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Nowadays, there is much legislation in the world devoted to restrict the use of synthetic antibiotics in the poultry industry, which could reduce performance rate and production profits. Various phyto-biotic growth promoters have been proposed to serve as antibiotic alternatives with emphasis on plant extracts and essential oils. This study was conducted to assess the impacts of using the oregano essential oil (OEO) (comprised of 5% thymol and 65% carvacrol) and Enviva essential oil (EEO) (4.5% cinnamaldehyde and 13.5% thymol) as phytobiotic feed additives (PFA) on growth performance, cecal microbiota and serum biochemicals of growing ducks. In total, 800 11-day-old ducklings, housed in 20 floor pens, were allotted randomly into five dietary treatments: (i) A basal diet (BD) (control), (ii.) BD+50 mg EEO/kg, (iii.) BD+100 mg EEO/kg, (iv.) BD+150 mg OEO/kg and (v.) BD+300 mg OEO/kg diet. The growth performance traits were studied between 11 and 42 days of age. At the experiment end, 40 ducks were slaughtered (eight/ treatment) and cecal digesta and blood samples were collected to estimate the cecal bacterial populations and serum blood biochemicals. The results indicated that the tested levels of OEO and EEO did not display any significant effect (P>0.05) on the duck’s final BW, BW gain, growth rate, feed intake, feed conversion ratio or survivability rate. Besides, the different levels of EEO and OEO decreased the cecal populations of Coliforms (P<0.01), total aerobes (P<0.01) and lactose-negative Enterobacteria (P<0.05) in comparison with those of the control group. Finally, the tested EEO and OEO levels did not show any significant effect on the serum variables; in terms of total protein, albumin, globulin, total cholesterol, triglycerides, alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase. In conclusion, the antimicrobial effect of the OEO and EEO against the cecal microbiota has been proven, while they did not display significant effects on the growth performance or blood variables of growing ducks.

Micron to sub‐micron sized ferromagnetic inclusions in rock forming silicate minerals may give rise to particularly stable remanent magnetizations. When a population of inclusions have a preferred crystallographic or shape orientation in a rock, the recorded paleomagnetic direction and intensity may be biased by magnetic anisotropy. To better understand this effect, we investigated plagioclase grains from oceanic gabbro dredged from the Mid‐Atlantic Ridge at 11°–17°N. The plagioclase grains contain abundant needle and lath shaped magnetite inclusions aligned along specific directions of the plagioclase lattice. Electron back scatter diffraction and anisotropy of magnetic remanence measurements are used to correlate the orientation distribution of the magnetite inclusions in the host plagioclase that contains multiple twin types (Manebach, Carlsbad, Albite, and Pericline) with the bulk magnetic anisotropy of the inclusion‐host assembly. In non‐modified plagioclase, the anisotropy ellipsoid of magnetic remanence has oblate shapes that parallels the plagioclase (010) plane. It is suggested that recrystallization of magnetite inclusions during hydrothermal overprint shifts the relative abundance of the inclusions pertaining to the different orientation classes. We show that the maximum axis of the anisotropy ellipsoid of magnetic remanence parallels the plagioclase [001] direction, which in turn controls the recorded remanent magnetization direction. Our results are relevant for paleointensity and paleodirection determinations and for the interpretation of magnetic fabrics. Plain Language Summary Understanding how the Earth's magnetic field has varied in the past depends on the recording fidelity of the remanent magnetization held within the magnetic minerals in rocks, with magnetite being the most common. Magnetite may occur as tiny inclusions in host minerals such as plagioclase, and when they do, they are particularly robust magnetic recorders. Plagioclase from mafic plutonic rocks often contains needle‐shaped magnetite inclusions whose orientations are fixed along specific crystallographic directions of the plagioclase, which leads to extreme magnetic anisotropy. The anisotropy can significantly bias magnetic recording by deflecting the magnetization direction into the magnetic foliation plane or the lineation direction, which may be at high angles from the magnetic field direction. By combining optical and electron microscopy with magnetic measurements of individual magnetite bearing plagioclase grains, we show that different types of crystallographic twinning in plagioclase dictates different crystallographic orientation directions of the magnetite inclusions; the resultant anisotropic distribution of magnetite crystals in turn controls the direction of the magnetic remanence. Key Points Plagioclase from oceanic gabbro contains needle shaped magnetite inclusions that render plagioclase grains ferromagnetic Most of the needle elongation directions lie within or near the plagioclase (010) plane leading to pronounced magnetic anisotropy The remanent magnetization direction of the magnetite‐bearing plagioclase is controlled by magnetic anisotropy

