Tools to refine unknown parent groups definition.

Unknown Parent Groups model missing parentships according to breed, year, and pathway of selection. Genetic evaluations need a sensible definition of rules to form Unknown Parent Groups to ensure its accurate estimation. With more complex evaluations, there is a need for systematic rules to form Unknown Parent Groups.

Approximation of reliabilities for random-regression single-step genomic best linear unbiased predictor models.

Random-regression models (RRM) are used in national genetic evaluations for longitudinal traits. The outputs of RRM are an index based on random-regression coefficients and its reliability. The reliabilities are obtained from the inverse of the coefficient matrix of mixed model equations (MME).

Neuromorphic neuromodulation: Towards the next generation of closed-loop neurostimulation.

Neuromodulation techniques have emerged as promising approaches for treating a wide range of neurological disorders, precisely delivering electrical stimulation to modulate abnormal neuronal activity. While leveraging the unique capabilities of AI holds immense potential for responsive neurostimulation, it appears as an extremely challenging proposition where real-time (low-latency) processing, low-power consumption, and heat constraints are limiting factors. The use of sophisticated AI-driven models for personalized neurostimulation depends on the back-telemetry of data to external systems (e.

Influence of variance component estimates on genomic predictions for growth and reproductive-related traits in Nellore cattle.

This study aimed to estimate variance components (VCs) for growth and reproductive traits in Nellore cattle using two relationship matrices (pedigree relationship A matrix and pedigree plus genomic relationship H matrix), and records collected before and after genomic selection (GS) implementation. The study also evaluated how genomic breeding values (GEBV) are affected by variance components and discarding old records. The analysed traits were weight at 120 days (W120), weight and scrotal circumference at 450 days (W450 and SC450, respectively).

Implementing an Antimicrobial Stewardship Program in an Oncology Center in Lima, Peru: A Model for Low- and Middle-Income Countries.

Our center launched the first antimicrobial stewardship program in Peru. From 2016 to 2023, the proportion of antimicrobial prescriptions audited increased from 60% to 95%, and 65% to 95% of recommendations were accepted. Vancomycin and meropenem use dropped by 95% and 84%, respectively.

Innovation in pathogenesis and management of aortic aneurysm.

Aortic aneurysm (AA) refers to the persistent dilatation of the aorta, exceeding three centimeters. Investigating the pathophysiology of this condition is important for its prevention and management, given its responsibility for more than 25000 deaths in the United States. AAs are classified based on their location or morphology.

Strategies for genomic predictions of an indicine multi-breed population using single-step GBLUP.

Brazilian livestock breeding programmes strive to enhance the genetics of beef cattle, with a strong emphasis on the Nellore breed, which has an extensive database and has achieved significant genetic progress in the last years. There are other indicine breeds that are economically important in Brazil; however, these breeds have more modest sets of phenotypes, pedigree and genotypes, slowing down their genetic progress as their predictions are less accurate. Combining several breeds in a multi-breed evaluation could help enhance predictions for those breeds with less information available.

Factors Affecting Survival Outcomes in Neuroendocrine Tumor of the Appendix over the Past Two Decades.

Background: Appendiceal neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) rank as the third most frequent neoplasm affecting the appendix, originating from enterochromaffin cells. This study aims to evaluate the influence of various prognostic factors on the mortality rates of patients diagnosed with NETs of the appendix.

Methods: Conducted retrospectively, the study involved 3346 patients, utilizing data sourced from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database.

Medicolegal assessment of human trafficking victims. Descriptive study of a series of forensic cases in Catalonia (Spain).

Background And Objective: Human trafficking or contemporary slavery is the recruitment and transfer of people by force or deception for sexual, labour or other types of exploitation. Although the violence, abuse and deprivation that trafficking entails are a threat to the health of its victims, in Spain the clinical or forensic data available in this regard is scarce. At the Institute of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences of Catalonia (IMLCFC), a unit specialized in the forensic assessment of these victims was created.

Lateral Orbitofrontal Cortex Encodes Presence of Risk and Subjective Risk Preference During Decision-Making.

Adaptive decision-making requires consideration of objective risks and rewards associated with each option, as well as subjective preference for risky/safe alternatives. Inaccurate risk/reward estimations can engender excessive risk-taking, a central trait in many psychiatric disorders. The lateral orbitofrontal cortex (lOFC) has been linked to many disorders associated with excessively risky behavior and is ideally situated to mediate risky decision-making.

Modeling missing pedigree with metafounders and validating single-step genomic predictions in a small dairy cattle population with a great influence of foreign genetics.

Genetic improvement in small countries rely heavily on foreign genetics. In an importing country such as Uruguay, consideration of unknown parent groups (UPG) for foreign sires is essential. However, the use of UPG in genomic model evaluations may lead to bias in genomic estimated breeding values (GEBV).

Development of a situational judgment test to supplement current US air force measures of officership.

Aptitude requirements for US Air Force officer commissioning include completion of a college degree and minimum scores on the Air Force Officer Qualifying Test (AFOQT) Verbal and Quantitative composites. Although the AFOQT has demonstrated predictive validity for officer training, the Air Force has striven to improve predictive validity and diversity. To this end, a Situational judgment Test (SJT) was added to the AFOQT in 2015.

