bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Loneliness Trajectories in Adults across the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Latent Growth Modelling Study
Authors: Power Joanna McHugh , Daly Michael , Hyland Philip
Published: February 2023

Purpose: Loneliness may have been exacerbated during the COVID-19 pandemic. The objective of this study was to assess i) correlates of loneliness among Irish adults during the first implementation of social distancing measures in the COVID-19 pandemic, ii) trajectories of loneliness during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, and iii) predictors of changes in loneliness during this time.
Methods: Longitudinal nationally representative panel data were gathered from 1041 participants aged 18-80 across four timepoints during 2020, the first collected from 31st March 2020. Latent growth models in a structural equation modelling framework were used to evaluate change in loneliness over time.
Results: Participants were on average moderately lonely at the onset of the pandemic (intercept estimate = 1.91). Higher baseline loneliness was associated with being younger, not being in a relationship, being employed in the healthcare sector, lower levels of neighbourhood belongingness, and higher levels of depression. On average, loneliness levels were highly stable throughout 2020. Those working in the healthcare sector experienced a decline in loneliness over time, as did those with higher baseline levels of depressive symptomatology.
Conclusions: We describe correlates of loneliness at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in Ireland in 2020, as well as predictors of changes in loneliness across the first year of the pandemic. Those working in the healthcare sector had high initial loneliness which then declined, potentially reflecting adaptation to the demands of the pandemic. Results are discussed in the context of potentially informative theoretical frameworks of loneliness.
Water balance in boreal forests: the role of season-specific responses in a warming climate
Authors: Lopez Jose Gutierrez , Laudon Hjalmar
Published: February 2023

The water balance in boreal forests is dominated by snow in winter and rain in summer, but is expected to change in unpredictable ways by forecasted temperature rise and irregular precipitation patterns. Here we use 30 years of hydrological and environmental data representative of a mixed boreal forest including precipitation, tree transpiration (T), evapotranspiration (ET), vapor pressure deficit, and discharge, combined with a reconstructed 150-year historic climatic record. We show that contrasting seasonal conditions and their lag effects, common in high latitude ecosystems, reduce, buffer, or amplify the boreal forest’s response to extreme weather. Additionally, the season when extreme weather occurs and its preexisting conditions, define how the water balance is partitioned. We show that similarly hot-summer years, (e.g., 2018, 2021), can result in contrasting water balances, primarily because when precipitation is reduced, summer ET returns it rapidly to the atmosphere. Early snowmelt in spring due to high temperatures, accompanied with increased T during spring, reduces summer watershed discharge, storage, and can lower groundwater depths, several months after snowmelt. Using long-term tree T and environmental data, we show the individual importance of seasons in the partitioning of water balance, and highlight the major role boreal forests will play under future climate.
The prevalence and the demographic correlates of psychological distresses associated with Covid-19 pandemic in the elderly people.
Authors: Kim Kyoung Min , Jeong Hyo Seok , Chung Un Sun , Lee Il Ju , Lee Jung Jae
Published: February 2023

Purpose: We explored the prevalence of psychological distresses associated with Covid-19 and its correlates in elderly people.
Methods:
We utilized survey data that screened psychological distresses associated with Covid-19 in 1,485 elderly people aged 60 or more. The survey was conducted by a trained interviewer who visited the participants. The assessment comprised demographic variables and the six items on psychological distress associated with Covid-19 including stress from work, financial issues, stress from home, fear, apprehension, and helplessness due to Covid-19. Each item was rated on a 5-point scale (much increased, increased, same as before, decreased, and much decreased).
Results:
The proportion of participants who responded “increased” or “much increased” were high as 6.5% (N = 245) for work, 26.8% (N = 398) for money, and 30.2% (N = 449) for home, 68.8% (N = 1,023) for fear, 76.0% (N = 1,128) for apprehension, and 61.9% (N = 920) for helplessness due to Covid-19. Younger age and, having a current job were significantly associated with higher distress regarding work and financial issues. Low household income was also significantly associated with higher distress regarding financial issues. Low education level and having family members living together were associated with increased psychological distress relating to fear, apprehension, and helplessness due to Covid-19.
Conclusion:
Our findings correlating psychological distress associated with Covid-19 provides information for implementing an efficient strategy to improve public mental health in elderly people during the Covid-19 pandemic. Future studies utilizing validated assessment tools are needed to confirm these findings.
Image Encryption Using a Reworked Vigenere Network That Incorporates Bitwise Genetic Crossover
Authors: JARJAR MARIEM , ABDELLAH ABID , Qobbi Younes , kaddouhi Samir El , JarJar Abdellatif , Benazzi Abdellhamid
Published: February 2023

The pixel of an image is always thought of as being the most important component in the encryption process. We will concentrate at the bit level, regarding it as the crucial aspect of encryption, by using novel dynamic replacement functions, strong diffusion functions, and pseudo-random substitution tables-built data from multiple randomly generated pseudo-random linear congruence generators. technical. This new technology makes our system more vulnerable to all potential attacks. The vector that was converted to binary at the Vigenere circuit's output will go through a genetic crossing that is optimized for the encryption of color images. The simulations made use of a sizable number of randomly selected images from databases.
Clinical Outcomes for High-Risk WHO Grade II Glioma Patients Treated with Upfront TMZ- based Chemoradiotherapy
Authors: Zarabi Hosniya , Wicks Robert T. , Russell Gregory B. , Banderage Dineth , Strowd Roy , Mott Ryan T. , Laxton Adrian , Tatter Stephen B. , White Jaclyn J. , Lo Hui-Wen , Whitlow Christopher , Debinski Waldemar , Chan Michael D. , Lesser Glenn J. , Cramer Christina K.
Published: February 2023

