bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
High-Intensity Interval Training Does Not Change Vaspin and Omentin and Does Not Reduce Visceral Adipose Tissue in Obese Rats
Authors: Costa Leandro Ribeiro , Castro Cynthia Aparecida de , Marine Diego Adorna , Fabrizzi Fernando , Furino Vanessa de Oliveira , Malavazi Iran , Anibal Fernanda de Freitas , Duarte Ana Cláudia Garcia de Oliveira
Published: February 2021

This study aimed to determine the expression of omentin and vaspin, inflammatory markers, body composition, and lipid profile in diet-induced obese rats and high-intensity interval training (HIIT). Forty Wistar rats were divided into four groups: untrained normal diet, trained normal diet (T-ND), untrained high-fat diet (Unt-HFD), and trained high-fat diet (T-HFD). For the animals of the Unt-HFD and T-HFD groups, a high-fat diet was offered for 4 weeks. After that, all the animals in the T-ND and T-HFD groups were submitted to HITT, three times per week, for 10 weeks (2 weeks of adaptation and 8 weeks of HIIT). Muscle (gastrocnemius), liver, epididymal adipose tissue, retroperitoneal adipose tissue, visceral adipose tissue (VAT), and serum were collected to analyze TNF-α, IL-6, PCR, IL-8, IL-10, IL-4, vaspin, and omentin. A body composition analysis was performed before adaptation to HIIT protocol and after the last exercise session using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Omentin and vaspin in the VAT were quantified using Western blotting. The results showed that, when fed a high-fat diet, the animals obtained significant gains in body fat and elevated serum concentrations of vaspin and blood triglycerides. The HIIT was able to minimize body fat gain but did not reduce visceral fat despite the increase in maximum exercise capacity. Moreover, there was a reduction in the serum levels of adiponectin, IL-6, and IL-10. Finally, we concluded that, although the training protocol was able to slow down the weight gain of the animals, there was no reduction in visceral fat or an improvement in the inflammatory profile, including no changes in omentin and vaspin.
Improving the Breath-Holding CVR Measurement Using the Multiband Multi-Echo EPI Sequence
Authors: Cohen Alexander D. , Jagra Amritpal S. , Visser Nicholas J. , Yang Baolian , Fernandez Brice , Banerjee Suchandrima , Wang Yang
Published: February 2021

Blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) functional MRI (fMRI) is commonly used to measure cerebrovascular reactivity (CVR), which can convey insightful information about neurovascular health. Breath-holding (BH) has been shown to be a practical vasodilatory stimulus for measuring CVR in clinical settings. The conventional BOLD fMRI approach has some limitations, however, such as susceptibility-induced signal dropout at air tissue interfaces and low BOLD sensitivity especially in areas of lowT2*. These drawbacks can potentially be mitigated with multi-echo sequences, which acquire several images at different echo times in one shot. When combined with multiband techniques, high temporal resolution images can be acquired. This study compared an advanced multiband multi-echo (MBME) echo planar imaging (EPI) sequence with an existing multiband single-echo (MB) sequence to evaluate the repeatability and sensitivity of BH activation and CVR mapping. Images were acquired from 28 healthy volunteers, of which 18 returned for repeat imaging. Both MBME and MB data were pre-processed using both standard and advanced denoising techniques. The MBME data was further processed by combining echoes using aT2*-weighted approach and denoising using multi-echo independent component analysis. BH activation was calculated using a general linear model and the respiration response function. CVR was computed as the percent change related to the activation. To account for differences in CVR related to TE, relative CVR (rCVR) was computed and normalized to the mean gray matter CVR. Test–retest metrics were assessed with the Dice coefficient, rCVR difference, within subject coefficient of variation, and the intraclass correlation coefficient. Our findings demonstrate that rCVR for MBME scans were significantly higher than for MB scans across most of the gray matter. In areas of high susceptibility-induced signal dropout, however, MBME rCVR was significantly less than MB rCVR due to artifactually high rCVR for MB scans in these regions. MBME rCVR showed improved test–retest metrics compared with MB. Overall, the MBME sequence displayed superior BOLD sensitivity, improved specificity in areas of signal dropout on MBME scans, enhanced reliability, and reduced variability across subjects compared with MB acquisitions. Our results suggest that the MBME EPI sequence is a promising tool for imaging CVR.
Hypoxic Respiratory Chemoreflex Control in Young Trained Swimmers
Authors: Arce-Álvarez Alexis , Veliz Carlos , Vazquez-Muñoz Manuel , von Igel Magdalena , Alvares Cristian , Ramirez-Campillo Rodrigo , Izquierdo Mikel , Millet Gregoire P. , Del Rio Rodrigo , Andrade David C.
Published: February 2021

