Daily Samples Research Articles

Quantitative Analysis of NDMA in Drug Products: A Proposed High-Throughput Approach Using Headspace–SIFT-MS

Since the initial 2018 recall of angiotensin receptor blockers due to unacceptable levels of mutagenic N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) impurity, numerous drug products delivering diverse active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) have been recalled. Regulators and the industry are working together to understand and address this widescale problem. Conventional analysis of NDMA utilizes liquid or gas chromatography-based procedures that can involve complicated sample preparation and slow sample analysis. Selected ion flow tube mass spectrometry (SIFT-MS) analyses NDMA directly in the gas phase using soft chemical ionization, with an LOQ of 2 ng g−1. Through the novel application of the multiple headspace extraction (MHE) technique, NDMA was quantified directly and rapidly from the drug product without dissolution, at levels well below the regulatory acceptable intake of 96 ng day−1. A comparative analysis of recalled metformin using MHE-SIFT-MS and a conventional liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method showed good agreement. Use of the novel MHE-SIFT-MS approach may enable a wider screening of drug products to be conducted, since it provides around a three-fold increase in daily sample throughput.

Meaningfulness is a luxury? How daily meaningful work activities and financial resources influence daily meaning and purpose in life

Experiences in the workplace undoubtedly affect people’s lives, yet we know little about the role that financial resources play in the relationship between meaningful work and meaning in life. Furthermore, we do not know if daily fluctuations of work meaningfulness correspond to daily perceptions of meaning in life. In a study of married couples employing a daily experience sampling approach, we explore the role of prosocial and personal growth job characteristics in daily meaningful work and, by extension, in producing daily perceptions of meaning in life. We also examine the effect of financial resources on the relationship between meaningful work and meaning in life. Results illustrate that daily work meaningfulness facilitates greater daily life meaning but that having low financial resources attenuates the relationship between daily meaningful work and daily meaning in life. A post-hoc analysis examining the moderating influence of gender on the daily relationship between meaningful work and meaning in life was significant, suggesting that men derive more meaning in life from their work.

Application of Multivariate Regression and Artificial Neural Network Modelling for Prediction of Physicochemical Properties of Grape-Skin Compost.

The reusability of by-products in the food industry is consistent with sustainable and greener production; therefore, the aim of this paper was to evaluate the applicability of multiple linear regression (MLR), piecewise linear regression (PLR) and artificial neural network models (ANN) to the prediction of grape-skin compost's physicochemical properties (moisture, dry matter, organic matter, ash content, carbon content, nitrogen content, C/N ratio, total colour change of compost samples, pH, conductivity, total dissolved solids and total colour change of compost extract samples) during in-vessel composting based on the initial composting conditions (air-flow rate, moisture content and day of sampling). Based on the coefficient of determination for prediction, the adjusted coefficient of determination for calibration, the root-mean-square error of prediction (RMSEP), the standard error of prediction (SEP), the ratio of prediction to deviation (RPD) and the ratio of the error range (RER), it can be concluded that all developed MLR and PLR models are acceptable for process screening. Furthermore, the ANN model developed for predicting moisture and dry-matter content can be used for quality control (RER >11). The obtained results show the great potential of multivariate modelling for analysis of the physicochemical properties of compost during composting, confirming the high applicability of modelling in greener production processes.

NURSERY AREA FOR THE THREATENED GUIANA DOLPHIN, SOTALIA GUIANENSIS, ON THE NORTHEAST COAST OF BRAZIL

Cetacean calves are considered fragile and vulnerable, especially in the first year of life. To guarantee safety and increase the likelihood of survival, females with calves use habitats with unique characteristics, called nursery areas. In the present study, we investigated whether the Guiana dolphin Sotalia guianensis, considered a threatened species in Brazil, uses the Tibau do Sul Coastal Wildlife Reserve (REFAUTS) as a nursery area. We identified the Guiana dolphins through photographs and recorded the composition of the groups during the 41-day sampling period, between 2013 and 2019. We identified 17 adults/juveniles in the company of calves, five of which were recorded in three or more years of the study. The average size of the Guiana dolphin groups (mean±SE) was 2.4±0.08 individuals, ranging from 2 to 5 individuals (n = 98). Groups with calves were recorded in every year of the study and on 53.7% of the sampling days. A total of 35.8% of the Guiana dolphin groups had calves. These results suggest that REFAUTS is an important nursery area for Guiana dolphins on the Northeast coast of Brazil.

