bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Psychometric testing of the developmental care scale for neonates with congenital heart disease
Authors: Arter Sara , Miller Elaine , Bakas Tamilyn , Cooper David S
Published: June 2019

Purpose:

Developmental care of neonates with CHD is essential for proper neurodevelopment. Measurement of developmental care specific to these neonates is needed to ensure consistent implementation within and across cardiac ICUs. The purpose of this study was to psychometrically test the Developmental Care Scale for Neonates with Congenital Heart Disease, which measures the quality of developmental care provided by bedside nurses to neonates in the cardiac ICU.

Methods:

Psychometric testing was conducted with 119 cardiac ICU nurses to provide evidence of internal consistency reliability and construct validity. Participants were predominantly young (median = 32 years), white (90%) females (93%) with bachelor’s degrees (78%) and a median experience in the cardiac ICU of 7 years.

Results:

Evidence of internal consistency reliability (α =.89) was provided with corrected item-total correlations ranging from .31 to .77. Exploratory factor analysis provided evidence of construct validity as a unidimensional scale, as well as a multidimensional scale consisting of four subscales: creating the external environment, assessment of family well-being, caregiver activities toward the neonate, and basic human needs.

Conclusions:

Evidence of reliability and validity of the 31-item Developmental Care Scale for Neonates with Congenital Heart Disease was established with nurses caring for neonates in the cardiac ICU. This instrument will serve as a valuable outcome measure tasked with improving developmental care performance and makes it possible to identify relationships between developmental care performance and neonatal neurodevelopmental outcomes in future research.
Crinoid functional morphology
Authors: Baumiller Tomasz K.
Published: June 2019

Recent advances in crinoid functional morphology have been concentrated predominantly in two areas, one involving the study of mutable collagenous tissues (MCTs), and the other dealing with the implications of crinoids' rheophilic nature. The presence of MCTs in crinoid cirri and stalks, and their importance to the function of these structures has been demonstrated in several studies. It has been recently reported that MCTs have contractile properties (Birenheide and Motokawa, 1996); if this is corroborated, it would help resolve many fundamental problems in crinoid functional morphology. Studies of the crinoids in their natural setting have confirmed their predominantly rheophilic nature. The application of the rheophilic paradigm and the principles of physics and engineering to crinoids has provided insights into several areas of crinoid functional morphology, including: (1) mechanics of particle interception—direct interception (and not sieving) as the dominant mode of particle capture by the tube feet (no mucus net); (2) the importance of feeding posture and orientation—(a) bilateral symmetry of the feeding posture (oral side downcurrent), (b) the problems associated with maintaining such a posture under bi- or multi-directional flow (swiveling of pinnules, arms, and /or entire filters); (3) the effect of filter resistivity on fluid interception—solid filters need high ambient current velocities; and (4) the influence of nearest neighbors on fluid interception—side-by-side neighbors might be favored over upstream–downstream neighbors.
Progress and Challenges in K-Ar and40Ar/39Ar Geochronology
Authors: Renne Paul R.
Published: June 2019

K-Ar and more recently the40Ar/39Ar variant are well established dating methods. The40Ar/39Ar method requires irradiation with neutrons, posing some complications that are greatly outweighed by the benefits. The40Ar/39Ar method is particularly powerful due to the availability of internal reliability criteria, the ability to analyze single crystals, and the amenability of the analyses to automation.40Ar/39Ar dating has the capability for unsurpassed precision and is applicable to the broadest range of geologic environments and time scales of any radioisotope dating technique. For chronostratigraphic applications,40Ar/39Ar is most important in the Cenozoic, becoming progressively less useful into the early Phanerozoic due to alteration and loss of radiogenic argon. Precision and accuracy of40Ar/39Ar dating have been improved considerably in recent years, but an uncertainty of about 1% in the decay constant for40K, probably mainly in the electron capture decay branch, still limits accuracy at about this level. Inconsistent use of standards (neutron fluence monitors) and attribution of variable ages to standards is still a source of confusion, but straightforward recalculation procedures can overcome the underlying problems provided that appropriate standards are used.
The Ontogeny of an Ostracodologist
Authors: Benson Richard H.
Published: June 2019

The context and reasons for the study of ostracodes have changed greatly over the past half-century, as well as how fossil ostracodes are viewed. Their use for the reconstruction of major changes in paleogeography and paleoceanography has been amply demonstrated. Some of the increased importance of ostracodes is due to new exploration via drilling and the discovery of new forms in the floors of sea and ocean basins. Some of it has been made possible by the development of the scanning electron microscope and attention to details in carapace morphology, particularly in mapping patterns of reticulation. The discovery that the shape of the carapace subscribes to architectural restraints of a membrane static-frame used in dome construction has introduced the possibility to describe it in functional and adaptive terms, and those principles are set forth here. [see Chapter 6 for details on the latter]
Molecules, Morphology, Fossils and the Origination and Extinction Dynamics of Scleractinian Corals
Authors: Barbeitos Marcos S.
Published: June 2019

