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Later circadian timing of energy intake is associated with higher body fat percentage. Current methods for obtaining accurate circadian timing are labor- and cost-intensive, limiting practical application of this relationship. This study investigated whether the timing of energy intake relative to a mathematically modeled circadian time, derived from easily collected ambulatory data, would differ between participants with a lean or overweight/obesity body fat percentage.Participants (N = 87) wore a light- and activity-measuring device (actigraph) throughout a cross-sectional 30-day study. For 7 consecutive days within these 30 days, participants used a time-stamped-picture phone application to record energy intake. Body fat percentage was recorded. Circadian time was defined using melatonin onset from in-laboratory collected repeat saliva sampling or using light and activity or activity data alone entered into a mathematical model.Participants with overweight/obesity body fat percentages ate 50% of their daily calories significantly closer to model-predicted melatonin onset from light and activity data (0.61 hours closer) or activity data alone (0.86 hours closer; both log-rank p 0.05).Use of mathematically modeled circadian timing resulted in similar relationships between the timing of energy intake and body composition as that observed using in-laboratory collected metrics. These findings may facilitate use of circadian timing in time-based interventions.

As aquaculture continues to grow and intensify, there is an increasing public concern over the welfare of farmed fish. Stress and production-related pathologies and repressed growth are examples of the challenges facing aquaculture, and their impacts could be minimised by effective identification of the early signs of impaired welfare. Many welfare monitoring methods have been recommended; however, continuous and reliable welfare monitoring in aquaculture is not yet widespread and commonplace. The aim of this scoping review was to present an overview of the most recent developments in fish welfare assessments with a specific focus on practical translation to the aquaculture industry. A keyword-based search was undertaken to identify peer-reviewed papers published between 2014 and 2020 in which a novel method with the potential to be used for the assessment of fish welfare in aquaculture was introduced. The results were sorted into two categories: non-invasive and invasive methods. All methods were assessed for their advantages and disadvantages, potential applicability to aquaculture. Invasive methods were also ranked on their degree of impact. It is concluded that increased interest into fish welfare, in combination with more intelligent modern technology, has resulted in the development of newer and more refined alternatives to traditional methods of welfare assessment such as behaviour monitoring by 2D cameras and plasma cortisol evaluation. Although, in many cases, more research is needed before these methods are suitable for widespread industry use, studies that focus on increasing the precision, automation and practical applicability of these methods are a promising avenue for future research.

BACKGROUND DermaScan C high frequency ultrasound was investigated for image capture and analysis of dermal measures in people with and without primary lymphoedema. METHOD Three repeated images were taken at six sites in people without lymphoedema (NLO). Intra-rater reliability was assessed by taking three sets of measures on images from 10 people and inter-session reliability by capturing three images, lifting the probe from the skin in between. Methods were adjusted, and repeated images from four sites were taken in people with primary lymphoedema (PLO) and reliability re-assessed. RESULTS Intra-rater reliability in NLO and PLO for echogenicity measures were excellent (NLO ICC(3,1) : .989; PLO .997) across all sites and specific to each site (calf: ICC(3,1) : .989; and foot: ICC(3,1) : .999, respectively). Inter-session reliability was moderate for NLO (ICC(3,1) : .727), improving after method modifications for PLO (ICC(3,1) : .916). When investigated by site, inter-session reliability was good in the foot (ICC(3,1) : .811) and moderate in the calf (ICC(3,1) : .616). Mean thickness analysed by site resulted in good inter-session reliability only in the foot (ICC(3,1) .838). CONCLUSION Intra-rater reliability was excellent using the DermaScan C for dermal measures in people with primary lymphoedema. Inter-session reliability required particular attention to method and gain settings.

The daily rhythm of plasma melatonin concentrations is typically unimodal, with one broad peak during the circadian night and near-undetectable levels during the circadian day. Light at night acutely suppresses melatonin secretion and phase shifts its endogenous circadian rhythm. In contrast, exposure to darkness during the circadian day has not generally been reported to increase circulating melatonin concentrations acutely. Here, in a highly-controlled simulated night shift protocol with 12-h inverted behavioral/environmental cycles, we unexpectedly found that circulating melatonin levels were significantly increased during daytime sleep (p .0001). This resulted in a secondary melatonin peak during the circadian day in addition to the primary peak during the circadian night, when sleep occurred during the circadian day following an overnight shift. This distinctive diurnal melatonin rhythm with antiphasic peaks could not be readily anticipated from the behavioral/environmental factors in the protocol (e.g., light exposure, posture, diet, activity) or from current mathematical model simulations of circadian pacemaker output. The observation, therefore, challenges our current understanding of underlying physiological mechanisms that regulate melatonin secretion. Interestingly, the increase in melatonin concentration observed during daytime sleep was positively correlated with the change in timing of melatonin nighttime peak (p = .002), but not with the degree of light-induced melatonin suppression during nighttime wakefulness (p = .92). Both the increase in daytime melatonin concentrations and the change in the timing of the nighttime peak became larger after repeated exposure to simulated night shifts (p = .002 and p = .006, respectively). Furthermore, we found that melatonin secretion during daytime sleep was positively associated with an increase in 24-h glucose and insulin levels during the night shift protocol (p = .014 and p = .027, respectively). Future studies are needed to elucidate the key factor(s) driving the unexpected daytime melatonin secretion and the melatonin rhythm with antiphasic peaks during shifted sleep/wake schedules, the underlying mechanisms of their relationship with glucose metabolism, and the relevance for diabetes risk among shift workers.