Can a gradual weaning and separation process reduce weaning distress in dam-reared dairy calves? A comparison with the 2-step method

The weaning and separation phase remains one of the biggest challenges for cow-calf-contact systems, but a gradual process that better mimics the naturally occurring reduction in milk intake has not yet been scientifically investigated. Therefore, the aim of our study was to compare behavioral and physiological indicators of distress in 3 mo-old dam-reared dairy calves (with previous full-time cow-calf contact) weaned and separated either via gradual reduction of contact time with the dam (GR, 1 week half day contact, 1 week morning contact, 1 week fence-line contact before complete separation, n = 18) or via 2-step weaning using a nose flap (NF, 2 weeks access to dam with a nose flap, 1 week fence-line contact before complete separation, n = 18). Behavior was recorded 1 week before (or for lying 3 weeks before) weaning start and during the 3 week weaning and separation period with direct observations on 4 d per week or via accelerometers (locomotor play, lying behavior). Blood and fecal samples were taken twice per week from weaning start until 3 weeks after weaning start. Calves were weighed weekly. Statistical analysis was conducted using (generalized) linear mixed models. Over the whole weaning and separation phase, NF calves showed a stronger decrease in the number of lying bouts, amount of locomotor play and average daily weight gains, as well as a higher increase in total mixed ration feeding time compared with GR calves, whereas GR calves vocalized more often and showed more searching behavior than NF calves. Also, the neutrophil:lymphocyte ratio of NF calves was elevated on d 3 after insertion of the nose flaps compared with baseline, but showed no change for GR calves on any sampling day. Overall, results point toward a favorable effect of a gradual weaning strategy on reduction of weaning and separation distress in dam-reared dairy calves, but the method requires further improvement from the protocol used in our study.

The Changing Role of Loop Diuretics in Heart Failure Management across the Last Century.

Congestion is the main therapeutic target of acute heart failure (HF) treatment, and loop diuretics (LDs) are widely used drugs for this purpose. Despite their extensive use, these agents remain largely understudied in terms of modality administration, treatment duration, and escalation dose for subjects responding poorly to therapy. LDs were initially investigated in several edematous statuses such as cirrhosis, nephrotic syndrome, and congestive HF and initially approved for the treatment of cardiogenic congestion in 1966. Despite the long history and the undoubted role in congestion management, the use of LDs in the acute phase is mostly based on the physician's experience, the oral amount chronically administered, and clinical decongestion response. Recent literature suggests monitoring diuretic activity by the evaluation of daily diuresis, weight loss, and sample urinary sodium assessment after early intravenous LD administration. More recently, the measurement of urinary sodium integrated with urinary and blood creatinine values and fluid status has been suggested as optimal marker to predict whole diuretic efficiency and to target the optimal dose. However, this method is not easily available in the chronic setting or in patients with recurrent hospitalization taking a high loop diuretic amount. Since high loop diuretic dose is related to diuretic resistance (DR) and poorer outcome, additional diuretics acting in different nephron sites are often required. Current sequential nephron blockade can stimulate diuresis by synergic mechanisms. This strategy is attempted in patients with poor response, revealing good results in the early period, but the effects of neuro-endocrine stimulation and electrolyte balance across long-term follow-up are still questioned. This paper reviews the historical course of loop diuretics and highlights the need for a universal approach based on clinical conditions, cardio-renal interactions, and HF phenotypes.

