Search

Pistachios, a delicacy food product produced mostly in Sicily, generate significant amounts of skins during processing. This by-product has been incorporated in growing/finishing rabbit diet formulations. Hence, the aim of this study was to investigate the effects of a 6% pistachio skin inclusion in rabbit grower/finisher diets on the meat characteristics. One hundred and fifty healthy Martini rabbits (male and female) were weaned at 30 d of age and body weight (IBW) of 0.82±0.05 kg. The animals were assigned to one of the two treatment groups to be homogeneous for weight and sex. Diets were as follows: (1) a treatment diet (TRMT) with a 6% incorporation of pistachio skin meal, and (2) a control diet (CTRL) without the integration of pistachio skin meal. During the experimental period (from 30 to 63 d of age), rabbits were weighed individually on day 30, day 42 and day 63 of the trial. Weight gain, daily feed intake and feed conversion ratio were calculated. The loin and hind leg were carefully deboned and the Biceps femoris (BF) and Longissimus lumborum (LL) muscles were minced and homogenised. The treatment group fed a diet with 6% pistachio skins showed no adverse effects on the growth performance or carcass characteristics and did not trigger any physiological or clinical changes or show deleterious effects on the rabbits. Overall, while the total fat quantity did not register as significant in any of the muscles from either diet, significance was recorded with regard to the quality of the fatty acids profile between the two diets and between both muscles. The analysis of the BF and LL muscles of the TRMT group showed a significant increase in monounsaturated fatty acids (3.2, and 3.0%, P=0.008 and 0.041, respectively) and in the polyunsaturated fatty acids groups (4.8 and 3.8%, P=0.032 and 0.023, respectively), and a decrease in the saturated fatty acids group (–7.2 and –6.1%, P=0.014 and 0.020, respectively) compared with the CTRL group. In particular, both linoleic and α linolenic fatty acids registered a significant increase in the BF muscle, while only the linoleic acid registered a significant increase in the LL muscle of TRMT compared with the CTRL group (P

This study aimed to analyse trends in rabbit meat consumption amongst consumers in selected Maltese rural communities. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study that attempts to assess and report on Maltese consumer perceptions and behaviours related to rabbit meat. Data was collected using a survey conducted through random telephone calls. Results indicate that only 19 of the 250 interviewees did not consume rabbit meat. This meat source is perceived as being lean and low in cholesterol, healthier and tastier than other meats, and price does not seem to be an issue. However, this meat is consumed in moderation. Nonetheless, it is an esteemed food item that is generally the main dish on special occasions (fenkata), including the Sunday meal. Thighs are the most preferred part of the carcass and frying/braising is the most frequent method of cooking. An element of mistrust in the supply chain exists, so much so that consumers prefer to source from family and friends that rear rabbits mainly for their own consumption. While rabbit meat consumption is still popular among Maltese consumers, the retail sector marketing rabbit meat needs to be aware of the fact that there is a strong consumer tendency towards lack of trust in the supply chain.

Lymphoedema is a swelling in part of the body due to an obstructed flow of lymphatic fluid. Extant literature mainly targets coping strategies in females having breast cancer related lymphoedema. This research aims to explore the coping strategies of males living with lymphoedema, secondary to cancer treatment. Semi-structured, in-depth interviews were conducted with 13 males aged between 50 to 85 years. Five themes emerged namely: adjusting attire, changing lifestyle activity, distracting the mind, leaning onto available support and immersing in spirituality. Males described wearing loose, easy-to-wear clothing over swollen body parts. Changes in lifestyle included pacing of activities, avoiding/modifying activities to avoid injury and incorporating treatment in their daily routine. Distraction was enabled though immersion in work, engaging in hobbies and humorous banter. Participants also coped by expressing gratitude, living in the present moment, accepting situations over which they lacked control, connecting with nature, and turning to their religious beliefs. There is a need for health professionals to explore the illness narratives and coping strategies of males living with lymphoedema as this impacts their overall well-being. Interventions targeting coping strategies for males with lymphoedema should address the physical, emotional, psychological and spiritual domains of well-being.

