Trained Experts Research Articles

La profesionalización de la gestión cultural en Argentina: entrevistas y documentos cualitativos

More than forty years ago, the cultural sector gained importance in a context of changes that resulted in transformations in socio-cultural policies. As a consequence, a process of professionalization of cultural agents began through actions, both educational and political, aimed at the consolidation of a cultural manager with specific expertise and academic training. On this line, we initiated a research (which is in its final stage) with the aim of analyzing the processof professionalization of cultural management in higher education in Argentina. From a qualitative theoretical-methodological perspective, we focused on the institutions and their members (those responsible for the coordination of careers and graduates).In this article we problematize the potentialities present in the use of various approaches to collect and construct data. The interview and the analysis of documentary sources are pertinent to achieve a deep understanding of the phenomenon to be studied. We will see how this look helps to deepen this process of professionalization of cultural management in Argentina.

Could You Understand Me? The Relationship among Method Complexity, Preprocessing Complexity, Interpretability, and Accuracy

The need to train experts who will be able to apply machine learning methods for knowledge discovery is increasing. Building an effective machine learning model requires understanding the principle of operation of the individual methods and their requirements in terms of data pre-preparation, and it is also important to be able to interpret the acquired knowledge. This article presents an experiment comparing the opinion of the 42 students of the course called Introduction to Machine Learning on the complexity of the method, preprocessing, and interpretability of symbolic, subsymbolic and statistical methods with the correctness of individual methods expressed on the classification task. The methodology of the implemented experiment consists of the application of various techniques in order to search for optimal models, the accuracy of which is subsequently compared with the results of a knowledge test on machine learning methods and students’ opinions on their complexity. Based on the performed non-parametric and parametric statistic tests, the null hypothesis, which claims that there is no statistically significant difference in the evaluation of individual methods in terms of their complexity/demandingness, the complexity of data preprocessing, the comprehensibility of the acquired knowledge and the correctness of the classification, is rejected.

Convolutional neural network for voice disorders classification using kymograms

The diagnosis of voice disorders typically involves examination of laryngoscopic video frames by trained experts. Videokymography (VKG) is a useful clinical tool to represent the glottal dynamics and vibratory patterns as kymographic images. In this work, a 2D Convolutional Neural Network (2D CNN) was used to classify voice disorders from kymograms. High-speed videoendoscopy (HSV) recordings of the ''Benchmark for Automatic Glottis Segmentation'' (BAGLS) database were used as the corpus for the voice disorders. Kymographic images were generated from this corpus. For each classification problem addressed in this work, 90% of the generated kymograms were used to train the network and the remaining 10% was used for testing its classification performance. Classification accuracies of 94.237% and 94.8% were obtained for the two cases of binary classification (healthy vs disorders, and healthy vs muscle tension dysphonia). Ternary classification (healthy vs functional vs organic disorders) of the dataset yielded an accuracy of 93.1%.

Overview Study on Learner Satisfaction with the Quality of Higher Education in Vietnam in the Period 2013-2023

Applying the systematic review method, we found 28 studies on satisfaction with training quality. Screening and excluding inappropriate studies, we have 10 studies that are used for analysis in this article. The results of the analysis show satisfaction studies conducted at an educational institution or a particular discipline. The convenience sampling method along with data collection techniques by email and direct survey is the method used by many selection studies. The type of research the authors used is mainly a cross-sectional study combining quantitative and qualitative. Through the analysis of reliability tests, exploratory factor analysis and multivariable regression, the authors have assessed the impact of these factors on learners' satisfaction with the quality of training create. Through these studies, we find that the factor "Training program" is the factor that has the strongest impact on learners' satisfaction and satisfaction is not affected by characteristics such as gender, age, and other characteristics other points of the learner. Finally, we also noted that in Vietnam, there is no unified model built based on the set of criteria for evaluating the training quality of the Ministry of Education and Training. Therefore, education and training management institutions and experts in this field need to research to come up with an optimal model for assessing satisfaction with the quality of training for learners.

