Performance Profile Research Articles

Dynamic offloading technique for real-time edge-to-cloud computing in heterogeneous MEC–MCC and IoT devices

In the realm of Mobile Cloud Computing (MCC), where mobile environments converge with cloud capabilities to address challenges related to performance, environmental considerations, and security, the complexity of task offloading intensifies with the growing number of cloud providers and application units. While Mobile Edge Computing (MEC) shows promise in enhancing MCC performance, the central research challenge revolves around efficiently determining when to offload computational tasks to the cloud or handle them locally at the edge. It involves finding the optimal balance between utilizing cloud resources and enhancing edge computing performance. This study aims to streamline the decision-making process, seeking a harmonious balance between optimal cloud resource utilization and improved edge computing performance. To this end, we introduce HECOM (Hybrid Edge-to-Cloud Offloading for Heterogeneous Computing), a strategic model that combines three decision-making algorithms and an efficient hybrid computation offloading method. HECOM swiftly identifies optimal offloading servers for individual application units, addressing the challenge of efficient offloading decision-making. Importantly, HECOM provides optimal solutions without waiting for all training processes to conclude. Evaluation results from experiments and simulations affirm that the proposed model exhibits impressive energy efficiency, reducing consumption by 25%, increasing offloading ratio by 30%, and minimizing latency and time delay by 15%, making it ideal for real-time applications. It significantly enhances network resource allocation and achieves a more balanced overall performance profile.

Effect of guanidinoacetic acid on performance, egg quality, yolk fatty acid composition, and nutrient digestibility of aged laying hens fed diets with varying substitution levels of corn with low-tannin sorghum

A study was conducted to evaluate the efficiency of guanidinoacetic acid (GAA) in diets containing varying levels of corn replacement with low-tannin sorghum (LTS) for laying hens in the later stage of production. In a 12-wk study, a total of 288 laying hens at 52 wk of age were divided into 6 treatment groups. Each treatment group had 8 replicates, each of which consisted of 6 hens. A 2 × 3 factorial design was used to investigate the impact of substituting corn with LTS at 3 levels (100% corn, 50% LTS, and 100% LTS) with 2 doses of GAA supplementation (0 and 0.6 g/kg). The results indicate that there were interaction effects (P < 0.05) between diet type and GAA supplementation on protein digestibility and AMEn, with the GAA supplement being more effective in the 100% LTS group. Replacing corn with LTS at both levels had no negative effects on performance and metabolic profile. In contrast, the 100% LTS diet increased monounsaturated fatty acids in the yolk (P < 0.05), but decreased the yolk color index, the ratio of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) to saturated fatty acids (SFA) in the yolk, ileal digestibility of energy, and AMEn when compared to the 100% corn diet (P < 0.05). Regardless of the diet, dietary supplementation with GAA resulted in increases (P < 0.05) in shell-breaking strength, the PUFA to SFA ratio in egg yolk, and concentrations of creatine and nitric oxide in serum. There was also a decrease (P < 0.05) in serum malondialdehyde concentration with GAA supplementation. In conclusion, the positive effects of GAA on protein digestibility and AMEn were found to be more pronounced when corn was completely replaced with LTS. However, the positive effects of GAA on egg-laying performance, eggshell quality, antioxidant status, and yolk fatty acid composition remained consistent regardless of the extent to which corn was substituted with LTS.

Analysis of the Situation of Continuous Professional Development Models for Teachers Based on 21st-Century Skills in Lebak District

Continuing Professional Development (CPD) program. This program has been a government policy since 2013. PKB is to foster professional teachers on the basis of teacher performance profiles supported by the results of self-evaluation. The purpose of this research is to develop, validate and implement a 21st century skills-based continuing professional development model for certified junior high school teachers in Lebak Regency. The first stage was carried out in 2023 by conducting data mapping using the exploratory method with the aim of knowing the level of depth regarding professional development for post-certification teachers. After obtaining the data from the mapping, the model development draft was prepared. The conclusion of this analysis is that 21st century continuing professional development is an urgent need in education. 21st century skills, such as critical thinking, creativity, collaboration and technological capabilities, are at the core of preparing individuals to face the changing demands of the times. However, there are a number of challenges faced by junior high school teachers in Lebak district in their efforts to develop their profession in a sustainable manner. These challenges include financial limitations, geographical and distance issues, limited time available, lack of skilled human resources, and policy issues and views that are less supportive towards the development of 21st century skills. Therefore, there is a need for strong support from local governments and educational institutions to overcome these challenges and ensure that teachers have equal access and necessary support in continuing professional development.

