bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Transcriptomics yields valuable information regarding the response mechanisms of Chinese Min pigs infected with PEDV
Authors: Li Huihui , Zhou Chunxiang , Zhang Meimei , Yuan Na , Huang Xiaoyu , Xiang Jiaojiao , Wang Lixian , Shi Lijun
Published: December 2023

Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) causes porcine epidemic diarrhea (PED), a highly infectious disease, which has resulted in huge economic losses for the pig industry. To date, the pathogenic and immune response mechanism was not particularly clear. The purpose of this study was to investigate the pathogenic and immune responses of pigs infected with PEDV.In this study, 12 Min pigs were randomly selected without taking colostrum. At 3 days old, eight piglets were infected with 1 mL of PEDV solution (10 TCID50/ml), and the remaining four piglets were handled by 1 mL of 0.9% normal saline. Within the age of 7 days old, four piglets died and were considered as the death group. Correspondingly, four alive individuals were classified into the resistance group. Tissues of the duodenum, jejunum, ileum, colon, cecum, and rectum of piglets in the three groups were collected to measure the PEDV content. Additionally, the jejunum was used for the measurements and analyses of Hematoxylin-eosinstaining (HE), immunohistochemical sections, and transcriptomics. The phenotypes of Min piglets infected with PEDV showed that the viral copy numbers and jejunal damage had significant differences between the death and resistance groups. We also observed the transcriptome of the jejunum, and the differentially expressed (DE) analysis observed 6,585 DE protein-coding genes (PCGs), 3,188 DE long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), and 350 DE microRNAs (miRNAs), which were mainly involved in immune response and metabolic pathways. Furthermore, the specific expressed molecules for each group were identified, and 97 PCGs,108 lncRNAs, and 51 miRNAs were included in the ceRNA-regulated networks. By weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) and transcription factor (TF) prediction, 27 significant modules and 32 significant motifs (E-value < 0.05) annotated with 519 TFs were detected. Of these TFs, 53 were DE PCGs. In summary, the promising key PCGs, lncRNAs, and miRNAs related to the pathogenic and immunological response of pigs infected with PEDV were detected and provided new insights into the pathogenesis of PEDV.
Design and Analysis of an Adaptive Cable-Driven Manipulator Capable of Actively Transitioning between Two-Point Clamping and Envelope Grasping
Authors: Wei Huiling , Liu Jin , Lu Qinghua , Chen Weilin , Luo Lufeng , Liang Chengbin
Published: December 2023

Actively transitioning between clamping and grasping is a challenging problem for most manipulators with limited degrees of freedom. To overcome this problem, a cable-driven rigid–flexible combined manipulator capable of actively transitioning between clamping and grasping is proposed in this paper, which has a certain adaptability and compliance to achieve adaptive operation. First, the cable-driven unit and compliant unit of the cable-driven rigid–flexible combined manipulator are designed. Then, the sensitivity of the mechanism parameters is analyzed using the Monte Carlo method, and then the structure of the cable-driven rigid–flexible combined manipulator is optimized. After that, the force on the finger in two-point clamping mode is modelled using Newton’s second law. Furthermore, the input–output relationship modelling of the finger in envelope grasping mode is deeply analyzed using the principle of energy conservation. Finally, the stable grasping performance of the cable-driven rigid–flexible combined manipulator is verified using numerical simulation and physical prototype tests. The results show that the cable-driven rigid–flexible combined manipulator has good adaptability and compliance, which verifies the effectiveness and rationality of the design and modelling.
Occupational Stress and Turnover Intentions in Employees of the Portuguese Tax and Customs Authority: Mediating Effect of Burnout and Moderating Effect of Motivation
Authors: Freitas Mariana , Moreira Ana , Ramos Fernando
Published: December 2023

The main objective of this study was to study the effect of occupational stress on turnover intentions, as well as determine whether this relationship is mediated by burnout levels and moderated by motivation. The sample size of this study consisted of 603 participants, all employees of the Portuguese Tax and Customs Authority, which is part of the Ministry of Finance and belongs to the Direct State Administration. The results indicate that occupational stress (with managers, career and pay, and overwork) has a positive and significant effect on turnover intentions and that this relationship is mediated by burnout. Motivation (intrinsic and identified) has a negative and significant effect on turnover intentions. Intrinsic motivation moderates the relationship between occupational stress (with managers, colleagues, career and pay, and family problems) and turnover intentions. These results indicate that among the dimensions of occupational stress, the most critical are the stress caused by managers, work overload, and career and pay. These are factors that the Direct State Administration should be concerned with to reduce employees’ stress levels, as well as their turnover intentions.
Transient Flow Evolution of a Hypersonic Inlet/Isolator with Incoming Windshear
Authors: Gao Simin , Huang Hexia , Meng Yupeng , Tan Huijun , Liu Mengying , Guo Kun
Published: December 2023

