Explore the vast range of titles available.

The present study evaluated the multiple imputation method, a procedure that is similar to the one suggested by Li and Lissitz (2004), and compared the performance of this method with that of the bootstrap method and the delta method in obtaining the standard errors for the estimates of the parameter scale transformation coefficients in item response theory (IRT) equating in the context of the common-item nonequivalent groups design. Two different estimation procedures for the variancecovariance matrix of the IRT item parameter estimates, which were used in both the delta method and the multiple imputation method, were considered: empirical cross-product (XPD) and supplemented expectation maximization (SEM). The results of the analyses with simulated and real data indicate that the multiple imputation method generally produced very similar results to the bootstrap method and the delta method in most of the conditions. The differences between the estimated standard errors obtained by the methods using the XPD matrices and the SEM matrices were very small when the sample size was reasonably large. When the sample size was small, the methods using the XPD matrices appeared to yield slight upward bias for the standard errors of the IRT parameter scale transformation coefficients.

Research on Chinese parenting styles using representative samples is limited, particularly during COVID-19, with most studies focusing on individual factors while neglecting regional influences. This study examines the impact of provincial income inequality, measured by the Gini coefficient, on parenting styles and how these effects vary across subgroups. Using data from the China Family Panel Studies (CFPS) 2020, encompassing 3768 children aged 7–16 years from 25 regions, we employed a multinomial logistic regression model to analyze the predictability of provincial income inequality on parenting styles identified through latent class analysis. Three parenting styles emerged during the first year of COVID-19: authoritarian (48.2%), autonomy granting (27.7%), and average-level undifferentiated (24.1%). A higher Gini coefficient related to a greater likelihood of parents adopting authoritarian or autonomy-granting parenting styles over average-level undifferentiated parenting. Subgroup analyses revealed a higher likelihood of adopting autonomy-granting and authoritarian parenting for male children compared to female. Mothers with lower education levels and parents in rural areas tend to favor authoritarian parenting in response to higher income inequality. This trend was less evident among more educated mothers and parents living in urban areas. These findings suggest that parenting styles in China are influenced by complex and region-specific factors.

The great demands of creative talents in knowledge economy and the pursuit of better humanistic teaching and learning challenge teachers' professional competency. Teachers are expected to be more adaptive and creative in curriculum implementation. Theoretically, teachers' practical reflection is the process of curriculum deliberation and creation. In this context, the inquiry into practical reflection has important theoretical contributions on how to advance curriculum implementation and teacher professional development. The present study addresses the following three questions. (1) What practical reflection has been done in curriculum implementation? (2) Which factors influence teachers' practical reflection? (3) How practical reflection affects teachers' professional development? The main research findings are as follows: Firstly, there are intrinsic differences in contents, levels and process of practical reflection between HTQ and LATQ teachers. Secondly, practical reflection results from the interaction

A new approach of polarographlc immunoassay based on the catalytic amplification of the labeled metal ions and the polarographlc detection of the catalytic product was developed.In this approach,the copper ions used as the catalyst for substrate conversion instead of natural enzyme were labeled to model antigen diphtheria toxoid (DT) through the bifunctional chelating reagent diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid (DTPA).After heterogeneous competitive imrnunoreaction,the oxidation of substrate o-phenylenediatnine (OPD) was catalyzed by the labeled copper ions to generate an electroactive product 2,3-diammophenazine (DAP); subsequently,the product DAP was detected with linear-sweep polarography The proposed assay can determine the concentration in the range of 10-1 000 ng/mL of DT,two orders of magnitude more sensitive than those based on the direct detection of the metal ion labels The proposed immunoassay can be applied to detecting various proteins of interest.

