bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Factors associated with footpad dermatitis in German laying hens: A retrospective study
Authors: Volkmann Nina , Riedel Anna , Kemper Nicole , Spindler Birgit 
Published: June 2024

AbstractFootpad dermatitis (FPD) is characterized by lesions on the plantar region of the footpad. It is one of the most common foot health problems and welfare issues mainly described for broilers and turkeys. This retrospective study aimed to evaluate the presence of this footpad disorder in laying hens as well as to identify typical risk factors for FPD during the laying period. Data were collected from 39 German laying hen flocks visited up to 16 times during production, where the housing system, flock size, age of flock, season, litter type and quality as well as hens' foot health were recorded in 30–200 randomly selected animals/visit using a four‐point scoring system (FPD‐Score 0–3). In total, 15,448 randomly selected laying hens were scored and classified, recording the highest degree of FPD per animal as well as whether FPD was detected in one or both of its feet. Of the hens examined, 78.9% showed no alterations, 18.6% showed slight ones, 2.2% moderate alterations, and 0.3% showed severe FPD. In the animals related to FPD (n = 3253), 48.0% of the hens showed an alteration in one foot and 52.0% in both feet. While few animals showed FPD at the first two visits (AF0, AF1), the percentage of animals related to FPD increased at the laying peak (~28th week of life). At the end of the laying period, 34.4% of the hens showed at least slight alterations (n = 955/2776). The results of the statistical analysis showed that the FPD‐Score was statistically affected by the type of litter, the season, and the age of flock (all P < .0001), while the quality of litter at the time of visit (P = .0940), the housing system (P = .2696), and flock size (P = .8776) were not related to FPD. In summary, this study detected that more than a third of the animals examined showed alterations in their footpads at the end of the laying period. Such changes in foot health occurred from the laying peak and increased to the end of the laying period. In addition to the age of the hens, the type of litter and the season were determined as potential risk factors. Moreover, this study shows how common this foot health problem is, not only in turkeys and broilers but also for laying hens.
The association of smoking with different eating and dietary behaviours: A cross‐sectional analysis of 80 296 United Kingdom adults
Authors: Alruwaili Arwa , King James A. , Deighton Kevin , Kelly Benjamin M. , Liao Zhining , Innes Aidan , Henson Joseph , Yates Thomas , Johnson William , Thivel David , Metz Lore , Thackray Alice E. , Tolfrey Keith , Stensel David J. , Willis Scott A. 
Published: June 2024

AbstractBackground and aimsSmokers typically have a lower body mass index (BMI) than non‐smokers, while smoking cessation is associated with weight gain. In pre‐clinical research, nicotine in tobacco smoking suppresses appetite and influences subsequent eating behaviour; however, this relationship is unclear in humans. This study measured the associations of smoking with different eating and dietary behaviours.DesignA cross‐sectional analysis of data from health assessments conducted between 2004 and 2022.SettingAn independent healthcare‐based charity within the United Kingdom.ParticipantsA total of 80 296 men and women (mean ± standard deviation [SD]: age, 43.0 ± 10.4 years; BMI, 25.7 ± 4.2 kg/m2; 62.5% male) stratified into two groups based on their status as a smoker (n = 6042; 7.5%) or non‐smoker (n = 74 254; 92.5%).MeasurementsSmoking status (self‐report) was the main exposure, while the primary outcomes were selected eating and dietary behaviours. Age, sex and socioeconomic status (index of multiple deprivation [IMD]) were included as covariates and interaction terms, while moderate‐to‐vigorous exercise and sleep quality were included as covariates only.FindingsSmokers had lower odds of snacking between meals and eating food as a reward or out of boredom versus non‐smokers (all odds ratio [OR] ≤ 0.82; P < 0.001). Furthermore, smokers had higher odds of skipping meals, going more than 3 h without food, adding salt and sugar to their food, overeating and finding it hard to leave something on their plate versus non‐smokers (all OR ≥ 1.06; P ≤ 0.030). Additionally, compared with non‐smokers, smoking was associated with eating fried food more times per week (rate ratio [RR] = 1.08; P < 0.001), eating fewer meals per day, eating sweet foods between meals and eating dessert on fewer days per week (all RR ≤ 0.93; P < 0.001). Several of these relationships were modified by age, sex and IMD.ConclusionsSmoking appears to be associated with eating and dietary behaviours consistent with inhibited food intake, low diet quality and altered food preference. Several of these relationships are moderated by age, sex and socioeconomic status.
Leopard dispersal across a fragmented landscape in the Western Cape, South Africa
Authors: Wilkinson Anita , Fabricius Michael , Brink Erica , Garbett Rebecca , Hahndiek Eugene , Williams Kathryn S. 
Published: June 2024

