Search Results (163)

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of breed and sex (3 × 2) on the basic chemical composition, concentration of some minerals, and physicochemical properties of edible giblets of farm geese. The study material consisted of edible giblets (livers, gizzards, hearts) obtained from 42 geese from three Polish native breeds (Rypin, Suwałki, Kartuzy) at 220 weeks of age. Edible giblets were obtained during goose evisceration from seven males and seven females of each breed. Each bird was an experimental unit. Goose breed and sex had a significant effect on the chemical composition and physicochemical properties of the edible giblets. Rypin geese had higher (p < 0.05) intramuscular fat content in the gizzard and heart, as well as higher protein content in the heart and lower water content in the gizzard, compared to Kartuzy and Suwałki geese. Kartuzy geese, in turn, had higher content of water in the heart, and higher concentrations of phosphorus, calcium, iron, manganese, sodium, and chromium in the liver, compared to Rypin and Suwałki geese. In turn, Suwałki geese had higher concentrations of phosphorus in the gizzard, and potassium, phosphorus, copper, and iron in the heart compared to the hearts of Rypin and Suwałki geese, while Kartuzy and Suwałki geese higher concentrations of sodium, magnesium, zinc, and manganese in hearts than the hearts of Rypin geese. In these studies, the highest lightness (L*) was observed in the liver and heart of Rypin geese, the lowest yellowness (b*) was observed in the gizzard of Suwałki geese, and the highest pH₂₄ and EC₂₄ were observed in the heart of Kartuzy geese. Regardless of breed, males had higher protein, collagen, and intramuscular fat contents in the heart, a higher water content in the gizzard, higher concentrations of potassium, and sodium in the liver and gizzard, copper in the heart and liver, and phosphorus in the gizzard, and less water in the heart and zinc in the liver, as well as higher (p < 0.05) concentrations of iron in the liver and heart compared with females. The breed by sex interaction was significant for intramuscular fat and water content in the gizzard and heart, and protein content in the heart. Significant differences were also noted for EC₂₄ in the liver and heart, yellowness of the gizzard, and concentrations of most labeled minerals in edible giblets. The obtained results indicate that the nutritional value and suitability of edible goose giblets for the poultry industry vary depending on breed and sex. Due to the limited research on the chemical composition and physicochemical properties of goose giblets, further research in this area is necessary in the future. Full article

Recreational diving depends on healthy marine ecosystems, yet it can harm biodiversity through species displacement and habitat damage. Bombinhas, a biodiverse diving hotspot in southern Brazil, faces growing threats from human activity and climate change. This study assessed the ecological structure of Sepultura Beach (2018) for potential diving trails, comparing it with historical data from Porto Belo Island. Using visual censuses, transects, and photo-quadrats across six sampling campaigns, researchers documented 2419 organisms from five zoological groups, identifying 14 dominant species, including Haemulon aurolineatum and Diplodus argenteus. Cluster analysis revealed three ecological zones, with higher biodiversity at the site’s edges (Groups 1 and 3), but these areas also hosted endangered species like Epinephelus marginatus, complicating trail planning. A major concern was the widespread bleaching of the zoanthid Palythoa caribaeorum, a key ecosystem engineer, likely due to rising sea temperatures (+1.68 °C from 1961–2018) and declining chlorophyll-a levels post-2015. Comparisons with past data showed a 0.33 °C increase in species’ thermal preferences over 17 years, alongside lower trophic levels and greater ecological vulnerability, indicating tropicalization from the expanding Brazil Current. While Sepultura Beach’s biodiversity supports diving tourism, conservation efforts must address coral bleaching and endangered species protection. Long-term monitoring is crucial to track warming impacts, and adaptive management is needed for sustainable trail development. The study highlights the urgent need to balance ecotourism with climate resilience in subtropical marine ecosystems. Full article

The results of radiotherapy in patients with primary malignant brain tumors are extremely dissatisfactory: the overall survival after a diagnosis of glioblastoma is typically less than three years. The development of spatially fractionated radiotherapy techniques could help to improve this bleak prognosis. In order to develop technical equipment and organ-specific therapy plans, dosimetry studies as well as radiobiology studies are conducted. Although perfect spheres are considered optimal phantoms by physicists, this does not reflect the wide variety of head sizes and shapes in our patient community. Depth from surface and X-ray dose absorption by tissue between dose entry point and target, two key parameters in medical physics planning, are largely determined by the shape and thickness of the skull bone. We have, therefore, designed and produced a biomimetic tool to correlate measured technical dose and biological response in human cancer cells: a brain phantom, produced from tissue-equivalent materials. In a first pilot study, utilizing our phantom to correlate technical dose measurements and metabolic response to radiation in human cancer cell lines, we demonstrate why an anthropomorphic phantom is preferable over a simple spheroid phantom. Full article

