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There is a growing evidence base that identifying positive experiences in providing care can have a beneficial influence on carer wellbeing. However, there is a need to better understand what carers identify as the positive aspects of care-giving. The aim of this study is to explore the satisfying aspects of providing care to people with dementia. This study utilised Time 1 data from 1,277 carers of people in the mild-to-moderate stages of dementia taking part in the IDEAL (Improving the experience of Dementia and Enhancing Active Life) cohort study. Responses from 900 carers who answered the open-ended question 'What is your greatest satisfaction in caring for your relative/friend?' were analysed using thematic analysis. From the responses, 839 carers detailed satisfactions. Eight themes were identified, pertaining to three groups of beneficiaries: carers, people with dementia and the dyad. Perceived benefits for carers included identifying aspects of personal growth, seeing glimpses of the person, feeling they were making a difference and doing their duty. For the person with dementia, these included retaining independence, receiving good quality care and being happy. Dyadic benefits concerned the continuation of the relationship between carer and person with dementia. The findings highlight the need to take a dyadic approach when conceptualising positive experiences in providing care. Further research is needed to understand the role these positive experiences play and to develop interventions. Professionals working with carers should identify and validate these experiences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Changing how an issue is framed can influence both decision-making and metacognition, but framing a memory task in terms of gains and losses could also impact how learners prioritize information according to its value or importance. We investigated how framing task instructions and feedback in terms of gains and losses influences learners' ability to selectively remember valuable information at the expense of low-value information. Specifically, we presented learners with to-be-remembered words paired with point values and either told participants how many points they scored (the sum of the values of recalled words) or lost (the sum of the values of not-recalled words) on each list, with participants' goal being to maximize their scores or minimize their losses, respectively. Overall, participants were more selective for high-value words when their goals were framed in terms of point gains compared with when their goals were framed in terms of losses, and learners' metacognitive predictions of performance (JOLs) generally mapped onto this trend. Thus, framing in terms of losses for forgetting can reduce memory selectivity, perhaps because even small losses are salient, indicating that framing effects are not limited to decision-making but can influence memory and metacognitive processes as well.

Introduction: Human decision-making pertaining to gains compared to those pertaining losses is shown to be quite different. However, mixed evidence is provided regarding the effect on the decision-makers' prosocial behaviors; that is, losses are shown to either increase or decrease prosocial behaviors. In this context, the effect of social norms on observed behavior can play a crucial role. Methods: To examine this aspect in more detail, we conducted incentivized ultimatum game experiments and analyzed data from three treatments, the control treatments (without specific norm focus), and two different norm-focus treatments (“average behavior” treatment and “self-interested behavior” treatment). In total, 550 participants took part in our experiment. Basically, we found no significant difference between the division of gains and losses in the “control” and “self-interested behavior” treatments. Results and discussion: However, we found such a difference in the “average behavior” treatment. In addition, we found that inducing a norm focus leads to less variance in proposers' behavior and a greater concentration of their demands around the induced norm in the “average behavior” treatment. In contrast, we found a higher variance in proposers' behavior in the “self-interested behavior” treatment. In terms of responders' behaviors, we observed a tendency toward a higher frequency of responders' rejections in the loss domain compared to the gains domain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article investigated the productivity of piglets and the efficiency of their rearing in relation to the type of feed preparation and the type of feeding, and the influence of these factors on growth intensity, piglet survival rate, feed costs and feed costs for rearing a piglet on farms in the Kingdom of Denmark, using data from the consultancy Svine Rådgivningen's open source evaluation analysis of DB-Tjek pig farms for 2021. It was found that preparing feed from own raw materials in the farms' capacities had no influence on the growth intensity of piglets during rearing and feed conversion during this period. At the same time, these farms had 9.15% lower costs per 1 kg of piglet growth, which contributed to a 1.05% reduction in the cost of a piglet at the end of rearing compared to farms feeding piglets exclusively with purchased feed. It was shown that the growth intensity of piglets did not depend on the feeding method, while liquid feeding contributed to a 4.99% improvement in feed conversion, resulting in a 3.03% reduction in the share of feed costs in the rearing of 1 animal. In addition, liquid feeding enabled a 0.67% reduction in the proportion of veterinary costs per animal. The feeding method was found to have a probable influence on the preservation of the piglets and the conversion of the feed during their rearing, but no significant influence on the intensity of the animals' growth and the feed costs of their rearing. At the same time, the method of feed preparation had no significant influence on any of the indicators studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Improving the consumption and increasing the efficiency of the use of feed, obtaining maximum egg productivity is ensured by a high level of balanced feeding with various feed additives. Therefore, the research work aimed to study the effect of mineral feed additives on the egg productivity of laying hens of the Loman Brown cross. During the experiment, the control group of laying hens consumed the basic ration (BR) – complete combined feed. In feeding the research group, a mineral selenium-containing feed additive was used with the main diet. Selenium in the feed additive is contained in organic form, selenomethionine and selenocystin. Unlike inorganic forms, selenoamino acids can be transported and metabolized in the body to build amino acids. According to the results of the experiment, it was found that when feeding mineral feed additive, there was an increase in the gross collection of eggs in laying hens of the 2nd group by 12.7 % (Р ≥ 0.01) and a decrease in feed consumption by 10 pcs. eggs by 9.0 %, relative to the control group. In addition, there is a tendency to increase the laying rate per average laying hen by 9.5 % and the laying intensity by 3.9 %. With the additional use of the mineral feed additive by laying hens of the 2nd group, the mass of eggs increases by 5.3 % (Р < 0.05), the height of the yolk by 25.0 % (Р < 0.05), and the yolk index by 0.06 % (P < 0.01) versus the control value. It was established that the use of mineral supplements by laying hens of the 2nd group increases live weight by 5.1 % (Р ≤ 0.05), absolute gain by 12.3 % (Р ≤ 0.01), pre-slaughter live weight by 5.7 % (Р ≤ 0.05), the weight of the semi-cartridge by 4.3 % (Р ≤ 0.05) and the weight of the carcass by 11.5 % (Р ≤ 0.01) against the reference indicator. Under the influence of the mineral feed additive in the 2nd group of laying hens, the survival rate of the flock increased by 3.0 % compared to the control analogs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effectiveness of increasing the productivity of agricultural poultry depends on the extent to which production technologies enable the realization of its genetic potential. The experiment aimed to study the effect of a mineral feed additive containing copper on productivity, growth, and