Abstract
Aim. The present study analyzed the oxygen uptake slow component of front crawl swimmers during four different intensities of sub maximal exercise, using a multi-exponential function. Methods. Slow component was also assessed with two different fixed interval methods and the three methods were compared. Sixteen male swimmers performed a test comprising four sub maximal 400-m bouts at different intensities where all expired gases were collected breath by breath. Results. Multi-exponential modeling showed that the slow component was below 200 mL·min-1 in the four swimming intensities. Differences were observed in mean values of slow component obtained by the mathematical modeling and the two fixed interval methods in every bout of exercise with higher mean values when the mathematical modeling was used (F=7,337; P=0.007; ?2=0,512). There was also a significant effect of the exercise intensity on the slow component (F=10,768; P=0.001; ?2=0,713), although no effect of the interaction method x intensity was present (F=1,107; P=0.422; ?2=0,399). Conclusion. It was concluded that in trained crawl swimmers it is possible to have small slow component even at exercise intensities above that corresponding to the 4 mM-1 threshold. Moreover, the mathematical modeling of the oxygen uptake on-kinetics tends to show higher slow component as compared to fixed interval methods.

Abstract
Simple Summary Ensuring animal welfare is essential in protocols using laboratory animals. Applying a score sheet with 14 biological parameters, we assessed the welfare of 29 male Wistar rats used as models of colorectal carcinogenesis (CRC). We found a uniformity of characteristics preceding the premature animals' death, including an increase of 10% in body weight, swollen abdomen, diarrhea, and priapism. In addition, we observed that surface abdominal temperature was higher in animals with CRC. We considered that the parameters already described in other cancer models are insufficient and considered assessing the abdominal temperature, priapism, and sudden increase in the body weight in the model of CRC. This study aimed to define appropriate humane endpoints (HEs) for an animal model of colorectal carcinogenesis (CRC). Twenty-nine male Wistar rats were divided into two control groups (CTRL1 and CTRL2) injected with ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA)-saline solutions and two induced groups (CRC1 and CRC2) injected with 1,2-dimethylhydrazine (DMH) for seven weeks. A score sheet with 14 biological parameters was used to assess animal welfare. Groups CRC1 and CTRL1 and groups CRC2 and CTRL2 were euthanized 11 and 17 weeks after the first DMH administration, respectively. Five animals from the induced groups died unexpectedly during the protocol (survival rates of 75.0% and 66.7% for groups CRC1 and CRC2, respectively). The final mean body weight (BW) was smaller in the CRC groups when compared with that in the CTRL groups. A uniformity of characteristics preceding the premature animals' death was observed, namely an increase of 10% in mean BW, swollen abdomen, diarrhea, and priapism. The surface abdominal temperature of group CRC2 was significantly higher, when compared with that of group CTRL2. The parameters already described in other cancer models proved to be insufficient. For the CRC model, we considered assessing the abdominal temperature, priapism, and sudden increase in the BW.

Abstract
The aim of this study was to test the accuracy of a new automated computer software tool for the assessment of passive hip laxity. The hip laxity was estimated using the dedicated computer software by two blinded evaluators, one previously trained and one without specific training for distraction index measurement, in two independent sessions using 230 hip joints from 115 dogs that underwent screening for passive hip laxity using the distraction view. Previously, all of these radiographs were sent to PennHIP Analysis Center for an official distraction index record. The measurement repeatability of the two sessions was adequate for both evaluators. The reproducibility of the official distraction index measurement, mean distraction index +/- standard deviation 0.44 +/- 0.15, was adequate (P>0.05) for the trained evaluator, 0.44 +/- 0.15, and non-adequate (P<0.05), for the non-trained evaluator 0.47 +/- 0.17. The distraction index measurement tool proposed can be used with confidence for hip laxity evaluation by trained evaluators, as it provided good repeatability and reproducibility of official reports. The simplicity of the process described leads to a less time-consuming and more affordable procedure.