Purpose: RTOG 9802 demonstrated improved survival with the use of chemoradiotherapy (CRT) over radiotherapy (RT) alone for WHO grade II gliomas (LGG) using PCV chemotherapy. We analyzed our retrospective dataset of predominantly temozolomide (TMZ)-based CRT in patients with LGG who would have been eligible for RTOG 9802.
Methods: We identified 67 patients (n= 38 astrocytoma (AC), 20 oligodendroglioma (OD), and 9 mixed (OA)) treated with upfront RT from 2000-2017. The CRT cohort (n=40) primarily consisted of TMZ (n=36) administered concurrently with RT. The median RT dose was 54 Gy (range 35-54 Gy). Kaplan- Meier analysis was used to assess overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS).
Results: 5-year PFS was 64% vs. 44% for patients receiving CRT vs. RT alone (log-rank p=0.009). 5-year PFS for AC patients receiving CRT vs. RT alone was 57% vs. 21%, respectively (log-rank p=0.002) while 5-year PFS for OD/OA patients receiving CRT vs. RT alone was 79% vs. 72% (p=0.21). 5-year OS was 76% vs. 69% (p=0.10 ) for CRT vs. RT alone. Cox Proportional Hazards analysis revealed that patients with AC (HR=4.89, 95% CI (1.95, 12.3), p=0.0007), neurological deficits (HR=2.34, (1.12, 4.88), p=0.023), and tumors>6 cm (HR=2.69, (1.10, 6.58), p=0.03) had decreased OS. Cox analysis showed that use of upfront CRT (HR=0.40 , (0.20, 0.79), p=0.0086) was the only factor that improved PFS.
Conclusion: The use of upfront, predominantly TMZ-based, CRT has a PFS benefit over RT alone in patients with LGG.
Biodegradable edible film based on basil seed gum: the effect of gum and plasticizer concentrations
Authors: ORAÇ Aysun , GÖKTEPE Çiğdem Konak , DEMİRCİ Talha , AKIN Nihat
Published: February 2023

In this research, edible films produced from basil seed gum (BSG) with 3 different gum (0.5%, 1%, 1.5%) and plasticizer concentrations (1%, 3%, 5%) were developed, and the physical, thermal, barrier and microstructural properties of these films were measured. As a result of XRD, AFM, DSC, and FT-IR spectroscopy analyses, it was concluded that the mechanical and barrier properties and thermal stability of BSG-based films are quite good. The increase in gum and glycerol concentrations increased the crystallinity also strengthened the mechanical and barrier properties of the film. Also, films with low gum and high glycerol ratio have almost smooth surfaces and appropriate transparency for packaging applications. As the glycerol and BSG concentration increased, WVP values of the films increased. The complete dissolution of this film in the soil within 60 days, even at the highest gum concentration, showed that this material could be considered eco-friendly packaging. For this reason, it is thought that BSG-based films and coatings with suitable gum and plasticizer concentrations can be a potential packaging material for foods since they can be obtained at low cost, have a very good barrier, thermal and structural properties, and are edible and biodegradable.
Methyl oleate alkylated tetralin with dual-functional groups as base oil with PAO to improve the performance of lithium-based grease
Authors: Tang Qiong , Zhao Zhiping , Li Ting , Ge Leizhen , Xu Hong , Liu Lei , Dong Jinxiang
Published: February 2023

A novel dual-functional group base oil was synthesized by alkylation of methyl oleate from biomass and tetralin from coal chemical industry. Interestingly, the monoalkylated product (MOAT) exhibited low pour point, high flash point and viscosity index compared with the traditional alkyl aromatic lubricating oil (AN5), owing to the combination of the naphthenic aromatic (tetralin) and the methyl oleate framework. MOAT as co-base oil with PAO8 was studied to prepare lithium-based greases for the first time, their rheological and tribological properties were evaluated in detail. The microstructure of the MOAT based grease displayed high entanglement of lithium fiber. The 20% MOAT based grease markedly reduced friction and wear compared with PAO8 based grease and 20% AN5 based grease. The excellent tribological performances were attributed to the strong interaction between the ester group and the soap fiber that provides more relative elasticity of grease and improves tribological behavior. Our finding clearly demonstrated that MOAT had the potential as a new class of base oil for obtaining high-performance lithium grease.
Perceived Parenting Style of Father and its Implication on Empathy in Adolescence: A Systematic Review
Authors: Lal Nitika
Published: February 2023

The importance and impact of paternal parenting in an adolescent’s holistic development, even though is gaining recognition, the data related to this area of research is scarce. During the last decade, social research focused their attention to this domain, but most of those studies were limited to children. Prosocial behaviour in adolescents has been widely studied but only a few have been in the relation with paternal parenting. Despite all these drawbacks, there have been certain studies that focused on the relationship between father and teen and how this relationship impacts empathy in their adolescence. This manuscript highlights studies that focus on paternal parenting and its implication on adolescent’s empathy using previously published literature of the last two decades, aiming to provide a structure to the broad theme of paternal parenting and the component of empathy.
Ethnomarketing in Deutschland : die Konstruktion von Ethnizität durch Marketingakteure
Authors: Kulinna Matthias
Published: February 2023

