Search Results (10,023)

Dairy production systems significantly impact environmental sustainability, animal welfare, and human health. Intensive farming maximizes output through high-input practices, raising concerns about environmental degradation, animal welfare, and health risks from antibiotic residues. Conversely, organic farming emphasizes sustainable practices, animal welfare, and minimal synthetic inputs, potentially enhancing biodiversity, soil health, and milk quality. MicroRNAs (miRNAs), non-coding RNAs regulating gene expression, are promising biomarkers due to their response to various conditions. In this study, miRNAs bta-miR-103 and bta-miR-155, which are abundant in milk from pasture-fed cows, were selected. Additionally, bta-miR-215, which is abundant in milk fat from intensive systems, was also studied, in order to differentiate dairy production systems. A novel, cost-effective gold nanoparticle (AuNP)-based sensor was developed for miRNA detection, leveraging the unique plasmonic properties of AuNPs for visual detection. The method involves functionalizing AuNPs with complementary RNA probes and detecting miRNA-induced aggregation through colorimetric changes. This rapid, results in 30 min, and sensitive, visual limit of detection of 200 nM, assay requires minimal instrumentation and can be easily interpreted, offering significant advantages for field implementation in characterizing dairy production systems. This study demonstrates the successful application of this sensor in detecting miRNAs in 350 nM miRNA spiked raw milk, highlighting its potential for in situ dairy industry applications. Full article

The production management of lactating sows is a crucial aspect of pig farm operations, as their health directly impacts the farm’s production efficiency. The feeding behavior of lactating sows can reflect their health and welfare status, and monitoring this behavior is essential for precise feeding and management. To address the issues of time-consuming and labor-intensive manual inspection of lactating sows’ feeding behavior and the reliance on breeders’ experience, we propose a method based on the improved YOLO (You Only Look Once) v5s algorithm and image segmentation for detecting the feeding behavior of lactating sows. Based on the YOLOv5s algorithm, the SE (Squeeze-and-Excitation) attention module was added to enhance the algorithm’s performance and reduce the probability of incorrect detection. Additionally, the loss function was replaced by WIoU (Weighted Intersection over Union) to accelerate the model’s convergence speed and improve detection accuracy. The improved YOLOv5s-C3SE-WIoU model is designed to recognize pre-feeding postures and feed trough conditions by detecting images of lactating sows. Compared to the original YOLOv5s, the improved model achieves an 8.9% increase in [email protected] and a 4.7% increase in [email protected] to 0.95. This improvement satisfies the requirements for excellent detection performance, making it suitable for deployment in large-scale pig farms. From the model detection results, the trough remnant image within the detection rectangle was extracted. This image was further processed using image processing techniques to achieve trough remnant image segmentation and infer the remnant amount. Based on the detection model and residue inference method, video data of lactating sows’ feeding behavior were processed to derive the relationship between feeding behavior, standing time, and residue amount. Using a standing duration of 2 s and a leftover-feed proportion threshold of 2% achieves the highest accuracy, enabling the identification of abnormal feeding behavior. We analyzed the pre-feeding postures and residual feed amounts of abnormal and normal groups of lactating sows. Our findings indicated that standing time was significantly lower and residual feed amount was higher in the abnormal groups compared to the normal groups. By combining standing time and residual feed amount information, accurate detection of the feeding status of lactating sows can be realized. This approach facilitates the accurate detection of abnormal feeding behaviors of lactating sows in large-scale pig farm environments. Full article

Rapid urbanization is universally acknowledged to degrade ecosystem services, posing significant threats to human well-being. However, the effects of urban shrinkage, a global phenomenon and a counterpart to urbanization, on ecosystem services (ESs) remain unclear. This study focuses on China’s Rust Belt during the period from 2000 to 2020, constructing a comprehensive analytical framework based on long-term remote sensing data to reveal the temporal and spatial patterns of ESs and their associations with cities experiencing varying degrees of shrinkage. It employs a random forest (RF) model and a Shapley additive explanation (SHAP) model to measure and visualize the significance and thresholds of socioeconomic factors influencing changes in ESs. Our findings highlight the following: (1) Since 2010, the three provinces of Northeast China (TPNC) have begun to shrink comprehensively, with the degree of shrinkage intensifying over time. Resource-based cities have all experienced contraction. (2) Regional urban shrinkage has been found to enhance the overall provision capacity of ESs, with the most significant improvements in cities undergoing continuous shrinkage. (3) The impact of the same socioeconomic drivers varies across cities with different levels of shrinkage; increasing green-space ratios and investing more in public welfare have been identified as effective measures to enhance ESs. (4) Threshold analysis indicates that the stability of the tertiary sector’s proportion is critically important for enhancing ESs in cities undergoing intermittent shrinkage. An increase of 10% to 15% in this sector can allow continuously shrinking cities to balance urban development with ecological improvements. This research highlights the positive aspects of urban shrinkage, demonstrating its ability to enhance the provision capacity of ESs. It offers new insights into the protection and management of regional ecosystems and the urban transformation of the three eastern provinces. Full article

