Seasonal variations in scrotal circumference and semen characteristics of Naimi and Najdi rams in Saudi Arabia

In the present study, the authors analysed the effects of seasonal variations on the scrotal circumference and semen characteristics in two ram breeds in Saudi Arabia, namely Naimi and Najdi. Five rams of each breed were used in this experiment. Scrotal circumference and semen characteristics were evaluated in each ram twice a month throughout the year. Significant differences were observed in the scrotal circumference between various seasons. The largest production of semen was recorded mainly in spring, whereas the lowest semen volume was produced in summer. The pH of the semen was slightly alkaline and significantly lower in autumn than in spring. Furthermore, the highest value of the total number of sperm per ejaculate was observed in spring for both breeds. The results indicated that mass motility increased significantly in autumn compared with winter, spring, and summer. Progressive motility was significantly lower during the months of summer and spring. However, no significant differences were recorded between autumn and winter. Hence, the presence of significant seasonal variations in semen quantity and quality of Naimi and Najdi rams suggests the viability of increased utilization of rams in spring and autumn for semen collection and reproductive practices.Keywords: Mass motility, progressive motility, semen volume, sperm concentratio

Functions of fuzzy logic based controllers used in smart building

The main aim of this study is to support design and development processes of advanced fuzzy-logic-based controller for smart buildings e.g., heating, ventilation and air conditioning, heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) and indoor lighting control systems. Moreover, the proposed methodology can be used to assess systems energy and environmental performances, also compare energy usages of fuzzy control systems with the performances of conventional on/off and proportional integral derivative controller (PID). The main objective and purpose of using fuzzy-logic-based model and control is to precisely control indoor thermal comfort e.g., temperature, humidity, air quality, air velocity, thermal comfort, and energy balance. Moreover, this article present and highlight mathematical models of indoor temperature and humidity transfer matrix, uncertainties of users’ comfort preference set-points and a fuzzy algorithm

Improving generalization of machine learning-identified biomarkers with causal modeling: an investigation into immune receptor diagnostics

Machine learning is increasingly used to discover diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers from high-dimensional molecular data. However, a variety of factors related to experimental design may affect the ability to learn generalizable and clinically applicable diagnostics. Here, we argue that a causal perspective improves the identification of these challenges, and formalizes their relation to the robustness and generalization of machine learning-based diagnostics. To make for a concrete discussion, we focus on a specific, recently established high-dimensional biomarker - adaptive immune receptor repertoires (AIRRs). We discuss how the main biological and experimental factors of the AIRR domain may influence the learned biomarkers and provide easily adjustable simulations of such effects. In conclusion, we find that causal modeling improves machine learning-based biomarker robustness by identifying stable relations between variables and by guiding the adjustment of the relations and variables that vary between populations

Elective Cancer Surgery in COVID-19-Free Surgical Pathways During the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic: An International, Multicenter, Comparative Cohort Study.

PURPOSE: As cancer surgery restarts after the first COVID-19 wave, health care providers urgently require data to determine where elective surgery is best performed. This study aimed to determine whether COVID-19-free surgical pathways were associated with lower postoperative pulmonary complication rates compared with hospitals with no defined pathway. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This international, multicenter cohort study included patients who underwent elective surgery for 10 solid cancer types without preoperative suspicion of SARS-CoV-2. Participating hospitals included patients from local emergence of SARS-CoV-2 until April 19, 2020. At the time of surgery, hospitals were defined as having a COVID-19-free surgical pathway (complete segregation of the operating theater, critical care, and inpatient ward areas) or no defined pathway (incomplete or no segregation, areas shared with patients with COVID-19). The primary outcome was 30-day postoperative pulmonary complications (pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome, unexpected ventilation). RESULTS: Of 9,171 patients from 447 hospitals in 55 countries, 2,481 were operated on in COVID-19-free surgical pathways. Patients who underwent surgery within COVID-19-free surgical pathways were younger with fewer comorbidities than those in hospitals with no defined pathway but with similar proportions of major surgery. After adjustment, pulmonary complication rates were lower with COVID-19-free surgical pathways (2.2% v 4.9%; adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.62; 95% CI, 0.44 to 0.86). This was consistent in sensitivity analyses for low-risk patients (American Society of Anesthesiologists grade 1/2), propensity score-matched models, and patients with negative SARS-CoV-2 preoperative tests. The postoperative SARS-CoV-2 infection rate was also lower in COVID-19-free surgical pathways (2.1% v 3.6%; aOR, 0.53; 95% CI, 0.36 to 0.76). CONCLUSION: Within available resources, dedicated COVID-19-free surgical pathways should be established to provide safe elective cancer surgery during current and before future SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks

Elective cancer surgery in COVID-19-free surgical pathways during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic: An international, multicenter, comparative cohort study

