Group Mean Research Articles

Effects of cow feed efficiency, longevity, heterosis, and lifetime productivity on profitability of heifer selection and cow-calf operations

This study investigated factors influencing heifer replacement and cow-calf profitability using 361 cows (born 2011-2018) at the Lacombe Research and Development Centre, Alberta, Canada. Profitability was measured by marginal returns (MR) incorporating feed costs, heifer opportunity cost, calf and cull revenues, and a premium for cows retained in the herd. The study evaluated the linear effects of lifetime productivity, feed efficiency (residual feed intake adjusted for off-test backfat thickness; RFIfat), and genomic retained heterozygosity, an indicator of heterosis, on MR, feed costs, total costs, and net revenue (NR). Lifetime productivity, defined by the cumulative weight of calves weaned, was positively associated with MR and NR (P < 0.01). RFIfat influenced total cost, MR, and NR (P < 0.05), with MR improved by $168.50 cow-1 yr-1 for each unit decrease in RFIfat, although regression and group mean comparisons were not fully consistent. Genomic retained heterozygosity positively impacted MR and NR, with a 10% increase enhanced MR and NR by $21.80 and $20.50 cow-1 yr-1, respectively. Cow breed type did not affect longevity, MR, or NR. In conclusion, RFIfat and genomic diversity were important factors to consider in heifer replacement decisions when lifetime DMI was estimated as described in the present study.

Workshop Writing in Composing Paragraph to Improve Students' Writing Skills at SMA Negeri 1 Sampolawa'S Eighth Grade

The purpose of this study was to determine whether or not using collaborative writing to compose paragraphs improves students' writing abilities at SMA Negeri 1 Sampolawa's VIII grade students. It also sought to determine whether or not using collaborative writing sparks students' interest in writing. An experiment using a quassi design was used in this study. Cluster random sampling was utilized as the sample-taking technique, with two classes out of three being taken. 25 students from the XI IPA-2 class were separated into an experimental group by the researcher. and the XI IPA-1 class, which served as the control group, had 25 students. As a result, 50 students made up the research sample. The test and questionnaire served as the study instrument. The research tool was categorized using multiple methods. Pretest, posttest, and questionnaire were those.The results of this study demonstrated that, following treatment with the collaborative writing approach, students' English writing proficiency increased. Based on the experimental group's pretest mean score of 65.97 and posttest mean score of 77.23. The research's hyphotesis resulted in notable effects. Based on the average student perception score of 3,87—a very high level—it is determined.

Application of Shear Wave Elastography in the Diagnosis and Evaluation of Cervical Cancer

Background: Our goal was to add an auxiliary examination method for the detection of cervical cancer, and to further explore its application value in clinical staging and treatment. Methods: Shear wave elastography (SWE) technique was used to examine the cervical hardness of patients, and the maximum, mean and minimum values of elastic modulus were recorded, with differences being compared. The area under the receiver operating characreristic (ROC) curve and diagnostic efficacy of elastic modulus were compared with Medcalc software. The differences of elastic modulus values under different parameters were compared in the cervical cancer group. Results: The mean, maximum and minimum values of the cervical cancer group were all the highest, and the differences were statistically significant. The area under the ROC curves were 0.925, 0.909 and 0.873, respectively. For the mean and maximum values, the Youden indexes were 0.79 and 0.72, the positive likelihood ratios were 21.74 and 19.97, and the negative likelihood ratios were 0.18 and 0.25. The optimal cut-off point was 82.2 kilpoascal (kPa) for maximum value and was 66.5 kPa for mean value. Elastic modulus were all significantly different according to International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stages and tumor lesion size. Also, elastic modulus of cervical cancer patients before and after radiotherapy were statistically significant. Conclusions: SWE technology has an application value in the detection of cervical cancer. The mean and maximum values have higher diagnostic accuracy. SWE technology also has potential clinical application value in the clinical staging and treatment of cervical cancer, but further studies with larger sample sizes are needed.

