bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Restlessness and an Increased Urge to Move (Drive for Activity) in Anorexia Nervosa May Strengthen Personal Motivation to Maintain Caloric Restriction and May Augment Body Awareness and Proprioception: A Lesson From Leptin Administration in Anorexia Nervosa
Authors: Casper Regina C.
Published: July 2022

Anorexia nervosa (AN), a disorder of voluntary food restriction leading to severe weight loss in female adolescents, remains an enigma. In particular, the appropriation of the starved thin body into the self-concept in AN is a process insufficiently researched and still poorly understood. Healthy humans undergoing starvation experience a slowing of movements and avoid voluntary exercise. By contrast, AN tends to be not infrequently associated with voluntary, sometimes excessive and/or compulsive exercise. Such deliberate exercise, not reported in starvation, seems to be facilitated by an increased urge for movement and physical restlessness, particular to AN. The increased urge to move would reflect spontaneous daily activity, the energy expended for everything that is not sleeping, eating, or voluntary exercise. Our hypothesis is that the starvation-induced increased urge to move and restlessness may promote the development of AN. Reversal of the fasting state, by either high caloric food or by leptin administration, would be expected to reduce restlessness and the increased urge to move along with improvement in other symptoms in AN. This review explores the idea that such restless activation in AN, in itself and through accelerating body weight loss, might foster the integration of the starving body into the self-concept by (1) enhancing the person’s sense of self-control and sense of achievement and (2) through invigorating proprioception and through intensifying the perception of the changing body shape. (3) Tentative evidence from studies piloting leptin administration in chronic AN patients which support this hypothesis is reviewed. The findings show that short term administration of high doses of leptin indeed mitigated depressive feelings, inner tension, intrusive thoughts of food, and the increased urge to be physically active, easing the way to recovery, yet had little influence on the patients’ personal commitment to remain at a low weight. Full recovery then requires resolution of the individuals’ personal unresolved psychological conflicts through psychotherapy and frequently needs specialized treatment approaches to address psychiatric co-morbidities. AN might be conceptualized as a hereditary form of starvation resistance, facilitated by the effects of starvation on fitness allowing for an exceptionally intense personal commitment to perpetuate food restriction.
Learning leadership and feedback seeking behavior: Leadership that spurs feedback seeking
Authors: Crans Samantha , Aksentieva Persiana , Beausaert Simon , Segers Mien
Published: July 2022

Lifelong learning is crucial for professionals to continuously develop and update their knowledge and skills, and for organizations to create and sustain competitive advantage. In this regard, feedback seeking is a powerful vehicle to gain new knowledge and insights in one’s development and performance. The current research dives deeper in the concept of feedback seeking by investigating the act and use of feedback as well as multiple feedback seeking methods. Leadership as a contextual factor can affect employees’ feedback seeking behavior. As such, this study also explores the role of learning leadership for feedback seeking. Learning leadership supports, facilitates and encourages employees’ professional development. To address these aims, two independent studies were conducted. Study 1 was a quantitative, survey study that investigated the direct relationship between learning leadership and (the act and use of) feedback seeking. Study 2 was a qualitative, interview study that explored which concrete learning leadership behaviors were linked to different methods of feedback seeking. The findings confirmed the pivotal role of leaders in employees’ feedback seeking behavior and provided an overview of concrete learning leadership behaviors.
Students' motivation for rubric use in the EFL classroom assessment environment
Authors: He Chunxiu , Zeng Jiayan , Chen Jianlin
Published: July 2022

The effectiveness of a rubric depends on how it is enacted. Although students' efforts in rubric use vary, few studies have investigated the hidden motivations when rubrics are utilized for classroom assessment. This qualitative study attempts to categorize students' effort in rubric use and identify personal differences and contextual factors influencing the effort in the EFL classroom assessment environment. A total of 79 students at a Chinese university participated in the study. The data collected included their classroom oral presentation results and nine case study informants' retrospective interviews on their processes of rubric use. Focuses were drawn upon students' perceptions and practices of rubric use throughout the task process. Totally, three types of effort patterns emerged in light of students' self-ratings and descriptions of the use. The intense kind held firm trust in rubric utility and thus utilized the rubric to develop the targeted competence throughout the whole process. The medium type either selectively followed the rubric in optional phases of the process due to their judgments of the rubric and the task. The loose type was least responsive to the rubric since their actions seemed largely affected by their self-efficacy and prior experience. Results showed that students' effort in rubric use in classroom assessment was the outcome of cognitive appraisals of a rubric, students themselves, and a task. The study highlights trait motivation and task motivation in the effectiveness of rubric use in assessment practices. Implications on rubric employment and task design are drawn to tap students' motivation for rubric use to achieve assessment for learning.
Role of Extrinsic Cues in the Formation of Quality Perceptions
Authors: Javeed Anam , Aljuaid Mohammed , Khan Zoya , Mahmood Zahid , Shahid Duaa
Published: July 2022