During an apnea, changes in PaO2activate peripheral chemoreceptors to increase respiratory drive. Athletes with continuous apnea, such as breath-hold divers, have shown a decrease in hypoxic ventilatory response (HVR), which could explain the long apnea times; however, this has not been studied in swimmers. We hypothesize that the long periods of voluntary apnea in swimmers is related to a decreased HVR. Therefore, we sought to determine the HVR and cardiovascular adjustments during a maximum voluntary apnea in young-trained swimmers. In fifteen trained swimmers and twenty-seven controls we studied minute ventilation (VE), arterial saturation (SpO2), heart rate (HR), and autonomic response [through heart rate variability (HRV) analysis], during acute chemoreflex activation (five inhalations of pure N2) and maximum voluntary apnea test. In apnea tests, the maximum voluntary apnea time and the end-apnea HR were higher in swimmers than in controls (p< 0.05), as well as a higher low frequency component of HRV (p< 0.05), than controls. Swimmers showed lower HVR than controls (p< 0.01) without differences in cardiac hypoxic response (CHR). We conclude that swimmers had a reduced HVR response and greater maximal voluntary apnea duration, probably due to decreased HVR.
Transcriptome Analysis Reveals Photoperiod-Associated Genes Expressed in Rice Anthers
Authors: Sun Shiyu , Wang Duoxiang , Li Jingbin , Lei Yaqi , Li Gang , Cai WenGuo , Zhao Xiangxiang , Liang Wanqi , Zhang Dabing
Published: February 2021

Environmental conditions, such as photoperiod and temperature, can affect male fertility in plants. While this feature is heavily exploited in rice to generate male-sterile lines for hybrid breeding, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain largely unknown. In this study, we use a transcriptomics approach to identify key genes and regulatory networks affecting pollen maturation in rice anthers in response to different day lengths. A total of 11,726 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were revealed, of which 177 were differentially expressed at six time points over a 24-h period. GO enrichment analysis revealed that genes at all time points were enriched in transport, carbohydrate, and lipid metabolic processes, and signaling pathways, particularly phytohormone signaling. In addition, co-expression network analysis revealed four modules strongly correlated with photoperiod. Within these four modules, 496 hub genes were identified with a high degree of connectivity to other photoperiod-sensitive DEGs, including two previously reported photoperiod- and temperature-sensitive genes affecting male fertility, Carbon Starved Anther and UDP-glucose pyrophosphorylase, respectively. This work provides a new understanding on photoperiod-sensitive pollen development in rice, and our gene expression data will provide a new, comprehensive resource to identify new environmentally sensitive genes regulating male fertility for use in crop improvement.
GmIDD Is Induced by Short Days in Soybean and May Accelerate Flowering When Overexpressed in Arabidopsis via Inhibiting AGAMOUS-LIKE 18
Authors: Yang Xue , Zhang Yuntong , Shan Jinming , Sun Jingzhe , Li Dongmei , Zhang Xiaoming , Li Wenbin , Zhao Lin
Published: February 2021

Photoperiod is one of the main climatic factors that determine flowering time and yield. Some members of the INDETERMINATE DOMAIN (IDD) transcription factor family have been reported to be involved in regulation of flowering time in Arabidopsis, maize, and rice. In this study, the domain analysis showed that GmIDD had a typical ID domain and was a member of the soybean IDD transcription factor family. Quantitative real-time PCR analysis showed that GmIDD was induced by short day conditions in leaves and regulated by circadian clock. Under long day conditions, transgenic Arabidopsis overexpressing GmIDD flowered earlier than wild-type, and idd mutants flowered later, while the overexpression of GmIDD rescued the late-flowering phenotype of idd mutants. Chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing assays of GmIDD binding sites in GmIDD-overexpression (GmIDD-ox) Arabidopsis further identified potential direct targets, including a transcription factor, AGAMOUS-like 18 (AGL18). GmIDD might inhibit the transcriptional activity of flower repressor AGL18 by binding to the TTTTGGTCC motif of AGL18 promoter. Furthermore, the results also showed that GmIDD overexpression increased the transcription levels of flowering time-related genes FLOWERING LOCUS T (FT), SUPPRESSOR OF OVEREXPRESSION OF CONSTANS1 (SOC1), LEAFY (LFY) and APETALA1 (AP1) in Arabidopsis. Taken together, GmIDD appeared to inhibit the transcriptional activity of AGL18 and induced the expression of FT gene to promote Arabidopsis flowering.
Costs and Benefits of Transgenerational Induced Resistance in Arabidopsis
Authors: López Sánchez Ana , Pascual-Pardo David , Furci Leonardo , Roberts Michael R. , Ton Jurriaan
Published: February 2021

