bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Patient selection, pacing indications, and subsequent outcomes with de novo leadless single-chamber VVI pacing
Authors: Piccini Jonathan P , Stromberg Kurt , Jackson Kevin P , Kowal Robert C , Duray Gabor Z , El-Chami Mikhael F , Crossley George H , Hummel John D , Narasimhan Calambur , Omar Razali , Ritter Philippe , Roberts Paul R , Soejima Kyoko , Reynolds Dwight , Zhang Shu , Steinwender Clemens , Chinitz Larry ,   Micra Transcatheter Pacing Study Group
Published: July 2019

Abstract

Aims
Patient selection is a key component of securing optimal patient outcomes with leadless pacing. We sought to describe and compare patient characteristics and outcomes of Micra patients with and without a primary pacing indication associated with atrial fibrillation (AF) in the Micra IDE trial.

Methods and results
The primary outcome (risk of cardiac failure, pacemaker syndrome, or syncope related to the Micra system or procedure) was compared between successfully implanted patients from the Micra IDE trial with a primary pacing indication associated with AF or history of AF (AF group) and those without (non-AF group). Among 720 patients successfully implanted with Micra, 228 (31.7%) were in the non-AF group. Reasons for selecting VVI pacing in non-AF patients included an expectation for infrequent pacing (66.2%) and advanced age (27.2%). More patients in the non-AF group had a condition that precluded the use of a transvenous pacemaker (9.6% vs. 4.7%, P = 0.013). Atrial fibrillation patients programmed to VVI received significantly more ventricular pacing compared to non-AF patients (median 67.8% vs. 12.6%; P < 0.001). The overall occurrence of the composite outcome at 24 months was 1.8% with no difference between the AF and non-AF groups (hazard ratio 1.36, 95% confidence interval 0.45–4.2; P = 0.59).

Conclusion
Nearly one-third of patients selected to receive Micra VVI therapy were for indications not associated with AF. Non-AF VVI patients required less frequent pacing compared to patients with AF. Risks associated with VVI therapy were low and did not differ in those with and without AF.
Sex-Specific Responses of Life Span and Fitness to Variation in Developmental Versus Adult Diets in Drosophila melanogaster
Authors: Duxbury Elizabeth M L , Chapman Tracey 
Published: July 2019

AbstractNutritional variation across the lifetime can have significant and sex-specific impacts on fitness. Using Drosophila melanogaster, we measured these impacts by testing the effects on life span and reproductive success of high or low yeast content in developmental versus adult diets, separately for each sex. We tested two hypotheses: that dietary mismatches between development and adulthood are costly and that any such costs are sex-specific. Overall, the results revealed the rich and complex responses of each sex to dietary variation across the lifetime. Contrary to the first hypothesis, dietary mismatches between developmental and adult life stages were not universally costly. Where costs of nutritional variation across the life course did occur, they were sex-, context-, and trait-specific, consistent with hypothesis 2. We found effects of mismatches between developmental and adult diets on reproductive success in females but not males. Adult diet was the main determinant of survival, and life span was significantly longer on high yeast adult food, in comparison to low, in both sexes. Developing on a high yeast diet also benefited adult female life span and reproductive success, regardless of adult diet. In contrast, a high yeast developmental diet was only beneficial for male life span when it was followed by low yeast adult food. Adult diet affected mating frequency in opposing directions, with males having higher mating frequency on high and females on low, with no interaction with developmental diet for either sex. The results emphasize the importance of sex differences and of the directionality of dietary mismatches in the responses to nutritional variation.
Prospects and challenges of implementing DNA metabarcoding for high-throughput insect surveillance
Authors: Piper Alexander M , Batovska Jana , Cogan Noel O I , Weiss John , Cunningham John Paul , Rodoni Brendan C , Blacket Mark J 
Published: July 2019

