Weight Deviation Research Articles

Reference Data for a Treadmill-Based Peak Oxygen Uptake (VO2peak) in Older Adults

Background: Although the level of cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) in older adults has been well documented, little evidence has been provided regarding sex- and age-specific reference standards. Therefore, the main purpose of the study was to examine objectively measured CRF in older adults based on sex and age. Methods: This observational study included 450 men (N = 170) and women (N = 280) aged ≥60 years with mean ± standard deviation (SD) for age (67.4 ± 5.4), height (165.7 ± 8.6 cm), weight (75.1 ± 13.3 kg) and body mass index (BMI, 27.1 ± 3.9 kg/m2). Participants performed an incremental exercise ramp test until exhaustion on a treadmill, and the outcome of CRF was presented as peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak) in milliliters per kilogram of body mass per minute (ml/kg/min). Results: Relative VO2peak values were 37.3 ± 7.1, 30.3 ± 6.6, 24.8 ± 5.4 and 21.7 ± 5.8 mL/kg/min for men aged 60–64 years, 65–69 years, 70–74 years and ≥75 years. For the same age groups in women, values were 30.5 ± 4.8, 27.1 ± 5.4, 22.4 ± 3.4 and 18.9 ± 4.7 mL/kg/min. Age-related declines were observed in both men and women (p < 0.001). In a sex–age interaction term, significant main effects occurred, where men in every age group exhibited higher VO2peak values, compared to women in the same age groups. Conclusions: This study shows that CRF needs to be assessed by considering sex and age as significant predictors. Thus, sex- and age-specific reference findings may serve as an avenue to monitor, track and compare between older adults of different nationalities.

A Filtered Embedded Weighted Compact Non‐Linear Scheme for Hyperbolic Conservation Law

ABSTRACTIn situations where a wide range of flow scales are involved, the non‐linear scheme should be capable of both shock capturing and low‐dissipation. Most of the existing Weighted Compact Non‐linear Schemes (WCNS) are too dissipative and incapable of achieving fourth‐order for the two smooth stencils located on the same side of a discontinuity due to the weight deviations and the defect of the weighting strategy. In this paper, a novel filtered embedded WCNS is introduced for complex flow simulations involving both shock and small‐scale structures. To overcome the above deficiency of existing WCNS, a pre‐discrete mapping function is proposed to filter the weight deviation out and amend the inappropriate weights to ideal weights in smooth regions. Meanwhile, the embedded process is also implemented by this function, which is utilized to improve the resolution of shock capturing in certain discontinuity distributions. The pre‐discrete mapping function is also extended to the WENO framework. The approximate‐dispersion‐relation analysis indicates that the scheme with the mapping function has lower dispersion and dissipation error than the WCNS‐JS, WCNS‐Z, and WCNS‐T schemes. Numerical results show that WCNS with the new non‐linear weights captures discontinuities sharply without obvious oscillation, has a higher resolution than other non‐linear schemes, and has an obvious advantage in capturing small‐scale structures.

Conceiving during the first postoperative year after bariatric surgery: a retrospective study of pregnancy outcomes

