bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The effects of prior handling experiences on the stress responses of semi-feral foals at auction
Authors: Laycock G. , Hale C.E. , Hemmings A.J.
Published: June 2019

Welfare is often defined as the state of an individual to cope with the environment in which it finds itself (Fraser and Broom, 1997). This statement is further endorsed by the assertion that stress is triggered by environmental stimuli that cause a defence reaction or ‘stress response’ (Mostl and Palme, 2002). Stress can be measured by alterations in behaviour and through changes in physiological parameters. In a recent report, the Farm Animal Welfare Committee (2005) postulated that elevated levels of stress in semi feral ponies at auction maybe apparent in those ponies herded through auction sale rings by handlers displaying limited competence and knowledge of equine husbandry. Aversive handling and the consequent fear that animals feel towards humans can be a major source of stress and should be considered a welfare concern (Rushen et al., 1999). Research into aversive handling has a propensity to be more focused on intensively farmed production animals. However, it is apparent that the fast movement of pony stock through sale rings, and the often aggressive manner in which this can be carried out, may not be considered optimal for the welfare of these ponies. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of prior handling experience on the stress response of semi feral foals at auction.
Multiple forages as a behavioural enrichment for individually stabled horses
Authors: Dumbell L.C. , Tackley A.
Published: June 2019

Many domestic horses are kept in an environment very different from that of free-living horses, consuming a varied ad libitum forage based diet for up to 18 hours of the day (Harris, 1999). Cuddeford (1999) suggested that stabled horses may spend as little as 7 hours eating in a 24 hour period, with an increase in the time spent standing. Encouraging foraging behaviour, defined by Goodwinet al., (2002) to include sniffing, manipulating, biting, chewing or ingesting food, is thought to allow domesticated horses to spend more time eating, approaching the time spent on this activity in free-living horses. The diet of the free-living horse includes a selection of grasses and herbs (Putmanet al., 1987) whereas most domestic horses are provided with a single forage diet (Goodwinet al., 2002). In a short term trial Goodwinet al., (2002) found that offering more than one source of forage to stabled horses resulted in them spending significantly more time foraging compared to a horse on a single forage diet. This effect was found to continue for longer periods by Thorneet al., (2005), however there appears to be no current literature on how many forages to feed within a multiple forage diet. The present study aimed to establish how many different forages to include in a multiple forage diet to maximise the time spent in foraging behaviour and minimise standing behaviour.
The effects of different thawing methods on equine colostral IgG integrity and perseverance
Authors: Foy K. , Draper D. , Hale C.E. , Hemmings A.J.
Published: June 2019

The equine placenta being epitheliochorial, is a barrier to immunoglobulins, which means that the foal is unable to receive passive immunity (Davies Morel, 2003) other than a small quantity of IgM which is synthesised in utero. McClure (as cited in McKinnon and Voss, 1993) suggests that the most significant component of passive immunity passed to foals, is that obtained from colostral immunoglobulins. When the foal ingests the colostrum and absorbs the antibodies therein, a temporary protection is provided until autogenous production of immunoglobulins reaches protective levels (McClure as cited in McKinnon and Voss, 1993). It is highly important that the foal receives colostrum within the first 24 hours and preferably within the first 12 hours of life (Davies Morel, 2003). This enables immunoglobulins to be absorbed by enterocyte cells lining the small intestine which are controlled by cortisol, and over time are replaced by ones which are unable to absorb proteins. For foals where colostrum is not readily available (for example, if the foal is orphaned at birth), then stored colostrum could be used. However, it is postulated that IgG integrity could be compromised by freezing, and consequently, thawing of the colostrum. The aim of this experiment is to evaluate five thawing methods for their ability to preserve IgG content of stored colostrum.
Effects of whole crop canola silage on Holstein dairy cow performance in early lactation
Authors: Balakhial A. , Naserian A.A. , Heravi Moussavi A. , Eftekhar Shahrodi F. , Valizadeh R.
Published: June 2019

It is clear that providing sufficient fiber in dairy cattle diets has most positive effects on improvement of rumen ecosystem and feed intake efficiency. In semiarid countries such as Iran providing forage requirement of cattle is limited. So it is better to use plants with low water requirement, high growth rate and high forage yield per hectare. Canola (Brassica napus L.) recently has received consideration as a forage source for livestock (Lancaster et al., 1990). Canola is reasonably widely adapted and performs well in many areas of Iran. In addition to its low water requirements and high growth rate, its cultivation season is well matched with environmental condition in Iran. The main objective of this study was to evaluate effect of replacing maize silage with canola silage (as dry matter %) on Holstein dairy cow performance.
Physically effectiveness of beet pulp in dairy cows 1: physical characteristics, ruminal kinetics of nutrients degradation, hydration, and functional specific gravity
Authors: Asadollah Teimouri Yansari
Published: June 2019

