bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
La mise en scène d'un drame intérieur dans le poèmeSur le péché origineld'Avit de Vienne
Authors: Deproost Paul-Augustin
Published: August 2016

Le deuxième livre de laGeste de l'histoire spirituellepubliée par l'évêque gallo-romain Avit de Vienne au début du VIesiècle apparaît, en réalité, comme le cœur d'une trilogie hexamétrique consacrée aux premiers instants bibliques de l'histoire du monde et des hommes, et que l'on a parfois comparée auParadis perdude Milton. Dès le premier vers de ce livre, le poète prend soin de rattacher le sujet du péché originel à la longue méditation initialeSur le début du monde, jusque dans l'emploi d'un adverbe temporel de transition qui marque le début du récit,interea. Par ailleurs, comme l'a observé Michael Roberts, la longue digression finale sur l'épisode de la femme de Lot et de la destruction de Sodome et Gomorre, qui occupe quatre-vingt-un vers du deuxième livre, assure la transition entre le sujet majeur de ce livre, à savoir la lutte qui oppose Ève au serpent, et le problème de la culpabilité d'Adam, qui sera débattu au troisième livre: la femme de Lot est, comme Ève, une autre «fouineuse de malheurs», mais à l'inverse de la première femme, elle n'est pas parvenue à séduire son «propre Adam». Un peu à la manière des décors simultanés en usage dans le drame médiéval, le récit principal se double ici d'un récit secondaire qui annonce recentrage au livre III sur l’évaluation de la complicité d’Adam et Ève dans la faute. Parmi d'autres détails qui confirment le lien entre cet épisode adventice du livre II et le livre III, la malédiction de Dieu contre le sol des deux cités condamnées est un exemple particulier de cet espace de punition et d'illusions qu'est devenue la terre depuis la sentence de Dieu contre Adam; du reste, le châtiment de Sodome réapparaît explicitement au livre III comme une figure du feu éternel qui attend les damnés à la fin des temps.
Early Medieval Prayers Addressed to the Trinity in the Ordo Missae of Sigebert of Minden
Authors: Pierce Joanne M.
Published: August 2016

An important area of investigation in both historical and contemporary liturgical theology is the relationship between the theology of liturgy and the theology of the Trinity. Liturgical theologians are beginning to examine more closely the intrinsic trinitarian grounding of Christian worship and prayer. Systematic theologians, for their part, have explored various aspects of sacramental and liturgical theology as the foundation of a full and fruitful exploration of trinitarian theology.
Greek Uncial Fragments in the Library of Congress in Washington
Authors: Werner Jaeger
Published: August 2016

There is preserved in the Rare Book Department of the Library of Congress in Washington a sheet of parchment comprising two folia of a medieval manuscript, each covered on both sides with Greek text in uncial script. Seymour de Ricci, in his Census of Medieval and Renaissance Manuscripts in the United States and Canada (N. Y. 1935, I, 211), lists this unique and precious fragment and describes it as follows:

‘Library of Congress, ms. no. 60: Sermons, in Greek. Vel. (VIIIth c.), 2 ff. only (27 × 20 cm.), the 2 outer of a quire, 36 lines to a page, written in sloping uncials….

Obtained in 1929 … from Casella of Naples (Ms. Ac. 4189, 10, nn. 1–6); certainly of South-Italian origin.’

The catalogue does not undertake to identify the author of the text.
The Tribal Hidage
Authors: Russell Josiah Cox
Published: August 2016

The Tribal Hidage is a list of about thirty tribes of Anglo-Saxon England together with the number of lands of one family (hides) belonging to each tribe. Historians agree that it is a seventh or eighth century Mercian document so difficult to understand that it is a ‘puzzle’ and ‘a mysterious catalogue—barely intelligible’. Part of the mystery is caused by failure to identify even large tribes in the list, and perhaps more mystery is produced by the inability to fit the data into its alleged historical setting. As a piece of literature it belongs to the intellectual movement sometimes known as the Mercian Renaissance which has received little attention. The great epic, Beowulf, has recently been assigned to it, and another, Widsith, falls in the same period. Alfred drew a majority of his scholars from Mercia. This Mercian Renaissance is thus worth further study for its general significance, but it has a peculiar interest for students of the Tribal Hidage as the environment for this singular document. It is the thesis of this study that the Tribal Hidage, although a Mercian survival, is actually a revision of data of the time of Aethelbert of Kent of about 590 A.D. and that it gives a valuable picture of the political divisions of England of that important time.
L'organisation Scolaire au XIIe Siècle
Authors: Delhaye Philippe
Published: August 2016

Les auteurs latins du XIIe siècle s'imposent de plus en plus à l'attention des historiens de la philosophie et de la théologie médiévales, tant pour leurs propres mérites que par leur influence sur les grandes synthèses du XIIIe siècle. Beaucoup de leurs oeuvres ont un caractère scolaire trés marqué. Nombre d'entre elles ont été enseignées avant d'être livrées au public sous forme de travaux littéraires. Il importe donc pour les comprendre pleinement de les remettre dans leur cadre originel et de les éclairer par ce que nous savons de l'organisation scolaire de cette époque.
Adenulf von Anagni, Propst von Saint-Omer (†1290): Ein Freund und Schüler des hl. Thomas von Aquin
Authors: Grabmann Von Martin
Published: August 2016