AbstractTrap-based surveillance strategies are widely used for monitoring of invasive insect species, aiming to detect newly arrived exotic taxa as well as track the population levels of established or endemic pests. Where these surveillance traps have low specificity and capture non-target endemic species in excess of the target pests, the need for extensive specimen sorting and identification creates a major diagnostic bottleneck. While the recent development of standardized molecular diagnostics has partly alleviated this requirement, the single specimen per reaction nature of these methods does not readily scale to the sheer number of insects trapped in surveillance programmes. Consequently, target lists are often restricted to a few high-priority pests, allowing unanticipated species to avoid detection and potentially establish populations.DNA metabarcoding has recently emerged as a method for conducting simultaneous, multi-species identification of complex mixed communities and may lend itself ideally to rapid diagnostics of bulk insect trap samples. Moreover, the high-throughput nature of recent sequencing platforms could enable the multiplexing of hundreds of diverse trap samples on a single flow cell, thereby providing the means to dramatically scale up insect surveillance in terms of both the quantity of traps that can be processed concurrently and number of pest species that can be targeted. In this review of the metabarcoding literature, we explore how DNA metabarcoding could be tailored to the detection of invasive insects in a surveillance context and highlight the unique technical and regulatory challenges that must be considered when implementing high-throughput sequencing technologies into sensitive diagnostic applications.
Exploration of continuous seismic recordings with a machine learning approach to document 20 yr of landslide activity in Alaska
Authors: Hibert C , Michéa D , Provost F , Malet J-P , Geertsema M 
Published: July 2019

SUMMARY
Quantifying landslide activity in remote regions is difficult because of the numerous complications that prevent direct landslide observations. However, building exhaustive landslide catalogues is critical to document and assess the impacts of climate change on landslide activity such as increasing precipitation, glacial retreat and permafrost thawing, which are thought to be strong drivers of the destabilization of large parts of the high-latitude/altitude regions of the Earth. In this study, we take advantage of the capability offered by seismological observations to continuously and remotely record landslide occurrences at regional scales. We developed a new automated machine learning processing chain, based on the Random Forest classifier, able to automatically detect and identify landslide seismic signals in continuous seismic records. We processed two decades of continuous seismological observations acquired by the Alaskan seismic networks. This allowed detection of 5087 potential landslides over a period of 22 yr (1995–2017). We observe an increase in the number of landslides for the period and discuss the possible causes.
On the Comparison of Measures of Convex Bodies via Projections and Sections
Authors: Hosle Johannes 
Published: July 2019

Abstract
We study the inequalities between measures of convex bodies implied by comparison of their projections and sections. Recently, Giannopoulos and Koldobsky proved that if $K, L$ are convex bodies such that the volume of the projection of $K$ onto any hyperplane through the origin is bounded by the volume of the intersection of $L$ with the hyperplane, then $|K| \le |L|$. Firstly, we study the reverse question: in particular, we show that if $K, L$ are origin-symmetric convex bodies in John’s position such that the volume of the intersection of $K$ with any hyperplane through the origin is bounded by the volume of the projection of $L$ onto the hyperplane, then $|K| \le \sqrt {n}|L|$. The condition we consider is weaker than the conditions that appear in the Busemann–Petty and Shephard problems. Secondly, we appropriately extend the result of Giannopoulos and Koldobsky to various classes of measures possessing concavity properties, including log-concave measures.
Fighting with the Wind: Claimants’ Experiences and Perceptions of the Employment Tribunal
Authors: Busby Nicole , McDermont Morag 
Published: July 2019

Abstract
The conceptualisation of access to justice in the Employment Tribunal (ET) as a public benefit essential for the realisation of the rule of law has recently been reaffirmed by the Supreme Court’s judgment in R v Lord Chancellor [2017] UKSC 51. However, reforms to the law and policy framework in recent years have been framed by Government as providing a necessary shift away from the use of full hearings due to the costs incurred by both the public and business. This article reports on the findings of research which tracked workers with ET claims who could not afford to pay for legal advice and representation. Their experiences and perceptions shed valuable light on the operation of the ET system. Many claimants were left dissatisfied, in particular those whose cases did not make it to full hearing. The data identify a range of barriers to justice, which impact on the ability of individuals to advance their claims and to enforce remedies. The article considers the use of ‘worker vulnerability’ in this context and the different interpretations applied by policy-makers. With reference to the research findings, we argue that vulnerability is universal and that, to counter it, the State has a central role to play in building individual and institutional resilience. We conclude by calling for the need to reclaim the concept of access to the civil justice system as a public good, capable of transcending private interests and providing fundamental protections against worker exploitation.
57 Impact of weaning strategy on beef cow performance
Authors: Worthington Mary Clarke , Ott Grace C , Poore Matthew H , Pickworth Carrie L 
Published: July 2019

