bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Rational analysis of data from LC-MS/MS: new insights in acylcarnitines as biomarkers for brain disorders or neurotoxicity
Authors: Chen Li , Zhu Ruiqin , Ma Yaxing , Huang Chuixiu , Shen Xiantao
Published: August 2024

Objective

LC-MS/MS-based metabolomics is an important tool for studying disease-related biomarkers. Conventionally, different strategies have been used to screen biomarkers. However, many studies for biomarker screening by different strategies have ignored the dose-response relationship between the biomarker level and exposure level, and no relevant studies have described and compared different strategies in detail. Phenobarbital (PHB) which belongs to the barbiturates, was selected as the typical representative of neurotoxins. Acylcarnitines have been promising candidates for diagnostic biomarkers for several neurological disorders and neurotoxicity. In this work, we aimed to use an acute PHB poisoning animal model to clarify PHB poisoning effects on plasma and brain acylcarnitine changes and how to rationally analyze data from LC-MS/MS.

Methods

The acylcarnitine profiles in plasma and brain regions in an actuate PHB poisoning animal model were utilized. The dose-response relationship between plasma PHB and carnitine and acylcarnitines (CARs) in plasma and brain were assessed by the variance analysis trend test and Spearman’s rank correlation test. In different strategies, principal component analysis (PCA) and partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) screened the differential CARs, variable importance plots (VIPs) were utilized to select putative biomarkers for PHB-induced toxicity, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis then illustrated the reliability of biomarkers.

Results

Under the first strategy, 14 potential toxicity biomarkers were obtained including eight downregulated CARs with AUC >0.8. Under the second strategy, 11 potential toxicity biomarkers were obtained containing five downregulated CARs with AUC >0.8. Only when the dose-response relationship was fully considered, different strategies screen for the same biomarkers (plasma acetyl-carnitine (C2) and plasma decanoyl-carnitine (C10)), which indicated plasma acylcarnitines might serve as toxicity biomarkers. In addition, the plasma CAR level changes showed differences from brain CAR level changes, and correlations between plasma CARs and their brain counterparts were weak.

Conclusion

We found that plasma C2 and C10 might serve as toxicity biomarkers for PHB poisoning disorders, and PHB poisoning effects on changes in plasma CARs may not be fully representative of changes in brain CARs.
Comparative analysis of the complete mitogenomes of Camellia sinensis var. sinensis and C. sinensis var. assamica provide insights into evolution and phylogeny relationship
Authors: Li Li , Li Xiangru , Liu Yun , Li Junda , Zhen Xiaoyun , Huang Yu , Ye Jianghua , Fan Li
Published: August 2024

Introduction

Among cultivated tea plants (Camellia sinensis), only four mitogenomes for C. sinensis var. assamica (CSA) have been reported so far but none for C. sinensis var. sinensis (CSS). Here, two mitogenomes of CSS (CSSDHP and CSSRG) have been sequenced and assembled.

Methods

Using a combination of Illumina and Nanopore data for the first time. Comparison between CSS and CSA mitogenomes revealed a huge heterogeneity.

Results

The number of the repetitive sequences was proportional to the mitogenome size and the repetitive sequences dominated the intracellular gene transfer segments (accounting for 88.7%- 92.8% of the total length). Predictive RNA editing analysis revealed that there might be significant editing in NADH dehydrogenase subunit transcripts. Codon preference analysis showed a tendency to favor A/T bases and T was used more frequently at the third base of the codon. ENc plots analysis showed that the natural selection play an important role in shaping the codon usage bias, and Ka/Ks ratios analysis indicated Nad1 and Sdh3 genes may have undergone positive selection. Further, phylogenetic analysis shows that six C. sinensis clustered together, with the CSA and CSS forming two distinct branches, suggesting two different evolutionary pathway.

Discussion

Altogether, this investigation provided an insight into evolution and phylogeny relationship of C. sinensis mitogenome, thereby enhancing comprehension of the evolutionary patterns within C. sinensis species.
High-throughput sequencing detected a virus–viroid complex in a single pokeweed plant
Authors: Kwak Myeonghwan , Troiano Elisa , Kil Eui-Joon , Parrella Giuseppe
Published: August 2024

In this study, total RNA high-throughput sequencing (HTS) of a single symptomatic Phytolacca americana plant enabled the obtention of a nearly complete genome of two new isolates of turnip yellows virus (TuYV), named TuYV-ITA1 and TuYV-ITA2, and revealed a mixed infection with a new variant of citrus exocortis viroid (CEVd), named CEVd-ITA1. The TuYV-ITA2 isolate diverged from the known virus isolates of TuYV and showed variability in the P0 and P5 readthrough domain. Recombination analysis revealed its recombinant nature between TuYV and an unidentified polerovirus. The putative recombination event was identified in the P5 readthrough domain of the TuYMV-ITA2 isolate. Our results thus represent the first report of TuYV in Italy and some molecular evidence for the possible natural co-existence of TuYV and CEVd in a new natural host for both infectious entities. This study is adding further knowledge about the role of weed plants as virus reservoirs, and thus additional biological and impact studies would be desirable to determine in particular the role of P. americana in the spread of TuYV and if this virus should be considered a new threat for the susceptible Italian crops.
Angry men and angry women: gender, system-directed anger and populist radical right voting in Belgium
Authors: Erzeel Silvia , Fieremans Merel , Van Bavel Anne , Blanckaert Benjamin , Caluwaerts Didier
Published: August 2024