Eine überaus anziehende und edle Gestalt aus der Scholastik des 13.Jahrhunderts und aus dem Freundes- und Schülerkreis des hl. Thomas ist Adenulf von Anagni, Propst von Saint-Omer und Professor an der Universität Paris. Er ist bis auf die neueste Zeit wenig beachtet worden. Erst G. Mollat hat aus früheren Mitteilungen der Gallia christiana, des Recueil des historiens des Gaules et de la France, aus der Histoire littéraire de la France, aus den Papstregistern u.s.w. ein zuverlässiges Bild des Lebens und Schrifttums dieses Scholastikers aus dem Weltklerus gezeichnet. Desgleichen hat nachher P.Glorieux in seinen heiden für die theologische Literaturgeschichte der Scholastik so wertvollen Werken über die Pariser Theologieprofessoren des 13. Jahrhunderts und über die Quodlibetalienliteratur Leben und Schriften Adenulfs behandelt und ein Verzeichnis der Quaestionen seines Quodlibetum dargeboten.
A Note on the ‘De Nabuthae’ of St. Ambrose
Authors: Dressler Hermigild
Published: August 2016

In his edition of the De Nabuthae of St. Ambrose in the Vienna Corpus, C. Schenkl has noted many quotations and echoes from the homilies of St. Basil. In 1927, Professor McGuire in his doctoral dissertation on the De Nabuthae pointed out several more parallels which had escaped Schenkl's vigilant notice. To what is already known a few more pertinent notes can be added.
St. Patrick and the Snakes
Authors: Krappe Alexander H.
Published: August 2016

The miracle of the Apostle of Ireland leading to the expulsion of noxious reptiles from the Emerald Isle is, if not one of the best attested, at least one of the most widely known. In a brief study published some time ago, the writer pointed out that similar miracles are credited to quite a number of other holy men, the scene of their actions being, significantly enough, the Channel Islands and some islands on the French Riviera. The list might be considerably extended.
The Oldest Manuscript of the Georgian Annals: the Queen Anne Codex (QA), 1479–1495
Authors: Toumanoff Cyril
Published: August 2016

Simultaneously with the preparation by the present writer of his article on ‘Medieval Georgian Historical Literature (VIIth–XVth Centuries)’ the Historical Institute of the Georgian Academy of Sciences published the long-awaited text of the Queen Anne Codex of The Georgian Annals, the oldest version of that historical corpus so far discovered. This publication necessitates a few additions to, and corrections of, the above-mentioned article. This is the reason for this note.
Magnitude and frequency variations of vector-borne infection outbreaks using the Ross–Macdonald model: explaining and predicting outbreaks of dengue fever
Authors: AMAKU M. , AZEVEDO F. , BURATTINI M. N. , COELHO G. E. , COUTINHO F. A. B. , GREENHALGH D. , LOPEZ L. F. , MOTITSUKI R. S. , WILDER-SMITH A. , MASSAD E.
Published: August 2016

The classical Ross–Macdonald model is often utilized to model vector-borne infections; however, this model fails on several fronts. First, using measured (or estimated) parameters, which values are accepted from the literature, the model predicts a much greater number of cases than what is usually observed. Second, the model predicts a single large outbreak that is followed by decades of much smaller outbreaks, which is not consistent with what is observed. Usually towns or cities report a number of recurrences for many years, even when environmental changes cannot explain the disappearance of the infection between the peaks. In this paper, we continue to examine the pitfalls in modelling this class of infections, and explain that, if properly used, the Ross–Macdonald model works and can be used to understand the patterns of epidemics and even, to some extent, be used to make predictions. We model several outbreaks of dengue fever and show that the variable pattern of yearly recurrence (or its absence) can be understood and explained by a simple Ross–Macdonald model modified to take into account human movement across a range of neighbourhoods within a city. In addition, we analyse the effect of seasonal variations in the parameters that determine the number, longevity and biting behaviour of mosquitoes. Based on the size of the first outbreak, we show that it is possible to estimate the proportion of the remaining susceptible individuals and to predict the likelihood and magnitude of the eventual subsequent outbreaks. This approach is described based on actual dengue outbreaks with different recurrence patterns from some Brazilian regions.
On the Lower Tail Variational Problem for Random Graphs
Authors: ZHAO YUFEI
Published: August 2016

We study the lower tail large deviation problem for subgraph counts in a random graph. LetXHdenote the number of copies ofHin an Erdős–Rényi random graph$\mathcal{G}(n,p)$. We are interested in estimating the lower tail probability$\mathbb{P}(X_H \le (1-\delta) \mathbb{E} X_H)$for fixed 0 < δ < 1.

