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Our aim in this study was to analyze: (i) the presence of the relative age effect (RAE) on the Brazilian elite female futsal athletes according to their team’s final position in the National Championship, and (ii) the relationship between the presence of the RAE and the athletes’ tactical individual performance. Participants were 77 female Brazilian elite futsal athletes that competed in the 2021 National Championship. Data included their dates of birth aggrupation by quartiles (Q1-Q4), their team’s final position in the National Championship, and their tactical individual performance indicators (time played, goals scored, assists, steals, shots on goal, unbalanced passes, and challenges won in 1vs1). Analyses of the overall sample indicated that RAE was not prevalent in this context since the observed birthdate distribution was not different from the expected one (p=.796). When the final placement in the championship was considered, the birthdate distributions were also not different from the expected for both the top-ranked (p=.572) and low-ranked (p=.679) team athletes. Regarding athletes’ tactical individual performance, no differences were found between the athletes with early and late birthdates for any of the variables analysed (p>.05). Our results suggest that RAE has no impact on this specific sport context, which should be interpreted as a positive factor since female futsal athletes seem to have the same chance of achieving the elite level in Brazil, regardless of their birthdates.

Objective To assess the protective effect of exclusive breastfeeding and the effectiveness of maternal vaccination in reducing pertussis-like illness. Method This was a case-control study conducted in sentinel hospitals for pertussis in Recife between July 2016 and July 2018. Cases included children aged under six months with symptoms compatible with pertussis (pertussis-like illness). Controls included children aged under six months, living in the metropolitan region of Recife with no diagnosis of pertussis-like illness and matched by the same hospital and birth date. Results Seventy-three cases and 194 controls were included. The diagnosis of pertussis-like illness was predominantly clinical (97,2%). Amongst the main symptoms, paroxysmal cough was observed in 95.89% of cases and vomiting in 53.4%. There were 29 hospitalized cases and no deaths. Out of the 73 cases, 47 were born to mothers vaccinated against pertussis during pregnancy, and the mothers of 144 of the 194 controls had been vaccinated. The protective effect of breastfeeding was of 74% (95% CI;38%, 89%). Children younger than six months, who were exclusively breastfed and with mothers vaccinated against pertussis during pregnancy were 5 times less likely to develop pertussis-like illness, corresponding to a protection of 79% (95% CI;31%, 94%). The effectiveness of maternal vaccination against pertussis-like illness in children under six months was low (27%) and not statistically significant (CI 95%; −34% a 60%). Conclusions Exclusive breastfeeding protects children under six months from pertussis-like illness and may be enhanced when associated with maternal vaccination. These strategies should be encouraged because they also protect against pertussis-like illnesses.

The objectives of this study were to analyze calf performance traits and sex ratio frequencies in reciprocal Bos indicus–Bos taurus F2 Nellore–Angus calves (n = 539). The F2 calves were produced using reciprocal Angus-sired (AN) and Nellore-sired (NA) F1 sires and F1 dams, resulting in four F2 cross types. Calf weight traits were analyzed using mixed models. Deviations from 50% calf sex ratios were tested against expected binomial thresholds. Dam type influenced Julian birth date (p < 0.05) with calves from AN cows born 5 to 6 days earlier than calves from NA cows. Sire type and dam type affected birth weight (p < 0.05) with calves from NA parents approximately 2.5 kg heavier than those from AN parents; weaning weight did not differ for parent F1 type. However, an interaction between sire and dam types affected weaning weight (p = 0.038) where AN x AN calves were 5 to 8 kg lighter than other crosses. Sire type influenced calf sex distribution at birth (p = 0.036) and at weaning (p = 0.026) with NA sires producing over 66% male calves. These results suggest birth weight reciprocal differences due to parental line of descent typically observed among F1Bos indicus–Bos taurus crosses can persist in subsequent generations.

Antihypertensive agents are frequently prescribed in kidney transplant recipients (KTRs). However, the frequency and patterns of prescribing antihypertensive agents remain uncharacterized in KTRs in China. Therefore, this investigation was carried out.Retrospective prescription data dated 2011 to 2018 from KTRs in China were accessed using the Hospital Prescription Analysis Program database. Information about sex, birth date, and identification number of the patient; city, date, and department of the medical visit; major diagnoses; and the generic names, specifications, quantities, and usage of prescribed drugs were collected. Antihypertensive agents were grouped into 5 classes: angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs), angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs), β-blockers (BBs), calcium channel blockers (CCBs), and diuretics. The frequency and patterns of prescribing these antihypertensive agents were analyzed.Prescriptions from 174,749 KTRs (67.2% male; mean age, 42.5 [9.4] years) were obtained, and 58.2% of the patients were prescribed antihypertensive agents. The percentage of patients who received antihypertensive treatment increased from 52.9% in 2011 to 61.6% in 2018 and varied by city. Cyclosporine was associated with higher prescription frequency of antihypertensive agents than was tacrolimus (71.7% vs 63.4%; P 0.0001). During the 8-year study period, CCBs were most frequently prescribed (39.0%), followed by ARBs (31.9%), BBs (14.3%), ACEIs (11.6%), and diuretics (3.2%). The mean (SD) number of antihypertensive drugs prescribed per KTR was 1.7 (0.8). Almost half of KTRs (51.2%) received just 1 antihypertensive drug. Co-administration of 2 or more antihypertensive drugs presented an obviously upward trend. The most commonly prescribed 2-drug combination was CCB + ARB (44.8%), followed by CCB + BB (20.1%) and CCB + ACEI (13.0%). In the patients who received 3 antihypertensive drugs, the 2 most frequently prescribed combinations were CCB + ARB + BB (37.5%) and CCB + ARB + ACEI (32.7%). Specific data varied by both year and city.The prescribing patterns of antihypertensive agents in KTRs varied by city even within same country. Hence, more high-quality research studies on the use of antihypertensive agents in KTRs are needed.

