Core Team Research Articles

The Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative-4 (ADNI-4) Engagement Core: A culturally informed, community-engaged research (CI-CER) model to advance brain health equity.

The Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative-4 (ADNI-4) Engagement Core was launched to advance Alzheimer's disease (AD) and AD-related dementia (ADRD) health equity research in underrepresented populations (URPs). We describe our evidence-based, scalable culturally informed, community-engaged research (CI-CER) model and demonstrate its preliminary success in increasing URP enrollment. URPs include ethnoculturally minoritized, lower education (≤ 12 years), and rural populations. The CI-CER model includes: (1) culturally informed methodology (e.g., less restrictive inclusion/exclusion criteria, sociocultural measures, financial compensation, results disclosure, Spanish Language Capacity Workgroup) and (2) inclusive engagement methods (e.g., the Engagement Core team; Hub Sites; Community-Science Partnership Board). As of April 2024, 60% of ADNI-4 new in-clinic enrollees were from ethnoculturally or educationally URPs. This exceeds ADNI-4's≥50% URP representation goal for new enrollees but may not represent final enrollment. Findings show a CI-CER model increases URP enrollment in AD/ADRD clinical research and has important implications for clinical trials to advance health equity. The Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative-4 (ADNI-4) uses a culturally informed, community-engaged research (CI-CER) approach. The CI-CER approach is scalable and sustainable for broad, multisite implementation. ADNI-4 is currently exceeding its inclusion goals for underrepresented populations.

POSTOPERATIVE VISUAL fiELD DEfiCITS ARE NOT ASSOCIATED WITH REDUCTION IN QUALITY OF LIFE IN GLIOBLASTOMA PATIENTS

Abstract AIMS Preservation of functional integrity is a core goal of glioblastoma surgery. Visual field deficits can significantly impact quality of life and patient function. Both tumour and surgical effects may affect visual function in these patients. The objective of this Study was to evaluate the effect of visual field deficits on HRQoL in the preoperative and early postoperative period (prior to chemoradiotherapy). METHOD 48 patients with glioblastoma received preoperative, early postoperative (withon 1 week) and delayed postoperative testing (6 weeks) for visual function usinga combination of the OCS-Bridge neurocognitive screening tool and formal visual field testing. Patients also completed the EORTC QLQ C30 with BN-20 and VFQ-25 visual function questionaires at the same timepoints. Statistical tests were performed using R Statistical Software (v4.1.2; R Core Team 2021). RESULTS The proportion of patients with visual field deficits at preoperative, early postoperative and late early postoperative timepoints were 20 (41.7%), 28 (58.3%) and 24 (50%) respectively. Most patients without a preoperative deficit did not have an early 17/20 85% or late postoperative deficit 19/24 79.1%. The proportion of patients with deficits at early and late postoperative timepoints was significantly higher in patients with preoperative deficits compared to patients without preoperative deficits, (Chi square p = 0.004) and (p = 0.008) respectively. There was no significant differences between HRQoL measures between timepoints or between patients with deficits at any timepoint compared to patients without deficits. CONCLUSION Postoperative visual field deficits are related to preoperative tumour-effects rather than surgery. Patients can be counselled that while they do not recover following surgery, it is not associated with significant reductions in HRQoL. Patients with preoperative visual field deficits may be considered for resection without significant worry about the preservation of visual field function since these deficits do not recover postoperatively.

Effect of various levels of standardized ileal digestible branched-chain amino acids on lactating sow and litter performance.

