bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Pan-genome de Bruijn Graph using the Bidirectional FM-index
Authors: Depuydt Lore , Renders Luca , Abeel Thomas , Fostier Jan
Published: February 2023

Background: Pan-genome graphs are gaining importance in the field of bioinformatics as data structures to represent and jointly analyze multiple genomes. Compacted de Bruijn graphs are inherently suited for this purpose, as their graph topology naturally reveals similarity and divergence within the pan-genome. Most state-of-the-art pan-genome graphs are represented explicitly in terms of nodes and edges. Recently, an alternative, implicit graph representation was proposed that builds directly upon the unidirectional FM-index. As such, a memory-efficient graph data structure is obtained that inherits the FM-index' backward search functionality. However, this representation suffers from a number of shortcomings in terms of functionality and algorithmic performance.
Results: We present a data structure for a pan-genome, compacted de Bruijn graph that aims to address these shortcomings. It is built on the bidirectional FM-index, extending the ability of its unidirectional counterpart to navigate and search the graph in both directions. All basic graph navigation steps can be performed in constant time. Based on these features, we implement subgraph visualization as well as lossless read-to-graph alignment using search schemes. We demonstrate that we can retrieve all occurrences corresponding to a read within a certain edit distance in a very efficient manner. Through a case study, we show the potential of exploiting the information embedded in the graph's topology through visualization and sequence alignment.
Conclusions: We propose a memory-efficient representation of the pan-genome graph that supports subgraph visualization and lossless alignment of reads against the graph using search schemes. The C++ source code of our software, called Nexus, is available at https://github.com/biointec/nexus under AGPL-3.0 license.
Barriers to programming education in UAE primary schools: A Qualitative review from ICT teachers' perspectives.
Authors: Elsawah Wafaa , Hill Christopher
Published: February 2023

Purpose: Demonstrate the importance of programming, discuss the pedagogical philosophy of how programming is taught, identify the barriers to the proper implementation of programming education in UAE primary schools, and find solutions to overcome these barriers.
Methodology: The study adopted a qualitative approach. Thirteen ICT teachers, from different schools in the UAE, were interviewed to investigate their perception of the teaching of programming to primary students.
Findings: The good application of programming education in UAE schools is yet to be accomplished. There is a need to reform the teaching of programming in primary schools in the UAE and to raise awareness about it and its importance in the school domain (school principals, teachers, and students).
Implications: One significant implication is that teaching programming should be taken seriously by educational policymakers and school leaders as a core subject that should be taught to all students. The study also contributed to the growing body of literature on the value of programming skills and the role of the appropriate curriculum in developing these skills.
Originality/ value: This study provides new insights at both practical and scholarly levels. It can shed light on the field's expansion prospects. The outcomes of this study may assist educational policymakers in better implementing programming education, particularly in primary school. Moreover, it helps teachers better prepare for the problems that primary students may encounter with learning programming in schools.
Identifying immune cell infiltration and constructing a ceRNA network to explore novel diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets in atopic dermatitis
Authors: Chen Chunli , Lu Jianyun , yan Siyu , Peng Fen , Zhong Xiaoxiao , Gao Lihua , Wang Dan , Zeng Jinrong , Tan Lina
Published: February 2023

Background
Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic, recurrent, itchy skin disease characterized by inflammatory imbalance.
Objective
To identify novel diagnostic biomarkers and potential therapeutic targets for AD.
Methods
Two test microarray datasets (GSE63741, GSE60709) and a validated dataset (GSE75890) were downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus database. We explored the hub genes by analysis of immune coexpression and protein–protein interaction. We also constructed a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network to explore the new therapeutic targets. We estimated immune cell types by ImmucellAI and the relevance between hub genes and immune cells. Functional analysis was also performed. Finally, we validated the hub genes through real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR), immunohistochemistry (IHC) and western blotting (WB).
Results
A significantly altered proportion of 24 immune-cell types was found between healthy controls (HCs) and AD patients, and each of the hub genes was significantly correlated with the main infiltrating cells. Expression of S100A7, APOE and KRT15 in skin tissues differed significantly between AD patients and HCs. hsa-miR-365a-3p and NPSR1-AS1 were identified as potential new therapeutic targets of AD.
Conclusion
S100A7, APOE and KRT15 were associated with immune cells and could become new diagnostic biomarkers and hsa-miR-365a-3p and NPSR1-AS1 might be new therapeutic targets of AD.
Algorithm for Using Dual Energy Computed Tomography to Determine Chemical Composition: A Feasibility Study
Authors: Choi Dong Hyeok , Ahn Sohyun , Park Kwangwoo , Han Min Cheol , Kim Jin Sung
Published: February 2023