Why do men and women vote for the populist radical right? This question, which speaks to the phenomenon of the “radical right gender gap”, has been the topic of much scholarly interest. While previous studies refer to the role played by differences in political resources, attitudes, and socialization, this paper examines whether negative emotions towards the political system, and system-directed anger in particular, drive support for populist radical right parties differently for men and women. Drawing on the premise that populist radical right parties tend to appeal to angry voters, and given that acting upon anger is seen as an “agentic” trait, we expect that system-directed anger is more strongly associated with support for populist radical right parties among men compared to women. We test the hypothesis using original data from the RepResent voter survey organized in Belgium during the 2019 federal elections. In line with previous studies, we find that voters of the populist radical right party Vlaams Belang report high levels of system-directed anger. Men and women voters are similar in their display of this emotion, and contrary to our expectations, they are similar in how system-directed anger relates to vote choice as well. More than explaining gender differences in populist radical right voting, our findings confirm the idea that system-directed anger can incite women as well as men to cast a populist radical right vote.
Treatment expectations of patients and clinicians: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Li Jiarui , Xiao Chunfeng , Li Tao , Duan Yanping , Jiang Yinan , Shi Lili , Hong Xia , Geng Wenqi , Hu Jiaojiao , Wang Yufei , Dai Bindong , Cao Jinya , Wei Jing
Published: August 2024

Importance

Understanding treatment expectations of patients and their clinicians is of great importance in improving personalized medical services and enhancing patient safety systems.

Objective

To investigate treatment expectations of patients and their clinicians and compare differences between both, by using a pair of validated structured assessment tools covering three key aspects/dimensions of clinical interests.

Design, setting, and participants

This single-center cross-sectional study was conducted at Peking Union Medical College Hospital in China. The study enrolled patients aged 16 years and older receiving inpatient care and their clinicians. Patient recruitment was conducted from March 2023 to November 2023.

Assessments

In addition to demographic and clinical characteristics, this study employed two validated structured assessment tools to evaluate treatment expectations among patients and their clinicians: the Hospitalized Patients’ Expectations for Treatment Scale-Patient version (HOPE-P) and its counterpart, the Hospitalized Patients’ Expectations for Treatment Scale-Clinician version (HOPE-C).

Results

A total of 233 patients (mean [SD] age, 52.3 [15.1] years; 108 [46.4%] female) along with their clinicians, who numbered 75 in total were enrolled in this study. The distribution of total scores for HOPE-P and HOPE-C displayed similar patterns, with most scores concentrated in the higher range (above 50% of the full score). The mean HOPE-P total score was higher than that of HOPE-C (mean [SD] score, 38.78 [4.86] vs 37.49 [4.32]; t = 3.12, P = 0.002). In Dimension 2, the HOPE-P score was higher than HOPE-C (23.67 [3.20] vs 21.72 [3.03]; t = 6.98, P < 0.001). However, in Dimensions 1 and 3, HOPE-P scored lower than HOPE-C (13.37 [2.44] vs 13.84 [1.73]; t = -2.384, P < 0.018; 1.74 [1.14] vs 1.94 [1.00]; t = -2.00, P = 0.047). Certain demographic and clinical characteristics led to variations in patients’ treatment expectations, including marital status, monthly family income, and smoking history.

Conclusions and relevance

This cross-sectional study revealed significant differences between patients’ and doctors’ treatment expectations. Notably, it highlighted the need for clinicians to focus on rationalizing patients’ expectations concerning treatment outcomes.

Trial Registration Chinese Clinical Trial Registry Identifier

ChiCTR2300075262.
A comparative cross-sectional study on the quality of life in Grave’s disease patients: urban vs. rural perspectives
Authors: Mishra Shivang , Singh Anurag Kumar , Rajotiya Sumit , Debnath Sourav , Kumar Sachin , Singh Pratima , Snehpreet  , Raj Preeti , Singh Mahaveer , Bareth Hemant , Nathiya Deepak , Singh Tomar Balvir
Published: August 2024

Grave’s disease affects numerous patients globally, but its impact on health-related quality of life (HR-QoL) in relation to geographical disparities remains under-explored. This cross-sectional study aimed to assess the influence of urban versus rural residence on HR-QoL among patients diagnosed with Graves’ Disease in Rajasthan, India. One hundred seven Graves’ disease patients from rural and urban endocrine centers were analyzed. The rural group included 52 patients (24 males, 28 females), averaging 38.9 ± 10.9 years of age, while the urban group had 55 (13 males, 42 females) with an average age of 39.1 ± 14.2 years. We found differences between rural and urban patients in terms of gender ratio, BMI, smoking habits, and obesity. Multivariable linear regression was used in both groups to determine the association between the baseline characteristics of Graves’ patients from both areas and HR-QOL. Health-related quality of life, assessed via the SF-36 questionnaire, indicated higher general health and role emotional scores among urban patients. Our study found that the duration of Graves’ disease in rural centers negatively impacted physical health scores. In urban patients, age and BMI influenced physical health, while gender and disease duration affected mental health scores in rural patients. Age impacted mental health in urban patients. Rural patients had a poorer quality of life compared to urban patients. Differences in gender distribution, BMI, smoking habits, and obesity rates revealed disparities in Graves’ disease between rural and urban patients in India, highlighting the need for better healthcare infrastructure and awareness in rural areas.
Histone H2A variants play a key role at DNA double-strand breaks during repair pathway choice
Authors: Clerf Emile , Galloy Maxime , Fradet-Turcotte Amélie , Côté Jacques
Published: August 2024