Recent evidence suggests that stressed plants employ epigenetic mechanisms to transmit acquired resistance traits to their progeny. However, the evolutionary and ecological significance of transgenerational induced resistance (t-IR) is poorly understood because a clear understanding of how parents interpret environmental cues in relation to the effectiveness, stability, and anticipated ecological costs of t-IR is lacking. Here, we have used a full factorial design to study the specificity, costs, and transgenerational stability of t-IR following exposure of Arabidopsis thaliana to increasing stress intensities by a biotrophic pathogen, a necrotrophic pathogen, and salinity. We show that t-IR in response to infection by biotrophic or necrotrophic pathogens is effective against pathogens of the same lifestyle. This pathogen-mediated t-IR is associated with ecological costs, since progeny from biotroph-infected parents were more susceptible to both necrotrophic pathogens and salt stress, whereas progeny from necrotroph-infected parents were more susceptible to biotrophic pathogens. Hence, pathogen-mediated t-IR provides benefits when parents and progeny are in matched environments but is associated with costs that become apparent in mismatched environments. By contrast, soil salinity failed to mediate t-IR against salt stress in matched environments but caused non-specific t-IR against both biotrophic and necrotrophic pathogens in mismatched environments. However, the ecological relevance of this non-specific t-IR response remains questionable as its induction was offset by major reproductive costs arising from dramatically reduced seed production and viability. Finally, we show that the costs and transgenerational stability of pathogen-mediated t-IR are proportional to disease pressure experienced by the parents, suggesting that plants use disease severity as an environmental proxy to adjust investment in t-IR.
Health-Promoting Leadership: Concept, Measurement, and Research Framework
Authors: Yao Lei , Li Ping , Wildy Helen
Published: February 2021

Employee health is not only positively related to the employee well-being and family happiness, but also impacts organizations, and society as a whole. We searched the health-promoting leadership literature in the following databases: Web of Science, ProQuest, EBSCO, and a Chinese local database. Based on this research, we clarify the concept of health-promoting leadership, propose a definition of health-promoting leadership, and examine measurement scales for this type of leadership. We also suggest a research framework for health-promoting leadership, demonstrating its potential outcomes at both the individual level (e.g., health, well-being, job attitudes) and the organizational level (e.g., health management culture and practices); the mechanisms for its development based on conservation of resources theory, the job demands–resources model, social learning theory, and social exchange theory; and antecedents (e.g., health values, health awareness, organizational health culture, organizational health climate, and organizational health promotion behavior control). Finally, we identify six potential research areas: Research level, performance, the impacts of health-promoting leaders on themselves, moderators, research methods, and intervention effects on health-promoting leadership.
COVID-19 and Spillover Effect of Global Economic Crisis on the United States’ Financial Stability
Authors: Shehzad Khurram , Xiaoxing Liu , Bilgili Faik , Koçak Emrah
Published: February 2021

Due to the novel coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19), the lockdown engendered has had a vicious impact on the global economy. This analysis’ prime intention is to evaluate the impact of the United States’ economic and health crisis as a result of COVID-19 on its financial stability. Additionally, the investigation analyzed the spillover impact of the worldwide economic slowdown experienced by COVID-19 on the United States’ financial volatility. The study applied an autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) model and discovered that the economic and health crises that occurred in the United States portentously upset the future expectations of its investors. Conspicuously, the health crisis in Spain and Italy were ominous spillovers of the United States’ financial instability in the short-run. Likewise, an economic crisis ensued in the United Kingdom because of COVID-19 causing spillover for the United States markets’ financial instability. The examination evaluated that Asian and African nations’ economic crises perilously affects the United States’ financial stability. The study determined that financial instability occurred in the United States due to its own economic and health crises persisted for a longer period than financial disequilibrium that occurred in other nations. The analysis suggested some strategies of smart lockdown that the government of the United States and other nations should follow to restart the economic cycle through tighter controls to minimize losses by following the steps of (a) preparing a lockdown checklist, (b) monitoring completion of lockdown tasks, and (c) complete a close-down stock take or count.
Effect of Interventions on Learning Burnout: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Tang Lei , Zhang Fan , Yin Ruoyun , Fan Zhaoya
Published: February 2021

Objectives: This study aimed to provide a comprehensive understanding of all intervention for learning burnout by meta-analyzing their effects.

Methods: Relevant studies that had been published up to September 18, 2020, were identified through a systematic search of the PubMed, Web of Science, the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), and Wan Fang databases. Eligible studies included randomized control trials of any learning burnout intervention conducted among students. The Jadad scale was used to evaluate the quality of the study. Random-effect meta-analyses, subgroup analyses, meta-regression analysis, and sensitivity analysis were conducted. Funnel plots and Egger's tests were used to evaluate publication bias. Duval and Tweedie's non-parametric trim-and-fill method was used to adjust the effect of publication bias.

Results: Of the 5,245 articles found, 39 met the inclusion criteria for the systematic review. There were 3,400 students, including 1,847 students in the intervention group and 1,553 in the control group. A meta-analysis of 44 studies showed that the interventions were effective. Subgroup analyses were conducted according to education, scales, intervention measures, and intervention time. The results showed that, compared with the control group, the learning burnout scores of undergraduates, secondary vocational students, and middle school students were significantly lower. Based on different scales, all interventions were also effective. The funnel plot was asymmetric and consistent with the results of Egger's test. The trim-and-fill method was used, and seven missing studies were merged to obtain a symmetric funnel plot.