Purpose
Using dual-energy computed tomography (CT), this study aims to develop an algorithm to identify the chemical constituents of an unknown material (compound or mixture) and improve the accuracy of material discrimination.
Methods
The algorithm requires mass attenuation coefficients that were obtained using a dual energy CT as an input, identifies the elemental composition, and then calculates its weight fraction. To evaluate the functionality of the developed algorithm, it was used to determine the chemical constituents for human tissues. Furthermore, the results were compared with those provided by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). We used dual energies 80/140 kVp for spectral CT scans, as inputs to the algorithm, in addition to a set of 50/80 and 80/100 keV for mono-energetic X-rays.
Results
The algorithm correctly determined the chemical constituent elements of unknown materials. Results were obtained for the fractional weights of each component for mono-energetic X-rays and spectral X-ray use. For mono-energetic X-rays, the differences were < 0.01% for compounds and 6.02% for mixture, respectively. For the spectral X-rays, the differences in 2.98% for compounds and 6.03% for mixtures, respectively.
Conclusions
We developed an algorithm to determine the type and weight fraction of an element using the MAC of dual-energy CT. The algorithm can exclude the inherent uncertainty of SPR calculations and improve the accuracy of dose calculations in radiation therapy planning.
Efficacy of therapy by MK-28 PERK activation in the Huntington's disease R6/2 mouse model
Authors: Shacham Talya , Offen Daniel , Lederkremer Gerardo
Published: February 2023

There is currently no disease-modifying therapy for Huntington’s disease (HD) and two recent clinical trials testing antisense oligonucleotides failed. We recently described a small molecule, MK-28, which restored homeostasis in HD models by specifically activating PKR‐like ER kinase (PERK) and thus boosting neuroprotection by the unfolded protein response (UPR), and reducing endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, a central cytotoxic mechanism in HD and other neurodegenerative diseases. Here we have tested the long-term effects of MK-28 in HD model mice. R6/2 CAG (160) mice were treated by lifetime IP injection, 3 times a week. CatWalk measurements of motor function showed significant improvement after only two weeks of MK-28 treatment and continued with time, most significantly at 1 mg/kg MK-28, approaching WT values. Seven weeks treatment significantly improved paw grip strength. Body weight recovered and glucose levels, which are elevated in HD mice, were significantly lowered. Treatment with another PERK activator, CCT020312, also caused amelioration, although less significant than with MK-28 in some of the parameters. Lifespan, measured in more resilient R6/2 CAG (120) mice with daily IP injection, was significantly extended by 16 days (20%) with 0.3 mg/kg MK-28, and by 38 days (46%) with 1 mg/kg MK-28. No toxicity, measured by weight, blood glucose levels and blood liver function markers, was detectable in WT mice treated for 6 weeks with 6 mg/kg MK-28. Boosting of PERK activity by long-term treatment with MK-28 appears to be a safe and promising therapeutic approach for HD.
Task-Residual Effective Connectivity of Motor Network in Transient Ischemic Attack and its Association with
Risk Factor of Stroke
Authors: Chu Truc , Lee Seonjin , Jung Il-Young , Song Youngkyu , Kim Hyun Ah , Shin Jong Wook , Tak Sungho
Published: February 2023

Transient ischemic attack (TIA) is a transient episode of neurological dysfunction caused by focal brain ischemia. Although TIA symptoms are quickly resolved, patients with TIA have a high risk of stroke and persistent impairments in multiple domains of cognitive and motor functions. In this study, using spectral dynamic causal modelling, we investigated the changes in task-residual effective connectivity of patients with TIA during fist-closing movements and associated them with risk factors of stroke. 28 healthy participants and 15 age-matched patients with TIA underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging at 7T. Our results showed that during motor movement, patients with TIA had significantly higher effective connectivity toward the ipsilateral primary motor cortex and lower connectivity to the supplementary motor area than healthy controls. These changes in connectivity strength were positively correlated with ABCD2 scores indicating higher risk of stroke. The leave-on-out cross-validation analysis further confirmed the reliability of using effective connectivity in prediction of stroke risk after TIA. Our results imply that (i) TIA patients have disrupted connections among motor regions that are closely related to the risk of stroke, and (ii) these changes may reflect the neural dedifferentiation in the motor system.
A New Iterative Method To Find The Moore-Penrose Inverse
Authors: Sheikhi Salman , Esmaeili Hamid
Published: February 2023

In this paper, we introduce a new efficient iterative method to find the Moore-Penrose inverse of a singular or rectangular real (or complex) matrix, which has five matrix-matrix multiplications per iteration. It is proved that the proposed method is fourth-order convergent to the Moore-Penrose inverse. Numerical results are obtained using random matrices of sizes n × n and n × (n + 10), n = 100, 200, 300, 400. The average number of iterations, the average total number of matrix-matrix multiplications, the average precision, and the average elapsed execution time of compared methods are computed using ten matrices in each dimension. Based on this comparison, our new method can be considered as an efficient fastest method with low computational cost.
Whole-exome sequencing analysis of idiopathic hypogonadotropic hypogonadism: comparison of varicocele and non-obstructive azoospermia
Authors: Ma Ziyang , Dai Yi , Jin Lei , Luo Yi , Guo Chen , Qu Rui , He Shengyin , Liu Yugao , Xia Yu , Liu Huan , Kong Lingnan , Xu Miaomiao , Zhang Lanlan , Zhao Yue , Yushanjiang Suliya , Yuan Dongzhi , Yang Luo
Published: February 2023

