bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Terapi Efluvium Telogen pada SLE dengan Minoksidil 2% dan Antioksidan Oral: Satu Laporan Kasus
Authors: Diana Eka Devinta Novi , Wijayanti Niluh , Mawardi Prasetyadi
Published: December 2022

Latar belakang: Efluvium telogen (ET) adalah kelainan pada rambut, ditandai dengan pelepasan rambut telogen berlebihan tanpa adanya inflamasi. Salah satu faktor pencetusnya adalah systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Minoksidil topikal 2% adalah terapi pilihan yang bekerja dengan meningkatkan aliran darah dan oksigen ke folikel rambut. Antioksidan oral yang mengandung keratin (cynatine HNS) juga memperbaiki kesehatan rambut sehingga dapat diberikan sebagai terapi tambahan pada kasus ET. Kasus: Perempuan berusia 19 tahun dengan keluhan rambut rontok sejak 1 tahun yang lalu. Pasien mengeluhkan demam, ruam merah di wajah dan nyeri sendi 5 bulan lalu dengan hasil tes ANA >1/80, dsDNA positif lemah, Scl-70 positif lemah dan Ro-60 positif lemah. Pasien didiagnosis dengan SLE, diberikan terapi metilprednisolon tablet 48 mg/hari dan siklosporin tablet 100 mg/hari. Status dermatologis pada regio scalp tampak kerontokan rambut difus, pemeriksaan hair pull test positif dan pada pemeriksaan dermoskopi tampak penurunan densitas rambut dengan beberapa folikel rambut kosong. Terapi dengan minoksidil topikal 2% dua kali sehari dan antioksidan oral prosentials® mengandung keratin 250 mg dua kali sehari. Kesimpulan: Diagnosis ET ditegakkan berdasarkan anamnesis, pemeriksaan fisik, hair pull test dan pemeriksaan dermoskopi. Minoksidil adalah vasodilator yang meningkatkan aliran darah dan oksigen ke folikel rambut. Antioksidan oral yang mengandung keratin (cynatine HNS) adalah protein yang bagus untuk kesehatan rambut, kulit dan kuku sehingga dapat dipertimbangkan sebagai terapi tambahan. Pertumbuhan rambut baru dengan peningkatan densitas rambut terlihat pada hari ke-90 (Gambar 3 dan Gambar 4) setelah terapi minoksidil topikal 2% dan antioksidan oral.
Harga Diri dan Persepsi Gender dengan Kekerasan dalam Pacaran pada Remaja di Duren Mekar Kecamatan Bojongsari Depok
Authors: Kasumawati Frida , L Listiana , Mutiara Mutiara
Published: December 2022

Pendahuluan: Catatan tahunan Komnas Perempuan pada tahun 2019 menunjukkan tren penting, berdasarkan laporan kekerasan di ranah pribadi, terjadi peningkatan angka kekerasan dalam pacaran dan angka signifikan sebanyak 2.073 kasus. Tujuan: Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui hubungan Self Esteem dan persepsi gander dengan kekerasan dalam pacaran pada remaja di RW 06 Kelurahan Duren Mekar Kecamatan Bojongsari Kota Depok. Metode: Jenis penelitian ini menggunakan penelitian analitik dengan desain cross sectional. Ada 92 responden yang ditentukan dengan menggunakan sistem nonprobability sampling yaitu total sampling. Data dikumpulkan menggunakan google form. Pengolahan data dilakukan dengan analisis uji chi square. Hasil: Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa dari 52 remaja yang memiliki harga diri positif pernah mengalami kekerasan dalam pacaran sebanyak 39 remaja (42,4%), dengan p-value = 0,043, dan 53 remaja yang memiliki persepsi gender tinggi terdapat 40 remaja (43,5%) memiliki pengalaman dalam pacaran, dengan p-value = 0,029. Kesimpulan: Dapat disimpulkan bahwa ada hubungan antara harga diri dan persepsi gender dengan kekerasan pacaran pada remaja Rw.06 Duren Mekar Kecamatan Bojongsari Kota Depok. Dari hasil penelitian ini, remaja perlu meningkatkan harga diri dengan memiliki pendidikan tentang kesetaraan gender, sehingga dapat mengurangi terjadinya kekerasan dalam pacaran.
Laporan Kasus: Tracheo-Oesophageal Fistula pada Pasien HIV
Authors: Yustin Wayan Evie Frida , Candrawati Ni Wayan , Sajinadiyasa I Gede Ketut
Published: December 2022

Pendahuluan: Fistula tracheoesophageal (TEF) merupakan kasus yang jarang terjadi, tetapi banyak penyebab termasuk imunosupresi akibat infeksi HIV. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) dapat menyebabkan peningkatan insidennya. Pemahaman mengenai kondisi HIV ini memungkinkan kita untuk dapat menegakkan diagnosis yang cepat dan akurat, sehingga dapat memberikan pengobatan yang tepat. Laporan kasus: Laki-laki berusia 30 tahun dengan HIV diantar ke RS dengan rasa sakit saat menelan, batuk terus-menerus dengan dahak kuning kecoklatan, dan tersedak saat menelan. Foto toraks menunjukkan atelektasis paru kiri dan bronkiektasis. Endoskopi menunjukkan 2 fistula pada dinding anterior 20 cm dari gigi seri. Bronkoskopi mengkonfirmasi fistula pada trakea posterior pada cincin ke-4 dengan semburan nanah. Jaringan ikat fibrosa dengan sel inflamasi kronis ditemukan pada biopsi trakea. ART, penutupan fistula, dan gastrostomi dilakukan, ditutup 1 tahun kemudian. Setelah itu dilakukan torakotomi pro pneumektomi. Nyeri saat menelan, batuk terus-menerus, dan dahak berwarna kuning kecoklatan merupakan manifestasi dari TEF. Diagnosis dipastikan melalui bronkoskopi yang menunjukkan fistula pada trakea posterior setinggi ring 4 disertai pecahnya sputum. Penatalaksanaan TEF meliputi terapi konservatif atau persiapan pra operasi (TPN, ART, NGT, dan / atau PEG) serta pembedahan. Pembedahan dilakukan untuk menutup fistula dan gastronomi akibat infeksi sebagai etiologinya. Kesimpulan: TEF merupakan komplikasi yang jarang terjadi pada pasien HIV, prognosisnya tidak baik.
Hubungan D-Dimer dengan Ketahanan Hidup Pasien Covid-19 Derajat Berat - Kritis di RSUD Tugurejo Semarang
Authors: Ardiani Safira , Tursinawati Yanuarita , Wahab Zulfachmi
Published: December 2022