Die vorliegende Arbeit verdeutlicht für das Handlungsfeld „Ethnomarketing in Deutschland“, wie ethnische Grenzen gezogen werden. Sein Ausgangspunkt ist der gesellschaftliche Diskurs über das Deutschsein und seine Gegenstücke: das Türkische, Russische, Orientalische, Südländische usw.. Im Niemandsland zwischen Fremdem und Eigenem führen die Akteure des Ethnomarketings ihr eigenes Spiel mit der Ethnizität auf, indem sie sich die kursierenden ethnischen Zuschreibungen zu nutze machen. Sie übernehmen selektiv die im Diskurs vorgefundenen ethnischen Konstruktionen eines „kollektiven Gedächtnisses“ in der Gesellschaft über sich selbst und „die Anderen“, modifizieren diese Konstruktionen in ihrem Marketing entsprechend eigener Vorstellungen und Interessen, verstärken ihre Wirkung durch Ausstrahlung in den Medien und greifen so selbst ein in den machtbasierten gesellschaftlichen Prozess ethnischer Rollenzuweisung und Anerkennung. Die Gestaltung des eigenen Marketings zwingt die Akteure, sich auf eindeutige Werbebilder festzulegen, und ihre Präsenz in der Öffentlichkeit nötigt sie, sich und ihr ethnisches Marketing zu erklären. Sie offenbaren dadurch ihre Persönlichkeiten, Interessen, Vorstellungen, Fähigkeiten, Rollenverständnisse und Strategien – nicht jedoch das vermeintliche „Wesen“ ethnischer Zielgruppen, die sie adäquat zu bewerben glauben. Wie aus einleitender Definition hervorgeht, ist für Ethnomarketing ein Umfeld ethnischer Divergenz notwendig, um bestehen und funktionieren zu können. Es sind die fortwährenden Debatten in Deutschland über Ausländer, Asylanten, deutsche Werte, Einbürgerung, Fundamentalismus usw., in welchen entlang vermeintlich realer Kriterien wie Herkunft, Mentalität, Religion, Aussehen, Sprache usw. die soziale Realität ethnischer Gruppen (re-)konstruiert und ihnen stigmatisierend Eigenschaften zugeschrieben werden. Am vorläufigen Ende dieses Prozesses stehen Einbürgerungstests, mit welchen das „Deutsche“ vom „Undeutschen“ getrennt und bewahrt werden soll, die jedoch lediglich den Glauben ihrer Urheber demonstrieren, dies sei möglich. Als Gegenpol zum „guten“ Deutschen hat der Diskurs eine Chimäre aus zahlreichen, zumeist abwertenden Zuschreibungen für das Östliche, Südländische, Orientalische, Islamische usw. hervorgebracht, die im Türkischen oft einen Platzhalter findet: „Der Türke“ ist für viele Menschen zum Bild vom „unliebsamen“ Ausländer generell geworden. Vor diesem gesellschaftlichen Hintergrund ist Ethnomarketing erfolgreich, wenn es gelingt, den „verletzten Seelen“ die ethnische Wertschätzung zu geben, die sie sich von der „deutschen“ Gesellschaft vergeblich wünschen. Ethnomarketing kompensiert jedoch nicht nur das Gefühl mangelnder ethnischer Akzeptanz, das viele ethnisch stigmatisierte Rezipienten empfinden, sondern ist auch ein Mikrokosmos, in welchem die gleichen Prozesse der Konstruktion und Instrumentalisierung von Ethnizität wirksam sind wie in der umschließenden Gesellschaft.
Produkt Klima : zur Performativität ökonomischer Ansätze in der Klimapolitik
Authors: Nagorny Nanja
Published: February 2023

Ein ungebremster Klimawandel „[…] würde[n] die physikalische Geografie der Welt transformieren. Eine radikale Änderung der physikalischen Geografie der Welt muss unbedingt starke Auswirkungen auf die humane Geografie haben – wo Menschen leben und wie sie leben.“(Stern 2006: iv) Unser Erdsystem sowie unser Gesellschafts- und Wirtschafssystem zeichnen sich durch ihre Offenheit, Prozesshaftigkeit und Dynamik aus; sie befinden sich in einem ständigen Wandel. Auch das Weltklima hat sich schon immer verändert; gekennzeichnet durch einen Wechsel von Kalt- und Warmzeiten. Doch heute dominiert der Faktor Mensch das Erdsystem: Mit der industriellen Revolution und dem Übergang in ein kapitalistisches Gesellschafts- und Wirt-schaftssystem hat sich auch der natürliche Treibhauseffekt entscheidend beschleunigt. Durch vom Menschen verursachte Emissionen, ist die CO2-Menge in unserer Atmosphäre heute be-reits um ein Drittel höher als sie in den Jahrmillionen vor Beginn der Industrialisierung jemals war (Gebhardt und Glaser 2007: 963; Bernstein et al. 2008). Die Qualität und Tragweite des Phänomens Klimawandel ist von solchem Ausmaß, dass die natürliche wie soziale Umwelt dadurch aus ihren Fugen geraten kann.
Gemeinschaftliches Wohnen als kommunales städtebauliches Instrument : Monitoring, Vernetzung und Auswertung gemeinschaftlichen Wohnens in Frankfurt am Main
Authors: Bär Lidia , Große Vorholt Hannah
Published: February 2023

