Preface

This inaugural volume includes five manuscripts. Four original papers based clinical and nonclinical studies in small and large domesticated animals and an invited review article are presented to the readers of TRVS. In this issue, Szczepanek et al. have reviewed the role of microRNA in domestic animals. They summarized the existing knowledge about miRNAs synthesis, mechanisms for regulation of the genome their functions in animals physiology; microRNAs as potential biomarkers for veterinary research; the implications associated with dysfunction and dysregulation. Review concludes that microRNA molecules are great targets for understanding biology, physiology and pathology in veterinary science. In the near future, these molecules may become very attractive features for their immediate implementation as biomarkers for many diseases and may contribute to enhancing global agricultural production as well. Brüssow et al. original paper analyzed the impact of unilateral ovarian removal (uni-OXV) on ovarian function, steroid hormone level, fetal distribution and development in gilts. Study concludes that by comparing to intact gilts, only long term uni-OVX could compensate ovarian development. However, short term uni-OVX affects the total number of CL and fetuses, distribution and weight of fetuses in uterine horns and steroid hormone levels. Gehrke et al. original paper reported the relations between feto-pelvic proportion and fertility of black-and-white and red-and-white Polish Holstein-Friesian cows. Study concludes that process of “Holsteinization” of domestic headache of cattle requires selection of bull’s semen not only for heifers but also older cows. Wysocka et al. original paper predicted the hepatic and pituitary gland expression of potential candidate genes in context to maintenance of oxidative balance, negative nitrogen balance, and ketosis in Polish HF and Polish Red cattle. Study conclude that understanding the genetic factors that predispose metabolic disorders in cattle would benefit the dairy industry as a whole by providing producers, breeding services, and veterinarians a tool to forecast a cow’s susceptibility to metabolic disorders. Felsmann and Felsmann original paper examined the impact of changes in Polish law on the possibility of interrupting the spread toxoplasmosis and toxocarosis. Study updated the new changes in the Polish legal acts (acts and regulations) made in recent years in context to combat toxocarosis and toxoplasmosis by the legal authorities of Polish government administration. Study concluded that state public health services do not currently possess the legal means necessary to take effective action leading to the blocking of pathways along which these zoonosis spread

The role of microRNAs in animal physiology and pathology

MicroRNAs are a class of small, evolutionarily conserved, endogenous RNAs, capable of controlling gene expression. MicroRNAs are transcribed by RNA polymerases II and III, generating precursors that undergo a series of cleavage events to form mature microRNA. They play an important regulatory role in animals at the posttranscriptional levels by targeting mRNAs for direct cleavage of mRNAs or repression of mRNA translation. The main biological function of miRNA is the post-translation regulation of cells, like: proliferation and differentiation, cell death, fat metabolism, neuronal patterning and angiogenesis.  These molecules are the main regulators of biological features of economic interest, including body growth, muscle development, signaling transduction, fat deposition, and immunology. In this review, we summarize the existing knowledge about miRNAs synthesis, mechanisms for regulation of the genome their functions in animals physiology and the implications associated with dysfunction and dysregulation

A Semiparametric Bayesian Approach to a New Dynamic Zero-Inflated Model

We develop a dynamic zero-inflated model to analyse the number of hospital admissions within an aging population, which allows for the considerable number of zero hospital admissions at the individual level and occurrence dependence. In addition, certain health conditions may lead to groups of individuals having similar hospital admission rates. We analyse the US Health and Retirement Survey, which includes selfassessed health (SAH), which can be predictive of hospital admissions. Our modelling framework embeds a dynamic hierarchical matrix stick-breaking process to flexibly characterize this dynamic group structure allowing individuals to belong to different SAH groups at different points in time

Aharonov-Bohm oscillations and spin transport in a mesoscopic ring with a magnetic impurity

We present a detailed analysis of the Aharonov-Bohm (AB) interference oscillations manifested through transmission of an electron in a mesoscopic ring with a magnetic impurity atom inserted in one of its arms. The spin polarization transport is also studied. The electron interacts with the impurity through the exchange interaction leading to exchange spin-flip scattering. Transmission in the spin-flipped and spin-unflipped channels are explicitly calculated. We show that the entanglement between electron and spin-flipper states lead to a reduction of AB oscillations in spite of absence of any inelastic scattering. The spin-conductance (related to spin-polarized transmission coefficient) is asymmetric in the flux reversal as opposed to the two probe conductance which is symmetric under flux reversal. We point out certain limitations of this model in regard to the general notion of dephasing in quantum mechanics.Comment: 6 pages RevTeX, 9 eps figures included, enlarged version of cond-mat/000741

Plastic hinge relocation in reinforced concrete beams using Cu-Al-Mn SMA bars

costs. The use of Ni-Ti superelastic shape memory alloy (SMA) constitutes a considerable portion of this research. Cu-Al-Mn superelastic SMA has been recently developed to eliminate the high cost of Ni-Ti SMA, as well as, to have better machining characteristics. This paper explores the use of Cu-Al-Mn SMA bars to relocate the plastic hinge of concrete beams through an experimental–numerical study. The cyclic performance of four beams was examined. The first was reinforced with steel bars and the remaining three were reinforced with combination of SMA and steel bars. The location of the SMA bars was different for each of the examined beams. The beams were loaded such that the moment diagram is zero at midspan and maximum at the ends to simulate the expected seismic moments. Results of the experimental–numerical investigation confirmed the recentering capability of SMA RC beams. Relocating the plastic hinge, by placing Cu-Al-Mn SMA bars away from the beam ends, improved the strength, rigidity, and energy dissipation

Linkage to Care Is Important and Necessary When Identifying Infections in Migrants.

Migration is an important driver of population dynamics in Europe. Although migrants are generally healthy, subgroups of migrants are at increased risk of a range of infectious diseases. Early identification of infections is important as it prevents morbidity and mortality. However, identifying infections needs to be supported by appropriate systems to link individuals to specialist care where they can receive further diagnostic tests and clinical management. In this commentary we will discuss the importance of linkage to care and how to minimise attrition in clinical pathways