bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Protective enzyme activity regulation in cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) in response to Scirpus planiculmis stress
Authors: Zhang Quancheng , Peng Jun , Wang Jungang
Published: November 2022

Scirpus planiculmis, an important weed in rice and cotton fields, stresses crop growth and development, leading to yield loss. However, it is unclear how stressed plants respond to this weed. In this study, we analysed the stress effect of S. planiculmis on cotton under different weed densities, competition periods, and distribution conditions from the perspective of morphogenesis, physiological metabolism and crop yield. The effect of a low dose of herbicide on the relationship between cotton and S. planiculmis was also explored. The results showed that plant height, stem diameter, fresh weight, root length, boll number, single boll weight and yield of cotton all decreased with increasing S. planiculmis density and damage. The spatial distribution of S. planiculmis had no significant effect on plant height, stem diameter, fresh weight or root length of cotton, but crop yield loss decreased with increasing distance. S. planiculmis stress altered cotton chlorophyll, soluble protein and malondialdehyde (MDA) content, and protective enzyme activities. Compared with superoxide dismutase (SOD) and peroxidase (POD) activities, catalase (CAT) activity was increased under different S. planiculmis stress conditions. Therefore, we concluded that CAT plays a key role in protecting enzymes involved in defence responses. Under low-dose herbicide action, the activities of protective enzymes were increased, which helped cotton plants to resist S. planiculmis stress. The results revealed that regulating protective enzyme activities is important in cotton responses to S. planiculmis stress.
Genome−wide identification and analysis of LEA_2 gene family in alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) under aluminum stress
Authors: Zhang Yujing , Fan Nana , Wen Wuwu , Liu Siyan , Mo Xin , An Yuan , Zhou Peng
Published: November 2022

Late embryonic development abundant proteins (LEAs) are a large family of proteins commonly existing in plants. LEA_2 is the largest subfamily in the LEA, it plays an important role in plant resistance to abiotic stress. In order to explore the characteristics of LEA_2 gene family members in alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.), 155 members of LEA_2 (MsLEA_2) family were identified from alfalfa genome. Bioinformatics analysis was conducted from the aspects of phylogenetic relationship, chromosome distribution, chromosome colinearity, physical and chemical properties, motif composition, exon-intron structure, cis-element and so on. Expression profiles of MsLEA_2 gene were obtained based on Real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR) analysis and previous RNA-seq data under aluminum (Al) stress. Bioinformatics results were shown that the MsLEA_2 genes are distributed on all 32 chromosomes. Among them, 85 genes were present in the gene clusters, accounting for 54.83%, and chromosome Chr7.3 carries the largest number of MsLEA_2 (19 LEA_2 genes on Chr7.3). Chr7.3 has a unique structure of MsLEA_2 distribution, which reveals a possible special role of Chr7.3 in ensuring the function of MsLEA_2. Transcriptional structure analysis revealed that the number of exons in each gene varies from 1 to 3, and introns varies from 0 to 2. Cis-element analysis identified that the promoter region of MsLEA_2 is rich in ABRE, MBS, LTR, and MeJARE, indicating MsLEA_2 has stress resistance potential under abiotic stress. RNA-seq data and qRT-PCR analyses showed that most of the MsLEA_2 members were up-regulated when alfalfa exposed to Al stress. This study revealed that phylogenetic relationship and possible function of LEA_ 2 gene in alfalfa, which were helpful for the functional analysis of LEA_ 2 proteins in the future and provided a new theoretical basis for improving Al tolerance of alfalfa.
Sleep duration and depression among adolescents: Mediation effect of collective integration
Authors: Gao Min , Li Xian , Lee Chun-Yang , Ma Honghao , Chen Tianmu , Zhang Shuoxun , Chiang Yi-Chen
Published: November 2022

Adolescence is a time of dramatic physical and mental change when adolescents are extremely vulnerable to various mental health problems. Depression and poor sleep duration are increasingly common among adolescents. This study is mainly aimed to verify the important mediating role of collective integration on sleep duration and depression and examine the interrelationship between sleep duration and depression in adolescents longitudinally. The data were obtained from the Wave 1 (in 2013–2014) and Wave 2 (in 2014–2015) longitudinal surveys of China Education Panel Survey (CEPS). The analytic sample in the present study included 8,829 seventh-grade students aged about 14 years (51.50% boys and 48.50% girls). A structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to investigate parent–child/teacher factors affecting adolescent sleep duration and depression, and Monte Carlo resampling with R was employed to confirm the significance of the mediation effects of collective integration. An autoregressive cross-lagged model was employed to analyze the interrelationship between adolescent sleep duration and depression. The findings were as follows. Firstly, collective integration strongly mediated the relationships among academic self-efficacy, parental involvement, teacher praise/criticism, sleep duration, and depression. Secondly, sleep duration and depression were found to have enduring effects and have effects on each other. Thirdly, parental involvement and teacher praise were positively associated with sleep quality and negatively associated with depression. Teacher criticism was negatively associated with sleep quality and positively associated with depression. Compared with teacher praise, teacher criticism has stronger effects on youth sleep duration and depression. In conclusion, improving sleep problems and depression in adolescents as early as possible can stop the persistent and long-term consequences of these problems. Increasing teacher praise, decreasing teacher criticism, and increasing adolescents’ collective integration were effective ways to improve adolescents’ sleep duration and mediate depression.
The relationship between anxiety and depression under the pandemic: The role of life meaning
Authors: Shek Daniel T. L. , Chai Wenyu , Tan Lindan
Published: November 2022

