bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The blood count as a compass to navigate in the ever-changing landscape of the carrier state of hemoglobinopathies: a single-center Italian experience
Authors: Marchesani Silvio , Di Mauro Margherita , Ceglie Giulia , Grassia Ginevra , Carletti Michaela , Cristofaro Rosa Carmela , Cossutta Matilde , Curcio Cristina , Palumbo Giuseppe
Published: October 2023

Introduction

Approximately 7% of the worldwide population exhibits variations in the globin genes. The recent migration of populations from countries where hemoglobin disorders are endemic has resulted in important epidemiological changes with the diffusion of newly discovered or poorly characterized genetic variants and new combinations and very heterogeneous clinical phenotypes. The aim of our study is to assess the parameters that are more significant in predicting a positive genetic testing outcome for hemoglobinopathies in a pediatric population of patients presenting with anemia or microcythemia, without a definite diagnosis.

Methods and materials

This study included patients evaluated in our hematological outpatient clinic for anemia and/or microcythemia despite normal ferritin levels. A screening of pathological hemoglobins using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was performed for the entire population of the study. Subsequently, patients with hemoglobin (Hb) S trait and patients with an HPLC profile compatible with beta thalassemia trait were excluded from the study. Genetic screening tests for hemoglobinopathies were performed on the remaining patients, which involved measuring the red blood cell (RBC) counts, red blood cells distribution width (RDW), reticulocyte count, and mean corpuscular volume of reticulocytes (MCVr).

Results

This study evaluated a total of 65 patients, consisting of nine patients with negative genetic analysis results and 56 patients with positive genetic analysis results. The Hb and RDW values in these two groups did not demonstrate statistical significance. On the other hand, there were statistically significant differences observed in the mean corpuscular volume (MCV), RBC count, reticulocyte count, and MCVr between the two groups. Furthermore, in the group of patients with positive genetic test results, specific genetic findings associated with different HPLC results were observed. In particular, 13 patients with positive genetic test results had normal HPLC findings.

Discussion

This study has demonstrated that HPLC, while serving as a valuable first-level test, has some limitations. Specifically, it has been observed that some patients may exhibit a negative HPLC result despite a positive genetic analysis. In addition to the presence of low levels of Hb and HPLC alterations, other parameters could potentially indicate the underlying mutations in the globin genes. Therefore, we propose that the complete blood cell count be utilized as a widely available parameter for conducting targeted genetic analyses to avoid the risk of overlooking rare hemoglobinopathies.
Genetic risk variants for childhood nephrotic syndrome and corticosteroid response
Authors: Cason Rachel K. , Chambers Eileen , Tu Tiffany , Chryst-Stangl Megan , Huggins Kinsie , Lane Brandon M. , Ochoa Alejandro , Jackson Annette M. , Gbadegesin Rasheed A.
Published: October 2023

Introduction

The etiology of most cases of nephrotic syndrome (NS) remains unknown, therefore patients are phenotypically categorized based on response to corticosteroid therapy as steroid sensitive NS (SSNS), or steroid resistant NS (SRNS). Genetic risk factors have been identified for SSNS from unbiased genome-wide association studies (GWAS), however it is unclear if these loci are disease risk loci in other forms of NS such as SRNS. Additionally, it remains unknown if these risk loci are associated with response to therapy. Thus, we investigated the association between SSNS risk loci and therapy response in a large, multi-race cohort of children along the entire spectrum of childhood-onset NS.

Methods

We enrolled 1,000 patients with childhood-onset NS comprised of SSNS and SRNS. Genotyping was done using TaqMan and Direct Sanger Sequencing for 9 previously reported childhood SSNS risk loci. We compared the allele frequencies (AF) and variant burden between NS vs. controls and SRNS vs. SSNS.

Results

All 9 risk loci were associated with NS compared with healthy controls (p = 3.5 × 10−3–<2.2 × 10−16). Variant burden greater than 7 was associated with risk of SRNS (OR 7.4, 95% CI 4.6–12.0, p = 8.2 × 10−16).

Conclusion

Our study showed that genetic risk loci for childhood SSNS are associated with pattern of therapy response, may help predict disease outcome, and set the stage for individualized treatment of NS.
Clinical features of febrile seizures in children with COVID-19: an observational study from a tertiary care hospital in China
Authors: Fang Cuiyun , Zhou Yuan , Fan Wei , Zhang Chunsheng , Yang Yi
Published: October 2023

Background

Febrile seizures are a common neurologic manifestation in children with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Compared to seasonal respiratory viruses, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has a pronounced neurological impact, with the result that febrile seizures with COVID-19 may exhibit unique clinical features.

Materials and methods

We conducted a retrospective study in a tertiary care hospital in China. We collected medical record information on febrile seizures with COVID-19, including demographic characteristics, clinical features, laboratory tests, and disease burden. Subsequently, the data were then analyzed descriptively.