Soursop Leaf and Pumpkin Pulp Diets Concerning Performance, Nutrient Utilization and Blood Profile of Goats

Assessed growth performance, nutrient utilization and blood constituents of goats fed diets containing fluted pumpkin pulp and different proportions of soursop leaf powder. We used twenty- four West African dwarf female goats of about 7 to 8 months old and 7.00 ± 0.15kg. They were randomly allotted to four dietary treatments with three replicates of two goats. The compared diets contained; 6% dried fluted pumpkin pulp without soursop leaf powder (control, PPM1), 6% dried fluted pumpkin pulp with 2% soursop leaf powder (SLP2), 6% dried fluted pumpkin pulp with 2.5% soursop leaf powder (SLO3) and 6% dried fluted pumpkin pulp with 3% soursop leaf powder (SLW4). The results showed that diet PPM1was significantly (P&lt;0.05) higher in feed conversion ratio, digestibility of ether extract, gross energy intake, total nitrogen and energy output, creatinine, urea, serum enzymes, total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein. SLOP3 revealed significantly (P&lt;0.05) better in final, total &amp; daily body weight gain ,dry matter, crude protein and crude fiber digestibility, nitrogen retention, digestible and metabolizable energy, packed cell volume, haemoglobin, red and white blood cells, serum total protein, albumin, glucose, and high-density lipoprotein. Feed and nitrogen intake as well as triglycerides indicated significant (P&lt;0.05) higher values in SLW4. Using 6% dried fluted pumpkin pulp with 2.5 or 3% soursop leaf powder in diets enhanced nutrient utilization for better performance and health status of goats.

Preliminary Speech Perception Performance Profiles of School-Age Children With Childhood Apraxia of Speech, Speech Sound Disorder, and Typical Development.

Limited research exists assessing speech perception in school-age children with speech sound disorder (SSD) and childhood apraxia of speech (CAS); despite early evidence that speech perception may lead to error-prone motor planning/programming. In this study, we examine speech perception performance in school-age children with and without speech production deficits. Speech perception was assessed using the Wide Range Acoustic Accuracy Scale to determine the just-noticeable difference in discrimination for three consonant-vowel syllable contrasts (/bɑ/-/wɑ/, /dɑ/-/gɑ/, /ɹɑ/-/wɑ/), each varying along a single acoustic parameter for seven children with CAS with rhotic errors, seven children with SSD with rhotic errors, and seven typically developing (TD) children. Findings revealed statistically significant mean differences between perceptual performance of children with CAS when compared to TD children for discrimination of /ɹɑ/-/wɑ/ contrasts. Large effect sizes were also observed for comparisons of /ɹɑ/-/wɑ/ contrasts between children with CAS, SSD, and TD peers. Additionally, large effect sizes were observed for /dɑ/-/gɑ/ contrasts between children with CAS and SSD and TD children despite nonsignificant mean differences in group performance. Overall, mean outcome scores suggest that school-age children with CAS and persistent rhotic errors demonstrated less accurate speech perception skills relative to TD children for the /ɹɑ/-/wɑ/ contrasts. However, the relatively small sample sizes per group limit the extent to which these findings may be generalized to the broader population.

The Effect of Monensin vs. Neem, and Moringa Extracts on Nutrient Digestibility, Growth Performance, Methane, and Blood Profile of Merino Lambs.

Plant secondary compounds are potential rumen modifiers that can improve nutrient utilization in ruminant animals. This study evaluated the effect of Moringa (Moringa oleifera) and Neem (Azadirachta indica) leaf extracts on nutrient digestibility, growth performance, and enteric methane production in South African Mutton Merino lambs. Forty 4-month-old ram lambs with a mean body weight of 35 ± 2.2 kg were blocked by weight and from each block, lambs were randomly allocated into one of the following treatments: (i) diet only (fed a total mixed ration TMR-negative control), (ii) Monensin (fed TMR containing Monensin sodium, 15 mg/kg DM), (iii) Moringa (fed TMR, drenched with Moringa extract 50 mg/kg feed DM intake), and (iv) Neem (fed TMR, drenched with Neem extract 50 mg/kg DM intake). Extracts were administered via oral drenching at a concentration determined based on the previous week's feed intake. There were no differences in dry matter intake, average daily gain, feed conversion efficiency, digestibility, and nitrogen retention across the treatments. However, the extracts tended to reduce methane emitted both in g/head/day (p < 0.08) and g/ kg dry matter intake (p < 0.07). Extracts did not influence any of the blood metabolites in the ram lambs. Although the benefits of utilizing these medicinal plants as rumen modifiers under prolonged feeding conditions is justified, further evaluation is recommended to test Moringa and Neem leaf extracts at higher inclusion levels. Our research group is currently exploring a variety of phytogenic tools for the identification and standardization of key bioactive compounds linked to methane inhibition, in these leaf extracts.

Enhancing Physicochemical Properties and Biocompatibility of Hollow Porous Iron Oxide Nanoparticles through Polymer-Based Surface Modifications.