Introduction

COVID-19 is a stressor creating much anxiety for the general public, such as anxiety related to possible infection, social distancing, financial strain and uncertainty. As the scientific literature shows that there is an intimate relationship between anxiety and depression, it is important to ask whether anxiety is related to depression under the pandemic and whether spirituality indexed by life meaning can moderate the relationship between anxiety and depression. According to theories highlighting the importance of life meaning, relative to people with a higher level of life meaning, the relationship between anxiety and depression would be stronger in people with a lower level of life meaning.

Methods

Empirically, we collected data in two waves (i.e., before and after the first wave of COVID-19, respectively) from 4,981 adolescents recruited in Sichuan, China. Then, the 41-item “Screen for Child Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders” was employed to measure anxiety symptoms, 20-item “Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression Scale” was utilized to examine depression symptoms, and the “Spirituality Subscale of the Chinese Positive Youth Development Scale” for assessing life meaning.

Results

We found that anxiety significantly predicted depression at each wave and across time. Second, controlling for Wave 1 depression scores, results showed that a drop in Wave 1 anxiety predicted a drop in depressive symptoms over time. Regarding the relationship between meaning in life and depression, spirituality indexed by meaning in life negatively predicted depression at each wave and over time, and predicted change in depression across time. Finally, multiple regression analyses showed that life meaning moderated the predictive effect of anxiety on depression.

Discussion

The findings support the thesis that spirituality serves as a protective factor for psychological morbidity in Chinese adolescents. The study also suggests the importance of helping adolescents to develop life meaning under COVID-19.
Hospitality’s ethical values and unethical employee behaviour: The mediating roles of work values and the moderating role of perceived organisational support
Authors: Chen Qiuping , Liu Zijuan
Published: November 2022

In recent years, hotels have occasionally engaged in unethical behaviour. This has become an urgent problem that requires a solution. Based on social exchange theory, this study constructs a theoretical model of the relationship between hospitality’s ethical values and unethical behaviour. According to 543 questionnaires, the findings indicate that hospitality’s ethical values negatively affect the unethical behaviour of employees. Work values played a part in the intermediary role between the two, and perceived organisational support significantly positively moderated the relationship between hospitality’s ethical values and unethical behaviour. By exploring the logical relationship between hotels’ and employees’ morality, this study expands the research content and theoretical framework of unethical employee behaviour and helps to bridge the work values of hotels and individuals. Furthermore, it helps to build a good hotel ethical value system, which can effectively reduce and suppress the emergence of unethical employee behaviour.
Family interactions in toddlerhood influence social competence in preschool age: Accounting for genetic and prenatal influences
Authors: Ramos Amanda M. , Shewark Elizabeth A. , Reiss David , Leve Leslie D. , Natsuaki Misaki N. , Shaw Daniel S. , Ganiban Jody M. , Neiderhiser Jenae M.
Published: November 2022

Identification of early promotive and risk factors for social competence is important for fostering children’s successful social development; particularly given social competence is essential for children’s later academic and psychological well-being. While research suggests that the early parent–child relationship, genetics, and prenatal influences are associated with social competence, there is less research considering how these factors may operate together to shape children’s social competence in early childhood. Using a genetically informed sample from the Early Growth and Development Study (N = 561), we examined multiple levels of influence (i.e., genetic, prenatal, parenting, and child characteristics) on children’s social competence at 4.5 years old. Results from structural equation models showed adoptive mother overreactivity at 18 months was positively associated with child dysregulation at 27 months, which, in turn, was associated with lower levels of social competence at 4.5 years. Also, child reactivity at 18 months was independently associated with higher levels of adoptive mother overreactivity at 27 months, which, in turn, was associated with lower levels of social competence at 4.5 years. Finally, we found an evocative effect on adoptive fathers’ overreactivity at 18 months such that prenatal birth mother distress was negatively associated with adoptive fathers’ overreactivity at 18 months. Overall, this study found evidence for genetic influences, and bidirectional associations between parent and child in toddlerhood that are related to lower levels of social competence when children were 4.5 years old. We also found that the prenatal environment was associated with parenting, but not with child behavior directly. This study’s ability to simultaneously examine multiple domains of influence helps provide a more comprehensive picture of important mechanisms and developmental periods for children’s early social competence.
The relationship between positive workplace gossip and job satisfaction: The mediating role of job insecurity and organizational identity
Authors: Wang Dawei , Niu Zhaoxiang , Sun Chongyu , Yu Peng , Wang Xiaolong , Xue Qihui , Hu Yixin
Published: November 2022

