bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Reasonable deep application of sheep manure fertilizer to alleviate soil acidification to improve tea yield and quality
Authors: Jia Xiaoli , Wang Yuhua , Zhang Qi , Lin Shaoxiong , Zhang Ying , Du Mengru , Chen Meihui , Ye Jianghua , Wu Zeyan , Wang Haibin
Published: June 2023

Soil acidification in Chinese tea plantations is widespread, and it has significantly affected the growth of tea trees; it was important to explore soil remediation of acidified tea plantations in depth for the sustainable development of tea industry. In this study, the effects of sheep manure fertilizer with different application depths on soil acidification, tea yield and quality, and soil nitrogen transformation in tea plantations were analyzed for five consecutive years from 2018 to 2022. The results showed that long-term use of sheep manure fertilizer significantly reduced soil acidification (P< 0.05) in tea plantations, improved soil pH and soil ammonium nitrogen content, enhanced root activity and root nitrogen uptake capacity of tea trees, and thus improved tea yield and quality. The effect of different application depths of sheep manure fertilizer on tea yield and quality was mainly reflected in the transformation ability of soil ammonium nitrogen and nitrate nitrogen, which showed that high transformation ability of soil ammonium nitrogen and high ammonium nitrogen content were beneficial to high tea yield and vice versa, and the best effect was achieved when sheep manure was applied at a depth of 50 cm and 70 cm. The topsis analysis confirmed that sheep manure fertilization had a greater effect on root activity, ammonium nitrogen, ammonia intensity, and nifH gene. This study provided an important practical basis for the restoration of acidified tea plantation soil through sheep manure fertilizer management.
Why don't politicians talk about meat? The political psychology of human-animal relations in elections
Authors: Saha Sparsha
Published: June 2023

Building on literature from political science and psychology, I argue that political attention on animals and animal-friendly political candidates cause voter backlash. I test this using two different kinds of experiments with large, representative samples. I ask respondents to consider political candidates running for office in a U.S. presidential primary context. I find that, overall, political attention on the need to reduce meat consumption for environmental reasons caused voter backlash compared to both a control condition and attention on the need to reduce reliance on gasoline-powered vehicles (also for environmental reasons). But, the heterogeneous effects of partisan identification were strong: voter backlash was mainly driven by Republicans and Democrats were neutral. Surprisingly, candidates who put attention on farm animal rights during elections faced no voter backlash from Republicans or Democrats. Animal-friendly candidates, particularly Black women and Latinas, with attributes that demonstrate personal concern for farm animals and strong support for animal rights generally fared very well in elections, receiving large boosts in voter support. This work launches a research agenda in political psychology that “brings the animal in” to politics.
A cross-sectional and longitudinal study of how two intervention methods affect the anxiety, sleep quality, and physical activity of junior high school students under quarantine
Authors: Chen Peng , Chen Ying , Jin Shengjie , Lu Pengcheng
Published: June 2023

Purpose

This study investigated levels of anxiety and sleep quality and their association with physical activity in junior high school students under quarantine during the COVID-19 pandemic. It also tests the effectiveness of physical activity and psychological nursing interventions in alleviating anxiety ‘and improving sleep quality.

Methods

In July 2021, 14,000 home-quarantined junior high school students in Yangzhou City (China) were selected by random cluster sampling to complete an online survey. We then selected 95 junior high school students for an 8-week longitudinal experiment exploring whether the two types of intervention made positive contributions to students' anxiety, sleep quality, and physical activity.

Results

The cross-sectional study revealed that physical activity was significantly related to anxiety and sleep quality. In the longitudinal study, students who underwent the exercise intervention or the psychological nursing intervention experienced significant improvement in their anxiety levels. The exercise intervention also promoted improved sleep quality. Overall, the exercise intervention was more effective than the psychological nursing intervention in reducing levels of anxiety and sleep disorders.

Conclusion

During the epidemic period, junior high school students should be encouraged to spend more time engaging in physical activity, and their sleep quality and anxiety shouldbe focused on.
Moving in musicking: the evolving pedagogical practice of the artist-facilitator within asylum seeker centers
Authors: Nicolaou Georgia , Nijs Luc , van Petegem Peter
Published: June 2023

The field of community music has been continuously expanding during the last years alongside the need for experienced musicians who can carry out music activities for culturally diverse groups. Based on previous studies, we identified a need for research-based practices for training musicians and music teachers who wish to facilitate community music projects. We believe that it is important to incorporate reflexive practice in order to inform the planning of the workshops, but also to support the needs of the participants. The article examines the evolution of the pedagogical practice of the artist-facilitator in active music making with children, during a series of movement-based musical workshops at an asylum seeker center in Netherlands. We used an exploratory case study integrating Action Research, in order to focus on the artist-facilitator’s pedagogical practice, the participatory role of the children and the content of this type of workshops. The researchers describe the adopted pedagogical approach based on a set of guiding principles and key components that supported the design and content of the workshops. Based on a cyclical process (plan-act-observe-evaluate), the findings from every cycle were incorporated in the next one by analyzing the video footage of the workshops and the immediate reflections of the artist-facilitator. Data analysis revealed a set of recurring themes that reflect crucial aspects of the artist-facilitator’s practice. Furthermore, a set of pedagogical implications are proposed that can be directly implemented within the practice of artists-facilitators who wish to engage in activities with children at asylum seeker centers.
Can mindfulness play a role in building social-emotional capacities among youth exposed to screens?
Authors: Kim Soyeon , Munten Stephanie , Stafford Shavon , Kolla Nathan J.
Published: June 2023