Latar Belakang: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) adalah sebuah penyakit temuan terbaru dengan jenis virusnya Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Parameter laboratorium untuk pasien COVID-19 salah satunya adalah D-Dimer. Peningkatan D-Dimer yang signifikan menandakan keadaan hiperfibrinolosis dan peningkatan beban inflamasi yang diinduksi oleh infeksi SARS-CoV-2. Pasien dengan derajat berat – kritis memiliki kecenderungan kematian lebih besar dibandingkan derajat lainnya. Tujuan penelitian: Untuk mengetahui apakah terdapat hubungan antara kadar D-Dimer dengan ketahanan hidup pasien COVID-19 derajat berat – kritis di RSUD Tugurejo Kota Semarang. Metode: Penelitian ini adalah analitik observasional dengan pendekatan cross sectional. Sampel dari penelitian ini adalah semua pasien COVID-19 di RSUD Tugurejo Kota Semarang pada bulan Juni tahun 2021. Sebanyak 55 orang masuk ke dalam kriteria inklusi. Pengolahan data menggunakan uji chi square dengan derajat kemaknaan p<0,05. Hasil: Pada penelitian ini didapatkan 55 data, sebanyak 48 pasien (87,3%) memiliki kadar D-Dimer meningkat dan ketahanan hidup pasien mayoritas meninggal, yaitu sebanyak 39 pasien (70,9%), serta pasien yang meninggal mayoritas memiliki kadar D-Dimer meningkat sebanyak 67,2% (37/55). Hubungan antara kadar D-Dimer dengan ketahanan hidup pasien COVID-19 menghasilkan p value sebesar 0,008. Kesimpulan: Terdapat hubungan yang signifikan antara kadar D-Dimer dengan ketahanan hidup pasien COVID-19 derajat berat-kritis di RSUD Tugurejo Kota Semarang.
Hubungan Subtipe Molekuler dengan Densitas Tumor Infiltrating Lymphocytes Stroma pada Karsinoma Lobular Invasif Payudara
Authors: Hasnaini Hasnaini , Asri Aswiyanti , Mulyani Henny
Published: December 2022

Pendahuluan: Karsinoma lobular invasif payudara merupakan karsinoma invasif payudara terbanyak ke dua dengan insiden mencapai hingga 15% dari seluruh karsinoma invasif payudara. Tumor Infiltrating Lymphocytes (TIL) adalah suatu respon imun tubuh dalam melawan pertumbuhan dan perkembangan tumor. Penilaian TIL stroma adalah suatu faktor prognostik karsinoma invasif payudara dan dihubungkan dengan luaran yang baik pada subtipe tripel negatif dan HER-2. Tujuan penelitian: Untuk mengetahui karakteristik karsinoma lobular invasif dan untuk menganalisis hubungan subtipe molekuler dengan densitas TIL. Metode: Penelitian ini adalah penelitian observasional dengan pendekatan cross sectional. Sampel karsinoma lobular invasif dari 3 laboratorium Patologi Anatomik di Padang sebanyak 30 kasus. Densitas TIL dinilai berdasarkan rekomendasi The International TILs Working Group, kemudian dikelompokkan rendah, intermediet, dan tinggi. Dilakukan pulasan imunohistokimia (IHK) ER, PR, HER-2 dan Ki67 untuk menentukan subtipe molekuler yaitu luminal A, luminal B, HER-2 positif dan tripel negatif. Analisis bivariat menggunakan uji Chi Square dengan nilai p<0,05 dianggap bermakna. Hasil: Sebagian besar karsinoma lobular invasif dengan densitas TIL rendah (70%), dengan subtipe molekuler terbanyak adalah luminal A. Analisis bivariat menunjukan densitas TIL rendah banyak pada luminal A, dan densitas TIL intermediet banyak pada luminal B. Analisis statistik menunjukkan hubungan yang bermakna antara subtipe molekuler dengan densitas TIL dengan nilai p=0,004. Kesimpulan: penelitian ini menunjukkan adanya hubungan bermakna antara subtipe molekuler dengan densitas TIL pada karsinoma lobular invasif.
Hubungan Ekspresi PD-L1 dengan Derajat Diferensiasi dan Densitas Til di Stroma pada Karsinoma Ovarium Serosum
Authors: Valencia Valencia , Asri Aswiyanti , Nizar Rachmadijah Zuryati
Published: December 2022