From the perspective of social information processing theory and social identity theory, 1,267 employees were selected as the subjects, and the data were statistically analyzed by using Mplus8.0 and SPSS25.0 to explore the relationship between positive workplace gossip and job satisfaction and the role of job insecurity and organizational identity in this relationship. The results showed that there was a significant positive correlation between positive workplace gossip and job satisfaction. Furthermore, job insecurity and organizational identity independently mediated the relationship between positive workplace gossip and employee job satisfaction. In addition, job insecurity and organizational identity played a serial mediating role in the relationship between positive workplace gossip and job satisfaction. The results of the study shed light on how job insecurity and organizational identity were associated with the process of the positive workplace gossip-job satisfaction relationship. Based on the findings, implications and avenues for future research were discussed.
I can see my virtual body in a mirror: The role of visual perspective in changing implicit racial attitudes using virtual reality
Authors: Marini Maddalena , Casile Antonino
Published: November 2022

Introduction

Recent studies showed that VR is a valid tool to change implicit attitudes toward outgroup members. Here, we extended this work by investigating conditions under which virtual reality (VR) is effective in changing implicit racial attitudes.

Methods

To this end, participants were embodied in a Black or White avatar and we manipulated the perspective through which they could see their virtual body. Participants in one condition, could see their virtual body both from a first-person perspective (i.e., by looking down toward themselves) and reflected in a mirror placed in front of them in the VR environment. Participants in another condition could instead see their virtual body only from a first-person perspective (i.e., by looking down toward themselves) as no mirror was placed in the VR environment. Implicit racial attitudes were assessed using the Implicit Association Test (IAT) before and immediately after the VR intervention.

Results

Results showed that when White participants were embodied in a Black avatar compared to a White avatar, they showed a decrease in their implicit pro-White attitudes but only when they could see their virtual body both from a first-person perspective and in a mirror.

Discussion

These results suggest that, in immersive virtual reality interventions, the possibility for participants to see their body also reflected in a mirror, might be a critical factor in changing their implicit racial attitudes.
Understanding suicidal pathways through the lens of a Dual-System Model of Suicidality in real-time: The potential of ecological momentary assessments
Authors: Brüdern Juliane , Glaesmer Heide , Berger Thomas , Spangenberg Lena
Published: November 2022

Within the ideation-to-action framework, existing theories of suicidal thoughts and behaviors (STBs) primarily focus on the linear progression of suicide risk. This, however, neglects growing evidence that many suicidal individuals do not experience their suicide attempt as a planned action, and in some instances deny even having experienced any suicidal thoughts. Furthermore, recent research has found that risk factors differ substantially between persons and that this is reflected in the variety of suicidal pathways. Considering the strong variability of STBs, new innovative theoretical concepts and assessment methods are needed to advance our understanding of multiple suicidal pathways. In this review, we apply a dual-system framework to suicidality, the Dual-System Model of Suicidality (DSMS), which accounts for two different systems of information processing and behavior. The first of these described is the reflective system, whereby STBs are viewed from a self-regulation perspective and thusly considered as maladaptive coping behavior to perceived discrepancies regarding important goals. Applying a feedback-based view such as this to STBs provides a deeper understanding into underlying psychological processes involved in the development of STBs. The second system described by the DSMS is the impulsive system. Here, STBs are seen as a maladaptive self-organizing pattern that gets activated in high-risk situations of acute stress, negative affect, and when resources of the reflective system are depleted. In this context, the DSMS is informed by a strength model of self-regulation, which assumes that self-regulation resources are limited, an aspect with important theoretical and clinical implications for the development of STBs. In order to demonstrate the theoretical and practical utility of the DSMS, this review draws mainly on studies using ecological momentary assessment (EMA), a technology that allows to investigate moment-to-moment changes in STBs, and is therefore well suited for capturing the complex interplay of self-regulatory and impulsive processes proposed by the DSMS. The application of a dual-system framework to suicide research represents an innovative and integrative approach for expanding our knowledge about fundamental processes and how their dynamics lead to STBs. The usefulness of the DSMS, implications for future suicide research with EMA, and clinical implications are discussed.
Data-driven method for damage localization on soft robotic grippers based on motion dynamics
Authors: Abdulali Arsen , Terryn Seppe , Vanderborght Bram , Iida Fumiya
Published: November 2022