The time of dim light melatonin onset (DLMO) is the gold standard for circadian phase assessment in humans, but collection of samples for DLMO is time and resource intensive. Numerous studies have attempted to estimate circadian phase from actigraphy data, but most of these studies have involved individuals on controlled and stable sleep-wake schedules, with mean errors reported between 0.5 and 1 hours. We found that such algorithms are less successful in estimating DLMO in a population of college students with more irregular schedules: mean errors in estimating the time of DLMO are approximately 1.5–1.6 hours. We reframed the problem as a classification problem and estimated whether an individual’s current phase was before or after DLMO. Using a neural network, we found high classification accuracy of about 90%, which decreased the mean error in DLMO estimation - identifying the time at which the switch in classification occurs - to approximately 1.3 hours. To test whether this classification approach was valid when activity and circadian rhythms are decoupled, we applied the same neural network to data from inpatient forced desynchrony studies in which participants are scheduled to sleep and wake at all circadian phases (rather than their habitual schedules). In participants on forced desynchrony protocols, overall classification accuracy dropped to 55–65% with a range of 20–80% for a given day; this accuracy was highly dependent upon the phase angle (i.e., time) between DLMO and sleep onset, with highest accuracy at phase angles associated with nighttime sleep. Circadian patterns in activity, therefore, should be included when developing and testing actigraphy-based approaches to circadian phase estimation. Our novel algorithm may be a promising approach for estimating the onset of melatonin in some conditions and could be generalized to other hormones.

To identify the predisposing, enabling, and need factors of the Andersen and Newman (AN) model and their associations with the pattern of dental service utilization in a sample of people living with HIV (PLHIV) in British Columbia.Participants responded anonymously to a 40-item online questionnaire to explore the patterns of dental service utilization. Following the descriptive statistics, the associations between AN model factors and main outcome variables (having a dental visit in the last year and reasons for the dental visit) were evaluated using simple and multiple logistic regression analyses.Out of 600 potential PLHIV participants, 210 responded to the survey and 186 met the inclusion criteria. The experience of being discriminated against by dental professionals (P = 0.005), having dental anxiety (P0.001), not having dental insurance (P = 0.001), and having living condition difficulties (P = 0.004) were significantly associated with nonemergency dental visits. In multiple logistic regression analysis, dental anxiety (OR = 0.1; 95 percent CI 0.0; 0.4), having a regular dentist (OR = 3.7; 95 percent CI 1.1; 12.6), and visiting a dental office in the last year (OR = 21.6; 95 percent CI 6.1; 76.5) were the strongest predictors of dental service utilization in this study.Several predisposing, enabling, and need factors from the AN model were associated with dental service utilization by PLHIV. In addition to various psychosocial barriers, a significant number of respondents reported experiencing stigma and discrimination from their oral care providers.

KEY POINTS: This is the first study to demonstrate an altered circadian phase shifting response in a circadian rhythm sleep disorder. Patients with delayed sleep–wake phase disorder (DSWPD) demonstrate greater sensitivity of the circadian system to the phase‐delaying effects of light. Increased circadian sensitivity to light is associated with later circadian timing within both control and DSWPD groups. DSWPD patients had a greater sustained pupil response after light exposure. Treatments for DSWPD should consider sensitivity of the circadian system to light as a potential underlying vulnerability, making patients susceptible to relapse. ABSTRACT: Patients with delayed sleep–wake phase disorder (DSWPD) exhibit delayed sleep–wake behaviour relative to desired bedtime, often leading to chronic sleep restriction and daytime dysfunction. The majority of DSWPD patients also display delayed circadian timing in the melatonin rhythm. Hypersensitivity of the circadian system to phase‐delaying light is a plausible physiological basis for DSWPD vulnerability. We compared the phase shifting response to a 6.5 h light exposure (∼150 lux) between male patients with diagnosed DSWPD (n = 10; aged 20.8 ± 2.3 years) and male healthy controls (n = 11; aged 22.4 ± 3.3 years). Salivary dim light melatonin onset (DLMO) was measured under controlled conditions in dim light (

Eucalyptus species are widely spread over the world, being extensively planted and exploited by industries. Drought and pathogens are known to affect the establishment and productivity of Eucalyptus plantations worldwide. The aim of this work was to evaluate the pathogenicity of Neofusicoccum eucalyptorum in drought-stressed and well-watered E.globulus plants. The effect of a previous drought priming step and the role of water status at the time of inoculation were evaluated. Lesion length, plant growth and physiological parameters (relative water content, water potential, photosynthetic pigments and lipid peroxidation) were determined. The results indicate that water-stressed plants were more susceptible to N.eucalyptorum than non-stressed ones. However, this response was particularly relevant when the plants were inoculated while water limitation was already occurring. Moreover, drought-primed plants were slightly more resistant to fungal infection than the non-primed ones. This study reinforces the importance of exploring droughtxdisease interaction in Eucalyptus and the underlying physiological responses involved in plant performance., This work was financed by European Funds through COMPETE and by National Funds through the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) within project PANDORA (PTDC/AGR-FOR/3807/2012 - FCOMP-01-0124-FEDER-027979). The authors acknowledge FCT for financing CESAM (UID/AMB/50017/2013) and CBMA (UID/BIA/04050/2013), A.A. (FCT Investigator Programme - IF/00835/2013), C.B. (PhD grant - SFRH/BD/77939/2011), B.C. (PhD grant - SFRH/BD/86448/2012) and G.P. (post-doctoral grant - SFRH/BPD/101669/2014). A.J.L.P. acknowledges the support from Biosystems and Integrative Sciences Institute (BioISI, FCT/UID/Multi/04046/2013). The authors are thankful to Altri Florestal, SA for supplying the E.globulus clone used for pathogenicity trials., info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion

Background and purpose Significant effects on clinical/neuroradiological disease activity have been reported in patients with relapsing–remitting multiple sclerosis treated with delayed-release dimethyl fumarate (DMF) in phase III DEFINE/CONFIRM trials. We conducted a post hoc analysis of integrated data from DEFINE/CONFIRM to evaluate the effect of DMF on achieving no evidence of disease activity (NEDA) in patients with relapsing–remitting multiple sclerosis. Methods The analysis included patients randomized to DMF 240 mg twice daily, placebo or glatiramer acetate (CONFIRM only) for ≤2 years. A time-to-event method was used to estimate the percentage of patients achieving NEDA. Clinical NEDA (no relapses/no 12-week confirmed disability progression) was analysed in the intention-to-treat (ITT) population. Neuroradiological (no new/newly enlarging T2 hyperintense lesions/no gadolinium-enhancing lesions) and overall NEDA (clinical and neuroradiological NEDA) were analysed in the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) cohort. Results The ITT and MRI populations comprised 1540 and 692 patients, respectively. The percentage of patients with clinical NEDA (ITT population) and neuroradiological NEDA (MRI cohort) was higher with DMF versus placebo over 2 years [clinical NEDA: 38.9% relative reduction; hazard ratio (HR), 0.61; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.52-0.72; P < 0.0001; neuroradiological NEDA: 40.0% relative reduction; HR, 0.60; 95% CI, 0.49–0.73; P < 0.0001]. The percentage of patients achieving overall NEDA (MRI cohort) was also higher with DMF (26%) versus placebo (12%) over 2 years, with a relative risk reduction of 42.7% (HR, 0.57; 95% CI, 0.48–0.69; P < 0.0001). Conclusions A significantly higher percentage of patients treated with DMF achieved NEDA status over 2 years compared with placebo.

To examine existing research literature to ascertain what is known about nursing practice in sexually transmitted infection care and identify promising research trends and limitations.Sexually transmitted infections continue to be a significant public health concern with more than 357 million new cases occurring annually worldwide. Nurses are vital for the prevention and care of those affected by sexually transmitted infections. As nursing scope of practice is evolving, there is an urgent need to develop a baseline understanding of the state of nursing knowledge in sexually transmitted infection care.Nurse researchers and policy and practice experts conducted a scoping review of primary research using Arksey and O'Malley's five-step methodological framework.Primary research literature published between 2000-2014 was searched. Seventeen full-text papers were thematically analysed. Electronic charts were created for data coding and extraction.The research literature in nursing and sexually transmitted infection care is heterogeneous in topic, method and populations investigated. Sexually transmitted infection care is undertaken by nurses in diverse settings and roles including nurse practitioners and public health, school and emergency room nurses. Three themes that illustrate the main focus of current literature were identified: (1) screening, (2) health education and counselling and (3) scope of nursing practice. Inconsistencies in nursing practice activities in sexually transmitted infection care were noted. Many nurses are not working to their full scope of practice.The research in sexually transmitted infection nursing practice is limited. Further research is needed to investigate the context of practice and patient care experiences; to design and test interventions to support nurses working to full scope of practice; and to improve the conceptualisation of nursing in sexually transmitted infection care.Nurses are effectively improving health outcomes among people affected by sexually transmitted infections; however, not working to the full scope of practice could limit our capacity to fully meet patient care needs.

23 paginas.-- 10 figuras.-- 6 tablas.-- 88 referencias.-- Supporting information Additional Supporting Information may be found in the online version of this article at the publisher’s web-site: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/1462-2920.13380

Summary The Eucalyptus pathogen Quambalaria eucalypti has been reported from several subtropical and tropical countries of the Southern Hemisphere. During the course of a nationwide monitoring programme aimed at the detection of pathogens in commercial eucalypt plantations in Portugal, Q. eucalypti was found affecting Eucalyptus globulus. The identity of the pathogen was confirmed by sequence analyses of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of the rDNA operon, as well as morphological characteristics. Quambalaria eucalypti is widespread throughout the eucalypt-producing areas of Portugal. Pathogenicity studies revealed that different host genotypes showed various degrees of susceptibility to the pathogen. To our knowledge, this is the first report of Q. eucalypti on Eucalyptus spp. in Portugal and in the Northern Hemisphere.

Summary Teratosphaeria gauchensis and T. zuluensis both cause a stem canker of eucalypts that leads to serious damage in various parts of the world. Until recently, this disease was unknown in Portugal. Nevertheless, severe damage to Eucalyptus globulus has been observed in Portugal since 2006 when symptoms appeared as necrotic spots on young green stems and leaves, twig lesions, and dark oval-shaped lesions on stems and trunks. The isolates from affected E. globulus tree plantations were identified using sequence data of the ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 and EF-1α clusters, together with morphological characteristics. Based on these results, the causal organism was identified as T. gauchensis, which represents the first report of this pathogen from Portugal.

Objective Obtain a more precise estimate of the efficacy of delayed-release dimethyl fumarate (DMF; also known as gastro-resistant DMF) in relapsing multiple sclerosis (MS) and examine the consistency of DMF's effects across patient subgroups stratified by baseline demographic and disease characteristics. Methods A prespecified integrated analysis of the randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, Phase 3 DEFINE and CONFIRM trials was conducted. Results The intent-to-treat population comprised 2301 patients randomized to receive placebo (n = 771) or DMF 240 mg twice daily (BID; n = 769) or three times daily (TID; n = 761). At 2 years, DMF BID and TID reduced the annualized relapse rate by 49% and 49% (both P

We propose that regular urine samples can be used to monitor and characterize the reproductive cycle of the wombat, but this approach has never before been attempted in a marsupial. We conducted a three stage conditioning process for non-invasive urine collection in captive female wombats, which included (1) initial habituation and observation of urination patterns; (2) classical association of a stimulus with urination and (3) urine collection with the classically-conditioned stimulus. Four of the five female wombats selected for this trial were successfully conditioned for urine collection. During stage 2, the animals urinated in response to tactile stimulation 96 times from 208 attempts (46%). In stage 3, urine was successfully collected 399 times from 485 attempts (82%), with the majority of samples being collected in the morning (280/388). Hand-raised females that were previously conditioned for toileting purposes as pouch young responded more rapidly to the stimulus than juvenile females with no prior conditioning. This study is the first description of a successful method of urine collection by classical conditioning in a marsupial.