In this study, we synthesized hollow porous iron oxide nanoparticles (HPIONPs) with surface modifications using polymers, specifically chitosan (Chi), polyethylene glycol (PEG), and alginate (Alg), to improve colloidal stability and biocompatibility. For colloidal stability, Alg-coated HPIONPs maintained size stability up to 24 h, with only an 18% increase, while Chi, PEG, and uncoated HPIONPs showed larger size increases ranging from 64 to 140%. The biocompatibility of polymer-coated HPIONPs was evaluated by assessing their cell viability, genotoxicity, and hemocompatibility. Across tested concentrations from 6.25 to 100 μg/mL, both uncoated and polymer-coated HPIONPs showed minimal cytotoxicity against three normal cell lines: RAW264.7, 3T3-L1, and MCF10A, with cell viability exceeding 80% at the highest concentration. Notably, polymer-coated HPIONPs exhibited nongenotoxicity based on the micronucleus assay and showed hemocompatibility, with only 2-3% hemolysis in mouse blood, in contrast to uncoated HPIONPs which exhibited 4-5%. Furthermore, we evaluated the cytotoxicity of HPIONPs on MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells after a 2 h exposure to a stationary magnetic field, and the results showed the highest cell death of 38 and 29% when treated with uncoated and polymer-coated HPIONPs at 100 μg/mL, respectively. This phenomenon is attributed to iron catalyzing the Fenton and Haber-Weiss reactions, leading to reactive oxygen species (ROS)-dependent cell death (r ≥ 0.98). In conclusion, the hydrothermal synthesis and subsequent surface modification of HPIONPs with polymers showed improved colloidal stability, nongenotoxicity, and hemocompatibility compared to uncoated HPIONPs while maintaining closely similar levels of cytotoxicity against both normal and cancer cells. This research has paved the way for further exploration of polymer coatings to enhance the overall performance and safety profile of magnetic nanoparticles in delivering anticancer drugs.

Atrial fibrillation high power radiofrequency ablation: efficiency and safety

Abstract Introduction High power-ablation index (HP-AI) guided radiofrequency (RF) ablation of atrial fibrillation (AF) is increasingly being used as an alternative to conventional power (CP) ablation due to its better procedural performance and similar safety profile. Some evidence suggests that the lower RF time used in HP-AI may also have a protective effect in contact related complications. Despite this evidence, this strategy is still not widely used. Purpose Compare procedural efficiency and safety between HP-AI vs CP-AI-guided ablation in AF patients (pts). Methods Retrospective single-center study of consecutive pts submitted to AI-guided ablation, between 05/2018 and 10/2022. RF power and AI were 25W/500 and 45W/500 for the anterior wall and 20W/380 and 35W/380 for the posterior wall in CP-AI and HP-AI, respectively. Procedure related complications incidence were checked at 1 month. Results Of a total of 83 pts included in the study, mean age was 62±10y and 57.8% were males. HP-AI was performed in 61.4% (n=51). 39.2% had persistent AF (vs 25% in CP-AP, p=0.235). HP-AI was associated with significantly lower median procedure duration (150.0[140.0-180.0]min vs 192.0[180.0-235.0]min, p&amp;lt;0.001), fluoroscopy time (9.2[7.3-11.3]min vs 12.2[9.7-14.3]min, p=0.003) and RF time (26.3[20.4-28.4]min vs 34.3[30.1-39.6]min, p&amp;lt;0.001). These times were significantly reduced for both paroxysmal and persistent AF (figure 1). Electrical isolation of all the pulmonary veins was achieved in all patients. There were no early complications related to the procedure in either CP-AI or HP-AI groups. Conclusion HP-AI guided AF ablation significantly reduced procedure duration without impairing safety. It was also associated with lower RF application time, which may potentially lead to a reduction in procedure related complications. Data regarding long-term effectiveness will eventually support HP-AI as the best option for RF AF ablation.Comparison of median procedural times

Fat composition of milk replacer influences growth performance, feeding behavior, and plasma fatty acid profile in ad libitum–fed calves

