bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Efficacy of oral iodised oil is associated with anthropometric status in severely iodine-deficient schoolchildren in rural Malawi
Authors: Furnée Carina A. , West Clive E. , van der Haar Frits , Hautvast Joseph G. A. J.
Published: May 2019

The effect of anthropometric status on the efficacy of an oral supplement of iodised oil (1 ml Lipiodol Ultrafluide, 490 mg I; Laboratoire Guerbet, Aulnay-sous-Bois, France) was examined in 8–10-year-old schoolchildren (n197) of Ntcheu, a severely I-deficient district of Malawi. The study was a controlled trial using the I concentration of casual urine samples to monitor the I status. The median urinary I concentration increased from 0·15 μmol/l at baseline (51·3 % of children < 0·16 μmol/l, 89·7 % < 0·40 μmol/l, 95·7 % 0·79 μmol/l) to 0·32 μmol/l at 40 weeks (29·1 % of the children < 0·16 μmol/l, 71·0 % < 0·40 μmol/l, 96·1 % < 0·79 μmol/l) while the total goitre prevalence fell from 63 % to 21 %. Variables of efficacy were estimated from a hyperbolic function describing the longitudinal pattern of urinary I excretion after the dose. The I retention and I elimination rate, and the periods of protection from mild (< 0·79 μmol/l) or moderate (< 0·40 μmol/l) I deficiency were obtained for groups of children with differing anthropometric status at baseline. Initial height-for-age and mid upper-arm circumference were not significantly related to efficacy. However, both the I retention and I elimination rate were reduced in children with lower initial weight-for-height. Children with lower skinfold thickness at baseline also had reduced I retention, which resulted in shorter protection periods from recurrent moderate and mild I deficiency. The efficacy of the oral iodised-oil supplement was not related to changes in anthropometric status during follow-up, nor was it related to the consumption of a food supplement of 1610 kJ immediately before the iodised-oil dose. Very low (< 0·16 μmol/l) urinary I concentration, and the presence of goitre at baseline were both associated with higher I retention and elimination rate. Children with goitre at baseline were found to have a prolonged duration of protection against recurrent moderate I deficiency. We conclude that in apparently healthy schoolchildren in I-deficient areas, general anthropometric status has a little influence on the efficacy of oral iodised oil for correcting I deficiency.
Soluble polysaccharide and biomass of red microalgaPorphyridiumsp. alter intestinal morphology and reduce serum cholesterol in rats
Authors: Dvir Irit , Chayoth Reuven , Sod-Moriah Uriel , Shany Shraga , Nyska Abraham , Stark Aliza H. , Madar Zecharia , Arad Shoshana Malis
Published: May 2019

The present study investigated the effects of the red microalgaPorphyridiumsp. on gastrointestinal physiology and lipid metabolism in male Sprague-Dawley rats. Diets containing dietary fibre from pelleted red microalgal cells (biomass) or their sulfated polysaccharide, pectin or cellulose (control) were fed to rats for a period of 30 d. All three fibre-supplemented diets increased the length of both the small intestine and colon, with a significantly greater effect in rats fed the algal polysaccharide. The polysaccharide also increased mucosa and muscularis cross-sectional area of the jejunum, and caused hypertrophy in the muscularis layer. The algal biomass significantly lowered gastrointestinal transit time by 44 % in comparison with the control rats. Serum and mucosal cholecystokinin levels were lower in rats on the pectin and polysaccharide diets, while cholecystokinin levels in rats fed algal biomass were not different from those in the control animals. In comparison with the control diet, all the experimental diets significantly lowered serum cholesterol levels (22–29 %). Feeding of non-fermentable algal polysaccharide or biomass significantly increased faecal weight and bile acid excretion compared with pectin-fed or control rats. The algal polysaccharide and biomass were thus shown to be potent hypocholesterolaemic agents active at low concentrations in the diet. Both metabolic and morphological changes were observed following consumption of algae, suggesting several possible mechanisms by which the alga affects lipid metabolism. The results presented in the present study encourage the use of red microalga as a functional food.
Portal recovery of short-chain fatty acids infused into the temporarily-isolated and washed reticulo-rumen of sheep
Authors: Kristensen N. B. , Gäbel G. , Pierzynowski S. G. , Danfær A.
Published: May 2019