Abstract
ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to test the accuracy of a new automated computer software tool for the assessment of passive hip laxity. The hip laxity was estimated using the dedicated computer software by two blinded evaluators, one previously trained and one without specific training for distraction index measurement, in two independent sessions using 230 hip joints from 115 dogs that underwent screening for passive hip laxity using the distraction view. Previously, all of these radiographs were sent to PennHIP Analysis Center for an official distraction index record. The measurement repeatability of the two sessions was adequate for both evaluators. The reproducibility of the official distraction index measurement, mean distraction index±standard deviation 0.44±0.15, was adequate (P>0.05) for the trained evaluator, 0.44±0.15, and non-adequate (P<0.05), for the non-trained evaluator 0.47±0.17. The distraction index measurement tool proposed can be used with confidence for hip laxity evaluation by trained evaluators, as it provided good repeatability and reproducibility of official reports. The simplicity of the process described leads to a less time-consuming and more affordable procedure.

Abstract
Hip dysplasia is a genetic disease that causes the laxity of the hip joint and is one of the most common skeletal diseases found in dogs. Diagnosis is performed through an X-ray analysis by a specialist and the only way to reduce the incidence of this condition is through selective breeding. Thus, there is a need for an automated tool that can assist the specialist in diagnosis. In this article, our objective is to develop models that allow segmentation of the femur and acetabulum, serving as a foundation for future solutions for the automated detection of hip dysplasia. The studied models present state-of-the-art results, reaching dice scores of 0.98 for the femur and 0.93 for the acetabulum.

Abstract
Simple Summary Radiographic diagnosis is essential for the genetic control of canine hip dysplasia (HD). The Federation Cynologique Internationale (FCI) scoring HD scheme is based on objective and qualitative radiographic criteria. Subjective interpretations can lead to errors in diagnosis and, consequently, to incorrect selective breeding, which in turn impacts the gene pool of dog breeds. The aim of this study was to use a computer method to calculate the Hip Congruency Index (HCI) to objectively estimate radiographic hip congruency for future application in the development of computer vision models capable of classifying canine HD. The HCI measures the percentage of acetabular coverage that is occupied by the femoral head. Normal hips are associated with an even, parallel joint surface that translates into reduced acetabular free space, which increases with hip subluxation and becomes maximal in hip dislocation. We found statistically significant differences in mean HCI values among all five FCI categories. These results demonstrate that the HCI reliably reflects the different degrees of congruency associated with HD. Therefore, it is expected that when used in conjunction with other HD evaluation parameters, such as Norberg angle and assessment of osteoarthritic signs, it can improve the diagnosis by making it more accurate and unequivocal. Accurate radiographic screening evaluation is essential in the genetic control of canine HD, however, the qualitative assessment of hip congruency introduces some subjectivity, leading to excessive variability in scoring. The main objective of this work was to validate a method-Hip Congruency Index (HCI)-capable of objectively measuring the relationship between the acetabulum and the femoral head and associating it with the level of congruency proposed by the Federation Cynologique Internationale (FCI), with the aim of incorporating it into a computer vision model that classifies HD autonomously. A total of 200 dogs (400 hips) were randomly selected for the study. All radiographs were scored in five categories by an experienced examiner according to FCI criteria. Two examiners performed HCI measurements on 25 hip radiographs to study intra- and inter-examiner reliability and agreement. Additionally, each examiner measured HCI on their half of the study sample (100 dogs), and the results were compared between FCI categories. The paired t-test and the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) showed no evidence of a systematic bias, and there was excellent reliability between the measurements of the two examiners and examiners' sessions. Hips that were assigned an FCI grade of A (n = 120), B (n = 157), C (n = 68), D (n = 38) and E (n = 17) had a mean HCI of 0.739 +/- 0.044, 0.666 +/- 0.052, 0.605 +/- 0.055, 0.494 +/- 0.070 and 0.374 +/- 0.122, respectively (ANOVA, p < 0.01). Therefore, these results show that HCI is a parameter capable of estimating hip congruency and has the potential to enrich conventional HD scoring criteria if incorporated into an artificial intelligence algorithm competent in diagnosing HD.