bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Efficacy and safety of neoadjuvant immunotherapy protocols and cycles for non-small cell lung cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Wang Huaiyong , Liang Song , Yu Yue , Han Yun
Published: January 2024

Objectives

This study evaluated the use of different neoadjuvant immunotherapy cycles and regimens for non-small cell lung cancer.

Materials and methods

Databases were searched for articles published up until December 2023. Data on the major pathologic response (MPR), complete pathologic response (pCR), radiological response, treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs), serious adverse events (SAEs), surgical resection, surgical complications, R0 resection, and conversion to thoracotomy were collected. A subgroup analysis was performed according to the treatment regimens and cycles. Stata/MP software was used for statistical analyses.

Results

In total, 2430 individuals were assessed from 44 studies. Compared with those following neoadjuvant immunotherapy alone (MPR/pCR/TRAEs/SAEs: ES=0.26/0.07/0.43/0.08, 95% CI: 0.18-0.34/0.04-0.10/0.28-0.58/0.04-0.14), the MPR and pCR rates, incidence of TRAEs and SAEs following neoadjuvant chemoimmunotherapy increased significantly (MPR/pCR/TRAEs/SAEs: ES=0.55/0.34/0.81/0.22, 95% CI: 0.48-0.63/0.28-0.41/0.69-0.90/0.13-0.33, P=0.001/0.002/0.009/0.034). No significant differences were found in the surgical resection, surgical complications, R0 resection, or conversion to thoracotomy. In the chemoimmunotherapy group, no statistically significant differences were found in the MPR and pCR rates, incidence of TRAEs and SAEs in the two-cycle, three-cycle and four-cycle groups (MPR/pCR/TRAEs/SAEs: ES=0.50;0.70;0.36/0.32;0.49;0.18/0.95;0.85;0.95/0.34;0.27;0.37, P=0.255/0.215/0.253/0.848). In the ICIs group, there was little change in the MPR and pCR rates, incidence of TRAEs and SAEs in the two-cycle group compared to the three-cycle group. (MPR/pCR/TRAEs/SAEs: ES=0.28;0.20/0.06;0.08/0.45;0.35/0.10;0.02, P=0.696/0.993/0.436/0.638). The neoadjuvant treatment cycle had no significant effect on surgical resection, surgical complications, R0 resection, or conversion to thoracotomy in both regimens.

Conclusion

Neoadjuvant chemoimmunotherapy significantly increased the rate of tumor pathological remission compared to neoadjuvant immunotherapy alone but also increased the incidence of TRAEs and SAEs. The efficacy and safety of neoadjuvant chemoimmunotherapy are found to be favorable when administered for a duration of three cycles, in comparison to both two and four cycles.

Systematic review registration

https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/#recordDetails, identifier CRD42023407415.
Analysis of metabolite and strain effects on cardiac cross-bridge dynamics using model linearisation techniques
Authors: Musgrave Julia H. , Han June-Chiew , Ward Marie-Louise , Taberner Andrew J. , Tran Kenneth
Published: January 2024

Multi-scale models of cardiac energetics are becoming crucial in better understanding the prevalent chronic diseases operating at the intersection of metabolic and cardiovascular dysfunction. Computationally efficient models of cardiac cross-bridge kinetics that are sensitive to changes in metabolite concentrations are necessary to simulate the effects of disease-induced changes in cellular metabolic state on cardiac mechanics across disparate spatial scales. While these models do currently exist, deeper analysis of how the modelling of metabolite effects and the assignment of strain dependence within the cross-bridge cycle affect the properties of the model is required. In this study, model linearisation techniques were used to simulate and interrogate the complex modulus of an ODE-based model of cross-bridge kinetics. Active complex moduli were measured from permeabilised rat cardiac trabeculae under five different metabolite conditions with varying ATP and Pi concentrations. Sensitivity to metabolites was incorporated into an existing three-state cross-bridge model using either a direct dependence or a rapid equilibrium approach. Combining the two metabolite binding methods with all possible locations of strain dependence within the cross-bridge cycle produced 64 permutations of the cross-bridge model. Using linear model analysis, these models were systematically explored to determine the effects of metabolite binding and their interaction with strain dependence on the frequency response of cardiac muscle. The results showed that the experimentally observed effects of ATP and Pi concentrations on the cardiac complex modulus could be attributed to their regulation of cross-bridge detachment rates. Analysis of the cross-bridge models revealed a mechanistic basis for the biochemical schemes which place Pi release following cross-bridge formation and ATP binding prior to cross-bridge detachment. In addition, placing strain dependence on the reverse rate of the cross-bridge power stroke produced the model which most closely matched the experimental data. From these analyses, a well-justified metabolite-sensitive model of rat cardiac cross-bridge kinetics is presented which is suitable for parameterisation with other data sets and integration with multi-scale cardiac models.
Eugenol improves salt tolerance via enhancing antioxidant capacity and regulating ionic balance in tobacco seedlings
Authors: Xu Jiaxin , Wang Tingting , Sun Changwei , Liu Peng , Chen Jian , Hou Xin , Yu Tao , Gao Yun , Liu Zhiguo , Yang Long , Zhang Li
Published: January 2024