Histone post-translational modifications and variants play crucial roles in the adaptability of chromatin structure, facilitating rapid responses necessary for biological processes such as transcription, replication, and DNA damage signaling. Notably, DNA double-strand break (DSB) signaling heavily relies on these histone modifications, with signal amplification and the recruitment of specific DNA repair factors being dictated by them. Among the histones, H2A and its variants are central to this response, with phosphorylation of the variant H2A.X being the initial and most characteristic histone mark deposit upon DNA damage detection. Additional post-translational modifications of H2A and its variants contribute to the selective recruitment of DNA repair factors and influence the choice of DNA repair pathways. This review provides a summary of current knowledge regarding the roles of histone H2A post-translational modifications and variants in DSB signaling and repair, with a particular emphasis on modifications and variants that impact the choice of repair pathways. Additionally, the involvement of histone chaperones, chromatin modifiers, and remodelers in these processes is discussed.
The “canine first technique” in maxillary impacted canines: analysis of the treatment duration and success of therapy
Authors: Perrotta Stefania , Bocchino Tecla , Amato Massimo , Michelotti Ambrosina , Simeon Vittorio , D’Antò Vincenzo , Piombino Pasquale , Carraturo Emanuele , Vollaro Stefano , Valletta Rosa
Published: August 2024

Objectives

The goal of the study was to analyze the eruption time of the maxillary impacted canines treated with the “canine first technique” and evaluate the success rate.

Materials and methods

A total of 103 patients with 131 impacted canines were treated. Alpha angle, Erickson–Kurol sectors, and age were studied to assess the difficulty of canine eruption. All the canines were treated with the “canine first” approach. The median follow-up time was evaluated using the Kaplan–Meier inverse procedure. The primary outcome (canine eruption time) was analyzed using Kaplan–Meier curves. The curve comparison between the different known risk factors was made using the log-rank test. The median eruption time (95% confidence interval) was calculated for each result.

Results

The majority of the canines (66.4%) were placed palatally and positioned in sector 3 (30.16%). The median alpha angle was 38.7°. In 88.9% of cases, canines erupted and the median time of eruption was 4.2 months. A statistically significant difference in alpha angle >/<22° able to influence the eruption time was assessed. The variation of the alpha angle (>/<22°) has found to be statistically significative when compared to the eruption time variation.

Conclusion

The canine first technique is effective for the eruption of impacted canines, and an alpha angle <22° can be considered a favorable prognostic factor.
Automatic detection of unidentified fish sounds: a comparison of traditional machine learning with deep learning
Authors: Mouy Xavier , Archer Stephanie K. , Dosso Stan , Dudas Sarah , English Philina , Foord Colin , Halliday William , Juanes Francis , Lancaster Darienne , Van Parijs Sofie , Haggarty Dana
Published: August 2024

Many species of fishes around the world are soniferous. The types of sounds fishes produce vary among species and regions but consist typically of low-frequency (<1.5 kHz) pulses and grunts. These sounds can potentially be used to monitor fishes non-intrusively and could complement traditional monitoring techniques. However, the significant time required for human analysts to manually label fish sounds in acoustic recordings does not yet allow passive acoustics to be used as a viable tool for monitoring fishes. In this paper, we compare two different approaches to automatically detect fish sounds. One is a more traditional machine learning technique based on the detection of acoustic transients in the spectrogram and the classification using Random Forest (RF). The other is using a deep learning approach and is based on the classification of overlapping segments (0.2 s) of spectrogram using a ResNet18 Convolutional Neural Network (CNN). Both algorithms were trained using 21,950 manually annotated fish and non-fish sounds collected from 2014 to 2019 at five different locations in the Strait of Georgia, British Columbia, Canada. The performance of the detectors was tested on part of the data from the Strait of Georgia that was withheld from the training phase, data from Barkley Sound, British Columbia, and data collected in the Port of Miami, Florida, United States. The CNN performed up to 1.9 times better than the RF (F1 score: 0.82 vs. 0.43). In some cases, the CNN was able to find more faint fish sounds than the analyst and performed well in environments different from the one it was trained in (Miami F1 score: 0.88). Noise analysis in the 20–1,000 Hz frequency band shows that the CNN is still reliable in noise levels greater than 130 dB re 1 μPa in the Port of Miami but becomes less reliable in Barkley Sound past 100 dB re 1 μPa due to mooring noise. The proposed approach can efficiently monitor (unidentified) fish sounds in a variety of environments and can also facilitate the development of species-specific detectors. We provide the software FishSound Finder, an easy-to-use open-source implementation of the CNN detector with detailed documentation.
Tensile strength and porosity of regolith-based cement with human hair
Authors: Tarikuzzaman Mohammad , Shank Audrey M. , Agan Emma G. , Sagar Viral , Lynam Joan G. , Gordon Ⅱ Stephen T. , Alam Shaurav
Published: August 2024