Fat composition in milk replacers (MR) for calves differs from bovine milk fat in multiple ways. The aim of the study was to investigate the impact of different approaches of formulating fat in MR on growth, ad libitum intakes of MR and solid feeds, as well as blood metabolites in dairy calves. Upon 24 to 96 h after birth, 63 calves were acquired from dairy farms and incorporated into the study. Calves were blocked based on arrival day and randomly assigned within each block to one of 3 treatments differing in MR fat composition (n = 21 per group): VG was based on vegetable fats including 80% rapeseed and 20% coconut fats; AN was formulated with animal fats including 65% lard and 35% dairy cream; and MX with a mixture of 80% lard and 20% coconut fats. All 3 MR contained 30% fat, 24% crude protein, and 36% lactose and were formulated to have a fatty acid profile resembling that of milk fat. From arrival onward (3.1 ± 0.84 d of age; means ± standard deviation), calves were group housed and were offered an ad libitum supply of MR at 135 g/L (13.5% solids). Weaning was gradual and induced between wk 7 and 10, after which calves were fed only solid feeds. Starter feed, chopped straw, and water were offered ad libitum throughout the study. Calves were weighed, and blood was collected weekly until d 84 after arrival. Preweaning average daily gain was greater in calves fed AN (915 g/d) than other treatments (783 g/d), whereas no differences were detected in the weaning and postweaning phases. Preweaning MR intake was greater in calves fed AN than MX from wk 2 to 6 and was also higher in calves fed AN than VG in wk 5 and 6. Consistently, the number of rewarded visits during the ad libitum phase was greater in calves fed AN than MX, whereas VG showed no differences. This led to a higher preweaning total metabolizable energy intake in calves fed AN than in calves fed VG and MX. Serum cholesterol was higher, and serum albumin was lower in calves fed VG than other treatments. The proportion of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol in total plasma cholesterol was lower and that of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol was higher in calves fed VG compared with other treatments. Overall, the fatty acid profile of plasma largely mirrored the MR fat composition during the preweaning period. Feeding AN enhanced MR intake and improved preweaning growth compared with other treatments. Feeding VG resulted in a marked increase in plasma cholesterol, particularly in the form of LDL cholesterol, which could be linked to an excessive intake of polyunsaturated fatty acids. These findings underscore the importance of formulating the fat content of MR to be similar to bovine milk fat.

Blockchain-Powered Incentive System for JIT Arrival Operations and Decarbonization in Maritime Shipping

Efficiency and sustainability are undisputedly the most critical objectives for modern ports. Current exercises for port services still lack performance profiling for arriving vessels regarding their arrival punctuality and compliance with port resource schedule for Just-in-time (JIT) service, as well as their efforts contributing towards less emission through reduced turnaround time within port. As a result, a performance-based incentive is missing. Bringing in the incentive component may facilitate the objectives of achieving both port efficiency and sustainability. Blockchain technology, owning to its intrinsic features like immutability, traceability, governance and provenance, and in-built tokens (for most public chain platforms), allow for the establishment of system solutions to record key performance indicators (KPIs) and distribute incentives to good performers. This paper is the first to propose a blockchain-based system to incentivize JIT and green operations in ports. The platform system design and operating mechanisms are elaborated in detail, and a prototype system has been implemented based on the Solana blockchain to demonstrate the core features. The current system’s potential is substantial, considering the industry’s increasing awareness about its environmental footprint. Continuous developments can be facilitated by connecting to market-based measures such as carbon pricing and emission trading in the maritime sector.

PSXI-20 Effects of Termite Meal Supplementation on Egg-Laying Hens and Their Egg Quality

Abstract Recently, the interest in utilizing insect meal as an alternative protein and energy source in chicken production has emerged in developed and developing countries. The damp wood termite Hodotermopsis sjostedti is most unlikely to be a pest among termite species, which enhances its expectation as a potential feed source. Furthermore, termites are generally known for their longevity. This study investigated the effects of termite (H. sjostedti) meal supplementation on BW, feed intake, laying performance, egg quality, and blood plasma profiles for aged Japanese Momiji layer hens as a small-scale preliminary trial. Ten laying aged hens [initial age 99.4 wk old and body weight (BW) 1.98 kg] resided in individual pens were randomly divided into two groups for similar mean BW, egg laying rate, and egg weight and offered either a high-performance commercial formula [COM; 18.0% crude protein (CP) and &amp;gt; 2,850 kcal/kg metabolic energy] or [TM; 2.5% inclusion of freeze-dried ground termite meal (19.1% CP)]. After 12 d of an adaptation period with the treatment diets, eggs were collected daily for 8 d. Each sampled egg was measured for a whole egg, albumen, and yolk weight, albumen and yolk height, yolk diameter, and yolk color referring to the DSM Yolk Color Fan, and eggshell thickness and strength. The egg-laying rate and Haugh unit were calculated. At the end of the study, BW and feed intake were measured individually, and blood samples were collected from the brachial wing vein. All the egg quality values were averaged by hen so that data with one value per hen were analyzed by GLM of SAS. Final BW (P = 0.069) and egg yolk height (P = 0.082) tended to be greater for TM hens than COM hens, whereas feed intake, egg weight, feed efficiency, egg laying rate, and also egg quality traits were similar between the treatments. The whole egg and albumen weights of hens were greater than regular eggs because of their old age. All the hens had increased blood Ca, triglyceride, and phospholipid concentrations, probably because of the base diet formulation and their old age. On the other hand, blood urea nitrogen for TM hens tended to be less (P = 0.055) than COM hens, despite the greater CP concentration in the TM diet. Blood total protein was numerically greater for TM than COM, which implies greater protein metabolism in the diet for TM hens and may support and explain their greater final BW. In conclusion, termite meal supplementation in the high-performance commercial chicken diet enhanced the protein concentration and potential metabolization that suggested preferable tendencies in aged laying hens, which requires further investigation.