At temperatures above about 600 °C, alkali feldspar forms a continuous solid solution between the Na and K end members. Towards lower temperatures a miscibility gap opens, and alkali feldspar of intermediate composition exsolves, forming an intergrowth of relatively more Na-rich and K-rich lamellae. During exsolution, the crystal structure usually remains coherent across the lamellar interfaces, a feature that may be preserved over geological times. Due to the compositional dependence of the lattice parameters, coherent intergrowth requires that the lamellae are elastically strained. The associated elastic strain energy counteracts exsolution, and the solvus delimiting the misciblity gap for coherent intergrowth lies below the solvus for strain free phase equilibria. To determine the coherent solvus, homogeneous gem quality alkali feldspar of intermediate composition was annealed at conditions falling into the two-phase region of the phase diagram. Thereby a coherent intergrowth of approximately 10–20 nanometers wide lamellae was produced. Lamellar compositions were determined with atom probe tomography defining points on the coherent solvus. In parallel, the coherent solvus was calculated using a thermodynamic mixing model calibrated on the same alkali feldspar as used for the exsolution experiments and accounting for the elastic strain energy associated with coherent lamellar intergrwoth. The experimentally determined and the calculated coherent solvus are in excellent agreement indicating that phase equilibria in coherent lamellar intergrowth of alkali feldspar are adequately described, providing a sound basis for the interpretation of phase relations in coherently exsolved alkali feldspar.

To characterize changes in ruminal epithelial bacterial communities and immune-related gene expression during concentrate starter feeding before weaning in lambs, 6 pairs of 10-d-old Hu lamb twins were selected: 1 kid received milk (M, = 6), and the other received milk plus starter (M+S, = 6). All lambs received hay and water ad libitum and were slaughtered at 56-d-old. Their rumen fluid was collected to determine ruminal pH and VFA levels; rumen epithelia were collected to characterize their bacterial communities using Illumina MiSeq sequencing and to determine mRNA expression of immune-related genes using quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). Results showed that starter feeding caused a decreased ruminal pH ( = 0.004) and increased concentrations of acetate, propionate, butyrate, and total VFA ( < 0.001). Principal coordinate analysis and analysis of molecular variance revealed that starter feeding affected ruminal epithelial bacterial communities in the lambs ( = 0.001), with higher relative abundance of dominant taxa , unclassified BS11 gut group, , unclassified Synergistaceae, , , , , and ( < 0.05) but lesser relative abundance of , unclassified Bacteroidales, unclassified Candidate, unclassified RF9, and ( < 0.05). Additionally, a phylogenetic investigation of communities by reconstruction of unobserved states analysis indicated that starter feeding markedly increased relative abundance values of dominant ruminal epithelial bacterial-inferred genes related to other ion-coupled transporters, pentose and glucuronate interconversions, glycosyltransferases, other glycan degradation, AA metabolism, sphingolipid metabolism, biotin metabolism, glycosphingolipid biosynthesis-globo series, and lysosome ( < 0.05) but decreased relative abundance values of genes related to carbon fixation pathways in prokaryotes and energy metabolism ( < 0.05) in the lambs. The qRT-PCR results showed that starter feeding decreased the relative mRNA expression of IL-6 ( = 0.003), IL-10 ( = 0.013), and interferon γ ( = 0.003). Collectively, this study showed that starter feeding could alter ruminal epithelial bacterial communities and some key immune-related genes' expression in preweaned lambs. All these responses of ruminal epithelial bacteria and the immune system would be beneficial for starter-fed lambs to be weaned.