The history of Scleractinian corals, richly documented by the fossil record, is one of complex dynamics linked to the dynamics of coral reefs themselves. In spite of all the waxing and waning of marine biodiversity throughout the post-Paleozoic, scleractinians have remained remarkably resilient as a lineage and have traversed two mass extinctions and repeated episodes of global change before becoming the chief builders of modern coral reefs. Understanding this history becomes all the more relevant in face of the current human driven coral reef biodiversity crisis. The advent of molecular phylogenetics has changed our perspective of those dynamics because it has uncovered pervasive morphological convergence in traditionally used taxonomic characters, revealing that the current classification is highly artificial. Taxonomy not only obscures important patterns, but also introduces artifacts into estimates of origination and extinction obtained directly from the fossil record. I present a brief review of the impact of molecular phylogenetics on the current understanding of coral evolution, with emphasis on the recently uncovered phyletic link between photosymbiotic, reef dwelling and azooxanthellate, deepwater coral biota. Then, I discuss the role of molecular-based techniques in a future research agenda of the evolutionary dynamics of the order. The greatest challenge for the future is the re-assessment of morphological characters from a cladistic perspective so that extinct and extant species are integrated in a unified phylogenetic framework, allowing rigorous testing of hypotheses on the fascinating biodiversity dynamics of the order.
Conodonts and the Paleoclimatological and Paleoecological Applications of Phosphate Δ18O Measurements
Authors: MacLeod Kenneth G.
Published: June 2019

Oxygen isotopic analysis of the phosphate in bioapatite has become a standard paleoclimatological tool with results documented in a rapidly expanding literature. Phosphate-based measurements are particularly important for samples where carbonates preservation is suspect (as is the case for many Paleozoic sites). Important analytical and observational advances that have fueled the expansion of phosphate-based studies include: 1) Oxygen isotopic ratios of biogenic apatite can be measured on small enough samples (≥ ~300 μg), quickly enough, cheaply enough, and accurately enough to permit meaningful high resolution paleoclimatic studies of trends through time, along spatial transects, and/or among taxa, 2) biogenic apatite is precipitated in approximate equilibrium with ambient waters and thus records the interplay of temperature and the isotopic composition of the water in which a sample grew, 3) tooth enamel and conodont crown material are quite resistant to diagenetic alteration and are preferred targets for both paleotemperature and paleoecological studies, 4) Paleozoic conodont δ18O records seem to provide robust paleotemperature information on time scales ranging from thousands of years to 100's of millions of years, and generation of increasingly refined paleotemperature records from this diagenetically resistant phase is likely to continue to be a useful field of study, 5) paleoenvironmental variations in δ18O values of seawater have been documented (e.g., differences between glacial and interglacial oceans), but whether and by how much the δ18O value of the hydrosphere may have increased since the Cambrian remains unresolved, and 6) differences in δ18O values among conodont taxa are increasingly well documented and, coupled with the potential to study growth series using ion microprobe techniques, are providing novel perspectives on and important tests of conodont paleoecology.
Influence of Methylphenidate on Long-Term Neuropsychological and Everyday Executive Functioning After Traumatic Brain Injury in Children with Secondary Attention Problems
Authors: LeBlond Elizabeth , Smith-Paine Julia , Riemersma Jacqlyn J. , Horn Paul S. , Wade Shari L. , Kurowski Brad G.
Published: June 2019

Objective: To investigate the effects of methylphenidate on long-term executive and neuropsychological functioning in children with attention problems following TBI, as well as the relationship between methylphenidate associated changes in lab-based neuropsychological measures of attentional control, processing speed, and executive functioning and parent- or self-report measures of everyday executive functioning. Method: 26 children aged 6–17 years, who were hospitalized for moderate-to-severe blunt head trauma 6 or more months previously, were recruited from a large children’s hospital medical center. Participants were randomized into a double-masked, placebo-controlled cross-over clinical trial. Participants completed a comprehensive neuropsychological battery and parent- and self-report ratings of everyday executive functioning at baseline, and at 4 weeks and 8 weeks following upward titration of medication to an optimal dose or while administered a placebo. Results: Methylphenidate was associated with significant improvements in processing speed, sustained attention, and both lab-based and everyday executive functioning. Significant treatment-by-period interactions were found on a task of sustained attention. Participants who were randomized to the methylphenidate condition for the first treatment period demonstrated random or erratic responding, with slower and more variable response times when given placebo during the second period. Conclusion: Results indicate that methylphenidate treatment is associated with positive outcomes in processing speed, sustained attention, and both lab-based and everyday measures of executive functioning compared to placebo group. Additionally, results suggest sustained attention worsens when discontinuing medication. (JINS, 2019, 25, 740–749)
Pediatric Perceived Cognitive Functioning: Psychometric Properties and Normative Data of the Dutch Item Bank and Short Form
Authors: Marchal Jan Pieter , de Vries Marieke , Conijn Judith , Rietman André B , IJsselstijn Hanneke , Tibboel Dick , Haverman Lotte , Maurice-Stam Heleen , Oostrom Kim J , Grootenhuis Martha A
Published: June 2019

Objective:

With increasing numbers of children growing up with conditions that are associated with acquired brain injury, efficient neuropsychological screening for cognitive deficits is pivotal. Brief self-report measures concerning daily complaints can play an important role in such screening. We translated and adapted the pediatric perceived cognitive functioning (PedsPCF) self- and parent-report item bank to Dutch. This study presents (1) psychometric properties, (2) a new short form, and (3) normative data for the short form.

