Genetic parameter estimates for methane emission from breath during lactation and potential inaccuracies in reliabilities assuming a repeatability versus random regression model.

Methane emissions will be added to many national ruminant breeding programs in the coming years. Little is known about the covariance structure of CH traits over a lactation, which is important for optimizing recording strategies and establishing optimal genetic evaluation models. Our aim was to study CH over a lactation using random regression (RR) models, and to compare the accuracy to a fixed regression repeatability model under different phenotyping strategies.

Deep-learning-based image quality enhancement of CT-like MR imaging in patients with suspected traumatic shoulder injury.

Purpose: To evaluate the diagnostic performance of CT-like MR images reconstructed with an algorithm combining compressed sense (CS) with deep learning (DL) in patients with suspected osseous shoulder injury compared to conventional CS-reconstructed images.

Methods: Thirty-two patients (12 women, mean age 46 ± 14.9 years) with suspected traumatic shoulder injury were prospectively enrolled into the study.

AI Algorithm to Predict Acute Coronary Syndrome in Prehospital Cardiac Care: Retrospective Cohort Study.

Background: Overcrowding of hospitals and emergency departments (EDs) is a growing problem. However, not all ED consultations are necessary. For example, 80% of patients in the ED with chest pain do not have an acute coronary syndrome (ACS).

Differences across herds with different dairy breeds in daily milk yield based proxies for resilience.

Global sustainability issues such as climate change, biodiversity loss and food security require food systems to become more resource efficient and better embedded in the local environment. This needs a transition towards more diverse, circular and low-input dairy farming systems with animals best suited to the specific environmental conditions. When varying environmental challenges are posed to animals, cows need to become resilient to disturbances they face.

Heritability and genetic correlations between enteric methane production and concentration recorded by GreenFeed and sniffers on dairy cows.

To reduce methane (CH) emissions of dairy cows by animal breeding, CH measurements have to be recorded on thousands of individual cows. Currently, several techniques are used to phenotype cows for CH, differing in costs and applicability. However, there is uncertainty about the agreement between techniques.

Early locomotor activity in broilers and the relationship with body weight gain.

Fast-growing broilers are relatively inactive and this is thought to be a result of selection for high growth rates. This reduced activity level is considered a major cause of leg weakness and associated leg health problems. Increased activity, especially early in life, is suggested to have positive effects on leg health, but the relationship between early activity and growth is unclear.

[Postoperative imaging of the musculoskeletal system : Clinical aspects].

Background: Postoperative imaging in trauma surgery is an essential part of documenting optimal osteosynthetic care. A precise and goal-oriented analysis with a justifiable indication is essential. The clinical information has a great impact on the quality of imaging.

Elucidation of the genetic causes of bicuspid aortic valve disease.

Aims: The present study aims to characterize the genetic risk architecture of bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) disease, the most common congenital heart defect.

Methods And Results: We carried out a genome-wide association study (GWAS) including 2236 BAV patients and 11 604 controls. This led to the identification of a new risk locus for BAV on chromosome 3q29.

Symposium review: Development of a funding program to support research on enteric methane mitigation from ruminants.

Enteric methane is a major source of greenhouse gas emissions from milk production systems. Two organizations based in the United States, the Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research and the Dairy Research Institute, have developed a collaborative program to align resources and fund projects to identify, develop, and validate new and existing mitigation options for enteric methane emissions from dairy and beef cattle. This collaborative program is called the Greener Cattle Initiative.

MR elastography is a good response parameter for microwave ablation liver tumors.

Objectives: To determine the response of hepatic tissue to percutaneous microwave ablation (MWA) of liver tumors via MR elastography in a clinical setting using MRI and MR elastography.

Methods: 51 Patients (28 m, 23f) underwent MWA of liver tumors (HCC: 20, metastasis: 31) and received MRI and MR elastography immediately before and 24 h after MWA. Retrospective analysis included pre- and post-ablative tumor extent, T1/T2 mapping and stiffness values as well as the duration and energy dose of the MWA session.

Response comparison of PLC and SLC with magnetic resonance elastography after TACE.

The aim of this study was to detect a response difference in primary (PLC) and secondary liver tumors (SLC) with magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) after TACE therapy. Thirty-one patients (25/31 male; mean age 69.6 years [range: 39-85 years]) with repeated TACE therapy of HCC were compared with twenty-seven patients (27/27 female; mean age 61.

Correlations of feed intake predicted with milk infrared spectra and breeding values in the Dutch Holstein population.

Feed is a major cost in dairy production, and substantial genetic variation in feed efficiency exists between cows. Therefore, breeders aim to improve feed efficiency of dairy cattle. However, phenotypic data on individual feed intake on commercial farms is scarce, and accurate measurements are very costly.

Integrating heterogeneous across-country data for proxy-based random forest prediction of enteric methane in dairy cattle.

