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Background: People with language disorders (including developmental language disorder--DLD) often struggle to learn new words and, for young adults, this could affect their success in future work. Therefore, it is crucial to support their learning of career-specific vocabulary. However, little published evidence exists regarding the effectiveness of speech and language intervention for older adolescents and young adults with (developmental) language disorder (D)LD within a post-16 provision. Aims: To investigate whether for students with (D)LD in a post-16 environment, the addition of direct individual intervention from a speech and language therapist (SLT) teaching course-specific vocabulary leads to more progress than just in-course teaching on bespoke vocabulary measures. Methods & Procedures: A total of 28 college-aged students (11 female and 17 male) with (D)LD (aged 16.0-19.9) participated in a within-participant study comparing progress with explicit vocabulary intervention plus in-course teaching versus in-course teaching alone. The participants were assessed at four time points (3 months pre-intervention, immediately pre- and post-intervention, 3.5 months after intervention) using bespoke vocabulary assessments with an equal number of nouns, verbs and adjectives. All participants received one-to-one vocabulary intervention from their usual SLT for 30 min per week for 9 weeks. The intervention had four main components: (1) to identify intervention focus, (2) to recap previously taught terms (using an online flashcard program), (3) to explicitly teach new words using word maps to help with: creating definition and pictorial representation, identification of word class and investigation of phonological and morphological properties, and (4) to add new words, with their definition and pictorial representation to online flashcard program. Outcomes & Results: The results showed a stable baseline, then during the intervention term significant progress on words targeted only in lessons and significantly greater progress on words targeted both in lessons and SLT sessions. Progress was maintained for 14 weeks. Individuals with initially lower scores showed smaller intervention effects. In general, performance was higher on verbs and on the definition recognition task and lower on the production tasks, but all tasks improved with intervention. Conclusions & Implications: Direct one-to-one vocabulary intervention with an SLT can lead to significant gains in knowledge of course-specific terminology for college-aged students with (D)LD. The effectiveness of speech and language therapy services for this age group in a wider range of areas of language and social communication should also be investigated.

The objective of this study was to evaluate potency and timing of trenbolone acetate (TBA) administration on live performance and carcass characteristics of beef × dairy steers. A total of 6,895 beef × dairy steers [initial body weight (BW) = 157 ± 5.2 kg] were allotted into 30 pens, with pen as the experimental unit. Each pen was randomly assigned one of three implant treatments: 1) Revalor-IS (IS) at d 0, IS at d 80, and Revalor-XS (XS) at d 160 (IS/IS/XS); 2) Ralgro at d 0, IS at d 80, and XS at d 160 (Ral/IS/XS); or 3) Encore at d 0 and XS at d 160 (Enc/XS). Steers were blocked by arrival date, each pen was terminally sorted in three ways at 257 ± 22 days on feed and harvested at 329 ± 25 days on feed. For live and carcass outcomes, fixed effect of implant treatment and random effect of block was evaluated. Data are reported on a deads and removals out basis. Removals, morbidity, and mortality were similar (P  ≥ 0.45). Steers administered TBA prior to d 160 were 5.8 kg heavier (P  = 0.03) than Enc/XS steers at d 160. Final BW was not different (P  = 0.78). Early administration of a TBA-containing implant resulted in an increased prevalence of bullers [2.40%, 