Discriminating Factors of Formal and Informal Micro-Credits Programs in Bangladesh: An Efficiency Approach

Purpose: The study aims to identify the factors influencing the choice of formal and informal micro- credits programs in poverty alleviation of Bangladesh especially in Haor area. Methodology: The study has covered a total of 2340 households’ respondents where 1560 actual microcredit users and 780 eligible micro-credit users while they did not use micro-credits as control (50% of the cases) group for comparison purpose. The characteristics of control households are almost similar to the cases (micro-credits recipient) households. Total survey area has been divided into thirty clusters and the survey was made with a structured questionnaire to measure the impact on poverty of both types of credits and find out the dimensions of discrimination. The group means, pooled group correlation matrix, covariates for discrimination, and validation of two-group discriminant finally Fisher’s linear discriminant function were used to reach in the conclusion. Findings: The study identified that the installment types are the most important predictors in discriminating between formal and informal micro-credits groups, followed by duration of loan, interest rate, gender of loan receivers, earning status of loan receivers, and regular income source in the households and so on and this is also confirmed by cross-validation analysis. Fisher’s linear discriminant function forecasted that the new member with discriminant scores above 0.44 supposed to borrow from the informal sources however the members having below of the score will borrow from formal sources. Practical Implications: The lenders will be able to design effective micro-credit programs considering the needs of the users. Originality/Value: The research is the first attempt to identify the discriminating factors between formal and informal micro-credits with large volume of solid primary data. Limitations: The study did not make any in-depth-interview regarding the issue.

Evaluating the Efficacy of Resveratrol-Containing Mouthwash as an Adjunct Treatment for Periodontitis: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

To evaluate the effectiveness of resveratrol mouthwash as an adjunct to nonsurgical periodontal treatment of periodontitis. This study was a randomized, double-blind clinical trial study. The study included 57 participants with periodontitis. Clinical parameters (plaque index [PI], bleeding on probing [BOP], probing pocket depth [PPD], and clinical attachment loss [CAL]) were examined at the baseline visit, after 7 days, and after 30 days of using resveratrol mouthwash as an adjunct to nonsurgical periodontal treatment. The salivary levels of (interleukin [IL]-6) and RANKL (receptor activator of nuclear factor-kappa B ligand) were measured and compared before and after treatment. The participants answered the visual analog scale-based assessment questionnaire at the last visit. A one-way ANOVA (analysis of variance) test was used to compare the means of multiple groups (test, positive control, negative control) at baseline and after treatment. A paired t-test was also used to compare the means of a single group before and after treatment. In addition, Tukey's multiple comparisons test was used to identify specific pairwise differences between the three groups after finding significant differences with ANOVA. The Chi-square test was also used to compare the distribution of categorical variables like sex between the groups. All interventions significantly reduced PI, BOP, PPD, and CAL, but resveratrol and chlorhexidine had a higher significant effect than placebo except for CAL without a significant difference between them. All mouthwashes significantly reduced the salivary concentration of IL-6. However, resveratrol and chlorhexidine had a significantly higher effect than placebo, while the concentration of RANKL was decreased in all groups without a significant difference between them. The participants' responses to the mouthwash questionnaire showed that resveratrol and chlorhexidine had the same feedback without significant differences. Resveratrol-containing mouthwash could be used as an alternative to chlorhexidine as an adjunct to nonsurgical periodontal treatment of periodontitis.

Unleashing the potential: a quest to understand and examine the factors enriching research and innovation productivities of South Asian universities

South Asian universities play a crucial role in driving economic development through research and innovation. However, these institutions often face challenges that hinder their productivity in these areas. To address these challenges, this study aims to understand and examine the factors enhancing research and innovation productivity in universities across South Asian countries, specifically Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. Using panel data from 2009 to 2021, the study employs the newly developed dynamic common correlated effects (DCCE) approach by Chudik and Pesaran (2015a). The results revealed that the factors found to be enriching research productivity, though the impact is negligible, are patent rights, funding for tertiary education, information technology, and publications. However, tertiary school enrollment is not a significant factor. On the other hand, for innovation productivity, the influencing factors with a negligible impact are patent rights, funding for tertiary education, and information technology. In this case, neither tertiary school enrollment nor publications play a significant role. Furthermore, the research productivity of the universities in South Asian countries is negligibly stimulating the countries’ GDP per capita, while the innovation productivity of the universities is not. Moreover, examining these relations using models such as mean group (MG), pooled mean group (PMG), and augmented mean group (AMG) can produce misleading results due to cross-sectional dependence among the units. Nonetheless, PMG outperformed AMG, followed by MG. Policy recommendations were suggested based on the findings.

