Significant Linear Decrease Research Articles

Impact of storage conditions on the shelf life of aflatoxin biocontrol products containing atoxigenic isolates of Aspergillus flavus as active ingredient applied in various countries in Africa

Aflatoxin contamination significantly threatens food safety and security, particularly in tropical and sub-tropical regions where staple crops such as maize, groundnut, and sorghum become frequently affected. This contamination is primarily caused by the fungus Aspergillus flavus. The contamination causes adverse health effects, reduced income, and trade restrictions. In response to this challenge, various technologies have been developed to mitigate the impacts of aflatoxin. Among these, biocontrol products containing atoxigenic isolates of A. flavus as the active ingredient can effectively reduce aflatoxin levels both at pre- and post-harvest. A notable example of such products is Aflasafe, which contains four atoxigenic isolates native to specific target regions. These products have undergone rigorous testing, have received regulatory approval, and are commercially available in multiple African countries. However, their manufacturing processes have evolved, and comprehensive shelf life studies for current formulations are lacking. Evaluations of the spore production ability of atoxigenic A. flavus isolates in Aflasafe products over 4 years, under various storage conditions, revealed a significant linear decrease in sporulation with storage months (P < 0.001; R2 = 0.203), with no significant differences observed between treatments. However, this marginal decline (P = 0.398) is unlikely to be sufficient to prevent the effectiveness in limiting aflatoxin. In addition, storing the products for 2 weeks at 54 °C did not affect (P > 0.05) the ability of the coated fungi to produce spores compared to when the products were stored at 24 °C. The findings contribute valuable insights for manufacturers and users of atoxigenic-based aflatoxin biocontrol products, informing best practices for product storage and utilization to ensure prolonged effectivenes in aflatoxin mitigation efforts.

Cutaneous Melanoma Mortality-to-Incidence Ratio and Its Association With Socioeconomic and Healthcare Factors in Canada: A National Ecological Study.

The mortality-to-incidence ratio (MIR) can be used to approximate healthcare inequities and is helpful to understand/compare cancer survival between geographic regions/jurisdictions. We investigated cutaneous melanoma (CM) outcomes through MIR analysis in Canadian jurisdictions and census divisions (CDs) between 1992 and 2016. Data were obtained from the national databases from 1992 to 2016 for all Canadian jurisdictions, except Quebec. Age-standardized overall and median MIRs were calculated per province per year, while crude MIRs were calculated for CDs. Generalized linear regression models were conducted to study the effect of province and year on MIR, while a mixed effect regression model was used to determine how healthcare and socioeconomic factors affect MIR, while accounting for possible clustering effects (eg, year and province). We identified 106,015 CM cases and 20,570 CM deaths between 1992 and 2016. National MIR from 1992 to 2016 demonstrated a significant linear decrease (P value < .0001). The national median MIR was 15.4 (ie, 0.154 × 100), whereby Manitoba (19.9), Ontario (19.5), Saskatchewan (18.5), British Columbia (16.1), and Newfoundland and Labrador (15.9) demonstrated higher MIRs than the Canadian average. CDs with the highest MIRs were commonly identified in the southern regions of provinces. No healthcare or socioeconomic factors were found to be significantly associated with higher MIR at the provincial level. MIRs have decreased at the national and provincial levels in recent decades, which is reassuring. Higher MIRs were noted in select rural CDs and in the Canadian territories, reinforcing the importance of proper dermatological care in all parts of the country.

Assessing anxiety and depression trajectories among single homeless adults receiving rapid rehousing following placement in housing

Despite growing international interest in using rapid rehousing (RRH) to address homelessness, there is little information about the mental health outcomes of RRH participants. We examined changes in anxiety and depression symptoms over time following placement in housing among a cohort of 98 single homeless adults receiving RRH services from a major city in the United States. We also assessed the extent to which sociodemographic characteristics, and factors related to RRH participants’ ability to maintain independent housing, were associated with the trajectory of change in anxiety and depression symptoms. We found statistically significant linear decreases in both anxiety and depression symptoms. Factors identified as having the strongest association with changes in anxiety and depression symptoms over time included age, race, monthly income, having a poor credit history as a barrier to housing and reporting that a mental health problem made it difficult to live on one’s own. Our findings suggest that the benefits of RRH may extend beyond improved housing stability and point to the need for additional and more rigorous research to test the impact of RRH on mental health outcomes.

