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We used systems thinking (ST) to identify the critical components of beef cattle production through the lens of ecosystem services (ES), offering a holistic approach to address its adverse externalities. We identified eight critical feedback loops in beef production systems: (i) grazing and soil health, (ii) manure management and soil fertility, (iii) feed efficiency and meat production, (iv) water use and soil moisture, (v) cultural services and community engagement, (vi) energy use, (vii) carbon sequestration and climate regulation, and (viii) environmental impact. Our analysis reveals how these interconnected loops influence each other, demonstrating the complex nature of beef production systems. The dynamic hypothesis identified through the loops indicated that improved grazing and manure management practices enhance soil health, leading to better vegetation growth and cattle nutrition, which, in turn, have a positive impact on economic returns to producers and society, all of which encourage the continuation of interlinked beef and ecosystem stewardship practices. The management of beef production ES using ST might help cattle systems across the globe to contribute to 9 of the 17 different United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, including the “zero hunger” and “climate action” goals. We discussed the evaluation framework for agrifood systems developed by the economics of ecosystems and biodiversity to illustrate how ST in beef cattle systems could be harnessed to simultaneously achieve the intended environmental, economic, social, and health impacts of beef cattle systems. Our analysis of the literature for modeling and empirical case studies indicates that ST can reveal hidden feedback loops and interactions overlooked by traditional practices, leading to more sustainable beef cattle production outcomes. ST offers a robust framework for enhancing ES in beef cattle production by recognizing the interconnectedness of ecological and agricultural systems, enabling policymakers and managers to develop more effective and sustainable strategies that ensure the long-term health and resilience of humans and ES.

We used systems thinking (ST) to identify the critical components of beef cattle production through the lens of ecosystem services (ES), offering a holistic approach to address its adverse externalities. We identified eight critical feedback loops in beef production systems: (i) grazing and soil health, (ii) manure management and soil fertility, (iii) feed efficiency and meat production, (iv) water use and soil moisture, (v) cultural services and community engagement, (vi) energy use, (vii) carbon sequestration and climate regulation, and (viii) environmental impact. Our analysis reveals how these interconnected loops influence each other, demonstrating the complex nature of beef production systems. The dynamic hypothesis identified through the loops indicated that improved grazing and manure management practices enhance soil health, leading to better vegetation growth and cattle nutrition, which, in turn, have a positive impact on economic returns to producers and society, all of which encourage the continuation of interlinked beef and ecosystem stewardship practices. The management of beef production ES using ST might help cattle systems across the globe to contribute to 9 of the 17 different United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals, including the "zero hunger" and "climate action" goals. We discussed the evaluation framework for agrifood systems developed by the economics of ecosystems and biodiversity to illustrate how ST in beef cattle systems could be harnessed to simultaneously achieve the intended environmental, economic, social, and health impacts of beef cattle systems. Our analysis of the literature for modeling and empirical case studies indicates that ST can reveal hidden feedback loops and interactions overlooked by traditional practices, leading to more sustainable beef cattle production outcomes. ST offers a robust framework for enhancing ES in beef cattle production by recognizing the interconnectedness of ecological and agricultural systems, enabling policymakers and managers to develop more effective and sustainable strategies that ensure the long-term health and resilience of humans and ES. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Information and Communication Technology is, today, an integral part of our daily world. However, despite the wide use of this technology elsewhere, it has only recently been adopted for engagement in veterinary services, especially in India. It was in this context that an application for dog breeders and owners was developed, and their perceptions about various aspects of the application were assessed, as well as the possible use and impact that veterinary applications could have in improving veterinarian client management. The present investigation was exploratory in nature and conducted with dog breeders and owners from four districts of Kerala. After due consultation with prominent veterinarians and scientists, prioritisation of the contents was followed. The contents were vetted, compiled, and the data was fed to a native mobile application. A sample (n = 40) of dog breeders/owners was chosen from the four districts. Along with telephonic follow-ups, APK (Android Package) and Google form questionnaires were mailed to the dog owners/ breeders. The breeders/owners were mostly young, educated males who had access to and were comfortable using a smartphone. The 'VetCan' mobile application was mainly reported to have an average engagement, was highly functional, possessed pleasant aesthetics, and contained highly informational content.