Introduction

Increased screen time coupled with public safety restrictions may pose a serious challenge to adequate social-emotional development in youth during the pandemic. Social-emotional competence (resilience, self-esteem, and self-compassion) are essential for youth to adapt to the “new normal” in the prolonged pandemic timeline. The current study investigated the efficacy of a mindfulness-based intervention on youth social-emotional capacity while accounting for screen time.

Methods

One hundred and seventeen youth participated in a 12-week, online mindfulness-based program and completed pre-, post- and follow-up surveys across five cohorts during the COVID-19 pandemic (spring 2021 to spring 2022). Changes in youths’ resilience (RS), self-esteem (SE), and self-compassion (SC) between the three-time points were examined using linear regression analyses (unadjusted, partially adjusted for screen time, and fully adjusted for demographic and screen time variables). The regression models accounted for demographic (age, sex), baseline mental health status, and screen time (passive, social media, video games, and educational types of screen-based behaviours) factors.

Results

In an unadjusted regression model, resilience [β = 3.68, 95%CI = 1.78–5.50, p < 0.001], self-compassion [β = 0.50, 95%CI = 0.34–0.66, p < 0.001], and self-esteem [β = 2.16, 95%CI = 0.98–3.34, p < 0.001] significantly increased after the mindfulness program, and the effects were maintained in the follow-up. The efficacy of the mindfulness program persisted after controlling for five types of screen time [RS: β = 2.73, 95%CI = 0.89–4.57, p < 0.01; SC: β = 0.50, 95%CI = 0.32–0.67, p < 0.001; SE: β = 1.46, 95%CI = 0.34–2.59, p < 0.01] and in a fully adjusted model which additionally accounted for the baseline mental health status and demographic factors [RS: β = 3.01, 95%CI = 1.20, p < 0.01; SC: β = 0.51, 95%CI = 0.33–0.68, p < 0.001; SE: β = 1.64, 95%CI = 0.51–2.77, p < 0.01] and maintained its impact in the follow-up.

Discussion

Our findings reinforce the evidence base on the efficacy of mindfulness and support the use of online mindfulness programs in building social–emotional competencies (i.e., self-compassion, self-esteem, and resilience) among youth exposed to screens during the pandemic.
Association of sleep behavior with depression: a cross-sectional study in northwestern China
Authors: Liu Jingchun , Cao Suixia , Huo Yating , Liu Huimeng , Wang Yutong , Zhang Binyan , Xu Kun , Yang Peiying , Zeng Lingxia , Dang Shaonong , Yan Hong , Mi Baibing
Published: June 2023

Background

This study aimed to examine the association between sleep duration, sleep problems, and depression in Northwest China.

Method

Depression was diagnosed at the hospital and self-reported by the participants in the baseline survey. Sleep duration and problems, including difficulty initiating and maintaining sleep, early morning awakening, daytime dysfunction, use of sleeping pills or drugs, and any sleep problems, were obtained by a self-reported questionnaire. Logistic regression was used to estimate odds ratios (ORs) with corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for exploring the association between sleep duration, sleep problems, and depression, adjusting for demographic and socioeconomic characteristics and health behaviors. The association between depression and sleep duration was also evaluated continuously with restricted cubic spline curves based on logistic models.

Results

36,515 adults from Regional Ethnic Cohort Study in Northwest China were included. About 24.04% of participants reported short sleep duration (<7 h), and 15.64% reported long sleep duration (≥9 h). Compared with standard sleep duration (7–9 h), short sleep duration was associated with a higher risk of depression (OR: 1.69, 95%CI: 1.26–2.27, p = 0.001). Self-reported sleep problems were also related to four times depression risk increased (OR: 4.02, 95%CI: 3.03–5.35, p < 0.001) compared with no sleep problems. In addition, a nonlinear relationship was found between sleep duration and depression after adjusting covariates (p = 0.043).

Conclusion

Sleep duration and sleep problems are associated with depression. Enough sleep time and healthy sleep habits in life course might be a practical health promotion approach to reduce depression risk in Northwest Chinese adults. A further study from cohort study is needed to verify the temporal association.
Risk assessment model for sleep disturbance based on gastrointestinal myoelectrical activity in middle-aged and elderly people
Authors: Ji Shuming , Li Baichuan , Zhu Chenxing , Jiang Guohui , Tang Yusha , Chen Lei
Published: June 2023

Background

Sleep disturbance has become a considerable factor affecting the quality of life for middle-aged and elderly people; however, there are still many obstacles to screening sleep disturbance for those people. Given the growing awareness of the association between gastrointestinal function and sleep disturbance, our study aims to predict the risk of sleep disturbance using gastrointestinal electrophysiological signals.