Methods:

A general population sample of children and parents was recruited. Dimensionality of the PedsPCF was assessed using confirmatory factor analyses and exploratory bifactor analyses. Item response theory (IRT) modeling was used to evaluate model fit of the PedsPCF, to identify differential item functioning (DIF), and to select items for the short form. To select short-form items, we also considered the neuropsychological content of items.

Results:

In 1441 families, a parent and/or child participated (response rate 66% at family level). Assessed psychometric properties were satisfactory and the predominantly unidimensional factor structure of the PedsPCF allowed for IRT modeling using the graded response model. One item showed meaningful DIF. For the short form, 10 items were selected.

Conclusions:

In this first study of the PedsPCF outside the United States, studied psychometric properties of the translated PedsPCF were satisfactory, and allowed for IRT modeling. Based on the IRT analyses and the content of items, we proposed a new 10-item short form. Further research should determine the relation of PedsPCF outcomes with neurocognitive measures and its ability to facilitate neuropsychological screening in clinical practice.
Free Will
Authors: Vesey Godfrey , Griffiths A. Phillips
Published: June 2019

As a rule we treat people as responsible for what they do. We admonish them if they behave badly, praise them if they do well. We punish people. And we reward them.

There are exceptions, of course. For example, we do not punish someone for doing something he has been compelled to do, perhaps by having a gun in his back. And we even recognize such a thing as psychological compulsion, as in the case of kleptomania.
Folk Psychology and the Biological Basis of Intersubjectivity
Authors: Ratcliffe Matthew
Published: June 2019

Recent philosophical discussions of intersubjectivity generally start by stating or assuming that our ability to understand and interact with others is enabled by a ‘folk psychology’ or ‘theory of mind’. Folk psychology is characterized as the ability to attribute intentional states, such as beliefs and desires, to others, in order to predict and explain their behaviour. Many authors claim that this ability is not merely one amongst many constituents of interpersonal understanding but an underlying core that enables social life. For example, Churchland states that folk psychology ‘embodies our baseline understanding’ of others (1996, p. 3). Currie and Sterelny similarly assert that ‘our basic grip on the social world depends on our being able to see our fellows as motivated by beliefs and desires we sometimes share and sometimes do not’ (2000, p. 143). And, as Frith and Happe put it, ‘this ability appears to be a prerequisite for normal social interaction: in everyday life we make sense of each other's behaviour by appeal to a belief-desire psychology’ (1999, p. 2).
The possible use of the alkenes (unsaturated hydrocarbons) of plant cuticular wax as diet composition markers in sheep
Authors: Dove H. , Oliván M.
Published: June 2019

The objective of the current study was to investigate the possible use of alkenes (unsaturated hydrocarbons) of plant waxes as diet composition markers in sheep. Twenty-four sheep (30 kg live weight) were housed in individual pens (n=16, “pen” sheep) or in metabolism crates (n=8, “crate” sheep) for the total collection of faeces. Once daily, sheep were fed 720 g DM of a two-component diet consisting of a roughage source (chaffed perennial ryegrass) and a high-quality supplement (unpelleted sunflower meal, SFM) in different proportions, 7:1, 6:2, 5:3 and 4:4 (4 pen sheep and 2 crate sheep/treatment). SFM was labelled with a solution of beeswax to provide an alkane/ alkene profile different from the chaff. Diet composition was estimated from C27, C29, C31 and C33 alkene concentrations in diet and faeces (total faeces or rectal grab samples), using the least-squares package ‘EatWhat’. Estimates were conducted with or without correction of faecal alkane concentrations for incomplete faecal recovery, calculated from the alkene intakes and faecal outputs in the crate sheep.

Although the faecal alkene recoveries of alkenes were low, they did not differ between chain lengths for alkenes C27 to C33. Therefore in cage sheep, alkene-based estimates of SFM proportions, with or without faecal recovery correction, did not differ significantly from the proportions fed and were as accurate as earlier alkane-based estimates. In pen sheep, SFM proportions estimated from rectal grab samples were slightly but significantly over-estimated, regardless of whether or not recovery corrections were used. The over-estimates were not related to recovery corrections but to the small differences in concentrations between rectal grab samples from pen sheep and the total faeces from cage sheep. The lack of effect of recovery corrections does not mean they should be excluded from such calculations, as there may be situations in which there is an effect of carbon-chain length on alkene recovery. Use of recovery corrections also permits an estimate of whole-diet digestibility.