In this paper, a novel flow perturbation model meant to investigate the effects of incoming wind shear on a hypersonic inlet/isolator is presented. This research focuses on the transient shock/boundary layer interaction and shock train flow evolution in a hypersonic inlet/isolator with an on-design Mach number of 6.0 under incoming wind shear at high altitudes, precisely at an altitude of 30 km with a magnitude speed of 80 m/s. Despite the low intensity of wind shear at high altitudes, the results reveal that wind shear significantly disrupts the inlet/isolator flowfield, affecting the shock wave/boundary layer interaction in the unthrottled state, which drives the separation bubble at the throat to move downstream and then upstream. Moreover, the flowfield behaves as a hysteresis phenomenon under the effect of wind shear, and the total pressure recovery coefficients at the throat and exit of the inlet/isolator increase by approximately 10% to 12%. Furthermore, this research focuses on investigating the impact of wind shear on the behavior of the shock train. Once the inlet/isolator is in a throttled state, wind shear severely impacts the motion of the shock train. When the downstream backpressure is 135 times the incoming pressure (p0), the shock train first moves upstream and gradually couples with a cowl shock wave/boundary layer interaction, resulting in a more significant separation at the throat, and then moves downstream and decouples from the separation bubble at the throat. However, if the downstream backpressure increases to 140 p0, the shock train enlarges the separation bubble, forcing the inlet/isolator to fall into the unstart state, and it cannot be restarted. These findings emphasize the need to consider wind shear effects in the design and operation of hypersonic inlet/isolator.
An Appropriate Genetic Approach to Endangered Podolian Grey Cattle in the Context of Preserving Biodiversity and Sustainable Conservation of Genetic Resources
Authors: Davidescu Mădălina-Alexandra , Pânzaru Claudia , Usturoi Alexandru , Radu-Rusu Răzvan-Mihail , Creangă Șteofil
Published: December 2023

In the context of the general phenomenon of diminishing genetic diversity, especially in cattle, the conservation of endangered species plays a primary role. The disappearance of some animal populations can irreparably affect the biodiversity of genetic resources. Among the most ancient European cattle are breeds that belong to the Podolian group, the history of which is still not well established. The common origin of these breeds is the wild ox (Bos taurus primigenius), which has been declared extinct since the 17th century. The purpose of this paper is to highlight and compare the latest studies on the origin, evolution, genetic diversity, and phylogenetic relationships of Podolian cattle, with special emphasis on the endangered Romanian Grey Steppe. The importance of studying these cattle derives from the special biological properties by which they have distinguished themselves over time (adaptability and resistance to diseases, severe climate and habitat conditions, hardiness, and longevity). The bibliographic references reviewed in this study confirm that these breeds are carriers of valuable genes that must be preserved for improvement of other cattle and protection of biodiversity. The information presented represents a valuable tool for efforts to conserve endangered cattle.
Pressure-Stabilized Flexible End-Effector for Selective Picking of Agaricus bisporus
Authors: Zhao Kaixuan , Li Hongzhen , Ji Jiangtao , Li Qianwen , Li Mengsong , He Yongkang , Li Jinlong , Xing Suhe
Published: December 2023

Agaricus bisporus is widely cultivated worldwide due to its considerable economic benefits. The increasingly prominent contradiction between production and labor shortage necessitates the urgent replacement of human workers with intelligent picking technology and equipment. Therefore, a pressure-stabilized flexible end-effector was designed to achieve the rapid and low-loss picking of Agaricus bisporus. The dimensions of the end-effector were determined by measuring the external parameters of Agaricus bisporus. A mechanics model of the end-effector was constructed to analyze the picking process theoretically, and the pre-experiments identified the key performance factors of the end-effector: the thickness of the flexible membrane, the particle filler material, and the pressure stability. A series of experiments were conducted to investigate the factors mentioned above concerning the performance of the end-effector. The results show that the adsorption effect is best when the thickness of the flexible membrane is 0.9 mm, and the particle diameter is 200 mesh quartz. To control the adsorption force of the end-effector accurately during the picking process, a low-cost adsorption force-adjustment system was designed, and the stability of the system was verified. The experimental results showed that the device improved the stability of the adsorption force during the operation of the picking system by 84.71%. An experiment was conducted on the picking of Agaricus bisporus using the designed end-effector. The success rate of picking with the end-effector was 98.50%, and the picking damage rate was 2.50%.
Germplasm Resources Exploration and Genetic Breeding of Crops
Authors: Paczos-Grzęda Edyta , Mohler Volker , Sowa Sylwia
Published: December 2023

A continuously changing climate has negatively impacted agriculture and threatened food security worldwide [...]
Phosphorus Utilization Efficiency and Status of Phosphorus Reuse in China from 1990 to 2019
Authors: Wu Yifan , Liu Jingyu , Geng Yong , Wu Dong
Published: December 2023