In ovo feeding of α-ketoglutaric acid improves hepatic antioxidant-gene expression, plasma antioxidant activities and decreases body temperature without affecting broiler body weight under cyclic heat stress

The broiler industry is adversely affected by the rise in global temperature. This study investigated the effects of in ovo feeding of α-ketoglutaric acid (AKG) on growth performance, organ weight, plasma metabolite, plasma oxidative stress, rectal temperature (RT), and hepatic mRNA expression of antioxidant-related genes in Arbor Acres broilers subjected to cyclic heat stress (HS). Three hundred fifty fertile eggs during incubation were divided into 5 groups according to AKG concentrations and temperature conditions. After dissolving AKG in distilled water at 0, 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5, 0% AKG was in ovo administered to 2 of the 5 groups whereas the remaining 3 groups received 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5%, respectively. From d 29 to 34 of age, 4 groups of birds received heat stress (HS) at 31°C ± 1°C for 6 h per day while the other group was kept at room temperature (21°C ± 1°C; NT). So, the 5 treatment groups were: 1) 0AKG-NT, where chicks hatched from eggs receiving 0% AKG were reared under thermoneutral conditions. 2) 0AKG-HS, where chicks hatched from eggs receiving 0% AKG were reared under cyclic HS conditions. 3) 0.5AKG-HS, where chicks hatched from eggs receiving 0.5% AKG were reared under cyclic HS conditions. 4) 1.0AKG-HS, where chicks hatched from eggs receiving 1.0% AKG were reared under cyclic HS conditions. 5) 1.5AKG-HS, where chicks hatched from eggs receiving 1.5% AKG were reared under cyclic HS conditions. HS significantly reduced body weight change (ΔBW %) and average daily gain (ADG) without affecting average daily feed intake (ADFI). Feed conversion ratio (FCR) was significantly increased (P = 0.003) in all HS-treated groups. A significant linear decrease in the final RT (P = 0.005) and a change in RT (P = 0.003) were detected with increasing AKG concentration. Total antioxidant capacity (P = 0.029) and antioxidant balance (P = 0.001) in plasma increased linearly with increasing AKG concentration whereas malondialdehyde concentrations were linearly decreased (P = 0.001). Hepatic gene expression of CAT (P = 0.026) and GPX1 (P = 0.001) were dose-dependently upregulated while nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase (NOX)1, NOX4, and heat shock protein (HSP)70 were linearly downregulated (P < 0.05). Hence, in ovo injection of AKG was effective in mitigating HS-induced oxidative stress without attenuating the adverse effects on broiler growth.

Prefrontal activity during IOWA Gambling Task in young adult women

This study aims to investigate the relationships between personality traits of impulsivity, using the UPPS-P Impulsive Behaviour Scales shortened version, and prefrontal cortex (PFC) activity during the IOWA Gambling Task (IGT) in young adult women. The study included a sample of 83 young, healthy females (19.8 ± 1.4 years), who voluntarily took part in the study. Repeated measures analysis during the IGT revealed a significant increase in HbO (all p <.001; ηp2 >.31) and a decrease in Hbr (all p <.003; ηp2 >.08) in all prefrontal quadrants. This increase in oxygenation occurs primarily during the choice period under ambiguity (r =.23; p =.039). Additionally, there was a significant linear decrease in selecting the decks associated with a high frequency of losses (p <.001), while the favorable deck with low losses showed a linear increase (F = 12.96; p <.001). Notably, discrepancies were found between UPPS-P and IGT impulsivity ratings. The Lack of Perseverance and Lack of Premeditation scales from the UPPS-P were identified as significant predictors of HbO levels, mainly in the two quadrants of the left hemisphere’s, lateral (adjusted R2 =.23; p <.001; f2 =.34) and rostral (adjusted R2 =.13; p <.002; f2 =.17). These findings suggest that young adult women predominantly adopt a punishment-avoidance strategy during IGT, exhibiting increased activation in the left hemisphere, especially during the task’s initial phase characterized by ambiguity.

Examining changes of adolescent physical habitus-a retrospective study of physical capital networks.