Damage detection is one of the critical challenges in operating soft robots in an industrial setting. In repetitive tasks, even a small cut or fatigue can propagate to large damage ceasing the complete operation process. Although research has shown that damage detection can be performed through an embedded sensor network, this approach leads to complicated sensorized systems with additional wiring and equipment, made using complex fabrication processes and often compromising the flexibility of the soft robotic body. Alternatively, in this paper, we proposed a non-invasive approach for damage detection and localization on soft grippers. The essential idea is to track changes in non-linear dynamics of a gripper due to possible damage, where minor changes in material and morphology lead to large differences in the force and torque feedback over time. To test this concept, we developed a classification model based on a bidirectional long short-time memory (biLSTM) network that discovers patterns of dynamics changes in force and torque signals measured at the mounting point. To evaluate this model, we employed a two-fingered Fin Ray gripper and collected data for 43 damage configurations. The experimental results show nearly perfect damage detection accuracy and 97% of its localization. We have also tested the effect of the gripper orientation and the length of time-series data. By shaking the gripper with an optimal roll angle, the localization accuracy can exceed 95% and increase further with additional gripper orientations. The results also show that two periods of the gripper oscillation, i.e., roughly 50 data points, are enough to achieve a reasonable level of damage localization.
Squid industry by-product hydrolysate supplementation enhances growth performance of Penaeus monodon fed plant protein-based diets without fish meal
Authors: Pan Maila V. , Cadiz Rowena E. , Mameloco Emelyn Joy G. , Traifalgar Rex Ferdinand M.
Published: November 2022

The poor growth of aquatic animals fed with diets containing high plant proteins has been attributed to low diet acceptability and feed value. Supplementation of protein hydrolysate, with high contents of free amino acids and soluble low molecular weight peptides, may increase the acceptability and feed value of a plant protein-based diet. In the present work, squid processing by-products were enzymatically hydrolyzed and used as a supplement in a plant protein-based diet, without fish meal, of Penaeus monodon to fully maximize the utilization of this marine resource. The hydrolysate was incorporated at 0, 0.5, and 1% levels in P. monodon diets containing 0 and 10% fish meal levels. Growth, digestive enzyme activities, muscle growth-, gut pro-inflammatory and immune-related gene expressions, and muscle morphometric measurements were evaluated as biological indices in an 8-week feeding trial. The squid by-product hydrolysate produced in the present study contains 90.25% protein, 5.84% lipid, and 3.91% ash, and has a molecular weight of 3.76 kDa. Supplementation at 1% hydrolysate in the experimental shrimp diet without fish meal resulted in the highest growth performance associated with increased feed intake, efficient feed and nutrient conversion and retention, enhanced digestive enzyme activities, upregulation of muscle growth- and immune-related genes, and suppression of the gut pro-inflammatory gene. The growth promotion is also linked with a significant increase in muscle mean fiber area, which suggests hypertrophic growth in shrimp. Generally, the supplementation of 1% squid by-product hydrolysate supported the growth of P. monodon fed on a plant protein-based diet without fish meal.
Bargaining Power in Cooperative Resource Allocations Games
Authors: Madani Kaveh , Farhidi Faraz , Gholizadeh Sona
Published: November 2022

Cooperative game theory provides an appropriate framework to assess the likelihood of conflict resolution, encourage cooperation among parties, and determine each party’s share in resource sharing conflicts. In calculating the fair and efficient allocation of the incremental benefits of cooperation, cooperative game theory methods often do not consider the exogenous bargaining powers of the players based on factors, that are external to the game, such as their political, economic, and military powers. This study reformulates three well-known cooperative game theory methods, namely, Nash-Harsanyi, Shapley, and Nucleolus, to account for the exogenous bargaining powers of the players in cooperative games. Using the Caspian Sea international conflict as an example, this paper shows how the negotiators’ exogenous bargaining power can change the outcome of resource sharing games. The proposed weighted cooperative game theory approach can help determine practical resolutions for real-world conflicts in which the exogenous powers of players can have a significant influence on the outcome of negotiations.
Physics-Informed Neural Networks (PINNs)-Based Traffic State Estimation: An Application to Traffic Network
Authors: Usama Muhammad , Ma Rui , Hart Jason , Wojcik Mikaela
Published: November 2022

Traffic state estimation (TSE) is a critical component of the efficient intelligent transportation systems (ITS) operations. In the literature, TSE methods are divided into model-driven methods and data-driven methods. Each approach has its limitations. The physics information-based neural network (PINN) framework emerges to mitigate the limitations of the traditional TSE methods, while the state-of-art of such a framework has focused on single road segments but can hardly deal with traffic networks. This paper introduces a PINN framework that can effectively make use of a small amount of observational speed data to obtain high-quality TSEs for a traffic network. Both model-driven and data-driven components are incorporated into PINNs to combine the advantages of both approaches and to overcome their disadvantages. Simulation data of simple traffic networks are used for studying the highway network TSE. This paper demonstrates how to solve the popular LWR physical traffic flow model with a PINN for a traffic network. Experimental results confirm that the proposed approach is promising for estimating network traffic accurately.
Sustainable Valorization of Tomato Pomace (Lycopersicon esculentum) in Animal Nutrition: A Review
Authors: Lu Shengyong , Chen Shengchang , Li Haixia , Paengkoum Siwaporn , Taethaisong Nittaya , Meethip Weerada , Surakhunthod Jariya , Sinpru Boontum , Sroichak Thakun , Archa Pawinee , Thongpea Sorasak , Paengkoum Pramote
Published: November 2022