The purpose of this study was to define the clinical features and the surgical technique of unilateral hemilaminectomy for treating intramedullary cavernous malformations. Retrospective chart was performed in 16 patients with histologically diagnosed intramedullary cavernous malformations. All patients were treated with unilateral hemilaminectomy and microsurgical resection of the malformations. The pre- and postoperative neurological state was evaluated using Frankel scale. There were nine females and seven males (mean age 38 years) harbouring symptomatic intramedullary cavernous malformations. The annual retrospective haemorrhage rate was 3.1% per patient/year. All cavernous malformations were completely resected. Twelve of 16 patients experienced the improvement of the neurological state and in four patients, clinical features remained unchanged during the follow-up period. Static and dynamic plain radiograph film showed none of them had spinal deformity or spinal instability. According to the defined bleeding risk, symptomatic and MRI-morphologically growing intramedullary cavernous malformations should be totally surgically removed, to avoid the recurrence and rebleeding of the residue. A least traumatic myelotomy, as well as a meticulous microsurgical technique and the intraoperative somatosensory evoked potentials monitoring, together with selection of a minimally invasive microsurgical approach (hemilaminectomy), leads to a favourable outcome and prevents additional morbidity.

A Weyl semimetal is a new state of matter that hosts Weyl fermions as emergent quasiparticles and admits a topological classification that protects Fermi arc surface states on the boundary of a bulk sample. This unusual electronic structure has deep analogies with particle physics and leads to unique topological properties. We report the experimental discovery of a Weyl semimetal, tantalum arsenide (TaAs). Using photoemission spectroscopy, we directly observe Fermi arcs on the surface, as well as the Weyl fermion cones and Weyl nodes in the bulk of TaAs single crystals. We find that Fermi arcs terminate on the Weyl fermion nodes, consistent with their topological character. Our work opens the field for the experimental study of Weyl fermions in physics and materials science.

A ‘wedgebox’ plot is a two-dimensional scatter-plot of two invariant mass quantities. Here pp→e + e - μ + μ - +≠E signature LHC events are analyzed by plotting the di-electron invariant mass versus the di-muon invariant mass. Data sets of such events are obtained across the MSSM input parameter space in realistic event-generator simulations, including cuts designed to remove SM backgrounds. Their study reveals several general features. Firstly, regions in the MSSM input parameter space where a sufficient number of events are expected so as to be able to construct a clear wedgebox plot are delineated. Secondly, the presence of box shapes on a wedgebox plot either indicates the presence of heavy Higgs bosons’ decays or restricts the location to a quite small region of low μ and M 2 values, ≲ 200 GeV, a region denoted as the ‘lower island’. In this region, wedgebox plots can be quite complicated and change in pattern rather quickly as one moves around in the (μ,M 2 ) plane. Thirdly, direct neutralino pair production from an intermediate Z 0* may only produce a wedge shape since only decays can contribute significantly. And fourthly, a double-wedge or wedge-protruding-from-a-box pattern on a wedgebox plot, which results from combining a variety of MSSM production processes, yields three distinct observed endpoints, almost always attributable to decays, which can be utilized to determine a great deal of information about the neutralino and slepton mass spectra and related MSSM input parameters. Wedge and double-wedge patterns are seen in wedgebox plots in another region of higher μ and M 2 values, denoted as the ‘upper island’. Here the pattern is simpler and more stable as one moves across the (μ,M 2 ) input parameter space.

Pain Catastrophizing (PC) is a prevalent maladaptive cognitive - affective response after lung cancer surgery, linked to poor outcomes. The mechanisms between sub - acute pain and PC development within 3 months are unclear. Conventional pain management often neglects psychological and social factors related to PC and recovery. According to the biopsychosocial model, multiple factors are associated with PC, but their mediating pathways are not fully understood.Therefore, grounded in the stress and coping theory and the pain threat appraisal theory, first examines the multiple-parallel mediating roles of introspection, negative attentional bias, and social support between pain intensity and PC in early-stage lung cancer patients post - surgery. A cross-sectional study recruited 414 early-stage lung cancer patients within 3 months post-surgery from ambulatory care follow-up and day ward treatment at a tertiary hospital from May to August 2025. Questionnaires were used for investigation, and parallel mediation was tested by structural equation modeling. The average PCS score was 30.49 ± 6.27. PC was positively correlated with pain intensity, interoceptive awareness, and negative attentional bias, and negatively correlated with social support. Interoceptive awareness, negative attentional bias, and social support together accounted for 59.81% of the total effect, with social support having the most prominent effect (31.05%)-substantially larger than interoceptive awareness (5.51%) and negative attentional bias (5.91%). Post-operative PC levels in early-stage lung cancer patients are moderate to high. Pain intensity is directly and indirectly related to PC. Healthcare professionals are advised to develop a multidimensional, phased, and integrated intervention framework including pain management, cognitive behavioral therapy, and mindfulness training. This approach can effectively reduce PC and support precise prevention and intervention.