Results

A total of 103 children diagnosed with febrile seizures and positive COVID-19 PCR results were included in our study. Among them, 81 (78.6%) were males and 22 (21.4%) were females. The age of onset of febrile seizures ranged from 14 to 57 months, with a mean age of 34.9 ± 6.24 months. Complex febrile seizures were observed in 34 (33%) cases. Antiseizure medications were administered to 24 (23.3%) patients. Laboratory tests showed a white blood cell count of (27.05 ± 8.20) × 103/µl, a neutrophil count of (20.09 ± 5.66) × 103/µl and a lymphocyte count of (6.44 ± 1.86) × 103/µl. A creatine kinase level was significantly elevated, with a mean value of (412.00 ± 158.96) U/L. The mean length of stay was 4.36 days. Twelve patients (11.7%) required intensive care services, but there were no deaths or patients remaining on antiseizure medications after discharge.

Conclusion

In the post-epidemic era of COVID-19, pediatric clinicians should be aware of the changing clinical features of febrile seizures associated with COVID-19. The average age of onset has increased, with a higher proportion of males. Length of stay and hospitalization costs did not increase significantly. The prognosis remained favorable, although a small number of children required intensive care services during the acute phase.
Cortical oxygen extraction fraction using quantitative BOLD MRI and cerebral blood flow during vasodilation
Authors: Le Linh N. N. , Wheeler Gregory J. , Holy Emily N. , Donnay Corinne A. , Blockley Nicholas P. , Yee Alan H. , Ng Kwan L. , Fan Audrey P.
Published: October 2023

Introduction: We aimed to demonstrate non-invasive measurements of regional oxygen extraction fraction (OEF) from quantitative BOLD MRI modeling at baseline and after pharmacological vasodilation. We hypothesized that OEF decreases in response to vasodilation with acetazolamide (ACZ) in healthy conditions, reflecting compensation in regions with increased cerebral blood flow (CBF), while cerebral metabolic rate of oxygen (CMRO2) remained unchanged. We also aimed to assess the relationship between OEF and perfusion in the default mode network (DMN) regions that have shown associations with vascular risk factors and cerebrovascular reactivity in different neurological conditions.

Material and methods: Eight healthy subjects (47 ± 13 years, 6 female) were scanned on a 3 T scanner with a 32-channel head coil before and after administration of 15 mg/kg ACZ as a pharmacological vasodilator. The MR imaging acquisition protocols included: 1) A Gradient Echo Slice Excitation Profile Imaging Asymmetric Spin Echo scan to quantify OEF, deoxygenated blood volume, and reversible transverse relaxation rate (R2’) and 2) a multi-post labeling delay arterial spin labeling scan to measure CBF. To assess changes in each parameter due to vasodilation, two-way t-tests were performed for all pairs (baseline versus vasodilation) in the DMN brain regions with Bonferroni correction for multiple comparisons. The relationships between CBF versus OEF and CBF versus R2’ were analyzed and compared across DMN regions using linear, mixed-effect models.

Results: During vasodilation, CBF significantly increased in the medial frontal cortex (P=0.004), posterior cingulate gyrus (pCG) (P=0.004), precuneus cortex (PCun) (P=0.004), and occipital pole (P=0.001). Concurrently, a significant decrease in OEF was observed only in the pCG (8.8%, P=0.003) and PCun (8.7%,P=0.001). CMRO2 showed a trend of increased values after vasodilation, but these differences were not significant after correction for multiple comparisons. Although R2’ showed a slightly decreasing trend, no statistically significant changes were found in any regions in response to ACZ. The CBF response to ACZ exhibited a stronger negative correlation with OEF (β=−0.104±0.027; t=−3.852,P<0.001), than with R2’ (β=−0.016±0.006; t=−2.692,P=0.008).

Conclusion: Quantitative BOLD modeling can reliably measure OEF across multiple physiological conditions and captures vascular changes with higher sensitivity than R2’ values. The inverse correlation between OEF and CBF across regions in DMN, suggests that these two measurements, in response to ACZ vasodilation, are reliable indicators of tissue health in this healthy cohort.
Mapping the castor bean endosperm proteome revealed a metabolic interaction between plastid, mitochondria, and peroxisomes to optimize seedling growth
Authors: Wrobel Thomas J. , Brilhaus Dominik , Stefanski Anja , Stühler Kai , Weber Andreas P. M. , Linka Nicole
Published: October 2023

In this work, we studied castor-oil plant Ricinus communis as a classical system for endosperm reserve breakdown. The seeds of castor beans consist of a centrally located embryo with the two thin cotyledons surrounded by the endosperm. The endosperm functions as major storage tissue and is packed with nutritional reserves, such as oil, proteins, and starch. Upon germination, mobilization of the storage reserves requires inter-organellar interplay of plastids, mitochondria, and peroxisomes to optimize growth for the developing seedling. To understand their metabolic interactions, we performed a large-scale organellar proteomic study on castor bean endosperm. Organelles from endosperm of etiolated seedlings were isolated and subjected to liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Computer-assisted deconvolution algorithms were applied to reliably assign the identified proteins to their correct subcellular localization and to determine the abundance of the different organelles in the heterogeneous protein samples. The data obtained were used to build a comprehensive metabolic model for plastids, mitochondria, and peroxisomes during storage reserve mobilization in castor bean endosperm.
Responses of community traits and soil characteristics of Achnatherum inebrians-type degraded grassland to grazing systems in alpine meadows on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau
Authors: Chen Yanzhu , Xu Changlin , Ma Kaikai , Hou Qingqing , Yu Xiaojun
Published: October 2023

Introduction

Scientific grazing management is of great significance for the ecological health and sustainable use of alpine meadows.