Myopia Control Effect of Defocus Incorporated Multiple Segments (DIMS) Spectacle Lens in Pakistani Children

Background: Myopia is a growing concern globally, particularly among school-aged children, leading to severe ocular complications if untreated. Objective: The purpose of this research was to determine the effectiveness of DIMS spectacle lenses in preventing myopia progression in Pakistani children. Methods: The current study was tested clinically for two years with two hundred myopic youngsters aged six to twelve years. The subjects were divided into two groups; the first group received DIMS lenses while the second group received single vision lenses. Biometry of the axial length was done using the IOL Master 500 (Carl Zeiss Meditec) and the cycloplegic autorefraction was done using the Topcon KR-800S. For monitoring the progression of myopia, axial length measurements and cycloplegic autorefraction were performed with an interval of six months. Quantitative data were analysed using independent t-tests and mixed-effects models in order to compare the results between the groups. Results: Comparing the DIMS group to the single vision lens group, the children in the former demonstrated slower myopia development. Whereas the control group's mean myopic shift was -0.67 ± 0.30 D/year, the DIMS groups was -0.32 ± 0.25 D/year (p < 0.001). Significantly less axial length changes (0.15 ± 0.10 mm/year) were seen in the DIMS group as compared to the control group (0.31 ± 0.12 mm/year) (p < 0.001). Conclusion: DIMS spectacle lenses are effective in preventing the progression of myopia in Pakistani children. Their use could be a viable approach to managing myopia in this population. However, the study is limited by its short follow-up period and the lack of data on long-term outcomes.

Computer vision for kinematic metrics of the drinking task in a pilot study of neurotypical participants

Assessment of the upper limb is critical to guiding the rehabilitation cycle. Drawbacks of observation-based assessment include subjectivity and coarse resolution of ordinal scales. Kinematic assessment gives rise to objective quantitative metrics, but uptake is encumbered by costly and impractical setups. Our objective was to investigate feasibility and accuracy of computer vision (CV) for acquiring kinematic metrics of the drinking task, which are recommended in stroke rehabilitation research. We implemented CV for upper limb kinematic assessment using modest cameras and an open-source machine learning solution. To explore feasibility, 10 neurotypical participants were recruited for repeated kinematic measures during the drinking task. To investigate accuracy, a simultaneous marker-based motion capture system was used, and error was quantified for the following kinematic metrics: Number of Movement Units (NMU), Trunk Displacement (TD), and Movement Time (MT). Across all participant trials, kinematic metrics of the drinking task were successfully acquired using CV. Compared to marker-based motion capture, no significant difference was observed for group mean values of kinematic metrics. Mean error for NMU, TD, and MT were − 0.12 units, 3.4 mm, and 0.15 s, respectively. Bland–Altman analysis revealed no bias. Kinematic metrics of the drinking task can be measured using CV, and preliminary findings support accuracy. Further study in neurodivergent populations is needed to determine validity of CV for kinematic assessment of the post-stroke upper limb.

Modified ex-PRESS technique versus Ahmed glaucoma valve as primary glaucoma surgery for hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis glaucoma

Background To compare the efficacy of modified Ex-PRESS technique (ExP) versus Ahmed Glaucoma Valve (AGV) as primary surgery in hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis (ATTRv) secondary glaucoma. Methods Retrospective study at the national amyloidosis centre. Success was defined as an IOP ≥ 6 mmHg and ≤ 21 mmHg with no need for further glaucoma surgery or laser trabeculoplasty and without loss of light perception at the time of the last follow-up. Secondary outcomes included surgical complications, need for hypotensive drugs, and endothelial cell loss. Patients submitted to previous glaucoma surgery were excluded. Results We included 180 eyes of 150 patients, 121 in AGV and 59 in ExP group. No significant baseline differences were found between groups. At the time of last follow-up, both groups exhibited significant intraocular pressure (IOP) reduction (p < .001) and number of glaucoma medications (p < .001). Kaplan-Meyer analysis showed higher cumulative probability of success for AGV group (80.1% vs. 41.1%, p < .001) and higher mean time to failure (54.5 vs. 36.9 months, respectively, p < 0.001) at 60 months follow-up. AGV showed lower hazard (HR 0.21, 95% CI [0.111–0.407], p < .001) for failure. Conclusion AGV and ExP are safe and effective techniques in the treatment of ATTRv secondary glaucoma. However, AGV’s efficacy seems to be more durable.