Three hundred and sixty sows were used to investigate the effect of various dietary branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) levels on sow lactation and piglet growth performance. On day 112 ± 1.4 of gestation, sows were blocked by the parity group (P1, P2, P3+) and randomly assigned to 1 of 6 dietary treatments containing various levels of standardized ileal digestible (SID) Leu, Ile, and Val. The experimental diets were formulated to the desired levels of BCAA by replacing cornstarch in a basal diet with l-leucine, l-isoleucine, and l-valine. Dietary BCAA levels relative to SID Lys were 114% or 180% for Leu, 56% or 64% for Ile, and 64% or 120% for Val. Diets were formulated to be isocaloric (3.23 Mcal ME/kg) and met or exceeded all other NRC (2012) essential amino acid and vitamin and mineral recommendations. Sow body weight (BW) and backfat thickness were measured at the time of entry into the farrowing room and at weaning. Piglet litter weights were recorded after cross-fostering and weaning to calculate the litter growth rate. Data were analyzed using generalized linear mixed models with fixed effects of dietary treatment and parity group and a random effect of lactation group. The models were fit using R (v4.4.1; R Core Team, 2024). The sow and her litter were the experimental unit, and results were considered significant if P < 0.05. On average, sows nursed their litters for 21.3 d (P = 0.998). The mean parity by treatment ranged from 3.8 to 3.9 (P = 0.999). After farrowing, the mean sow BW was 220kg with a range between treatments of 216 to 222kg (P = 0.523). On average, sows gained 2.3% of their BW (P = 0.740) with an average daily feed intake of 8.74kg/d (P = 0.903). As expected, sow Leu, Ile, and Val intakes were different across treatments (P ≤ 0.001) and corresponded to the varying dietary levels of BCAA. Sows entered farrowing with an average backfat thickness of 11.50mm (P = 0.919) and lost 6.5% backfat through lactation (P = 0.880). Sows started the trial with an average of 14.1 piglets/sow (P = 0.967) and weaned 12.7 piglets/sow (P = 0.995) with a piglet ADG of 0.22kg/d (P = 0.280) and a daily litter growth rate of 2.90kg/d (P = 0.547). In conclusion, there was no evidence of an effect of the various leucine, isoleucine, and valine levels evaluated in this study on lactating sow and piglet performance.

Performance management in collaborations: exploring associations between distributed leadership and collective performance data use

ABSTRACT Performance management scholarship has focused on organizations, with less attention given to non-hierarchical collaborations that use performance practices. This research includes a relational perspective and argues that distributed leadership can foster groups’ collective use of performance data. Our analysis employs qualitative and quantitative data from a case study of community collaboratives formed to respond to the opioid epidemic in North Carolina. We find distributed leadership is positively associated with collective data use and discuss strategies that can be employed to activate this type of leadership, emphasizing the importance of core teams, distributed structures, formalization, key leaders, and job resources.

Improving Patient Wait Times on the First Day of Radiotherapy Treatment

Long wait times on starting day of radiotherapy (day 1) can cause dissatisfaction among both patients and healthcare providers. Reducing these wait times will decrease stress and decongest hospital facilities especially in current coronavirus disease 2019 times. A multidisciplinary core team was formed during the Stanford-India Collaborative Quality Improvement training to reduce the median wait times on day 1 of treatment from 6 to 4.5 hours (a 25% reduction). Several factors were identified on the fishbone diagram, and key causes were identified using a Pareto chart and action prioritization matrix. The Plan-Do-Study-Act Cycle strategy was undertaken for the identified interventions. The outcome measure was time from arrival at the hospital to entry into a treatment room. Data were obtained from time charts at various stations and electronic records. The secondary measures were visual analog scale (VAS) scores, 80th percentile wait times, and the day-2 delay percentage. The balancing measure was “new errors” due to interventions. The interventions included the completion of all administrative tasks not needing patients' presence on the day before day 1. Baseline data from 198 patients and postintervention data from 160 patients were compared and analyzed. The median wait time at baseline, which was 6 hours, was reduced to 4.2 hours. The VAS score showed 70.4, 67.7, and 71.9% satisfaction for the resident physician, therapists, and patients, respectively. The 80th percentile wait times reduced from 8 to 5.7 hours; and the day 2 starting rate decreased from 22.5 to 2.04%, with no new errors reported. Radiotherapy day 1 wait times can be safely decreased, leading to improved satisfaction among patients and healthcare providers, by utilizing classic quality improvement methods and tools.

Coordination in Dynamic Teams: Investigating a Learning–Productivity Trade-Off

The rapid growth in the use of teams and multiple team membership has led more organizations to structure work around dynamic teams, characterized by short lifespans and fluid membership boundaries. This approach to organizing work makes it difficult for teams to work efficiently or to support the learning and growth of members. Given the importance of productivity and learning, we ask how these processes can be supported in dynamic teams. We do so in a randomized controlled field experiment conducted with 91 teams in a teaching hospital, a context in which physician trainees must learn while providing patient care in dynamic teams of care providers. We randomly assigned physician teams, or “core” teams, to launch their work with an intervention focused either on internal coordination among the core team members or on external coordination with a changing cast of external contributors such as nurses and specialists. We measured resulting levels of internal and external coordination over teams’ week-long lifespans and observed that external coordination was associated with improved team efficiency, whereas internal coordination was associated with improved individual learning. Post hoc exploratory analysis suggested that individual learning was highest when teams achieved high levels of both internal and external coordination, and it was positively correlated with improvement in the team’s patients’ average length of hospital stay. We discuss the implications of the demonstrated causal effects of team launches, along with our exploratory findings, for the management of dynamic teams and the opportunities to mitigate potential trade-offs between learning and productivity. Supplemental Material: The online appendix is available at https://doi.org/10.1287/orsc.2022.16729 .