Sustainable structures are an important area of research, particularly for anticipated extended human presence on the Moon or Mars. Persistent human presence on the Moon will require building materials that are already present at the site to construct bases. The high cost associated with reinforcing metal (rebar) in mission payloads necessitates the exploration of alternative reinforcement methods for sustained lunar bases. Human hair is strong in tensile strength and will become available in any long-term mission. By using otherwise wasted hair instead of heavy metal, mission payloads and costs could be lowered. Concrete workability, compressive strength, and porosity were measured for a series of different cement compositions. These compositions consisted of combinations of Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC), lunar regolith, deionized (DI) water and human hair. Increased workability and porosity were found for increasing hair concentrations. Compressive strength slightly decreased with increased hair concentration.
Antegrade persufflation of porcine kidneys improves renal function after warm ischemia
Authors: Min Catherine , Galons Jean-Philippe , Lynch Ronald M. , Steyn Leah V. , Price Nicholas D. , Weegman Brad P. , Taylor Michael J. , Pandey Abhishek , Harland Robert , Martin Diego , Besselsen David , Putnam Charles W. , Papas Klearchos K.
Published: August 2024

Introduction

Transplantation of kidneys from expanded criteria donors (ECD), including after circulatory death (DCD), is associated with a higher risk of adverse events compared to kidneys from standard criteria donors. In previous studies, improvements in renal transplant outcomes have been seen when kidneys were perfused with gaseous oxygen during preservation (persufflation, PSF). In the present study, we assessed ex-vivo renal function from a Diffusion Contrast Enhanced (DCE)-MRI estimation of glomerular filtration rate (eGFR); and metabolic sufficiency from whole-organ oxygen consumption (WOOCR) and lactate production rates.

Methods

Using a porcine model of DCD, we assigned one kidney to antegrade PSF, and the contralateral kidney to static cold storage (SCS), both maintained for 24 h at 4°C. Post-preservation organ quality assessments, including eGFR, WOOCR and lactate production, were measured under cold perfusion conditions, and biopsies were subsequently taken for histopathological analysis.

Results

A significantly higher eGFR (36.6 ± 12.1 vs. 11.8 ± 4.3 ml/min, p < 0.05), WOOCR (182 ± 33 vs. 132 ± 21 nmol/min*g, p < 0.05), and lower rates of lactate production were observed in persufflated kidneys. No overt morphological differences were observed between the two preservation methods.

Conclusion

These data suggest that antegrade PSF is more effective in preserving renal function than conventional SCS. Further studies in large animal models of transplantation are required to investigate whether integration with PSF of WOOCR, eGFR or lactate production measurements before transplantation are predictive of post-transplantation renal function and clinical outcomes.
Subsidies alone are not enough to increase adoption of agricultural water management interventions
Authors: Alam Mohammad Faiz , McClain Michael , Sikka Alok , Pande Saket
Published: August 2024

The adoption of agricultural water interventions for climate change adaptation has been slow and limited despite their established efficacy and benefits. While several studies have identified socio-economic, biophysical, technological and institutional factors that influence adoption, psychological factors have often been overlooked. This study examines the socio-economic and psychological factors, using RANAS behavioral model, that influence the adoption of agricultural water interventions in the semi-arid region of Saurashtra in India. Two contrasting and dominating agricultural water interventions in the area: drip irrigation and borewells are evaluated. Despite subsidies being available for drip irrigation systems, the adoption rate remains low (~16% adopting rate) compared to borewells (~24.5% adoption) with no subsidies reflecting farmer’s preference for supply augmentation measures over demand management. Incorporating psychological factors in the analysis improved the explanatory power of the logistic model by almost threefold, underscoring the significance of psychological factors in explaining farmers’ adoption decisions. Based on the logistic model, major factors determining farmers adoption behaviour identified are farmer’s perceived ability, risk preference and positive beliefs about the technologies along with socio-economic (e.g., land size) and biophysical factors (e.g., proximity to water). The study recommends a multi-pronged approach to increase the adoption of interventions, including augmenting subsidies with efforts on extension services, post-adoption services, training, and awareness campaigns to build farmers’ capacity and raise awareness.
Validation of the basic need satisfaction for sport scale in Ethiopian athletes
Authors: Melesse Getabirhan Getinet , Tegegne Zelalem Melkamu , Rani Sangeeta
Published: August 2024

By anchoring on the self-determination theory in an Ethiopian context, this study tried to establish the basic need satisfaction sport scales (BNSSS) reliability and validity. Despite the scale's usefulness in measuring athletes' psychological need fulfillment during a sporting event, no study has proven the scale's validity in a setting of Ethiopian sports. To validate the BNSSS scale, confirmatory factor analysis was used in the study. The 20 items of the BNSSS questionnaire's English translation are divided into five categories: relatedness, competence, autonomy-perceived locus of internal causality, autonomy-choice, and volition. Senior language experts translated the BNSSS questionnaire into Amharic. The Amharic version of the instrument was used to gather data from 321 athletes, 174 men, and 147 women, with a mean age of 23.34 22.59 and a standard deviation of 5.08 and mean age 5.32; a standard deviation of 2.33 year of experience in their sports from four baseball games. With a Cronbach's alpha value ranging from 0.848 to 0.882 (IPLOC to Volition respectively) across the five subscales and, the results confirm the reliability of the BNSSS for evaluating satisfaction with basic needs and motivation among Ethiopian athletes.” The result demonstrated an acceptable fit with the data (CFI, = 0.958, GFI, = 0.933, RMR, = 0.76, RMSEA, = 0.39) as well as internal consistency. All of the components' Cronbach's alpha values met expectations. The instrument's Amharic translation was thus valid and reliable for determining the extent to which Ethiopian athletes' basic needs were met.
The effect of agricultural information provision on smallholders’ technology adoption and yield: experimental evidence from Ethiopia
Authors: Waje Samuel Semma , Shano Berhanu Kuma , Walelign Solomon Zena , Kassie Workineh Asmare
Published: August 2024