A survey was conducted in 2022 to identify the constraints perceived by the beneficiaries of the Goat Bank of Karkheda, with randomly selected 300 beneficiaries out of 590 beneficiaries in all; from five districts of Maharashtra state under the jurisdiction of the goat bank. The data were collected by direct and personal interviews using a pre-tested, semi-structured interview schedule. The Garrett ranking technique was used to determine the most significant factor (constraint) that was perceived to influence the respondents. The study identified various constraints perceived to be severe by the goat bank beneficiaries, including shrinkage of grazing land (Mean score, i.e., MS 60.70), distant location of veterinary hospital (MS 65.57), poor financial resources (MS 55.40), delayed puberty in goats (MS 61.81), lesser remunerative prices offered by middlemen (MS 67.13), poor knowledge on scientific goat production (MS 64.44), and mortality in goats (MS 56.58) under the respective categories of constraints, viz. constraints regarding socio-economic status, health management, feeding management, breeding management, marketing management, care and management, and the general constraints. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasing demand for organic agricultural products necessitates the assessment of farmers' knowledge levels, particularly among tribal communities engaged in organic poultry farming. This manuscript presents the construction and development of a knowledge test specifically designed for tribal farmers in India who have undergone training in organic poultry farming. The test aims to evaluate their understanding of organic farming principles, best practices, disease management, and other relevant aspects. A total of 56 items were selected, and their difficulty and discrimination indices were calculated using item analysis. The final selection of items for the test was based on criteria of difficulty and discrimination indices. The reliability of the test was assessed using the split-half method, yielding a correlation coefficient of 0.82. The validity of the test was established through pointbiserial correlation analysis. The developed knowledge test provides a valuable tool for evaluating the productivity of training programmes and identifying areas for further support and improvement in organic poultry farming among tribal farmers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a research on the ability of the techniques of degassing and filtration to improve the properties of the AlSi9Cu3 alloy. The study includes four types of samples: (1) non-treated, (2) filtered, (3) degassed, and (4) filtered and subsequently degassed samples. Degassing was carried out using nitrogen gas, whereas a 20-pores-per-inch (ppi) alumina filter was used for filtering the samples. The analysis was focused on three aspects: First, the influence of these processes on the porosity was determined by means of software to analyze micrographs. Second, the distribution of phases and the presence of inclusions were obtained by combining optical and scanning electron microscopy. Finally, the temperature loss as a result of each of the treatments received by the material was measured. This information is particularly relevant in view of the subsequent use of the molten material to manufacture parts through high-pressure die casting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While the occupational health of sign language interpreters has traditionally focused on physical health, evidence demonstrating mental health concerns is growing and supporting a shift to a more integrated approach. We embarked on a qualitative study to guide the adaptation of a previously developed Total Worker Health ® program to the context of sign language interpreting. Eight unstructured 90-min focus groups were conducted. Interpreters reported occupational safety, health, and well-being concerns and shared their solutions for management. Twenty-seven interpreters participated (aged 53.7 years; 81% female; 85% white). Predominant concerns centered on topics like workplace violence, secondary traumatic stress or vicarious trauma, lack of work-life integration or boundaries, and loss of agency or loss of self. The organizational culture of the field fostered deprioritization of self, oppression, elitism, sexism, and unhealthy relationships with interpreter peers and community members. Physical health remained a contributor, specifically the physical effects of non-physical work, aging, and differences in exposures across interpreting settings but paled in comparison to mental health and organizational culture. Solutions for management included but were not limited to prioritization of jobs, creating safe spaces/communities of supported practice, and exercise. This study supports the evolution of future research, practice, policy, and capacity building aspiring to a more integrated approach.

Objective: Examine the association between New York State Workers' Compensation Medical Treatment Guidelines (Guidelines) adherence and return-to-work after occupational low back injuries. Assess adherence to Guidelines by examining diagnostic and treatment utilization., Method: Retrospective chart review of cases. Outcomes of interest were lost time duration and diagnostic/treatment utilization rates. Time to event analyses performed using Kaplan-Meier plots and Cox proportional hazard model., Results: Care received after implementation of Guidelines resulted in decreased lost time. Treatment rates were consistent, while diagnostic imaging use was inconsistent with Guidelines recommendations., Conclusions: Guidelines use positively influenced return-to-work after acute occupational low back injuries. Inconsistencies in following Guidelines were observed for diagnostic tests, having a potential paradoxical effect on lost time. Further studies are necessary to test for additional hypotheses.

