Search Results (5,233)

Taiwan’s subtropical climate poses substantial heat stress challenges to poultry production. This study compared four red-feathered rooster lines (n = 10 per line, BB homozygous HSP70 genotype)—three commercially bred lines (F, T, K) selected for maximum body weight, and one native trial line (TLRI-09) developed through marker-assisted selection targeting the HSP70 BB genotype—during a one-hour acute heat challenge at 42 °C. A pre-specified statistical decision tree was applied: normality was assessed by the Shapiro–Wilk test for each group’s change score (Δ = post − pre); one-way ANOVA with Tukey’s HSD was used when all groups were normally distributed; Kruskal–Wallis with Dunn’s post hoc test (Bonferroni correction) was used otherwise. Within-group pre-to-post changes were assessed by paired t-test. TLRI-09 showed a substantially lower body weight (909 ± 102 g vs. 2039–2226 g) and zero mortality, whereas each commercial line experienced one death (10%). Cloacal temperatures in F, T, and K groups exceeded the thermometer’s upper limit (>44 °C) within one hour; TLRI-09 reached only 42.8 ± 0.1 °C. Respiratory rate increment was highest in TLRI-09 (Δ = 82.0 ± 8.4 breaths/min) and differed significantly among lines (p < 0.001). Plasma T₃ change differed among lines (p = 0.006); post hoc analysis identified a significant K vs. T contrast only (p = 0.019). These results indicate that, despite sharing the same HSP70 genotype, breeding objective is an important determinant of acute thermal resilience—an observation that warrants further validation under chronic and commercial production conditions. Full article

Background/Objectives: This study investigates the hypothesis that transient oxygen depletion is the mechanism of the skin sparing effect of ultra-high dose-rate irradiation, commonly referred to as FLASH irradiation. Methods: Two skin tattoo dots were placed approximately 1.0 cm apart on the thigh of FVB/N mice. The area overlapping the dots was irradiated with a single dose of 27 Gy protons delivered with either FLASH (~120 Gy/s) or 0.5 Gy/s conventional dose-rate (CDR) irradiation. Skin contraction was assessed by measuring the distance between the tattoo dots and complemented by histopathological skin analyses. Mice were placed in a 1.4 L chamber flushed with 5%, 7%, 20.9% or 100% oxygen (balance nitrogen, where applicable) prior to and during irradiation. Skin oxygenation was measured non-invasively using the phosphorescence quenching method. Results: Compared to air-breathing mice, skin contraction increases in mice breathing 100% oxygen and decreases when breathing 7% and 5% oxygen following CDR irradiation, showing that skin is neither fully oxygenated nor hypoxic. FLASH irradiation reduced skin contraction, epidermal thickening, and fibrosis in air-breathing mice compared to CDR irradiation. The difference between FLASH and CDR skin contraction decreases as the inspired gas oxygen content is reduced from 20.9% to 7%. Under 5% oxygen breathing conditions, the FLASH sparing effect is eliminated. Conclusions: Mean normal tissue pO₂ does not reveal the presence of cells at low pO₂ that could become susceptible to FLASH-induced radiobiological hypoxia at doses lower than would be predicted from the mean tissue pO₂ value. In the absence of oxygen, FLASH skin sparing for the late normal tissue effect, skin contraction, is eliminated. Full article