Layered stainless steel samples were manufactured using Plasma Wire Arc Additive Manufacturing by depositing alternating layers of two dissimilar stainless steels onto an AISI 316L substrate. The selected materials were the M430 ferritic and M316L austenitic stainless steels. Comprehensive microstructural characterization in different areas, including interfaces between the two different materials, was achieved through optical microscopy and electron backscatter diffraction. Results revealed good weldability among the two-layered steels and on the substrate. Also, a gradient duplex structure was observed mainly at the layer interfaces, suggesting a nuanced blending of properties in the deposited zone. To establish a direct correlation with mechanical properties in the observed structures, macro and micro-hardness tests were conducted along the cross-section. These tests evidenced the presence of a harder phase along the interface compared to the individual materials. The microstructural analysis corroborated the presence of mixing between phases in conjunction with some areas of delta ferrite.

Abstract Shipping is a highly cyclical, volatile, and unpredictable industry. In recent history, economic shocks like the COVID-19 pandemic have heavily disrupted supply chains and tested the resilience and adaptability of shipping lines from both operational and financial perspectives. Therefore, the commercial success of shipping lines is increasingly determined by an optimal balance between reliable logistics operations and financial performance. Given this, chartering strategies of shipping lines are pivotal in achieving fleet optimisation and financial sustainability. Using a Mann–Whitney U test and a data envelopment analysis (DEA), this study provides a view on chartering strategies and efficiency levels of shipping lines in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The findings reveal that chartering strategies have changed considerably since 2020 and that most shipping lines have pursued a peculiar strategy with a different mix in terms of chartered vessels’ size, age, and period of charter. Shipping lines which showed the most marked differences in chartering strategies also yielded higher efficiency scores under DEA, whereas those that did not sustain large changes scored lower in terms of efficiency. This study provides significant insights on and managerial guidance for understanding and benchmarking chartering strategies and their impact on efficiency gains.

Abstract Functional trade-offs can affect patterns of morphological and ecological evolution as well as the magnitude of morphological changes through evolutionary time. Using morpho-functional landscape modelling on the cranium of 132 carnivore species, we focused on the macroevolutionary effects of the trade-off between bite force and bite velocity. Here, we show that rates of evolution in form (morphology) are decoupled from rates of evolution in function. Further, we found theoretical morphologies optimising for velocity to be more diverse, while a much smaller phenotypic space was occupied by shapes optimising force. This pattern of differential representation of different functions in theoretical morphological space was highly correlated with patterns of actual morphological disparity. We hypothesise that many-to-one mapping of cranium shape on function may prevent the detection of direct relationships between form and function. As comparatively only few morphologies optimise bite force, species optimising this function may be less abundant because they are less likely to evolve. This, in turn, may explain why certain clades are less variable than others. Given the ubiquity of functional trade-offs in biological systems, these patterns may be general and may help to explain the unevenness of morphological and functional diversity across the tree of life.

Due to large losses of seagrass meadows worldwide, restoration is proposed as a key strategy for increasing coastal resilience and recovery. The emergence of a seagrass meadow is expected to substantially amplify biodiversity and enhance benthic metabolism by increasing primary productivity and respiration. Nevertheless, open questions remain regarding the metabolic balance of aging seagrass meadows and the roles benthic communities within the seagrass ecosystem play in overall metabolism. To address these questions, we investigated a chronosequence of bare sediments and adjacent Zostera marina meadows of 3 and 7 years since restoration alongside a natural meadow located within a high-temperate marine embayment in Gåsö, Sweden. We combined continuous measurements of O2 fluxes using underwater eddy covariance with dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) and O2 fluxes from benthic chambers during the productive season (July). Based on the ratio between O2 and DIC, we derived site-specific photosynthetic and respiratory quotients, enabling the conversion of eddy covariance fluxes to DIC. We assessed benthic diversity parameters as potential drivers of metabolic flux variability. We observed high rates of gross primary productivity (GPP) spanning −18 to −82 mmolDICm-2d-1, which increased progressively with meadow age. Community respiration (CR) mirrored the GPP trend, and all meadows were net heterotrophic (GPP < CR), with net community productivity (NCP) ranging from 16 to 28 mmolDICm-2d-1. While autotrophic biomass did not increase with meadow age, macrophyte diversity did, elucidating potential effects of niche complementarity among macrophytes on community metabolism. These findings provide valuable insights into how community composition and meadow development relate to ecosystem functioning, highlighting potential tradeoffs between carbon uptake and biodiversity.