feed consumption in broiler chickens. The scientific and economic experiment was conducted in the conditions of the Vinnytsia National Agrarian University vivarium. For the experiment, 40 broiler chickens of the “Ross-308” cross were selected, and two analog groups of 20 heads each were formed. The experiment lasted 42 days. During the experiment, the broilers of the 1st control group consumed a completely balanced feed. In addition to the diet of the research group, the researched mineral feed supplement was added. Broiler chickens were weighed every week to determine the intensity of growth. According to the results of the experiment, it was established that additional feeding of a mineral feed additive to broiler chickens of the 2nd group increases live weight at 21 days of age by 4.6 % (Р ≤ 0.05), at 28 days of age by 7.1 % (Р ≤ 0.01) in 35 days by 9.5 % (Р ≤ 0.001) and in 42 days by 9.4 % (Р ≤ 0.001), against the control. It was found that with the use of a mineral additive in broilers of the 2nd group, feed consumption per 1 kg of growth is reduced by 7.8 %, compared to the control value. Additional consumption of the researched mineral feed additive in broiler chickens of the 2nd group increases the pre-slaughter live weight by 8.9 %, the weight of non-carcasses by 9.7 % (Р ≤ 0.001), half-carcasses by 10.8 % (Р ≤ 0.01) and patranoi by 13.0 % (Р ≤ 0.001), relative to the control. Feeding the mineral supplement to broilers of the 2nd group increases the mass of pectoral muscles by 9.2 % and thigh muscles by 10.8 % (Р ≤ 0.01), against the control indicator. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This topic covers a wide range of aspects, including improving the genetic potential of animals through industrial crossbreeding, ensuring optimal housing conditions, and developing technologies for efficient use of the energy generated by these animals. Modern methods of industrial crossbreeding are determined by strategic plans to improve the genetic pool of animals to obtain more productive and disease-resistant offspring. Using advanced genetic technologies and modern breeding methods enhances product quality and ensures resistance to adverse factors. Considering the physiological needs of different breeds, providing appropriate nutrition and maintenance following current standards helps maintain high productivity and ensure the harmonious development of animals. In obtaining additional energy carriers, the latest technologies for using livestock waste in biogas, compost, and other energy resources are being studied. This contributes not only to the improvement of the environmental sustainability of farms but also to the use of internal resources for additional energy production. Summing up, modern approaches to the use of industrial crossing, housing conditions, and obtaining other energy carriers help solve complex tasks in animal husbandry, providing an optimal balance between productivity, efficiency, and environmental sustainability. It was established that the dynamics of live weight gains were more incredible in ½ Charolais steers when kept on deep litter, and on average up to 15 months, the average daily gains amounted to 947.9 g per day, and in purebreds under box keeping – 815.9 g; the absolute gains in live weight of purebred bulls of the Ukrainian black-spotted dairy breed, when kept in boxes for up to 15 months, reached 367.1 kg, which is 16.18 % less than that of ½ Charolais bulls when kept on deep bedding, with a probable difference of Р < 0.001. Innovative approaches to the use of the effect of heterosis and the conditions of keeping overrepair bulls in the production of beef have positive results, where ½ Charolais crossbreeds in conditions of keeping on deep bedding reach 453.9 kg by the age of 15 months, and their purebred counterparts – 406.7 kg, with a probable difference of P < 0.001. The results of the economic efficiency of the use of industrial crossbreeding, keeping conditions of purebred and crossbred bulls, show additional profits per head of 1,468.8 UAH ½ Charolais (maintenance on deep litter) and an increase in the level of profitability by 34.40 % compared to purebred Ukrainian black and white bulls dairy breed (maintenance boxing). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article studied the effect of the initial weight of piglets when placed on rearing on their growth intensity, average daily feed consumption and feed conversion, cost indicators of the rearing process, and the cost structure of rearing piglets. It was established that an increase in the initial weight of piglets when placed on rearing by 1.1 kg caused a decrease in the rearing duration by 3.17 %, and when it increased above 8 kg by 15.81 %. At the same time, an increase in average daily gains by 1.76 % and 10.13 % and an increase in the weight of piglets when transferred to fattening was noted by 2.03 % and 2.63 %, respectively. At the same time, it caused a decrease in absolute growth by 1.46 and 7.28 %. With an increase in the weight of piglets when they were placed on rearing, their average daily feed consumption increased by 8.43 and 18.07 %, but feed conversion worsened by 5.43 % and 7.61 %. Feed consumption per piglet during the rearing period did not depend on the initial live weight during rearing. With an increase in the initial live weight of piglets in rearing above 7.0 and 8.0 kg, their value also increased by 6.22 and 19.88 %. Whereas, when transferred to fattening, the cost of one pig in all groups was almost equalized, although it exceeded the cost of animals with less than 7 kg of initial live weight by 2.28 and 2.36 %, respectively. At the same time, the cost of growing one head, on the contrary, decreased by 2.77 and 20.12 %, with an increase in the initial weight when setting up for growth. The cost of rearing piglets that weighed more than 8 kg at birth was 17.84 % lower than the counterparts whose initial weight at rearing was 7–8 kg and by 20.12 % compared to animals whose live weight at the beginning of rearing was less than 7 kg The cost of feed spent on growing one piglet and obtaining 1 kg of growth did not have a clear trend of dependence on the initial live weight of piglets on growing. The share of feed in the cost of rearing one piglet increased with an increase in the live weight of piglets by 2.33 and 9.41 %, while the costs of veterinary care did not depend on the weight of piglets at the beginning of rearing. The weight of piglets at the time of rearing had a probable influence of 14.2 % on the average daily growth but did not significantly affect the preservation of piglets and the cost of their rearing.

With the devastating impacts of climate change, it is evident that many polls show a shift in power generation from fossil fuels to renewable energy. To support this transition, flexible and adaptable support mechanisms are required to maintain a stable and attractive environment for investments in the renewable energy sector, while ensuring the reliability and sustainability of the energy system in an economical way. Auctions have gained momentum as a dominant strategy, either solely or in collaboration with supplementary trials, to provide incentives for renewable energy deployment. The auction mechanism has expanded widely, with only six states accepting Renewable Energy Sources (RES) auction in 2005, and at least 84 states adopting this tool by 2017. This study aims to explore the potential of the auction mechanism in promoting renewable energy in the developing countries like Bangladesh, which has yet to add the required capacity to its energy mix due to the lack of a suitable support scheme to achieve its carbon neutrality goal. The research outlines the opportunity to design auctions based on qualitative research along with levelised cost of electricity (LCOE) model as quantitative part, the impact of auctions on energy costs and thus the feasibility of suggested auctioning schemes based on countryspecific empirical evidence and benefits to develop an auctioning model for the countries. The potential auction model will add further positive value to the society as well as the both local and national economy. The results indicate that a systematic auctioning scheme with socio-economic development instruments, under a qualification requirement, can ensure various benefits for an emerging state with renewable energy resources.