Direct measurements of methane (CH) from individual animals are difficult and expensive. Predictions based on proxies for CH are a viable alternative. Most prediction models are based on multiple linear regressions (MLR) and predictor variables that are not routinely available in commercial farms, such as dry matter intake (DMI) and diet composition.

Genetic parameters for repeatedly recorded enteric methane concentrations of dairy cows.

Animal breeding techniques offer potential to reduce enteric emissions of ruminants to lower the environmental impact of dairy farming. The aim of this study was to estimate the heritability and repeatability of methane (CH) concentrations, using the largest data set from long-term repeatedly recorded CH on cows to date, and to evaluate (1) the accuracy of breeding values for different CH traits, including using visits or weekly means, and (2) recording strategies (with varying numbers of records and recorded daughters per sire). The data comprised of long-term recording of CH and carbon dioxide (CO), from 1,746 Holstein Friesian cows, on 14 commercial dairy farms throughout the Netherlands.

A data-driven prediction of lifetime resilience of dairy cows using commercial sensor data collected during first lactation.

Reliable prediction of lifetime resilience early in life can contribute to improved management decisions of dairy farmers. Several studies have shown that time series sensor data can be used to predict lifetime resilience rankings. However, such predictions generally require the translation of sensor data into biologically meaningful sensor features, which involve proper feature definitions and a lot of preprocessing.

Adaptation of Livestock to New Diets Using Feed Components without Competition with Human Edible Protein Sources-A Review of the Possibilities and Recommendations.

Livestock feed encompasses both human edible and human inedible components. Human edible feed components may become less available for livestock. Especially for proteins, this calls for action.

The relationship between gait and automated recordings of individual broiler activity levels.

Gait, or walking ability, is an often-measured trait in broilers. Individual gait scores are generally determined manually, which can be time-consuming and subjective. Automated methods of scoring gait are available, but are often implemented at the group level.

Selective breeding as a mitigation tool for methane emissions from dairy cattle.

The global livestock sector, particularly ruminants, contributes substantially to the total anthropogenic greenhouse gases. Management and dietary solutions to reduce enteric methane (CH) emissions are extensively researched. Animal breeding that exploits natural variation in CH emissions is an additional mitigation solution that is cost-effective, permanent, and cumulative.

Prevalence of Musculoskeletal Disorders among Dentists and Dental Students in Germany.

Background: Dentists are at a higher risk of suffering from musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) than the general population. However, the latest study investigating MSD in the dental profession in Germany was published about 20 years ago. Therefore, the aim of this study was to reveal the current prevalence of MSD in dentists and dental students in Germany.

Prevalence of self-reported musculoskeletal disorders of the hand and associated conducted therapy approaches among dentists and dental assistants in Germany.

Background: Dental professionals are subjected to higher risks for musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) than other professional groups, especially the hand region. This study aims to investigate the prevalence of hand complaints among dentists (Ds) and dental assistants (DAs) and examines applied therapies.

Methods: For this purpose, an online questionnaire analysed 389 Ds (240female/149male) and 406 DAs (401female/5male) working in Germany.

Assessing the Activity of Individual Group-Housed Broilers Throughout Life using a Passive Radio Frequency Identification System-A Validation Study.

Individual data are valuable for assessing the health, welfare and performance of broilers. In particular, data on the first few days of life are needed to study the predictive value of traits recorded early in life for later life performance. However, broilers are generally kept in groups, which hampers individual identification and monitoring of animals.

Prevalence of Muscular Skeletal Disorders among Qualified Dental Assistants.

Unlabelled: The occupation of dental assistants (DAs) involves many health risks of the musculoskeletal system due to static and prolonged work, which can lead to musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). The aim of the study was to investigate the prevalence of MSDs in DAs in Germany.

Methods: For this purpose, an online questionnaire analyzed 406 (401 female participants and 5 male participants, 401w/5m) DAs.

Evaluation of MR elastography as a response parameter for transarterial chemoembolization of colorectal liver metastases.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) as a response parameter in patients who received transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) for the treatment of colorectal liver metastases.

Materials And Methods: Forty-two patients (29 male patients; mean age, 61.5 years; range, 41-84 years) with repeated TACE therapy of colorectal liver metastases underwent on average 2 repetitive magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and MRE exams in 4- to 6-week intervals using a 1.

Can greenhouse gases in breath be used to genetically improve feed efficiency of dairy cows?

There is considerable interest in improving feed utilization of dairy cattle while limiting losses to the environment (i.e., greenhouse gases, GHG).

Validation of an Ultra-Wideband Tracking System for Recording Individual Levels of Activity in Broilers.

Individual data on activity of broilers is valuable, as activity may serve as a proxy for multiple health, welfare and performance indicators. However, broilers are often kept in large groups, which makes it difficult to identify and monitor them individually. Sensor technologies might offer solutions.