ABSTRACT Introduction Co‐design in health research involves patient and public involvement and engagement (PPIE) in intervention or service design. Traditionally, co‐design is undertaken in‐person; however, exploring online delivery is warranted. PPIE in co‐design must be considered carefully, and assumptions that in‐person approaches will transition automatically to an online environment should be avoided. Currently, there are a lack of evidence‐informed approaches to facilitating co‐design online. This study aimed to develop and evaluate a framework for authentically adapting health research co‐design into an online environment. Materials and Methods The initial framework was developed through a literature review, synthesis of in‐person co‐design principles, and alignment of online strategies. The framework was then applied to a co‐design project with 10 participants across relevant PPIE groups (end‐users [n = 4], clinicians [n = 2], coaches [n = 2] and clinician−researchers [n = 2]). Participants' experiences of the online co‐design process were evaluated via a mixed‐methods design using surveys and semi‐structured interviews. Evaluation data were analysed using descriptive statistics and reflexive thematic analysis to inform a revised framework. Results The developed framework, Partnership‐focussed Principles‐driven Online co‐Design (P‐POD) was used to design eight 90 min online co‐design workshops. Evaluation data involved 46 survey responses, and eight participants were interviewed on project completion. Survey data indicated that the process was satisfying, engaging and adhered to the P‐POD framework. Themes derived from interview data describe a respectful and collaborative online culture, valuing of diverse perspectives and space for healthy debate, how power was perceived as being shared but not equal and multiple definitions of success within and beyond the process. A final, refined P‐POD framework is presented. Conclusion With evaluation of the initial P‐POD framework showing evidence of adherence to co‐design principles, positive participant experiences and goal achievement for both the project and the participants, the refined P‐POD framework may be used and evaluated within future intervention or service design. Patient or Public Contribution This study involved the participants (end‐users, clinicians and service providers) in the co‐design process described, interpretation of the results through member‐checking interview responses, assisting in development of the final framework and as co‐authors for this manuscript.

Aims To understand the prescribing habits and trends of clinicians in a large ADHD clinic and the medication journey of patients from point of diagnosis to the point of agreeing a shared care plan with primary care services. Methods This was a non-interventional retrospective study collecting information from anonymised electronic patient and prescription records. Following approval by the Clinical Governance body of the practice, in June 2023, all patients with a SCP between the years 2019 and 2021 were identified. Data collected included patient demographics, date that medication was started, discontinued, or switched along with associated reasons. Additionally, to better understand the time taken to gain publication of a SCP, the amount of clinician-patient facing time was recorded, including the number of brief follow-up appointments, number of repeat prescriptions and number of clinician to patient emails. Patient data was fully anonymised and any identifiable data removed. Results All but one patient was started on a stimulant medication immediately following diagnosis, in line with national prescribing guidance. Atomoxetine was the medication of choice for a patient with a previous history of stimulant intolerance. 74% (n = 95) of patients were started on lisdexamfetamine, 20% (n = 25) were started on methylphenidate long-acting formulations and five patients on short-acting methylphenidate agent. Of the 95 patients initiated on lisdexamfetamine, 78 (82.1%) were continued on lisdexamfetamine until the point of publication of their Shared Care Policy (SCP), nine (9.5%) patients switched medication, 10 patients initiated additional fast-acting dexamfetamine tablets and two had a second agent added to their therapy (atomoxetine n = 1, methylphenidate n = 1). Of 25 patients initiated on methylphenidate long acting, 18 (72%) continued this medication at the point of publication of SCP. Of 25 patients initiated on methylphenidate long acting, seven (28%) patients switched medication and two patients were initiated on an additional fast acting methylphenidate. To successfully stabilise and publish 134 patients on a SCP, 404 brief follow up appointments of 15-minute duration were utilised, which totals 6060 minutes of patient facing time. Of 134 patients, most n = 41 (30.6%) had 2 brief follow-up appointments; 32 (23.9%) had 3 brief follow up appointments and 22 (16.4%) had 4 appointments. Two patients did not attend a follow up appointment, and one patient had 11 brief follow up appointments. Conclusion Stimulant medications were typically used as first line treatment however, of these 74% were started on lisdexamfetamine while only 20% were initiated on long acting methylphenidate. Those started on lisdexamfetamine were more likely to continue on this medication to the point shared care agreement than those started on methylphenidate, 28% of whom switched to an alternative, for a variety of reasons. Mean time to reading a shared care agreement was longer for those initiated on methylphenidate long acting compared to lisdexamfetamine. The data show that for most patients the journey from initiation of a stimulant medication to a shared care agreement was a straightforward one, with the majority having either two or three follow up appointments. More research is needed to better understand the apparent differences in pathway for those commenced on lisdexamfetamine and long acting methylphenidate.