In vielen Städten werden gemeinschaftlicher Wohnprojekte in unterschiedlicher Weise gefördert, weil sie dauerhaft bezahlbares und sicheres Wohnen ermöglichen sowie positiv ins Quartier wirken (sollen). Mitunter kommt dabei die Frage auf, wie ein solcher Mehrwert für das Gemeinwohl bestimmt und wie die Projekte seitens der fördernden Kommune begleitet werden können. Mit diesen Fragen hat sich das Forschungsprojekt 'Gemeinschaftliches Wohnen als kommunales städtebauliches Instrument. Monitoring, Vernetzung und Auswertung gemeinschaftlichen Wohnens in Frankfurt am Main (GeWokosl)' in explorativer Weise befasst. Ziel war es einen Monitoring-Ansatz vorzubereiten, mit dessen Hilfe die Quartiersangebote städtisch geförderter gemeinschaftlicher Wohnprojekten erfasst und unterstützt werden sollen. Dazu wurden Interviews mit zuständigen Verwaltungen in Hamburg, Tübingen, Leipzig und Stuttgart sowie Gruppendiskussion mit sechs gemeinschaftlichen Wohnprojekten in Frankfurt am Main geführt. Ein Monitoring der Wirkungen in das Quartier wird von allen Beteiligten als eine Herausforderung gesehen, da es eine Erfassung der qualitativen projektspezifischen Dynamiken erfordert. Insgesamt zeigen die Interviewergebnisse mit den Stadtverwaltungen ein Spannungsfeld zwischen dem Wunsch, einen die Wohnprojekte unterstützenden Ansatz zu entwickeln und dem Anspruch, die gemeinwohlorientierten Beiträge der Projekte zu kontrollieren und zu steuern. Die Projekte fordern in diesem Kontext eine zuverlässige finanzielle Unterstützung für ihr soziales Engagement und den Ausbau der städtischen sozialen Infrastruktur. Das Forschungsvorhaben wurde als Kooperation zwischen der Stabsstelle Wohnungsmarkt, Mietrecht und innovative Wohnprojekte des Amtes für Wohnungswesen Frankfurt am Main sowie der Professur von Bernd Belina am Institut für Humangeographie der Goethe-Universität im Zeitraum von Mai 2021 bis Februar 2022 durchgeführt.
Gene and Cell Therapies Overview Under the Light of Health Economics
Authors: Karahan Ekin Begum , Kockaya Guvenc
Published: February 2023

With the increase in drug development studies for rare diseases, gene therapies have recently come to the fore more frequently. In addition to orphan drugs used in the treatment of rare diseases, advanced therapy medicinal products have been developed. Advanced therapy medicinal products are a fast-growing field. Although it is not a treatment method used only in the field of rare diseases, it is also used in the fields of oncology and cardiovascular diseases, musculoskeletal diseases. Regenerative medicine can be promising in cases where advanced therapy medicinal products are difficult and clinically uncertain. There are various cell therapies related to regenerative medicine and cell-based therapies are one of them. Gene therapies, cell-based therapies, advanced therapy medicinal products and regenerative medicine products have high producer price and high production cost. Because all these treatments have limited clinical evidence and high costs, they are difficult to evaluate in terms of health technology assessment (HTA), and special considerations are needed for evaluation. As a solution, costs should be limited and clinical developments should be provided in cooperation with the society. SAVE (equivalent to young life saved) is recommended to evaluate the lifetime health profiles of curative treatments such as gene therapies. In order to reduce the budgetary burden of gene therapies, outcome-directed entry agreements with income-based payments are recommended. Compulsory use of gene therapies and non-reimbursement of these drugs can lead to catastrophic health expenditures. Various payment methods are offered to avoid catastrophic health expenditures. Income-based payment and outcome-based payment are some of these methods. It is also advocated that high prices should be accepted by the society, since gene therapies to be applied in the treatment of rare diseases will be applied to a small population. Both the support of the society to accept the high price of gene therapies, the support of the producer and the support of the payer are important in the development of gene therapies and their supply to the market.
Measuring Antimicrobial Resistance
Authors: Ewert Kathleen M.
Published: February 2023

Antimicrobial resistance can be measured in the laboratory and can be suggested clinically in bacterial infections that fail to respond to antimicrobial therapy. A discussion of in vivo factors contributing to antimicrobial resistance is beyond the scope of this paper; however, a brief review of in vitro determination of antimicrobial resistance will be covered.
Issue of Antimicrobial Use in Food Animals
Authors: Sundlof Stephen F.
Published: February 2023

The issue of antimicrobial use in food animals has been controversial for more than three decades. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) first called for several restrictions on antimicrobial use in feed in 1977. That proposal has generated several studies and reports over the subsequent years. Definitive answers about the safety of antimicrobial use in animals remain scientifically challenging, but we are continuing to uncover more truths and, more important, have begun updating FDA's regulatory process for evaluating antimicrobial drugs intended for use in food animals.
Immunological Dysfunction in Periparturient Cow
Authors: Kehrli Marcus E. , Kimura Kayoko , Goff Jesse P. , Stabel Judith R. , Nonnecke Brian J.
Published: February 2023

Periparturient cows are immunosuppressed. Critical neutrophil functions (egress and phagocytic activities) and lymphocyte functions (immunoglobulin and cytokine secretion) are all impaired during this time. Exact causes ofperiparturient immunosuppression are not known but tremendous fluxes in endocrine factors undoubtedly effect changes in immunological competence. Periparturient cows experience large changes in plasma concentrations of vitamins and also are adjusting to the calcium, energy and protein demands necessary for lactation. The end of gestation appears to induce a progressive suppression of immune function. There appears to be a teleological basis for suppression of antigen specific immunity in the periparturient female. Development of immunity against self and paternal antigens released into the cow as a consequence of tissue damage associated with parturition would serve little useful purpose. However, as a result of this suppression, innate immune function is also impaired (perhaps inadvertently) and opportunistic infections such as mastitis and metritis occur with increased frequency in postpartum cows.
Pocket Poker and Nose Lead Pulley
Authors: Gardner Don
Published: February 2023