Abstract
It has been shown that physiologic stress in beef cattle can impact animal performance. Weaning stress is recognized as a major stress in a calf’s life. However, less is known of its impacts on the dam or developing fetus, as the dam is at the end of the second trimester at weaning. Therefore, the objective was to investigate the impact of weaning stress on cow performance. A total of 240 cows from two locations were assigned to one of three weaning strategies: abrupt removal of the calf on d 0 (n = 80), d 7 cow-calf fenceline contact (n = 81), and late weaning on d 84 (n = 79). Cows averaged 16 and 24 weeks of gestation on d 0 and d 84 respectively. Weights and BCS were obtained monthly. Behavioral observations occurred over the week before and after weaning for each weaning period. Five late-wean cows per location were milked on d 14 and d 70 to estimate milk yield throughout the late wean period. Data were analyzed using the MIXED procedure of SAS with BW and BCS utilizing repeated measures. Means are declared different at P ≤ 0.05. The ADG over the course of the study was lower (P < 0.05) for the late weaned cows compared to the abrupt weaned cows. This was also reflected by change in body condition where late weaned cows dropped from a 5.7 to a 4.9 (P < 0.05) over the 105 d. Milk production in late weaned cows decreased over time (6.0 and 4.4 kg/d for d 14 and 70, respectively; P = 0.05). Energy expenditure for lactation may have contributed to the drop in BCS of the late weaned compared with the non-lactating cows and could compromise third trimester growth of calf in utero. The results of this study warrant further exploration of the effect of weaning stress on dams and their developing fetuses.
64 Use of a cattle artificial insemination school as extension programming in the Southeast United States
Authors: Marks Landon , Karisch Brandi , Rutherford Cobie , Parish Jane A 
Published: July 2019

Abstract
The objectives of this cattle AI school were to provide producer education in cattle reproductive management, semen handling, and insemination technique. The school is unique from other AI training programs in that it consisted of 7 hours of classroom training in economics, reproductive anatomy, estrous cycle, estrus synchronization, estrus detection, AI equipment, nutrition, sire selection, herd health, and biosecurity in relation to AI. Instructors were Mississippi State University (MSU) and Auburn University (AU) faculty and Extension agents with expertise in each subject area. Hands-on laboratory handling of bovine female reproductive tracts was provided as part of this initial classroom instruction. The program included a minimum of 8 hours of hands-on experience with semen handling and cattle insemination technique. The entire course spans a Thursday evening, Friday morning and afternoon, and Saturday morning and was scheduled twice per year. Overall participant ratings of AI school sessions averaged 4.7 on a 1 to 5 scale, where 1 = poor and 5 = excellent. Changes to the AI school were made over time based on producer feedback from previous course evaluations. The MSU Beef Unit was added as a second location in 2012. The evaluation was updated in 2015 to include a pre-test/post-test, 173 participants have completed a test with a pre-test average of 68.32 ± 13.34 and post-test average of 82.49 ± 10.09 (P < 0.001). A presentation for reproductive equipment was added in 2017. The MSU-ES cattle AI school consistently fills to participant capacity at each offering with waiting lists formed each time for future offerings, indicating a strong demand for this program. School participation has expanded from primarily Mississippi-based attendees to attendee representation from 13 additional states in the program. In excess of 1,052 persons have completed the MSU-ES cattle AI school since its inception.
139 Evaluation of cool-season annuals or reduced labor supplementation systems for wintering cowcalf pairs
Authors: Mason Katie , Mullenix Mary K , Elmore Josh , Runge Max , Kelley William K 
Published: July 2019