Examining the feasibility of data-driven decision support for the virtual crossmatch for solid organ transplantation: A single center study

The virtual crossmatch is used in transplant medicine to assess the compatibility of organ donors and recipients. Virtual crossmatch methods vary considerably across institutions; require highly trained HLA laboratory experts and clinicians for interpretation; and do not generate data in a standardized format suitable for comparison across institutions. It is not known if standardized multi-center data collection and reporting could potentially facilitate the development of data-driven immunologic decision-making. We sought to examine the feasibility of an algorithmic approach to interpreting virtual crossmatch data.We examined Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics laboratory data from 1,152 transplant patients and 1,180 donors from an academic medical transplant center over a ten-year time interval. Principal component analysis was used to simplify the complex high-dimensional data with rare outcomes into a format better suited for analysis. Machine learning models were used to predict negative flow crossmatch results. A training subset of the oldest 80% of the data was used to identify the top-performing model. The model's performance was assessed on the newest 20% of the data with the area under receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC).The final dataset included 2205 crossmatch results from 1446 patient-donor pairs of which 2019 (91.6%) were negative and 186 (8.4%) positive. The top-performing model test set AUC was 0.80.This study offers the first proof-of-concept of the feasibility of an algorithmic approach to estimate physical crossmatch results. Standardized, multi-institution data collection is necessary to further explore the possibility of a standardized, data-driven virtual crossmatch process.

ПЕДАГОГІЧНІ ТЕХНОЛОГІЇ ПРОФЕСІЙНОЇ ПІДГОТОВКИ МАЙБУТНІХ ФАХІВЦІВ СОЦІОНОМІЧНОЇ СФЕРИ

The article carries out a thorough and comprehensive analysis of approaches that contribute to the effectiveness of professional training of future specialists in the socionomic sphere in the current socio-cultural situation and in terms of forced distance interaction. The goal of the article is to determine the main pedagogical technologies that are the most effective and characteristic for the training of future specialists in the socionomic area of expertise. According to the goal, the following tasks were set: firstly, on the basis of content analysis, to identify and analyse the main pedagogical technologies that are the most effective and characteristic for the professional training of future specialists in the socionomic sphere; secondly, to justify the effectiveness of the use of certain pedagogical technologies specifically for the training of experts in the socionomic sphere relying on the systematization and conceptualization of advanced pedagogical experience in higher education institutions. It has been established that the pedagogical technologies used in the training of future specialists in the socionomic sphere in the institution of higher education must design a mechanism of management and development of the personality and professional skills of the future experts. This becomes possible only under the condition of a set of students’ and teachers’ actions – cognitive and instrumental ones. The primary development of such technologies is the creation of highly productive students’ educational activities and highly effective managerial teachers’ activities in their educational, professional and creative interaction. It has been found that among the most promising pedagogical technologies capable of implementing the specified strategic tasks are project technology (project method), integrative-modular technologies, modular-rating learning technology, problem-based learning technology, case technologies, information and communication technologies and computer distance learning technologies. The mentioned technologies allow ensuring the comprehensive personal development of future specialists in the socionomic sphere, their preparation for productive professional activity, a high level of study and cognitive activity and self-management of the educational process. In the article, the emphasis is placed on the priority of integrating modern information and communication technologies into professional education for the purpose of forming the professional experience of future specialists in the socionomic sphere, activating thinking, intensification of educational activities, in particular in the distance learning conditions. It has been substantiated that the existing problems in the system of higher education in Ukraine require significant evolutionary changes in the paradigm of professional training and in all components of the educational process. It has been established that the reform of the education process in Ukrainian higher education institutions, which prepare future specialists in the socionomic sphere, should be aimed at including students in an active learning process and exerting a significant influence on the motivational, cognitive, emotional-volitional and psychophysiological spheres of their personality ensuring thereby their further professional and spiritual rise. It was concluded that for the modern theory and methodology of professional education of future specialists in the socionomic sphere, the search for new pedagogical opportunities is connected, first of all, with the rejection of some elements of the traditional educational process, the use of the idea of the integrity of the pedagogical process as a system based on the theory of universal human values, principles of humanization and humanitarization of professional knowledge, person-oriented approach, the priority of subject-subject relations.