The present results indicate that alkenes could be useful additional markers to the alkanes for estimating the proportion of two dietary components in diets offered to sheep.
Degradation characteristics of stover of ‘criollo’ maize varieties used as forage in smallholder maize-livestock production systems of Central Mexico, in different growing periods
Authors: Estrada-Flores J. , Castelán-Ortega O. , Martínez-Silva N. , Vieyra-Santiago A. , Sánchez-Colín A. , González-Ronquillo M. , Arriaga-Jordán C.
Published: June 2019

The objective of this work was to determine the rumen degradation characteristics over the growing season of maize stover in two contrasting zones in the central highlands of Mexico. Twenty four maize plots were selected, three harvest periods P1, P2, and P3 were established in order to evaluate degradation characteristics at different development stages, for ‘criollo’ maize varieties of three grain colours (white, yellow and black) representing different cultivation practices given their different growing cycles. In vitro gas production (GP) incubations were carried out, and cumulative gas volumes were fitted to the Krishnamoorthy, Soller, Steingass and Menke (1991) model. The results indicate that more research is needed to evaluate why maize degradability and fermentation characteristics as exemplified by this work are not greatly affected by time.
Prediction of DMD from gas production for substrates with high and low soluble carbohydrate content
Authors: Nogueira Ú.T. , Maurício R. M. , Gonçalves L. C. , Rodrigues N. M. , Pereira L. G. R. , Dhanoa M. S.
Published: June 2019

Sugar cane and maize silage samples were evaluated by the semi automated in vitro gas production technique. The associations between gas production and dry matter degradation (DMD) were analysed and high coefficients of determination were obtained for all the substrates. The results showed that particles losses could be influencing the DMD, including errors mostly when obtained before 6 hours of incubation. The gas alone could better predict the lag phase than the DMD before 6 hours of incubation.
Effect of rumen emptying on biting rate of cows grazingBrachiaria brizanthaat three stocking rates in Yucatán, México
Authors: Grajalez-Zepeda R. , Ayala-Burgos A.J. , Ramírez-Aviléz L. , Aguilar-Pérez C. , Puerto-Nájera J.L.
Published: June 2019

The experiment was carried out in the east of Yucatán, in pastures ofB. brizantha. It was of three months duration during the end of the rainy season. Four rumen cannulated cows with an average weight of 442 kg were used at all of three stocking rates: Low (2LU/ha), Medium (4LU/ha) and High (6LU/ha), to evaluate the effect of an empty rumen on the rate of biting, which was measured as the time taken to take 20 uninterrupted bites on ten occasions. The measurements were made on two sequential days at 09.00 h, the first under normal conditions, the second with an empty rumen. There was no effect (P<0.050 of rumen emptying on the rate of biting which was 24 bites per minute when the animals were normal, and 25 bites a minute when the rumen was empty. On the other hand, there was a reduction of 8% in the rate of biting for the animals at the high stocking rate compared with the low and medium stocking rates. The finding that bite rate was not affected by an empty the rumen is evidence which gives confidence in the use of cannulated animals as collectors of representative samples of forage under grazing conditions.
Combining in vitro data and modelling to predict in vivo animal response
Authors: Dijkstra Jan , France James
Published: June 2019

Existing feed evaluation systems for ruminants assess the feed value in a rather empirical way, with a limited ability to integrate metabolism in a meaningful framework. For the quantitative description of the mechanisms, appropriate biological data can be obtained using in vitro methods. The aim of this paper is to examine the use of modelling and in vitro data to predict digestion processes in vivo. Suitable mathematical methods are required to describe and interpret substrate disappearance profiles or gas production profiles. The derivation of such models is important since this allows a clear definition of the underlying assumptions made. Such assumptions are related to the change in fractional rate of degradation (kd) during incubation that will determine the shape of the profile. Furthermore, the value of the fractional passage rate (kp) is of crucial importance in the prediction of extent of degradation in the rumen. The development and application of models, based on classic microbial growth equations, clearly shows that observed variation in microbial efficiency in batch cultures (including the gas production technique) is not necessarily related to that in vivo. Rather, kp is again a major factor contributing to explanation of variation in microbial efficiency. Similarly, the end products of fermentation (VFA) and the VFA molar proportions can be estimated in vitro, but its direct applicability to the in vivo situation is limited. It is concluded that some potential uses of in vitro techniques are ultimately misleading. Mechanistic models indicate that mechanisms governing microbial efficiency and VFA molar proportions in vitro are not necessarily valid for the in vivo situation. Therefore, the in vitro data cannot be used directly for a uniform system of feed evaluation to predict animal responses. Rather, the in vitro data obtained for substrate degradation may be used in whole rumen models as a basal input value to indicate the degradation potential.
Consequences for immune function of metabolic adaptations to load
Authors: Sinclair M. C. , Nielsen B. L. , Oldham J. D. , Reid H. W.
Published: June 2019