The present study was undertaken to study the metabolism of short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) by the reticulo-ruminal epithelium and the portal-drained viscera (PDV) underin vivoconditions with no interference from the metabolism of the rumen microbes. The technique of temporary isolation of the reticulo-rumen was applied to wethers implanted with catheters in a mesenteric artery, the hepatic portal vein and the right ruminal vein. Portal blood flow was measured by downstream dilution ofp-aminohippuric acid; the PDV uptake of arterial acetate, as well as the whole-body irreversible loss rate (ILR) of acetate, was estimated by [2-13C] acetate infusion into the right ruminal vein. The sheep were maintained with a bicarbonate-buffered solution of SCFA in the reticulo-rumen along with continuous intraruminal infusion of SCFA for 4 h. The portal appearance of SCFA of non-reticulo-ruminal origin was estimated before and after the infusion protocol. Of the acetate absorbed by the sheep, 89 (SE 5), 109 (se 7) and 101 (se 7) % was recovered as portal net appearance of acetate, portal net appearance of acetate corrected for PDV uptake of arterial acetate and increase in the ILR of acetate respectively. Of the propionate, isobutyrate, butyrate, isovalerate and valerate absorbed by the sheep, 95 (se 7), 102 (se 9), 23 (se 3), 48 (se 5) and 32 (se 4) % respectively was recovered as portal net appearance. In contrast to current concepts, the present study showed that the reticulo-ruminal epithelium metabolizes none (or only a small proportion) of the acetate and propionate absorbed from the rumen. This observation could lead to the more efficient use of results obtained with multi-catheterized animals to quantify the net metabolite output of the rumen microbes.
Urea kinetics of a carnivore,Felis silvestris catus
Authors: Russell K. , Lobley G. E. , Rawlings J. , Millward J. , Harper E. J.
Published: May 2019

The effect of two levels of dietary protein energy, moderate (20 %; MP) and high (70 %; HP), on urea kinetics in eleven domestic cats was studied. After a 3-week prefeed, a single dose of [15N15N]urea was administered, and urine and faeces collected over the subsequent 5 d. For each 24 h period, total urea and enrichment of [15N15N]- and [15N14N]urea in urine were determined, and a model applied to calculate urea production, entry into the gastrointestinal tract, recycling to urine or faeces and, by difference, retention by the body and potentially available for anabolism. Urea production and excretion increased with dietary protein level (P<0·05). Most of the urea produced was excreted, with only a small proportion entering the gut, and with the pattern of urea disposal not significantly different between the HP and MP diets. Thus, the percentages of urea production available to the gut were 15 % (MP) and 12 % (HP), of which 57 % (MP) and 59 % (HP) was recycled in the ornithine cycle, 40 % (MP and HP) was potentially available for anabolism and the rest lost as faecal N. As a percentage of urea produced the amount potentially available for anabolism was very low at 6·41 % (MP diet) and 4·79 % (HP diet). In absolute terms urea entering the gut, being recycled in the ornithine cycle and potentially available for anabolism was significantly higher on the HP diet (P<0·05). These results show that cats operate urea turnover, but at a lower rate, and with less nutritional sensitivity than has been reported for other species.
Kinetics of allantoin metabolism in sheep
Authors: Kahn L. P. , Nolan J. V.
Published: May 2019

The kinetics of allantoin metabolism were studied in rumen-cannulated sheep by means of a single intravenous injection of [4,5-14C]allantoin. The decline in the specific radioactivity of allantoin in plasma following the injection of tracer was best described by a double exponential function, indicating that allantoin moves in and out of two or more kinetically distinct compartments. Sequestering of tracer in secondary or tertiary compartments in the body water appears likely to have resulted in overestimation of net flux of allantoin through the blood in the present study. In future studies, sampling of blood for several days after administration of tracer should alleviate this problem. About 80 % of the [14C]allantoin injected was recovered as [14C]allantoin in urine during the 12 h after tracer injection, increasing to 94 % after 4 d. Allantoin-C also passed through the blood bicarbonate pool, suggesting that allantoin is degraded in the gastrointestinal tract. A small amount of allantoin-C (4 % of the net flux of allantoin through the blood pool) was apparently degraded to form bicarbonate-C in the rumen and postruminally, and subsequently appeared in blood bicarbonate-C. Transfer of allantoin-C into the rumen via saliva was insignificant. In view of these findings, the net flux of allantoin through the blood should be a better predictor of rumen microbial outflow than urinary allantoin excretion, because urinary excretion of purine derivatives must be adjusted for conversion of allantoin-C to blood bicarbonate when used to predict the flow of microbial protein from the rumen.
Daidzein and genistein contents of vegetables
Authors: Liggins J. , Bluck L. J. C. , Runswick S. , Atkinson C. , Coward W. A. , Bingham S. A.
Published: May 2019

Food samples (n114) were prepared from vegetables commonly eaten in Europe. The glycosidic forms of the phyto-oestrogens daidzein and genistein were extracted from the dried foods into aqueous methanol. The isoflavones were quantified by GC–MS after hydrolytic removal of any conjugated carbohydrate. Completeness of extraction and any procedural losses of the isoflavones were accounted for using synthetic daidzin (7-O-glucosyl-4′-hydroxyisoflavone) and genistin (7-O-glucosyl-4′5-dihydroxyisoflavone) as internal standards. Of the 114 foods assayed, at a limit of quantification of 0·1 μg/kg dry weight, forty-eight contained no detectable daidzein or genistein, forty-one contained less than 100 μg/kg of the two isoflavones combined and the remaining twenty-five contained more than this amount. Soyabean products contained between 470 and 1420 mg (average of 960 mg) daidzein and genistein combined per kg wet weight of food, and legumes contained between 20 and 5750 μg/kg wet weight of food, with an average of 620 μg/kg. Cooking by boiling in water caused a decrease in the daidzein and genistein content of food in twenty-four of twenty-eight foods. The extent of the decrease was variable and warrants further investigation. The present paper comprises the first comprehensive description of the content of daidzein and genistein in vegetables.
Dietary magnesium intake can affect mechanical properties of rat carotid artery
Authors: Laurant Pascal , Hayoz Daniel , Brunner Hans , Berthelot Alain
Published: May 2019

