bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Risk factors for bone cement displacement after percutaneous vertebral augmentation for osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures
Authors: Gao Xiangcheng , Du Jinpeng , Gao Lin , Hao Dingjun , Hui Hua , He Baorong , Yan Liang
Published: July 2022

Purpose

To explore the risk factors of bone cement displacement after percutaneous vertebral augmentation (PVA) in patients with osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture (OVCF).

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed the records of 1,538 patients with OVCF treated with percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) or percutaneous vertebroplasty (PKP) from January 2016 to June 2021. Patients were divided into bone cement displacement group (n = 78) and bone cement non-displacement group (n = 1,460) according to the radiographic images. Possible risk factors for bone cement displacement were noted, including age, gender, body mass index (BMI), bone mineral density (BMD), underlying disease, number of fractured vertebrae, involved vertebral segment, surgical method, surgical approach, vertebral height, Cobb angle, cement leakage, the viscosity of bone cement, bone cement diffuse ratio, degree of bone cement interweaving, sagittal bone cement placement, targeted location of bone cement, the distance between the bone cement and the upper and lower endplates, the time of wearing brace and postoperative osteoporosis treatment. Risk factors were identified with univariate and multivariate logistic regressions and the discrimination ability of the predictive indicators was evaluated using area under the curve (AUC) of the receiver operating characteristic (ROC).

Results

In multivariate regression, independent risk factors for bone cement displacement included: high restoration of Cobb angle (OR = 2.019, 95%[CI] 1.545–4.852, P < 0.001), cement leakage (anterior edge) (OR = 1.727, 95%[CI] 1.05–2.20, P < 0.001), small degree of bone cement interweaving (OR = 1.917, 95%[CI] 1.129–2.747, P < 0.001), non-targeted location of bone cement (OR = 2.323, 95%[CI] 1.645–4.134, P < 0.001), short duration of brace wearing (OR = 3.207, 95%[CI] 2.036–4.348, P < 0.001) and postoperative osteoporosis treatment (OR = 0.422, 95% CI = 0.323–0.547, P < 0.001). The AUCs for the high restoration of Cobb angle, cement leakage (anterior edge), small degree of bone cement interweaving, non-targeted location of bone cement, short duration of brace wearing and non-postoperative osteoporosis treatment were 0.784 (95% CI, 0.747–0.821), 0.811 (95% CI 0.764–0.859), 0.917 (95%CI 0.864–0.970), 0.610 (95%CI 0.552–0.669), 0.854 (95%CI 0.816–0.892) and 0.756 (95% CI, 0.712–0.800), respectively.

Conclusion

High restoration of Cobb angle, cement leakage (anterior edge), small degree of bone cement interweaving, non-targeted location of bone cement, short duration of brace wearing and non-postoperative osteoporosis treatment were the independent risk factors of bone cement displacement after PVA.
Impact of Covid-19 on the global orthopaedic research output
Authors: Wolf Milan , Landgraeber Stefan , Maass Wolfgang , Orth Patrick
Published: July 2022

The pandemic led to a significant change in the clinical routine of many orthopaedic surgeons. To observe the impact of the pandemic on scientific output all studies published in the fields of orthopaedics listed in the Web of Science databases were analysed regarding the scientific merit of the years 2019, 2020, and 2021. Subsequently, correlation analyses were performed with parameters of regional pandemic situation (obtained from WHO) and economic strength (obtained from the World Bank). The investigations revealed that the Covid-19 pandemic led to a decrease in the annual publication rate for the first time in 20 years (2020 to 2021: –5.69%). There were regional differences in the publication rate, which correlated significantly with the respective Covid-19 case count (r = –.77, p < 0.01), associated death count (r = –.63, p < 0.01), and the gross domestic product per capita (r = –.40, p < 0.01) but not with the number of vaccinations (r = .09, p = 0.30). Furthermore, there was a drastic decrease in funding from private agencies (relative share: 2019: 36.43%, 2020: 22.66%, 2021: 19.22%), and a balanced decrease in publication output for research areas of acute and elective patient care. The Covid-19 pandemic resulted in a decline in orthopaedic annual publication rates for the first time in 20 years. This reduction was subject to marked regional differences and correlated directly with the pandemic load and was associated with decreased research funding from the private sector.
The immunogenicity of plant-based COE-GCN4pII protein in pigs against the highly virulent porcine epidemic diarrhea virus strain from genotype 2
Authors: Ho Thuong Thi , Trinh Vy Thai , Tran Hanh Xuan , Le Phuong Thu Thi , Nguyen Tra Thi , Hoang Hang Thu Thi , Pham Minh Dinh , Conrad Udo , Pham Ngoc Bich , Chu Ha Hoang
Published: July 2022

Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) is a serious infectious causative agent in swine, especially in neonatal piglets. PEDV genotype 2 (G2) strains, particularly G2a, were the primary causes of porcine epidemic diarrhea (PED) outbreaks in Vietnam. Here, we produced a plant-based CO-26K-equivalent epitope (COE) variant from a Vietnamese highly virulent PEDV strain belonging to genotype 2a (COE/G2a) and evaluated the protective efficacy of COE/G2a-GCN4pII protein (COE/G2a-pII) in piglets against the highly virulent PEDV G2a strain following passive immunity. The 5-day-old piglets had high levels of PEDV-specific IgG antibodies, COE-IgA specific antibodies, neutralizing antibodies, and IFN-γ responses. After virulent challenge experiments, all of these piglets survived and had normal clinical symptoms, no watery diarrhea in feces, and an increase in their body weight, while all of the negative control piglets died. These results suggest that the COE/G2a-pII protein produced in plants can be developed as a promising vaccine candidate to protect piglets against PEDV G2a infection in Vietnam.
Rapid detection of porcine circovirus type 4 via multienzyme isothermal rapid amplification
Authors: Li Yuqing , Zhao Yanli , Li Chen , Yang Kankan , Li Zhe , Shang Wenbin , Song Xiangjun , Shao Ying , Qi Kezong , Tu Jian
Published: July 2022

Porcine circovirus type 4 (PCV4) is a newly emerging pathogen that was first detected in 2019 and is associated with diverse clinical signs, including respiratory and gastrointestinal distress, dermatitis and various systemic inflammations. It was necessary to develop a sensitive and specific diagnostic method to detect PCV4 in clinical samples, so in this study, a multienzyme isothermal rapid amplification (MIRA) assay was developed for the rapid detection of PCV4 and evaluated for sensitivity, specificity and applicability. It was used to detect the conserved Cap gene of PCV4, operated at 41°C and completed in 20 min. With the screening of MIRA primer-probe combination, it could detect as low as 101 copies of PCV4 DNA per reaction and was highly specific, with no cross-reaction with other pathogens. Further assessment with clinical samples showed that the developed MIRA assay had good correlation with real-time polymerase chain reaction assay for the detection of PCV4. The developed MIRA assay will be a valuable tool for the detection of the novel PCV4 in clinical samples due to its high sensitivity and specificity, simplicity of operation and short testing time.
Prevalence characteristic of BVDV in some large scale dairy farms in Western China
Authors: Zhang Kang , Zhang Jingyan , Qiu Zhengying , Zhang Kai , Liang Fenfen , Zhou Qiaoni , Wang Lei , Li Jianxi
Published: July 2022

The aim of this study was to analyze the prevalence characteristic of Bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) in some large scale dairy farms in Western China. BVDV was detected in 30 samples of bulk tank milk (BTM) collected from 30 large dairy farms in 7 provinces of western China, 93.33% (28/30) of the farms were infected with BVDV, and S/P ratio was over 0.3 in 28 positive farms. The individual status was further estimated in the dairy farm (No. 10) with the highest positive rate (S/P ratio = 1.37) and the dairy farm (No. 17) with the lowest positive rate (S/P ratio = 0.39). Two hundred cows were, respectively, selected from calf, young cows and lactating cows in farm No. 10 and farm No. 17 and the serum sample of each enrolled cow was collected. The individual positive rate of serum antibody (Ab) was 87.17% (523/600) in farm No. 10 and 31.33% (188/600) in farm No. 17. The individual positive ratio of serum antibody in calves, young cows and lactating cows were 41.75 % (167/400), 58.75% (235/400) and 77.25% (309/400), respectively. BTM Ab of farm No. 10 has an S/P ratio more than 1.0, which indicated there were emergent or persistent infection (PI) cases, and further test showed that PI cases were 0.51% in farm No. 10. Pathogens were positive in 42.34% (163/385) of nasal mucus samples collected from cows with respiratory symptom, and BVDV cases were 57 in 163 positive samples. Three strains of NCP BVDV-1, one strain of CP BVDV-1, one strain of NCP BVDV-2 and one strain of CP BVDV-2 were successfully isolated. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the subtypes of BVDV currently prevalent in western China were BVDV-1a, BVDV-1m, BVDV-1q and BVDV-2. The findings suggested that the BVDV infection is serious in some Large Scale Dairy Farms in Western China.
Research on the Inherent Nonlinearity Calibration of the Potentiometer of a Miniature Linear Series Elastic Actuator
Authors: Song Jie , Si Peng , Hua Hongliang , Qiu Ming
Published: July 2022

This paper presents a miniature Linear Series Elastic Actuator (LSEA), in which two low-cost linear potentiometers were adopted to achieve a compact design. To improve the measurement accuracy of the linear potentiometer, a novel Bezier-based Calibration Method (BCM) and its optimization method were proposed to calibrate the inherent nonlinearity of the linear potentiometer. Calibration efficiency of the BCM was investigated numerically by making a comparison with the widely used Polynomial Calibration method (PCM), and the effect of the BCM calibration on the control performance of the LSEA was investigated experimentally by displacement and force control. Results reveal that the BCM exhibits an excellent local calibration ability for the nonlinearity with knee points. Due to the above characteristic, the BCM could produce a better calibration accuracy than the PCM under the same model order and improve the control performance of the LSEA. In addition, the BCM could calibrate the inherent nonlinearity of the potentiometer in a continuous form rather than that of piecewise ones. The continuous calibration form could bring more convenience to practical applications.
Evaluating the Efficacy of Moringa oleifera Seed Extract on Nutrient Digestibility and Physiological Parameters of Broiler Chickens
Authors: Egbu Chidozie Freedom , Motsei Lebogang Ezra , Yusuf Azeez Olanrewaju , Mnisi Caven Mguvane
Published: July 2022

