Snowmelt Flood Mapping and Land Surface Short-Term Dynamics Assessment in a “Before-During-After” Scenario Based on Radar and Optical Satellite Imagery: Case Study Around the Lewisville Lake (Dallas/Fort Worth Metropolitan, Texas, USA)

The main goal of this study has been to map flood and assess land surface short-term dynamics in relation with snowy weather. The two recent snowfall events, which happened in, February 14th and 15th, of year 2021, and February 3rd and 4th, of year 2022, were chosen. A pre-analysis correlation was assumed between, the snow events, recurrency of floods, and changes in the land surface characteristics (i.e., wetness, energy, temperature), in a “Before-During-After” scenario. Active and passive microwave satellites data such as, Sentinel-1 synthetic aperture radar (SAR), Sentinel-2 multispectral instrument (MSI) and Landsat-9 Operation Land Imager-2/Thermal Infrared Sensors-2 (OLI-2/TIRS-2), as well as cloud databased global models for water and urban layers were used. The first step of processing was thresholding of SAR image, at 0.25 cutoff, based on bimodal histogram distribution, followed by the change analysis. The following processing consisted in the images transformation, by computing the tasseled cap transformation wetness (TCTw) and the surface albedo on MSI image. In addition, the land surface temperature (LST) was modeled from OLI-2/TIRS-2 image. Then, a 5th order polynomial regression was computed, between TCTw as dependent variable and, albedo and LST as independent variables. As a first result, an area of 5.6 km2 has been mapped as recurrently flooded from the two years assessment. The other output highlighted a constant increase of wetness (TCTw), considered most influential on land surface dynamics, comparatively to energy exchange (albedo) and temperature (LST). The “After” event dependency between the three indicators was highest, with a correlation coefficient, R2 = 0.682, confirming the persistence of wetness after-snowmelt. Validation over topographic layers confirmed that, recurrently flooded areas are mostly distributed on, lowest valley depth points, farthest distances from channel network (i.e., from perennial waters), and lowest relative slope position areas. Whereas, 88.9% of the validation sampling were confirmed in the laboratory, and 86.7% of urban validation points were assessed as recurrently flooded when combining pre-/post-field-work campaign.

超重和肥胖的不同指标与动脉粥样硬化患病之间的关系:Dallas心脏研究

目的:本研究拟在大规模人群队列中评估超重和肥胖的不同指标与动脉粥样硬化患病之间的关系。背景:虽然肥胖与心血管性死亡有关,但是尚不清楚这种关系是否由增加的动脉粥样硬化负荷所介导。方法:使用来自Dallas心脏研究的资料,作者评估了性别特异性的肥胖指标犤即体重指数(BMI)、腰围(WC)、腰臀比(WHR)犦与动脉粥样硬化患病之间的关系,

Pro-Inflammatory Substances and Cognition in the Dallas Heart Study

Cognitive decline in late adulthood might be partially mediated by subclinical generalized vascular disease. If so, atherogenic factors such as pro-inflammatory cytokines might be mid-life targets for prevention or treatment. Dallas Heart Study subjects (n = 997;mean age = 42.94 ± 10.2 yrs) underwent blood assays of pro-inflammatory biomarkers associated with atherosclerosis and 8 years later completed a cognitive outcome measure, the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). Markers included C-reactive protein (CRP), Interleukin-18 (IL-18), Lipoprotein-associated phospholipase (LP-PLA2), and Monocyte Chemoattractant Protein (MCP-1), with Apolipoprotein E4 (ApoE4) as a potential modifier. We found weak evidence for LP-PLA2 and CRP as predictors of cognitive scores. No relationship was found between elevated MCP-1, IL-18 and cognition. Presence of the ApoE4 allele did not impact the relationship between biomarkers and cognitive function. Levels of atherogenesis-related pro-inflammatory blood biomarkers did not predict cognitive function in middle-aged adults after an interval of 8 years.