The purpose of the present study was to determine the effects of Mg deficiency and supplementation on the mechanical properties of the rat common carotid artery. The internal diameter and intra-arterial pressure of carotid artery were measured continuously using an echo-tracking device. Systolic, diastolic and mean intra-arterial pressures were not significantly different in Mg-deficient, -supplemented or control rats. Histological examination showed a larger cross-sectional area, increased intima-media thickness and a greater media:lumen value in carotid artery of Mg-deficient rats, indicating that Mg deficiency may directly stimulate growth and/or proliferation of arterial wall components. In addition, we observed a negative linear relationship between intima-media thickness and plasma Mg concentration, suggesting that increased Mg intake may counteract arterial wall hypertrophy. Neither Mg deficiency nor supplementation modified the arterial distensibilityv.intra-arterial pressure curve or the Eincv.wall stress curve, indicating that dietary Mg intake did not modify wall stiffness in young rats. At mean intra-arterial pressure, the stress and Eincvalues were, however, significantly lower in Mg-deficient rats (P<0·05 in both cases); this finding could be related to the alteration in the geometry of the carotid artery. In conclusion, these findings suggest that Mg deficiency modifies the mechanical properties of the common carotid artery in young rats. Since Mg deficiency is considered a risk factor, these mechanical alterations could contribute to the development of atherosclerosis, hypertension and cardiovascular diseases.
The conditional nature of the dietary need for polyunsaturates: a proposal to reclassify ‘essential fatty acids’ as ‘conditionally-indispensable’ or ‘conditionally-dispensable’ fatty acids
Authors: Cunnane Stephen C.
Published: May 2019

The term essential fatty acid no longer clearly identifies the fatty acids it was originally used to describe. It would be more informative if the concept of essentiality shifted away from the symptoms arising from the lack ofde novosynthesis of linoleate or α-linolenate and towards the adequacy of the capacity for synthesis and conservation of both the parent and the derived long-chain polyunsaturates. For instance, despite the existence of the pathway for synthesis of docosahexaenoate from α-linolenate, the former would be more correctly classified as ‘conditionally indispensable’ because the capacity of the pathway appears insufficient during early development, although it may be sufficient later in life in healthy individuals. Similarly, despite the inability to synthesize linoleatede novo, abundant linoleate stores and its relatively slow turnover in healthy adults probably makes linoleate ‘conditionally dispensable’ for long periods. There are two other anomalies with the terms essential and non-essential fatty acids: (1) under several different experimental circumstances, the C-skeleton of essential fatty acids is avidly used in the synthesis of non-essential fatty acids; (2) to function normally, the brain is required to endogenously synthesize several non-essential fatty acids. As with essential amino acids, which have been reclassified as indispensable or conditionally indispensable, such a change in terminology should lead to an improved understanding of the function and metabolism of polyunsaturates in particular, and long-chain fatty acids in general.
Effect of underfeeding on metabolism of portal-drained viscera in ewes
Authors: Nozière Pierre , Rémond Didier , Bernard Laurence , Doreau Michel
Published: May 2019

We investigated whether short-term underfeeding could induce adaptative mechanisms in portal-drained viscera (PDV) that would allow nutrients to be spared for vital functions in adult ewes. Six ewes (three of them fitted with catheters in the mesenteric artery and portal and mesenteric veins) were fed, in a double 3×3 Latin square design (2 weeks per experimental period), a regrowth of natural grassland hay at 143 (high; H), 88 (medium; M) and 51 (low; L) % of their energy maintenance requirements. The digestibility of the diet was measured in all six ewes and the net portal fluxes of nutrients in the three catheterized ewes. The organic matter content and N digestibility of the diet were not affected by underfeeding. Urinary and faecal N losses and N balance were linearly related to feed intake. Arterial concentration of acetate was linearly related to feed intake. Arterial concentrations of the other volatile fatty acids, 3-hydroxybutyrate, lactate, glucose, NH3, urea and total amino acids were not affected by underfeeding. Arterial concentration of non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) increased with underfeeding. The portal net release of all volatile fatty acids, 3-hydroxybutyrate and NH3were linearly related to intake. The portal net flux of both essential and non-essential amino acids, and thus total amino acids, remained unchanged between levels H and M, and decreased between levels M and L. A significant net uptake for glycine and total non-essential amino acids occurred at level L. The portal net uptake of glucose, urea, glutamate and glutamine, and the portal net release of lactate and NEFA were not affected by underfeeding. Summation of portal energy fluxes indicated that 51 % of the metabolizable energy intake was recovered in the portal blood with the three levels of intake. In conclusion, no quantitative adaptation to spare energy, in terms of percentage of intake, occurred in PDV of short-term underfed ruminants, but the pattern of absorption of energetic nutrients was modified.
A model to predict water intake of a pig growing in a known environment on a known diet
Authors: Schiavon Stefano , Emmans G. C.
Published: May 2019