The influence of a coordination training model that uses various manipulative movements on futsal kick accuracy

Achieving precise kick accuracy and coordinated movements in futsal was essential for competitive success. This study aimed to evaluate the differences between various futsal training approaches that incorporated distinct coordination exercises involving manipulative movements, specifically assessing their impact on kick accuracy. A quasi-experimental design with a control group was employed, focusing on shooting skills within the futsal context. The population consisted of 70 members from the Universitas Muhammadiyah Kalimantan Timur (UMKT) futsal team, from which 40 players were purposively selected based on their participation duration of over six months and their tier status within the university's core teams. Participants were divided into two groups: one received static coordination training (control group), and the other underwent dynamic coordination training (experimental group), each comprising 20 players. The intervention spanned 18 sessions, including pre- and post-tests. Data were collected through a modified shooting kick test at the futsal goal, utilizing a point distribution system. Analysis revealed significant differences in kick performance between the two training methods, with dynamic coordination training yielding superior results (t-count = 3.010 t-table = 2.024). These findings indicated that dynamic coordination exercises were more effective than static ones in enhancing futsal kick accuracy. Future research should have considered expanding the population and sample size to include amateur players, introducing additional variables and diverse training methodologies, extending training duration and frequency, conducting long-term evaluations, measuring shooting technique quality, and employing quantitative research methods. By addressing these suggestions, subsequent studies could contribute more comprehensively to the understanding of effective training strategies in futsal.

Towards co-creating the praxis of teaching design from decolonial, intersectional and pluriversal approaches1

Across Oceania, design courses within the tertiary education sector remain entrenched in Eurocentric narratives and pedagogical approaches, which omit place-specific contexts, cultural histories, knowledges and diverse ways of designing, including those of First Nations. This concern drove the four authors to create the InterDesigning Network, a supra-institutional network that aims at connecting like-minded educators, practitioners and students. This article reflects on the results of the InterDesigning Network’s first symposium, titled Co-Creating the Praxis of Teaching Decolonial, Intersectional and Pluriversal Design and Histories. As the core team behind the network, we listened and learned from a panel formed by First Nations people that discussed Indigenous design practice, local protocols, connection to place and land, common struggles and ways of integrating Indigenous knowledges into contemporary design education. We also listened and were inspired by the insights shared by another panel made of diverse design educators who discussed how their positionalities and experiences inform their teaching practices. By reflecting on these insights as well as on the rationale behind the formation of a design educators’ network, this article offers actionable suggestions on how to disrupt the status quo for a more diverse and inclusive design education future.

Teamwork enhances patient experience: linking TEAM and Net Promoter Scores.

We previously described a 6-item teamwork index (TEAM) with a strong relationship to provider experience, lower burnout, and intent to stay. We now sought to determine whether (1) TEAM relates to higher patient Net Promoter Score (NPS, or likelihood of patient referring to the organization) and (2) teamwork mediates a provider experience-NPS relationship. A provider wellness survey was administered in the fall of 2019 in 6 care delivery organizations (CDOs) with patient NPS data. Measures included a validated burnout item, 6-item TEAM measure, provider experience metric, standard intent-to-stay question, and NPS data from 79,254 patients matched to CDO. Regression analyses modeled relationships among TEAM, provider experience, and NPS. Open-ended comments were reviewed to confirm patient NPS findings. There were 1386 provider respondents (53% physicians, 47% advanced practice clinicians, 58% female, 62% White, 58% in primary care; response rate, 55.7%). Median NPS was 83%. TEAM was associated with patient NPS greater than the median (53% with high TEAM and high NPS vs 44% with low TEAM and high NPS; P < .001), as was provider experience (52% vs 45%; P < .05). In regression analyses, patient NPS was strongly related to TEAM (adjusted OR, 1.41; 95% CI, 1.25-1.60; P < .001). The provider experience-patient NPS relationship was partly mediated by TEAM. Open-ended comments confirmed positive or negative sentiments related to NPS. Teamwork and provider experience relate to patient NPS, and the provider experience-NPS relationship appears to be mediated by teamwork.