Moringa oleifera seed extract (MSE) contains phytochemicals that can improve chicken production and health. However, the amount that can be orally administered to the birds is unknown. Thus, this study investigated the optimum level of MSE, administered through drinking water, on nutrient digestibility, growth performance, and haematological and serum biochemical parameters in broilers. A total of 250, one-day-old Cobb 500 male broilers (58.11 ± 0.23 g live-weight) were randomly allocated into five treatments with five replicates of 10 birds each. The treatments were: a negative control involving drinking water only (T1) and positive controls with 5 g multi-strain probiotic/L water (T2), 60 mL MSE/L water (T3), 90 mL MSE/L water (T4), and 120 mL MSE/L water (T5). Crude protein and neutral detergent fibre digestibility linearly decreased, whereas overall water intake and weight gain in one-week-old birds increased linearly (p < 0.05) as MSE levels increased. T1 promoted higher (p < 0.05) overall feed intake and feed conversion ratio than the other treatment groups. All haemato-biochemical parameters were within the range for healthy birds, from which a maximum MSE dosage was determined to be 94.75 mL/L. It can be concluded that oral administration of MSE improved overall feed utilisation efficiency of the chickens.
Allelopathic Potential of Aqueous Extracts from Fleagrass (Adenosma buchneroides Bonati) against Two Crop and Three Weed Species
Authors: Wang Chen , Qi Jinfeng , Liu Qing , Wang Yuhua , Wang Hongbin
Published: July 2022

This study aimed to assess the phytotoxic potential of fleagrass (Adenosma buchneroides) on weeds and crops. We assessed the effects of applying aqueous extracts of fleagrass on the seed germination and seedling growth of three weeds (Bidens pilosa, Paspalum thunbergia, and Bromus japonicus) and two crops (Oryza sativa and Zea mays). The influence of six doses of fleagrass aqueous extract on seed germination and seedling growth was assessed through a Petri dish experiment. The aqueous extract of fleagrass was qualitatively characterized using widely targeted metabolomics analysis and found to mainly comprise flavonoids, phenolic acids, alkaloids, polysaccharides, phenylpropanoids, terpenoids, phenolamides, and quinones. The mean IC50 for crop seed germination was 168,796, and the mean IC50 for weed seed germination was 11,454. The inhibition effect on the tested species, from highest to lowest, followed the order of B. japonicus > B. Pilosa > P. thunbergii > O. sativa > Z. mays. These results indicate the remarkable species-specific sensitivity of seed germination and seedling growth to fleagrass extract treatment, and that crops are more tolerant than weeds. Elucidation of the details of the fleagrass–weed/crop interaction can serve as a basis for intercropping fleagrass with crops in weed management strategies aimed at controlling weeds.
Cost Comparison between Digital Management and Traditional Management of Cotton Fields—Evidence from Cotton Fields in Xinjiang, China
Authors: Shao Lantong , Gong Jiaqin , Fan Wenqing , Zhang Zongyi , Zhang Meng
Published: July 2022

Cotton, as an important cash crop and strategic material, is widely planted in Xinjiang, China. In the traditional way, the management of the cotton field is extensive and the cost is huge. This paper analyzed the economic benefits and the related influence factors of cotton field management digitalization by collecting costs from 2020 of four major tasks in field management in Xinjiang, China. These four main tasks included field scouting, plant protection, topping and irrigation. By analyzing the intersection of the average cost curves of each major task in field management, we obtained the critical size of digital agriculture replacing traditional agriculture. Then, we used sensitivity analysis to find the main factors affecting the promotion and application of digital agricultural equipment. The results show: (1) at a certain critical size, the use of digital agricultural equipment can reduce the cost of production compared to traditional agriculture. However, the critical size varies for different management segments. (2) Fixed equipment costs, labor costs, water costs and energy costs have a large impact on the critical size. On large-scale cotton farms, digital agriculture tends to be more economical than traditional agriculture. In the future, as the cost of fixed equipment decreases, and labor costs and water costs rise, the critical size of digital agriculture replacing traditional agriculture will get smaller, and the scope of the economic benefits of digital cotton field management will increase further.
Evaluation of Agriculture Tires Deformation Using Innovative 3D Scanning Method
Authors: Ptak Weronika , Czarnecki Jarosław , Brennensthul Marek , Lejman Krzysztof , Małecka Agata
Published: July 2022

This study presents the results of research related to agriculture tire deformation under variable vertical load and inflation pressure. The research objects were two tires of the same size and different internal structures. Three levels of inflation pressure and five levels of vertical load were used. The loaded tire with each inflation pressure was scanned using the 3D scanner—the effect of this operation was a three-dimensional image of a tire part (near the place of contact with the surface). The next step was the creation of vertical and horizontal cross-sections of the tire profile, which allowed the analysis of tested parameters: profile height, location of the point of maximum tire deflection, the width of the tire profile, and the area of horizontal cross-sections. Finally, the mathematical model was formulated, describing contact areas of horizontal cross-sections as a function of the factors. Based on the conducted research, it was stated that an increase in vertical load caused reductions in both types of heights. Moreover, the width of tire profiles and the area of horizontal cross-sections increased due to the increase in vertical load (for bias-ply, increases were smaller than for radial tires). Similar changes were observed after the reduction of inflation pressure.
Sexual Dimorphism in Bone Quality and Performance of Conventional Broilers at Different Growth Phases
Authors: Müsse Johanna , Louton Helen , Spindler Birgit , Stracke Jenny
Published: July 2022