A model to predict voluntary water intake (WI) of a pig fed a known diet in a known environment is described. The daily retentions of protein, lipid, water and ash were estimated over time using a published pig growth model. Food intakes were estimated using published methods. WI was estimated by adding the amounts required for digestion (WD), faecal excretion (Wfec), growth (WG), evaporation (WE), urinary excretion (WU) and by then subtracting the water arising from feed (WF), from nutrient oxidation (WO) and synthesis of body constituents (WS). WD was predicted assuming an absorption of water of 0·10, 0·16 and 0·07 kg/kg digestible carbohydrate, crude protein and lipid respectively. Wfecwas estimated taking into account the water associated with the undigested protein (0·86 kg/kg), diethyl ether extract (-12·11 kg/kg), crude fibre (1·86 kg/kg), ash (-0·42 kg/kg) and N-free extract (4·4 kg/kg). The basal level of WE was estimated from the heat production of the pig fedad libitum(MJ/d) as: 0·25×(metabolizable energy-energy retained as protein and lipid)×0·4, where 0·25 is the assumed proportion of the insensible heat loss at the comfort temperature and 0·4 is the water lost per MJ dissipated heat. WE in a hot environment was predicted by assuming that evaporation increased up to three times the basal level to offset the decreased sensible heat loss. To predict WU a water requirement for renal excretion of 2·05 and 3·40 kg/osmol excreted N as urea and minerals respectively was assumed. The urinary load of N and minerals was predicted from the intake of digestible nutrients and their retention. From the oxidation of 1 kg carbohydrate, protein, and fat it was assumed that 0·6, 0·42 and 1·07 kg water (WO) were released respectively. WS was predicted by assuming a release of 0·16, 0·07 and 0·57 kg water per kg retained protein, retained lipid coming from digestible lipid, and retained lipid coming from digestible carbohydrate respectively. The model is strongly rooted in a theoretical structure. When its predictions were compared with data from suitable experiments, the results were not significantly different. Both the pattern and the magnitude of responses of the model to changes in body weight, feed intake and environmental temperature are sensible and it allows a fuller prediction of voluntary water intake than the methods currently available.
Right of (Northwest) Passage: Toward a Responsible Canadian Arctic Sovereignty
Authors: Geddert Jeremy Seth
Published: May 2019

Canada has long claimed the Northwest Passage as its “internal waters,” while the United States and other countries argue it is an “international strait.” The latter “free sea” position originates in Hugo Grotius, often styled the “father of international law.” However, Grotius later qualifies his own position by granting to coastal states the right to regulate maritime traffic. Grotius's works also inspire the English School of International Relations: an “international society” approach that Canada has historically followed in its overall foreign policy. Hence, a twenty-first-century Grotian vision might suggest a compromise amenable to Canada: Canada would grant passage to conforming American vessels, thus facilitating international trade, but Canada would also gain powers of effective jurisdiction, allowing it to secure and conserve the fragile environment. Canada might thus re-envision sovereignty not as a zero-sum contest for status symbols but as the exercise of functional jurisdiction for the common good of international society.
Tertiary sedimentary development of the Broad Fourteens area, the Netherlands
Authors: Wong Th.E. , Parker N. , Horst P.
Published: May 2019

The Broad Fourteens Basin is a NW-SE trending Mesozoic structural element that was affected by inversion movements during the Late Cretaceous (Subhercynian Phase) and Early Tertiary (Laramide Phase). Since the overlying Tertiary section of this area is relatively little studied, a multi-disciplinary investigation was initiated using both seismic and well data. The present study is the first phase of that project and deals exclusively with the stratigraphical framework and sedimentary development based on well logs from approximately forty wells.

The Tertiary sedimentary section in this area (maximum thickness up to approximately 800 m) consists of siliciclastic rocks that generally correlate well with the established lithostratigraphical framework of the Netherlands. However, the highly variable thickness of these lithological units, illustrated by isopach maps for all units, reflect the intricate pattern of sea level movements, differential vertical movements and the ensuing erosion, that took place in this tectonically active area.

Well P06-02, one of the most complete sections in the center of the area, was selected for detailed biostratigraphical analysis to support further stratigraphical subdivision and correlation. This yielded information on both the distribution pattern of various lithological units and the influence of large, partly global, events during basin development. It is concluded that application of detailed sequence stratigraphy in the study area is very problematic and only 2ndand some 3rdorder cycles could be recognized.
FT-IR and Raman microscopic study at 293 K and 77 K of celestine, SrS04, from the middle triassic limestone (Muschelkalk) in Winterswijk, The Netherlands
Authors: Theo Kloprogge J. , Ruan Huada , Duong Loc V. , Frost Ray L.
Published: May 2019