Salt stress inhibits plant growth by disturbing plant intrinsic physiology. The application of exogenous plant growth regulators to improve the plant tolerance against salt stress has become one of the promising approaches to promote plant growth in saline environment. Eugenol (4-allyl-2- methoxyphenol) is the main ingredient in clove oil and it is known for its strong antioxidant and anti-microbial activities. Eugenol also has the ability of inhibiting several plant pathogens, implying the potential use of eugenol as an environmental friendly agrichemical. However, little is known about the possible role of eugenol in the regulation of plant tolerance against abiotic stress. Therefore, here we investigated the effectiveness of phytochemical eugenol in promoting salt tolerance in tobacco seedlings through physiological, histochemical, and biochemical method. The seedling roots were exposed to NaCl solution in the presence or absence of eugenol. Salt stress inhibited seedling growth, but eugenol supplementation effectively attenuated its effects in a dose-dependent manner, with an optimal effect at 20 µM. ROS (reactive oxygen species) accumulation was found in seedlings upon salt stress which was further resulted in the amelioration of lipid peroxidation, loss of membrane integrity, and cell death in salt-treated seedlings. Addition of eugenol highly suppressed ROS accumulation and reduced lipid peroxidation generation. Both enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidative systems were activated by eugenol treatment. AsA/DHA and GSH/GSSG were also enhanced upon eugenol treatment, which helped maintain redox homeostasis upon salinity. Eugenol treatment resulted in an increase in the content of osmoprotectants (e.g. proline, soluble sugar and starch) in salt-treated seedlings. Na+ levels decreased significantly in seedlings upon eugenol exposure. This may result from the upregulation of the expression of two ionic transporter genes, SOS1 (salt-hypersensitive 1) and NHX1 (Na+/H+ anti-transporter 1). Hierarchical cluster combined correlation analysis uncovered that eugenol induced salt tolerance was mediated by redox homeostasis and maintaining ionic balance in tobacco seedlings. This work reveals that eugenol plays a crucial role in regulating plant resistant physiology. This may extend its biological function as a novel biostimulant and opens up new possibilities for improving crop productivity in the saline agricultural environment.
Distinctive physiological and molecular responses of foxtail millet and maize to nicosulfuron
Authors: Lu Boyu , Meng Ru , Wang Yiru , Xiong Wei , Ma Yuchao , Gao Peng , Ren Jianhong , Zhang Liguang , Zhao Zhihai , Fan Guangyu , Wen Yinyuan , Yuan Xiangyang
Published: January 2024

Introduction

Nicosulfuron is the leading acetolactate synthase inhibitor herbicide product, and widely used to control gramineous weeds. Here, we investigated the metabolic process of nicosulfuron into foxtail millet and maize, in order to clarify the mechanism of the difference in sensitivity of foxtail millet and maize to nicosulfuron from the perspective of physiological metabolism and provide a theoretical basis for the breeding of nicosulfuron-resistant foxtail millet varieties.

Methods

We treated foxtail millet (Zhangzagu 10, Jingu 21) and maize (Nongda 108, Ditian 8) with various doses of nicosulfuron in both pot and field experiments. The malonaldehyde (MDA) content, target enzymes, detoxification enzymes, and antioxidant enzymes, as well as related gene expression levels in the leaf tissues of foxtail millet and maize were measured, and the yield was determined after maturity.

Results

The results showed that the recommended dose of nicosulfuron caused Zhangzagu 10 and Jingu 21 to fail to harvest; the yield of the sensitive maize variety (Ditian 8) decreased by 37.09%, whereas that of the resistant maize variety (Nongda 108) did not decrease. Nicosulfuron stress increased the CYP450 enzyme activity, MDA content, and antioxidant enzyme activity of foxtail millet and maize, reduced the acetolactate synthase (ALS) activity and ALS gene expression of foxtail millet and Ditian 8, and reduced the glutathione S-transferase (GST) activity and GST gene expression of foxtail millet. In conclusion, target enzymes, detoxification enzymes, and antioxidant enzymes were involved in the detoxification metabolism of nicosulfuron in plants. ALS and GST are the main factors responsible for the metabolic differences among foxtail millet, sensitive maize varieties, and resistant maize varieties.

Discussion

These findings offer valuable insights for exploring the target resistance (TSR) and non-target resistance (NTSR) mechanisms in foxtail millet under herbicide stress and provides theoretical basis for future research of develop foxtail millet germplasm with diverse herbicide resistance traits.
Effect of light intensity on celery growth and flavonoid synthesis
Authors: Qin Yanmei , Liu Xuanxuan , Li Chunyan , Chu Qianwen , Cheng Shaobo , Su Lihong , Shao Dalong , Guo Xin , He Zhongqun , Zhou Xiaoting
Published: January 2024

