Explore the vast range of titles available.

Temperament in cattle is defined as the fear-related behavioral responses when exposed to human handling. Our group evaluates cattle temperament using 1) chute score on a 1 to 5 scale that increases according to excitable behavior during restraint in a squeeze chute, 2) exit velocity (speed of an animal exiting the squeeze chute), 3) exit score (dividing cattle according to exit velocity into quintiles using a 1 to 5 scale where 1=cattle in the slowest quintile and 5=cattle in the fastest quintile), and 4) temperament score (average of chute and exit scores). Subsequently, cattle are assigned a temperament type of adequate temperament (ADQ; temperament score≤3) or excitable temperament (EXC; temperament score>3). To assess the impacts of temperament on various beef production systems, our group associated these evaluation criteria with productive, reproductive, and health characteristics of Bos taurus and Bos indicus-influenced cattle. As expected, EXC cattle had greater plasma cortisol vs. ADQ cattle during handling, independent of breed type (B. indicus×B. taurus, P<0.01; B. taurus, P<0.01; B. indicus, P=0.04) or age (cows, P<0.01; heifers or steers, P<0.01). In regards to reproduction, EXC females had reduced annual pregnancy rates vs. ADQ cohorts across breed types (B. taurus, P=0.03; B. indicus, P=0.05). Moreover, B. taurus EXC cows also had decreased calving rate (P=0.04), weaning rate (P=0.09), and kilograms of calf weaned/cow exposed to breeding (P=0.08) vs. ADQ cohorts. In regards to feedlot cattle, B. indicus EXC steers had reduced ADG (P=0.02) and G:F (P=0.03) during a 109-d finishing period compared with ADQ cohorts. Bos taurus EXC cattle had reduced weaning BW (P=0.04), greater acute-phase protein response on feedlot entry (P≤0.05), impaired feedlot receiving ADG (P=0.05), and reduced carcass weight (P=0.07) vs. ADQ cohorts. Acclimating B. indicus×B. taurus or B. taurus heifers to human handling improved temperament (P≤0.02), reduced plasma cortisol (P<0.01), and hastened puberty attainment (P≤0.02). However, no benefits were observed when mature cows or feeder cattle were acclimated to human handling. In conclusion, temperament impacts productive, reproductive, and health characteristics of beef cattle independent of breed type. Hence, strategies to improve herd temperament are imperative for optimal production efficiency of beef operations based on B. taurus and B. indicus-influenced cattle.

During in-hospital cardiac arrests, how long resuscitation attempts should be continued before termination of efforts is unknown. We investigated whether duration of resuscitation attempts varies between hospitals and whether patients at hospitals that attempt resuscitation for longer have higher survival rates than do those at hospitals with shorter durations of resuscitation efforts. Between 2000 and 2008, we identified 64 339 patients with cardiac arrests at 435 US hospitals within the Get With The Guidelines—Resuscitation registry. For each hospital, we calculated the median duration of resuscitation before termination of efforts in non-survivors as a measure of the hospital's overall tendency for longer attempts. We used multilevel regression models to assess the association between the length of resuscitation attempts and risk-adjusted survival. Our primary endpoints were immediate survival with return of spontaneous circulation during cardiac arrest and survival to hospital discharge. 31 198 of 64 339 (48·5%) patients achieved return of spontaneous circulation and 9912 (15·4%) survived to discharge. For patients achieving return of spontaneous circulation, the median duration of resuscitation was 12 min (IQR 6–21) compared with 20 min (14–30) for non-survivors. Compared with patients at hospitals in the quartile with the shortest median resuscitation attempts in non-survivors (16 min [IQR 15–17]), those at hospitals in the quartile with the longest attempts (25 min [25–28]) had a higher likelihood of return of spontaneous circulation (adjusted risk ratio 1·12, 95% CI 1·06–1·18; p<0·0001) and survival to discharge (1·12, 1·02–1·23; 0·021). Duration of resuscitation attempts varies between hospitals. Although we cannot define an optimum duration for resuscitation attempts on the basis of these observational data, our findings suggest that efforts to systematically increase the duration of resuscitation could improve survival in this high-risk population. American Heart Association, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Clinical Scholars Program, and the National Institutes of Health.

