Search Results (3)

This paper presents a comparative study for detecting the activities of daily living (ADLs) using two distinct sensor systems: the FlexTail wearable spine tracker and a camera-based pose estimation model. We developed a protocol to simultaneously record data with both systems and capture eleven activities from general movement, household, and food handling. We tested a comprehensive selection of state-of-the-art time series classification algorithms. Both systems achieved high classification performance, with average $F_1$ scores of 0.90 for both datasets using a 1-second time window and the random dilated shapelet transform (RDST) and QUANT classifier for FlexTail and camera data, respectively. We also explored the impact of hierarchical activity grouping and found that while it improved classification performance in some cases, the benefits were not consistent across all activities. Our findings suggest that both sensor systems recognize ADLs. The FlexTail model performs better for detecting sitting and transitions, like standing up, while the camera-based model is better for activities that involve arm and hand movements. Full article

Background/Objectives: Porcine Circovirus 2 (PCV2) infection poses significant health and economic challenges to the global swine industry. The disease in pigs leads to lymphoid depletion, resulting in immunosuppression and increased susceptibility to co-infections with other bacterial and viral pathogens. This study evaluated the efficacy of two novel recombinant Newcastle disease virus (NDV) strain R2B vectored vaccines that express the cap gene of PCV2 alone and along with the transmembrane and cytoplasmic tail (TMCT) domains of the NDV F gene. The efficacy of the vaccine candidates was studied in mouse and pig models. Methods: Six-week-old BALB/c mice were divided into five groups and immunized intramuscularly three times at 14-day intervals with various vaccine candidates, namely rNDV-R2B-PCVcap-TMCT, rNDV-R2B-PCVcap, and CircoFLEX commercial vaccine, along with controls. Following immunization and PCV2d virus challenge, multiple assays assessed the immune responses in animal trials. In the pig animal trial, pigs were divided into four groups: a control group (PBS), NDV-vectored PCVcap-TMCT group, NDV-vectored-PCVcap group, and CircoFLEX vaccine group. Pigs were immunized intramuscularly twice at 28-day intervals. Blood samples were collected at regular intervals over 70 days to evaluate the humoral and cell-mediated immune responses. Results: Both mice and pigs’ trials indicated that the NDV-vectored PCV2 cap-TMCT vaccine candidate elicited superior immune responses. In mice, the rNDV-R2B-PCVcap-TMCT group showed enhanced humoral and cellular immunity, increased PCV2-specific antibody levels, higher CD4+/CD8+ ratio, elevated IFN-γ and TNF-α levels, decreased IL-10 levels, reduced viral loads, and minimal histopathological changes. In pigs, the NDV-vectored PCVcap-TMCT group demonstrated better antibody responses, cytokine profiles (IFN-γ and IL-10), and higher levels of PCV2-specific neutralizing antibodies against the PCV2a, PCV2b and PCV2d genotypes when compared to other groups. Conclusions: These findings suggest NDV-vectored PCVcap-TMCT vaccine candidate, expressing the cap gene of PCV2 along with the TMCT domain, offers a promising alternative for protecting against PCV2 infection, potentially addressing the challenges posed by emerging PCV2 strains in the swine industry. Full article

This paper aims to report clinical, laboratory, radiographic, and pathological features in a case of cervical vertebral stenotic myelopathy (CVSM) affecting a 4-month-old Nelore calf for the first time. During physical examination, the calf could stand if assisted when lifting by the tail but fallen to the ground when trying to walk. Attempts to flex and extend the neck to the right side failed. Radiographs findings consisted of reduced intervertebral spaces, and misalignments between the endplates, more evident between the C3 and C4 vertebrae, resulting in narrowing of the spinal canal and compression of the spinal cord. Grossly, C4 showed cranial articular surface malformation, abnormal metaphyseal growth plate development, reduced vertebral body size and deformity. Histologically, C4 showed an abnormal vertebral bone development characterized by moderate replacement of trabecular bone by fibrous tissues, multifocal areas of dystrophic hyaline cartilage development, and cartilaginous growth failure along the metaphyseal growth plate. Cervical spinal cord within the stenotic vertebral canal showed swollen neurons with central chromatolysis, areas of Wallerian degeneration, and necrotic debris. In contrast with the well-known Wobbler syndrome in horses, the etiology of CVSM in cattle remains undetermined, and further genetic and pathological studies must be conducted to elucidate it. Full article