Under the background of the current shortage of feed resources, especially the shortage of protein feed, attempts to develop and utilize new feed resources are constantly being made. If the tomato pomace (TP) produced by industrial processing is used improperly, it will not only pollute the environment, but also cause feed resources to be wasted. This review summarizes the nutritional content of TP and its use and impact in animals as an animal feed supplement. Tomato pomace is a by-product of tomato processing, divided into peel, pulp, and tomato seeds, which are rich in proteins, fats, minerals, fatty acids, and amino acids, as well as antioxidant bioactive compounds, such as lycopene, beta-carotenoids, tocopherols, polyphenols, and terpenes. There are mainly two forms of feed: drying and silage. Tomato pomace can improve animal feed intake and growth performance, increase polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) and PUFA n-3 content in meat, improve meat color, nutritional value, and juiciness, enhance immunity and antioxidant capacity of animals, and improve sperm quality. Lowering the rumen pH and reducing CH4 production in ruminants promotes the fermentation of rumen microorganisms and improves economic efficiency. Using tomato pomace instead of soybean meal as a protein supplement is a research hotspot in the animal husbandry industry, and further research should focus on the processing technology of TP and its large-scale application in feed.
Controlled Intestinal Microbiota Colonisation in Broilers under the Industrial Production System
Authors: Kayal Advait , Stanley Dragana , Radovanovic Anita , Horyanto Darwin , Van Thi Thu Hao , Bajagai Yadav S.
Published: November 2022

The concept of designer microbiota in chicken is focused on early exposure of the hatchlings to pathogen-free microbiota inoculum, limiting the early access to harmful and pathogenic microorganisms, thus promoting colonisation of the gut with beneficial and natural poultry microbiota. In this study, we controlled colonisation of the intestine in broiler chickens in a large-scale industrial setting via at-hatch administration of a commercial product containing a highly diverse microbiota originating from the chicken caecum. The treatment significantly transformed the microbiota membership in the crop, proventriculus, jejunum and caecum and significantly altered the taxa abundance in the jejunum, jejunum mucosa, and caecum estimated using PERMANOVA and unweighted and weighted UniFrac distances, respectively. The treatment also improved the growth rate in chickens with no significant alteration in feed conversion ratio. A comparison of inoculum product microbiota structure revealed that the inoculum had the highest Shannon diversity index compared to all investigated gut sections, and the number of Observed Species second only to the caecal community. PCoA plots using weighted or unweighted UniFrac placed the inoculum samples together with the samples from the caecal origin.
Composition of Fatty Acids and Localization of SREBP1 and ELOVL2 Genes in Cauda Epididymides of Hu Sheep with Different Fertility
Authors: Liu Jiamei , Li Wanhong , Weng Xiuxiu , Yue Xiangpeng , Li Fadi
Published: November 2022

The epididymis is an organ that transports, matures and stores sperm, and has functions such as secretion and absorption. Polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) compositions in sperm membrane were changed during the process of epididymis maturation and influence the male fertility. This study aimed to investigate differences in crude fat and fatty acid content in cauda epididymis between high and low fertility of Hu sheep. One hundred and seventy-nine Hu ram lambs were fed from 56 days to 6 months under the same environment. After the feeding trial, all rams were slaughtered, and the body weight, testicular weight, epididymal weight and sperm density were measured. Pearson correlation analysis showed significantly moderate positive correlation between epididymal weight and sperm density and testicular weight. Eighteen rams were selected and divided into the high fertility group (H, n = 9) and low fertility group (L, n = 9) according to the epididymal weight, sperm density and histomorphology. The crude fat content, fatty acid profile and genes related to fatty acid metabolism were detected. The crude fat content, total fatty acid, total n-3 PUFA and docosahexaenoic acid (C22:6n-3, DHA) content of cauda epididymis in high fertility group was significantly higher than those in low fertility group (p < 0.05). However, the ratio of n-6/n-3 PUFA was significantly lower than that in group L (p < 0.05). Immunohistochemistry results showed that SREBP1 and ELOVL2 were expressed in pseudostratified columnar ciliated epithelium and smooth muscle cells. The mRNA expression of SREBP1 (p = 0.09) and ELOVL2 (p < 0.05) in the high fertility group were increased. In conclusion, the high expression of SREBP1 and ELOVL2 may contribute to high n-3 PUFA content in cauda epididymis of high-fertility Hu sheep.
Animal Welfare Considerations When Conducting OECD Test Guideline Inhalation and Toxicokinetic Studies for Nanomaterials
Authors: Chung Yong Hyun , Gulumian Mary , Pleus Richard C. , Yu Il Je
Published: November 2022