Methods

The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and gastrointestinal electrophysiological signals of 914 participants in western China were used to establish the model. Demographic characteristics and routine blood test were collected as covariates. Participants were randomly assigned into two sets with a 7:3 ratio for training and validation. In the training set, the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression and stepwise logistic regression were used, respectively for variables selection and optimization. To assess the model performance, receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve, calibration curve and decision curve analysis (DCA) were utilized. Then, validation was performed.

Results

Thirteen predictors were chosen from 46 variables by LASSO regression. Then, age, gender, percentage of normal slow wave and electrical spreading rate on the pre-meal gastric channel, dominant power ratio on the post-meal gastric channel, coupling percent and dominant frequency on the post-meal intestinal channel were the seven predictors reserved by logistic regression. The area under ROC curve was 0.65 in the training set and 0.63 in the validation set, both exhibited moderate predictive ability. Furthermore, by overlapping the DCA results of two data-sets, there might be clinical net benefit if 0.35 was used as reference threshold for high risk of sleep disturbance.

Conclusion

The model performs a worthy predictive potency for sleep disturbance, which not only provides clinical evidence for the association of gastrointestinal function with sleep disturbance, but also can be considered as an auxiliary assessment for screening sleep disturbance.
Socio-economic inequalities in body mass index among preschool children: do sports programs in early childhood education and care centers make a difference?
Authors: Mayer Alena , Herr Raphael M. , Klein Thomas , Wiedemann Eva , Diehl Katharina , Hoffmann Stephanie , Blume Miriam , Jepsen Dennis , Sundmacher Leonie , Andreas Marike , Schneider Sven
Published: June 2023

Background

Overweight in childhood is considered to be one of the most serious public health challenges. Many studies have investigated individual-level determinants of children's body mass index (BMI), yet studies exploring determinants at the meso-level are sparse. The aim of our study was to examine how a sports focus at early childhood education and care (ECEC) centers moderates the effect of parental socio-economic position (SEP) on children's BMI.

Methods

We used data from the German National Educational Panel Study and included 1,891 children (955 boys and 936 girls) from 224 ECEC centers in our analysis. Linear multilevel regressions were used to estimate the main effects of family SEP and the ECEC center sports focus, as well as their interaction, on children's BMI. All analyses were stratified by sex and adjusted for age, migration background, number of siblings, and employment status of parents.

Results

Our analysis confirmed the wellknown health inequalities in childhood overweight with a social gradient toward a higher BMI for children from lower SEP families. An interactive effect between family SEP and ECEC center sports focus was found. Boys with low family SEP not attending a sports-focused ECEC center had the highest BMI among all boys. In contrast, boys with low family SEP attending a sports-focused ECEC center had the lowest BMI. For girls, no association regarding ECEC center focus or interactive effects emerged. Girls with a high SEP had the lowest BMI, independent of the ECEC center focus.

Conclusion

We provided evidence for the gender-specific relevance of sports-focused ECEC centers for the prevention of overweight. Especially boys from low SEP families benefited from a sports focus, whereas for girls the family's SEP was more relevant. As a consequence, gender differences in determinants for BMI at different levels and their interaction should be considered in further research and preventive measures. Our research indicates that ECEC centers may decrease health inequalities by providing opportunities for physical activity.
The implications of socioeconomic factors on salivary bioscience methodological variables in a large pediatric multi-site study
Authors: Mariko Hawa , Uban Kristina A.
Published: June 2023

Introduction

Salivary bioscience has found increased utilization within pediatric research, given the non-invasive nature of self-collecting saliva for measuring biological markers. With this growth in pediatric utility, more understanding is needed of how social-contextual factors, such as socioeconomic factors or status (SES), influence salivary bioscience in large multi-site studies. Socioeconomic factors have been shown to influence non-salivary analyte levels across childhood and adolescent development. However, less is understood about relationships between these socioeconomic factors and salivary collection methodological variables (e.g., time of saliva collection from waking, time of day of saliva collection, physical activity prior to saliva collection, and caffeine intake prior to saliva collection). Variability in salivary methodological variables between participants may impact the levels of analytes measured in a salivary sample, thus serving as a potential mechanism for non-random systematic biases in analytes.

Methods

Our objective is to examine relationships between socioeconomic factors and salivary bioscience methodological variables within the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study© cohort of children aged 9–10 years old (n = 10,567 participants with saliva samples).

Results

We observed significant associations between household socioeconomic factors (poverty status, education) and salivary collection methodological variables (time since waking, time of day of sampling, physical activity, and caffeine intake). Moreover, lower levels of household poverty and education were significantly associated with more sources of potential bias in salivary collection methodological variables (e.g., longer times since waking, collections later in the day, higher odds of caffeine consumption, and lower odds of physical activity). Consistent associations were not observed with neighborhood socioeconomic factors and salivary methodological variables.