BackgroundAn increasing number of childbearing-aged women have undergone bariatric surgery (BS). Although pregnancy outcomes generally improve after BS, concern remains over the impact of rapid weight loss and the catabolic state that occurs soon after BS. At least a 12-month surgery-to-conception time (SCT) is recommended, though the reasoning behind this has been questioned. This retrospective study was conducted to compare post-BS pregnancies with SCTs of less (Group 1) or more (Group 2) than 12 months.MethodsThe Hospital Register and Finnish Medical Birth Register were queried for data on BS and subsequent pregnancies. The characteristics of women at surgery and maternal and newborn outcomes in post-BS pregnancies were collected.ResultsBetween 2010 and 2022, 113 women gave birth after BS. This included 17 and 96 patients in Groups 1 and 2. The mean SCTs were 8.0 ± 2.7 and 39.0 ± 24.3 months (p < 0.001), respectively. At BS, the characteristics of age (p = 0.316), weight (p = 0.718), body mass index (BMI) (p = 0.114) and surgical technique used (p = 0.648) were similar. During pregnancy, the mean age of Group 1 women was significantly lower (p = 0.005). With no difference in weight (p = 0.961) or BMI (p = 0.567), the incidence of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM, p = 0.039) was higher in Group 2. The mean gestational age at delivery (p = 0.206) and incidence rates of preterm (p = 0.645), post-term (p = 1.00) and caesarean deliveries (p = 1.00) in the groups were similar. A significantly higher incidence of delivery induction (p < 0.001 was detected in Group 2. The mean newborn weight in Group 1 was lower (p = 0.038), but the mean birth weight standard deviation (p = 0.883) and incidences of low birth weight (< 2500 g, p = 0.345) and small-for-gestational-age newborns (p = 0.469) were similar. The 1- (p = 0.191) and 5-min (p = 0.174) Apgar points in the groups were similar, and no associations between pregnancy outcomes and surgery technique were detected.ConclusionsThe outcome in pregnancies with an SCT 12 months, postponing pregnancy may not always improve pregnancy outcomes. Therefore, all risks should be weighed when counselling women regarding the optimal time of pregnancy after BS.

Development of a Low-Cost Automated Injection Molding Device for Sustainable Plastic Recycling and Circular Economy Applications

In response to the critical demand for innovative solutions to tackle plastic pollution, this research presents a low-cost, fully automated plastic injection molding system designed to convert waste into sustainable products. Constructed entirely from repurposed materials, the apparatus focuses on processing high-density polyethylene (HDPE) efficiently without hydraulic components, thereby enhancing eco-friendliness and accessibility. Performance evaluations identified an optimal molding temperature of 200 °C, yielding consistent products with a minimal weight deviation of 4.17%. The key operational parameters included a motor speed of 525 RPM, a gear ratio of 1:30, and an inverter frequency of 105 Hz. Further tests showed that processing temperatures of 210 °C and 220 °C, with injection times of 15 to 35 s, yielded optimal surface finish and complete filling. The surface finish, assessed through image intensity variation, had a low coefficient of variation (≤ 5%), while computer vision evaluation confirmed the full filling of all specimens in this range. A laser-based overflow detection system has minimized material waste, proving effective in small-scale, community recycling. This study underscores the potential of low-cost automated systems to advance the practices of circular economies and enhance localized plastic waste management. Future research will focus on automation, temperature precision, material adaptability, and emissions management.

Scheme Optimization of Artillery Based on Combination Weighting Approach

Abstract The system efficiency method can be used to evaluate and select from the multiple schemes in the demonstration and scheme design stage. Taking the multi-scheme optimization of a new type of equipment carrying artillery with different calibres as the demand, the using requirements and combat environment of artillery are analyzed, and the inherent capability evaluation system composed of shooting capability and destructive capability is constructed. Due to the great difference in the judgment of indicator weights by experts from different industries, the combination of subjective weighting approach and objective weighting approach is used to determine the weight of each indicator, and the multi scheme evaluation model of artillery firing is established. The evaluation results show as follows: when using subjective weighting approach alone, the scheme with comparative advantage can’t be picked out because of the prefer to the maximum effective range by experts; when using objective weighting approach alone, the sample data vary greatly from indicator of maximum firing rate, but the change of the indicator has no significant impact on the combat effect; and when using the combination weighting approach, the evaluation results can avoid not only the preference of experts, but also the deviation of weights from the actual demand caused by the large difference between sample data.