The objective of this study was to analyze sexual dimorphism with regard to the bone quality of Ross 308 broilers. The relationship between carcass traits, performance and bone quality was analyzed. The effect of sex and age at slaughter was examined in four replicates, always on day 31 and day 38. The weight, length, minimum diameter and breaking strength of the tibiotarsi were measured to determine the bone quality. Female tibiotarsi were shorter, lighter and had a lower minimum diameter and breaking strength compared to male ones. The tibiotarsi of older broilers were found to show higher values in the three-point bending test. The effects on broiler performance were determined by measuring the live body weight, carcass and cut weights. The results demonstrate significant effects of the age at slaughter and the sex (p < 0.001) on all measured parameters, with males always reaching higher values compared to females. A strong correlation of performance and bone parameters could be observed between live weight and weight of the tibiotarsi on both days of data collection. Therefore, it could be beneficial to raise female and male broilers separately. However, in order to make specific recommendations for practice, further knowledge is necessary.
Month of Harvest and Leaf Age Impact the Bromatological Composition and Polyphenol Content of Gymnopodium floribundum Rolfe Leaves
Authors: Ortíz-Ocampo Guadalupe Isabel , Sandoval-Castro Carlos Alfredo , González-Pech Pedro Geraldo , Mancilla-Montelongo Gabriela , Ventura-Cordero Javier , Castañeda-Ramírez Gloria Sarahi , Tun-Garrido Juan , Torres-Acosta Juan Felipe de Jesús
Published: July 2022

In the present study, the effects of macro- and microclimatic conditions, month of harvest, and leaf age at harvest on the bromatological composition and polyphenol content of Gymnopodium floribundum leaves were evaluated. Leaves were harvested in December 2017 and 2018 and March, June, and September 2018. At each harvest, three composite samples of mixed-age leaves were collected from 12 trees (four trees for each sample), and the sampling was repeated on day 90 post-harvest to collect 90-day-old leaves. Fresh and dry matter, crude protein, acid and neutral detergent fibers (ADF and NDF, respectively), lignin, total tannins, condensed tannins (CT), total phenols, in vitro dry matter (IVDMD) and organic matter (IVOMD) digestibility, and metabolizable energy (ME) were estimated. Rainfall, relative humidity, and microhumidity were associated with chemical composition. IVDMD, IVOMD, and ME were highest in leaves sampled in March regardless of age (p < 0.001). Water content, ADF, NDF, and lignin were highest in the leaves sampled in September, regardless of age (p < 0.05), suggesting that leaves require more structural support in the rainy season. CT content was highest in September in the mixed-age leaves and in September and December in the 90-day-old leaves (p < 0.05). A high fiber and CT content during the period of rapid leaf growth could deter herbivory.
Distribution of Molecular Weight of Humic Substances Isolated from Soils of Tallgrass Temperate Rainforests (Chernevaya Taiga)
Authors: Polyakov Vyacheslav , Abakumov Evgeny , Lodygin Evgeny , Vasilevich Roman , Lapidus Alla
Published: July 2022

The boreal forests of Russia are one of the largest forest areas on the planet. As a result of climate change, the rate of carbon sequestration and stabilization of organic matter are important indicators of environmental conservation. To understand mechanisms of stabilization and the structure of soil organic carbon, the molecular-weight (MW) distribution of humic acids (HAs) in soils of the central deciduous-forest zone of boreal forests (Chernevaya taiga, transitional ecotone forest, coniferous forest) was studied. Analysis of the MW distribution of HAs was conducted using size-exclusion chromatography. This approach allowed us to obtain the distribution of high-, medium-, and low-molecular fractions of HAs. It has been revealed that the content of the low-MW fraction prevails over the content of the medium- and high-MW fractions of HAs, which indicates the process of stabilization in soil organic matter. The accumulation of low-molecular-weight fraction occurs with the aromaticity increase in HAs, which indicates that HAs with a relatively high proportion of aromatic fragments have smaller hydrodynamic radius and a lower MW. It has been statistically substantiated that the low-molecular-weight fraction correlates with the content of aromatic compounds and carboxyl structural fragments of HAs, which indicates the resistance of the soil organic matter of Chernevaya taiga to biodegradation.
Impacts of Biochar on Hydro-Physical Properties of Sandy Soil under Different Irrigation Regimes for Enhanced Tomato Growth
Authors: Alghamdi Abdulaziz G. , Al-Omran Abdulrasoul , Alkhasha Arafat , Alharbi Abdulaziz R.
Published: July 2022

The performance of biochar application in water conservation, salt distribution, water infiltration, and tomato growth was evaluated under regulated deficit irrigation (RDI) (40%, 60% and 80% of ETc) and partial root drying (PRD) systems by using different quality irrigation water. Date palm derived biochar was applied to sandy soil at 4% (w/w) in pots, and tomato was grown as the test crop under greenhouse conditions. The results indicated that soil moisture was decreased by 27.38% to 24.95% without biochar application at different levels of irrigation, whereas it increased by 8.11% and 5.48% with biochar application, compared with control treatment of 100% of ETc. Soil moisture was decreased by 12.78%, 15.82% and 12.78% for the 1st stage, 2nd stage and 3rd growth stage, respectively, while it increased by 37.93% at the 4th growth stage compared with full irrigation. Soil salinity ranged between 0.5 and 1.4 dS·m−1 with biochar application, while 0.7–2.1 dS·m−1. Cumulative infiltration at one minute varied between 1.89 and 2.79 cm and 1.74 and 2.79 cm for biochar and non-biochar treatments, respectively. Infiltration rate varied from 0.98 to 2.63 cm min−1 and 1.48 to 1.68 cm·min−1 for fresh and saline water, respectively. Overall, the results revealed that biochar application substantially improved the characteristics of sandy soil, subsequently resulting in water conservation.
The Sodium/Calcium Exchanger PcNCX1-Mediated Ca2+ Efflux Is Involved in Cinnamaldehyde-Induced Cell-Wall Defects of Phytophthora capsici
Authors: Qi Zhongqiang , Li Lina , Xu Cunfa , Liu Muxing , Wang Yousheng , Zhang Li , Chen Jian , Lu Haiyan , Shi Zhiqi
Published: July 2022

