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Canine extraskeletal osteosarcomas are mesenchymal, osteoid producing tumors that can arise in soft tissues without initial involvement of the bones. An 8-year-old intact male Beagle dog presented with anorexia, abdominal pain, intermittent vomiting and melena. The patient had a history of recurrent ingestion of cotton based-toy fragments, but no prior surgical procedures involving the abdominal cavity. During the exploratory laparotomy, a mass was identified in the jejunal wall. Surgical resection was performed, and tissue samples were collected for pathological examination. Histologically, the mass was diagnosed as osteoblastic osteosarcoma with fragments of cotton fiber material. The neoplastic cells were immunolabeled for vimentin and BMP-2, further supporting the morphological diagnosis. Seven months after the surgery, metastatic nodules were identified in the liver. The dog died ten months after intestinal mass resection. This case represents the first documented instance of metastatic intestinal osteosarcoma potentially caused by ingestion of cotton fiber material.

Vascular hamartomas represent a focal proliferation of disorganized vascular tissue, which is usually present at birth. An 8-month-old Scottish fold female cat presented with abdominal distention, mild dyspnea, pale mucous membranes, and lethargy. Ultrasound examination revealed a hepatic mass resembling multiple cysts affecting the right medial lobe. Surgical excision was performed, and tissue samples were sent for histopathological evaluation. The mass was composed of multiple, dilated, variably-sized well-differentiated arterioles and venules, consistent with vascular hamartoma. Immunohistochemical investigation of the cells lining the cystic structures showed positive immunolabeling for vimentin and negative immunolabeling for PanCK, supporting the histological diagnosis. Based on existing literature, this represents the first case of hepatic localization of vascular hamartoma in a cat. In addition, a comparative histological study between vascular hamartoma and biliary duct hamartoma and a review on hepatic vascular hamartomas in animals and hepatic cystic masses in cats was made.

In this study, we experimentally verified a robust control law based on variable structure control and the computed torque method on a laboratory motion system. Variable structure control is characterized by high-frequency switching control, which does not have to be applicable to real motion systems. Therefore, we used a suitable reaching law to create a continuous substitution for the discontinuous nonlinear control law. This continuous substitution caused the loss of control invariance to parametric and signal disturbances, but the control loop remained robust, with bounded position errors. We augmented the variable structure control with the computed torque method, which ensured the feedback linearization of the dynamic system. The proposed design of the control law also considered the velocity constraints of the system. Both components of the control law needed to be considered in the velocity limitation, otherwise, the system constraints would be violated. We designed a velocity limitation algorithm for variable structure control to be compatible with the computed torque method, with regard to the desired performance, with exponential convergence and no overshoot. The control law is shown to satisfy the control objectives, and the results are discussed.

The study of a nest of Long‑legged Buzzard Buteo rufinus was carried out using a trail camera and is one piece of a completely unknown jigsaw puzzle of diet and nesting behaviour in Romania. With a hatching success of 75%, we identified 3 hatched chicks from the 4 eggs. During the 10 days of monitoring, 34 preys brought to the nest were identified, with a peak of activity between 11:00–17:00 and a preference for the European Ground Squirrel Spermophilus citellus (61.76%). This was followed by the Domestic Pigeon Columba livia f. domestica and the Common Wood Pigeon C. palumbus (5.88%), and amphibians were represented by the European Green Toad Bufotes viridis (2.94%). There were 10 unidentified prey species (29.41%). We identified the presence of plastic and textile fibres in the nest and the risk of chick suffocation. We also improved our understanding of interspecific interactions and our observations highlighted the mutualism between the three species in the nest: Spanish Sparrow, House Sparrow and LLB. The removal of solitary trees from the agricultural landscape is a major threat in south‑western Romania, affecting the breeding population of the LLB, which, as in our case, nests on this type of support.

The accounting, auditing and tax advisory services market in Romania has seen a continuous expansion in recent years as the domestic economy and capital market have developed. To have an image regarding the evolution of this market in Romania. we analyzed the data from the period 2008-2021. The main players are the large, internationally known firms, though the small firms take up a good part of the market. This paper includes an analysis of the factors that determine the success of the two categories of competitors in this market.

Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) is a new, promising non-conventional useful crop; however, its susceptibility to downy mildew, caused by Peronospora variabilis, is a key obstacle limiting its productivity in Egypt. Identifying and utilizing resistant quinoa cultivars appear to be reliable and cost-efficient strategies for controlling downy mildew, particularly in resource-limited farmers’ fields. This study aimed to evaluate the differential resistance of the Peruvian “Hualhuas” and Bolivian “Real” quinoa cultivars to P. variabilis infection under laboratory conditions to provide precise insight into their basic defense mechanism(s). Inoculated “Hualhuas” plants displayed complete resistance against P. variabilis, with no visible symptoms (incompatible reaction), while those of “Real” plants revealed high susceptibility (compatible reaction), with typical downy mildew lesions on their leaf surfaces. Disease incidence reached about 66% in the inoculated “Real” plants, with most inoculated leaves having lesions of grades 4 and 5 covering up to 90% of their leaf surfaces. Susceptibility indices reached up to 66% in the inoculated “Real” plants. Resistance to P. variabilis observed in the “Hualhuas” plants may have been largely attributed to elevated endogenous H2O2 levels, increased peroxidase (POX) activity and abundance, enhanced phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) activity and expression, as well as the upregulation of the pathogen-related protein 10 gene (PR-10). The results of this study indicate that the quinoa cultivar “Hualhuas” not only is a promising candidate for sustainable control of quinoa downy mildew but also, through a deep understanding of its molecular resistance mechanisms, would provide a possible route to enhance downy mildew resistance in other genotypes.

This study explores milk composition and blood markers in cows across lactation stages. Holstein cows were divided into four groups: beginning of lactation (BL; n = 21), peak of lactation (PL; n = 21), middle of lactation (ML; n = 21), and end of lactation (EL; n = 20). Blood (1 × 15 mL) and milk samples (1 × 100 mL) were collected for biomarker analysis. Blood chemistry profiles were determined using a clinical chemistry analyser, and milk lactose, fat, and protein levels (%) were determined using an infrared absorbance analyser. Minerals (Ca, P, and Mg) in milk were determined by atomic absorption spectrometry after mineralizing the samples. Glucose was higher in the EL group than in the BL group (p < 0.01), whereas D-beta-hydroxybutyrate (D-BHB) was higher in the BL group than in the PL and ML groups (p < 0.001). Cholesterol was higher in the PL, ML, and EL groups than in the BL group (p < 0.001). Gamma-glutamyl transferase was increased in the PL group compared to the BL group. Phosphorus levels were lower in the PL than in the BL group, whereas protein levels were higher in the EL than in the PL group. Spearman and partial correlation analysis showed several significant associations between the observed variables. Using canonical correlation analysis were identified three significant correlations (rc1 = 0.853; rc2 = 0.823; rc3 = 0.739). The main canonical correlation identified blood TG and milk urea as the strongest variables. According to the canonical loading, the biomarkers TG, Mg, urea, cholesterol, and alkaline phosphatase (U1) are the primary variables associated with milk parameters (V1), specifically with milk urea, milk Mg and P, protein, and lactose.

Wheat leaf rust, caused by Puccinia triticina, poses a growing threat to global wheat production, necessitating alternative strategies for effective disease management. This study investigated the potential of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) to enhance resistance to leaf rust in two wheat cultivars: the susceptible Morocco and moderately resistant Sakha 94 cultivar. Our findings revealed that GABA significantly improved resistance in both cultivars to P. triticina, particularly in Morocco, by mitigating disease severity and reducing pustule density and size while extending both incubation and latent periods. This study assessed the effectiveness of two GABA application methods: plants received 1 mM GABA treatment, as a foliar spray, twenty-four hours prior to infection (pre-GABA), and plants received 1 mM GABA treatment both 24 h before and after infection (pre-/post-GABA), with the latter yielding significantly better results in reducing infection severity and improving plant resilience. Additionally, GABA application influenced stomatal behavior, promoting closure that may enhance resilience against leaf rust. GABA application on plants also modulated the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). This led to a stronger oxidative burst in both susceptible and moderately resistant cultivars. GABA increased O2●− levels in guard cells and surrounding stomata, enhancing stomatal closure and the hypersensitive response. GABA enhanced the accumulation of soluble phenols and increased the activity of key antioxidant enzymes, catalase (CAT) and peroxidase (POX), which are vital for managing oxidative stress. To the best of our knowledge, this investigation represents the first report into the impact of GABA on wheat leaf rust disease.