Benchmarking CRISPR-BP34 for point-of-care melioidosis detection in low-income and middle-income countries: a molecular diagnostics study

Melioidosis is a neglected but often fatal tropical disease. The disease has broad clinical manifestations, which makes diagnosis challenging and time consuming. To improve diagnosis, we aimed to evaluate the performance of the CRISPR-Cas12a system (CRISPR-BP34) to detect Burkholderia pseudomallei DNA across clinical specimens from patients suspected to have melioidosis. We conducted a prospective, observational cohort study of adult patients (aged ≥18 years) with melioidosis at Sunpasitthiprasong Hospital, a tertiary care hospital in Thailand. Participants were eligible for inclusion if they had culture-confirmed B pseudomallei infection from any clinical samples. Data were collected from patient clinical records and follow-up telephone calls. Routine clinical samples (blood, urine, respiratory secretion, pus, and other body fluids) were collected for culture. We documented time taken for diagnosis, and mortality at day 28 of follow-up. We also performed CRISPR-BP34 detection on clinical specimens collected from 330 patients with suspected melioidosis and compared its performance with the current gold-standard culture-based method. Discordant results were validated by three independent qualitative PCR tests. This study is registered with the Thai Clinical Trial Registry, TCTR20190322003. Between Oct 1, 2019, and Dec 31, 2022, 876 patients with culture-confirmed melioidosis were admitted or referred to Sunpasitthiprasong Hospital, 433 of whom were alive at diagnosis and were enrolled in this study. Median time from sample collection to diagnosis by culture was 4·0 days (IQR 3·0-5·0) among all patients with known survival status at day 28, which resulted in delayed treatment. 199 (23%) of 876 patients died before diagnosis and 114 (26%) of 433 patients in follow-up were treated, but died within 28 days of admission. To test the CRISPR-BP34 assay, we enrolled and collected clinical samples from 114 patients with melioidosis and 216patients without melioidosis between May 26 and Dec 31, 2022. Application of CRISPR-BP34 reduced the median sample-to-diagnosis time to 1·1 days (IQR 0·7-1·5) for blood samples, 2·3 h (IQR 2·3-2·4) for urine, and 3·3 h (3·1-3·4) for respiratory secretion, pus, and other body fluids. The overall sensitivity of CRISPR-BP34 was 93·0% (106 of 114 samples [95% CI 86·6-96·9]) compared with 66·7% (76 of 114 samples [57·2-75·2]) for culture. The overall specificity of CRISPR-BP34 was 96·8% (209 of 216 samples [95% CI 93·4-98·7]), compared with 100% (216 of 216 samples [98·3-100·0]) for culture. The sensitivity, specificity, speed, and window of clinical intervention offered by CRISPR-BP34 support its prospective use as a point-of-care diagnostic tool for melioidosis. Future development should be focused on scalability and cost reduction. Chiang Mai University Thailand and Wellcome Trust UK.

Molecular detection of SARS-CoV-2 and other respiratory viruses in saliva and classroom air: a two winters tale

ObjectivesTo compare the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 and other respiratory viruses in saliva and bioaerosols between two winters and to model the probability of virus detection in classroom air for different viruses. MethodsWe analysed saliva, air, and air cleaner filter samples from studies conducted in two Swiss secondary schools (students aged 14–17 years) over 7 weeks during the winters of 2021/22 and 2022/23. Two bioaerosol sampling devices and high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters from air cleaners were used to collect airborne virus particles in four classrooms. Daily bioaerosol samples were pooled for each sampling device before PCR analysis of a panel of 19 respiratory viruses and viral subtypes. The probability of detection of airborne viruses was modelled using an adjusted Bayesian logistic regression model. ResultsThree classes (58 students) participated in 2021/22, and two classes (38 students) in 2022/23. During winter 2021/22, SARS-CoV-2 dominated in saliva (19 of 21 positive samples) and bioaerosols (9 of 10). One year later, there were 50 positive saliva samples, mostly influenza B, rhinovirus, and adenovirus, and two positive bioaerosol samples, one rhinovirus and one adenovirus. The weekly probability of airborne detection was 34% (95% credible interval [CrI] 22–47%) for SARS-CoV-2 and 10% (95% CrI 5–16%) for other respiratory viruses. DiscussionThere was a distinct shift in the distribution of respiratory viruses from SARS-CoV-2 during the omicron wave to other respiratory viruses one year later. SARS-CoV-2 is more likely to be detected in the air than other endemic respiratory viruses, possibly reflecting differences in viral characteristics and the composition of virus-carrying particles that facilitate airborne long-range transmission.