Prolonged periods of stress have been associated with impaired immune function; the experiment reported here investigates a potential link between level of metabolic load and immune function in lactating dairy cattle. A group of 111 Holstein-Friesian dairy cows was used. The cows belonged to one of two genetic lines: a selection line (S) with high genetic merit for fat plus protein yield and an unselected control line (C). The cows were offered one of two silage-based total mixed diets containing either 200 g (LC) or 450 g (HC) of concentrate per kg dry matter. Combination of genetic selection and food gave four groups: S-LC, S-HC, C-LC and C-HC. All cows were inoculated with a live attenuated BHV-1 vaccine soon after parturition and the primary antibody response in whey monitored. The number of BHV-1 antibody positive cows was not significantly different between the four groups; but, the initial antibody response was lower in cows of high genetic merit which were given a low concentrate diet. Statistical analysis demonstrated that the contribution of diet to this effect was highly significant. One year later, again after parturition, the experiment was repeated, this time using serum as the test sample. The average antibody response of the BHV-1 antibody positive cows was not significantly different between the four groups but the number of antibody positive cows was group-dependent. In conclusion, diet type but not genetic merit for high fat plus protein yield made a highly significant contribution to the antibody response of dairy cows to BHV-1 vaccination, both initially and a year later.
The effect of cow genetic index and grass-based feeding system on the performance of spring-calving Holstein-Friesian cows in second lactation
Authors: Dillon P. , Buckley F. , Snijders S. , Crosse S.
Published: June 2019

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of both cow genetic index (CGI) and feeding system on the performance of second lactation Holstein-Friesian dairy cows on grass-based feeding systems. There was no interaction between CGI and feeding system for any of the parameters measured. Cows of high genetic index (HGI) produced significantly higher yields of milk (P < 0.001), fat (P < 0.001) protein (P < 0.0001) and lactose (P < 0.001) than medium genetic index cows (MGI). CGI had no effect on the concentration of milk constituents. Averaged across four intake measurements the HGI cows had significantly (P < 0.001) higher grass dry-matter intake (GDMI) and total dry-matter intake (TDMI). Live weight was similar for both genotypes during lactation. The HGI cows had significantly (P < 0.05) higher live-weight loss in the first 10 weeks of lactation, significantly lower live-weight gain from week 10 to the end of lactation and higher (P < 0.05) live-weight gain during the dry period. Condition score was significantly lower with the HGI (P < 0.001) at all stages of lactation. There was a higher proportion (P < 0.05) of the HGI cows non-pregnant at the end of the 13-week breeding season. Feeding system had a significant effect on the yield of milk (P < 0.001), fat (P < 0.001), protein (P < 0.001) and lactose (P < 0.001). Feeding system B produced significantly higher (P < 0.05) milk yield and yield of constituents (when compared with feeding systems A and C). Over the period when feeding systems were being applied, feeding system C had significantly higher (P < 0.05) milk protein concentration. Feeding system had a significant effect (P < 0.001) on both GDMI and TDMI. Feeding system had no effect on live weight, condition score or fertility performance.
Relationships between energy balance and health traits of dairy cattle in early lactation
Authors: Collard B. L. , Boettcher P. J. , Dekkers J. C. M. , Schaeffer L. R. , Petitclerc D.
Published: June 2019

Data were records of daily food intake and milk production, periodic measures of milk composition and all health and reproductive information from 140 multiparous Holstein cows involved in various experiments at the Agriculture Canada dairy research station in Lennoxville, Quebec. Energy concentrations of the total mixed rations were also available. Daily energy balance was calculated by multiplying the food intake by the concentration of energy in the diet and then subtracting from this quantity the expected (National Research Council) amount of energy required for maintenance (based on parity and body weight) and for milk production (based on yield and concentrations of fat, protein and lactose). Four energy balance traits were defined: (1) average daily energy balance within the first 10 to 100 days of lactation, (2) minimum daily energy balance, (3) days in negative energy balance and (4) total energy deficit during the period of negative energy balance. Health traits were the numbers of incidences of each of the following: (1) all udder problems, (2) mastitis, (3) all locomotive problems, (4) laminitis, (5) digestive problems and (6) reproductive problems. Reproductive traits were the number of days to first observed oestrous and number of inseminations. Phenotypic relationships between energy balance and health were investigated by regressing the energy balance traits on each health trait. Parity and treatment (according to the research trial that the cow was involved with) were also included in the model. Genetic parameters were estimated with restricted maximum likelihood and a model that included effects of parity, treatment and animal. Phenotypically, several significant (P<0.10) relationships between energy balance and health were observed. Cows with longer periods of negative energy balance had increased digestive problems. Cows with greater total energy deficit had more digestive problems and laminitis. Estimates of heritabilities for energy intake and milk energy were 0.42 and 0.12, respectively but estimates of heritability for all energy balance traits were zero. The low estimates for these traits may have been due to (1) low true additive genetic variance, (2) small amount of data, or (3) relatively few genetic ties among cows.
Advance care planning in different settings for people with dementia: A systematic review and narrative synthesis
Authors: Kelly Adele J. , Luckett Tim , Clayton Josephine M. , Gabb Liam , Kochovska Slavica , Agar Meera
Published: June 2019

Background

Advance care planning (ACP) is identified as being an important process for people with dementia. However, its efficacy for improving outcomes relevant for the individual, carers and the health system has yet to be established.

Aim

We conducted a systematic review with the aims of testing the efficacy of ACP for people with dementia and describing the settings and population in which it has been evaluated.

Methods

A search was completed of electronic databases in August 2016. Articles were included if they described interventions aimed at increasing planning for future care of people with dementia, delivered to the person with dementia, their carers and/or health professionals.