Examining the quality perceptions of consumers has often been recommended as an international research paradigm. This study is grounded in the Pakistani consumer market to evaluate the impact of food packaging cues on perceived product quality. The moderating effect of consumer knowledge was also taken into consideration in the study. A signaling theory was used in the study for its established predictive power in consumer behavior, marketing, and various fields of research. Based on the essence of the signaling theory, this study hypothesized that food packaging cues cast a positive impact on perceived product quality and consumer knowledge moderates these relationships. By using the sample of 504 consumers, data were gathered using the mall intercept method following a multi-stage sampling technique. The responses were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social sciences (SPSS) and Smart Partial Least Square (PLS). The findings of this study unveil that the extrinsic cues' brand name, price, nutritional labels, and precautionary labels were positively and significantly related to the perceived product quality. However, the country of origin cast no impact on the perceived product quality. Consumer knowledge reflected a moderation effect on the relationships between brand name and country of origin with the perceived product quality whereas it exerted no moderation impact on the relationships of price, nutritional labels, and precautionary labels with the perceived product quality. As the results exhibit that Pakistani consumers rely on food packaging cues for perceiving a product, hence it is recommended that marketers and policymakers develop appropriate marketing strategies focused on the significance of food packaging cues.
A value-oriented psychological contract: Generational differences amidst a global pandemic
Authors: Deas Alda , Coetzee Melinde
Published: July 2022

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the landscape of working conditions world-wide, fast tracking the reality of the digital-driven workplace. Concepts such as remote working, working-from-home and hybrid working models are now considered as the “new normal.” Employes are expected to advance, flourish and survive in this digitally connected landscape. Different age and generational groups may experience this new organizational landscape differently and may expect different organizational outcomes in exchange for their inputs. Accordingly, the study investigated differences regarding the value-oriented psychological contract expectations of employes from different generational groups. An ANOVA test for significant mean differences and a post hoc test for multiple comparisons were conducted on a sample of (N = 293) employes in the services industry in Southern Africa (85%) and other European countries (15%). The observed generational cohort differences regarding value-orientated psychological contract expectations for job characteristics and work-life balance could be utilized to develop interventions and strategies to promote retention of employes in the post-pandemic digital-orientated workplace.
Investigating employee perceptions: Association between recognized individual talents and social wellbeing
Authors: Björk Janina M. , Bolander Pernilla , Forsman Anna K.
Published: July 2022

Background

Organizations worldwide increasingly adopt inclusive talent management, and this approach appears to rhyme particularly well with the Nordic welfare model. Questions about its value remain understudied, however. The inclusive approach is rooted in positive psychology and focuses on recognizing each employee's individual talents and assessing whether they fit the long-term needs of the organization, since a fit is assumed to be associated with employees' wellbeing. In the present study, we test this assumption focusing specifically on a key talent management practice, talent identification, and the social dimension of employee wellbeing.

Method

Data were collected through an employee survey conducted within the Finnish units of four international manufacturing organizations and analyzed using logistic regression (n = 618).

Results

We found that the recognition of individual talents for long-term deployment by the organization is positively associated with social wellbeing in terms of supervisor support and social climate in the work unit, as perceived by the employees.

Conclusion

Our results tentatively suggest that inclusive talent management creates value through the identification of employees' individual talents as this practice can be associated with their enhanced wellbeing.
Psychosocial characteristics of victims of special fraud among Japanese older adults: A cross-sectional study using scam vulnerability scale
Authors: Ueno Daisuke , Arakawa Masashi , Fujii Yasunori , Amano Shoka , Kato Yuka , Matsuoka Teruyuki , Narumoto Jin
Published: July 2022

Despite the police preventing special fraud victimisation of older adults, both the number of cases and the amount of damage have remained high in Japan. ‘Special fraud’, in Japan, is a crime in which victims are tricked by fraudsters who through phone or postcards impersonate the victims’ relatives, employees and other associates, to dupe the victims of their cash or other valuables. The number of recognised cases of special fraud has been turned to increase in 2021. Although police or consumer affairs administrations have been conducting all-encompassing enlightenment or public education for prevention, it is also necessary to reach out to those who are vulnerable to fraud. In this study, we determine the psychosocial characteristics of victims of special fraud in Japanese older adults. We analysed the age, gender, education, residential status, household satisfaction, risk perception and scam vulnerability scale of 56 older adults aged 60 years or older (mean age: 79.34 ± 7.51 years, 49 women) who had been victims of special fraud and 99 older adults aged 60 years or older (mean age: 77.73 ± 5.69 years, 61 women) who had never been victims of special fraud. The study found that the victimised older adults were more likely to be females who live alone and go out less frequently than the non-victimised older adults. The total scores of the scam vulnerability scale were higher among the elderly victims of special fraud compared to those who had never been scammed, suggesting that the psychosocial characteristics of victims of special fraud among older adults are being female, living alone, going out infrequently, having high confidence against fraud victimisation and responding quickly to phone calls and unknown visitors. Therefore, government agencies or family members should take care of older women who meet these characteristics to reduce their contact with fraudsters.
Characteristics of top management team and Chinese tax planning nexus: Findings from a fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis
Authors: Jiang Haiming , Kim Eunyoung
Published: July 2022