Background: Children born very preterm and able to attend mainstream schools have been shown to have a high prevalence of behavioural, minor motor, and learning difficulties. It is not clear whether these problems persist into adulthood, impacting on lifestyle and quality of life. Methods: A previously studied cohort of very low birth weight infants born between 1980 and 1983, together with term classmate controls, were assessed at age 19–22 years using a postal questionnaire. The questionnaire included the SF-36 to assess quality of life, a social activities scale, a lifestyle questionnaire, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and questions on current height, weight, health, family structure, and education and occupation. Results: Of the 138 preterm and 163 term controls in the cohort, 79 preterm and 71 term returned questionnaires. Quality of life was assessed as similar on six of eight domains of the SF-36. Social activities were also similar. Preterms drank less alcohol, used fewer illicit drugs, but smoked as often. Rates for sexual intercourse were similar, although preterms had more children. Preterms were shorter than controls and were less satisfied with their appearance. They were more likely to use a regular prescription medicine. Fewer were or had been in higher education, and some remained unemployed. Conclusion: The problems experienced by very preterm infants at school appear to influence lifestyle and health, but not perceived quality of life in early adulthood.

Distinctive quartz-rich unidirectional solidification textures (USTs) occur in apical carapaces of the Sn-mineralized Heemskirk Granite in western Tasmania (SE Australia). They are spatially associated with abundant tourmaline-filled orbicules and cavities that have been overprinted by widespread tourmaline-quartz veins. Multiple UST-quartz layers that are intercalated with aplitic layers, and can locally extend for hundreds of meters. Individual UST layers consist dominantly of hexagonal quartz (>95%) with minor K-feldspar, plagioclase, biotite, muscovite, and magnetite. Scanning electron microscope-cathodoluminescence (SEM-CL) reveals that the aplitic quartz is homogeneous and CL-bright with minor CL-dark patches. The bases of the UST quartz crystals are homogeneous and CL-bright with minor thin CL-dark fractures, whereas the trigonal apexes of the UST-quartz display CL-oscillatory growth zones. LA-ICP-MS analyses show that UST-quartz has lower Ti, Li, and Sn than aplitic quartz, but higher Al, Li, Na, K, Mn, Fe, Ge, Rb, and Cs concentrations. At a pressure of ca. 1.3 kbar, the Ti-in-quartz geothermometer yields temperatures of 545±40 and 580±20°C for the UST and aplitic quartz, respectively. The UST-quartz has higher Al/Ti values of 5.8 to 32, and Ge/Ti values of 0.02 to 0.16, than quartz phenocrysts in aplite layers, which is consistent with crystallization from a highly evolved fluid. The O-isotopic compositions (+5.1 to +10.2 ppm) of UST and aplitic quartz are consistent with magmatic source circulated by minor meteoric and/or formation waters. Magnetite crystals in USTs have low Cr, V, Ni, Co, Cr, Sc, and high Ti, Al, Mn, Sn, Ga contents, and are overgrown by chlorite. These minerals are interpreted to have formed at UST-melt interface where hydrothermal fluids reacted with igneous minerals. The results show that the UST layers in the Heemskirk Granite precipitated from magmatic-hydrothermal aqueous fluid exsolved from granitic melt during emplacement into the shallow crust (6-10 km). Such UST layers are characteristics of mineralized intrusions, and therefore provide significant indications for mineral exploration.