Light is one of the important environmental factors affecting the growth and development of facility vegetables. In this experiment, we investigated the effects of different light intensities on the growth, nutritional quality and flavonoid accumulation of celery under hydroponic and full LED light conditions. Four light intensities of 40, 100, 200, or 300 µmol·m-2·s-1 were set up in the experiment, and three harvest periods were set up on the basis of different light intensities, which were 15, 30, and 45 d after treatment (labeled as S1, S2, and S3, respectively). The results showed that the plant height and aboveground biomass of celery increased with the increase of light intensity, and the light intensity of 200 μmol·m-2·s-1 was beneficial to increase the contents of chlorophyll, carotenoids, total phenols, vitamin C, cellulose, total flavones and apigenin in celery. During the S1-S3 period, the activities of PAL, CHS, CHI and ANS increased gradually under 200 and 300 μmol·m-2·s-1 light intensity treatments, and the activities of FNS and CHS enzymes were the highest under 200 μmol·m-2·s-1 light intensity treatment. The expression and ANS activity of Ag3GT, a key gene for anthocyanin synthesis, reached the maximum value at 300 μmol·m-2·s-1, and the expression level and FNS activity of AgFNS, a key gene for apigenin synthesis, reached a maximum value at 200 μmol·m-2·s-1. In general, the anthocyanin content was the highest at 300 μmol·m-2·s-1, and the apigenin content was the highest at 200 μmol·m-2·s-1. In conclusion, light intensity of 200 µmol·m-2·s-1 treatment was more favorable for celery growth and nutrient synthesis.
Plant–soil feedback and plant invasion: effect of soil conditioning on native and invasive Prosopis species using the plant functional trait approach
Authors: Ali Hamada E. , Al-Wahaibi Ahmed M. , Shahid Muhammad Shafiq
Published: January 2024

Introduction

Invasive species have been identified as a major threat to native biodiversity and ecosystem functioning worldwide due to their superiority in spread and growth. Such superiority is explained by the invasional meltdown phenomena, which suggests that invasive species facilitate the establishment of more invasive species rather than native species by modifying the plant-soil feedback (PSF).

Methods

We conducted a two-phase plant-soil feedback experiment using the native Prosopis cineraria and the invasive Prosopis juliflora in Oman. Firstly, we conditioned the soil by planting seedlings of native species, invasive species, native and invasive species “mixed”, and unconditioned soil served as a control. Secondly, we tested the feedback of these four conditioned soil on the two species separately by measuring the productivity (total biomass) and the performance in the form of plant functional traits (plant height, specific leaf area (SLA), leaf nitrogen content (Nmass), leaf carbon content (Cmass) and specific root length (SRL) of native and invasive species as well as the nutrient availability in soil (soil organic carbon (SOC) and soil total nitrogen (STN)).

Results and discussion

We found that the native species produced more biomass, best performance, and higher SOC and STN when grown in soil conditioned by native species, additionally, it gave lower biomass, reduced performance, and lower SOC and STN when grown in the soil conditioned by invasive and mixed species. These results suggest negative PSF for native species and positive PSF for invasive species in the soil conditioned by invasive species, which can be considered as red flag concerning the restoration of P. cineraria as an important native species in Oman, as such positive PSF of the invasive species P. juliflora will inhibit the regeneration of P. cineraria.
Median arcuate ligament syndrome: a cost analysis to determine the economic burden of a rarely diagnosed disease
Authors: Skelly Christopher L. , Stiles-Shields Colleen , Goldenthal Hayley , Bohr Nicole , Feldman Estee , Mak Grace Zee , Drossos Tina
Published: January 2024

Background

Chronic abdominal pain (CAP) is a medical condition resulting in enormous economic burden and healthcare utilization costs. One understudied source of CAP is the median arcuate ligament syndrome (MALS). MALS is often not diagnosed and treated for a variety of reasons, including the fact that MALS is highly comorbid with psychological symptoms and psychiatric disorders similar to CAP. To better inform future work on the study of MALS, we undertook a pilot study to estimate the economic impact and public health burden of this condition. We hypothesized that MALS imposes a significant public health burden.

Methods

Pediatric and adult patients enrolled in a prospective study undergoing multidisciplinary evaluation and treatment for MALS at a tertiary care facility were invited to participate in a brief self-report survey, the Direct and Indirect Medical Care Impact of MALS Form, to capture health care resources including procedures, surgeries, health care visits, and absenteeism (school and work). To estimate costs from the Direct and Indirect Medical Care Impact of MALS Form, the medical care usage data self-reported by patients were converted to dollar value utilizing FSC-93 billing data and corresponding current procedural terminology (CPT) codes for procedures and provider visits one year prior to surgery and then following surgery. Descriptive analyses were conducted to characterize the sample in terms of demographics and reported absences from school and work.

Results

One hundred and nineteen patients (mean age = 30.9 ± 13.0) completed the questionnaires, yielding a 57% response rate. 82.4% (n = 98) of the participants were female and 90.8% (n = 108) were non-Hispanic/Latine white. The mean and median surgical follow-up periods were 5.3 and 5.4 years, respectively. Overall, median cost of provider and ancillary healthcare provider visits for each patient was (US)$19,119 including the pre-operative and post-operative visits. The mean cost for providers alone was (US)$28,908. Wilcoxon signed-ranks tests indicated that the postoperative missed number of days of school were significantly lower than the pre-surgical number of missed school days (Z = −3.36, p = 0.001). Similarly, there were significantly less missed work-days following surgery than before for the entire sample (Z = −2.86, p = 0.004).