Laryngeal adductor breathing dystonia (LABD) is a rare form of focal, task-specific respiratory dystonia affecting the laryngeal muscles of unknown aetiology. Unlike classical laryngeal dystonia (spasmodic dysphonia), LABD is not primarily characterised by impaired speech, but rather by dysfunction of respiratory laryngeal control. The hallmark pathophysiological alteration consists of involuntary, action-induced adductor spasms of the laryngeal muscles during respiration, particularly during inspiration. LABD must be distinguished from inducible laryngeal obstruction (ILO), a broader, heterogeneous condition encompassing episodic, stimulus-triggered supraglottic or glottic closure, associated with asthma, reflux, or psychological triggers, that is generally not task-specific and lacks the neurological substrate characteristic of dystonia. In contrast, LABD is a persistent, effort-dependent, neurologically driven dystonia, demonstrable by paradoxical adductor spasms on fibreoptic laryngoscopy during normal inspiration and confirmed electromyographically by paradoxical thyroarytenoid muscle activation instead of the expected inspiratory relaxation. Traditional treatments, including respiratory retraining, speech therapy, biofeedback, psychotherapy, benzodiazepines, dopamine-blocking agents, and anticholinergic drugs, have proved largely ineffective. Tracheostomy may be required in cases of severe respiratory compromise. Botulinum toxin type A (BoNT/A) injections have been reported to successfully reduce inspiratory stridor in selected patients. Here, we present three cases of LABD displaying distinct phenotypes, in which typical features were associated with involvement of extra-laryngeal cranial districts, further expanding the known phenotypic spectrum of this condition. Full article

Heat stress occurs when total environmental and metabolic heat production is greater than an animal’s ability to dissipate that heat. Heat stress negatively impacts feeder cattle performance and welfare. Limited research has been conducted to determine if feeding cattle in the evening, thereby shifting their metabolic heat production to a cooler period of the day, can help mitigate heat stress. This pen-level randomized controlled trial evaluated the effects of evening feeding (PM; feedings at 2000, 2300, and 0200 h; n = 24 pens) versus morning feeding (AM; feedings at 0500, 0800, and 1200 h; n = 24 pens) on terminally sorted steer performance in a commercial feedyard in the Pacific Northwest. Data collection included feed delivery, water consumption, health events, open mouth breathing prevalence, and carcass traits. Linear and generalized linear mixed-effects models were used to determine potential differences between treatment group and temperature-humidity index (THI; <80 versus ≥80). Only 14% of the total study days had a THI ≥ 80, indicating little to no heat stress impacts. There were no differences found between PM and AM for any outcome (p < 0.05). Regardless of treatment group, water consumption tended (p = 0.07) to increase, and open mouth breathing significantly (p < 0.05) increased on days with THI ≥ 80. Further research is warranted to assess evening feeding as a heat stress mitigation strategy in a feedyard setting. Full article

Mindful pedagogy integrates a mindful approach in the classroom to support learning, creativity, and wellbeing using formal meditative practice or informal subject-related mindful practice or both. Since 2019, Mindful Kitchen Health and Wellbeing for Chefs, a globally unique module, has been delivered within year 1 of an undergraduate culinary arts programme. It uses a mindful pedagogical approach in a teaching kitchen setting promoting student self-care, mindfulness with food and positive kitchen culture. This qualitative single-case study explores its impact on the wellbeing of chefs in a real-world context and the process that creates that impact. The case study database includes interviews with graduates (n = 11), students (n = 7), module artefacts, co-creation workshops, and researcher reflection on class observations. Four themes emerged: stepping into wellbeing using the breath builds self-awareness, a mindful classroom builds creative confidence, calm minds empower the self for the workplace and informal mindful pedagogy creates “spacious applied learning” in Higher Education (HE). These unique insights can inform wellbeing-focused pedagogical practice in HE settings. Students’ experiences are easily transferable into other disciplines; however, further research should investigate nuances in transferability. Recommendations on integrating this approach into educators’ practice to strengthen wellbeing-focused teaching are presented. Full article

