1,720,974 research outputs found
Emulating the EPIC trial using VetCompass primary-care data:causal effects of pimobendan in UK dogs with grade IV/VI heart murmurs
Full text linkTarget trial emulation applies design principles from randomised controlled trials (RCTs) to the analysis of observational data, potentially replicating RCT results in real-world settings. The EPIC trial reported that pimobendan delays the onset of congestive heart failure (CHF) and extends survival in dogs with preclinical degenerative mitral valve disease (DMVD). The current study aimed to explore the extent to which target trial emulation approximates the EPIC trial results in a primary-care setting. Grade IV/VI murmur diagnosis was defined as the treatment intervention stage. There were 928 dogs ≥ 6 years and ≤ 15 kg at first grade IV/VI murmur diagnosis recorded from January 1, 2016, to December 31, 2018 in the VetCompass database included in the study. A causal inference “target trial emulation” approach using VetCompass anonymised clinical data was designed to replicate the EPIC trial with adaptation for a primary-care setting and to address immortal time bias, confounding bias and loss to follow-up. After bias adjustments to establish causal effects using observational data, the 5-year CHF cumulative incidence was lower in dogs prescribed pimobendan (34.1%, 95% CI 26.5–42.0) than dogs not prescribed pimobendan (56.3%, 95% CI 52.8–59.8). Dogs prescribed pimobendan had 311 fewer days of health lost to CHF (95% CI 224–395 days) within 5 years. Dogs prescribed pimobendan lived longer (adjusted mean survival time 1051 days, 95% CI 967–1125) than dogs not prescribed pimobendan (905 days, 95% CI 871–940 days). This study demonstrates that target trial emulation within veterinary research can replicate findings from RCTs. Clinically, the current findings suggest that preclinical grade IV murmur diagnosis may offer an appropriate intervention stage to begin pimobendan therapy in dogs with presumed DMVD.</p
Molecular epidemiology and phylogenetic insights of lumpy skin disease in cattle from diverse agro-ecological regions of Punjab, Pakistan.
No full textLumpy skin disease (LSD) is an emerging, highly contagious transboundary disease of bovines caused by the Lumpy skin disease virus (LSDV), responsible for substantial economic losses to the dairy, meat, and leather industries in Pakistan as well as various countries around the world. Epidemiological information on LSD is scarce in Punjab, Pakistan. Therefore, a molecular epidemiological study was conducted in two agro-ecologically diverse districts (Bhakkar and Jhang) of Punjab, Pakistan. A total of 800 blood samples were randomly collected from the jugular vein of clinically suspected cattle with nodular lesions using a multistage cluster sampling technique. The sampling unit was indigenous, crossbred, and exotic breeds of cattle. Four hundred samples were collected from each district. Ten union councils (UC) were selected from each district, and two villages were selected from each union council. From each village, twenty cattle were selected for sample collection. The PCR-based overall prevalence of LSDV in clinically suspected cattle using the P32 gene was 36.25% (36.25%; 290/800). The multivariable logistic regression analysis indicated that animals who were not treated with acaricide (P = 0.014; OR = 1.459; C.I = 1.079-1.972), body condition score (emaciated animals; P = 0.019; OR = 1.573; CI = 1.076-2.301), and gender (female; (P = 0.016; OR = 1.435; CI = 1.072-1.969) were significantly at higher risk for LSDV infection in cattle. The phylogenetic insights revealed that our isolates were linked to Kenya, China, Russia, Egypt, India, Zimbabwe, Iraq, and Iran. It can be concluded that LSD is widely distributed in the study area, with evidence of genetic diversity. Further studies are required on genetic composition using variable genetic markers for effective control and eradication of LSDV in Pakistan
Incidence of gastrointestinal parasites in pigeons with an assessment of the nematocidal activity of chitosan nanoparticles against Ascaridia columbae