Phosphorus (P) is an essential element for supporting our life and is a non-renewable resource. This study applied dynamic material flow analysis to elucidate the phosphorus flow characteristics in China over the period from 1990–2019. Based on this, we developed a P resource efficiency index system and further explored the potential reasons for the changes in different areas by analyzing the inflow, outflow, and reuse of P in various modules. Results show that the phosphorus utilization efficiency (PUE) in crop planting increased from 63% in 1990 to 72% in 2019, while this figure in feeding livestock increased from 35% in 1990 to 42% in 2019 due to the utilization of straw. The figure in aquaculture remained low at 9% in 2019. The total P amount used for human consumption increased to 2562 Gg in 2019 due to changes in dietary habits, and the overall P recycling rate (PRR) for various human activities jumped to 58% in 2019. Based upon these results, several policy suggestions are proposed from governance, technology, and economic instruments perspectives.
Coconut Mesocarp Extracts to Control Fusarium musae, the Causal Agent of Banana Fruit and Crown Rot
Authors: Morelia-Jiménez Jesús Aidmir Yeikame , Montaño-Leyva Beatriz , Blancas-Benitez Francisco Javier , Romero-Islas Luz del Carmen , Gutierrez-Martinez Porfirio , Hernandez-Montiel Luis Guillermo , Bautista-Rosales Pedro Ulises , González-Estrada Ramsés Ramón
Published: December 2023

Crown rot, caused by Fusarium species, is the most devastating postharvest disease in bananas. Fungicides are traditionally applied as a postharvest treatment to control crown rot in bananas. However, there is a need to research environmentally friendly compounds as postharvest treatments instead of chemical fungicides. The phenolic compounds gallic acid, protocatechuic acid, and chlorogenic acid were identified in coconut mesocarp extract. Overall, the treatments were more efficient in crown-based than fruit-based culture mediums. The mycelial development was inhibited in a range from 20 to 26% (applying coconut mesocarp extract at 5%) compared to the control. Sporulation and spore germination were significantly inhibited, with a reduction of 88% in spore production and 91% in spore germination inhibition compared to the control. In in vivo tests, the aqueous extracts were effective by limiting the percentage of infected fruit, crown rot, and fruit severity. The use of coconut mesocarp extracts can be an effective and environmentally friendly alternative to the use of fungicides for controlling Fusarium musae on bananas.
Individual and Combined Effects of Predatory Bug Engytatus nicotianae and Trichoderma atroviride in Suppressing the Tomato Potato Psyllid Bactericera cockerelli in Greenhouse Grown Tomatoes
Authors: Veronesi Emiliano R. , Cairns Sarah M. , Alizadeh Hossein , Hampton John , Maris Robbie , Godsoe William , Goldson Stephen L. , Clavijo McCormick Andrea
Published: December 2023

The tomato potato psyllid (TPP) Bactericera cockerelli is a serious pest of the Solanaceae family. The management of this pest using synthetic pesticides is problematic because of the development of pesticide resistance and environmental concerns including impacts on non-target organisms. The predatory bug Engytatus nicotianae has recently been identified as a useful biocontrol agent for TPP in greenhouses. The soil fungus Trichoderma Pers. is commonly used as a plant growth enhancer and biocontrol agent against phytopathogenic fungi. Therefore, there could be advantages associated with the combined use of these biocontrol agents. Some reports in other systems suggest that Trichoderma inoculation may alter the behaviour of pests and their natural enemies by modifying plant defence metabolites such as volatile organic compounds (VOCs). For this reason, this study aimed to investigate the individual and combined efficacy of these biocontrol agents (i.e., Trichoderma atroviride and E. nicotianae) against TPP in greenhouse grown tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum cv. Merlice). To this end, we compared the effect of each biocontrol agent and their combination on TPP abundance across different developmental stages (egg, nymphs, adults) and the number of infested leaves. We also investigated plant VOC emissions under the different treatments. Across all measured TPP stages, the treatments tested (E. nicotianae alone, T. atrovirdae alone, and T. atrovirdae + E. nicotianae) significantly reduced mean TPP counts relative to the control, and no significant differences were observed in VOC emissions among treatments. Overall, T. atrovirdae alone was less effective than E. nicotianae alone and its combination with T. atrovirdae in suppressing TPP populations. However, the combined use of Trichoderma + E. nicotianae did not show significant advantages over the use of E. nicotianae alone in controlling TPP. Therefore, their combined use needs to be further assessed in light of other advantages of Trichoderma to the crop (e.g., growth promotion or pathogen defence).
Could Forage Palm and Stone Barrier Be as Effective as Native Vegetation in Controlling Runoff and Erosion in the Brazilian Semiarid Region?
Authors: Souza Thais Emanuelle Monteiro dos Santos , Souza Edivan Rodrigues de , Montenegro Abelardo Antônio de Assunção , Bayabil Haimanote
Published: December 2023

Most lands in the Brazilian semi-arid region are covered with native vegetation (Caatinga) with limited agricultural practices due to chronic water-scarcity issues. However, clearing the native vegetation and using the land for agriculture is becoming a common practice. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of forage palm and stone barrier in reducing runoff and erosion compared to native vegetation. The study was conducted in the Jatobá experimental basin, Brazil, using runoff plots with three surface covers: Caatinga, forage palm barrier, and stone barrier. Data collection includes runoff and erosion rates, and soil moisture dynamics at two depths (0–20 and 20–40 cm) in response to rainfall events. Rainfall characteristics were also recorded and analyzed for 30 min for intensity (I30) and erosivity (EI30). Results showed that stone barrier and forage palm treatments were not as effective as the native vegetation Caatinga in reducing soil loss. Stone barrier was the least effective in reducing runoff and soil loss. However, runoff from forage palm was not statistically different from Caatinga. In addition, forage palm improves soil moisture dynamics at two depths. The study findings highlighted the importance of the Caatinga for soil, water and biome conservation in the region. However, the study also suggested that in the places where agricultural practices are conducted, using forage palm as a soil-conservation strategy could be a good alternative. Additional benefits of forage palm include its suitability for intercropping with other crops, and that it can serve as an alternative for animal feed in the region. Information from this study could be used to inform land management and soil- and water-conservation efforts in the semi-arid region of Brazil.
Machine Learning for Prediction of Energy Consumption and Broken Force in the Chopping Process of Maize Straw
Authors: Liu Peng , Lou Shangyi , Shen Huipeng , Wang Mingxu
Published: December 2023