I would like to share with you two small items that have made my life much easier in cattle practice. One, the pocket poker, I have used for over 25 years. The nose lead pulley I have only enjoyed for several years but wish I had made one long ago.
Custom-made Pistol Syringe Cooler
Authors: Peterson Andrew A.
Published: February 2023

It is said that necessity is the mother of invention. When processing cows and calves sunlight and heat can render vaccines worthless in an extremely short period of time. Laying 50cc pistol syringes in a cooler and picking them out each time for an injection is time consuming.
Milk Urea and Protein Concentrations in Milk of Dairy Cows as a Diagnostic Tool
Authors: Eicher R. , Bouchard E. , Bigras-Poulin M. , Tremblay A.
Published: February 2023

Milk urea (UREA), together with percentage milk protein (PROT), are increasingly being used as indicators of the protein-energy balance of the ration and for monitoring nutrition or diagnosing feeding disorders. Goals of this study were a) determine the influence of the variations among quarters, the somatic cell count, sample conservation, centrifugation, and the time of sampling during the day on UREA, and to propose a sample collection procedure for herds that are not on a Dairy Herd Improvement (DHI) program; and b) analyze the effects of parity, daily milk yield, days in lactation, somatic-cell count, and herd and feeding factors on UREA and PROT.
Association Between Bovine Corona Virus Seroconversion, Treatment Rates and Weight Gain in Feedlot Calves
Authors: O'Connor Annette , Martin Wayne , Nagy Eva
Published: February 2023

The relationship between bovine corona virus (BCV) titres and disease occurrence, and weight gain, in feedlot calves was investigated. 202 calves were enrolled in the study and followed for the first 28 days on feed. Outcome variables examined were risk of treatment for bovine respiratory disease (BRD) and total weight gain. Titres at day zero and change in titre to BCV and bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BVDV) were measured to examine this effect.
Evaluation of the Timing of Pre-Breeding Vaccination with a Modified Live Virus Vaccine and its Effect on Fertility in Beef Cattle
Authors: Campbell John , Myers Doug
Published: February 2023

The use of modified live virus (MLV) vaccines incorporated as a pre-breeding management tool in beef herds is increasingly popular. There are a number of reasons why MLV vaccines are being used. Recent evidence suggests that pre-breeding use of MLV vaccines provides a broader immune response involving both cell-mediated and humoral immunity. Additionally, it is believed that immunity from MLV vaccines extends to at least a year, while killed virus vaccines (KV) are thought to provide a shorter duration of immunity. As well, vaccination of open cows pre-breeding with an MLV bovine virus diarrhea (BVD) vaccine optimizes immunity prior to the critical risk period of fetal exposure to field-BVD virus during the first trimester of pregnancy.
Early Conception Factor (ECF) Dipstick Test™ for Non-conception Determination in Cattle
Authors: Threlfall Walter R. , Bilderbeck George Martin
Published: February 2023

The Early Conception Factor (ECF) Test is a lateral-flow technology using a nitrocellulose matrix that allows for the measurement of glycoprotein present in serum or milk from pregnant cows between 6 and 15 days after breeding. This is a patented process utilizing monoclonal antibodies to the early conception factor as well as polyclonal antibodies conjugated to gold colloids. The test is performed by placing 1 drop of either serum or milk using a supplied dropper pipette into the sample well, followed by addition of 4 drops of a running buffer prepared to enhance the specificity and sensitivity of the test. After a 2-hour incubation at room temperature, the presence of 1 line indicates an open cow while the presence of 2 lines indicates the cow has conceived. Cows numbered 436, used for the serum testing portion of this project and 275 cows were used for the milk portion.
Evaluation of the Early Conception Factor (ECF™) Test in Cows 3-7 Days Post-Breeding
Authors: Adams C. S. , Jardon P. W.
Published: February 2023

Accurate assessment of the pregnancy status of cattle 3-7 days following conception, in conjunction with prostaglandin administration, could significantly decrease the average days open. The Early Conception Factor (ECF™) test kit (Concepto Diagnostics, Knoxville, Tenn) reportedly detects the open status of a cow 3-15 days post-breeding through the detection of a protein designated Early Conception Factor in the serum of pregnant cows. A protein of this type has been discussed by Threlfall.1 In order to determine the accuracy of the ECF™ test, sera from 150 dairy cows 3-7 days post-breeding were tested, using the ECF™ test kits. These cattle were then examined for pregnancy by rectal palpation by veterinarians 41-59 days post- breeding.
Preparing for a Revolution in Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing
Authors: Fajt Virginia R.
Published: February 2023

Our understanding of the pharmacology of antimicrobials has taken major leaps in the past few years, as has the science of antimicrobial susceptibility testing. In addition, the pathogenic bacteria vying for existence have started to regain the edge they had before the introduction of antimicrobials. The result is that we need to revise our vision of how to use antimicrobials. Antimicrobial therapy should be viewed like cardiac therapy: tailored to the animal, drug and disease. The days of one drug/one dose/all diseases are over.