This paper describes the Raman and infrared spectroscopy of SrSO4 or celestine from the Muschelkalk of Winterswijk, The Netherlands. The infrared absorption spectrum is characterised by the SO42-modes V1 at 991 cm-1, v3 at 1201, 1138 and 1091 cm-1, and v4 at 643 and 611 cm-1. An unidentified band is observed at 1248 cm-1. In the Raman spectrum at 293 K the V1 mode is found at 1000 cm-1 and is split in two bands at 1001 and 1003 cm-1 upon cooling to 77 K.The v2 mode, not observed in the infrared spectrum, is observed as a doublet at 460 and 453 cm-1. The v3 mode is represented by four bands in the Raman spectrum at 1187, 1158, 1110 and 1093 cm-1 and the v4 mode as three bands at 656, 638 and 620 cm-1. Cooling to 77 K results in a general decrease in bandwidth and a minor shift in frequencies. A decrease in intensities is observed upon cooling to 77 K due to movement of the Sr atom towards one or more of the oxygen atoms in the sulfate group.
Two conditions for subnormality of unbounded operators
Authors: Niechwiej Jan
Published: May 2019

We give two new sufficient conditions for unbounded Hilbert space operators to be subnormal. The first assumes that the sequence //Tnf//2 on a suitable subset of the domain is completely monotonic, the second is similar to the one given by Lambert in [3] for bounded operators and involves the sequence of binomial expansion of the real part of the operator.
Some extremal algebras for hermitians
Authors: Crabb M. J. , Duncan J. , McGregor C. M.
Published: May 2019

We study three extremal Banach algebras: (a) generated by two hermitian unitaries; (b) generated by an element of norm 1 all of whose odd positive powers are hermitian; (c) generated by an element of norm 1 all of whose even positive powers are hermitian. In all three cases the numerical range is found for various elements. The second algebra is shown to be isometrically isomorphic to a subalgebra of the first. The third algebra is identified with a space of functions.
Hyperdecidability of pseudovarieties of orthogroups
Authors: Almeida Jorge , Trotter Peter G.
Published: May 2019

Let W denote the intersection with the pseudovariety of completely regular semigroups of the Mal'cev product of the pseudovariety of bands with a pseudovariety V of completely regular semigroups. It is shown that the (pseudo)word problem for W is reduced to that for V in such a way that decidability is preserved in the case in which terms involving only multiplication and weak inversion are considered. It is also shown that, if V is a hyperdecidable (respectively canonically reducible) pseudovariety of groups, then so is W.
Primary modules over commutative rings
Authors: Smith Patrick F.
Published: May 2019

The radical of a module over a commutative ring is the intersection of all prime submodules. It is proved that if R is a commutative domain which is either Noetherian or a UFD then R is one-dimensional if and only if every (finitely generated) primary R-module has prime radical, and this holds precisely when every (finitely generated) R-module satisfies the radical formula for primary submodules.
Chain-finite operators and locally chain-finite operators
Authors: Bermúdez Teresa , Martinón Antonio
Published: May 2019

We give algebraic conditions characterizing chain-finite operators and locally chain-finite operators on Banach spaces. For instance, it is shown that T is a chain-finite operator if and only if some power of T is relatively regular and commutes with some generalized inverse; that is there are a bounded linear operator B and a positive integer k such that

TkBTk =Tk and TkB=BTk.

Moreover, we obtain an algebraic characterization of locally chain-finite operators similar to (1).
On a question of Remeslennikov
Authors: McCool James
Published: May 2019

We give an example of an element r of a free group F, and an element s of minimal length in the normal closure of r in F, such that s is not conjugate to r±1 or to [r±1f], for any element f of F.
Pseudo-umbilical submanifolds of constant curvature Riemannian manifolds
Authors: Cao Xi-Fang
Published: May 2019

Bai [1] gave an intrinsic integral inequality for compact minimal submanifolds of constant curvature Riemannian manifolds. In this paper, we extend Bai's result to the case of pseudo-umbilical submanifolds.
Transatlantic Reprinting as National Performance: Staging America in London Magazines, 1839–1852
Authors: MCGETTIGAN KATIE
Published: May 2019

This essay examines three “American” magazines published in mid-nineteenth-century London: theAmerican Miscellany(1839–40), theGreat Western(1842), and theAmerican Magazine(1851–52). These magazines staged a fantasy of a unified, national and white American culture that regional print cultures and sectional tensions over slavery rendered impossible within the United States itself. They fashioned this fantasy through dialogue with Yankee comedy (an American form constructed through transatlantic circulation); through the theatricality, materiality and composite form of the magazine; and by transforming regional texts into national culture through transatlantic reprinting. Through histories of these magazines, this essay theorizes magazine reprinting as performance, arguing that performance theory helps to conceptualize transatlantic reprinting and its cultural work, and to understand why these magazines ultimately failed as organs of national culture. Additionally, it suggests that magazines published outside the United States illuminate the relationship between periodical circulation and the development of American nationhood in the antebellum era.
Reproductive patterns of the black starry sea urchin Arbacia stellata in Punta Banda, Baja California, Mexico
Authors: Díaz-Martínez Julia Patricia , Carpizo-Ituarte Eugenio De Jesús , Benítez-Villalobos Francisco
Published: May 2019