5.18%, 6.86% (for Enc/XS, Ral/IS/XS, and IS/IS/XS) respectively; P  < 0.01]. Dry matter intake (DMI) was 2.3% greater (P  < 0.01) in steers administered Enc/XS compared to IS/IS/XS; however, DMI as a percentage of BW, average daily gain, and feed efficiency were not different (P  ≥ 0.12). Dressing percentage, hot carcass weight, heavy carcass occurrence, Longissimus muscle area, and 12th rib fat thickness were similar among all steers (P  ≥ 0.28). Marbling score tended to be greatest for Enc/XS and Ral/IS/XS (P  = 0.09). Enc/XS graded a greater proportion of USDA Prime and fewer USDA Select carcasses than IS/IS/XS (P  < 0.05). Enc/XS and Ral/IS/XS tended (P  = 0.09) to have more USDA Yield Grade (YG) 1 carcasses. While delayed administration or decreased total potency of TBA-containing implants may decrease buller incidence and improve Quality Grade, few differences were observed in live or carcass outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Numerous variants of SARS-CoV-2 with increased transmissibility have emerged over the course of the pandemic. Potential explanations for the increased transmissibility of these variants include increased shedding from infected individuals, increased environmental stability, and/or a lower infectious dose. Upon exhalation of a respiratory particle into the environment, water present in the particle is rapidly lost through evaporation, resulting in a decrease in particle size. The aim of the present study was to compare the losses of infectivity of different isolates of SARS-CoV-2 during the rapid evaporation of aerosol particles that occurs immediately post-generation to assess if there are differences suggestive of increased survival, and ultimately greater transmissibility, for more recent variants. Losses of infectivity of several isolates of SARS-CoV-2 suspended in viral culture media were assessed following aerosolization and evaporation in a flowing chamber. The results demonstrate that losses of infectivity measured post-evaporation were similar for three different isolates of SARS-CoV-2, including isolates from the more recent Delta and Omicron lineages. The average loss in infectivity across all three isolates was 61 ± 15% (−0.46 ± 0.17 log10 TCID50/L-air) at a relative humidity <30%. These results, together with those from several previous studies, suggest that it is unlikely that an increase in environmental stability contributes to the observed increases in transmissibility observed with more recent variants of SARS-CoV-2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Large spheroid deposits at Albion Island and Armenia in northern and central Belize and the spherule deposits of southern Belize and eastern Guatemala have the same glass origin based on the presence of almost pure Cheto smectite derived from alteration of impact glass from the Chicxulub impact on Yucatan, Mexico. The same origin has also been determined for altered glass spherules in Mexico, Haiti and the Caribbean. However, the spherule layers have variable ages as a result of erosion and redeposition, with an early Danian (Parvularugoglobigerina eugubina) zone Pla(1) age in southern Belize, Guatemala, Haiti, southern Mexico and the Caribbean, and a pre-K-T (Plummerita hantkeninoides) zone CF1 age of 65.27 [+ or -] 0.03 Ma in NE Mexico. A pre-K-T age for the Chicxulub impact has now also been determined from the new Yaxcopoil 1 core drilled in the impact crater. These data show that Chicxulub was not the K-T impact that caused the end-Cretaceous mass extinction, but an earlier impact event. A multiple impact hypothesis, volcanism and climate change appears the likely scenario for the end-Cretaceous mass extinction. Keywords: Belize, Guatemala, K T boundary, Chicxulub crater, spherules.

The Principles of Clinical Cytogenetics. Gersen SL, Keagle MB, eds. ($79.50.) Humana Press, 1999. ISBN 0 89603 533 0. This book is introduced as being 'suitable for cytogenetic technologists and [...]