The main causes of high productional costs and greenhouse gas emissions in the chopping process of maize straws are high energy consumption and breaking force. Addressing these issues, this paper proposes a solution that leverages machine-learning algorithms to select appropriate operational parameters for chopping devices, thereby reducing energy consumption and the cutting force. In this study, the peak breaking force of the stalk (PB), the energy consumption of the stalk chopping (EC) and the slide-cutting momentum of the disc blade (SM) were set as dependent variables, and the rotation speed of the Y-type blade (RSY), transmission ratio (TR) and slide-cutting angle (SA) were set as independent variables. Various techniques, including back-propagation (BP), a radial basis function (RBF), an artificial neural network (ANN), support vector regression and a stepwise polynomial regression model, were applied using a 6-fold cross-validation approach to determine the most effective predictive models. The results indicated that the BP-ANN model performs best in predicting the PB (R2Test = 0.9860) and SM (R2Test = 0.9561), while the RBF-ANN model yields the highest accuracy in predicting the EC (R2Test = 0.9255) under the optimal parameters. Subsequently, a verification test was conducted using randomly selected training and testing data based on the selected predicted functions. The results demonstrated that the R2Train and R2Test data for PB, EC and SM are all above 0.95, indicating that the BP and RBF neural networks are capable of accurately predicting the nonlinear relationship between the dependent variables (EC, SM and PB) and independent variables (RSY, TR and SA) in practical applications.
The Role of Drought and Temperature Stress in the Regulation of Flowering Time in Annuals and Perennials
Authors: Chen Min , Zhang Tian-Liang , Hu Chun-Gen , Zhang Jin-Zhi
Published: December 2023

Plants experience a variety of adverse environments during their vegetative growth and reproductive development, and to ensure that they complete their life cycle successfully, they have evolved specific defense mechanisms to cope with unfavorable environments. Flowering is a vital developmental stage and an important determinant of productivity in the lifetime of plants, which can be vulnerable to multiple abiotic stresses. Exposure to stress during this period can have dramatic effects on flower physiological and morphological development, which may ultimately lead to a substantial loss of yield in seed-producing plants. However, there has been increasing research evidence that diverse abiotic stresses, ranging from drought, low temperature, and heat stress can promote or delay plant flowering. This review focuses on how plants alter developmental direction to balance between survival and productivity under drought and extreme temperature conditions. Starting from the perspective of the functional analysis of key flowering-regulated genes, it is of great help for researchers to quickly gain a deeper understanding of the regulatory effects of abiotic stress on the flowering process, to elucidate the molecular mechanisms, and to improve the regulatory network of abiotic-stress-induced flowering. Additionally, the important agronomic significance of the interaction between abiotic stress and the flowering regulation of perennial plants under climate change conditions is also discussed after summarizing studies on the mechanisms of stress-induced flowering in annual plants. This review aims to clarify the effects of abiotic stresses (mainly drought and temperature) on plant flowering, which are significant for future productivity increase under unfavorable environmental conditions.
Genotypic Variability in Wheat Response to Sodicity: Evaluating Growth and Ion Accumulation in the Root and Shoot
Authors: Anzooman Monia , Christopher Jack , Dang Yash P. , Menzies Neal W. , Kopittke Peter M.
Published: December 2023

Soil sodicity is a major constraint to seedling emergence and crop production, potentially reducing plant growth due to physical and chemical constraints. Studying responses to ion imbalances may help identify genotypes tolerant to chemical constraints in sodic soils, thereby improving productivity. We evaluated the performance of four wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) genotypes in solutions with five sodium adsorption ratios (SARs) ranging from 0 to 60. For all four genotypes, seedling emergence and shoot dry matter (DM) decreased significantly with increasing SARs. A significant positive correlation was observed between Ca concentration in roots as well as both root and shoot DM for all genotypes. At SAR values > 20, the more tolerant genotype (EGA Gregory) displayed higher Ca concentrations in root tissues, whereas the more sensitive genotype (Baxter) exhibited Na-induced Ca deficiency. Thus, the selection of genotypes that are able to accumulate Ca in roots in sodic conditions may be a useful trait for selecting genotypes tolerant of soils with high ESP values. However, for soils that restrict plant growth at ESP (SAR) values of 6–10%, it is likely that growth is restricted by physical constraints rather than by a Na-induced Ca deficiency.
Growth and Development of Leaf Vegetable Crops under Conditions of the Phytotechnical Complex in Antarctica
Authors: Panova Gayane G. , Teplyakov Andrey V. , Novak Anatoliy B. , Levinskikh Margarita A. , Udalova Olga R. , Mirskaya Galina V. , Khomyakov Yuriy V. , Shved Dmitry M. , Ilyin Evgeniy A. , Kuleshova Tatiana E. , Kanash Elena V. , Chesnokov Yuriy V.
Published: December 2023