AbstractLeopard (Panthera pardus) dispersal is poorly documented. An amalgamation of independent, mixed‐method camera trap data spanning six years provides evidence of male leopard dispersal across the highly fragmented Overberg region, Western Cape, South Africa. Dispersal distances from four individuals ranged from 35.3 to 112.0 km between the origin and destination datapoints. Leopard dispersal across the modified landscape affirms their adaptability and resilience and reveals local functional connectivity. We caution against population status complacency but rather advocate for maintaining and improving functional landscape connectivity for this umbrella species. This study, which collated piecemeal data from four sources, highlights the importance of collaboration and data sharing in conservation.
Attentive hands: The coexistence of digital and analog attentions in children's sports
Authors: Broch Trygve B. 
Published: June 2024

AbstractThrough an extended ethnography of a sports team of boys growing from 7 to 11 years old, I explore Norwegian parents' anxieties about the digital world encroaching on their children's lives. I compare parents' monitoring of their children's (non)digital leisure activities with how kids interact (non)digitally. On the surface, as parents observe how their children's bodies move from screens to sports, they see their kids' attentive hands shifting focus from electronic gaming and screen swiping to a more welcomed ballplaying and high‐fiving with nonelectronic teammates. However, close inspection reveals that my interlocutors never completely enter or leave the digital, but dwell within both worlds simultaneously. The result shows the meaning of children sports as changed by the digital, how the digital appears in the foreground or the background of our interactions, and how an emphasis on attentive hands can help unearth how the digital passes through us to constitute our lifeworlds.
Business innovation as a force for good: From doing less harm to positive impact type 1 and type 2
Authors: Laszlo Chris , Cooperrider David , Fry Ronald 
Published: June 2024

AbstractCommitments of “getting to zero” or becoming a regenerative company are raising investor, customer, and employee expectations at a time when businesses are struggling just to reduce negative impacts. Executives are increasingly caught between wanting to build a better world and the reality of managing value‐add activities that continue to harm people and the environment.Businesses need to distinguish between three types of innovation impacts to maintain their credibility and legitimacy. The first is doing less harm, where the goal is to minimize social wrongs and reduce ecological footprints. The second is incremental positive impact, where the goal is to increase prosperity, regenerate nature, and improve wellbeing through initiatives that are typically of limited scope. The third is system‐wide positive impact, where scalable business innovations have a discernible capacity to “move the needle” on social and global challenges such as climate change and social equity.This conceptual paper provides a framework for assessing business innovations by type of impact and the high‐leverage points needed to create desired change at the scale of the whole.
A potential novel treatment for cirrhosis‐related ascites: Empagliflozin is safe and tolerable in advanced chronic liver disease
Authors: Shen Ivan , Stojanova Jana , Yeo Malcolm , Olsen Nick , Lockart Ian , Wang Max , Roggeveld Jan , Heerspink Hiddo J. L. , Greenfield Jerry R. , Day Richard , Danta Mark 
Published: June 2024