Methods

To explore appropriate management methods of alpine grasslands of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau degraded by Achnatherum inebrians (Hance) Keng ex Tzvele presence, we studied the effects of different grazing systems on the A. inebrians population, grassland vegetation community traits, soil characteristics and soil microbial community structure for cold- season grazing plus supplementary feeding pasture (CSF) and four-season open public pasture (FOP) in Tianzhu County, Gansu Province.

Results

Compared with FOP, the CSF site showed significantly inhibited reproduction of A. inebrians, especially the crown width, seed yield and number of reproductive branches per plant were as high as 50%, significantly increased the aboveground biomass of edible forage and soil water content by 57% and 43–55%, better soil nutrients, and significantly reduced soil bulk density by 10– 29%. Different grazing systems affected the composition and diversity of soil microbial communities, with a greater effect on fungi than on bacterial flora. The most abundant phyla of bacteria and fungi were Proteobacteria and Ascomycota for CSF (by 30–38% and 24–28%) and for FOP (by 67–70% and 68–73%), and the relative abundance and species of bacterial and fungal genera were greater for CSF than FOP. The α-diversity indexes of fungi were improved, and the β-diversity of fungi was significant difference between CSF and FOP. However, the grazing utilization time was prolonged in FOP, which reduced the diversity and abundance of soil bacteria and increased soil spatial heterogeneity. The use of A. inebrians-type degraded grassland in the cold season, and as a winter supplementary feeding and resting ground, could effectively inhibit expansion of A. inebrians, promote edible forage growth, enhance grassland productivity and community stability, and improve soil structure.

Discussion

The results guide healthy and sustainable utilization of A. inebrians-type degraded grassland in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.
Parallel phonological processing of Chinese characters revealed by flankers tasks
Authors: Yu Ruifeng , Wu Yunong , Gu Feng
Published: October 2023

An important and extensively researched question in the field of reading is whether readers can process multiple words in parallel. An unresolved issue regarding this question is whether the phonological information from foveal and parafoveal words can be processed in parallel, i.e., parallel phonological processing. The present study aims to investigate whether there is parallel phonological processing of Chinese characters. The original and the revised flankers tasks were applied. In both tasks, a foveal target character was presented in isolation in the no-flanker condition, flanked on both sides by a parafoveal homophone in the homophone-flanker condition, and by a non-homophonic character in the unrelated-flanker condition. Participants were instructed to fixate on the target characters and press two keys to indicate whether they knew the target characters (lexical vs. non-lexical). In the original flankers task, the stimuli were presented for 150 ms without a post-mask. In the revised flankers task, we set the stimulus exposure time (duration of the stimuli plus the blank interval between the stimuli and the post-mask) to each participant’s lexical decision threshold to prevent participants from processing the target and flanker characters serially. In both tasks, reaction times to the lexical targets were significantly shorter in the homophone-flanker condition than in the unrelated-flanker condition, suggesting parallel phonological processing of Chinese characters. In the revised flankers task, accuracy rates to the lexical targets were significantly lower in the unrelated-flanker condition compared to the homophone-flanker condition, further supporting parallel phonological processing of Chinese characters. Moreover, reaction times to the lexical targets were the shortest in the no-flanker condition in both tasks, reflecting the attention distribution over both the target and flanker characters. The findings of this study provide valuable insights into the parallel processing mechanisms involved in reading.
Research on the design of somatosensory interactive games for autistic children based on art therapy
Authors: Huili She , Xiaolin Cao , Guangsen Guo , Yu Jiang , Yu Liu , Wenpei Zhang
Published: October 2023

There is no targeted drug treatment for autistic children. Educational intervention and rehabilitation are the main ways to improve the ability development of autistic children. However, there are great differences in the individual symptoms and abilities. It is an urgent need for educators, practitioners and parents of autistic children to find effective ways to improve their cognitive, social and motor abilities. The author cooperates with the therapist to study and design the somatosensory interaction game for autistic children, which is a formal attempt of art therapy on the treatment tool, with the purpose of studying an effective and safe art intervention method. In order to verify the effect, the author recruited 26 children with mild or moderate autism for a six-week empirical evaluation, and the participants were randomly assigned. Among them, 13 participants participated in the art therapy of the proposed somatosensory game group (the experimental group), and 13 participants participated the traditional picture book group (the control group) that improved the emotion, cognition and skills of children, and the design style was more popular with children. The aesthetic design in the picture book could have an intervention effect on the participants, and its artistic effect could serve as an effective reference for the interface design of the game group. The results showed that the two groups had a significant impact on the participants in different aspects. The game group improved not only in terms of concentration and special ability, but also in terms of physical coordination and activity enhancement, it is inferred that the core factors of game therapy are sub-intervention, interaction and feedback, icon design and color matching system; the picture book group has significant improvement in interpersonal relationship guidance and language learning and communication. The results show that it is necessary to take more comprehensive and richer preliminary research on the development of treatment products for autistic children. Because picture book education requires children’s initial concentration, it is found that picture book therapy has high requirements for teachers’ classroom control and relatively strict requirements for picture book content, and play therapy can be a good complement to these problems.
Paliperidone long-acting injection in the treatment of an adolescent with schizophrenia with fluctuating mental symptoms during menstrual period: a case report
Authors: Wang Feng , Chen Juan , Guo Linglin , Li Zhixiong , Li Zhe
Published: October 2023