While there is much research concerning the interpretation of diagrams such as geographical maps and networks for information systems, there is very little on the diagrams involved in electrical and electronic engineering. Such research is important not only because it supports arguments made for other types of diagrams but also because it informs on the cognitive processes going on while learning electrical and electronic engineering domains, which are generally considered difficult to teach and learn. Such insight is useful to have as a pedagogical tool for teachers. It might also benefit would be self-learners, entrepreneurs, and hobbyists in the field because it can guide self-learning practices. When cognitive practices specific to this knowledge domain are more understood, they might give rise to automated intelligent tutor systems which could be used to augment teaching and learning practices in the education of electrical and electronic engineering. This research analyses the spatial cognitive processes involved in the translation of an electronic circuit schematic diagram into an iconic representation of the same circuit. The work shows that the cognitive affordances of proximity and paths perceived from a circuit schematic diagram have great influence on the design of an iconic diagram, or assembly diagram, representing a topologically equivalent electronic circuit. Such cognitive affordances reflect and affect thought and can be used as powerful pedagogical tools within an educational scenario.

Vitamin C deficiency resulting in scurvy, is considered to be a rare nutritional disorder in developed countries, thus leading to underdiagnosis with exposure to unnecessary investigations and delay in appropriate treatment. The wide myriad of clinical signs and symptoms with which vitamin C deficiency can present (including haematological, musculoskeletal and vague constitutional symptoms that overlap with other common medical conditions), also contributes to this diagnostic challenge. Despite scurvy being habitually thought to be present in children with neurodevelopmental conditions such as autism spectrum disorder, other important at-risk groups that frequently tend to be forgotten include children with persistent fussy eating behaviour, and children with abnormal vitamin C metabolism. We hereunder present a case of a 10-year-old boy who presented to an acute general hospital for further investigation with gait disturbance. The lack of detailed nutritional assessment on presentation in the first instance led to a missed diagnosis of vitamin C deficiency, thus exposing the child to a wide array of unnecessary investigations and treatments. The added perplexity to the case resulting from false positive results of investigations performed as part of this child’s workup, is also discussed.