The severity of adenovirus infection or the success of adenovirus-vectorized gene therapy largely depends on the efficiency of viral entry into cells. Various drugs can alter viral entry. This study evaluated the effects of dexamethasone, paracetamol, diclofenac, ibuprofen, and ketorolac on adenovirus entry into cells in vitro and in vivo. SiHa cell cultures pretreated with dexamethasone, paracetamol, diclofenac, ibuprofen, ketorolac, or no drug were exposed to the Ad-BGal vector. The percentage of cells showing vector entry was quantified microscopically. In vivo, BALB-C mice pretreated for 7 days with the drugs or no drug were exposed to the Ad-BGal vector intravenously (IV) or via oral (VO). Organs showing vector entry were identified by X-Gal staining and eosin counterstaining. Hepatic areas with adenovirus entry were quantified in µm². Dexamethasone, paracetamol, and ibuprofen increased adenovirus entry both in vitro and in vivo. Diclofenac increased entry only in vitro. Ketorolac did not affect adenoviral entry. The liver exhibited the most significant changes, with dexamethasone, paracetamol, and ibuprofen increasing adenovirus entry the most. Oral administration of the vector showed that dexamethasone increased its entry into the pharynx. Some physicochemical properties of the drugs (MW (g/mol), LogP, MR [cm³/mol], tPSA, CMR, LogS, and ClogP) were analyzed, and their possible implications on cell membrane properties that could potentially influence adenovirus entry through mechanisms independent of cellular receptors were discussed. Anti-inflammatory drugs could alter adenoviral infections and adenovirus vector-based gene therapies, necessitating further research. Full article

Background: Previous research shows that grief causes medical and psychological problems for a substantial minority of the bereaved, which places stress on modern medical and social welfare systems. Other research demonstrates that funeral dissatisfaction correlates with medical and psychological problems, but does not address what aspects of funerals cause greatest satisfaction or dissatisfaction. We examined anonymized survey responses describing aspects of funerals causing the greatest anxiety or relief to bereaved Japanese individuals—and in turn affecting medical/welfare costs for the entire society. Method: A research team centered at Kyoto University collected over 1400 questionnaires from recently bereaved Japanese, of whom more than 300 volunteered anonymous comments about their funeral experiences. This article categorizes and analyses these qualitative data. Results: We classified their comments into 10 themes: Hospital Interaction; Pre-arrangement; Timing good-byes; Attendance; Friends/relations; Rituals; Crematorium; Ceremonial meals; Costs; Follow-up. Conclusions: The greatest disappointment appeared in attendance, connection to friends and relations and rituals. When lacking, insufficient, or ill-handled, these leave long-standing bad memories and dissatisfaction that aggravate mourners’ psychological and physical ailments. Our research highlights the psychological effects of cremation, and the value of itemization and explanation of funeral costs. Funeral directors can significantly reduce dissatisfaction by awareness of and sensitivity to these issues, thus contributing to national health and welfare. Full article

Immune checkpoints are mechanisms that allow cancer cells to evade immune surveillance and avoid destruction by the body’s immune system. Tumor cells exploit immune checkpoint proteins to inhibit T cell activation, thus enhancing their resistance to immune attacks. Immune checkpoint inhibitors, like nivolumab, work by reactivating these suppressed T cells to target cancer cells. However, this reactivation can disrupt immune balance and cause immune-related adverse events. This report presents a rare case of prurigo nodularis that developed six months after administering nivolumab for lung adenocarcinoma. While immune-related adverse events are commonly linked to T helper-1- or T helper-17-type inflammations, T helper-2-type inflammatory reactions, as observed in our case, are unusual. The PD-1–PD-L1 pathway is typically associated with T helper-1 and 17 responses, whereas the PD-1–PD-L2 pathway is linked to T helper-2 responses. Inhibition of PD-1 can enhance PD-L1 functions, potentially shifting the immune response towards T helper-1 and 17 types, but it may also influence T helper-2-type inflammation. This study reviews T helper-2-type inflammatory diseases emerging from immune checkpoint inhibitor treatment, highlighting the novelty of our findings. Full article