Background and Objectives: Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) are widely used for type 2 diabetes and obesity treatment and may influence reward-related behaviors, including alcohol use. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of GLP-1RAs on alcohol consumption and related outcomes in adults with alcohol use or alcohol use disorder (AUD). Methods: A systematic review was conducted following PRISMA 2020 guidelines. PubMed and Web of Science were searched from inception to December 2025. Eligible studies included randomized controlled trials (RCTs), secondary analyses of RCTs, and observational studies reporting quantitative alcohol consumption outcomes. Data extraction and risk of bias assessment (RoB 2 and ROBINS-I) were performed independently by two reviewers. Results: Five studies (n = 49,892) were included, comprising three RCT-based analyses and one large cohort study. Semaglutide and dulaglutide were associated with modest reductions in alcohol consumption and craving in several studies, with statistically significant improvements in selected behavioral outcomes. In contrast, exenatide did not demonstrate significant effects in the overall AUD population, with signals limited to subgroups. The cohort study showed small but statistically significant reductions in AUDIT-C scores following GLP-1RA initiation. Objective measures (e.g., PEth, breath alcohol concentration) showed reductions in selected contexts but were reported in a few studies. Conclusions: GLP-1RAs may be associated with modest reductions in alcohol consumption, but evidence remains limited and heterogeneous. Larger, well-designed RCTs are needed to define their role in the management of AUD. Full article

Background/Objectives: While packed red blood cell transfusions are commonly administered in anemic neonates, transfusion strategies in preterm infants have been the subject of debate for decades, particularly due to questionable long-term benefits and limited evidence regarding short-term physiological effects. In non-intubated preterm infants, established transfusion thresholds are considered, but individual clinical judgment often plays an important role in the final decision. This study aims to assess the short-term cardiorespiratory effects of red blood cell transfusions in non-intubated very-low-birth-weight (VLBW) infants who were either spontaneously breathing or receiving non-invasive respiratory support. Methods: Retrospective, single-center analysis of 68 VLBW infants (<1500 g) who received 99 red blood cell transfusions between 2019 and 2023. Cardiorespiratory parameters were observed over a 24 h period before and after transfusion. Results: Following transfusion, there was a significant decrease in the frequency of bradycardia events per 24 h (6.51 ± 5.55 to 4.24 ± 3.8; p = 0.004), accompanied by an improvement in the depth of oxygen desaturations (78.7 ± 4.18 to 81.0 ± 3.71; p = 0.001). No significant changes were detected in the desaturation frequency, FiO₂ or heart rate. Conclusions: In clinically stable very-low-birth-weight infants receiving non-invasive ventilatory support, packed red blood cell transfusion is associated with modest, short-term improvements in cardiorespiratory stability. However, these effects are limited in scope. Further research is needed to identify which patient subgroups derive the most significant benefit from these transfusions. Full article

Sound event detection models commonly rely on spectrogram representations of audio signals and recent approaches have adapted image-based object detection architectures to acoustic domains. This paradigm is suitable for respiratory monitoring, where breathing events are visually distinguishable even under noisy conditions. In this study, we propose a Representation Enhancement for Neural Imaging (RENI) framework that combines a modified You Only Look Once (YOLO) object detection head with a trainable spectrogram front-end implemented using nnAudio. The front-end enables GPU-accelerated waveform-to-spectrogram conversion while allowing adaptive learning of Short-Time Fourier Transform (STFT) and Melody (Mel) basis functions. The model was trained for breathing-phase localization and respiratory rate estimation from 44.1 kHz audio recordings acquired during exercise. The results show that the trainable Mel representation improves respiratory-rate accuracy compared with static and trainable STFT configurations, achieving a mean absolute error of 1.15 breaths per minute. Bootstrap 95% confidence intervals and one-sided permutation tests show statistically significant gains for selected trainable STFT and Mel configurations under the min-MAE confidence thresholding protocol, while pooled effects remain directionally favorable for the trainable Mel front-end. These findings demonstrate improved exhale-based respiratory rate estimation under the studied conditions, while broader external validation is still required. Full article