Some physical properties including particle size, functional specific gravity (FSG; Teimouri Yansari et al., 2004), hydration rate, water holding capacity (WHC) and ionion-cation exchange (Van Soest, 1994) influenced on physically effective factor (pef), but only particle size measurement is central to all effective fibre systems. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of three types of beet pulp (BP) on physical characteristics including bulk density, particle size, kinetics of hydration, FSG, WHC, and intrinsic osmotic pressure that measured usingin vitroandin situmethods.
Chemical characteristics of Lucerne silage treated by urea and sulphuric acid
Authors: Delavar Malek Hoseein , Daneshe Mesgaran Mohsen , Jahandar Mohhamad Hassan
Published: June 2019

Although Lucerne hay is common using method of Lucerne forage but weather condition always is not suitable to provide it. Besides Lucerne forage due to high buffering capacity because of the tubular and hollow stem structure, low soluble sugar content, high moisture and high protein content is the most difficult to ensile. Therefore, response to silage additives (such as urea and sulphuric acid) or preservatives may be great with legume forage. Experimental evidence indicates that there is main different about chemical composition of Lucerne silage before and after ensiling. This study was conducted to compare of Chemical composition of Lucerne silages treated without or by urea and sulphuric acid.
Effect of acid hydrolysis steam pressure treatment on physico-chemical properties and bio-utilization of sugarcane bagasse
Authors: Karkoodi Keyvan , Zahedifar Mojtaba
Published: June 2019

fibrous materials such as sugarcane bagasse contain more than 600 g/kg of its dry matter in the form of cellulose and hemicellulose but its degradability is very poor. One of the main reasons for this depression in degradability is the presence of lignin which protects carbohydrates from being attacked by rumen microbes. The main effect of steam treatment is to increase feed intake, overall digestibility and gain which is achieved because of the extensive destruction of cell wall and hemicellulose hydrolysis which increases soluble sugars and makes cell wall more degradable (Karkoodi et al, 2006). The aim of this study was to assess the effect of acid hydrolysis steam pressure treatment on physico-chemical and bio-utilization of sugarcane bagasse.
Minimising diffuse pollution from livestock manures – the challenges ahead
Authors: Williams J.R. , Chambers B.J. , Smith K.A. , Chadwick D.R.
Published: June 2019

In the region of 90 million tonnes of farm manures, supplying 450,000 tonnes of nitrogen (N) and 119,000 tonnes of phosphorus (P) are applied to agricultural land in the UK each year. These applications are a valuable source of plant nutrients but they are also recognised as the largest source of controllable pollution in present day farming systems. Over 70% of nitrate entering water systems is estimated to originate from agricultural land and the transfer of particulate and soluble P from agricultural land has been estimated to contribute 40-50% of P loads in watercourses. Ammonia (NH3) emissions from UK agriculture contribute c.80% of total UK emissions with losses following the land spreading of farm manures responsible for c.96,000 tonnes of NH3 each year.
Evaluation of the performance of in-calf dairy heifers either housed or out-wintered on forage brassicas (stubble turnips)
Authors: Marsh S P , Billington P , Brizuela C , Kirby S
Published: June 2019

There is increased interest in out-wintering systems which have the potential to reduce costs and hence increase farm profitability. Out-wintering also offers the potential to increase herd size, within the constraints of Nitrate Vulnerable Zone (NVZ) restrictions without the substantial capital costs associated with waste storage. The majority of out-wintering research has focused on kale and its utilisation by dry dairy and suckler cows where relatively modest performance levels are required. In a comprehensive review on forage brassica for out-wintering stock (MDC 2007) it was stated that “despite the developments in New Zealand in the use of brassica based out-wintering systems for dry dairy cows, there seems to be no detailed studies on the use of these systems for growing (0.7-0.85kg daily live weight gain [DLWG]) dairy heifers”. The objective of this experiment was therefore to evaluate the performance of replacement dairy heifers either housed or out-wintered on forage brassicas (stubble turnips).
Effects of dietary protein concentration on energetic efficiency and methane emission in lactating dairy cows
Authors: Yan T , Young F J , Patterson D C , Mayne C S
Published: June 2019

A series of studies have been undertaken to examine effects of dietary protein source and concentration on milk production, energy and nitrogen (N) utilisation efficiencies and fertility in dairy cows. The present study evaluated effects of dietary crude protein (CP) concentration on energetic efficiency and methane emission in lactating dairy cows.
The effect of linkage disequilibrium on the estimates of Single Nucleotide Polymorphic effects
Authors: Moore K , Gibson J , Johnston D
Published: June 2019

The identification and exploitation of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) associated with production traits present new opportunities for livestock genetic improvement. Often the identified SNP is not the causative mutation but rather is in some degree of linkage disequilibrium (LD). LD markers within 5cM can be considered as direct markers for the causative mutation because they are located close to the causative mutation (Dekkers, 2004). In a dairy herd, Farnir et al., (2000) estimated that the average LD, measured as D′ was 0.5 for loci pairs positioned within 5cM. Goddard et al., (2006) estimated that LD measured as r2 decreased rapidly as the physical distance between loci increased; at a separating distance of 0.5Mb the LD (r2) was only approximately 0.2. The aim of this work was to use stochastic simulation to investigate the effect that the distance between the SNP and causative mutation had on the accuracy of estimating additive and dominance effects of the causative mutation.
Meat quality of beef cattle offered grass silage and legume / cereal wholecrop silage either alone or in combination with grass silage
Authors: Kennedy P , Dawson L , Moss B W , Fearon A
Published: June 2019