This qualitative study utilized semi-structured interviews with 22 Indian youth climate activists (mean age = 19) from 13 cities across India to explore factors that sustain or detract from climate activism. Data were analyzed using reflexive Thematic Analysis. In addition to two gatekeeping factors (lack of family support and financial and job pressures) that may prevent youth from joining or cause youth to quit their climate activism entirely, this study identified factors that affected youth’s sustained climate activism: two detracting factors (negative interactions with government, and online and in-person bullying and harassment); four supporting factors (sense of community, internal motivations, seeing tangible achievements, and personal growth); and one factor (climate anxiety) with mixed effects on sustaining youth activism. Further, we describe ways in which youth holding minoritized identities, including lower-income, Muslim, and rural youth, had distinct experiences. Full article

Diabetic nephropathy, a leading cause of end-stage renal disease, accounts for significant morbidity and mortality. It is characterized by microinflammation in the glomeruli and myofibroblast activation in the tubulointerstitium. Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge, a traditional Chinese medicine, is shown to possess anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic properties, implying its renal-protective potential. This study investigates which type of component can reduce the damage caused by diabetic nephropathy in a single setting. The ethyl acetate (EtOAc) layer was demonstrated to provoke peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)-α and PPAR-γ activities in renal mesangial cells by dual luciferase reporter assay. In a high glucose (HG)-cultured mesangial cell model, the EtOAc layer substantially inhibited HG-induced elevations of interleukin-1β, transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), and fibronectin, whereas down-regulated PPAR-γ was restored. In addition, among the extracts of S. miltiorrhiza, the EtOAc layer effectively mitigated TGF-β1-stimulated myofibroblast activation. The EtOAc layer also showed a potent ability to attenuate renal hypertrophy, proteinuria, and fibrotic severity by repressing diabetes-induced proinflammatory factor, extracellular matrix accumulation, and PPAR-γ reduction in the STZ-induced diabetes mouse model. Our findings, both in vitro and in vivo, indicate the potential of the EtOAc layer from S. miltiorrhiza for future drug development targeting diabetic nephropathy. Full article

In recent years, sports-related concussion (SRC) in soccer has been extensively researched worldwide. However, there have been no reports of large-scale SRC studies among soccer players in Japan. The purpose of this study is to investigate the epidemiology of SRC among university soccer players in Japan. This descriptive epidemiological study collected data on the history of SRC and details of SRC injuries during soccer. The participants were university male soccer players belonging to the Japan University Football Association. SRC rates were calculated per 1000 athlete-exposures (AEs). A total of 5953 students participated in this study. The SRC rate was 0.10/1000 AE during total activities. The SRC rate during competition (0.42/1000 AE) was higher than in practice (0.04/1000 AE). The most frequent mechanism of SRC was “head-to-head” (26.9%), followed by “head-to-ball” (24.2%). During competition, the most frequent mechanism was “head-to-head” (30.8%), followed by “head-to-ground” (23.8%), and “head-to-ball” (19.3%) followed, while in practice, it was “head-to-ball” (34.8%), followed by “head-to-ground” (23.8%), and “head-to-head” (17.2%). Thus, there was a difference in the mechanism of injury between competition and practice. In this study, among Japanese university soccer players, the SRC rate was to be approximately ten times higher in competition than in practice. Full article

This paper addresses the potential for technology to support husbandry and enrichment opportunities that enhance the welfare of zoo and sanctuary-housed nocturnal and crepuscular species. This topic was investigated through the medium of a multidisciplinary workshop (Moon Jam) that brought together species experts, zoo designers, Animal-Computer Interaction researchers and post-graduate students in collaborative discussions and design sessions. We explain the context through an examination of existing research and current practices, and report on specific challenges raised and addressed during the Moon Jam, highlighting and discussing key themes that emerged. Finally, we offer a set of guidelines to support the integration of technology into the design of animal husbandry and enrichment that support wellbeing, to advance the best practices in keeping and managing nocturnal and crepuscular animals. Full article