Pendahuluan: Karsinoma ovarium merupakan keganasan terbanyak ke-8 pada perempuan di dunia. Karsinoma ovarium serosum merupakan keganasan ginekologi yang paling mematikan dengan perjalanan penyakit yang berbeda antara masing-masing grade. Diduga perbedaan ini disebabkan oleh adanya faktor prognostik lain yang memengaruhi luaran penyakit. Salah satu yang memengaruhi luaran penyakit adalah respon imun. Banyak efektor imun yang mendukung perkembangan tumor dan blokade efektor imun yang menimbulkan destruksi imun. Sel tumor dapat lolos dari pengenalan sel imun dan menekan aktivitas antitumor yang dimediasi sel-T sehingga mendorong pertumbuhan tumor dan metastasis melalui modulasi immune checkpoint termasuk programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1). Tujuan penelitian:  Mengetahui karakteristik dan hubungan ekspresi PD-L1 dengan derajat diferensiasi dan densitas tumor infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) di stroma pada karsinoma ovarium serosum. Metode: Penelitian ini merupakan penelitian observasional dengan pendekatan cross sectional. Sampel penelitian ini adalah kasus karsinoma ovarium serosum dari 3 laboratorium Patologi Anatomik di kota Padang tahun 2019-2020 sebanyak 45 kasus. Derajat diferensiasi dinilai berdasarkan grading WHO 2020 dan densitas TIL dinilai berdasarkan rekomendasi The International TILs Working Group. Dilakukan pulasan imunohistokimia untuk melihat ekspresi PD-L1. Analisis bivariat menggunakan uji Chi Square dengan nilai p<0,05 dianggap bermakna. Hasil: Sebagian besar karsinoma ovarium serosum merupakan derajat diferensiasi high grade (82,2%) dan densitas TIL stroma yang tinggi (60%). Pada derajat diferensiasi high grade ekspresi PD-L1 intratumoral tinggi lebih banyak (95,7%), dibandingkan ekspresi PD-L1 rendah (68,2%). Secara statistik terdapat hubungan yang bermakna antara ekspresi PD-L1 intratumoral dengan derajat diferensiasi pada karsinoma ovarium serosum (p=0,022). Tidak terdapat hubungan antara ekspresi PD-L1 dengan densitas TIL di stroma. Kesimpulan: Semakin tinggi ekspresi PD-L1 intratumoral semakin tinggi derajat diferensiasi namun tidak terdapat hubungan antara ekspresi PD-L1 dengan densitas TIL di stroma.
GAMBARAN DIAGNOSTIC DELAY DAN TREATMENT DELAY PASIEN KANKER PAYUDARA DI KOTA PADANG
Authors: Therescova Cindy Fatricia , Maribeth Annisa Lidra , Rafli Rhandyka
Published: December 2022

Pendahuluan: Tingginya angka mortalitas dan morbiditas kanker payudara disebabkan oleh diagnostic delay dan treatment delay. Diagnostic delay dan treatment delay dikaitkan dengan ukuran tumor yang lebih besar, peningkatan stadium, keterlibatan kelenjar getah bening serta metastasis organ. Namun, belum adanya data mengenai gambaran rentang waktu diagnostic delay dan treatment delay pasien kanker payudara di provinsi Sumatera Barat. Tujuan penelitian: untuk mengetahui gambaran karakteristik dan rata-rata rentang waktu diagnostic delay, surgery delay, chemotherapy delay dan radiotherapy delay pasien kanker payudara di Kota Padang.  Metode: Penelitian ini menggunakan metode deskriptif kuantitatif dengan pendekatan cross sectional yang dilakukan dari bulan November 2021 sampai Juni 2022. Jumlah sampel sebanyak 83 responden secara consecutive sampling di Rumah Sakit UNAND dan Ropanasuri. Analisis data berskala numerik disajikan dalam bentuk  median, nilai minimal dan maksimal. Hasil: Hasil penelitian yaitu 81 (97,6%) responden berjenis kelamin perempuan dan 2 (2,4%) laki-laki. Kelompok usia terbanyak pada kelompok lansia (46-65 tahun)  yaitu 54 (65,1%) responden dan stadium terbanyak pada stadium III B yaitu 51 (61,4%) responden. Jenis histopatologi terbanyak adalah invasive carcinoma mammae of no special type yaitu 59 (71,1%) responden dengan modalitas terapi terbanyak pada singel modaliy yaitu 36 (43,4%) responden. Hasil analisis diagnostic delay didapatkan median 7 bulan dengan nilai minimal 1 dan maksimum 193 (IK 95% : 9,78-20,66). Surgery delay didapatkan median 4 hari dengan nilai minimal 1 dan maksimum 201 (IK 95%: 4,23-25,81). Chemotherapy delay didapatkan median 23,50 hari dengan nilai minimal 1 dan maksimum 617  (IK 95% : 27,90-145,10). Radiotherapy delay didapatkan median 57,50 hari dengan nilai minimal 1 dan maksimum 1422 (IK 95% : 78,75-239,53). Kesimpulan: Rata-rata rentang waktu yang variasi dengan rentang waktu terpanjang terdapat pada diagnostic delay, yaitu dari 1 bulan sampai 193 bulan, dan terpendek pada surgery delay yaitu 1 sampai 201 hari . Nilai median dari diagnostic, surgery, chemotherapy dan radiotherapy delay adalah 7 bulan, 4 hari, 23,50 hari, 57,50 hari.
Tantangan dalam Diagnosis Adenokarsinoma Primer Tipe Enteric pada Kandung Kemih
Authors: Putriyuni Anandia , Zulfiqar Yevri , Billianti Yayi Dwina
Published: December 2022

Latar Belakang: Adenokarsinoma primer tipe enteric merupakan keganasan yang jarang ditemukan pada kandung kemih. Kasus ini sulit dibedakan secara morfologi dengan adenokarsinoma sekunder yang berasal dari kolorektal, mengenai kandung kemih melalui metastasis atau invasi langsung. Laporan Kasus: Seorang pasien usia 70 tahun dengan keluhan hematuria dan disuria. Tidak ada gejala dari saluran cerna dan riwayat batu pada saluran kemih. Massa tumor pada kandung kemih ditemukan melalui pemeriksaan ultrasonografi, ditambah pemindaian urologi menunjukkan penebalan dinding kandung kemih pada area latero-superior kanan. Pemeriksaan mikroskopik tampak proliferasi kelenjar yang menyerupai kelenjar kolorektal, dilapisi sel epitel kolumnar berlapis dengan inti atipik. Sel tumor menunjukkan ekspresi negatif CK7, positif untuk CK20, CDX-2 dan β-catenin dari pulasan imunohistokimia. Diagnosis akhir adalah adenokarsinoma primer kandung kemih, tipe enteric. Pasien meninggal 10 bulan kemudian. Kesimpulan: Suatu tantangan dalam mendiagnosis adenokarsinoma primer tipe enteric pada kandung kemih.
Novel FDIs-based data manipulation and its detection in smart meters’ electricity theft scenarios
Authors: Munawar Shoaib , Khan Zeshan Aslam , Chaudhary Naveed Ishtiaq , Javaid Nadeem , Raja Muhammad Asif Zahoor , Milyani Ahmad H. , Azhari Abdullah Ahmed
Published: December 2022

