bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The effects of interactive video games combined with LEGO game therapy on social anxiety in rural left-behind children
Authors: Peng Dianhui , Wu Xinbo , Yang Yaqi , Li Xiaolin , Shu Anni , Liang Junwen , Tu Zengying , Liu Le , Yang Qian , Dong Weixin , Lu Chunxia
Published: December 2024

Background

China has a significant population of left-behind children, defined as those whose parents have migrated away from their home for at least six months. This situation arises when one or both parents leave to seek work in urban areas. Among the various challenges faced by left-behind children, social anxiety has emerged as one of the most pressing issues.

Objective

This study aims to deeply explore the impact of interactive video games and LEGO games on the social anxiety of rural left-behind children, with the aim of providing a more comprehensive and effective solution to the mental health problems they encounter.

Methods

Eighty-four rural left-behind children were randomly assigned to four groups: interactive video game group, LEGO game group, combined intervention group, and the control group, using a single-blind randomized controlled experiment. All participants underwent the intervention three times a week for 12 weeks. Social anxiety levels were assessed at three points: before the intervention (T0), immediately after the intervention (T1), and 6 weeks post-intervention (T2).

Results

The effects of different intervention strategies on the social anxiety of left-behind children showed significant group-time interaction effects. As the intervention progressed, the total score of social anxiety and the scores of various dimensions among participants in different intervention groups showed a gradual decreasing trend. The combined intervention group scored significantly lower at T1 and T2 than both the interactive video game group and the LEGO group.

Conclusion

Our findings indicate that social anxiety in left-behind children can be significantly mitigated through both LEGO therapy and interactive video games, with a combined approach yielding the most pronounced effects. These results underscore the importance of a multifaceted intervention strategy that addresses the unique social needs of this vulnerable population. Importantly, our study suggests that effective interventions should not only focus on symptom reduction but also foster environments that enhance social skills and build confidence. Future research should investigate the scalability of these interventions across diverse contexts and their potential integration into existing mental health services to better support left-behind children.
Psychometric properties of AMAS and math anxiety prevalence among Chinese and Russian schoolchildren: a comparative study
Authors: Linna Du , Xinghua Wang , Haiying Yu , Pavlova Anna , Ismatullina Victoria , Malykh Artem , Kolyasnikov Pavel , Malykh Sergey
Published: December 2024

The purpose of this study was to compare the prevalence of math anxiety in Russian and Chinese schoolchildren across genders and ages. The Abbreviated Math Anxiety Scale (AMAS) was used as a measurement tool for assessing math anxiety. The factor structure of the AMAS and item invariance between Russian and Chinese schoolchildren were also examined. A total of 4,292 Russian (54% girls, M = 13.7, SD = 1.21) and 3,410 Chinese (48% girls, M = 12.7, SD = 1.21, Me = 13.0) schoolchildren participated in the study. The bi-factor model of the AMAS fits provided the best fit for the data in both countries. AMAS items demonstrated invariance between the two groups. Overall, Russian schoolchildren demonstrated higher math anxiety across all ages and math anxiety subscales, except at ages 14–15, where Chinese schoolchildren reported higher learning-related math anxiety. Among Chinese schoolchildren, both learning and evaluation math anxiety increased with age. Conversely, for Russian schoolchildren, math evaluation anxiety increased, while learning math anxiety decreased with age. Gender differences were observed in both countries, with the onset of gender-related differences appearing earlier in Chinese schoolchildren.
A multi-label text sentiment analysis model based on sentiment correlation modeling
Authors: Ni Yingying , Ni Wei
Published: December 2024

Objective

This study proposes an emotion correlation-enhanced sentiment analysis model (ECO-SAM), a sentiment correlation modeling-based multi-label sentiment analysis model.

Methods

The ECO-SAM utilizes a pre-trained BERT encoder to obtain semantic embedding of input texts and then leverages a self-attention mechanism to model the semantic correlation between emotions. Additionally, it utilizes a text emotion matching neural network to make sentiment analysis for input texts.

Results

The experiment results in public datasets demonstrate that compared to baseline models, the ECO-SAM obtains the precision score increasing by 13.33% at most, the recall score increasing by 3.69% at most, and the F1 score increasing by 8.44% at most. Meanwhile, the modeled sentiment semantics are interpretable.

Limitations

The data modeled by the ECO-SAM are limited to text-only modality, excluding multi-modal data that could enhance classification performance. Additionally, the training data are not large-scale, and there is a lack of high-quality large-scale training data for fine-tuning sentiment analysis models.

Conclusion

The ECO-SAM is capable of effectively modeling sentiment semantics and achieving excellent classification performance in many public sentiment analysis datasets.
Unveiling the influences of prenatal and maternal factors on the journey of an autistic child
Authors: Abdelkader Ahmed , AlRadini Faten , Alosaimi Ashwaq , Abbas Abdallah , Judeh Zaki , Emy Abu Esaid Tahneed , Saleh Alaa , Shah Jaffer , Amer Samar
Published: December 2024

Background

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a complex lifelong neurodevelopmental disorder with a high and increasing global prevalence. Although the precise causes are unknown, both genetic and environmental factors, including maternal ones during pregnancy, significantly influence its development. Therefore, this study endeavors to explore the potential causes of autism, including maternal and paternal prenatal risk factors, as well as antenatal and natal maternal risk factors, and their associations with the severity of ASD in mothers of children with ASD, from February to May 2024.