ABSTRACT: Residual Feed Intake (RFI) is defined as the difference between measured and predicted intake. Understanding its biological regulators could benefit farm profit margins. The most-efficient animals (M-Eff) have observed intake smaller than predicted resulting in negative RFI, whereas the least-efficient (L-Eff) animals have positive RFI. Hence, this observational study aimed at retrospectively comparing the blood immunometabolic profile in calves with divergent RFI during the preweaning period. Twenty-two Italian Simmental calves were monitored from birth through 60 d of age. Calves received 3 L of colostrum from their respective dams. From 2 to 53 d of age, calves were fed a milk replacer twice daily, whereas from 54 to 60 d (i.e., weaning) calves were stepped down to only one meal in the morning. Calves had ad libitum access to concentrate and intakes were recorded daily. The measurement of BW and blood samples were performed at 0, 1, 7, 14, 21, 28, 35, 45, 54, and 60 d of age. Calves were ranked and categorized as M-Eff or L-Eff according to the median RFI value. Median RFI was −0.06 and 0.04 kg of DMI/d for M-Eff and L-Eff, respectively. No evidence for group differences was noted for colostrum and plasma IgG concentrations. Although growth rate was not different, as expected, (0.67 kg/d [95% CI = 0.57–0.76] for both L-Eff and M-Eff) throughout the entire preweaning period (0–60 d), starter intake was greater in L-Eff compared with M-Eff calves (+36%). Overall, M-Eff calves had a greater gain-to-feed ratio compared with L-Eff calves (+16%). Plasma ceruloplasmin, myeloperoxidase, and reactive oxygen metabolites concentrations were greater in L-Eff compared with M-Eff calves. Compared with L-Eff, M-Eff calves had an overall greater plasma concentration of globulin, and γ-glutamyl transferase (indicating a better colostrum uptake) and Zn at 1 d. Retinol and urea were overall greater in L-Eff. The improved efficiency in nutrient utilization observed in M-Eff was paired with a lower grade of oxidative stress and systemic inflammation. L-Eff may have had greater energy expenditure to support the activation of the immune system.

Lactation in dairy cows implies comprehensive endocrine and metabolic changes including a systemic electrolytic reaction. Previous studies have rarely considered these specific demands due to the influence of lactation periods. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the effects of early, middle, and late lactation phases on the dynamic changes in serum concentrations of progesterone (P4), 17β-oestradiol (E2), cortisol, and some electrolytes (Ca++, Mg++, Na+, K+, Cl−, Pi) and biochemical parameters (alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), creatine kinase (CK), total bilirubin, urea, and iron (Fe++) in 10 Holstein, 10 Brown Swiss, and 10 Modicana multiparous healthy dairy cows (4.2 ± 1.7 years of age) sampled at 60-day intervals throughout lactation. Lactation induced significant changes in the concentrations of P4, which peaked at >120–180 days, decreased at >240–300 days, and increased again after 300 days. Cortisol showed an opposite trend to P4, with concentrations progressively decreasing, except for the phase between >240 and 300 days, and a steep drop at >300 days compared to previous phases. Na+ concentrations showed the lowest values at 0–60 d and the highest ones at >180–240 days, whereas Mg++ showed the highest values at >60–120 d and the lowest at >300 d. Significant correlations were found between P4 with cortisol, Cl− and K+, and cortisol with Ca++ and LDH. Significant differences in average concentrations of AST, ALT, LDH, Ca++, Mg++, and Fe++ were observed among different dairy cow breeds. Understanding the dynamic changes in hormone levels, electrolytes, and biochemical parameters during different lactation phases, while considering breed differences in dairy cows, is crucial for improving herd health management and milk production in commercial dairy farms.

Objective: The aim of this study was to develop quantitative structure–pharmacokinetics relationship (QSPKR) models for a group of xanthine derivatives with proven pharmacological activity and to investigate its applicability for the prediction of the pharmacokinetics of these compounds. Methods: The SYBYL-X, KowWin, and MarvinSketch programs were employed to generate a total of fourteen descriptor variables for a series of new compounds: 7- and 7,8-substituted theophylline derivatives (GR-1–GR-8) and three well-known methylxanthines. Pharmacokinetic profiles of all compounds were determined after intravenous administration of studied compounds to cannulated male rats. Pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated using noncompartmental analysis. Results: Multiple linear regression revealed that logD was the main determinant of the variability in Vss, λz, and CL of the studied compounds. Moreover, λz and CL depended on LUMO and HEFO, while for Vz COAR was the only explanatory variable. The developed QSPKR models accounted for most of the variation in Vss, λz, CL, and fraction unbound (fu) (R2 ranged from 0.68 to 0.91). Cross-validation confirmed the predictive ability of the models (Q2 = 0.60, 0.71, 0.34, and 0.32 for Vss, λz, CL, and fu, respectively). Conclusions: The multivariate QSPKR models developed in this study adequately predicted the overall pharmacokinetic behavior of xanthine derivatives in rats.

