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Global sensitivity analysis workflows and rankings: A practical comparison for researchers
Get PDFGlobal sensitivity analysis (GSA) is a recommended step in the use of computer simulation models. GSA quantifies the relative importance of model inputs on outputs (Factor Ranking), identifies inputs that could be fixed, thus simplifying model calibration (Factor Fixing), and pinpoints areas for future data collection (Factor Prioritization). Given the wide variety of GSA methods, choosing between methods can be challenging. We provide a practitioner-focused guide for non-GSA experts that compares both widely and less commonly used GSA methods, discuss implementation and interpretation issues, and propose a workflow. We assess the degree of similarity in Factor Ranking based on a study of three simulators of differing complexity. A critical issue for all methods is specification of parameter ranges. Factor Rankings were generally quite similar based on Kendall’s W. Sobol’ first order and total sensitivity indices were easy to interpret and informative with regression trees providing additional insight into interactions
Longitudinal study of a Scottish beef herd affected with Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis; monitored by faecal culture, serum ELISA and the interferon-gamma release assay
No full textParatuberculosis is a fatal, enteritis of animals caused by Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP). Uptake of MAP by macrophages initiates adaptive immune responses, detected as antigen-specific Interferon- gamma (IFN-γ) release or specific antibodies in peripheral blood. MAP can subvert macrophage killing and there is often a long sub-clinical phase. Diagnosis of paratuberculosis by faecal culture or serum ELISA is problematic, particularly during the subclinical phase. Regimens which rely on these tests, may fail as animals may transmit infection for prolonged periods before their detection. Infected animals may develop early Th1 responses to MAP. Measuring IFN-γ produced in response to mycobacterial antigens may give an early indication of animals infected with MAP. Adaptation of the commercially available Bovigam™ test kit utilizing MAP-specific proteins as stimulants of the cell mediated immune (CMI) response discriminates naturally and experimentally infected animals from uninfected ones. Young animals from farms affected by paratuberculosis, exhibit high responses to purified protein derivative from Mycobacterium avium species (PPDa) and MAP–specific antigens. To determine if specific high CMI responses were diagnostic for paratuberculosis they were compared with the inferred true status of each animal in a latent class analysis. Results from this study indicate that the novel interferon gamma release assay (IGRA) test is a sensitive test of MAP infection but does not indicate which animals are likely to subsequently test positive by the established MAP tests. The IGRA test may have an application as a herd test, determining whether infection exists and to what extent it is present within the herd
Lactobacillus salivarius SNK-6 improves egg quality, yolk nutrient composition, and yolk flavor profile in laying hens via modulation of tissue metabolites and Cecal microbiomes
Get PDFThis study aimed to investigate the effects of Lactobacillus salivarius SNK-6 (L.a-SNK-6) supplementation on the laying performance, egg quality and yolk nutrition composition, including amino acid (AAs), fatty acids, and flavor profile, of Wenshang Barred hens. A total of 432 healthy 40-week-old hens were randomly assigned to three groups with 6 replicates each: control group (CON), a group supplemented with 2.0 × 10 CFU/kg L.a-SNK-6 (T1), and a group supplemented with 2.0 × 10 CFU/kg L.a-SNK-6 (T2). Compared with the CON group, both the T1 and T2 groups showed a reduction in the broken egg rate and increases in serum alkaline phosphatase, calcium (Ca) and calcitonin levels (P < 0.05). These groups also exhibited higher Haugh unit, eggshell strength and eggshell Ca content (P < 0.05). Furthermore, egg yolks from the T1 and T2 groups contained higher levels of α-linolenic acid, and oleic acid than those of the CON group. Total AAs content in the egg yolks was markedly elevated in both T1 and T2 groups, particularly the glutamic acid and aspartic acid (P < 0.05). Twenty volatile compounds that differed significantly among the three groups were identified, including d-limonene and β-pinene. Metabolomic analyses revealed 326, 237, and 108 differential metabolites in plasma, liver, and cecal content, respectively, between the T1 and CON group. These metabolites were significantly enriched in the tryptophan metabolism (map00380) pathway in both plasma and cecal content. 