Full text linkIn this investigation, the incidence and intensity of gastrointestinal parasites of domestic pigeons were evaluated, additionally, in vitro and in vivo evaluation of the antiparasitic activity of chitosan nanoparticles against the most predominant gut parasite. Therefore, 240 domestic pigeons (160 adults and 80 squabs) obtained from different localities in Giza governorate, Egypt, from February to July 2021, were subjected to parasitological and postmortem examination. The results revealed that 97% of pigeons were vulnerable to single or mixed gastrointestinal parasites. The detected helminths were identified as Capillaria columbae (C. columbae) with a total incidence of (12.5%), Ascaridia columbae (A. columbae) (83.3.%), Heterakis gallinarum (H. gallinarum) (18.7%), Raillietina cesticillus (R. cesticillus) (7.5%), Raillietina echinobothrida (R. echinobothrida) (29%), Choanotaenia infundibulum (C. infundibulum) (22.9%), Davainea proglottina (D. proglottina) (26.6%), and Cotugnia proglottina (C. proglottina) (14.5%). At the same time, the identified protozoan parasites were Trichomonas gallinae (T. gallinae), and Eimeria columbae (E. columbae), with a total incidence of 25 and 79%, respectively. Helminths and Eimeria infections were higher in adults than squabs, while T. gallinae infection was reported with a higher incidence in squabs (62.5%) than adults (6.2%). From our findings, A. columbae was the most predominant gut parasite in the examined pigeons. Thus, it was subjected to in vitro and in vivo treatment with chitosan nanoparticles. Serum and tissue samples were collected from the birds which have been used in the in vitro study to evaluate the oxidative stress markers as malondialdehyde (MDA), Nitric oxide levels and Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and Interleukin-1 beta activity also, chitosan nanoparticles- treated worm ultrastructure were determined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Finally, we recommend periodic monitoring of pigeon's farm to detect the parasitic infestation, and from our results, we recommend chitosan nanoparticles as a potent nematocidal agent
Going Beyond Counting First Authors in Author Co-citation Analysis
Full text linkThe present study examines one of the fundamental aspects of author co-citation analysis (ACA) - the way co-citation
counts are defined. Co-citation counting provides the data on which all subsequent statistical analyses and mappings
are based, and we compare ACA results based on two different types of co-citation counting - the traditional type that
only counts the first one among a cited work's authors on the one hand and a non-traditional type that takes into
account the first 5 authors of a cited work on the other hand. Results indicate that the picture produced through this non-traditional author co-citation counting contains more coherent author groups and is therefore considerably clearer. However, this picture represents fewer specialties in the research field being studied than that produced through the traditional first-author co-citation counting when the same number of top-ranked authors is selected and analyzed. Reasons for these effects are discussed
Variations on the Author
Full text link“Variations on the Author” discusses two of Eduardo Coutinho’s recent films (Um Dia na Vida, from 2010, and Últimas Conversas, posthumously released in 2015) and their contribution to the general question of documentary authorship. The director’s filmography is characterized by a consistent yet self-effacing form of authorial self-inscription: Coutinho often features as an interviewer that rather than express opinions propels discourses; an interviewer that is good at listening. This mode of self-inscription characterizes him as an author who is not expressive but who is nonetheless markedly present on the screen. In Um Dia na Vida, however, Coutinho is completely absent form the image, while Últimas Conversas, on the contrary, includes a confessional prologue that moves the director from the margins to the center of his films. This article examines the ways in which these works stand out in the filmography of a director who offers new insights into the notion of cinematic authorship
Appropriate Similarity Measures for Author Cocitation Analysis
Full text linkWe provide a number of new insights into the methodological discussion about author cocitation analysis. We first argue that the use of the Pearson correlation for measuring the similarity between authors’ cocitation profiles is not very satisfactory. We then discuss what kind of similarity measures may be used as an alternative to the Pearson correlation. We consider three similarity measures in particular. One is the well-known cosine. The other two similarity measures have not been used before in the bibliometric literature. Finally, we show by means of an example that our findings have a high practical relevance.information science;Pearson correlation;cosine;similarity measure;author cocitation analysis
Effect of supplementing honey via drinking water on growth performance, carcass traits, and blood biochemical parameters in broiler chickens