National trends in tracheostomy for mechanical ventilation (MV) patients are not well characterized. To investigate trends in tracheostomy use, timing, and outcomes in the United States. We calculated estimates of tracheostomy use and outcomes from the National Inpatient Sample from 1993 to 2012. We used hierarchical models to determine factors associated with tracheostomy use among MV patients. We identified 1,352,432 adults who received tracheostomy from 1993 to 2012 (9.1% of MV patients). Tracheostomy was more common in surgical patients, men, and racial/ethnic minorities. Age-adjusted incidence of tracheostomy increased by 106%, rising disproportionately to MV use. Among MV patients, tracheostomy rose from 6.9% in 1993 to 9.8% in 2008, and then it declined to 8.7% in 2012 (P < 0.0001). Increases in tracheostomy use were driven by surgical patients (9.5% in 1993; 15.0% in 2012; P < 0.0001), with little change among nonsurgical patients (5.8% in 1993; 5.9% in 2012; P < 0.0001). Over time, tracheostomies were performed earlier (median, 11 d in 1998; 10 d in 2012; P < 0.0001), whereas hospital length of stay declined (median, 39 d in 1993; 26 d in 2012; P < 0.0001), discharges to long-term facilities increased (40.1% vs. 71.9%; P < 0.0001), and hospital mortality declined (38.1% vs. 14.7%; P < 0.0001). Over the past two decades, tracheostomy use rose substantially in the United States until 2008, when use began to decline. The observed dramatic increase in discharge of tracheostomy patients to long-term care facilities may have significant implications for clinical care, healthcare costs, policy, and research. Future studies should include long-term facilities when analyzing outcomes of tracheostomy.

Oceanic Anoxic Event 2 (OAE 2), occurring ∼94 million years ago, was one of the most extreme carbon cycle and climatic perturbations of the Phanerozoic Eon. It was typified by a rapid rise in atmospheric CO₂, global warming, and marine anoxia, leading to the widespread devastation of marine ecosystems. However, the precise timing and extent to which oceanic anoxic conditions expanded during OAE 2 remains unresolved. We present a record of global ocean redox changes during OAE 2 using a combined geochemical and carbon cycle modeling approach. We utilize a continuous, high-resolution record of uranium isotopes in pelagic and platform carbonate sediments to quantify the global extent of seafloor anoxia during OAE 2. This dataset is then compared with a dynamic model of the coupled global carbon, phosphorus, and uranium cycles to test hypotheses for OAE 2 initiation. This unique approach highlights an intra-OAE complexity that has previously been underconstrained, characterized by two expansions of anoxia separated by an episode of globally significant reoxygenation coincident with the “Plenus Cold Event.” Each anoxic expansion event was likely driven by rapid atmospheric CO₂ injections from multiphase Large Igneous Province activity.

The area of interest is located on the eastern flank of the Andean Cordillera, San Juan province, Argentina. The 3600 km2 area is characterized by Siluro-Devonian to Neogene sedimentary and igneous rocks and unconsolidated Quaternary sediments. Epithermal, porphyry-related, and magmatic-hydrothermal breccia-hosted ore deposits, common in this part of the Frontal Cordillera, are associated with various types of hydrothermal alteration assemblages. Kaolinite – alunite-rich argillic, quartz – illite-rich phyllic, epidote – chlorite – calcite-rich propylitic and silicic are the most common hydrothermal alteration assemblages in the study area. VNIR, SWIR and TIR ASTER data were used to characterize geological features on a portion of the Frontal Cordillera. Red-green-blue band combinations, band ratios, logical operations, mineral indices and principal component analysis were applied to successfully identify rock types and hydrothermal alteration zones in the study area. These techniques were used to enhance geological features to contrast different lithologies and zones with high concentrations of argillic, phyllic, propylitic alteration mineral assemblages and silicic altered rocks. Alteration minerals detected with portable short-wave infrared spectrometry in hand specimens confirmed the capability of ASTER to identify hydrothermal alteration assemblages. The results from field control areas confirmed the presence of those minerals in the areas classified by ASTER processing techniques and allowed mapping the same mineralogy where pixels had similar information. The current study proved ASTER processing techniques to be valuable mapping tools for geological reconnaissance of a large area of the Argentinean Frontal Cordillera, providing preliminary lithologic and hydrothermal alteration maps that are accurate as well as cost and time effective.