Herring, CH, Beyer, KS, and Fukuda, DH. Relative age effects as evidence of selection bias in major league baseball draftees (2013-2018). J Strength Cond Res 35(3): 644-651, 2021-The purpose of this study was to examine if relative age effects (RAEs) or the unequal birth-date distribution among a cohort group of individuals exist in Major League Baseball (MLB) draftees. This study comprised 7,078 men drafted in the MLB first-year player draft from 2013 to 2018. Data collected for each draftee included birth date, year drafted, academic-level classification, position, round drafted, batting side, and throwing arm. Draftee's birth dates were categorized into quarters based on the calendar year for baseball in the United States (Q1: August-October; Q2: November-January; Q3: February-April; Q4: May-July). Player birth-date distributions were compared with average expected birth-date distributions and evaluated with the χ2 goodness of fit statistic. Significant χ2 tests were followed up by calculating the standardized residual for each quarter. Differences from the expected frequencies were found for the overall group (p < 0.001) with standardized residuals for baseball athletes born in Q1 (z = +4.45) and Q3 (z = -4.15) exceeding ±2.0. Similar patterns were noted for high schoolers (Q1: z = +3.30; Q3: z = -3.28), pitchers (Q1: z = +2.78; Q3: z = -3.12), early middle rounders (Q1: z = +3.08; Q3: z = -2.67), late rounders (Q1: z = +2.70; Q3: z = -2.61), right-side hitters (Q1: z = +3.23; Q3: z = -2.26), left-handed pitchers (Q1: z = + 2.12; Q3: z = -2.59), and right-handed positional players (Q1: z = +3.12; Q3: z = -2.12). Consistent with the majority of previous research, RAEs are apparent in MLB draftees, with specific patterns of unequal distribution among subsets of athletes.

The Shimokita Peninsula in Aomori Prefecture, Japan, which is inhabited by Japanese monkeys (Macaca fuscata), is the northernmost habitat for wild primates in the world. This study was the first to determine the conception dates of specific individuals and estimate the pregnancy rate of wild populations in this region. The pregnancy rate of animals aged 5 years or more at delivery was estimated to be 40.9% (27/66). Conception dates of each fetus were also estimated using a regression line of Pig-tail monkeys (Macaca nemestrina), which are taxonomically related to Japanese monkeys and have a similar physique. The conception dates were distributed across 90 days between September 24th and December 23rd, with a mean conception date of November 4th (SD=22.3 days, n=53). Using these findings, the mean birth date was estimated as April 25th, more than two weeks earlier than the mean birth date in previous research determined using direct observations carried out over the past 20 years ago. Global warming due to climate change is thought to be one of the main causes of this difference.

The present study aimed to investigate the influence of months of birth on anthropometry, body composition, biological maturation, and motor performance in young Brazilian soccer players. Young Brazilian soccer players from the Under-13 (n = 50; 13.6 ± 0.3 years), Under-15 (n = 50; 15.5 ± 0.4 years), and Under-17 categories (n = 46; 17.7 ± 0.3 years) took part in this study. Athletes were divided according to chronological age, 1st tertile (January to April); 2nd tertile (May to August); and 3rd tertile (September to December). Anthropometry, body composition, biological maturation, and motor performance variables were evaluated for all participants. There were no differences between the U-13, U-15, and U-17 categories regarding birth tertiles (p > 0.05). Differences between the ages and birth tertiles were observed for the stature, body mass, and lean body mass (p < 0.05). Moreover, differences were found in maturational status between the ages and birth tertiles (p < 0.05). In general, U-13 players showed lower values compared to U-15 and U-17 players in tests of motor performance. In addition, there was a difference in motor performance between the birth tertiles only for RSA variables. The months of birth influenced the stature, body mass, lean body mass, and repeated sprint ability in the U-13 and U-15 categories. Thus, care should be taken during the process of talent selection, as many young players could be underestimated due to their date of birth.

Este estudo teve por objetivo verificar se há o Efeito da Idade Relativa (EIR) em Copas do Mundo Sub-17 e quais posições podem receber mais influência desse fenômeno. Foram coletadas as datas de nascimento de 1011 jogadores de Futebol participantes das Copas do Mundo Sub-17 de 2015 e 2017. As datas de nascimento foram organizadas por quartis Q1 (janeiro, fevereiro e março), Q2 (abril, maio e junho), Q3 (julho, agosto e setembro) e Q4 (outubro, novembro e dezembro). As análises foram realizadas levando em consideração as posições dos jogadores: defensores (zagueiros e laterais), meio-campistas (volantes e meias) e atacantes (pontas e centroavantes). Foi realizada a análise de frequência absoluta e relativa dos quartis. Foi utilizado o teste qui-quadrado (χ2) considerando como significativos os valores de p

The Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency (PMDA) has approved hundreds of new drugs in recent years. We retrospectively analyzed the new drugs approved in Japan from 2008 to 2019, and identify the first-in-world approvals and clarify the current drug lag. The new drug and the drug lag were defined as a drug with a new active substance and a difference between the approval date in Japan and the international birth date, respectively. Among 400 new drugs approved in Japan during the last 12 years, 80 (20.0%) were first approved in Japan, and 320 were outside Japan (the United States: 202, 50.5%; Europe: 82, 20.5%; other regions: 36, 9.0%). Of these, 45 new drugs have not yet been approved outside Japan, and the remaining 355 have been globally approved in Japan and overseas. The number of new drug approvals were the largest in oncology followed by metabolic/endocrine and infectious diseases. The median drug lags (year) among all 400 new drugs and 355 new drugs with global approvals were 4.3 and 4.7 in the first tertile (2008-2011), 1.5 and 2.6 in the second tertile (2012-2015), and reduced to 1.3 and 2.2 in the third tertile (2016-2019), respectively. Substantial drug lag remains in neurology, psychiatry, and therapeutic areas where the number of new drug approvals was relatively small. Collectively, one-fifth of the new drugs approved in Japan are first-in-world approvals. Drug lag has been greatly decreased, although it still exists.

The issue of Relative Age Effect (RAE) focuses on the causes and consequences of the failure to respect development patterns of individuals in relation to their success, especially in sports. This study aims to determine whether the influence of the RAE can be proven in the Czech youth ice hockey league (U15) (n=744). A Chi-Square test (χ2) has shown that the influence in the whole investigated group cannot be rejected (χ2=25.34, p

In data collection process of Turkey Demographic and Health Surveys (TDHSs), only printed questionnaire in Turkish is used. Therefore, on-the-spot translation was performed during the data collecti...