AbstractAimsAdvanced chronic liver disease and advanced chronic liver disease‐related ascites have a high mortality. The pharmacological treatment of ascites and fluid overload has changed little over time. Empagliflozin, a sodium‐glucose cotransporter type 2 inhibitor is an untested potential novel treatment in cirrhosis, as it has survival benefits in heart failure, which has similar pathophysiological fluid overload mechanisms. Before investigating empagliflozin's potential benefit in cirrhosis, its safety must be addressed.MethodsTen participants (five each with compensated or decompensated advanced chronic liver disease, based on Child–Pugh class) received empagliflozin 10 mg orally daily for 4 weeks with 2 weeks follow‐up. Empagliflozin safety, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics were investigated.ResultsIn total, eight patients (80%) reported an adverse event, and three patients (30%) experienced a serious adverse event, one of which was attributed to empagliflozin. Overall, the frequency of adverse events was similar to previous phase 3 trials of gliflozins. Higher plasma empagliflozin concentrations did not significantly increase the risk of adverse events.ConclusionsFour‐week treatment with empagliflozin was safe and well tolerated in patients with advanced chronic liver disease. These preliminary data support assessment of long‐term treatment on disease‐related and mortality outcomes in patients with cirrhosis through randomized control trials.
Microglial forkhead box O3a deficiency attenuates LPS‐induced neuro‐inflammation and depressive‐like behaviour through regulating the expression of peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor‐γ
Authors: Wang Rikang , Ji Lianru , Yuan Shun , Liu Xiamin , Liang Zhi , Chen Wenjing , Wang Bocheng , Hu Suifa , Liu Zhiping , Zeng Zhiwen , Song Yonggui , Wu Tao , Chen Baodong 
Published: June 2024

Background and PurposeDepression is closely linked with microglial activation and neuro‐inflammation. Peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor‐γ (PPAR‐γ) plays an important role in M2 activation of microglia. Forkhead box (FOX) O3a has been implicated in the regulation of mood‐relevant behaviour. However, little is known about the inflammatory mechanisms of in the microglia of the brain. Here, we have investigated the role of microglial FOXO3a/PPAR‐γ in the development of depression.Experimental ApproachThe effect of FOXO3a on microglia inflammation was analysedin vitroand in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)‐induced depression‐like behavioursin vivo. ChIP‐seq and Dual‐luciferase reporter assays were used to confirm the interaction between FOXO3a and PPAR‐γ. Behavioural changes were measured, while inflammatory cytokines, microglial phenotype and morphological properties were determined by ELISA, qRT‐PCR, western blotting and immunostaining.Key ResultsOverexpression of FOXO3a significantly attenuated expression of PPAR‐γ and enhanced the microglial polarization towards the M1 phenotype, while knockdown of FOXO3a had the opposite effect. FOXO3a binds to the promoters of PPAR‐γ and decreases its transcription activity. Importantly, deacetylation and activation of FOXO3a regulate LPS‐induced neuro‐inflammation by inhibiting the expression of PPAR‐γ in microglia cells, supporting the antidepressant potential of histone deacetylase inhibitors. Microglial FOXO3a deficiency in mice alleviated LPS‐induced neuro‐inflammation and depression‐like behaviours but failed to reduce anxiety behaviour, whereas pharmacological inhibition of PPAR‐γ by GW9662 restored LPS‐induced microglial activation and depressive‐like behaviours in microglial FOXO3a‐deficient mice.Conclusion and ImplicationsFOXO3a/PPAR‐γ axis plays an important role in microglial activation and depression, identifying a new therapeutic avenue for the treatment of major depression.
Identification, spatial distribution, and associated factors of urban protected areas in China
Authors: Zitong Zuo , Shuyi Wang , Le Zhong 
Published: June 2024

AbstractThe increasing proximity between protected areas (PAs) and urban areas, which can lead to urban protected areas (UPAs), is now commonplace. Use of Euclidean distance to measure the distance between PAs and cities has not correctly portrayed the spatial relationship between PAs and cities. We devised an isochronous circle model to accurately measure the distance between 2706 national PAs in 5 categories and 2844 cities in China based on human accessibility to identify urban human activity‐influenced protected areas (UHAIPAs) and to quantitatively analyze their distribution patterns and relationships with China's economy, population distribution patterns, and urban development indicators. Most of the PAs in China were established near cities. Of 2746 PAs in China, 18.35% (n = 504) became UPAs, and 58.27% (n = 1600), 16.72% (n = 459), and 3.31% (n = 91) of PAs were within 0–30, 30–60, and 60–90 min, respectively. Both UPAs and UHAIPAs in China in general exhibited obvious spatial aggregation characteristics (e.g., wetland parks and scenic areas), and there was a significant spatial dependence effect among characteristics. The degree of spatial distribution and aggregation of UPAs was correlated with 16 indicators across urban economic development, urban natural substrate, and urban policy support factors. Based on the results of our study, we call for various governments and scholars to focus on areas where wetland parks and PAs overlap with urban boundaries. It is important to emphasize the potential link between the development of agriculture, forestry, livestock and fisheries industries, and UPAs. Overall, we believe that examining the accessibility of PAs can more accurately measure the distance between PAs and cities, and more realistically reflect the possible impacts of urban human activities on PAs, which is helpful for strengthening the conservation and management of PAs.
MRD‐GAN: Multi‐representation discrimination GAN for enhancing the diversity of the generated data
Authors: Megahed Mohammed , Mohammed Ammar 
Published: June 2024