Background
As a rare disease leading to male infertility, A has strong heterogeneity of clinical phenotype and gene mutation. At present, there is no effective diagnosis and treatment method for this disease, and the research on its pathogenesis is not exhaustive
Objectives
To explore the possible new pathogenic gene of idiopathic hypogonadotrophic hypogonadism and the pathological mechanism affecting its occurrence.
Patients and methods:
We performed a whole-exome sequencing on 9 patients with normosmic idiopathic hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (nIHH), 19 varicocele patients with weak sperm, oligospermia or azoospermia and 5 patients with simple nonobstructive azoospermia and carried out comparative analysis, channel analysis, etc.
Results
After preliminary sequencing screening, 309–431 genes harbouring variants, including SNPs and indels, were predicted to be harmful per single patient in each group. In genetic variations of nIHH patients’ analysis, variants were detected in 10 loci and nine genes in nine patients. And in co-analysis of the three patient groups, nine nIHH patients, 19 VC patients, and five SN patients shared 116 variants, with 28 variant-harbouring genes detected in five or more patients. After that, we found that many genes crossed among groups and selected the highest number of 17 genes for analysis.
Conclusion
We found that the NEFH, CCDC177 and PCLO genes and the Gene Ontology pathways GO:0051301: cell division and GO:0090066: regulation of anatomical structure size may be key factors in the pathogenic mechanism of IHH. Our results suggest the pathogenic mechanism of IHH is not limited to the central nervous system effects of GnRH but may involve other heterogeneous pathogenic genetic variants that affect peripheral organs.
Multi-Layer Stochastic Block Interaction driven by Logistic Regression (MLSBI-LR) for Efficient Link Recommendation in Intra-Layer Linkage Graphs
Authors: Bolorunduro Janet Oluwasola , Zou Zhaonian
Published: February 2023

Link Recommendation (LR) in complex networks has caught across-the-network interest in social and computer science communities. Numerous networks, such as recommendation systems and social networks (which facilitate user contact), are probabilistic rather than deterministic due to the uncertainty surrounding the presence of links. Evaluating the various measures has frequently been tricky as the Intra-Layer Linkage Graph requires that at least two nodes be in the same layer. Moreover, many existing LR methods mainly operate well on Single-Layer Graphs (SLGs) compared to Multi-Layer Graphs (MLGs) when nodes traverse Multi-Layers in a network of Intra-Layer linkages. Considering this drawback and others, this paper proposes a Multi-Layer Stochastic Block Interaction method driven by Logistic Regression (MLSBI-LR) to exploit the bi-directional resources associated with Intra-Layer linkages is inherent dependence on Knowledge-based systems use multi-criteria recommender systems to accommodate additional criteria and can modify neighborhood-based approaches. Neighborhood approaches are used since they are more well-accepted and have available experimental data set in MLGs toward recommending links that would efficiently enrich users’ experience. The accuracy and robustness of the proposed MLSBI-LR method compared to existing LR methods were extensively investigated using three distinct benchmark data sets and four evaluation metrics. Based on experimental results across the databases and metrics, the proposed MLSBI-LR method performed significantly better (recording up to 17\% increment in accuracy), recommending potential links in MLGs. Consequently, the proposed method may revolutionize link recommendation tasks in social networks by maximizing users’ overall experience
Mapping the forage nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium contents of alpine grasslands by integrating Sentinel-2 and Tiangong-2 data
Authors: Zhang Xuanfan , Liang Tiangang , Gao Jinlong , Zhang Dongmei , Liu Jie , Feng Qisheng , Wu Caixia , Wang Zhiwei
Published: February 2023

As crucial quality indicators for forage in alpine natural grasslands, nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) contents are closely related to plant growth and reproduction. One of the greatest challenges for the sustainable utilization of grassland resources and the high-quality development of animal husbandry is to efficiently and accurately obtain information about the distribution and dynamic change of N, P, and K contents in alpine grasslands. A new generation of multispectral sensors, the Sentinel-2 multispectral instrument (MSI) and Tiangong-2 moderate-resolution wide-wavelength imager (MWI), is equipped with several spectral bands suitable for specific application scenarios, showing great potential in mapping forage nutrients at the regional scale. This study aims to achieve high-accuracy spatial mapping of the N, P, and K contents in alpine grasslands at the regional scale on the eastern Tibetan Plateau. The Sentinel-2 MSI and Tiangong-2 MWI data, coupled with multiple feature selection algorithms and machine learning models, are applied to develop forage N, P, and K estimation models via a combination of 92 sample sites collected from the vigorous growth stage to the senescent stage. The results show that the spectral bands of both Sentinel-2 MSI and Tiangong-2 MWI have an excellent performance in estimating the forage N, P, and K contents (the R2 are 0.68–0.76, 0.54–0.73, and 0.74–0.82 for forage N, P, and K estimations, respectively). Moreover, the model integrating the spectral bands of these two sensors explains 78%, 74%, and 84% of the variations in the forage N, P, and K contents, respectively. These results indicate that the estimation ability of forage nutrients can be further improved by integrating Tiangong-2 MWI and Sentinel-2 MSI data. In conclusion, integration of the spectral bands of multiple sensors is a promising approach to map the forage N, P, and K contents in alpine grasslands with high accuracy at the regional scale. The study offers valuable information for growth monitoring and real-time determination of forage quality in alpine grasslands.
The structural analysis of secretion in the freshwater mite Limnesia maculata (O.F. Müller, 1776) (Acariformes, Limnesiidae) supports the idea of a new form of arthropod silk
Authors: Shatrov Andrey B. , Soldatenko Elena V. , Benken Konstantin A. , Petrov Anatoly A.
Published: February 2023