Exploring opportunities for language immersion in the posthuman spectrum: lessons learned from digital agents

Purpose Technologically-enhanced language education has shifted from computer-assisted language learning (CALL) to mobile-assisted language learning (MALL), including the use of conversational digital agents, and more recently, towards the use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) large language model (LLM) programmes for language learning purposes. This paper aims to explore the interplay between such posthuman communication and posthumanist applied linguistics, and between digital agents and human agency in response to the increasing permeation of AI in life and learning. Design/methodology/approach A core team of four researchers investigated how digital agents could be leveraged to support immersive target language learning and practice, focusing specifically on the conversational AI that pervaded digitally-mediated communication prior to the release of generative AI. Each researcher engaged in a digital autoethnography using conversational agents found in the digital wilds to learn a target second language via digital immersion. Findings Through qualitative data analysis of autoethnographic narratives using NVIVO, four key thematic codes characterizing the learning journeys emerged: context, language learning, posthuman engagement and technological parameters. The posthuman learning experiences conflicted with the multisensory, embodied and embedded ethos of posthumanist applied linguistics, indicating that informed human pedagogical agency must crucially be exercised to benefit from the learning potential of posthuman agents. Interactions with conversational agents did provide small-scale, just-in-time learning opportunities, but these fell short of immersive learning. Originality/value The methodology and findings offer a unique and valuable lens on the language learning potential of emerging LLM-based generative agents that are rapidly infusing conversational practices.

Abstract B095: Evaluating the research experiences and outcomes of pre-pilot and pilot awardees of a U54 regional cancer partnership: Success, challenges, and solutions

Abstract Purpose: The Synergistic Partnership for Enhancing Equity in Cancer Health (SPEECH) is a regional, comprehensive cancer health disparity initiative jointly led by Temple University/Fox Chase Cancer Center and Hunter College (TUFCCC/HC). This partnership is supported by a U54 grant from the National Cancer Institute. In this study, we present the successes of the Pre-Pilot and Pilot Projects funded by the U54 Partnership Matched Fund. Additionally, we discuss the challenges encountered in the award process and propose solutions to enhance this process for current and future recipients. Background: One of the key components of SPEECH - the Synergistic Partnership for Enhancing Equity in Cancer Health - is to provide rigorous and robust multidisciplinary cancer disparities research education experiences and mentorship to graduate, post-doctoral, and junior faculty trainees in cancer and cancer health disparities research. So far, through the SPEECH U54 Partnership Matched Fund provided by the Partnership institutions, SPEECH has successfully funded a total of 63 studies, including 35 pre- pilot and 28 pilot projects. Methods: The Planning and Evaluation Core (PEC) team conducted virtual face-to-face interviews and surveys with open-ended questions with 8 awardees. We also connected video testimonials from the awardees. The main goal was to understand the awardees' experiences in applying for, implementing, and evaluating their projects funded under the U54 Partnership. Results: Preliminary results showed five areas of successes, including improved research skills, advanced career in cancer health disparities research, expanded professional network, foster a sense of belonging and scientific identity, and facilitating scientific collaboration and integration across disciplines and institutions. Specifically, awardees mentioned gaining experience with the grant writing process and transitioning to an independent investigator, encompassing tasks such as data collection and manuscript development, and research dissemination, which helped to expand their professional portfolio. Awardees also highlighted receiving mentorship that championed for career advancement and opportunities for professional awards. We also identified four main areas for improvement in the solicitation and implementation process of the awards. These include improving the comprehensibility of the application process, timelines, budget, and other outputs. We also identified the opportunity to augment the networking channels for mentors and collaborators of the SPEECH partnership. Conclusion: As we continue our interviews and surveys with additional awardees, we will analyze the qualitative data collected to identify how to improve the award mechanism for current and future cohorts. We plan to help facilitate the proper improvements and continue to re-evaluate the award process. Citation Format: Jade A. Truehart, Elisabeth Russell McKenzie, Cicely Johnson, Grace X Ma, SJ Dodd, Lin Zhu. Evaluating the research experiences and outcomes of pre-pilot and pilot awardees of a U54 regional cancer partnership: Success, challenges, and solutions [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 17th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2024 Sep 21-24; Los Angeles, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2024;33(9 Suppl):Abstract nr B095.

Evaluation of corn fermented protein (CFP) on the fecal microbiome of cats.