Ensuring the technical and technological possibility of regularly obtaining fresh, high-quality plant production in Antarctic stations is an urgent task of our time. This work is devoted to studying the growth and development of leaf vegetable crops and the main quality indicators of their edible parts when grown in the phytotechnical complex greenhouses at the “Vostok” Antarctic station and at the agrobiopolygon of the Agrophysical Research Institute (AFI). The plants, belonging to 13 varieties of 9 types of leaf vegetable crops (arugula, garden cress, cabbage, mustard, leaf radish, leaf lettuce, amaranth, dill, parsley leaf), were studied during five growing seasons at the “Vostok” station and at the AFI agrobiopolygon under controlled conditions (control). The experimental data obtained demonstrate the high productivity of the phytotechnical complex for most of the investigated crops per unit of useful area, with lower costs of electricity and water consumption per unit of production compared with a number of greenhouses at foreign Antarctic stations and greenhouse complexes with controlled conditions located on other continents. Lettuce crops were the most adapted to the growing conditions at the Antarctic station “Vostok”. They did not differ in their evaluated characteristics from the control. All other investigated crops, while not differing in their development rate and quality, had statistically significant (16–61%) decreases in their yield per 1 m2 per year. This may demonstrate the difference in the “genotype–environment” interaction in plants grown at the Antarctic station and AFI agrobiopolygon, probably due to the different barometric pressure and partial pressure of oxygen at the two locations. The positive psychological effects of the greenhouses were identified along with nutritional and other qualities of the plants.
Adapting the Parameters of RBF Networks Using Grammatical Evolution
Authors: Tsoulos Ioannis G. , Tzallas Alexandros , Karvounis Evangelos
Published: December 2023

Radial basis function networks are widely used in a multitude of applications in various scientific areas in both classification and data fitting problems. These networks deal with the above problems by adjusting their parameters through various optimization techniques. However, an important issue to address is the need to locate a satisfactory interval for the parameters of a network before adjusting these parameters. This paper proposes a two-stage method. In the first stage, via the incorporation of grammatical evolution, rules are generated to create the optimal value interval of the network parameters. During the second stage of the technique, the mentioned parameters are fine-tuned with a genetic algorithm. The current work was tested on a number of datasets from the recent literature and found to reduce the classification or data fitting error by over 40% on most datasets. In addition, the proposed method appears in the experiments to be robust, as the fluctuation of the number of network parameters does not significantly affect its performance.
Juan Valverde de Amusco: Pioneering the Transfer of Post-Vesalian Anatomy
Authors: Arráez-Aybar Luis-Alfonso , Reblet Concepción , Bueno-López José Luis
Published: December 2023

This article delves into the life and accomplishments of Juan Valverde de Amusco (c. 1525–c. 1587), a Spanish anatomist. Specifically, it focuses on his book titled HISTORIA de la composición del cuerpo humano. The book was the first anatomy opus published after Andreas Vesalius’ De humani corporis fabrica libri septem, written in a Romance language, the Castilian Spanish language, making it the most renowned post-Vesalian anatomy book in Europe and beyond during the 16th and 17th centuries. Compiling complete editions and reproductions of figures, it had 19 editions and several translations. One of its principal contributions was the initial graphical representation of the stapes ossicle. It provided the first accurate description of the pulmonary circulation, vomer bone, and four extraocular rectus muscles. Throughout the book, Valverde corrected numerous of Vesalius’ anatomical observations. HISTORIA de la composición del cuerpo humano was the first anatomy book to use chalcographic illustrations, which are of superior anatomical quality than those printed from engraved wood in Andreas Vesalius’ book. Next, many anatomy textbooks of that time incorporated Valverde’s book illustrations. Valverde’s book was practical, timely, and well referenced, making it a valuable resource for scholars and non-scholars. The conclusion is that Juan Valverde de Amusco merits a place as a pioneer in scientific knowledge transfer.
Impacts of Diet on Reproductive Performance of Captive American Alligators (Alligator mississippiensis)
Authors: Joanen Ted , Mikolajczyk Ashley P. , Staton Mark , Kaplan Josh , Holmes William E. , Zappi Mark E.
Published: December 2023