Statistical investigation of combustion and emission characteristics of biofuels according to their physical properties: A way to explore suitable alternative fuels

The Pollutant emissions and limited fossil fuel resources attracted researchers toward alternative fuels. Therefore, the combustion of liquid biofuels (as an alternative fuel) is gaining importance in research for the power generation sector for gas turbine engines and internal combustion engines. The physical properties of these fuels play an important role in the combustion characteristics (in terms of flame characteristics, emission characteristics, and flame temperature profile characteristics), and their experimental testing is costly. Considering the importance of research and cost in the experiment, the analysis is carried out to develop a new model for evaluating post-combustion emission characteristics based on the physical properties of liquid fuels. Raw data is extracted from experimental investigations to establish the present analysis models. Experimental studies have been carried out to evaluate the properties of different fuels and their composition-wise effects on flame, temperature, and emission characteristics. Thereby, reliable combustion performance and low emission profiles (in terms of physical fuel properties) can be ensured for potential alternative fuels. The results of the analysis show that specific properties such as high viscosity, high density, and high aromatic content of the fuel have the potential to generate high CO. In contrast, a decrease in these properties promotes high CO2 formation. In addition, low NOx emissions and low CO trends are unlikely to be achieved by simultaneously changing the value of fuel properties. The analysis shows that the low viscosity of the fuel induces low soot emission and flame length retardant.

4 Methamphetamine, cannabis, HIV, and their combined effects on neurocognition

Objective:Methamphetamine and cannabis are two widely used substances with possibly opposing effects on aspects of central nervous system functioning. Use of these substances is prevalent among people with HIV (PWH), though their combined effects on HIV-associated neurocognitive impairment (NCI) are unknown. Adverse effects of methamphetamine use on cognition are well documented. Cannabis may disturb cognition acutely, though its longer-term effects in PWH are not well understood. Our prior analysis of people without HIV (PWoH) found that cotemporaneous cannabis use was associated with better neurocognitive outcomes among methamphetamine users. The aim of this study was to assess how lifetime cannabis and methamphetamine use disorder relate to neurocognitive outcomes in PWH.Participants and Methods:HIV-positive participants (n=472) were on average 45.6±11.5 years of age, male (86.4%), White (60.6%), and educated 13.9±2.5 years. Most participants were on ART (81.9%) and virally suppressed (70%). Participants were stratified by lifetime methamphetamine (M-/M+) and cannabis (C-/C+) DSM-IV abuse/dependence disorder into four groups: M-C- (n=187), M-C+ (n=68), M+C-, (n=82) and M+C+ (n=135) and completed a comprehensive neurobehavioral assessment. Demographically corrected T-scores and deficit scores were used for analyses. Group differences in global and domain NC performances (i.e., T-scores) were examined using multiple linear regression, holding constant covariates that were associated with study groups and/or cognition. Specifically, M+ participants displayed higher rates of Hepatitis C infection (p=.004), higher current depressive symptom scores (p&lt;.001), and higher rates of detectable plasma HIV RNA (p=.014). Multiple logistic regression was used to test for group differences in probability of neurocognitive impairment (i.e., deficit scores&gt;0.5), including the same covariates. Pooling data with a sample of HIV-negative participants (n=423), we used generalized linear mixed effect models to examine how neurocognitive performance and impairment profiles varied by methamphetamine and/or cannabis use group, HIV disease characteristics, and their interactions.Results:Compared to M+C+, M+C- performed worse on measures of executive functions (ß=-3.17), learning (ß=-3.95), memory (ß=-5.58), and working memory (ß=-4.05) and were more likely to be classified as impaired in the learning (OR=2.93), memory (OR=5.24), and working memory (OR=2.48) domains. M-C- performed better than M+C+ on measures of learning (ß=3.46) and memory (ß=5.19), but worse than M-C+ on measures of executive functions (ß=-3.90), learning (ß=-3.32), memory (ß=-3.38), and working memory (ß=-3.38). Generalized linear mixed effect models indicate that detectable plasma HIV RNA (ß=-1.85) and low nadir CD4 T-cell counts (nadir CD4&lt;200; ß=-1.07) were associated with worse neurocognitive performance, and these effects did not differ in size or direction by substance use group.Conclusions:In PWH, lifetime methamphetamine use disorder and both current and legacy markers of HIV disease severity are associated with worse neurocognitive outcomes. Cannabis use disorder does not appear to exacerbate methamphetamine-related deficits in PWH. Instead, results are consistent with findings from preclinical studies that cannabis use may protect against methamphetamine’s deleterious effects. Profile analysis models showed that participants with a history of cannabis use disorder display better overall neurocognitive performance than comparison (M-C-) participants. Mechanisms underlying a potential protective effect of cannabis may be elucidated by examining the temporal relationship between cannabis and methamphetamine consumption and neurocognitive performance.

