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Eco-friendly biodegradation processes for affordable wastewater treatment in agricultural and horse stable environments.
Water science and technology : a journal of the International Association on Water Pollution Research    December 4, 2025   Volume 92, Issue 11 1551-1566 doi: 10.2166/wst.2025.175
Tsytlishvili K.The pursuit of sustainable livestock farming and environmentally responsible agricultural practices has spurred the development of innovative and affordable wastewater treatment technologies. This study investigates new biological treatment approaches that integrate the complementary processes of filtration, biosorption, and biodegradation to enhance eco-friendly wastewater management. A novel treatment concept was developed, representing a modern modification of the biosorption method that combines the oxidation of organic pollutants with ammonium reduction by an immobilized biocenosis, achie...
Preliminary investigation of equine veterinary hospital staff attitudes towards pain assessment in a single centre.
The Veterinary record    December 4, 2025   doi: 10.1002/vetr.6122
Curry O, Everett A, Pearson G, Dwyer C, Duncan J.Despite the availability of several equine pain assessment tools, their use in equine veterinary practice appears limited compared to small animal practice. This study explores potential barriers to equine pain assessment, as reported by staff at a single UK equine teaching hospital. Methods: Nine hospital staff members were interviewed using semi-structured interviews. Key themes were identified through reflexive thematic analysis. Results: Participants acknowledged the importance of pain assessment, yet highlighted limitations in current methods and their inconsistent use. Key challenges inc...
A Portable Fluorometer Detects Significantly Elevated Cell-Free DNA in Tracheal Wash and Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid in Horses with Severe Asthma.
Animals : an open access journal from MDPI    December 3, 2025   Volume 15, Issue 23 3483 doi: 10.3390/ani15233483
Cooper BL, Hobbs KJ, Bayless R, Stinson-Miller A, Gruber E, Hepworth-Warren K, Lavoie JP, Sheats MK.Severe equine asthma (sEA) is characterized by increased lower airway neutrophils that contribute to dysregulated inflammation through the release of cytokines, reactive oxygen species and neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs). NETs are composed of cell-free DNA (cfDNA) intercalated with enzymatic proteins and are known to be increased in the lower airway of asthmatic horses. The objectives of this study were two-fold: 1. Determine if cfDNA can be accurately measured in equine bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and tracheal wash (TW) with a Qubit 4 fluorometer. 2. Determine whether Qubit-meas...
Efficacy of butylated hydroxytoluene nanoparticles in enhancing the quality and preservation of stallion chilled semen.
Veterinary research communications    December 3, 2025   Volume 50, Issue 1 62 doi: 10.1007/s11259-025-10977-5
Khalil WA, Mostafa HE, Derbala MK, Alfattah MA, Alhujaili W, Hassan MAE, El-Harairy MA, Abdelnour SA.Encapsulating natural antioxidants presents a robust strategy to neutralize oxidative stress, thereby improving semen preservation. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of butylated hydroxytoluene nanoparticles (BHT-NPs) in improving stallion semen preservation by investigating sperm quality, redox balance, semen bacteriology, apoptosis, ultrastructure, and acrosome status of chilled stallion semen preserved at 4 °C for 72 h. This in vitro experiment was evidenced by molecular docking analysis. Twenty-five ejaculates from five stallions were collected and extended with 0 (BH...
Genetic characterization of equine arteritis virus associated with outbreaks in the UK, 2019.
The Journal of general virology    December 3, 2025   Volume 106, Issue 12 002181 doi: 10.1099/jgv.0.002181
Bhat S, Karunakaran S, Frossard JP, Choudhury B, Steinbach F.Equine arteritis virus (EAV) is the causative agent of equine viral arteritis, a notifiable respiratory and reproductive disease of equids that causes significant losses to the equine industry. This study presents a comprehensive analysis of two EAV outbreaks in the UK in 2019, combining virus isolation, sequencing and phylogenetic analysis to provide a holistic understanding of EAV dynamics in these outbreaks. Genetic characterization revealed that all outbreak strains were similar to viruses detected in the UK and Europe from 2004 to 2011, belonging to phylogroup D and clustering in two grou...
Clinical features, diagnostic findings, and treatment response in Finnish horses examined for equine inflammatory bowel disease.