Results

Of 4,772 articles returned by searches, 30 met the inclusion criteria, testing interventions in nursing home (n= 16) community (n = 10) and acute care (n = 4) settings. Only 18 interventions directly involved the person with dementia, with the remainder focusing on surrogate decision-makers. In all settings, interventions were found effective in increasing ACP practice. In nursing homes, ACP was found to influence care and increase the concordance between end of life wishes and care provided. Interventions in the community were found to improve patient quality of life but were not shown to influence concordance.

Conclusion

Future research should focus on ways to involve people with dementia in decision-making through supported means.
Inclusive Publics and Modern Technologies: An Introduction to Three
Essays on Early Twentieth-Century American Opera
Authors: ANDRÉ NAOMI
Published: June 2019

The three essays brought together in this cluster are immersed in themes that
characterize “Americanness” in the twentieth century. They provide
a microcosm of critical issues that define opera in the United States during
these first decades when the nation helped shape the creation of opera rather
than principally being a site for importing European works. Although most of the
composers discussed in these articles were born in Europe (Giacomo Puccini, Paul
Hindemith, and Ernst Krenek) and only a few in the United States (Marc
Blitzstein and George Antheil), all of them spent significant time in the United
States, and all of the works discussed are either set in the United States,
utilize American characters, or tied to important American themes.
Organic matter degradation of concentrate ingredients determined with the nylon bag and gas production techniques
Authors: Cone J.W. , van Gelder A.H. , Bachmann H. , Hindle V.A.
Published: June 2019

The nylon bag technique is the standard technique used in many feed evaluation systems for ruminants. As the rate and extent of fermentation can also be determined with the gas production technique, this technique offers a potentially good alternative. Cone et al. (1998) showed that there was a good relationship between rate of degradation determined with the nylon bag technique and rate of gas production for organic matter and NDF in grass and grass silage. The aim of this study was to determine the possibilities for estimating nylon bag characteristics and calculation of the amount of fermentable organic matter (FOM) of concentrate ingredients with gas production parameters.
Non-additivity of feedstuffs examined in vitro and the influence of incubation medium pH
Authors: Mould F.L. , Colomabtto D. , Hervas G. , Ibrir F. , Owen E. , Reynolds C.K.
Published: June 2019

Non-additivity occurs when the nutritive value of a mixture of feedstuffs differs from that of the sum of its components. It is most commonly observed when one dietary constituent influences, either positively or negatively, the apparent digestibility of another under conditions where components such as nitrogen and sulphur are non-limiting. In general negative effects occur due to the depression of rumen pH or substrate competition, while positive effects have been identified when readily fermentable fibre sources such as sugar beet pulp have been included in rations containing poorly fermented forages such as cereal straw. With the increasing use of in vitro systems, not just to examine feed degradation characteristics but to derive parameters such as microbial protein yield, the following study was conducted to determine whether such interactions could be identified in vitro.
Effect of zeolite nutrition on rumen ecosystem in dairy cow
Authors: Moghaddam G , Taghizadeh A.
Published: June 2019

Feeding dairy cows diet formulation by zeolite has been reported improved the efficiency of milk yield (Roussel, 1992). Lupez et al (1992) reported that efficiency of ion exchange in rumen was improved When animals fed with diets containing zeolite. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of zeolite concentration on rumen pH, liquid smell, bacterial flora, protozoa number, methylene blue reduction time and the sedimentation and flotation period.
The effect of varying lengths of chopped straw bedding on the behaviour of growing pigs
Authors: Day J. E. L. , Chamberlain H. , Spoolder H. A. M. , Edwards S. A.
Published: June 2019

Legislation in the United Kingdom states that all pigs should have access to straw or other material or object suitable to satisfy their behavioural needs (Welfare of Livestock Regulations, 1994). However, the use of straw bedding has not been universally adopted as its use is incompatible with housing systems which contain perforated flooring, and 76% of pig producers in the UK currently employ fully- or part-slatted finishing housing systems. The aim of this study was to investigate whether different lengths of chopped straw would achieve enhancements in pig welfare, by exploring the possibility that small quantities of chopped straw, in preference to unchopped straw, could constitute adequate provision in part- and fully-slatted systems, thus avoiding the blockage of perforated flooring.
Lactational responses to energy and protein supplies during the dry period in dairy cows
Authors: Jaurena G. , Moorby J. M. , Fisher W. J. , Davies D. W. R.
Published: June 2019

Nutritional manipulation during the dry period can alter subsequent animal responses to feeding in terms of milk yield and composition. Previous research has shown interesting differences in milk production and composition due to energy or protein supply in the dry period (Moorbyet al., 1996). The objective of this experiment was to test the interaction between energy and protein supplies during the dry period on subsequent milk production and composition. Effects on live weight gains and condition scores are reported in a separate summary (Jaurenaet al., 2001).
Evaluation of dual-purpose cows on a seasonal grass-based system of milk production
Authors: Buckley F. , Dillon P. , Evans R.D. , Mee J.F.
Published: June 2019