Co-products from the ethanol industry, such as distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS), can provide alternative protein sources for pet food. Corn fermented protein (CFP) is produced using post-fermentation technology to split the protein and yeast from fiber prior to drying. This results in a higher protein ingredient compared to DDGS, increasing its appeal for pet food. In addition, the substantial yeast component, at approximately 20-25%, may promote gut health through modulation of the microbiome and the production of short chain fatty acids. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine the effect of CFP on the fecal microbiome of cats. The four experimental diets included a control with no yeast (T1) and diets containing either 3.5% brewer's dried yeast (T2), 2.5% brewer's dried yeast plus 17.5% DDGS (T3), or 17.5% CFP (T4). All diets except T1 were formulated to contain 3.5% yeast. Diets were fed to adult cats (n = 11) in an incomplete 4 x 4 replicated Latin square design. Cats were adapted to diet for 9 days followed by a 5-d total fecal collection. During each collection period, fresh fecal samples from each cat were collected and stored at -80°C until analysis. Fresh fecal samples (n = 44) were analyzed by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Raw sequences were processed through Mothur (v.1.44.1). Community diversity was evaluated in R (v4.0.3, R Core Team, 2019). Relative abundance was analyzed within the 50 most abundant operational taxonomic units (OTU) using a mixed model of SAS (v9.4, SAS Institute, Inc., Cary, NC). Diet was the fixed effect and cat and period were random effects. Results were considered significant at P < 0.05. Alpha-diversity indices (Observed, Chao1, Shannon, Simpson) and beta-diversity metric (principal coordinate analysis) were similar for all treatments. Predominant phyla were Firmicutes (66%), Bacteroidetes (25%), Actinobacteria (8%), Proteobacteria (0.64%), and Desulfobacteria (0.54%). The relative abundance of Firmicutes and Actinobacteria was lower (P < 0.05) for T3 compared to T4 and T2, respectively. On a more specific phylogenic level, 17 genera resulted in differences (P < 0.05) among dietary treatments. Overall, this data indicates that compared to traditional yeast and distillers dried grains, CFP did not alter the overall diversity of the fecal microbiome of healthy adult cats over a 14-d period.

PSII-17 Effect of dietary β-mannanase supplementation on energy and nutrient utilization in diets fed to broiler chickens: A meta-analysis

Abstract Beta-mannan (β-mannan) is a polysaccharide composed of repeating units of mannose, galactose, and glucose. The increased amount of β-mannan is present in various plant protein sources such as soybean meal, palm kernel meal, copra meal, and guar meal. β-mannan is considered an antinutritional factor for non-ruminant animals. Endo-β-mannanase enzymes are endo-hydrolases that can cleave the internal glycosidic bonds of the mannan backbone. As a result, β-mannanase is used to break down β-mannan in animal feeds, thereby aiming to reduce its potential anti-nutritional effects. Previous research has demonstrated that dietary β-mannanase supplementation improves energy and nutrient utilization in broiler diets possibly by decreasing digesta viscosity in the gastrointestinal tract. However, results from previous studies have been inconsistent, mainly due to variable experimental conditions including animals, experimental design, and environment. Meta-analysis is a useful method to comprehensively evaluate and integrate various results from previous studies, thereby providing reliable and practical insights. Therefore, the objective of this study was to conduct the meta-analysis to evaluate the effect of dietary β-mannanase supplementation on digesta viscosity, and energy and nutrient utilization in diets for broiler chickens. Through an extensive literature search conducted on Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science, and Google Scholar between January 2003 and December 2023, we identified 10 eligible studies. The meta-analysis was performed using the “metafor” package in R software version 4.1.3. (R Core Team, 2023), and the standardized mean difference (SMD) and its 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated using the random effect model. The results revealed that dietary β-mannanase supplementation increased apparent total tract retention (ATTR) of dry matter (SMD = 1.84; 95% CI: 0.46 to 3.21; P = 0.016), gross energy (SMD = 2.16; 95% CI: 1.19 to 3.12; P = 0.001), and nitrogen-corrected apparent metabolizable energy (AMEn) in broiler diets (SMD = 3.38; 95% CI: 1.63 to 5.14; P = 0.002; Table 1). Moreover, dietary β-mannanase supplementation increased apparent ileal digestibility (AID) of gross energy (SMD = 6.65; 95% CI: 3.78 to 9.53; P = 0.002) and nitrogen (SMD = 1.41; 95% CI: 0.55 to 2.27; P = 0.006) in broiler diets (Figures 1 and 2). Finally, digesta viscosity (SMD = -3.35; 95% CI: -4.69 to -2.02; P &amp;lt; 0.001) in broiler chickens was decreased by dietary β-mannanase supplementation. In conclusion, the current meta-analysis indicates that dietary β-mannanase supplementation improves the overall utilization of energy and nutrients in diets with decreasing digesta viscosity in broiler chickens.