Purpose: The article presents both numeric implementation in Japan and the Arabic gematrical calculation (hisababajadun) in Indonesia. It is common for the people in Japan and Indonesia to believe in the power of numerals and to assume whether or not certain digits induce bad luck. Methodology: The research applies a qualitative descriptive method through a contrastive approach. Main Findings: Data analysis is based on both Koizumi's approach (1995) to the meaning of numbers in the Japanese language and Al Bani's view on hisababajadun. Our study shows that the numeric calculation in Japan uses luckiness as its ground while the hisababajadun builds its mechanism on birth date calculation according to Quranic Neuro-Hypnosis. Implications/ Applications: The research may enrich existing theoretical references on the belief toward numbers in both Japan and Indonesia. While in practice, it may as well be a reference for the application of numeric calculation methods in both cultures. Novelty/Originality of this study: This study is unique and novel as it enhances the understanding of the importance of numerals in two distinct cultures i.e., Japan and Indonesia. Moreover, this study sheds light on some crucial aspects of numeral calculation including how these numerals are used, what beliefs are attached to them and how and where these numerals are used for solving life problems.

Tiburcio Gonzalez Rojas (birth date unknown) worked as a small-time jobbing photographer in the mid-twentieth century in the area around Ypacarai, southeast of Asuncion, where he specializ...

The aim of this paper is to understand how various factors such as maturation, peak height velocity, body growth and the effect of relative age can interfere with the athlete's development in sports and in personal terms. Studies indicate that athletes’ development is made up of several stages of maturation, and it is likely that they may occur at different timings depending on the athlete, their birth date, their upbringing, and the type of practice they have undertaken. Thus, we will have to be aware of the prediction we make of an athlete’s progression because this maturational timing influences both the physical and mental progression of the athlete. This is especially true given that evidence shows that those born in the first semester of the season or year may have early advantages over those born in the second semester. This may include finding ways to limit the ability to give more means and selection to teams or players that are stronger or more mature.

Axon growth rate from different populations of sensory neurons is correlated with the distance they have to grow to reach their targets in development: neurons with more distant targets extend axons at intrinsically faster rates. With growth of the embryo, later‐born neurons within each population have further to extend their axons to reach their targets than early‐born neurons. Here we examined whether the axon growth rate is related to birth date by studying the axon growth from neurons that differentiate in vitro from precursor cells isolated throughout the period of neurogenesis. We first showed that neurons that differentiated in vitro from different precursor cell populations exhibited differences in axon growth rate related to in vivo target distance. We then examined the axon growth rate from neurons that differentiate from the same precursor population at different stages throughout the period of neurogenesis. We studied the epibranchial placode precursors that give rise to nodose ganglion neurons in the chicken embryo. We observed a highly significant, threefold difference in axon growth rate from neurons that differentiate from precursor cells cultured early and late during the period of neurogenesis. Our findings suggest that intrinsic differences in axon growth rate are correlated with the neuronal birth date.

Although the birth date on state documents is proposed as an unambiguous marker of IDentity, the age assessment of migrants into Germany reveals a contested and black-boxed practice behind the seem...

The relative age effect (RAE), within the sporting scope, refers to the possible advantages of participation and performance of athletes born in the first months of the year of selection in relation to others within the same age category. The aim of the present study was to investigate the RAE in girls’ volleyball players participating in the U-18 World Championship, analysing the differences between the medal teams and other teams in the tournament, and considering this phenomenon in relation to the continents. Data collection was obtained from the website of the International Volleyball Federation with a sample made of 1654 youth players in the last six world championships (2007, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015 and 2017). A greater representation of athletes born in the first months of the year of all the world championships was observed. In the comparison among the continents, it was observed that in Africa, there was a more equal distribution of quartiles compared to America, Asia and Europe. It should be noted that there was a higher percentage of medalist athletes born at the beginning of the year in comparison to the countries that placed in the last three positions of the championship. Therefore, in U-18 female volleyball, there is an advantage to have the closest birth age at the beginning of the competitive biennium.

Dairy calves are at risk of being stressed when transported during the first week of life. A new Canadian federal rule will forbid transportation of calves younger than 9 d old to auction market. However, in the absence of reliable information to determine birth date, other indirect methods would be of interest. This study aimed to determine the prediction accuracy of body weight, Brix refractometry, and serum gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) activity for determining if a calf was not fit to be transported (i.e.

Purpose: The aim of the study was to ascertain the influence of relative age on entry to a professional soccer club and on long-term career attainment.Methods: We analysed the birth dates (divided ...

The aim was to investigate the effect of weaning age, weaning weight, and nursery feeding regime on post-weaning performance. The focus was on pigs weaned light, as they may be better off when weaned at a later age and/or offered a specialist nursery feeding regime. Piglets (n = 1,448) from one farrowing batch of 110 sows that farrowed over 2 wk were individually weighed and their morphometric measurements were taken at birth. Pigs were weaned on the same day, but variation in birth date resulted in variable weaning ages (mean age day 34.1, SD = 2.5). The youngest 50% at weaning were classified Y and the oldest 50% as O; within an age class, the lightest 50% were classified L, the heaviest 50% as H, and housed accordingly. Pigs were individually weighed at weaning, 7 and 15 wk post-weaning. At weaning, Y were 6 d younger and 1.4 kg lighter than O pigs, whereas L were 3.2 kg lighter than H pigs. Pigs were randomly allocated to a 3-stage superior (SUP) or control (CON) nursery feeding regime, with SUP pigs having a 65% greater allowance (on a kg/pig basis) of the first and second stage feeds than the CON. Pigs weaned Y had a higher mortality rate from weaning to 7 wk post-weaning than pigs weaned O (9.14% vs. 4.98%; P = 0.046). As expected, age and weight significantly (P < 0.001) affected performance to both 7 and 15 wk post-weaning: at 15-wk pigs weaned Y were 5.5 kg lighter than pigs weaned O; pigs weaned L were 9.0 kg lighter than H pigs. It was estimated that pigs weaned YL needed ~4 d more (P = 0.018) to reach 60 kg BW than pigs weaned OL. Feed intake was not affected by feeding regime, age and weight, or their interactions. Performance was not affected by feeding regime (P > 0.05), but was affected by the weight × feeding regime interaction (P = 0.044) to 7 wk post-weaning: L pigs on SUP were 1.2 kg heavier than L pigs on the CON regime; this was not the case for the H pigs. Performance up to 7 wk post-weaning was positively associated with birth weight to cranial circumference ratio and weaning weight (P < 0.05) for both YL and OL pigs; for the latter, additional performance predictors were weaning age (P = 0.044) and feeding (P = 0.027). Improved growth for L pigs up to 7 wk post-weaning could be obtained by a greater allowance of the nursery diets. However, weaning at a later age benefitted the performance of L pigs to a common BW, suggesting that this might be a strategy with longer term benefits.