In recent years the relevance of continued selection for higher milk yield alone has been questioned for three reasons (Simm, 1998): 1) the introduction of milk quotas in some countries, 2) the now well documented deleterious effect of selection for yield on health and fertility (Pryce and Veerkamp, 2001), and, 3) the increased emphasis in payment schemes in many countries on milk composition. The purpose of this study was to measure the biological efficiency of two dual-purpose breeds (Montbeliarde (MB) and Normande (NR)) relative to two Holstein-Friesian strains (upgraded Irish Holstein-Friesian (CL) and Dutch Holstein-Friesian (HF)) on a spring-calving milk production system based mainly on grazed grass as a feed.
The use of phytase in finishing pig diets
Authors: McCann M.E.E. , McCracken K.J. , Beattie V.E. , Henry W. , Smyth S. , Bradford R.
Published: June 2019

Phosphorus (P) is an essential mineral for pigs and deficiency can cause rickets, osteomalacia or osteoporosis and has been associated with poor fertility and production performance. Traditionally P has been supplied in the inorganic form as the organic form found in cereal grain (phytic acid) is unavailable to pigs as they lack endogenous phytase. Dietary phytases have been shown to play a major role in pig diets, releasing P from phytic acid thus decreasing the need for supplementary P and reducing P excretion (Harper et al 1997). Phytase supplementation has also been reported to improve digestibility of nitrogen, calcium, magnesium, zinc and copper (Jongbloed et al 1993). Some researchers (e.g. Jongbloed and Kemme 1990) suggest that diet processing may reduce enzyme activity and therefore liquid enzyme products have been developed which can be applied after processing. The aims of this study were to examine the effectiveness of several phytase products (including dry vs. liquid) in improving overall digestibility and reducing excretion of P and other nutrients.
Influence of dietary protein supply on resistance to infection with Haemonchus contortus in Ile de France and Santa Ines lambs
Authors: Bricarello P. A. , Amarante A.F.T. , Houdijk J.G.M. , Rocha R.A. , Filho S.L. Cabral , Gennari S.M.
Published: June 2019

Anthelmintic resistance is rapidly increasing in the tropical and subtropical regions of Latin America, indicating the necessity for studies on alternative for the control of gastrointestinal nematodes in sheep. Protein supplementation has long been known to improve the resilience and resistance to gastrointestinal nematodes (Coop and Holmes, 1996). However, such effects of protein supplementation may differ between breeds of sheep. Santa Ines young sheep show higher resistance against natural infections with gastrointestinal nematodes than Ile de France and Suffolk sheep (Amarante, 2002). The purpose of this experiment was to determine whether a high level of soybean meal in the diet could improve the resistance to Haemonchus contortus in Ile de France and Santa Ines lambs.
Inclusion of varying levels of papaya (Carica papaya) pomace in concentrate mixtures on nutrient utilization in native male buffaloes
Authors: Rao D. S. , Ramesh A. , Parthasarathy M.
Published: June 2019

India occupies 2nd position in the world with a total fruit production of 42 million tonnes. Papaya (Carica papaya) fruit production in India is 1.3 million tonnes. After extraction of juice from fruit, around 25-30% of the processed fruit is left as waste containing skins and seeds, called as papaya pomace. Generally this goes as a waste causing environmental pollution and if utilized properly will contribute to national economy and reduce pollution effect. Available information on chemical composition and utilization of papaya skins in feeding growing pullets (Fouzder et al., 1999) indicate the potential value of papaya pomace for animal feeding. In view of paucity of information on papaya pomace utilization in animal feeding, an attempt was made to study the effect of inclusion of varying levels of papaya pomace in concentrate mixtures on the nutrient utilization in native male buffaloes.
Differences in mammary gland weight and litter performance between Large White sows selected for different traits
Authors: Whitehead S. C. , Miller H. M. , Penny P. C.
Published: June 2019

Genetic selection has increased pig lean tissue growth rate, the most extreme animals comprising the ‘sire’ lines of breeding stock. However such improvement has not been without cost in other areas of production. Sire line sows are characterised by smaller litters with poorer pre-weaning growth rates than dam line sows of the same breed. The aim of this experiment was to determine whether reduced pre-weaning growth rate of sire line piglets was due to poor lactation performance of the sow or reduced vitality of sire line piglets.
The effect of severity and duration of early feed restriction on feed intake, body weight gain and feed conversion ratio of male broiler chickens
Authors: Najafabadi H. Jahanian , Golian A. , Shahroudi F. Eftekhari
Published: June 2019

One method of reducing feed cost is to restrict the feed in the early life of broilers. In this regard, Fontana et al. (1992) reported that early feed restriction programs in their experiments proportionally reduced the consumption of the starter diets by an average of 22% in restricted broilers when compared with controls. Energy restriction has also been shown to result in a reduction in metabolic energy loss leading to a reduced requirement for maintenance. If during refeeding, this low requirement is maintained and if growth resumed at a normal or above normal rate (compensatory growth), feed efficiency would be substantially improved, leading to an economical advantage. This experiment was conducted to determine the effect of severity of diet dilution (energy and protein) and duration of early feed restriction on feed intake (FI), body weight gain (BWG) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) of male broiler chickens.
Effect of the physical form of a lipid supplement on the polyunsaturated fatty acids, including conjugated linoleic acid, in muscle tissues of red deer and sheep
Authors: Romero-Perez G. A. , Mayes R. W. , Scaife J. R. , Milne J .A.
Published: June 2019