PSII-16 Effect of dietary β-mannanase on growth performance, immune organ weight, and intestinal morphology of broiler chickens: A meta-analysis

Abstract Beta-mannan (β-mannan) is commonly found in various feedstuffs and is well-recognized as an anti-nutritional factor for non-ruminant animals. In broiler chickens, dietary β-mannan is known to increase digesta viscosity, which is highly associated with decreased growth performance and intestinal health. Moreover, dietary β-mannan comprises surface components of various pathogens, which are recognized by innate immune systems, leading to an over-stimulation of immune system. This over-expression of immune system by dietary β-mannan is likely considered the reason for decreased performance and health in broiler chickens. One potential solution to mitigate this antinutritional effect of dietary β-mannan is the supplementation of exogenous β-mannanase in broiler diets. Previous studies have demonstrated that dietary supplementation of β-mannanase improves growth performance, immune responses, and intestinal morphology in broiler chickens by improving nutrient digestion and absorption in the gastrointestinal tract. However, existing research on the effect of dietary supplementation of β-mannanase has shown highly variable results, possibly due to large variations in experimental designs such as number of animals, animal genotype, experimental locations, and rearing conditions. Therefore, to obtain a comprehensive understanding of previously reported various results regarding the effect of dietary β-mannanase, it is necessary to integrate them into quantitative analysis through meta-analysis. Subsequently, the objective of this study was to conduct a meta-analysis summarizing the outcomes of the effect of dietary β-mannanase on growth performance, immune organ weight, and intestinal morphology of broiler chickens. A total of 27 eligible studies were identified through a comprehensive literature search conducted on Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science, and Google Scholar between January 2003 and December 2023. The meta-analysis was performed with the package “metafor” of the R software version 4.1.3. (R Core Team, 2023), and the standardized mean difference (SMD) and its 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated using the random effect model. The results indicated that dietary supplementation of β-mannanase increased body weight gain (SMD = 2.09; 95% CI: 0.77 to 3.41; P = 0.003) and decreased feed conversion ratio (SMD = -2.98; 95% CI: -4.21 to -1.75; P &amp;lt; 0.001) in broiler chickens (Table 1). Regarding intestinal morphology, dietary supplementation of β-mannanase increased jejunal villus height and crypt depth ratio (SMD = 2.07; 95% CI: 0.03 to 4.11; P = 0.048) and ileal villus height (SMD =2.06; 95% CI: 1.13 to 3.00; P = 0.002; Figure 1 and 2). Moreover, dietary supplementation of β-mannanase increased the relative spleen weight (SMD = 1.30; 95% CI: 0.25 to 2.36; P = 0.019) in broiler chickens. In conclusion, the current meta-analysis reveals that dietary supplementation of β-mannanase improves growth performance, intestinal morphology, and the relative spleen weight in broiler chickens.

PSLBII-5 Impacts of residual feed intake measured as a heifer in drylot on mature cows and calves grazing native pasture

Abstract Selection for feed efficiency is crucial for improving economic and environmental sustainability in beef cattle production. Residual feed intake (RFIfat) is a commonly used measure of feed efficiency and is determined in a drylot setting by calculating the difference between observed and expected dry matter intake (DMI), where expected feed intake is adjusted for metabolic body weight (BW), average daily gain (ADG) and body fatness. Lower RFIfat cattle are more efficient animals as they eat less than predicted for the same growth, body size and body fatness. Limited studies have been conducted evaluating the role of RFIfat on the subsequent performance of cow-calf pairs on native range. Kinsella Composite cows and calves (n = 120) grazed native pasture from July 11 to Sept 12 (summer) and from Sept 13 to Nov 2 (fall) of 2023 were included in this study. All dams had previously been evaluated for RFIfat as a heifer (8 to 12 mo of age) using the GrowSafe Feed Intake System (Vytelle, Canada). Cow and calf ADG were subjected to an analysis of covariance using lm function from stats R core package (R Core Team, 2024), with cow age (2 to 8 yr of age) as the fixed effect and RFIfat as the covariate, analyzing separately by season. An unbalanced Tukey HDS post-hoc were applied for age and p-values &amp;lt; 0.05 were considered significant. Weight gain was assessed on cows with an initial BW on pasture of 598.4 ± 68.4 kg, and 2 to 8 yr of age, and on calves having an initial on pasture BW of 106 ± 21.5 kg, and 65 ± 14 d of age. Cow age affected (P &amp;lt; 0.01) cow ADG during summer, with the youngest dams (2 yr old) gaining more weight than older animals (7 yr old; Figure 1A). No effect of RFIfat was found on cow weight gain during summer grazing. However, during fall grazing, RFIfat affected (P &amp;lt; 0.01) cow ADG (Figure 1B). Low-RFIfat cows (efficient) had increased weight gain during fall grazing as compared with high-RFIfat cows (inefficient: Figure 1B). Calf ADG was not affected (P &amp;gt; 0.1) by cow age, cow RFIfat and cow ADG during summer and fall. We conclude that cows with low RFIfat exhibited superior body weight gain, during fall grazing on native range when forage nutrient quality and quantity become limiting.