(1) While three-dimensional (3D) printing technology is increasingly being used for the fabrication of high-fidelity, patient-specific aortic models, data on the mechanical properties of polymers are sparse. Therefore, the aim of this study was to identify suitable polymers for this purpose. (2) Methods: Eight flexible polymers, with Shore A hardnesses (ShA) of 27–85, were tested to determine their suitability for PolyJet printing technology. They were tested against porcine aortic and bovine pericardial tissue for suture retention strength, uniaxial stress testing according to ISO 37, and burst pressure in a standardized test setting. (3) Results: The polymers with a ShA of 30–50 showed statistically non-inferior suture retention strength, tensile strength, and burst pressure resistance when compared to pericardial and aortic tissue, respectively. (4) Conclusions: This was the first report to analyze the mechanical properties of eight different flexible PolyJet polymers. We found that the polymers with a Shore A hardness of 30–50 most closely mimicked the mechanical properties of aortic tissue. Therefore, they can be recommended for the additive manufacturing (3D printing) of aortic phantoms for simulation and training purposes. Full article

Forest ecosystems are vital for biodiversity, climate regulation, and ecosystem services. Their resilience depends not only on species diversity but also on intraspecific variation—the genetic and phenotypic differences within species—which underpins adaptive capacity to environmental change. However, large-scale, continuous monitoring of intraspecific variation remains challenging. Here, we present a remote sensing approach using Sentinel-2 time series of five vegetation indices as proxies for pigment content, canopy structure, and water content to detect intraspecific variation in seven tree species across a broad environmental gradient in Switzerland. Using pure-species plot data from the Swiss National Forest Inventory, we decomposed variation into spatial, temporal, and spatiotemporal components. We found that spatial variation dominated in evergreen species (48–86%), while temporal variation was more pronounced in deciduous species (56–82%), reflecting their stronger seasonality. These findings demonstrate that species-specific Sentinel-2 time series can effectively track intraspecific variation, providing a scalable method for forest monitoring. This approach opens new pathways for studying forest adaptation, informing management strategies, and guiding species selection for conservation under changing climate conditions. Full article

Volatile fatty acids (VFAs) are important precursors used in various industrial applications. Generally, these carboxylic acids are produced from oil, but recently focus has been on the development of biological methods for substituting the fossil raw material with organic waste and lignocellulosic materials. This is possible by stopping the anaerobic digestion process at the level of VFA through elimination of the final step of methanogenesis. The primary barrier to commercial viability of VFA production is the costly downstream processing needed for separation of the VFA’s. Existing separation techniques, such as adsorption and liquid–liquid extraction, achieve nearly complete VFA recovery from fermentation broths but require substantial chemical inputs and extensive preprocessing. In contrast, membrane-based separation processes could potentially overcome the need for chemical additions and provide a more sustainable way of separation. In this review we examine the current state of the art of membrane technology for VFA separation. We assessed and compared the capital and operational costs associated with different membrane technologies and identified the major hurdles impeding their commercialization. Furthermore, we examine hybrid and emerging membrane technologies that previous studies have suggested to reduce both energy and capital costs. Finally, we present future perspectives for the development of cost-effective membrane technologies suitable for industrial-scale applications. Full article