35 MoCA performance as an indicator of NSAb positivity in focal epilepsy: A preliminary analysis

Objective:Researchers are increasingly finding that the presence of neuronal surface antibodies (NSAb) may account for a larger percentage of outpatient epilepsy cases than previously thought (Elisak et al., 2018; Brenner et al., 2013). However, systematic NSAb screening is not included in standard epilepsy care (Kambadja et al., 2022). The Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA; Nasreddine, 2005) is one of the most commonly used screening tools among physicians (Judge et al., 2019) across various neurological conditions, and has previously been validated in populations with autoimmune encephalitis (Hebert et al., 2018). Because patients with NSAb associated epilepsy often present with cognitive dysfunction (Greco et al., 2006), a MoCA is often administered as part of standard clinical care. The present analysis compared MoCA performance profiles in epilepsy patients with and without the presence of serum NSAbs. We explored what specific cognitive profile, as defined by the MoCA, may predict NSAb positivity.Participants and Methods:Forty-eight epilepsy patients were enrolled through an outpatient epilepsy clinic or during non-intensive or elective hospital stays. Participants were eligible if they met one of three diagnostic categories: focal epilepsy of unknown cause (n = 33), lesional focal epilepsy (n = 5), or generalized epilepsy (n = 4). All participants signed consent, underwent a comprehensive interview, which included MoCA testing, and serum NSAb testing paralleling standard clinical practice. Mann-U Whitney tests were run to compare overall MoCA and subgroup domain performance between groups.Results:Six patients (13%), all with focal epilepsy of unknown cause, had positive NSAb panels (LGI1: n = 3; GAD65: n = 2; CASPR2: n = 1). There was no significant difference in overall MoCA scores between participants with focal epilepsy of unknown cause who were antibody positive versus negative, and antibody positive versus antibody negative lesional or generalized epilepsy. However, when analyzing by MoCA subgroup, we found that antibody positive patients performed significantly worse on delayed recall than antibody negative patients with focal epilepsy of unknown cause (Mdn = 1.5 vs 3), U(Nantibodynegative=27, Nantibodypositive=6) = 69.00, p = .02. There was no significant difference in other MoCA cognitive domain tests, and delayed recall scores did not significantly differ between antibody positive patients and those with lesional focal and generalized epilepsy.Conclusions:These preliminary findings suggest that episodic memory impairment, as measured by delayed recall on the MoCA, may predict NSAb antibody positivity among patients with focal epilepsy of unknown cause. This may relate to specific predilection of the hippocampal regions in antibody-mediated epileptogenesis and pathology.

A Systematic Review on the Physical, Physiological, Perceptual, and Technical-Tactical Demands of Official 3 × 3 Basketball Games.

To systematically review the physical, physiological, perceptual, and technical-tactical demands of official 3 × 3 basketball games. The PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines were followed. Three electronic databases (PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science) were systematically searched to identify studies assessing physical, physiological, perceptual, and technical-tactical demands of 3 × 3 games. Data were also coded according to player sex and tournament phase. Quality assessment of the included studies was performed using a modified Downs and Black checklist. Thirteen articles were finally included, with a mean quality of 8.6 (1.1) out of 11. Three-by-three basketball games have an intermittent profile (1:1 work-rest ratio), with a duration of ∼15minutes, and are characterized by short (6-8s) ball possessions and considerable physical (17-33 accelerations, 24-44 decelerations, 62-94 changes of directions, and 17-24 jumps per game) and physiological (lactate: ∼6.2mmol·L-1) demands. Overall, the game performance profile is similar in males and females, with minor changes happening across tournament phases. Several key technical-tactical indicators were identified as discriminating winning and losing teams, such as better shooting and defensive efficiency, low number of turnovers, and implementing tactical actions involving more players, passing first, and ending possessions with shots from outside of the arch from the top of the key. Three-by-three basketball is an intermittent, physically demanding sport characterized by quick plays and specific tactical constraints. This review provides information that should be considered by performance staff to improve training prescription, game tactical plans, and for player selection and talent identification.