A top management team (TMT) has been identified as one of the key factors driving changes in tax planning strategy. Based on upper echelons theory, this study investigates whether configurations of TMT characteristics influence enterprise tax planning strategy by using the fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA). Using a panel data of China public companies, we found three configurations conducive to aggressive tax planning and two combinations conducive to low tax planning. Specifically, the level of education, tenure, age, career experience, and size of the top management team affect a firm’s propensity to engage in tax planning. Further, the results show that top management teams are not alike and highlight the differences in how these characteristics combine to impact tax planning.
The promising role of probiotics/prebiotics/synbiotics in energy metabolism biomarkers in patients with NAFLD: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Li Shudi , Liu Jiangkai , Wang Zhen , Duan Fei , Jia Zi , Chen Xinju , Li Suling
Published: July 2022

Background

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a chronic liver disease with a high prevalence worldwide, seriously harming human health, and its pathogenesis remains unclear. In recent years, increasing evidence has indicated that intestinal microbiota plays an important role in the occurrence and development of NAFLD. The regulation method of probiotics/prebiotics/synbiotics can alter the intestinal microbiota and has been suggested as an option in the treatment of NAFLD.

Methods

Five databases of PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library, clinicaltrails.gov, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure were searched initially, and then the eligible studies were screened. Finally, the data of included studieswere extracted, combined and analyzed

Results

A total of 29 randomized controlled trials involving 2,110 patients were included in this study. The results showed that using probiotics/prebiotics/synbiotics in the intervention group could reduce the levels of glucose (SMD = −0.23, 95% CI [−0.45, −0.01], P = 0.04), HOMA-IR (SMD = −0.47, 95% CI [−0.63, −0.31], P < 0.00001) and insulin (SMD = −0.46, 95% CI [−0.76, −0.16], P = 0.002) in sugar metabolism; in terms of lipid metabolism, the levels of TC (SMD = −0.62, 95%CI [−0.87, −0.36], P < 0.00001), and LDL-C (SMD = −0.57, 95%CI [−0.85, −0.28], P < 0.00001) were decreased; and the level of ALB was decreased in protein metabolism (SMD = −0.34, 95%CI [−0.61, −0.06], P = 0.02).

Conclusions

Based on the current evidence, probiotics/prebiotics/synbiotics may improve energy metabolism biomarkers in the NAFLD population, but these effects still need to be confirmed by further research.

Systematic Review Registration

https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/#aboutpage.
Ranking Methodology for Evaluating Region-Wise COVID-19 Testing Performance in India
Authors: Kaur Jasmine , Kaur Jasleen , Singh Harpreet
Published: July 2022

For containment of COVID-19, most countries are following the isolate, test, treat and trace approach. Following the approach, India scaled up COVID-19 testing from about 5,000 tests per day at the end of March 2020 to more than 1 M tests per day in September 2020. Testing scale-up has seen a huge variation across states and union territories (UTs) with respect to growth rates, testing strategies, testing infrastructure, and deployment of various kit types (RT-PCR, Antigen, CBNAAT, etc). To understand the gaps in testing and prioritize appropriate interventions, it is important for national stakeholders to evaluate and rank states/UTs based on their testing performance. Indicators like total samples tested, total samples positive, tests per million, and positives per million are currently being used by epidemiologists and researchers for comparing the performance of various regions. This article proposes a robust ranking methodology to rank the states/UTs in India based on a comprehensive scoring developed by combining multiple variables for evaluating the testing performance of states/UTs. Since RT-PCR testing is considered the gold standard for COVID-19 testing, the composite score for testing performance in this article is defined by the ability of states/UTs to successfully deploy RT-PCR testing and reduce its positivity over time. Evaluating region-wise ranking can enable the identification of areas requiring immediate attention in poorly performing regions, thus channelizing efforts and resources in the right direction.
Organizational commitment of emergency physician and its related factors: A national cross-sectional survey in China
Authors: Peng Ke , Han Xiaotong , Jiang Nan , An Rongrong , Lv Chuanzhu , Yan Shijiao
Published: July 2022

Background

Organizational commitment is important for job performance and employee retention. However, studies on the level of organizational commitment and its related factors among emergency physicians in China are scarce. Therefore, this study aimed to identify the factors associated with organizational commitment among emergency physicians in China.

Methods

A national cross-sectional study was conducted in 2018 among emergency physicians in China. Data were collected from 10,457 emergency physicians using a standard structured anonymous questionnaire, including demographic characteristics, organizational structure factors and work environment factors. A generalized linear model was used to explore the correlation between the independent variables and organizational commitment.

Results

In this study, 55.3% of emergency physicians reported a moderate level of organizational commitment. The physicians who were male, younger than 40 years old, had a mid-level title and had a lower average monthly income were more likely to show lower organizational commitment levels. Conversely, the organizational commitment was higher among physicians who perceived that promotion is easy and the number of emergency physicians meet their daily work or had not experienced workplace violence in the last year.