Sexual risk behavior and illicit drug use among people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) contribute to poor health and onward transmission of HIV. The aim of this collaborative multi-site nursing research study was to explore the association between self-compassion and risk behaviors in PLWHA. As part of a larger project, nurse researchers in Canada, China, Namibia, Puerto Rico, Thailand and the US enrolled 1211 sexually active PLWHA using convenience sampling. The majority of the sample was male, middle-aged, and from the US. Illicit drug use was strongly associated with sexual risk behavior, but participants with higher self-compassion were less likely to report sexual risk behavior, even in the presence of illicit drug use. Self-compassion may be a novel area for behavioral intervention development for PLWHA.

Features of the early postnatal environment profoundly shape later physical and behavioral phenotypes. The amount of licking/grooming that rat dams direct towards their offspring has durable consequences, including behavioral and physiological dimensions of stress reactivity, cognition, and reproductive behavior. We examined how natural variation in maternal care alters social behavior in adult offspring and how this relates to anxiety behavior and oxytocin receptor density. Male and female offspring of mothers who received high levels of licking spent significantly more time in social contact with unfamiliar individuals than did offspring whose dams provided less grooming. Reduced anxiety behavior was associated with greater social interaction. No differences in oxytocin receptor binding assessed by (125) I-OVTA autoradiography were detected between groups. The present investigation characterizes a novel impact of maternal care on adult social interaction behavior, replicates anxiety behavior differences, and illustrates connections between social behavior and anxiety in adulthood across maternal treatment groups.

Objective To investigate the effect of intimate partner violence (IPV) on companion animal welfare.

Performance and clinical characteristics of a novel hyperthermia antenna operating at 434 MHz were evaluated for the adjuvant treatment of locally advanced superficial tumours in cats, dogs and horses. Electromagnetic simulations were performed to determine electric field characteristics and compared to simulations for a flat microwave antenna with similar dimensions. Simulation results show a reduced skin surface and backfield irradiation and improved directional irradiation (at broadside) compared to a flat antenna. Radiated power and penetration is notably increased with a penetration depth of 4.59 cm compared to 2.74 cm for the flat antenna. Clinical use of the antenna was then evaluated in six animals with locoregionally advanced solid tumours receiving adjuvant chemotherapy. During clinical applications, therapeutic temperatures were achieved at depths ≥4 cm. Objective responses were seen in all patients; tissue toxicity in one case limited further therapy. This antenna provides compact, efficient, focused and deep-penetrating clinical hyperthermia for the treatment of solid tumours in veterinary patients.

Summary The growth kinetics of virulence plasmid-bearing Yersinia pseudotuberculosis (YPST) in sterile ground beef were studied at temperatures ranging from 0 to 30°C. In irradiated sterile ground beef, YPST replicated from 0 to 30°C, with corresponding growth rates (GR) ranging from 0.023 to 0.622 log CFU/h at 0–25°C, and the GR was 0.236 log CFU/h at 30°C. The maximum population densities (MPD) ranged from 8.7 to 11.0 log CFU/g. The growth and MPD of YPST were reduced significantly at 30°C. Models for GR and MPD of YPST in raw ground beef (RGB) as a function of storage temperatures were produced and displayed acceptable bias and accuracy. The models were validated with rifampicin-resistant YPST (rif-YPST) in sterile ground beef stored at 4, 10 and 25°C. The observed GR and MPD were within 95% of the predicted values. When compared to non-sterile retail ground beef, the growth of rif-YPST was not inhibited and displayed similar GR at 0, 10 and 25°C and MPDs as sterile ground beef at 10 and 25°C. Moreover, there was no loss of virulence plasmid in YPST during its growth in ground beef indicating that RGB contaminated with virulence plasmid-bearing YPST could cause disease due to refrigeration failure, temperature (10–25°C) abuse, and if the meat was not properly cooked.

To describe the prevalence and risk factors for clinical signs of disease and owner-reported health or welfare issues of aged horses in Queensland, Australia. Owners of horses were contacted via an equestrian organisation in Queensland and asked to complete a questionnaire about their horses aged 15 years and older, to gain information about clinical signs observed in the horse and disease history. Owners were asked to identify health or welfare issues they felt were important in aged horses. Owners were able to identify many clinical signs of disease, with 83% of horses having at least one reported clinical sign of disease. Muscle stiffness (33%), lameness (28%), ocular discharge (22%), change in hair coat (22%) and skin problems (21%) were the most commonly reported signs. Increasing age was a risk factor for the presence of clinical signs of disease. Ponies had an increased risk of both laminitis and hirsutism, whereas Thoroughbreds had an increased risk of stereotypies, wounds, weight loss and musculoskeletal signs. Owners reported a known disease or disorder in their horses less frequently than the clinical signs of disease. Owners reported weight loss (28%), arthritis/lameness (24%) and teeth/dental care (18%) as the most important health issues, followed by welfare issues (8%). Owners demonstrated concern for the health and welfare of their aged horses, but the lack of appropriate recognition of the significance of clinical signs and limited veterinary care suggest a need for increased client communication and veterinarian-client interaction.