The OECD test guidelines for animal experiments play an important role in evaluating the chemical hazards. Animal tests performed using OECD guidelines, especially when the good laboratory practice (GLP) principle is applied, reduce the duplication of toxicity testing and ensure the best mutual acceptance of data by the OECD’s Mutual Acceptance of Data (MAD). The OECD inhalation toxicity test guidelines 412 (28 days) and 413 (90 days) have been revised. These OECD guidelines now reflect the inclusion of nanomaterials and recent scientific and technological developments. In particular, these test guidelines aim to evaluate the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid in the lungs for objective toxicity evaluation, along with the existing subjective histopathological evaluation. For solid particles, the lung burden measurement of particles is required for toxicokinetic studies and, in order to properly perform a toxicokinetic study, two post-exposure observations are recommended. In light of the revised OECD guidelines, we propose a method to reduce the number of animals when testing is conducted for nanomaterials.
Molecular Detection of Candidatus Rickettsia andeanae and Ehrlichia sp. in Amblyomma pseudoconcolor Aragão, 1908 (Acari: Ixodidae) from the Argentinian Patagonia
Authors: Sebastian Patrick Stephan , Winter Marina , Abate Sergio Damián , Tarragona Evelina Luisa , Nava Santiago
Published: November 2022

This study presents the molecular detection of Candidatus Rickettsia andeanae and Ehrlichia sp. in Amblyomma pseudoconcolor Aragão, 1908 (Acari: Ixodidae) collected on a large hairy armadillo (Chaetophractus villosus (Desmarest, 1804)). On 12 October 2020, a specimen of C. villosus was found dead on the road in Río Negro province, Argentina. Molecular detection of Rickettsia and Ehrlichia agents was performed amplifying the gltA and 16S rRNA gene, respectively. One tick, determined morphologically and genetically as A. pseudoconcolor, was collected on C. villosus. The rickettsial agent detected in A. pseudoconcolor was identified as Candidatus Rickettsia andeanae. The Ehrlichia sp. strain showed high sequence similarity to different uncultured Ehrlichia sp. detected in horses, capybaras and Ixodes ornithorhynchi from Nicaragua, Brazil and Australia, respectively. The results of this study and previous findings suggest that A. pseudoconcolor may be a potential vector of some Rickettsia and Ehrlichia bacteria of unknown pathogenicity.
Meconium Aspiration Syndrome in Animal Models: Inflammatory Process, Apoptosis, and Surfactant Inactivation
Authors: Mota-Rojas Daniel , Villanueva-García Dina , Mota-Reyes Andrea , Orihuela Agustín , Hernández-Ávalos Ismael , Domínguez-Oliva Adriana , Casas-Alvarado Alejandro , Flores-Padilla Karla , Jacome-Romero Joseline , Martínez-Burnes Julio
Published: November 2022

Meconium Aspiration Syndrome is a condition that causes respiratory distress in newborns due to occlusion and airway inflammation, and surfactant inactivation by meconium. This condition has been described in animal species such as canids, sheep, cattle, horses, pigs, and marine mammals. In its pathogenesis, the pulmonary epithelium activates a limited inflammatory response initiated by cytokines causing leukocyte chemotaxis, inhibition of phagocytosis, and pathogen destruction. Likewise, cytokines release participates in the apoptosis processes of pneumocytes due to the interaction of angiotensin with cytokines and the caspase pathway. Due to these reactions, the prevalent signs are lung injury, hypoxia, acidosis, and pneumonia with susceptibility to infection. Given the importance of the pathophysiological mechanism of meconium aspiration syndrome, this review aims to discuss the relevance of the syndrome in veterinary medicine. The inflammatory processes caused by meconium aspiration in animal models will be analyzed, and the cellular apoptosis and biochemical processes of pulmonary surfactant inactivation will be discussed.
Prevalence of Mycobacterium avium Subsp. paratuberculosis in Feral Pigeons (Columba livia) Associated with Difficulties Controlling Paratuberculosis in a Bovine Herd (Fighting Bull Breed)
Authors: Seva Juan , Sanes J. Manuel , Mas Alberto , Ramis Guillermo , Sánchez Joaquín , Párraga-Ros Ester
Published: November 2022

A bovine herd with a high prevalence of paratuberculosis (PTB) cohabiting with a population of pigeons was studied (2011–2020). After finding the disease in 2011, annual monitoring was performed in 2012–2014 by obtaining blood samples for ELISA and intradermal tuberculinization (IT) tests for Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP). Positive animals were eliminated. PTB prevalence dropped from 10% to 0% but returned to similar values (9.5%) after 6 years without tests. In all animals, Ac values according to the optical density (OD) determined by ELISA increased each year and could be used to isolate herds close to the cutoff point to improve PTB control. Possible reservoirs were considered after evaluating the little success of the PTB control program, and the population of feral pigeons was studied. Specifically, 10% of the pigeon population (n = 13) was necropsied. Samples of intestine, feces, and foot skin for PCR study for MAP and samples of terminal intestine for histopathological analysis were taken. Eleven pigeons were PCR-positive against MAP, in the intestine (10/11), foot skin (3/11), and feces (1/11). The presence of MAP in pigeon feet could demonstrate its role as a mechanical disseminator of PTB, while the presence in pigeon intestine and feces could also suggest its role as a reservoir.
Provision of High-Quality Molasses Blocks to Improve Productivity and Address Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Smallholder Cattle and Buffalo: Studies from Lao PDR
Authors: Windsor Peter Andrew , Hill Julian
Published: November 2022