Optimising 3D printed medications for rare diseases: In-line mass uniformity testing in direct powder extrusion 3D printing

Biotinidase deficiency is a rare inherited disorder characterized by biotin metabolism issues, leading to neurological and cutaneous symptoms that can be alleviated through biotin administration. Three-dimensional (3D) printing (3DP) offers potential for personalized medicine production for rare diseases, due to its flexibility in designing dosage forms and controlling release profiles. For such point-of-care applications, rigorous quality control (QC) measures are essential to ensure precise dosing, optimal performance, and product safety, especially for low personalized doses in preclinical and clinical studies. In this work, we addressed QC challenges by integrating a precision balance into a direct powder extrusion pharmaceutical 3D printer (M3DIMAKER™) for real-time, in-line mass uniformity testing, a critical quality control step. Small and large capsule-shaped biotin printlets (3D printed tablets) for immediate- and extended-release were printed. The integrated balance monitored and registered each printlet’s weight, identifying any deviations from acceptable limits. While all large printlet batches met mass uniformity criteria, some small printlet batches exhibited weight deviations. In vitro release studies showed large immediate-release printlets releasing 82% of biotin within 45 min, compared to 100% for small immediate-release printlets. For extended-release formulations, 35% of the drug was released from small printlets, whereas 24% was released from large printlets at the same time point. The integration of process analytical technology tools in 3DP shows promise in enhancing QC and scalability of personalized dosing at the point-of-care, demonstrating successful integration of a balance into a direct powder extrusion 3D printer for in-line mass uniformity testing across different sizes of capsule-shaped printlets.

The effect of phenotyping, adult selection, and mating strategies on genetic gain and rate of inbreeding in black soldier fly breeding programs

BackgroundThe aim of this study was to compare genetic gain and rate of inbreeding for different mass selection breeding programs with the aim of increasing larval body weight (LBW) in black soldier flies. The breeding programs differed in: (1) sampling of individuals for phenotyping (either random over the whole population or a fixed number per full sib family), (2) selection of adult flies for breeding (based on an adult individual’s phenotype for LBW or random from larvae preselected based on LBW), and (3) mating strategy (mating in a group with unequal male contributions or controlled between two females and one male). In addition, the numbers of phenotyped and preselected larvae were varied. The sex of an individual was unknown during preselection and females had higher LBW, resulting in more females being preselected.ResultsSelecting adult flies based on their phenotype for LBW increased genetic gain by 0.06 genetic standard deviation units compared to randomly selecting from the preselected larvae. Fixing the number of phenotyped larvae per family increased the rate of inbreeding by 0.15 to 0.20% per generation. Controlled mating compared to group mating decreased the rate of inbreeding by 0.02 to 0.03% per generation. Phenotyping more than 4000 larvae resulted in a lack of preselected males due to the sexual dimorphism. Preselecting both too few and too many larvae could negatively impact genetic gain, depending on the breeding program.ConclusionsA mass selection breeding programs in which the adult fly is selected based on their larval phenotype, breeding animals mate in a group and sampling larvae for phenotyping at random over the whole population is recommended for black soldier flies, considering the positive effect on rates of genetic gain and inbreeding. The number of phenotyped and preselected larvae should be calculated based on the expected female weight deviation to ensure sufficient male and female candidates are selected.

Combinatorial algorithms for the minmax robust median subtree problem on tree networks with interval vertex weights

The typical median subtree problem on trees is to locate a (continuous) tree-shaped facility (the leaves of this facility are not necessary vertices) with a specified length to minimize the total weighted distance of all vertices to the new facility. In this paper, each vertex weight can be any value within an interval and the total deviation of weights is limited within a threshold. We want to find a subtree that minimizes the median function in the worst-case scenario. This is the so-called minmax robust median subtree problem on trees. In order to solve the problem, we first consider the minmax robust 1-median problem on trees and solve the problem in [Formula: see text] time. Then, the nestedness property is coined, i.e., any optimal subtree must contain a robust 1-median in the tree. Based on this property, we develop a greedy algorithm that solves the corresponding problem in [Formula: see text] time.