Acta veterinaria Scandinavica    December 3, 2025   Volume 68, Issue 1 2 doi: 10.1186/s13028-025-00831-8
Pekkarinen HM, Simola U, Niinistö KE, Syrjä PES.Equine inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is challenging to diagnose and treat. Although the number of horses examined due to suspicion of IBD is increasing, the different treatments in clinical patients and their responses are not well documented. We sought to characterize the demography, signs, clinical and rectal biopsy findings, and treatment response in Finnish horses suspected to have IBD. Horses undergoing clinical examination due to suspected IBD in 2022 and with a good-quality rectal biopsy were selected for the study. General information, signs, clinical and histological findings, and ...
Radiographic imaging of the entheses of the equine thoracic foot.
The Veterinary record    December 3, 2025   Volume 198, Issue 4 e166-e175 doi: 10.1002/vetr.6024
Honnas DH, Fiske-Jackson AR, Fulkerson CV, Wilhite DR.An injury of a tendon or ligament of the equine foot is frequently a cause of lameness. The optimal radiographic projections delineating the entheses of five commonly injured tendons and ligaments of the foot should be described. Methods: The entheses of the collateral ligaments of the distal interphalangeal joint, the collateral sesamoidean ligaments of the navicular bone, the deep digital flexor tendon, the common digital extensor tendon and the distal sesamoidean impar ligament were isolated from a thoracic foot of three cadavers. Three standard radiographic projections (60-degree, dorsopro...
The Role of Short-Chain Fatty Acids (SCFAs) in Colic and Anti-Inflammatory Pathways in Horses.
Animals : an open access journal from MDPI    December 3, 2025   Volume 15, Issue 23 3482 doi: 10.3390/ani15233482
Schank N, Cottone A, Wulf M, Seiter K, Thomas B, Miller LMJ, Anderson SL, Sahyoun A, Abidi AH, Kassan M, Verma A.Equine colic remains a prevalent and potentially life-threatening condition with multifactorial origins, including dietary imbalances, stress, and microbial dysbiosis. Central to equine gut health is the production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), primarily acetate, propionate, and butyrate, generated through microbial fermentation of dietary fibers in the hindgut. These metabolites not only serve as vital energy sources but also play crucial roles in maintaining intestinal barrier integrity, modulating motility, and suppressing inflammation. This review explores the role of SCFAs in equine...
Gut microbial signatures and cardiac-microbiota axis in Yili horses with divergent exercise-induced cardiac remodeling.
Frontiers in microbiology    December 3, 2025   Volume 16 1689293 doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2025.1689293
Bao Y, Wang T, Adina W, Yao R, Chu H, Yao X, Meng J, Wang J, Ren W, Zeng Y.This study aimed to investigate how different training outcomes affect the gut microbiota composition in racehorses. Twenty-six Yili horses underwent a 9-month conditioning training regimen under uniform husbandry and management conditions. Post-training, the horses were divided into an excellence group (D. Y group) and a general group (D. P group) based on their athletic performance, with the top 10 performers constituting the D. Y group and the bottom 10 the D. P group. Cardiac morphology and function were quantitatively assessed via echocardiography, and metagenomic sequencing was performed...
A novel dataset of 2,362 equine fecal microbiomes from veterinary teaching hospitals across three countries reveals effects of geography and disease.
Animal microbiome    December 3, 2025   Volume 7, Issue 1 124 doi: 10.1186/s42523-025-00493-x
McAdams ZL, Campbell EJ, Dorfmeyer RA, Turner G, Shaffer S, Ford T, Lawson J, Terry J, Raju M, Coghill L, Cresci L, Lascola K, Pridgen T....Horses and other equids are reliant on the gut microbiome for health, and studies have reported associations between certain clinical conditions and features of the fecal microbiome. However, research to date on the equine fecal microbiome has often relied on small sample sizes collected from single and relatively localized geographic regions. Previous work also largely employs single timepoint analyses, or horses selected based on limited health criteria. Results: To address these limitations and expand our understanding of the core microbiome in health, and the changes associated with advers...
Pharmacokinetics and Safety of a Single Subcutaneous or Intramuscular Dose of Ketamine in Healthy Horses.