Performance evaluation of grouted porous asphalt concrete

Abstract Semiflexible pavement (SFP) is considered a composite mixture, as it consists mainly of a porous asphalt mixture with high air voids grouted with highly flowed cementitious grout. Numerous benefits have been attributed to this technology, including exceptional slip resistance, a high static bearing capacity, and rutting resistance. In this study, two different types of semiflexible paving mix were produced by using two different types of grouting materials (GMs). There is a discrepancy between the compressive strengths of the two GMs used, as the compressive strength of the first mixture, which consisted of 96% cement and 4% silica fume (SF), was approximately twice the compressive strength of the second mixture, which consisted of 75% cement and 25% sand. The mechanical and durable properties of the two SFPs were studied, in addition to the effect of variation in the compressive strengths of the two GMs and their effect on the final performance of the pavement. The results of Marshall and rutting tests show that the SFP material exhibits good high-temperature stability. The effect of the variation in the compressive strength of the two mixtures was evident in the results of the tests compared with the sand mixture at a strength of 20.8 MPa, the SF at a strength of 48.1 MPa witnessed a 39.54% increase in the Marshall stability at 28-day curing age. Also, the composite material (CM) showed better rutting performance than traditional asphalt mixtures, which did not exceed 2 mm. The results of the indirect tensile strength (ITS) test showed a discrepancy between the two types of CM, as the ITS value of the grouting material of SF (GMSF) mixture increased by 14.91% compared with the grouting material of sand (GMSN) for the curing age of 28 days for unconditioned samples and by 20.22% for the conditioned samples for the same curing age, while the durability of two types of CM was measured by Cantabro abrasion loss and tensile strength ratio. The results were acceptable and within the specification limits. With a variation for the two types of CM, the GMSF mixture showed an increase in the value of Cantabro loss by 11.52% over the GMSN mixture for ageing samples and 6.59% for non-aging samples of 28 days of curing age.

UREA TREATMENT OF MATURE WHOLE-CROP CEREAL MIXTURES AS SALVAGE FORAGE FOR SMALL-SCALE DAIRY SYSTEMS IN THE DRY SEASON

<p><strong>Background:</strong> Forage from small-grain cereals is an option to diversify feeding strategies in small-scale dairy systems (SSDS), due to their short cycle and ample adaptation. Mixtures of cereal species may have synergic advantages; however, grazing or ensiling is not always possible due to climatic factors, so forage crops are left to mature and lose quality. Urea treatment of whole-crop mature cereal mixtures may be an option to salvage forage that could not be grazed or ensiled. <strong>Objective:</strong> To evaluate the performance of dairy cows fed urea-treated mature whole-crop forage mixtures of triticale (TRT), rye (RYE), and barley (BLY), in the dry season for SSDS. <strong>Methodology</strong>: Treatment mixtures were TRT+RYE, TRT-BLY, and RYE+BLY. Fully mature cereal mixture crops were treated with 4 - 6% granular urea (plus water) on a fresh basis. Forage variables were analysed with a split-plot design. Whole-crop forage yields were 3.4 ton/ha, with highest yields for RYE-BLY. Crude protein content increased two-fold in treated forages, and dry matter digestibility was moderate with a mean estimated ME content of 7.9 MJ ME/kg DM. Performance was evaluated by an on-farm 3x3 Latin square experimental design repeated 3 times with nine Holstein cows, experimental periods were 14 days, of which 10 days were for adaptation to feeding and 4 days for sampling. Cows were offered daily 9.0 kg DM of urea-treated forage; complemented with 4.4 kg DM of concentrate, day-grazing, and 1.5 kg of cut pasture. <strong>Results: </strong>There were no statistical differences (P>0.05) for any of the animal variables. Urea treatment of whole-crop mature cereal mixtures resulted in a complementary moderate quality salvage forage for the dry season. <strong>Implications:</strong> The present study is presented as an alternative when the crops are in a state of advanced maturation and it is intended to modify the nutritional quality of the forages. <strong>Conclusion:</strong> The use of urea can be an alternative to improve the nutritional quality of forages.</p>

Arboreal behaviour and habitat use in the Nationally Critical Kapitia skink (Oligosoma salmo)