Distance learning expert and leader

The paper deals with the theoretical foundations of training experts and leaders of distance learning in order to improve their training program. An expert is a specialist who has an experience in developing distance courses, conducting distance learning classes and has and uses the skills of a content curator. Leaders create the conditions for innovative changes that allow people and organizations to share their vision and move in its direction, contribute to the management and implementation of ideas. The paper describes the basic skills to be developed by an expert and a leader, provides typical mistakes of distance course developers. Training of experts and leaders was based on the distance course ”Distance Course Examination” for experienced developers of distance learning courses and administrators of distance learning systems from different organizations. During the training, students analyzed the purpose of learning according to the Bloom’s taxonomy and its accessibility, the complexity of the text and its design, tasks and learning activities, test quality and evaluation system as well as other elements responsible for the quality of learning. During the pilot training, the results were obtained in the form of reports of students about the examination of the distance course as well as analysis of this work was done. 47 teachers of educational institutions of Ukraine were trained and only 12 teachers successfully completed their training. Based on the results of training and taking into account the experience of emergency training during the pandemic and military actions in Ukraine, the course program has been refined. It is planned to use a team of experts, ”playing” coaches and new methods for conducting distance learning. Particular attention is paid to training experts, leaders and measuring their competencies.

Tantangan Kontemporer Pengembangan Sumber Daya Manusia Koperasi Industrial

In a competitive environment, employees of every organization are a key factor in business success. In various fields such as health, education, media, banking insurance, etc. Human resources play an important role in successful service delivery. Most service industries emphasize the absorption of human resources with the necessary qualifications, expertise, and practical basic training. However, the Cooperative does not have this privilege due to its current structure and functions. Cooperatives began to enter and develop in Indonesia. In Indonesia cooperatives were introduced by Patih R.Aria Wiria Atmaja in 1896. They have increasingly complex business mechanisms that require all modern management tools and techniques to succeed, but one of the obstacles to their growth is the lack of qualified personnel to manage business management in effective field. Recruiting, training, retaining the existing workforce and cultivating a culture of continuous learning are some of the challenges facing Cooperatives even today. Because the development of human resources (HR) is a key factor that determines the characteristics of a successful institution. Cooperatives also need to develop permanent members, management and especially employees. Therefore, in this study, an attempt was made to signal the need for HRD and identify contemporary challenges in the implementation of HRD activities in cooperatives.

Animal Welfare during Transport and Slaughter of Cattle: A Systematic Review of Studies in the European Legal Framework.

Literature related to European transport and slaughter processes were included in this systematic review. The publication period is limited to the past twelve years since the European Animal Welfare Transport Regulation was enacted in 2009. Three different databases were used. The final screening resulted in the inclusion of 19 articles in this review. When handling cattle during transport and slaughter, personnel have an important impact and may inflict stress on the animals. Other factors, such as the group composition and health status prior to transport, can have a strong negative effect on animal welfare. At the abattoir, constructional conditions and the resulting environmental influences can have a negative impact on welfare as well. These include increased noise levels due to the lack of noise dampening and changing light conditions. Stress in cattle can be assessed, e.g., by measuring stress hormones or heart rate. Effective stunning is an important welfare-relevant step in the slaughtering process. Some signs of unconsciousness, such as immediate body collapse or absence of the corneal reflex, can be easily assessed. Expertise and continuous training of all personnel involved are important measures in stress reduction.