Conclusions: This meta-analysis indicated that learning burnout interventions are effective. The subgroup analyses showed that group counseling is the most widely used, exercise intervention is probably the most effective, and 8 weeks or more is the appropriate intervention time. An integrated intervention study based on the factors of learning burnout adds value. More studies are needed to supplement the results in the future.
Helping Families of Infants With Persistent Crying and Sleep Problems in a Day-Clinic
Authors: Singh Binu S. K. , Danckaerts Marina , Van den Bergh Bea R. H.
Published: February 2021

Excessive crying and sleep problems affect up to 30% of infants and often coexist. Although usually benign and self-limiting, persistent crying, and sleep problems exceeding 6 months of age need attention as they may impair the mental health of the infant and its family. The source and the impact of these persistent regulatory problems is often not restricted to the infant, but extends to the parents and the parent–infant relationship. Clinical practice needs interdisciplinary and multi-method interventions focusing beyond regulatory problems of the infant but also on parental self-regulation and parent's co-regulatory responses toward the infant. Treating clinicians may encounter limitations of home-visits, outpatient, and pediatric residential settings when working with families in distress. We describe an infant mental health day-clinic treatment, drawing attention to this viable future direction. It offers a therapeutic climate based on forming a triangle of co-regulation between clinician, parent and infant to first help the parent and the infant settle down. This stress reduction restores parent–infant connectedness and parental learning and reflecting capacity. Clinicians then use established therapeutic modalities to support parental self- and co-regulatory skills which is important for the development of self-regulation in the infant. Experience with this treatment program suggests that a day-clinic setting facilitates interdisciplinary and integrative multi-method intervention, infant and parental stress reduction and integration of parental self- and co-regulatory skills in daily family life, improving overall outcomes. This perspective warrants further investigation.
An International Survey of Health Care Services Available to Patients With Tourette Syndrome
Authors: Bhikram Tracy , Elmaghraby Rana , Abi-Jaoude Elia , Sandor Paul
Published: February 2021

Objective: Tourette syndrome (TS) is a neuropsychiatric disorder that is highly associated with several comorbidities. Given the complex and multifaceted nature of TS, the condition is managed by a wide variety of practitioners in different disciplines. The goal of this study was to investigate health service delivery and care practices by clinicians who see TS patients across different geographic settings internationally.

Methods: A comprehensive questionnaire was developed to assess clinical care resources for patients with TS and was sent to clinicians in Canada (CA), the United States (US), Europe (EU), and the United Kingdom (UK). Responses were compared quantitatively between geographic regions.

Results: The majority of respondents, regardless of region, reported that fewer than 40% of their case-load are patients with tics. The accessibility of TS services varied among regions, as indicated by differences in wait times, telemedicine offerings, comorbidity management and the availability of behavioral therapies. First-line pharmacotherapy preferences varied among physicians in different geographical regions with CA respondents preferring alpha-2-adrenergic agonists and respondents from the UK and EU preferring dopamine receptor antagonists.

Discussion: The results suggest that there is a scarcity of specialized TS clinics, potentially making access to services challenging, especially for patients newly diagnosed with TS. Differences in regional pharmacotherapeutic preferences are reflected in various published treatment guidelines in EU and North America. The lack of dedicated specialists and telemedicine availability, coupled with differences in comorbidity management, highlight the need for interprofessional care and holistic management to improve health care delivery to patients with TS.
Using Evidence and Data to Design an Intervention in the Project Community Model for Fostering Health and Wellbeing Among Adolescent Mothers and Their Children
Authors: Dzabala Nettie , Kachingwe Mtisunge , Chikowe Ibrahim , Chidandale Carol , van der Haar Lotte
Published: February 2021

In this paper, quantitative and qualitative measurements of maternal psychosocial wellbeing were utilized in three districts in Malawi that guided decision-making to increase the wellbeing of adolescent mothers and promote the healthy upbringing of their children. The 1-year design stage of the study relied on several sources of information: literature search, prior project implementation of similar projects, discussions with officials at the Malawi Department of Social Welfare, and observation visits in the targeted districts. The approaches for collecting data mentioned were triangulated for the development of a baseline survey. The baseline survey generated systematically collected data of the experiences and recalls as well as the missing data from the preliminary evaluation of the existing data. The baseline data gave the Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA) insight on the type of intervention required in order to give a greater and more holistic effect on the beneficiaries. We also discuss the lessons we learned as to whether the assumptions we had made at the onset were correct. If they were not correct, we explained the measures we took to correct the design or implementation of the project. Finally, the data provided benchmarks for project monitoring and evaluation.
Hospital Resilience After the 2015 Earthquake in Nepal: Results From Semi-structured Interviews With Hospital Staff
Authors: Moitinho de Almeida Maria , van Loenhout Joris Adriaan Frank , Singh Thapa Sunil , Kumar K. C. , Prakash Mahara Deepak , Guha-Sapir Debarati , Aujoulat Isabelle
Published: February 2021

Background: Resilient hospitals are increasingly recognized as a cornerstone of disaster reduction in global policies such as the Sendai Framework for Action. However, current hospital resilience frameworks emerged from pre-disaster conceptualizations, and have not been verified in real-life disaster contexts nor in the frontlines. Our aim was to study a tertiary hospital's resilience after the 2015 earthquake in Nepal, as experienced by its staff.

Methods: We undertook a qualitative study in the Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital (TUTH), where we conducted 18 semi-structured interviews with hospital staff. We inductively created themes to describe the earthquake burden to the hospital, and to analyze individual resilience of hospital staff. In addition, we deductively documented the resilience of the hospital as a system, according to the system resilience dimensions: means of resilience (redundancy and resourcefulness), and ends of resilience (robustness and rapidity).