But how can you as practitioners prepare for these changes? As with any diagnostic test, an understanding of how susceptibility testing works is critical for you to make reasonable decisions based on the results. This is not meant to be a discussion of microbiology, but rather the application of microbiology to pharmacology. Most veterinarians are familiar with the disc diffusion (KirbyBauer, BIOMIC system) and tube or plate dilution (e.g., Sensititre system) methods of susceptibility testing, but a quick review is in order.
Optimizing Antimicrobial Regimens
Authors: Fajt Virginia R.
Published: February 2023

An antimicrobial regimen describes the dose, route, frequency, length of treatment, and milk and meat withdrawal times. As changes in antimicrobial susceptibility testing occur (see "Preparing for a Revolution in Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing" in these proceedings), our understanding of how to design regimens grows, and antimicrobial therapy will become more complicated but also more effective. The purpose of this presentation is to discuss what we currently know about selecting a regimen based on the bacteria isolated (or presumed), the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of the antimicrobial selected for therapy, and clinical results.
Clinical Aspects of Ruminal Acidosis in Dairy Cattle
Authors: Oetzel Garrett R.
Published: February 2023

Acute and subacute ruminal acidosis are well recognized as important diseases in beef feedlots.6,14,32,37 Acute ruminal acidosis has been long recognized in dairy cattle, although deaths due to acute ruminal acidosis are apparently less frequent in dairy cattle than in beef feedlot cattle. 35 Only recently has subacute ruminal acidosis (SARA) been described for dairy cattle.26

Although dairy cattle are typically fed diets higher in forage and fiber compared to beef feedlot cattle, total consumption of rapidly fermentable (non-fiber) carbohydrates is similar between these two livestock classes because lactating dairy cows have very high feed intakes. This principle is illustrated by the data presented in Table 1. Ruminal pH values measured by continuous data acquisition in feedlot steers and lactating dairy cattle were similar when the cattle consumed similar total amounts of non-fiber carbohydrates. The prevalence of SARA in dairy herds is probably about the same as it is in beef feedlots.

The objectives of this paper are to review the pathophysiology, clinical signs, diagnostic methods and prevention of ruminal acidosis in dairy herds. The subacute form of ruminal acidosis will be emphasized.
Sore Feet, Sour Rumens, Clinical Quandaries
Authors: Nordlund Ken
Published: February 2023

Clinical investigations of herds with a high prevalence of laminitis are complex. Laminitis has a multifactorial etiology. Visible signs of laminitis sometimes appear weeks or months after the inciting events. Once developed, some of the clinical signs of laminitis can remain with the cow throughout her lifetime.14

Ruminal acidosis is considered to be one of the primary causes of laminitis. The use of rumenocentesis as a diagnostic test by veterinarians has served to increase awareness of ruminal acidosis and has given them an ability to rule rumen acidosis "in-or-out" as a risk factor in a laminitis investigation.

For this program, I was asked to present the clinical picture of laminitis and ruminal acidosis based upon the many investigations by the Food Animal Production Medicine group at the University of Wisconsin. Because of the nature of the request, this paper will be a clinician's report including findings, observations, and opinions.
Making Cows out of Heifers
Authors: Houghton Patsy
Published: February 2023

The replacement heifer is a mixed blessing for most cow-calf operators. On one hand, she represents the future profitability and genetic improvement of the cow herd, thus her selection and development are of paramount importance to the continued success of the cow herd.

On the other hand, the replacement heifer is an inconvenience at best. Her smaller size and higher nutritional requirements dictate she be raised and managed separately from the rest of the herd; yet the fact that she is essentially non-productive for the first two years of her life makes her easy prey for mismanagement. Nevertheless, proper growth and development of the replacement female from birth until she produces her first calf is of critical importance for her to become a highly productive part of the cow herd.
Heifer Development
Authors: Larson R. L.
Published: February 2023

Replacement heifer development is a critically important area for veterinarians to offer production medicine advice to their beef-producing clients. Productivity for beef cattle herds has been shown to increase when a high percentage of heifers become pregnant early in the first breeding season.55 A producer's heifer development program should result in most heifers in the replacement pool reaching puberty at least 42 days prior to the start of breeding because the conception rate to first service is lower on the pubertal estrus compared to the third estrus.14,80 Many producers put additional pressure on heifers to reach puberty at a young age by breeding them 3 to 4 weeks earlier than the mature cow herd. The stress of calving is greater on heifers than older cows, and more likely accompanied by calving difficulty. Thus, breeding replacement heifers essentially one heat cycle earlier than the mature cows allows the producer to concentrate on the heifers at calving. In addition, the length of time from calving to the resumption of cycling is longer in heifers than in cows.98 Therefore, calving heifers earlier than mature cows gives the heifers the extra time they need to return to estrus and be cycling at the start of the subsequent breeding season.

In order for heifers to reach puberty by 12 to 13 months of age they must receive adequate nutritional intake to signal the body that the "luxury" of reproduction is attainable. Once puberty is attained, nutrition must be at a level that allows the heifer to continue cycling, ovulate a viable oocyte, and establish pregnancy. Nutritional demands of heifers during pregnancy exceed that of mature cows because the heifer is partitioning nutrients for her own growth as well as fetal growth and development. This increased demand for nutrients continues through early lactation, when the beef female has her highest nutritional requirements. Deficiency of energy or protein for extended periods in any production phase during the first two and one-half years of life will impact negatively on fetal development, calf viability, milk production and/or rebreeding for the next pregnancy.
Effects of Feedlot Disease on Economics, Production and Carcass Value
Authors: Smith Robert A.
Published: February 2023

