Explore the vast range of titles available.

Beginning in the fall of 1914, every French soldier on the Western Front received a daily ration of wine from the army. At first it was a modest quarter litre, but by 1917 it had increased to the equivalent of a full bottle each day. The wine ration was intended to sustain morale in the trenches, making the men more willing to endure suffering and boredom. The army also supplied soldiers with doses of distilled alcohol just before attacks to increase their ferocity and fearlessness. This strategic distribution of alcohol was a defining feature of French soldiers' experiences of the war and amounted to an experimental policy of intoxicating soldiers for military ends. A Thirst for Wine and War explores the French army's emotional and behavioural conditioning of soldiers through the distribution of a mind-altering drug that was later hailed as one of the army's \"fathers of victory.\" The daily wine ration arose from an unexpected set of factors including the demoralization of trench warfare, the wine industry's fear of losing its main consumers, and medical consensus about the benefits of wine drinking. The army's related practice of distributing distilled alcohol to embolden soldiers was a double-edged sword, as the men might become unruly. The army implemented regulations and surveillance networks to curb men's drinking behind the lines, in an attempt to ensure they only drank when it was useful to the war effort. When morale collapsed in spring 1917, the army lost control of this precarious system as drunken soldiers mutinied in the thousands. Discipline was restored only when the army regained command of soldiers' alcohol consumption. Drawing on a range of archives, personal narratives, and trench journals, A Thirst for Wine and War shows how the French army's intoxication of its soldiers constituted a unique exercise of biopower deployed on a mass scale.

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of intensive fattening with total mixed rations (TMR) on carcass characteristics, meat quality, and chemical composition of the yak meat. Theoretical data has been provided for evaluating the quality of yak meat during natural grazing and short-term fattening. Based on the analysis, we found that in fattening yak, the carcass weight (CWT) was increased by 106.43%, whereas the cooking loss, tenderness, and drop loss were significantly improved due to higher intramuscular fat content and lower moisture ( P < 0.05). Protein, fat, calcium, and amino acids were also much higher ( P < 0.01) in fattening yak compared with the grazing yak. The levels of albumin (ALB), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), triglyceride (TRIG), and amylase (AMYL) in serum indicated better nutritional status for fattening yaks. The transcriptomics analysis showed that the high expression of ACSL1 and ACACB genes improved the synthesis and deposition of fat in fattening yak, whereas the regulation of SLC7A8, ATP1A4, ATP1A1, SLC3A2, and CPA3 gene expression weakened the proteolysis. These results indicated that fattening with TMR improves the yield and quality of the yak meat.

This study was conducted to evaluate potential of Moringa oleifera seed oil (MOSO) to modulate rumen microflora to mitigate methane (CH4) production in different total mixed rations (TMRs). Three TMRs with different roughage (R) to concentrate (C) ratio were used as substrates (R70:C30, R50:C50 and R30:C70) for in vitro fermentation study using batch culture technique. Results revealed that supplementation of MOSO in different rations with variable roughage to concentrates ratio altered (P < 0.05) CH4 production and fermentation parameters. M. oleifera seed oil at 3 and 4% increased (P < 0.01) microbial protein (MCP) and propionate concentration for all rations but decreased acetate concentration in R70:C30 TMR. Two levels of MOSO (3 and 4%) quadratically increased (P = 0.001) MCP and decreased acetate in R30:C70 while all levels increased propionate. For R30:C70 and R50:C50 rations, MOSO linearly and quadratically decreased (P < 0.001) protozoa and methanogen counts; however, protozoa, methanogens and bacteria were significantly increased in R70:C30 ration without any change in fungal counts. Supplementation of higher level of MOSO (4%) in high roughage ration (R70:C30) showed negative effects on diversity (Shannon index) and evenness of bacterial species as compared to control and lower oil level. Moreover, it also decreased Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes ratio in high roughage rations more obviously at lower levels. Moringa oil also stimulated Prevotella in both high and low roughages diets that indicates its potential to mediate rumen acidosis. Conclusively, MOSO enhanced fermentation kinetics and decreased CH4 production through effective modulation of rumen microbiome.

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of including gliricidia hay (0, 5, 10, 15, and 20% fresh matter—FM), replacing ground corn and cottonseed cake, on the quality of total mixed rations silages based on spineless cactus. Twenty-five experimental silos were distributed in a completely randomized design experiment (five treatments—five replications). Ash, neutral and acid detergent fiber, and hemicellulose contents increased linearly, whereas the non-fibrous and total carbohydrates decreased (p < 0.05). Crude protein and ether extract contents were quadratically influenced (p < 0.05). The pH values and acetic acid concentrations increased, whereas the lactic acid concentration decreased linearly (p < 0.05). Ammoniacal concentration was influenced quadratically (p < 0.05). Decreasing linear effects were observed on the maximum and minimum temperatures and thermal amplitude (p < 0.05). A quadratic effect was observed on forage losses (p < 0.05). Effluent losses decreased, and dry matter recovery was influenced quadratically (p < 0.05). The inclusion of up to 15.1% gliricidia hay in the production of total mixed ration silages based on spineless cactus preserves adequate standards of chemical composition (15.6% crude protein) and fermentation profile, while decreasing forage losses (7.3% FM) without compromising dry matter recovery and aerobic stability.