Improving adaptive noise reduction performance of body sound auscultation through linear preprocessing

Adaptive filtering methods based on least-mean-square (LMS) error criterion have been commonly used in auscultation to reduce ambient noise. For non-Gaussian signals containing pulse components, such methods are prone to weights misalignment. Unlike the commonly used variable step-size methods, this paper introduced linear preprocessing to address this issue. The role of linear preprocessing in improving the denoising performance of the normalized least-mean-square (NLMS) adaptive filtering algorithm was analyzed. It was shown that, the steady-state mean square weight deviation of the NLMS adaptive filter was proportional to the variance of the body sounds and inversely proportional to the variance of the ambient noise signals in the secondary channel. Preprocessing with properly set parameters could suppress the spikes of body sounds, and decrease the variance and the power spectral density of the body sounds, without significantly reducing or even with increasing the variance and the power spectral density of the ambient noise signals in the secondary channel. As a result, the preprocessing could reduce weights misalignment, and correspondingly, significantly improve the performance of ambient-noise reduction. Finally, a case of heart-sound auscultation was given to demonstrate how to design the preprocessing and how the preprocessing improved the ambient-noise reduction performance. The results can guide the design of adaptive denoising algorithms for body sound auscultation.

Gestational weight gain and body mass index in Asian Indian women: Impact of timing and amount on fetomaternal outcomes

ABSTRACT Background: The aim of the study was to describe pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI), total gestational weight gain (TGWG), and trimester-specific gestational weight gain (TSGWG) among Asian Indians and examine their association with adverse fetomaternal outcomes (AFMO). Methods: Using a prospective cohort study design, 557 pregnant women were recruited in the first trimester and followed up until delivery. Maternal BMI, TGWG and TSGWG were assessed and categorised according to the World Health Organisation (WHO) Asia Pacific BMI guidelines and the Institute of Medicine (IOM) recommendations, respectively. Maternal clinical characteristics and pregnancy and neonatal outcomes were assessed to predict AFMO. Logistic regression models in univariate and multivariate analysis were performed to estimate the odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). Results: The median BMI was 23.5 kg/m2. Moreover, 24.6% were overweight and 31.2% were obese, according to WHO Asia Pacific BMI cut points. The mean TGWG was 10.8 ± 1.9 kg and the mean TSGWG in the first, second and third trimesters were 1.7 ± 0.7 kg, 4.3 ± 1.1 kg and 4.8 ± 1.2 kg, respectively. We found a significant association of BMI, TGWG and TSGWG with various AFMO. Furthermore, excess third-trimester GWG has been demonstrated as a predictor of adverse maternal outcomes like hypertension and gestational diabetes mellitus. Conclusions: Our study reinforces the importance of optimal BMI and TGWG and further emphasises on assessment of TSGWG, which allows for early diagnosis of weight deviations, when prompt interventions can still improve pregnancy outcomes. We also suggest the adoption of BMI categories and GWG recommendations, specific to the socio-demographic characteristics of the population, to optimise the prevention, early diagnosis, and timely management of AFMO.

