Research Note Research Articles

Research note: effects of hyperpigmentation of the visceral peritoneum on body weight and selection method in Chinese yellow-feathered broilers

We previously identified a dark blue appearance through the skin of abdomen, especially the colored chicken breeds, called hyperpigmentation of the visceral peritoneum (HVP) which characterized by intense pigmentation of connective tissue in the visceral peritoneum. The HVP has recently garnered increasing attention due to its negative impact on carcass appearance, and been an important concern in the poultry industry, especially for the Chinese yellow-feathered broilers. In this study, we measured the in vivo HVP at different time points, and analyzed the correlation between the HVP in vivo and postmortem. Then, established an accurate and reliable HVP phenotypic measuring method in vivo for early selection in chickens and analyzed the association of phenotypic variations with the in vivo HVP traits with growth traits. The results showed that the in vivo HVP at 21 d of age in chickens have a high heritability (h2=0.452) through estimating genetic parameters, and in vivo HVP levels at 21 and 42 d were both significantly associated with those postmortem in chickens, suggesting that directional selection on reducing HVP can be implemented as early as at 21 d in the breeding and production of chickens. Although, we found HVP had no effect on the body weight at 1 d, it could significantly reduce the body weight at 21, 42, 70 d and 91 d in chickens. This suggests HVP not only has a negative effect on carcass traits, but also significantly reduces the production in the poultry industry.

Research note: differential heterosis of spent laying hens’ carcass characteristics and meat quality in reciprocal crosses between White Leghorn and Beijing-You chickens

Hybridization is used extensively in commercial layer production. However, heterosis for carcass performance and meat quality of spent laying hens remains unclear, especially under the trend of extended laying cycles. In this study, indigenous Beijing-You chickens (Y) and elite White Leghorn layers (W) were selected to generate purebreds (WW and YY) and reciprocal crosses (WY and YW). Data on traits including carcass compositions, meat quality, and main nutrients for breast muscle were collected when chickens fed to 100 wks of age. Results showed that body weight (BW) and dressed weight for WY and YW with positive heterosis were significantly higher than WW (P < 0.05). YW had the heaviest breast and thigh of 232.28 g and 278.48 g, respectively. The abdominal fat weight for WY and YW were greatly higher than that for WW (P > 0.05). The yields of carcass compositions, including the dressed yield, half eviscerated yield, eviscerated yield, breast yield and thigh yield, did not differ among four genetic groups (P > 0.05), except for the yield of abdominal fat. The largest heterosis differences appeared in breast weight (12.26% in YW v.s. -0.46% in WY) and abdominal fat yield (15.26% in YW v.s. 24.55% in WY). Although BW for crossbreds were similar, the specific parts of the carcass between them were different. For meat quality, WY had negative heterosis (P < 0.05) with the lowest lightness and yellowness, whereas YW had the completely opposite trend. Neither pH1h nor pH24h values had difference among purebreds and reciprocal crossbreds (P > 0.05). The drip loss and cooking loss were 4.01%-4.77% and 15.59%-21.31% respectively among four genetic groups. The main nutrients of breast, including moisture, crude protein, intramuscular fat and unsaturated fatty acid, did not differ for purebreds and crossbreds (P > 0.05), except for saturated fatty acid. In general, the crossbreds even at the later laying period still showed divergent heterosis on carcass performance and meat characteristics. In view of the heterosis, Beijing-You chickens can use as the sire line in the crossbreeding to improve carcass compositions of spent hens.

But where's the body? Bodies, time, money, and the political economy of post-pandemic field research

Since the pandemic, field work has been transformed by shifts in the political economy affecting the material conditions underpinning research. In this research note, a research team considers their challenges and learning in completing field studies conducted in 2022, including intensified strains on time, money, researchers’ bodies, and risks associated with illness and infection spread. We argue that a neoliberal “research super-hero” norm operates within the research community, rooted in a conception of high productivity that mingles uneasily, for many researchers, with feminist, anti-racist, and anti-colonial social justice aims and responsibilities. Our 2022 fieldwork experience led us to notice how this norm has circulated within our explicitly feminist research team and nudged us to challenge it, while raising questions about how a “research-worker” norm can best be supported.