Though the existence of Relative Age Effects (RAEs) has been documented through a multitude of studies spanning various sports and levels of play, application of solutions related to RAEs has been ...

A professional English football club with Category 1 academy status was investigated to determine the magnitude of relative age effects (RAE) within the club and explore between-quartile differences for somatic maturity, anthropometry and physical performances. Birth dates of 426 players from Under 9 to First Team were categorised into four birth quartiles (Q) and examined for relative age effects. Additionally, data on 382 players (Under 11 to First Team) were obtained for somatic maturity, anthropometry, countermovement jump, sprint (10 and 30 m), agility T-test and Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Level 1 or 2 performance to determine between-quartile differences. Odds ratios revealed Q1 players were 6.0 times more likely to be represented than Q4 players. Multilevel modelling demonstrated between birth quartile similarities for each variable across all age groups, though there was a tendency for Q4 players to outperform Q1 players between Under 11 and Under 18 groups. Strong relative age effects exist within this club as well as a tendency to select players demonstrating advanced growth and/or maturity, with some indication that higher categorised academies in England may be at risk of amplified selection biases. Talent identification strategies in elite youth football should actively seek to adopt novel approaches to reduce selection biases and avoid wasted potential.

Timing and synchrony of birth influence the survival of offspring and the recruitment rate of population as well as the survival and future reproductive success of females. However, there are few studies on the timing of birth and its ecological significance of captive Alpine musk deer (Moschus sifanicus). Birth date of 332 captive Alpine musk deer were recorded between 2011 and 2017 in Xinglongshan Breeding Center of Alpine Musk Deer, Gansu Province, northwestern China. Parturition timing, parturition synchrony and birth season of Alpine musk deer were analyzed, and the effects of initiation date, climate condition, age and reproductive experience on parturition date were examined. Results showed that parturition period of captive Alpine musk deer ranged from April to September, and 80.4% of birth was concentrated in June. Median date was June 21st (i.e. average timing date) and the average parturition season was 40 days, i.e., the time for 75% of parturition to be accomplished. Median date of 2013 was significantly later than the other years (p 0.05). In addition, Initiation date exerted significant influence on parturition season (p

Background Silver fluoride 40% followed by 10% stannous fluoride (AgF) has been used in dental practice in some parts of Australia for many years. This study compared the effectiveness of application of AgF with atraumatic restorative technique (ART) in managing cavitated carious primary molars. Methods The study was a community effectiveness trial in two remote Aboriginal communities where AgF has been used for some time. Children between 4 and 8 years of age with caries on primary molars were randomized by birth date to receive AgF or ART. There were 210 children who were included in the study with 384 eligible teeth. Children were followed up for periods between 9 months and 4 years. Negative outcomes such as dental pain, extraction, use of antibiotics and more extensive restorative treatment were considered as the primary outcomes of the study. Results Those negative outcomes were infrequent in both treatment groups. The prevalence ratio of negative sequelae for children treated with AgF compared with those treated with ART was lower at 0.18. Conclusions Silver fluoride was well accepted, easy to use and at least as effective a treatment as ART for dental caries in primary molars in young Aboriginal children in remote areas.

The present study aimed to develop predictive models of calf birth weight (CBW) from liveweight (LW) data collected remotely and individually using an automated in-paddock walk-over-weighing scale (WOW). Twenty-eight multiparous Charolais cows were mated with two Brahman bulls. The WOW was installed at the only watering point to capture LW over five months. Calf birth date and weight were manually recorded, and the liveweight change experienced by a dam at calving (ΔLWC) was calculated as pre-LW minus post-LW calving. Cow non-foetal weight loss at calving (NFW) was calculated as ΔLWC minus CBW. Pearson’s correlational analysis and simple linear regressions were used to identify associations between all variables measured. No correlations were found between ΔLWC and pre-LW (p = 0.52), or post-LW (p = 0.14). However, positive associations were observed between ΔLWC and CBW (p &lt, 0.001, R2 = 0.56) and NFW (p &lt, 0.001, R2 = 0.90). Thus, the results suggest that 56% of the variation in ΔLWC is attributed to the calf weight, and consequently could be used as an indicator of CBW. Remote, in-paddock weighing systems have the potential to provide timely and accurate LW data of breeding cows to improve calving management and productivity.

One of the environmental variables associated with early talent development and the achievement of a high level of proficiency in sport is the relative age effect (RAE). The purpose of our study was threefold: (a) to calculate the RAE in young Israeli athletes (ages 14–18 years); (b) to examine how the athletes perceived this effect, if the effect indeed exists; and (c) to compare the RAE findings of this study with those of two previous studies on elite male (Lidor et al., 2010) and female (Lidor et al., 2014) Israeli ballplayers. Participants in the current study were 1,397 athletes (390 females and 1,007 males) who competed in five individual (gymnastics, judo, swimming, tennis, and track and field) and five team (basketball, soccer, team handball, volleyball, and water polo) sports. Data on the RAE, as well as on a number of aspects associated with this effect as perceived by the athletes, were collected via two closed questions. Data analyses showed that the RAE was found to be significant among the male athletes in four sports—swimming, basketball, soccer, and team handball; those who were born early in the year had a higher representation in these sport programs. However, this effect was not found to be significant in the female athletes. Most of the female and male athletes did not think that their birth date influenced their athletic success. However, a large portion of those who were born in the first quarter of the year (Q1) and the second quarter of the year (Q2) among the male athletes felt that they exhibited stronger abilities in the sports program compared to their peers who were born in the third and fourth quarters of the year (Q3 and Q4, respectively). The data of the current study provide additional support for the use of an “open door” approach to accepting children to sport programs by policymakers and coaches in Israel.