With increasing consumer awareness of meat quality and the relationship between dietary fat and the incidence of diseases, such as coronary heart disease, research has been undertaken to manipulate fatty acid (FA) profiles in beef. Diet has been shown to influence FA composition of meat (Scollan et al, 2006). For example meat from finishing cattle offered red clover (legume) silage in comparison to grass silage had significantly increased polyunsaturated FA (PUFA) concentrations and a decreased n-6:n-3 ratio (3.28:2.30). The aim of this experiment was to assess the effect of offering lupins/triticale, vetch/barley and grass silage to continental beef finishing cattle on instrumental meat quality and FA composition.
Effects of level and form of dietary zinc on dairy cattle performance and keratin production in the teat canal
Authors: Cope C , Mackenzie A M , Wilde D , Sinclair L A
Published: June 2019

The teat canal in dairy cows is lined with keratin, which is considered to be a natural physical and chemical barrier involved in providing resistance to bacteria gaining entry into the mammary gland. Keratin is partially removed during milking therefore requiring regeneration. It has been estimated that a cow needs to regenerate 1.3 mg per teat between each milking to replace the amount lost (Capuco et al., 1992). Zinc is important in the process of keratinisation and previous studies have reported an 2.4 kg/d increase in milk yield when supplemented with Zn in an organic form at the recommended level and an increase in somatic cell counts (SCC) in cattle receiving 0.66 of the recommended level of dietary Zn (Atkin et al., 2007), although mechanisms for this observation are unclear. The objective of this study was to establish the effect of level and form of Zn (organically chelated (Bioplex ZnTM; Alltech Inc., Nicholasville, USA) vs. inorganic (ZnO)) and no supplemental Zn on dairy cow performance and keratin production in the teat canal.
Potential of NIR spectroscopy for prediction of tenderness of beef sirloin
Authors: Moss B W , Gordon A , Matthews K , Homer D , Hadley P
Published: June 2019

Prediction of eating quality of beef at an early stage post mortem would enable selection of carcases for specific markets. Shackelford et al (2004) reported the design of NIR equipment suitable for measurement of larger areas of the muscle and also the prediction of 14 day slice shear force values from NIRRS measurements made at 2 days post slaughter (Shackelford 2005). The aim of the present study was to evaluate the use of equipment of a similar design and manufacture to that used by Shackelford et al (2005), to predict Warner-Bratzler Shear force values in carcases with a smaller range of marbling than found in the USA.
X-ray computed tomography accurately assesses beef carcass composition
Authors: Navajas E A , Glasbey C A , Fisher A V , Ross D W , Hyslop J J , Richardson R I , Simm G , Roehe R
Published: June 2019

X-ray computed tomography (CT) scanning of live animals and carcasses provides a very accurate assessment of the weights of fat, muscle and bone in pigs (Dobrowolski et al., 2003) and sheep (Johansen et al., 2007). Although the limiting size of the CT gantry prevents CT scanning of live beef cattle, beef primal joints are small enough to be scanned. Navajas et al. (2008) explored the use of spiral CT scanning (SCTS) to quantify beef carcass composition. The automatic image analysis developed provided very accurate assessments of primal and carcass composition (Navajas et al, 2008). The objective of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of this novel method for assessing beef primal cut and carcass composition in an independent dataset.
Effect of different calving classes in the first calving on subsequent milk production in Holstein dairy cows
Authors: Moussavi A Heravi , Mesgaran M Danesh
Published: June 2019

Revenue from dairy farms is directly dependent upon reproductive efficiency because it affects milk production and the number of calves born (Thurmondet al., 1990). Pregnancy loss can have devastating effects on economical success in dairy farms. Normal annual abortion risks have been cited to be 3–5%, once cows are beyond 42 days of pregnancy (Hovingh, 2002), or similarly an observable 2–5% in most dairies (Kirk, 2003). Although, there is little or no indication that milk production is a risk factor for increased pregnancy losses in dairy cattle (Santoset al., 2004), there is little information on the effect of pregnancy losses on subsequent milk production. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of different calving classes including eutocia, dystocia, stillbirth and abortion in the first calving on subsequent milk production in Iranian Holstein dairy cows.
Effect of weaning dairy-bred bull calves either gradually or abruptly
Authors: Marsh S P , Greenow R
Published: June 2019

There are four main parameters to determine weaning time with artificially reared dairy-bred calves: age, liveweight, concentrate intake and milk price. Most commercial calf rearers use concentrate intake as the main method weaning calves when eating 1kg of concentrates per day. Calves can be weaned either abruptly or gradually where the quantity and strength of milk replacer is reduced over a period of time. The objective of this experiment was to evaluate the effect of gradual or abrupt weaning strategies for calves weaned at 42 days of age.
Evaluation of barley distillers’ grains ensiled with or without molassed sugar beet pulp on feed intake and production of Holstein dairy cows
Authors: Kazemi M , Tahmasbi A M , Valizadeh R , Mesgaran M Danesh , Moheghi M M , Mojtahedi M
Published: June 2019