Estimating probability terms for the background presence of glass when considering activity in forensic casework

Coulson et al. [1] proposed methodology for the estimation of the P and S terms used in glass interpretation when assessing the value of the findings given activity level propositions. These terms arise in a model proposed by Evett [2], Evett and Buckleton [3], and are based on survey data. Specifically they proposed a model for estimating Pk, k = 0, 1, 2, … and Sn, n = 1, 2, where Pk is the probability of finding k distinct sources (or groups) of glass on a person of interest (POI), and Sn is the probability that the kth source consists of n fragments. In this article we make a number of extensions to the work of Coulson et al. [1]. Firstly we derive an estimate of the uncertainty in the parameter of the Coulson et al. model, and show how this may be used—for example, to compute an estimate of how the probabilities may vary or how to compare estimates resulting from different surveys. Secondly, we extend the model by allowing a more sensible modelling of the “excess” zeros (in the case of the P terms) and excess ones (in the case of the S terms). The methodology used to make these extensions relies on purely frequentist theory of estimation in keeping with the original work. A Bayesian approach to estimation will be the subject of future work. Additionally, we demonstrate the use of an R (R Core Team, [4]) package, called fitPS (Curran, [5]) which makes the methodology described in this article easy to implement in practice.

Development of research skills in medical undergraduates through mentored research project

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to develop research skills in undergraduate medical students through mentored student research projects in medical colleges in North India. Materials and Methods: This was an educational intervention study. This project was carried out at a medical college in north India. After obtaining ethical clearance from the IEC of our college, this project was carried out. A core team of 5 faculty members was formed. Forty students were enrolled for this project on a voluntary basis. The project involved mentors from multiple departments who had experience in carrying out research projects. A total of 13 faculty members were involved. The core team prepared a module for training undergraduate medical students in research skills. It was validated by the subject’s experts outside the medical college. The training program consisted of 20 classes followed by 10 assignments, during which the students completed their research projects. The students were divided into groups of four, and each group took on one project (a total of ten projects). The training methodology included lectures, individual work, and a plenary session. We planned the evaluation of this training by multiple means. The research projects were graded by three reviewers, who were the faculty members assigned to the task of reviewers. In the end, pre and post-retrospective feedback questionnaires were filled out by students. Results: All 40 students, working in ten groups, submitted their projects (ten projects). Among these research projects, there were seven descriptive studies, two observational studies, and one interventional study. The average self-rating (on a 10-point scale) of skills in conducting research projects by participants went from 3.8 in pre-training to 8.5 in post-training on the retrospective pre-post questionnaire. The average score (out of 90) on structured research project evaluation by two external experts was 58.5. As evident from the quantitative and qualitative data, the participants gained maximum skills in choosing an appropriate title for the project, choosing study participants, preparing a data collection tool, and dealing with ethical issues. About 62.5% of participants rated the overall quality of training as excellent, and 100% of students recommended continuing training for the next batches. Conclusion: Undergraduate students can be taught skills of performing research through research projects under mentorship, along with interactive sessions on research methodology.