16S rRNA sequencing indicated that cecal microbiome diversity and abundance were higher in T1 group compared with the CON group, although the differences were not statistically significant. Combined analysis showed seventy-five host metabolite-microbiota pairs were significantly correlated (P-adjust < 0.05). Collectively, L.a-SNK-6 supplementation modulated metabolites across multiple host tissues and the cecal microbiome, leading to improved egg quality, enhanced yolk nutrient composition, and alterations in yolk volatile compounds. [Abstract copyright: Copyright © 2026 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Global sensitivity analysis workflows and rankings: A practical comparison for researchers
Get PDFGlobal sensitivity analysis (GSA) is a recommended step in the use of computer simulation models. GSA quantifies the relative importance of model inputs on outputs (Factor Ranking), identifies inputs that could be fixed, thus simplifying model calibration (Factor Fixing), and pinpoints areas for future data collection (Factor Prioritization). Given the wide variety of GSA methods, choosing between methods can be challenging. We provide a practitioner-focused guide for non-GSA experts that compares both widely and less commonly used GSA methods, discuss implementation and interpretation issues, and propose a workflow. We assess the degree of similarity in Factor Ranking based on a study of three simulators of differing complexity. A critical issue for all methods is specification of parameter ranges. Factor Rankings were generally quite similar based on Kendall’s W. Sobol’ first order and total sensitivity indices were easy to interpret and informative with regression trees providing additional insight into interactions
Mechanistic Insights and Design Strategies for Hydrogel/Aerogel Sorbents in Remediation of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances
Get PDFPer- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have been used for several decades in various sectors, including aerospace, construction, the military, and the production of goods, among others. This widespread use has significantly contaminated water bodies globally. Several government agencies and organizations are trying to develop advanced technologies such as oxidation, membrane filtration, adsorption, and ion-exchange resin to capture these chemicals and thus mitigate their impacts. Adsorption has proven to be a highly attractive method for removing PFAS, involving activated carbon, silica, bioadsorbents, anion-exchange resin, hydrogels, and nonion exchange polymers. Among different adsorbents, hydrogels are the most effective adsorbents for removing these forever chemicals due to their highly porous structure, reuse and regeneration ability, and ease of functionalization with specific groups for effective binding with PFAS molecules. Keeping in view their tremendous potential, this Review critically reviews the potential of underexplored hydrogel/aerogels-based sorbents developed from synthetic polymers as well as biopolymers. The use of different cross-linkers, co-monomers, inorganic and organic additives, and surface functionalization techniques on the PFAS removal ability of the resulting hydrogels/aerogels under varying pH, background species concentration, PFAS concentration, and temperature was thoroughly discussed. Furthermore, the underlying adsorption mechanisms (ionic, hydrophobic, hydrogen bonding, and F–F interactions) of hydrogels and aerogels for PFAS adsorption from a molecular perspective were also examined. Finally, the challenges inhibiting the large-scale production of these adsorbents and the scope of ionic fluorogel and thermosensitive hydrogels have also been thoroughly reviewed
The antimicrobial alternative precursor-derived peracetic acid and zinc oxide lead to a sex dependent microbial modulation in weaning piglets
Get PDFSeveral authors described the sexual dimorphism of the gut microbiota in pigs and other animals in relation to sex-specific modulation following interventions such as diet or prebiotics and probiotics. These differences can also influence the host phenotype through the bi-directional pathways of the microbiota-gut-brain axis and could ultimately impact an animal's welfare and well−being. Postweaning diarrhoea is a multifactorial disease that occurs in piglets and is characterised by the sudden diet change from the sow milk to solid feedstuff, with moderate to heavy diarrhoea, accompanied by decreased performance, usually BW gain. In our previous work, we described that the broad-spectrum antimicrobial-alternative peracetic acid ameliorated the diarrhetic symptoms in piglets similarly to what was observed for zinc oxide. Here, we