Objective: The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of dietary D-ribose supplementation on the growth performance, nutrient digestibility, serum biochemistry, rumen fermentation characteristics, and microbial LuxS/autoinducer-2 (AI-2) quorum sensing in Hu sheep.Methods: Eighteen female Hu sheep, aged 3 months with similar body weights (20.47±0.58 kg), were randomly divided into two groups of nine animals each. The control group was fed a basal diet (CON), while the experimental group received the basal diet supplemented with 300 mg/kg of D-ribose (DR). After 80 days of individual pen feeding, blood, rumen fluid, and fecal samples were collected for analysis.Results: The results showed that the average daily gain was higher in the DR group than in the CON group, and the feed-to-gain ratio was lower in the DR group (p<0.05). The apparent digestibility of ether extract tended to be higher in the DR group (p = 0.068). In comparison to the CON group, the levels of serum cortisol, malondialdehyde, and reactive oxygen species were lower in the DR group, while superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase levels were higher, resulting in a decreased oxidative stress index (p<0.05). The rumen pH and microbial protein concentration were higher in the DR group (p<0.05), and no differences in ammonia nitrogen and volatile fatty acids concentrations were observed between the CON and DR groups (p>0.10). The rumen microbial density was higher in the DR group, while the concentrations of AI-2 signaling molecule, biofilm formation, and exopolysaccharides were lower (p<0.05).Conclusion: The findings of this study indicate that dietary supplementation with D-ribose can enhance the growth performance, improve serum antioxidant capacity, and inhibit rumen microbial LuxS/AI-2 quorum sensing in Hu sheep.

β-alanine has been shown to significantly improve nitrogen utilization efficiency in beef cattle, but its impact on growth performance remains unclear. This study involved 36 healthy 18-month-old Simmental crossbred bulls with similar weights (627 ± 41 kg). The cattle were divided into two groups, with each group comprising six replicates of three animals. While the control group received the basal diet, the treatment group was administered an additional 96 g/d/cattle rumen-protected β-alanine (RP-β-Ala). The study was conducted over a 35-day period, which included an initial 7 days for adaptation. At the end of the trial, body weight was recorded, and samples were collected. Results show that RP-β-Ala enhanced average daily gain (p = 0.065) and crude protein (CP) digestibility (p = 0.065) and reduced gain-to-feed ratio (p = 0.078). Analysis of rumen microbiota revealed that RP-β-Ala positively modulated the rumen microbiota by enriching beneficial genera such as Prevotella, Treponema, and Selenomonas. This enrichment increased volatile fatty acid production and nitrogen utilization efficiency, as evidenced by elevated ruminal ammonia-N and microbial CP levels, along with decreased serum urea nitrogen. Metabolomics identified key alterations in arachidonic acid metabolism, specifically the upregulation of metabolites 14,15-DiHETrE and prostaglandin D2, and enhanced antioxidative capability indicated by increased serum total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC). Concurrently, RP-β-Ala reduced serum TNF-α levels. This reduction was achieved by suppressing harmful bacteria like Thermoactinomyces and Saccharopolyspora, along with inhibiting their polyamine synthesis, specifically spermine and spermidine. Collectively, these effects alleviated oxidative stress and inflammation. These findings demonstrate that RP-β-Ala enhances beef cattle growth through improved energy supply and antioxidant capacity.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of different concentrations of hydrogen-rich water (HRW) on in vitro rumen fermentation characteristics and the dynamics of bacterial communities. The experiment included four treatment groups: a control (CON) and hydrogen-rich water (HRW) at 200, 400, and 800 ppb. Each group was analyzed at 12-hour (h) and 48-hour (h) time points with five replicates, totaling 40 samples. The experimental results highlighted the HRW 800ppb group as the top production in terms of gas production and CH 4 content. In contrast, the HRW 200ppb group exhibited significantly lower methane levels at both 12 h and 48 h ( P  < 0.05). Regarding rumen fermentation, the HRW 400ppb group significantly increased the levels of ammonia nitrogen (NH 3 -N) and microbial crude protein (MCP) at 12 h fermentation, but reduced the dry matter degradation rate ( P  < 0.05). After 48 h, the HRW 400ppb group had highest MCP content ( P  < 0.05), but no significant differences in NH 3 -N and dry matter degradation rate compared with the CON group ( P  > 0.05). Although HRW did not significantly benefit the synthesis of total volatile fatty acids (TVFA) and individual VFA, the HRW 800ppb group significantly increased the ratio of acetate to propionate ( P  < 0.05). Based on CH 4 emissions and MCP synthesis, we selected the HRW 400ppb group for subsequent bacterial community analysis. Bacterial community analysis showed that at 12 h, compared with the CON group, the Bacterial community analysis revealed that the HRW 400ppb group had significant increases in the Simpson index, Firmicutes, Streptococcus, Schwartzia, Prevotellaceae_YAB2003_group , and Oribacterium , and decreases in Prevotella , Ruminobacter , Succinivibrio , unclassified_Succinivibrionaceae , and Prevotellaceae_UCG-003 ( P  < 0.05). At 48 h, the Prevotellaceae_YAB2003_group and Oribacterium abundances continued to rise significantly, while Rikenellaceae_RC9_gut_group and Succiniclasticum abundances fell in the HRW 400ppb group ( P  < 0.05). Correlation analysis indicated a negative link between CH 4 and Streptococcus , and a positive correlation between the abundance of Rikenellaceae_RC9_gut_group and CH 4 . Collectively, these results indicate that HRW can modulate rumen fermentation and microbial community structure to reduce methane emissions without significantly affecting VFA synthesis, highlighting its potential as drinking water for enhancing ruminant nutrition and mitigating the environmental impact of livestock farming.