Bovine Respiratory Disease (BRD) remains as the most serious infectious disease problem in stocker and feedyard operations. The 1991 economic impact has been estimated to be $624 million.9 Major advances have been made in respiratory vaccines, pharmaceuticals and management systems, however, the problem remains. It seems likely that a major obstacle to reducing respiratory disease is the reluctance of many segments of the beef industry to adopt technology and practice management systems known to reduce disease incidence.
Observations of Dairy Cattle Behavior Using Time-lapse Photography in a California Free-Stall Barn
Authors: Overton Michael W. , Sischo William M. , DeChant Gina , Moore Dale A.
Published: February 2023

Resting is a fundamental physical need of dairy cattle, and any improvement in stall comfort and resting time may result in improved milk production and decreased incidence of lameness. However, assessing housing facilities for cow comfort potential has proven difficult. To assess free stall utilization and other behaviors, dairy consultants count cows lying, eating or standing. Results are often confusing because of such possible confounding variables as time of feed delivery, milking times, or ambient temperature. This study documented dairy cow behavioral patterns using timelapse photography at a free stall dairy in the central San Joaquin Valley of California to determine the optimum time for visual assessment of free stall usage during hot summer conditions.
And now, the Bad News
Authors: Van Campen Hana , Huzurbazar Snehalata
Published: February 2023

Bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) is the most common infectious cause of abortions, stillbirths and weak calves in western range beef herds. A variety of vaccines containing a BVDV component are used by producers to prevent the consequences of fetal BVDV infections. In spite of vaccination, BVDV "wrecks" occur annually. This study examined the impact of BVD-associated disease in vaccinated beef herds.
Mycoplasma bovis and Primary Bovine Virus Diarrhea Virus Co-association in Chronic Pneumonia of Feedlot Cattle
Authors: Shahriar F. , Clark E. G. , Janzen E. , West K. , Wobeser G.
Published: February 2023

Recently, multi-source feedlots in the prairie region of western Canada have experienced many cases of antibiotic resistant pneumonia, sometimes in association with multiple joint fibrinous arthritis. The lung lesions in these cases resemble those described in M. bovis infection.1 We have also observed vascular lesions, positive by immunohistochemistry for bovine virus diarrhea virus (BVDV), in the heart and lungs of some cattle. A retrospective immunohistochemical and histopathological study was done of animals of this type was submitted to the Western College of Veterinary Medicine between January 1995 and December 1998. Our objective was to determine frequency of occurrence and distribution of M. bovis, BVDV, and Haemophilus somnus in lungs and hearts of animals with lesions typical of this form of chronic pneumonia.
Herd Screening Using a Nested RT-PCR Technique to Detect Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus (BVDV) from Pooled Buffy Coat Samples
Authors: Braun Lyle , Peterson Darin , Chase Chris
Published: February 2023

Bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) is the leading infectious cause of abortions, stillbirths and weak calves in South Dakota. The ability to detect and identify the BVDV persistently infected animal is imperative for good herd management. There are several methods to detect BVDV in infected herds including virus isolation (VI), reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and antigen capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (AC-ELISA). The microtiter test or the AC-ELISA in a multi-well tissue culture plate have been the most popular for herd screens. The RTPCR is the most sensitive assay, but due to its high cost has primarily been used as an individual test rather than a herd screening method. Dr. Kenny Brock has designed an RT-PCR to test bulk-milk samples from dairy herds. In our efforts to make RT-PCR more economically feasible as a screening assay for BVDV, we have performed several experiments involving pooled buffy coat (BC) samples.
Protocol for Identification of BVD PI Calves with Maternal Antibodies in Beef and Dairy Operations
Authors: Pence Mel , Baldwin Sandy , Hawkins Larry
Published: February 2023

Bovine Virus Diarrhea (BVD) virus was first recognized as a pathogen in1946, and has been implicated as the cause of one of the most widespread and economically important diseases of cattle.

The importance of bovine virus diarrhea-persistently infected (BVD-PI) cattle in the spread and propagation of BVD virus has been well documented. A persistent BVD infection occurs when a fetus is exposed to the BVD virus in the first 120 days of gestation. At this stage, the developing fetal immune system recognizes the virus as part of "self", therefore, no immune response occurs. After birth, these BVD-PI cattle excrete tremendous amounts of virus from every body orifice throughout most of their lives, and thus are considered to be the most important reservoir for BVD virus. It is estimated that approximately 1% of all cattle are persistently infected.
Influence of Seaweed Extract-treated Tall Fescue on Bovine Antioxidant Activity, Immune Response, and Carcass Characteristics
Authors: Saker K. E. , Allen V. G. , Pond K. R. , Miller M. F. , Bagley C. P. , Fontenot J. P.
Published: February 2023

It has been well documented that tall fescue (Festuca arundinaceaa) infected with the endophyte fungus Neotyphodium coenophialumb is associated with production and health problems in beef cattle. Various approaches to overcome the negative, animal-related effects of the endophyte have been investigated without consistent and/or economically feasible outcome. This multi-location study investigated effects of applying Tasco™ Forage, a proprietary seaweed-based product, to endophyte-infected fescue to improve animal health and production.
Relationships Between Milk Acetone and Clinical Metabolic Disease in Dairy Herds
Authors: Kelton David , Lissemore Kerry , Edge Victoria
Published: February 2023