Results: In terms of robustness, TUTH increased its capacity for earthquake victims as elective activities were temporarily interrupted and quality of care was not a priority. Three stages of rapidity were identified: critical rapidity to address immediate needs, stabilizing rapidity until the hospital re-started routine activities, and recovery rapidity. In addition to the disaster plan, emerging adaptations played a major role in redundancy and resourcefulness. We found that individual resilience depended on three determinants: safety, meaningfulness, and sense of belonging.

Conclusions: Hospital resilience results from a complexity of emerging and planned adaptations, as well as from interdependencies with individual resilience. Frameworks and plans to improve hospital resilience must reflect flexibility of response, and a concern for well-being of hospital staff is central for sustainable disaster response and improved resilience.
COVID-19: Rethinking the Lockdown Groupthink
Authors: Joffe Ari R.
Published: February 2021

The Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has caused the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) worldwide pandemic in 2020. In response, most countries in the world implemented lockdowns, restricting their population's movements, work, education, gatherings, and general activities in attempt to “flatten the curve” of COVID-19 cases. The public health goal of lockdowns was to save the population from COVID-19 cases and deaths, and to prevent overwhelming health care systems with COVID-19 patients. In this narrative review I explain why I changed my mind about supporting lockdowns. The initial modeling predictions induced fear and crowd-effects (i.e., groupthink). Over time, important information emerged relevant to the modeling, including the lower infection fatality rate (median 0.23%), clarification of high-risk groups (specifically, those 70 years of age and older), lower herd immunity thresholds (likely 20–40% population immunity), and the difficult exit strategies. In addition, information emerged on significant collateral damage due to the response to the pandemic, adversely affecting many millions of people with poverty, food insecurity, loneliness, unemployment, school closures, and interrupted healthcare. Raw numbers of COVID-19 cases and deaths were difficult to interpret, and may be tempered by information placing the number of COVID-19 deaths in proper context and perspective relative to background rates. Considering this information, a cost-benefit analysis of the response to COVID-19 finds that lockdowns are far more harmful to public health (at least 5–10 times so in terms of wellbeing years) than COVID-19 can be. Controversies and objections about the main points made are considered and addressed. Progress in the response to COVID-19 depends on considering the trade-offs discussed here that determine the wellbeing of populations. I close with some suggestions for moving forward, including focused protection of those truly at high risk, opening of schools, and building back better with a economy.
Ecosystems of Co-Creation
Authors: Eckhardt Jennifer , Kaletka Christoph , Krüger Daniel , Maldonado-Mariscal Karina , Schulz Ann Christin
Published: February 2021

Citizen science is becoming increasingly important as a new and participative mode of knowledge production. An essential element of citizen science is co-creation. Co-creation is by no means limited to a modus operandi for participatory science, but introduces a form of collaborative way of working with society in the sense of citizen science. Results from the H2020 SISCODE project show that co-creation is located inside and between different sectors of society. This article focuses on the question of how co-creation can be better understood in different contexts, and presents a heuristic model that has already been used for case study analyses in the SISCODE project. After an introduction to the field of co-creation and a brief description of the heuristic model, its capability is exemplarily demonstratedviaapplication to two selected cases, followed by a discussion of central learnings and implications for further research on co-creation.
Usefulness of Intraoperative Neurophysiological Monitoring During the Clipping of Unruptured Intracranial Aneurysm: Diagnostic Efficacy and Detailed Protocol
Authors: Park Dougho , Kim Byung Hee , Lee Sang-Eok , Jeong Eunhwan , Cho Kwansang , Park Ji Kang , Choi Yeon-Ju , Jin Suntak , Hong Daeyoung , Kim Mun-Chul
Published: February 2021

Background: Intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring (IONM) has been widely applied in brain vascular surgeries to reduce postoperative neurologic deficit (PND). This study aimed to investigate the effect of IONM during clipping of unruptured intracranial aneurysms (UIAs).

Methods: Between January 2013 and August 2020, we enrolled 193 patients with 202 UIAs in the N group (clipping without IONM) and 319 patients with 343 UIAs in the M group (clipping with IONM). Patients in the M group were intraoperatively monitored for motor evoked potentials (MEPs) and somatosensory evoked potentials (SSEPs). Irreversible evoked potential (EP) change was defined as EP deterioration that did not recover until surgery completion. Sustained PND was defined as neurological symptoms lasting for more than one postoperative month.

Results: Ten (3.1%) and 13 (6.7%) in the M and N groups, respectively, presented with PND. Compared with the N group, the M group had significantly lower occurrence rates of sustained PND [odds ratio (OR) = 0.36, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.13–0.98, p = 0.04], ischemic complications (OR = 0.39, 95% CI = 0.15–0.98, p = 0.04), and radiologic complications (OR = 0.40, 95% CI = 0.19–0.82, p = 0.01). Temporary clipping was an independent risk factor for ischemic complications (ICs) in the total patient group (OR = 6.18, 95% CI = 1.75–21.83, p = 0.005), but not in the M group (OR = 5.53, 95% CI = 0.76–41.92, p = 0.09). Regarding PND prediction, considering any EP changes (MEP and/or SSEP) showed the best diagnostic efficiency with a sensitivity of 0.900, specificity of 0.940, positive predictive value of 0.321, negative predictive value (NPV) of 0.997, and a negative likelihood ratio (LR) of 0.11.