Introduction

Lack of sufficient agricultural information has led smallholders’ to rely on traditional agricultural farming technologies in Sub-Saharan African countries, resulting in low adoption of modern inputs and low yield. Understanding the effect of information dissemination is essential for smallholder farmers in rural areas. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the effect of a randomized agricultural information provision on technology adoption and yield of cassava producers in Sodo Zuria, Offa, and Kindo Koysha Woredas in Wolaita Zone, South Ethiopia Regional Sate.

Methods

The study utilized panel data collected in two rounds from 1040 farmers in 2021 and 2023. A Randomized control trial (RCT) design was applied to evaluate the effect agricultural information provision on technology adoption and yields, comparing the results between treatment and control groups. The study employed three related information interventions for beneficiaries of the Ethiopian Rural Productive Safety Net Program: (i) agronomic technical information, (ii) productivity and profitability information, and (iii) pooled information on both treatments.

Results and discussion

The study found that agricultural information provision increases the adoption of modern agricultural technologies, land allocated to cassava, and yield. The provision of agricultural information is negatively related to access to media exposure, access to cell phones, and access to infrastructure while positively associated with participation in social groups, farm size, and farm income. Further policy research and evaluation are needed to assess the effectiveness of information intervention in different contexts and settings and factors that influence the improved cassava adoption and yield.
Associations between fatty infiltration of rotator cuff muscles and tear size or location of rotator cuff tendon
Authors: Kajiyama Shiro , Chiba Ko , Aoki Tatsunari , Sada Kiyoshi , Sato Shuntaro , Osaki Makoto
Published: August 2024

Background

Fatty infiltration (FI) of rotator cuff muscles in patients with rotator cuff tears is an important imaging factor for determining surgical indications. However, the associations between FI grade and the size or location of adjacent rotator cuff tears are not well-known. This study aimed to primarily determine whether tear size and location, especially for the SSc tendon, are associated with FI of adjacent rotator cuff muscles. The secondary aim was to clarify which patient factors are associated with rotator cuff muscle FI in rotator cuff tear cases.

Methods

This study examined 373 shoulders of 348 patients (264 males and 109 females; mean age of 62.8 years) who underwent arthroscopic rotator cuff surgery. The FI grades of the supraspinatus (SSP), infraspinatus (ISP), and subscapularis (SSc) muscles were assessed using preoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) using the Goutallier classification modified by Fuchs. According to the preoperative MRI and intraoperative findings, the tear size of the posterior–superior rotator cuff (SSP–ISP) was classified using a modified six-grade scale of the Cofield classification, and that of the SSc tear was classified using a six-grade scale according to the Lafosse classification. Age at surgery, sex, body mass index (BMI), presence of diabetes mellitus (DM) or hyperlipidemia (HL), trauma history, and duration of symptoms were investigated.

Results

The FI grades of the SSP, ISP, and SSc were significantly associated with the size of the tears in those muscles (all P < 0.01). Furthermore, the FI grades of the SSP and the ISP were significantly associated with SSc tear size (P < 0.01), and the FI grade of the SSc was significantly associated with SSP–ISP tear size (P < 0.01). Patient age at surgery was significantly associated with FI grade (P < 0.01), with significant progression of the FI grade with advancing age. However, there were no significant associations between the FI grade and sex, BMI, presence of DM or HL, trauma history, and duration of symptoms.

Conclusions

The FI grade of each of the rotator cuff muscles is affected by not only the tear severity of the muscle concerned but also by the severity of any tear in the adjacent rotator cuff.
Owner-reported treatments and outcomes of perceived injuries to the thoracic and pelvic limb of agility dogs
Authors: Alva Bianca M. , Pechette Markley Arielle , Shoben Abigail , Kieves Nina R.
Published: August 2024

Objective

The aim of this study was to identify the type of veterinary care sought by handlers of injured agility dogs, the types of treatments the dogs received, and the timeframe for return to training and competition.

Procedures

Owners of agility dogs completed an internet-based survey. They were instructed to report injuries that had kept the dog from training or competing for over a week, identify which area(s) of the body had been injured and answer questions about the most severe injury to each body part. Additional questions included if handlers had sought veterinary care, who primarily determined treatment, type of treatment(s), and length of time before the dog could return to full training and competition.

Results

This sample included data on 1,714 total injuries from 1,256 unique dogs. Handlers sought veterinary care for over 80% of injuries across all anatomical locations. Handlers were most likely to seek specialty veterinary care for reported injuries to the stifle (71%), iliopsoas (63%) and tibia (61%), and least likely for reported injuries to the carpus (34%), metatarsus (33%) and metacarpus (22%). Treatment of reported injuries to the antebrachium and stifle were most likely to be directed by a veterinarian (>70%), while reported injuries of the thigh (51%) and hip (53%) were least likely. Rest was the most common treatment for all injuries. Return to sport within 3 months was common (>67%) for most perceived injury locations, though dogs with reported stifle injuries took longer to return to competition and had a higher rate of retirement.

