Ochratoxin A (OTA) is a nephrotoxic mycotoxin that commonly contaminates maize, posing significant health risks to both poultry and humans. In this study, a rapid and sensitive method utilizing ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with fluorescence detection (UPLC-FLD) was developed for the quantification of OTA levels in maize. The method utilizes immunoaffinity column purification for improved specificity. Accuracy and precision were validated in line with European Union Reference Laboratory (EURL-MP) guidelines, meeting regulatory standards for linearity, trueness, detection and quantification limits, precision, and uncertainty, as per European Commission Regulation (EC) No. 401/2006 and its amendments. The method demonstrated an average recovery rate of 116.78% for maize, with RSD_wR values (within-laboratory reproducibility) of 12.72%. Furthermore, OTA occurrence and its possible effects were investigated in several farms in South Romania, where necropsy and histopathological analyses of poultry revealed severe kidney damage, including renal tubular degeneration.

Here we describe a novel prototype method for parallel sampling of electrical signals from 200 sensors. The amplified signal from each sensor was remotely converted into a luminous signal on a LED matrix. A digital camera supported by a duralumin skeleton, was installed at 15 cm above an LED matrix inside an opaque box. Images were sampled at discrete time intervals of 5 s. A total of 25,920 images of the LED matrix have been recorded. Thus, 5.2 million measurements have been recorded as light intensities from the LED matrix. Light intensities of individual LEDs from the images were converted into 1 pixel value/LED. Each pixel value was then converted into percentages for evaluation. We used this methodology to measure the temporal variation of the electrical current on the skin of the torso on human volunteers, to assess the presence of a correlation between the electrical activity and diabetes (Ionescu-Tirgoviste et al., 2018). This method also allowed us to compile the first high resolution map of the electrical activity generated by the human skin (Ionescu-Tirgoviste et al., 2018). •A novel method for a parallel acquisition of electrical signals which can be applied in any related field.•It provides the ability to retrieve a large number of electrical channels simultaneously.•It provides for an inexpensive and reliable way to digitize hundreds to thousands of channels at video rate frequencies.

Sequence alignment provides a formal framework for comparison of biological sequences through score maximization over matches, mismatches, and insertion–deletion events. Classical formulations distinguish between global alignment, which enforces end-to-end correspondence through fixed boundary conditions, and local alignment, which extracts high-scoring subsequences without global consistency. Both paradigms arise from the same dynamic programing (DP) recurrences, shaped by substitution matrices and gap-penalty models that approximate molecular evolution. Canonical algorithms such as Needleman–Wunsch and Smith–Waterman establish the foundations of exact alignment, while later extensions introduce affine and convex gap costs, statistical score distributions, and probabilistic significance models. Modern work builds on these principles through bit-parallel techniques, band-restricted computation, cache-aware layouts, single instruction, multiple data and graphics processing unit parallelism, hardware accelerators, and index-assisted heuristics that enable large-scale genomic analysis. Sequence alignment underpins applications ranging from whole-genome comparison and metagenomics to protein annotation, variant detection, human leukocyte antigen typing, and microbial surveillance. Persistent challenges include scalability to ultra-long sequences, faithful models of complex mutation processes, avoidance of parameter bias, and formal limits on exact subquadratic solutions. Emerging directions emphasize adaptive data-driven scoring, hybrid global–local formulations, privacy-preserving computation, and real-time or incremental alignment. These developments reaffirm sequence alignment as a closely related DP framework shaped primarily by boundary conditions rather than distinct paradigms.