Widely distributed species such asArbacia stellataadjust patterns of their life history according to local conditions. In the present study the reproductive cycle of this species was analysed throughout a sampling year. Gonadal development cycle, sex ratio, actual fecundity and oocyte size distribution were characterized and the relationship of these reproductive characteristics with environmental variables such as sea surface temperature, photoperiod, chlorophyllaand net primary production evaluated. Our results showed thatA. stellatais a gonochoric sea urchin. Gametogenesis was classified into six stages for both sexes (immature, growth, pre-maturity I, pre-maturity II, mature and spawning) and no synchrony was observed for the gonads between individuals. The female to male ratio was close to 1:1 in most months. The gonadosomatic index (GSI) showed significant differences between sexes or months; however, the highest values were observed during spring, with positive correlation with chlorophylla. No significant differences were observed in the maturity index (MI) between sexes, with a positive correlation with temperature but negative with chlorophyll. Actual fecundity showed wide variations throughout the year and correlation with chlorophyllaand temperature. Oocyte size distribution was unimodal and the predominant frequency was that of mature oocytes. The reproductive cycle ofA. stellatahas a semi-continuous pattern for both sexes and partial spawning throughout the year in the sampling site. We observed nutrient assimilation in the gonads during spring and a larger reproductive activity from late summer to early winter.
More from the Romano-British Poets? A Possible Metrical Inscription from East Farleigh, Kent
Authors: Mullen Alex , Tomlin R.S.O.
Published: May 2019

A four-line inscription in Old Roman Cursive on a pot base found in excavations in East Farleigh, Kent, in 2010 appears to be written (at least in part) in metre and has close textual similarities with examples from Binchester, Co. Durham. We describe the new text and then offer some thoughts about the possible relationship of these British texts to extant Latin verse and consider how to interpret the Kentish piece in context. Although much remains uncertain in our understanding of the text, it is a significant addition to the Romano-British corpus.
Characteristics of abnormal puerperium in dairy cattle and the rationale for common treatments
Authors: Kruip T.A.M. , Wensing T. , Vos P.L.A.M.
Published: May 2019

The abnormalities of the puerperium can be arbitrarily divided into two broad categories. Those which arise following a difficult calving or retained placenta are referred to as “common”, while abnormalities such as sub- and anoestrus, irregular cycles, cystic follicles, absence of ovarian activity, repeat breeding and increased number of inseminations per pregnancy are described as “special”. Since the “common” abnormalities are well understood, this paper deals in greater detail with the “special” abnormalities of the puerperium. Based on the axiom that many facets of the “special” abnormalities can be caused by dysfunction of the liver (as in the case of fatty liver), information is presented based on experiments conducted with the over-conditioned dairy cow model (AM) which suffers from both a severe negative energy balance (NEB) and fatty liver syndrome during early lactation. This cow model guarantees a severe NEB, with body weight loss and clear changes in the body condition score (BCS), lower milk production, a higher milk fat concentration, temporary decline in blood insulin and glucose concentrations, elevated blood concentrations of non esterified fatty acids (NEFAs) and beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) as well as elevated liver concentrations of tri-acyl-glycerol (TAG) during the first weeks post partum. Additionally, this model leads to a higher incidence of metabolic and infectious diseases. Particular attention was paid to LH pulse frequency and to its value in predicting the occurrence of first post partum ovulation would occur, to oestrous behaviour and to oocytes quality. Cows with fatty liver (> 50 mg TAG/g liver tissue) had longer intervals between parturition and 1st ovulation and showed fewer standing heats within the first 100 days post partum, but the proportion of detected heats, compared to endocrinological “heats” was higher in confirmed AM-cows. Moreover, when AM cows come in heat, their heats lasted longer and had a higher pregnancy rate following AI. However, the developmental capacity of oocytes in AM cows, and in particular oocytes that were destined to ovulate between 80 and 120 days pp, was adversely affected. We conclude that the fatty liver condition is a trigger for many problems, including metabolic and infectious diseases, and also of reduced fertility. Prevention of over fatness at calving (BCS>3.5) is the best guarantee for a normal puerperium.
Ovarian hormone patterns and subfertility in dairy cows
Authors: Lamming G.E. , Royal M.D.
Published: May 2019