Journal of veterinary pharmacology and therapeutics    December 3, 2025   Volume 49, Issue 2 141-149 doi: 10.1111/jvp.70037
Rangel A, Sellon DC, Sanz MG, Pinnell E, Pietras ZM, Villarino NF.Pharmacokinetics (PK) of intramuscular (IM) and subcutaneous (SC) ketamine in horses has not been described. This study aimed to evaluate the PK and safety of ketamine and its metabolites after a single SC or IM administration. In Phase 1, two horses received 0.5 or 1 mg/kg of ketamine via SC and IM routes. In Phase 2, eight horses received 0.5 mg/kg IM. Plasma or serum concentrations of ketamine and major metabolites were determined by a validated liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry method at baseline and selected intervals post-administration. Subcutaneous administration resulted in ...
Histomorphometric characterization of the endometrium in mules (Equus mulus): An approach to endometritis/endometrosis.
Animal reproduction science    December 2, 2025   Volume 284 108056 doi: 10.1016/j.anireprosci.2025.108056
Mules (Equus mulus), as sterile hybrids between mares and donkeys, present a unique uterine morphology and physiology that remains poorly characterized. This study provides the first histomorphometric evaluation and transcriptional profiling of the endometrium in adult mules. To achieve this, endometrial biopsies were analysed using quantitative stereology, histological classification (Kenney-Doig system), and qPCR of key immune-related and fibrotic genes. Histometric analyses revealed that the stratum spongiosum was the predominant component of the mule endometrium (mean volume density: 84.7â...
Metformin Protects Against Persistent Atrial Fibrillation in an Equine Model.
Circulation. Arrhythmia and electrophysiology    December 2, 2025   Volume 18, Issue 12 e013850 doi: 10.1161/CIRCEP.125.013850
Haugaard SL, Schneider MJ, Kjeldsen ST, Sattler SM, Bastrup JA, Saljic A, Birk JB, Hansen C, Synnestvedt JN, van Hunnik A, Sobota V, Carstensen H....Horses are one of the few animals that spontaneously develop atrial fibrillation (AF), making them a powerful model for studying AF mechanisms and treatment effects. Despite the initial effectiveness of treatment in horses and humans, AF-induced atrial remodeling compromises its long-term success. Observational studies have suggested that metformin may reduce the risk of AF, but its effects on progressive AF-induced atrial remodeling have yet to be evaluated in a high-fidelity large animal model. Unassigned: Here, we used a longitudinal horse model of tachypacing-induced self-sustained AF to c...
Rewilded horses as a nature-based solution for wintertime tick control in Japan: help or hindrance?
Experimental & applied acarology    December 2, 2025   Volume 95, Issue 4 67 doi: 10.1007/s10493-025-01097-5
Kwak ML, Echigo H, Hoketsu T, Taya Y, Numata H, Shiraki Y, Kelava S, Markowsky G, McInnes D, Hayashi N, Nonaka N, Kawai M, Nakao R.The control of ticks is challenging owing to their ubiquity, complex ecologies, and difficulties relating to costs and non-target impacts of chemical control programs. Nature-based solutions centre around co-opting natural processes and biodiversity to address socio-environmental problems; and in some cases, rewilded species can provide nature-based solutions. In northern Japan, the winter ecology of ticks is poorly studied, though some species are believed to overwinter under the snow. Winter grazing activity of rewilded horses may disturb overwintering ticks, exposing them to sub-zero temper...
The effect of full-limb flexion tests on static and dynamic muscle activity and locomotion asymmetry in owner-sound horses.
Equine veterinary journal    December 2, 2025   doi: 10.1111/evj.70130
Jonkhart M, Serra Bragança FM, Smit IH, Brommer H, Suskens JJM.Flexion tests are commonly used in equine locomotion examinations to identify underlying locomotor issues, yet their neuromuscular effects remain poorly understood. Response variability raises concerns about their clinical value in lameness assessments and pre-purchase evaluations. Objective: Primarily, to investigate the effect of full-limb flexion tests on static (flexed position) and dynamic (subsequent trot-up) muscle activity. Secondarily, to assess their effect on locomotion asymmetry during trotting. Methods: In vivo experiments. Methods: Sixteen warmblood horses were randomly assigned ...