Historically, there has been little success with the captive breeding of American alligators (Alligator mississippiensis) for both commercial and conservative purposes. This study, conducted at Golden Ranch in Gheens, LA, between 2016 and 2022, utilized a newly formulated commercial feed and practical dietary supplementation (crawfish waste products) to enhance egg production, fertility, and hatch rates. The primary focus of this study was to compare the outcome of this captive breeding program at Golden Ranch with a program conducted at Rockefeller Refuge (RR) between 1979 and 1984. Notable success was achieved in terms of reproductive performance in comparison to the captive breeding program conducted at Rockefeller Refuge. In this study, 16.1 hatchlings were produced per nest on Golden Ranch from captive breeders. Additionally, when wild nests from Golden Ranch were incubated in the same controlled environmental chambers, they produced an average of 16.3 hatchlings per nest. This comparison emphasizes the similarity in egg production between captive-bred A. mississippiensis and their wild counterparts. The findings of this study suggest that a closed farming system for A. mississippiensis can be established by employing captive breeders derived from artificially incubated wild eggs. Furthermore, American alligators raised in controlled environmental chambers during their initial three years of life demonstrated adaptability to captive conditions and tolerated stocking rates associated with farming conditions and served as breeding stock.
Identification of Genomic Instability in Cows Infected with BVD Virus
Authors: Kępka Katarzyna , Wójcik Ewa , Wysokińska Anna
Published: December 2023

An important factor for dairy cattle farmers is the profitability of cattle rearing, which is influenced by the animals’ health and reproductive parameters, as well as their genomic stability and integrity. Bovine viral diarrhea (BVD) negatively affects the health of dairy cattle and causes reproductive problems. The aim of the study was to identify genomic instability in cows with reproductive disorders following infection with the BVD virus. The material for analysis was peripheral blood from Holstein-Friesian cows with reproductive problems, which had tested positive for BVD, and from healthy cows with no reproductive problems, which had tested negative for BVD. Three cytogenetic tests were used: the sister chromatid exchange assay, fragile sites assay, and comet assay. Statistically significant differences were noted between the groups and between the individual cows in the average frequency of damage. The assays were good biomarkers of genomic stability and enabled the identification of individuals with an increased frequency of damage to genetic material that posed a negative impact on their health. The assays can be used to prevent disease during its course and evaluate the genetic resistance of animals. This is especially important for the breeder, both for economic and breeding reasons. Of the three assays, the comet assay proved to be the most sensitive for identifying DNA damage in the animals.
A Comprehensive Biochemical Characterization of Hybrid Grouper Larvae (Epinephelus fuscoguttatus♀ × Epinephelus lanceolatus♂) during Yolk-Sac Larval Development
Authors: Gao Xiaoqiang , Cao Shuquan , Chen Rongjie , Fei Fan , Li Wenyang , Zhang Xianhong , Zhu Zhiwen , Liu Baoliang
Published: December 2023

To investigate the shifts in the biochemical composition of hybrid grouper during the early larval stages, we collected samples at various developmental milestones, spanning from newly hatched larvae (stage I) to 4 days after hatching (stage V). Our findings revealed several notable trends: (1) The total length of hybrid grouper larvae exhibited a significant increase as the yolk-sac absorption progressed from stage I to V. Concurrently, there was a marked decrease in yolk volume and oil volume during the transition from stage I to III, followed by a gradual decline from stage III to V. (2) Dry weight and total lipid content displayed a rapid reduction throughout the larval development period, while the total protein content exhibited a declining trend. (3) The concentrations of triacylglycerols and wax esters/steryl esters decreased considerably, particularly at stage V. However, no differences were observed among the contents of ketones, hydrocarbons, and sterols. (4) As yolk-sac larvae developed from stage I to V, a significant reduction was observed in the levels of essential amino acids (EAAs), such as leucine, valine, isoleucine, phenylalanine, glycine, alanine, serine, proline, and tyrosine. This trend was also observed for non-EAAs and total amino acids, with fluctuations in the content of other amino acids. (5) There was a significant decrease in the levels of specific fatty acids, including C16:0, saturated fatty acids (SFAs), monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs), C18:0, 18:1n-9, and C20:4n-6. In contrast, the contents of C22:6n-3, polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), n-3 PUFA, n-6 PUFA, and the combination of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) + eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), as well as the DHA/EPA ratio, remained stable from stage I to III but declined thereafter. (6) During the early developmental stages, the utilization sequence of fatty acids followed a pattern of prioritizing SFAs, followed by MUFAs, n-6 PUFA, and n-3 PUFA. These findings provide further insights into the nutritional priorities of hybrid grouper larvae during their early development, with a particular emphasis on lipids and fatty acids as vital energy sources. Additionally, our results highlight variations in the efficiency of utilization among different types of fatty acids, while protein utilization remained relatively stable, characterized by the selective consumption of amino acid content.
Performance of a Differentiation of Infected from Vaccinated Animals (DIVA) Classical Swine Fever Virus (CSFV) Serum and Oral Fluid Erns Antibody AlphaLISA Assay
Authors: Panyasing Yaowalak , Gimenez-Lirola Luis , Thanawongnuwech Roongroje , Prakobsuk Phakawan , Kawilaphan Yanee , Kittawornrat Apisit , Cheng Ting-Yu , Zimmerman Jeffrey
Published: December 2023