Background Minimizing mortality losses due to multiple stress and obtaining maximum performance are the production goals for newly received cattle. In recent years, vaccination and metaphylaxis treatment significantly decreased the mortality rate of newly received cattle, while the growth block induced by treatment is still obvious. Assessment of blood metabolites and behavior monitoring offer potential for early identification of morbid animals. Moreover, the ruminal microorganisms’ homeostasis is a guarantee of beef steers’ growth and health. The most critical period for newly received cattle is the first-month post-transport. Therefore, analyzing rumen metagenomics, rumen metabolomics, host metabolomics, and their interaction during receiving period (1 day before transport and at days 1/4, 16, and 30 after transport) is key to revealing the mechanism of growth retardation, and then to formulating management and nutritional practices for newly received cattle. Results The levels of serum hormones (COR and ACTH), and pro-inflammatory factors (IL-1β, TNF-α, and IL-6) were highest at day 16, and lowest at day 30 after arrival. Meanwhile, the antioxidant capacity (SOD, GSH-Px, and T-AOC) was significantly decreased at day 16 and increased at day 30 after arrival. Metagenomics analysis revealed that rumen microbes, bacteria, archaea, and eukaryota had different trends among the four different time points. At day 16 post-transport, cattle had a higher abundance of ruminal bacteria and archaea than those before transport, but the eukaryote abundance was highest at day 30 post-transport. Before transport, most bacteria were mainly involved in polysaccharides digestion. At day 4 post-transport, the most significantly enriched KEGG pathways were nucleotide metabolism (pyrimidine metabolism and purine metabolism). At day 16 post-transport, the energy metabolism (glycolysis/gluconeogenesis, pyruvate metabolism) and ruminal contents of MCP and VFAs were significantly increased, but at the same time, energy loss induced by methane yields ( Methanobrevibacter ) together with pathogenic bacteria ( Saccharopolyspora rectivirgula ) were also significantly increased. At this time, the most upregulated ruminal L-ornithine produces more catabolite polyamines, which cause oxidative stress to rumen microbes and their host; the most downregulated ruminal 2',3'-cAMP provided favorable growth conditions for pathogenic bacteria, and the downregulated ruminal vitamin B6 metabolism and serum PC/LysoPC disrupt immune function and inflammation reaction. At day 30 post-transport, the ruminal L-ornithine and its catabolites (mainly spermidine and 1,3-propanediamine) were decreased, and the serum PC/LysoPC and 2',3'-cNMPs pools were increased. This is also consistent with the changes in redox, inflammation, and immune status of the host. Conclusions This study provides new ideas for regulating the health and performance of newly received cattle during the receiving period. The key point is to manage the newly received cattle about day 16 post-transport, specifically to inhibit the production of methane and polyamines, and the reproduction of harmful bacteria in the rumen, therefore improving the immunity and performance of newly received cattle. 6n2QR72-A8x7PGstPh77e2 Video Abstract