Preventing sexual violence in Vietnam: qualitative findings from high school, university, and civil society key informants across regions

BackgroundSexual violence by young men against women is common, but efficacious primary prevention interventions tailored to men are limited in low- and middle-income settings like Vietnam. GlobalConsent, a web-based sexual violence prevention intervention tailored to university men in Hanoi, is efficacious. Implementation research is needed to understand facilitators and barriers to scaling GlobalConsent and prevention programs generally. We conducted qualitative research with key informants from three youth-focused organizational settings to understand the context of implementation in Vietnam.MethodsInterviews with university (n = 15), high-school (n = 15) and non-governmental (n = 15) key informants focused on perceptions about sexual violence among young people and prevention programming. Four focus group discussions with 22 interviewed informants, following the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research, asked about facilitators and barriers to implementing GlobalConsent. Narratives were transcribed, translated, and coded inductively and deductively to identify salient themes.ResultsOuter-setting influences included greater expectations for sex among young people alongside norms favoring men’s sexual privilege, ostensibly ambiguous and lax laws on sexual violence, government ministries as bureaucratic but potential allies, external subject-matter experts, and the media. Inner-setting influences included variable cultures regarding openness to discuss sexual violence and equitable gender norms, variable departmental coordination, limited funding and ‘red tape’ especially in public institutions, inconsistent student access to technologies, and limited time and competing priorities among students and teachers. Several actors were considered influential, including institutional leaders, human-resource staff, the Youth Union, and student-facing staff. Important characteristics of individuals for implementation included subject-matter expertise, science or social science training, younger age, engagement in social justice related activities, and more open attitudes about sex. Regarding characteristics of sexual violence prevention programming, some participants preferred online formats for busy students while others suggested hybrid or in-person formats, peer education, and incentives. Participants generally accepted the content of GlobalConsent and suggested adding more content for women, ancillary support services, and adapted content for high-school students.ConclusionsImplementation of sexual violence prevention programs in youth-focused organizations in Vietnam requires multilevel strategies that connect outer-setting subject-matter experts with supportive inner-setting leaders and student-facing staff to overcome normative and organizational constraints, and thereby, to deliver institution-wide programming.

Analysis, Findings, and Recommendations for Needs/Problems Assessment and Clustering of UMKM Assisted by CDA Unit Binus University

Center For Business and Empowerment (CBSE) has committed to synergize and support the CDA Binus University. Coaching activities for Binus University-assisted MSMEs will develop from the previous activities which focused on providing competency and expertise training to Binus University-assisted MSME players by Binus University lecturers. As for improving the coaching program and to be more focused, CDA wants the MSME participants to be clusterized/categorized and then assessed or assessed their needs. The development model of computerization and needs assessment as well as the development of empowerment programs and curriculum for MSMEs assisted by BINUS hang includes 4 main stages and 1 reporting stage.

Using a Delphi Technique to Define Primary Care Behavioral Health Clinical Supervision Competencies.

There is an increasing need for Primary Care Behavioral Health (PCBH) workforce development (i.e., increase in well-trained PCBH providers) given the growth of behavioral health (BH) integration into primary care, specifically at a time when behavioral health needs are increasing because of the COVID-19 pandemic (Kanzler and Ogbeide in Psychol Trauma 12(S1):S177-S179, https://doi.org/10.1037/tra0000761 , 2020). Therefore, it is imperative to provide current and future behavioral health clinical supervisors in primary care settings specific competencies, given there are no current competencies specific to clinical supervision within the PCBH Model. Using a Delphi process, the authors identified and reached expert consensus on competencies for BH clinical supervisors in primary care. A purposive sample (in: Patton, Qualitative evaluation and research methods, Sage, Newbury Park, 1990) of fifteen experts (n = 15) in PCBH clinical training and education evaluated quantitative and qualitative domains and specific competencies associated with PCBH supervision gathered during an initial in-depth qualitative interview. This was followed by two subsequent rounds of quantitative Delphi surveys to reach consensus. The response rates from our panel of experts were 100% (15/15) for all stages (interviews, round one and round two surveys). Three domains (Primary Care Knowledge, Clinical Supervisor Development, and Clinical Supervision Skills) were rated as essential for providing clinical supervision with PCBH for pre-licensure level learners. The development of competencies will further support BH clinical supervisor needs, professional development, and provide a concrete way to evaluate progress towards teaching and training excellence. This will also have a great impact on the development of the future BH workforce within primary care.