Abstract
Cattle producers typically feed hay and supplement for a 90- to 120-d window to maintain cows during the winter in Alabama. Relying on stored feeds can increase management system costs and labor needs. The objective of this demonstration project was to compare alternative, reduced labor management systems commonly used by producers in the region for diet quality and animal performance responses. A 75-day trial evaluated the use of three systems (n = 3 replications per system): 1) rotationally grazed-winter annuals (GWA) on a 14-day rotation, 2) free-choice whole cottonseed (WCS) and bermudagrass hay, or 3) 50% soybean hulls and 50% corn gluten feed (SH:CGF) fed on alternate days at up to 1% BW daily and free-choice bermudagrass hay. GWA had the greatest diet digestibility (P < 0.0001), and SH:CGF and WCS were not different from one another (88.7%, 64.3%, and 64.6%, respectively). Diet CP values differed (P < 0.0001) for WGA (21.5%), SH:CGF (13.1%), and WCS (11.2%), respectively. Initial and final cow BCS was not different among treatments (P = 0.1558). Cow ADG was greater (P = 0.0370) on GWA than SH:CGF and WCS (0.9, 0.2, and 0.2 kg, respectively), and calf ADG followed a similar pattern (1.5, 1.2, and 1.1 kg/day for GWA, WCS, and SH:CGF, respectively). This project demonstrates that winter annuals provided 75 days of high-quality winter grazing and resulted in greater animal performance than the other diets. However, all diets provided reduced labor options to maintain cows throughout the winter.
17 The effects of a yeast fermentation product on the average daily gain and digestibility on a rye grass hay based finishing diet for lambs
Authors: Burt Justin C , Boyd Jamie , Garcia Ivan , Splan Rebecca , Perron Brittany S 
Published: July 2019

Abstract
The purpose of this study was to determine if supplementation of a yeast fermentation product had an effect on the ADG, performance, and meat quality characteristics of Kathadin sheep fed a ryegrass hay based diet in drylot. Twenty-four Katahdin lambs were divided into two groups (male, n = 8; female n = 16) based on weight and gender: a control (CON) and treatment (TRT) used in a repeated block design. The lambs had a BW of 21.5 ± 2.5 kg, and concluded with a finishing weight of 36.3 ± 3.4 kg. Lambs were housed on dirt drylot with shade structures, and offered an ad libitum TMR diet was formulated to be isocaloric and isonitrogenous at 14% CP and was ryegrass hay based, and top dressed with ground corn as a carrier. The TRT received the yeast supplement at a rate of 4/g/h/d. The diet was offered at 2% of the group’s body weight ad libitum. A 1-wk standardization period was conducted before the start of the study to obtain a 5% refusal rate. Orts were collected and recorded, as well as weekly feed samples were collected twice a week, and compiled for a chemical analysis for NDF, ADF, ASH, CP, and ether extract. Temperature and humidity data was also collected throughout the study. Lambs were weighed weekly with a rolling weight being used for the ADG of the lambs. Proc mixed procedures of SAS was used for data analysis. We found no statistical significance in DMI (CON=11.14 ±3.36 kg/d and TRT= 10.89 ±3.55 kg/d per group), and no statistical significance by gender (P < 0.11). There was a statistical significance (P < 0.03), for ADG per group. This suggests that there is a tendency for greater performance and ADG for lambs supplemented with a yeast fermentation product.
15 Future-proofing the feedyard workforce: Survey of Texas beef cattle stockpeople indicates positive attitudes towards animals and the workplace while highlighting opportunities for improvement
Authors: Ridge Emily E , Gill Ron , Daigle Courtney L 
Published: July 2019

Abstract
A survey was administered to Texas cattle feedyard employees (n = 111) from 31 different operations measuring stockperson perception, job satisfaction and socioeconomic status using Likert statements and multiple-choice questions. Differences among employment roles (manager, pen rider, processor, doctor) were evaluated using a Kruskal-Wallis test followed by a Multiple Comparison procedure. Managers more strongly agreed that “beef cattle are not dirty” than doctors (P = 0.03) and that “cattle behavior is affected by the way we treat them” than pen riders (P = 0.002) or processors (P = 0.01). Managers were less likely than doctors, pen riders, and processors to believe they have too many cattle to look after (P = 0.05, P = 0.006 and P = 0.01, respectively). Pen riders reported less confidence in performing euthanasia than doctors (P = 0.02) and managers (P = 0.02), and, along with processors, agreed that cattle were not always euthanized in a timely manner (P = 0.02 and P = 0.02, respectively). While all roles viewed Holstein cattle unfavorably (P < 0.001), processors viewed them more positively than pen riders (P = 0.05) and managers (P = 0.001). Socioeconomic results showed that Texas feedyards have a dedicated, passionate work force, with 43% of participants having worked in the industry for 9+ years and 49% of participants working at cattle feedyards because they enjoy working with animals. Unfortunately, it was evident that stockpeople are underpaid (57% of participants making between $10–15/hr) and overworked (76% of participants working 50+ hrs/wk). Survey responses identified critical role-dependent knowledge gaps and biases. A disconnect was observed among compensation, workload, and the duration of time stockpeople spend interacting with cattle. Increasing industry investment in feedyard employees and providing breed-specific and employee role-specific education may promote an encouraging workplace that ensures cattle experience good welfare.
27 A retrospective analysis of bull:cow ratio effects on pregnancy rates of beef cows previously enrolled in fixed-time artificial insemination protocols
Authors: Timlin Claire L , Hungerford Laura , Redifer Tracey , Currin John F , Mercadante Vitor R G 
Published: July 2019