Background: Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is a prevalent sleep-related breathing disorder associated with significant systemic complications and reduced quality of life. Mandibular advancement devices (MADs) represent an established alternative therapy for patients who cannot tolerate continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP). However, concerns remain regarding their potential effects on temporomandibular disorders (TMD). Materials and Methods: This retrospective exploratory study analyzed clinical records of 26 patients (mean age 55.4 ± 5.8 years) with polysomnography-confirmed OSAS and baseline TMD-related symptoms treated with a custom-made monobloc MAD. Clinical parameters were evaluated at baseline (T0) and after approximately 6 months of therapy (T1). Outcomes included apnea–hypopnea index (AHI), Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), Fonseca Anamnestic Index, and health-related quality of life assessed using the SF-36 questionnaire. Repeated measures ANOVA and linear regression analyses were performed. Results: After six months of MAD therapy, a significant reduction in AHI was observed (30 ± 13.76 vs. 10.87 ± 3.9; p < 0.00001). Daytime sleepiness significantly decreased (ESS: 9.31 ± 3.53 vs. 3.38 ± 1.77; p < 0.00001). TMD symptom severity also decreased significantly according to the Fonseca Index (33.85 ± 17.74 vs. 10.00 ± 8.94; p < 0.00001). Quality of life scores improved significantly (SF-36: 41.15 ± 9.52 vs. 65.38 ± 5.82; p < 0.00001). Linear regression analysis showed no significant association between changes in AHI and changes in TMD symptoms, ESS scores, or quality of life. Conclusions: Within the limitations of this retrospective study, MAD therapy was not associated with symptom aggravation of temporomandibular disorders in patients with pre-existing TMD symptoms. Significant improvements in respiratory parameters, daytime sleepiness, and quality of life were observed after six months of therapy. Full article

This study presents the first comprehensive machine learning framework for predicting the performance of an air-breathing polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell, based on high-fidelity multiphysics data and validated under realistic conditions. Using data generated from a validated multiphysics model, four machine learning models are trained: MLR, RFR, ANN, and SVR. The models aim to capture the effects of geometric, material, and operating parameters on cell performance to support the development of more efficient and sustainable clean energy systems. Evaluation with standard error metrics shows that MLR exhibits large deviations from actual values, highlighting the limitations of linear models and underscoring the need for more complex approaches. ANN and SVR provide high predictive accuracy and generalize well to unseen data, while RFR tends to overfit. Robustness analysis using white Gaussian noise and four-fold cross-validation further confirms the reliability of top-performing models. ANN and SVR models generate polarization curves 4000 and 40,000 times faster, respectively, than the multiphysics model, enabling real-time applications. Both models achieved excellent predictive performance, with R² values exceeding 0.999 under normal operating conditions and remaining above 0.98 even in the presence of noisy inputs. Full article

Background: Respiratory diseases (RDs), including asthma, COVID-19, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and pneumonia, remain a major global health challenge, contributing substantially to global morbidity and mortality. Conventional diagnosis relies heavily on clinicians’ expertise to interpret respiratory sounds and radiographic images, a process that can be subjective, time-consuming, and prone to inter-observer variability. Recent advances in artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) have enabled automated diagnostic approaches that can improve the efficiency, consistency, and scalability of respiratory disease detection. However, existing research remains fragmented across different data modalities. Methods: This review systematically analyzes recent studies on AI-based respiratory disease detection using both visual modalities (e.g., chest X-rays, computed tomography (CT) scans, and ultrasound) and audio modalities (e.g., cough and breath sounds). To provide a comprehensive perspective, the reviewed literature is organized using a unified taxonomy that categorizes existing approaches into three main groups: audio-based, visual-based, and audio–visual-based methods. In addition, two conceptual frameworks are proposed to illustrate representative pipelines for audio-based and visual-based respiratory disease classification. Results: The analysis reveals that most existing studies focus on single-modality approaches, while multimodal integration remains relatively underexplored. Only a limited number of studies combine audio and visual data within unified frameworks, primarily due to the scarcity of synchronized multimodal datasets collected from the same patients. The proposed taxonomy and conceptual frameworks provide a structured basis for comparing existing methods, identifying methodological trends, and highlighting key research gaps in multimodal respiratory disease detection. Conclusions: Future research should prioritize the development of multimodal datasets, robust evaluation protocols, and interpretable and lightweight AI models suitable for real-world clinical deployment. Advancing multimodal integration has the potential to significantly enhance the accuracy, reliability, and clinical applicability of AI-driven respiratory disease diagnosis systems. Full article