In recent years, massive studies have examined sport from the standpoint of cultural capital. However, these studies have not examined cultural capital in relation to habitus within specific fields. This article utilized a multivariate latent growth curve model to analyze changes of participants' physical habitus. Hypotheses concerning the form of growth in physical habitus, individual perceived capital influence differences in the common trajectory over time, and covariates influencing the growth of PH were tested. Significant linear increases existed for perceived influence from family and school, while significant linear decreases existed for perceived influence from community. The second-order alternative format of the latent growth curve model indicated that associations among individual perceived influence differences could be adequately explained by a higher order physical habitus construct. Gender, personal health condition, family socio-economic status, and weekly time spent on physical activities significantly predicted initial levels of physical habitus, whereas family social economic status significantly predicted the rate of change in physical habitus simultaneously. These findings not only support the participation in sport is constructed socially but also that individual efforts and contextual influences contribute to physical habitus. Furthermore, three types of perceived influences intertwined so much in simultaneity, instead of contributing to physical habitus across time.

The Longitudinal Mediating Effect of Smartphone Dependency on the Relationship between Exercise Time and Subjective Happiness in Adolescents.

The phenomenon of adolescents engaging in less physical activity as they age raises several concerns. Among these, we hypothesized that this trend may negatively impact their mental health and smartphone dependency. Thus, the aim of this study was to longitudinally examine the mediating effect of smartphone dependency in the relationship between adolescents' exercise time and subjective well-being. For analysis, publicly available data from the 2018 Korean Children and Youth Panel Survey were utilized, with a total of 2,242 participants' data included in the analysis. Latent growth modeling results revealed a significant linear decrease in adolescents' exercise time and subjective well-being each year, while smartphone dependency exhibited an increasing trend. Furthermore, the significance tests of indirect effects indicated that the mediating effect of the changing trend in smartphone dependency between the changing trends in exercise time and subjective happiness in adolescents was statistically significant. These findings suggest that as grade levels increase, reducing exercise time can lead to higher smartphone dependency among adolescents, ultimately resulting in decreased subjective well-being.

Time Effect on Acute Postoperative Pain After Total Knee Replacement Surgery: An Exploratory Study Using the Experience Sampling Method.

Acute postoperative pain (APP) is the main cause of postoperative dissatisfaction; however, traditional methods of pain assessment provide limited insights into the dynamics and development of APP. This study used the experience sampling method (ESM) to understand the dynamics of APP over time in relation to various patient factors. Forty patients scheduled to undergo total knee replacement surgery were recruited in this study. Following an initial assessment, a short report questionnaire was sent to the patients via 10 digital alerts per day to assess the pain levels during two preoperative and the first 6 postoperative days. The data were analyzed using multilevel regression including random intercept and slope. Thirty-two patients submitted the pre-specified minimum of 30% of their short reports, yielding 1217 records. The analysis revealed significant (P<0.001) linear and quadratic decreases in APP and a quadratic time effect. The lowest between-days and within-day pain levels were observed on postoperative day 4.8 and during the time slot 3.8 or approximately 19:15, respectively. Significant random intercepts and slopes were noted, indicating variations in the mean pain level between patients and a decrease in pain. None of the 10 patient factors had any confounding effect. Using ESM data combined with multilevel analysis, we were able to evaluate the postoperative pain course while considering inter-individual differences in the baseline pain level and non-linear pain course over time. The findings of this study could aid clinicians in personalizing the treatment for APP.

Effect of Cyberlindnera jadinii yeast on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, and gut health of broiler chickens from 1 to 34 d of age

The effect of dietary graded levels of Cyberlindnera jadinii yeast (C. jadinii) on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, and gut health of broilers was evaluated from 1 to 34 d of age. A total of 360 male broiler chicks were randomly allocated to 1 of 4 dietary treatments (6 replicate pens each) consisting of a wheat-soybean meal-based pelleted diet (Control or CJ0), and 3 diets in which 10% (CJ10), 20% (CJ20), and 30% (CJ30) of the crude protein were supplied by C. jadinii, by gradually replacing protein-rich ingredients. Body weight and feed intake were measured at d 1, 11, 22, and 32. Pellet temperature, durability, and hardness increased linearly (P < 0.05) with C. jadinii inclusion, with highest (P < 0.05) values for CJ30. Up until d 22, feed conversion ratio (FCR) was similar between treatments (P=0.169). Overall, increasing C. jadinii inclusion linearly increased (P=0.047) feed intake but had no effect on weight gain or mortality. FCR increased (P < 0.05) linearly with increasing C. jadinii inclusion but only birds fed CJ30 had a significantly poorer FCR compared to the Control. Ileal digestibility was not affected by C. jadinii inclusion, however, there was a significant linear decrease in crude protein and phosphorus, and a tendency for a decrease in fat digestibility. Apparent metabolizable energy (AME) decreased (P < 0.001) quadratically with increasing C. jadinii and was significantly lower in CJ30 compared to the Control. Ileal concentrations of volatile fatty acids (VFAs) were not affected by C. jadinii inclusion, but butyric acid and total VFAs were linearly and quadratically increased and were significantly higher in cecal digesta of birds fed CJ20 and CJ30. Increasing C. jadinii inclusion was associated with an increase (P < 0.05) in the relative abundance of lactobacillus in the ileum and cecum. In conclusion, C. jadinii yeast can supply up to 20% of the total dietary protein without negatively affecting performance, digestibility, or gut health of broilers. The potential confounding role of feed processing and C. jadinii cell wall components on broiler performance is discussed.