Methods

At an autism center in Saudi Arabia, this cross-sectional study enrolled 168 mothers of children diagnosed with ASD. The web-based survey employs a structured questionnaire to gather comprehensive prenatal, natal, and demographic data. The collected data was coded and analyzed using suitable tests.

Results

The majority of the surveyed 168 mothers with autistic children reported having autism spectrum disorder (43.8%), moderate autism (31.9%), mild autism (15.6%), and severe autism (8.8%). Most autistic children had a history of one or both maternal and/or paternal antenatal exposures: 79.2% had soft drink consumption, 35.1% smoked, 24.4% had chronic physical diseases, and 20.8% had psychological disease. Regarding maternal antenatal conditions, 37% had a history of recurrent infection, 29.2% had anemia, 15.5% had a history of threatened abortion or bleeding, as well as exposure to air pollution, and 22 (13.1%) had a history of gestational diabetes. Significant (p <0.05) predictors of severe autism were gestational diabetes aOR 4.553 (95% CI: [1.518, 14.25], birth oxygen desaturation 4.142 (95% CI: [1.437, 12.45]. Furthermore, the likelihood of classifying a child’s ASD as severe increases by 7.1% with each year of age1.071 (95% CI: [1.002, 1.15].

Conclusion

ASD is a prevalent health condition that has many interrelationships with prenatal, maternal (medical, environmental, and psychosocial factors), and natal conditions. Prospective studies are essential for understanding and addressing these ASD risk factors.
The longitudinal relationship between executive dysfunction and reactive and proactive aggression in adolescents: impulsivity as a mediator and sex differences
Authors: Su Xiaojie , Li Wenjie , Hu Changsheng , Liu Huimin , Lian Rong
Published: December 2024

Background

Adolescent aggression poses a significant threat to mental health and social functioning. This study investigated the underlying mechanisms of reactive and proactive aggression in Chinese adolescents, focusing on the roles of executive dysfunction, impulsivity, and sex. We hypothesized that executive dysfunction would predict both reactive and proactive aggression, with impulsivity mediating these relationships. Furthermore, we explored the moderating role of sex in the association between impulsivity and both types of aggression.

Method

A longitudinal design with a 1-year follow-up was employed. The sample comprised 617 middle school students (mean age = 15.26 years at Time 2; 59% male). Participants completed self-report questionnaires at two time points (T1: April 2023; T2: April 2024): the Reactive-Proactive Aggression Questionnaire (RPQ), the Teenage Executive Functioning Inventory (TEXI), and the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS).

Results

Executive dysfunction at T1 significantly predicted both proactive and reactive aggression at T2. Impulsivity at T2 partially mediated the relationship between executive dysfunction at T1 and both proactive and reactive aggression at T2. Sex moderated the relationship between impulsivity and aggression. Specifically, impulsivity at T2 significantly predicted proactive aggression at T2 only in male adolescents. Impulsivity at T2 significantly predicted reactive aggression at T2 in both male and female adolescents, with a stronger effect observed in males.

Conclusion

Our findings suggest that executive dysfunction contributes to adolescent aggression both directly and indirectly through increased impulsivity. Sex plays a moderating role, with male adolescents demonstrating greater vulnerability to the influence of impulsivity on aggression. These results underscore the importance of considering executive function, impulsivity, and sex in the development of interventions to prevent and reduce adolescent aggression.
The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on access to mental health services and socioeconomic inequalities in Italy
Authors: Petrelli Alessio , Ventura Martina , Ciampichini Roberta , Di Napoli Anteo , Fano Valeria , Napoli Christian , Pacifici Martina , Rosini Claudio , Silvestri Caterina , Voller Fabio , Zucchi Alberto , Aragona Massimiliano
Published: December 2024

Objective

Comprehensive evidence on the impact of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on the use of mental health services is scarce. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the access to mental health services in Italy and to assess the socioeconomic and citizenship inequalities for the same outcome.

Methods

A population-based longitudinal open cohort of residents aged ≥ 10 years was established in three large centers covering about 6 million beneficiaries (nearly 10% of the entire population) of the Italian National Health Service (NHS) from 01 January 2018 to 31 December 2021. The primary outcome of interest was the first access to one of the following mental health care services (FAMHS): outpatient facilities, hospital discharges, psychiatric drug prescriptions, emergency room admissions, residential and day care facilities, co-pay exemptions. To evaluate the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on FAMHS, the temporal trend of FAMHS rates was investigated through an interrupted time series (ITS) analysis of their monthly rates. Crude incidence rates per 100,000 person days with 95%CI were calculated comparing the two time periods (pre- and post-COVID-19) by sex, age group, deprivation index (as a proxy of socioeconomic status), and citizenship. Finally, adjusted rates and rates ratios with 95%CI were estimated via ITS analysis using a step-change model.