Older Adult Frequent 9-1-1 Callers for Emergency Medical Services in a Large Metropolitan City: Individual- and System-Level Considerations.

Background: High utilizers of 9-1-1 place a substantial burden on emergency medical services (EMS). Results of a retrospective review of records data of the City of Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) showed a significant increase in older adult high utilizers of 9-1-1.

Objective: The objective of this study was to explore individual- and system-level factors implicated in EMS use among older adults, and to provide system recommendations to mitigate overuse.

Macrophage N-glycan processing inhibits antibody-dependent cellular phagocytosis.

Factors regulating macrophage effector function represent potential targets to optimize the efficacy of antibody-mediated therapies. Macrophages are myeloid cells capable of engulfing and destroying diseased or damaged target cells. Antibodies binding to the target cell surface can engage macrophage Fc gamma receptors (FcγRs) to elicit antibody-dependent cellular phagocytosis (ADCP), a process that contributes to treatments mediated by anti-tumor antibodies.

Critical thinking among institutional academic advisors and sociodemographic, professional and academic variables: A multicenter correlation study.

Background: In nursing education, essential skills include Critical Thinking (CT). There is scant evidence on how nurse educators could promote CT in students in a clinical context.

Objective: To analyse the level of CT and correlated variables in healthcare nurses overseeing the clinicals of nursing undergraduates.

Single-step genome-wide association study for susceptibility to and precocity of vegetative phase change in .

Introduction: leaf disease (MLD) is one of the most prevalent foliar diseases of plantations around the world. Since resistance management strategies have not been effective in commercial plantations, breeding to develop more resistant genotypes is the most promising strategy. Available genomic information can be used to detect genomic regions associated with resistance to MLD, which could significantly speed up the process of genetic improvement.

Leaning-Based Interfaces Improve Simultaneous Locomotion and Object Interaction in VR Compared to the Handheld Controller.

Physical walking is often considered the gold standard for VR travel whenever feasible. However, limited free-space walking areas in the real-world do not allow exploring larger-scale virtual environments by actual walking. Therefore, users often require handheld controllers for navigation, which can reduce believability, interfere with simultaneous interaction tasks, and exacerbate adverse effects such as motion sickness and disorientation.

Prediction ability of an alternative multi-trait genomic evaluation for residual feed intake.

Selection for feed efficiency is the goal for many genetic breeding programs in beef cattle. Residual feed intake has been included in genetic evaluations to reduce feed intake without compromising performance traits as liveweight, body gain or carcass traits. However, measuring feed intake is expensive, and only a small percentage of selection candidates are phenotyped.

Genomic evaluation of commercial herds with different pedigree structures using the single-step genomic BLUP in Nelore cattle.

The aim of this work was to evaluate the impact of applying genomic information in pedigree uncertainty situations on genetic evaluations for growth- and cow productivity-related traits in Nelore commercial herds. Records for accumulated cow productivity (ACP) and adjusted weight at 450 days of age (W450) were used, as well as genotypes of registered and commercial herd animals, genotyped with the Clarifide Nelore 3.1 panel (~29,000 SNPs).

Comparison of the Sensitivity of Tetragonisca angustula (Apidae-Meliponini) and Apis mellifera (Apidae-Apini) to Three Insecticides (Malathion, Imidacloprid, and Fipronil) Used in Costa Rica.

The decline of insect pollinators is a significant concern within the current biodiversity crisis. The paradox between the benefits that these animals represent to humans and the evidence of human activities driving their extinction calls for the urgent protection of bees. To address the role of chemical pollution in this scenario, we assessed the acute toxicity as well as four biomarker responses (cholinesterase [ChE], glutathione S-transferase, catalase, and lipid peroxidation [LPO]) elicited by dietary 24-h exposure to three insecticides (malathion, imidacloprid, and fipronil) on the stingless neotropical bee Tetragonisca angustula and the honeybee Apis mellifera.

Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children and SARS-CoV-2 variants: a two-year ambispective multicentric cohort study in Catalonia, Spain.

Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) is a rare but severe disease temporarily related to SARS-CoV-2. We aimed to describe the epidemiological, clinical, and laboratory findings of all MIS-C cases diagnosed in children < 18 years old in Catalonia (Spain) to study their trend throughout the pandemic. This was a multicenter ambispective observational cohort study (April 2020-April 2022).

Total Synthesis of (+)-Shearilicine.

Herein we report the first total synthesis of the indole diterpenoid natural product shearilicine by an 11-step sequence via a generalizable precursor to the highly oxidized subclass of indole diterpenoids. A native chiral auxiliary strategy was employed to access the target molecule in an enantiospecific fashion. The formation of the key carbazole substructure was achieved through a mild intramolecular Heck cyclization, wherein a computational study revealed noncovalent substrate-ligand and ligand-ligand interactions that promoted migratory insertion.

Reliabilities of estimated breeding values in models with metafounders.

Background: Reliabilities of best linear unbiased predictions (BLUP) of breeding values are defined as the squared correlation between true and estimated breeding values and are helpful in assessing risk and genetic gain. Reliabilities can be computed from the prediction error variances for models with a single base population but are undefined for models that include several base populations and when unknown parent groups are modeled as fixed effects. In such a case, the use of metafounders in principle enables reliabilities to be derived.