IntroductionHuman decision-making pertaining to gains compared to those pertaining losses is shown to be quite different. However, mixed evidence is provided regarding the effect on the decision-makers' prosocial behaviors; that is, losses are shown to either increase or decrease prosocial behaviors. In this context, the effect of social norms on observed behavior can play a crucial role.MethodsTo examine this aspect in more detail, we conducted incentivized ultimatum game experiments and analyzed data from three treatments, the control treatments (without specific norm focus), and two different norm-focus treatments (“average behavior” treatment and “self-interested behavior” treatment). In total, 550 participants took part in our experiment. Basically, we found no significant difference between the division of gains and losses in the “control” and “self-interested behavior” treatments.Results and discussionHowever, we found such a difference in the “average behavior” treatment. In addition, we found that inducing a norm focus leads to less variance in proposers' behavior and a greater concentration of their demands around the induced norm in the “average behavior” treatment. In contrast, we found a higher variance in proposers' behavior in the “self-interested behavior” treatment. In terms of responders' behaviors, we observed a tendency toward a higher frequency of responders' rejections in the loss domain compared to the gains domain.

Existing literature has identified that the death of a partner in later life is often accompanied by changes in the personal circumstances of the bereaved. However, the consequences following the death of a same-gender partner have attracted limited research attention. The present study aimed to investigate the consequent changes caused by the death of a same-gender partner in later life. Six gay men and four lesbians who had lost a same-gender partner shared their experiences during semi-structured interviews at two stages. Participants’ ages ranged between 56 and 82 years and they all resided in Australia. We used Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis to identify common themes in the interview data. Symbolic losses were the first common theme. In addition to the physical loss of their partners, participants grieved the loss of their relationship status, sense of power and control and friendship networks. The second theme concerned the unsolicited gains they acquired through the experience of bereavement. The positive changes that participants reported included personal growth, new meanings, unique opportunities and mental respite strategies. The contrasting identified themes highlight the range of changes experienced by bereaved same-gender partners. Further research into the impact of grief on subsequent relationships is warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The intensity of growth of piglets, their preservation during rearing, and the payment of feed by the increments of animals that were placed for rearing with a design live weight of 7 kg and 20 % less than the design weight – 5.5 kg were studied. Also, the ratio of consumption of compound feed of different recipes during rearing, their cost, and the efficiency of rearing piglets at different staged live weights were studied. It was established that piglets that weighed 1.58 kg less at the beginning of rearing, when placed on rearing during this period, showed 20.9 % lower growth energy, due to which they had 19.6 % lower absolute growth during this period, which caused together with a lower production weight, a 20.3 % lower weight when transferred to fattening and an 8.8 % worse feed payment in increments, they consumed 31.4 % more of the expensive first pre-starter feed during the growing period, and 11.9 % less than the second cheaper pre-starter compound feed and 42.6 % less than the cheapest starter compound feed, as a result of which the cost of feed consumed by the animals of the experimental group was 10.6 % lower compared to the analogs of the experimental group. But taking into account the significantly lower absolute growth of the animals of the experimental group, the cost of feed for 1 kg of growth was 11.2 % higher in comparison with the similar indicator of animals that were put on growing at a designed live weight of 7.0 kg. At the same time, rearing piglets under the conditions of putting them into this process with the design live weight contributed to a decrease of 11.2 % in the cost of feed per kilogram of growth, an increase of 20.3 % in the cost of one piglet after the completion of rearing, and a 23.1 % increase in the income from its sale and 1.07 % higher profitability of raising one head, but resulted in 10.6 % higher feed and operating cost of rearing 1 head and 19.6 % higher operating cost of one piglet at the end of rearing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For the organization of pork production, it is necessary to create a strong fodder base that would provide the physiological needs of pigs in accordance with a reasonable level of productivity. The main method of growth stimulation and realization of the genetic endowments of animals is the use of biologically active feed additives in their feeding. The study of mineral nutrition of animals deserves special attention. Therefore, the aim of the research was to determine the influence of the mineral supplement “Mintrex Cu” on productivity and slaughter performance in pigs. Mineral feed supplement “Mintrex Cu” is a copper chelate of methionine hydroxy analog with a well-defined chemical structure, which contains 18 % copper and 79.5 % methionine activity. The protocol and procedures used in this study were ethically compliant with Directive 2010/63/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council on the Protection of Animals, as well as the Law of Ukraine “On the Protection of Animals from Cruelty”. The experiment lasted 55 days. 24 heads of large white pigs were selected for the experiment. Formed two similar groups of 12 goals each. During the formation of groups, live weight, growth, age, sex and breed were taken into account. Animals were kept in group pens of 12 heads, according to the number of experimental groups, in a typical piggery for raising young animals. A control group of pigs was fed compound feed that provided their nutritional needs. The experimental group additionally consumed the mineral supplement “Mintrex Cu” in a dose of 280 g/t of feed. It was found that the additional use of the mineral feed additive “Mintrex Cu” increases the live weight of pigs of the 2nd experimental group by 4.8 % (Р ˂ 0.05), compared to the control group. In addition, it was recorded that the preservation of pigs increased in the 2nd experimental group by 2.0 % against the control. The use of a mineral supplement in the feeding of pigs of the 2nd group, feed consumption per 1 kg of growth is reduced by 14.2 % compared to the control group. It was established that the pigs of the 2nd group, which consumed the mineral supplement “Mintrex Cu” had a higher pre-slaughter live weight by 5.6 % (Р ˂ 0.05) and slaughter weight by 6.5 % (Р ˂ 0.05) and carcass weight by 8.2 % (Р ˂ 0.05) compared to the control indicator. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mineral elements play an essential role in the metabolic processes carried out in the animal body at the cellular level. They support homeostasis, acid-base balance, and osmotic pressure. Lack of mineral elements leads to disturbances in metabolic metabolism, reduced productivity, and increased morbidity in poultry. Therefore, the research aimed to establish the effect of selenium-containing feed additives on broiler chickens' live weight, gains, feed consumption, slaughter, and hematological indicators. Selenium – exchanges proteins, fats, and carbohydrates to regulate enzymatic and redox reactions. The introduction of selenium into animals' rations contributes to the normalization of metabolism, preventing the accumulation of toxic oxidation products and damage to the cell membrane. The experiment lasted 42 days. Two groups of Ross-308 cross-broiler chickens, 20 heads each, were selected for the experiment. In addition to compound feed, the second experimental group used a mineral feed additive at the rate of 100 g per 1 ton of compound feed. When broiler chickens were fed a mineral feed additive, live weight increased by 4.9 %, average daily weight gain by 4.8 %, and absolute weight gain by 5.0 %, relative to control counterparts. It was established that using a mineral feed additive in feeding broiler chickens of the 2nd group, the consumption of feed per 1 kg of growth decreased by 9.0 %, compared to control analogs. It was found that the preslaughter live weight of broiler chickens of the 2nd group increased by 5.0 %, the weight of non-carcass carcass by 5.6 %, half-carcass by 5.5 %, and carcass weight by 6.2 %, compared to the control value. In addition, under the influence of the studied feed additive, the mass of the pectoral muscles in broilers of the 2nd group increases by 16.0 % (Р ≤ 0.05) and thigh muscles by 36.0 % (Р ≤ 0.001) relative to control indicators. It was found that in the broilers of the 2nd group, under the influence of the additive, the slaughter yield of the thigh muscles increased by 29.4 % (Р ≤ 0.05) compared to the control group. It was established that under the action of the mineral supplement, the level of hemoglobin in broiler chickens of the 2nd group increased by 5.3 % (Р ≤ 0.05) relative to the control value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives The COVID-19 pandemic causes severe stress that disrupts the lives of many people. The presented research, based on the conservation of resources theory, was carried out to identify the areas of gains and losses in resources among adult Poles during the COVID-19 pandemic. Material and methods The research was based on the quantitative research paradigm. It was conducted using the snowball method. Personal resources (COR) were assessed using the Self-Assessment Questionnaire of Gains and Losses by S. Hobfoll. Statistical calculations were made using the Statistica 13 package and in the R statistical environment. Results The research showed that family resources were the most significant ones for the respondents. Obtained data showed the COVID-19 pandemic affected the balance of gains and losses in resources. During the research, clusters were found differentiating people who balance gains and losses in their resources in various ways. The research did not reveal any correlation between the clusters and socio-demographic variables. Conclusions It is requested to nurture proper, positive and multidimensional interpersonal relationships that will enhance resources and protect against their loss in challenging, stressful situations such as the COVID-19 pandemic.