The Dallas Donation after Circulatory Death Transplantation Summit:expanding donation after circulatory death procedures through process improvement,broader utilization,and innovation

Despite a significant increase in utilization over the past decade,the number of donation after circulatory death(DCD)organs that are procured and transplanted in the United States(US)remains well below its potential.There is still room for expansion,as utilizing DCD organs to the fullest extent is currently the most viable solution to the persistent mismatch between supply and demand in transplantation.We convened a multidisciplinary transplantation summit to examine various aspects of DCD,with faculty members from around the world with clinical and academic interest in DCD donation and transplantation,including abdominal and cardiothoracic surgeons,organ procurement organization directors,hepatologists,and gastroenterologists.The conference focused on identifying barriers to DCD organ utilization and strategies to overcome these barriers.We divide the barriers to DCD utilization into three mains categories:(Ⅰ)policy and process variation;(II)logistical and transportation challenges;and(Ⅲ)higher risk perceptions related to DCD outcomes.For each barrier,we proposed a variety of solutions,providing an overview of the status of DCD donation in the US and suggestions on how to increase the use of DCD.There is a specific focus on ex situ machine perfusion,normothermic regional perfusion,and other opportunities to expand DCD utilization without negatively impacting recipient outcomes.

活动期糖尿病夏科神经性骨关节病诊疗指南——《国际糖尿病足工作组:糖尿病相关的足病预防与管理指南(2023)》的一部分

国际糖尿病足工作组(IWGDF)自1999年以来发布了糖尿病足病预防和治疗的循证指南。这是IWGDF发布的第一部关于糖尿病患者活动期夏科神经性骨关节病诊断和治疗的指南。我们遵循GRADE方法,以人群-评估-比较-结局(PACO)和人群-干预-比较-结局(PICO)的格式设计临床问题,系统检索医学文献,并提出有依据的推荐。这些推荐是基于我们系统综述的证据,如无证据则参考专家意见,并考虑到与干预相关的受益和危害、患者偏好、可行性和适用性以及成本的权衡。我们在本章节介绍了2023年糖尿病患者活动期夏科神经性骨关节病的诊断和治疗指南,并提出了未来的关键研究方向。

Apoer2/Lrp8:the undercover cop of synaptic homeostasis

Apolipoprotein E receptor 2(ApoER2)is a receptor for the protein ApoE,the most common genetic risk factor for late-onset Alzheimer's disease(AD).It is also a key modulator of syna ptic homeostasis,in part through its effect on the expression of neuronal genes including those implicated in AD and other neuropsychiatric disorders.In this perspective,we highlight several genes affected by ApoER2 and its alternatively spliced forms and how aberrant expression can be rescued by the reintroduction of the ApoER2 intracellular domain in the mouse hippocampus.

MAP4K inhibition as a potential therapy for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis(ALS)is a rare neurological disease,featuring gradual loss of muscle controls due to degeneration of motor neurons.Unfortunately,there is currently no cure for ALS.The available therapies only offer a limited extension of survival by several months,begging for more options of therapeutics.