This pilot study evaluated the effects of dietary pea inclusion as a sustainable and nutritional alternative protein source on growth performance, nitrogen balance, digestibility, and intestinal health on nine castrated male Topigs hybrid pigs (three pigs/group), with an initial average weight of 20 ± 2.5 kg, for 45 experimental days. To conduct this digestibility pilot study, the pigs were kept individually in metabolic cages. Three experimental groups were compared: T₀ (control), T₁₀ (10% pea inclusion), and T₂₀ (20% pea inclusion). Growth performance parameters, such as the feed conversion ratio (FCR), daily feed intake (DFI), and dry matter intake (DMI), were significantly higher in the T₁₀ and T₂₀ groups compared to T₀ (p < 0.05). Nitrogen retention was significantly higher in the T₁₀ group (p = 0.042) compared to the T₀ group only. Biochemical markers, such as the total bilirubin (T-Bil) and uric acid (UA) levels, were significantly higher in T₂₀ compared to T₀ (p < 0.05). The short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) increased significantly in the ceca and ilea of the T₁₀ and T₂₀ groups compared to T₀, with higher levels of acetic acid (C2) and butyric acid (C4). A positive effect on Lactobacillus populations was observed in both the ileum and cecum in the T₁₀ and T₂₀ groups (p < 0.05). Intestinal morphology analysis revealed that the villus width, villus area, and crypt depth were significantly increased in the jejuna and ilea of both pea-fed groups. The N retention, SCFA concentration, and Lactobacillus population from the ileal and cecal segments showed a strong correlation. These findings suggest that the dietary inclusion of peas positively impacts growth performance, nitrogen retention, and intestinal health, with enhanced microbial populations and improved gut morphology.

This study aimed to investigate the hematological, biochemical, short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) content, and histomorphological responses of laying hens exposed to different thermal stress conditions and fed a diet supplemented with 6% white grape pomace (WGP). The research was part of a large six-week experimental trial conducted on 240 Lohmann Brown hens (58 weeks old), arranged in a 2 × 3 factorial design with two dietary treatments (control and WGP) conducted under thermoneutral (NT, 22 °C), high thermal stress (HST, 35 °C), and low thermal stress (LST, 10 °C) conditions. HST conditions significantly lowered the production performances of ALBW (average live body weight; p = 0.0001) and ACW (average carcass weight; p = 0.026) and significantly increased the heterophil/lymphocyte (H:L) ratio and platelets concentration (p < 0.05). Serum K values decreased and the Na/K ratio increased significantly (p = 0.001) under both HST and LST conditions; total protein (TP) decreased significantly under HST (p = 0.031). Significantly decreased (p < 0.001) feed intake and excreta were registered under HST conditions. Concerning SCFAs content, isobutyrate was higher under LST (p = 0.0001), while butyrate showed higher values under NT conditions for the WGP group (p = 0.002). Intestinal morphometry was highly influenced by high temperatures (shorter villi, deeper crypts). Overall, the 6% WGP supplementation, a natural high antioxidant resource, produced modest, context-dependent effects, with benefits under NT and LST conditions but insufficient to protect against the negative effects of chronic heat stress.

Gastric lymphofollicular hyperplasia (GLFH) is characterized by large lymphoid nodules in the lamina propria. Its etiology and immunohistochemical characteristics are poorly understood. This study analyzed 41 canine GLFH cases, including clinical, endoscopic, histopathological, and immunohistochemical evaluations. Young French Bulldogs (75.06%) were the most affected. Endoscopically, lymphoid nodules were identified in both the antrum and gastric body. Lymphoid follicle diameters were similar in the gastric body (mean 295.587 μm) and antrum (mean 294.641 μm). Associated lesions included glandular atrophy, lymphoplasmacytic inflammation, and fibrosis. Minimal, moderate, and severe colonization with Helicobacter-like organisms (HLOs) were observed in 20, 6, and 3 cases, respectively. B-cell lymphocytes positive for Bcl6 and Pax5 were localized centrally in large follicles, surrounded by CD3+ T lymphocytes. Small follicles lacked germinal centers and showed mixed T and B lymphocytes. A positive correlation was found between the follicle diameter and both HLOs colonization (p = 0.049) and follicular hyperplasia (p < 0.001). A regression analysis indicated that HLOs colonization and hyperplasia accounted for 42.3% of follicle diameter variance (R² = 0.423, p < 0.001). Additional studies are required to investigate potential correlations between GLFH and HLOs, as well as to assess the role of this lesion in the progression to neoplasia.