The Kapitia skink (Oligosoma salmo) is only found on the west coast of the South Island, New Zealand. This critically endangered skink has a moderately prehensile tail that would be expected to contribute to an ability to climb as part of its natural history. However, its current only habitat, a highly modified pasture, lacks vegetation or natural structures that would promote arboreal behaviour. We conducted a pilot study investigating the behavioural activity of a captive, wild-born Kapitia skink at Auckland Zoo in 2020. Over 13 days (24 hours/day) of focal sampling climbing behaviour was observed for the first time in this species (8%, n=58/703 mins). The skink was most active in the middle of the day, especially in fine, sunny weather. We suggest further investigations into the range of habitat use for this species. This study supports the importance of exploring potential habitat types beyond what we typically assume as the ideal habitat type (based on its source location) for an organism.

Ongoing confirmation of an objective criterion predicting annoyance linked to wind turbines

The 2023 CAA Acoustics Week in Canada introduced a criterion based on an objective acoustic measure to predict annoyance subjectively identified by residents living in the vicinity of wind turbines. That evidence was gathered primarily at a site near constant speed, stall regulated wind turbines. This paper presents subsequent investigations confirming that the criterion is also effective at a site with variable speed pitch regulated wind turbines. The results arise from the analysis of over 400 days of sampling at a site 787 m from the nearest wind turbine, with 18 turbines within 3 km. Verification of the study data was shown by comparison to data collected by an acoustic contractor employed by the provincial Ministry of the Environment. That data was collected through over 70 recording periods to analyze times residents at the site identified annoyance during a Ministry audit. These samples were obtained through a Freedom of Information request purchase. Analysis of the samples confirms the annoyance criterion identified at the CAA 2023 conference applies also for a different turbine type to objectively predict the annoyance subjectively identified by residents. The implications of this confirmation will be discussed.

Caprine whole blood appears sufficiently stable after 21 days in storage to be suitable for transfusion.

The objective of this study was to determine hematologic changes of stored caprine whole blood in citrate phosphate dextrose adenine solution over a 28-day period. Ten 250-mL bags of whole blood were collected from 10 female Boer goats from Louisiana State University's Division of Laboratory Animal Medicine herd. 10 healthy blood donor goats were selected, and 250 mL of whole blood was drawn from each and stored at 2.78 °C. At the time of collection and every 7 days for a total of 28 days, samples were obtained from the blood bags to determine biochemical and hematologic values of collected blood. Only 5 of the 10 donors had baseline blood bag samples obtained for biochemical evaluation on day 0. At the end of 28 days, the remaining blood was submitted for aerobic and anaerobic culture. Blood values remained within suitable limits for transfusion and below 1% hemolysis for up to 21 days in most samples. Packed cell volume did not change significantly from day 0 to day 28. Lactate significantly increased over the 28 days, though not as dramatically as expected on the basis of other blood storage studies. pH decreased due to anticoagulant acidity but did not drop below 7. Cultures were negative on all blood bags. Changes over time are similar to that in other species, and caprine blood appears biochemically and hematologically stable for up to 21 days in storage. In vivo trials are needed for safety and efficacy.

Optimism as a key factor in coping with the common cold

ObjectiveThe optimism trait is considered one of the most important psychological factors in protecting and promoting health. This study aims to investigate whether trait optimism may help to cope better with the common cold by reducing the subjective perception of cold symptoms and affecting the immune response. MethodsTo do so, 212 volunteers from the Pittsburg Cold Study 3 within the Common Cold Project were exposed to Rhinovirus (RV39). On the 5 days following the inoculation, a daily symptoms scale, nasal wash, and blood samples were collected to assess Jackson Symptoms (nasal congestion, sneezing, runny nose, sore throat, cough, headache, chills, and malaise) and control the Immune System response to infection (concentrations of interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and interferon (IFN)-α). ResultsResults showed that approximately 30% of the inoculated participants were finally diagnosed with a common cold, showing higher Jackson Symptom severity and Immune System Response (IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, TNFα and IFNα). Importantly, moderation regression analyses showed that higher optimism scores were related to lower Jackson Symptom severity and TNFα response to infection in cold-diagnosed participants. ConclusionsOur results provide important evidence for the protective role of optimism, a trait factor that promotes a better perception of wellbeing and less need for immune system resources to successfully cope with the common cold.