Results

ITS analysis for the trend of FAMHS rates showed a significant drop at the outbreak of the pandemic in crude rates and after adjusting for age, sex, deprivation level, and citizenship (RR=0.83 p<0.001). After the outbreak of COVID-19, the trend increased, with rates returning to pre-pandemic levels. Adjusted incidence rate ratios (IRRs) showed a higher probability of having a FAMHS for females, Italians, and for residents in the most deprived areas. A gradient of higher rates with the increase in age was observed. Greater COVID-19 impact was found on the most deprived areas of residence, with a reduction in IRRs from pre- to post-COVID-19 significantly stronger.

Conclusions

The COVID-19 pandemic increased socioeconomic inequalities in mental health in Italy. Population-based cohorts are the most powerful instrument to monitor inequalities in access to mental health services and to provide timely information to drive policy.
Polygenic risk for epigenetic aging and adverse life experiences interact to predict growth in adolescent depression in a racially/ethnically diverse sample
Authors: Elam Kit K. , Su Jinni , Qin Weisiyu Abraham , Lemery-Chalfant Kathryn
Published: December 2024

Introduction

Research has yet to examine the interplay between indices of environmental risk and resilience processes and genetic predisposition for epigenetic aging in predicting early adolescent depressive symptoms. In the current study we examine whether adverse life events and parental acceptance moderate polygenic predisposition for GrimAge epigenetic aging in predicting trajectories of depressive symptoms across early adolescence.

Method

Using data from the Adolescent Brain Development Study (ABCD, N = 11,875), we created polygenic scores for GrimAge, and examined whether exposure to adverse life events and parental acceptance moderated the relation between genetic risk and depressive symptom trajectories from age 10/11 to 12/13 using growth mixture modelling. We examined models separately in European American (EA), African American (AA), and Latinx (LX) subgroups of ABCD.

Results

In the EA and AA subgroups, adverse life events moderated polygenic scores for GrimAge such that there was increased likelihood of membership in a higher vs. lower depression trajectory.

Discussion

We extend literature by identifying genetic contributions to epigenetic aging as a depression diathesis in adolescence. Findings also highlight the detrimental role of adverse life events in exacerbating genetic risk for the development of depression in adolescence.
Sex and genetic background influence intravenous oxycodone self-administration in the hybrid rat diversity panel
Authors: Duffy Eamonn P. , Ward Jonathan O. , Hale Luanne H. , Brown Kyle T. , Kwilasz Andrew J. , Mehrhoff Erika A. , Saba Laura M. , Ehringer Marissa A. , Bachtell Ryan K.
Published: December 2024

Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) is an ongoing worldwide public health concern. Genetic factors contribute to multiple OUD-related phenotypes, such as opioid-induced analgesia, initiation of opioid use, and opioid dependence. Here, we present findings from a behavioral phenotyping protocol using male and female rats from 15 genetically diverse inbred strains from the Hybrid Rat Diversity Panel (HRDP). We used a self-administration paradigm to measure the acquisition of oxycodone intake during ten 2-hour sessions and escalation of oxycodone use during ten 12-hour sessions. During both the acquisition and escalation phases of self-administration, we observed that genetic background and sex influence oxycodone intake. The heritability of oxycodone intake phenotypes ranged between 0.26 to 0.54, indicating that genetic background plays a major role in the variability of oxycodone consumption. Genetic background and sex also influenced additional phenotypes recorded during oxycodone self-administration including lever discrimination and timeout responding. The genetic contribution to these traits was slightly more moderate, with heritability estimates ranging between 0.25 to 0.42. Measures of oxycodone intake were highly positively correlated between acquisition and escalation phases. Interestingly, the efficacy of oxycodone analgesia was positively correlated with oxycodone intake during the escalation phase, indicating that the initial behavioral responses to oxycodone may predict self-administration phenotypes. Together, these data demonstrate that sex and genetic background are major contributors to oxycodone self-administration phenotypes.
Automated approach for fetal and maternal health management using light gradient boosting model with SHAP explainable AI
Authors: Innab Nisreen , Alsubai Shtwai , Alabdulqader Ebtisam Abdullah , Alarfaj Aisha Ahmed , Umer Muhammad , Trelova Silvia , Ashraf Imran
Published: December 2024

Fetal health holds paramount importance in prenatal care and obstetrics, as it directly impacts the wellbeing of mother and fetus. Monitoring fetal health through pregnancy is crucial for identifying and addressing potential risks and complications that may arise. Early detection of abnormalities and deviations in fetal health can facilitate timely interventions to mitigate risks and improve outcomes for the mother and fetus. Monitoring fetal health also provides valuable insights into the effectiveness of prenatal interventions and treatments. For fetal health classification, this research work makes use of cardiotocography (CTG) data containing 21 features including fetal growth, development, and physiological parameters such as heart rate and movement patterns with three target classes “normal,” “suspect,” and “pathological.” The proposed methodology makes use of data upsampled using the synthetic minority oversampling technique (SMOTE) to handle the class imbalance problem that is very crucial in medical diagnosing with a light gradient boosting machine. The results show that the proposed model gives 0.9989 accuracy, 0.9988 area under the curve, 0.9832 recall, 0.9834 precision, 0.9832 F1 score, 0.9748 Kappa score, and 0.9749 Matthews correlation coefficient value on the test dataset. The performance of the proposed model is compared with other machine learning models to show the dominance of the proposed model. The proposed model's significance is further evaluated using 10-fold cross-validation and comparing the proposed model with other state-of-the-art models.
Child developmental delay and its associated factors among children aged 12–59 months in Dembecha district, Northwest Ethiopia: a community-based cross-sectional study
Authors: Kerebh Adugna , Endalifer Melese Linger , Birhanu Molla Yigzaw , Telayneh Animut Takele , Abate Lake Kumlachew , Adissie Zemene , Negesse Ayenew , Alamneh Alehegn Aderaw
Published: December 2024