Background

The treatment of schizophrenia, a chronic disabling psychiatric disorder, mainly relies on antipsychotics to control the disease and improve clinical symptoms. Various medication options are available, and differences in treatment effects, even for the same medication, have been noted. Treatment efficacy is correlated with the patient’s sex, age, and physical condition. When a drug fails to achieve the desired effect or the symptoms are unstable, the drug dose is often increased or a change in medication is advised according to the patient’s situation.

Case presentation

We report the case of a 16 years-old girl with schizophrenia and apparent psychotic symptoms. According to the genetic testing results, the symptoms were effectively controlled, and she was discharged from the hospital with the prescription of paliperidone sustained-release tablets. During the follow-up, her symptoms fluctuated during menstrual period, causing her great distress. Furthermore, her compliance gradually declined during the following 2 years of treatment, and the medication was often discontinued. We changed the drug from an oral tablet to an injection preparation while maintaining the active ingredients of the drug. The patient’s symptoms were significantly controlled, and no fluctuation of symptoms occurred during the menstrual cycle.

Conclusion

Long-acting antipsychotic injections can be administered to female adolescents with schizophrenia who experience fluctuating psychotic symptoms during menstruation. This technique can ensure both consistency of medication and improvement in clinical symptoms.
“I am Young, Why Should I Vaccinate?” How empathetic and aggressive communication on social media impact young adults’ attitudes toward COVID-19 vaccination
Authors: Kaňková Jaroslava , Saumer Melanie , Neureiter Ariadne , Darovskikh Sofia , Shargina Elena , Matthes Jörg
Published: October 2023

Introduction

To combat the current COVID-19 pandemic, high vaccination rates are of crucial value. However, young people in particular tend to be hesitant toward vaccination. On social media, young adults are often called to vaccinate in an aggressive tone, arguing that there is no choice than to vaccinate and that all else is wrong.

Methods

In an experimental study (N = 410), we investigated the effects of (a) empathetic vs. aggressive communication styles in social media postings and (b) the origin of the communicator on young adults’ supportive attitudes toward COVID-19 vaccinations. We treated the gender of the communicator as a moderator, and expectancy violation, psychological distance as well as the perceived credibility of the communicator as mediators.

Results

Findings showed that an aggressive communication style generally had a negative impact on young adults’ COVID-19 vaccination attitudes, fully mediated by expectancy violation and perceived credibility of the communicator. Gender and the origin of the communicator did not moderate this mediation processes.

Discussion

Further implications for online health communication strategies are discussed.
Anxiety? Stay Away From Me!
Authors: van der Hoek Dinand , Muller Kirsten S. , de Zwart Elize , Pittig Andre , Harrewijn Anita , Wong Alex H. K.
Published: October 2023

Have you ever felt anxious? How do you usually react when you are afraid of something? Anxiety is a normal feeling that everyone gets from time to time. Since it is an unpleasant feeling, people often try to avoid situations that make them feel that way. For example, skipping school because you have to give a presentation in front of the whole class. Some people can feel too much anxiety. Anxiety makes them nauseous, and they might start to stutter. In our work, we would like to discuss “avoidance of learned fear”. In this article, we will explore anxious feelings and whether people tend to avoid things they are anxious about.
Food Networks and Agroecology in the Province of Trento – Italy
Authors: Carrieri de Souza Marina , Rover Oscar José , Forno Francesca
Published: October 2023

As the hegemonic food system is unsustainable in socio-environmental terms, over the last few decades, the search for new forms of food supply has fostered alternative food networks (AFNs). Civic Food Networks (CFNs) are a particular subset of AFNs that strongly emphasise the citizenship of the actors involved, including farmers, and their active engagement in the agrifood system. Our objective was to identify CFNs within the studied territory, evaluate farmers’ participation, and answer if the CFNs are contributing to the promotion of agroecology. The research comprises a case study in the province of Trento (Italy). We used direct and participant observation, database consulting, document analysis, and interviews with key players and organic farmers linked to short food supply chains (SFSCs). We evaluated the contributions to the promotion of agroecology through ecological and socioeconomic elements: biodiversity, efficient use of resources, and self-produced food. We have identified the presence of initiatives that act by promoting discussion spaces and stimulating the construction of experiences of an SFSC. Those initiatives have provided space for the formation of new networks and created opportunities for new relationships, production, and consumption networks. However, organisational structures that favour monocultural systems and commercialisation in long chains prevail in the territory and hinder these innovations. Though the collective organisations of farmers, outside the formal cooperatives, are still developing, farmers are often individualised and with little active participation in decision-making processes within the territory. This study identified an embryonic CFN that showed positive indicators of agroecology for all the analysed aspects. However, the differences were not as significant when compared to other farmers who also participated in SFSCs. This research reinforces that there is a there is promotion of agroecoloy, from the maintenance and encouragement of short food supply chains that are proponents of agrobiodiversity, to the maintenance of family farmers’ livelihoods. CFNs have the potential to empower rural actors by providing them with greater participation and autonomy in the agrifood system. However, strengthening these networks remains a challenge, as it requires stimulating social organisation and fostering the integration of various actors within the territory, including rural stakeholders.
Case report: Case series featuring anastomotic colonic adenocarcinoma following jejunoileal bypass requiring oncologic resection and jejunoileal bypass reversal
Authors: Miles Bryan , Visioni Anthony , Daigle Christopher , Marley Robert , Brandstetter Stephen
Published: October 2023