Non-technical loss is a serious issue around the globe. Consumers manipulate their smart meter (SM) data to under-report their readings for financial benefit. Various manipulation techniques are used. This paper highlights novel false data injection (FDIs) techniques, which are used to manipulate the smart meter data. These techniques are introduced in comparison to six theft cases. Furthermore, various features are engineered to analyze the variance, complexity, and distribution of the manipulated data. The variance and complexity are created in data distribution when FDIs and theft cases are used to poison SM data, which is investigated through skewness and kurtosis analysis. Furthermore, to tackle the data imbalance issue, the proximity weighted synthetic oversampling (ProWsyn) technique is used. Moreover, a hybrid attentionLSTMInception is introduced, which is an integration of attention layers, LSTM, and inception blocks to tackle data dimensionality, misclassification, and high false positive rate issues. The proposed hybrid model outperforms the traditional theft detectors and achieves an accuracy of 0.95%, precision 0.97%, recall 0.94%, F1 score 0.96%, and area under-the-curve (AUC) score 0.98%.
Placental galectins regulate innate and adaptive immune responses in pregnancy
Authors: Oravecz Orsolya , Romero Roberto , Tóth Eszter , Kapitány Judit , Posta Máté , Gallo Dahiana M. , Rossi Simona W. , Tarca Adi L. , Erez Offer , Papp Zoltán , Matkó János , Than Nándor Gábor , Balogh Andrea
Published: December 2022

Introduction

Galectins are master regulators of maternal immune responses and placentation in pregnancy. Galectin-13 (gal-13) and galectin-14 (gal-14) are expressed solely by the placenta and contribute to maternal-fetal immune tolerance by inducing the apoptosis of activated T lymphocytes and the polarization of neutrophils toward an immune-regulatory phenotype.Furthermore, their decreased placental expression is associated with pregnancy complications, such as preeclampsia and miscarriage. Yet, our knowledge of the immunoregulatory role of placental galectins is incomplete.

Methods

This study aimed to investigate the effects of recombinant gal-13 and gal-14 on cell viability, apoptosis, and cytokine production of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and the signaling pathways involved.

Results

Herein, we show that gal-13 and gal-14 bind to the surface of non-activated PBMCs (monocytes, natural killer cells, B cells, and T cells) and increase their viability while decreasing the rate of their apoptosis without promoting cell proliferation. We also demonstrate that gal-13 and gal-14 induce the production of interleukin (IL)-8, IL-10, and interferon-gamma cytokines in a concentration-dependent manner in PBMCs. The parallel activation of Erk1/2, p38, and NF-ĸB signaling evidenced by kinase phosphorylation in PBMCs suggests the involvement of these pathways in the regulation of the galectin-affected immune cell functions.

Discussion

These findings provide further evidence on how placenta-specific galectins assist in the establishment and maintenance of a proper immune environment during a healthy pregnancy.
Critical Success Factors of Franchising Firms: A Study on Franchisors and Franchisees
Authors: Hizam-Hanafiah Mohd , Abdul Ghani Mohd Faizal , Mat Isa Rosmah , Abd Hamid Hamizah
Published: December 2022

The franchising sector demands a high level of assurance and commitment. This is because creating entrepreneurial value is at the core of any franchising strategy. However, little is understood about what causes franchised businesses’ critical success factors, particularly in developing nations like Malaysia. Hence, this study aims to identify the critical success factors in franchising business firms. The characteristics of franchisors and franchisees that can contribute to the franchise system’s success in Malaysia were discovered using a focus group method by inviting franchisors and franchisees who are already running their businesses. In addition, Perbadanan Nasional Berhad (PERNAS) and the Malaysian Franchise Association (MFA), together with academicians, were also invited as a part of the focus group discussion. The findings show that three critical success factors emerged from this study, the franchisor’s capability, interconnection with franchisees, and constant innovation. These three elements demonstrated that there is still room for a more significant expansion. Therefore, anyone considering joining a franchise should know it is an option. Additionally, this research helps produce a valuable model of the franchising business process that regulators, franchisors, and franchisees can use as a guide. Finally, this study also offers directions for further research.
Digital Mapping of Topsoil Texture Classes Using a Hybridized Classical Statistics–Artificial Neural Networks Approach and Relief Data
Authors: Mallah Sina , Delsouz Khaki Bahareh , Davatgar Naser , Poppiel Raul Roberto , Demattê José A. M.
Published: December 2022