Discussion

Previous literature demonstrates associations between collection methodological variables and measurements of salivary analyte levels, particularly with analytes that are more sensitive to circadian rhythms, pH levels, or rigorous physical activity. Our novel findings suggest that unintended distortions in measured salivary analyte values, potentially resulting from the non-random systematic biases in salivary methodology, need to be intentionally incorporated into analyses and interpretation of results. This is particularly salient for future studies interested in examining underlying mechanisms of childhood socioeconomic health inequities in future analyses.
Systems modelling as an approach for eliciting the mechanisms for hip fracture recovery among older adults in a participatory stakeholder engagement setting
Authors: Ansah John Pastor , Chia Aloysius Wei-Yan , Koh Vanessa Jean Wen , Lai Wei Xuan , Koh Joyce Suang Bee , Goh Kiat Sern , Yeo William , Howe Tet Sen , Seow Dennis Chuen Chai , Mamun Kaysar , Balasubramanian Diraviyam , Varman Surendra Doraiswamy , Yeo Andy Kuei Siong , Elamin Amal , Chan Angelique Wei-Ming , Matchar David Bruce
Published: June 2023

Introduction

Due to an aging population, the rising prevalence and incidence of hip fractures and the associated health and economic burden present a challenge to healthcare systems worldwide. Studies have shown that a complex interplay of physiological, psychological, and social factors often affects the recovery trajectories of older adults with hip fractures, often complicating the recovery process.

Methods

This research aims to actively engage stakeholders (including doctors, physiotherapists, hip fracture patients, and caregivers) using the systems modeling methodology of Group Model Building (GMB) to elicit the factors that promote or inhibit hip fracture recovery, incorporating a feedback perspective to inform system-wide interventions. Hip fracture stakeholder engagement was facilitated through the Group Model Building approach in a two-half-day workshop of 25 stakeholders. This approach combined different techniques to develop a comprehensive qualitative whole-system view model of the factors that promote or inhibit hip fracture recovery.

Results

A conceptual, qualitative model of the dynamics of hip fracture recovery was developed that draws on stakeholders' personal experiences through a moderated interaction. Stakeholders identified four domains (i.e., expectation formation, rehabilitation, affordability/availability, and resilience building) that play a significant role in the hip fracture recovery journey..

Discussion

The insight that recovery of loss of function due to hip fracture is attributed to (a) the recognition of a gap between pre-fracture physical function and current physical function; and (b) the marshaling of psychological resilience to respond promptly to a physical functional loss via uptake of rehabilitation services is supported by findings and has several policy implications.
A comparative analysis of social vulnerability to household food security of Raya Kobo and Raya Alamata Weredas, Ethiopia
Authors: Hidaru Agezew , Tolossa Degefa , Tilahun Temesgen
Published: June 2023

The study was conducted in Ethiopia’s neighboring weredas, Raya Alamata in Tigray and Raya Kobo in Amhara regional states, to determine the reasons for disparities in household food security in the two districts. The goal was to see if there was a link between social vulnerability in terms of access of communities to basic infrastructures and food security among households in the two districts. It employed both qualitative and quantitative methods using the Aloui Zouhaier governance model. Despite their near proximity, similar work habits, natural resource availability, and land size, the Raya Alamata and Raya Kobo communities have a substantial gap in food security and social vulnerability, with Raya Alamata reporting 84% food insecurity and Raya Kobo reporting 24%. The study examined the degree of social vulnerability and food security of households, with irrigation systems, agricultural input consumption, extension packages, and other support systems being the primary variables connected to disparities in food security between the two weredas. Differences in social vulnerability and food security between the two weredas were mostly attributable to households’ lack of access to irrigation systems, agricultural supplies, and extension services, which were exacerbated by Raya Alamata’s ostensibly, intended administrative marginalization. The study recommends that basic social infrastructure, such as irrigation infrastructure, extension services, agricultural supplies, roads, standard education, health infrastructure facilities, etc., be provided to households in the area, and that the federal government should hold the regional and local government bodies accountable for the failures to ensure the provision of the services that could realize a reduced level of social vulnerability to food insecurity.
Automatic classification of the vertebral endplate lesions in magnetic resonance imaging by deep learning model
Authors: Bassani Tito , Cina Andrea , Galbusera Fabio , Sconfienza Luca Maria , Albano Domenico , Barcellona Federica , Colombini Alessandra , Luca Andrea , Brayda-Bruno Marco
Published: June 2023

Introduction

A novel classification scheme for endplate lesions, based on T2-weighted images from magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan, has been recently introduced and validated. The scheme categorizes intervertebral spaces as “normal,” “wavy/irregular,” “notched,” and “Schmorl's node.” These lesions have been associated with spinal pathologies, including disc degeneration and low back pain. The exploitation of an automatic tool for the detection of the lesions would facilitate clinical practice by reducing the workload and the diagnosis time. The present work exploits a deep learning application based on convolutional neural networks to automatically classify the type of lesion.