Influence of a 7-day Transalpine Trail Run on cardiac biomarkers and myocardial function.

Intense physical exercise is known to increase cardiac biomarkers; however, it is unclear, whether this phenomenon is physiological, or if it indicates myocardial tissue injury. The aim of our study was to investigate the effects of seven consecutive days of excessive endurance exercise on continuous assessment of cardiac biomarkers, function, and tissue injury. During a 7-day trail-running competition (Transalpine Run, distance 267.4 km, altitude ascent/descent 15556/14450 m), daily blood samples were obtained for cardiac biomarkers (hs-TnT, NT-proBNP, and suppression of tumorigenicity-2 protein (ST2)) at baseline, after each stage and 24-48 h post-race. In addition, echocardiography was performed every second day, cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) before (n = 7) and after (n = 16) the race. Twelve (eight males) out of 17 healthy athletes finished all seven stages (average total finish time: 43 ± 8 h). Only NT-proBNP increased significantly (3.6-fold, p = 0.009) during the first stage and continued to increase during the race. Hs-TnT revealed an incremental trend during the first day (2.7-fold increase, p = 0.098) and remained within the pathological range throughout the race. ST2 levels did not change during the race. All cardiac biomarkers completely returned to physiological levels post-race. NT-proBNP kinetics correlated significantly with mild transient reductions in right ventricular function (assessed by TAPSE, tricuspid annular plane systolic function; r = -0.716; p = 0.014). No significant echocardiographic changes in LV dimensions, LV function, or relevant alterations in CMR were observed post-race. In summary, this study shows that prolonged, repetitive, high-volume exercise induced a transient, significant increase in NT-proBNP associated with right ventricular dysfunction without corresponding left ventricular functional or structural impairment.

Does interpersonal emotion regulation effort pay off?

Interpersonal emotion regulation shapes people's emotional and relational experiences. Yet, researchers know little about the regulation processes that influence these outcomes. Recent works in the intrapersonal emotion regulation space suggest that motivational strength, or effort, people invest in regulation might be the answer. We applied this motivated approach for the first time in the interpersonal space-looking at both intrinsic and extrinsic forms of interpersonal emotion regulation-in order to identify the potential emotional and relational outcomes of putting effort into regulating one's own emotions through others, and regulating others' emotions. In daily diary (N = 171) and experience sampling (N = 239) studies, we examined participants' interpersonal emotion regulation behaviors and socioemotional experiences in everyday social interactions over the course of 1 week. These methods allowed us to examine effort at both momentary and person levels. We found that people who habitually put in more intrinsic effort to feel better through others felt worse overall. People also felt worse on occasions when they put in more effort to extrinsically help others feel better, although at the person level extrinsic effort was associated with higher interaction quality. Together, our findings suggest that interpersonal emotion regulation success is not simply a matter of trying hard. This observation opens new research avenues to investigate the interplay of different factors that determine when, and for whom, investing effort in interpersonal emotion regulation pays off. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

Exploring transformer fault detection using RFID technology

Real-time monitoring and fault diagnosis of transformers are essential for the stable power system operation. This paper presents an RFID-based transformer fault feature extraction and classification algorithm. Experiments show that monitored current signals are stable while the temperature peak is 356°C. Hilbert decomposition reveals regular current and voltage patterns that can be used as fault indicators. Signal strength classification accuracy reached 80% . At rated load, the transformer temperature soared to 186°C, indicating overheating issues. The monitoring during a sample day showed that overload events were concentrated from 16:00-20:00, which required attention. The approach helps accurately identify transformer fault types from real-time RFID data for proactive maintenance. Compared to reactive repairs after failures, this not only improves employee productivity but also reduces costs. Based on customized RFID deployment, the algorithm contributes to the stability and economy of power infrastructure.

Duration of Zearalenone Exposure Has Implications on Health Parameters of Lactating Cows.