Classical swine fever virus (CSFV) is an OIE-listed disease that requires effective surveillance tools for its detection and control. The aim of this study was to develop and evaluate the diagnostic performance of a novel CSFV Erns IgG AlphaLISA for both serum and oral fluid specimens that would likewise be compatible with the use of CSFV E2 DIVA vaccines. Test performance was evaluated using a panel of well-characterized serum (n = 760) and individual (n = 528) or pen-based (n = 30) oral fluid samples from four groups of animals: (1) negative controls (n = 60 pigs); (2) inoculated with ALD strain wild-type CSFV (n = 30 pigs); (3) vaccinated with LOM strain live CSFV vaccine (n = 30 pigs); and (4) vaccinated with live CSFV marker vaccine on commercial farms (n = 120 pigs). At a cutoff of S/P ≥ 0.7, the aggregate estimated diagnostic sensitivities and specificities of the assay were, respectively, 97.4% (95% CI 95.9%, 98.3%) and 100% for serum and 95.4% (95% CI 92.9%, 97.0%) and 100% for oral fluid. The Erns IgG antibody AlphaLISA combined DIVA capability with solid diagnostic performance, rapid turnaround, ease of use, and compatibility with both serum and oral fluid specimens.
A First Investigation into the Use of Differential Somatic Cell Count as a Predictor of Udder Health in Sheep
Authors: Tolone Marco , Mastrangelo Salvatore , Scatassa Maria Luisa , Sardina Maria Teresa , Riggio Silvia , Moscarelli Angelo , Sutera Anna Maria , Portolano Baldassare , Negrini Riccardo
Published: December 2023

Differential somatic cell count (DSCC), the percentage of somatic cell count (SCC) due to polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) and lymphocytes (LYMs), is a promising effective diagnostic marker for dairy animals with infected mammary glands. Well-explored in dairy cows, DSCC is also potentially valid in sheep, where clinical and subclinical mastitis outbreaks are among the principal causes of culling. We pioneered the application of DSCC in dairy ewes by applying receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis to define the most accurate thresholds to facilitate early discrimination of sheep with potential intramammary infection (IMI) from healthy animals. We tested four predefined SCC cut-offs established in previous research. Specifically, we applied SCC cut-offs of 265 × 103 cells/mL, 500 × 103 cells/mL, 645 × 103 cells/mL, and 1000 × 103 cells/mL. The performance of DSCC as a diagnostic test was assessed by examining sensitivity (Se), specificity (Sp), positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), and area under curve (AUC) analyses. The designated threshold value for DSCC in the detection of subclinical mastitis is established at 79.8%. This threshold exhibits Se and Sp of 0.84 and 0.81, accompanied by an AUC of 0.88. This study represents the inaugural exploration of the potential use of DSCC in sheep’s milk as an early indicator of udder inflammation.
Pig Sedation and Anesthesia for Medical Research
Authors: Costea Ruxandra , Ene Ioana , Pavel Ruxandra
Published: December 2023

In clinical veterinary practice, proper training and expertise in anesthesia administration and monitoring are essential. Pigs are suitable experimental animals for many surgical techniques because they are similar in size to humans and have a short reproductive cycle. This makes them ideal for research concerning organ transplantation, cardiovascular surgery, and other procedures that require a large animal model. Sedation and premedication should be administered at the lowest dose to be effective with predictable results and reduced adverse effects, to ensure the safety of both the animal and the team involved in the procedure, with a fast onset and optimizing the induction and maintenance of anesthesia. The goal of induction is to achieve a safe and effective level of anesthesia that ensures patient safety and facilitates research. Most of the time, inhalation anesthesia with endotracheal intubation is the ideal choice for maintenance of anesthesia. The difficulties related to endotracheal intubation of pigs can be overcome by knowing the anatomical peculiarities. Effective analgesia tailored to the specific procedure, the pig’s condition, and individual responses to medications should complete the maintenance and recovery protocols, reducing perioperative complications.
Farmers’ Attitudes in Connection with the Potential for Rodent Prevention in Livestock Farming in a Municipality in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
Authors: Schulze Walgern Anna , Hecker Odile , Walther Bernd , Boelhauve Marc , Mergenthaler Marcus
Published: December 2023

Rodents in livestock farming constitute a threat to the one health approach. In the present observational case study, livestock farmers worked together with a pest controller within a pilot project. The aim of the study was to assess determinants associated with rodent-prevention potential. The study started in March 2019 on 24 livestock farms in a municipality in North Rhine-Westphalia/Germany. At the beginning of the project a survey on the determinants expected to be related to prevention potential was conducted. To determine the potential for rodent prevention, an expert person, who was not involved in the project before, assessed the on-site conditions of the farms after 1.5 years of project duration in 2020. The potential for rodent prevention was good for about half of the farms. There were significant differences in the willingness to make changes at the project’s start between farms with a high and a low potential for rodent prevention after 1.5 years. There is a general need for action to provide farmers with more practical information on rodent control. This is aggravated by the insufficient advisory services offered to farmers. This study confirms the importance of implementing preventive measures in the control of rodents to ensure that anticoagulant rodenticides are handled responsibly to reduce the impact on non-target species.
Effects of Lactobacillus plantarum HW1 on Growth Performance, Intestinal Immune Response, Barrier Function, and Cecal Microflora of Broilers with Necrotic Enteritis
Authors: Chen Peng , Lv Huimin , Liu Weiyong , Wang Yang , Zhang Kai , Che Chuanyan , Zhao Jinshan , Liu Huawei
Published: December 2023

