Hypericum perforatum oil to Hungarian vetch-wheat silage (p<0.01). However, there was no significant in the content of silage in lactic acid, acetic acid, propionic acid, metabolic energy, in vitro organic matter digestibility, and net energy lactation (p>0.05). Butyric acid and ammonia nitrogen were not found in the experiment silages. Finally, it was concluded that the addition of 20 mg/kg  Hypericum perforatum oil may have a positive effect on the quality of Hungarian vetch-wheat silages.
Effect of PITX2 gene polymorphism on growth traits in Awassi ewes
Authors: Bayraktar M , Alkhammas A , Mohammed T
Published: September 2024

Genetics and environment influence quantitative traits. Several genes contribute to sheep's productive traits, including the paired-like homeodomain transcription factor 2 (PITX2). Therefore, the research investigated whether productive traits of Awassi ewes are associated with birth type and PITX2 gene variability. Two hundred and thirty-two ewes aged three to four years were studied (123 singleton ewes and 109 twin ewes). Phenotypic analysis was conducted by measuring body weight and body dimensions. Sheep genomic DNA was extracted and subjected to genotyping and sequencing to confirm the presence of variants derived from amplification of exon 5 of PITX2. A 382-bp amplicon displayed three genotypes, CC, CT, and TT. A comparison of PITX2 genotypes and birth types with productive traits showed that CC-type ewes had significantly heavier live body weights, birth weight, and higher body dimensions compared to CT-type and TT-type ewes. The CC genotypes were recorded strongly positive correlation with birth type, live body weight, height at back, width at shoulder, width at pelvic, chest width, and abdomen width ((r=0.81, P=0.02), (r=0.77, P=0.04), (r=0.97, P=0.02), (r=0.98, P=0.02), (r=0.96, P=0.03), (r=0.92, P=0.03), and (r=0.98, P=0.01) respectively. Sheep of the CC genotype had higher live body weights and body measurements, making them more productive. These findings provide valuable insight into the characteristics and functions of the PITX2 gene for the future of sheep breeding.
The effect of lavender essential oil on performance, carcass characteristics and serum parameters of broilers
Authors: Çolak A , Yıldız A
Published: September 2024

This study was carried out to investigate the effect of lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) essential oil addition to broiler diets at different levels on performance, carcass, and blood parameters. A 6-week experiment, 300 unsexed day-old broiler (Ross 308) was used in the experiment. Six treatments consisting of different lavender essential oil levels (0, 50, 100, 150, 200, and 250 %) were used with five replicates of fifty chicks each treatment. Body weight, body weight gain, and feed conversion ratio were linearly affected, and these parameters were improved by the addition of lavender essential oil to the diet (P<0.05). However, feed intake was not affected by the supplementation of lavender essential oil (P>0.05). The effect of lavender essential oil on carcass properties was insignificant (P>0.05). The addition of lavender essential oil to the diet linearly decreased LDL, triglyceride, and albumin levels of serum, whereas total protein level of serum linearly increased in broilers. As a result, it can be said that the addition of 250 mg/kg level of lavender essential oil to the diet is beneficial in improving the performance and serum parameters of broilers.
Determination of Urea Content in Dairy Cattle Feed by High Performance Liquid Chromatography via Refractive Index Detector: Method Optimization, Validation and Comparison with Spectro-Colorimetric Method
Authors: Umur H , Hanoğlu Oral H , Ekşi Karaağaç H , Koçer S , Uçurum HÖ , Altınçekiç E
Published: September 2024

The aim of this study was to analyze the urea content of Dairy Cattle Feed (DCF) using High Performance Liquid Chromatography via Refractive Index Detector (HPLC-RID), without derivatization, along with spectro-colorimetric method that is the official control method of European Union (EU). Towards that goal, the analysis procedure for the method was established, method optimization and validation were carried out by spiking urea at 2% level to DCF, which is the upper limit allowed for use in ruminant feeds in Türkiye. In method validation; R2: 0.9997 coefficient of determination at 25-100000 mg/kg linear range, 75 mg/kg limit of detection (LOD) and 250 mg/kg limit of quantification (LOQ), 1.08% repeatability RSD, 1.84% reproducibility RSD and 95.10% recovery were obtained. The applicability of the method was proven at 25-100000 mg/kg linear range with real samples by spiking 2% urea in Urea-Free Dairy Cattle Feed (UF-DCF), Low Urea Dairy Cattle Feed (LU-DCF), and High Urea Dairy Cattle Feed (HU-DCF). The presence of urea in UF-DCF was detected with the spectro-colorimetric (at 420 and 435 nm wavelength) method, while urea in UF-DCF was not detected by the in-house HPLC-RID method, (P<0.05). The amount of urea in LU-DCF without spiking urea was detected by the same level as HPLC-RID method and the SC-435 method (P>0.05). For HU-DCF blank samples, higher urea amounts were detected with the in-house HPLC-RID method as compared to the spectro-colorimetric methods used in the study (P<0.05). In DCF spiked with 2.0% urea, the urea amount found in the in-house HPLC-RID method were higher than that of the spectro-colorimetric method (P<0.05). As a result, the in-house HPLC-RID method that is developed in this study has shown great promise to be a potential, applicable and valid method for determining the urea amount in DCF.
Identification of Enterococcus Species Isolated from Commercial Fish Feeds and Infected Fish Specimens
Authors: Kumru S , Dengiz Balta Z , Aliu H , Balta F
Published: September 2024