Agro-industrial by-products are characteristically high in fiber and low in starch with some disparity in protein content based on source and processing method. Barley Distillers’ Grains (BDG) consists largely of structural and protein remaining when extracted residues of grains used in the brewing process. Fresh BDG contain about 70%-80% moisture and can store as silage. However, there is limited research information available on improving BDG silage with readily fermentable carbohydrate. McKendrick et al. (2003) ensiled BDG with molassed sugar beet pulp (MSBP) very well. The aim of this experiment was to evaluate the potential of ensiled wet BDG with and without MSBP as alternative to maize silage on DM intake, milk yield and composition of dairy cattle.
Effect of different sources of supplemental protein on performance and on ruminal pH and NNH3of Holstein dairy cows
Authors: Gholizadeh H , Naserian A , Valizadeh R , Tahmasebi A , Sari M
Published: June 2019

Pistachio hull (PH) is the main pistachio by-product produced from the pistachio dehulling process. The product consists of 12.7, 5.7, 16.6, 25, and 20% ash, EE, CP, NDF, and ADF, respectively and can be used as a feedstuff for ruminant animals. It is a mount of energy, fibre and potassium (Naserian and Vahmani, 2005). Because its constitutive tannin content can bind protein and cellulose, it was hypothesized that PH tannin can decrease the digestibility of protein. There is no clear consensus amongst researchers on the effect of dried pistachio by product on milk yield, milk composition, rumen fluid pH and N-NH3concenteration. The main objective of this experiment was to evaluate effects of different sources of supplemental protein with dried pistachio by product on milk yield, milk composition rumen fluid pH and N-NH3concenteration of dairy cows.
Effect of supplemented diet by sucrose and/or starch on blood cholesterol and some hepatic enzymes in Holstein steers
Authors: Rezaii F , Mesgaran M Danesh , Moussavi A Heravi
Published: June 2019

Carbohydrates are the major source of energy in diets fed to dairy cattle and usually comprised 60 to 70 percent of the total diet. They provide energy for both rumen microbes and the host animal. Sugars, starch, and other reserve carbohydrates such as fructans make up the non-structural carbohydrate (NSC) fraction and are major sources of energy for high producing dairy cattle (NRC, 2001). The fermentation of different NSC sources varies in digestion characteristics and in the profiles of organic acids produced (Hall and Herejk, 2001). Cholesterol is a structural lipid that is not required in the diet, since ample amounts are synthesized in the body. This lipid is a required component of most cells of the body. Cholesterol has received a great deal of attention in the nutritional and biochemical communities because of its strange metabolism in certain regions of the body, for example, the arteries that supply oxygen and other nutrients to the heart muscle (Brody, 1999). The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of diets containing different type of NSC (sucrose or starch) on blood cholesterol and some hepatic enzymes namely serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT), serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase (SGPT), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) in Holstein steers.
Effects of Saccharomyces cerevisiae on the nutritive value of lucerne hay assessed with the in vitro gas production technique
Authors: Ansari A , Taghizadeh A , Janmohamadi H , Zarini G
Published: June 2019

Yeast culture (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) has been widely used as a dietary supplement in ruminants. Saccharomyces cerevisiae supplementation in ruminant diets can increase dry matter intake, production performance, cellulose degradation, and nutrient digestibility (Callaway and Martin, 1997). In vitro techniques are routinely used to evaluate the nutritional quality of feeds because of their convenience, adaptability and efficiency. The in vitro gas production technique is an accurate and fast method to evaluate the nutritive value of feeds and it can be a good alternative method instead of in vivo trials to evaluate commercial feed additives. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of different levels of inclusion of Saccharomyces cerevisiae on the nutritive value of lucerne hay using the in vitro gas production technique.
Protein fermentation characteristics in rumen fluid determined with the gas production technique
Authors: Cone J W , Rodrigues M A M
Published: June 2019

The gas production technique was developed to determine the fermentation kinetics of organic matter in rumen fluid. However, the gas production technique can be adapted for the determination of protein fermentation characteristics. To do that the buffer must be N-free. All the N coming with the rumen fluid must be incorporated into microbial mass. This can be done by supplying the buffered rumen fluid with an excess of fast fermentable carbohydrates. To prevent a too high input of N from the rumen fluid the rumen fluid can be diluted further compared to the standard 3 times (Cone et al., 1996). This makes N the limiting factor for fermentation and the obtained gas production profiles reflect the availability of N from the feed samples. The aim of the present study was to investigate if the adapted gas production technique is suitable to determine differences in protein availability in rumen fluid. The fermentation characteristics of N of 19 feed samples were determined using the adapted gas production technique. The amount of sample incubated, was that sufficient to provide 15 mg N. The results were compared with data of N degradation obtained with the nylon bag technique.
Effects of chronic progesterone injection on performance, plasma hormones and ovarian morphology of feed-satiated and fed restricted broiler breeder hens
Authors: Zaghari M , Taherkhani R , Honarbakhsh S
Published: June 2019