Abstract Renewable energy systems depend on the weather, and weather information, thus, plays a crucial role in forecasting time series within such renewable energy systems. However, while weather data are commonly used to improve forecast accuracy, it still has to be determined in which input shape this weather data benefits the forecasting models the most. In the present paper, we investigate how transformations for weather data inputs, i. e., station-based and grid-based weather data, influence the accuracy of energy time series forecasts. The selected weather data transformations are based on statistical features, dimensionality reduction, clustering, autoencoders, and interpolation. We evaluate the performance of these weather data transformations when forecasting three energy time series: electrical demand, solar power, and wind power. Additionally, we compare the best-performing weather data transformations for station-based and grid-based weather data. We show that transforming station-based or grid-based weather data improves the forecast accuracy compared to using the raw weather data between 3.7 and 5.2%, depending on the target energy time series, where statistical and dimensionality reduction data transformations are among the best.

The integration of peacebuilding and mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) is a new field that is receiving increased attention from policy makers, local and international civil society organisations and donors. The authors conducted pilot studies in four countries over a 4-year period using a co-creation process. Acknowledging that this is a new body of knowledge that is evolving, participants from diverse professional backgrounds, with varied levels of decision-making power and experience, worked collectively towards a new understanding of integrated, contextually relevant solutions to their respective societal challenges. The co-creation process fosters transformative learning and acknowledges local wisdom and practices as well as existing theories and skills. The process includes exploring the context and current situation of a given country, as well as how participants would like to see integration unfold in the short and long term, acknowledging that integration can take on many forms. Fundamentally, co-creation encourages the development of a shared MHPSS and peacebuilding language, promoting mutual understanding across different fields and generating more holistic interventions. The facilitators play a pivotal role, not as experts, but as co-learners, guiding the co-creation journey in a safe, structured environment. Co-creation processes work best when applied as a phased approach over a longer period of time.

Formaldehyde is a common indoor air pollutant with hazardous effects on human health. This study investigated the efficiency of biocarbon (BC) functionalized with variable contents of MnO2 for formaldehyde removal in ambient conditions via integrated adsorption-photocatalytic degradation technology. The sample with the highest formaldehyde removal potential was used to prepare a functional coating made of acrylic binder mixed with 20 wt% of the particles and applied on beech (Fagus sylvatica L) substrate. SEM images showed that MnO2 was deposited around and inside the pores of the BC. EDX spectra indicated the presence of Mn peaks and increased content of oxygen in the doped BC compared to pure BC, which indicated the successful formation of MnO2. Raman spectra revealed that the disorder in the BC's structure increased with increasing MnO2 loadings. FTIR spectra of BC–MnO2 samples displayed additional peaks compared to the BC spectrum, which were attributed to MnO vibrations. Moreover, the deposition of increased MnO2 loadings decreased the porosity of the BC due to pores blockage. The BC sample containing 8 % Mn exhibited the highest formaldehyde removal efficiency in 8 h, which was 91 %. A synergetic effect between BC and MnO2 was observed. The formaldehyde removal efficiency and capacity of the coating reached 43 % and 6.1 mg/m2, respectively, suggesting that the developed coating can be potentially used to improve air quality in the built environment.