Decreasing levels of fertility of dairy cows are occurring, associated with increased average annual milk yields, increased herd size and a decreased labour investment per animal. To-date, there has been no positive genetic selection in the UK for improved female fertility due to the lack of reliable recording of fertility traits. Selection is further limited by the low heritabilities of traditional fertility measures, which are subject to environmental influences and management decisions and biological restraints such as age and sex. Assessment of the hormone patterns of fertile cows and determination of the atypical patterns exhibited by subfertile animals provides an objective method of identifying the causes and assessing the impact of subfertility and for the development of remedial treatment strategies. This knowledge can then be used to identify potential physiological parameters associated with high fertility which, in future, may be used for sire breeding value estimations to select for more fertile offspring. Regular assessment of the progesterone concentrations in milk provides a non invasive method of determining progesterone patterns. The results of two studies of milk progesterone levels in cows taken between 1975/82 and 1995/98 involving over 3200 lactations have been analysed and compared. They indicate a major increase over this period in the proportion of animals showing atypical milk progesterone patterns before mating from 32 to 44% (P<0.001) associated with less animals inseminated, delays to conception and lower conception rates. There was a significant decrease (P<0.01) over this period in animals calving to first postpartum insemination from 57% to less than 40% a decrease of approximately l%per annum. This may indicate an increase in the level of early embryo mortality. An early post ovulatory progesterone rise to adequate luteal phase levels has been shown essential for normal embryo development with low post ovulatory levels occurring in some cows resulting in lower calving rates. Milk progesterone analysis provides a robust and reliable method of measuring progesterone patterns for identifying subfertile animals, for targeting remedial treatments to improve fertility and for investigations into heritable fertility parameters for future selection programmes.
Nutrient supply to high-yielding dairy cows
Authors: Beever D E , Hattan A , Reynolds C.K. , Cammell S B
Published: May 2019

The last decade of the 20thcentury has seen unprecedented change within the UK dairy industry, with consolidated of production quotas, payment schemes based on milk solids, deregulation of the milk market with the demise of the Milk Marketing Board and more recently a major downward pressure on milk prices. All of these have contributed to further intensification of a large part of the industry. However the largest change has been the introduction of improved genetics, with the accompanying increase in Holsteins (now the preferred breed) at the expense of Friesians. As a consequence individual cow yields have increased dramatically and such cows are becoming an increasing problem in respect of nutritional management, as it relates to optimisation of milk solids content and yield and maintenance of reproductive competence. This paper has attempted to examine some of these issues by first describing the changes in more detail and then from a theoretical consideration of the biochemical principles associated with milk solids production to provide information which may permit better decisions to be made in relation to the feeding of such cows. In this respect the importance of glucose is established as well as the potentially competing processes of energy use for body maintenance or milk fat synthesis. Two experimental studies from this laboratory with high genetic merit cows are used to illustrate how the overall utilisation of energy for lactation and body tissue metabolism may be affected, especially when energy intake in early lactation fails to meet whole body energy demands. Subsequently, the nutrient costs of pregnancy, an important but often forgotten part of the ‘annual’ life cycle of dairy cows, are also considered and it is concluded that increased emphasis needs to be put on the management of cows for lifetime performance rather than simply for lactational output. Finally, whilst recognising that high yielding cows represent a major challenge to all management systems, the paper concludes that existing feeding systems which rely solely on nutritional entities such as metabolisable energy will need to be abandoned in favour of those which recognise specific nutrients, if the full potential of high genetic merit cows is ever to be achieved
Nutritional effects on resumption of ovarian cyclicity and conception rate in postpartum dairy cows
Authors: Butler W.R.
Published: May 2019

Increased genetic potential for milk production has been associated with a decline in fertility of lactating cows. Following parturition the nutritional requirements increase rapidly with milk production and result in negative energy balance (NEBAL). NEBAL delays the time of first ovulation thereby affecting ovarian cycles before and during the subsequent breeding period The effects of NEBAL on reinitiation of ovulation are manifested through inhibition of LH pulse frequency and low levels of glucose, insulin and IGF-I in blood that collectively restrain oestrogen production by dominant follicles. Upregulation of LH pulses and peripheral IGF-I in association with the NEBAL nadir increases the likelihood that emerging dominant follicles will ovulate. The legacy of NEBAL is reduced fertility after insemination in conjunction with reduced serum progesterone concentrations. Diets high in crude protein support high milk yield, but may be detrimental to reproductive performance. Depending upon protein quantity and composition, serum concentrations of progesterone may be lower and the uterine luminal environment is altered. High protein intake is correlated with plasma urea concentrations that are inversely related to uterine pH and fertility. The direct effects of high dietary protein and plasma urea on embryo quality and development in cattle are inconsistent. In conclusion, the poor fertility of high producing dairy cows reflects the combined effects of a uterine environment that is dependent on progesterone, but has been rendered suboptimal for embryo development by antecedent effects of negative energy balance and may be further compromised by the effects of urea resultingfrom intake of high dietary protein.
Relationships between nutrition and fertility in dairy cattle
Authors: O'Callaghan D. , Lozano J.M. , Fahey J. , Gath V. , Snijders S. , Boland M.P.
Published: May 2019