Background: Beside their established function in shaping cell architecture, some cell polarity proteins were proposed to participate to lymphocyte migration, homing, scanning, as well as activation following antigen receptor stimulation. Although PALS1 is a central component of the cell polarity network, its expression and function in lymphocytes remains unknown. Here we investigated whether PALS1 is present in T cells and whether it contributes to T Cell-Receptor (TCR)-mediated activation., Methodology/principal Findings: By combining RT-PCR and immunoblot assays, we found that PALS1 is constitutively expressed in human T lymphocytes as well as in Jurkat T cells. siRNA-based knockdown of PALS1 hampered TCR-induced activation and optimal proliferation of lymphocyte. We further provide evidence that PALS1 depletion selectively hindered TCR-driven activation of the transcription factor NF-κB., Conclusions: The cell polarity protein PALS1 is expressed in T lymphocytes and participates to the optimal activation of NF-κB following TCR stimulation.

T-cell-receptor (TCR) signalling to NFkappaB requires the assembly of a large multiprotein complex containing the serine/threonine kinase CK1alpha, the scaffold protein CARMA1, the heterodimer BCL10-MALT1 (the CBM complex) and the IkappaB kinase complex (IKK). Although the mechanisms regulating recruitment and activation of IKK within the CBM microenvironment have been extensively studied, there is little understanding of how IKK subsequently binds and phosphorylates IkappaBalpha, the inhibitor of NFkappaB, to promote IkappaBalpha ubiquitylation and proteasomal degradation. Here, we show that BCL10, MALT1 and IKK inducibly associate with IkappaBalpha in a complex that is physically distinct from the early CK1alpha-CBM signalosome. This IkappaBalpha-containing complex probably maturates from the CBM, because siRNA-based knockdown of CARMA1, CK1alpha and BCL10 hampered its assembly, leading to a reduction in NFkappaB activation. By contrast, CK1alpha normally recruited both BCL10 and ubiquitylated species of MALT1 when IkappaBalpha levels were reduced. However, knockdown of IkappaBalpha led to an altered ubiquitylation profile of BCL10-MALT1 combined with a defect in MALT1 reorganisation within large cytoplasmic structures, suggesting that, following stimulation, IkappaBalpha might also participate in MALT1 recycling. Altogether, our data suggest a two-step mechanism to connect active IKK to IkappaBalpha, and further unveil a potential role for IkappaBalpha in resetting TCR-mediated signalling.

Conventional ambulatory electrocardiogram (ECG) (Holter) monitoring involves 2 or 3 surface leads recorded with electrode positions and signal characteristics that are different from diagnostic quality 12-lead ECGs due to the limitations imposed by technology on the ambulatory recorders. The rapid pace of technological development for medical devices, particularly electrocardiography, has now enabled the recording of diagnostic quality 12-lead ECG waveforms for extended time periods. This capability allows Holter recording to become another source for diagnostic 12-lead ECG records on a par with other modalities such as resting ECG and exercise stress testing. Additionally, other diagnostic techniques such as S-T segment analysis and Q-T interval analysis that rely on diagnostic quality waveforms can now be applied. All of these enhancements to the traditional Holter modality have altered the regulatory perspective of these devices, since the enhancements may represent a new intended use for the device.

There were studied 11 diabetic patients, insulin dependents, from 4 were with juvenile diabetes mellitus. These were hospitalized in the Dept. Ophthalm. of the City Hospital of Arad, during 1996-1998, admitted with the diagnosis of corneal ulcer. There were made samples of the gathered secretion from the level of conjunctiva and of the grataj material, gathered at the level of the edges of the corneal ulcer. All samples were stained with the BPT-Drăgan method. There are described cytologic alterations, insisting on details that indicate the severity of the corneal disease. There are taken into consideration cytologic aspects in relationship with the clinical outcome of the disease, pointing out the cellular alterations which announce a nonfavourable prognosis. Cytologic results can improve the diagnosis and they are involved in therapeutic schedule.