Short-term response of benthic foraminifera to fine-sediment depositional events simulated in microcosm

Abstract. A microcosm experiment was designed to describe how benthic foraminifera react to fine-sediment deposits varying in frequency and intensity as they may occur regularly or occasionally in coastal benthic environments, caused by discharges from (e.g.) river flooding, tidewater glacier melting in polar regions, or diverse anthropic activities linked to harbour or watershed management. The influence of seabed burial resulting from these events on the ecology of benthic ecosystems is often overlooked, and the resilience of benthic communities is poorly known. During a 51 d long experiment, a typical northeastern Atlantic intertidal foraminiferal community, mainly represented by Ammonia confertitesta and Haynesina germanica species, was subjected to two kinds of sedimentary disturbance: (1) a one-time high-volume (OHV) deposit, i.e. sediment about 3 cm thick was added at one time at the beginning of the experiment; and (2) frequent low-volume (FLV) deposits, i.e. sediment about 0.5 cm thick was added each week for 4 weeks. The geochemical environment (e.g. dissolved oxygen penetration in the sediment, salinity, temperature, and nutrient content in the supernatant water) was monitored to follow the microcosm steady state before and during the experiment. In both disturbed microcosms, H. germanica showed a significant linear decrease in abundance during the experiment, while the total abundance of foraminifera was significantly affected only by the OHV treatment, suggesting a stronger effect of a single thick deposit on standing stocks and biodiversity compared to frequent low-volume sediment supplies. Concerning the vertical migration of foraminifera after sedimentary disturbances, the two dominant species moved upwards to the water–sediment interface with migration speeds estimated to be 0.41 and 0.47 mm h−1 respectively for A. confertitesta and H. germanica. In the FLV treatment, the resilient state was already reached within 1 d following a low-thickness burial, while in the OHV, it was achieved between 1 and 7 d after the 3 cm thick deposit. These results suggest that foraminifera can migrate rapidly after a sedimentary burial to recover their preferential life position under the new sediment–water interface, but in the case of an abrupt thick burial, several days are needed to reach a resilient state.

Effects of adding Sophora alopecuroides to high concentrate diet on rumen fermentation parameters and microbial diversity of sheep.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of different doses of Sophora alopecuroides (SA) on the rumen fermentation and microbial diversity of sheep. A total of 32 healthy Dumont crossbred male lambs weighing 25.73 ± 2.17 kg were randomly assigned to 4 treatment groups with 8 replicates each: a control group (CG) fed a basal diet with a concentrate-to-forage ratio of 7:3 and three experimental groups - the 0.1% group(TG1), 0.3% group (TG2), and 0.5% group (TG3), which were fed the same basal diet but supplemented with increasing doses of SA. (1) Increasing the SA dose led to a significant linear increase (p-< 0.05) in acetate, propionate, butyrate, and total volatile fatty acid (TVFA) concentrations in the rumen, as well as a significant quadratic effect (p-< 0.05) on the propionate concentration. In contrast, there was a significant linear decrease (p-< 0.05) in the NH3-N concentration in the rumen. (2) At the level of rumen bacterial phyla, the abundance of Bacteroidetes in the rumen increased, and that of Firmicutes decreased (p = 0.08). At the genus level, the rumen abundances of Ruminococcus and Phocaeicola of sheep in the three experimental groups were significantly higher than in the control group (p-< 0.05), and the abundances of Clostridiales and Candidatus-Hepatincola were significantly increased in the 0.1% and 0.3% groups (p < 0.05). (3) Regarding rumen anaerobic fungi, the differences between the control group and experimental groups at the phylum level and genus level were not significant (p > 0.05), but the relative abundances of Neocallimastigomycota and Piromyces in the 0.1% group were significantly higher than that in the control group. SA addition to a high grain diet could increase the VFA concentration and pH in the sheep rumen, reduce the NH3-N concentration in the rumen and improve rumen fermentation function. Although there was no significant change in rumen bacterial or fungal diversity, SA addition increased the rumen abundances of Bacteroidetes, Ruminococcus, Phocaeicola, Clostridiales, Neocallimastigomycota and Piromyces, decreased the rumen abundance of Firmicutes, and had a positive effect on the rumen microbiota to improve sheep health.