Single injection of chronic dose of P4 in laying hens during the preovulatory open period has been shown to have positive effects on inducing a preovulatory LH surge and ovulation (Johnson et al., 1985). However, chronic injection of P4 has been shown to increase baseline concentrations of P4 and result in arrested laying and disrupted distribution of hierarchical follicles in turkeys (Bacon and Liu, 2004). The current study was designed to examine the effects of a simulated progesterone surge (by injection of chronic dose of P4) on broiler breeder hens performance, ovary morphology, plasma metabolites and hormones concentrations in either feed-satiated or feed-restricted hens.
Effect of various levels of full-fat sunflower seed on performance of broiler chickens
Authors: Salari S , Moghadam H Nassiri , Arshami J , Golyan A , Sari M
Published: June 2019

Sunflower (Helianthus annuusL.) is one of the most widely cultivated oilseeds in the world and ranks third in importance as a source of vegetable oil. As an alternative to fats and oils, full-fat oilseeds such as soybean seed are used to replace the supplemented fats and oils in broiler diets. However, soybean seed has anti-nutritional factors such as trypsin inhibitors, which need further processing, thus increasing the cost of soybean seed. Among the various oilseeds available on the market, full-fat sunflower seed (FFSS) contains more ether extract (EE) and is available at a relatively low price. This experiment was conducted to study the effect of FFSS (that FFSS had 18% CP, 38% EE, 14.3% CF, and 3868 kcal/kg ME) on performance of broiler chickens.
Dietary digestible lysine immune responses and carcass nitrogen of broiler chickens in starter period
Authors: Alemi F , Shivazad M , Zaghari M , Moravej H , Mahdavi A , Hosseini S A , Mahdavi A , Sofla S Savar
Published: June 2019

lysine is an essential amino acid that promotes normal growth by helping to maintain the proper protein balance in the body. Most vegetable protein sources used in poultry diet formulations are moderate to low in lysine contents; hence supplementation with lysine is inevitable in growing broilers to ensure rapid growth and optimum efficiency of feed utilization. Adequate supply of nutrients during the starter improves gut development and could result in long term improvements in feed utilization. In order to evaluate the effect of different digestible lysine dietary levels on growth and immune response in starter, this experiment was done.
Nutritive value of poultry by-product meal from Iran in broiler feeding
Authors: Janmohammadi H , Taghizadeh A , Moghadam G A , Pirani N , Ostan S , Oliaei M Ghshlag , Sahraei M
Published: June 2019

Recently, production of poultry by – product meal (PBPM) has been increased in the northwest of Iran, East Azarbijan. PBPM has a profile of available essential amino acids and is rich in calcium, phosphorus and vitamin B12 (NRC 1994). The chemical composition and mineral content can vary greatly depending on raw material and processing conditions. In our country, fish meal is a common ingredient as animal protein in poultry diets. However, fish meal is imported at high cost. In recent years, there have been attention paid to PBPM supplementation in diets by East Azarbijan poultry feed industry. Therefore, the present study was conducted to determine the chemical composition, mineral content and to study the effects of different dietary concentration (3, 6 and 9%) of PBPM on broiler performance.
Is It Finally Time for India's Free Trade Agreements? The ASEAN “Present” and the RCEP “Future”
Authors: CHAKRABORTY Debashis , CHAISSE Julien , QIAN Xu
Published: June 2019

Since the inception of the WTO in 1995, India enthusiastically explored export-promotion strategies through multilateral trade reforms. However, the country has moved towards the regional trade route since 2004, primarily owing to the slow progress of the Doha Round negotiations. As a result, the whole architecture of international trade law and governance is being redesigned in the Asia Pacific region. This paper focuses on the pivotal role played by India in this rebalancing. Given the stress on services exports and investment requirements, India focused on entering into comprehensive agreements encompassing merchandise and services trade as well as investment provisions. Presently, India is involved in the ongoing Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership [RCEP] negotiations, where ASEAN remains at the core. The current analysis evaluates the Indo-ASEAN trade patterns and evolving dynamics over the last decade through select trade indices, and comments on the future of the RCEP.
The United Nations in the Time of Cholera
Authors: Alvarez José
Published: June 2019

The United Nations’ handling of the allegations that its peacekeepers in Haiti are responsible for the largest number of cholera cases and deaths in the world is a public relations as well as public health disaster. Even those likely to be skeptical of mono-causal accounts of mass torts or who see that case unsympathetically— as an incident where “ungrateful” nationals turn on their humanitarian benefactors—cannot possibly be content with how the United Nations has handled this crisis to date. How does one begin to justify a situation in which it takes the United Nations fifteen months to respond to credible allegations of malfeasance, perhaps even recklessness, with a two-sentence response from its top lawyer that asserts simply, without explanation, that the claims of thousands of victims are just “not receivable” because they implicate “political” or “policy” concerns? How can the United Nations expect anyone to sympathize with its position where, according to the United Nations’ own account of when it is liable for the actions of its peacekeepers, it seems to be saying that the United Nations is responsible only for the small torts of its agents (such as traffic accidents) but not for large ones that cause the deaths of 8,500 and counting?
An Empirical Look at U.S. Treaty Practice: Some Preliminary Conclusions
Authors: Buys Cindy Galway
Published: June 2019

The title of this Agora and the first question it poses both ask whether treaties are in decline. With respect to multilateral treaties to which the United States is a party, the answer is a clear yes.