Enterococcus is a Gram‐positive cocci bacterium that can survive in different environmental conditions such as water, plant, and soil. They are also bacteriological signs of fecal contamination. In aquaculture facilities, Enterococcus species have appeared as one of the crucial opportunistic fish pathogens. Enterococcus-caused fish diseases have been reported in different fish species like yellow tail, turbot, and tilapia. Even though Enterococcus species are used as probiotics and are members of the gastrointestinal flora, they can cause pathogenicity like sepsis, wound infections, urinary tract infections, and others. In this study, we isolated bacterial samples from diseased rainbow trout and trout feed. Based on the API 20 strep test kit, they were determined as Enterococcus faecium. While fish isolate samples had 74.4%-99.9% similarity to E. faecium, trout feed isolate samples had 96.4%-99.9% similarity to E. faecium. Moreover, PCR was performed from trout feed isolate samples by using the universal 16S rRNA primers. Sequence results indicate that the samples were E. faecium and E. faecalis. The phylogenetic tree was constructed with other Enterococcus species of 16S rRNA and our samples were located in the E. faecium and E. faecalis species. In conclusion, there may be contamination of Enterococcus with food or other factors. They are opportunistic microorganisms and cause pathogenicity when the host immunity weakens. This may be the first report of Enterococcus contamination and pathogenicity on feeds and fish. Even though all samples with API 20 strep test kit were identified as E. faecium, they had the lower percentage similarity, so they may be E. faecalis and other Enterococcus species. Thus, further studies are needed to understand their probiotic and pathogenicity functions in aquaculture production.
Antimicrobial Resistance profile of Staphylococcus aureus from dairy cows with mastitis in the Region of Central Macedonia over a five-month period (March-July 2021)
Authors: Zafeiridis C , Pavlidou E , Giakkoupi P , Vatopoulos A , Papadogiannakis E
Published: September 2024

In Greece, a National Monitoring Plan for Antimicrobial Resistance in sick bovine animals was launched (2021). We aimed at surveying the antimicrobial resistance profiles of 118 pathogenic Staphylococcus aureus isolates obtained from dairy cows >18 months with mastitis in the Region of Central Macedonia from 1st March to 31st July 2021, where 45% (Census 2020: 69.186/128.511) of dairy cows in Greece are concentrated. By using the disk diffusion method (according to the CLSI guidelines), we tested susceptibility of isolates to nine antimicrobials (penicillin, cefoxitin, cefquinome, gentamicin, tetracycline, marbofloxacin, erythromycin, clindamycin, enrofloxacin) selected following the marketing amounts of animal use in Greece. In the study, 62/11 Staphylococcus aureus isolates were found to be resistant 52,54% to penicillin; 57/118 were 48,31% resistant to erythromycin, 56/118 were resistant 47,46% to clindamycin; 29/118 were 24,58% resistant to tetracycline and cefquinome both, 27/118 were 22,88% resistant to cefoxitin, 20/118 were 16,95% resistant to gentamicin, 3/118 were 2,54% resistant to marbofloxacin and, 2/118 were 1,69% resistant to enrofloxacin. Regarding the surveillance on the antimicrobial resistance of the Staphylococcus aureus isolates, that cause mastitis in cattle (penicillin in combination with an aminoglycoside, is the most commonly applied therapeutic treatment scheme against mastitis in Greece), to the β-lactams (penicillin, cefoxitin) it is needed further investigation, under the ‘One Health’ approach in respect to the prudent use of antibiotics in staphylococcal infections in humans and in the veterinary medicine in Greece. However, it seems that several kinds of interventions at farm level led to the protection of quinolones. The study offers a thorough understanding of the antimicrobial resistance patterns among Staphylococcus aureus isolates. The significant resistance rates to various antibiotics highlight the need for responsible antibiotic usage and continuous monitoring of resistance trends. These insights are crucial in developing effective strategies to tackle the emergence and dissemination of resistant strains and ensuring better treatment and control of infections caused by this bacterium. The findings add valuable knowledge to our understanding of antibiotic resistance and its implications.
Keywords: Antimicrobial Resistance; Staphylococcus aureus; mastitis; prudent use of antibiotics; One Health
Characterization of normal and mastitic milks using Raman Spectroscopy by application of SERS method
Authors: Açıkgöz G , Coşkun P , Ergün Y , Başpinar N , Kazak F
Published: September 2024