Proportions of polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) in ruminant tissues are generally low as dietary PUFA including linoleic acid (LA) and α-linolenic acid (ALA) undergo biohydrogenation to stearic acid in the rumen. Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) is formed during biohydrogenation as an intermediate metabolite. Feeding PUFA-rich sources can enhance deposition in the tissues of ruminants (Bolte et al, 2002), but the degree of lipid hydrogenation may depend on the source form and the ruminant species (Rowell-Schäffer et al, 2001). Bolte et al, (2002) showed that oilseed-fed sheep had higher PUFA proportions in their tissues than sheep fed a beet pulp-based diet but Rowell-Schäffer et al (2001) found in deer tissues higher PUFA proportions than in those of sheep. Possible effects of the form of the lipid source and the ruminant species on the fatty acids deposited were tested.
Effect of dietary alpha-linolenic acid and linoleic acid level on growth performance, carcass and meat characteristics of Thai indigenous growing pigs
Authors: Mitchaothai Jamlong , Yuangklang Chalermpon , Everts Hendrik , Vasupen Kraisit , Wongsuthavas Sasiphan , Srenanul Paiwan , Beynen Anton C.
Published: June 2019

Presently, indigenous pig farming is relatively growing in Thailand, because Thai consumers increasingly prefer the meat of indigenous pigs. Generally, indigenous pigs tend to store more fat in their carcass than pigs of commercial breeds. The nature of the dietary fat source may have an effect on fat deposition processes in indigenous pigs and subsequently on carcass and meat characteristics. For example, alpha-linolenic acid (ALA, C18:3, n-3) is an essential polyunsaturated fatty acid that is more preferentially oxidized in the body than linoleic acid (LA, C18:2, n-6) and other fatty acids. Therefore, the supplementation of ALA in pig diets should have a more beneficial effect on animal performance than LA supplementation. However, some adverse effects, e.g. meat characteristics, might result from a higher level of ALA supplementation as well. Thus, the aim of this study was to specify the effect of dietary supplementation of ALA versus LA on growth performance, carcass and meat characteristics of pigs.
The effect of grouping early lactation dairy heifers solely with heifers or with multiparous cows on eating, ruminating and resting behaviour
Authors: Payne E. J. , Aikman P. C.
Published: June 2019

Physiological challenges facing newly-calved heifers include parturition, adaptation to a concentrate-rich diet and a negative energy balance caused by the demands of lactation and continued growth. In addition, animals are subject to considerable psychological stress caused by new surroundings, social interactions with new herdmates and increased human contact. Abnormal behaviour, including prolonged time spent standing and reduced eating and rumination activity, may result from these combined challenges and contributes to further problems. The objective of this study was to assess the effect of housing early-lactation heifers solely with other heifers or in a mixed-parity group on the quantity and timing of eating, ruminating, lying, standing and stall use.
Effect of body condition score at calving and diet energy content post calving on the fertility of dairy cows during early and mid-lactation
Authors: Law RA , Young FJ , Patterson DC , Mayne CS
Published: June 2019

Poor reproductive performance is a major problem when considering the sustainability of the modern high yielding dairy cow, with reproductive costs being estimated at £500 million per annum across UK dairy herds (Lamming et al., 1998). Armstrong et al., (2001) stated that poor nutrition causes delayed puberty, aberrant oestrous cycles, lowered conception rates and reduced calf birth weight. Excessive and prolonged negative energy balance (NEB) has, on numerous occasions, been suggested as a major contributor to poor fertility and subsequent increased culling rates. In the present study the effects of a range of dietary treatments on energy balance and reproductive performance were evaluated.
The effect of altering the plane of nutrition during different stages of the life cycle on beef cattle performance
Authors: Lively F.O. , Keady T.W.J. , Kirkland R.M. , Kilpatrick D.J. , Dawson L.E.R.
Published: June 2019

The future economic viability of beef production will require improved efficiency, reduced costs of production and ultimately cost-efficient carcass gain throughout the lifetime of the animal. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of plane of nutrition during the first winter growth phase, turnout date, stocking rate, concentrate supplementation at pasture and second winter finishing phase on lifetime performance.
Effects of lucerne hay and barley grain particle sizes on chewing activity, rumen pH and milk composition of Holstein dairy cows
Authors: Bayat A.R. , Valizadeh R. , Nasserian A.A.
Published: June 2019

NRC (2001) recommended 250 g/kg dietary neutral detergent fibre (NDF) with a minimum of 190 g/kg dietary forage NDF to prevent milk fat depression. This recommendation does not account for the differences in forage particle size. The forage particle size requirements of dairy cows fed barley grain-based diets can differ from those fed maize grain-based diets (Yang and Beauchemin, 2006). The objective of this experiment was to evaluate the effects of lucerne hay and barley grain particle sizes on chewing activity, rumen pH, milk yield and milk composition using barley grain-based diets.