AbstractThe generative adversarial network (GAN) is a highly effective member of the generative models category and is extensively employed for generating realistic samples across various domains. The fundamental concept behind GAN involves two networks, a generator and a discriminator, competing against each other. During the training process, generator and discriminator networks encounter several issues that can potentially affect the quality and diversity of the generated samples. One such critical issue is mode collapse, where the generator fails to create varied samples. To tackle this issue, this article introduces a GAN approach called the multi‐representation discrimination GAN (MRD‐GAN). In this approach, the discriminator supports concurrent network discrimination flows to manage different representations of the data through various transformation functions, such as dimension rescaling, brightness adjustment, and gamma correction applied to the input data of the discriminator. We use a fusion function to aggregate the output of all flows and return a consolidated loss value to update the generator's weights. Hence, the discriminator conveys diverse feedback to the generator. The proposed approach has been evaluated on four distinct benchmarks, namely CelebA, Cifar‐10, Fashion‐Mnist, and Mnist. The experimental results demonstrate that the proposed approach surpasses the existing state‐of‐the‐art GAN models in terms of FID metric that measures the diversity of the generated samples. Significantly, the proposed approach demonstrates remarkable FID scores of 14.02, 30.19, 9.42, and 3.14 on the CelebA, Cifar‐10, Fashion‐Mnist, and Mnist datasets, respectively.
Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell‐derived exosomal miR‐221‐3p promotes angiogenesis and wound healing in diabetes via the downregulation of forkhead box P1
Authors: Qiu Zhi‐Yang , Xu Wei‐cheng , Liang Zun‐Hong 
Published: June 2024

AbstractAimImpaired wound healing in patients with diabetes can develop into nonhealing ulcerations. Because bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) exosomes can promote wound healing, this study aims to investigate the mechanism of BMSCs‐isolated exosomal miR‐221‐3p in angiogenesis and diabetic wound healing.MethodsTo mimic diabetes in vitro, human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were subjected to high glucose (HG). Exosomes were derived from BMSCs and identified by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), western blot analysis and dynamic light scattering (DLS). The ability to differentiate BMSCs was assessed via Oil red O staining, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) staining and alizarin red staining. The ability to internalise PKH26‐labelled exosomes was assessed using confocal microscopy. Migration, cell viability and angiogenesis were tested by scratch, MTT and tube formation assays separately. The miRNA and protein levels were analysed by quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (qRT‐PCR) or western blotting. The relationship among miR‐221‐3p, FOXP1 and SPRY1 was determined using the dual‐luciferase reporter, ChIP and RIP assays.ResultsExosomal miR‐221‐3p was successfully isolated from BMSCs and delivered into HUVECs. HG was found to suppress the angiogenesis, cell viability and migration of HUVECs and exosomal miR‐221‐3p separated from BMSCs inhibited the above phenomenon. FOXP1 could transcriptionally upregulate SPRY1, and the silencing of FOXP1 reversed the HG‐stimulated angiogenesis inhibition, cell viability and migration in HUVECs via the downregulation of SPRY1. Meanwhile, miR‐221‐3p directly targeted FOXP1 and the overexpression of FOXP1 reversed the positive effect of exosomal miR‐221‐3p on HUVEC angiogenesis.ConclusionExosomal miR‐221‐3p isolated from BMSCs promoted angiogenesis in diabetic wounds through the mediation of the FOXP1/SPRY1 axis. Furthermore, the findings of this study can provide new insights into probing strategies against diabetes.
Real‐world glycaemic outcomes of automated insulin delivery in type 1 diabetes: A meta‐analysis
Authors: Yang Qin , Zeng Baoqi , Hao Jiayi , Yang Qingqing , Sun Feng 
Published: June 2024