The structural characteristics of silk secretion of the freshwater miteLimnesia maculata(O.F. Müller, 1776) (Acariformes, Limnesiidae) are described and analyzed for the first time based on light, atomic force and electron-microscopical approaches. The common dermal glands (14 pairs scattered over the body) produce silk mostly during the warm summer season. The process of silk secretion occupies from several hours to several days. Silk may be detected as barely recognized clouds of a fine whitish substance. An individual silk thread is an infinitely long uniform unbranched and non-stretchable tube, hollow or with a vesicular electron-dense residual content. In the silk bundle, threads may be freely interlaced, bent, curved or occasionally broken. The diameter of the tubes mostly lies within 0.9–1.5 µm. The width of the tube walls varies greatly from 60 to 300 nm. Chaotically interlaced fine fibrils build the tube walls. On the external surface of the tube wall, these fibrils are loosely organized and frequently rising vertically, whereas on the internal side they are packed more tightly sometimes showing a mesh. The walls may reveal a layered structure or, contrary, are quite thinner with through foramens. The revealed organization of silk in the freshwater mites is found to be the simplest among that of other arthropods. The proposed role of such silk is a capture of the potential prey in the summer season. Silk in water mites significantly widen the wholesome area for their life and gives them better chances in competition for potential resources.
Overcoming vaccine hesitancy by multiplex social network targeting: An analysis of targeting algorithms and implications
Authors: Fugenschuh Marzena , Fu Feng
Published: February 2023

Incorporating social factors into disease prevention and control efforts is an important undertaking of behavioral epidemiology. The interplay between disease transmission and human health behaviors, such as vaccine uptake, results in complex dynamics of biological and social contagions. Maximizing intervention adoptions via network-based targeting algorithms by harnessing the power of social contagion for behavior and attitude changes largely remains a challenge. Here we address this issue by considering a multiplex network setting. Individuals are situated on two layers of networks: the disease transmission network layer and the peer influence network layer. The disease spreads through direct close contacts while vaccine views and uptake behaviors spread interpersonally within a potentially virtual network. The results of our comprehensive simulations show that network-based targeting with pro-vaccine supporters as initial seeds significantly influences vaccine adoption rates and reduces the extent of an epidemic outbreak. Network targeting interventions are much more effective by selecting individuals with a central position in the opinion network as compared to those grouped in a community or connected professionally. Our findings provide insight into network-based interventions to increase vaccine confidence and demand during an ongoing epidemic.
Clinicoepidemiology, risk factors and outcome assessment of virus induced acute encephalitis syndrome: A hospital based prospective study in Eastern India.
Authors: Rathore Sushil Kumar , Pati Pallabi , Dwibedi Bhagirathi , Kar Shantanu
Published: February 2023

Background: Acute encephalitis syndrome (AES) is a serious public health problem in India, whose cause has remained unknown for remarkable proportion of cases.
Method: During the study, cases were enrolled from tertiary care hospitals of Cuttack and Bhubaneswar. All the cases were screened for viral cause by serology and molecular diagnostics Subjects were followed up for twelve months to assess disease outcome. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify the risk factors associated with poor outcome.
Results: A total of 345(19.8%) subjects could be diagnosed with viral etiology and HSV-1 was the most common252(14.51 %) followed by HSV-2 (49,2.82%), Measles(36, 2.07%), JEV(18,1.04%),Enterovirus (15),VZV(7),dengue(7),EBV(2) mumps(2) and,HEV(1).Most common symptoms in addition to fever were convulsion (85%) and altered sensorium (95%). Comparison of clinical features among viral AES and undiagnosed AES cases showed that fever, diarrhoea, respiratory problem, rash, convulsion, Vomiting, altered sensorium and meningeal signs were significantly different between these two groups (p<0.05). Also the factors like age(p=0.015),low GCS score(p=0.021),hospital stay(0.024) and ,referral delay (0.03) were significantly associated with poor outcome.
Conclusion: HSV-1 was the commonest virus causing sporadic AES in this part of India. In this investigation low GCS score, longer hospital stay and referral delay were observed to be independent risk factors for poor outcome. Case fatality was observed in 25.75%. Thus immediate detection of HSV-1 and special attention to risk factors could help in proper management of AES cases.
Min-Max Joint Task Offloading and Resource Allocation Optimization in MEC Empowered Air-ground Integrated Networks
Authors: Du Jianbo , Cheng Wenjie
Published: February 2023