This study analyzed the demographic and biometric changes in registered animals of the Mangalarga breed over the decades. Information from 206,428 Mangalarga horses born between 1930 and 2018 extracted from the genealogic registry system of the Associação Brasileira de Criadores de Cavalos da Raça Mangalarga was employed. The data referred to sex, birth date, fur coat, breeding site location, score achieved at genealogic registration, and three body measurements. Height at withers and the thoracic and cannon bone circumferences were used to calculate five morphometric indices. Results were submitted to analysis of variance using a completely randomized split-plot design where the plots comprised the sexes and the split-plots comprised the decades of selection. Between 1930 and 1990, genealogic registrations progressively increased, particularly in the 1970s and 80s, when the herd experienced the highest growth rate. In 2018, Mangalarga breeding sites were reported in 23 Brazilian states and the states of São Paulo, Minas Gerais, and Bahia held the largest herds. Between 1970 and 2018, the height at withers of mares, stallions, and geldings increased by 5.1, 3.1, and 2.1 cm, respectively. The thoracic circumference of stallions increased by 3.3 cm and the cannon bone circumference of mares decreased by 0.34 cm. It is concluded that the Mangalarga breed is found across Brazil, especially in the Southeast region. Irrespective of sex, the selection of the breed has led to taller Mangalarga horses. In addition, the stallions became heavier and gained thoracic circumference, while mares became hypometric. RESUMO: Objetivou-se analisar as alterações demográficas e biométricas dos animais registrados da raça Mangalarga, ao longo das décadas. Foram utilizadas informações de 206.428 equinos Mangalarga, extraídas do sistema de registro genealógico da Associação Brasileira de Criadores de Cavalos da Raça Mangalarga. Dos animais nascidos entre 1930 e 2018, foram consideradas informações referentes ao sexo, data de nascimento, pelagem, localização do criatório, pontuação obtida no ato do registro genealógico e três medidas corporais dos equinos. Utilizando a medida de altura à cernelha e os perímetros torácico e de canela foram calculados cinco índices morfométricos. Os resultados foram submetidos à análise de variância, utilizando delineamento inteiramente ao acaso em esquema de parcelas subdivididas, sendo as parcelas compostas pelos sexos e as subparcelas constituídas pelas décadas de seleção. Entre 1930 e 1990 houve aumento progressivo na emissão de registros genealógicos, com destaque para as décadas de 70 e 80, quando se registrou maior taxa de crescimento do rebanho. Em 2018 identificou-se criatórios da raça Mangalarga em 23 estados brasileiros, sendo o Estado de São Paulo detentor do maior rebanho, seguido de Minas Gerais e Bahia. Entre 1970 e 2018 registrou-se aumento na altura à cernelha das fêmeas, garanhões e machos castrados, que se tornaram 5,1 cm, 3,1 cm e 2,1 cm mais altos, respectivamente. Enquanto o perímetro torácico dos garanhões aumentou 3,3 cm, o perímetro de canela das fêmeas reduziu 0,34 cm. Concluiu-se que a raça Mangalarga está distribuída por todo o Brasil, com destaque para a região sudeste. Independente do sexo, a seleção aplicada à raça tornou os equinos Mangalarga mais altos. Além disso, os garanhões ficaram mais pesados e com maior perímetro torácico e as fêmeas tornaram-se hipométricas.

It is approximately 35 years since the publication of the first relative age effect paper in sport and despite the volume of empirical studies, book chapters, conference presentations, and column inches dedicated to this topic we appear to be no further on in eliminating or attenuating this discriminatory practice. This commentary argues that the ongoing use of univariate methods, focusing on primary or secondary analyses of birth-date data, unearthed from previously un-examined contexts is not conducive to stimulating discussion or providing empirical solutions to relative age effects. This paper concludes by suggesting a departure from the traditionally narrow view of relative age inquiry and instead consider the role of transdisciplinary research.

Global positioning system (GPS) technology is increasingly used to study animal behavior. However, some animals exhibit behaviors that may result in the failure to acquire a GPS position, such as for species with underground denning behavior. This creates a challenge for researchers to identify the timing of important life-history events such as birth. Here, we tested if information gaps arising from unsuccessful GPS positions, in connection with intrinsic and extrinsic factors, can identify parturition events in an underground denning species, the red fox. Using data from 30 GPS collared female red foxes during the approximate parturition period of 1 March–31 May, we calculated the proportion of successful GPS positions per day. We then compared the patterns of successful GPS positions for females of known reproductive status to those known not to have reproduced and a subset of females for which reproductive status was unknown. Females confirmed to have pups (n = 11) and two females of unknown reproductive status showed a significant difference in the proportion of successful GPS positions compared to females without pups, illustrating that parturition and denning activity could be identified from GPS data. None of the 12 subadult females were identified as denning. Parturition date, identified as the day with the lowest GPS fix rate within the five-day period with the lowest proportion of successful GPS positions, ranged from 20 March–14 May, with a mean parturition date of 12 April. We, therefore, conclude that important biological information, such as reproductive status and parturition dates, can be identified from patterns of missing GPS positions for some underground denning species.

WOS:000756685000049 Relative age effect has been used to refer to the age differences between individuals who have been grouped together in a sports competition. The aim of this study is to analyze the birth date distribution of the senior athletes in Olympic style weightlifting, who participated in Turkish Weightlifting Championships between the years 2018 and 2020. This study also aims to find out the quarter of the year in which elite athletes with ranking in the first three in weightlifting championships were born. The data collection was obtained from the website of the Turkish Weightlifting Federation with a sample made of 478 senior athletes in the last five Turkish Weightlifting Championships (2018, 2019 and 2020). The players' birthdates were classified into four seasons of 3 months starting from January to March inclusive (Q1) and ending with October to December inclusive (Q4). The weightlifters were divided into subset weight categories; lightweight, middleweight, heavyweight. The quarter of the year in which elite senior athletes ranking in the first three in championships were born was also obtained. The data was analyzed using SPSS version 25 series of Chi-Square tests. Statistical significance level was set at p< 0,05. In male group of the study, the relative age effects were determined in lightweight (chi(2) (3)= 28.08, p < .001) and middleweight category (chi(2) (3)= 23.60, p < .001). Significant relative age effects for female athletes were observed in middleweight category (chi(2) (3)= 13,15, p < .01). Both for male and female groups, the athletes ranking in the first three in the competitions were observed to be born in the Q1 of the year (chi(2) (3) = 10.57, p