Phytophthora capsici is one of the devastating pathogens, causing foliar blight, root rot, and fruit rot in peppers. Cinnamaldehyde (CA) is a natural compound coming from Cinnamomum cassia. The medicinal properties of CA have been widely identified. Limited knowledge is known about the application of CA in agriculture. In this study, CA significantly inhibited P. capsici, which further suppressed Phytophthora blights in both pepper seedlings and pepper fruits. Treatment with CA resulted in collapsed and fragmented hyphae, accompanying the increase in MDA (malondialdehyde) content and the decrease in intercellular glycerol content in hyphae. CA also inhibited the growth of wild type yeast. The yeast mutant ΔYvc1 with a deletion of Yvc1 (a Ca2+ transporter) showed decreased sensitivity to CA. The transformation of PcNCX1, a sodium/calcium exchanger from P. capsici, into ΔYvc1 restored its sensitivity to CA. The transformant carrying PcNCX1 also showed restored Ca2+ efflux upon CA treatment. RNA-seq analysis showed that CA treatments resulted in the down-regulation of a set of genes encoding for calcium-related proteins. Collectively, our study demonstrates that the antifungal activity of CA against P. capsici may be associated with PcNCX1-mediated Ca2+ efflux. Our results provide crucial insights into the antimicrobial action of CA.
Assessment of Spray Deposit and Loss in Traditional and Intensive Olive Orchards with Conventional and Crop-Adapted Sprayers
Authors: Godoy-Nieto Alberto , Miranda-Fuentes Antonio , Grella Marco , Blanco-Roldán Gregorio Lorenzo , Rodríguez-Lizana Antonio , Gil-Ribes Jesús Antonio
Published: July 2022

Plant protection product (PPP) applications to isolated olive trees are commonly performed with regular air-assisted sprayers, which are not adapted to their particular characteristics. Whilst strong efforts have been undertaken over the last years to improve technical aspects like canopy detection and automated proportional dosing, nearly no efforts have been made regarding the sprayer adaption to the crop. For this reason, three prototype sprayers were developed for traditional and intensive olive cultivations systems (P1: centrifugal fan; P2: six small side axial fans; P3: two axial fans in tower structure) with the purpose to improve the application efficiency. The main goal of the present study was to check spray quality and efficiency in comparison with the conventional sprayer in both cultivation systems. The sprayers were tested in two different olive groves and properly calibrated according to the tree dimensions. The spray deposition, coverage, drift, and losses to the ground were measured in five trees per cultivation system by placing the appropriate collectors. The sprayers performed very differently in both cultivation systems. In the intensive system, the spray deposition did not present significant differences (p = 0.105). However, it did in the traditional system (p = 0.003), with P3 obtaining the best results. The spray coverage followed the same trend, with significant differences only in the traditional orchard (p = 0.011), with the prototypes leading. The conventional equipment generated the highest spray losses in both cultivation systems. Crop adapted spraying can significantly improve the spray quality and efficiency in difficult crops like olive. This topic may have a key importance to match the environmentally sustainable use of PPP.
Diet Composition Influences Growth Performance, Bioconversion of Black Soldier Fly Larvae: Agronomic Value and In Vitro Biofungicidal Activity of Derived Frass
Authors: Arabzadeh Ghazaleh , Delisle-Houde Maxime , Tweddell Russell J. , Deschamps Marie-Hélène , Dorais Martine , Lebeuf Yolaine , Derome Nicolas , Vandenberg Grant
Published: July 2022

In recent years, the larval stage of Hermetia illucens, commonly known as the black soldier fly (BSFL), has been used to promote the circularity of the agri-food sector by bioconverting organic waste into larval biomass which has been used as a livestock feed. A secondary byproduct of this process is frass that can be used as an organic fertilizer. This study compared two different plant-based diets on frass characteristics as well as larval performance, nutritional composition, and waste reduction efficiency. A fruit/vegetable/bakery waste-based diet supplemented with brewery waste (FVBB) was compared to a control Gainesville (GV) reference diet and fed to BSFL under standard conditions. The results demonstrated that NPK and some of the macro and micronutrients in both frasses are comparable to commercially available organic fertilizers. It was shown that microorganisms present in frass from the two diets inhibit the mycelial growth of several plant pathogens through the production of antifungal and/or anti-oomycetes compound(s) (antibiosis). This diet also had a positive effect on individual larval mass (162.11 mg), bioconversion rate (13.32%), and larval crude lipid (35.99% of dry matter) content. The BSFL reared on this diet reduced feedstock dry matter by 67.76% in a very short time (10 days), which is a promising solution for food waste management.
Long-Term Straw Return with Reducing Chemical Fertilizers Application Improves Soil Nitrogen Mineralization in a Double Rice-Cropping System
Authors: Chen Liming , Yang Shiqi , Gao Junfeng , Chen Ling , Ning Huaying , Hu Zheng , Lu Jiahui , Tan Xueming , Zeng Yongjun , Pan Xiaohua , Zeng Yanhua
Published: July 2022