Thanks to the results of Chatterjee, Dembo and Varadhan, this large deviation problem has been reduced to a natural variational problem over graphons, at least forp≥n−αH(and conjecturally for a larger range ofp). We study this variational problem and provide a partial characterization of the so-called ‘replica symmetric’ phase. Informally, our main result says that for everyH, and 0 < δ < δHfor some δH> 0, asp→ 0 slowly, the main contribution to the lower tail probability comes from Erdős–Rényi random graphs with a uniformly tilted edge density. On the other hand, this is false for non-bipartiteHand δ close to 1.
Comparative Study Illustrating Difficulties Educating the Public to Respond to Chemical Terrorism
Authors: Hildebrand Sarah , Bleetman Anthony
Published: August 2016

Background:

In recent years, the perceived threat of chemical terrorism has increased. It is hoped that teaching civilians how to behave during a chemical incident will decrease the number of “worried well” patients at hospitals, reduce secondary contamination, and increase compliance with the instructions of emergency services. The governments of the United Kingdom and Israel sent booklets to every household in their respective countries. In Israel, the civilian population was issued chemical personal protective equipment (chemical personal protective equipment).

Methods:

The effectiveness of these public education programs was assessed using a scenario-based questionnaire that was distributed to 100 respondents in Birmingham, UK and Jerusalem, Israel. Respondents were asked how they would behave in three deliberate chemical release scenarios and how they would seek information and help.

Results:

Only 33% of the UK respondents and 22% of the Israeli respondents recalled reading the government booklets. When asked what they would do after being contaminated in a deliberate release, approximately half of the respondents ranked seeking medical care at a hospital as the most appropriate action.

The preferred sources of information in the wake of a chemical strike were (in descending order): radio, television, and the Internet. Approximately half of the respondents would call emergency services for information. Forty-one percent of the UK respondents and 33% of Israeli respondents stated that they either would call or go to the nearest hospital to seek information.

Conclusions:

The public information campaigns in both countries have had a limited impact. Many citizens claimed they would self-present to the nearest hospital following a chemical attack rather than waiting for the emergency services. A similar response was witnessed in the Sarin attacks in Tokyo and the 1991 Scud missile attacks in Israel.

Current UK doctrine mandates that specialist decontamination teams be deployed to the scene of a chemical release. However, this takes >1 hour, and it requires at least 30 minutes to don hospital chemical personal protective equipment. Therefore, it is imperative that hospitals are equipped to cope with unannounced self-presenters after a chemical attack. This requires chemical personal protective equipment and protocols that are easier to use.
Soft Tissue Infection after Missile Injuries to the Extremities–A Non-Randomized, Prospective Study in Gaza City
Authors: Hamouda Hazem M. , Witsø Eivind , Moghani Nedal K.E. , Shahwan Ahmed , Nygaard Øystein P.
Published: August 2016

Introduction:

Patients with soft tissue injuries caused by missile attacks during wartime have been treated with radical debridement and delayed closure. In a study in Gaza City, the rate of infection of missile injuries to the extremities when treated with minimal surgical intervention, was measured.

Methods:

Patients with severe soft tissue damage, compound fractures, and injuries to major blood vessels and/or nerves were excluded from the study. One hundred fourteen patients were treated according to a standardized regime that included a superficial, minor surgery revision of the inlet and the outlet opening, and antibiotic treatment. Local soft tissue infection was defined as the presence of at least two signs of local infection.

Results:

A total of 109 out of 114 patients attended the first follow-up visit. Eleven (10%) of these patients had an infected wound. A total of 105 of the patients (92%) attended a second follow-up. None of these patients had an infected wound.

Conclusions:

Under conditions with a high number of causalities, minimal surgical treatment followed by the administration of antibiotics is a safe procedure for patients with penetrating missile injuries and less severe soft tissue damage.
Mass-Gathering Medicine: A Review of the Evidence and Future Directions for Research
Authors: Arbon Paul
Published: August 2016

A review of mass-gathering medicine literature published by the Journal Prehospital and Disaster Medicine, demonstrates the progressive development of our knowledge and understanding of the health effects of mass gatherings and the strategies that appear to contribute positively to effective health services delivery during these events. In addition, the growing need for research that can underpin a more evidence-based approach to planning for and managing these events is apparent. The call for less descriptive and more critical and conceptual analyses has been increasing in volume and, it is argued, the challenge now is to apply research frameworks that can contribute more effectively to science-based, medical practice.
Distribution of Casualties in a Mass-Casualty Incident with Three Local Hospitals in the Periphery of a Densely Populated Area: Lessons Learned from the Medical Management of a Terrorist Attack
Authors: Bloch Yuval H. , Schwartz Dagan , Pinkert Moshe , Blumenfeld Amir , Avinoam Shkolnick , Hevion Giora , Oren Meir , Goldberg Avishay , Levi Yehezkel , Bar-Dayan Yaron
Published: August 2016

Introduction:

A mass-casualty incident (MCI) can occur in the periphery of a densely populated area, away from a metropolitan area. In such circumstances, the medical management of the casualties is expected to be difficult because the nearest hospital and the emergency medical services (EMS), only can offer limited resources.When coping with these types of events (i.e., limited medical capability in the nearby medical facilities), a quick response time and rational triage can have a great impact on the outcome of the victims. The objective of this study was to identify the lessons learned from the medical response to a terrorist attack that occurred on 05 December 2005, in Netanya, a small Israeli city.

Methods:

Data were collected during and after the event from formal debriefings and from patient files. The data were processed using descriptive statistics and compared to those from previous events. The event is described according to Disastrous Incidents Systematic Analysis Through Components, Interactions, Results (DISAST-CIR) methodology.