Conclusion and clinical relevance

Owners of agility dogs have a high rate of seeking veterinary care for injuries. Overall return to sport rates were high, with the stifle being the notable exception. Future studies regarding specific treatment of injuries in agility dogs, and how injuries and their treatment affect return to agility after injury are required to provide optimal care protocols for these canine athletes.
Fiber quality and fertility in male alpacas in the Cusco region of Peru
Authors: Pacheco Joel , Bengtsson Fanny , Killander Jakob , Franco Francisco , Lundeheim Nils , Varga Csaba , Båge Renée , Morrell Jane M.
Published: August 2024

Introduction

High testosterone levels might be associated with coarser fiber in alpacas, affecting fiber quality. In the husbandry systems employed in the Andes, males with higher libido might have an increased frequency of successful matings than males with lower libido. This study aimed to determine some of the factors affecting fiber quality in Peruvian alpacas and to evaluate the association between fiber quality and male mating behavior.

Methods

The study population consisted of 189 adult male alpacas at La Raya, Cusco, Peru, at 4,400 m above sea level, belonging to the National University of San Marcos, Lima, and the National University of San Antonio Abad of Cusco. Fiber samples were collected from male alpacas in September 2015; body condition score (BCS) was evaluated. After washing and drying, the fiber samples were analyzed using an Optical Fiber Diameter Analyser 2000; linear regression analysis between predictor variables (location of alpacas, age, BCS, and fiber color) and fiber quality outcomes was conducted. Fertility data were available only for some males belonging to San Marcos University, consisting of hand-written records from the breeding season January to April 2015; individual fertility quotients were calculated for each male.

Results

Age was associated with fiber quality, young alpacas having the finest fibers (p < 0.05). An increased BCS was associated with increased fiber length, fiber diameter and spinning fineness, but decreased comfort factor (p < 0.05). White fibers were thinner (p = 0.05) than colored fibers, with lower comfort factor and spinning fineness. A significant association between the fertility quotient and fiber curvature was observed (p = 0.018).

Discussion

These results suggest that careful selection of breeding individuals and attention to husbandry could result in improved fiber quality among alpaca herds in Peru. However, it would be advisable to increase the number of males studied, using more reliable methods for evaluating male fertility and pregnancy diagnosis than were available for this study.
On the Complexity of the Bipartite Polarization Problem: From Neutral to Highly Polarized Discussions
Authors: Alsinet Teresa , Argelich Josep , Béjar Ramón , Martínez Santi
Published: August 2024

The bipartite polarization problem is an optimization problem where the goal is to find the highest polarized bipartition on a weighted and labeled graph that represents a debate developed through some social network, where nodes represent user’s opinions and edges agreement or disagreement between users. This problem can be seen as a generalization of the maxcut problem, and in previous work, approximate solutions and exact solutions have been obtained for real instances obtained from Reddit discussions, showing that such real instances seem to be very easy to solve. In this paper, we further investigate the complexity of this problem by introducing an instance generation model where a single parameter controls the polarization of the instances in such a way that this correlates with the average complexity to solve those instances. The average complexity results we obtain are consistent with our hypothesis: the higher the polarization of the instance, the easier is to find the corresponding polarized bipartition. In view of the experimental results, it is computationally feasible to implement transparent mechanisms to monitor polarization on online discussions and to inform about solutions for creating healthier social media environments.
Bi-Objective, Dynamic, Multiprocessor Open-Shop Scheduling: A Hybrid Scatter Search–Tabu Search Approach
Authors: Abdelmaguid  Tamer F.
Published: August 2024

This paper presents a novel, multi-objective scatter search algorithm (MOSS) for a bi-objective, dynamic, multiprocessor open-shop scheduling problem (Bi-DMOSP). The considered objectives are the minimization of the maximum completion time (makespan) and the minimization of the mean weighted flow time. Both are particularly important for improving machines’ utilization and customer satisfaction level in maintenance and healthcare diagnostic systems, in which the studied Bi-DMOSP is mostly encountered. Since the studied problem is NP-hard for both objectives, fast algorithms are needed to fulfill the requirements of real-life circumstances. Previous attempts have included the development of an exact algorithm and two metaheuristic approaches based on the non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm (NSGA-II) and the multi-objective gray wolf optimizer (MOGWO). The exact algorithm is limited to small-sized instances; meanwhile, NSGA-II was found to produce better results compared to MOGWO in both small- and large-sized test instances. The proposed MOSS in this paper attempts to provide more efficient non-dominated solutions for the studied Bi-DMOSP. This is achievable via its hybridization with a novel, bi-objective tabu search approach that utilizes a set of efficient neighborhood search functions. Parameter tuning experiments are conducted first using a subset of small-sized benchmark instances for which the optimal Pareto front solutions are known. Then, detailed computational experiments on small- and large-sized instances are conducted. Comparisons with the previously developed NSGA-II metaheuristic demonstrate the superiority of the proposed MOSS approach for small-sized instances. For large-sized instances, it proves its capability of producing competitive results for instances with low and medium density.
Erosive Rainfall Thresholds Identification Using Statistical Approaches in a Karst Yellow Soil Mountain Erosion-Prone Region in Southwest China
Authors: Deng Ou , Li Man , Yang Binglan , Yang Guangbin , Li Yiqiu
Published: August 2024