Research note: characteristics of blaNDM and mcr-1 co-producing Escherichia coli from retail chicken meat

Carbapenems and colistin are vital antimicrobials used to treat Enterobacteriaceae-caused infections. The present study aimed to characterize the coexistence mechanism of carbapenem and colistin resistance in an Escherichia coli isolated from retail chicken meat. A total of 4 E. coli isolates co-harboring carbapenem resistance gene blaNDM (2 E. coli isolates with blaNDM-5 and 2 with blaNDM-9) and colistin resistance gene mcr-1. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing exhibited that all the 4 E. coli strains had multidrug resistance profile and consistent with the resistance genes they carried. MLST showed that 3 E. coli isolates belonged to a pathogenic E. coli lineage ST354, which is closely associated with human infections and pose a serious threat to public health. Whole genome sequencing (WGS) showed that 4 mcr-1-positive plasmids with sizes of 60.4 kb-67.4 kb all belonged to the IncI2 type. A total of 5 blaNDM-harboring plasmids ranged from 99.0 kb∼138.3 kb, among which 4 plasmids belonged to unknow type and only pCS5L-NDM belonged to IncFIA/IncFIB group of hybrid plasmids, a novel carrier for blaNDM. Comparative analysis exhibited that the mcr-1 or blaNDM-carrying plasmids of E. coli strains from chicken meat showed high identity with that from Enterobacteriaceae of human origin, which indicated the risk of mcr-1 or blaNDM dissemination from retail meat to human. The simultaneous occurrence of mcr-1 and blaNDM in E. coli emphasizes the significant of antimicrobial resistance surveillance in retail meat.

New Evidence From Census 2020 on the Residential Segregation of Same-Sex Households: A Research Note

The 2020 decennial census provides new insights into the demography of same-sex households and can shed light on ongoing debates in urban and gayborhood studies. Although the U.S. Census gives a vast undercount of the LGBTQ population, it is still the largest source of nationally representative data on same-sex households and is accessible over three time points (2000, 2010, 2020). In this research note, we use 2020 census data to examine the residential patterns of same-sex households down to the neighborhood level. By employing the index of dissimilarity, we present results for the 100 largest U.S. cities and 100 largest metropolitan areas that demonstrate moderate yet persistent segregation. In a continuation of prior trends, male same-sex households remain more segregated from different-sex households than do female same-sex households. We find moderate levels of within-group segregation by gender and marital status—representing new demographic trends. Finally, metropolitan areas have a higher dissimilarity index than cities, revealing greater levels of segregation when factoring in suburban areas. We discuss these trends in light of debates regarding the spatial organization of sexuality in residential contexts and outline future avenues for research utilizing recently released 2020 census data.

Historical Patterns in the Intergenerational Transmission of Lifespan and Longevity: A Research Note on U.S. Cohorts Born Between 1700 and 1900

This research note examines historical trends in lifespan inequality and the intergenerational transmission of lifespan and longevity in the United States over the eighteenth, nineteenth, and twentieth centuries. We contribute to the literature by expanding the estimates of the familial component beyond parent–child associations to include multigenerational and horizontal classes of relatives of different sexes. We also examine how lifespan inequality and the role of the family in lifespan and longevity changed over time. We address the challenge of studying extended family networks in historical times by leveraging recent online crowdsourced genealogical data. Results confirm the presence of a familial component for all classes of relatives considered and highlight a stronger association for horizontal than for vertical relationships. Despite decreasing lifespan inequality, we find no evidence of decreased familial lifespan stratification throughout history. If anything, the results suggest a strengthening of the parent–child association. Finally, the results contribute to the debate on the representativeness and usability of crowdsourced genealogical data by emphasizing the importance of sample selection based on the quality of the information collected.

Research note: Indirect evidence of avian Metapneumovirus circulation in broilers in Italy

The clinical relevance of avian metapneumovirus (aMPV) is growing in the poultry sector, especially in broiler farming, where no vaccination is administered in Italy. Given the naïve status of the birds, a serological survey was conducted in a densely populated area of Northern Italy, to evaluate aMPV circulation. Seven farms were selected and sampled in summer/fall, then sampling was repeated in the following season (winter/spring) to assess a possible seasonal effect. In each farm, fifteen birds were blood sampled towards the end of the cycle and sera were analyzed with an ELISA test. Clinical signs were reported in 5 out of 7 farms, although all farms were positive at both sampling points, except for one, which was negative at the first sampling. The seroprevalence within farm ranged from 26.6% to 100%, and antibody titres appear to increase with age. No seasonality effect was evidenced, whereas a farm effect was more distinct. aMPV circulation appears wide in Northern Italian farms, with different clinical outcomes that could be modulated by intrinsic characteristics of the farms. In absence of vaccination, serological monitoring can be a useful tool for viral entrance monitoring, although sampling timing should be evaluated in order to spot seroconversion after late infections.