Results:

Four victims and the terrorist died as a result of this suicide bombing. A total of 131 patients were evacuated (by EMS or self-evacuation) to three nearby hospitals. Due to the proximity of the event to the ambulance dispatch station, the EMS response was quick.The first evacuation took place only three minutes after the explosion. Non-urgent patients were diverted to two close-circle hospitals, allowing the nearest hospital to treat urgent patients and to receive the majority of self-evacuated patients. The nearest hospital continued to receive patients for >6 hours after the explosion, 57 of them (78%) were self-evacuated.

Conclusion:

The distribution of casualties from the scene plays a vital role in the management of a MCI that occurs in the outskirts of a densely populated area.Non-urgent patients should be referred to a hospital close to the scene of the event, but not the closest hospital.The nearest hospital should be prepared to treat urgent casualties, as well as a large number of self-evacuated patients.
Impact of a Category-3 Hurricane on the Need for Surgical Hospital Care
Authors: Sjöberg Lina , Yearwood Robert
Published: August 2016

Introduction:

Hurricane Ivan, a strong category-3 hurricane, struck Grenada on 07 September 2004 and devastated the country. Grenada is a small, developing country, whose socio-economic environment and health service is typical of most countries located within the Caribbean hurricane belt. Previous reports describing the consequences of hurricanes on health-related issues have focused mainly on the experience of wealthier countries.

Objective:

The objective of this study was to document the types of patients and medical problems faced by a hospital surgical service as a result of a forceful hurricane in a developing country and to help surgical divisions in developing countries prepare for strong hurricanes.

Methods:

This is a retrospective study using medical records from the surgical ward of the Grenada General Hospital. Patients admitted to the surgical ward during the month following Ivan were assessed with respect to diagnosis, age, gender, and length of hospitalization. The patients admitted during the same period the previous year were used as a control group.

Results:

The effects of the hurricane included a significant increase in the proportion of patients seen for diabetic feet, gunshot wounds, and infections due to wounds. The median length of the treatment time increased by 25%. In 2004, the total number of patients was 185 and in 2003, there were 167 patients admitted.

Conclusions:

The results of this study indicate that preparations for future hurricanes should include securing the capacity to handle the increased needs for hospital care, and ensuring that stocks of medicines, such as insulin and antibiotics, are sufficient, properly stored, and easily available to patients (e.g., by storing medicine at hurricane shelters equipped with generators and cold storage facilities). Diabetics should be instructed to use proper footwear to reduce the risk of cuts from debris.
Police Officer Response to the Injured Officer: A Survey-Based Analysis of Medical Care Decisions
Authors: Sztajnkrycer Matthew D. , Callaway David W. , Baez Amado Alejandro
Published: August 2016

Introduction:

No widely accepted, specialized medical training exists for police officers confronted with medical emergencies while under conditions of active threat. The purpose of this study was to assess medical decisionmaking capabilities of law enforcement personnel under these circumstances.

Methods:

Web-based surveys were administered to all sworn officers within the county jurisdiction.Thirty-eight key actions were predetermined for nine injured officer scenarios, with each correct action worth one point.Descriptive statistics and t-tests were used to analyze results.

Results:

Ninety-seven officers (65.1% response rate) responded to the survey. The majority of officers (68.0%) were trained to the first-responder level. Overall mean score for the scenarios was 15.5 ±3.6 (range 7–25). A higher level of medical training (EMT-B/P versus first responder) was associated with a higher mean score (16.6 ±3.4, p = 0.05 vs. 15.0 ±3.6, p = 0.05).Tactical unit assignment was associated with a lower score compared with nonassigned officers (13.5 ±2.9 vs. 16.0 ±3.6, p = 0.0085).No difference was noted based upon previous military experience. Ninety-two percent of respondents expressed interest in a law enforcement-oriented advanced first-aid course.

Conclusions:

Tactical medical decision-making capability, as assessed through the nine scenarios, was sub-optimal. In this post 9/11 era, development of law enforcement-specific medical training appears appropriate.
Locking Plastic Tie—A Simple Technique for Securing a Chest Tube
Authors: Melamed Eitan , Blumenfeld Amir , Lin Guy
Published: August 2016

A quick and simple technique for securing a chest tube in the prehospital setting is described. The technique makes use of a plastic tie with a self-locking mechanism that is wrapped around the tube and sutured to the skin. The use of a plastic tie is recommended as a valuable component to chest tube kits for use in the prehospital setting.
Medical Care for a Mass Gathering: The Suwa Onbashira Festival
Authors: Yazawa Kazuyuki , Kamijo Yukihiro , Sakai Ryuichi , Ohashi Masahiko , Owa Mafumi
Published: August 2016

Introduction:

The Suwa Onbashira Festival is held every six years and draws approximately one million spectators from across Japan. Men ride the Onbashira pillars (logs) down steep slopes.At each festival, several people are crushed under the heavy log. During the 2004 festival, for the first time, a medical care system that coordinated a medical team, an emergency medical service, related agencies, and local hospitals was constructed.

Objective:

The aims of this study were to characterize the spectrum of injuries and illness and to evaluate the medical care system of this festival.