217 Effect of within-litter competition on lamb survivability

Abstract The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of lamb and littermate competition on lamb survivability to weaning. Litter sex composition and litter birth weight variation were the primary considerations for influencing competition. Records from maternal dual-purpose (Polypay, Rambouillet, and Targhee) and terminal breeds [Suffolk and Paternal Composite (PC; 3/8 Columbia, 3/8 Suffolk, 1/4 Texel)] were used, with 18,654 single and 56,324 twin records from all breeds and 11,082 triplet records from the 3 maternal breeds. Records were reported from 1980 to 2023, except for the PC, which began inter se mating in 2009. Lamb survivability to 90 d was analyzed using a Bayesian logistic regression model with the logit link function. Lamb survivability was assumed binomially distributed and influenced by age of dam, birth year, lamb sex, and sex of littermates as fixed effects. The relationship among littermates was also accounted for. Least squares means were transformed from the log odds scale to the probability scale. Birth weight was assumed normally distributed and influenced by the same fixed effects as lamb survival and was analyzed using a linear mixed model. Lamb survivability was also analyzed using the same model described above but including mean litter weight and individual birth weight deviation as linear covariates. Accounting for mean litter birth weight and individual birth weight deviation removed the birth weight differences between the sexes, leaving only true sex differences between lambs for survivability. For single births, females tended to have greater survivability than males when adjusted for birth weight for all breeds but was only significant (P &amp;lt; 0.05) for Rambouillet and Targhee. For maternal breeds, females in twin litters had significantly greater survivability (P &amp;lt; 0.05) than their male counterparts when adjusted for birth weight; differences in terminal breeds were not significant (Table 1). Males in twin litters had heavier birth weights than females (P &amp;lt; 0.05) for all breeds. Triplet born females for all litter-sex combinations had significantly higher survival than males (P &amp;lt; 0.05) for Polypay when adjusted for birth weight. Females in female-female-male (FFM) litters had 76.4% survival versus 58.9% for males while females in female-male-male (FMM) litters had 75.9% versus 66.7% for males. When lamb survivability was adjusted for birth weight, Rambouillet females in FFM litters had 72.2% survival compared with 59.9% for males (P &amp;lt; 0.05) and females in FMM litters had 73.0% survival compared with 63.8% for males. Similar significant differences were observed for FFM and FMM Targhee litters. This study suggests lamb performance is influenced by its littermate(s). Changes in postnatal management of mixed-sex litters may benefit overall lamb survival. USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

6-Substituted benzo[d]thiazole linked 2-(2-(bis (1H-benzo[d]imidazol-2-yl) methylene) hydrazineyl compounds: Synthesis, computational studies, and in-vitro anticancer assessment

In this study, four novel 6-substituted benzothiazole-linked bis-benzimidazoles (3a–d) were synthesized and characterized using 1H NMR, 13C NMR, FTIR, and HRMS techniques. The physicochemical properties of these compounds were examined, and experimental data validated the computed values. The absorption and emission properties were also investigated using carbonate, acetate, and phosphate buffers at various pH levels.In-silico studies revealed that methoxy derivative (3c) possesses the highest docking affinity for tyrosine kinase. Pharmacokinetic studies showed that, like the marketed drug erlotinib, none of the compounds act as substrates for p-glycoprotein, and all except compound 3d do not inhibit CYP-2C9. The gastrointestinal absorption profiles, including blood-brain barrier permeability, were also studied. Drug-likeness assessments based on Lipinski's rule of five and Ghose criteria suggested favourable properties, though some compounds showed deviations in molecular weight and logP values. In-vitro anticancer study via MTT assay includes its potency against MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell lines, including 3c as the most potent against MCF-7 cells, which coincides with the In-silico study.

Growth in Children After a Kidney Transplant: A Retrospective, Observational Single-Center Study.

Kidney transplantation (KTX) is the best treatment for children with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD). It greatly improves their quality of life. Children's growth is one of the chronic issues that is known to be compromised during ESKD; therefore, catch-up growth is usually expected to be seen after KTX. We aimed to evaluate children's catchup growth after KTX and assess the impact of children's age at the time of KTX on catchup growth. We performed a retrospective analysis of weight and height data for children pre-KTX, at 12 months, and 24 months post KTX. We stratified them into five percentile categories for weight and height and counted the number of KTX patients in each category at the same three time points. We also stratified them into three different age groups: two to five, six to 10, and 11 to 12 years, and estimated the mean and standard deviation of both weight and height of each one. Between 2009 and 2019, we identified 37 children who underwent KTX. The mean weight pre-KTX was 21 kg. It increased to 28 and 34 kg post KTX at 12 and 24 months, respectively. The mean height pre-KTX was 115 cm. It increased to 126 and 134 cm post KTX at 12 and 24 months, respectively. There was a significant crossing of both weight and height percentiles when we stratified them based on different initial percentiles. There was a significant change in both weight and height when we stratified them into three age groups: two to five, six to 10, and 11 to 14 years. The growth patterns of children after a KTX can vary among children. However, our retrospective observational study showed positive results, suggesting gradual improvement in weight and height gain post KTX. Factors such as age at the time of KTX, duration of kidney disease, medication regimens, and overall health status can influence a child's growth trajectory. Close monitoring, proper nutrition, and a multidisciplinary approach are essential in supporting a child's growth after a KTX. Our findings are limited by the small sample size and retrospective design, therefore a well-structured prospective study with a large sample size is required.