PSIV-13 Evaluation of Floor Space Restriction and Hyper-Dosing of Phytase on Growth Performance, Carcass Characteristics and Serum Chemistry of Late Finishing Pigs

Abstract This study was conducted to evaluate the impact of strategically applied hyper-dosing of phytase on growth performance, carcass characteristics and serum chemistry profile of late finishing pigs housed under space-restricted conditions. A total of 375 finishing pigs (94.63 ± 0.61 kg) were randomly assigned to 48 pens, with 7 to 8 pigs per pen equally balanced for gilts and barrows. Two phytase supplementation doses (control of 2,500 FTU/kg or hyper-dose of 5,000 FTU/kg) and two space allocation dimensions (adequate with 0.85 m2/pig or restricted with 0.66 m2/pig) were combined to create 4 treatments in a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement. Pigs were fed a finishing diet formulated to contain 0.68% standardized ileal digestible (SID) lysine, 0.55% Ca, and 0.24% available P and phytase was given equal matrix values for Ca, P, SID amino acids, and net energy for both supplementation levels. Analyzed dietary phytase concentrations were 2,970 and 6,560 FTU/kg for the 2,500 and 5,000 FTU/kg treatments, respectively. The 3 heaviest pigs per pen (2 barrows and 1 gilt) were marketed on d 28 and the remaining pigs were marketed on d 42. No interactions; P &amp;gt; 0.10) were observed between floor space allowance and phytase supplementation. Pig body weight was determined weekly and was reduced (P &amp;lt; 0.008) by restriction of space on week 3 (116.7 vs. 118.4 kg), and 4 (time of first marketing; 123.6 vs. 125.4 kg) and tended to be reduced (P &amp;lt; 0.08) on week 5 (125.5 vs. 127.8 kg), and 6 (second marketing; 133.0 vs. 135.3 kg). Body weight considering all pigs marketed (d 28 and d 42) was reduced (P = 0.009; 133.9 vs. 135.4) by space restriction. Space restriction reduced ADG during week 1, 3, the first marketing period, and for all pigs marketed (P &amp;lt; 0.05). Similarly, ADFI was reduced in space restricted pigs for all periods (P ≤ 0.001), but gain:feed was not impacted (P &amp;gt; 0.08). Back fat depth and loin eye area measured using ultrasound was not impacted by space restriction. Hyper-dosing with phytase did not impact (P &amp;gt; 0.06) growth performance or carcass characteristics, regardless of space allowance. Space restriction and phytase supplementation did not impact serum chemistry except for increased serum total protein and decreased urea N (P &amp;lt; 0.05) due to space restriction and decreased aspartate transaminase with hyper-dosing phytase. Results indicate that restricted floor space allowance reduced growth rate, feed intake and body weight of late finishing pigs and that hyper-dosing phytase was not an effective strategy in improving growth performance regardless of space allowance.

Production performance, haematological parameters, serum biochemistry, and expression of HSP-70 in broiler chickens fed dietary ascorbic acid during heat stress.

An experiment was carried out to assess the efficacy of supplemental ascorbic acid (AA) on broiler chicken production performance, blood haematological profile, biochemical profile, and carcass traits under heat stress conditions. A total of 192-day-old broiler chicks were divided into four groups, each with six replicates of eight each (4 × 6 × 8). Four corn-based dietary treatments were formulated: T1 (control diet), T2 (T1 + AA at 200mg/kg), T3 (T1 + AA at 400mg/kg), and T4 (T1 + AA at 600mg/kg) for a period of 42days. Despite the high temperature and humidity, the 600mg AA supplemental groups (T4) gained significantly (P ≤ 0.05) more body weight and had a higher feed intake and better feed conversion ratio (FCR) than the control group (T1). After 28days of feeding the three AA-supplemented diets, antibody titres (humoral immune response) were significantly higher (P ≤ 0.05). The response to intradermally injected phyto-haemagglutinin (PHA-P), an index of the in vivo cell-mediated immune response, was found to be increased (P ≤ 0.05) in the 400 and 600mg AA-supplemented groups after 35days. Higher levels of AA (T4) supplementation significantly (P ≤ 0.05) improved haematological values such as haemoglobin (Hb), total erythrocyte count (TEC), total leukocyte count (TLC), and differential leukocyte count (DLC), heterophil:lymphocyte (H:L) in comparison to the control group (T1). The supplemented group improved the serum biochemical profile of the birds, with an increase (P ≤ 0.05) in total serum protein, albumin, and globulin and a decrease in serum cholesterol and corticosterone levels in the T4 group compared to the control group. Heat shock protein-70 (HSP-70) was gradually elevated after increasing the ascorbic acid concentration (P ≤ 0.05) at 14 and 21days. As a result, it can be concluded that supplementing ascorbic acid at 600mg/kg is beneficial for improving the performance, immunity, and blood haematological biochemical profile and upregulating the HSP-70 gene of broiler chickens under heat stress conditions.