Drought resistance of nine maize cultivars released from the 1970s through the 2010s in China

ProblemWater scarcity has become a limiting factor for increasing crop production. Yield losses due to drought stress can best be resolved by breeding new, drought-tolerant cultivars, however, the genetic gains in drought resistance of different maize cultivars especially under precise water control conditions were not systematically studied.The objectives of this study were to assess 1) the change in yield and WUE of different cultivars from the 1970s through the 2010s under precise water control conditions and 2) find out the main factors affecting the yield and WUE change of different cultivars. MethodsWe selected nine hybrids from different eras for a detailed field study under three different water treatments (full irrigation, moderate drought, and intense drought) in a rainout shelter at Hengshui (115°40′E, 37°44′N) in southern Hebei province in 2018 and 2019. We compared the grain yield and water use efficiency (WUE) of different cultivars from the 1970s through the 2010s under drought-stress (moderate drought and intense drought) and fully-irrigated conditions. ResultsThe maize yield and WUE showed a significant linear increase with the year of release. The average yield gains were 111, 113.4 and 121.3 kg ha−1yr−1 under fully-irrigated, moderate and intense drought conditions while the WUE gains were 0.31, 0.38 and 0.72 kg ha−1 mm−1 yr−1 respectively. The yield reduction ratio showed a significant linear decrease from the 1970 s through the 2010s under both moderate water deficit and intense water deficit which were 0.51 % and 0.99 % yr−1, indicating that modern cultivars had better drought resistance than older ones. With increased water stress, the yield gap and yield reduction ratio between full irrigation and drought treatments (moderate drought and intense drought) increased significantly. The significant increase in the number of ears per hectare and the number of kernels per ear was the main reason for maize yield increase with the year of release from 1970s to 2010s under drought treatments. Under drought stress, the uniformity of yield component decreased significantly compared to the fully-irrigated treatment. In addition, an overly large leaf area was not conducive to drought resistance. ConclusionsModern cultivars had better drought resistance than older ones. Selecting hybrids with higher uniformity and smaller leaf area was beneficial to improve the maize drought resistance. ImplicationsThe results of this study will be beneficial for the breeding and selecting drought-resistant cultivars.

Temporal trends in acute myocardial infarction-related mortality in Italy (2007-2017)

Update data regarding acute myocardial infarction (AMI)-related mortality in Italy remain scant. We assessed AMI-related mortality and time trends in Italy from 2007 to 2017 by using the Eurostat Mortality Database. The vital registration data of Italy from the publicly free-available OECD Eurostat website database were analyzed for the period between January 1, 2007 and December 31, 2017. Deaths reporting the codes I21 and I22 were extracted and analyzed according to the International Classification of Diseases 10th revision (ICD-10) coding system. Joinpoint regression was used to calculate nationwide annual trends in AMI-related mortality, determining the average annual percent change with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). During the study period, 300 862 (132 368 men and 168 494 women) AMI-related deaths were recorded in Italy. Among 5-year age groups, AMI-related mortality increased with a seemingly exponential distribution. However, joinpoint regression analysis demonstrated a statistically significant linear decrease in age-standardized AMI-related mortality of -5.3 (95% CI -5.6, -4.9, p<0.0001) deaths per 100 000 individuals. A further sub-analysis, stratifying the population by gender, confirmed yielded results both in men (-5.7; 95% CI -6.3, -5.2, p<0.0001) and in women (-5.4; 95% CI -5.7, -4.8, p<0.0001). The Italian age-adjusted mortality rates for AMI decreased over time, both in men and women.