Conclusion

Median arcuate ligament syndrome imposes a large economic burden on patients and the healthcare system. The current findings, although reflective of a homogenous population, are adding to a growing body of literature suggesting that healthcare disparities play a role in the low rates of diagnosis and treatment of MALS.
The relationship between the aspects of connectedness and sustainable consumption
Authors: Jansen Petra , Hoja Sabine , Rahe Martina
Published: January 2024

Internal transformative qualities are essential contributing factors to sustainable behavior. Besides awareness, insight, purpose, and agency, connectedness is one of those inner qualities. In this study, we investigated the relationship between connectedness to oneself (self-love), towards the environment (connectedness to nature), towards other human beings (pro-socialness), and sustainable behavior towards clothes and food. One hundred thirty-nine mostly students participated. The results showed that self-love, connectedness to nature, and pro-socialness correlate. Sustainability behavior towards food was predicted by pro-socialness, the choice of diet, and environmental and ethical reasons for nutrition. Sustainable behavior towards clothes was predicted by connectedness to nature. This study hints that the factors of inner transformative qualities and the type of sustainable behavior must be investigated differently. It strengthens the multi-facet dimensions of sustainable behavior.
Cultural adaptation and validation of the mental illness associated stigma scale for Arabic-speaking population in Saudi Arabia
Authors: BinDhim Nasser F. , Althumiri Nora A. , Al-Luhaidan Sulaiman M. , Alhajji Mohammed , Saad Sami Yahya A. , Alyami Hussain , Svendrovski Anton , Al-Duraihem Rashed Abdullah , Alhabeeb Abdulhameed Abdullah
Published: January 2024

Objective

This research aimed to culturally adapt and validate the MIAS scale for Arabic-speaking individuals within the Saudi Arabian general population, with an emphasis on cultural, societal, and individual nuances.

Methods

An initial pilot testing with a small group ensured the scale's clarity. Subsequently, two cross-sectional studies involving 189 participants to assess structural validity of the Arabic MIAS scale, and 38 participants to assess the test-retest reliability. Descriptive statistics, Cronbach's α, Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC), and Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) were employed for data analysis.

Results

The Arabic MIAS scale demonstrated good internal consistency and acceptable test-retest reliability (ICC α = 0.631). A three-factor model emerged (CFI = 0.890, TLI = 0.845, RMSEA = 0.094), including “Outcomes,” “Negative Stereotypes,” and “Recovery,” closely mirroring the original study's structure. one item was excluded from the model since it didn't align with any of the three factors.

Conclusion

The study contributes a culturally adapted, validated, non-condition-specific tool to gauge public attitudes toward mental health stigma in an Arabic context. It highlights the need for culturally sensitive stigma research and interventions and underscores the importance of improving such tools for cross-cultural applicability and comparability.
Barriers to, and facilitators of, education for children with disabilities worldwide: a descriptive review
Authors: Bani Odeh Kifah , Lach L. M.
Published: January 2024

Background

Inclusionary ideals regarding the education of children with disabilities (CWD) are articulated in various international human rights treaties and instruments such as the United Nations Convention on the Rights (2006), the Salamanca Statement (1994), and the 2030 agenda of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In the latter, the fourth goal explicitly focuses on the removal of barriers to education and supporting access to quality, equity, and inclusion for people with disabilities. Although data regarding access to education among CWD remains scarce, it is well known that rates of their participation in education remain low, particularly among those in LMICs. The research question of this descriptive review is what are the barriers to and facilitators of education for children with disabilities worldwide aged between 6 and 18 years old?

Methods

A descriptive review of literature published in English between 2013 and 2021 was conducted following the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) guidelines for a scoping review using the following databases: EBSCO, SocINDEX with full text (EBSCO), and ERIC (EBSCO). The search resulted in 7,072 titles and abstracts, which were narrowed down to 1,335 papers for full text review. After data extraction, 54 papers were included in the analysis, with 34 being qualitative, 10 quantitative, and 10 mixed-methods studies. The findings on the facilitators and barriers to education for children with disabilities were analyzed using the International Classification of Function, Disability and Health (ICF) and Urie Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Framework (1979).

Results

Out of the eligible studies included in our research, 40 were conducted in developing countries, while 14 studies conducted on LMICs. Of the five environmental domains in the ICF, the most significant barriers were found to be that of attitudes and services, while technology and effective communication with school staff were found to play a crucial role in facilitating the education process. Applying Bronfenbrenner’s framework, barriers occurred at the micro-system (school level), meso-system (parent and teacher communication), exo-system (services), and macro-system (education policy). Only 3 out of the 54 studies included the voices of CWD.

Conclusion

Despite documented barriers, facilitators of education for CWD are underexplored, lacking research on their voices. Further investigation is needed.
Regional differences in the effects of healthy aging on depressive symptoms: a Korean longitudinal study of aging (2006–2020)
Authors: Kang Soo Jin , Hwang Jinseub , Kim Dohyang , Kim Bongjeong
Published: January 2024

Background

Depression is a widely prevalent, often recurrent condition. To analyze the regional differences in depressive symptoms over time, we investigated urban–rural differences in change in depression over time in South Korea and the association between healthy aging and depressive symptoms among middle-aged and older adults.