Methods:

The festival was held 02 April–10 May 2004. The medical records of all of the patients who presented to an on-site medical tent or who were treated at the scene and transported to hospitals over a 12-day period were reviewed.The following items were evaluated: (1) the emergency medical system at the festival; (2) the environmental circumstances; and (3) patient data.

Results:

All medical usage rates are reported as patients per 10,000 attendees (PPTT). A total 1.8 million spectators attended the festival during the 12-day study period; a total of 237 patients presented to the medical tent (1.32 PPTT), and 63 (27%) were transferred to hospitals (0.35 PPTT). Of the total, 135 (57%) suffered from trauma—two were severely injured with pelvic and cervical spine fractures; and 102 (43%) had medical problems including heat-related illness.

Conclusions:

Comprehensive medical care is essential for similar mass gatherings. The appropriate triage of patients can lead to efficient medical coverage.
Preparing for Burn Disasters: Predictors of Improved Perceptions of Competency after Mass Burn Care Training
Authors: Wetta-Hall Ruth , Berg-Copas Gina M. , Jost Janet Cusick , Jost Gary
Published: August 2016

Introduction:

Prehospital and community hospital healthcare providers in the United States must be prepared to respond to burn disasters. Continuing education is the most frequently utilized method of updating knowledge, skills, and competence among healthcare professionals. Since preparedness training must meet multiple educational demands, it is vital to understand how participants'work and educational experience and the program's content and delivery methods impact knowledge acquisition, and how learning influences confidence and competence to perform new skills.

Purpose:

The purpose of this exploratory, convenience sample study was to identify healthcare provider characteristics and continuing education training content areas that were predictive of self-reported improvement in competence after attending a mass-casualty burn disaster continuing education program.

Methods:

Logistic regression analysis of data from a post-training evaluation from nine, one-day continuing education conferences on mass burn care was used to identify factors associated with improved self-reported competency to respond to mass burn casualties.

Results:

The following factors were associated most closely with increased self-reported competency: (1) prehospital work setting (odds ratio (OR) = 3.06, confidence interval (CI) = 0.83–11.30, p = 0.09); (2) 11 or more years of practice (OR = 0.31, CI = 0.09–1.08, p = 0.07); and (3) practice in an urban setting (OR = 0.01, CI = 0.18–0.82, p >0.01). Confidence items included: (1) ability to implement appropriate airway management modalities (OR = 2.31, CI = 1.03–5.17, p >0.04); (2) manage patients with electrical injuries (OR = 4.86, CI = 1.84–12.85, p >0.001); (3) identify non-survivable injuries (OR = 2.24, CI = 0.93–5.43, p = 0.07); and (4) recognize special problems associated with burns in young children or older adults (OR = 2.14, CI = 0.87–5.23, p = 0.10). The final model explained 89.9% of the variability in self-reported competence.

Conclusions:

Interventions used to train healthcare providers for burn disasters must cover a broad range of topics. However, learning needs may vary by practice setting, work experience, and previous exposure to disaster events. This evaluation research provides three-fold information for continuing education research: (1) to identify content areas that should be emphasized in future burn care training; (2) to be used as a model for CE evaluation in other domains; and (3) to provide support that many factors must be considered when designing a CE program. Results may be useful to others who are planning CE training programs.
Understanding Barriers to Emergency Care in Low-Income Countries: View from the Front Line
Authors: Levine Adam C. , Presser David Z. , Rosborough Stephanie , Ghebreyesus Tedros A. , Davis Mark A.
Published: August 2016

Introduction:

Morbidity and mortality due to acute but treatable conditions remain high in the developing world, as many significant barriers exist to providing emergency medical care.This study investigates these barriers in a rural region of Ethiopia.

Hypothesis:

The limited capacity of frontline healthcare workers to diagnose and treat acute medical and surgical conditions represents a major barrier to the provision of emergency care in rural Ethiopia.

Methods:

Health providers at a convenience sample of 16 rural health centers in the state of Tigray, Ethiopia completed a questionnaire designed to assess the availability of diagnostic and treatment modalities, the proximity and methods of transportation to referral facilities, and health providers' level of comfort in diagnosing and treating a variety of representative emergency medical conditions.

Results:

Thirteen (81%) providers had only a very basic level of medical training, and seven (44%) lacked access to any diagnostic equipment.While most providers could offer oral rehydration solution (ORS), anti-pyretic medications, and antibiotics, none of the providers could offer blood transfusions or any form of surgery. Ten (63%) respondents stated that their patients had to travel >10 km from the health center to a referral hospital, with only a minority of patients having access to motorized transport. For the seven emergency conditions assessed, a majority of providers felt comfortable diagnosing these conditions, though fewer felt comfortable treating them.