Simple Summary Cold stress is a major cause of mortality and morbidity in lambs, with negative implications on both lamb welfare and economics. A recent anecdotal trend has been the provision of insulating jackets to young stock on cattle farms, despite a lack of evidence for their effectiveness in the literature. This study aimed to document the use of similar insulating jackets in lambs to determine if they could reduce the effect of cold stress on lamb growth. Insulating lamb jackets were assessed on their effect on physiological parameters such as temperature and weight gain to determine if they provided an advantage to lamb production. This study found that the jackets had no significant effect on lamb average weight gain, live weight or estimated body temperature. However, jacketed lambs had significantly higher surface temperatures throughout the study. Abstract The majority of lamb losses occur within the first two weeks of life, with cold stress being a major cause of lamb morbidity and mortality. This study investigated the effect of insulating lamb jackets on newborn lambs. One hundred and four newborn lambs were randomly allocated by birth date to two treatment groups, (a) non-jacketed (n = 52) or (b) jacketed (n = 52), for fourteen days after birth. The live weights of lambs were recorded regularly up to 21 days, and average daily weight gains were calculated from these data. For the first two days after recruitment to the study, surface and body temperatures of lambs were also recorded. The jackets significantly increased the lambs’ surface temperatures, providing a warmer microclimate and reduced cold stress for jacketed lambs. There was no significant effect of the insulating jackets on estimated body temperatures, live weights or average daily weight gain of the lambs in this study. There were no detrimental effects of the jackets, and no rejection of lambs occurred.

Motor and sensory functions of the spinal cord are mediated by populations of cardinal neurons arising from separate progenitor lineages. However, each cardinal class is composed of multiple neuronal types with distinct molecular, anatomical, and physiological features, and there is not a unifying logic that systematically accounts for this diversity. We reasoned that the expansion of new neuronal types occurred in a stepwise manner analogous to animal speciation, and we explored this by defining transcriptomic relationships using a top-down approach. We uncovered orderly genetic tiers that sequentially divide groups of neurons by their motor-sensory, local-long range, and excitatory-inhibitory features. The genetic signatures defining neuronal projections were tied to neuronal birth date and conserved across cardinal classes. Thus, the intersection of cardinal class with projection markers provides a unifying taxonomic solution for systematically identifying distinct functional subsets.

In northern environments, the period of access to high-quality forage is limited, exerting strong selective pressure to optimize the timing of parturition. We analysed timing and variation in moose ( Alces alces ) parturition dates of 555 females at 18 study sites across 12° of latitude (56–68° N, 1350 km) in Sweden. We found evidence for a spatial match of parturition timing to vegetation onset, but no evidence that moose adjust parturition to vegetation onset in a given year. We found a breakpoint at 64° N. Despite adaptation across latitudes, temporal divergences occurred. Females below 64° N calved after vegetation onset and females above 64° N calved before. Here, parturition before vegetation onset might be a strategy to optimize forage utilization time with the very short growing season. Highly seasonal environments such as at higher latitudes may make it advantageous to adapt parturition towards long-term climatic patterns by matching the most favourable period. Given the direction of temporal divergence, our study suggests that climate change may have less of an impact on moose parturition at northern latitudes than southern latitudes.

Fewer births occur on major US holidays than would otherwise be expected. We use California data to study the nature and health implications of this birth date manipulation. We document 18% fewer b...

Background Most studies have shown that maternal age is associated with birth weight. However, the specific relationship between each additional year of maternal age and birth weight remains unclear. The study aimed to analyze the specific association between maternal age and birth weight. Methods Raw data for all live births from 2015 to 2018 were obtained from the Medical Birth Registry of Xi’an, China. A total of 490,143 mother-child pairs with full-term singleton live births and the maternal age ranging from 20 to 40 years old were included in our study. Birth weight, gestational age, neonatal birth date, maternal birth date, residence and ethnicity were collected. Generalized additive model and two-piece wise linear regression model were used to analyze the specific relationships between maternal age and birth weight, risk of low birth weight, and risk of macrosomia. Results The relationships between maternal age and birth weight, risk of low birth weight, and risk of macrosomia were nonlinear. Birth weight increased 16.204 g per year when maternal age was less than 24 years old (95%CI: 14.323, 18.086), and increased 12.051 g per year when maternal age ranged from 24 to 34 years old (95%CI: 11.609, 12.493), then decreased 0.824 g per year (95% CI: -3.112, 1.464). The risk of low birth weight decreased with the increase of maternal age until 36 years old (OR = 0.917, 95%CI: 0.903, 0.932 when maternal age was younger than 27 years old; OR = 0.965, 95%CI: 0.955, 0.976 when maternal age ranged from 27 to 36 years old), then increased when maternal age was older than 36 years old (OR = 1.133, 95%CI: 1.026, 1.250). The risk of macrosomia increased with the increase of maternal age (OR = 1.102, 95%CI: 1.075, 1.129 when maternal age was younger than 24 years old; OR = 1.065, 95%CI: 1.060, 1.071 when maternal age ranged from 24 to 33 years old; OR = 1.029, 95%CI: 1.012, 1.046 when maternal age was older than 33 years old). Conclusions For women of childbearing age (20–40 years old), the threshold of maternal age on low birth weight was 36 years old, and the risk of macrosomia increased with the increase of maternal age.

Summary: Cortical pyramidal cells are generated locally, from pre-programmed progenitors, to form functionally distinct areas. By contrast, striatal projection neurons (SPNs) are generated remotely from a common source, undergo migration to form mosaics of striosomes and matrix, and become incorporated into functionally distinct sectors. Striatal circuits might thus have a unique logic of developmental organization, distinct from those of the neocortex. We explore this possibility in mice by mapping one set of SPNs, those in striosomes, with striatonigral projections to the dopamine-containing substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc). Same-age SPNs exhibit topographic striatonigral projections, according to their resident sector. However, the different birth dates of resident SPNs within a given sector specify the destination of their axons within the SNpc. These findings highlight a logic intercalating birth date-dependent and birth date-independent factors in determining the trajectories of SPN axons and organizing specialized units of striatonigral circuitry that could influence behavioral expression and vulnerabilities to disease.