present a further analysis of this data set, assessing the interactions between interventions and sex. A 14-day animal study was carried out, during which 28-day−old, weaned piglets were allocated to 24-floor pens with four treatments, six pens and 12 piglets per treatment, six males and six females. The four treatments were a negative control, supra-nutritional in-feed zinc oxide, and either 50 or 150 mg/kg of in-water peracetic acid. Performance and postweaning diarrhoea were assessed throughout the study, whereas at day 14, gastrointestinal content samples were collected from all the pigs to allow downstream total bacterial quantification and 16S rRNA sequencing analysis. We found that the BW gain was greater in females compared to males given zinc oxide or peracetic acid. Moreover, apart from sex-specific differences in the microbial composition, we observed that both peracetic acid and zinc oxide led to different microbial modulation in males and females. Indeed, in the stomach, Sarcina, Actinobacillus and unclassified Neisseriaceae were depleted only in males given the high peracetic acid concentration, whilst the same treatment led to the reduction of Moraxella in females. Escherichia-Shigella was reduced after zinc oxide administration, but only in females. Finally, although Lactobacillus was less abundant in males in the caecum, both zinc oxide and peracetic acid led to its increase, but only in males.</p
Construction of pH-responsive nucleic acid delivery system based on amination of BSA and schiff-base for precise pest control
No full textPest RNAi control is essential for sustainable agriculture, and critical single-copy genes like heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90) in lepidopterans are ideal targets for new pest control strategies. However, current application technologies struggle to ensure RNAi efficiency, affecting control effectiveness. Herein, we illustrate a nucleic acid delivery system using bovine serum albumin cross-linked with diamine (cBSA) to deliver dsRNA targeting Hsp90 in Spodoptera litura, a major agricultural pest causing significant crop losses. The prepared nucleic acid delivery system (GBSA·NPs) with acid-sensitive bond that easily releases dsRNA inside cells, which cell-based experiments showed an RNAi efficiency increase by 43.59 %. And experiments on individual insects showed that GBSA·NPs delivery nearly tripled RNAi efficiency compared to direct dsRNA treatment. Crucially, safety tests indicated that both the carrier and dsRNA are safe for natural enemies, facilitating precise pest control.</p
Short-term stability over time and across situations of behavioural traits in gestating and lactating sows
Get PDFPersonality consists of the set of traits which show stable individual differences in behaviour over time and across contexts in a species. Personality has been previously studied in pigs, however few studies have focussed on adult females and on both the gestating and lactating phases of their reproductive cycle. The aim of this work was to identify candidate personality traits in breeding females, by assessing temporal stability and associations between situations. Adult female pigs (Sus scrofa) ranging from parity one to seven underwent a series of repeated tests and observations during late gestation (70–110 days after service) and during lactation (1–30 days after farrowing). In gestation, their response to a human in the home pen (n = 55, median 2 repeated tests per individual, ranging from 1 to 4) and social behaviour at feeding (n = 52, median 2 tests, 1–4) were assessed. In lactation their response to a dummy hand (n = 66, median 2 tests, 1–4) and lying down behaviour (n = 68, median 2 tests, 1–6) were recorded as indicators of maternal defence and maternal care. Out of the twelve variables measured in these four different situations, five were consistent over repeated tests at different times (i.e. the posterior distribution of their repeatability excluded values less than 0.01): dominance rank, number of attacks, and number of avoidances during feeding, number of vocalisations when exposed to a dummy hand, and probability of vocalising before lying down. We found correlations with an absolute value higher than 0.30 between number of attacks and number of avoidances during feeding (r = -0.33), number of attacks and number of vocalisations when exposed to the dummy hand (r = -0.52), and between the latter and probability of vocalising before lying down during lactation (r = 0.46). Our results suggest that social behaviour at feeding and acoustic signalling in different contexts are stable traits in adult female pigs. The estimated correlations between the traits might also indicate the presence of a proactive behavioural syndrome