Infectious bursal disease (IBD) is a viral disease that most commonly affects young chickens and destroys lymphocytes, leading to immunosuppression. The field study aimed to investigate the effect of three different vaccines administered in ovo against IBD and spray against Newcastle disease (ND) on serological response tested for IBD and ND and histopathological analysis of the bursa of Fabricius (BF) and quantitative B lymphocytes in BF in broiler chickens. The study was conducted on a farm of four hen houses with 30,000 chicks in each building. Three different vaccination programs were used in the poultry hatchery, and one hen house IV was not vaccinated. All three groups were vaccinated at 18 days and 9 h in ovo during egg transfer against IBD at a dose of 0.05 mL/embryo, group I vector vaccine (strain vHVT013-69), group II immunocomplex vaccine (strain Winterfield 2512), group III immunocomplex vaccine (strain M.B, 0.05). Then, after hatching, the chicks were vaccinated in a spray (groups I, II, and III) against NDV (strain VG/GA, 20 mL/100 birds) and infectious bronchitis (IBV) in a spray (strain H-120, serotype Mass, and strain CR88121, serotype 793B) at a dose of 20 mL/100 chicks. On days 1, 21, 31, and 41, blood was collected for serological tests to determine the antibody titer against IBD, which was performed using two tests (IDEXX and ID-Vet) and against ND. During the necropsy of birds on days 21 and 31, the bursae of Fabricius were collected from five chickens for histopathological evaluation of BF and quantitative B lymphocyte counts; a total of 40 bursae were analyzed (10 per group). The vaccination program applied significantly (p < 0.05) affected the immune response expressed as a geometric mean titer (GMT) in the serum of the examined chickens against IBDV on days 21, 31, and 41. Differences were also demonstrated in the mass and level of BF damage and the number of B lymphocytes. No significant differences were demonstrated in the GMT in the serum of the examined chickens against NDV depending on the vaccination program applied. Full article

Perineural invasion (PNI) is a well-recognized histopathologic feature in multiple malignancies; however, its significance in breast cancer remains relatively underexplored. This review provides a synopsis of the current knowledge on PNI in breast cancer, discussing its histopathologic features, molecular mechanisms, diagnostic challenges, and clinical relevance. PNI is most frequently observed in high-grade invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC), particularly in triple-negative and HER2-positive subtypes. It is also seen in special histological subtypes such as mixed, metaplastic, and invasive micropapillary carcinomas. Mechanistically, PNI involves tumor–neural interactions, including neurotrophic factor signaling and epithelial–mesenchymal transition, contributing to tumor progression and potential locoregional recurrence (LRR). While PNI is linked to adverse prognosis in other tumors, its independent role remains unclear in breast cancer due to limited large-scale studies. Therefore, further investigation into its prognostic significance and potential therapeutic implications is needed. Future research should focus on refining diagnostic criteria and assessing targeted therapies to mitigate PNI-associated progression. This review summarizes the current knowledge on perineural invasion (PNI) in breast cancer, addressing its histological features, molecular mechanisms, diagnostic challenges, and clinical implications. Full article

The red seaweed Asparagopsis taxiformis (Bonnemaisoniaceae, Rhodophyta) produces a bioactive natural product, bromoform, which, when fed to ruminant livestock, can eradicate methane emissions. However, to cultivate enough A. taxiformis to produce a yield that would have a meaningful impact on global greenhouse gas emissions, we need to advance our current understanding of the biology of this seaweed species. Here, we used both a domesticated diploid tetrasporophyte (>1.5 years in culture) and wild samples to establish a high-quality draft nuclear genome for A. taxiformis (lineage 6 based upon phylogenetic analyses using the cox2-3 spacer). The constructed nuclear genome is 142 Mb in size (including 70.67% repeat regions) and was determined to encode for approximately 10,474 protein-coding genes, including those associated with secondary metabolism, photosynthesis, and defence. To obtain information regarding molecular differences between cultured and wild tetrasporophytes, we further explored differential gene expression relating to their different growth environments. Cultured tetrasporophytes, which contained a relatively higher level of bromoform compared to wild tetrasporophytes, demonstrated an enrichment of regulatory factors, such as protein kinases and transcription factors, whereas wild tetrasporophytes were enriched for the expression of defence and stress-related genes. Wild tetrasporophytes also expressed a relatively high level of novel secretory genes encoding proteins with von Willebrand factor A protein domains (named rhodophyte VWAs). Gene expression was further confirmed by proteomic investigation of cultured tetrasporophytes, resulting in the identification of over 400 proteins, including rhodophyte VWAs, and numerous enzymes and phycobiliproteins, which will facilitate future functional characterisation of this species. In summary, as the most comprehensive genomic resource for any Asparagopsis species, this resource for lineage 6 provides a novel avenue for seaweed researchers to interrogate genomic information, which will greatly assist in expediating production of Asparagopsis to meet demand by both aquaculture and agriculture, and to do so with economic and environmental sustainability. Full article