Negative energy balance in the post-partum dairy cow, as indicated by elevated blood and milk ketone levels, has been linked to decreased milk production and increased metabolic disease such as clinical ketosis and displaced abomasum. If groups of cows in negative energy balance could be identified in a cost-effective manner, management could intervene in a timely fashion to correct the problem. A collaborative project involving Foss Electric and Ontario Dairy Herd Improvement (DHI) was established to evaluate a prototype milk acetone analyzer that could test DHI milk samples for the presence of acetone. The objective was to investigate relationships between test-day milk acetone and incidence of clinical ketosis (Ket), displaced abomasum (DA) and lameness (Lame). The final data set included 199 herds, which had all milking cows tested for acetone on every DHI test date from January to September 1999. Included were 60,257 test day samples from approximately 14,000 cows. These herds recorded all occurrences of DA, Ket and Lame.
Preliminary Results of an Observational Study describing the Relationship between Milk Urea Nitrogen and Pasture Management in Prince Edward Island Dairy Herds
Authors: Leger Emery , Arunvipas Pipat , Dohoo Ian , Keefe Greg , VanLeeuwen John , Wichtel Jeff
Published: February 2023

The initial phase of a long term milk urea nitrogen (MUN) project consisted of a six month (May - Oct 99) observational study 75 dairy herds in Prince Edward Island, a temperate-climate, maritime province on the east coast of Canada.

Several studies have shown that MUN levels increase when cows are put on pasture (1, 2, 5 ). Ubertalle (4) found that MUN levels were related to grass quality and composition. Lean (5) reported that as pasture develops, the energy content and protein percentage of the dry matter (DM) decreases. Intensive pasture management reduces back grazing and promotes pasture regrowth (5), allowing the energy content and protein percentage of the dry matter (DM) to persist longerthan with low-intensity pasture management. This study describes the relationship between pasture management, precipitation, and observed MUN levels in dairy herds.
Formulation of Colostrum Supplements and Acquisition of Passive Immunity in Neonatal Calves
Authors: Quigley J. D. , Strohbehn R. E. , Jaynes C. A. , Miller M. L.
Published: February 2023

Acquisition of adequate passive immunity is essential to calf health and growth. Factors that influence acquisition of passive immunity include metabolic state of the animal, age at first colostrum feeding, amount and lgG concentration of maternal colostrum (MC) consumed, and chemical and physical characteristics of the MC. Colostrum supplement (CS) products have been developed to supplement or replace MC and increase lgG and nutrient concentration. However, the apparent efficiency of lgG absorption (AEA) from some CS is poor, while the AEA of CS derived from ediblegrade bovine serum is equivalent to MC. Differences in AEA and lgG absorption from CS may be due to chemical composition or mass of lgG fed to calves. Our objective was to determine the absorption of lgG from CS derived from bovine serum or processed lg concentrates containing 10% to 27% lgG.
Efficacy of a BVD Type I MLV Vaccine Against a Virulent BVD Type II Experimental Challenge in Young Calves
Authors: Siger L. , David F. , Gallo G. , Conlon J. Rice
Published: February 2023

The objective of this study was to determine the efficacy of a vaccine containing modified-live bovine viral diarrhea virus Type I (BVD1) against a highly virulent BVD Type II (BVD2) challenge in calves.
Commodity Feedstuffs in Cow/Calf and Stocker Rations
Authors: Blasi Dale A.
Published: February 2023

Nutrition is the largest non-ownership cost associated with beef production. The beef industry's Standardized Performance Analysis (SPA) data on one million cows from 500 herds estimates that nutrition is responsible for 54% of total cash costs and 38% of total costs (Weaber, personal communication). Several options exist for astute managers intent on minimizing feed input costs. For example, if readily accessible and competitively priced, traditionally used byproducts such as soybean (SBM) or cottonseed meal, highly digestible fiber byproducts such as corn gluten feed (wet or dry; WCGF, DCGF), soybean hulls (SBH) and wheat middlings (WM) are a few of the many types available that efficient minded producers can use to reduce feed costs.

Byproducts of this nature originate from various milling industries in which the grain or oilseed undergoes extensive processing to extract the starch or oil for human or industrial use.

The annual production of WM, DCGF and WCGF, and SBH in the US approximates 7.4, 5.7 and 3.3 million tons, respectively. Other byproducts that are highly digestible include distillers dried grains, beet pulp and rice millfeed. In general, the protein and energy contents of these byproducts are complementary to lowquality forages and predominant forage-based growing rations when compared to traditional oilseed byproducts and grain.

Historically, grain processing industries such as wheat flour mills have marketed their byproducts primarily to commercial feed companies. As a general rule, the processing center derives approximately 10 - 15% of gross revenues from byproducts destined for livestock feeding4,5 hardly a significant reason for allowing the production and/or demand of byproducts to drive the entire process. However, increasing production costs and declining margins along with the opportunity to add value to the purchased crop commodity has encouraged grain and oilseed processors to rapidly adopt the notion of pelleting and directly marketing the resulting byproducts to beef producers. Pelleting byproducts at many grain processing and oilseed extraction centers has effectively reduced dust pollution, short term on-site storage concerns and accelerated the acceptance of byproducts by livestock producers through ease of transport and enhanced storage characteristics.42

Several factors should be considered first before byproducts are incorporated into an existing feeding program. First, the location of the processing facility must be well within the marketing radius of other competitively priced feedstuffs. Second, the nutrient composition of the byproducts should complement the intended animal's nutrient requirements. Third, besides unit cost and availability, the nutrient composition of the byproduct should be relatively consistent from load to load. This review article will address the factors which affect nutrient utilization, feeding guidelines and storage concerns with byproducts of this nature.