Recent years, unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) has become an important assistant that could act as access points (APs) for communication, and can also act as edge nodes for task offloading in mobile edge computing (MEC), etc., in many scenarios. We consider a multiuser mobile offloading network consisting multiple UAV based MEC nodes. The tasks could be processed locally, or offloaded to the UAV edge nodes, or migrated to the cloud further on. We formulate the offloading problem as the joint optimization of offloading decision making of all the SMEs, the computation resource allocation among the edge-executing applications, and radio resource assignment among all the remote-processing applications, aiming to minimize the maximum total weighted cost of all the SMEs. It is demonstrated that the problem is NP-hard. To tackle this challenge, offloading decisions are obtained using SDR. Next a firework algorithm is adopted novelly in radio resource allocation, and the computation resource is distributed uniformly among all the fog-executing users. Simulation results exhibit that as a result of the collaboration of the fog and cloud, the proposed joint algorithm could achieves nearly optimal performance in the aspects of energy consumption, delay, and a weighted cost of the both compared with others algorithms.
Halogens as Potential Thyroid Disruptors – In Sílico Simulation and Mathematical Model for Triggering Autoimmune Thyroiditis
Authors: Andrade Luis Jesuino de Oliveira , de Oliveira Luis Matos , Bittencourt Alcina Maria Vinhaes , de Oliveira Luisa Correia Matos , de Oliveira Gabriela Correia Matos
Published: February 2023

Introduction

The halogens are the non-metallic chemical elements belonging to group 17 of the Periodic Table, namely: fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine, astate, and teness. Halogens are biologically atypical components, however are frequent as replacement in the binders of the thyroid hormones and inhibitors, binding precisely to nucleic acids and proteins.

Objective

Simulate in sílico and through a mathematical model the interactions between the ionic changes in the thyroxine (T4) molecule in the process of autoimmunity induction.

Methods

We used an online application to simulate the docking of fluorine, chlorine, and bromine in the T4 molecule in place of iodine. A hypothetical-deductive mathematical model was assembled to evaluate halogen substitution in the T4 molecule and immune system and its correlation with the development of autoimmune thyroiditis.

Results

Simulation of the coupling of fluorine, chlorine and bromine, instead of iodine, to T4 were successful using the induced fit docking program. Positioning of each halogen ion in replacing the iodine at position 5 of T4 was achieved. The mathematical model used demonstrated that the change of the halogen ion in the T4 molecule has been shown to be the trigger for the autoimmune trigger of thyroiditis.

Conclusion

The findings from this study suggest that halogens of lower atomic weight than iodine may act as a trigger for the onset of autoimmune thyroiditis.
Evaluation of Emergency and Critical Care Medicine residents’ diagnostic accuracy in lung ultrasound interpretation in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study at two public teaching hospitals
Authors: Beyene Temesgen
Published: February 2023

Background: Point of Care ultrasound is defined as a goal-directed ultrasound exam performed by the treating physician to answer a well-defined question relevant to the immediate care of a patient. Currently, lung ultrasound is increasingly used in critically ill patients as an alternative to bedside chest radiography. Point of care ultrasound is a mandatory training for emergency and critical care physicians but there are no published papers on the diagnostic accuracy of lung ultrasound performed by emergency medicine residents. This study aims to assess the diagnostic accuracy of emergency medicine residents’ chest ultrasound interpretation at two public hospitals in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Methods: A cross-sectional study targeting senior emergency residents in two hospitals in comparison with radiologists. The study was conducted from June 2022 to August 2022 by using a structured questionnaire. There were a total of 70 emergency residents at these hospitals. The completed data was coded, manually checked, and exported to SPSS version 25 for data analysis.
Results: 60 emergency and critical care medicine residents were enrolled in this study among which 28 (46.7%) were from Addis Ababa University and 32 (53.3%) were from St. Paul’s Hospital Millennium Medical College. The overall accuracy in the interpretation of chest ultrasound was low. The sensitivity of residents in detecting normal chest ultrasounds was 95%. Most residents correctly identified pneumothorax at 96.7% and the lowest rate of interpretation was lung metastasis at 5%. There is a moderate agreement between emergency residents and radiologists (kappa 0.4). There is no factor identified that has a significant association with the outcome of interpreting chest ultrasound scans.
Conclusion: The skills of residents in interpreting chest ultrasound results are low regardless of the prevalence of the condition in the emergency room or the relative clinical importance of the condition. Poor sensitivity results with misinterpretations were common. Recommendation: we recommend the need for continuous training and assessment of the reside nts on lung ultrasound scanning. Further studies should be done, to fill the gaps and improve the quality of teaching.
FORMATION OF AN EFFICIENT MECHANISM OF INNOVATION MANAGEMENT AT ENERGY ENTERPRISES
Authors: Bondar Tetiana , Tymoschenko Vladyslav , Vakulenko Ihor
Published: February 2023