With the continuous development of the IoT, compact wireless communication modules have become indispensable components, and their antennas are gradually being developed from external devices into onboard integrated devices. The serpentine antenna, a variant of the monopole antenna known for its small size and easy integration, is often applied to engineering practices. However, its performance has always been closely affected by the size of the surrounding grounding plane. By conducting a characteristic mode analysis (CMA), this study explored the variation patterns in the ground plane size and the resonant frequency. Based on the simulation results, it was clear that when the ground plane size is less than a quarter of the working wavelength, the ground plane will have a significant effect on the antenna's resonant frequency. Thus, this study further analyzed a serpentine antenna with a grounding branch, and through analysis of the basic law of the influence of grounding structure on the antenna's performance, we found that by adjusting the branch length, the matching performance of the antenna can be effectively improved. Furthermore, by changing the size of the ground plate, the antenna's resonant frequency can be adjusted. Such a conclusion will hopefully provide a reference for future designs of integrated antennas in engineering applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: In this paper, a capacitive wireless power transfer link with two repeaters between the transmitter and receiver is analyzed. The performance of the system is optimized by maximizing the different gains. Two approaches of practical interest are analytically studied and solved. First, the couplings between different resonators is considered fixed and the optimal load and source of the system are determined as function of the network characteristics. Second, the performance is optimized by varying the couplings between resonators for a configuration with a given (nonideal) source and load. The analytical results are verified through circuital simulations. It is demonstrated that, under certain conditions, both approaches allow for the maximization of the different gains, resulting in more optimization options than a single repeater configuration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The majority of patients with asthma limit their physical activity due to the fear of exercise dyspnea. Regular exercise, on the other hand, is currently suggested as one of the non-pharmaceutical treatment alternatives for patients with asthma since it improves their quality of life and symptom control. This study aimed to investigate the indicators of success in patients with asthma receiving pulmonary rehabilitation (PR). A total of 131 patients with the diagnosis of asthma were included in the study. All patients attended an 8-week comprehensive, multidisciplinary, outpatient and individualized PR program. The factors related to the gains in dyspnea perception, exercise capacity, peripheral muscle strength, respiratory muscle strength and quality of life were evaluated. In the multivariate linear regression analysis, the gain in dyspnea perception is related to baseline dyspnea. The gain in exercise capacity is related to baseline exercise capacity and the amount of smoking. The gain in peripheral muscle strength is related to gender. The gain in respiratory muscle strength is related to age, and finally the gain in quality of life is related to baseline dyspnea and anxiety levels. Especially men, young people, heavy smokers, and those with low initial exercise capacity, high perception of dyspnea, and high anxiety are more likely to benefit from PR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article studied the effect of the initial weight of piglets when placed on rearing on their growth intensity, average daily feed consumption and feed conversion, cost indicators of the rearing process, and the cost structure of rearing piglets. It was established that an increase in the initial weight of piglets when placed on rearing by 1.1 kg caused a decrease in the rearing duration by 3.17 %, and when it increased above 8 kg by 15.81 %. At the same time, an increase in average daily gains by 1.76 % and 10.13 % and an increase in the weight of piglets when transferred to fattening was noted by 2.03 % and 2.63 %, respectively. At the same time, it caused a decrease in absolute growth by 1.46 and 7.28 %. With an increase in the weight of piglets when they were placed on rearing, their average daily feed consumption increased by 8.43 and 18.07 %, but feed conversion worsened by 5.43 % and 7.61 %. Feed consumption per piglet during the rearing period did not depend on the initial live weight during rearing. With an increase in the initial live weight of piglets in rearing above 7.0 and 8.0 kg, their value also increased by 6.22 and 19.88 %. Whereas, when transferred to fattening, the cost of one pig in all groups was almost equalized, although it exceeded the cost of animals with less than 7 kg of initial live weight by 2.28 and 2.36 %, respectively. At the same time, the cost of growing one head, on the contrary, decreased by 2.77 and 20.12 %, with an increase in the initial weight when setting up for growth. The cost of rearing piglets that weighed more than 8 kg at birth was 17.84 % lower than the counterparts whose initial weight at rearing was 7-8 kg and by 20.12 % compared to animals whose live weight at the beginning of rearing was less than 7 kg The cost of feed spent on growing one piglet and obtaining 1 kg of growth did not have a clear trend of dependence on the initial live weight of piglets on growing. The share of feed in the cost of rearing one piglet increased with an increase in the live weight of piglets by 2.33 and 9.41 %, while the costs of veterinary care did not depend on the weight of piglets at the beginning of rearing. The weight of piglets at the time of rearing had a probable influence of 14.2 % on the average daily growth but did not significantly affect the preservation of piglets and the cost of their rearing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cancer is the leading cause of death, acting as a global burden, severely impacting the patients' quality of life and affecting the world economy despite the expansion of cumulative advances in oncology. The current conventional therapies for cancer which involve long treatment duration and systemic exposure of drugs leads to premature degradation of drugs, a massive amount of pain, side effects, as well as the recurrence of the condition. There is also an urgent demand for personalized and precision-based medicine, especially after the recent pandemic, to avoid future delays in diagnosis or treatments for cancer patients as they are very essential in reducing the global mortality rate. Recently, microneedles which consist of a patch with tiny, micron-sized needles attached to it have been quite a sensation as an emerging technology for transdermal application to diagnose or treat various illnesses. The application of microneedles in cancer therapies is also being extensively studied as they offer a myriad of benefits, especially since microneedle patches offer a better treatment approach through self administration, painless treatment, and being an economically and environmentally friendly approach in comparison with other conventional methods. The painless gains from microneedles significantly improves the survival rate of cancer patients. The emergence of versatile and innovative transdermal drug delivery systems presents a prime breakthrough opportunity for safer and more effective therapies, which could meet the demands of cancer diagnosis and treatment through different application scenarios. This review highlights the types of microneedles, fabrication methods and materials, along with the recent advances and opportunities. In addition, this review also addresses the challenges and limitations of microneedles in cancer therapy with solutions through current studies and future works to facilitate the clinical translation of microneedles in cancer