King, Bruce M., Bethany L. Rollins, Samuel G. Stines, Sofia A. Cassis, Holland B. McGuire, and Michelle L. Lagarde. Sex differences in body weight gains following amygdaloid lesions in rats. Am. J. Physiol. 277 (Regulatory Integrative Comp. Physiol. 46): R975-R980, 1999.--Lesions of the most posterodorsal aspects of the amygdala resulted in equal weight gains (mean = 58 g) in male and female rats during a 22-day observation period. However, the absolute weight gains in the first 5 days after lesions were greater in females (+41.4 g) than in males (+18.8 g), as were the longer-term gains relative to their respective control groups. In a second study with female rats, it was found that amygdaloid lesions had little effect on the estrous cycle and that ovariectomy resulted in additional excessive weight gains in both rats with sham lesions and those with amygdaloid lesions. The weight gains produced by amygdaloid lesions and ovariectomy were additive. It is concluded that there is a sex difference in weight gains after amygdaloid lesions, but that the lesion-induced obesity is independent of estrogen levels. Similarities to lesions of the ventromedial hypothalamus are noted, and an amygdaloid-ventromedial hypothalamic pathway for the regulation of feeding behavior is proposed. amygdala; feeding behavior; estrous cycle; ovariectomy

Bovine respiratory disease (BRD) is the most common and economically detrimental disease of beef cattle during the postweaning period, causing the majority of morbidity and mortality in feedlots. The pathogenesis of this disease often includes an initial viral infection, which can predispose cattle to a secondary bacterial infection. The objective of this experiment was to determine the effects of timing of an intratracheal Mannheimia haemolytica (MH) challenge relative to 72 h of natural exposure to bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) type 1b persistently infected (PI) calves on performance, serum antibody production, total and differential white blood cell (WBC) count, rectal temperature, clinical severity score (CS), and haptoglobin (Hp). Steers (n = 24; 276 ± 31 kg initial BW) were randomly allocated to 1 of 3 treatments (8 steers/treatment) in a randomized complete block design. Treatments were steers not exposed to calves PI with BVDV 1b and not challenged with MH (CON), steers intratracheally challenged with MH 84 h after being exposed to calves PI with BVDV 1b for 72 h (LateCh), and steers intratracheally challenged with MH 12 h after being exposed to calves PI with BVDV 1b for 72 h (EarlyCh). Performance (ADG, DMI, and G:F) was decreased (P < 0.001) for both EarlyCh and LateCh from d 0 to 4. From d 5 to 17, LateCh appeared to compensate for this lost performance and demonstrated increased ADG (P = 0.01) and G:F (P = 0.01) compared with EarlyCh. Both EarlyCh and LateCh had decreased platelet counts (P < 0.001) compared with CON. Antibody concentrations of BVDV and MH were higher (P < 0.05) for both EarlyCh and LateCh compared with CON. Rectal temperature, CS, and Hp increased (P < 0.001) across time from h 4 to 48, h 4 to 36, and h 8 to 168, respectively. Within 24 h of MH challenge, WBC and neutrophil concentrations within the blood increased whereas lymphocyte concentrations decreased. The timing of BVDV exposure relative to a MH challenge appears to influence the CS and acute phase response associated with BRD. As typical beef cattle marketing channels allow for variation in the timing of respiratory pathogen exposure, understanding the physiological changes in morbid cattle will lead to improved management of BRD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The inclusion of wet distillers grains plus solubles (WDGS) in feedlot diets has become a common practice in many regions of the United States due to the expanded production of byproducts and fluctuating corn prices related to ethanol production and other factors. In addition, societal concerns over the continued use of antimicrobials in agriculture production combined with an enhanced interest in disease and pathogen prevention in the food supply have led to an increased interest in use of direct-fed microbials (DFM) in growing and finishing cattle. Direct-fed microbials have been shown to improve ADG and feed efficiency, alter ruminal fermentation, and decrease fecal shedding of potential harmful pathogens in feedlot cattle in some experiments. The objective of this experiment was to evaluate the effects of WDGS inclusion with or without a DFM containing Lactobacillus acidophilus (1 × 106 cfu ∙ heifer−1 ∙ d−1) combined with Propionibacterium freudenreichii (1 × 109 cfu ∙ heifer−1 ∙ d−1) on the performance, carcass characteristics, and Escherichia coli O157:H7 shedding in feedlot heifers. In early August, 288 crossbred heifers (initial BW = 295 ± 28 kg) were assigned to 1 of 4 treatments (12 pens