Impact of COVID-19-related lifestyle changes on diabetic macular edema

AIM:To assess diabetic macular edema(DME)progression during the early phases of the COVID-19 pandemic,when severe societal restrictions raised the concern of possible deterioration of health in patients with systemic conditions,particularly those requiring frequent office visits.METHODS:This is a multicenter retrospective chart review of 370 patients(724 eyes)with an established diagnosis of DME seen on 3 separate visits between January 2019 and July 2021.Period 1 was January 2019 to February 2020(considered pre-COVID-19),period 2 was March 2020 to December 2020(considered the height of the pandemic;highest level of pandemic-related clinical and societal regulations)and period 3 was January 2021 to July 2021(re-adjustment to the new“pandemic norms”).Main outcome measures included visual acuity,body mass index(BMI),blood pressure(BP),hemoglobin A1c(HbA1c),macular thickness,patient adherence to scheduled ophthalmology visits,and DME treatment(s)received at each visit.To facilitate measurement of macular thickness,each macula was divided into 9 Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study(ETDRS)-defined macular sectors as measured by OCT imaging.RESULTS:There was no change of BMI,systolic BP,and diastolic BP between any of the time periods.HbA1c showed a very small increase from period 1(7.6%)to period 2(7.8%,P=0.015)and decreased back to 7.6%at period 3(P=0.12).Macular thickness decreased for 100%of macular regions.The central macular thickness decreased across all 3 periods from 329.5 to 316.6μm(P=0.0045).After analysis of multiple variables including HbA1c,BMI,adherence to scheduled appointments,different clinic centers,and treatment interventions,there was no easily identifiable subgroup of patients that experienced the increase in DME.CONCLUSION:DME doesn’t worsen during the COVID-19 pandemic,instead sustaining a very small but statistically significant improvement.While identifying a mechanism behind our findings is beyond the scope of this study,potential explanations may include a delay in retinal changes beyond our study period,an unexpected increase in treatment frequency despite pandemic restrictions,and an unanticipated pandemic-related improvement in some lifestyle factors that may have had a positive impact on DME.

Association between baseline levels of muscular strength and risk of stroke in later life:The Cooper Center Longitudinal Study

Background:Muscular strength is an important component of physical fitness.We evaluated the relationship between baseline muscular strength and risk of stroke among adults who were aged≥65 years during follow-up.Methods:We included 7627 healthy adults(mean age=43.9 years,86.0%male)underwent a baseline physical examination between 1980 and 1989.Muscular strength was determined by 1-repetition maximum measures for bench press and leg press and categorized into age-and sex-specific tertiles for each measure.Cardiorespiratory fitness(CRF)was assessed via a maximal treadmill exercise test.Those enrolled in fee-for-service Medicare from 1999 to 2019 were included in the analyses.Associations between baseline strength and stroke outcomes were estimated using a modified Cox proportional hazards model.In a secondary analysis,we examined stroke risk by categories of CRF where Quintile 1=low,Quintiles 2-3=moderate,and Quintiles 4-5=high CRF based on age and sex.Results:After 70,072 person-years of Medicare follow-up,there were 1211 earliest indications of incident stroke.In multivariable analyses,the hazard ratio(95%confidence interval(95%CI))for stroke across bench press categories were 1.0(referent),0.96(0.83-1.11),and 0.89(0.77-1.04),respectively(p trend=0.14).The trend across categories of leg press was also non-significant(p trend=0.79).Adjusted hazard ratio(95%CI)for stroke across ordered CRF categories were 1.0(referent),0.90(0.71-1.13),and 0.72(0.57-0.92)(p trend<0.01).Conclusion:While meeting public health guidelines for muscular strengthening activities is likely to improve muscular strength as well as many health outcomes in older adults,performing such activities may not be helpful in preventing stroke.Conversely,meeting guidelines for aerobic activity is likely to improve CRF and lower stroke risk.

Treatment of a patient with aconitine poisoning using veno-arterial membrane oxygenation:A case report

BACKGROUND Aconitine poisoning is highly prone to causing malignant arrhythmias.The elimination of aconitine from the body takes a considerable amount of time,and during this period,patients are at a significant risk of death due to malignant arrhythmias associated with aconitine poisoning.CASE SUMMARY A 30-year-old male patient was admitted due to accidental ingestion of aconitinecontaining drugs.Upon arrival at the emergency department,the patient intermittently experienced malignant arrhythmias including ventricular tachycardia,ventricular fibrillation,ventricular premature beats,and cardiac arrest.Emergency interventions such as cardiopulmonary resuscitation and defibrillation were promptly administered.Additionally,veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation(VA-ECMO)therapy was initiated.Successful resuscitation was achieved before ECMO placement,but upon initiation of ECMO,the patient experienced recurrent malignant arrhythmias.ECMO was utilized to maintain hemodynamics and respiration,while continuous blood purification therapy for toxin clearance,mechanical ventilation,and hypothermic brain protection therapy were concurrently administered.On the third day of VA-ECMO support,the patient’s respiratory and hemodynamic status stabilized,with only frequent ventricular premature beats observed on electrocardiographic monitoring,and echocardiography indicated recovery of cardiac contractile function.On the fourth day,a significant reduction in toxin levels was observed,along with stable hemodynamic and respiratory functions.Following a successful pump-controlled retrograde trial occlusion test,ECMO assistance was terminated.The patient gradually improved postoperatively and achieved recovery.He was discharged 11 days later.CONCLUSION VA-ECMO can serve as a bridging resuscitation technique for patients with reversible malignant arrhythmias.