Conclusion:

There is a significant need for both health worker training and improvements in transportation infrastructure in order to increase access to emergency medical care in rural areas of the developing world.Low-cost interventions that improve human capacity in a context-appropriate manner are warranted as transportation and hospital network capacity expansions are considered.
Early milk ejection, prolonged parturition and periparturient oxytocin release in the pig
Authors: Castrén H. , Algers B. , de Passillé A. M. , Rushen J. , Uvnäs-Moberg K.
Published: August 2016

Plasma oxytocin was measured in 11 multiparous sows for 13 h after the start of parturition to confirm the existence of early milk ejections and determine whether they were associated with pulsatile oxytocin release. The relationship between oxytocin concentrations and duration of parturition was also analysed. Oxytocin was released in pulses during and after parturition and mean concentrations reached maximum 2 to 4 h after the first birth. Discrete milk ejections occurred during parturition but only 42% of these were associated with oxytocin peaks before 4 hpost partum. After this more than 80% of milk ejections occurred with oxytocin peaks. Sow grunting increased during milk ejections and peak grunt rate increased after parturition. Oxytocin peaks without milk ejections did not lead to an increased rate of grunting. Sows with prolonged parturition had lower basal and peak oxytocin concentrations. During the first 4 h only half of the piglets were born during an oxytocin peak. Discrete milk ejections with oxytocin peaks can occur before parturition is completed. However, during the first 4 hpost partum, basal oxytocin concentrations may be high enough for milk ejection to occur without further oxytocin secretion. Both milk ejection and oxytocin release are necessary for the sow to increase grunt rate. Low oxytocin concentration is associated with prolonged parturition.
New approaches to increasing oocyte yield from ruminants
Authors: Telfer E. E. , Webb R. , Moor R. M. , Gosden R. G.
Published: August 2016

Artificial insemination, superovulation and embryo transfer have had beneficial impacts on animal production but a limiting factor to realizing the full potential of these techniques and of other reproductive technologies is the availability of fertile oocytes. To overcome this problem, methods for maturing oocytesin vitro(IVM) have been developed. The production of bovine embryos by IVM is in commercial use but the rate of success and quality of embryos is low. The lack of success may be due to the quality of oocytes that are being matured and it would be preferable to utilize the abundant source of immature oocytes from preantral and primordial follicles by developing systems forin vitrogrowth (IVG). Several culture systems that utilize early growing follicles as a source of oocytes have been developed for laboratory species and these have been successful in producing live young. IVG in association with IVM and cryopreservation have the potential to maximize the genetic potential of high genetic merit females and shorten generation intervals. This paper presents the current status of technology for thein vitrogrowth and development of immature oocytes,in vitromaturation and cryopreservation of germ cells in domestic ruminants.
Nutritional effects on foetal growth
Authors: Robinson J. J. , Sinclair K. D. , McEvoy T. G.
Published: August 2016

The emphasis in nutritional studies on foetal growth has now moved from the last trimester of pregnancy, when most of the increase in foetal size takes place, to earlier stages of pregnancy that coincide with foetal organogenesis and tissue hyperplasia. At these stages absolute nutrient requirements for foetal growth are small but foetal metabolic activity and specific growth rate are high. It is thus a time when nutrient supply interacts with maternal factors such as size, body condition and degree of maturity to influence placental growth and set the subsequent pattern of nutrient partitioning between the gravid uterus and maternal body.

Throughout pregnancy the maternal diet controls foetal growth both directly, by supplying essential nutrients and indirectly, by altering the expression of the maternal and foetal endocrine mechanisms that regulate the uptake and utilization of these nutrients by the conceptus. Nutritional effects on the endocrine environment of the embryo during the early stages of cell division can alter the subsequent foetal growth trajectory and size at birth; so too can current in vitro systems for oocyte maturation and embryo culture up to the blastocyst stage. There is increasing evidence that subtle alterations in nutrient supply during critical periods of embryonic and foetal life can impart a legacy of growth and developmental changes that affect neonatal survival and adult performance. Identifying the specific nutrients that programme these effects and understanding their mode of action should provide new management strategies for ensuring that nutritional regimens from oocyte to newborn are such that they maximize neonatal viability and enable animals to express their true genetic potential for production.
Risk factors associated with the incidence of ketosis in dairy cows
Authors: Rasmussent L. K. , Nielsen B. L. , Pryce J. E. , Mottram T. T. , Veerkamp R. F.
Published: August 2016

Various dairy cattle production and health characteristics were studied with a view to identify easily available and measurable factors associated with the incidence of ketosis. The analyses were carried out using data from the Langhill Dairy Cattle Research Centre. Two approaches were used to assess the relative risk to cows of getting ketosis: one using information known at the beginning of lactation and one using information collected as the lactation progressed. In both approaches analyses were carried out using different amounts of the available information to simulate differences between recording systems. In the first approach the following were found to relate significantly to the level of recorded ketotic incidents: parity; ketosis in the previous lactation; calving condition score; 305-day milk yield in the previous lactation; and the average milk protein percentage in the previous lactation. The effects of these were quantified. In the second approach, where the change in ketosis incidence rate over the weeks of lactation was investigated, the average dry-matter intake in the previous week and changes in live weight and body condition score over the previous week were found to have a significant effect on the probability of getting ketosis in the coming week. The risk assessments varied depending on the information used and a flexible approach is recommended if potential risk factors are to be successfully incorporated into decision support systems.
Genetic variation of egg production traits in purebred and crossbred laying hens
Authors: Besbes B. , Gibson J. P.
Published: August 2016