The reduced fertility that is becoming more evident in high yielding dairy cows may be related to many factors including changes in milk production, food intake and fluctuations in body condition. Metabolic and production markers have been studied as a way of predicting success to a particular artificial insemination. Successful conception to a particular service was not associated with milk production, body condition or plasma concentrations of several indicators of metabolic state around the time if insemination. This highlights the importance of time of information collection in fertility management programmes. Increased food intake may reduce systemic progesterone concentrations. This is more evident in sheep than cattle, but a positive relationship between systemic progesterone early post mating and establishment of pregnancy in cattle has been reported. However, progesterone concentrations in the ovarian vein and endometrium are not strongly correlated with systemic progesterone. Thus, the significance of modest changes in systemic progesterone in affecting oocyte and embryo development must be questioned. Blood urea concentrations can be altered by diet, and reduced pregnancy rates have been reported in cows with high urea concentrations. However, in other recent studies, no difference was reported in serum urea in cows that conceived and those that failed to conceive. Pregnancy rate was equally high in heifers when in-vitro produced embryos were transferred to heifers on high and low urea diets. When embryos were produced in sheep on high and low dietary urea, the effects on embryo development appear to occur early in the developmental process, suggesting a substantial effect on the development of the oocyte. The developmental capacity of oocytes and quality of embryos is reduced in cattle maintained on extremely high dietary intakes. Oocyte developmental capacity is reduced in cows of higher genetic merit and embryo quality can be substantially reduced in the early postpartum period. Collectively, these results suggest that high dietary intake or high metabolic load is deleterious to normal oocyte development and establishment of pregnancy. This highlights the importance of further studies on the effect of dietary intake on metabolic state and follicle, oocyte and embryo development. In a practical context, these results highlight the importance of nutritional management and avoiding changes in the amount or type of diet around the time of mating in high-production dairy cows.
The Natural Basis of Political Obligation
Authors: Klosko George
Published: May 2019

Though questions of political obligation have long been central to liberal political theory, discussion has generally focused on voluntaristic aspects of the individual's relationship to the state, as opposed to other factors through which the state is able to ground compliance with its laws. The individual has been conceptualized as naturally without political ties, whether or not formally in a state of nature, and questions of political obligation have centered on accounting for political bonds.
Free discontinuity problems generated by singular perturbation: the n−dimensional case
Authors: Alicandro R. , Gelli M. S.
Published: May 2019

We provide an approximation of some free discontinuity problems by local functionals with a singular perturbation of higher order. More precisely, we study the limiting behaviour of energies of the form

where Hu denotes the Hessian matrix of u.
Enhancing Recovery after Stroke with Noradrenergic Pharmacotherapy: A New Frontier?
Authors: Gladstone David J. , Black Sandra E.
Published: May 2019

Despite much progress in stroke prevention and acute intervention, recovery and rehabilitation have traditionally received relatively little scientific attention. There is now increasing interest in the development of stroke recovery drugs and innovative rehabilitation techniques to promote functional recovery after completed stroke. Experimental work over the past two decades indicates that pharmacologic intervention to enhance recovery may be possible in the subacute stage, days to weeks poststroke, after irreversible injury has occurred. This paper discusses the concept of “rehabilitation pharmacology” and reviews the growing literature from animal studies and pilot clinical trials on noradrenergic pharmacotherapy, a new experimental strategy in stroke rehabilitation. Amphetamine, a monoamine agonist that increases brain norepinephrine levels, is the most extensively studied drug shown to promote recovery of function in animal models of focal brain injury. Further research is needed to investigate the mechanisms and clinical efficacy of amphetamine and other novel therapeutic interventions on the recovery process.
Are the Triptans for Migraine Therapy Worth the Cost?
Authors: Becker W.J.
Published: May 2019

The triptans represent a major advance in migraine therapy but their cost per dose greatly exceeds that of many older treatments. There is evidence that for a significant proportion of migraine patients these new drugs can show a positive cost benefit and also improve quality of life. Cost benefit would be expected to be greatest in patients with more severe migraine attacks.
Attitudes of Canadian and U.S. Neurologists Regarding Carotid Endarterectomy for Asymptomatic Stenosis
Authors: Chaturvedi Seemant , Meinke Jody L. , Pierre Ellen , Bertasio Bryan
Published: May 2019

Background:

The American Heart Association carotid endarterectomy (CE) guidelines endorse CE for asymptomatic carotid stenosis if the procedure can be performed with low morbidity. However, the Canadian Stroke Consortium has published a consensus against CE for asymptomatic stenosis. The views of practicing neurologists in the two countries on this subject are unclear.

Methods:

A survey was undertaken of 270 neurologists from either Florida or Indiana and 180 neurologists from either Ontario or Quebec.

Results:

The survey was returned by 36% of neurologists. Both Florida (65%) and Indiana neurologists (35%) were significantly more likely than Canadian neurologists (11%) to sometimes/often refer patients for surgery(p<0.001). Neurologists from Florida relied more on noninvasive methods of carotid stenosis assessment (36%) than Canadian neurologists (12%, p=0.003), who preferred angiography. Neurologists from Florida more often cited medicolegal concerns as a reason for referring patients for surgery (27%), compared to Canadian neurologists (3%, p=0.0001).

Conclusions:

Practices pertaining to carotid stenosis evaluation and management differ both regionally and by country. Canadian neurologists refer fewer asymptomatic patients for CE and rely more on angiography as a preoperative diagnostic tool. The potential of medicolegal liability is a greater force in clinical decision-making for certain U.S. neurologists, compared to their Canadian counterparts. These differences may partly explain the variations in CE utilization in the two countries.