Financial Impact of Embedded Injury-Prevention Experts in US Army Initial Entry Training.

The US Army embedded injury-prevention experts (IPEs), specifically athletic trainers and strength and conditioning coaches, into initial entry training (IET) to limit musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions and their negative consequences. However, little is known about the financial impact of IPEs. To assess whether IPEs were associated with fewer sunk training costs due to MSK-related early discharges from service. Retrospective cohort study. Database of US Army soldiers' administrative, medical, and readiness records. A total of 198 166 soldiers (age = 20.7 ± 3.2 years, body mass index = 24.4 ± 3.5 kg/m2) who began IET during 2014 to 2017. Early discharge from service was defined as occurring within 6 months of beginning IET. All IET sites employed IPEs from 2011 to 2017, except for 2 sites during April to November 2015. Soldiers who began IET at these 2 sites during these times were categorized as not having IPE exposure. All others were categorized as having IPE exposure. The unadjusted association between IPE access and MSK-related early discharge from service was assessed using logistic regression. Financial impact was assessed by quantifying differences in yearly sunk costs between groups with and those without IPE exposure and subtracting IPE hiring costs. Among 14 094 soldiers without IPE exposure, 2.77% were discharged early for MSK-related reasons. Among 184 072 soldiers with IPE exposure, 1.01% were discharged. Exposure to IPEs was associated with reduced odds of MSK-related early discharge (odds ratio = 0.36, 95% CI = 0.32, 0.40, P < .001) and a decrease in yearly sunk training costs of $11.19 to $20.00 million. Employing IPEs was associated with reduced sunk costs because of fewer soldiers being discharged from service early for MSK-related reasons. Evidence-based recommendations should be developed for guiding policy on the roles and responsibilities of IPEs in the military to reduce negative outcomes from MSK conditions and generate a positive return on investment.

Reliability and Validity of the Embouchure Dystonia Severity Rating Scale.

Embouchure dystonia (ED) is a task-specific movement disorder that leads to loss of fine motor control of the embouchure and tongue muscles in wind musicians. In contrast to musicians' hand dystonia, no validated severity rating for ED exists, posing a major obstacle for structured assessment in scientific and clinical settings. The aim of this study is to validate an ED severity rating scale (EDSRS) allowing for a standardized estimation of symptom severity in ED. The EDSRS was set up as a composite score of six items evaluating audio-visual disease symptoms during the performance of three standardized musical tasks (sustained notes, scales, and fourths) separately for each body side. For validation, 17 musicians with ED underwent standardized audiovisual recordings during performance. Anonymized and randomized recordings were assessed by two experts in ED (raters). Statistical analysis included metrics of consistency, reliability, and construct validity with the fluctuation of the fundamental frequency of the acoustic signal (F0) (extracted in an audio analysis of the sustained notes). The EDSRS showed high internal consistency (Cronbach's α = 0.975-0.983, corrected item-total correlations r = 0.90-0.96), interrater reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient [ICC] for agreement/consistency = 0.94/0.96), intrarater reliability over time (ICC per rater = 0.93/0.87) and good precision (standard error of measurement = 2.19/2.65), and correlated significantly with F0 variability (r = 0.55-0.60, p = 0.011-0.023). The developed EDSRS is a valid and reliable tool for the assessment of ED severity in the hands of trained expert raters. Its easy applicability makes it suitable not only for routine clinical practice but also for scientific studies.