Methods

Data collected in the Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging, from 2006 to 2020, of adult participants aged ≥45 years without depressive symptoms were analyzed. Healthy aging was defined under five principal components: absence of chronic disease, good physical function, normal cognitive function, active social engagement, and good psychological adaptation. Depressive symptoms were measured using the short version of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale. Using the Andersen-Gill model for recurrent time-to-event, we examined the effect of healthy aging on depressive symptoms, with a subgroup analysis based on the residential area.

Results

Of the 7,708 participants, 78.2% lived in urban areas and 39.4% achieved healthy aging. In 2008, rural residents had a higher incidence of depressive symptoms (rural 11.8%; urban 8.9%); however, after 2016, the depressive symptoms of urban residents gradually increased (rural 6.4%; urban 12.1%). Unhealthy aging (adjusted hazard ratio = 3.04, 95% confidence interval: 2.72–3.39) and urban residence (adjusted hazard ratio = 1.15, 95% confidence interval: 1.06–1.24) were risk factors for depressive symptoms. The subgroup analysis revealed that individuals who did not achieve healthy aging had an increased risk of depressive symptoms, regardless of their residential area (hazard ratio [95% confidence interval]: urban, 3.13 [2.75–3.55]; rural 2.59 [2.05–3.28]).

Conclusion

As urbanization accelerates, urban residents have a higher risk of depressive symptoms than rural residents. Healthy aging is an essential factor in reducing depressive symptoms. To achieve healthy aging, appropriate interventions and policies that target the middle-aged adults and gradually extend to older adults are needed, considering individual and regional factors.
Factors affecting social integration after road traffic orthopaedic injuries in Rwanda
Authors: Allen Ingabire JC , Stewart Aimee , Uwakunda Carine , Mugisha Didace , Sagahutu Jean Baptiste , Urimubenshi Gerard , Tumusiime David K. , Bucyibaruta Georges
Published: January 2024

Background

Road traffic injuries (RTIs) leading to long-term disability present a significant public health challenge, causing immense personal and societal consequences. Every year, 50 million people are hurt, 1.2 million die, 30% are permanently disabled, and 14% cannot return to work due to road traffic accidents. However, in many developing countries, information on the social integration of patients post-RTI remains limited. This study aimed to identify factors contributing to social integration following road traffic-related orthopedic injuries (RTOI) in Rwanda.

Methodology

A multicenter, cross-sectional study included 369 adult Road traffic orthopedic injuries (RTOI) victims from five Rwandan referral hospitals. Participants completed the IMPACT-S Questionnaire between 2 June 2022, and 31 August 2022, two years after the injury. It measured social integration in terms of activities and paricipation. We used logistic regression statistical analysis with a significance level of p < 0.05 to estimate odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). The Institutional Review Board for Health Sciences and Medicine at the University of Rwanda College of Medicine ethically authorized this study. Participants signed a written consent form before participating in the study. The data was kept private and was used only for this study.

Results

The study's findings indicated that the mean age of RTOI victims was 37.5 ± 11.26 years, with a notable male predominance over females. Of the participants, 5.69% were unable to resume normal life activities. The overall mean score on the IMPACT-S scale was moderate, at 77 ± 17. Specifically, participants achieved an average score of 76 ± 16 for “activities” and a higher average of 84 ± 16 for “participation.” Certain factors were associated with poor social integration compared to others, including belonging to the age group above 65 years (OR = 8.25, p = 0.02), female sex (OR = 3.26, p = 0.02), lack of rehabilitation (OR = 3.82, p = 0.01), and length of hospital stay >15 days (OR = 4.44, p = 0.02).

Conclusion

The majority of RTOI victims in Rwanda achieved successful reintegration into society; nevertheless, their mobility and community engagement were more significantly impacted compared to other aspects assessed by the IMPACT-S scale. The study emphasized the importance of early management, effective rehabilitation, and prompt patient discharge from the hospital in facilitating a successful return to everyday life after road traffic-related orthopedic injuries.
The physiological function of squalene and its application prospects in animal husbandry
Authors: Du Xin , Ma Xue , Gao Yang
Published: January 2024

Squalene, which is a natural triterpenoid unsaturated hydrocarbon, is abundant in shark liver and plant seeds. Squalene has various physiological functions such as being anti-inflammatory and antioxidant. This paper reviews the physiological functions of squalene and its application prospects in livestock and poultry production, with a view to providing a theoretical basis for its in-depth application in animal husbandry.
Moxidectin is a candidate for use as an in vivo internal standard in pharmacokinetic studies, as demonstrated with use in simultaneous tissue cage and ultrafiltration fluid collection
Authors: Munn Richard , Whittem Ted
Published: January 2024