Innovation has always played a crucial role in societal progress. Successful management of the innovation process allows for the development of socio-economic systems in the long term. To achieve this goal, an important task is to implement innovative management at enterprises. Information and energy are the key resources of social progress at the modern stage. That is why the introduction of innovative management at enterprises of the energy industry is an important task. Effective implementation of the innovation management system at enterprises requires the development of appropriate organizational forms, management methods and tools. Therefore, the task of implementing an effective mechanism of innovation management at energy enterprises arises. The purpose of the article is to develop an effective mechanism of innovation management at energy enterprises. System and process approaches, general scientific research methods, as well as retrospective analysis, the method of theoretical generalization, and comparative analysis have been used in the research process.
The results of the study are the following provisions: modern concepts and approaches to innovative management of enterprises have been investigated; the key aspects of innovative management of enterprises have been identified, and the main directions of implementation of the mechanism of innovative management of energy enterprises have been developed (the directions cover the main areas of activity of energy enterprises); the need to implement the information system as a system-forming factor of the innovative management mechanism of the enterprise has been substantiated; a balanced system of goals for the implementation of innovative management has been defined for the key functional areas of the energy enterprise. Further areas of research are the development of detailed organizational forms, as well as management methods and tools in the enterprise’s innovative management system to ensure innovative effectiveness and the effectiveness of organizational and economic relations. The results of the research can be implemented in the work practice of enterprises in the energy sector. The results of the research have both social and environmental effects (the development of the energy sector provides additional jobs, solving the problems of energy saving and environmental protection).
How I Motivate and Communicate with Clients in My Practice
Authors: Johnson Andrew
Published: February 2023

Motivating yourself and your client to improve their operation is something that I try and work with on a daily basis

The thing that I think is important is that we need to think of the client's needs first, not ours, but what is our client's need and our client's want to be successful. The dairymen's needs have changed treatment to production medicine and the question that I have is: Do we fit those needs? I guess I've had trouble thinking that we've done a poor job fitting those needs and we'd have to change. Listen to what the dairymen want and then we must provide it. Let's not provide what we want, but let's provide what those dairymen need. Let's listen to his needs and figure out what he has and what he wants to be successful.
Clinical Effect of Dimethylsulphoxide in Sheep Suffering froin Heartwater
Authors: Tutt C. L. C. , Van Amstel S. R. , Reyers F.
Published: February 2023

Clinical heartwater, an often-fatal tick-borne disease, is caused by the rickettsia Cowdria ruminantium transmitted by the Amblyomma tick species. This disease is characterized by pyrexia (rectal temperature exceeding 40°C/104°F), listlessness and depression, inappetence and forestomach atony, hyperesthesia, hypermetria, lateral recumbency and agonal paddling of the limbs. Petechiation of the mucous membranes is common and chemosis (edema) of the conjunctiva may be evident. There are numerous strains of the causative organism that result in various presentations of clinical disease. The disease is the third most important cause of financial loss to livestock farmers in sub-Saharan Africa.

Heartwater is known to occur on Guadeloupe, and it has been suggested that the disease may spread to the American mainland either via subclinically infected imported livestock or on migrating cattle egrets that carry the vector. Climatic conditions suitable for establishment of the vector exist, and large populations of susceptible white-tailed deer offer the possibility of widescale spread of the disease.

Oxytetracyclines are the therapeutic drug group of choice in treatment of the disease. While anecdotal evidence of the beneficial effects of other symptomatic treatments exist none of these have been subjected to scientific scrutiny. Dimethylsulphoxide (DMSO), an aprotic hygroscopic solvent that, by its oxygen radical scavenging effect, displays anti-inflammatory properties, has been used as a symptomatic treatment with anecdotal beneficial effect. In a trial comparing anti-inflammatory agents in the treatment of mice suffering from heartwater, the group treated with DMSO had a higher survival rate. Based on this data, a trial was designed to gauge the clinical effect of DMSO in sheep suffering from heartwater.
Use of Animal-Based Parameters to Evaluate Tie-Stall Design and Stockmanship on Dairy Farms in Ontario
Authors: Zurbrigg K. , Millman S. , Anderson N. , Kelton D.
Published: February 2023

Injury, poor claw health, lameness and mastitis due to fecal contamination are negative results from inadequate stockmanship or tie-stall design. These problems affect cattle welfare and increase the probability of premature culling, lost production and negative attitudes by the public toward the dairy industry. Animal-based parameters can be used to measure the cow's response to management choices. This information can be used to evaluate husbandry choices and improve animal welfare and productivity.
Performance of Dairy Calves Raised Indoors vs. Outdoors in the Milk-feeding Period in One Commercial Danish Dairy Farm
Authors: Engelbrecht Pedersen R. , Trinderum M. , Dalgaard I.
Published: February 2023

The present case study was done to compare live weight gain and health between calves raised indoors and outdoors in one commercial dairy herd in Denmark.
Effect of Cow Comfort on Herd Health and Milk Production on a Large Commercial Dairy
Authors: Stockler R. M. , Neuder L. M. , Sears P. M.
Published: February 2023

The objective of this study was to access the differences in milk production and fresh cow health between two groups of cows.
Chronic Wasting Disease of North American Cervids
Authors: Spraker Terry R.
Published: February 2023

Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is a transmissible spongiform encephalopathy that has been reported in captive and free-ranging mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus hemionus), white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), Rocky Mountain elk (Cervus elaphus nelsoni) and moose (Alces alces shirasi). CWD has been reported in free-ranging cervids in 11 states and two Canadian provinces. CWD has been found in captive cervids in eight states and two Canadian provinces, but all of these herds have been depopulated except for three herds in Colorado. The mode of transmission of CWD is not known, but thought to be associated with ingestion of contaminated food or water from a contaminated environment. The primary clinical signs in cervids with CWD include weight loss and excessive salivation. Primary gross lesions include emaciation with loss of body fat. The hallmark histological lesion of CWD is spongiform encephalopathy. Diagnosis can only be confirmed with examination of the brain and/or lymphoid tissues with immunohistochemical staining. ELISA tests are used for screening large numbers of samples, for example during hunter kill surveys.
Assessment of Fertility Performance and Interrelationships with Production in German Dairy Herds
Authors: Van Saun R. J. , Leitgeb E.
Published: February 2023

The perceived negative relationship between milk production and herd reproductive performance often drives management decisions in reproductive management. Study objectives were to characterize productive and reproductive performance of German dairy herds from different regions and evaluate relationships between herd lactational performance and various measures of herd fertility.
Low or Marginal Selenium Status Has a Negative Effect on the Success of Bovine Embryo Transfer
Authors: Scherzer J. , Sebastian M. , Davis C. , Ensley D. C. , Hurley D. J.
Published: February 2023

Deficiencies in the trace elements selenium and copper have been shown to negatively affect reproductive performance in cattle. Selenium has also been shown to play a role in inflammatory regulation. Selenium impacts both the production of prostaglandins and the anti-inflammatory response, particularly through the activity of glutathione peroxidase. There is some evidence that selenium deficiency reduces embryo survival during implantation, which takes place in the fourth week after estrus. Primary copper deficiency results from insufficient levels of copper in the diet, while secondary deficiencies are attributed to the reduction in copper absorption or utilization by the antagonistic effects of molybdenum, sulfur or iron. Secondary copper deficiency caused by molybdenum interference retards embryo development and leads to early embryonic death. This field study was undertaken in an attempt to demonstrate the correlation between levels of selenium and copper in cows and the success of embryo transfer.
Effect of Two Bedding Conditioners on Bacteria Counts and pH in Shavings, Digested Manure Solids and Recycled Sand Bedding
Authors: Kuechle Brenda , Godden Sandra , Bey Russ
Published: February 2023

Bedding materials can be an important source of teat end exposure to environmental mastitis pathogens. Use of commercial bedding conditioners may represent one management tool to reduce bacteria counts in bedding. The objective of this study was to describe the effect of two commercial bedding conditioners on pH and environmental bacteria counts in shavings, digested manure solids and recycled sand bedding in commercial dairy herds.
Effect of Using an On-Farm Culture-Based Treatment System on Antibiotic Use and Bacteriological Cure for Clinical Mastitis
Authors: Lago A. , Godden S. , Bey R. , Ruegg P. , Leslie K. , Dingwell R.
Published: February 2023

Mastitis remains the most costly infectious disease, and the most frequent cause of antibacterial use on commercial dairy farms. As such, research should continue on the development and validation of new management tools that will help reduce the health and economic impact of this disease, while at the same time promoting the judicious and strategic use of antimicrobials on dairy farms. The adoption of on-farm culture systems may allow producers to make more strategic mastitis treatment decisions, potentially reducing antimicrobial use while maintaining the future production potential of the cow. The objective of this study was to describe the effect of using an on-farm culture system to guide strategic treatment of clinical mastitis cases on intramammary antibiotic use and bacteriological cure rates in affected quarters.
Evaluation of Non-Esterified Fatty Acids (NEFA) through the Transition Period as a Predictor of Clinical Disease
Authors: Ospina Paula A. , Nydam Daryl V. , Stokol Tracy , Overton Tom R.
Published: February 2023

During the transition period, most dairy cows will transiently visit a state of negative energy balance and hence have elevated non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) levels; however, only a subset of cows and farms develop levels of clinical illness past acceptable limits. Previous studies have demonstrated an association between NEFA levels above a certain cut-point and displaced abomasums. The objective of this study was to evaluate pre- and post-partum NEFA levels and their association with clinical disease in northeast US dairy herds.
Evaluation of a Hand-Held Meter for Cowside Evaluation of Blood Beta-Hydroxybutyrate and Glucose Concentrations in Dairy Cows
Authors: Oetzel G. R. , McGuirk S. M.
Published: February 2023

Ketosis, defined as blood beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHBA) concentrations greater than 1,400 umol/1, is an important problem in dairy herds. Prompt and accurate detection of ketosis may lessen its negative effects on milk yield and reproduction, and may help prevent subsequent displaced abomasum. Cowside tests are necessary for prompt diagnosis and treatment of ketosis; however, existing cowside urine or milk ketone tests are limited by their relatively low sensitivity (about 80%) compared to blood BHBA (the gold standard test for ketosis). Cowside blood glucose tests have not been commonly used but could be useful in helping clinicians determine if glucose treatments are indicated for early lactation cows with an unknown diagnosis or that have already been treated for ketosis. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the correlation of BHBA and glucose results from the hand-held meter with laboratory analysis results, and to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of the hand-held meter for determining BHBA and glucose concentrations above established cut-points.
Efficacy of a Combination Modified-Live Viral Vaccine in Protecting Cattle from Experimental Infection with Bovine Herpesviruses-1 isolated from Recent "Vaccine Breaks"
Authors: Ellis J. , Gow S. , Goji N. , Jones C. , Rhodes C.
Published: February 2023