per treatment; 6 heifers per pen) in a randomized complete block design with a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of treatments. Body weights and fecal grab samples were obtained at approximately 28-d intervals throughout the experiment. Across the feeding period, heifers fed 30% WDGS tended (P = 0.09) to have greater ADG and had greater carcass-adjusted ADG (P = 0.05) compared with heifers fed dry-rolled corn (DRC). Dry matter intake was not affected (P = 0.65) by diet, although carcass-adjusted G:F tended (P = 0.10) to be improved for heifers fed WDGS. Heifers fed 30% WDGS tended (P ≤ 0.10) to have greater fat thickness at the 12th rib, lower marbling scores, and higher yield grades. The inclusion of L. acidophilus combined with P. freudenreichii in the diet had no effect (P > 0.10) on performance or carcass merit in the present experiment. The incidence of E. coli O157:H7 throughout the experiment was low, with only 18 positive samples across all sampling periods. Neither WDGS inclusion nor the inclusion of L. acidophilus combined with P. freudenreichii in the diet had any effect (P > 0.10) on E. coli O157:H7 shedding in this experiment. Feeding 30% WDGS to feedlot heifers improved animal performance compared to the DRC-based control diet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three hundred ninety five calves were purchased from sale barns and delivered to the Willard Sparks Beef Research Center. Nasal swabs were collected to determine if presence of Mannheimia haemolytica and Pasteurella multocida in the upper respiratory tract (URT) can facilitate diagnosis of bovine respiratory disease (BRD). Samples were collected at arrival and at treatment for BRD. Clinically healthy control calves were sampled at time of treatment of sick calves. M. haemolytica was more commonly isolated from calves at treatment than at time of arrival or from control calves. M. haemolytica was more common in calves requiring treatment than in those never treated. Need for treatment and number of treatments were negatively associated with average daily gain, supporting the accuracy of diagnosis. These results suggest that URT sampling, when combined with clinical diagnosis, may assist in providing greater diagnostic accuracy, improving ability to evaluate risk factors, interventions, and treatments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objectives of this study were to examine the effects of feedlot production systems with and without the use of a β-adrenergic agonist compared to an all-natural production program on feedlot performance and carcass characteristics. Crossbred beef steers (n = 336; initial BW = 379 ± 8 kg) were randomized to 1 of 3 treatments in a randomized complete block design (RCBD; 14 steers/pen; 8 pens/treatment). Treatments consisted of an all-natural treatment (NAT), a conventional treatment (CONV), and a conventional treatment with a β-agonist (CONV-Z). All treatments were fed the same basal diet with NAT cattle receiving no growth promoting technologies. The CONV and CONV-Z cattle were implanted with 40 mg of estradiol and 200 mg of trenbolone acetate (TBA) on d 0 and were fed 33 and 9 mg/kg of monensin and tylosin daily, respectively. The CONV-Z cattle were fed zilpaterol hydrochloride (ZH) at 6.76 mg/kg (90% DM basis) for the last 20 days on feed (DOF) There was no effect of treatment on DMI (P = 0.83); however, CONV-Z steers gained 3.8% faster (1.64 vs. 1.58 kg/d; P < 0.01) and were 5.3% more efficient (0.160 vs. 0.152; P < 0.01) than CONV steers, and CONV steers gained 32.8% faster (1.58 vs. 1.19 kg/d; P < 0.01) and were 26.7% more efficient (0.152 vs. 0.120; P < 0.01) than NAT steers. There was a 35.7% improvement in estimated carcass gain (1.29 vs. 0.95 kg/d; P < 0.01) and a 32.6% improvement in carcass efficiency (0.126 vs. 0.095; P < 0.01) for CONV-Z steers compared to NAT steers. Hot carcass weight was increased by 8 kg for CONV-Z steers compared to CONV steers (394 vs. 386 kg; P = 0.05) and 46 kg compared to NAT steers (394 vs. 348 kg; P < 0.01). Longissimus muscle area was increased by 3.6 cm2 for CONV-Z steers compared to CONV steers (92.29 vs. 88.67 cm2; P = 0.02) and 12.1 cm2 for CONV-Z steers compared to NAT steers (92.29 vs. 80.16 cm2; P < 0.01), resulting in a 9.6% unit increase in USDA yield grade (YG) 1 (15.14 vs. 5.52%; P < 0.05) and a 21.6% unit reduction in USDA YG 3 for CONV-Z steers compared to CONV steers (30.70 vs. 52.32%; P < 0.05). The CONV-Z steers had a lower marbling score compared to the other treatments (432; P < 0.01), resulting in an 11.7% unit increase (20.70 vs. 9.03%; P < 0.05) in USDA Select carcasses compared to CONV steers. The results of this experiment show that CONV-Z and CONV production results in a significant improvement in feedlot performance and USDA YG compared to NAT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]