Subchondral and Osteochondral Unit Bone Damage in the Fetlock Region of Sport Horses Using Low-Field MRI: Case Series.
Animals : an open access journal from MDPI    December 2, 2025   Volume 15, Issue 23 3468 doi: 10.3390/ani15233468
De Zani D, Rabbogliatti V, Rabba S, Auletta L, Longo M, Zani DD.Damage to the osteochondral unit is a common cause of lameness in horses. Published descriptions of MRI findings of osteochondral unit and subchondral damage are currently lacking, and only a few reports describe outcomes in sport horses. The aims of this case series retrospective study were to describe different MRI patterns of osteochondral/subchondral pathology in the fetlock joint using low-field MRI and to provide outcome information. A total of 35 sport horses were included. Data regarding detailed clinical history, treatment and outcome were evaluated. MRI identified a total of 39 bone ...
Long-Term Prognosis of Complete Rupture of the Superficial Digital Flexor Tendon in 25 Horses – A Retrospective Study.
Schweizer Archiv fur Tierheilkunde    December 2, 2025   Volume 167, Issue 12 659-667 doi: 10.17236/sat00468
Stäubli T, Theiss F, Bischofberger A.A total of 48 horses with unilateral (n = 44) or bilateral (n = 4) overstrain-induced complete rupture of the superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT) in the forelimbs were retrospectively analysed. A telephone questionnaire, carried out an average of 5,9 years post-injury, served as a long-term follow-up in 25 horses. The mortality rate associated with SDF tendonitis was 12,0 % (3/25). Superficial digital flexor tendonitis did not recur in 76,0 % (19/25) of the horses, but at least one subsequent episode occurred in 24,0 % (6/25). The results of this study indicate that it is reasonable...
Equine coronary sinus and great cardiac vein anatomy relevant to cardiac electrophysiology.
Journal of veterinary cardiology : the official journal of the European Society of Veterinary Cardiology    December 2, 2025   Volume 64 1-13 doi: 10.1016/j.jvc.2025.11.006
Ibrahim L, Cornillie P, Buschmann E, Demeyere M, van Loon G.The coronary sinus (CS) and great cardiac vein (GCV) are crucial in cardiac electrophysiology and can be arrhythmogenic in humans. In horses, CS/GCV catheterisation is increasingly performed for arrhythmia diagnosis and treatment. Improved anatomical understanding of these structures is needed to clarify relationships to surrounding structures. Methods: Postmortem examinations of 64 adult warmblood equine hearts were carried out. Middle cardiac vein and vein of Marshall ostia locations were described. Right atrial myocardial sleeve (MS) length was measured from the CS ostium. In 23 horses, CS/...
Multi-pathogen lower respiratory tract infection including a fungal agent in a yearling mustang filly.
The Canadian veterinary journal = La revue veterinaire canadienne    December 1, 2025   Volume 66, Issue 12 1279-1285 
Calero IM, McKenzie EC, Johns JL.This report describes the diagnosis and successful management of a yearling filly with Coombs-positive anemia, thrombocytopenia, and fungal pneumonia. Diagnostic procedures, including thoracic ultrasonography and radiography, respiratory pathogen PCR testing, and evaluation of tracheal wash and bronchoalveolar lavage samples established multi-pathogen lower respiratory tract infection including a fungal agent. Orally administered voriconazole was a key component of treatment in this case to successfully eliminate fungal infection, alongside therapies for managing hematologic disease. This case...
Generalized steatitis in a miniature horse filly with laminitis and a positive outcome at 18-month follow-up.
The Canadian veterinary journal = La revue veterinaire canadienne    December 1, 2025   Volume 66, Issue 12 1292-1296 
Johnson A, Karam B, Schroeder O, McKaig L, Loesch K.A 12-month-old miniature horse filly was presented because of laminitis, suspected lymphangitis, and pyrexia. Although the filly's initial physical examination and diagnostic tests suggested an infectious etiology, ultrasonographic findings were suspicious for generalized steatitis. This was confirmed histopathology. The filly experienced full recovery with continued resolution of clinical signs at 18 mo after presentation. This case included aspects similar to those of previously reported clinical presentations, as well as long-term follow-up in a breed that is not overrepresented, providing...