Heritabilities, dominance variation and genetic correlations (rpc) among purebred and crossbred performance were estimated for egg production (number of eggs produced between 19 and 25, 26 and 38 and 26 and 54 weeks of age) and egg quality traits (average egg weight, shell strength) in four generations of two nucleus lines of egg-laying chickens and their cross, all reared in similar environments. The within-line genetic parameters were estimated using method R applied to an animal model (approach 1) and tilde-hat approximation to restricted maximum likelihood applied to a sire-dam model (approach 2). The genetic correlation between purebred and crossbred performance as well as the crossbred heritabilities were estimated based on a multivariate sire-dam model accounting for all relationships. For egg numbers and shell strength, the purebred heritabilities were low to moderate (0·12 to 0·42). They were higher when estimated under an additive model (0·25 to 0·51) but, in general, lower than the crossbred heritabilities. For egg weight, the heritabilities were always high (0·6 to 0·7). The ratio of dominance variance to total genetic variance varied between 11 and 36% with approach 1 and 5 and 56% with approach 2, indicating a large partial dominance for egg number traits and shell strength but also the difficulty of accurately estimating the dominance variance. For these traits, the estimates of the correlation between purebred and crossbred performance, rpc, were quite high (0·8 to 0·94) which contradicts the theory that traits with larger dominance and/or difference between purebred and crossbred heritabilities present lower rpc. These high rpc estimates, coupled with the absence of obvious heterosis, indicate little advantage to be gained from use of crossbred data in genetic improvement, where pure lines and crossbreds are reared in a similar non-stressful environment.
Effects of an oat-based high-fibre diet on insulin, glucose, cortisol and free fatty acid concentrations in gilts
Authors: Rushen J. , Robert S. , Farmer C.
Published: August 2016

To understand the mechanism underlying the effect of high-fibre diets on feeding motivation and stereotypic behaviour in pigs, non-pregnant gilts were given either concentrate or a high-fibre diet based on oat hulls and blood samples were assayed for cortisol, glucose, insulin and free fatty acids. The duration of eating was much longer for gilts on the high-fibre diet than gilts given concentrates. Concentrations of cortisol increased with food delivery and this was most pronounced with the concentrate diet. Concentrations of free fatty acids decreased before feeding and those of glucose and insulin decreased temporarily immediately after feeding began. The diet had no marked effect on these changes, although the decrease for insulin was less evident for the concentrate diet. As feeding continued, free fatty acid concentrations decreased, while concentrations of insulin and glucose increased. The increase in glucose and insulin was fastest with the concentrate diet, although post-feeding peak values did not differ. Postprandial cortisol and free fatty acid concentrations did not differ between diets. There was no evidence of a pre-prandial cephalic phase insulin or glucose response to feeding in the gilts although concentrations of both hormones decreased immediately after the gilts began to eat. The high-fibre diet tended to delay the peak glucose and insulin response to meals, suggesting that the reduced feeding motivation following consumption of high-fibre diets does not involve the same mechanism as the increased satiety following increased energy intake. As well as reducing the occurrence of ster eoty pies, high-fibre diets decrease cortisol concentrations at feeding.
The effect of pre- and post-insemination plane of nutrition on embryo survival in beef heifers
Authors: Dunne L.D. , Diskin M.G. , Boland M.P. , O’Farrell K.J. , Sreenan J.M.
Published: August 2016

Early embryo loss is the major cause of reproductive failure in cattle. The effect of short-term changes in energy intake pre- and post-insemination on embryo survival and systemic progesterone was investigated in heifers. Two pasture allowances (low, L and high, H) were calculated on a dry-matter basis to provide 0⋅8 and 2⋅0 times maintenance requirements, respectively. Following oestrous synchronization, heifers (no. = 296) were allocated to either L or H pasture allowance for a 10 day period before artificial insemination (AI). On the day after AI, heifers (no. = 247) were again randomly allocated to either the L or H pasture allowance until either embryo recovery between days 14 to 16 or pregnancy diagnosis at day 30 (AI = day 0). Hence, there were four nutrition treatments; L-L, L-H, H-H and H-L. Blood samples were collected on days 4, 5, 6 and 7 of the pre- and days 4, 5, 6, 7, 13 and 14 of the post-AI oestrous cycle (oestrus = day 0) for determination of plasma progesterone. Embryo survival rate was significantly lower in the H-L (0⋅38) than in the L-L (0⋅70), L-H (0⋅71; P < 0⋅001) or H-H (0⋅65; P < 0⋅01) treatment groups but there was no evidence that the detrimental effect of reduced energy intake after AI was mediated through changes in systemic progesterone.
In situ incubation sequence and its effect on degradation of food
components when measured in the caecum of ponies
Authors: Hyslop J. J. , Stefansdottir G. J. , McLean B. M. L. , Longland A. C. , Cuddeford D.
Published: August 2016

Three experiments were conducted to investigate the effect of bag incubation
sequence on the degradation of food components in situ
in the caecum of mature, caecally fistulated Welsh-cross pony geldings (mean live
weight 278 kg) offered hay ad libitum. In experiment 1
a fibre-based commercial horse concentrate was incubated in
situ using a forward (3, 5, 16, 8, 24, 48 h) or reverse (48, 24,
8, 16, 5, 3 h) incubation sequence. Dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP),
neutral-detergent fibre (NDF) and acid-detergent fibre (ADF) degradation
coefficients and calculated effective degradability (ED) values were determined.
In experiment 2 unmolassed sugar-beet pulp (USBP), hay cubes (HC), soya hulls (SH)
and a 2: 1 mixture of oat hulls: naked oats (OHNO) were incubated in
situ as for experiment 1. In experiment 3 unprocessed barley
(UB), micronized barley (MB), extruded barley (EB) and dehydrated grass (DHG) were
incubated in situ according to slightly different
forward or reverse incubation sequences of (2, 4, 6, 12, 8, 24, 48 h) and (48, 24,
8, 4, 12, 6, 2 h) respectively. In experiments 2 and 3 only DM degradation
parameters were studied.