The over-representation and selection of players born in the early part of a year compared to those born later is called the relative age effect (RAE). Previous studies have shown this phenomenon exist among popular sport such as ice hockey and football. The over representation of relatively older and biologically matured players were assumed due to bigger physique, thus provide more advantage. The aim for this study was initially to determine if a relative age effect present in the sample of athletes competing in MSSM across Malaysia in 2015. The athletes birth date (n = 9,756) athletes participating the 2015 MSSM national level age group (U12, U15, U18) competitions) were obtained from the Director of Sports Department, Ministry of Education Malaysia. The Chi-square goodness of fit test was used to analyze on each age group between female and male and overall data of each age group. The result showed there were an existence of RAE in female and male athletes in each age group and also the present of RAE. There were more players born in the first three months of the year (Jan–Mar) compared to the last three (Oct–Dec). The over representation of early born players is suggested that they may have been selected based on their physical advantage and the selectors may have missed out skillful but physically less advantaged players.

This chapter explores the emergence of Italian Fascism in post-war Italy. Most historians credit the establishment of the Fasci di combattimento (Combat Leagues), by Benito Mussolini during a 1919 meeting in Piazza San Sepolcro in Milan with the ‘official’ birth of Fascism. Based on a close reading of Mussolini’s statements and the program of the Fasci de combattimento, the chapter points out that, at its origins, the ‘Fascism of 1919’ was not revolutionary but a hybrid amalgamation of progressive, leftist, and nationalist ideological ingredients. Pointing out to the constant metamorphoses of Italian Fascism throughout its existence, the chapter questions the relevance of 1919 as the birth date of fascism and the retrospective commemoration of a century of fascism.

Alison Taylor was brought up in Cheshire and Derbyshire but had family roots in North Wales. In 1965 she returned to Anglesey where she lives with her family. After studying architecture, Taylor pursued a career in probation and social work. When working for Gwynedd council in the 1980s, she raised concerns regarding the abuse of children in care. As these went unheeded, Taylor took her concerns to the media, losing her job in the process. It took over ten years for her to be vindicated by a subsequent government inquiry whose report uncovered high levels of abuse and which praised Taylor for her courage and persistence in bringing the matter to light. Unsurprisingly, her crime fiction draws heavily on this experience. Nonetheless, Taylor’s novels also contain allusions to her other interests which include Beethoven and eighteenth-century Welsh poetry.

Background: Type I diabetes mellitus (T1DM) with growing frequency which is considered as a world health threatening problem is an autoimmune disease with insulinupenia. Considering the relationship between the incidence of T1DM and environmental factors, the aim of this study was to assess seasonal incidence of T1DM and its association with birth season. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 112 diabetic patients (66 males, 46 females) less than 18 years, referred to Pediatric Endocrine Clinic (Amirkola Children's Hospital) during 2011-2017. All the needed information was extracted from the patient's files and asking questions of their parents. Data were collected in a checklist. Comparison between different seasons and age groups was done by Pearson's chi-square test. Data were analyzed using SPSS 19 and p£0.05 was considered significant level. Results: The mean age of the patients during diagnosis of T1DM was 7.34±3.70 years. The incidence of T1DM was significantly increased in the cold seasons (especially winter) (P

This article investigates a traditional belief of the Chinese zodiac that individuals born in the dragon year are superior and perform better. Using a sample of listed firms in China, supporting evidence is found for this pervasive superstition that CEOs born in dragon years are positively associated with firm value as measured by Tobin's Q and return on assets. This positive relationship becomes even stronger when the exact birth date of CEOs is known. Finally, the Dragon Survivors Hypothesis and the CEO Self‐fulfillment Hypothesis are examined to explain why dragon CEOs matter to firm value.

Maternal effects occur when the phenotype of the mother influences that of the young to the detriment of her survival, growth or fitness. The investment of the mother can be affected by maternal body condition and/or experience. Trivers–Willard Hypothesis (TWH) and Local Resource Competition Hypothesis (LRCH) are the main hypotheses used to explain bias in birth sex-ratios in mammals, as well as for sex-biased maternal investment. Both hypotheses suggest that a different amount of investment must be expected according to the sex of the young. However, recent studies suggest that these differences are not in quantity but in the strategies: mechanisms and objectives may differ for each sex. We studied how maternal characteristics (age, body mass, body condition, and dominance status) influence relevant aspects of the birth and early growth of the calf (birth date, birth body mass, body mass at weaning, and body condition at weaning) separately for each sex; and how that investment is mediated by milk production and composition (lactose, fat, and protein). One hundred eighty-eight newborns from 75 captive red deer hinds aged from 2 to 19 years were analyzed. The main differential investment observed was related to birth date: when producing a female, hinds give birth earlier in the season only if they have a good body condition; however, when gestating a male it is the older hinds those which deliver earlier. Subsequently, milk production and composition are correlated with birth body mass in female calves, but to weaning body mass in males. Thus, only hind body mass affects the weaning body mass of female calves, compared with age and hind body mass in males. These results suggest that while TWH fits the maternal investment strategy found for male calves, it is LRCH which correlates with the maternal investment patterns observed for females.

Wild camel is the endangered native species of Central Asia that are found only in the western north of China, and Trans Altai Gobi of Mongolia. In this article was written that the reproductivity of captive wild bactrian camels based on the result and analysis developed at the research center for “Captive Wild camel breeding center”located near administration of Great Gobi Strictly Protected Area “A” part, between 1992 -2015. A gestation age, birth repetition and birth time of female captive wild camels at the breeding center under semi-captive condition have been observed and analysed. According to the research, captive wild camel birth time is started from the last 10 days of March and it finished at the last 10 days of May. Most extensive birth time is April. Captive male wild camel at the breeding center starting to mate at the beginning of January, and finished at the end of February. Therefore, an average gestation period of captive female camels is 400-440 days. However, sometimes, it can fluctuated due to age, fattening, and climate condition. But also birth date of female camels may different because of sex of calf.