Conclusions

The study showed that organizational commitment among Chinese emergency physicians was moderate and related to gender, age, monthly income, frequency of daily visits, departmental promotion mechanism and workplace violent. Targeted interventions are needed to improve the organizational commitment of emergency physicians in a comprehensive way.
The Arizona Prevention Research Center partnerships in Arizona to promote COVID-19 vaccine health equity
Authors: Nuño Tomas , Sierra Lidia Azurdia , Wilkinson-Lee Ada , Carvajal Scott , de Zapien Jill , Coulter Kiera , Figueroa Carlos , Morales Mario , Sepulveda Ramses , Sepulveda Refugio , Ingram Maia
Published: July 2022

Background

Vaccine hesitancy in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic is a complex issue that undermines our national ability to reduce the burden of the disease and control the pandemic. The COVID-19 pandemic revealed widening health disparities and disproportionate adverse health outcomes in terms of transmission, hospitalizations, morbidity and mortality among Arizona's Latinx rural, underserved, farmworker, disabled and elderly populations. In March 2021, ~8.1% of those vaccinated were Latinx, though Latinxs make up 32% of Arizona's population. The Arizona Vaccine Confidence Network (AzVCN) proposed to leverage the expertise of the Arizona Prevention Research Center (AzPRC) and the resources of the Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health (MEZCOPH) Mobile Health Unit (MHU) to identify, implement and evaluate a MHU intervention to increase uptake of COVID-19 vaccines.

Methods

The AzVCN focused efforts on Latinx, rural, un/underinsured and farmworker communities in the four Arizona border counties that are at greater risk of COVID-19 morbidity and mortality and may have limited access to vaccination and other essential health services. The AzVCN used listening sessions to create a feedback loop with key stakeholders and critical health care workers to validate barriers/enablers and identify solutions to increase vaccination uptake emerging from the network. The AzVCN also implemented a community-based intervention using community health workers (CHWs) based in a MHU to increase knowledge of the COVID-19 vaccines, reduce vaccination hesitancy and increase vaccination uptake among Latinx rural, un/underinsured and farmworker populations in Southern Arizona.

Results

AzVCN outcomes include: identification of enablers and barriers of COVID-19 vaccination in the priority populations; identification of strategies and solutions to address vaccine hesitancy and increase vaccine uptake among priority population; and evidence that the proposed solutions being tested through the AzVCN contribute to increased vaccine uptake among the priority populations.

Conclusion

Through these efforts the AzPRC contributed to the CDC's Vaccinate with Confidence Strategy by collaborating with CHWs and other key stakeholders to engage directly with communities in identifying and addressing structural and misinformation barriers to vaccine uptake.
Recent advances of eosinophils and its correlated diseases
Authors: Tao Zhang , Zhu Hua , Zhang Jiateng , Huang Zhiming , Xiang Ze , Hong Tu
Published: July 2022

Eosinophils are differentiated by bone marrow multipotent progenitor cells and are further released into peripheral blood after maturation. Human eosinophils can exhibit unique multi-leaf nuclear morphology, which are filled with cytoplasmic granules that contain cytotoxicity and immune regulatory proteins. In recent years, many studies focused on the origin, differentiation and development process of eosinophils. It has been discovered that the eosinophils have the regulatory functions of innate and adaptive immunity, and can also function in several diseases, including asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases, acute respiratory distress syndrome, malignant tumors and so on. Hence, the role and effects of eosinophils in various diseases are emphasized. In this review, we comprehensively summarized the development and differentiation process of eosinophils, the research progress of their related cytokines, diseases and current clinical treatment options, and discussed the potential drug target, aiming to provide a theoretical and practical basis for the clinical prevention and treatment of eosinophil-related diseases, especially respiratory diseases. To conclude, the guiding significance of future disease treatment is proposed based on the recent updated understandings into the cell functions of eosinophils.
Associations of specific types of physical activities with 10-year risk of cardiovascular disease among adults: Data from the national health and nutrition examination survey 1999–2006
Authors: Huang Bingsen , Wang Qian , Wang Xin , Wang Lei , Ma Peiyao , Wang Fengling , Du Changchun
Published: July 2022

Background

Physical activity plays a key role in the prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, previous studies focused predominantly on the associations of the total amount of physical activity with CVD. There were few evidences on the associations of specific sport disciplines with CVD. Furthermore, little was known on the interactions between the different types of sports on CVD risk. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the independent associations of specific types of physical activities with the 10-year risk of CVD, and further evaluate the interactions between specific types of physical activities on the 10-year risk of CVD in US adults.

Methods

This study used the data of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 1999-2006. Participants aged ≥ 30 years and with free of CVD were eligible. The physical activity questionnaire is used to collect general information on leisure-time activities in the past 30 days, including the frequency, duration, and intensity of participation in each activity. The exposures of interest included cycling, swimming, aerobics, running, American Football, basketball, and racquet sports. The Framingham risk score algorithm was used to assess 10-year CVD risk based on age, high density lipoprotein, total cholesterol, systolic blood pressure, smoking status, and diabetes. A higher total score reflects a greater risk of CVD.