AbstractAimTo evaluate the real‐world effectiveness of automated insulin delivery (AID) systems in patients with type 1 diabetes (T1D).Materials and MethodsPubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library, and ClinicalTrials.gov were searched for studies published up until 2 March 2024. We included pragmatic randomized controlled trials (RCTs), cohort studies, and before–after studies that compared AID systems with conventional insulin therapy in real‐world settings and reported continuous glucose monitoring outcomes. Percent time in range (TIR; 3.9–10 mmol/L), time below range (TBR; <3.9 mmol/L), time above range (TAR; >10 mmol/L), and glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) level were extracted. Data were summarized as mean differences (MDs) with 95% confidence interval.ResultsA total of 23 before–after studies (101 704 participants) were included in the meta‐analysis. AID systems were associated with an increased percentage of TIR (11.61%, 10.47 to 12.76; p < 0.001). The favourable effect of AID systems was consistently observed when used continuously for 6 (11.76%) or 12 months (11.33%), and in both children (12.16%) and adults (11.04%). AID systems also showed favourable effects on TBR (−0.53%, −0.63 to −0.42), TAR (−9.65%, −10.63 to −8.67) and HbA1c level (−0.42%, −0.47 to −0.37) when compared with previous treatments.ConclusionsSimilar improvements in glycaemic parameters were observed in real‐world settings in RCTs using AID systems in T1D. AID systems benefit both children and adults by increasing TIR for both short‐ and long‐term interventions.
Simple 3D spheroid cell culture model for studies of prion infection
Authors: Fremuntova Zuzana , Hanusova Zdenka Backovska , Soukup Jakub , Mosko Tibor , Matej Radoslav , Holada Karel 
Published: June 2024

AbstractMouse neuronal CAD 5 cell line effectively propagates various strains of prions. Previously, we have shown that it can also be differentiated into the cells morphologically resembling neurons. Here, we demonstrate that CAD 5 cells chronically infected with prions undergo differentiation under the same conditions. To make our model more realistic, we triggered the differentiation in the 3D culture created by gentle rocking of CAD 5 cell suspension. Spheroids formed within 1 week and were fully developed in less than 3 weeks of culture. The mature spheroids had a median size of ~300 μm and could be cultured for up to 12 weeks. Increased expression of differentiation markers GAP 43, tyrosine hydroxylase, β‐III‐tubulin and SNAP 25 supported the differentiated status of the spheroid cells. The majority of them were found in the G0/G1 phase of the cell cycle, which is typical for differentiated cells. Moreover, half of the PrPC on the cell membrane was N‐terminally truncated, similarly as in differentiated CAD 5 adherent cells. Finally, we demonstrated that spheroids could be created from prion‐infected CAD 5 cells. The presence of prions was verified by immunohistochemistry, western blot and seed amplification assay. We also confirmed that the spheroids can be infected with the prions de novo. Our 3D culture model of differentiated CAD 5 cells is low cost, easy to produce and cultivable for weeks. We foresee its possible use in the testing of anti‐prion compounds and future studies of prion formation dynamics.
Fitness consequences of variation in social group size are not population‐specific but are associated with access to food in the communally breeding rodent, Octodon degus
Authors: Hayes Loren D. , Strom Madeline K. , León Cecilia , Ramírez‐Estrada Juan , Grillo Sara , Gao Cuilan L. , Vásquez Rodrigo A. , Ebensperger Luis A. 
Published: June 2024

AbstractStudies that concurrently investigate the functional benefits of group living in multiple populations of the same species are rare. Over a 3‐year period (2014–2016), we examined two ecologically contrasting populations to test multiple hypotheses for the adaptive significance of group living in the communally breeding rodent Octodon degus. We quantified the size of social units (number of adults, number of adult females), edible vegetation at burrow systems, and per capita offspring weaned (PCOW) in each population. Contrary to expectations, we did not observe population‐specific associations between group size and edible vegetation or PCOW nor universal benefits of group living. In one population, PCOW increased in mid‐sized groups with more edible vegetation. However, this trend was not consistent across years. Notably, we observed a complete reproductive failure in one population during the first year of study, one that was characterized by low rainfall and no detectable edible vegetation. This result is important because reproductive failure occurred regardless of group size, suggesting that communal living may not buffer degus against the harshest of environmental conditions. Examining how social organization shapes individual reproductive success under extreme variation in food availability is an important step towards understanding how populations will respond to a changing climate.