Of the three starch-based foods studied in experiment 3 (UB, MB and EB),
incubation sequence did not significantly P > 0·05) affect any of the
degradation parameters examined. Conversely however, of the six fibre-based foods
which were examined across the three experiments, incubation sequence did
significantly P < 0·05) affect in situ degradation
parameters in the commercial horse concentrate in experiment 1, the SH food in
experiment 2 and the DHG food in experiment 3. Depending on the food or food
constituent studied (i.e. DM, CP, NDF or ADF) degradation coefficients a, b, c and
a + b along with ED values calculated at fractional outflow rates of 0·05 and
0·025 could all be statistically different CP < 0·05) according to whether a
forward or reverse incubation sequence was used. It is postulated that this effect
is related to the basic digestive physiology of the equine caecum which is small,
digesta passage rate through it is fast and digesta volumes can vary considerably.
These factors may interact to create a considerable degree of non-uniformity
within the caecal digesta pool in which in situ bags
are incubated. Consequently, it is recommended that in future in situ experiments
in the equine hindgut, animals are offered ad libitum
diets in an attempt to minimize variation within the caecum. It is also
recommended that in situ experimental protocols
incorporate more than one incubation sequence when the degradation parameters of
fibrous foods are studied in equids.
Effect of diet on amino acid composition of soft faeces and the contribution
of soft faeces to total amino acid intake, through caecotrophy in lactating doe
rabbits
Authors: Nicodemus N. , Mateos J. , Blas J. C. de , Carabaño R. , Fraga M. J.
Published: August 2016

Twenty-five New Zealand White × Californian lactating doe rabbits were used
to study the effect of different dietary fibre concentrations on the amino acid
contribution of soft faeces to the total amino acid intake. Five isoenergetic
diets containing 312, 334, 360, 384, and 412 g/kg neutral-detergent fibre (DM
basis) were formulated. All diets were designed to maintain the same amino acid
pattern. Soft faeces production showed a trend to increase (P = 0·07) as dietary
fibre increased. The content of isoleucine (P < 0·01), glutamic acid, leucine
and alanine (P < 0·05) in soft faeces decreased as the dietary fibre increased.
A trend to decrease with the increase of dietary fibre was also observed for
aspartic acid (P = 0·06), lysine (P = 0·07), methionine and valine (P = 0·1). As a
consequence, the soft faeces contribution to the total intake of individual amino
acids did not vary with the type of diet. The average contribution of soft faeces
to the total amino acid intake for the most limiting amino acids of lactating doe
rabbits under practical conditions, methionine, threonine and lysine, were 0·17 ,
0·21 and 0·18 g/g, respectively.
Digestion in the rumen of lactating dairy cows given mixtures of urea-treated
whole-crop wheat and grass silage
Authors: Abdalla A. L. , Sutton J. D. , Phipps R. H. , Humphries D. J.
Published: August 2016

To measure the effect of partially replacing grass silage with urea-treated
whole-crop wheat (WCW) four multiparous Holstein/Friesian lactating cows fitted
with cannulas in the rumen and proximal duodenum were offered four diets in a
Latin-square experiment. Grass silage (GS) was produced from the primary growth of
a perennial ryegrass sward. Spring wheat (cv. Axona) was harvested at 603 g dry
matter (DM) per kg and preserved with 20 (WCW-20) or 40 (WCW-40) kg urea per t DM.
The diets were 6 kg DM of a dairy concentrate daily with one of four forages
offered ad libitum The forage treatments were GS alone, a 2: 1 DM ratio of GS with
WCW-40 (2: 1 40), or a 1: 2 DM ratio of GS with WCW-20 (1: 2 20) or WCW-40 (1: 2
40). Each period lasted 4 weeks with rumen and duodenal samples being taken on 2
days in the last week. Concentrations of milk fat and protein were increased by
WCW inclusion. The digestibility in the rumen of DM, organic matter (OM)
neutral-detergent fibre (NDF), acid-detergent fibre and starch fell with
increasing WCW-40 inclusion in the diet. Flow of starch and non-ammonia nitrogen
to the duodenum increased with WCW inclusion. It was estimated that the amounts of
OM, starch, NDF and nitrogen digested post ruminally increased with WCW. With WCW
there were increases in the rumen in the ratio of acetic acid plus n-butyric acid
to propionic acid and in ammonia concentrations. The level of urea inclusion had
no significant effects on rumen digestion. It is concluded that the large
reduction in the contribution of the rumen to total OM digestion when WCW
partially replaces grass silage may have implications for calculations of
metabolizable protein supplies to animals given such diets. Possible means to
improve food utilization include processing of the wheat grains and inclusion of
readily fermentable carbohydrates in the diet to facilitate the utilization of the
rumen ammonia.