According to the U.S. State Department’s Treaties in Force database, the United States became a party to a record number of 105 multilateral treaties between 1990 and 1999. As set forth in Graph A below, during the period 2000–2009, the number of multilateral treaties the United States joined dropped to just 62, the lowest number since the 1960s. The preliminary data from the first part of this decade beginning in 2010 suggests that this downward trend continues, but it is still too early in the decade to draw any definitive conclusions.
Re-Framing Exploitation Creep to Fight Human Trafficking: A Response to Janie Chuang
Authors: Bob Clifford
Published: June 2019

Janie Chuang discusses important shifts in the way that American policy makers and activists have defined and fought human trafficking. As she shows, key aspects of the 2000 UN Protocol’s definition of trafficking have been whiplashed by changing political winds emanating from the Bush and Obama administrations. In the Bush years, a strange bedfellows network of feminists, evangelicals, and neo-conservatives directed American trafficking policy primarily toward sexual exploitation, pushing for prohibitions not only on forced but also on voluntary prostitution. Other types of trafficking were neglected. The Obama administration and its own set of civil society associates gusted other ways. Among other moves, it reduced the focus on sex, dropped the view that voluntary prostitution constituted trafficking, enlarged the trafficking concept to include all forced labor (whether or not involving movement), and rebranded the expansive new notion as slavery.
Beyond Kiobel: Alternative Remedies for Sustained Human Rights Protection
Authors: Nolan Justine , Posner Michael , Labowitz Sarah
Published: June 2019

Corporate accountability actions brought under the Alien Tort Statute (ATS) tend to be grounded more in hope than in expectation. While an effective publicity tool for highlighting allegations of corporate irresponsibility and a successful approach for gaining favorable settlements in a few high-profile cases, U.S. courts have generally been reluctant to use the ATS to hold global corporations accountable for their actions outside the United States.
Giant Lizards: A Brief History of Early Dinosaur Reconstruction
Authors: Mikulic Donald G.
Published: June 2019

Although they have been extinct for more than 60 million years, dinosaurs are a familiar part of our culture. Featured regularly in entertainment, advertising and the news, they are recognized more readily in today's society than many living animals. Dinosaurs also function as a powerful educational tool, stimulating the interest of children and adults in the natural world. Moreover, they serve as a primary symbol of evolution, extinction and the long history of life on Earth. Yet, few people realize how radically our understanding of dinosaurs has changed since their discovery 170 years ago.

The initial recognition of dinosaurs as a distinct group of extinct animals was one of the major accomplishments of nineteenth century science. When first discovered, dinosaurs were an unexpected and almost alien life form whose interpretation was inhibited by a scarcity of good fossils and absence of close living relatives. For this reason, early nineteenth century dinosaur reconstructions, which were later ridiculed for their inaccuracies, may seem simplistic and conservative. In reality, they were quite innovative. Examination of this early work reveals just how profound these ideas actually were in light of the limited evidence available and demonstrates how interpretations changed as new fossil discoveries were made.
The Scientific Romance with Amber
Authors: Grimaldi David , Desalle Rob
Published: June 2019

For at least 10 millenia, a special mystique has surrounded amber. This is probably due to the warmth of its color and touch, its lightness, and the small organisms that are sometimes found in it. Some of the oldest Mesolithic artifacts are amber carvings from Europe, and a rich folklore about origins of amber existed among the ancient Greeks, Assyrians, and Romans. The true origins of amber, as a fossilized resin that bled from trees, was first recognized by the Roman natural historian, Pliny the Elder. By the Renaissance Period, amber was used for elaborate figurines, carved bowls, jewelry, pipes, even caskets. The color of amber, especially in Mediterranean cultures, represented luxury.
Digital Image Metamorphosis as a Research Tool for Paleontology
Authors: Smith Jody R.
Published: June 2019

This is an exciting era to be a scientist, due to the increasing levels of technology available to us; particularly due to the advances that have been made in the field of computer science. Advances in electronic technology have made computer hardware very powerful and affordable, while advances in software design and human/computer interfaces have made computers more natural to use. Computers have been utilized in nearly every field of scientific study, permitting new levels of development in those fields that wouldn't be possible otherwise. Computer graphics are useful visualization tools that help scientists understand complex data, and convey ideas to others.
Vegetation of the Dinosaur World
Authors: Herendeen Patrick S. , Crane Peter R. , Ash Sidney
Published: June 2019

The process of photosynthesis is critical to the existence of almost all the Earth's ecosystems by providing the fundamental mechanism through which the Sun's energy is harnessed to convert carbon dioxide and water into sugars and oxygen. These sugars ultimately provide the basic source of energy (primary production) on which most life depends. In terrestrial ecosystems macroscopic land plants are responsible for virtually all primary production and therefore provide the basic sustenance that supports all land animals, either directly or indirectly. An accurate knowledge of Mesozoic plants and vegetation is therefore critical to understanding the ecology of dinosaurs and the ecosystems in which they flourished. Similarly, because large herbivorous dinosaurs must have exerted a major influence on terrestrial ecosystems some knowledge of dinosaur biology is crucial to understanding the ecological pressures to which Mesozoic plants were subjected. Because there is also a close correlation between the climate of an area and the kind of vegetation that it supports, fossil plants also provide important evidence on the paleoclimates of the dinosaur world.
This is Science!
Authors: Lipps Jere H.
Published: June 2019