A Single-Run HPLC-MS Multiplex Assay for Therapeutic Drug Monitoring of Relevant First- and Second-Line Antibiotics in the Treatment of Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis.

The treatment of drug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis relies on complex antibiotic therapy. Inadequate antibiotic exposure can lead to treatment failure, acquired drug resistance, and an increased risk of adverse events. Therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) can be used to optimize the antibiotic exposure. Therefore, we aimed to develop a single-run multiplex assay using high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS) for TDM of patients with multidrug-resistant, pre-extensively drug-resistant and extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis. A target profile for sufficient performance, based on the intended clinical application, was established and the assay was developed accordingly. Antibiotics were analyzed on a zwitterionic hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography column and a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer using stable isotope-labeled internal standards. The assay was sufficiently sensitive to monitor drug concentrations over five half-lives for rifampicin, rifabutin, levofloxacin, moxifloxacin, bedaquiline, linezolid, clofazimine, terizidone/cycloserine, ethambutol, delamanid, pyrazinamide, meropenem, prothionamide, and para-amino salicylic acid (PAS). Accuracy and precision were sufficient to support clinical decision making (≤±15% in clinical samples and ±20-25% in spiked samples, with 80% of future measured concentrations predicted to fall within ±40% of nominal concentrations). The method was applied in the TDM of two patients with complex drug-resistant tuberculosis. All relevant antibiotics from their regimens could be quantified and high-dose therapy was initiated, followed by microbiological conversion. In conclusion, we developed a multiplex assay that enables TDM of the relevant first- and second-line anti-tuberculosis medicines in a single run and was able to show its applicability in TDM of two drug-resistant tuberculosis patients.

Supplementation of Amla (Emblica officinalis) Fruit Powder Modulate Growth and Reduce Heat Stress in Broiler Chickens

Heat stress is a significant environmental challenge that impairs broiler production, negatively impacting growth, feed intake, nutrient absorption, and gut ecology. Various methods exist to mitigate heat stress such as genetic and nutritional approaches, air conditioning, ventilation, and antibiotic growth promoters but they are often expensive and not always adequate. Keeping this view in mind, research has been focused on medicinal herbs which are available, cheap and safer to use. Amla fruit possesses antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anti-stress properties that could mitigate heat stress’s harmful effects on broilers. Therefore, this study was conducted to evaluate the impact of amla fruit powder on growth performance, gut microbiota and blood lipid profile of broilers under ambient temperature and heat stressed condition. A total of 126 broiler chicks were divided into two major groups, one group kept under ambient temperature and another group exposed to heat stress. Each major group was split into 3 subgroups with 3 replications having 7 chicks per replication. In case of each major groups, first sub groups were kept as a control and latter two groups were supplemented with 0.5% and 1.0% amla fruit powder, respectively. Total duration of the experiment was 35 days, where treatments were given with basal diet from 12 days. All the experiment birds were maintained with the similar management except the experimental diets. The results showed that body weight and body weight gain at the end of the experiment were higher in amla treated group than in the control group at both temperatures. Supplementation of amla fruit powder also improved feed conversion ratio (FCR) and dressing percentage than the control groups. Additionally, amla powder reduced TC, TAG and LDL levels and slightly increased HDL content. Amla fruit powder decreased pathogenic bacterial population such as Escherichia coli and Salmonella spp. concentration in the gut and increased probiotic bacterial concentration such as Lactobacillus spp. under both rearing temperatures. Taken together, it can be concluded that, amla fruit powder could be used as an alternative tool to improve broiler performance and mitigate the deleterious effects of heat stress on broiler chickens.

Peri-Anthracenethioindigo: A Scaffold for Efficient All-Red-Light and Near-Infrared Molecular Photoswitching.

Molecular photoswitching with red light is greatly desired to evade photodamage and achieve specific photoresponses. In virtually all reported cases however, only one switching direction uses red light while for the reverse switching, UV or visible light is needed. All-red-light photoswitching brings with it the clear advantage of pushing photoswitching to the limit of the low-energy spectrum, but no viable system is available currently. Here we report on peri-anthracenethioindigo (PAT) as molecular scaffold for highly efficient all-red-light photoswitching with an outstanding performance and property profile. The PAT photoswitch provides near-infrared (NIR) absorption up to 850 nm, large negative photochromism with more than 140 nm maxima shifts and changes color from green to blue upon irradiation with two shades of red light. Thermal stability of the metastable Z isomer is high with a corresponding half-life of days at 20 °C. Application in red-light responsive polymers undergoing pronounced and reversible green to blue color changes demonstrate spatially resolved photoswitching. The PAT photoswitch thus offers unique responsiveness to very low energy light together with predictable and large geometrical changes within a rigid molecular scaffold. We expect a plethora of applications for PAT in the near future, e.g. in materials, molecular machines or biological context.