Background: Penetrating keratoplasty (PK) is a technically demanding corneal transplant procedure frequently performed in elderly patients with substantial systemic comorbidities. In this population, an anesthetic strategy that ensures hemodynamic stability, cooperative sedation, adequate analgesia, and preserved spontaneous ventilation is highly desirable. Dexmedetomidine, a highly selective alpha2-adrenergic agonist, provides “cooperative” sedation with minimal risk of respiratory depression and additional sympatholytic benefits. Methods: This single-center retrospective observational case series included 50 consecutive patients (American Society of Anesthesiologists [ASA] II–III, age 50–90 years) undergoing PK under sub-Tenon block combined with continuous dexmedetomidine infusion. Dexmedetomidine was administered without a loading bolus at 0.7 mcg/kg/h for 10–15 min, then reduced to 0.5 mcg/kg/h, targeting a Ramsay Sedation Scale (RSS) score of 2–3. The sub-Tenon block was performed using a mixture of levobupivacaine 0.5% and lidocaine 2% (3–5 mL). Heart rate (HR), mean arterial pressure (MAP), oxygen saturation (SpO₂) and RSS were recorded in nine predefined perioperative phases. Data were analyzed descriptively. Results: The mean age was 72 ± 9 years; 52% of patients were ASA III. Hypertension was present in all patients; 30% had cardiovascular disease, 28% diabetes mellitus type II, and 30% chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Progressive, controlled bradycardia was observed (mean HR decreased from 76 to 57 beats/min during graft transplantation), while MAP gradually decreased from hypertensive baseline values (150–160 mmHg) to an optimal intraoperative range of 115–130 mmHg, without episodes of clinically significant hypotension. SpO₂ remained stable at 98–99% throughout all phases, with no episodes of desaturation or need for airway intervention or supplemental oxygen. Target sedation (RSS 2–3) was achieved in all patients (median RSS 3), with preserved spontaneous breathing and cooperation. Sub-Tenon block-related bulging occurred in 6% of cases. No episodes of clinically significant bradycardia, malignant arrhythmia, respiratory compromise, or need to discontinue dexmedetomidine were recorded. No opioids or non-steroidal analgesics were required intraoperatively or in the early postoperative period. Conclusions: The combination of sub-Tenon block and continuous dexmedetomidine sedation without a loading bolus represents a hemodynamically stable and respiratory-safe anesthetic strategy for PK in elderly, high-risk patients. These preliminary, hypothesis-generating findings suggest that the protocol provides stable surgical conditions and a favorable safety profile, justifying future prospective randomized controlled trials to establish its comparative efficacy against general anesthesia or standard sedative regimens. Full article

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) constitutes a chronic disorder characterized by recurrent upper airway collapse during sleep. This condition is prevalent among patients with cardiac rhythm disturbances and represents a potent independent risk factor for arrhythmia. Although most studies have concentrated on the association between OSA and atrial fibrillation (AF), numerous investigations have established connections with ventricular and supraventricular arrhythmias. Arrhythmogenesis in OSA represents a complex multifactorial phenomenon. Acute mechanisms involve induction of negative intrathoracic pressure during the effort to breathe, which triggers recurrent episodes of hypoxia, hypercapnia, alterations in carbon dioxide and acid–base equilibrium, as well as surges in sympathetic nervous system activity. Chronic intermittent hypoxia (CIH) and negative thoracic pressure (NTP) induce atrial stretch, chronic structural remodeling, and elevated vagal tone, thereby heightening susceptibility to bradycardic and conduction arrhythmias. Intermediate pathways through which OSA may precipitate arrhythmia encompass heightened systemic inflammation, oxidative stress, a prothrombotic state, and vascular dysfunction. Long-term OSA is linked with atrial enlargement and fibrosis, ventricular hypertrophy, hypertension, and coronary artery disease. These factors predispose to cardiac arrhythmias through the following mechanisms: shortening of the atrial effective refractory period, abnormal automaticity, promotion of slowed and heterogeneous conduction, enhancement of reentrant arrhythmia persistence, and prolongation of the QT interval. In this paper, we aim to present the pathophysiological mechanisms underpinning the association between obstructive sleep apnea and cardiac arrhythmias. Understanding the precise pathophysiological pathways by which obstructive sleep apnea contributes to arrhythmogenesis will enable targeted preventive stratification of patients at risk for cardiovascular events and promote the development of innovative therapies to attenuate OSA-induced arrhythmogenicity. Full article