Use of a Fogarty balloon catheter for management of distal nasolacrimal duct atresia in a standing sedated horse.
The Canadian veterinary journal = La revue veterinaire canadienne    December 1, 2025   Volume 66, Issue 12 1273-1278 
Bourassi S, Jack H, Florczyk A.A 4-year-old Arabian cross paint mare was referred for evaluation of chronic mucopurulent discharge and epiphora of the left eye. Ophthalmic and radiographic evaluations confirmed distal nasolacrimal duct atresia with absence of the nasolacrimal orifice. Initial minimally invasive treatments, including guidewire-assisted catheterization and diode laser photoablation, were unsuccessful. Definitive treatment was achieved using a Fogarty arterial embolectomy catheter under standing sedation. Controlled balloon inflation and deflation enabled progressive dilation of the obstructed duct, and a surg...
Dexmedetomidine Prolongs the Duration of Ropivacaine Corneal Anesthesia After Subconjunctival Injection in Healthy Horses.
Veterinary ophthalmology    December 1, 2025   Volume 29, Issue 2 e70124 doi: 10.1111/vop.70124
Lee S, Hector RC, Hess AM, Wotman KL.To determine whether dexmedetomidine prolongs corneal anesthesia following subconjunctival ropivacaine injection in healthy equine eyes. Methods: Ten horses with normal ophthalmic exams were enrolled in a randomized, blinded, crossover experiment with a minimum 4-week washout between treatments. Baseline corneal touch thresholds (CTT, cm) were measured via esthesiometry and a subconjunctival injection was performed in the treatment eye with ropivacaine (R, 0.3 mL 0.5%) or dexmedetomidine-ropivacaine (DR, 0.1 mL 0.5 mg/mL + 0.2 mL 0.5%) and saline (control, 0.3 mL) in the contrala...
Localisation and outcome of presumed thoracolumbar vertebral stress fracture in 35 UK Thoroughbred racehorses using nuclear scintigraphy.
Equine veterinary journal    December 1, 2025   doi: 10.1111/evj.70113
Chapple AR, Daglish J, Stover SM, Slipchenko N, Phillips KL.Stress fracture is an important cause of mortality and morbidity in racing Thoroughbreds. Nuclear scintigraphy is the imaging modality of choice for investigating unlocalised stress-related bone remodelling in horses. Stress fractures of the caudal lumbar vertebral column have been previously described in both racing Quarter horses and racing Thoroughbreds post-mortem. There is a lack of literature describing the imaging appearance of vertebral stress fractures in racehorses ante-mortem. Objective: To describe: (1) ante-mortem scintigraphic appearance of presumed thoracolumbar vertebral stress...
Using culture ‘omics to explore the microbial structure and function in an equid in vitro digestion model.
Scientific reports    December 1, 2025   Volume 16, Issue 1 455 doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-29936-w
Daniels S, Martin S, Harris P, Moore-Colyer M.The in vitro gas production system (GPS), developed to estimate degradation of ruminant feedstuffs, has been adapted for equine use. This study aimed to characterise the bacterial community profile and metabolome of donor faeces and faecal inoculum within the GPS when fermenting the same diet as faecal donors. Six Welsh ponies on identical diets were faecal donors with samples collected for microbiome profiling and system inoculation. Gas production (manual pressure transducer technique) was performed for 156 h with 2 replicate bottles from each donor harvested at 8,20,28 and 36 h. Faecal an...
An in vitro investigation into the effects of postbiotic supplementation on stabilising equine hindgut pH.
Journal of equine veterinary science    December 1, 2025   Volume 156 105746 doi: 10.1016/j.jevs.2025.105746
Sheridan L, Hutton P, Noble G, Nobari B.Dysbiosis of the intestinal microbiome is a precursor to hindgut acidosis. As microbial diversity and fermentation are influenced by diet, including a postbiotic could help maintain healthy gastrointestinal microbes and reduce acidosis risk. Objective: It was hypothesised that including a postbiotic in batch culture would reduce the degree of pH decline and lactate accumulation during fermentation. Methods: In vitro batch cultures with faecal inoculant were prepared with either low starch (LS) or high glucose (G) substrate to represent normal and acidic fermentation. Saccharomyces cerevisiae d...