Background

Developmental delay is a group of disorders that cause common deficits of adaptive and intellectual function in children. It happens when a child fails to achieve one aspect of developmental skills. Limited information is available regarding the prevalence of developmental delay among children aged 12–59 months in the study area. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the prevalence of developmental delay and its associated factors among this population.

Methods

A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted in Dembecha district among 702 children aged 12–59 months. Data were gathered through face-to-face interviews, and by taking anthropometric measurements using a pretested structured questionnaire. Data were entered into Epi Data version 4.2 software and exported into Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 25 software for analysis. The WHO Anthro software was used to analyze anthropometric-related data. Bivariable and multivariable binary logistic regression analyses were done to identify factors associated with developmental delay. The odds ratio with a 95% Confidence Interval (CI) was estimated to determine the strength of the association.

Results

The prevalence of developmental delay among children was 26.7% (95% CI: 23.5, 30.2). Toddler child age (AOR = 2.60; 95% CI: 1.42, 4.87), low birth weight (LBW; AOR =4.90; 95% CI: 2.14, 11.48), cesarean section mode of delivery (AOR = 8.60; 95% CI: 3.93, 18.65), preterm delivery (AOR = 2.5; 95% CI: 1.28, 4.74), early initiation of complementary feeding (AOR = 8.40; 95% CI: 3.61, 19.63), stunting (AOR = 2.90; 95% CI: 1.67, 5.22) inadequate meal frequency (AOR = 3.20; 95% CI: 1.74, 5.94), and inadequate dietary diversity (AOR = 3.10; 95% CI: 1.68, 5.85) were significantly associated with child developmental delay.

Conclusion

The prevalence of developmental delay among children was high in Dembecha district compared to the global prevalence. Child developmental delay was associated with toddler child age, LBW, cesarean section mode of delivery, preterm delivery, initiation of complementary feeding before 6 months, stunting, inadequate meal frequency, and inadequate dietary diversity. Therefore, preventing preterm delivery and LBW, initiating complementary feeding before 6 months, stunting, and achieving the minimum meal frequency, and minimum dietary diversity are recommended to prevent child developmental delay.
Study on the knowledge, attitude and practice of single photon emission computed tomography among oncology healthcare professionals
Authors: Yan Min , Cheng Xiang , Li Xinyu , Jin Xiangting , Dai Ying , Li Fanfan
Published: December 2024

Background

Single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) is becoming increasingly popular in oncology. This study endeavors to scrutinize the radiation protection knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) exhibited by healthcare professionals involved in this imaging modality.

Methods

This cross-sectional study was conducted between September 23, 2023, and October 23, 2023, at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, and the People’s Hospital of Liuan. Demographic data and KAP scores were acquired through the administration of questionnaires.

Results

A total of 450 healthcare professionals participated in the study. Correlation analyses revealed significant positive correlations between knowledge and attitude, knowledge and practice, as well as attitude and practice. Multivariate analysis indicated that being over 40 years old was independently associated with good knowledge, as well as positive attitudes. Occupations as nurses and having no contact with SPECT patients were independently associated with a lower level of knowledge, as well as negative attitudes. Furthermore, being female, having an occupation as a nurse, and not having received relevant training were independently associated with negative practice.

Conclusion

Oncology healthcare professionals had suboptimal knowledge, negative attitude and inactive practice towards radiation protection in SPECT.
Austria under the auspices of global agritourism values: a narrative literature review
Authors: Quendler Erika , Embacher Hans , Magnini Vincent , Plaikner Alexander , Stotten Rike
Published: December 2024