Occupational lung diseases remain a significant public health concern in mining populations, particularly in high-exposure environments. This study examined occupational exposure profiles and respiratory health outcomes among surface and underground miners in Mpumalanga Province. A cross-sectional analytical design was employed among 239 mine workers. Data on socio-demographic characteristics, occupational exposures, behavioural factors, and respiratory outcomes were analysed using descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and logistic regression models. Underground miners were significantly more likely to report high dust exposure (44.9% vs. 24.1%), poor ventilation (60.6% vs. 39.3%), and longer working hours (>8 h: 68.5% vs. 50.0%) compared to surface miners. They also reported a higher prevalence of respiratory symptoms, including chronic cough (45.7% vs. 25.9%), shortness of breath (41.7% vs. 23.2%), wheezing (34.6% vs. 18.8%), and diagnosed lung disease (23.6% vs. 9.8%). Multivariable analysis showed that underground mining (AOR = 1.92; 95% CI: 1.08–3.41), smoking (AOR = 1.78; 95% CI: 1.02–3.11), and high dust exposure (AOR = 2.89; 95% CI: 1.45–5.76) were independent predictors of chronic cough. A significant interaction between smoking and underground mining (AOR = 2.74; 95% CI: 1.32–5.68) further amplified respiratory risk. Additionally, underground miners demonstrated lower levels of knowledge (48.8% vs. 66.1%) and poorer preventive practices (44.1% vs. 64.3%). These findings highlight the combined influence of occupational and behavioural factors on respiratory health and highlight the need for integrated interventions to reduce the burden of occupational lung diseases. Full article

Breath aerosol analysis requires low-cost sensing substrates capable of capturing aerosolized biomolecular components while preserving chemically interpretable readouts. Here, methylcellulose–phenol red (MCPR) films are evaluated as multimodal sensing substrates using model bioaerosols consisting of sodium sulfate, bovine serum albumin (BSA), and polystyrene latex particles under acidic, neutral, and alkaline pH conditions. ATR-FTIR spectroscopy revealed inverse pH-dependent trends in sulfate (1000–1100 cm⁻¹) and protein amide (1500–1700 cm⁻¹) spectral regions. A sulfate-to-protein AUC ratio increased from 0.86 ± 0.01 at pH 4 to 3.56 ± 0.32 at pH 10, demonstrating ratiometric compositional discrimination of ionic and proteinaceous aerosol fractions. UV–Vis spectroscopy showed pH-dependent λmax shifts from 432 to 556 nm, confirming the preservation of phenol red optical responsiveness after aerosol exposure. FTIR-derived ratio metrics correlated linearly with optical responses, indicating coupled vibrational and optical sensing behavior. SEM-EDS analysis of methylcellulose capture films confirmed deposition of sulfate, proteinaceous, and particulate aerosol components, supporting the platform’s suitability for multimodal spectroscopic sensing. These findings establish MCPR films as integrated capture-and-sensing substrates capable of coupling optical pH responsiveness with label-free vibrational analysis, supporting future development of low-cost breath-relevant aerosol sensing platforms. Full article