다문화 초등학생 대상 보이스트레이닝 수업의 설계 원리 연구

The purpose of this study is to present the design principles of specialized voice training classes for multicultural elementary school students to help them learn pronunciation and intonation. This was achieved by reviewing current studies and literature related to voice training, pronunciation, and intonation. Subsequently, a preliminary draft of 20 principles for specialized voice training classes for elementary school students was designed. These principles were then validated and refined through Focus Group Interviews(FGIs) with voice training experts. Through experimentation, a total of 28 principles were developed, the cause was explained step by step. Although this study could not provide quantitative verification of the tested principles, this study is meaningful for providing data that can be used to form guidelines for voice training classes for multicultural elementary school students.

ИННОВАЦИОННЫЕ МЕХАНИЗМЫ ПЕРЕХОДА К УСТОЙЧИВОМУ РАЗВИТИЮ СУБНАЦИОНАЛЬНОГО РЕГИОНА: ОПЫТ МОГИЛЕВСКОЙ ОБЛАСТИ

The article proves the mechanisms of transition to sustainable development in the Mogilev region at different hierarchical levels. The innovation of strategic planning involves the creation of the localization architecture of sustainable development goals at the level of the Republic of Belarus, subnational region, cities (districts), as well as certain organizations. The paper classifies the main stages in the process of working out regional and local strategies of sustainable development. The experience of a workshop on the training of local experts in the development of strategic planning documents of the Mogilev region at the level of towns of regional subordination and administrative districts is presented. The methodological approaches to the development of the program of transition to the development of circular economy of the educational institution «Mogilev State Technological College» within the framework of the implementation of the Strategy of Sustainable Development of the Mogilev region until 2035 are tested.

African Neuroscience: Social Responsibility and a New Sense of Community

Africa is home to a longstanding tradition of scientific enquiry dating back to the Pharaohs. In the last century, Africa’s universities were instrumental in nation building and in training expertise in many fields of scientific endeavor, including neuroscience. In 1988 IBRO, committed to neuroscience development in Africa, organized a workshop at the University of Nairobi to bring African neuroscientists together to discuss advancement of the discipline on the continent. That meeting eventually led to the launch of the Society of Neuroscientists of Africa. Since then, IBRO has continued its support for African neuroscience through several initiatives including organization of a series of high-level schools in Africa that have kept the continent’s educators and researchers abreast of the latest advances and technological tools in the discipline. The rapid development of new neuroscience methodologies for the treatment and enhancement of brain function, including brain stimulation, pharmaceutical treatment of psychiatric disorders, and stem cell transplants to treat neurodegenerative diseases create research environments in which Africa’s rich genetic diversity and its medicinal plant resources can play an important role. The continued support of IBRO to African neuroscience over the past 35 years has contributed effectively to laying the groundwork for a new sense of community that Africa’s educators need to develop further through cooperation in defining curricula and joint research projects.

Exercise prescription to patients with cardiovascular disease is in greater agreement with ESC/EAPC recommendations after using the EXPERT Training tool

Abstract Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: Public grant(s) – National budget only. Main funding source(s): This work was supported by the Flemish Research Fund (FWO, FWO-ICA: G0F4220N). Background Exercise prescriptions by clinicians to patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD) often disagree with recommendations, thus requiring improvement. Aim To assess whether exercise prescriptions by clinicians to patients with CVD are better in agreement with ESC/EAPC recommendations when the EXPERT Training tool is used for digital training. Design: Prospective non-randomized intervention study. Methods Twenty-three Belgian physiotherapists first prescribed exercise intensity, frequency, session duration, program duration and exercise type (endurance or strength training) for the same three patient cases, from which the agreement with ESC/EAPC recommendations (based on a maximal score of 60/per case: agreement score) was assessed. Next, they completed a one-month digital training by using the EXPERT Training tool and completed 31±13 (out of 45 available) training cases. Thereafter, the same three patient cases as at entry of study were filled out again, with re-assessment of level of agreement with ESC/EAPC recommendations. Results After using the EXPERT Training tool the clinicians’ prescribed significantly greater exercise frequencies, program durations and total exercise volumes in all three patient cases (p&amp;lt;0.05). In case 1, 2 and 3, the agreement score increased from 29±9 (out of 60) to 41±9, from 28±9 to 41±10, and from 34±7 to 45±8, respectively (p&amp;lt;0.001). Hence, the total agreement score increased from 91±17 (out of 180) to 127±19 (p&amp;lt;0.001, +44±32%). A lower starting agreement score and younger age correlated significantly with a greater improvement in total agreement score (p&amp;lt;0.05). Conclusions Exercise prescriptions to patients with CVD, generated by clinicians, are significantly better in agreement with ESC/EAPC recommendations when the EXPERT Training tool is used.