The demand for high quality and low-cost spatial distribution information of soil texture classes (STCs) is of great necessity in developing countries. This paper explored digital mapping of topsoil STCs using soil fractions, terrain attributes and artificial neural network (ANN) algorithms. The 4493 soil samples covering 10 out of 12 STCs were collected from the rice fields of the Guilan Province of Northern Iran. Nearly 75% of the dataset was used to train the ANN algorithm and the remaining 25% to apply a repeated 10-fold cross-validation. Spatial prediction of soil texture fractions was carried out via geostatistics and then a pixel-based approach with an ANN algorithm was performed to predict STCs. The ANN presented reasonable accuracy in estimating USDA STCs with a kappa coefficient of 0.38 and pixel classification accuracy percentage of 52%. Hybridizing soil particles with relief covariates yielded better estimates for coarse- and medium-STCs. The results also showed that clay particle and terrain attributes are more important covariates than plant indices in areas under single crop cultivation. However, it is recommended to examine the approach in areas with diverse vegetation cover.
Embarrassingly Parallel Independent Training of Multi-Layer Perceptrons with Heterogeneous Architectures
Authors: Farias Felipe C. , Ludermir Teresa B. , Bastos-Filho Carmelo J. A.
Published: December 2022

In this paper we propose a procedure to enable the training of several independent Multilayer Perceptron Neural Networks with a different number of neurons and activation functions in parallel (ParallelMLPs) by exploring the principle of locality and parallelization capabilities of modern CPUs and GPUs. The core idea of this technique is to represent several sub-networks as a single large network and use a Modified Matrix Multiplication that replaces an ordinal matrix multiplication with two simple matrix operations that allow separate and independent paths for gradient flowing. We have assessed our algorithm in simulated datasets varying the number of samples, features and batches using 10,000 different models as well as in the MNIST dataset. We achieved a training speedup from 1 to 4 orders of magnitude if compared to the sequential approach. The code is available online.
Vascular Distribution and Expression Patterns of Angiogenic Factors in Caruncle during the Early Stage of Pregnancy in Goats (Capra hircus)
Authors: Wang Pan , Luo Nanjian , Zhao Le , Zhao Yongju
Published: December 2022

The placenta is a temporary maternal–fetal organ, and its maternal placenta (caruncle) is essential for fetal growth and development. The exchange function of the placenta requires vascular development (angiogenesis). However, the angiogenesis of the caruncle is poorly understood in goats during the early stage of pregnancy. Here, we investigated the vascular distribution, mRNA expression of major angiogenic factors, and the methylation levels of ANGPT2 in the goat caruncle. It showed that CAD (capillary area density), CSD (capillary surface density), and APC (area per capillary) increased gradually, while CND (capillary number density) showed an insignificant change, probably due to the variability between animals. The proportion of proliferating cells was observed to be very high (>26%) and increased (p < 0.002) approximately 2-fold from day 20 to 60 of pregnancy. Furthermore, the expression patterns of major angiogenic factors changed during the early stage of pregnancy. Interestingly, we discovered an absolute correlation between the mRNA for ANGPT2, TEK, FGF2, and vascular distribution. Subsequently, we evaluated the DNA methylation of ANGPT2, where we found that mean methylation was negatively correlated with CAD. The methylation at the CpG sites, such as CpG 4/18, CpG 9.10.11, and CpG 15, showed significant changes during the early stage of pregnancy. Thus, our findings suggest that the methylation of ANGPT2 may be involved in the regulation of caruncle angiogenesis during the early stage of pregnancy.
Mixed Models in Nonlinear Regression for Description of the Growth of Nelore Cattle
Authors: Júnior Raimundo Nonato Colares Camargo , Araújo Cláudio Vieira de , Silva Welligton Conceição da , Araújo Simone Inoe de , Lôbo Raysildo Barbosa , Nakabashi Lílian Roberta Matimoto , Castro Letícia Mendes de , Menezes Flávio Luiz , Maciel e Silva André Guimarães , Silva Lílian Kátia Ximenes , Silva Jamile Andréa Rodrigues da , Barbosa Antônio Vinicius Correa , Marques José Ribamar Felipe , Lourenço Júnior José de Brito
Published: December 2022

Body weight records were used to characterize the growth curve of Nelore cattle. Body weight was regressed as a function of age, for both sexes, by using nonlinear models through the functions of Brody, Gompertz, Logistic, Richards, Meloun 1, Von Bertalanffy, and Von Bertalanffy. The quality of the model arrangements was evaluated by employing Akaike and Bayesian Schwarz information criteria. The Brody function provided the best adaptations by the evaluators and, considering the asymptotic weight and the maturation rate as random, a reduction in residual variance of 79% for males and 83% for females was obtained in relation to the models under fixed contexts. In males, the absolute and relative growth rates ranged from 0.921 to 0.261 kg/day and 2.39 to 0.08%, respectively. For the same rates, under another approach, females ranged from 0.922 to 0.198 kg/day and 2.55 to 0.06%, respectively. Males showed greater growth acceleration at the beginning of the growth trajectory, being equal to females at 397 days of age and from that age onward they presented lower estimates. The nonlinear regression model approach under the mixed-models context allows reduction of residual variance, increasing model accuracy.
Surgical Description of Laparoscopic Ovum Pick-Up in Buffalo Calves
Authors: Sousa Alysson J. de O. , Gurgel Heytor J. , Coelho Paula S. A. , Silva Carla R. G. , Araújo Luiz H. V. , Nascimento Hamilton S. do , Rodrigues Izamara do S. R. , Pantoja Luciano C. , Cardoso Thiago da S. , Silva Maykon D. , Torres Ana Carolina C. , Teixeira Pedro Paulo M. , Miranda Moysés dos S.
Published: December 2022

The technique of laparoscopic oocyte aspiration has been increasingly used in animals; however, there are few records of its use in buffaloes. To describe this technique, six suckling Murrah buffaloes aged between 3 and 5 months were used. Three laparoscopic ovum pick-ups were performed in each animal, with intervals of 15 days between surgeries, completing a total of 18 procedures. The technique used three surgical ports with optics and a high-definition video camera. The introduction of the first portal and insufflation of the abdomen was performed through the open technique, with aspiration using a 20 G needle transabdominally and a vacuum pump calibrated at 50 mmHg. The mean complete surgical time from anesthesia to the removal of the animal from the litter was 49 ± 9.8 min. There were 27.8% cases of insufflation on the wrong side of the omentum. The oocyte recovery rate of 60.3% remained within the normal range. However, the rate of viable oocytes recovered was low, with only 40.8% of those recovered undergoing in vitro embryo production (IVEP). These data demonstrate that this simple, minimally invasive technique is an excellent reproductive tool for the genetic improvement of buffalo species.
Residue Depletion of Imidocarb in Bovine Tissues by UPLC-MS/MS
Authors: Tang Yaoxin , Yu Na , Liu Chunshuang , Han Mingyue , Wang Honglei , Chen Xiaojie , Kang Jijun , Li Xiubo , Liu Yiming
Published: December 2022