No full textThis study investigated the effects of supplementing broiler drinking water with Egyptian clover honey on growth performance, carcass characteristics, and blood biochemical parameters. A total of 525 one-day-old male Hubbard broilers were assigned to seven treatment groups to evaluate two concentrations of honey (13 and 26 mLL-1) administered at three different frequencies (daily, every other day, and every 3 d), along with a control group receiving no honey. Supplementing drinking water with honey significantly enhanced overall broiler performance. Birds receiving honey, particularly at the higher concentration and at intermittent intervals, showed improved body weight gain and feed efficiency compared to the control group. The highest relative weights of key lymphoid organs - such as the spleen, bursa of Fabricius, and thymus - were observed in supplemented groups, indicating a positive impact on immune system development. Hematological analysis revealed increased red and white blood cell counts, hemoglobin, and packed cell volume in honey-fed birds, reflecting improved oxygen transport and immune competence. Serum biochemical profiles demonstrated a favorable shift, with significant reductions in markers of metabolic stress and liver function (uric acid, creatinine, cholesterol, triglycerides, and alanine aminotransferase (ALT)) and notable increases in total protein, albumin, and globulin levels. Additionally, honey supplementation significantly enhanced humoral immune response, as evidenced by higher hemagglutination inhibition titers against Newcastle disease virus. The results indicate that honey supplementation via drinking water, especially at 26 mLL-1, administered intermittently, can effectively improve growth performance, physiological health, and immune function in broiler chickens. These findings support the potential of honey as a natural antibiotic-free additive to promote sustainable poultry production
Effect of a low-energy and enzyme-supplemented diet on broiler chicken growth, carcass traits and meat quality
No full textThe objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of a low metabolizable energy (low-ME)
diet supplemented with a multienzyme blend (KEMZYME®) on the growth performance, carcass traits and
meat quality of chickens. A total of 108 broiler chicks (Ross 308) were randomly allocated to three experimental
groups with six replicates per treatment and five birds per replicate; the groups were treated as follows: a
control diet with no additive and standard metabolizable energy (ME; 3200 kcal kg1); a low metabolizable energy
(low-ME; 3000 kcal kg1) diet; and a low-ME dietC0.5 g kg1 diet of enzyme (low-ME–Enz). Live body
weight (LBW) at 43 and 47 d and body weight gain (BWG) during the periods from 38 to 43, 43 to 47 and
33 to 47 d decreased with the low-ME and low-ME–Enz diets in comparison with the control-diet (p<0:05).
The values of the feed conversion ratio (FCR) were significantly increased with low-ME diets with or without
enzyme at all growing stages. There were no significant differences among treatments in terms of carcass traits.
With the exception of the jejunum weight, dietary treatments did not affect any digestive tract segments. Meat
hardness decreased with the low-ME–Enz diet compared with the other diets (P D 0:039). Meat yellowness of
the breast muscle increased (P D 0:001) with the low-ME–Enz diet in comparison with the other treatments at
24 h post-slaughter. In conclusion, the low-ME diet supplemented with KEMZYME® did not influence most
of performance parameters and carcass traits of chickens; however, adding enzymes to the low-ME diet is an
effective strategy to improve the meat quality criteria and small intestine characteristics
Dispelling the Myths Behind First-author Citation Counts
Full text linkWe conducted a full-scale evaluative citation analysis study of scholars in the XML research field to explore just how different from each other author rankings resulting from different citation counting methods actually are, and to demonstrate the capability of emerging data and tools on the Web in supporting more realistic citation counting methods. Our results contest some common arguments for the continued
use of first-author citation counts in the evaluation of scholars, such as high correlations between author rankings by first-author citation counts and other citation
counting methods, and high costs of using more realistic citation counting methods that are not well-supported by the ISI databases. It is argued that increasingly available digital full text research papers make it possible for citation analysis studies to go beyond what the ISI databases have directly supported and to employ more
sophisticated methods
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