Background: Cadmium accumulates in sheep tissues and often approaches the legal limit for human consumption in kidneys. Previous models have focused on transfer from plants to sheep but have restricted value due to seasonal and species variation in plant cadmium concentration. We created a model for the accumulation of cadmium in sheep using empirical relationships previously derived for accumulation in sheep kidney and liver from feeds, together with equations for accumulation in feeds derived from soil characteristics. The combined model relates soil cadmium to liver and kidney concentrations. Results: Sensitivity analysis demonstrated that the kidney accumulated cadmium faster than the liver and the greatest influence was the total cadmium concentration in the soil. The weight gain of the sheep and soil pH where the feed was grown had relatively minor influences on cadmium concentration in liver or kidney. Conclusion: A combined model of soil, plant and sheep kidney and liver characteristics enables concentrations of cadmium in sheep liver and kidney to be predicted from soil characteristics. This will enable the long-term risks of specific sites to be predicted with greater accuracy than if just plant cadmium concentrations were utilized.

To describe management practices and routine preventive care of aged horses in Queensland, Australia, including effects of owner characteristics, affiliation to an equestrian group and retirement of the horse. Owners of horses were contacted via Equestrian Australia (EA) and asked to complete a questionnaire about their aged horses (e.g. age, breed, sex and colour); their use and management, including preventive health care; and use of equine healthcare providers. Horses aged 15 years or greater represented one-third of the total horses owned in the population sample. The median age of the horses was 20.7 years (range 15-44 years). Basic husbandry and preventive health care varied depending on demographic region, age of the horse and its use. Affiliation with EA was associated with the breed and use of the horse, but not with management or preventive health care other than frequency of hoof care visits. Retired horses had reduced basic husbandry and preventive health care compared with non-retired horses. There was reduced preventive health care in rural compared with urban areas. The majority (61%) of horses in the current study had not been visited by a veterinarian in the previous 12 months. Aged horses constitute a large subgroup of the Australian horse population. Although basic management is at a high level for most aged horses, it appears to be reduced following the horse's retirement and in the more rural areas. There was limited veterinary involvement in preventive healthcare strategies for aged horses, especially in rural areas.

Objective: To determine the key variables related to the environment, animal and owner that influence nuisance barking by dogs in a city with a subtropical climate. Design and Population: A case-control survey of dog owners in Brisbane, Queensland, was conducted using a questionnaire investigating key variables connected to nuisance barking. Owners of dogs exhibiting nuisance barking were obtained from a list of dogs being treated in a Brisbane behaviour clinic, and those of control dogs were selected from a telephone directory. Results: Univariate analysis showed that animal, owner and environmental factors all potentially influence the occurrence of nuisance barking. Multivariate analysis identified the following factors, with the relevant odds ratios (OR) as significant: age of the dog (young dog vs old dog, OR 11.2); multiple dogs in the household vs single (OR 5.6); origin of the dog (home bred vs obtained from breeder or friend, OR 4.0); type of dog, (herding vs other types, OR 3.2) and dog with access to the home vs dog without access (OR 2.5). Conclusion: The greatest risk for nuisance barking occurs with a young dog of the herding type that is home bred and with access to the house in a multiple dog household.

An ever increasing concern over bacterial infections caused by consumer products as well as medical devices is obvious from the recent surge in literature documenting the need for novel self-decontaminating coatings. Within, we report a hybrid ionic organic/inorganic siloxane epoxy system containing quaternary ammonium moieties. This novel low surface energy antimicrobial coating is capable of self-decontaminating in a variety of environments. The system is designed to be used as an over-coating, for devices that are prone to come into contact with pathogenic bacteria. These coatings have been synthesized, characterized, and analyzed for both physical and antimicrobial properties. Preliminary antimicrobial evaluation indicates a direct correlation between antimicrobial activity and hydrophobicity of the biocidal functional group within the resin matrix. These coatings have demonstrated the ability to eliminate up to 99.9% of pathogenic bacteria on the surface. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008

Species of Botryosphaeria and Neofusicoccum are well known as pathogens of woody hosts. In this study the species that occur on rotting olive drupes in the main production areas of southern Italy were studied. Species were identified from the morphology of their conidial states in culture and from sequence data of the ITS rDNA operon and partial sequence of the translation elongation factor 1-α gene. Botryosphaeria and Neofusicoccum species were isolated from more than 60% of the affected drupes, suggesting that they are the main contributors to this disease. The most common species was B. dothidea, which was isolated from 34% of the drupes. However, N. australe and N. vitifusiforme were also common and were isolated from 16 and 12%, respectively. Two other species (N. parvum and N. mediterraneum) were uncommon and occurred on less than 1% of the drupes. All five species were pathogenic on the two cultivars of olive tested. The most aggressive species was N. vitifusiforme, followed by N. australe and B. dothidea. The two olive cultivars differed in their susceptibility to the pathogens. The results show that B. dothidea, N. vitifusiforme and N. australe are important pathogens of olives.

The quality of raw blended milk going to manufacture at five creameries in southwest Scotland has been surveyed over a two-year period. Analyses of gross composition, somatic cell count, numbers and types of bacteria present and the concentration of free fatty acid in the milk show that milk quality was of a high standard. However, extended storage of the milk at 6°C indicated that the bacteria in the milk were actively multiplying and the results showed that extended storage of milk at creameries could seriously jeopardize milk quality. The development of lipolysis on extended storage of the milks was associated with the numbers and types of bacteria present in the milk before storage.

Summary Palaearctic waders were caught and weighed at Lake Nakuru in the Kenyan rift valley on 22 occasions in the non-breeding season between March 1967 and May 1969. The weights of four species are presented:Curlew Sandpiper, Little Stint, Ruff and Marsh Sandpiper. Winter weights were relatively low and varied little. It is thought that waders had very little fat reserve at this time. The mean weights of early autumn samples tended to be higher than corresponding mean winter weights, and autumn populations included some markedly heavy birds. An increase in the mean weight, and a dramatic rise in the maximum weights of each species occurred shortly before its main spring departure time. The great majority of waders apparently gained considerable weight before migration from the area in April and May. The spring migration of waders from Kenya is briefly discussed.