Science is so exciting! Why? Because it is awe-inspiring, fun, and creative. Most scientists would not do anything else — they are truly dedicated to what they do. You can hardly get them to be quiet once they start talking about their work. Unlike most people, they usually love their jobs! However, this is not the common view presented of most scientists. They are commonly thought of as nerds, freaks, weirdoes, or evil-doers as portrayed in movies or television. These are fantasies where, with a few exceptions, scientists are shown negatively because it fits dramatic needs (Crichton, 1999). It's just not true in real life.
The Evolution of Biodiversity: Richness and Disparity
Authors: Valentine James W.
Published: June 2019

The study of biodiversity can be divided into two major aspects. One aspect is concerned with the numbers of species, genera, families or other taxonomic units that are present within a given group of organisms, or a given region, or during a given period of time. This measure of diversity is termedrichness. Richness may be represented at any geographic scale: local, such as the number of species in your back yard; regional, such as the number of species found in California; or global, such as the number of species in the entire world at present. Preservation of species richness in the present biosphere is clearly a matter of great social and scientific concern. Each species has a unique genetic makeup, and a distinctive place within an ecosystem. If a species is lost, the unique genes are lost also, and the effects on the ecosystem can be destabilizing, affecting the well-being of still other species.
Biomarkers: Molecular Fossils
Authors: Summons Roger E.
Published: June 2019

Curiosity about the history of life on our planet is a major motivational force for earth scientists. Fossil organic compounds, the components of petroleum and sedimentary organic matter, record aspects of the evolution of the biosphere from as far back as 1.8 billion years and perhaps longer. Elucidation of this record is continually advancing as a result of the concerted interests and efforts of geologists, biologists and chemists. It is also aided by advances in technique and instrumentation. Fascinating new developments and insights abound. In this paper I review some early landmarks and discuss the recent progress made in organic geochemistry, particularly as it applies to biomarker research. The examples of recent work are heavily biased toward my own interests and are not intended to be comprehensive. Because the literature citations are also selective and rely heavily on reviews, readers are advised to seek out the primary literature for accurate detail of specific subjects.
Juno‐UVS Observation of the Io Footprint During Solar Eclipse
Authors: Hue V. , Greathouse T. K. , Bonfond B. , Saur J. , Gladstone G. R. , Roth L. , Davis M. W. , Gérard J.‐C. , Grodent D. C. , Kammer J. A. , Szalay J. R. , Versteeg M. H. , Bolton S. J. , Connerney J. E. P. , Levin S. M. , Hinton P. C. , Bagenal F.
Published: June 2019

The two main ultraviolet‐signatures resulting from the Io‐magnetosphere interaction are the local auroras on Io's atmosphere, and the Io footprints on Jupiter. We study here how Io's daily eclipses affect the footprint. Previous observations showed that its atmosphere collapses in eclipse. While remote observers can observe Io's local auroras briefly when Io disappears behind Jupiter, Juno is able to follow the Io footprint in the unlit hemisphere. Theoretical models of the variability of the energy flux fed into the Alfvén wings, ultimately powering the footprints, are not sufficiently constrained by observations. For the first time, we use observations of Io's footprint from the Ultraviolet Spectrograph (UVS) on Juno recorded as Io went into eclipse. We benchmark the trend of the footprint brightness using observations by UVS taken over Io's complete orbit and find that the footprint emitted power variation with Jupiter's rotation shows fairly consistent trends with previous observations. Two exploitable data sets provided measurements when Io was simultaneously in eclipse. No statistically significant changes were recorded as Io left and moved into eclipse, respectively, suggesting either that (i) Io's atmospheric densities within and outside eclipse are large enough to produce a saturated plasma interaction, that is, in the saturated state, changes in Io's atmospheric properties to first order do not control the total Alfvénic energy flux, (ii) the atmospheric collapse during the Juno observations was less than previously observed, or (iii) additional processes of the Alfvén wings in addition to the Poynting flux generated at Io control the footprint luminosity.
Hydrological and Ecological Controls on Autochthonous Carbonate Deposition in Lake Systems: A Case Study From Lake Wuliangsu and the Global Perspective
Authors: Sun Dayang , He Yuxin , Wu Jinglu , Liu Weiguo , Sun Yongge
Published: June 2019