Background & Aims: Individuals with obesity may develop intrapancreatic fat deposition (IPFD) and fatty pancreas disease (FPD). Whether this causes inflammation and fibrosis and leads to pancreatic dysfunction is less established than for liver damage in metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). Moreover, the interrelations of FPD and MASLD are poorly understood. Therefore, we aimed to assess IPFD and fibro-inflammation in relation to pancreatic function and liver disease severity in individuals with MASLD. Methods: Seventy-six participants from the Amsterdam MASLD-MASH cohort (ANCHOR) study underwent liver biopsy and multiparametric MRI of the liver and pancreas, consisting of proton-density fat fraction sequences, T1 mapping and intravoxel incoherent motion diffusion-weighted imaging (IVIM-DWI). Results: The prevalence of FPD was 37.3%. There was a clear correlation between pancreatic T1 relaxation time, which indicates fibro-inflammation, and parameters of glycemic dysregulation, namely HbA1c (R = 0.59; p

Performance is a widely debated concept in the literature, especially in the field of business. The performance of a public institution in general, and of an educational institution in particular, is much more difficult to quantify, mainly because of the specifics of the activity and the form of funding. Simply measuring performance is not enough to improve it, and the need arises to implement a performance management system. The Balanced Scorecard is widely used in Romania and has been implemented over the last two decades in both public institutions and companies. This paper aims to propose a Balanced Scorecard for the performance management of state universities in Romania.

The study sought to determine the influence of Sustainable Supply Chain Management Practices (SSCMPS) on environmental performance. The study undertook a systematic review and content analysis in order to derive valid insights on the relationship between the study variables. As such, the study reviewed 140 academic/journal articles published in the period 2012 to 2022, obtained from different databases. ABI/INFORMs (ProQuest), ScienceDirect, SCOPUS and Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ) were the principal databases used. The results demonstrate that there is considerable evidence that SSCMPs positively affect environmental performance. A sizeable number of scholars focus on sustainable supply chain management and environmental sustainability, and little focus were given to operational performance and social. Future studies should examine social performance and operational performance as mediating variables. Furthermore, more industry-orientated studies should apply robust methodologies such as mixed methods and include mediating and moderating variables to unpack the relationship between SSCMPs and environmental performance.

IntroductionClinical and preclinical research on cocaine use disorder (CUD) has shown that sex differences in drug seeking are influenced by hormonal fluctuations. Estradiol (E2), a sex steroid hormone, has been linked to female drug effects, vulnerability to use/abuse, and psychosocial factors. Preclinical studies show that estradiol in females facilitates the extinction of cocaine-seeking behavior indicating a possible role in regulating extinction learning. Similar to females, males’ brains contain the aromatase enzyme which converts testosterone to estradiol. However, it is unclear whether estradiol plays a role in male extinction learning as it does in females. Furthermore, how endogenously aromatized estradiol affects drug addiction in males is unknown. Therefore, this study investigated whether endogenous estradiol regulates cocaine seeking in male rats. We hypothesized that decreased aromatase enzyme activity, resulting in decreased estradiol synthesis in male brains, will impair extinction learning leading to increased cocaine-seeking behavior.MethodsThis hypothesis was tested using cocaine-conditioned place preference (CPP), and short access self-administration (SA), followed by extinction and reinstatement. Before each extinction session for CPP or SA, male rats received an injection of either 1 (low dose) or 2.5 mg/kg (high dose) of the aromatase inhibitor Fadrozole (FAD), or vehicle.ResultsFAD groups showed dose-dependent effects on cocaine-seeking behavior compared to the vehicle group during CPP extinction. Specifically, low dose FAD facilitated extinction of cocaine CPP, whereas high dose FAD impaired it. In contrast, neither dose of FAD had any effects on the extinction of cocaine SA. Interestingly, only the low dose FAD group had decreased active lever pressing during cue- and cocaine-primed reinstatement compared to the vehicle group. Neither dose of FAD had an effect on sucrose extinction or reinstatement of sucrose seeking.DiscussionThese results from CPP experiments suggest that estradiol may impact extinction learning, as a low dose of FAD may strengthen the formation of cocaine extinction memory. Additionally, in male rats undergoing cocaine SA, the same low dose of aromatase inhibitor effectively reduced reinstatement of cocaine-seeking behavior. Thus, estradiol impacts cocaine seeking and extinction in both males and females, and it may also influence the development of sex-specific treatment strategies for CUD.