Beyond Reverse Racism: A Research Note on How White College Students Construct the Myth of Silencing in the Classroom

ABSTRACTThe popular rhetoric of “reverse racism” suggests that white students are victimized by racism, but it is unclear what contemporary white college students specifically find negative about their experiences in race classrooms. Analyzing interviews and open‐ended survey data from 54 white undergraduates at a predominantly white university in the Northeast, this research note shows that “reverse racism” is not the primary framework through which respondents interpret their negative classroom experiences. Instead, respondents rely on racist tropes about people of color to position themselves as silenced in these settings. We show how respondents (1) describe hypothetical scenarios involving explosive professors and students of color, and (2) view the race classroom as a space for learning “different perspectives,” in order to (3) claim that their whiteness renders them ineligible to participate in class discussions. Amidst political and academic condemnation of “cancel culture” and the perpetuation of myths that left‐wing activists of color unjustly target free speech, white students may incorporate these concerns into their meaning‐making. Although respondents do not explicitly invoke “reverse racism,” we argue that these narratives still reinforce the existing racial structure. These preliminary findings suggest the need for further exploration of white students' complex reactions to race classes in the current sociopolitical context.

Ideological and Populist Bases of Partisan Responses to the COVID-19 Pandemic in Latin America

This research note explores variation in how political parties and presidents in Latin America responded to the COVID-19 pandemic. Relying on the Chapel Hill Expert Survey-Latin America (CHES-LA), we argue that preferences regarding the trade-off between virus containment and maintaining an open economy were shaped by the ideological positions of presidents and parties, particularly for more programmatic ones. This is largely consistent with findings in other world regions. Yet, beyond ideological orientation, populism, also had an important – though heterogeneous – effect on response preferences, with non-populists, particularly highly programmatic ones, more consistently supporting virus containment. In addition, both incumbents and more populist presidents and parties favoured further concentration of executive power to address the pandemic. These findings provide evidence of the importance of understanding how ideology, populism and programmatic linkages interact in Latin America’s party systems.

Conservatism, Prayer, and Flourishing Among Catholic Priests

The literature on well-being and religiosity is extensive, but the research on well-being and religiosity among clergy in particular is less developed. Additionally, little research has investigated the role of theological orientation in well-being. This brief research note investigates the interrelationships among well-being (as measured by the Harvard Flourishing Index), theological orientation (as measured by self-identified level of theological liberalism/conservatism), and prayer in a sample of ∼2,980 Roman Catholic priests. Prayer has a robust, independent, and significant relationship with flourishing across all subscales. Overall theologically conservative priests report higher flourishing, but some of this relationship is due to higher prayer. While copious prior literature has examined associations between well-being and religiosity, this study shows that some of these same patterns and themes extend even to professional clergy. Clinically speaking, it also brings attention to the particular stressors faced by liberal or less practicing clergy in a predominantly conservative religious tradition and the potential role that prayer can play in clergy well-being.

Decomposing the Drivers of Population Aging: A Research Note

Population aging is an important and increasingly relevant area of study for demographers. A growing body of research seeks to determine how long-term changes in births, mortality, and migration—the three drivers of any demographic process—have shaped the present aging situation. Using variable-r decomposition and cohort data, this research note presents a formula for the change in the old-age dependency ratio to determine the extent to which relative changes in births, as well as in mortality and migration rates, contribute to aging. This perspective provides a careful and in-depth picture of aging and contributes to the debate concerning whether changes in births or mortality have had the strongest effect on population aging. When applied to Australia, the United States, and several European populations, the decomposition of the old-age dependency ratio shows that aging occurred in all populations and that changes in both births and mortality contributed to this aging. Analysis of these populations demonstrates that although they differed regarding which of these factors contributed more, changes in births prevailed as the more significant factor. In nearly all populations, migration decreased the rate of population aging.