The partial replacement of chemical fertilizer with straw return is considered an effective method for improving the accumulation of organic matter and soil fertility, but the characteristics of soil nitrogen fixation and mineralization in a double-cropped rice paddy system are unclear. Based on a 12-year field experiment, we conducted a waterlogged incubation experiment for 49 days to determine the effect of long-term straw return combined with reducing chemical fertilizer application on the dynamic changes of mineralized soil nitrogen (N) content and mineralized N rate under the treatments, including NPK (chemical fertilizers application with straw removal), SBR (straw burned return), and SR (straw return). Results showed that, compared with SBR and NPK, SR significantly increased available nitrogen by 7.4% and 16.5%, respectively, due to the higher ammonium nitrogen and nitrate nitrogen, as well as the total carbon, available phosphorus, and slowly available potassium, suggesting that it could stock a sufficient nitrogen source. During the incubation period, the amount of N mineralization was relatively higher under SR than under SBR and NPK treatments, especially during the later mineralization time, whereas there was no difference in the N mineralization rate. In addition, SR significantly increased soil cumulative N mineralization and N mineralization potential. However, SBR significantly decreased the soil mineralizable N ratio compared with SR and NPK, which may result in a worsening of the N mineralization potential. The results indicated that long-term straw return combined with reducing chemical fertilizer application could significantly improve the N supply capacity of paddy rice field soil to better coordinate the soil N supply and immobilization.
Interspecific Contagious Yawning in Humans
Authors: Gallup Andrew C. , Wozny Sabina
Published: July 2022

Contagious yawning, or the reflexive tendency to yawn following the detection of yawning in others, is well-documented among humans and a growing number of social vertebrates. While the most common form of yawn contagion occurs between conspecifics, some non-human animals in captivity have been reported to yawn in response to yawns from human handlers/caregivers. The current research sought to provide the first formal investigation of whether people yawn contagiously in response to yawns from non-human animals. In addition, this study aimed to test whether this response was modulated by phylogenetic relatedness and domestication/social closeness. A total of 296 participants from Amazon Mechanical Turk self-reported on their yawning behavior following exposure to a (1) control (non-yawning) condition or a compilation of yawning stimuli either from (2) fish, (3) amphibians, (4) reptiles, (5) birds, (6) non-primate mammals, (7) apes, or (8) domesticated cats and dogs. The results provide strong support for interspecific yawn contagion. However, neither the propensity to yawn (binary) nor total yawn frequency varied significantly across interspecific conditions. Overall, these findings suggest that the mechanisms governing yawn contagion can be activated by varied forms of yawning stimuli, including those from distantly related and unfamiliar species.
CYP19A1 May Influence Lambing Traits in Goats by Regulating the Biological Function of Granulosa Cells
Authors: Zhang Yan , Chen Xiang , Zhou Zhinan , Tian Xingzhou , Yang Peifang , Fu Kaibing
Published: July 2022

Abnormal expression of CYP19A1, a gene related to steroid hormone synthesis, causes steroid hormone disruption and leads to abnormal ovulation in granulosa cells. However, the exact mechanism of CYP19A1 regulation is unclear. In this study, we confirmed the localization of CYP19A1 in goat ovarian tissues using immunohistochemistry. Subsequently, we investigated the effects of CYP19A1 on granulosa cell proliferation, steroid hormone secretion, and expression of candidate genes for multiparous traits by overexpressing and silencing CYP19A1 in goat granulosa cells (GCs). The immunohistochemistry results showed that CYP19A1 was expressed in all types of follicular, luteal, and granulosa cells, with subcellular localization results revealing that CYP19A1 protein was mainly localized in the cytoplasm and nucleus. Overexpression of CYP19A1 significantly increased the mRNA levels of CYP19A1, FSHR, and INHBA, which are candidate genes for multiple birth traits in goats. It also promoted cell proliferation, PCNA and Cyclin E mRNA levels in granulosa cells, and secretion of estrogen and progesterone. However, it inhibited the mRNA levels of STAR, CYP11A1, and 3βSHD, which are genes related to steroid synthesis. Silencing CYP19A1 expression significantly reduced CYP19A1, FSHR, and INHBA mRNA levels in granulosa cells and inhibited granulosa cell proliferation and PCNA and Cyclin E mRNA levels. It also reduced estrogen and progesterone secretion but enhanced the mRNA levels of STAR, CYP11A1, and 3βSHD. CYP19A1 potentially influenced the lambing traits in goats by affecting granulosa cell proliferation, hormone secretion, and expression of candidate genes associated with traits for multiple births.
The Development of Equestrian Policies in China between 2015 and 2020
Authors: Li Jiaxin , López Adán Enrique , de la Rubia Riaza Alfonso
Published: July 2022