Varying optimal power for height-standardisation of childhood weight, fat mass and fat-free mass across the obesity epidemic

IntroductionChildhood adiposity markers can be standardised for height in the form of indices (marker/heightp) to make meaningful comparisons of adiposity patterns within and between individuals of differing heights. The optimal value of p has been shown to differ by birth year, sex, age, and ethnicity. We investigated whether height powers for childhood weight and fat mass (FM) differed by birth year, sex, or age over the period before and during the child obesity epidemic in Copenhagen.Setting/methodsPopulation-based cross-sectional study of 391,801 schoolchildren aged 7 years, 10 years and 13 years, born between 1930 and 1996, from the Copenhagen School Health Records Register. Sex- and age-specific estimates of the height powers for weight and FM were obtained using log–log regression, stratified by a decade of birth.ResultsFor weight, amongst children born 1930–39, optimal height powers at 7 years were 2.20 (95% CI: 2.19–2.22) for boys and 2.28 (95% CI: 2.26–2.30) for girls. These increased with birth year to 2.82 (95% CI: 2.76–2.87) and 2.92 (95% CI: 2.87–2.97) for boys and girls born in 1990–96, respectively. For FM, amongst those born 1930–39, powers at 7 years were 2.46 (95% CI: 2.42–2.51) and 2.58 (95% CI: 2.53–2.63) for boys and girls, respectively, and increased with birth year reaching 3.89 (95% CI: 3.75–4.02) and 3.93 (95% CI: 3.80–4.06) for boys and girls born 1990–96, respectively. Powers within birth cohort groups for weight and FM were higher at 10 years than at 7 years, though similar increases across groups were observed at both ages. At 13 years, height powers for weight and FM initially increased with the birth year before declining from the 1970s/80s.ConclusionDue to increases in the standard deviation of weight and FM during the obesity epidemic, optimal height powers needed to standardise childhood weight and FM varied by birth year, sex, and age. Adiposity indices using a uniform height power mean different things for different birth cohort groups, sexes, and ages thus should be interpreted with caution. Alternative methods to account for height in epidemiological analyses are needed.

Predicting weight dispersion in seabass aquaculture using Discrete Event System simulation and Machine Learning modeling

Marine aquaculture, particularly in the Mediterranean region, faces the challenge of minimizing growth dispersion, which has a direct impact on the production cycle, market value and sustainability of the sector. Conventional grading methods are resource intensive and potentially detrimental to fish health. The current study presented an innovative approach in predicting fish weight dispersion in European seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax) aquaculture. Seabass is one of the two major fish species cultivated on the Mediterranean coast, with a fattening cycle of 18–24 months. During this period, several grading operations are carried out to minimize growth dispersion. The intricate feed-fish-water system, characterized by complex interactions among feeding regimes, fish behavior, individual metabolism and environmental factors, is the focus of the study. The comprehensive, five-step methodology addresses this complexity. The process begins with a Discrete Event System (DES) model that simulates the feed-fish-water dynamics, taking into account individual fish metabolism. This is followed by the development of a surrogate machine learning (ML) regressor model, which is trained on DES simulation data to efficiently predict growth distribution. The model is then calibrated and customized for specific fish stocks and production tanks. The preliminary results from 21 tanks in two trials with European seabass (D. labrax) showed the effectiveness of the method. The results from the simulation models achieved a R2 of 99.9 % and a Mean Absolute Percentage Error (MAPE) of 1.1 % for the prediction of mean final weight and a R2 of 90.3 % with a MAPE of 8.1 % for the standard deviation of final weight. In summary, this study represents a significant advance in the planning and management of seabass aquaculture. Given the lack of effective prediction tools in the aquaculture industry, the proposed methodology has the potential to reduce risks and inefficiencies, thus possibly optimizing aquaculture practices by increasing sustainability and profitability.