How can ChatGPT assist hospitality and tourism education?

ABSTRACT Artificial intelligence (AI) poses new challenges and opportunities for hospitality and tourism (H&T) education. This study explores how ChatGPT, a chatbot powered by a generative pre-trained transformer model, can affect H&T curriculum design and delivery. Using secondary data from academic articles, news reports, and official documents, the paper applies curriculum theory and stakeholder theory to examine the competencies, expectations, and interests of H&T students, educators, and industry practitioners regarding ChatGPT. This study reveals that ChatGPT can enhance learning outcomes and experiences, improve educational equity and efficiency, and raise ethical, technical, and pedagogical issues for H&T education. This research note also offers insights and recommendations for H&T educators to integrate ChatGPT into their teaching practices and prepare students for research work and careers that incorporate generative AI. Moreover, the study contributes to the literature on H&T education by examining the role and impact of ChatGPT as an innovative and emerging technology.

Research note: A method for recognizing and evaluating typical behaviors of laying hens in a thermal environment

Automatically identifying abnormal behaviors of caged laying hens in a thermal environment improves manual management efficiency. It also provides reference indicators for breeding heat-tolerant hens. In this study, we propose a deep learning-based method for automatic recognition and evaluation of typical heat stress behaviors in hens. We developed a lightweight object detection algorithm, YOLO-HGP, based on the YOLOv8n as the baseline model. YOLO-HGP achieves Precision (P), Recall (R), and mean average precision (mAP) of 95.952%, 94.127%, and 97.667%, respectively, effectively detecting typical heat stress behaviors in hens. Compared to the original YOLO v8n, YOLO-HGP improves R, and mAP by 6.257%, and 1.963%, respectively. The FLOPs (floating point operations) and parameter count of YOLO-HGP are 4.3G and 1.729M, reducing by 47.56% and 42.58% compared to the original model. Additionally, we introduce the "ORC-ratio" (The ratio of the combined frequency of open-beak breathing and retching behaviors to the frequency of closed-beak behaviors.) as an evaluation indicator for the frequency of typical heat stress behaviors in hens and combine it with the Hybrid-SORT multiobject tracking algorithm to achieve tracking detection of individual hens. The study demonstrates that the proposed model effectively identifies and quantitatively evaluates typical behaviors of hens in a thermal environment, providing an effective approach for the automated recognition of heat stress behaviors in hens.

Finding Passive Galaxies in H i-MaNGA: The Impact of Star Formation Rate Indicator

H i-rich galaxies typically have high star formation rates (SFRs), but there exist interesting H i-rich and low star-forming galaxies. Previous work on a sample of these galaxies identified from H i-Mapping Nearby Galaxies at Apache Point Observatory (MaNGA) (H i follow-up to the MaNGA survey) using an infrared indicator of specific-SFR (sSFR; namely W2 − W3 < 2) could find no single physical process to explain their unusual behavior. The method by which galaxies are identified as low sSFR may be important in this conclusion. In this Research Note, we explore how an H i-rich, low sSFR sample of H i-MaNGA galaxies differs using Hα, single stellar population, and ultraviolet estimators of SFR. We find that samples are statistically similar to each other so long as W2 − W3 < 2 is interpreted as corresponding to sSFR < 10−11.15 yr−1.

Malinowski in njegov formativni prispevek k ameriški folkloristiki

Bronisław Malinowski (1884-1942) was a foundational force in the development of functionalist theory in the discipline of anthropology. Based on intensive fieldwork in the Trobriand Islands, his pragmatic theory stimulated much discussion and debate in anthropological circles. Lesser known, however, is the influence that Malinowski had on the development of modern performance studies in the United States among folklore scholars. This research note focuses on Malinowski’s writings concerning the language of myth and magic, since these were the aspects of his work that appealed most to American scholars of performance in the 1970s.