The purpose of the study was to investigate the effects of Lactobacillus plantarum HW1 on growth performance, intestinal immune response, barrier function, and cecal microflora of broilers with necrotic enteritis. In total, 180 one-day-old male Cobb 500 broilers were randomly allocated into three groups comprising a non-infected control (NC) group, basal diet + necrotic enteritis challenge (NE) group, and basal diet + 4 × 106 CFU/g Lactobacillus plantarum HW1 + necrotic enteritis challenge (HW1) group. Broilers in the NE and HW1 groups were orally given sporulated coccidian oocysts at day 14 and Clostridium perfringens from days 19 to 21. The results showed that the HW1 treatment increased (p < 0.05) the average daily gain of broilers from days 15 to 28 and from days 0 to 28 compared with the NE group. Moreover, the HW1 treatment decreased (p < 0.05) the oocysts per gram of excreta, intestinal lesion scores, ileal interleukin (IL) 1β and tumor necrosis factor α levels, and serum D-lactic acid and diamine oxidase levels, while increasing (p < 0.05) the ileal IL-10 level, thymus index, and protein expressions of ileal occludin and ZO-1. Additionally, the HW1 treatment decreased (p < 0.05) the jejunal and ileal villus height, jejunal villus height/crypt depth value, and cecal harmful bacterial counts (Clostridium perfringens, Salmonella, Escherichia coli, and Staphylococcus aureus), and increased (p < 0.05) the cecal Lactobacillus count. In conclusion, dietary supplementation with 4 × 106 CFU/g Lactobacillus plantarum HW1 could relieve necrotic enteritis infection-induced intestinal injury and improve growth performance in broilers by improving intestinal barrier function and regulating intestinal microbiology.
Environmental and Breed Risk Factors Associated with the Prevalence of Subclinical Mastitis in Dual-Purpose Livestock Systems in the Arauca Floodplain Savannah, Colombian Orinoquia
Authors: Salamanca-Carreño Arcesio , Vélez-Terranova Mauricio , Barajas-Pardo Diana Patricia , Tamasaukas Rita , Jáuregui-Jiménez Raúl , Parés-Casanova Pere M.
Published: December 2023

The aim of this study was to assess the environmental and breed risk factors associated with the prevalence of subclinical mastitis (SCM) in cows in the dual-purpose livestock system of Arauca, Colombian Orinoquia. Milk samples were taken from 1924 mammary quarters, corresponding to 481 cows on 28 different farms, and the California Mastitis Test (CMT) was applied. Risk factors associated with SCM were determined using multiple logistic regression analysis. The response variable was the presence (1) or absence (0) of SCM. Breed was included as a genetic risk factor, and daily milk production, number of cows in production, lactation month, calving number, cow age, climatic period, and body condition were included as environmental risk factors. The analysis of the odds ratio (OR) of significant effects indicated that the factors significantly associated with the presence of SCM were the number of cows (OR = 2.29; p = 0.005), milk production (OR = 0.88; p = 0.045), and the Taurus-Indicus breeds (OR = 1.79; p = 0.009) and composite breed (OR = 3.95; p = 0.005). In this study, the occurrence of SCM was determined by the following risk factors: number of cows, milk production, and breed. Likewise, the highest prevalence seemed to occur on farms with less technological development and sanitary management of producers from the lowest socioeconomic stratum.
Main Causes of Death in Piglets from Different Brazilian Nursery Farms Based on Clinical, Microbiological, and Pathological Aspects
Authors: Menegatt Jean Carlo Olivo , Perosa Fernanda Felicetti , Gris Anderson Hentz , Piva Manoela Marchezan , Serena Guilherme Carvalho , Bordignon Diego Luiz , Reck Carolina , Menin Álvaro , Watanabe Tatiane Terumi Negrão , Driemeier David
Published: December 2023

Necropsies can reveal herd problems or comorbidities that can lead to management corrections, improvements in animal performance, and better decision making. Furthermore, the pattern and causes of mortality might differ when different systems are evaluated. The present study was conducted to establish the main causes of death in nursery pigs from different systems in Brazil, as well as the clinical, microbiological, and pathological aspects of these mortalities. Eighteen nurseries were analyzed (a total of 120,243 housed piglets), and 557 necropsies were performed. Streptococcus suis infection was the most prevalent cause of death (21.2%), followed by bacterial polyserositis (16.7%), chronic atrophic enteritis (13.5%), salmonellosis (8.8%), pneumonia (8.6%), and colibacillosis (6.1%). The increase in mortality rate in individual nurseries and, consequently, in the diagnoses was commonly associated with disease outbreaks. Infectious diseases constituted the largest portion of the diagnoses, making a great opportunity for improving production rates in herds. Moreover, the extensive range of observed diagnoses highlights the importance of conducting preliminary diagnostic investigations based on necropsy to determine the causes of death. This approach allows for the direction of complementary tests, which can diagnose agents with greater specificity. As a result, this allows for the implementation of more effective prevention and control strategies.