An improved self-organizing mapping neural network and its application in fault diagnosis of CNC machine tool servo drive system

Computer numerical control (CNC)-based systems are key functional components of industrial manufacturing installations, and the servo drive system is the main functional component of CNC systems. The complex working environment of industrial facilities will lead to the frequent failure of servo drive systems, and effective fault diagnosis measures are important to ensure the normal operation of CNC machine tools. In this paper, the application of fault diagnosis methods in servo drive systems is considered, and a method suitable for high-dimensional data of CNC systems is presented. Using data collected by a physical system and related indicators, the technique can be used to identify hidden fault characteristics in the data and to diagnose the fault types. The core of this method is the self-organizing map neural network, which uses unsupervised competitive learning to cluster data with different characteristics, find the winning neurons, and diagnose the fault. The introduction of feature standardization in the map’s initialization stage can accelerate the model’s training convergence speed and reduce the feature weight deviation. At the same time, principal component analysis is introduced to balance the influence of different feature scales, enhance the features of fault data, reduce the data dimensionality, and improve the interpretability of the model. A comparison with the conventional algorithm and testing various fault datasets shows that the proposed method exhibits improved performance when processing high-dimensional data and its enhancement fault recognition effect is verified.

Sequence variants associated with resilient responses in growing pigs.

The current work aimed to identify genomic regions and candidate genes associated with resilience in pigs. In previous work, we proposed the body weight deviation from the expected growth curve (ΔBW) and the increase of the positive acute-phase protein haptoglobin (ΔHP) after a vaccine challenge as resilience indicators which may be improved through selective breeding in pigs. Individuals with steady growth rate and minor activation of haptoglobin (high ΔBW and low ΔHP values) were considered resilient. In contrast, pigs with perturbed growth rate and high activation of haptoglobin (low ΔBW and high ΔHP values) were considered susceptible. Both ∆BW and ∆HP were simultaneously considered to select the most resilient (N = 40) and susceptible (N = 40) pigs. A genome-wide association study was carried out for the pigs' response classification to the challenge test using whole-genome sequence data (7,760,720 variants). Eleven associated genomic regions were identified, harbouring relevant candidate genes related to the immune response (such as pro- and anti-inflammatory responses) and growth pathways. These associated genomic regions harboured 41 potential functional mutations (frameshift, splice donor, splice acceptor, start loss and stop loss/gain) in candidate genes. Overall, this study advances our knowledge about the genetic determinism of resilience, highlighting its polygenic nature and strong relationship with immunity and growth.

Association of amblyopia and body mass index in children and adolescents

Abstract Purpose: The purpose of this study is to explore any association between body mass index (BMI) and anthropometric parameters and amblyopia in children and adolescents. Materials and Methods: A total of 82 participants, aged 4–18 years, were included in this cross-sectional, observational study. The anthropometric parameters, which included height, weight, and BMI Z score, were assessed in a subset of amblyopic children and adolescents. We compared these parameters with the healthy age and gender-matched control group. Results: The results revealed that out of all 82 participants, the mean age of 55 amblyopes was 9.11 ± 4.06 years (range, 4–18 years), and that of controls was 8.44 ± 3.69 years (range, 4–17 years). The mean ± standard deviation (SD) of height (cm) and weight (kg) in amblyopia was 129.69 ± 19.01 cm and 29.27 ± 12.01 kg, respectively, and in controls, it was 124.43 ± 13.83 cm (P = 0.159) and 27.01 ± 9.89 kg (P = 0.399). The median (25th–75th percentile) of the BMI Z score in the amblyopia group was -0.27 (-1.365 to 0.885), and in controls was 0.00.01 (-0.85885; P = 0.399). We did not find any clinically or statistically significant difference in the above parameters between cases and controls. Conclusion: This study concludes that amblyopes do not have deranged BMI and anthropometric parameters in the early years of life. Ophthalmologists are the primary healthcare professionals who have a crucial role in prompt identification and intervention to prevent long-term vision impairments in patients with amblyopia. Enhancements in visual acuity are expected to improve their overall quality of life and social well-being, which may reduce the other negative consequences in the form of deranged BMI and other related morbidities in their adulthood.