The widespread and uncontrolled use of anthelmintic products has contributed to the emergence of anthelmintic resistance (AR). This phenomenon globally threatens the productivity and welfare of small ruminants. A questionnaire consisting of 34 questions was handed to 234 goat farmers across Romania to gain insight into control practices against internal parasites and the farmers’ perception of the parasitic infections present in their herds and the efficacy of anthelmintic treatments. The majority of farmers (88.5%) admitted they had never submitted fecal samples for parasitological laboratory analysis, and 77.4% had treated the animals on their own. In general, the farmers dewormed their goats based on visual body weight estimation. Prophylactic anthelmintic treatment was practiced by more than 85% of the farmers. A traditional control approach based on treating the entire herd at fixed time intervals is widespread among Romanian goat and sheep farmers. The most commonly used anthelmintic drugs in the previous 3 years (2021–2023) were benzimidazoles (85.5%) and macrocyclic lactones (81.6%). Poor anthelmintic efficacy was suspected by 14.5% of farmers, and the minority (18.0%) considered internal parasites as a problem in their herds. Regarding the farmers’ perception of the presence of parasites, there was a significant level of uncertainty. This is the first survey carried out in Romanian goat herds, and it provides up-to-date information on practices aimed at controlling internal parasites. Full article

This qualitative study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of community rehabilitation programs for children with developmental delays from the perspective of early intervention service providers in Taiwan. Adopting a single-case experimental design (ABM design), this study examined the immediate and sustained effects of interventions on individualized goals during baseline, intervention, and maintenance phases. Additionally, data from interviews with parents, special education teachers, and other participants were collected to understand the challenges and improvement strategies of community rehabilitation programs. Results revealed that community rehabilitation programs for children with developmental delays exhibited both immediate and sustained effectiveness. Challenges faced by parents and professionals differed, with parents having less contact and communication with administrative systems, while professionals experienced more pronounced implementation difficulties during interventions. Moreover, strategies for improving community rehabilitation programs for children with developmental delays should vary for parents and professionals to address inconsistencies in attitudes and strategies among parents and administrative obstacles encountered by professionals. Full article

The main objective of this work was to investigate the influence of environmental factors, including air temperature (AT), relative humidity (RH) and temperature–humidity index (THI), on the difference between rectal temperature (RT) and eye temperature (ET) of dairy cows. The monitoring of these parameters is important for the further possible introduction of digitalization in animal welfare, especially in dairy cattle. The mean calculated difference between rectal temperature and eye temperature (RT–ET) was 1.5 °C. The average value of AT was 16.4 °C, and the average value of RH was 59.2%. The average value of THI was 60.4. The results of the study showed that, for the temperature difference ET-RT, a low degree of correlation was found both with temperature and with the temperature-humidity index THI (R = 0.22; R = 0.23). However, the observed temperature difference of the animal (ET-RT) showed a moderate degree of dependence on the relative humidity of air (R = −0.32). Although the positive correlation coefficient for AT and THI points to the higher criticality of summer measurements, the negative correlation coefficient for RH supports the use of infrared thermography for determining the temperature of animals even in a moister barn environment. Full article

Owing to their similarities to humans in various aspects, non-human primates (NHPs) serve as valuable translational models that has greatly contributed to scientific advancements. However, working with untrained NHPs can cause stress and increase the risk of injuries to both animals and care staff, compromising both animal welfare and occupational safety. Behavioral training, that benefits from animals’ learning abilities to gain their cooperation during husbandry and veterinary procedures, is a well-established method to mitigate these risks. Cynomolgus monkeys, in particular, are known for being despotic, fearful, and challenging to train. Moreover, our first-generation breeders were wild-sourced from human–macaque conflict areas in Thailand. These macaque populations are accustomed with human contact; hence, their prior experience can either work for or against behavioral shaping plans. Establishing a training program with realistic expectations would benefit both the animals and trainers. In this study, six cynomolgus monkeys were selected based on temperament, then underwent a pilot training program that included basic husbandry and veterinary procedures. Over 256 training sessions with gradual shaping plans, all six monkeys went through all training steps, with progress varying considerably among individuals. Cortisol levels were measured to monitor stress responses, revealing a notable sex difference: female monkeys generally complied more easily with the trainer but exhibited a stronger cortisol increase compared to males. This study proposed a behavioral training program grounded in three essential components: temperament assessment, behavioral shaping plans, and the cortisol-based criteria for evaluating training success. Full article