Results

This study included 10829 participants. Compared to no participation, participation in cycling (β = −0.890, 95% CI:−1.278,−0.502, P < 0.001), running (β = −1.466, 95% CI:−1.837,−1.095, P < 0.001), American Football (β = −2.934, 95% CI:−3.750,−2.119, P < 0.001), basketball (β = −1.968, 95% CI:−2.645,−1.291, P < 0.001), and aerobics (β = −0.980, 95% CI:−1.352,−0.608, P < 0.001) was associated with a lower CVD risk. Furthermore, cycling was antagonistic with basketball and racquet sports in the associations with CVD risk. An antagonistic action between swimming and aerobics was also observed. Nevertheless, running was synergistic with cycling, aerobics, and racquet sports in the associations with CVD risk.

Conclusions

There were inverse associations of specific types of physical activities with CVD risk. Furthermore, there might be synergistic and antagonistic associations of multiple types of physical activities with CVD risk.
Spatial Orientation in Cardiac Ultrasound Images Using Mixed Reality: Design and Evaluation
Authors: Maddali Dharani , Brun Henrik , Kiss Gabriel , Hjelmervik Jon Mikkelsen , Elle Ole Jakob
Published: July 2022

Spatial orientation is an important skill in structural cardiac imaging. Until recently, 3D cardiac ultrasound has been visualized on a flat screen by using volume rendering. Mixed reality devices enhance depth perception, spatial awareness, interaction, and integration in the physical world, which can prove advantageous with 3D cardiac ultrasound images. In this work, we describe the design of a system for rendering 4D (3D + time) cardiac ultrasound data as virtual objects and evaluate it for ease of spatial orientation by comparing it with a standard clinical viewing platform in a user study. The user study required eight participants to do timed tasks and rate their experience. The results showed that virtual objects in mixed reality provided easier spatial orientation and morphological understanding despite lower perceived image quality. Participants familiar with mixed reality were quicker to orient in the tasks. This suggests that familiarity with the environment plays an important role, and with improved image quality and increased use, mixed reality applications may perform better than conventional 3D echocardiography viewing systems.
The relationship between interhemispheric asymmetries in polar ionospheric convection and the magnetic field line footpoint displacement field
Authors: Laundal Karl M. , Madelaire Michael , Ohma Anders , Reistad Jone , Hatch Spencer
Published: July 2022

Polar electrodynamics is largely controlled by solar wind and magnetospheric forcing. Different conditions can make plasma convection and magnetic field disturbances asymmetric between hemispheres. So far, these asymmetries have been studied in isolation. We present an explanation of how they are linked via displacements of magnetic field line footpoints between hemispheres, under the assumption of ideal magnetohydrodynamics. This displacement has so far been studied only on a point by point basis; here we generalize the concept to a 2D displacement vector field. We estimate displacement fields from average patterns of ionospheric convection using the Weimer et al. (J. Geophys. Res., 2005a, 110, A05306) model. These estimates confirm that the influence of the interplanetary magnetic field extends deep into the magnetosphere, as predicted by models and in-situ observations. Contrary to predictions, the displacement associated with dipole tilt appears uniform across the nightside, and it exceeds the effect of IMF By. While more research is needed to confirm these specific findings, our results demonstrate how ionospheric observations can be used to infer magnetospheric morphology, and that the displacement field is a critical component for understanding geospace as a coupled two-hemisphere system.
Theoretical framework for the determinants and management of food safety problem: A case study of the waste cooking oil issue in China
Authors: Chen Chuangbin , Chitose Atsushi , Kusadokoro Motoi , Bao Ligao , Nie Haisong
Published: July 2022

The public health issue of illegal waste cooking oil in China had become a well-known food safety problem since 2010, resulting in indigestion and stomach aches when they ate them unconsciously. The Chinese government has promulgated relevant food safety regulations to prevent this public health issue from worsening. Meanwhile, Chinese researchers have already conducted corresponding research and recommended several associated policy implementations; however, this illegal waste cooking oil issue persists more than 10 years later. Hence, a systematic and comprehensive analysis of the determinants and management of the waste cooking oil issue is needed to be reassessed. Unlike previous research based on first-hand data and the principles of grounded theory analysis, this novel research is the first attempt to employ second-hand data from 152 court judgments collected from the China Judgments Online official database by engaging the grounded theory analysis to develop a new theoretical framework. The results demonstrate that legal loopholes, food hygiene inspectors, and consumer self-protection consciousness are the three crucial determinant factors in this China's public health issue. As well, offender crime patterns and case characteristics play an essential role in leading to the final food safety. Furthermore, the demographic profiles of these public health criminals are also validated in the discussion part, including the criminals' age, educational background, the average judgment amount, and the sentencing span specific type of crime. Based on the findings, we propose three management guidelines for Chinese legislation: redefining the waste cooking oil issue, raising the hot pot restaurant sanitation permission threshold, and improving overall food safety awareness and education in communities. Importantly, our research outcomes could provide a new theoretical basis for China's waste cooking oil and other public health issues in China and even worldwide.
A holstein heifer infected with Neospora caninum NcUru3 congenitally transmits this strain to a viable offspring although infection does not protect her from aborting by a different N. caninum genotype in the subsequent gestation
Authors: Giannitti Federico , Aráoz Virginia , da Silva Silveira Caroline , Francia María E. , Robello Carlos , Cabrera Andrés
Published: July 2022