In recent years there has been a reported increase in "vaccine breaks", or apparent failure of bovine herpesvirus-1 (BHV-1) vaccines to protect feedlot cattle. In order to address the possibility that current vaccines derived from the Cooper isolate of BHV-1 do not protect calves from infection with recent virulent field isolates of BHV-1 for weeks or months after vaccination, two randomized controlled trials were conducted in BHV-1 seronegative cross-bred beef calves.
Factors Affecting Analgesic Use and Attitudes about Analgesia in Cattle Among Bovine Practitioners in the United States
Authors: Fajt V. R. , Wagner S. A.
Published: February 2023

Information on current analgesic use and attitudes about analgesia is an indication of animal welfare concerns among bovine practitioners. Such information has not previously been available in the United States (US).
Relationship Between Bacteria Levels in Colostrum and Efficiency of Absorption of Immunoglobulin Gin Newborn Dairy Calves
Authors: Peterson J. , Godden S. , Bey R.
Published: February 2023

The dairy industry recognizes the necessity of providing adequate colostrum to newborn calves to obtain passive immunity. This aids in lowering the rate of disease and death amongst young calves. Bacteria in colostrum can interfere with the immunoglobulin G (IgG) absorption in newborn calves, potentially resulting in failure of passive transfer. Industry recommendations currently suggest bacteria levels in colostrum be <100,000 cfu/ml. However, there is some preliminary evidence (Johnson et al, 2007) to suggest that a lower cutpoint for bacteria levels may further enhance absorption of lgG. The study objectives were: 1) To describe the relationship between bacteria counts in colostrum and both apparent efficiency of absorption of lgG (AEA, %) and calf serum lgG concentrations (mg/ml) at 24 hours of age, and 2) Potentially provide evidence for determining an optimal recommended cutpoint for bacteria levels in colostrum that would maximize AEA of lgG.
Effect of Method of Colostrum Feeding (Bottle vs Tube) on Passive Transfer of IgG in Newborn Dairy Calves
Authors: Konkol K. , Godden S. , Haines D.
Published: February 2023

The objective of this study is to investigate the relationship between method of feeding and efficiency of IgG absorption, when either large or small volumes of colostrum.
Comparing Estimates of the Impact of Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus (BVDV) Infection on the Weaning Weights of Beef Calves reported in Primary Research with Economic Models of BVDV in Beef Cattle
Authors: Funk L. , O'Connor A. M.
Published: February 2023

The objective of this project was to compare estimates of the impact of bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) infection on the weaning weights of beef calves reported in primary research to the estimates used in economic models of BVDV in beef cattle. Models can help clarify the impact of infectious disease on production and financial outcomes; however the usefulness of economic models depends on the validity of the assumptions of lost production attributable to infection. In dairy herds, the major source of income is milk therefore BVDV transmission models often include calves only as a source for continued herd infection and economic models frequently only consider the impact of infection on milk production. In beef herds, the sale of calves is a primary income source and estimates of the impacts on BVDV infection on calf weight at weaning are of greater importance in economic impact models on BVDV infection in the beef cattle industry than the dairy cattle industry.
Pharmacokinetics of Chlortetracycline in Cattle
Authors: Reinbold James B. , Coetzee Johann , Gehring Ronnette , Olson K. C. , Hollis Larry , Apley Michael
Published: February 2023

Chlortetracycline (CTC) contributes extensively to profitable cattle production as an antimicrobial and growth promoting agent. The NAHMS 1999 Feedlot study reports 51.9% of all feedlots administer CTC as a health or production management tool. However, information regarding the pharmacokinetics and bioavailability of CTC is scarce in the literature. Pharmacokinetic studies were performed using oral and intravenous preparations of CTC to reveal the pharmacokinetic parameters of this drug in cattle.
Effect of Transportation Dynamics on Cattle Welfare and Beef Quality
Authors: Warren Laura , Mandell Ira , Widowski Tina , Bateman Ken
Published: February 2023

In 2006, the Ontario Cattlemen's Association invited research proposals on cattle transportation as a result of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency's review of the current legislation for livestock transportation contained within the Health of Animals Act. We describe here a benchmark study to investigate slaughter cattle transportation conditions in Canada.
Comparing Cytopathic and Noncytopathic Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus (BVDV) Vaccines
Authors: Chase C. C. L. , Braun L. J. , Holler L. , Spire M.
Published: February 2023

Bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) is a major pathogen of cattle causing severe respiratory and reproductive disease. Since BVDV infects through the oral-nasal route, increasing mucosal immunity should decrease BVDV infection and disease. This makes parenteral vaccines that can traffic antigens to mucosal lymphoid tissue more advantageous for generating mucosal immunity. This study was aimed at the distribution of bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) in tissues following vaccination with one of three commercial vaccines: two vaccines containing cytopathic (CP) BVDV viruses and one vaccine containing noncytopathic (NCP) BVDV virus.