Gut bacterial communities have a profound influence on the health of humans and animals. Early-life gut microbial community structure influences the development of immunological competence and susceptibility to disease. For the Thoroughbred racehorse, the significance of early-life microbial colonisation events on subsequent health and athletic performance is unknown. Here we present data from a three-year cohort study of horses bred for racing designed to explore interactions between early-life gut bacterial community structure, health events in later life and athletic performance on the racetrack. Our data show that gut bacterial community structure in the first months of life predicts the risk of specific diseases and athletic performance up to three years old. Foals with lower faecal bacterial diversity at one month old had a significantly increased risk of respiratory disease in later life which was also associated with higher relative abundance of faecal Pseudomonadaceae . Surprisingly, athletic performance up to three years old, measured by three different metrics, was positively associated with higher faecal bacterial diversity at one month old and with the relative abundance of specific bacterial families. We also present data on the impact of antibiotic exposure of foals during the first month of life. This resulted in significantly lower faecal bacterial diversity at 28 days old, a significantly increased risk of respiratory disease in later life and a significant reduction in average prize money earnings, a proxy for athletic performance. Our study reveals associations between early-life bacterial community profiles and health events in later life and it provides evidence of the detrimental impact of antimicrobial treatment in the first month of life on health and performance outcomes in later life. For the first time, this study demonstrates a relationship between early-life gut bacterial communities and subsequent athletic performance that has implications for athletes of all species including humans.

Clinical outcomes after primary graft failure (PGF) remain poor. Here we present a large retrospective analysis ( n =23 272) which investigates means to prevent PGF and early detection of patients at high risk. In patients with hematologic malignancies, who underwent their first myeloablative allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation, PGF was reported in 1278 (5.5%), and there was a marked difference in PGFs using peripheral blood stem cell compared with bone marrow grafts (2.5 vs 7.3%; P <0.001). A fourfold increase of PGF was observed in myeloproliferative disorders compared with acute leukemia ( P <0.001). Other risk factors for PGF included recipient age <30, HLA mismatch, male recipients of female donor grafts, ABO incompatibility, busulfan/cyclophosphamide conditioning and cryopreservation. In bone marrow transplants, total nucleated cell doses ⩽2.4 × 10 8 per kg were associated with PGF (odds ratio 1.39; P <0.001). The use of tacrolimus-based immunosuppression and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor were associated with decreased PGF risk. These data, allow clinicians to do more informed choices with respect to graft source, donor selection, conditioning and immunosuppressive regimens to reduce the risk of PGF. Moreover, a novel risk score determined on day 21 post transplant may provide the rationale for an early request for additional hematopoietic stem cells.

Multisensory integration has primarily been studied in static environments, where optimal integration relies on the precision of the respective sensory modalities. However, in numerous situations, sensory information is dynamic and changes over time, due to changes in our bodily state and the surrounding environment. Given that different sensory modalities have different delays, this suggests that optimal integration may not solely depend on sensory precision but may also be affected by the delays associated with each sensory system. To investigate this hypothesis, participants (n = 22, 16 female) engaged in a continuous steering task. Participants sat on a motion platform facing a screen that displayed a cartoonish traffic scene, featuring a car traveling along a road. In the visuoinertial condition, where vestibular and somatosensory feedback were available, they were tasked with counteracting an external multi-frequency perturbation signal, which laterally perturbed the platform and the car, such that the car was kept within the center of the road. In the visual condition, the visual car was perturbed, while the motion platform remained stationary. We show that participants compensate better for the perturbation in the visuoinertial than the visual condition, particularly in the high frequency range of the perturbation. Using computational modelling, we demonstrate that this enhanced performance is partially due to the shorter delay of the vestibular modality. In this condition, participants rely more on the vestibular information, which is less delayed than the more precise but longer delayed, visual information.