A call for enhanced data-driven insights into wind energy flow physics

With the increased availability of experimental measurements aiming at probing wind resources and wind turbine operations,machine learning(ML)models are poised to advance our understanding of the physics underpinning the interaction between the atmospheric boundary layer and wind turbine arrays,the generated wakes and their interactions,and wind energy harvesting.However,the majority of the existing ML models for predicting wind turbine wakes merely recreate Computational fluid dynamics(CFD)simulated data with analogous accuracy but reduced computational costs,thus providing surrogate models rather than enhanced data-enabled physics insights.Although ML-based surrogate models are useful to overcome current limitations associated with the high computational costs of CFD models,using ML to unveil processes from experimental data or enhance modeling capabilities is deemed a potential research direction to pursue.In this letter,we discuss recent achievements in the realm of ML modeling of wind turbine wakes and operations,along with new promising research strategies.

The HIF-1α/PLOD2 axis integrates extracellular matrix organization and cell metabolism leading to aberrant musculoskeletal repair

While hypoxic signaling has been shown to play a role in many cellular processes,its role in metabolism-linked extracellular matrix(ECM)organization and downstream processes of cell fate after musculoskeletal injury remains to be determined.Heterotopicossification(HO)is a debilitating condition where abnormal bone formation occurs within extra-skeletal tissues.Hypoxia andhypoxia-inducible factor 1α(HIF-1α)activation have been shown to promote HO.However,the underlying molecular mechanisms bywhich the HIF-1αpathway in mesenchymal progenitor cells(MPCs)contributes to pathologic bone formation remain to beelucidated.Here,we used a proven mouse injury-induced HO model to investigate the role of HIF-1αon aberrant cell fate.Usingsingle-cell RNA sequencing(scRNA-seq)and spatial transcriptomics analyses of the HO site,we found that collagen ECM organizationis the most highly up-regulated biological process in MPCs.Zeugopod mesenchymal cell-specific deletion of Hif1α(Hoxa11-CreER^(T2);Hif1a^(fl/fl))significantly mitigated HO in vivo.ScRNA-seq analysis of these Hoxa11-CreER^(T2);Hif1a^(fl/fl)mice identified the PLOD2/LOXpathway for collagen cross-linking as downstream of the HIF-1αregulation of HO.Importantly,our scRNA-seq data and mechanisticstudies further uncovered that glucose metabolism in MPCs is most highly impacted by HIF-1αdeletion.From a translational aspect,a pan-LOX inhibitor significantly decreased HO.A newly screened compound revealed that the inhibition of PLOD2 activity in MPCssignificantly decreased osteogenic differentiation and glycolytic metabolism.This suggests that the HIF-1α/PLOD2/LOX axis linked tometabolism regulates HO-forming MPC fate.These results suggest that the HIF-1α/PLOD2/LOX pathway represents a promisingstrategy to mitigate HO formation.