Karst yellow soil is one of the most important cultivated soils in southwest China. At present, only a few studies have dealt with rainfall erosivity and erosive rainfall thresholds in the karst yellow soil region. This paper utilizes statistical methods to identify erosive rainfall thresholds and slope erosion-prone areas in the Qianzhong region. This analysis is based on long-term experimental data from 10 experimental stations and 69 experimental plots within the region in 2006 to 2022. The findings show the following: The rainfall amount threshold was 12.66 mm for woodland plots, 10.57 mm for grassland plots, 9.94 mm for farmland plots, and 8.93 mm for fallow plots. Soil and water conservation measures in forestry and grassland effectively increase the rainfall amount thresholds. Compared to farmland, the rainfall threshold increased by 27.32% for woodland and 6.32% for grassland. Bare land and farmland are erosion-prone areas in the karst yellow soil region. The erosive rainfall thresholds for farmland plots with slopes of 13°, 15°, 20°, 23°, and 25° were 10.41 mm, 10.28 mm, 9.66 mm, 9.52 mm, and 9.15 mm, respectively. With the increase in the 13–25° slope gradient of farmland, the initial rainfall required for runoff generation leads to a reduction. The wrong selection indices (WSI) of all landcover plots were less than 10%, and the efficiency indices (EFF) were between 80.43% and 90.25%. The relative error index (REI) of the erosive rainfall thresholds for all landcover runoff plots was less than 0.50%, very close to 0, indicating that these thresholds have small errors and high accuracy. This study gained a better understanding of natural rainfall-induced erosion characteristics in the study area, determined rainfall thresholds for distinguishing erosive rainfall events from non-erosive across different landcover types, and reduced the workload of calculating rainfall erosivity while enhancing the accuracy of soil erosion forecasting and simulation in the karst mountain yellow soil area.
Performance Evaluation of Biomimetic-Designed Rotary Blades for Straw Incorporation in an Intensive Tillage System
Authors: Chen Xinxin , Xu Gaoming , Zhang Xiaoyu , Tan Weichao , Ding Qishuo , Tagar Ahmad Ali
Published: August 2024

A rotary tiller is a common tillage tool for straw incorporation in an intensive tillage system. However, rotary tillage for seedbed preparation in dense-straw mulching conditions experiences high torque and poor performance of straw incorporation. Nowadays, a great deal of studies have been focused on mimicking the morphological features of low-resistance animals to improve the performance of soil-engaging tools. Accordingly, the present study investigated the performance of three C-type rotary blades (i.e., conventional, serrated, and biomimetic) under three straw lengths (50, 100, and 150 mm) for incorporation of straw into the field using an in situ field tillage testing bench. Compared to the conventional and serrated blades, the biomimetic blade had lower straw displacement (decreased by an average of 50 mm and 7 mm, respectively), higher straw burying rate (increased by an average of 5.2% and 7.8%, respectively), better straw distribution (decreased by an average of 9.1% and 10.4% on the coefficient of variation, respectively), as well as lower torque and power (decreased by an average of 3.3 N·m and 4.4 N·m, respectively) under all straw lengths. The improved performance of the biomimetic blade could be attributed to the fact that its typical teeth configuration was designed by mimicking the smooth arc of the mole-rat’s claw. These results demonstrated that the biomimetic-designed blade could be a better option for incorporating dense straw into the field conditions.
Construction of Indicators of Low-Temperature Stress Levels at the Jointing Stage of Winter Wheat
Authors: Zhang Fengyin , Huo Zhiguo , Yang Zaiqiang , Zhang Lei , Wang Na , Jiang Mengyuan , Kong Rui , Mi Qianchuan , Li Meixuan , Wu Huizhen
Published: August 2024