Large ruminant production in developing countries is inefficient with low growth rates and likely high greenhouse gas emissions per unit of meat or milk produced. Trials conducted in Lao PDR from 2017 to 2020, studied ad libitum supplementation for 12 weeks with 20 kg high-quality molasses nutrient blocks (Four Seasons Pty Ltd., Brisbane, Australia), that were either non-medicated; fenbendazole-medicated (Panacur100®, Coopers Australia, 5 g/kg); triclabendazole-medicated (Fasinex®, Novartis Australia, 5 g/kg or 10 g/kg, respectively); or formulated with urea (8% or 10% urea, respectively). Average daily gains were determined for access to all molasses blocks and compared with access to control blocks, no supplementation, or previously determined free-grazing baseline average daily gains (55–84 g in cattle; 92–106 g in buffalo). Productivity was significantly improved following access to all molasses blocks. Average daily gains following access to 8% urea and control blocks were calculated for three age cohorts of cattle: young calves <8 m (238–298 g), growing cattle (143–214 g) and lactating cows (179–191 g). Modelling using IPCC Inventory software model V 2.69 of published data demonstrated a conservative net abatement of 350 kg CO2e was achievable over a 200-day feeding period. An additional trial of Emissions control blocks (n = 200) distributed to farmers (n = 60) and two educational institutions were conducted. Consumption rates (156 g/day) and farmer and institutional acceptance of these blocks were similar to our published findings with other molasses blocks, confirming all formulations of blocks improved animal productivity and body condition score, with healthier animals that were easier to manage. Modelling of changes in greenhouse gas emissions intensity identified an abatement of 470 kg CO2e per Emissions control blocks consumed, delivering a total project emissions abatement of 94 t CO2e. Provision of high-quality molasses blocks significantly improved smallholder large ruminant productivity and addition of greenhouse gas reducing agents is likely to achieve impressive abatement of greenhouse gas emissions due to improved efficiency of rumen fermentation and productivity.
Compost Dairy Barn Layout and Management Recommendations in Kentucky: A Descriptive Study
Authors: Damasceno Flávio Alves , Day George B. , Taraba Joseph L. , Oliveira Carlos Eduardo Alves , Andrade Rafaella Resende , Frigeri Karen Dal Magro , Vieira Frederico Márcio Corrêa , Barbari Matteo , Bambi Gianluca
Published: November 2022

This study was conducted to describe the building layout and dimensions, characterize the bedding material, and observe the management practices in 42 compost-bedded pack (CBP) barns in Kentucky (USA). The average herd size found in the study was 90 cows and the breeds consisted of Jersey (6.8%), Holstein (72.7%), and mixed (20.5%). The average CBP barn dimensions were 49.1 m (length) by 21.9 m (width). Many of these barns had feed alleys and driveways; overshot ridges with frequent orientation from NE to SW; and green sawdust, kiln-dried sawdust, or a mixture of both as the most common bedding materials. The bed-turning process was performed mechanically at depths of less than 0.25 m, and the loading of fresh material was performed every one to five weeks, varying by season, weather conditions, barn size, and cow density. The average bedding moisture content was found to be 59.0% (wet bulb—w.b.) and ranged from 36.2 to 71.8%. Coliforms were not present in barns that had a higher compost temperature, and the E. coli, Bacillus, and Streptococcus counts were higher in the barns that had a lower moisture content. In conclusion, it was observed that heterogeneous management was used among the barns and that the producers were satisfied with the compost barn system.
Real-Time Stereo Visual Odometry Based on an Improved KLT Method
Authors: Guo Guangzhi , Dai Zuoxiao , Dai Yuanfeng
Published: November 2022

Real-time stereo visual odometry (SVO) localization is a challenging problem, especially for a mobile platform without parallel computing capability. A possible solution is to reduce the computational complexity of SVO using a Kanade–Lucas–Tomasi (KLT) feature tracker. However, the standard KLT is susceptible to scale distortion and affine transformation. Therefore, this work presents a novel SVO algorithm yielding robust and real-time localization based on an improved KLT method. First, in order to improve real-time performance, feature inheritance is applied to avoid time-consuming feature detection and matching processes as much as possible. Furthermore, a joint adaptive function with respect to the average disparity, translation velocity, and yaw angle is proposed to determine a suitable window size for the adaptive KLT tracker. Then, combining the standard KLT method with an epipolar constraint, a simplified KLT matcher is introduced to substitute feature-based stereo matching. Additionally, an effective veer chain matching scheme is employed to reduce the drift error. Comparative experiments on the KITTI odometry benchmark show that the proposed method achieves significant improvement in terms of time performance than the state-of-the-art single-thread approaches and strikes a better trade-off between efficiency and accuracy than the parallel SVO or multi-threaded SLAM.
Sedimentological Analysis of the Turbidite Sequence in the Northern Part of the West Crocker Formation, Northwest Sabah
Authors: Mohd Radzir Nurul Afifah , Ali Che Aziz , Mohamed Kamal Roslan
Published: November 2022