Methods

T2-weighted MRI scans of the sagittal lumbosacral spine of consecutive patients were retrospectively collected. The middle slice of each scan was manually processed to identify the intervertebral spaces from L1L2 to L5S1, and the corresponding lesion type was labeled. A total of 1,559 gradable discs were obtained, with the following types of distribution: “normal” (567 discs), “wavy/irregular” (485), “notched” (362), and “Schmorl's node” (145). The dataset was divided randomly into a training set and a validation set while preserving the original distribution of lesion types in each set. A pretrained network for image classification was utilized, and fine-tuning was performed using the training set. The retrained net was then applied to the validation set to evaluate the overall accuracy and accuracy for each specific lesion type.

Results

The overall rate of accuracy was found equal to 88%. The accuracy for the specific lesion type was found as follows: 91% (normal), 82% (wavy/irregular), 93% (notched), and 83% (Schmorl's node).

Discussion

The results indicate that the deep learning approach achieved high accuracy for both overall classification and individual lesion types. In clinical applications, this implementation could be employed as part of an automatic detection tool for pathological conditions characterized by the presence of endplate lesions, such as spinal osteochondrosis.
Is cystourethroscopy a crucial preoperative step in severe and complex types of hypospadias?
Authors: Oshiba Ahmed , Kotb Mostafa
Published: June 2023

Background and objectives

Proximal hypospadias is considered the most severe subtype of the hypospadias spectrum and represents approximately one-fifth of the total cases. It is well-evidenced by many studies that the rate of postoperative complications following the repair of this complex subtype is significantly higher when compared to the distal variants. Few reports described the proximal hypospadias from the other perspective which is the preoperative one. Most pediatric surgeons notice an unexplained incidence of lower urinary tract infection and occasional difficulty of urinary catheterization in those children. This sometimes requires the use of additional measures such as the use of urethral sounds, filiforms and followers, and even catheterization under anesthesia. The aim of the work is to evaluate the role of preoperative cystourethroscopy in detecting associated anomalies in cases of proximal and severe hypospadias.

Materials and methods

This prospective study was conducted in the pediatric surgery unit at Alexandria Faculty of Medicine between July 2020 and December 2021 and included all children with severe grades of hypospadias. After thorough evaluation, all children underwent cystourethroscopy just before the procedure. Any abnormalities in the urethra, urinary bladder, or ureteric openings were recorded if present. Finally, the definitive operation was performed as per schedule.

Results

Fifty-two patients (41 fresh and 11 redo patients) with a median (range) age at presentation of 5 (1–16) years were enrolled in this study. The intraoperative cystourethroscopy was done in all of the patients. Significant abnormal findings were recorded in 32 patients (61.5%), while the other 20 patients (38.5%) were revealed to be normal. The most common abnormal findings were dilated prostatic utricle opening and hypertrophied verumontanum (in 23 and 16 cases, respectively).

Conclusion

Although most of the associated anomalies with proximal hypospadias are asymptomatic, cystourethroscopy is better used owing to a high incidence of these anomalies. This can facilitate an early diagnosis as well as early detection and intervention at the time of repair.
How safe are nanoscale metal-organic frameworks?
Authors: Menon Dhruv , Chakraborty Swaroop
Published: June 2023

Owing to the size scales that can be accessed, the nanoscale has opened doors to new physical and chemical properties, not seen in the bulk. These properties are leveraged by nanomaterials (NMs) across a plethora of applications. More recently, nanoscale metal-organic frameworks (nMOFs) have witnessed explosive growth due to the modularity of their chemical constituents, the ability to modify their composition and structure, and exceptional properties such as permanent porosity and high surface areas. These properties have prompted the investigation of these materials for applications in biological and environmental contexts. However, one aspect that is often ignored in these discussions is their safety at a nanoscale. In this mini review, we aim to initiate a discussion on the safety and toxicity of nMOFs, drawing parallels with the existing guidelines and literature on the safety of inorganic NMs. We first describe why nMOFs are of considerable interest to the scientific community followed by a discussion on routes through which they can be exposed to the environment and living organisms, particularly shedding light on their transformation mechanisms. The review also discusses the factors affecting toxicity of nMOFs, such as their size, shape, morphology, and composition. We briefly highlight potential mechanisms of toxicity and conclude with describing the need to transition towards data-intensive computational approaches such as machine learning to establish nMOFs as credible materials for their envisioned applications.
Immune protection induced by E2 recombinant glycoprotein of bovine viral diarrhea virus in a murine model
Authors: Gómez-Romero Ninnet , Arias Carlos F. , Verdugo-Rodríguez Antonio , López Susana , Valenzuela-Moreno Luis Fernando , Cedillo-Peláez Carlos , Basurto-Alcántara Francisco Javier
Published: June 2023

Bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) is considered the most important viral pathogen in ruminants worldwide due to the broad range of clinical manifestations displayed by infected animals. Therefore, infection with BVDV leads to severe economic losses in several countries' beef and dairy industries. Vaccination prevents reproductive failure and gastrointestinal and respiratory disorders caused by BVDV infection. However, considering their limitations, conventional vaccines such as live, attenuated, and killed viruses have been applied. Hence, different studies have described subunit vaccines as an effective and safe alternative for BVDV protection. Therefore, in this study, the ectodomain of E2 (E2e) glycoprotein from NADL BVDV strain was expressed in mammalian cells and used in two vaccine formulations to evaluate immunogenicity and protection against BVDV conferred in a murine model. Formulations consisted of solo E2e glycoprotein and E2e glycoprotein emulsified in adjuvant ISA 61 VG. Five groups of 6 mice of 6-to-8-week-old were immunized thrice on days 1, 15, and 30 by intraperitoneal injection with the mentioned formulations and controls. To evaluate the conferred protection against BVDV, mice were challenged six weeks after the third immunization. In addition, the humoral immune response was evaluated after vaccination and challenge. Mice groups inoculated with solo E2e and the E2e + ISA 61 VG displayed neutralizing titers; however, the E2 antibody titers in the E2e + ISA 61 VG group were significantly higher than the mice group immunized with the solo E2e glycoprotein. In addition, immunization using E2e + ISA 61 VG prevents animals from developing severe lesions in surveyed tissues. Moreover, this group acquired protection against the BVDV challenge, evidenced by a significant reduction of positive staining for BVDV antigen in the lungs, liver, and brain between the experimental groups. Our findings demonstrated that using E2e + ISA 61 VG induces greater BVDV protection by an early humoral response and reduced histopathological lesions and BVDV antigen detection in affected organs, indicating that E2e + ISA 61 VG subunit formulation can be considered as a putative vaccine candidate against BVDV. The efficacy and safety of this vaccine candidate in cattle requires further investigation.
MANURE ADDITIONS IN DIFFERENT TEXTURE SOILS TO ENHANCE MAIZE ROOT PENETRATION
Authors: Malik Ayesha , Fatima Qurat Ul Ain , Umer Tayyba , Nazeer Shabana , Irum Ayesha , Ullah Ghazanfar , Butt Beenish , Khan Asghar Ali , Saddozai Umar Khitab , Sami Ullah  , Jamil Muhammad
Published: June 2023

The properties of the soil, both physical and chemical, have a considerable impact on the development and production of the crops. The soil texture, an unchanging soil physical property that affects the soil, has a secondary effect on crop growth. The goal of this study is to determine how different textures and organic amendments affect the root development of maize, which in turn affects the plant's ability to grow. In 2019 a pot experiment was conducted at Arid Zone Research Center in DI Khan, Pakistan, using two native soil types, clay loam and sandy loam. Farm manure was added as an amendment to the trial at rates of 0 (T0), 5 (T1), 10 (T2), and 15 (T3) Mg ha-1. Half the recommended NPK dose of 150:90:60 kg ha-1 was added to each treatment pot. The plant parameters including shoot length (89.6 cm), fresh weight (176.42 g), and dry weight (16.89 g), as well as root length (39.1 cm), fresh weight (37.11 g), dry weight (11.01 g) and 100-grain weight (22.23 g). The organic amendment added at a rate of 10 Mg ha-1 (T2) under sandy loam texture produced noticeably higher values. It was concluded that every plant parameter increased as the quantity of organic matter increased in the soil, however as the quantity of added organic matter reached 10 Mg ha-1, a significant drop was noticed. Additionally, it was discovered that crops performed well in sandy loam than in clay loam soil
Empirical Questionnaire Methods for Fund-Raising Campaign Preparedness in Extension
Authors: Adams Catherine , Butler Douglass , Esplin Kaleb
Published: June 2023

Amid waning public financial support for Extension program offerings, highly strategic and professional fund-raising practices are necessary for gaining momentum among private philanthropists and closing the fiscal gap. University of Missouri Extension conducted a precampaign survey that invited feedback from stakeholders to inform Extension leadership on how to execute fund-raising initiatives tailored to the audience. As a result, University of Missouri Extension is better positioned to serve the needs of its constituents by recruiting significant private financial support according to donors' unique interests.
A Framework for the Evaluation of Large-Scale Regional Conservation and Management Strategies
Authors: Diaz John , Fawcett Jennifer , Jayaratne K.S.U. , Bruce Jackie
Published: June 2023

The success of complex, regional strategies depends on the ability to evaluate the process of implementation as well as progress toward achieving intended outcomes. The Southeast Cohesive Wildland Fire Management Strategy and the Comprehensive Strategy for Prescribed Fire to Restore Longleaf Pine in the Southeast United States are examples of regional strategies that require extensive efforts across a large landscape. This article presents a framework developed by North Carolina State University Extension Forestry for evaluating these types of regional strategies so that informed recommendations for resource allocation, new program development, and strategic collaboration can be made.
Turist Rehberi Adaylarının Hoşgörü Eğilimlerinin Kariyer Beklentilerine Etkisi
Authors: AYTEKİN Engin
Published: June 2023

Amaç ve Önem: Bu araştırmacının temel amacı, lisans düzeyinde turizm rehberliği eğitim alan öğrencilerin sahip olduğu hoşgörü eğilimlerinin, kariyer beklentilerine olan etkisini belirlemektir. Hoşgörü eğilimi davranışlara, tercihlere ve kariyer beklentilerine etki etmektedir. Bu bağlamda, bu çalışma rehber yetiştiren kurumlara çeşitli öneriler sunması bakımından önem taşımaktadır.