One of the problems of the dairy industry which causes major economic losses due to reduced milk yield and quality, is "Mastitis". Mastitis is a disease that occurs in the glandular tissue of the mammary gland caused by infectious agents. Since milk and milk derived products are consumed by a large part of the World’s population, the quality of milk becames important. Rapid, non-destructive analysis of the milk by Raman Spectroscopy is of great advantage. In the study, it is aimed to investigate the molecular structures of normal and mastitic milks using Raman spectroscopy and this study is the first study done for this purpose.
In the study, the presence or absence of functional groups of the spectra obtained from the milk samples was compared with the reference spectra in other studies. It was observed that the peaks obtained from the biochemical structures of normal and mastitic milks were consistent with the literature. In addition, it was found that the biochemical components of subclinical mastitis and normal milk did not change at the molecular level.
It was thought that there was no change at the molecular level as there was no visible deterioration in the milk with subclinical mastitis and the factor caused by the infection in the breast tissue.
Keywords: Raman Spectroscopy; SERS method; mastitis; milk
Investigation of the Presence of Chicken Parvovirus in Turkish Backyard Poultry Flocks: A Comparative Analysis of PCR Primer Sets
Authors: Turan T , Kalin R , Isidan H , Atasoy MO
Published: September 2024

Enteric syndromes such as runting-stunting syndrome or malabsorption syndrome cause significant economic loss in industrial-scale poultry production. These syndromes are commonly perceived to possess a multifactorial aetiology; nevertheless, the extent of parvoviral involvement remains largely obscure. In addition, A potential reservoir of parvoviruses might be the backyard flocks, where the less precautions are undertaken. In this study, we aimed to investigate the potential participation of chicken parvovirus in enteric diseases of the farmyard layers belonging to semi-professional producers by comparing various PCR primer sets. 404 faecal samples from eight provinces were collected. The ChPV was studied from all samples by five PCR methods including nested and conventional PCR assays using different primer set combinations. Some samples were further sequenced, and the outputs were analysed in silico. The significantly varied positivity percentages depending on PCR methods (7.9 – 44.6%) were observed in faecal samples of backyard flocks. Phylogenetic analysis results further revealed the varied level of nucleotide identity (94.51% to 99.10) and the obtained Turkish strains were mainly distributed into two different clusters. The nested PCR approach developed in this study might be an alternative to other conventional PCR primers owing to its increased sensitivity. In addition, data represented the first identification of ChPV strains in Turkish poultry. Overall, the results pinpointed the increasing health risk in backyard poultry production stemming from ChPV infections and revealed the requirement for biosecurity precautions to prevent disease transmission.
Mapping bread wheat trait ontologies for semantic interoperability
Authors: Nédellec Claire , Aubin Sophie , Sauvion Clara , Ibanescu Liliana , Bravo Sonia , Le Gouis Jacques , Marcel Thierry C. , Pommier Cyril , Bossy Robert , Alaux Michael
Published: September 2024

Background The Wheat Crop ontology was created to annotate phenotypic experimental data (i.e. field and greenhouse measurements standardized and integrated in databases). The Wheat Trait and Phenotype ontology was created to annotate information on wheat traits from the literature (i.e. text found in the abstract, results and discussion of scholarly articles). To enable seamless data retrieval on wheat traits from these complementary sources, the classes in the two ontologies have been aligned. Methods All pairs of ontology classes were examined and categorized in nine groups based on the nature of their relationships (e.g. equivalence, subsumption). General principles emerged from this process which were formalized into rules. The Simple Standard for Sharing Ontological Mappings (SSSOM) representation was chosen to represent the mappings in RDF (Resource Description Framework), including their metadata such as creators, reviewers, and justification (including rules). Results The mapping dataset is publicly available. It covers 77% of the ontology classes. Most labels of the aligned classes differed significantly and required domain expertise for decisions, especially for traits related to biotic stress. Consequently, most mappings are close mappings rather than exact equivalents. Conclusions We present the end-to-end manual process used to select and represent mappings in SSSOM within the specific domain of wheat traits. We derive general lessons from the complex alignment process that extend beyond the specific case of these two ontologies and more generally apply to alignments of specialized ontologies for information retrieval purposes. This work demonstrates the relevance of SSSOM for representing these mappings.
Case Report: Atypical post-COVID Cogan's syndrome
Authors: Mezri Sameh , Zitouni Chaima , Sleimi Wafa , Bouzidi Mayssa , Sameh Sayhi
Published: September 2024

Background Cogan’s syndrome is a rare autoimmune disorder characterized by ocular inflammation, vestibulocochlear dysfunction, and systemic vasculitis. Case Presentation We report a 28-year-old female who experienced decreased visual acuity and ocular redness one month after a COVID-19 infection, with ophthalmological signs linked to keratitis, uveitis and retinal vascularitis. Two weeks later, she developed vertigo, tinnitus, and sudden hearing loss, leading to a diagnosis of Cogan’s disease. The patient received corticosteroid therapy, resulting in regression of ophthalmological signs, but progressed to complete deafness. One month later, she presented with lymphocytic meningitis and high intracranial pressure, which improved under treatment. The patient later received cochlear implants. Objective This case report aims to highlight an atypical presentation of Cogan’s syndrome with neurological involvement following a COVID-19 infection. This case contributes to the limited literature on such presentations. Conclusion Our case is one of only two reported instances of Cogan’s syndrome presenting with neurological signs post-COVID-19 infection, underscoring the rarity and complexity of this condition.