PURPOSE As cancer surgery restarts after the first COVID-19 wave, health care providers urgently require data to determine where elective surgery is best performed. This study aimed to determine whether COVID-19–free surgical pathways were associated with lower postoperative pulmonary complication rates compared with hospitals with no defined pathway. PATIENTS AND METHODS This international, multicenter cohort study included patients who underwent elective surgery for 10 solid cancer types without preoperative suspicion of SARS-CoV-2. Participating hospitals included patients from local emergence of SARS-CoV-2 until April 19, 2020. At the time of surgery, hospitals were defined as having a COVID-19–free surgical pathway (complete segregation of the operating theater, critical care, and inpatient ward areas) or no defined pathway (incomplete or no segregation, areas shared with patients with COVID-19). The primary outcome was 30-day postoperative pulmonary complications (pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome, unexpected ventilation). RESULTS Of 9,171 patients from 447 hospitals in 55 countries, 2,481 were operated on in COVID-19–free surgical pathways. Patients who underwent surgery within COVID-19–free surgical pathways were younger with fewer comorbidities than those in hospitals with no defined pathway but with similar proportions of major surgery. After adjustment, pulmonary complication rates were lower with COVID-19–free surgical pathways (2.2% v 4.9%; adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.62; 95% CI, 0.44 to 0.86). This was consistent in sensitivity analyses for low-risk patients (American Society of Anesthesiologists grade 1/2), propensity score–matched models, and patients with negative SARS-CoV-2 preoperative tests. The postoperative SARS-CoV-2 infection rate was also lower in COVID-19–free surgical pathways (2.1% v 3.6%; aOR, 0.53; 95% CI, 0.36 to 0.76). CONCLUSION Within available resources, dedicated COVID-19–free surgical pathways should be established to provide safe elective cancer surgery during current and before future SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks

Impacts of stocking density on the performance and welfare of broiler chickens

The current study was performed to investigate the influence of different stocking density rates on the performance, thermophysiological measurements as well as blood parameters of 0 to 30 d of age female Ross broiler. A total of 96 chicks were randomly distributed in a randomized complete block design among 12 cages. Three stocking density rates were applied; low (28.0 kg/m2), medium (37.0 kg/m2) and high (40.0 kg/m2). Results revealed that cumulative body weight gain (BWG) and feed intake (FI) were influenced (P<0.01) by the rate of stocking density, while no effect (P>0.05) were observed for broilers mortality-corrected feed conversion ratio (FCR). Higher BWG (P<0.01) and FI (P<0.05) were reported for low and medium density rates broilers in comparison to the high density rate broilers. Overall means of body temperature as well as head, neck, wing, body and shank surface temperatures have displayed (P<0.05) higher values in medium and high density rates broilers compared to the low density rate broilers. Furthermore, increasing the stocking density from 28 to 40 kg/m2 induced a state of hemodilution in higher density rate broilers, which might explain the noticeable decrease in packed cell volume (PCV). Meanwhile, an increase in serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) was observed in the higher density group, which might indicate hepatocellular injures. It can be concluded that increasing the stocking density rate from 28 to 40 kg of BW/m2 had evident impingement effects on the performance of broiler chicken and could jeopardize their welfare

Evaluation of the Maturity and Gene Expression of Sheep Oocytes and Embryos Cultured in Media Supplemented with Marjoram (Origanum vulgare) Extract

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of marjoram extract on oocyte maturation and gene expression in sheep oocytes and embryos. The first experiment studied the effect of the extract as an antioxidant to improve the in vitro maturation media used for sheep oocytes; the oocytes were matured in a TCM199 medium supplemented with 1 or 10 µg/mL of marjoram extract or the control, 0 µg, for 24 hr. Then, the maturation was estimated, and the gene expression was measured by using qPCR. The second experiment studied the effect of the extract on the development of sheep embryos produced in vitro; the fertilized oocytes were cultured in a SOF medium supplemented with 1 or 10 µg/mL of marjoram extract or the control, 0 µg, for 7 days. Then, the gene expression was measured using qPCR. The results showed that the marjoram extract did not improve nuclear maturation or the blastocyst rate. There was a significant increase in the level of GDF-9 gene expression in mature oocytes in the treatment groups. An increase in the expression of BCL-2 and EGR-1 genes was observed for the blastocysts in the 10 µg/mL group. We concluded that the marjoram extract did not improve nuclear maturation, but it did affect the expression of some genes in sheep oocytes and embryos

The impact of the yttrium oxide nano particles Y2O3 on the in vitro fertilization and in vitro culture media in a mouse model

Introduction: Oxidative stress has a critical role in affecting in vitro fertilization (IVF) outcomes. The yttrium oxide nanoparticle (Y2O3 NPs) known as free radicals’ scavenger. The reactive oxygen species (ROS) has an essential role in the pathological effect of oxidative stress. The study aimed to evaluate the Y2O3 NPs effect on the in vitro fertilization media and in vitro culture media in mice as a mammalian model. Methods: The NPs of Y2O3 tested in two different concentrations, 25 μg/ml, and 50 μg/ml, to examine nanoparticle effect on cleavage rate and blastula rate by exposing the gametes cell for 6 h during the fertilization and 5 days on culture media till embryos reach the blastula stage. The Y2O3 NPs cubic shape, and the sizes used to be in the range of 18 ± 5 nm as measured by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and 11.14 nm as measured by X rays diffractions (XRD). The results showed that the rate of blastocyst was significantly higher in the in the treated by adding the 25.ug/ml Y2O3 NP and the control groups than the higher treated group with 50ug/ml NP, group by the ad of Y2O3 nanoparticles. While the cleavage rate was unaffected by the Y2O3 nanoparticles. In conclusion the treatment of the Y2O3 in the IVF and early embryo development have no side effects except in higher rate in the blastula stage