therapies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using almost three decades of administrative matched employer-employee data from Statistics Canada's Longitudinal Worker File from 1991 to 2019, we analyze the evolution of earnings inequality between and within firms in Canada's commercial sector. An econometric model controlling for worker and firm fixed effects suggests increasing inequality which has been predominantly driven by average earnings disparities between firms and changing composition of workers between firms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Covid-19 pandemic has taken its toll on educational institutions, and learning has become fully dependent on digital platforms that have helped in the immediate transition from face-to-face to distance education. This study focused on the experience of faculty members regarding the gains involved in using digital platforms during the pandemic. The qualitative phenomenological method was used. The sample included (10) faculty members. The data was collected through the semi-structured interview tool. The data were analyzed using the objective analysis method. The results showed that there are a number of gains for distance education through digital platforms in light of the Corona pandemic, which can be developed in the future through continued learning through those systems, and the application of the integration between the electronic system and the traditional system, and these gains were represented in (4) main themes: the structure of E-learning, social interactions, outputs, trends towards the use of e-learning, under each main topic a set of sub-themes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Forests provide multiple ecosystem services ranging from local livelihoods and socio-economic benefits to global ecological services. Despite these benefits, human activities have put immense strain on forest resources, resulting in forest degradation, impoverishment of the environment, and loss of livelihoods. Hence, monitoring forest cover change and identifying its drivers are essential for developing sustainable forest management strategies that restore forest resources and ecosystem services. This study examined the trends of forest cover changes and its drivers in and around the Semien Mountains National Park, Northwest Ethiopia, from 1984 to 2020. Data from Landsat satellite images of 1984, 1996, 2008, and 2020 were used for forest cover mapping and quantifying the changes using remote sensing techniques. A household survey and key informant interviews were also used to identify the drivers of forest cover change. Results showed an overall decline in forest cover and grasslands while cultivated lands, bare lands and built-up areas have registered gains in the study area. The percentage area under forests declined by about 31% (33,084 ha) over the past 36 years. This loss translates to an annual average forest loss of about 1.02% (919 ha). Conversely, cultivated land, bare land, and built-up areas have experienced an increase of about 159% (33,387 ha), 220% (10,121 ha), and 366% (6356 ha), respectively, over the last 36 years. Analysis of the 36-year change detection matrix revealed that about 62% of the study area experienced a transition, of which 21% and 41% were attributable to net change and swap change, respectively. The observed reduction in forest cover was driven by agricultural expansion, population growth, growing demand for fuelwood, livestock pressure, and forest fires. Such drastic changes in forest cover have a detrimental impact on the community's well-being, biodiversity, climate, and the availability of forest ecosystem services. Thus, the study recommends concerted efforts by stakeholders to develop participatory forest management and public awareness that consider the co-existence of nature conservation and sustainable livelihoods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The Cuban economic hardships have made it necessary to raise food production. Aim. To demonstrate the maize (Zea mays. L.) silage effect on the behavior of some production and economic indicators of Pelibuey sheep fed maize (Zea mays. L.) silage. Methods: The study took place at El Hoyo Sheep Farm, in Jimaguayu, Camaguey. A total of 40 ovine males were selected at random, at six months of age, and approximately 16 ± 0.5 kg, then they were distributed into two groups. One of the groups was administered the maize (Zea mays. L.) silage. The mean daily gain (MDG), feed consumption in the pen (FCP) and while grazing, were calculated. The economic analysis was performed according to the fix and variable costs. Data normality was corroborated through the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test. And SPSS, 21 for Windows (2012). Results: The production indicators of the sheep that consumed the maize (Zea mays L.) silage showed significantly higher values (p≤0.5) than the control group, reaching 23.3 kg at 60 days, and total increases of 7.2 kg, in terms of feed consumption and conversion. Concerning the economic side, there was a 12.2% increase over the costs of the process. Conclusions: The results demonstrated the positive effect of the maize (Zea mays. L.) silage administered to the animals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Six studies investigated people's attitudes toward uncertainty. Participants rated the attractiveness of pairs of gambles in either a gain or a loss frame. We varied the level of uncertainty, the monetary outcomes, and the evaluation mode of the gambles (i.e., joint versus separate evaluation). Experiments 1a and 1b compared a sure gain (loss) to a risky gain (loss), with both gambles having identical expected value. Experiments 2a and 2b included an almost sure (i.e., 98%) gain (loss) and risky gain (loss). When gambles entailed gains, a risky gamble became less attractive when evaluated in joint than in separate evaluation. The opposite pattern emerged when gambles entailed losses. The difference between a risky and a sure (or almost sure) gamble was weaker (or eliminated) in separate evaluation. Experiments 3a and 3b presented a risky gamble alone or with other gambles with varying probability and outcomes to be gained or lost. When gambles entailed gains (losses), a risky gamble became less (more) attractive and was chosen less (more) frequently when paired with gambles offering a higher probability of gaining (losing) smaller amounts. Overall, affective reactions and preferences for uncertain gambles depend on the decision context, and the certainty effect can disappear in separate evaluation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

South Africa currently faces a serious problem of air pollution in its cities. The approach used to manage air quality has not yet met the desired outcomes. In this study, potential mitigation options for ambient PM2.5 in the Vaal Triangle Airshed Priority Area (VTAPA)—one of the most industrialised regions in South Africa—were explored using the GAINS (Greenhouse Gas and Air Pollution Interactions and Synergies) model. Based on projections of economic activities and population, changes in PM2.5 concentrations were quantified, applying different assumptions on application rates of end-of-pipe control technologies for key emission sources of PM2.5 and its precursor gases NOx and SO2. Ambient PM2.5 concentrations were used to estimate the potential human health benefits of emission reductions. Our findings reveal that PM2.5 concentrations for the VTAPA will not reach recommended air quality limits by 2035 under the current legislation. By introducing stringent controls, emissions will be reduced by more than half, and national air quality standards are attained. Trajectories show that implementation costs in the alternative scenario will nearly be twice as high as those for the current policies. Analysis using the GAINS model has demonstrated the value of assessing the multiple dimensions of air pollution through applying an integrated approach to provide evidence-based support for policy decision-making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When humans face probabilistic outcomes, their