In this study, an ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) method was developed for the residue depletion of imidocarb (IMD) in bovine tissues, and the drug withdrawal time of IMD was determined. Twenty-five clinically healthy cattle (body weight 300 kg ± 15 kg) were randomly divided into five groups of five cattle each. The cattle were treated subcutaneously injecting a single dose of a generic IMD formulation, at the recommended dosage of 3.0 mg/kg. The five groups of cattle were slaughtered respectively at 96, 160, 198, 213, and 228 days after IMD administration. Samples from the liver, kidney, muscle, fat, and injection site were collected from each animal. After subtilis proteinase was used to digest the tissue, the content of IMD in the samples was analyzed by UPLC-MS/MS method. In conclusion, the method validation results showed that the method meets the criteria, and the longest withdrawal time of 224 days for the liver can be selected as the conclusive withdrawal time to guarantee consumer safety.
Dinosaurs: Comparative Cytogenomics of Their Reptile Cousins and Avian Descendants
Authors: Griffin Darren K. , Larkin Denis M. , O’Connor Rebecca E. , Romanov Michael N.
Published: December 2022

Reptiles known as dinosaurs pervade scientific and popular culture, while interest in their genomics has increased since the 1990s. Birds (part of the crown group Reptilia) are living theropod dinosaurs. Chromosome-level genome assemblies cannot be made from long-extinct biological material, but dinosaur genome organization can be inferred through comparative genomics of related extant species. Most reptiles apart from crocodilians have both macro- and microchromosomes; comparative genomics involving molecular cytogenetics and bioinformatics has established chromosomal relationships between many species. The capacity of dinosaurs to survive multiple extinction events is now well established, and birds now have more species in comparison with any other terrestrial vertebrate. This may be due, in part, to their karyotypic features, including a distinctive karyotype of around n = 40 (~10 macro and 30 microchromosomes). Similarity in genome organization in distantly related species suggests that the common avian ancestor had a similar karyotype to e.g., the chicken/emu/zebra finch. The close karyotypic similarity to the soft-shelled turtle (n = 33) suggests that this basic pattern was mostly established before the Testudine–Archosaur divergence, ~255 MYA. That is, dinosaurs most likely had similar karyotypes and their extensive phenotypic variation may have been mediated by increased random chromosome segregation and genetic recombination, which is inherently higher in karyotypes with more and smaller chromosomes.
The Impact of Heat Stress on Immune Status of Dairy Cattle and Strategies to Ameliorate the Negative Effects
Authors: Gupta Shruti , Sharma Arvind , Joy Aleena , Dunshea Frank Rowland , Chauhan Surinder Singh
Published: December 2022

Heat stress (HS) is well known to influence animal health and livestock productivity negatively. Heat stress is a multi-billion-dollar global problem. It impairs animal performance during summer when animals are exposed to high ambient temperatures, direct and indirect solar radiations, and humidity. While significant developments have been achieved over the last few decades to mitigate the negative impact of HS, such as physical modification of the environment to protect the animals from direct heat, HS remains a significant challenge for the dairy industry compromising dairy cattle health and welfare. In such a scenario, it is essential to have a thorough understanding of how the immune system of dairy cattle responds to HS and identify the variable responses among the animals. This understanding could help to identify heat-resilient dairy animals for breeding and may lead to the development of climate resilient breeds in the future to support sustainable dairy cattle production. There are sufficient data demonstrating the impact of increased temperature and humidity on endocrine responses to HS in dairy cattle, especially changes in concentration of hormones like prolactin and cortisol, which also provide an indication of the likely im-pact on the immune system. In this paper, we review the recent research on the impact of HS on immunity of calves during early life to adult lactating and dry cows. Additionally, different strategies for amelioration of negative effects of HS have been presented.
Effect of Using Faba Bean and/or Italian Ryegrass in Total Mixed Rations to Dairy Cows
Authors: Baizán Silvia , Martínez-Fernández Adela , Vicente Fernando
Published: December 2022

The livestock sector must find solutions to reduce the feeding costs and meet the challenge for a more sustainable production system in line with the European Green Deal requirements. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of including legume silage on voluntary intake in dairy cows, milk production, and composition. Three total mixed rations (TMR) based on faba bean (FB), Italian ryegrass (IR), or faba bean–Italian ryegrass intercrop (FBIR, 60:40) silages were used in feeding trials of dairy cows during two consecutive years. Nine Friesian cows were randomly allocated in three groups, following a 3 × 3 Latin square design with three diets for three periods. TMR were offered ad libitum in addition to eighteen hours of grazing daily and extra concentrate during milking. No differences were observed in dry matter intake. Diets did not affect milk production or composition, except for urea content, with a higher urea excretion in FB diet. Fatty acid profile was different in milk from cows feeding FB, with a significantly lower content of saturated fatty acids and a higher content of conjugated linoleic acid than milk produced with FBIR and IR diets.
Lower Urinary Tract Diseases in Guinea Pigs: A 14-Year Retrospective Study (2004–2018)
Authors: Azevedo Salomé , O’Malley Bairbre , Greene Claire , Moran Helena , Magalhães Tomás Rodrigues , Queiroga Felisbina Luísa
Published: December 2022