Summary. The breeding distribution of the Sooty Shearwater and the dates of its breeding season are briefly reviewed. Records from the Southern Ocean are summarised. It is concluded that they are accounted for by non-breeding birds feeding off the ice-edge in the Australian sector of the Antarctic during the latter part of the breeding season. The great majority of Sooty Shearwaters spend the southern winter in the Pacific Ocean. Birds from the New Zealand colonies are probably mostly found on the feeding grounds off Japan: some may make a “circular” migration around the Pacific. Birds from the Cape Horn colonies spend the southern winter in the rich areas off the western coast of North America. Some Sooty Shearwaters spend the southern winter off the South African coasts. A number of non-breeding birds remain there throughout the summer. The Sooty Shearwaters “wintering” in the North Atlantic are probably numbered in tens of thousands only. The distribution of records is reviewed month by month and the records from Atlantic transects are summarised. The migrations in the North Atlantic are discussed in relation to prevailing meteorological and oceanographic conditions, and food supply. It is concluded that most Sooty Shearwaters in the North Atlantic make a “circular” migration, crossing the North Atlantic from west to east in June and July, and re-crossing about September further south in the northeast trades.

The adhesive properties, as measured by bulk tack and peel strength analysis, were found to decrease in polystyrene-block-polybutadiene-block-polystyrene (SBS) and polystyrene-block-polyisoprene-block-polystyrene (SIS) PSA films containing common singlet oxygen generators, acridine, rose bengal, and C60 fullerene, when irradiated with a tungsten halogen light in air. The addition of the singlet oxygen quencher, β-carotene, to the C60 fullerene samples was found to significantly deter the rate of adhesive loss in the fullerene-SBS and -SIS PSA nanocomposites. The presence of oxygen was essential to the mechanism of adhesive loss and, in combination with the effects of singlet oxygen generators and a singlet oxygen scavenger, strongly supports a singlet-oxygen mediated process. FTIR investigations of fullerene-SBS and -SIS systems suggest the initial formation of peroxides which, upon further irradiation, lead to the generation of carbonyl-containing compounds of a ketonic type after crosslinking. Rates of SBS and SIS C-H abstraction were comparable and found to decrease when the high-pressure, mercury xenon irradiation source was filtered to allow only light of λ > 390 nm. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008

When male investment in mating varies with quality, reliable sexual signals may evolve. In many songbirds, testosterone mediates mating investment, suggesting that signals should be linked to testosterone production. However, because testosterone may change rapidly during behaviour such as territorial aggression and courtship, efforts to establish such a relationship have proved challenging. In a population of dark-eyed juncos, we measured individual variation in the production of short-term testosterone increases by injecting gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH). We found a positive correlation between the magnitude of these increases and the size of a plumage ornament (‘tail white’) previously shown to be important for female choice and male–male competition. We then measured naturally elevated testosterone levels produced during male–male competition and found that they covaried with those induced by GnRH. We suggest that the association between tail white and testosterone increases may allow conspecifics to assess potential mates and competitors reliably using tail white.

Phenols are rarely used in the preparation of polyurethanes because of the inherent competitive reaction of the phenolic moiety with isocyanates. This work represents a successful application of the combination of phenols with isocyanates toward the development of phenolic-based antimicrobial urethane coatings for niche applications. In this effort, a series of nonionic amphiphilic phenolic molecules were prepared by condensation of 4-hexylresorcinol with the corresponding hydroxyl-terminated monomethyl poly(ethylene glycol) in the presence of a catalytic amount of acid in refluxing toluene. These new molecules were evaluated against a variety of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria for their antimicrobial activity in minimum inhibitory concentration solution testing. The same amphiphilic molecules were also incorporated into a hydrophilic polyurethane hydrogel and dispensed as films for evaluation of surface activity with a newly developed protocol. All samples possessed some degree of surface antimicrobial activity, which was expressed as a log kill reduction in colony-forming units starting from an initial bacterial concentration of 107 CFU, and structural features of the phenolic compound were found to contribute significantly to the observed antimicrobial activity. The highest activity was observed in samples containing the phenolic compound with the shortest ethylene oxide polar structural feature and therefore highest mobility in the highly polar urethane resin. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008

Objective Our objective was to test whether natalizumab, an antibody against very late activating antigen (VLA)-4, interferes with central nervous system immune surveillance as assessed by leukocyte cell numbers and cellular phenotypes in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and peripheral blood. Methods Cell numbers and cellular phenotypes in CSF and peripheral blood were analyzed in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients treated with natalizumab, untreated MS patients, and patients with other neurological disease (OND). JC virus DNA in the CSF and peripheral blood was quantified by kinetic polymerase chain reaction. Results CSF leukocyte counts, CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, CD19+ B cells, and CD138+ plasma cells were significantly lower in natalizumab-treated MS patients compared with OND patients and untreated MS patients. JC virus DNA was not detected in CSF or peripheral blood from natalizumab-treated patients. Six months after cessation of natalizumab therapy, low lymphocyte counts in the CSF persisted. The patient with the highest total leukocyte and CD4+ and CD8+T-cell counts in the CSF experienced a clinical relapse. Interpretation These data suggest that natalizumab treatment results in a prolonged decrease of lymphocytes in the CSF and are consistent with the hypothesis that natalizumab impairs immune surveillance of the central nervous system. Ann Neurol 2006;59:743–747

Linear regression of published values for soil parameters and cadmium concentrations in plant tissues offers the opportunity to develop uptake coefficients that can be applied in a wide range of circumstances. A widespread literature search was performed which identified publications from the last 20 years containing information on cadmium uptake by maize and rye grass plants. After discarding experiments with inadequate data or parameters, 10 and eight papers were chosen for maize and rye grass respectively to develop linear models that related pH and cadmium concentration in the growth media (soil in pots or nutrient solution) to cadmium concentration in maize or rye grass plants (excluding roots). Cadmium concentrations in both maize and rye grass were positively correlated with soil cadmium concentration, and in the case of maize negatively correlated with soil pH. They were also negatively correlated with the product of soil cadmium concentration and soil pH, demonstrating that at high soil cadmium concentration a high soil pH reduced plant cadmium concentration. A further model of data generated from one experiment with soya beans demonstrated that other factors, such as soil temperature, can have a major influence on uptake. (C) 2004 Society of Chemical Industry.