Emotional contagion in human-horse interactions: A pilot study investigating the role of stress and body language in emotional transfer.
Open veterinary journal    November 30, 2025   Volume 15, Issue 11 6050-6058 doi: 10.5455/OVJ.2025.v15.i11.60
Manolăchescu D, Tripon M, Crecan C, Tătaru M, Papuc I.Emotional contagion in human-horse interactions has been widely studied; however, the role of body language in stress transfer remains insufficiently explored. Unassigned: This study examines whether human emotional states, particularly stress and anxiety, influence horses and whether the transmission occurs primarily through body language. Unassigned: A repeated-measures within-subjects design was used. The order of interaction styles was randomized across subjects during 33 HCIs. Participants were categorized as high-anxiety (HA) or low-anxiety (LA) based on State Anxiety Scale scores and he...
Differential Energy Metabolism in Skeletal Muscle Tissues of Yili Horses Based on Targeted Metabolomics and Transcriptomics Analysis.
Biology    November 30, 2025   Volume 14, Issue 12 1713 doi: 10.3390/biology14121713
Li X, Meng C, Xue Y, Shen Z, Ren W, Zeng Y, Meng J.Skeletal muscle is the largest organ system in mammals. To investigate the differences in energy metabolism across various skeletal muscles in Yili horses, this study examined muscle fiber type distributions through immunohistochemical staining of muscles, including the splenius, triceps brachii, longissimus dorsi, and gluteus medius. The splenius and gluteus medius muscles, which exhibited the greatest differences in the proportion of slow-twitch fiber area, were selected for further comparison of differential metabolites and transcriptomic expression profiles between slow-twitch and fast-twi...
Introducing an Innovative Pain Scale for Assessing Postpartum Pain in Mares: Preliminary Clinical Evaluation.
Animals : an open access journal from MDPI    November 30, 2025   Volume 15, Issue 23 3454 doi: 10.3390/ani15233454
Bolesławska-Szubartowska J, Kucharczuk M, Skrabska A, Zbysław A, Adamowicz J, Alszko A, Domagalska-Stomska K, Durska M, Dziekcierów A....Pain after giving birth is commonly observed in horses, yet there has not been a specific tool developed for assessing this pain in postpartum mares. The goal was to adapt existing equine pain scales and to preliminarily validate a practical pain scale for use by veterinarians and caregivers after foaling. Methods: The pain scale was developed by adapting items from other pain scales, including established orthopedic and colic equine pain scales, and incorporating caregiver feedback. The final scale includes eight areas for assessing pain: behavior, facial expressions, vital signs, udder exami...
Treatment evaluation using ultrasonographic scanning of the spleen in Arabian horses affected by babesiosis.
Open veterinary journal    November 30, 2025   Volume 15, Issue 11 5799-5805 doi: 10.5455/OVJ.2025.v15.i11.35
Almaqhawi AA, El-Jalii IM, Al-Sabi MNS, Al-Ali A, Khalid AM, Abduljawad M, Shawaf T.Equine babesiosis is a widespread protozoan disease in Saudi Arabia. The most common finding of clinical babesiosis is splenomegaly, which can be detected using non-invasive splenic ultrasonography. Unassigned: This study aimed to investigate changes in the spleen size in horses infected with babesiosis using ultrasonography before and after treatment. Unassigned: This study employed 15 male and female Arabian horses. Each animal was examined clinically for clinical signs, and blood samples were collected in plain tubes to detect antibodies against . The spleens of healthy and affected horses ...
Naloxone supplementation during vitrification of equine in vitro matured oocytes after overnight holding: insights from a comparative study with the bovine model.
Theriogenology    November 29, 2025   Volume 252 117776 doi: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2025.117776
Gugole PM, Zannoni A, Iacono E, Merlo B.Cryopreservation of equine mature oocytes remains a major challenge in assisted reproduction, mainly due to the limited availability of material and logistical constraints requiring a holding phase. To address these issues, this study evaluated whether naloxone (NX), an opioid receptor antagonist with reported antioxidant properties, could improve vitrification outcomes and whether bovine oocytes could serve as a suitable preliminary and supportive model. Two experiments were conducted. In experiment 1, immature (bGV) and mature (bMII) bovine oocytes were vitrified without (VIT) or with NX (VI...