Sound healing reduces generalized anxiety during the pandemic: A feasibility study

ObjectivesThis study examined the feasibility and effectiveness of a virtually-delivered, biofield-based sound healing treatment to reduce anxiety for individuals meeting criteria for Generalized Anxiety Disorder. DesignThis one-group, mixed-method feasibility study was conducted virtually via Zoom during the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic. Fifteen participants with moderate to high levels of anxiety as determined by the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (≥10), were enrolled. InterventionFive certified Biofield Tuning Practitioners performed the interventions. Participants were given three weekly, hour-long sound healing treatments virtually, over a month’s period. Outcome MeasuresAttrition rates and reports on feasibility of intervention delivery and outcomes assessment were obtained by participants. Data on anxiety, positive and negative affect, spiritual experience, perceived stress, and quality of life were obtained via validated surveys and analyzed via repeated-measures analysis of variance with intention-to-treat. Linguistic inquiry and word count was utilized to assess changes in affective processing as reflected in participants’ spoken words over the course of the intervention. Qualitative interviews were conducted to further determine tolerability and experiences with receiving BT that may not have been captured by survey and language data. ResultsAttrition rates were 13.3%, with two participants dropping out of the study after one session. The remaining participants reported acceptability of the data collection process and intervention delivery. Intention to treat analyses revealed statistically significant reductions in anxiety (State-Trait Anxiety Inventory), negative affect (Positive and Negative Affect Scale), and perceived stress (Perceived Stress Scale) (p < .001 in all cases). Linguistic and word count analysis revealed a significant linear decrease (p = .01) of participants’ use of negative affect words over the course of the intervention. Qualitative data results are reported in another paper. ConclusionsResults indicate that BT delivered virtually is feasible and amenable to study, and that the impact of BT may be substantial in reducing anxiety and improving mental health. This is the first study of its kind to report clinically significant reductions in anxiety levels in response to a virtually-delivered, biofield-based sound therapy. Data will be used to power a randomized controlled trial to more deeply examine the effects of BT on whole-person healing for those suffering from anxiety.

Impact of Salinity and Sodicity on Crop Growth and Physicochemical Properties of Some Aridisol and Vertisol Soils in Sudan: A Review

Comprehensive field and laboratory studies were undertaken toinvestigate the performance of some crops on salt-affected soils in Sudan.To separate salinity and sodicity indicators some laboratory studies wereconducted on soils equilibrated with mixed NaCl-CaCl 2 solutions. Therelative hydraulic conductivity (RHC) or diffusivity increased withincrease in total salt concentration (C) and decrease in exchangeablesodium percentage (ESP). A dispersion index (DI), a swelling index (SI),shrinkage volume and modulus of rupture increased with increase in ESPand decrease in C. The data showed a highly significant linear decrease inRHC with increase in DI or SI. The threshold salt concentrations (THC),which gave 75% of the highest RHC, and ESP relationships, wereobtained for samples from an Aridisol and a Vertisol soils.. The salinityprofile obtained after intermittent leaching with water suggested thepresence of a desalinized zone followed by a salinized one with thehighest salt concentration below the wetting front. The depth of thedesalinized zone increased significantly with increase of the amount ofwater stored (r2 = 0.968) and the length of the wetting front (r2 = 0.974).Soil amendments promoted salt leaching in the following order: Sand&gt;chicken manure&gt; water hyacinth&gt; gypsum&gt; dry sewage&gt; farm yardmanure&gt; control. Cumulative evaporation (E) for the various amendments

Dietary fishmeal replacement with Hermetia illucens (Black soldier fly, BSF) larvae meal affected production performance, whole body composition, antioxidant status, and health of snakehead (Channa striata) juveniles