Like all surgical fields, bariatric surgery has evolved immensely, so much so that previous procedures are now obsolete. For instance, the jejunoileal bypass has fallen out of favor after severe metabolic consequences resulted in prolonged morbidity and even mortality. Despite this, several patients persevered long enough to develop other pathology, such as cancer. This progression has been validated in animal models but not human patients. Nonetheless, contemporary surgeons may encounter situations where they must resect and re-establish intestinal continuity in patients with this antiquated anatomy. When faced with this scenario, the question of whether or not the previously bypassed small bowel can be safely reunited plagues the surgeon remains unanswered. Unfortunately, the literature does not effectively answer this question, even anecdotally through case reports or series. Therefore, we share our experience with three patients who developed colon cancer following jejunoileal bypass and subsequently underwent oncologic resection with simultaneous reversal of their jejunoileal bypasses.
Improving weekend handover in a teaching hospital elective general surgery department
Authors: Dexter Eloise , Walshaw Josephine , Brown Ayla , Nadeem Tehmina , Yiasemidou Marina , Lo Terence
Published: October 2023

Background

Effective documentation and transfer of clinical information are vital for the continuity of care, patient safety, and maintaining medico-legal records, as outlined by the Royal College of Surgeons “Safe Handover: Guidance from the Working Time Directive working party”. Our elective surgery weekend team cross-covers both Colorectal and Upper Gastrointestinal surgical specialties across multiple wards, which poses a significant challenge. The aim of this study was to improve the documentation of patients' weekend plans through the introduction of a weekend handover proforma.

Method

We reviewed the weekend plans of 199 patients overall. 41 records were initially reviewed over a 2-week period. The surgical multidisciplinary team was then surveyed to establish the need for an improved weekend handover. Following this, a weekend handover proforma was introduced as part of the Friday ward round and education on the expectations were provided at a local Surgery Clinical Governance meeting. The documentation of the weekend plan was reviewed for 158 patients over a 6-week period and a post-intervention survey was disseminated.

Results

The preliminary survey highlighted concerns for delayed discharges and patient safety over the weekend, with 88.2% of respondents agreeing a weekend handover proforma would be beneficial. The initial data confirmed inadequate documentation of diagnosis (19.5%), operation/procedure (28.1%), and weekend plans for blood tests (19.5%), discharge planning (2.4%), diet (46.3%), antibiotics (19.5%), intravenous (IV) fluids (22.0%), mobility (19.5%) and drain/wound care (37.5%). After education and implementing a weekend handover proforma, these results increased for documentation of diagnosis (61.2%), operation/procedure (83.2%), blood tests (59.7%), and discharge planning (85.8%). However, there was little improvement in diet (53.0%) and no improvement in the weekend plans for antibiotics (14.2%), IV fluids (17.2%), mobility (14.9%) and drain/wound care (20.2%). The post-intervention survey showed an improvement across all areas, notably continuity of care and patient safety, with 95.5% of individuals finding the weekend handover proforma aided in patient care over the weekend.

Conclusion

Education of the ward team and implementation of a weekend handover proforma resulted in a marked improvement in the documentation of patients' weekend plans, which is essential to ensure the continuation of safe and effective patient care.
Toxicity of co-exposure of microplastics and lead in African catfish (Clarias gariepinus)
Authors: Soliman Hamdy A. M. , Salaah Sally M. , Hamed Mohamed , Sayed Alaa El-Din H.
Published: October 2023

Microplastics (MPs) are an emerging threat to freshwater ecosystems with several ecotoxicological ramifications for fish. Microplastics (MPs) can adsorb heavy metals on their surfaces and increase their availability to aquatic organisms. The combined impact of lead and microplastics on fish has only been studied seldom utilizing a variety of markers. The present study aimed to evaluate the hematological, biochemical, and inflammatory signals (cytokines), as well as antioxidant enzymes in African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) exposed to lead (Pb) and MPs individually and combined for 15 days (acute toxicity experiment). The fish were split into four groups, the first of which was the control group. The second group received exposure to 1 mg/L of lead nitrate [Pb(NO3)2]. The third group was given 100 mg/L of MPs. A solution containing 100 mg/L of MPs and 1 mg/L of lead nitrate [Pb(NO3)2] was administered to the fourth group (the combination group). According to the findings, when MPs and Pb were combined for 15 days, the red blood cells (RBCs), thrombocytes, and lymphocytes were significantly reduced in comparison to the control fish. When compared to the control fish, the fish exposed to MPs and Pb alone or together showed a significant rise in blood interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) cytokines. Both MPs and Pb exposure in catfish resulted in significant changes in the plasma electrolytes. The fish treated with MPs and Pb individually or in combination showed significant reduction in superoxide dismutase (SOD) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) levels compared to the control group. The fish exposed to the combined action of MPs and Pb showed a considerable modification in all biochemical markers. The difference in the mean concentration of Pb (mg/L) between the fish exposed to Pb alone and the fish subjected to Pb and MPs combination was not statistically significant. In conclusion, according to this investigation, exposure to Pb caused an insignificant increase in Pb accumulation when MPs were present. However, co-exposure may result in anemia, cellular harm, extremely high levels of oxidative stress, and an inflammatory reaction.
Soil Erosion in Taiwan
Authors: Chen Walter , Nguyen Kieu Anh , Huang Yu-Chieh
Published: October 2023