In vivo ultrafiltration has been used in veterinary pharmacokinetics since the early 2000’s as an improvement on the tissue cage model which enables sampling of fluids from extra-circulatory compartments. Variability in analyte recovery from ultrafiltration samples, due to membrane fouling or tissue inflammation, has been a concern for this technique. Internal standards may be used to scale or verify the unknown result, such as is common in analytical extractions and in vivo microdialysis. Eight merino sheep were implanted with subcutaneous tissue cages and 2 weeks prior to the initiation of the study the sheep were injected with 0.2 mg/kg moxidectin subcutaneously. On the day of the study ultrafiltration probes were inserted subcutaneously. At time zero 4 mg/kg of carprofen was injected intravenously. Plasma, tissue cage, and ultrafiltration samples were taken 30 min before and 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 24, 36, 48, 72 h after dosing. Carprofen and moxidectin concentrations were measured by LC–MS/MS. Pharmacokinetic parameters were estimated using Monolix for both the carprofen concentrations and the moxidectin corrected carprofen concentrations. The ultrafiltration probes failed to consistently produce enough sample volume to analyse. Moxidectin concentrations in the plasma and tissue cage fluid were stable throughout the 72 h sampling window. Moxidectin proved to be suitable as an in vivo internal standard for pharmacokinetic research using, tissue cages, plasma sampling and ultrafiltration probes, but the application of ultrafiltration techniques requires refinement.
An Improved Approach for Reducing the Dimensionality of Wing Aerodynamic Optimization Considering Longitudinal Stability
Authors: Ji Boqian , Huang Jun , Lu Xiaoqiang , Wu Yacong , Liu Jingjiang
Published: January 2024

The wing aerodynamic shape optimization is a typical high-dimensional problem with numerous independent design variables. Researching methods to reduce the dimensionality of optimization from the perspective of aerodynamic characteristics is necessary. One traditional aerodynamic-based approach decouples the wing’s camber and thickness according to the thin airfoil theory, but it has limitations due to unclear application scope and effectiveness. This paper proposes an improved approach that determines the values of certain thickness variables based on a data-driven aerodynamic characteristics model before optimization, which considers longitudinal stability. By reducing the number of design variables, the dimensionality of optimization is decreased effectively. The derivation of the improved approach is accomplished through the design of experiments, parametric modeling, computational fluid dynamics, and sensitivity analysis. The effectiveness of the improved approach is validated by applying it to the aerodynamic optimization of an ONERA-M6 wing in subsonic flow based on the surrogate-based optimization algorithm. The results demonstrate that the improved approach significantly accelerates the optimization process while maintaining global effectiveness.
Proposal of a Model of Irrigation Operations Management for Exploring the Factors That Can Affect the Adoption of Precision Agriculture in the Context of Agriculture 4.0
Authors: Monteleone Sergio , Alves de Moraes Edmilson , Protil Roberto Max , Faria Brenno Tondato de , Maia Rodrigo Filev
Published: January 2024

Agriculture is undergoing a profound change related to Agriculture 4.0 development and Precision Agriculture adoption, which is occurring at a slower pace than expected despite the abundant literature on the factors explaining this adoption. This work explores the factors related to agricultural Operations Management, farmer behavior, and the farmer mental model, topics little explored in the literature, by applying the Theory of Planned Behavior. Considering the exploratory nature of this work, an exploratory multi-method is applied, consisting of expert interviews, case studies, and modeling. This study’s contributions are a list of factors that can affect this adoption, which complements previous studies, theoretical propositions on the relationships between these factors and this adoption, and a model of irrigation Operations Management built based on these factors and these propositions. This model provides a theoretical framework to study the identified factors, the relationships between them, the theoretical propositions, and the adoption of Precision Agriculture. Furthermore, the results of case studies allow us to explore the relationships between adoption, educational level, and training. The identified factors and the model contribute to broadening the understanding of Precision Agriculture adoption, adding Operations Management and the farmer mental model to previous studies. A future research agenda is formulated to direct future studies.
Factors Affecting Crop Prices in the Context of Climate Change—A Review
Authors: Nguyen Huong , Randall Marcus , Lewis Andrew
Published: January 2024

Food security has become a concerning issue because of global climate change and increasing populations. Agricultural production is considered one of the key factors that affects food security. The changing climate has negatively affected agricultural production, which accelerates food shortages. The supply of agricultural commodities can be heavily influenced by climate change, which leads to climate-induced agricultural productivity shocks impacting crop prices. This paper systematically reviews publications over the past ten years on the factors affecting the prices of a wide range of crops across the globe. This review presents a critical view of these factors in the context of climate change. This paper applies a systematic approach by determining the appropriate works to review with defined inclusion criteria. From this, groups of key factors affecting crop prices are found. This study finds evidence that crop prices have been both positively and negatively affected by a range of factors such as elements of climate change, biofuel, and economic factors. However, the general trend is towards increasing crop prices due to deceasing yields over time. This is the first systematic literature review which provides a comprehensive view of the factors affecting the prices of crops across the world under climate change.
Microbial Community Response to Alpine Meadow Degradation and Its Impact on Soil Nutrient Cycling
Authors: Wu Yanru , Yang Wenquan , Li Qinyao , Qiao Qianluo , Zhao Shuai , Zhang Yangcan , Yu Yanghua , Zhang Shengxiang , Li Xilai , Kou Jiancun
Published: January 2024