Neospora caninum is a leading cause of bovine abortion worldwide. Although the genetic diversity of this apicomplexan parasite has long been recognized, there is little information on whether infection with different genotypes results in different clinical outcomes or whether infection by a given genotype impairs protective immunity against abortion induced by different genotypes. Here, we provide evidence supporting that natural subclinical infection with isolate NcUru3 of N. caninum in a pregnant heifer did not provide protection against abortion caused by a different N. caninum genotype in the subsequent gestation. A Holstein heifer delivered a healthy calf congenitally infected with N. caninum. Specific anti-N. caninum IgG was detected by indirect ELISA in sera obtained from the dam at calving and the calf before ingestion of colostrum, indicating in utero exposure to the parasite in the latter. A N. caninum strain named NcUru3 was isolated and characterized by multilocus microsatellite typing from the brain of this neonate euthanized at 9 days of age. Sixty days after calving, the cow got pregnant, although she aborted spontaneously at ~6 months of gestation. Pathologic examination of the aborted fetus and placenta revealed typical lesions of neosporosis, including encephalitis, myocarditis, hepatitis, myositis, and placentitis. Neospora caninum DNA was amplified from the fetal brain, heart, kidney, and placenta, and multilocus microsatellite typing revealed a genotype that differed from isolate NcUru3 at the level of microsatellite marker 6A (MS6A). Serum obtained from the dam at the time of abortion had IgG that cross-recognized isolate NcUru3, as demonstrated by immunoblotting, indicating that the humoral immune response did not prevent the other genotype from infecting the fetus and inducing fetoplacental lesions and abortion. This is the first description of one same dam transmitting two N. caninum genotypes to her offspring in subsequent gestations.
Finding the “golden stocking density”: A balance between fish welfare and farmers' perspectives
Authors: Saraiva J. L. , Rachinas-Lopes P. , Arechavala-Lopez P.
Published: July 2022

The effects of stocking density on fish welfare are complex and involve many interacting parameters. This complex relationship between fish welfare, stocking density and influencing factors make it challenging to define a specific optimal (“golden”) stocking density. Indeed, previously published recommendations on stocking density for different species of aquaculture interest are incredibly variable even at the same life stage, and can also vary widely within a rearing unit. Production density can be estimated quite accurately if the farmer has good biomass control and a known water volume, but it is difficult to set minimum and maximum stocking density levels that will protect welfare. However, there is little doubt that stocking densities that are too low or too high can have negative impacts on welfare and/or production. Here, we propose how to select density on captive fish and monitor its potential effects integrating 1) solid welfare assessment based on operational welfare indicators and 2) good management practices. Regulation directly limiting stocking density is likely to be unworkable and ineffective, and a more rational option might be to prescribe acceptable levels of different welfare indicators (e.g., water quality, health, nutritional condition and behavioral indicators), which together with a positive economic balance of the company, allow to estimate the most suitable range of fish density for each particular species, life-stage and production systems.
Application of Bayesian Regression for the Identification of a Catchment Area for Cancer Cases in Dogs and Cats
Authors: Díaz Cao José Manuel , Kent Michael S. , Rupasinghe Ruwini , Martínez-López Beatriz
Published: July 2022

Research on cancer in dogs and cats, among other diseases, finds an important source of information in registry data collected from hospitals. These sources have proved to be decisive in establishing incidences and identifying temporal patterns and risk factors. However, the attendance of patients is not random, so the correct delimitation of the hospital catchment area (CA) as well as the identification of the factors influencing its shape is relevant to prevent possible biases in posterior inferences. Despite this, there is a lack of data-driven approaches in veterinary epidemiology to establish CA. Therefore, our aim here was to apply a Bayesian method to estimate the CA of a hospital. We obtained cancer (n= 27,390) and visit (n= 232,014) registries of dogs and cats attending the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital of the University of California, Davis from 2000 to 2019 with 2,707 census tracts (CTs) of 40 neighboring counties. We ran hierarchical Bayesian models with different likelihood distributions to define CA for cancer cases and visits based on the exceedance probabilities for CT random effects, adjusting for species and period (2000–2004, 2005–2009, 2010–2014, and 2015–2019). The identified CAs of cancer cases and visits represented 75.4 and 83.1% of the records, respectively, including only 34.6 and 39.3% of the CT in the study area. The models detected variation by species (higher number of records in dogs) and period. We also found that distance to hospital and average household income were important predictors of the inclusion of a CT in the CA. Our results show that the application of this methodology is useful for obtaining data-driven CA and evaluating the factors that influence and predict data collection. Therefore, this could be useful to improve the accuracy of analysis and inferences based on registry data.
Observational study of the effect of metaphylaxis treatment on feedlot cattle productivity and health
Authors: Maples William E. , Brorsen B. Wade , Peel Derrell , Hicks Britt
Published: July 2022