Clinical characteristics and treatment compounds of obesity-related kidney injury

Disorders in energy homeostasis can lead to various metabolic diseases,particularly obesity.The obesity epidemic has led to an increased incidence of obesityrelated nephropathy(ORN),a distinct entity characterized by proteinuria,glomerulomegaly,progressive glomerulosclerosis,and renal function decline.Obesity and its associated renal damage are common in clinical practice,and their incidence is increasing and attracting great attention.There is a great need to identify safe and effective therapeutic modalities,and therapeutics using chemical compounds and natural products are receiving increasing attention.However,the summary is lacking about the specific effects and mechanisms of action of compounds in the treatment of ORN.In this review,we summarize the important clinical features and compound treatment strategies for obesity and obesityinduced kidney injury.We also summarize the pathologic and clinical features of ORN as well as its pathogenesis and potential therapeutics targeting renal inflammation,oxidative stress,insulin resistance,fibrosis,kidney lipid accumulation,and dysregulated autophagy.In addition,detailed information on natural and synthetic compounds used for the treatment of obesity-related kidney disease is summarized.The synthesis of detailed information aims to contribute to a deeper understanding of the clinical treatment modalities for obesity-related kidney diseases,fostering the anticipation of novel insights in this domain.

HIPPO artificial intelligence:Correlating automated radiographic femoroacetabular measurements with patient-reported outcomes in developmental hip dysplasia

BACKGROUND Hip dysplasia(HD)is characterized by insufficient acetabular coverage of the femoral head,leading to a predisposition for osteoarthritis.While radiographic measurements such as the lateral center edge angle(LCEA)and Tönnis angle are essential in evaluating HD severity,patient-reported outcome measures(PROMs)offer insights into the subjective health impact on patients.AIM To investigate the correlations between machine-learning automated and manual radiographic measurements of HD and PROMs with the hypothesis that artificial intelligence(AI)-generated HD measurements indicating less severe dysplasia correlate with better PROMs.METHODS Retrospective study evaluating 256 hips from 130 HD patients from a hip preservation clinic database.Manual and AI-derived radiographic measurements were collected and PROMs such as the Harris hip score(HHS),international hip outcome tool(iHOT-12),short form(SF)12(SF-12),and Visual Analogue Scale of the European Quality of Life Group survey were correlated using Spearman's rank-order correlation.RESULTS The median patient age was 28.6 years(range 15.7-62.3 years)with 82.3%of patients being women and 17.7%being men.The median interpretation time for manual readers and AI ranged between 4-12 minutes per patient and 31 seconds,respectively.Manual measurements exhibited weak correlations with HHS,including LCEA(r=0.18)and Tönnis angle(r=-0.24).AI-derived metrics showed similar weak correlations,with the most significant being Caput-Collum-Diaphyseal(CCD)with iHOT-12 at r=-0.25(P=0.042)and CCD with SF-12 at r=0.25(P=0.048).Other measured correlations were not significant(P>0.05).CONCLUSION This study suggests AI can aid in HD assessment,but weak PROM correlations highlight their continued importance in predicting subjective health and outcomes,complementing AI-derived measurements in HD management.

Period–Luminosity Relationship forδScuti Stars Revisited

The Gaia DR3 parallax approach was used to estimate the absolute parameters of 2375δScuti stars from the ASAS catalog.The selected stars have a variety of observational characteristics,with a higher than 80%probability of beingδScuti stars.We have displayed all the stars in the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram along with theδScuti instability strip,the Zero Age Main Sequence and the Terminal Age Main Sequence.Then,we determined which fundamental and overtone modes each star belongs to using pulsation constant(Q)calculations.In addition,we evaluated the parameters in the Q calculation equation using three machine learning methods,which showed that surface gravity and temperature have the greatest effect on its calculation.The Period-Luminosity(P-L)relationship of theδScuti stars was also revisited.Eventually,using least squares linear regression,we made four linear fits for fundamental and overtone modes and updated their relationships.