Limits for cadmium and lead concentrations in food animal products have been established independently, whereas these two toxic metals often co-exist in polluted regions. Weaned pigs (60) were allocated to ten treatments: control; low (0.5 mg kg(-1)), medium (1 mg kg(-1)) or high cadmium (2.5 mg kg(-1)) in feed; low (5 mg kg(-1)) medium (10 mg kg(-1)) or high (25 mg kg(-1)) lead in feed; and low, medium and high cadmium plus lead in feed. Growth rates and concentrations of cadmium and lead in body tissues (kidney, liver, spleen, lungs, heart, testicle, ribs, hair and teeth) were measured after 137 days. There was a similar reduction in weight gain for pigs in the cadmium and lead treatments, compared with the control, and a greater reduction for the pigs in the cadmium plus lead treatments. The reduction increased with the level of metal included. There was an increase in cadmium concentration of all tissues and blood with increasing feed cadmium concentration, which was usually less when lead was also included in the feed. There was also an increase in tissue lead concentration with increasing dietary lead, and this was in most cases increased when cadmium was also included in the feed. The most sensitive tissues for cadmium and lead exposure were the kidney, liver, hair and teeth, and regression equations were developed for the accumulation rates in these tissues. Tissue and blood cadmium concentrations increased gradually with increasing dietary lead, whereas tissue lead concentration was not sensitive to dietary cadmium, except in the ribs and heart. In a second experiment, 10 sows were allocated to a control diet or the same diet but with a supplement of cadmium and lead. The birth weight of piglets was decreased by the supplement and their mortality increased. Lead accumulated most in the ovary and oviduct of the sows, and there were increases in the lead and, to a lesser extent, cadmium concentrations of tissues of the piglets from these sows. (C) 2003 Society of Chemical Industry.

Objective: The present study aimed to investigate the extent to which recurrent abdominal pain and other factors were associated with academic achievement among Year-6 (12 years of age) schoolchildren. Methods: The present study was a cross-sectional survey conducted from September to November 2001. Schoolchildren were recruited from primary schools that were selected randomly from a list of all primary schools in Petaling Jaya, Malaysia, using random sampling numbers. Information concerning recurrent abdominal pain, socio-economic status, life events, demographic and other details was obtained using a combination of questionnaires and interviews. Academic achievement was assessed using a score based on the Malaysian Primary School Achievement Examination. An overall score at or above the mean was taken to indicate high academic achievement while a score below the mean indicated poor academic achievement. Results: A total of 1971 children were studied (958 boys and 1013 girls: 1047 Malays, 513 Chinese and 411 Indians). Of these children, 456 (23.1%) fulfilled the criteria for recurrent abdominal pain. Using the method of binary logistic regression analysis, the following factors were found to be independently associated with poor academic performance: a low socio-economic status (odds ratio (OR) 1.30; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.25−1.35); male sex (OR 1.61; 95% CI 1.26−2.05); the death of a close relative (OR 2.22; 95% CI 1.73−2.85); the divorce or separation of parents (OR 3.05; 95% CI 1.73−5.40); the commencement of work by the mother (OR 1.34; 95% CI 1.02−1.76); hospitalization of the child in the 12 months prior to the study (OR 1.83; 95% CI 1.12−3.01); lack of health-care consultation (OR 1.80; 95% CI 1.36−2.36); missing breakfast (OR 1.47; 95% CI 1.07−2.02); and lack of kindergarten education (OR 1.35; 95% CI 1.04−1.75). Conclusions: Many factors, such as socio-economic status and recent life events, were associated with poor academic performance. Recurrent abdominal pain did not correlate directly to academic performance. Stress may be a means by which various factors cause children to struggle academically.

Background and Objectives Non-transferrin bound iron (NTBI) is associated with increased morbidity in a number of transfusion-dependent disease states such as the severe haemoglobinopathies. We hypothesized that this may be related to excess NTBI present in plasma-depleted red blood cell units that are free of clear haemolysis. Materials and Methods The level of NTBI was determined using the bleomycin assay in samples from 20 stored plasma-depleted red cell units, at approximate 5-day intervals up to day 33 after donation. Forty units of fresh-frozen plasma (FFP) and 40 units of platelet concentrates were used as negative controls, and samples from 12 units of FFP were also serially assessed. Results Median [interquartile range (IQR)] NTBI was 0 µm (0–0·35) in samples taken from units 3–10 days after donation. Thereafter, the levels of NTBI increased, becoming significant (median 3·05; IQR: 0·05–6·7 µm) 17–22 days after donation. After 30 days, NTBI was detectable in all red cell units. NTBI was undetectable in platelet concentrates and FFP. Conclusions Increased levels of NTBI become detectable 17–22 days after donation and increase further with storage time. This excess NTBI may promote bacterial infection in iron-loaded individuals.