Due to the market instability and increasing demand and prices of fishmeal, the aquafeed industry must seek alternative protein feedstuffs to keep producing aquafeeds in a sustainable and cost-effective way. Hermetia illucens (BSF) larvae meal is considered sustainable since its production recycles organic waste streams into a valuable nutrient. Therefore, this study assessed the effects of dietary fish meal (FM) replacement with Hermetia illucens larvae meal (HIM) on the production performance of snakehead (Channa striata) juveniles. Five isoproteic (420 g Kg−1) and isocaloric (19.5 MJ kg−1 diet) experimental diets were designed by replacing FM at 0% (control diet), 25% (HIM25), 50% (HIM50), 75% (HIM75), and 100% (HIM100) with HIM. Four hundred and fifty juveniles (16.36 ± 0.09 g fish−1) were randomly assigned to 15 tanks (400 litres; 30 fish tank−1) and fed respective diets twice daily until apparent satiety for 9 weeks. The weight gain (WG), specific growth rate (SGR), and protein efficiency ratio (PER) showed a linear decrease with increasing dietary HIM (P < 0.05), and no significant effect in fish fed control, HIM25, and HIM50 diets. Whole body proximate composition and organ somatic indices were unaffected (P > 0.05). Whole-body C12, C14, saturated fatty acid (SFA), and SFA: PUFA ratios increased linearly with increasing FM replacement whereas polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) and n3/n6 fatty acid ratios decreased linearly (P < 0.05). Dietary HIM had a significant effect on protease activity (P < 0.05), but had no effect on lipase and amylase activity (P > 0.05). With increasing levels of dietary HIM, the apparent digestibility coefficient (ADC) of dry matter linearly decreased, and the ADC of crude protein showed significant linear and quadratic decrease, but the ADC of crude lipid was unaffected (P > 0.05). Aspartate aminotransferase (ASAT) and alanine aminotransferase (ALAT) were unaffected by HIM levels (P > 0.05). Fish fed HIM incorporated diets had higher superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities than fish fed a control diet, with a linear and quadratic effect (P < 0.05). The liver glutathione peroxidase (GPx) was unaffected (P > 0.05), whereas plasma GPx increased linearly and quadratically as dietary HIM levels increased (P < 0.05). Malonaldehyde (MDA) levels in liver and plasma remained unchanged among all the groups (P > 0.05). The dietary HIM did not affect the blood biochemistry (NBT, glucose, Hb, RBC, and WBC) and plasma metabolites (total protein, albumin, globulin, and total lipids) (P > 0.05). The lower plasma cholesterol was witnessed in fish fed HIM-incorporated diets than in fish fed control diets except for the HIM50 diet (P < 0.05). In conclusion, HIM can replace dietary FM up to 50% (20 g kg−1 HIM inclusion) without harming the production performance and health of snakehead juveniles.

Does self-harm have the desired effect? Comparing non-suicidal self-injury to high-urge moments in an ambulatory assessment design

All theoretical models of non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) posit that regulation of negative affect (NA) is a central motive for NSSI, and cross-sectional work supports this. However, previous ambulatory assessment (AA) studies that examined NSSI found mixed results. We investigated the affect regulation function of NSSI in 51 women with DSM-5 NSSI disorder in a 15-day AA study with five random daily prompts and self-initiated NSSI prompts. We extend previous work by i) comparing NSSI moments to moments of a high-urge for NSSI, ii) adding high-frequency sampling following NSSI and high-urge moments, and iii) including tension as a dependent variable. We hypothesized that NA and tension would show a steeper decrease following NSSI than following high-urge moments, if NSSI was effective in reducing NA and tension. Results showed that the significant linear NA decline following NSSI was not steeper than that following high-urge moments. For aversive tension, we found that NSSI was associated with a significant linear decrease in tension, whereas resisting an urge was not. High-urge moments were better described by an inverted U-shaped pattern, likewise leading to decreased NA and tension following the reported urge. In exploratory analyses, we provide visualized clustering of the NA and tension trajectories surrounding NSSI using k-means and relate these to participants’ self-rated effectiveness of the NSSI events. Findings indicate that resisting an urge may also be effective in managing NA and tension and underline the utility of interventions such as urge-surfing.

The Effect of Universal Newborn Hearing Screening on Spoken Language after Cochlear Implantation.

The universal newborn hearing screening (UNHS) was fully implemented across New Zealand by 2010 to improve outcomes for children with prelingual deafness. A previous audit undertaken by our center, the Southern Cochlear Implant Programme (SCIP), demonstrated that UNHS has significantly reduced the time to referral and surgery for cochlear implants in these children. This study aims to evaluate the relationship between earlier implantation and language development, the time taken to achieve age-appropriate language, and the effect of socioeconomic status on language skills. This is a retrospective cohort study comparing prelingual children with severe to profound bilateral hearing loss who underwent cochlear implantation in SCIP before and after the introduction of the UNHS. The language outcomes were assessed using the Preschool Language Scale and/or the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test. For the purpose of our study, the standard scores of these tests were expressed as global language scores (GLS). GLSs between 85 and 115 are considered within normal range for age. The socioeconomic status was categorized based on the New Zealand Index of Deprivation (NZDep). Children in the post-UNHS group (46/95 children) were referred to SCIP and received CI at a significantly earlier age (mean = 7 vs 20 mo, p = 8.95E-10, and mean = 13 vs. 24.7 mo, p = 1.43E-07). At 2 years postimplantation, the GLS was significantly higher in the post-UNHS group (mean scores = 93.3 vs. 79.1, p = 0.0213). The scores remained statistically higher in the post-UNHS group when assessed at 3 and 4 years postimplantation. At 2, 3, and 4 years postimplantation, there is a significant linear decrease in GLS with increasing age at cochlear implantation. We found no correlation between NZDep and GLS. Children identified through UNHS have the advantage of earlier diagnosis, earlier hearing intervention, and longer duration with the implants, and they can achieve age-appropriate spoken language after 2 years of implantation.