Given the current shortage of teachers and the diminishing attraction of the teaching profession, it is important to have analytic and systematic studies of teachers' lives and careers, and to locate teachers' lives within a wider contextual understanding. The rationale for this educational research paper is to study Maltese teachers' professional behaviour and how they define themselves as teachers, particularly in a period of time where teachers in Malta were experiencing reform fatigue. The authors' aims were to explore the factors which motivate people to enter and remain into teaching, and to identify the routes they take throughout their career. Data were collected through an empirical research consisting of an online questionnaire with open-ended questions with teachers (n = 755). One of the findings shows that the majority of teachers enter the profession for altruistic motives, however, if given the opportunity, they would move into another role or profession.

Amidst ongoing calls for teaching improvement, there has been growing interest in the work of middle leaders in leading school-based curriculum and professional development. Research and policy initiatives have acknowledged that these leaders in schools are well placed to successfully drive educational change that leads to improved educational outcomes for students. This has led to an increase in development programmes for middle leaders, but there appears to be a distinctive disconnect between the research and theory that should inform these, initiatives. This article reports findings gathered from a questionnaire completed by almost 200 middle leaders from across Australia, conducted as part of a larger national mixed method research studying middle leader practices. The instrument was designed to investigate the practices of middle leaders who were responsible for leading school-based development, based on three domains of middle leading practices: leading and teaching, managing and facilitating, and communicating and collaborating. Multivariate analysis techniques were used to analyse the data, and there were statistically significant differences in the practices of middle leaders based on school type and their professional accreditation levels. Participant responses related to highlighted high administration workload potentially impacted ML practices related to leading teaching and learning.

Previous research demonstrates links between student social identification, perceived learning norms, learning approaches and academic outcomes and indicates the value of bolstering student social identification in higher education settings. The current study aimed to examine whether the models identified in this previous research replicated in a fully online environment. This is critical knowledge in the context of the industry-wide debate on the gains and losses of online university. Self-report survey data (N = 112), e-learning analytics and grades were used to examine student social identification, perceptions, behaviours, and outcomes over a 4-month period of online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. Results were unexpected: previous models failed to replicate in our data. Exploratory analysis identified three ways forward: examination of student learning activity outside of institutionally provided online contexts, revisiting the use of SPQ as a measure of learning approach, and examining student social interactions and identification in a social media-rich online environment.

Programming is one of the most important aspects of a Computing course. Teaching programming is a challenging task due to a number of factors, ranging from lack of student problem solving skills to different teaching methods. This paper focuses on Maltese Computing teachers' perspectives about the difficulties encountered when teaching programming to secondary school students in order to determine whether introducing programming to secondary school students through creating mobile-based games is an effective method to teach programming constructs. A resource pack consisting of various activities using MIT App Inventor 2 was created which incorporated constructivist approaches to teaching. This resource pack was reviewed by the teachers and their feedback was collected by means of a case study. The teachers agreed that developing mobile-based games would be highly stimulating to their students but there were uncertainties how this would affect students with different learning abilities and due to a general lack of computational thinking and problem-solving skills by most students.

Body fluids can potentially indicate the presence of non-small cancer cells. Studying these fluids is an emerging field that could be crucial for cancer detection and monitoring treatment effectiveness. Meanwhile, the examination of fluids on a microscopic level is part of the field of microfluidics. This study focuses on the development of a total analysis system that consists of various interconnected structures that are designed to mix, classify, concentrate, and isolate particles in fluids that mimic the behavior of cancer and normal cells. Using the COMSOL Multiphysics software, the device's performance was optimized to use a pressure input of 35 kPa for water or serum and 29.4 kPa for a mixture of liquid and serum samples, which are the optimal pressure inputs. The numerical models were validated by experiments using two types of polystyrene particles, with diameters of 5 and 20 μm. Moreover, the developed system was applied to monitor the behavior of red blood cells. The microfluidic chip is capable of addressing several challenges through visual detections, including mixing tests of two fluids with similar densities, proper particle size classification using Dean flow fractionation, and single-step recovery of large, labeled particles. Finally, the collected particles were examined using an environmental scanning electron microscope to determine their size, and the results demonstrated that successful size separation was achieved, with particles around 20 μm completely separated from the smaller ones.