China competed in equestrian sports for the first time at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. China’s modern equine business has developed significantly over the past decade, and the lessons from the expansion between 2015 and 2020 are important considerations as China implements further legislation to aid in the development of its modern equestrian sports. Equestrian sports can propel the Chinese horse industry forward, and the horse industry is a unique business in that it integrates one, two, and three industries, with much growth potential. This paper assesses the development of equestrianism in China from four perspectives: the general sports economic environment; the development of equestrian activities; the economic industries driven by equestrian activities; and relevant equestrian policies. Equestrian sports within China are currently facing problems, and recommendations are given. This paper is a single case study. The research utilized a qualitative approach, collecting data from official and semi-official documents. Through understanding the data collated and its analysis, equestrian sports can improve the speed and quality of their development under the influence of better-informed policy-making and a relevant economic model. It is expected that the wider related horse industry in China will also undergo more significant development.
Human Disturbance and Geometric Constraints Drive Small Mammal Diversity and Community Structure along an Elevational Gradient in Eastern China
Authors: Pei Xiaoxin , Ren Xueyang , Hu Jiangxiao , Onditi Kenneth Otieno , Xu Yifan , Zhang Min , Chang Wenqing , Chen Zhongzheng
Published: July 2022

Understanding the mechanisms influencing patterns and processes of biological diversity is critical to protecting biodiversity, particularly in species-rich ecosystems such as mountains. Even so, there is limited knowledge of biodiversity patterns and processes in the mountains of eastern China, especially about small mammals. In this study, we examined the taxonomic, functional, and phylogenetic diversity of small mammal distribution and community structure along the elevational gradient of Qingliang Mountain, eastern China. We then evaluated how they are influenced by space (area and mid-domain effect (MDE)), environment (temperature, precipitation, and normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI)), and human disturbance. The results showed hump-shaped patterns of taxonomic and phylogenetic diversity along elevation gradients, peaking at 1000 m, unlike functional diversity, which peaked at lower elevations (600 m). The mean pairwise distance and mean nearest taxon distance of functional and phylogenetic variance (MFD and MPD, respectively) were also incongruent. The MFD and MPD showed hump-shaped patterns along elevations; however, unlike MFD, which peaked at lower elevations (600 m), MPD peaked at higher elevations (1200 m). The mean nearest functional taxon distance (MNFD) decreased, while the mean nearest phylogenetic taxon distance (MNTD) increased along the elevation gradient. The higher elevations were functionally more clustered, while the lower elevations were phylogenetically more clustered, suggesting that environmental filtering for traits was stronger at higher elevations. In comparison, phylogenetic conservatism of ecological niches had a stronger influence at lower elevations. The diversity and community structure indices were inconsistently explained, with human disturbance and MDE accounting for the biggest proportions of the model-explained variances. Overall, the results confirm that environmental filtering and human disturbance significantly influence small mammals’ diversity and community structure. These findings also emphasize the need for increased conservation efforts in the middle and lower elevation regions of Qingliang Mountain.
The Effects of Providing Outdoor Access to Broilers in the Tropics on Their Behaviour and Stress Responses
Authors: Sánchez-Casanova Rubí E. , Sarmiento-Franco Luis , Phillips Clive J. C.
Published: July 2022

The effects of outdoor access, stocking density, and age on broiler behavior, stress, and health indicators in a tropical climate were assessed over two seasons, winter and summer. Two hundred and forty Cobb500 male chickens were allocated to one of four treatments, with six replicates of ten birds in each: low stocking density indoors with outdoor access (LO); high stocking density indoors with outdoor access (HO); low stocking density indoors without outdoor access (LI); and high stocking density indoors without outdoor access (HI). Scan sampling was used to record their behavior both indoors and outdoors. At 28 and 42 days old, blood samples were obtained to determine the heterophil to lymphocyte (H/L) ratio. At 42 days old, chickens were culled and inspected for footpad dermatitis (FPD), and bone quality was examined. Their spleens and bursas of Fabricius were collected and weighed, relative to carcass weight (RW). A factorial analysis was used to test the effects of season (winter or summer), outdoor access (with or without), stocking density (low: 5 animals/m2 or high: 10 animals/m2), and age (28 or 42 days) on the behavior and stress and health indicators. There were no major effects of providing outdoor access on behavior, except that resting was reduced by providing outdoor access to older birds and those at low stocking densities inside. Resting was also greater in indoor and high-density treatments during winter. The bursa of Fabricius was heavier in summer in outdoor birds. The tibia bones were shorter in the outdoor birds. Heterophil numbers were greater in the outdoor treatments in summer but not in winter. These results indicate that outdoor access can increase activity in some situations, and potentially increase bone strength, but it may also increase the risk of stress, particularly heat stress in summer.
Tuning the Biological Activity of Camphorimine Complexes through Metal Selection
Authors: Costa Joana P. , Pinheiro Teresa , Martins Maria S. , Carvalho M. Fernanda N. N. , Feliciano Joana R. , Leitão Jorge H. , Silva Rafaela A. L. , Guerreiro Joana F. , Alves Luís M. C. , Custódio Inês , Cruz João , Marques Fernanda
Published: July 2022