The clinical records of all guinea pigs diagnosed with a lower urinary tract disease in a single veterinary hospital, over a period of 14 years (2004–2018), were retrospectively searched in order to characterize this population and investigate the potential association between the epidemiological and clinical variables. A total of 117 clinical cases were identified, corresponding to 57 animals. Urolithiasis was the most common diagnosis (n = 52; 44.4%), followed by cystitis and/or a urinary tract infection (UTI). Several statistically significant associations (p < 0.05) were found between different variables, showing that female guinea pigs were more likely than the male ones to have a previous family history of urinary disease, to present dysuria and stranguria at admission, and to suffer recurrence. Moreover, males were more prone to urolithiasis and females to cystitis/UTI, and animals diagnosed with cystitis/UTI frequently had more clinical urinary signs and abdominal pain on palpation compared to those diagnosed with urolithiasis. Finally, the use of potassium citrate and the urethrotomy approach were associated with a better therapeutic response. Further studies are needed in larger populations of guinea pigs to confirm the present findings, especially as some of them were described for the first time.
Influence of Dietary Biosynthesized Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles on Broiler Zinc Uptake, Bone Quality, and Antioxidative Status
Authors: Mohd Yusof Hidayat , Abdul Rahman Nor’Aini , Mohamad Rosfarizan , Zaidan Uswatun Hasanah , Samsudin Anjas Asmara
Published: December 2022

A total of 180 broiler chickens (Cobb500) were randomly allotted to five experimental groups consisting of six replicates and six birds in each pen. Each group was fed a basal diet supplemented with 100 mg/kg ZnO (control) and 10, 40, 70, and 100 mg/kg ZnO NPs for 35 days. Resultantly, Zn uptake and accumulation in serum, breast muscle, tibia bone, and liver were linearly and significantly (p < 0.05) increased with increasing dietary ZnO NPs supplementation at 100 mg/kg compared to the control group (dietary 100 mg/kg ZnO), implying effective absorption capacity of ZnO NPs. This was followed by lower Zn excretion in feces in broilers fed ZnO NPs compared to controls (p < 0.05). Furthermore, dietary ZnO NPs at 40, 70, and 100 mg/kg levels improved broiler tibia bone morphological traits, such as weight, length, and thickness. Similarly, tibia bone mineralization increased in broilers fed ZnO NPs at 100 mg/kg compared to the control (p < 0.05), as demonstrated by tibia ash, Zn, Ca, and P retention. Antioxidative status in serum and liver tissue was also increased in broilers fed dietary ZnO NPs at 70 and 100 mg/kg compared to the control (p < 0.05). In conclusion, dietary ZnO NPs increased Zn absorption in broiler chickens and had a positive influence on tibia bone development and antioxidative status in serum and liver tissue, with dietary ZnO NPs supplementation at 70 and 100 mg/kg showing the optimum effects.
NemoTrainer: Automated Conditioning for Stimulus-Directed Navigation and Decision Making in Free-Swimming Zebrafish
Authors: Singh Bishen J. , Zu Luciano , Summers Jacqueline , Asdjodi Saman , Glasgow Eric , Kanwal Jagmeet S.
Published: December 2022

Current methods for associative conditioning in animals involve human intervention that is labor intensive, stressful to animals, and introduces experimenter bias in the data. Here, we describe a simple apparatus and a flexible, microcontroller-based conditioning paradigm that minimizes human intervention. Our methodology exploits directed movement towards a target that depends on spatial working memory, including processing of sensory inputs, motivational drive, and attentional mechanisms. Within a stimulus-driven conditioning paradigm designed to train zebrafish, we present a localized pulse of light via LEDs and/or sounds via an underwater transducer. A webcam placed below a glass tank records fish-swimming behavior. For classical conditioning, animals simply associate a sound or light with an unconditioned stimulus, such as a small food reward presented at a fixed location, and swim towards that location to obtain a few grains of food dispensed automatically via a sensor-triggered, stepper motor. During operant conditioning, a fish must first approach a proximity sensor at a remote location and then swim to the reward location. For both types of conditioning, a timing-gated interrupt activates stepper motors via custom software embedded within a microcontroller (Arduino). “Ardulink”, a Java facility, implements Arduino-computer communication protocols. In this way, a Java-based user interface running on a host computer can provide full experimental control. Alternatively, a similar level of control is achieved via an Arduino script communicating with an event-driven application controller running on the host computer. Either approach can enable precise, multi-day scheduling of training, including timing, location, and intensity of stimulus parameters; and the feeder. Learning can be tracked by monitoring turning, location, response times, and directional swimming of individual fish. This facilitates the comparison of performance within and across a cohort of animals. Our scheduling and control software and apparatus (“NemoTrainer”) can be used to study multiple aspects of species–specific behaviors as well as the effects on them of various interventions.
PM10 Element Distribution and Environmental-Sanitary Risk Analysis in Two Italian Industrial Cities
Authors: Diana Aleandro , Bertinetti Stefano , Abollino Ornella , Giacomino Agnese , Buoso Sandro , Favilli Laura , Inaudi Paolo , Malandrino Mery
Published: December 2022