Clinical-DNA Correlates of Anxiety in Patients with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome

Introduction: Anxiety disorders have a lifetime prevalence of 34% with a similar level of heritability (31%) yet lack objective markers that could differentiate patients with underlying conditions. Up to 60%-70% of patients with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome have anxiety that meets criteria of generalized anxiety disorder, their clinical-DNA findings worth examining as biomarkers for patients with generalized anxiety. Method: Of the 1899 patients diagnosed with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, 1261 were systematically evaluated for 80 history and 40 physical findings and separated into 826 who reported anxiety and 435 who did not. The most consistently reported or management-directing 60 of these clinical findings were, along with variations in genes relevant to these disorders, examined for association with anxiety. Results: Among the 30 anxiety- associated findings judged most predictive of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome in patients with anxiety were expected ones of adrenergic stimulation (difficulty concentrating-87% frequency and 1.26 anxiety/no anxiety ratio;chronic fatigue-84%, 1.17;sleep issues 69%, 1.52 that are criteria for generalized anxiety disorder) or of cholinergic suppression (e.g., frequent nausea 64%, 1.26). Less associated but more discriminating for underlying disease were those reflective of neuromuscular impact (e.g., chronic daily headaches 76%, 1.12);hypermobility (e.g., awareness of flexibility 72%, 1.03), or skin changes (e.g., elasticity around jaw 71%, 1.06). Anxiety-associated DNA variants included 54 of 88 in collagen type I/V/VII/IX genes, 14 of 16 in sodium channel SCN9A/10A/ 11A genes, 59 of 85 in POLG/MT-DNA genes, and 21 of 28 in profilaggrin- FLG genes that respectively impacted tissue laxity, sensory neural, autonomic-mitochondrial, and autonomic-inflammatory functions. Conclusion: Analysis of pathogenetic mechanisms in Ehlers-Danlos syndrome selected some 50 clinical-DNA findings useful for its diagnosis in those with generalized anxiety disorders.

Molecular mechanisms of aflatoxin neurotoxicity and potential neuroprotective agents

Aflatoxins(AFTs)represent one of the most notorious classes of deadly mycotoxins produced by certain fungi that are found on agricultural crops.Aflatoxins are highly toxic to mammals and are known to cause a series of detrimental effects,including neuro-,hepato-,nephron-,and immuno-toxicity.In this original review we summarize the mechanisms of aflatoxin-induced neurotoxicity and the clinical potential of novel neuroprotective agents.Aflatoxin B1(AFB1)is the most toxic congener among the 21 identified AFTs.Recent studies have shown that food borne exposure to AFB1 and/or its metabolites often leads to fatal neurotoxicity in animals and humans.Animal studies indicated that AFB1 exposure could induce abnormal behavioral changes,including anxiety,lethargy disorders,depression-like behavior,cognitive,learning and memory defects,and decreased feeding behavior.Mechanistically,AFB1 exposure has been associated with lipid peroxidation,ablation of non-enzymatic and enzymatic antioxidant defense systems and decreased neurotransmitter levels.AFB1 exposure has also been shown to induce DNA damage,apoptosis,pyroptosis,and mitochondrial dysfunction in the brain tissue.Several signaling pathways,including gasdermin D,toll like receptor 2(TLR2),TLR4,Akt,NF-κB,ERK/MAPK,protein kinase C(PKC),and mitochondrial apoptotic pathways have been shown to participate in AFB1-induced neuronal or astrocyte cell death.Targeting these pathways by small molecules(e.g.,quercetin,curcumin,and gallic acid,and dimethyl fumarate),Chinese herbal extracts(e.g.,Artichoke leaf extract,Chelidonium majus ethanolic extract,pumpkin extract,and Crocus sativus L.tea),and probiotic supplements could effectively improve AFB1-induced neurobehavioral abnormalities and neurotoxicity.To date,the precise molecular mechanisms of AFB1-induced neurotoxicity and potential neuroprotective agents remain unclear.In the present review,the clinical manifestations,molecular mechanisms,and potential neuroprotective agents of AFB1-induced neurotoxicity are summarized in the broadest overview.It is most hopeful that this broad reaching review provides valuable insights and stimulates broader discussion to develop the effective neuroprotective agents against aflatoxins.