Perinatal outcomes with a copper intrauterine device in situ after 28 gestational weeks: A retrospective study of sole center in southeast China.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the pregnancy outcomes with a copper intrauterine device (IUD) in situ after 28 gestational weeks and the association between pregnancy with copper IUDs and neonatal congenital malformations. This retrospective study had compared the singleton pregnancies with the copper IUDs in situ and without after 28 gestational weeks in 1 delivery center of southeast China. The main exposure was a copper IUD in uterine cavity with pregnancy. The pregnant outcomes as preterm birth, premature rupture of membranes, infections were observed and compared. We had also compared neonatal congenital malformations in 2 groups. The statistical analysis was carried out using R (version 4.0.4; R Development Core Team) statistical software. Association between IUD use or duration of IUD use and adverse pregnancy outcomes were estimated using logistic model. Two-tailed P value < .05 was deemed statistically significant. A total of 148 pregnant women were included in our study, 74 with copper IUDs in situ were categorized into case group and 74 without IUDs during pregnancy into control group. No significant difference of maternal age, BMI, birth weight and gender were observed between 2 groups. In case group, the rates of preterm premature rupture of membranes (37.8%) and spontaneous preterm birth (23.0%) were significantly high compared to control group. Odds ratios of premature rupture of membranes and spontaneous preterm birth were 2.86 and 5.22 respectively. Women of elder age (≥35 years) in case group were more likely to experience premature rupture of membranes. The rates of neonatal congenital malformation were 10.8% (8/74) in case group and 1.4% (1/74) in control group respectively. We had found that pregnancy with copper IUD in situ increased the risk of premature rupture of membranes and spontaneous preterm birth after 28 gestation weeks, the risk of spontaneous preterm birth increased 5.22 times. Pregnancy with IUD in situ may be at increased risk of infection and neonatal malformation.

Motivation to Run in One-Day Cricket

This paper presents a novel approach to identify an optimal coefficient for evaluating a player’s batting average, strike rate, and bowling average, aimed at achieving an optimal team score through dynamic modeling using a path integral method. Additionally, it introduces a new model for run dynamics, represented as a stochastic differential equation, which factors in the average weather conditions at the cricket ground, the specific weather conditions on the match day (including abrupt changes that may halt the game), total attendance, and home field advantage. An analysis of real data is been performed to validate the theoretical results.

Consistent predictive ability of prostate-specific antigen density prediction model for clinically significant prostate cancer across age strata.

Prebiopsy prostate-specific antigen density (PSAD) is a well-known predictor of clinically significant prostate cancer (csPCa). Since prostate-specific antigen(PSA) and prostate volume (PV) increase normally with aging, PSAD thresholds may vary. The purpose of the study was to determine if PSAD was predictive of csPCa in different age strata. We retrospectively reviewed our institutional database for patients who underwent multiparametricmagnetic resonance imaging (MRI) between January 2016 and December 2021. We included patients who had post-MRI prostate biopsies. Based on age, we divided our cohort into four subgroups (groups 1-4): <55, 55-64, 65-74, and ≥75 years old. PSAD accuracy was estimated by the area under the curve (AUC) as a predictive model for differentiating csPCa between the groups. CsPCa was defined as a Gleason Grade Group 2 or higher. Three different PSAD thresholds (0.1, 0.15, and 0.2) were tested across the groups for sensitivity, specificity, and positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value(NPV). Chi-square and analysis of variance tests were used for bivariate analysis. All analyswere completed using R 4.3 (R Core Team, 2023). Among 1913 patients, 883 (46.1%) had prostate biopsies. In groups 1, 2, 3, and 4, there were 62 (7%), 321 (36.4%), 404 (45.8%), and 96 (10.9%) patients, respectively. Median PSA was 5.6 (interquartile range 3.4-8.1), 6.2 (4.8-9), 6.8 (5.1-9.7), and 9 (5.6-13), respectively (p < 0.01). Median PV was 42.3 (30-62), 51 (36-77), 55.5 (38-85.9), and 59.3 (42-110) mL, respectively (p < 0.01). No difference was observed in median PSAD between age groups 1-4 (0.1 [0.07-0.16], 0.11 [0.08-0.18], 0.1 [0.07-0.19], and 0.1 [0.07-0.2]), respectively (p = 0.393). CsPCa was diagnosed in 241 (27.3%) patients, of which 10 (16.1%), 65 (20.2%), 121 (30%), and 45 (46.7%) were in groups 1-4, respectively (p < 0.001). For groups 1-4, the PSAD AUC for predicting csPCa was 0.75, 0.68, 0.71, and 0.74. While testing PSAD threshold of 0.15 across the different age groups (1-4), the PPV vs.NPV was 39.1 vs. 93.2, 33.6 vs. 87, 50.9 vs. 80.8, and 66.1 vs. 64.7, respectively. PSAD prediction model was found to be similar among different age groups. In young patients, PSAD had a high NPV but low PPV. With increasing age, the opposite trend was observed, likely due to higher disease prevalence. While PSAD thresholds may be less useful in older patients to rule out higher-grade prostate cancer, the clinical consequences of these diagnoses require a case-by-case evaluation.