Echo2Pheno: a deep-learning application to uncover echocardiographic phenotypes in conscious mice

Echocardiography, a rapid and cost-effective imaging technique, assesses cardiac function and structure. Despite its popularity in cardiovascular medicine and clinical research, image-derived phenotypic measurements are manually performed, requiring expert knowledge and training. Notwithstanding great progress in deep-learning applications in small animal echocardiography, the focus has so far only been on images of anesthetized rodents. We present here a new algorithm specifically designed for echocardiograms acquired in conscious mice called Echo2Pheno, an automatic statistical learning workflow for analyzing and interpreting high-throughput non-anesthetized transthoracic murine echocardiographic images in the presence of genetic knockouts. Echo2Pheno comprises a neural network module for echocardiographic image analysis and phenotypic measurements, including a statistical hypothesis-testing framework for assessing phenotypic differences between populations. Using 2159 images of 16 different knockout mouse strains of the German Mouse Clinic, Echo2Pheno accurately confirms known cardiovascular genotype–phenotype relationships (e.g., Dystrophin) and discovers novel genes (e.g., CCR4-NOT transcription complex subunit 6-like, Cnot6l, and synaptotagmin-like protein 4, Sytl4), which cause altered cardiovascular phenotypes, as verified by H&E-stained histological images. Echo2Pheno provides an important step toward automatic end-to-end learning for linking echocardiographic readouts to cardiovascular phenotypes of interest in conscious mice.Graphical abstract

Automated pose estimation reveals walking characteristics associated with lameness in broilers

Walking ability of broilers can be improved by selective breeding, but large-scale phenotypic records are required. Currently, gait of individual broilers is scored by trained experts, however, precision phenotyping tools could offer a more objective and high-throughput alternative. We studied whether specific walking characteristics determined through pose estimation are linked to gait in broilers. We filmed male broilers from behind, walking through a 3 m×0.4 m (length×width) corridor one by one, at 3 time points during their lifetime (at 14, 21, and 33 d of age). We used a deep learning model, developed in DeepLabCut, to detect and track 8 keypoints (head, neck, left and right knees, hocks, and feet) of broilers in the recorded videos. Using the keypoints of the legs, 6 pose features were quantified during the double support phase of walking, and 1 pose feature was quantified during steps, at maximum leg lift. Gait was scored on a scale from 0 to 5 by 4 experts, using the videos recorded on d 33, and the broilers were further classified as having either good gait (mean gait score ≤2) or suboptimal gait (mean gait score >2). The relationship of pose features on d 33 with gait was analyzed using the data of 84 broilers (good gait: 57.1%, suboptimal gait: 42.9%). Birds with suboptimal gait had sharper hock joint lateral angles and lower hock-feet distance ratios during double support on d 33, on average. During steps, relative step height was lower in birds with suboptimal gait. Step height and hock-feet distance ratio showed the largest mean deviations in broilers with suboptimal gait compared to those with good gait. We demonstrate that pose estimation can be used to assess walking characteristics during a large part of the productive life of broilers, and to phenotype and monitor broiler gait. These insights can be used to understand differences in the walking patterns of lame broilers, and to build more sophisticated gait prediction models.