Conclusion: IONM application during UIA clipping can reduce PND and radiological complications. The diagnostic effectiveness of IONM, specifically the NPV and LR negative values, was optimal upon consideration of changes in any EP modality.
Modeling of Resistive Forces and Buckling Behavior in Variable Recruitment Fluidic Artificial Muscle Bundles
Authors: Kim Jeong Yong , Mazzoleni Nicholas , Bryant Matthew
Published: February 2021

Fluidic artificial muscles (FAMs), also known as McKibben actuators, are a class of fiber-reinforced soft actuators that can be pneumatically or hydraulically pressurized to produce muscle-like contraction and force generation. When multiple FAMs are bundled together in parallel and selectively pressurized, they can act as a multi-chambered actuator with bioinspired variable recruitment capability. The variable recruitment bundle consists of motor units (MUs)—groups of one of more FAMs—that are independently pressurized depending on the force demand, similar to how groups of muscle fibers are sequentially recruited in biological muscles. As the active FAMs contract, the inactive/low-pressure units are compressed, causing them to buckle outward, which increases the spatial envelope of the actuator. Additionally, a FAM compressed past its individual free strain applies a force that opposes the overall force output of active FAMs. In this paper, we propose a model to quantify this resistive force observed in inactive and low-pressure FAMs and study its implications on the performance of a variable recruitment bundle. The resistive force behavior is divided into post-buckling and post-collapse regions and a piecewise model is devised. An empirically-based correction method is proposed to improve the model to fit experimental data. Analysis of a bundle with resistive effects reveals a phenomenon, unique to variable recruitment bundles, defined as free strain gradient reversal.
Challenges of Smallholder Farming in Ethiopia and Opportunities by Adopting Climate-Smart Agriculture
Authors: Zerssa Gebeyanesh , Feyssa Debela , Kim Dong-Gill , Eichler-Löbermann Bettina
Published: February 2021

Agriculture is the backbone of the Ethiopian economy, and the agricultural sector is dominated by smallholder farming systems. The farming systems are facing constraints such as small land size, lack of resources, and increasing degradation of soil quality that hamper sustainable crop production and food security. The effects of climate change (e.g., frequent occurrence of extreme weather events) exacerbate these problems. Applying appropriate technologies like climate-smart agriculture (CSA) can help to resolve the constraints of smallholder farming systems. This paper provides a comprehensive overview regarding opportunities and challenges of traditional and newly developed CSA practices in Ethiopia, such as integrated soil fertility management, water harvesting, and agroforestry. These practices are commonly related to drought resilience, stability of crop yields, carbon sequestration, greenhouse gas mitigation, and higher household income. However, the adoption of the practices by smallholder farmers is often limited, mainly due to shortage of cropland, land tenure issues, lack of adequate knowledge about CSA, slow return on investments, and insufficient policy and implementation schemes. It is suggested that additional measures be developed and made available to help CSA practices become more prevalent in smallholder farming systems. The measures should include the utilization of degraded and marginal lands, improvement of the soil organic matter management, provision of capacity-building opportunities and financial support, as well as the development of specific policies for smallholder farming.
Stability of Aggregates Made by Earthworms in Soils with Organic Additives
Authors: Józefowska Agnieszka , Woźnica Karolina , Sokołowska Justyna , Sochan Agata , Zaleski Tomasz , Ryżak Magdalena , Bieganowski Andrzej
Published: February 2021

Earthworm activity is a key factor in creating soil aggregates, but introduced organic matter and abiotic factors are also equally important. The purpose of this study was to investigate the stability of aggregates made by earthworms in soils with organic additives. Additionally, the two aggregate stability measurement methods were compared: (i) the wet-sieve method and (ii) the laser diffraction method. A six-month container experiment containing sixteen treatments and controls were made. Each treatment included one of four types of soil texture: sand, loam, silty loam and clay, and one of four additives: straw, peat, compost and compost with added microorganisms. To each treatment, six earthworms were added, two each of species commonly occurring in Polish soils: Dendrodrilus rubidus, Aporrectodea caliginosa and A. rosea. This study confirmed that earthworm activity was the factor favoring aggregate formation. In terms of the investigated organic additives, the efficiency of aggregate creation was as follows: compost with active bacteria, compost, peat and straw. Nevertheless, earthworms alone, without the addition of an organic additive, did not form permanent aggregates. The wet sieving and laser diffractometry methods of measuring aggregate stability were comparable for silty, clayey and loamy soils.
Effects of Flaxseed and Multi-Carbohydrase Enzymes on the Cecal Microbiota and Liver Inflammation of Laying Hens
Authors: Mangi Mazhar Hussain , Hussain Tariq , Shahid Muhammad Suhaib , Sabir Naveed , Kalhoro Muhammad Saleem , Zhou Xiangmei , Yuan Jianmin
Published: February 2021