Additional Doppler Monitoring Corroborates HAT-P-11c as a Planet

In 2010, Bakos and collaborators discovered a Neptune-sized planet transiting the K-dwarf HAT-P-11 every five days. Later in 2018, Yee and collaborators reported an additional Jovian-mass companion on a nine year orbit based on a decade of Doppler monitoring. The eccentric outer giant HAT-P-11c may be responsible for the peculiar polar orbit of the inner planet HAT-P-11b. However, Basilicata et al. recently suggested that the HAT-P-11c Doppler signal could be caused by stellar activity. In this research note, we extend the Yee et al. Doppler time series by six years. The combined data set spanning 17 yr covers nearly two orbits of the outer planet. Importantly, we observe two periastron passages of planet c and do not observe a coherent activity signature. Together with the previously reported astrometric acceleration of HAT-P-11 from Hipparcos and Gaia, we believe there is strong evidence for HAT-P-11c as a bona fide planet.

Does gender predict research awards among prolific suicidologists? A research note.

Rewards can both validate and promote the stature of a researcher in their field. Research has been mixed on the role of gender as a predictor of receiving scholarly awards, but much of it lacks control for research excellence, and awards in interdisciplinary associations have been neglected. This study fills these gaps for suicidology. Bibliometric data from the Web of Science was utilized for this study. To control for research excellence the analysis is restricted to the 116 most highly prolific researchers, each with 70 or more works published on suicide, from the Web of Science. The research awards in suicidology, given by three different interdisciplinary associations, include the Louis I. Dublin Award, the Morselli Medal, and the Stengel Research Award. The link between gender and receipt of a major award is adjusted for possible mediators including long-term research productivity (h-index), years of experience, and organizational prestige. While the percentage of women winning awards is less than that of men, we find that there is no significant difference between the genders. The quality of research and years of experience predict the receipt of each award. Based on a bibliometric analysis, women are not at a disadvantage in receiving research awards in suicidology. These results are consistent with recent research on gender and awards in economics, mathematics, and psychology.

Quality control and validation of extracellular vesicles isolated from cultured human breast cancer cells

ObjectiveExtracellular vesicles (EVs) have been shown to play a critical role in promoting tumorigenesis. As EV research grows, it is of importance to have standardization of isolation, quality control, characterization and validation methods across studies along with reliable references to explore troubleshooting solutions. Therefore, our objective with this Research Note was to isolate EVs from multiple breast cancer cell lines and to describe and perform protocols for validation as outlined by the list of minimal information for studies of EVs (MISEV) from the International Society for Extracellular Vesicles.ResultsTo isolate EVs, two techniques were employed: ultracentrifugation and size exclusion chromatography. Ultracentrifugation yielded better recovery of EVs in our hands and was therefore used for further validation. In order to satisfy the MISEV requirements, protein quantification, immunoblotting of positive (CD9, CD63, TSG101) and negative (TGFβ1, β-tubulin) markers, nanoflow cytometry and electron microscopy was performed. With these experiments, we demonstrate that yield of validated EVs varied between different breast cancer cell lines. Protocols were optimized to accommodate for low levels of EVs, and various technical and troubleshooting suggestions are included for potential application to other cell types that may provide benefit to investigators interested in future EV studies.

Scoping the Role of LGBTQI+ Festivals in Regional Australia: A Local Community Perspective

Regional LGBTQI+ festivals and events are on the rise in Australia. They challenge the traditional perceptions of a regional destination that are often positioned and imagined as heteronormative, monoethnic, and monoindustrial. As the popularity of regional LGBTQI+ events increases, there is a need to understand the local community’s perspectives on these events. As such, by focusing on the Broken Heel Festival, hosted in Broken Hill, a regional town in Australia, this research note scopes and initiates discussion around the broader understanding of how regional LGBTQI+ events are transforming the traditional perceptions and values of and about the local community.

Temporal Externalities of Mega‐Events: Perceived Impact and Trust of Tokyo 2020 Spillover to Attitudes Towards Sapporo 2030 Bid

We present an empirical research note analyzing the potential spillover effects of a mega‐sport event on the public’s attitude toward hosting another future event, specifically examining the perceived impact and trust of Tokyo 2020 on Sapporo 2030 bid that was actually planned until October 2023. An online questionnaire survey was conducted approximately 3 months after the conclusion of Tokyo 2020, with 2,720 randomly selected respondents aged between 16 and 69 from across Japan. The analysis revealed that the perceived impact of Tokyo 2020 and trust in the event authorities significantly influence attitudes toward Sapporo 2030 bid. This result underscores the importance for event practitioners to recognize that the perceived impact of an event and trust in its authorities have temporal externalities.