There is public pressure to reduce antimicrobial use in livestock production. Metaphylaxis usage raises special concern as it is given to a whole group of animals. The objective of this research was to determine the difference in cattle productivity and health (average daily gain, death loss, etc.) between cattle given metaphylaxis and those to which it was not given. Observational data were provided by a commercial feedlot in the Southern Great Plains region of the U.S.A. with an operating capacity >50,000 head. Cattle that received metaphylaxis treatment had substantially poorer health outcomes than those that did not. Cattle were more likely to have been given metaphylaxis treatment if they had a lower weight, were from a sale barn, or had been shipped long distances. Propensity score matching was used in an attempt to estimate the effect of metaphylaxis treatment on feedlot cattle. Propensity score matching was unable to overcome the endogeneity issues present in the data (endogeneity results from the animals being more likely to benefit from the treatment being the ones who received it). The dataset had information on cattle weight, state of purchase, and whether or not the cattle were from a sale barn, and so the feedlot must have based the treatment decision on information that was not recorded and therefore not included in the dataset. As an observational study, there are limitations in addition to data limitations, such as the possibility that the feedlot studied might not be representative of others. Even though the effect of metaphylaxis was not identified, the fact that it was unidentifiable supports the argument that the feedlot did treat the animals most likely to need metaphylaxis treatment. This should temper some fear of metaphylaxis treatment being overused and of antimicrobials being given needlessly.
Case report: Presumed contact lens-induced intracorneal hemorrhage in a diabetic dog
Authors: Jung Sunjun , Park Shin Ae
Published: July 2022

A 10-year-old castrated male miniature poodle dog with diabetes mellitus was presented for a week history of blepharospasm and epiphora in the right eye. The spontaneous chronic corneal epithelial defect (SCCED) was diagnosed, and a bandage contact lens was applied following corneal debridement with sterile cotton-tip applicators. In 1 week, SCCED was improving uneventfully, though an annular pattern of intracorneal hemorrhage was observed. The contact lens was removed and the intracorneal hemorrhage resorbed in 4 weeks. To the author's knowledge, this is the first report of presumed contact lens-induced intracorneal hemorrhage characterized by an annular pattern in a dog.
Toward the unveiling of HIV-1 dynamics: Involvement of monocytes/macrophages in HIV-1 infection
Authors: Sukegawa Sayaka , Takeuchi Hiroaki
Published: July 2022

HIV-1 targets the monocyte/macrophage lineage and CD4+ T cells for its replication. The efficiency of infection, replication, and cell-to-cell spread differs between these cell types. These differences are caused by various factors such as viral tropism, viral proteins, host factors, and cell proliferation. However, the precise mechanisms of how macrophages influence HIV-1 infection have not been fully elucidated. Macrophages are long-lived cells susceptible to infection predominantly with R5-tropic strains of HIV-1. Although co-receptor use switches from CCR5 to CXCR4 in up to 50% of patients during AIDS progression, R5-tropic strains remain predominant in the remaining patients. Compared to HIV-1-infected T cells, infected macrophages are less susceptible to HIV-induced cytopathic effects and survive for more than a few weeks. Efforts to cure HIV-1 may be thwarted by the existence of reservoir cells that cannot be targeted by ART. Resting CD4+ T lymphocytes are thought to be the primary reservoir cells, but recent studies demonstrated that monocyte/macrophage lineage cells may also act as viral reservoirs. This review will focus on the impact of monocytes/macrophages during HIV-1 replication, the establishment of the reservoirs, and recent approaches toward HIV-1 eradication by specifically targeting monocyte/macrophage lineage cells.
Conversion of Thermal Energy to Gas Flow Kinetic Energy in the Bionic Leaf Stomata
Authors: Ūksas Tomas , Sirvydas Povilas Algimantas , Paulikienė Simona , Čingienė Rasa
Published: July 2022