Background: The use of wheat and flaxseed to produce omega-3 (ω-3) enriched poultry meat and eggs is very popular in the world. However, wheat and flaxseed contain some anti-nutritional factors (ANFs), and enzymes are usually used to alleviate the deleterious influence of ANFs. Method: A 2 × 3 two factors design was used in the experiment. A total of 540 twenty-week-old Nongda-3 laying hens were randomly allocated to six dietary treatments, two diets (corn/flaxseed and wheat/flaxseed), and three enzymes (enzyme-a contains neutral protease 10,000, xylanase 35,000, β-mannanase 1500, β-glucanase 2000, cellulose 500, amylase 100, and pectinase 10,000 (U g−1); enzyme-b contains alkaline protease 40,000 and neutral protease 10,000 (U g−1); enzyme-c contains alkaline protease 40,000, neutral protease 10,000, and cellulase 4000 (U g−1). Results: There was an interaction between dietary treatment and supplemental enzymes for liver weight and liver inflammatory cytokines of broilers. A significant increase was observed in the fat weight of birds fed a corn diet as compared with a wheat diet. A corn diet and wheat diet with the addition of enzyme-a (p < 0.001) showed the highest level of liver fat followed by enzyme-c (p < 0.01) and enzyme-b. Moreover, a high level of secretory IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-10 and comparatively higher inflammatory changes in the liver tissue were found in birds fed a corn diet as compared with a wheat diet, and enzyme-b showed more beneficial effects as compared with enzyme-a and -c. The gut microbial composition of hens fed a corn diet was significantly different than that of birds fed a wheat diet. Bacteroides were significantly (p < 0.05) abundant in the corn-fed birds as compared with wheat-fed birds. However, Firmicutes were less abundant in the wheat-fed birds than the corn-fed birds (16.99 vs. 31.80%, respectively). The microbial community at the genus level differed significantly in the dietary groups and we observed that Bacteroides are the predominant cecal microbiota. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathways of co-factors, carbohydrates, vitamins, protein, and energy were expressed at slightly higher levels in the microbiota of the wheat-fed birds, whereas, metabolic pathways for nucleotides, lipids, and glycine were expressed at higher levels in the wheat-fed birds. Furthermore, expression of the growth and cellular processes pathway and endocrine system pathway levels were predicted to be higher for the wheat-fed group as compared with the corn-fed group. Conclusions: In conclusion, our findings suggest that inflammatory changes in laying birds were mediated by a corn diet with flaxseed and enzymes instead of a wheat diet. Additionally, in the wheat-fed group, enzyme-b and -c showed more encouraging results as compared to enzyme-a.
The Impact of COVID on Cat Guardians: Veterinary Issues
Authors: Kogan Lori R. , Erdman Phyllis , Currin-McCulloch Jennifer , Bussolari Cori , Packman Wendy
Published: February 2021

The onset of COVID has impacted the field of veterinary medicine and the lives of cat guardians in numerous ways, yet the subject remains largely unexplored. The purpose of this study was to better understand cat guardians’ fears and concerns pertaining to veterinary care and obtainment of pet care products and food during the initial lock down phase of the COVID pandemic to better address these concerns now and in the future. To this end, an anonymous online survey was distributed to cat guardians during the first two months of the pandemic. The survey included questions pertaining to guardians’ relationship with their cat and their veterinary related concerns and experiences as a result of the pandemic. Quantitative and qualitative data were collected from 956 participants. The results revealed that the increased amount of time guardians spent with their cat had a positive impact on their bond. Participants’ veterinary related concerns, particularly for participants between 18–29 years of age, centered around availability of their veterinarian for both emergency and non-emergency care. Other concerns included fears about the ability to afford emergency veterinary care and obtain cat food and supplies. Awareness of these concerns can help veterinarians better support cat guardians by directly communicating their continued availability and presence in the face of a pandemic as well as other challenging times.
Evaluation of Triclosan Effects on Cultured Swine Luteal Cells
Authors: Basini Giuseppina , Bussolati Simona , Bertini Simone , Quintavalla Fausto , Grasselli Francesca
Published: February 2021

Triclosan is a chlorinated phenolic, used in many personal and home care products for its powerful antimicrobial effect. Several studies have shown triclosan toxicity and the American Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2016 has limited its use. It has been recently included in endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs), a list of chemicals known for their ability to interfere with hormonal signaling with particular critical effects on reproduction both in animals and humans. In order to deepen the knowledge in this specific field, the present study was undertaken to explore the effect of different concentrations of triclosan (1, 10, and 50 µM) on cultured luteal cells, isolated from swine ovaries, evaluating effects on growth Bromodeoxyuridine (BrDU) incorporation and Adenosine TriPhosphate (ATP) production, steroidogenesis (progesterone secretion) and redox status (superoxide and nitric oxide production, enzymatic and non-enzymatic scavenging activity). A biphasic effect was exerted by triclosan on P4 production. In fact, the highest concentration inhibited, while the others stimulated P4 production (p < 0.05). Triclosan significantly inhibited cell proliferation, metabolic activity, and enzymatic scavenger activity (p < 0.05). On the contrary, nitric oxide production was significantly increased by triclosan (p < 0.01), while superoxide anion generation and non-enzymatic scavenging activity were unaffected.
A Comparison Study of the Caecum Microbial Profiles, Productivity and Production Quality of Broiler Chickens Fed Supplements Based on Medium Chain Fatty and Organic Acids
Authors: Dauksiene Agila , Ruzauskas Modestas , Gruzauskas Romas , Zavistanaviciute Paulina , Starkute Vytaute , Lele Vita , Klupsaite Dovile , Klementaviciute Jolita , Bartkiene Elena
Published: February 2021