There is a limited research focus on evaluating the detrimental effects of prolonged zearalenone (ZEN) intake on dairy cows' health under controlled conditions. This experiment was conducted to evaluate whether the length of exposure to a ZEN-contaminated total mixed ration (TMR) at a level of 9.45 mg per day can negatively influence animal health parameters, such as milk composition, rumen and fecal fermentation, and the chewing activity of lactating dairy cows. For this experiment, we used 18 lactating Simmental cows that were fed a diet of 60% forage and 40% concentrate (on dry matter basis) for 26 consecutive days. The first 4 days were for adaptation prior to the first sampling day (day 0). The sampling events took place on day 0 (baseline) without ZEN, followed by day 1, day 7, day 14, and day 21 (with toxin). Dry matter intake (DMI) and ruminating chews per minute increased on the third week of ZEN inclusion; meanwhile, ruminating, eating, and drinking times were not affected. Most milk composition variables were also unaffected. Rumen fluid osmolality increased on day 21 and total short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) of ruminal fluid decreased on day 7. Fecal SCFA increased on day 21 and the acetate-to-propionate ratio increased from day 1 onwards, showing the influence of toxin intake. Animal health parameters, like heart rate, respiratory rate, and body temperature, were negatively influenced by ZEN intake, all increasing consistently on days 4 and 6, 9 and 12, and 16 and 18, respectively. The liver enzyme glutamate dehydrogenase decreased in response to ZEN intake on day 7. A total daily ZEN intake at the level of 9.45 mg did not show detrimental effects on DMI. Nevertheless, certain health parameters were negatively affected, including body temperature, respiratory rate, and heart rate, starting from the 7th day of ZEN intake, with additional signs of possible loss of water balance on the last sampling day.

Diurnal fuel moisture content variations of live and dead Calluna vegetation in a temperate peatland

The increasing frequency and severity of UK wildfires, attributed in part to the effects of climate change, highlights the critical role of fuel moisture content (FMC) of live and dead vegetation in shaping wildfire behaviour. However, current models used to assess wildfire danger do not perform well in shrub-type fuels such as Calluna vulgaris, requiring in part an improved understanding of fuel moisture dynamics on diurnal and seasonal scales. To this end, 554 samples of upper live Calluna canopy, live Calluna stems, upper dead Calluna canopy, dead Calluna stems, moss, litter and organic layer (top 5 cm of organic material above mineral soil) were sampled hourly between 10:00 and 18:00 on seven days from March-August. Using a novel statistical method for investigating diurnal patterns, we found distinctive diurnal and seasonal trends in FMC for all fuel layers. Notably, significant diurnal patterns were evident in dead Calluna across nearly all sampled months, while diurnal trends in live Calluna canopy were pronounced in March, June, and August, coinciding with the peak occurrence of UK wildfires. In addition, the moisture content of moss and litter was found to fluctuate above and below their relative ignition thresholds throughout the day on some sampling days. These findings underscore the impact of diurnal FMC variations on wildfire danger during early spring and late summer in Calluna dominated peatlands and the need to consider such fluctuations in management and fire suppression strategies.

Measurement of luteinizing hormone surge in vaginal discharge: a potential biomarker that enables simple, non-invasive prediction of the periovulatory period

BackgroundPredicting the periovulatory period is very important for conception. Current approaches to predicting the periovulatory period include monitoring of basal body temperature and urine luteinizing hormone (LH) concentration; however, these methods are time-consuming. Here, we examined the potential of using vaginal discharge (VD) as a non-invasive means of sample collection for determining the LH surge that indicates ovulation.MethodsUrine and VD samples were collected from 35 healthy women aged 20–39 years. VD samples were collected with panty liners to reduce the burden on participants. Daily first urine samples and used panty liners were collected from the 10th through 19th days of the menstrual cycle. Urine and VD LH (uLH and vLH) levels in the samples were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Measured vLH baseline and first surge values were analyzed using Student's t-test and ROC curves.ResultsSamples for a total of 55 menstrual cycles were collected. We used uLH surge to establish the date of ovulation. uLH surges were observed in 49 cycles, 34 of which had corresponding VD samples that qualified for measurement. Five cycles were excluded due to a lack of vLH data. In the remaining 29 cycles, the vLH surge appeared within the fertile window 90% of the time, and the sensitivity and specificity of the test were 86% and 83%, respectively.ConclusionsVD has potential for use as a sample for predicting the periovulatory period by measuring LH content.