This study aimed to investigate the impact of low-temperature (LT) stress during the jointing stage on three most representative wheat varieties in the Huang-Huai-Hai region: “Shannong 38” (a robust winter wheat variety), “Jimai 22” (a semi-winter wheat variety), and “Zhenmai 12” (a weak winter wheat variety). The objective was to explain the sensitivity and change thresholds of various physiological and yield indicators of three winter wheat varieties to low temperatures during the jointing stage and to construct an index for the grading of LT disasters during the jointing stage using principal component analysis. Controlled environment experiments were conducted using an artificial climate chamber during the jointing stage of winter wheat. Five daily minimum temperature treatments were applied, namely (T1, −6 °C); (T2, −3 °C); (T3, 0 °C); (T4, 3 °C); (T5, 6 °C); and control (CK, 8 °C). The duration of treatments was divided into three levels: (D1: 2 days), (D2: 4 days), and (D3: 6 days). It was found that the photosynthetic parameters and chlorophyll content showed a decreasing trend with the increase in the degree of LT stress. The activities of protective enzymes and endogenous hormones increased during the early stages of LT stress or at relatively high temperatures. However, they decreased significantly with an increase in LT stress. Among the varieties, “Zhenmai 12” exhibited a yield reduction rate exceeding 10% under 3 °C LT stress for more than 4 days and a yield reduction rate exceeding 20% under 0 °C LT stress for more than 6 days. “Jimai 22” showed a yield reduction rate exceeding 10% under 3 °C LT stress lasting more than 2 days, and a yield reduction rate exceeding 20% under −3 °C LT stress lasting more than 4 days. “Shannong 38” experienced a yield reduction rate exceeding 10% under 0 °C LT stress lasting more than 4 days and a yield reduction rate exceeding 20% under −6 °C LT stress lasting more than 6 days. Principal component analysis (PCA) conducted on all trait indicators of the three winter wheat varieties revealed that “Zhenmai 12” experienced mild LT stress at 6 °C for 2 days, moderate LT stress at 0 °C for 6 days, and severe LT stress at −3 °C for 6 days. “Jimai 22” experienced mild LT stress under 6 °C for 6 days, moderate LT stress under 0 °C for 4 days, and severe LT stress under −6 °C for 2 days. “Shannong 38” experienced mild LT stress under 3 °C for 4 days, moderate LT stress under 0 °C for 4 days, and severe LT stress under −6 °C for 6 days.
Failure Feature Identification of Vibrating Screen Bolts under Multiple Feature Fusion and Optimization Method
Authors: Wang Bangzhui , Tang Zhong , Wang Kejiu , Li Pengcheng
Published: August 2024

Strong impacts and vibrations exist in various structures of rice combine harvesters in harvesting, so the bolt connection structure on the harvesters is prone to loosening and failure, which would further affect the service life and working efficiency of the working device and structure. In this paper, based on the vibration signal acquisition experiment on the bolt and connection structure of the vibrating screen on the harvester, failure feature identification is studied. According to the sensitivity analysis results and the primary extraction of the time-frequency feature, most features have limitations on the identification of failure features of vibrating screen bolts. Therefore, based on the establishment of a high-dimensional feature matrix and multivariate fusion feature matrix, the validity of the feature set was verified based on the whale optimization algorithm. And then, based on the SVM method and high-dimensional mapping of the kernel functions, the high-dimensional feature matrix is trained by the LIBSVM classification decision model. The identify success rates of time domain feature matrix A, frequency domain feature matrix B, WOA-VMD energy entropy matrix C, and normalized multivariate fusion feature matrix G are 64.44%, 74.44%, 81.11%, and more than 90%, respectively, which can reflect the applicability of the failure state identification of the normalized multivariate fusion feature matrix. This paper provided a theoretical basis for the identification of a harvester bolt failure feature.
Preparation of Time-Sequential Functionalized ZnS-ZnO Film for Modulation of Interfacial Behavior of Metals in Biological Service Environments
Authors: Zhang Jianwen , Tang Yujie , Gao Xiaowa , Pei Xinyu , Weng Yajun , Chen Junying
Published: August 2024

Blood-contact devices are prone to inflammation, endothelial dysfunction, coagulation, and the uncontrolled release of metal ions during implantation and service. Therefore, it is essential to make these multifunctional. Herein, a superhydrophobic DE@ZnS-ZnO@SA film (composed of dabigatran ester, zinc sulfite, zinc oxide, and stearic acid, respectively) is produced. The prepared film has non-adhesion and antibacterial properties, superior mechanical stability, durability, corrosion resistance, and is self-cleaning and blood-repellent. The results of the hemolysis, cytotoxicity, and other anticoagulant experiments revealed that the film had good blood compatibility, no cytotoxicity, and excellent anticoagulant properties. The film displays anticoagulant properties even after being immersed in Phosphate-Buffered Saline (PBS) for 7 days. Furthermore, the film can spontaneously release H2S gas for 90 h after soaking in an acidic environment (pH = 6) for 90 h. This property improves the acidic microenvironment of the lesion and promotes the proliferation of endothelial cells by using H2S gas. In addition, the film can inhibit the uncontrollable release of Zn2+ ions, avoiding its toxicity even when immersed in an acid environment for 35 days. This time-sequential functionalized surface has the potential to typify the future of blood-contacting scaffolds for long-lasting use.
Nesfatin-1: A Novel Diagnostic and Prognostic Biomarker in Digestive Diseases
Authors: Damian-Buda Adriana-Cezara , Matei Daniela Maria , Ciobanu Lidia , Damian-Buda Dana-Zamfira , Pop Raluca Maria , Buzoianu Anca Dana , Bocsan Ioana Corina
Published: August 2024

Nesfatin-1, deriving from a precursor protein, NUCB2, is a newly discovered molecule with anti-apoptotic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anorexigenic effects. It was initially identified in the central nervous system (CNS) and received increasing interest due to its energy-regulating properties. However, research showed that nesfatin-1 is also expressed in peripheral tissues, including the digestive system. The aim of this review is to give a résumé of the present state of knowledge regarding its structure, immunolocalization, and potential implications in diseases with inflammatory components. The main objective was to focus on its clinical importance as a diagnostic biomarker and potential therapeutic molecule in a variety of disorders, among which digestive disorders were of particular interest. Previous studies have shown that nesfatin-1 regulates the balance between pro- and antioxidant agents, which makes nesfatin-1 a promising therapeutic agent. Further in-depth research regarding the underlying mechanisms of action is needed for a better understanding of its effects.