The cytotoxic activity of four sets of camphorimine complexes based on the Cu(I), Cu(II), Ag(I), and Au(I) metal sites were assessed against the cisplatin-sensitive A2780 and OVCAR3 ovarian cancer cells. The results showed that the gold complexes were ca. one order of magnitude more active than the silver complexes, which in turn were ca. one order of magnitude more active than the copper complexes. An important finding was that the cytotoxic activity of the Ag(I) and Au(I) camphorimine complexes was higher than that of cisplatin. Another relevant aspect was that the camphorimine complexes did not interact significantly with DNA, in contrast with cisplatin. The cytotoxic activity of the camphorimine complexes displayed a direct relationship with the cellular uptake by OVCAR3 cells, as ascertained by PIXE (particle-induced X-ray emission). The levels of ROS (reactive oxygen species) formation exhibited an inverse relationship with the reduction potentials for the complexes with the same metal, as assessed by cyclic voltammetry. In order to gain insight into the toxicity of the complexes, their cytotoxicity toward nontumoral cells (HDF and V79 fibroblasts) was evaluated. The in vivo cytotoxicity of complex 5 using the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans was also assessed. The silver camphorimine complexes displayed the highest selectivity coefficients (activity vs. toxicity).
Genomics of Staphylococcus aureus Strains Isolated from Infectious and Non-Infectious Ocular Conditions
Authors: Afzal Madeeha , Vijay Ajay Kumar , Stapleton Fiona , Willcox Mark D. P.
Published: July 2022

Staphylococcus aureus is a major cause of ocular infectious (corneal infection or microbial keratitis (MK) and conjunctivitis) and non-infectious corneal infiltrative events (niCIE). Despite the significant morbidity associated with these conditions, there is very little data about specific virulence factors associated with the pathogenicity of ocular isolates. A set of 25 S. aureus infectious and niCIEs strains isolated from USA and Australia were selected for whole genome sequencing. Sequence types and clonal complexes of S. aureus strains were identified by using multi-locus sequence type (MLST). The presence or absence of 128 virulence genes was determined by using the virulence finder database (VFDB). Differences between infectious (MK + conjunctivitis) and niCIE isolates from USA and Australia for possession of virulence genes were assessed using the chi-square test. The most common sequence types found among ocular isolates were ST5, ST8 while the clonal complexes were CC30 and CC1. Virulence genes involved in adhesion (ebh, clfA, clfB, cna, sdrD, sdrE), immune evasion (chp, esaD, esaE, esxB, esxC, esxD), and serine protease enzymes (splA, splD, splE, splF) were more commonly observed in infectious strains (MK + conjunctivitis) than niCIE strains (p = 0.004). Toxin genes were present in half of infectious (49%, 25/51) and niCIE (51%, 26/51) strains. USA infectious isolates were significantly more likely to possess splC, yent1, set9, set11, set36, set38, set40, lukF-PV, and lukS-PV (p < 0.05) than Australian infectious isolates. MK USA strains were more likely to possesses yent1, set9, set11 than USA conjunctivitis strains (p = 0.04). Conversely USA conjunctivitis strains were more likely to possess set36 set38, set40, lukF-PV, lukS-PV (p = 0.03) than MK USA strains. The ocular strain set was then compared to 10 fully sequenced non-ocular S. aureus strains to identify differences between ocular and non-ocular isolates. Ocular isolates were significantly more likely to possess cna (p = 0.03), icaR (p = 0.01), sea (p = 0.001), set16 (p = 0.01), and set19 (p = 0.03). In contrast non-ocular isolates were more likely to possess icaD (p = 0.007), lukF-PV, lukS-PV (p = 0.01), selq (p = 0.01), set30 (p = 0.01), set32 (p = 0.02), and set36 (p = 0.02). The clones ST5, ST8, CC30, and CC1 among ocular isolates generally reflect circulating non-ocular pathogenic S. aureus strains. The higher rates of genes in infectious and ocular isolates suggest a potential role of these virulence factors in ocular diseases.
A Global Bibliometric Analysis on Antibiotic-Resistant Active Pulmonary Tuberculosis over the Last 25 Years (1996–2020)
Authors: Islam Md Asiful , Kundu Shoumik , Hanis Tengku Muhammad , Hajissa Khalid , Musa Kamarul Imran
Published: July 2022

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) is still a leading global cause of mortality and an increasingly crucial problem in fighting TB is antibiotic resistance. We aimed to conduct a bibliometric analysis on the articles of the past 25 years on antibiotic-resistant active pulmonary TB. Methods: Appropriate keywords were combined using the Boolean and wildcard operators and searched in Scopus database for articles published between 1996 and 2020 in English language. For all the bibliometric analyses, the Bibliometrix package in RStudio and Biblioshiny web apps were used. We identified the publication and citation trends, topmost cited documents, most productive authors, countries and institutions and most influential journals and funding agencies. We constructed collaborative networks of countries and co-citations. In addition, we developed a Three-Fields plot and a Thematic Map to explore different publication themes. Results: We included 7024 articles (88.9% research articles) and a persistently increasing publication and citation trends were evident throughout the past 25 years. Boehme 2010 was the most cited paper (1609 times cited), Stefan Niemann was the most productive author (86 papers), and ‘International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease’ was the leading journal. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention was the top contributing institution (3.7% papers) and both US- and UK-based funders were leading. The most productive countries were the USA, India, the UK, South Africa, and China and most of the collaborations took place between the USA, the UK, and South Africa. Conclusion: Undoubtedly, researchers and funders from the USA dominated followed by the UK in most of the fields in antibiotic-resistant TB research. The outcomes of antibiotic-resistant TB research would be more productive and translational if researchers from low- or middle-income countries (especially from Africa, South America and Asia) with high research productivity and TB burden could be in collaboration with high-income countries exhibiting low TB burden.