The degradation of alpine meadows on the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau is a major issue affecting both the ecology and the economy. Microorganisms play an important role in soil nutrient cycling and the regulation of ecosystem function. This study aimed to investigate the species composition and diversity of microbial communities and understand the response of microbial communities to changes in physicochemical properties resulting from meadow degradation. In this study, the soil bacterial and fungal communities’ composition and diversity of alpine meadows of degradation gradient were sequenced by high-throughput sequencing. During the process of grassland degradation, there were 59 bacterial taxa and 29 fungal taxa showing significant differences. The relative abundance of meadow pathogenic fungi significantly increased (p < 0.05). PICRUSt2 analysis showed a decrease in synthesis-related functional gene abundance and an increase in metabolism-related functional gene abundance. FUNGuild analysis showed that symbiotic and saprophytic nutrient fungi decreased significantly (p < 0.05). The soil nutrient cycling was mainly influenced by the beta diversity of microbial communities. Grassland degradation affects soil structure, thereby affecting the diversity of soil microbial composition and functional soil nutrient content. This work reveals the response of microbial communities to the degradation of alpine meadows and their impact on nutrient cycling, providing theoretical support for the protection and sustainable development of alpine meadows.
A Method for Tomato Plant Stem and Leaf Segmentation and Phenotypic Extraction Based on Skeleton Extraction and Supervoxel Clustering
Authors: Wang Yaxin , Liu Qi , Yang Jie , Ren Guihong , Wang Wenqi , Zhang Wuping , Li Fuzhong
Published: January 2024

To address the current problem of the difficulty of extracting the phenotypic parameters of tomato plants in a non-destructive and accurate way, we proposed a method of stem and leaf segmentation and phenotypic extraction of tomato plants based on skeleton extraction and supervoxel clustering. To carry out growth and cultivation experiments on tomato plants in a solar greenhouse, we obtained multi-view image sequences of the tomato plants to construct three-dimensional models of the plant. We used Laplace’s skeleton extraction algorithm to extract the skeleton of the point cloud after removing the noise points using a multi-filtering algorithm, and, based on the plant skeleton, searched for the highest point path, height constraints, and radius constraints to separate the stem from the leaf. At the same time, a supervoxel segmentation method based on Euclidean distance was used to segment each leaf. We extracted a total of six phenotypic parameters of the plant: height, stem diameter, leaf angle, leaf length, leaf width and leaf area, using the segmented organs, which are important for the phenotype. The results showed that the average accuracy, average recall and average F1 scores of the stem and leaf segmentation were 0.88, 0.80 and 0.84, and the segmentation indexes were better than the other four segmentation algorithms; the coefficients of determination between the measurement values of the phenotypic parameters and the real values were 0.97, 0.84, 0.88, 0.94, 0.92 and 0.93; and the root-mean-square errors were 2.17 cm, 0.346 cm, 5.65°, 3.18 cm, 2.99 cm and 8.79 cm2. The measurement values of the proposed method had a strong correlation with the actual values, which could satisfy the requirements of daily production and provide technical support for the extraction of high-throughput phenotypic parameters of tomato plants in solar greenhouses.
Improving the Aerobic Capacity in Fingerlings of European Sea Bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) through Moderate and Sustained Exercise: A Metabolic Approach
Authors: Perelló-Amorós Miquel , Fernández-Borràs Jaume , Yu Shengnan , Sánchez-Moya Albert , García de la serrana Daniel , Gutiérrez Joaquín , Blasco Josefina
Published: January 2024

Sustained swimming induces beneficial effects on growth and energy metabolism in some fish species. However, the absence of a standardized exercise regimen that guarantees an optimal response to physical activity is due to the anatomical, behavioral, and physiological differences among species, and the different conditions of tests applied, which are especially notable for the early stages of cultured species. The objective of this study was to assess the growth and metabolic responses of European sea bass submitted to continuous and moderate exercise exposure, selecting a practical swimming speed from swimming tests of groups of five fingerlings. The exercise-effects trial was carried out with 600 sea bass fingerlings (3–5 g body weight) distributed in two groups (control: voluntary swimming; exercised: under sustained swimming at 1.5 body lengths·s−1). After 6 weeks, growth parameters and proximal composition of both muscles were not altered by sustained swimming, but an increased synthetic capacity (increased RNA/DNA ratio) and more efficient use of proteins (decreased ΔN15) were observed in white muscle. The gene expression of mitochondrial proteins in white and red muscle was not affected by exercise, except for ucp3, which increased. The increase of UCP3 and Cox4 protein expression, as well as the higher COX/CS ratio of enzyme activity in white muscle, pointed out an enhanced oxidative capacity in this tissue during sustained swimming. In the protein expression of red muscle, only CS increased. All these metabolic adaptations to sustained exercise were also reflected in an enhanced maximum metabolic rate (MMR) with higher aerobic scope (AMS) of exercised fish in comparison to the non-trained fish, during a swimming test. These results demonstrated that moderate sustained swimming applied to sea bass fingerlings can improve the physical fitness of individuals through the enhancement of their aerobic capacities.
Integrated Microbiome and Serum Metabolome Analysis Reveals Molecular Regulatory Mechanisms of the Average Daily Weight Gain of Yorkshire Pigs
Authors: Jiang Shan , Si Jinglei , Mo Jiayuan , Zhang Shuai , Chen Kuirong , Gao Jiuyu , Xu Di , Bai Lijing , Lan Ganqiu , Liang Jing
Published: January 2024