The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of medium chain fatty acids (MCFAs) and organic acids (OAs) supplements on the caecum microbial profiles, productivity and production quality characteristics of broiler chickens (BCs). BC (900 chicks) were attributed to three groups: (i) control; (ii) MCFAs group (BCs fed with feed supplemented with MCFAs); (iii) OAs group (BCs fed with feed supplemented with OAs). Broilers were slaughtered at the end of the trial (42 days old), and the caecum microbial profiles, productivity and production quality characteristics were analysed. Supplementation with OAs resulted in a more appropriate environment in the caecum for beneficial microorganisms than with a diet supplemented with MCFAs. This was supported by data on the presence of higher amounts and an increased species variety of probiotic bacteria (Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium) in the caecum of birds. The above-mentioned changes of the caecum microbiota led to significantly higher villus height (p = 0.003) of the OAs broiler group and significantly lower crypt depth (p = 0.037). Notwithstanding the significant increase of acetic, propionic, isobutyric, butyric, isovaleric, and valeric acids that were established in caecum samples from the MCFAs group, better parameters of broiler production performance (higher body weight and lower mortality) and carcass traits (higher both thigh and shin muscles with skin and bone weight; both shin muscles without skin and bone weight; abdominal fat yield) were found in the OAs-treated group. For chemical, physical and technological characteristics of breast meat samples, increased yellowness and water holding capacity by 14.7% and 2.3%, respectively, were found in MCFAs group samples. A more appropriate environment in the caecum for beneficial microorganisms could be obtained when BCs were fed with OAs supplement, comparing to MCFAs, and these positive changes were associated with higher efficiency of poultry production.
Assessment of Microbiota Modulation in Poultry to Combat Infectious Diseases
Authors: Montoro-Dasi Laura , Villagra Arantxa , de Toro María , Pérez-Gracia María Teresa , Vega Santiago , Marin Clara
Published: February 2021

Poultry is one of the main agricultural sub-sectors worldwide. However, public concern regarding animal welfare and antimicrobial resistance has risen in recent years. Due to the influence of management practices on microbiota, it might be considered to evaluate poultry welfare and health. Therefore, the objective of this research was to analyse the influence on microbiota balance of broilers under commercial and optimal farm conditions, using 16S rRNA sequencing analysis. The research was performed in two identical poultry houses (commercial vs. optimal). Results showed a higher level of microbiota complexity in the group reared under optimal farm conditions at the end of rearing. Regarding microbiota composition, Firmicutes was the dominant phylum during the entire growing period. However, the second most prevalent phylum was Proteobacteria at the arrival day, and Bacteroidetes from the mid-period onward in both groups. Moreover, the most predominant genera identified were Oscillospira, Ruminococcus, Bacteroides, and Coprococcus. In conclusion, it is necessary to optimize farm management as much as possible. Using gut microbiota diversity and composition as biomarkers of animal health could be an important tool for infectious disease control, with the aim of reducing the administration of antibiotics at field level.
Self-Medication with Antibiotics for Protection against COVID-19: The Role of Psychological Distress, Knowledge of, and Experiences with Antibiotics
Authors: Zhang Airong , Hobman Elizabeth V. , De Barro Paul , Young Asaesja , Carter David J. , Byrne Mitchell
Published: February 2021

Self-medication with antibiotics is a major contributing factor to antimicrobial resistance. Prior research examining factors associated with antibiotic self-medication has focused on an individual’s knowledge about antibiotics, antibiotic usage practices, accessibility to antibiotic medication, and demographic characteristics. The role of psychological distress associated with perceived health risks in explaining antibiotic self-medication is less understood. This study was designed to address this knowledge gap in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia. An online survey of 2217 participants was conducted at the height of the initial outbreak and revealed that 19.5% of participants took antibiotics to protect themselves from COVID-19. Multivariate logistic analysis examined the predictors of taking antibiotics for protection against COVID-19. An integrative framework developed from the results illustrates potential pathways and facilitating factors that may contribute to prophylactic self-medication with antibiotics. Specifically, COVID-19 pandemic-induced psychological distress was significantly positively related to self-medication. Preventive use of antibiotics was also facilitated by a lack of understanding about antibiotics, inappropriate antibiotics usage practices, the nature of the patient-doctor relationship, and demographic characteristics. The findings highlight that to combat antimicrobial resistance due to self-medication, interventions need to focus on interrupting entrenched behavioural responses and addressing emotional responses to perceived health risks.