The Influence of Sports Dance on Self-esteem Among College Students

Background and Aims: College students' lives depend greatly on their sense of self-worth. It has an impact on their social interactions, emotional well-being, and academic achievement. Several issues can arise for college students, such as social pressures, anxiety related to appearance, and negative body image. These elements may damage their sense of self-worth, which subsequently impacts their general health and standard of living. Sports dance is a unique physical activity that combines artistic ability and physical prowess to positively impact college students' self-esteem. Sports dancing has also been linked to improvements in self-esteem and self-image in addition to physical health, according to earlier research. The two main goals of this study are to first compare the experimental group's self-esteem before and after they participated in sports dancing, and then to compare the experimental group's self-esteem with that of the control group. Methodology: This study included a sample of 20 third-year undergraduate students from the Dance Department, College of Art, Chongqing University of Mechanical and Electrical Technology. The samples were divided into two groups: 10 students, consisting of 5 female and 5 male students, in both the experimental and control groups. The experimental group used the sports dance training method, while the control group used the traditional teaching method. A self-designed, expert-reviewed Rosenberg's self-esteem scale was issued before and after the experiment to determine the influence of sports dance exercises on the self-esteem of the sample group. Data were analyzed using means, standard deviations, and t-tests. Result: Before engaging in sports dance training, the experimental group's mean self-esteem score was found to be 28.3, while the control group's mean score was 28.8 before receiving traditional instruction. Following the experiment, the experimental group's mean score on self-esteem increased to 35.6, while the control group's score stayed at 27.8. After taking the sports dance course, the experimental group felt more confident in themselves. The mean score of the experimental group was higher than that of the control group. Students in the experimental group demonstrated higher levels of engagement in class during sports dance training. When given chores involving dance, they showed initiative in solving problems and made their own choices. They conversed with people more and gained self-assurance when voicing their ideas. These findings imply that sports dancing significantly and favorably raised the students' self-esteem. Conclusion: The results show that sports dance programs can help students feel better about their bodies and have higher self-esteem. Students receive timely rewards throughout the sports dance learning process, which boosts their self-esteem in the classroom and promotes greater interaction between them. By working together to create dance performances, students improve their interpersonal skills and become fully immersed in a stimulating, dynamic, and demanding learning environment. This promotes a calm and pleasurable learning environment while also helping students develop their knowledge and skills and improving their communication skills. This study provides educational institutions and schools with a workable strategy for enhancing students' mental health by introducing sports dance courses. The results also highlight sports dance's potential as a useful tool for psychological intervention. Mental health practitioners might think about introducing elements of sports dance into psychotherapy sessions to help patients feel better about themselves.

Hakikat Evaluasi Pendidikan Islam Universitas Islam Negeri Sumatera Utara Medan

Evaluation of Islamic education is necessary to assess student progress, the effectiveness of teaching methods, identify student needs, increase student motivation, and raise educational standards. This study employs a qualitative research. Evaluation in Islamic education is also important to raise the standard of instruction by adhering to evaluation principles such as objectivity, overall and sustainable. Benefits of evaluation include more in-depth understanding, character development, arithmetic skill enhancement, arithmetic mean for individuals and groups, and appropriate learning strategies. As long as appropriate evaluation principles are applied, the learning process can be made enjoyable and continuously progress to meet the goals of Islamic education in the best possible way.

Effects of Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus HN001 on Happiness and Mental Well-Being: Findings from a Randomized Controlled Trial.

Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus HN001 (HN001) is a probiotic strain widely studied for its potential to improve human health. Previous studies have demonstrated promising results for HN001 in the improvement of mental well-being, particularly in terms of increased happiness and support for stress management in healthy adults. To further explore these findings, a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was conducted with 120 participants aged ≥ 18 years with mild to high stress measured by the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS). The participants were randomly assigned to receive either HN001 or placebo for 28 days. Psychological assessments, including the Oxford Happiness Questionnaire (OHQ), were completed at baseline, day 14, and day 28. Secondary outcomes included changes in PSS scores, as well as depression, anxiety, stress, and total score levels measured by the DASS-21 questionnaire. While not statistically significant, participants who received HN001 showed an improvement in OHQ (mean change, 13.3) and PSS total scores (mean change, -8.1) over time compared with the placebo group (mean change, 10.2 and -6.6, respectively). Furthermore, 39% of the participants moved from not happy to happy, compared with only 29% in the placebo group. Post-hoc analysis showed a statistically significant interaction between intervention and study day for OHQ and PSS total scores, with p-values of 0.014 and 0.043, respectively. No adverse effects were observed. HN001 showed improvements in both happiness and PSS scores. Furthermore, sex subgroup analysis revealed statistically significant differences in both outcomes, emphasizing the need for larger and longer intervention studies.

Sedentary Behavior Of Elementary School Students Based On Class Teacher Perceptions And Physical Education Teacher, Sports And Health In The District Turen

This type of quantitative research using a comparative causal method was carried out by comparing the perceptions of class teachers and PJOK teachers to determine the sedentary behavior of elementary school students spread across Turen District. Data was collected via an online questionnaire/questionnaire (google form) with 5 Likert answer scales and analyzed using a single mean versus criterion test (one sample t-test) and an independent group mean difference test (independent sample t-test). IBM SPSS Statistics 25 is used to make it easier to calculate analysis results. The findings of this research are (1) The physical activity of elementary school children according to the class teacher has not met the adequate criteria set, (2) The physical activity of elementary school children according to the PJOK teacher has not met the adequate criteria set, and (3) There is no significant difference in mean. between the class teacher's perception and the PJOK teacher's perception of the sedentary behavior of elementary school age children.

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Facilitates Neural Speech Decoding.

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) has been widely used to study the mechanisms that underlie motor output. Yet, the extent to which TMS acts upon the cortical neurons implicated in volitional motor commands and the focal limitations of TMS remain subject to debate. Previous research links TMS to improved subject performance in behavioral tasks, including a bias in phoneme discrimination. Our study replicates this result, which implies a causal relationship between electro-magnetic stimulation and psychomotor activity, and tests whether TMS-facilitated psychomotor activity recorded via electroencephalography (EEG) may thus serve as a superior input for neural decoding. First, we illustrate that site-specific TMS elicits a double dissociation in discrimination ability for two phoneme categories. Next, we perform a classification analysis on the EEG signals recorded during TMS and find a dissociation between the stimulation site and decoding accuracy that parallels the behavioral results. We observe weak to moderate evidence for the alternative hypothesis in a Bayesian analysis of group means, with more robust results upon stimulation to a brain region governing multiple phoneme features. Overall, task accuracy was a significant predictor of decoding accuracy for phoneme categories (F(1,135) = 11.51, p < 0.0009) and individual phonemes (F(1,119) = 13.56, p < 0.0003), providing new evidence for a causal link between TMS, neural function, and behavior.

P159 USING WHATSAPP AS A MEDIUM FOR HEALTH EDUCATION ON SELECTED LIFESTYLE MODIFICATIONS IN HYPERTENSION MANAGEMENT

Background and Objective: Lack of hypertension knowledge negatively affects adherence to lifestyle modifications among hypertensive individuals. Recommended health education for on-going support and self-management can prove difficult to organise for frequent face-to-face sessions. This study aimed at determining the efficacy of using WhatsApp Instant Messaging (WIM) as a health education medium of selected lifestyle medications among hypertensive individuals. Methods: The study used a quasi-experimental design with 24 and 17 subjects in treatment and comparison groups respectively at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital and run for 6 weeks. Treatment group was supplied with selected health education regarding lifestyle modifications related to hypertension management; physical activity (PA), dietary patterns (DP) and weight management (WM) on a WhatsApp group while the comparison group received none. Data was collected before and after intervention. Data were analysed using Pearson's Chi Square and T-Tests in IBM SPSS Statistics version 23 at 5% significance. Results: At baseline there were no significant differences (p=0.270) in PA between treatment and comparison groups while at endline the differences became significant (p=0.020) meaning that the intervention increased the chances of an individual being physically active. Changes were observed in WM, as weight dropped, on average, by 0.14 kg in the treatment group and increased by 1.6 kg in the comparison group. Mean differences between baseline and endline of the weights were not significant in both groups. Consequentially, the body mass indices decreased in the treatment group (mean decrease=0.12kgm-2) and increased in comparison group (mean=0.82kgm-2). Change in the comparison group was significant (p=0.045). Changes in food frequency of selected food groups were not significantly different. Conclusions: WIM has the potential of being an excellent medium of health education to enhance lifestyle modifications in the management of hypertension.