Background: The two antiepileptic drugs lacosamide and lamotrigine exert their antiepileptic effect by inhibiting sodium channels. Lacosamide enhances the inactivation of sodium channels, while lamotrigine inhibits the activation of the channel. Interactions with sodium channels also play an interesting role in cardiac pro- and antiarrhythmia, with inhibition of inactivation, in particular, being regarded as potentially proarrhythmic. Therefore, the ventricular electrophysiologic effects of lacosamide and lamotrigine were investigated in an established experimental whole-heart model. Methods: A total of 67 rabbit hearts were allocated to four groups. Retrograde aortic perfusion was performed using the Langendorff setup. The action potential duration at 90% repolarization (APD₉₀), QT intervals, spatial dispersion of repolarization, effective refractory period, post-repolarization refractoriness, and VT incidence were determined. The electrophysiological effects of lacosamide and lamotrigine were investigated in increasing concentrations on the natively perfused heart. On the other hand, perfusion with the I_Kr-blocker sotalol was performed to increase arrhythmia susceptibility, followed by perfusion with lacosamide or lamotrigine to investigate the effects of both in a setting of increased arrhythmia susceptibility. Perfusion with lacosamide and lamotrigine tended to decrease APD₉₀ and QT-interval. As expected, perfusion with sotalol led to a significant increase in APD₉₀, QT interval, and arrhythmia incidence. Additive perfusion with lacosamide led to a further increase in arrhythmia incidence, while additive perfusion with lamotrigine led to a decrease in VT incidence. Conclusions: In this model, lacosamide showed proarrhythmic effects, especially in the setting of an additive prolonged QT interval. Lamotrigine showed no significant proarrhythmia under baseline conditions and rather antiarrhythmic effects with additive QT prolongation. Full article

Background and Objective: Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators (ICDs) are crucial in treating ventricular tachyarrhythmias (VTs) and preventing sudden cardiac death. However, ICD shocks are linked to higher mortality and a lower quality of life. Many patients suffer from recurrent VTs despite concomitant antiarrhythmic drug (AAD) therapy with amiodarone, and it is unclear if changing the AAD while on chronic amiodarone therapy is beneficial. Hence, we investigated the impact of changing the AAD on the incidence of appropriate ICD shocks in patients on chronic amiodarone, impaired LV function, and at least one previous VT ablation. Methods and Results: We retrospectively analyzed 131 ICD patients (LVEF < 40%) from a single-center registry. All were on chronic amiodarone and had undergone VT ablation. The mean age was 66.0 ± 12.8 years; 82.4% were male; and the follow-up period averaged 5.8 ± 0.6 years. Ischemic cardiomyopathy was present in 52.7% of patients. AAD therapy was changed in 49 patients (37.4%), primarily due to inefficacy (40.8%), intolerance (16.3%), or other reasons (42.9%). Of those, 8 received flecainide (≥200 mg) and 41 sotalol (≥240 mg); 82 (62.6%) continued amiodarone. VT re-ablation was performed in 23.7%. During follow-up, 11 patients (8.4%) died and 18 (13.7%) received appropriate ICD shocks—17 with changed AAD vs. 1 with continued amiodarone (p ≤ 0.01). A multivariate regression showed that switching from amiodarone to flecainide or sotalol was significantly associated with increased ICD shock risk (OR 34.9; 95% CI 4.3–283.8; p < 0.01). Conclusions: In patients on chronic amiodarone with severely impaired LV function and at least one previous VT ablation, changing AAD therapy to flecainide or sotalol is associated with an increased incidence of appropriate ICD shocks. Full article

Background/Objectives: In the burgeoning field of medical imaging and Artificial Intelligence (AI), high-quality annotations for training AI-models are crucial. However, there are still only a few large datasets, as segmentation is time-consuming, experts have limited time. This study investigates how the experience of radiologists affects the quality of annotations. Methods: We randomly collected 53 anonymized chest radiographs. Fifteen readers with varying levels of expertise annotated the anatomical structures of different complexity, pneumonic opacities and central venous catheters (CVC) as examples of pathologies and foreign material. The readers were divided into three groups of five. The groups consisted of medical students (MS), junior professionals (JP) with less than five years of working experience and senior professionals (SP) with more than five years of experience. Each annotation was compared to a gold standard consisting of a consensus annotation of three senior board-certified radiologists. We calculated the Dice coefficient (DSC) and Hausdorff distance (HD) to evaluate annotation quality. Inter- and intrareader variability and time dependencies were investigated using Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC) and Ordinary Least Squares (OLS). Results: Senior professionals generally showed better performance, while medical students had higher variability in their annotations. Significant differences were noted, especially for complex structures (DSC Pneumonic Opacities as mean [standard deviation]: MS: 0.516 [0.246]; SP: 0.631 [0.211]). However, it should be noted that overall deviation and intraclass variance was higher for these structures even for seniors, highlighting the inherent limitations of conventional radiography. Experience showed a positive relationship with annotation quality for VCS and lung but was not a significant factor for other structures. Conclusions: Experience level significantly impacts annotation quality. Senior radiologists provided higher-quality annotations for complex structures, while less experienced readers could still annotate simpler structures with satisfying accuracy. We suggest a mixed-expertise approach, enabling the highly experienced to utilize their knowledge most effectively. With the increase in numbers of examinations, radiology will rely on AI support tools in the future. Therefore, economizing the process of data acquisition and AI-training; for example, by integrating less experienced radiologists, will help to meet the coming challenges. Full article