In this work, an evaluation of the air of two Italian industrial cities, Turin and Biella, has been performed to identify the main sources affecting its quality and to evaluate its evolution along 15 years. These two cities are placed at the border of the Po valley, one of the most polluted areas of Europe, and the automotive and textile industries have been their main economic sectors. The elemental analysis of the PM10 collected there in 2007 has been performed by ICP-MS and ICP-AES. The results identify the urban activities and the soil/road dust resuspension as the main sources of metals. Biella was overall less polluted in PM10 than Turin, probably because of its smaller size, its smaller traffic volume, and the lower number of industries. However, the limit value imposed by the European legislation for daily average PM10 mass concentration (50 μg m−3) was frequently exceeded in the collected samples: 22% and 50%, respectively for Biella and Turin. The concentration of specific toxic metals regulated by Italian legislation was never higher than the limit value for Cd (4 ng m−3) and Pb (0.5 μg m−3), whereas it was exceeded for Ni (20 ng m−3) in 22% of the samples from Turin and only in the 5% of those from Biella. In the same way, the risk analysis, performed using the target hazard quotient (THQ), calculated for children and adult populations, did not reveal warning values. Only for Cd in children were concerning values found (median THQ = 4.9). Element concentrations showed a seasonal trend, with higher values in November and December due to a combination of stable atmospheric conditions and strengthening of anthropic sources (e.g., combustion for heat generation). Finally, data concerning the amount of Cd, Ni, and Pb in the atmosphere provided by the regional agency for environmental protection (ARPA Piedmont) have been used to follow the evolution of these elements from 2007 to 2021 in the two cities. The data reveal a significant reduction of the concentrations of all considered metals in all the sites (higher than 50%), however maintaining the seasonal variability observed in PM10 samples of 2007, with higher concentrations during the cold months and lower concentrations during the summer.
Mapping Potential Soil Water Erosion and Flood Hazard Zones in the Yarlung Tsangpo River Basin, China
Authors: Chen Shan , Zhu Shaocheng , Wen Xin , Shao Huaiyong , He Chengjin , Qi Jiaguo , Lv Lingfeng , Han Longbin , Liu Shuhan
Published: December 2022

The ubiquity of soil water erosion in the Yarlung Tsangpo River Basin leads to a series of natural hazards, including landslides, debris flows and floods. In this study, the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation model (RUSLE) was used to quantify potential soil water erosion, while the Height Above Nearest Drainage model (HAND) was used to delimit potential flood hazard zones. Remote sensing and geographic information system technologies were employed to spatialize the results, which showed that the annual soil loss from water erosion was less than 1239 t ha−1 y−1. The total soil loss was estimated to be over 108 × 106 tons, of which about 13 × 106 tons (12.04% of the total) occurred from the agricultural land in the downstream valley. Soil erosion mapping was performed using six levels of soil erosion intensity and the effects of precipitation, land use/land cover and topography on soil erosion were revealed. Increases in precipitation and slope gradient significantly increased the soil loss rate, while the maximum rate of soil loss occurred from densely vegetated land, reaching 9.41 t ha−1 y−1, which was inconsistent with erosion preconceptions for this land type. This may be due to a combination of the region’s unique climate of high intensity rainfall and steep slopes. Flood hazard mapping showed that all regional cities were located in a flood hazard zone and that, within the total basin area (~258 × 105 ha), 9.84% (2,537,622 ha) was in a high flood occurrence area, with an additional 1.04% in aa vulnerable to moderate flood hazard area. Approximately 1.54% of the area was in a low flood risk area and 4.15% was in a very low flood risk area. The results of this study provide an initial identification of high-risk soil water erosion and flood hazard locations in the basin and provide a foundation upon which decision-makers can develop water and soil conservation and flood prevention policies.
Estimating Mean Wind Profiles Inside Realistic Urban Canopies
Authors: Wang Huanhuan , Furtak-Cole Eden , Ngan Keith
Published: December 2022

Mean wind profiles within a unit-aspect-ratio street canyon have been estimated by solving the three-dimensional Poisson equation for a set of discrete vortex sheets. The validity of this approach, which assumes inviscid vortex dynamics away from boundaries and a small nonlinear contribution to the growth of turbulent fluctuations, is tested for a series of idealised and realistic flows. In this paper, the effects of urban geometry on accuracy are examined with neutral flow over shallow, deep, asymmetric and realistic canyons, while thermal effects are investigated for a single street canyon and both bottom cooling and heating. The estimated mean profiles of the streamwise and spanwise velocity components show good agreement with reference profiles obtained from the large-eddy simulation: the canyon-averaged errors (e.g., normalised absolute errors around 1%) are of the same order of magnitude as those for the unit-aspect-ratio street canyon. It is argued that the approach generalises to more realistic flows because strong spatial localisation of the vorticity field is preserved. This work may be applied to high-resolution modelling of winds and pollutants, for which mean wind profiles are required, and fast statistical modelling, for which physically-based estimates can serve as initial guesses or substitutes for analytical models.
Improving Risk Projection and Mapping of Coastal Flood Hazards Caused by Typhoon-Induced Storm Surges and Extreme Sea Levels
Authors: Shen Yangshuo , Zhang Boen , Chue Cheuk Ying , Wang Shuo
Published: December 2022

Seawater inundation mapping plays a crucial role in climate change adaptation and flooding risk reduction for coastal low-lying areas. This study presents a new elevation model called the digital impermeable surface model (DISM) based on the topographical data acquired by unmanned aerial vehicle (UAVs) for improving seawater inundation mapping. The proposed DISM model, along with the bathtub model, was used to assess coastal vulnerability to flooding in significant tropical cyclone events in a low-lying region of Victoria Harbor in Hong Kong. The inundation simulations were evaluated based on the typhoon news and reports which indicated the actual storm surge flooding conditions. Our findings revealed that the proposed DISM obtains a higher accuracy than the existing digital elevation model (DEM) and the digital surface model (DSM) with a RMSE of 0.035 m. The DISM demonstrated a higher skill than the DEM and the DSM by better accounting for the water-repellent functionality of each geospatial feature and the water inflow under real-life conditions. The inundation simulations affirmed that at least 88.3% of the inundated areas could be recognized successfully in this newly-designed model. Our findings also revealed that accelerating sea level rise in Victoria Harbor may pose a flooding threat comparable to those induced by super typhoons by the end of the 21st century under two representative emission scenarios (RCP4.5 and RCP8.5). The seawater may overtop the existing protective measures and facilities, making it susceptible to flood-related hazards.