The concept of agritourism has been studied in various transnational, national, and regional or local contexts. Its growing popularity raises questions about common definitions and their variations. With this in mind, the Global Agritourism Network Committee's Definitions and Standards elaborated a series of core global values. This review examines the situation in Austria based on these values, such as synergistic potential, agricultural diversity, the integration within agriculture and its derivatives, resource showcasing, and authentic experiences. The objective is to investigate the prevalence of these global core values within the Austrian situation. Consequently, this review aims to contribute to a broader understanding by identifying similarities and potential gaps between these global core values and local practices. Additionally, the review considers how enhancing global transparency could improve national agritourism practices. The review draws on a number of Austrian reference sources, namely accommodation statistics, the farm structure survey, and guidelines from the “Holidays on the Farm” association, as well as relevant literature from 2006 to 2024. Databases like Scopus and Web of Science were searched using keywords such as “agritourism,” “farm holiday,” and “Austria.” A total of 27 “publications” in English and German were analyzed with MAXQDA. The findings indicate that Austria is a unique case study, able to contribute to global discussions but also needing to preserve local identity. The review confirms that the Austrian situation adheres to the global core values but is also shaped by national guidelines, particularly by those set by the “Holidays on the Farm” association. These guidelines, serving as a role model, emphasize quality, marketing, and cross-sector collaboration. The review also highlights the importance of juxtaposing the global perspective with the local realities. Given the theoretical overlay of the global core values, further research should explore their application in other countries and regions. Mixed-methods approaches could offer deeper insights on their suitability globally. Developing robust assessment tools would help evaluate these values across different national contexts, providing useful guidance for policymakers and practitioners.
Livestock ownership among smallholder farming households in Eastern Zambia: a gendered pathway for enhancing climate resilience?
Authors: Bwalya Bridget , Chiluba Brian Chanda , Mwanza Kweleka
Published: December 2024

This study administered 379 questionnaires to smallholder farming households to determine livestock ownership, climate change, and its impacts on livestock production, including measures to adapt livestock production to climate change. Data were analyzed using ordinary least squares regression model, Two sample Z proportions test, and percentages. Results indicate that few livestock were owned by households, commonly cattle, goats, pigs and chickens. Joint ownership dominated, followed by ownership by household heads, be they male or female, then spouses. Non-household heads rarely owned livestock. Joint livestock ownership significantly increases the total livestock units a household owns. The respondents overwhelmingly reported that the climate had changed, with a shorter rainy season, droughts, floods, and higher temperatures. There were slight variations in the perception of climate change across the study sites and by gender. Livestock production had been affected by increased incidences of disease, water, and fodder shortages, ultimately reducing livestock productivity across all the sites. Livestock households have adapted to climate change and other production constraints more broadly by addressing livestock health through administering vaccines, consulting with veterinary officials, and using traditional remedies for livestock diseases. Some respondents supplemented fodder and water, while others resorted to selling off the livestock. More men reported the provision of water as they more likely deal with large livestock that need bigger quantities of water. Similarly, while more commonly reported by men, the provision of fodder shows variability across chiefdoms, suggesting that fodder scarcity is a region-specific constraint. The use of traditional remedies such as herbs remained an important adaptive measure, especially among women. The study concludes that livestock production has high potential to contribute to inclusive climate change adaptation in the study region and more broadly but there is an urgent need to increase the percentage of livestock owning households and the size of the herds for livestock to make meaningful contributions to household welfare and climate resilience.
Enhancing sustainable agricultural performance in selected Chinese region: the role of food supply chain management, resource utilization, and government support
Authors: Erfanian Sahar , Zhou Yewang , Baloch Qadar Bakhsh
Published: December 2024

Introduction

As global food security and environmental sustainability become increasingly critical, understanding the factors that enhance sustainable agricultural performance is paramount. In this context, This study investigates the relationship between food supply chain management, resource utilization, sustainable agricultural practices, and sustainable agricultural performance within the Chinese market, focusing on the moderating role of government support.

Methods

Data were collected through 480 structured questionnaires distributed across Changsha, Wuhan, and Guangzhou and analyzed using a two-stage SEM-ANN approach.

Results and discussion

The findings reveal that sustainable agricultural practices significantly mediate the relationship between food supply chain management and sustainable agricultural performance. Moreover, sustainable agricultural practices also mediate the relationship between resource utilization and sustainable agricultural performance. Resource utilization was found to sequentially mediate the relationships between food supply chain management, sustainable agricultural practices, and sustainable agricultural performance. Additionally, government support was identified as a crucial moderator in strengthening the relationship between sustainable agricultural practices and performance. The findings have significant implications for policymakers, agricultural managers, and researchers, offering insights into strategies for improving agricultural sustainability in China and potentially other similar contexts.
Indole-3-acetic acid enhances ruminal microbiota for aflatoxin B1 removal in vitro fermentation
Authors: Sun Jiajin , Wang Zhonghao , Yan Xinyu , Zhao Yuqi , Tan Li , Miao Xuning , Zhao Rong , Huo Wenjie , Chen Lei , Li Qinghong , Liu Qiang , Wang Cong , Guo Gang
Published: December 2024

Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) has been recognized as a serious health risk for ruminant animals. From a molecular perspective, indole-3-acid (IAA) possesses the potential to enhance the removal of AFB1 by rumen microbiota. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the impact of different concentrations of IAA on the removal of AFB1 by rumen microbiota using an in vitro technique. Experiment 1: interaction between AFB1 and rumen fermentation. Experiment 2: The study used a randomized design with five IAA levels (0, 15, 150, 1,500, and 7,500 mg/kg) to examine the effect of IAA on AFB1 removal and its impact on rumen fermentation. The results showed: (1) the content of AFB1 gradually decreased, removal rate of up to 75.73% after 24 h. AFB1 exposure altered the rumen fermentation pattern, with significantly decreased in the acetic acid/propionic acid ratio (p < 0.05). It significantly reduced the relative proportions of R. amylophilus, P. ruminicola, and F. succinogenes (p < 0.05). (2) As the content of IAA increased, AFB1 exposure decreased. A total of 15 and 150 mg/kg IAA significantly mitigated the negative impact of AFB1 on key rumen bacteria (R. amylophilus, P. ruminicola and F. succinogenes), increased acetate levels and acetate/propionate ratio (p < 0.05). However, 1,500 mg/kg IAA lowered levels of propionate and isovalerate, adversely affected enzyme activities (pectinase, xylan and Carboxymethyl-cellulase) and relative proportions of microbiota (R. flavefaciens, P. ruminicola and F. succinogenes). In conclusion, IAA significantly removed AFB1, and in the range of 150 mg/kg of IAA reduced the negative effects of AFB1 on in vitro fermentation characteristics and fermentation end-products.
Combining solubilization and controlled release strategies to prepare pH-sensitive solid dispersion loaded with albendazole: in vitro and in vivo studies
Authors: Su Dehai , Bai Mingyang , Wei Chaoqun , Long Xiangyang , Liu Xuezhen , Shen Xiangguang , Ding Huanzhong
Published: December 2024

Albendazole (ABZ), classified as a class II basic drug under the Biopharmaceutics Classification System (BCS), is widely recognized for its therapeutic efficacy in treating and preventing trichuriasis. However, despite its clinical relevance, ABZ’s oral administration presents challenges due to its poor solubility and pH sensitivity, which diminish its therapeutic effectiveness. Additionally, high dosing regimens of ABZ pose risks of developmental toxicity in animal models. This study developed a pH-sensitive solid dispersion of albendazole (ABZ-pHs-SD) using Glyceryl Monostearate (GM) in conjunction with Hypromellose Acetate Succinate (HPMC-AS). Characterization via Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Powder X-ray Diffraction (PXRD), Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR) confirmed the high dispersion of ABZ in a crystalline state within the carrier. Furthermore, we compared the in vitro dissolution profile, pharmacokinetics, and intestinal drug concentration of ABZ-pHs-SD with commercially available formulations. Our findings demonstrated that ABZ-pHs-SD exhibited an excellent dissolution profile, significantly increasing the solubility of ABZ in water by 3.15 times. The formulation effectively prevented drug release in acidic environments while maintaining a slow release in weakly alkaline conditions. Additionally, compared to commercial formulations, ABZ-pHs-SD showed significantly lower Cmax (4.70 ± 1.16 vs. 6.83 ± 0.66 μg/mL) and higher Tmax (5.5 ± 0.93 vs. 3.75 ± 0.71 h) in vivo, achieving elevated drug concentration levels in the cecal and colonic environments (p < 0.01) without significantly decreasing bioavailability. Overall, our research findings indicate that ABZ-pHs-SD serves as a promising drug delivery strategy for the poorly soluble and pH-sensitive ABZ. Particularly, the simple preparation of solid dispersion demonstrates strong industrial feasibility.
Toxic Leadership and Turnover Intentions: The Role of Burnout Syndrome
Authors: Nunes Abiúd , Palma-Moreira Ana
Published: December 2024

This study aimed to test the effect of toxic leadership on turnover intentions and whether burnout syndrome mediates this relationship. This study’s sample consists of 309 participants who work in organizations based in Portugal and Angola. The results indicate that toxic leadership positively and significantly affects burnout syndrome and turnover intentions. As for burnout, only the disengagement dimension positively and significantly affects turnover intentions. Disengagement partially mediates the relationship between toxic leadership and turnover intentions for participants working in Portugal and a total mediation effect for participants working in Angola. Organizations should be concerned about the leadership style adopted by their leaders, because if there is a toxic leader, this will lead to burnout syndrome in their subordinates and cause them to leave the organization, since turnover intentions are the best predictor of voluntary departure from the organization.
Multi-Objective Optimization Design of the Small Flow Rate Emitter Structure Based on the NSGA-II Genetic Algorithm
Authors: Yang Zongze , Mo Yan , Zhao Chunlong , Liu Huaiyu , Zhang Yanqun , Xiao Juan , Gong Shihong , Bi Yanan
Published: December 2024

Reducing the flow rate (q) of the emitter can increase the dripline laying length and reduce the engineering investment of the drip irrigation system; however, reducing q increases the risk of emitter clogging. In this study, based on the OPFN method (Optimal Latin Hypercube Experimental Design–Parametric Modeling of Emitter–Fluid Dynamics Simulation–NSGA-II Genetic Algorithm Optimization), we selected the structural parameters of channel tooth height (E), angle (A), pitch of teeth (B), and flow channel depth (D) to construct 128 emitters. Through simulation, we obtained q, the flow index (x), and the structural resistance coefficient (Cs) under the pressure (H) ranging from 0.02 to 0.15 MPa. The results showed that the rated flow rate (q0.1) and x values of 128 emitters range from 0.50 to 0.85 L/h and 0.461 to 0.480, respectively. Since Cs is negatively correlated with x, to obtain the combination of the flow channel structural parameters with the optimal hydraulic performance (x = min f(E, A, B, D)) and the optimal anti-clogging performance (Cs = min g(E, A, B, D)), the flow channel structural parameters are optimized by using the NSGA-II genetic algorithm to obtain the Pareto frontier solution. The optimal combinations of channel structural parameters corresponding to the q0.1 values of 0.62, 0.71, and 0.82 L/h with x of 0.470, 0.466, and 0.463 are obtained using the weighting method. Cs values are 0.131, 0.446, and 0.619, respectively. The limit laying length of the configured emitter is 150–180 m. According to the flow field cloud diagram before and after optimization, it can be found that increasing the high-velocity area and high-turbulent-kinetic-energy area in the main stream and decreasing the low-velocity area and low-turbulent-kinetic-energy area in the tooth base and downstream face can help reduce x and Cs, and thus improve the hydraulic performance and anti-clogging performance of the small flow rate emitter.
Andean Fabaceae Species with Pharmacological Potential: Exploration of Antioxidant, Anticarcinogenic, and Antimicrobial Properties
Authors: Guillén-Sánchez Jhoseline Stayce , Rojas-Villacorta Walter , de Albuquerque Ricardo Diego Duarte Galhardo
Published: December 2024