The average daily weight gain (ADG) is considered a crucial indicator for assessing growth rates in the swine industry. Therefore, investigating the gastrointestinal microbiota and serum metabolites influencing the ADG in pigs is pivotal for swine breed selection. This study involved the inclusion of 350 purebred Yorkshire pigs (age: 90 ± 2 days; body weight: 41.20 ± 4.60 kg). Concurrently, serum and fecal samples were collected during initial measurements of blood and serum indices. The pigs were categorized based on their ADG, with 27 male pigs divided into high-ADG (HADG) and low-ADG (LADG) groups based on their phenotype values. There were 12 pigs in LADG and 15 pigs in HADG. Feces and serum samples were collected on the 90th day. Microbiome and non-targeted metabolomics analyses were conducted using 16S rRNA sequencing and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS). Pearson correlation, with Benjamini–Hochberg (BH) adjustment, was employed to assess the associations between these variables. The abundance of Lactobacillus and Prevotella in LADG was significantly higher than in HADG, while Erysipelothrix, Streptomyces, Dubosiella, Parolsenella, and Adlercreutzia in LADG were significantly lower than in HADG. The concentration of glutamine, etiocholanolone glucuronide, and retinoyl beta-glucuronide in LADG was significantly higher than in HADG, while arachidonic acid, allocholic acid, oleic acid, phenylalanine, and methyltestosterone in LADG were significantly lower than in HADG. The Lactobacillus–Streptomyces networks (Lactobacillus, Streptomyces, methyltestosterone, phenylalanine, oleic acid, arachidonic acid, glutamine, 3-ketosphingosine, L-octanoylcarnitine, camylofin, 4-guanidinobutyrate 3-methylcyclopentadecanone) were identified as the most influential at regulating swine weight gain. These findings suggest that the gastrointestinal tract regulates the daily weight gain of pigs through the network of Lactobacillus and Streptomyces. However, this study was limited to fecal and serum samples from growing and fattening boars. A comprehensive consideration of factors affecting the daily weight gain in pig production, including gender, parity, season, and breed, is warranted.
The Dog Soundscape: Recurrence, Emotional Impact, Acoustics, and Implications for Dog Observations and Dog–Human Interactions
Authors: Savel Sophie , Legou Thierry
Published: January 2024

While numerous dog behavioral studies use environmental sounds, the dog soundscape remains undescribed. We proposed a list of 79 sounds classified into six categories: Dog, Dog accessories, Human, city and vehicles, Garden, countryside and weather, and Household. In a survey, 620 dog owners scored the frequency of their dog’s exposure to, and thus, the recurrence of, each of the 79 sounds, from never to daily. The survey results also extended to about 25 sounds the number of acknowledged sounds that are likely to elicit stress or fear, that is, negative emotional sensitivity, in dogs. Sound recurrence and emotional sensitivity were not correlated, showing no beneficial effect of frequent exposure to, and no deleterious effect of scarcity of, sound events. We suggest that for the sake of dog welfare, researchers, veterinarians, trainers, and owners may limit dogs’ exposure to the sensitive sounds identified in the study during their dog observations and dog–human interactions. A corpus of 84 sounds was collected. The sounds were spectrally analyzed by determining their F0 and 10 dB bandwidth parameters. At the lowest sound frequencies, where canine hearing is poorest, negative emotional sensitivity was generally low. At the middle and high sound center frequencies/F0s, sensitivity greatly varied from lowest to highest, which is incompatible with both the general assumption and dog auditory detection thresholds. How emotional sensitivity relates to F0 (pitch) and hearing sensitivity remains undetermined. Finally, we suggest that future behavioral audiometric studies of dogs may maximize the spectral spread of each sound while minimizing the spectral overlap between sounds so as to reduce both the testing duration and the risk of inadvertently targeting or, conversely, missing frequency-dependent hearing impairments.
Efficacy of Allogeneic and Xenogeneic Exosomes for the Treatment of Canine Atopic Dermatitis: A Pilot Study
Authors: Kim Sang-Won , Lim Kyung-Min , Cho Ssang-Goo , Ryu Bokyeong , Kim C-Yoon , Park Seon Young , Jang Kyungmin , Jung Jae Heon , Park Cheolhyoung , Choi Chulhee , Kim Jung-Hyun
Published: January 2024

Canine atopic dermatitis (CAD) is a genetically predisposed inflammatory pruritic skin disease. The available treatments for CAD have several adverse effects and vary in efficacy, indicating the need for the development of improved treatments. In this study, we aimed to elucidate the therapeutic effects of allogeneic and xenogeneic exosomes on CAD. Six laboratory beagle dogs with CAD were randomly assigned to three treatment groups: control, canine exosome (cExos), or human exosome (hExos) groups. Dogs in the cExos and hExos groups were intravenously administered 1.5 mL of cExos (5 × 1010) and hExos (7.5 × 1011) solutions, respectively, while those in the control group were administered 1.5 mL of normal saline three times per week for 4 weeks. Skin lesion score and transepidermal water loss decreased in cExos and hExos groups compared with those in the control group. The exosome treatments decreased the serum levels of inflammatory cytokines (interferon-γ, interleukin-2, interleukin-4, interleukin-12, interleukin-13, and interleukin-31) but increased those of anti-inflammatory cytokines (interleukin-10 and transforming growth factor-β), indicating the immunomodulatory effect of exosomes. Skin microbiome analysis revealed that the exosome treatments alleviated skin bacterial dysbiosis. These results suggest that allogeneic and xenogeneic exosome therapy may alleviate CAD in dogs.