Soil erosion is a complex process involving material detachment, transportation (mainly by water, occasionally by wind), and eventual deposition when energy wanes. Human activities like tillage and construction can exacerbate soil erosion. Various forms of water erosion, such as sheet erosion, pedestal erosion, rills, piping, and gullying, are recognized. This pioneering study aims to comprehensively model water erosion across Taiwan at a 20 m spatial resolution, a departure from previous research focusing on smaller scales. Using the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) model, it seeks to examine the significant issue of soil erosion in Taiwan beyond agricultural areas and enable cross-regional comparisons. A large number of stations and the most recent data were used to establish the distributions of the rainfall runoff erosivity factor and the soil erodibility factor. In addition, we used the Google Earth Engine (GEE) to calculate the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and a locally derived empirical equation to compute the cover-management factor. The topographic factor was determined using the System for Automated Geoscientific Analyses (SAGA). The support practice factor was analyzed using two different methods using datasets on World Urban Areas and Global Urban Boundaries from the literature. The analysis showed that despite the difference in the support practice factor, Taiwan’s resulting average yearly soil erosion rates are very similar (200.7 Mg ha−1 year−1 and 207.4 Mg ha−1 year−1). The amounts were validated against five watersheds that were instrumented with erosion pins. With prediction ratios ranging from 1.04 to 1.82 across four of the five watersheds, our findings provide empirical support for the alignment of our model with soil erosion pin measurements, especially within the Tsengwen reservoir watershed. However, it is noteworthy that these results also exhibit a tendency towards conservative estimations in the remaining watersheds. Our calculated estimate, falling within the range of 201–207 Mg ha−1 year−1, plausibly represents the upper limit of mean soil erosion in Taiwan. This assertion is predicated on the deliberate omission of local soil conservation measures from our study, a decision necessitated by the absence of comprehensive and detailed island-wide data. Despite this limitation, our results instill confidence in the robustness of our methodological approach, thereby suggesting that our estimation of soil erosion in Taiwan provides a reliable approximation.
Recurring Rolling/Crimping Effects on Termination Effectiveness of Iron Clay Pea and Pearl Millet Warm-Season Cover Crops
Authors: Kornecki Ted S. , Kichler Corey M.
Published: October 2023

Summer cover crop utilization by no-till vegetable farms is essential for continuous soil protection, especially in the southern United States where intense storms are likely to occur in hot and humid summer months. A field experiment was conducted at the National Soil Dynamics Laboratory in Auburn, AL, USA, between the summers of 2015 and 2017 to determine the effectiveness of an experimental roller/crimper in mechanically terminating summer cover crops. Iron clay peas (Vigna unguiculata, L.) planted on a sandy loam and pearl millet (Penninsetum glaucum, L.) planted on clay soil were selected to determine termination rate effectiveness in single, double, and triple rolling/crimping over the same area. Overall, termination rates for both cover crops were higher for rolling three times (71%) compared to rolling once (55%) or twice (63%). However, cover crop termination was inhibited due to rainfalls on the experimental area during the three-week evaluation period. In 2016, drought conditions and high temperatures (32.6 °C) caused biomass reduction, especially for pearl millet, of over 31% to 39% compared to 2017 and 2015. Rolling provided higher soil-water conservation compared with the non-rolled control due the cover crop mulch layer blocking sunlight, keeping the soil surface cooler and preventing water evaporation. Recurrent rolling did not cause soil compaction above the 2.0 MPa level that inhibits root growth, but changes in soil strength were dependent on the soil moisture content.
Flower Visitors, Levels of Cross-Fertilisation, and Pollen-Parent Effects on Fruit Quality in Mango Orchards
Authors: Kämper Wiebke , Nichols Joel , Tran Trong D. , Burwell Christopher J. , Byrnes Scott , Trueman Stephen J.
Published: October 2023