choices often depend on whether the choice is framed in terms of losses or gains. In the present research, we gave pigeons a choice between risky (variable) outcomes and safe (constant) outcomes that resulted in the same net reward. In Experiment 1, in which the outcomes represented a loss, the pigeons preferred the risky alternative. In Experiment 2, in which the outcomes represented a gain, the pigeons were indifferent between the two alternatives. In Experiment 3, in which the outcomes represented neither a gain nor a loss, the pigeons strongly preferred the risky alternative. The results were interpreted in terms of the relative value of gains and losses given to the alternatives by pigeons in the context of a risky and safe choice. In Experiment 4 we tested that hypothesis by giving pigeons a choice between a risky and safe alternative with the same net outcome, in the context of a gain associated with the safe alternative, but no gain or loss associated with the risky alternative. In support of the interpretation of the first three experiments, with the safe alternative associated with a gain, the pigeons now preferred the safe alternative. These results were discussed in terms of economic and foraging theories and were contrasted with the aversion to uncertainty (risk) more typically shown by humans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Peer feedback is essential in writing English as a Second/Foreign Language (ESL/EFL). Traditionally, offline PF was more widely favored but nowadays online peer feedback (OPF) has become frequent in ESL/EFL learners’ daily writing. This study is undertaken to probe into the gains of using OPF in ESL/EFL writing on the basis of 37 research articles published in core journals from 2012 till 2022. In order to accurately cover the previous researches, we capitalize on three methods to evaluate and analyze the data, i.e., database search, citation search and manual search. Results show that from the perspective of the ESL/EFL learners’ gains, the OPF is basically divided into two categories (cognitive OPF and affective OPF), involving eight aspects in all: face-based strategies, revision-based comments, writing performance, learning environment, reflection/critical thinking/responsibility, writing emotion, motivation, and attitudes; and OPF can be well supported by a set of theories like Process-oriented Writing Theory, Collaborative Learning Theory, Interactionist Theory of L2 Acquisition and Vygotsky’s sociocultural theory. By comparison, the gains from OPF outperform those from offline PF in many dimensions (e.g., face-based strategies), despite some overlaps (e.g., the shift of the role) that were revealed in several investigations. Based on the past studies, we propose some pedagogical implications on OPF from ESL/EFL writing, including accenting the “student-centered” teaching strategy, providing students with OPF on the basis of incremental knowledge, adopting OPF regularly in ESL/EFL writing activities to shape personalities and outlooks and putting OPF into its full play with recourse to abundant internet-based vehicles. This review is desired to provide a guideline for both the peer feedback practice and the upcoming scholarly researches with respect to EFL/ESL writing.

Objectives: Older people describe positive and negative age-related changes, but we do not know much about what contributes to make them aware of these changes. We used content analysis to categorize participants' written comments and explored the extent to which the identified categories mapped onto theoretical conceptualizations of influences on awareness of age-related change (AARC).Design: Cross-sectional observational study.Participants: The study sample comprised 609 UK individuals aged 50 years or over (mean (SD) age = 67.9 (7.6) years), enrolled in the PROTECT study.Measurements: Between January and March 2019, participants provided demographic information, completed a questionnaire assessing awareness of age-related change (AARC-10 SF), and responded to an open-ended question asking them to comment on their responses.Results: While some of the emerging categories were in line with the existing conceptual framework of AARC (e.g. experiencing negative changes and attitudes toward aging), others were novel (e.g. engagement in purposeful activities or in activities that distract from age-related thoughts). Analysis revealed some of the thought processes involved in selecting responses to the questionnaire items, demonstrating different ways in which people make sense of specific items.Conclusions: Results support the ability of the AARC questionnaire to capture perceived age-related changes in cognitive functioning, physical and mental health, and engagement in social activities and in healthy and adaptive behaviors. However, findings also suggest ways of enriching the theoretical conceptualization of how AARC develops and offer insights into interpretation of responses to measures of AARC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mild degrees of hypoxia are known to exert a detrimental effect on cognitive functions. In a lab study, we assessed the effect of mild hypoxia on risk-taking behavior. Participants (N = 25) were presented with pairs of bets of equal expected monetary value, one having a higher probability of winning/losing a lower payoff (safer bet) and one having a lower probability of winning/losing a higher payoff (riskier bet). We systematically varied the ratio of the probabilities (and corresponding payoffs) of the two bets and examined how this affected participants' choice between them. Following a familiarization session, participants performed the task twice: once in a normoxic environment (20.9% oxygen concentration) and once in a mildly hypoxic environment (14.1% oxygen concentration). Participants were not told and could not guess which environment they were in. We found a higher preference for the riskier bet in the mild hypoxic than normoxic environment but only in the loss domain. Furthermore, as the probability ratio increased, mild hypoxia increased the preference for the riskier bet in the domain of losses but decreased it for gains. The present findings support that mild hypoxia promotes riskier choices in the loss domain and provide new insights into the impact of mild hypoxia in moderating the effect of probability ratio on risky choices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) in Ethiopia and High Aswan Dam (HAD) in Egypt both operate on the Nile River, independent of a governing international treaty or agreement. As a result, the construction of the GERD, the Earth's eighth largest dam, ignited a furious debate among Ethiopia, Sudan, and Egypt on its filling policies and long-term operation. Ethiopia and Egypt's stance on the Nile River's water resources, combined with a nationalistic policy debate on the GERD's filling policies and long-term operation, has severely affected progress toward reaching agreeable terms before the first round of GERD filling was completed. These three countries continue to debate on the terms of agreement for the second round of GERD filling, scheduled to start by July 2021. We examined the GERD filling strategy for five- and six-year terms using time series data for the periods 1979–1987 and 1987–1992 to combine analyses for dry and wet seasons and investigate the potential impacts of filling the GERD above the downstream HAD using four HAD starting water levels. A model calibrated using MIKE Hydro results shows that during both five- and six-year terms of future GERD filling, Egypt would not need to invoke the HAD's minimum operating level. We pursued a narrative approach that appeals to both a technical and non-technical readership, and our results show the urgent need for cooperation at both policy and technical levels to mitigate and adapt to future climate change through the development of climate-proof agreements. Moreover, the results call for the riparian countries to move away from the current nationalistic policy debate approach and pursue a more cooperative, economically beneficial, and climate adaptive approach.