The objective of the present study was to explore the pharmacological potential of three Andean Fabaceae species—Prosopis pallida (algarrobo), Caesalpinia spinosa (tara), and Inga feuilleei (pacae)—as well as their phytochemical composition and traditional uses. A search was conducted in the Scopus database, and the bibliometric analysis was performed using VOSviewer version 1.6.20. The interventions included antioxidant, anticancer, and antimicrobial properties. Tara exhibited the highest antioxidant capacity and phenolic compounds, followed by pacae and algarrobo, with flavonoids such as quercetin, coumaric acid, and isoflavones identified as responsible for this potential. Regarding microbial activity, tara demonstrated inhibitory effects against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, while algarrobo exhibited inhibitory effects only against the latter. The considerable diversity of phenolic compounds in these species represents a broad field for research, where their cultural and nutritional reevaluation may have significant applications in the food and pharmaceutical industries, contributing to health preservation. All studies support in some way the beneficial effects of phytochemicals on human health.
Bulgarian Cowpea Landraces—Agrobiological and Morphological Characteristics and Seed Biochemical Composition
Authors: Stoilova Tsvetelina , Simova-Stoilova Lyudmila
Published: December 2024

To face climate change, searching for alternative crops resistant to drought and heat stress becomes necessary, along with efficient germplasm management. Old landraces well-adapted to local climatic conditions, pests, and pathogens could be used as a source of desired traits. Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp.), grown mainly in the tropical and subtropical areas, presents superior drought and heat stress adaptation compared to other legumes. Limited information is available on field performance and nutrient qualities of cowpea landraces originating from southern Bulgaria. The aim of the present study was to compare in field conditions and their impacts on plant performance, yield, and the seed biochemical composition of Bulgarian cowpea accessions, including fourteen landraces and one variety. Higher-yielding, earlier-maturing accessions were discerned. Among the landraces studied, B1E0103 was the most productive under the agro-climatic conditions in Sadovo, central Bulgaria; BOE0035 had the earliest maturity. The seed moisture content was 11.5 ± 0.3%, and the energy value was 347.9 ± 1.2 kcal/100 g. The crude protein content varied from 22.5 to 27%, the lipids were 1.6–2.55%, the carbohydrates were 56.5–61.4%, ash was 3.8–4.3%, dietary fibers were 3.1–4.5%, tannins were 16–22%, phenols were 1.3–4.4 mg/g, flavonoids were 1.85–3.7 mg/g, and the trypsin-inhibiting activity was 0.7–2.5 units/mg FW, with the lowest in BOE0010, the variety “Hrisi”, and B1E0103 and the highest in B0E0035, A9E1230, and A8E0562. Landraces are promising genetic material for future research and breeding purposes.
SOS3-3 Enhances the Salt Tolerance of Tomato Plants by Regulating ROS Balance
Authors: Zhou Niannian , Huang Jiahui , Jiang Fangling , Hu Enmei , Song Xiaoming , Zhou Rong , Wu Zhen
Published: December 2024

Salt stress affects the growth, metabolism, yield, and quality of crops. To adapt to high-salt environments, plants form various regulatory mechanisms. Salt over sensitive (SOS) is the key gene of SOS signal transduction pathway. As a member of the SOS3 subfamily, the function of SOS3-3 under salt stress has not been reported. To verify the function of SOS3-3 and the morphological and physiological parameters, the expression of genes related to stress were compared between the SOS3-3 overexpressed (OESOS3-3) and silenced tomato (VSOS3-3) at control and 10 days’ NaCl treatment. The results showed that, compared with the control (Ve), the plants of VSOS3-3 were shorter under salt stress, with curled leaves and abscission. The fresh and dry weights, Fv/Fm, total chlorophyll content, antioxidant enzyme activities, and proline content of VSOS3-3 significantly decreased, while the relative conductivity, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), and Malondialdehyde (MDA) content of VSOS3-3 plants significantly increased compared to that of WT, respectively. Compared to the wild-type (WT), OESOS3-3 plants were less damaged by salt stress, with significantly higher plant height, fresh and dry weights, Fv/Fm, total chlorophyll content, antioxidant enzyme activity, and proline content. However, the relative conductance, H2O2, and MDA content were significantly lower in OESOS3-3 than WT. The expression levels of SOS1, SOS2, LKT1 (ion transport-related gene), APX1 (ROS signaling pathway-related gene), P5CS (osmoregulation-related gene), and ABF4 (ABA signaling pathway-related gene) were significantly lower in VSOS3-3 than Ve, but significantly higher in OESOS3-3 than in WT. These results suggested that SOS3-3 regulate salt tolerance by influencing physiological and biochemical changes and the expression of genes related to stress response. This study revealed the mechanism of SOS family participating in regulating tomato salt tolerance, providing a theoretical basis for improving tomato salt tolerance.
Effects of Supplementing Yeast Fermentation Products on Growth Performance, Colonic Metabolism, and Microbiota of Pigs Challenged with Salmonella Typhimurium
Authors: Fan Guoqiang , Zhao Yongsen , Suo Xiaoyi , Li Yanfei , Yang Xiaojing
Published: December 2024