Abstract
This retrospective study analyzed the effect of bull:cow ratio on pregnancy rates of cows returning to estrus after enrollment in fixed-time artificial insemination (TAI). Data were compiled over the course of 6 breeding seasons between 2014 and 2017 from the Virginia Department of Corrections herd containing 15 farms and 141 groups of cows (average 44 cows/group). Multiparous cows aged 2 years and older (n = 6002) were exposed to estrus synchronization. Non-pregnant cows after TAI (n=3079, average 21 cows/group) were exposed to natural service with bulls diagnosed as fertile by a breeding soundness exam. Percent data were given an arcsine transformation. A one-way ANOVA evaluated TAI rates by season and a linear regression was performed to compare conception rates to the bull:cow ratio. Pregnancy rate to TAI among groups averaged 53% and ranged from 11% to 83%. First bull pregnancy rate of cows returning to estrus was 47% overall, with fall seasons having greater conception rates than spring (51.1% vs. 44.5%, P = 0.03). The ratio of bulls to total number of cows ranged from 1:8 to 1:68 with an average ratio of 1:28. The ratio of bulls to the number of open cows ranged from 1:2 to 1:39 with an average ratio of 1:14. There was no correlation between the bull:cow ratio and return to estrus pregnancy rate (r = -0.12), and there was no correlation between the number of open cows per bull and return to estrus conception rates (r = -0.17). Thus, higher bull:cow ratios (between 1:8 and 1:68) did not effect return to estrus pregnancy rate; producers may consider a lower number of bulls needed for natural service breeding post TAI, decreasing bull related costs and increasing the economic feasibility of adopting TAI protocols.
25 Effects of post-weaning supplementation of immunomodulatory feed ingredient on cortisol concentrations and microbial populations in programmed fed beef heifers
Authors: McCarty Keelee J , Tipton Jessie , Ricks Ralph , Danielo Jessica L , Thompson Jesse , Long Nathan 
Published: July 2019

Abstract
The objective was to determine the effects of immunomodulatory feed ingredient during post-weaning on cortisol concentration and fecal microbial populations of beef heifers. Commercial Angus heifers (n = 72) from two AI sires were blocked (n = 9) by sire and BW, randomly assigned to one of two pens (4 heifers/pen) per block, then assigned to treatments. Heifers were fed twice daily from d 0 to 60 (gain 0.75 kg/day) and topdressed once daily with either 72g of Celmanax (CEL) or corn germ (CON; corn germ meal) per pen. After 60 days, two heifers per pen (n = 32) were randomly selected for a transportation challenge. Fecal grab samples were collected on d 0 and 69 of treatment, hr -24, 0, 24 of the challenge and 7 d post-challenge. Serum samples were collected at h 0, 4, 8, and 12 of the challenge. Clostridia and E. coli were enumerated from fecal samples using selective media. Isolates (≤ five isolates from each media per sample) were genetically tested to determine if they were C. perfringens or pathogenic E. coli. Fecal samples were enriched for detection of Salmonella. Pen was the experimental unit and data was analyzed by ANOVA or repeated measures analysis. Following treatment, decreased (P ≤ 0.05) populations of total E. coli, Salmonella, and C. perfringens were observed in CEL heifers compared to CON heifers, whereas clostridia and pathogenic E. coli were not different (P > 0.05) between treatments. Transportation stress increased (P ≤ 0.05) populations of clostridia, C. perfringens, total E. coli, and Salmonella, but decreased (P = 0.0252) pathogenic E. coli counts. Cortisol concentrations were decreased (P < 0.05) in CEL heifers compared to CON heifers throughout the challenge. In summary, supplementation of Celmanax post-weaning altered microbial populations and cortisol concentrations were reduced during transportation in beef heifers