Visualisation and quantification of subcutaneous injections of different volumes, viscosities and injection rates: An ex-vivo micro-CT study

The effects of subcutaneous (SC) injection parameters such as drug formulation volume, viscosity and injection rate on therapeutic performance and tolerability have not been established for any drug product. In this study four groups of SC injections were performed on fresh ex vivo minipig abdominal tissue samples, varying volume (0.5-1 mL), viscosity (1-11 cP) and rate (0.02-0.1 mL/s). Micro-CT provided high resolution (50 micron) imaging of the SC tissues before and after injection, enabling a detailed 3D visualisation and analysis of how both injection parameters and tissue microstructure influence spatial distribution of injectables. We found that volume was the only significant factor for spatial distribution of injectate within our design space, and there were no significant factors for tissue backpressure. Variability within test groups was typically greater than differences between group means. Accordingly, whilst the higher viscosity formulations consistently exhibited reduced spatial distribution, the sample size was not large enough to establish confidence in this result. Comparing our findings to clinical evidence, we conclude that injection site and depth are more likely to influence PK and bioavailability than volume, viscosity and rate within our experimental space.

Perspectives on managing patients with Down's syndrome among orthodontists in Saudi Arabia: A vignette and a COM-B analysis study.

This study aims to explore perspectives on managing patients with Down's syndrome among orthodontists in Saudi Arabia using a vignette study and COM-B model. This was a cross-sectional study for orthodontists working in Saudi Arabia. Participants were asked about their demographic data. Vignette (clinical scenarios) and COM-B model (C: capability, O: opportunity, M: motivation, and B: behavior) were used to assess orthodontists' perspectives regarding the management of patients with Down's syndrome. A model of Alpha (Cronbach) was used to study the properties of measurement scales. A Pearson's correlation coefficient was used to correlate variables represented by means. An independent t-test and one-way ANOVA, with least significant difference (LSD) as a post hoc test, were used to compare two group means and more than two groups, respectively. Most participants (n = 70, 85.4%) reported that they had no training/exposure to dealing with Down's syndrome patients during their orthodontic clinical training. Participants reported an average of 3.82 (SD = 1.1) when treating moderate Down's syndrome and 2.48 (SD = 1.4) when treating severe Down's syndrome with mild occlusion discrepancies. Participants also showed that their behavior and attitude are significantly related to their capability, opportunity, and motivation regarding the management of patients with Down's syndrome. The average reported agreement ranges from 2.46 (SD = 1) for the hypoplasia of the mandible to 4.38 (SD = 0.8) for the congenitally missing teeth. This study found that orthodontists in Saudi Arabia showed low confidence levels to manage Down's syndrome patients with moderate and severe challenging behavior. Despite this, the likelihood of increasing their confidence levels and attitude regarding the management of patients with Down's syndrome increased by increasing their capability, opportunity, motivation, and knowledge in this field.

The social and defensive function of olfactory behaviors in a pair-living sexually monogamous primate.