Gravity-flow deposits form the northern part of the Crocker Formation (Oligocene–Early Miocene), with the most significant interpretation as a sand-rich system in the proximal and a mud-rich system in the distal area of the deep-water turbidite depositional setting. Seven outcrop localities in the northern-part area were selected for mapping and sampling, starting from Kota Kinabalu up to the Telipok area to evaluate the sedimentary sequence. This study used mapping, field observation, and log sketches in the field, as well as extensive analysis and interpretation of sedimentological methods to investigate the sequence of sediment outcrops in the Crocker Formation area of northwest Sabah. During the fieldwork, five main facies were found, namely, massive sandstone facies (f1), graded sandstone facies (f2), laminated sandstone facies (f3), interbedded sandstone and mudstone facies (f4), and mudstone facies (f5). These northern-part outcrops are interpreted as being deposited from the highest to the lowest turbidity currents and the actuality of pelagic mudstone deposition, based on their fining-coarsening-upward pattern. The five geometrical bodies were proposed as laterally contiguous depositional environments, namely, (1) inner fan channel, (2) inner fan channel–levee complex, (3) mid-fan channelized lobes, (4) non-channelized lobes/distal lobes, and (5) basin plains. The facies interpretation shows that the study area consists of lobes, channel–levee complexes, and levees formed in a fan of a deep-water basin setting, with the basinal plain enveloped by thick mudstone deposits. This northern part of the Crocker Formation is interpreted as a multiple-sourced sediment, shelf-fed, Type II, low-efficiency, and sand-rich turbidite depositional system.
Seasonal Variation of Aerosol Composition and Sources of Water-Soluble Organic Carbon in an Eastern City of China
Authors: Li Jiameng , Chen Linghong , Bao Zhier , Zhang Xin , Xu Huifeng , Gao Xiang , Cen Kefa
Published: November 2022

The mitigation of aerosol pollution is a great challenge in many cities in China, due to the complex sources and formation mechanism of particulate matter (PM) in different seasons. To understand the particular features of pollution in China and formulate different targeted policies, aerosol samples of PM2.5 were collected from January to October of 2018 in Longyou. The temporal profile of the meteorological parameters and the concentrations of water-soluble inorganic ions (WSIs) and organic matter (OM) were characterized. An Aerodyne High-Resolution Time-of-Flight Aerosol Mass Spectrometer (HR-TOF-AMS) was also applied to further analyze the composition of water-soluble organic carbon (WSOC). The sources of WSOC were resolved by positive matrix factorization (PMF) analysis. The origin of air parcels and potential sources of WSOC were analyzed using a backward trajectory and potential source contribution function (PSCF). Winds from the northeast dominated each sampling period, and the relative humidity did not show a significant difference. The results showed that the proportion of OM in PM2.5 was the highest in summer and decreased in spring, autumn, and winter in turn. Four organic aerosol (OA) factors, including a hydrocarbon-like factor, a coal combustion factor, and two oxygenated OA factors, were identified in the WSOC by means of PMF analysis. The hydrocarbon-like OA (HOA) contributed the majority of the WSOC in summer, while the contribution of the coal-combustion OA (CCOA) increased significantly in winter, suggesting the presence of different sources of WSOC in different seasons. The air parcels from the north of China and Zhejiang province contributed to the CCOA in winter, while those from the marine regions in the south and southeast of China mainly contributed to the HOA during spring and summer. The weighted PSCF (WPSCF) analysis showed that the regions of east Zhejiang province were the main contributors, which means that local and regional emissions were the most probable source areas of WSOC. It implied that not only were the emissions control of both local and regional emissions important but also that the transport of pollutants needed to be sufficiently well accounted for to ensure the successful implementation of air pollution mitigation in Longyou.
Probabilistic Forecast of Visibility at Gimpo, Incheon, and Jeju International Airports Using Weighted Model Averaging
Authors: Choi Hee-Wook , Han Keunhee , Kim Chansoo
Published: November 2022

In this study, weighted model averaging (WMA) was applied to calibrating ensemble forecasts generated using Limited-area ENsemble prediction System (LENS). WMA is an easy-to-implement post-processing technique that assigns a greater weight to the ensemble member forecast that exhibits better performance; it is used to provide probabilistic visibility forecasting in the form of a predictive probability density function for ensembles. The predictive probability density function is a mixture of discrete point mass and two-sided truncated normal distribution components. Observations were obtained at Gimpo, Incheon, and Jeju International Airports, and 13 ensemble member forecasts were obtained using LENS, for the period of December 2018 to June 2019. Prior to applying WMA, a reliability analysis was conducted using rank histograms and reliability diagrams to identify the statistical consistency between the ensembles and the corresponding observations. The WMA method was then applied to each raw ensemble model, and a weighted predictive probability density function was proposed. Performances were evaluated using the mean absolute error, the continuous ranked probability score, the Brier score, and the probability integral transform. The results showed that the proposed method provided improved performance compared with the raw ensembles, indicating that the raw ensembles were well calibrated using the predicted probability density function.