Pollination is essential for the reproductive output of crops. Anthropogenic disturbance and global pollinator decline limit pollination success, reducing the quantity or quality of pollen. Relationships between the abundance of flower visitors and fruit production are often poorly understood. We aimed to (1) identify and quantify flower visitors in a mango orchard; (2) assess how much of the crop resulted from self- versus cross-pollination at increasing distances from a cross-pollen source in large, single-cultivar blocks of the cultivar Kensington Pride or the cultivar Calypso; and (3) determine how pollen parentage affected the size, colour, flavour attributes, and nutritional quality of fruit. Mango flowers were mostly visited by rhiniid flies and coccinellid beetles. Approximately 30% of the fruit were the result of cross-pollination, with the percentage significantly decreasing with an increasing distance from a cross-pollen source in the cultivar Calypso. Self-pollinated Calypso fruit were slightly larger and heavier, with higher acid and total polyphenol concentrations than cross-pollinated fruit. Our results showed higher-than-expected levels of cross-fertilisation among fruit, although self-pollen was likely more abundant than cross-pollen in the large orchard blocks. Our results suggest the preferential cross-fertilisation of flowers or the preferential retention of cross-fertilised fruitlets, both representing strategies for circumventing inbreeding depression. Growers should establish vegetated habitats to support pollinator populations and interplant cultivars more closely to maximise cross-pollen transfer.
Genetic Diversity and Population Structure in Captive Populations of Formosan Sambar Deer (Rusa unicolor swinhoei)
Authors: Liang Hsiao-Mei , Yang Kuo-Tai , Cheng Yu-Tzu , Chang Shen-Chang , Lin Cheng-Yung , Tsai Ming-Yang , Lin Der-Yuh , Hung Kuo-Hsiang
Published: October 2023

Formosan sambar deer (Rusa unicolor swinhoei) are of great economic significance in Taiwan, resulting in a substantial increase in deer farming to meet the high demand for velvet antlers. Inbreeding depression and reduced genetic variability can lead to the deterioration of captive populations. In this study, 239 Formosan sambar deer were genotyped using 13 microsatellites to analyze their genetic diversity and population genetic structure. Our results indicate a high-resolution power of these microsatellites in individual discrimination and parentage analysis. However, captive populations exhibit a low level of genetic diversity, likely because of inbreeding and bottleneck effects. Both principal coordinate analysis (PCoA) and STRUCTURE analyses revealed two distinct and segregated genetic groups within the captive populations and indicated no clear population genetic structure among the captive populations. Introducing new genetic material from the wild through translocation offers a potential solution for mitigating the impact of inbreeding and enhancing genetic diversity. The comprehensive information obtained from these genetic analyses is crucial for the development of effective breeding strategies aimed at preserving and enhancing Formosan sambar deer populations.
Effects of Glycine Supplementation in Drinking Water on the Growth Performance, Intestinal Development, and Genes Expression in the Jejunum of Chicks
Authors: Zheng Xiaotong , Xie Yinku , Chen Ziwei , He Jiaheng , Chen Jianfei
Published: October 2023

Glycine, the most basic amino acid found in nature, is considered an essential amino acid for chicks. However, the precise understanding of high concentrations of glycine’s significance in promoting the growth performance of chicks, as well as its impact on intestinal development, re-mains limited. Consequently, the objective of this study was to investigate the effects of glycine supplementation in drinking water on growth performance, intestine morphology, and development in newly hatched chicks. In this study, 200 newly born chicks were selected and pro-vided with a supplementation of 0.5%, 1%, and 2% glycine in their drinking water during their first week of life. The results revealed that glycine supplementation in drinking water could significantly increase the average daily gain of chicks from days 7 to 14. Furthermore, a significant difference was observed between the group supplemented with 1% glycine and the control group. Concurrently, this glycine supplementation increased the villus height and the ratio of the villus height to crypt depth in jejunum on both day 7 and day 14. Glycine supplementation in drinking water significantly affected the mRNA expression level of the ZO-1, GCLM, and rBAT genes in jejunum, which may have certain effects on the mucosal immune defense, cellular antioxidant stress capacity, and amino acid absorption. Overall, the findings of this study indicate that glycine supplementation in drinking water can enhance the growth performance of chicks and promote their intestine development.
Effects of Duration of Calcium Propionate Supplementation in Lambs Finished with Supplemental Zilpaterol Hydrochloride: Productive Performance, Carcass Characteristics, and Meat Quality
Authors: Carrillo-Muro Octavio , Rivera-Villegas Alejandro , Hernandez-Briano Pedro , Lopez-Carlos Marco Antonio , Plascencia Alejandro
Published: October 2023