Olfactory behaviors serve a wide variety of social functions in mammals. Odor may signal information about attributes of individuals important for mating and reproduction. Olfactory behaviors, such as scent-marking, may also function as part of home range or resource defense strategies. We assessed the potential social and home range defense functions of olfactory behavior in a pair-living and sexually monogamous primate, Azara's owl monkey (Aotus azarae), in the Argentinian Chaco. This is the most extensive investigation of owl monkey olfactory behaviors in the wild. Individuals regularly performed olfactory behaviors (group mean + SD = 1.3 + 0.5 per hour). The patterns were generally comparable to those observed in studies of captive owl monkeys, except that urine washing was the most common behavior in the wild, as opposed to scent-marking and genital inspections. Most olfactory behaviors were performed by adults, and there were striking sex differences in genital inspections: almost all consisted of an adult male inspecting the paired adult female. These findings suggest that olfactory behaviors play an important role in signaling and coordinating reproduction among owl monkeys, particularly during periods of female conception and pregnancy. Additionally, our research indicates that these behaviors may also serve as a defense strategy for maintaining the core area of their home ranges. This study offers the first assessment of the role of olfactory behaviors in reproductive contexts and home range defense in pair-living, monogamous platyrrhine primates.

759. P02.04 PARAVERTEBRAL VERSUS EPIDURAL ANALGESIA IN MINIMALLY INVASIVE ESOPHAGEAL RESECTION (PEPMEN): A RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED MULTICENTER TRIAL

Abstract Background Thoracic epidural analgesia has been the mainstay for pain control in esophageal cancer patients undergoing minimally invasive esophagectomy (MIE). Although effective epidural analgesia potentially contributes to achieving enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) goals in patients undergoing MIE, it can have counterproductive side effects such as hypotension, urinary retention and reduced mobility. Paravertebral analgesia may be a promising alternative to epidural analgesia, avoiding potential side effects and improving postoperative recovery. Methods This open randomized controlled superiority trial was conducted across four Dutch centers. A total of 192 patients with esophageal cancer, scheduled for elective transthoracic MIE with intrathoracic anastomosis, were included and randomized to receive either epidural analgesia or paravertebral analgesia. The primary outcome was Quality of Recovery (QoR-40) on the third postoperative day (POD). Secondary outcomes included the quality of life, postoperative pain, opioid consumption, need for inotropic/vasopressor medication, duration of admission, mobilization, complications, readmission, and mortality. Results From December 2019 to February 2023, 94 patients were assigned to epidural and 98 to paravertebral analgesia. QoR-40 score on POD3 did not differ between groups (mean difference 3.7; P=.268). The epidural group had higher QoR-40 scores on POD1 and 2 (mean difference 7.7; P=.018, mean difference 7.3; P=.020) and lower pain scores (1 versus 2; P=&amp;lt;.001, 1 versus 2; P=.033). More patients in the epidural group required vasopressor-medication on POD1 (38.3% versus 13.3%; P&amp;lt;.001). In the paravertebral group, the urinary catheter was removed one day earlier (P=&amp;lt;.001). No significant differences in complications or length of stay were observed. Conclusion This multicenter randomized controlled clinical trial did not show superiority of paravertebral analgesia over epidural analgesia in quality of recovery on the third day after minimally invasive esophagectomy. These results, however, support the safety of paravertebral analgesia as a viable alternative to epidural analgesia, enabling the provision of both techniques to patients in clinical practice.

Acoustic Target Strengths and Swimbladder Morphology of Chub Mackerel Scomber japonicus in the Northwest Pacific Ocean

The Northwest Pacific chub mackerel (Scomber japonicus) is one of the most productive, economically important fishery resources worldwide. Accurately assessing this species and ensuring adherence to total allowable catch limits are crucial owing to fluctuations in their abundance and distribution. Acoustic target strength measurements of S. japonicus were conducted at 38, 70, and 120 kHz using a split-beam echosounder of individuals from nine size groups (mean fork length, 10.8–28.3 cm) swimming freely in a net cage within a seawater tank. An underwater camera was utilized to simultaneously measure swimming angle. Least-squares regression analysis revealed that when the slope was constrained to 20, as per the generally applicable morphometric equation, the resulting values for the constant term (b20) were −67.7, −66.6, and −67.3 dB at 38, 70, and 120 kHz, respectively. S. japonicus mean swimming angle across the groups was −10.5–9.6° (standard deviation [SD], 16.3–33.3°). Furthermore, the ratio of swimbladder height to swimbladder length, the ratio of swimbladder length to fork length, and the tilt angle of the swimbladder (mean ± SD) were 0.191 ± 0.060, 0.245 ± 0.055, and 9.6 ± 3.0°, respectively. These results can be used for the acoustic stock assessment of S. japonicus in the Northwest Pacific Ocean.