Age-related degradation of optic radiation white matter predicts visual, but not verbal executive functions

Healthy aging is accompanied by degraded white matter connectivity, which has been suggested to contribute to cognitive dysfunction observed in aging, especially in relation to fluid measures of cognition. Prior research linking white matter microstructure and cognition, however, has largely been limited to major association and heteromodal white matter tracts. The optic radiations (OR), which transfer visual sensory-perceptual information from thalamic lateral geniculate nucleus to primary visual cortex, are generally considered lower-level input-relay white matter tracts. However, the role of this prominent white-matter visual relay system in supporting higher-order cognition is understudied, especially in regard to healthy aging. The present study used deterministic tractography to isolate OR fractional anisotropy (FA) in 130 highly screened, healthy participants aged 20–94 years (mean 47.88 ± 17.36 SD; 76 women) to assess age effects on OR tract white matter. We also examined associations between age-related differences in the OR and cognitive domains involving visual processing speed, and visual- and non-visual executive function (EF). OR microstructure, as indexed by FA, exhibited a significant linear decrease across age. A significant interaction between age, FA, and cognitive domain on cognitive task performance indicated that in older age, more degraded OR white matter was associated with poorer visual EF, but no age-related association between FA in the OR and visual processing speed or verbal EF was observed. These findings suggest the optic radiations are not merely sensory-perceptual relays but also influence higher-order visual cognition differentially with age.

Temporal Profiles of Symptom Scores after Palliative Radiotherapy for Bleeding Gastric Cancer with the Adjustment for the Palliative Prognostic Index: An Exploratory Analysis of a Multicenter Prospective Observational Study (JROSG 17-3)

<h3>Purpose/Objective(s)</h3> Although palliative radiotherapy for gastric cancer may improve some symptoms, it may also have negative impact due to its toxicity. We investigated whether symptoms improved after radiotherapy with adjustment for the Palliative Prognostic Index (PPI) considering that patients with limited survival tend to experience deterioration of symptoms. <h3>Materials/Methods</h3> This study was an exploratory analysis of a multicenter prospective observational trial (Japanese Radiation Oncology Study Group [JROSG] 17-3). We assessed six symptom scores (nausea, lack of appetite, fatigue, shortness of breath, pain at the irradiated area, and distress) based on the M. D. Anderson Symptom Inventory at registration and 2, 4, and 8 weeks thereafter. PPI prediction model contains five independent indicators: palliative performance scale, intake, edema, dyspnea at rest, and delirium. A higher PPI score means worse survival. We tested whether symptoms linearly improved after adjusting for the baseline PPI. Shared parameter models were used to account for potential bias in missing data. <h3>Results</h3> The present study analyzed all 55 patients enrolled in JROSG 17-3. The median age was 73 years (range, 50–93 years). The average PPI was 2.9 (95% confidence interval: 2.2–3.6). The median 20 Gy (range, 8–45 Gy) total radiation dose was delivered in a median of 5 fractions. At registration, 27 (49%), 36 (65%), 44 (80%), 38 (69%), 29 (53%) and 44 patients (80%) had nausea, lack of appetite, fatigue, shortness of breath, pain, and distress, respectively. All six symptoms were evaluable for 48 (87%), 36 (65%), and 28 (51%) patients at 2, 4, and 8 weeks, respectively. With time from registration as the only explanatory variable in the model, a significant linear decrease was observed in shortness of breath, pain, and distress (slopes, −0.26, −0.22, and −0.19, respectively). Given that the interaction terms (i.e., PPI × time) were not significantly associated with symptom scores in any of the six symptoms, only PPI was included as the main effect in the final multivariable models. After adjusting for the PPI, shortness of breath, pain, and distress significantly improved (slope, −0.25, −0.19, and −0.17; p < 0.001, 0.002, and 0.047, respectively). Higher PPI scores were associated with higher symptom scores in all six symptoms. <h3>Conclusion</h3> Shortness of breath, pain, and distress significantly improved after radiotherapy. Moreover, a higher PPI was significantly associated with higher symptom scores at all time points, including baseline. In contrast, PPI did not seem to influence the improvement of these symptoms. Regardless of the expected survival, patients receiving radiotherapy for gastric cancer can expect improvement in shortness of breath, pain, and distress over 8 weeks.