Enhancing Cybersecurity through Cloud Computing Solutions in the United States

This study investigates how cybersecurity can be enhanced through cloud computing solutions in the United States. The motive for this study is due to the rampant loss of data, breaches, and unauthorized access of internet criminals in the United States. The study adopted a survey research design, collecting data from 890 cloud professionals with relevant knowledge of cybersecurity and cloud computing. A machine learning approach was adopted, specifically a random forest classifier, an ensemble, and a decision tree model. Out of the features in the data, ten important features were selected using random forest feature importance, which helps to achieve the objective of the study. The study’s purpose is to enable organizations to develop suitable techniques to prevent cybercrime using random forest predictions as they relate to cloud services in the United States. The effectiveness of the models used is evaluated by utilizing validation matrices that include recall values, accuracy, and precision, in addition to F1 scores and confusion matrices. Based on evaluation scores (accuracy, precision, recall, and F1 scores) of 81.9%, 82.6%, and 82.1%, the results demonstrated the effectiveness of the random forest model. It showed the importance of machine learning algorithms in preventing cybercrime and boosting security in the cloud environment. It recommends that other machine learning models be adopted to see how to improve cybersecurity through cloud computing.

The Effects of Zinc Sulfate on the in Vitro Digestibility of Feeds in Cervids

The captive white-tailed deer industry has an estimated impact of 1.6 billion USD in the state of Texas alone. However, nutritional requirements for cervids are determined through research based on sheep and goats. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of zinc on differences in dry matter digestibility in vitro for white-tailed does (Odocoileus virginianus). Deer (n = 2) were ethically harvested, rumens were collected, and placed into a cooler containing warm water. Rumen contents were agitated, and fluid was filtered using cheese cloth while applying CO2. Fluid was placed into four separate incubator jars with filter bags containing a 1:1 alfalfa to coastal hay blend. Zinc doses of 0.073 mg/kg/d equivalents were added to two of the jars ( Zn), and the additional two jars received 0.00 mg/kg/d (CON). Following 48 h of incubation, in vitro true digestibility (IVTD) showed no significant differences between the control and the treatment groups. Average dry matter digested in vitro was 91.87% and 95.13%, respectively. There were no differences detected in ADF, NDF, IVTD, or OM between the treatment groups. While no detectable differences were observed in this study, this methodology did prove to be viable and functional for microbial digestion in vitro. This study can be replicated with multiple experimental units to confirm the observations of increased digestibility. Formal nutritional guidelines can be created to allow for more efficient feeding of cervids thereby reducing feed costs and continuing the growth of the captive deer industry.

Prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder and depressive symptoms among civilians residing in armed conflict-affected regions:a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background Globally,populations afflicted by armed conflict are known to have high rates of mental health disorders.Aims This meta-analysis aims to estimate the prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder(PTSD)and depressive symptoms among civilians residing in armed conflictaffected regions.Methods This meta-analysis was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items forSystematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses.A literature search employing MEDLINE(R),Embase Classic+Embase,APA PsyclNFO,Ovid Healthstar,Journal@Ovid Full Text,Cochrane,PTSDpubs and CINAHL was conducted from inception until 19 March 2024 to identify relevant studies.Quality assessment was performed using the Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Checklist for Prevalence Studies,and a Comprehensive Meta-Analysiswas usedto conduct the statistical analysis.Results The search yielded 38595 articles,of which 57 were considered eligible for inclusion.The included studies comprised data from 64596 participants.We estimated a prevalence of 23.70%(95%CI 19.50%to28.40%)forPTSD symptomsand 25.60%(95%Cl 20.70%to 31.10%)for depressive features among war-afflicted civilians.The subgroup analysis based on time since the war and the country's economic status revealed the highest prevalence for both PTSD and depressive symptoms was present during the years of war and in low/middle-incomecountries.Conclusions The results of this study provide conclusive evidence of the detrimental impacts of armed conflict on mental health outcomes.Hence,it is crucial to emphasise the significance of both physical and mental health in the aftermath of war and take appropriate humanistic measures to overcome challenges in the management of psychiatric illnesses.