Castration is performed on bull calves to reduce aggressiveness and sexual activity, improve worker safety, prevent unwanted breeding, and improve meat quality. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of a zinc solution as an injectable castration method to bull calves before weaning. Crossbred bull calves (n = 31; BW = 115 ± 26.4 kg; age = 119 ± 18.4 d) were allocated to treatments by BW and birth date. Twenty-seven bull calves were allocated to 3 injectable castration treatments (n = 9 calves per injectable castration treatment) to reflect 3 dosage levels of the zinc solution (Calviex, Cowboy Animal Health LLC, Plano, TX). On d 0, a single injection of the zinc solution was placed in each testicle. Two bull calves were castrated surgically, and 2 bull calves were left intact until weaning. Calves were weighed on d 0 and on 28-d intervals until they were weaned on d 122. Blood samples and scrotal measurements were obtained on d 0, 28, 56, 83, and 122. There were no effects (P ≥ 0.67) of Zn solution concentration on BW. A main effect of treatment (P = 0.005) showed intact bulls had greater (P

The objective of this research was to identify aspects of warnings that will reduce online disclosure of personal information, specifically aspects that people do not consider sensitive. The vast majority of online commercial websites collect personal data, and many consumers report cybercrime events, such that identity theft is a significant risk. Most people can be uniquely identified by the combination of their birth date, age, and gender. This is problematic, since people do not believe these identity elements to be important to safeguard. Participants were asked to provide personal information to receive an online insurance quote. Participants in experimental conditions were warned not to disclose their date of birth. The experimental manipulations were (a) the vividness of the warnings and (b) whether an alternative to disclosure was recommended. Analyses indicated that providing an alternative to disclosure proved to be an effective strategy to reduce disclosure. Personal information disclo...

Background: Designing a simple and accessible approach to age estimation in children and youth is a great challenge in the fields of sports and physical activity (PA). This study was designed to develop and validate a physical-examination-based method of estimating age in young children. Methods: In a cross-sectional study conducted in 2014, we performed physical examinations and assessed PA among 14,970 elementary school children 7–12 years old in Shanghai, China. Additional biological information on the children's height and birth date was ascertained through their parents. Two indicators were applied to develop a gender-specific age estimation equation: The percentage of predicted mature height (PPMH) and the Tanner stage. The equation was validated through a k-fold cross-validation approach. To check for estimation accuracy, the association between the discrepancy of estimated age (EA) and chronological age and PA was examined. Results: The gender-specific equations of EA were as follows: EAboy = –6.071 + 6.559 Tanner 2 + 13.315 Tanner 3 + 14.130 Tanner 4 + 0.190 PPMH – 0.071 Tanner 2 × PPMH – 0.146 Tanner 3 × PPMH – 0.155 Tanner 4 × PPMH; EAgirl = –4.524 – 1.251 Tanner 2 + 2.504 Tanner 3 + 8.752 Tanner 4 + 11.893 Tanner 5 + 0.158 PPMH + 0.017 Tanner 2 × PPMH – 0.024 Tanner 3 × PPMH – 0.087 Tanner 4 × PPMH – 0.118 Tanner 5 × PPMH. The mean absolute error was 0.60 years for boys and 0.59 years for girls. The discrepancy score was negatively and weakly associated with self-reported moderate-to-vigorous PA in both genders (rboy = –0.09, p

A blend of essential oils (EO; carvacrol, caryophyllene, -cymene, cineole, terpinene, and thymol) and prebiotics (arabinogalactans; Stay Strong; Ralco, Inc., Marshall, MN) was designed to promote immunity and stimulate appetite to diminish health challenges and stresses experienced by newborn calves. It was hypothesized that calves supplemented with the medium dose (2.5 g/feeding) of the commercial EO would demonstrate the optimal response. The study objective was to determine the optimal feeding rate of EO when added to a milk replacer (MR) compared with feeding a control or a yeast cell wall additive (YCW). One hundred Holstein calves from a commercial dairy farm were blocked by birth date and randomly assigned to 1 of 5 treatments. Treatments were a control (CON), a 24:20% CP:fat (as-fed basis) MR (24:20 MR) without EO; EO mixed into the 24:20 MR at a rate of 1.25 g/feeding (EO-0.5), EO mixed into the 24:20 MR at a rate of 2.5 g/feeding (EO-1.0), or EO mixed into the 24:20 MR at a rate of 3.75 g/feeding (EO-1.5); or 24:20 MR with YCW mixed in at a rate of 2 g/calf at each feeding. The 24:20 MR was fed in a bucket 2 times/d at a rate of 0.28 kg/calf daily for 14 d, which was increased to 0.43 kg/calf at 2 times/d until d 35 and then reduced to 1 time/d at d 36 to facilitate weaning at d 42. Decoquinate was added to the MR at 41.6 mg/kg for coccidiosis control. Calves were housed in individual hutches bedded with straw with ad libitum access to a 20% CP pelleted calf starter and water. All data were analyzed using PROC MIXED as a completely random design. Calves fed EO-0.5 demonstrated greater ( < 0.05) ADG (0.65, 0.71, 0.64, 0.64, and 0.63 kg/d for the CON, EO-0.5, EO-1.0, EO-1.5, and YCW, respectively) through d 56 compared with calves fed EO-1.0 and YCW and tended ( < 0.10) to have greater ADG than calves fed the CON and EO-1.5. Total BW gains were greater ( < 0.05) for calves fed EO-0.5 compared with calves fed EO-1.0 and YCW, with calves fed the CON and EO-1.5 being intermediate and similar. Body length and wither height gains (final - initial) were greater ( < 0.05) for calves fed EO-0.5 compared with calves fed the other treatments. Hip width gains were similar ( < 0.10) among treatments. Hip height gains were increased ( < 0.05) for calves fed EO-0.5 compared with calves fed the CON, EO-1.0, EO-1.5, and YCW. These results demonstrate that supplementing EO-0.5 (1.25 g/calf daily) in a 24:20 MR may be the optimal feeding rate to enhance growth rates compared with feeding a 24:20 MR and a 24:20 MR containing YCW or other inclusion rates of EO.