In this paper, we present a method for obtaining a manifold color correction transform for multiview images. The method can be applied in various scenarios, for correcting the colors of stitched images, adjusting the colors of images obtained in different lighting conditions, and performing virtual view synthesis based on images taken by different cameras or in different conditions. The provided derivation allows us to use the method to correct regular RGB images. The provided solution is specified as a transform matrix that provides the pixel-specific color transformation for each pixel and therefore is more general than the methods described in the literature, which only provide the transformed images without explicitly providing the transform. By providing the transform for each pixel separately, we can introduce a smoothness constraint based on the transformation similarity for neighboring pixels, a feature that is not present in the available literature. Full article

Background: Recent studies reported an abbreviation of cardiac repolarization induced by sacubitril. Thus, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the electrophysiologic effects of sacubitril in the presence of drugs that shorten the QT interval. Methods and Results: 25 rabbit hearts were retrogradely perfused. After generating baseline data, hearts were allocated to two groups. In the first group (n = 12), the I_K,ATP opener pinacidil (1 µM) significantly reduced action potential duration at 90% of repolarization (APD₉₀), QT intervals and effective refractory periods (ERP). Additional administration of sacubitril (5 µM) slightly reduced APD₉₀. The digitalis glycoside ouabain (0.2 µM) significantly shortened repolarization duration and refractory periods. Additional infusion of sacubitril abbreviated repolarization duration and ERP. Ventricular vulnerability was assessed by delivering premature extra stimuli and burst stimulation. Significantly more ventricular arrhythmias occurred with pinacidil (26 episodes vs. 5 episodes under baseline conditions, p < 0.05). Additional sacubitril treatment had no significant proarrhythmic effect (24 episodes). Ouabain alone did not provoke ventricular arrhythmias (6 episodes vs. 3 under baseline conditions, p = ns) whereas additional sacubitril treatment significantly increased the occurrence of VT episodes (29 episodes, p < 0.01). Conclusions: Sacubitril abbreviates cardiac repolarization in ouabain-pretreated hearts. While sacubitril had no proarrhythmic effect in the presence of pinacidil, the combination of sacubitril and ouabain amplified the arrhythmic risk. The underlying mechanism is a further abbreviation of refractory periods and cardiac repolarization that facilitate ventricular arrhythmias. These findings add further evidence to the proarrhythmic capacity of digitalis glycosides in the presence of other drugs that influence cardiac repolarization. Full article

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate change in the order activation of leg muscles in relation to the spinal extensors during the Janda test and change postural balance in patients with low back pain (LBP) after muscle energy techniques (METs). Methods: The study included fifteen men (mean age 41.9 years) working on an assembly line. The activity and recruitment of the following muscles: biceps femoris (BF), gluteus maximus (GM) and erector spinae (ES) were measured with the use of surface electromyography (sEMG) during the prone hip extension (PHE) test. Pain levels and postural balance were analysed. Results: MET translated into a reduction in muscle activation time in both the left and right side of the body (p < 0.001). The change was observed in the following muscles: BF (p = 0.003) and GM (p = 0.004). A reduction in pain was obtained post application of the MET therapy (p < 0.001). It was observed that after the therapy, along with the later activation time of the GM muscle, the range of motion of the COP along the x-axis increased (p = 0.0368). Increased activation time of the RES (p = 0.0411) and the LES (p = 0.0350) muscles influenced a decrease in the COP range of motion along the x-axis. Conclusions: The use of MET in people with LBP improves the sequence of activation of the ES, GM and BF muscles, affects postural balance, allows for the restoration of muscle balance in the lumbar spine and lower limbs, and reduces pain. Full article