The concentrations of nitrate and potentially toxic elements (PTEs) are reported in water leached from a perennial ryegrass pasture to which isonitrogenous quantities of sodium nitrate, ammonium nitrate or ammonium sulphate fertilisers had been applied in an experiment lasting 2 years. The experimental design allowed a comparison of the immediate effects of sodium nitrate in the grazing season in which the fertiliser was applied with the residual effects of applying it in the previous year. Leachate composition was monitored from December of the first year to August of the second year. Sodium fertiliser reduced the concentrations of cadmium in soil and leachate, but it increased lead concentration in soil and reduced it in leachate. Sulphur fertiliser had no effect on any PTE. Nitrate concentration in leachate increased towards the end of the winter to almost reach the EU legal limit in water and then declined during the spring and summer. Sodium fertiliser applied in either but not both years reduced nitrate concentration. Sulphur fertiliser had varied effects on nitrate concentration in leachate depending on the timing of sodium fertiliser application. When applied at the same time as sodium fertiliser, sulphur fertiliser decreased nitrate concentration, but when applied to areas that had received sodium fertiliser in the previous year, it increased nitrate concentration. It is suggested that sodium fertiliser residues may have long-term effects on leachate nitrate concentration that determine the impact of sulphur fertilisers. It is concluded that sodium fertilisers may reduce the concentrations of at least two PTEs, cadmium and lead, in ground water and that the effects of sulphur fertilisers are dependent on the sodium status of the soil. (C) 2002 Society of Chemical Industry.

The element composition of water leached from a perennial ryegrass pasture to which isonitrogenous quantities of sodium nitrate, ammonium nitrate or ammonium sulphate fertilisers had been applied in an experiment lasting 2 years is described. The experimental design also allowed a comparison of the immediate effects of sodium nitrate in the grazing season in which the fertiliser was applied with the residual effects of applying it in the previous year. Applying sodium fertiliser in either 1992 or 1993, but not both years, increased the concentrations of sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium and cobalt and reduced those of phosphorus and molybdenum in leachate. The application of sulphur fertiliser reduced the concentrations of zinc, copper, iron and molybdenum in leachate. It also reduced the concentrations of sodium, potassium and magnesium, but only when sodium fertiliser was applied in 1992, and not when it was applied in 1993. It is concluded that sulphur fertiliser reduces the leaching of trace elements from the soil and that, in the long term, sodium fertiliser can amplify the effect of applying sulphur fertiliser. Sodium fertiliser in moderate quantities increased the leaching of the major divalent cations but reduced the phosphorus and molybdenum concentrations in leachate. (C) 2002 Society of Chemical Industry.

Lablab purpureus was grown in two field experiments in consecutive years to evaluate the effects of the timing of an interim harvest on the yield and nutritive value of the harvested material and the subsequent regrowth, which was determined from the second and final harvest. Delaying the first harvest to 50-70 days post-sowing increased the total (first plus second harvests) dry matter (DM) yield, with a greater first harvest and reduced second harvest DM yield. The delay also reduced the crude protein concentration of the first harvest and tended to increase its modified acid-detergent (MAD) fibre concentrations. The delay increased the crude protein concentration and decreased the MAD fibre concentration of the second harvest. The total crude protein yield of both harvests increased with late interim harvesting. The first harvest plant calcium concentration increased and phosphorus concentration decreased with a delay in the interim harvest. It is concluded that, in the difficult growing conditions of the Sahelian zone of sub-Saharan Africa, delaying the interim harvest of Lablab purpureus until 50-70days post-sowing will have beneficial effects on total dry matter and crude protein yields.

In two similar experiments, Lablab purpureus was sown at different dates in July and August to evaluate the effects of sowing date on the yield and nutritive value of the plant and shed leaves. On each occasion, an interim harvest was performed on half of the plants sown at each date and the regrowth recorded. The interim harvest reduced the total yield, and in particular that of shed leaves. In one of the two experiments, late sowing resulted in a considerable reduction in yield, increased crude protein and reduced modified acid-detergent fibre concentrations. Ash concentrations were higher in plants sown later and their shed leaves. Sodium concentrations were inadequate for ruminants and, like phosphorus concentrations, tended to decrease with later sowing. However, both calcium and magnesium concentrations increased with later sowing and were sufficient for ruminant production. Potassium concentrations were high and were little affected by sowing date. It is concluded that both an interim harvest and late sowing are disadvantageous when lablab is grown for ruminant livestock, the former because of yield reduction and the latter because of yield reduction, increases in ash concentration and reductions in sodium and phosphorus concentrations.

Aim: To determine the diversity of clinical practice with respect to aminoglycosides in cystic fibrosis (CF) units within Australia. Method: In April 1999, a questionnaire on the use of aminoglycosides was sent to 30 CF units across Australia. Information was collected about drug selection, dosing, monitoring and toxicity with intravenous administration. Results: Completed surveys were received from 26 of the 30 units (response rate = 86%) and all units with > 40 patients. Tobramycin was the drug of choice in all but two centres where there was equivalent use of gentamicin and tobramycin. The survey demonstrated a trend in recent years to reduce the number of doses per day with 54% of centres prescribing once daily, 23% twice daily and 23% thrice daily regimens. Initial dosing was generally based on mg/kg per day (mean 8.8, range 7.5-10 mg/kg per day). Dosing by infusion occurred in 11 of 14 units using once-daily dosing and there was equivalent use of bolus and infusion methods for multiple-daily regimens. Drug monitoring depended on dosing regimen. Units using multiple daily regimens monitored using trough ± peak levels, whereas 50% of units using once-daily dosing used two postdose levels to alter dose. Actual toxicity, in particular nephrotoxicity, ototoxicity and vestibular toxicity was reported by 19, 27 and 12% of units, respectively. Conclusion: The prescribing, dosing and monitoring of aminoglycosides in CF across Australia varies greatly. This is likely to be due to a lack of definitive evidence as to the optimum use in this patient group.