Yöntem: Araştırma kapsamında anket tekniği tercih edilmiştir. Araştırmada öncelikle hoşgörü eğilimi ve kariyer beklentileri ile ilgili literatür taraması yapılmıştır. Çalışmada turist rehberliği lisans eğitimi alan 157 öğrenciye, 02 Ocak 2023 ile 26 Ocak 2023 tarihleri arasında Google formlar aracılığı ile anket uygulanmıştır. Araştırma verilerinin analizinde ölçekler için geçerlilik ve güvenilirlik testleri; tanımlayıcı analizlerde sıklık ve yüzde analizleri ile aritmetik ortalama ve standart sapma hesaplamaları gerçekleştirilmiştir. Araştırma değişkenleri olan hoşgörü eğilimi ve kariyer beklentileri arasındaki ilişkinin değerlendirmesi amacıyla korelasyon analizi uygulanmıştır ve araştırma hipotezi ise regresyon analizi ile test edilmiştir.

Bulgular: Elde edilen bulgulara göre, hoşgörü eğilimi ile kariyer beklentileri arasında düşük düzeyde ve anlamlı bir ilişkinin olduğu bulunmuştur. Ayrıca, hoşgörü eğilimi ile olumsuz kariyer beklentileri arasında düşük düzeyde bir ilişki olduğu belirlenmiştir. Bununla birlikte, hoşgörü eğilimi ile olumlu kariyer beklentileri arasında anlamlı bir ilişki olmadığı tespit edilmiştir.

Özgünlük/Bilimsel Katkı: Benzer değişkenleri içine alan çok sınırlı sayıdaki araştırma sonuçları ile aynı çizgidedir. Öte taraftan, turist rehberliği adayları bağlamında değişkenleri doğrudan tartışan araştırma bulunmaması nedeniyle bu araştırma neredeyse bir ilktir ve gelecekteki araştırmalar için rehber olma adayıdır.

Sınırlılıklar: Bu araştırmada turizm fakültesinde okuyan lisans düzeyinde eğitim alan rehber adaylarının hoşgörü eğilimleri ile kariyer beklentilerinin ölçülmesi temel sınırlılığı oluşturmaktadır. Ayrıca, bu çalışma sadece tek bir bölüm ve sadece 2., 3. ve 4. Sınıf öğrencilerine uygulanmıştır. Dahası, ilgili alanda daha önce yeteri kadar bilimsel araştırma gerçekleştirilmemiş olması, araştırma sonuçlarının karşılaştırılması ve sonuçların etkinliğinin belirlenmesi bakımından bir sınırlılık oluşturmaktadır.
Olfactory Dysfunction in Patients with Coronavirus Disease 2019: A Narrative Review
Authors: Askari Mehdi
Published: June 2023

Background: The global public health and economic systems have been severely damaged by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Olfactory dysfunction (OD) is one of the most prevalent symptoms experienced by COVID-19 patients, documented in clinical practice. In some individuals, OD is the first or the sole clinical symptom. In this review, the clinical characteristics, causes, evaluation procedures, prognosis, and available treatments of COVID-19-induced OD were examined. Methods: The PubMed, Scopus, Web of Sciences, and Google Scholar databases were searched for the related articles from inception until August 2022. Results: OD appears to be common in COVID-19, particularly in younger individuals and women and those with milder disease. Even though the issue is still unresolved, current research suggests that COVID-19-related OD is not caused by direct injury to olfactory sensory neurons but instead is a result of indirect injury to these cells. Moreover, effective therapeutic methods are inadequate despite the high prevalence of COVID-19-related OD. Conclusion: The focus of medical practice regarding COVID-19-related OD should be on identifying individuals with a poor prognosis who may benefit from early management to prevent complications, e.g., depression and anxiety, because COVID-19 OD generally has a good prognosis and quick recovery time.
Association of Emotional and Cognitive Intimacy With Promiscuous Married Men Through Mediating Role of Attitude Towards Infidelity
Authors: Zarei Kimia , Shahbazi Masoud , Koraei Amin
Published: June 2023

Background: Promiscuity and attitude towards infidelity can harm family health and cause many family problems. They are also two important reasons for divorce and separation. This study aimed to investigate the association of emotional and cognitive intimacy with promiscuity through the mediating role of attitude towards infidelity in married men. Methods: This applied descriptive study had a correlational design and adopted the structural equation modeling method. The statistical population included all married men in Bushehr (Iran) who visited marriage counseling centers in 2020. A total of 384 married men were selected as the sample using convenience sampling. The research tools included the Personal Assessment of Intimacy in Relationships, Attitudes towards Infidelity Scale, and the Justifications for Extramarital Relationships. Data were analyzed via the Pearson correlation method and structural equation modeling. SPSS version-24 and AMOS-24 were further used for analyzing the data. Results: The results indicated that there was a direct association between emotional intimacy and attitude towards infidelity (β=0.18, P=0.001), cognitive intimacy and attitude towards infidelity (β=-0.62, P=0.001), emotional intimacy and promiscuity (β=0.11, P=0.014), attitude towards infidelity and promiscuity (β=0.68, P=0.001), but there was no a significant association between cognitive intimacy and promiscuity. The findings also revealed a significant relationship of emotional (β=0.19, P=0.009) and cognitive (β=-0.39, P=0.007) intimacy and promiscuity with mediating role of attitude towards infidelity in men. Conclusion: In general, this study revealed that emotional-cognitive intimacy is a predictor of promiscuity. Therefore, the findings can contribute to studies that lead to marital stability.
Chronic Neuroinflammation Induced by Systemic Administration of Lipopolysaccharide Leads to Behavioral Impairments in Mice
Authors: Ghasemi-Kasman Maryam , Davoodian Nahid
Published: June 2023