Yeast fermentation products (YFPs) are known to contain bioactive compounds, such as nutritional metabolites and cell wall polysaccharides (specifically glucan and mannan), which have been demonstrated to exert positive effects on the growth performance and immunity of livestock and poultry. However, the impact of YFPs on intestinal inflammation and microflora composition in pigs infected with Salmonella typhimurium remains unclear. To investigate this, a total of 18 weaned pigs were divided into three treatment groups: a non-challenged control group (Con), a group challenged with Salmonella typhimurium (ST), and a group challenged with Salmonella typhimurium and supplemented with 0.4% YFP (YFP). The experiment spanned five weeks, encompassing a period of 21 days prior to and 14 days subsequent to the initial Salmonella typhimurium challenge. The findings indicated that the YFP group exhibited an increase in average daily gain (ADG) and a decrease in the feed-gain ratio (F/G) in comparison to the ST group following the Salmonella challenge. Additionally, the YFP group demonstrated a reduction in the levels of inflammatory cytokines in plasma and a decrease in the expression of inflammatory genes in the colon. Treatment with YFP also resulted in improved colon histomorphology, heightened alpha diversity of the gut microbiota, augmented the abundance of butyrate-producing bacteria, and elevated concentrations of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). In addition, YFP reprogrammed energy metabolism in colon epithelial cells by blunting glycolysis. Together, dietary YFP supplementation alleviated colon inflammation in weaned pigs challenged with Salmonella typhimurium, and shaped the beneficial microbiota, thereby maintaining gut homeostasis. The results provided evidence supporting the application of yeast fermentation products in livestock production.
Morphological and Immunohistochemical Changes in Progressive Postmortem Autolysis of the Murine Brain
Authors: Parisi Francesca , Degl’Innocenti Sara , Aytaş Çağla , Pirone Andrea , Cantile Carlo
Published: December 2024

In this time series study, the temporal sequences of postmortem changes in brains kept at different temperatures were investigated in different areas of mouse brains. Fixation of tissues kept at different storage temperatures (4 °C, 22 °C, 37 °C) was delayed for four time points (24, 120, 168, 336 h). Histological and immunohistochemical investigations were carried out to determine how postmortem autolysis may affect the cellular morphology and the expression of neural cell epitopes. Results showed that the autolytic changes started earlier in brains at 22 °C and 37 °C and in the grey matter compared to the white matter, with the cerebellum and hippocampus showing the earliest postmortem changes. The cellular antigens were differently affected by the autolytic process overtime: NeuN and Olig2 immunoreactivity was gradually lost at the nuclear site and diffused into the cytoplasm; increased background staining was observed with SMI-32; GFAP showed an increase in immunolabeling, whereas 2F11 immunoreactivity decreased. This study suggests that the morphological analysis and immunohistochemical investigation of the brain tissue could be satisfactorily applied to forensic cases, providing useful data for the estimation of the postmortem interval.
Diagnostic Application of Fluorine-18 Fluorodeoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography in the Treatment of Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma in an African Pygmy Hedgehog
Authors: Shin Jaegyeong , Kim Nari , Jeon Gwi-Ho , Yun Taesik , Kang Byeong-Teck , Jeong Dong-Hyuk
Published: December 2024

Neoplastic diseases are common in African pygmy hedgehogs (Atelerix albiventris), with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) being the most prevalent oral tumor. Traditional imaging techniques like computed tomography (CT) have limitations in accurately defining tumor extent and detecting metastasis. In this study, a hedgehog with a suspected oral tumor underwent 18F-FDG PET/CT imaging, revealing a hypermetabolic lesion consistent with SCC and indications of metastatic activity. The lesion was too extensive for a lumpectomy, and suspected metastasis led to the decision for euthanasia due to the impracticability of further treatment. A histopathological examination after autopsy confirmed the diagnosis and metastatic spread, as suggested by PET/CT findings. This is the first case report demonstrating the potential use of 18F-FDG PET/CT in hedgehogs, facilitating the accurate staging and management of oral SCC. Further research is needed to establish PET/CT as a standard diagnostic tool for neoplastic diseases in hedgehogs.