Breeding for resilience in finishing pigs can decrease tail biting, lameness and mortality

BackgroundPrevious research showed that deviations in longitudinal data are heritable and can be used as a proxy for pigs’ general resilience. However, only a few studies investigated the relationship between these resilience traits and other traits related to resilience and welfare. Therefore, this study investigated the relationship between resilience traits derived from deviations in longitudinal data and traits related to animal resilience, health and welfare, such as tail and ear biting wounds, lameness and mortality.ResultsIn our experiment, 1919 finishing pigs with known pedigree (133 Piétrain sires and 266 crossbred dams) were weighed every 2 weeks and scored for physical abnormalities, such as lameness and ear and tail biting wounds (17,066 records). Resilience was assessed via deviations in body weight, deviations in weighing order and deviations in observed activity during weighing. The association between these resilience traits and physical abnormality traits was investigated and genetic parameters were estimated. Deviations in body weight had moderate heritability estimates (h2 = 25.2 to 36.3%), whereas deviations in weighing order (h2 = 4.2%) and deviations in activity during weighing (h2 = 12.0%) had low heritability estimates. Moreover, deviations in body weight were positively associated and genetically correlated with tail biting wounds (rg = 0.22 to 0.30), lameness (rg = 0.15 to 0.31) and mortality (rg = 0.19 to 0.33). These results indicate that events of tail biting, lameness and mortality are associated with deviations in pigs’ body weight evolution. This relationship was not found for deviations in weighing order and activity during weighing. Furthermore, individual body weight deviations were positively correlated with uniformity at the pen level, providing evidence that breeding for these resilience traits might increase both pigs’ resilience and within-family uniformity.ConclusionsIn summary, our findings show that breeding for resilience traits based on deviations in longitudinal weight data can decrease pigs’ tail biting wounds, lameness and mortality while improving uniformity at the pen level. These findings are valuable for pig breeders, as they offer evidence that these resilience traits are an indication of animals’ general health, welfare and resilience. Moreover, these results will stimulate the quantification of resilience via longitudinal body weights in other species.

Effect of measurement procedure errors on assessing lung fluid via remote dielectric sensing system

The study assessed the impact of procedural errors on the remote dielectric sensing system (ReDS), a non-invasive lung fluid assessment technology, in an Asian cohort. Healthy volunteers underwent ReDS measurements following manufacturer’s instructions, with two consecutive measurements one minute apart. A subset of 20 participants had modified procedure settings. Reliability was measured using intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). The study included 86 healthy volunteers, and all ReDS measurements fell within the recommended normal range. The intra-rater reliability of ReDS measurements was excellent, with an ICC of 0.968. Among the subset of 20 subjects, deviations in height and weight did not significantly affect ReDS values. However, deviations in chest size by ± 3 cm had a noticeable impact on ReDS measures, and incorrect station selection led to fluctuations in ReDS readings. In conclusion, the ReDS system demonstrated excellent intra-rater reliability and applicability in an Asian cohort. Procedural errors, such as chest size measurement and station selection, significantly influenced ReDS measurements. Adherence to standardized operating procedures is crucial to ensure accurate and consistent results. These findings highlight the importance of adherence to manufacturer instructions when utilizing ReDS for lung fluid assessment, thereby enhancing its reliability and clinical applicability.