In the technical field, the potential energy of gas under pressure is converted into mechanical kinetic energy by means of special complex channels. Leaf stomata perform a similar function in plant leaves. The shape of leaf stomata channels is much more sophisticated compared to gas flow transformation channels in energy production facilities. There is a biological prototype of a heat engine in the leaf, where leaf stomata convert thermal energy into mechanical kinetic energy of the flow with a change in leaf temperature. The paper presents experimental research on thermal energy conversion into mechanical kinetic energy of the flow in plant leaf stomata. The values of biological heat engine in a plant leaf and the associated processes are minute. The operation of the biological heat engine in a plant leaf was proven by indirect experimental measurements. After applying a light source flux to a plant leaf and inducing a temperature change in the tissues of the plant leaf, the rotational movements of a freely hanging plant leaf about the suspension axis were studied. When studying the dependence of plant leaf rotation movements on the area of the plant leaf, it was found that at a 150 W light source, the angle of rotation increased as the area of the plant leaf increased. For a plant leaf with an area of 52.5 ± 1.9 cm2, the angle of rotation reached 165°; 29.1 ± 1.1 cm2—143°; 16.0 ± 0.8 cm2—92°; and 9.2 ± 0.6 cm2—44°. The angular speed of plant leaf rotation was from 0.070–0.262 rad/s. The influence of light sources on the rotation angle of the plant leaf was studied; when illuminating the active leaf area of 25.0 ± 1.0 cm2 of the plant with a 40 W power light source, after 11 s, the rotation angle reached 31°, 60 W—97°, 100 W—131° and 150 W—134°. The effect of light sources (from 40 to 150 W) on the angular rotation speed of the plant leaf varies at 0.049–0.213 rad/s, respectively.
Effects of Dietary Lysine Levels on Growth Performance, Nutrient Digestibility, Serum Metabolites, and Meat Quality of Baqing Pigs
Authors: Hu Xuecai , Huo Bin , Yang Jiameng , Wang Kun , Huang Lingjie , Che Lianqiang , Feng Bin , Lin Yan , Xu Shengyu , Zhuo Yong , Wu Caimei , Wu De , Fang Zhengfeng
Published: July 2022

This study was carried out to determine the Lys requirements of Baqing pigs and the effects of different dietary lysine levels on growth performance, apparent nutrient digestibility, serum metabolites, and carcass and meat traits. A total of 120 castrated Baqing pigs were selected by body weight and randomly assigned to five dietary treatments with six replicate pens (4 pigs per pen, castrated) per treatment in a randomized complete block design. Five diets in mash form were formulated to contain SID Lys at 0.56%, 0.68%, 0.80%, 0.92%, and 1.04% of diet in phase 1 (20–40 kg), at 0.45%, 0.54%, 0.63%, 0.72%, and 0.81% of diet in phase 2 (40–60 kg), and at 0.39%, 0.47%, 0.55%, 0.63%, and 0.71% of diet in phase 3 (60–90 kg), respectively. The results showed that the bodyweight of pigs was not affected by dietary SID Lys content during each period. However, the addition of dietary SID Lys linearly reduced F/G in the first period and quadratically increased ADG during the second period (p < 0.05). The digestible energy (DE) was increased linearly and quadratically in the first phases with the dietary increased SID Lys levels, while DE was reduced in the third and second phases (p < 0.05). Increasing SID Lys contents linearly increased the serum TG concentration and quadratically decreased the serum GLU concentration, while linearly reducing the serum HDLC concentration of first period pigs (p < 0.05). Serum concentrations of TP, TG, TC, and LDLC were increased linearly with the increasing dietary SID Lys levels in the second period (p < 0.05). The serum concentrations of Lys increased quadratically, and histidine increased linearly with the increased dietary SID Lys levels (p < 0.05). Compared with the treatment three group, dietary SID Lys addition content at treatment four increased the shear force of the longissimus dorsi muscle (p < 0.05), but it did not affect the other carcass and meat traits. The optimal SID Lys requirement of 20–40 kg, 40–60 kg, and 60–90 kg of Baqing pigs fed corn–soybean meal-based diets is estimated to be 0.92%, 0.66%, and 0.55% of the diets by the quadratic curve models, respectively.
Is Silver the New Gold? A Systematic Review of the Preclinical Evidence of Its Use in Bone Substitutes as Antiseptic
Authors: Fiore Michele , Bruschi Alessandro , Giannini Claudio , Morante Lorenzo , Rondinella Claudia , Filippini Matteo , Sambri Andrea , De Paolis Massimiliano
Published: July 2022

Antibiotic-laden bone substitutes represent a viable option in the treatment of bone and joint infections with bone defects. In particular, the addition of silver ions or silver nanoparticles to bone substitutes to achieve local antiseptic activity could represent a further contribution, also helping to prevent bacterial resistance to antibiotics. An in-depth search of the main scientific databases was performed regarding the use of silver compounds for bone substitution. The available evidence is still limited to the preclinical level: 22 laboratory studies, 2 animal models, and 3 studies, with both in vitro and in vivo analysis, were found on the topic. Numerous biomaterials have been evaluated. In vitro studies confirmed that silver in bone substitutes retains the antibacterial activity already demonstrated in coatings materials. Cytotoxicity was generally found to be low and only related to silver concentrations higher than those sufficient to achieve antibacterial activity. Instead, there are only a few in vivo studies, which appear to confirm antibacterial efficacy, although there is insufficient evidence on the pharmacokinetics and safety profile of the compounds investigated. In conclusion, research on bone substitutes doped with silver is in its early stages, but the preliminary findings seem promising.