Based on ~150‐year of sedimentary records, we identify that autochthonous carbonate deposition in Lake Wuliangsu, in the upper reaches of the Yellow River, was independent of both hydrological and ecological variations before 1965, influenced by hydrological changes due to agricultural activities during 1965–1990, and slightly impacted by higher productivity under the eutrophication process after 1990. By comparing with data from lakes across the globe, we find that lake size and lake stratification control the contribution of recycled organic carbon to autochthonous carbonate deposition. Continuous mixing and aeration in shallow lakes facilitate the transformation of organic carbon into 29–45% of sedimentary carbonate, different from large and deep lakes (2–25%). Organic carbon recycling in lakes remains generally stable or decreases under the pressure of lake eutrophication, requiring further investigations on whether more organic carbon will be buried in the carbonate form.
Middle to Late Miocene Eccentricity Forcing on Lake Expansion in NE Tibet
Authors: Wang Zhixiang , Huang Chunju , Licht Alexis , Zhang Rui , Kemp David B.
Published: June 2019

The East Asian summer monsoon (EASM) variability on orbital time scale has been extensively investigated in Quaternary loess and speleothems. However, EASM variability during pre‐Quaternary time remains poorly understood. Here we report a continuous upper Miocene cyclostratigraphic record from lake deposits of the Tianshui basin, Northeast Tibet, to reconstruct past variations of the regional hydrological cycle. Our results, combined with previously published cyclostratigraphic records from Northeast Tibet, show that regional lake expansion cycles have been consistently dominated by ~100‐kyr eccentricity forcing over most of the middle to late Miocene. These ~100 kyr cycles corroborate a significant forcing of the East Asian hydrological cycle by Antarctic ice sheet variations at that time. It is, however, unclear if this forcing affected EASM intensity or westerly derived moisture supply to the far east. Regardless of the nature of the main source of precipitation in Northeast Tibet during the Miocene, these results emphasize the existence of a strong teleconnection between Antarctic ice sheet modulations and the continental climate of Asia.
Mass Loading the Earth's Dayside Magnetopause Boundary Layer and Its Effect on Magnetic Reconnection
Authors: Fuselier S. A. , Trattner K. J. , Petrinec S. M. , Denton M. H. , Toledo‐Redondo S. , André M. , Aunai N. , Chappell C. R. , Glocer A. , Haaland S. E. , Hesse M. , Kistler L. M. , Lavraud B. , Li W. , Moore T. E. , Graham D. , Alm L. , Tenfjord P. , Dargent J. , Vines S. K. , Nykyri K. , Burch J. L. , Strangeway R. J.
Published: June 2019

When the interplanetary magnetic field is northward for a period of time, O+ from the high‐latitude ionosphere escapes along reconnected magnetic field lines into the dayside magnetopause boundary layer. Dual‐lobe reconnection closes these field lines, which traps O+ and mass loads the boundary layer. This O+ is an additional source of magnetospheric plasma that interacts with magnetosheath plasma through magnetic reconnection. This mass loading and interaction is illustrated through analysis of a magnetopause crossing by the Magnetospheric Multiscale spacecraft. While in the O+‐rich boundary layer, the interplanetary magnetic field turns southward. As the Magnetospheric Multiscale spacecraft cross the high‐shear magnetopause, reconnection signatures are observed. While the reconnection rate is likely reduced by the mass loading, reconnection is not suppressed at the magnetopause. The high‐latitude dayside ionosphere is therefore a source of magnetospheric ions that contributes often to transient reduction in the reconnection rate at the dayside magnetopause.
Contributing to Global Mental Health: Can Pediatric Psychology Extend Our Reach?
Authors: Morgan Alice
Published: June 2019

Objective: Global mental health is a burgeoning field of psychology that seeks to create equity in access to services across the globe, regardless of the environment or circumstances. To date, pediatric psychology is rarely included within the scope of health care offered in conflict or postdisaster environments or when addressing health needs in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). This article identifies previous areas that pediatric psychology and global mental health have intersected and outlines the possibilities for additional contribution to each field, including advocacy, capacity building, consultancy and research. Method: A literature search was conducted regarding the areas of global mental health and pediatric psychology to form the basis for this opinion piece. Results: Pediatric psychology is ideally placed to advocate for the needs of children with medical conditions in LMICs, not only within areas where a pediatric psychology presence is already established, such as HIV, tuberculosis, and noncommunicative disease. For example, within epidemics, pediatric psychologists can advocate for the needs of patients and process adjustment during recovery, and postconflict pediatric psychologists can play a role in the ongoing treatment needs of children suffering war injuries, malnutrition, and/or disease. Last, pediatric psychologists will be able to utilize skills in teaching and training of medical staff and lay counselors in LMIC communities to build capacity for managing mental health in the context of physical health conditions, including within primary health care networks and humanitarian aid efforts. Conclusions: Despite adolescent health being one of the Key Development Goals for the World Health Organization, the mental health care of children and adolescents appears to be largely neglected in LMICs outside of the trauma context. Pediatric psychology has unique expertise in mental health care in the context of medical problems, thus being ideally placed to work alongside humanitarian medical teams, within primary health care networks, and with local ministries of health to promote the holistic support of children with health needs.

Implications for Impact Statement

This article highlights the areas of expansion for pediatric psychology to contribute more broadly to the global mental health field. It argues that pediatric psychologists can use their skills in diverse areas, including refugee health, communicable diseases, famines, and epidemics, by capacity building and educating existing staff, consulting with global health governing bodies, and promoting research into context-specific interventions.