Forty-five male non-castrated crossbred Dorper lambs (40.17 ± 0.35 kg body weight, BW) were employed in a completely randomized design with five treatments to investigate the effects of the duration of calcium propionate (CaPr) supplementation (10 g CaPr/lamb/d for 0, 14, 28, or 42 d before slaughter) on lambs finished with zilpaterol hydrochloride (ZH, 7.2 mg/lamb/d for a fixed period of 28 d before slaughter) regarding their productive performance, carcass characteristics, and meat quality. Treatments consisted of the following: (1) No additives (CTL), (2) 0 days on CaPr plus 28 d on ZH, (3) 14 days on CaPr plus 28 d on ZH, (4) 28 days on CaPr plus 28 d on ZH, and (5) 42 days on CaPr plus 28 d on ZH. When compared with CTL, ZH lambs exhibited a similar average daily gain (ADG) but had lower dry matter intake (DMI), leading to increased feed efficiency. Supplementing with ZH alone did not affect carcass traits, visceral mass, whole cuts, or meat quality. Lambs that received both CaPr 28 d and ZH exhibited quadratic increases (p < 0.05) in final body weight (FBW), ADG, and dressing percentage (D%). These increases were optimal at estimated inclusion durations of 26 d for FBW, 30 for ADG, and 39 d for D%. The ADG:DMI ratio and the longissimus muscle area (LMA) both exhibited quadratic increases (p < 0.05). The optimal duration of CaPr supplementation for ADG:DMI ratio was found to be 28 d, while for LMA, it was 14 d. As the period of CaPr supplementation increased, there was a linear increase (p < 0.05) in hot carcass weight, leg circumference, and whole cuts of breast IMPS209 and shoulder IMPS207. Cook loss percent increased quadratically (p < 0.05), and was higher when CaPr was included for an estimated duration of 26 d. As the duration of CaPr supplementation increased, the purge loss percentage (PRL) also increased linearly (p < 0.05). In conclusion, including CaPr in the diet for a duration of 28 d in lambs improved the response to ZH supplementation on the productive performance, carcass weight, and some whole cuts. However, it can also have a negative effect on PRL%.
Marginal Fit Evaluation of Zirconia Substructure Computer-Aided Design and Manufacturing (CAD/CAM) by Scanning Electron Microscope
Authors: Abu-Ras Kian , Dolev Eran , Biadsee Ameer , Ormianer Zeev
Published: October 2023

Purpose. This in vitro study compared the vertical marginal discrepancy (MD) and absolute marginal discrepancy (AMD) between the zirconia substructure and titanium (Ti)-base abutment before and after cementation. Material and methods. An intraoral scanner (CEREC Omnicam scanner; Dentsply Sirona) was used to scan the dental model of missing tooth 36 and obtain a three-dimensional virtual model. It was designed and milled for 25 zirconia superstructures (inCoris ZI meso F2 L, Dentsply Sirona). The samples were cemented to Ti bases. The MD and AMD were measured for each sample by using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) before and after cementation. Results. The overall mean values of MD measurements before and after cementation were 14.12 μm and 20.28 μm, respectively. The overall mean values of AMD measurements prior to and after substructure cementation on the Ti base were 54.85 μm and 116.0 μm, respectively. ANOVA revealed significant differences in MD (p = 0.001) and AMD (p < 0.001) before and after cementation. Conclusions. Significant differences were observed in MD and AMD values before and after cementation. The MD and AMD values were significantly lower before cementation than after cementation. The mean MD and AMD values were clinically acceptable.
Dry Needling versus Diacutaneous Fibrolysis for the Treatment of the Mechanical Properties of the Teres Major Muscle: A Randomized Clinical Trial
Authors: Ceballos-Laita Luis , Jiménez-Rejano José Jesús , Rebollo-Salas Manuel , Mingo-Gómez María Teresa , Hernández-Lázaro Héctor , Jiménez-del-Barrio Sandra
Published: October 2023

(1) Background: The stiffness of the posterior shoulder muscles has been shown to be related to shoulder pain and range of motion (ROM) restriction in athletes. Specifically, the treatment of the teres major muscle showed promising results in previous studies. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of dry needling (DN) vs. diacutaneous fibrolysis (DF) to improve the stiffness and tone of the teres major muscle, pain intensity, shoulder ROM, and extensibility in the short-term and at one-week follow-up in handball athletes. (2) Methods: A randomized clinical trial with blinded examiners was carried out. Elite handball athletes with shoulder pain and glenohumeral internal rotation deficit (n = 30) were randomly allocated to the DN group or the DF group. Patients in both groups received a single treatment session directly applied to the teres major muscle. The primary outcome variables and instrument were mechanical properties of the teres major muscle (stiffness and tone) measured with myotonometry. The secondary outcome variables were intensity of shoulder pain evaluated with visual analogue scale and shoulder ROM and extensibility recorded with a digital inclinometer. (3) Results: No between-group differences were found after the intervention or at one-week follow-up in the mechanical properties of teres major muscle, pain intensity, shoulder ROM, or extensibility. (4) Conclusions: the DN and DF techniques showed similar results at both timepoints in elite handball athletes with shoulder pain and glenohumeral internal rotation deficits.
Fused Node-Level Residual Structure Edge Graph Neural Network for Few-Shot Image Classification
Authors: Xu Yaoqun , Wang Yuemao
Published: October 2023

In spite of recent rapid developments across various computer vision domains, numerous cutting-edge deep learning algorithms often demand a substantial volume of data to operate effectively. Within this research, a novel few-shot learning approach is presented with the objective of enhancing the accuracy of few-shot image classification. This task entails the classification of unlabeled query samples based on a limited set of labeled support examples. Specifically, the integration of the edge-conditioned graph neural network (EGNN) framework with hierarchical node residual connections is proposed. The primary aim is to enhance the performance of graph neural networks when applied to few-shot classification, a rather unconventional application of hierarchical node residual structures in few-shot image classification tasks. It is noteworthy that this work represents an innovative attempt to combine these two techniques. Extensive experimental findings on publicly available datasets demonstrate that the methodology surpasses the original EGNN algorithm, achieving a maximum improvement of 2.7%. Particularly significant is the performance gain observed on our custom-built dataset, CBAC (Car Brand Appearance Classification), which consistently outperforms the original method, reaching an impressive peak improvement of 11.14%.