Mild degrees of hypoxia are known to exert a detrimental effect on cognitive functions. In a lab study, we assessed the effect of mild hypoxia on risk-taking behavior. Participants (N = 25) were presented with pairs of bets of equal expected monetary value, one having a higher probability of winning/losing a lower payoff (safer bet) and one having a lower probability of winning/losing a higher payoff (riskier bet). We systematically varied the ratio of the probabilities (and corresponding payoffs) of the two bets and examined how this affected participants’ choice between them. Following a familiarization session, participants performed the task twice: once in a normoxic environment (20.9% oxygen concentration) and once in a mildly hypoxic environment (14.1% oxygen concentration). Participants were not told and could not guess which environment they were in. We found a higher preference for the riskier bet in the mild hypoxic than normoxic environment but only in the loss domain. Furthermore, as the probability ratio increased, mild hypoxia increased the preference for the riskier bet in the domain of losses but decreased it for gains. The present findings support that mild hypoxia promotes riskier choices in the loss domain and provide new insights into the impact of mild hypoxia in moderating the effect of probability ratio on risky choices.

The Gothenburg Protocol (Protocol to Abate Acidification, Eutrophication and Ground-level Ozone) was first established in 1999 to support the enactment of the 1979 Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution. The Executive Body launched a review in December 2019 which was concluded in December 2022. In order to support the review and contribute to the assessment of the remaining risks for health, ecosystems and crops, model calculations have been performed on 2015, 2030 and 2050 emission scenarios which include both baseline and maximum technical feasible reduction (MFR) scenarios. The uEMEP/EMEP MSC-W modelling system has been applied for these calculations. uEMEP is a downscaling module for the EMEP MSC-W model that allows high resolution calculations, at 250 m for exposure, to be made. In this paper we document the input data, the model setup and present the calculated concentrations, exposure and source contributions based on emission scenario input from CIAM (Center for Integrated Assessment Modelling). The focus of this paper is on annual mean PM 2.5 and NO 2 at both existing monitoring sites and for population exposure in general. A comparison between three regions, namely the EU27+EFTA+UK, the Western Balkan, and EECCA countries is made. Comparison of current and future exposure to the WHO Guideline and Interim Target levels is also made. These 3 regions showed different exposure levels and different future trends. By 2030 the Baseline scenario indicates that 75% of the EU population will still be exposed to PM 2.5 levels above 5 μ g m−3. However, this number is reduced to 40% in the 2050 Baseline calculation. The additional implementation of MFR in 2050 will reduce this further to just 14% of the population with exposure in excess of 5 μ g m−3. In this scenario, there is less than 1% of the population exposed to PM 2.5 levels above 10 μ g m−3. For the Western Balkan and EECCA countries, the baseline scenario shows much less improvement in the PM 2.5 levels. It is only with the implementation of MFR that significant improvement in these countries can be attained. The EECCA countries are limited in achieving lower concentration levels by high source contributions from wind blown dust. For NO 2 , all scenarios in 2050 showed that less than 2% of the EU population are still exposed above the WHO Guideline of 10 μ g m−3, while this share is 21% for the Western Balkan. For the 2050 baseline, the EECCA countries showed an increase in NO 2 concentrations compared to 2015, with about 50% of the population being exposed to above 10 μ g m−3 and still with 13% of the population (33 million inhabitants) above 40 μ g m−3. It is only with the implementation of MFR that NO 2 concentrations approach, but do not achieve, the WHO Guideline levels. • Emission scenarios have been developed for the Gothenburg protocol review. • The EU, Western Balkans and EECCA countries have been modelled. • Scenarios have been modelled at a resolution of 250 m for all three regions. • By 2050 14% of the EU are exposed above the PM 2.5 WHO Guideline of 5 μ g/m3. • Western Balkan and EECCA countries show much less improvement in PM 2.5 levels. • By 2050 2% of the EU are exposed above the NO 2 WHO guideline of 10 μ g/m3. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Regional scale air quality and integrated assessment models are necessarily limited in their spatial resolution, particularly when applied to larger regions such as Europe or for global applications. The EMEP MSC-W chemical transport model and the GAINS integrated assessment model, which makes use of source receptor information precalculated by the EMEP MSC-W model, use resolutions of 0.1 ° × 0. 1 ° and 0.3 ° × 0. 2 °. These resolutions cannot account for variability at finer scales. Variability within grids, both concentration and population distributions, can be significant. To improve exposure calculations that take into account the sub-grid variability, the uEMEP model has been applied in this study to provide suitable parameterisations of the sub-grid variability within an EMEP MSC-W grid. The uEMEP model is applied on a European domain at 250 × 250 m 2. This provides roughly 7000 sub-grids within each EMEP MSC-W 0.3 ° × 0. 2 ° grid to analyse the sub-grid variability in exposure. The analysis derives an exposure correction factor (ECF) for each source sector in each EMEP MSC-W grid. This factor provides information on the impact of sub-grid resolution on the population weighted concentrations within each grid. The population weighted standard deviation is also calculated, providing information on sub-grid variability to derive frequency distributions and parameterised forms of the sub-grid variability suitable for health risk assessments. The impact of sub-grid variability is assessed for the pollutants PM 2.5 , NO X and NO 2. For NO 2 , additional chemistry calculations are carried out on the NO X frequency distributions. We show that the parameterised form of the sub-grid variability provides close to equivalent results as the original uEMEP calculations. Exposure to PM 2.5 increases by around 13% when the sub-grid variability is taken into account for a 2030 emission scenario. For NO 2 , this increase is around 31% for the same scenario. A similar increase is found in the health risk indicator 'population attributable fraction' when no lower concentration threshold is used in the concentration–response function. When applying the World Health Organizations recommended threshold value we find that including the sub-grid variability increases the calculated population attributable fraction by 32% and 46% for PM 2.5 and NO 2 respectively. We conclude that sub-grid variability should be taken into account in future exposure calculations for regional scale modelling and impact assessments. • Sub-grid variability of regional scale air quality models is assessed. • Parameterised forms of the sub-grid variability are developed. • Sub-grid variability has a significant impact on exposure. • Sub-grid variability has a significant impact on health outcome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives The current experiment tested the causal effect of goal orientation on subjective satisfaction with performance on a cognitive task. Method A sample of N = 231 young, middle-aged, and older adults (21–79 years) completed a dot-memory task in one of 3 goal orientation conditions aiming for improvement, maintenance, or avoidance of decline in performance. Results Bayesian analyses showed that in all age groups, goal orientation influenced actual performance, but did not affect perceived performance or performance satisfaction. Performance satisfaction was positively correlated with perceived performance, but not with actual performance. Discussion The findings suggest that whether goal orientation benefits older adults' subjective well-being might depend on (a) the goal content (previous research targeted personal goals) or (b) whether it enhances their perception of the status quo (and thus reduces the discrepancy between actual and desired states). This study contributes to a better understanding of the role of goal orientation in subjective well-being across adulthood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVES: The COVID-19 pandemic causes severe stress that disrupts the lives of many people. The presented research, based on the conservation of resources theory, was carried out to identify the areas of gains and losses in resources among adult Poles during the COVID-19 pandemic. Material and methods: The research was based on the quantitative research paradigm. It was conducted using the snowball method. Personal resources were assessed using the Self-Assessment Questionnaire of Gains and Losses by S. Hobfoll. Statistical calculations were made using the Statistica 13 package and in the R statistical environment. RESULTS: The research showed that family resources were the most significant ones for the respondents. Obtained data showed the COVID-19 pandemic affected the balance of gains and losses in resources. During the research, clusters were found differentiating people who balance gains and losses in their resources in various ways. The research did not reveal any correlation between the clusters and socio-demographic variables. Conclusion: It is requested to nurture proper, positive and multidimensional interpersonal relationships that will enhance resources and protect against their loss in challenging, stressful situations such as the COVID-19 pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Age differences in monetary decisions may emerge because younger and older adults perceive the value of outcomes differently. Yet, age‐differential effects of monetary rewards on decisions are not well understood. Most laboratory studies on aging and decision making have used scenarios in which rewards were merely hypothetical (decisions did not have any real consequences) or in which only small amounts of money were at stake. In the current study, we compared younger adults' (20–29 years) and older adults' (61–82 years) decisions in probabilistic choice problems with real or hypothetical rewards. Decision‐contingent rewards were in a typical range of previous studies (gains of up to ~4.25 USD) or substantially scaled up (gains of up to ~85 USD per participant). Reward type (real vs. hypothetical) affected decision quality, including value maximization, switching between options, and dominance violations (choices of an option that was inferior to another option in all respects). Decision quality was markedly better with real than hypothetical rewards in older adults and correlated with numeracy in both age groups. However, we found no evidence that reward type affected people's risk preferences. Overall, the findings portray a fairly positive picture regarding the use of hypothetical scenarios to assess preferences: With carefully prepared instructions, people from different age groups indicate preferences in hypothetical scenarios that match their decisions with real and much higher rewards. One advantage of using real rewards is that they help to reduce decision noise. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Considering the fact that sheep production has an important role in agriculture of Serbia, lamb performance is essential. Objective of the study was to investigate effect of year, lambing season, sex and birth type on growth performances in lambs of MIS breed. Animal data (birth date, birth type, sex, birth weight -BW0, body weight after 30 days - BW30 and body weight after 60 days - BW60) are gained from control of productive parameters maintained from 2011 to 2020. Research was conducted on the sample of 1592 lambs. Average daily gain from birth to 30 days (ADG1), from 30 to 60 days (ADG2), and from birth until 60 days (ADG3), were calculated and included in analysis. Calendar year was divided in four seasons, each season consists from 3 months: winter, spring, summer and autumn. Average body weights (± standard deviation) at birth, after 30 and 60 days were 4.41 kg (± 0.99), 14.11 kg (± 2.80), 24.05 kg (± 3.86), respectively. Average daily gains were 319.87 g (± 74.97), 329.84 g (± 70.90) and 324.99 g (± 55.48) for ADG1, ADG2 and ADG3, respectively. Lambing type and sex of the lambs affected all of the observed traits very significantly (p < 0.01). Lambing year had very significant effect (p < 0.01) on BW30, on ADG1 and ADG2, while lambing season significantly (p < 0.05) affected BW60, ADG2 and ADG3.Based on the results it can be concluded that birth type and sex had strongest effects in early productive parameters of lambs.

Compared with gains, losses have received a substantial amount of research and public attention. The present study aims to shed light on the positive gains associated with older age from the perspective of older women. Five focus groups with 19 Israeli women over the age of 54 were conducted. Trailers of three different films were used to stimulate discussion about old age and aging and allow for reflections on societal norms in light of personal experiences. Focus group interviews were analyzed thematically. Respondents identified four contexts, characterized by reframing their experiences against societal norms. These included gender stereotypes, physical appearance, interpersonal relations, and employment. This study represents an opening to a different discourse around old age, which is characterized by gains and possibilities brought about by changes in reframing one's experiences, while distancing oneself and exerting free will vis à vis social norms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Probability weighting is a marked feature of decision-making under risk. For poor people in rural areas of developing countries, how probabilities are evaluated matters for livelihoods decisions, especially the probabilities associated with losses. Previous studies of risky choice among poor people in developing countries seldom consider losses and do not offer a refined tracking of the probability-weighting function (PWF). We investigate probability weighting among smallholder farmers in Uganda, separately for losses and for gains, using a method (common consequence ladders) that allows refined tracking of the PWF for a population with low levels of literacy. For losses, we find marked probability weighting near zero, which is in line with evidence found in Western labs. For gains, the absence of probability weighting is remarkable, particularly its absence near 100%. We also find marked differences in probability weighting for traditional farmers which are in line with the observed livelihoods strategies in the study area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Longer lives increase the possibility of caring duties, which means that older adults looking after their ageing parents—as well as their own partners—is becoming an increasingly common scenario in developed countries. Objective To explore the caregiving demands of very old caregiving dyads and the experience of maintaining the identity of a child at such an advanced age. Design Qualitative study. Subjects 15 participants (four males), all aged 70 or over and caring for their mothers, aged between 95 and 105 years old. Methods Semi-structured interviews analysed thematically. Results Caregivers are willing to care for their mothers 'until death tears them apart', despite the double strains they face, that is more self-limitations and added care receiver need. On a positive side, they feel 'happy, thankful and proud' for still having their mothers alive. They also describe that maintaining the identity of a child at such an advanced age was somewhat unthought of and unexpected but an important source of pride. Conclusions These findings suggest that these oldest-old caregiving dyads are characterised by a relationship shaped by strong feelings of extended filial love, constituting a family feature that needs further understanding. Findings also underscore the challenges these carers face in dealing with several agents (secondary caregivers) and entities in the care provision. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]