Background: There is evidence that chronic neuroinflammation is involved in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases. In this regard, animal models are considered important tools for the study of neuroinflammation associated with these diseases. The injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is the most commonly used approach for inducing neuroinflammation in animal models. However, there are limited and inconsistent studies regarding the effect of the chronic administration of LPS on behavioral parameters. Accordingly, this experimental study aimed to compare the effect of the chronic injection of LPS in two different doses on behavioral alterations, including spatial learning and working memory in mice. Methods: Thirty-six male BALB/c mice were used in this study. After acclimatization for a week, mice were randomly divided into three groups. Control mice were intraperitoneally (IP) injected with saline for seven consecutive days, and mice of the second group received 250 μg/kg LPS (IP) dissolved in saline for a week. Finally, mice of the third group were administered 750 μg/kg LPS (IP) dissolved in saline for a week. Morris water maze (MWM) and Y-maze were performed to assess spatial learning and working memory alterations in treated mice, respectively. Results: It was found that LPS treatment with a high dose (750 μg/kg) results in working memory impairment (P=0.0024) and cognitive dysfunction (P=0.0030) based on Y-maze and MWM test results. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that the LPS-induced model of chronic neuroinflammation can be used as an important tool for the investigation of the pathomechanisms of neurodegenerative disorders and the development of new pharmacotherapeutic options.
Shifts in COVID-19 Wards and Emotional Challenges for Nurses: A Qualitative Study
Authors: Khademi Zahra , Imani Elham , Sayadi Manghalati Manigeh
Published: June 2023

Background: In the context of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, frontline nurses were active in this event and faced numerous challenges. This study aimed to discover the emotional challenges nurses faced on shifts in COVID-19 wards. Methods: In this phenomenological qualitative research, purposive sampling was used to collect the data. A phone interview was conducted with nurses who worked in COVID-19 wards in five Medical Science Universities in Iran in 2020. Then, the recorded interviews were written down. Findings were analyzed using a 6-step thematic analysis guided by Van Manen’s hermeneutic phenomenological approach. The validity and reliability of the study were assessed based on the four criteria proposed by Lincoln and Guba: credibility, dependability, confirmability, and transformability of data. Results: According to analyzed data obtained from interviews with 15 nurses working in the COVID-19 ward, the age average of participants was about 32±5.05. The thematic analysis consisted of four themes, including unpleasant reception (subthemes of limited resources, lack of knowledge, and unpreparedness to deal with the crisis), full involvement and various conflicts (subthemes of extreme fatigue, affected family life, uncontrollable fear, and career change), mental or psychological tortures (subthemes of unexpected incidents, distressing observations, and performance dissatisfaction), and patients’ emotional deprivation (subthemes of disappointment and frustration, communication disorder, and isolation). Conclusion: This study described the experiences of nurses working in COVID-19 wards facing four emotional challenges. It is suggested to provide psychological support for nurses, meet their needs, and boost their morale as effective measures to expand the quality of care and society’s satisfaction with healthcare services.
Investigation of the Status of Infection of Minced Beef With Sarcocystis Parasite in Samples Collected From Butchers in Tabriz
Authors: Garedaghi Yagoob , Olmedo-Juárez Agustin
Published: June 2023

Introduction: Sarcocystosis is one of the most common protozoan parasites in the domestic livestock and causes severe infection in some hosts such as cattle and sheep. In addition to domestic animals, Sarcocystis infects many wild animals, birds, coldblooded animals, and humans. The purpose of this study was to investigate and estimate the initial status of Sarcocystis infection in minced beef in Tabriz. Methods: For digestion test and diagnosis of Sarcocystis contamination from butchers in Tabriz, 300 samples and 100 grams of minced meat samples were prepared and transferred in plastic bags and separately to the parasitology laboratory of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine in Islamic Azad University of Tabriz, Iran. After preparing the digestive solution according to the standard method, an experiment was performed for each sample. Results: In this study, out of the total number of 300 collected samples, 189 samples were infected with the Sarcocystis parasite (63%). Conclusion: The results of this study revealed that the prevalence of Sarcocystis infection is high and this issue, in addition to inflicting economic losses due to livestock losses and seizure of infected carcasses or organs, as well as reducing livestock production, indicates the existence of health risks for residents. Due to the life cycle and epidemiology of this parasite, the need for further studies and control and health measures is important.