In India, tuberculosis and undernutrition are syndemics with a high burden of tuberculosis coexisting with a high burden of undernutrition in patients and in the population. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of nutritional supplementation on tuberculosis incidence in household contacts of adults with microbiologically confirmed pulmonary tuberculosis. In this field-based, open-label, cluster-randomised controlled trial, we enrolled household contacts of 2800 patients with microbiologically confirmed pulmonary tuberculosis across 28 tuberculosis units of the National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme in four districts of Jharkhand, India. The tuberculosis units were randomly allocated 1:1 by block randomisation to the control group or the intervention group, by a statistician using computer-generated random numbers. Although microbiologically confirmed pulmonary tuberculosis patients in both groups received food rations (1200 kcal, 52 grams of protein per day with micronutrients) for 6 months, only household contacts in the intervention group received monthly food rations and micronutrients (750 kcal, 23 grams of protein per day with micronutrients). After screening all household contacts for co-prevalent tuberculosis at baseline, all participants were followed up actively until July 31, 2022, for the primary outcome of incident tuberculosis (all forms). The ascertainment of the outcome was by independent medical staff in health services. We used Cox proportional hazards model and Poisson regression via the generalised estimating equation approach to estimate unadjusted hazard ratios, adjusted hazard ratios (aHRs), and incidence rate ratios (IRRs). This study is registered with CTRI-India, CTRI/2019/08/020490. Between Aug 16, 2019, and Jan 31, 2021, there were 10 345 household contacts, of whom 5328 (94·8%) of 5621 household contacts in the intervention group and 4283 (90·7%) of 4724 household contacts in the control group completed the primary outcome assessment. Almost two-thirds of the population belonged to Indigenous communities (eg, Santhals, Ho, Munda, Oraon, and Bhumij) and 34% (3543 of 10 345) had undernutrition. We detected 31 (0·3%) of 10 345 household contact patients with co-prevalent tuberculosis disease in both groups at baseline and 218 (2·1%) people were diagnosed with incident tuberculosis (all forms) over 21 869 person-years of follow-up, with 122 of 218 incident cases in the control group (2·6% [122 of 4712 contacts at risk], 95% CI 2·2–3·1; incidence rate 1·27 per 100 person-years) and 96 incident cases in the intervention group (1·7% [96 of 5602], 1·4–2·1; 0·78 per 100 person-years), of whom 152 (69·7%) of 218 were patients with microbiologically confirmed pulmonary tuberculosis. Tuberculosis incidence (all forms) in the intervention group had an adjusted IRR of 0·61 (95% CI 0·43–0·85; aHR 0·59 [0·42–0·83]), with an even greater decline in incidence of microbiologically confirmed pulmonary tuberculosis (0·52 [0·35–0·79]; 0·51 [0·34–0·78]). This translates into a relative reduction of tuberculosis incidence of 39% (all forms) to 48% (microbiologically confirmed pulmonary tuberculosis) in the intervention group. An estimated 30 households (111 household contacts) would need to be provided nutritional supplementation to prevent one incident tuberculosis. To our knowledge, this is the first randomised trial looking at the effect of nutritional support on tuberculosis incidence in household contacts, whereby the nutritional intervention was associated with substantial (39–48%) reduction in tuberculosis incidence in the household during 2 years of follow-up. This biosocial intervention can accelerate reduction in tuberculosis incidence in countries or communities with a tuberculosis and undernutrition syndemic. Indian Council of Medical Research—India TB Research Consortium.

In this study, 119 samples of total mixed rations and different types of ensiled forage (maize and grass silage, and haylage) collected in 2019–2020 from dairy farms in Lithuania were analyzed to evaluate the quantitative occurrence of mycotoxins and endotoxins. Samples were analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with a fluorescent (FLD) and an ultraviolet detector (UV) of mycotoxins and a detection assay based on the ELISA technology for endotoxins. The study included toxins regulated within the European Union (aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), zearalenone (ZEA), deoxynivalenol (DON) and T-2 toxin) and nonregulated toxins (endotoxins). Mycotoxin analysis showed that 49.58% of the samples out of 119 were positive for AFB1, 52.11% for ZEA and DON, 55.47% for T-2 toxin and 84.04% for endotoxins. In the contaminated samples, the highest mean values of AFB1 and T-2 toxin were determined in the grass silage samples, while ZEA and DON–were determined in the maize silage samples. Maize silage samples had the highest ZEA and DON concentrations, exceeding the EU maximum permissible concentration limits. In the haylage samples, AFB1 mycotoxin exceeded the maximum concentration limits. The highest mean value of endotoxins was determined in the total mixed rations samples. This is the first study to provide information about the concentrations of mycotoxins and endotoxins in total mixed rations and different types of ensiled forages for dairy cows in Lithuania.

There was thus clinical equipoise in the scientific community related to risk reduction with nutritional supplementation, and our trial filled this evidence gap for the first time. 2 Hannah M Rickman and Tom A Yates discuss a potential overestimation of the intervention effect due to differences in family size and notification rates in the intervention clusters. The trial was embedded within the Indian National TB Control Programme, and both chest x-rays and symptom screens were used to evaluate household contacts, as per guidelines. 5 The most common symptom in household contacts triggering evaluation was a cough for longer than 2 weeks, and our regular follow-ups and rounds of active case finding done by the National TB Control Programme ensured that all those with persistent symptoms were diagnosed. AB is on the scientific advisory committee of the Indian Council of Medical Research—National Institute of Nutrition and RePORT India; is a member of the Strategic Technical Advisory Group on TB (STAG-TB) for the WHO South-East Asia Region and WHO Geneva; and reports funding from Central Coalfields and the Letzdream Foundation for the purchase of some equipment and logistics for the RATIONS trial.

Stable flies ( Stomoxys calcitrans) are blood-sucking insects commonly associated with cattle production systems worldwide and are known to cause severe irritation to cattle due to painful bites. Cattle react to biting stable flies with an aggregating behavior known as bunching. Bunching behavior reduces grazing or feed consumption and thus reduces cattle productivity and welfare. Cattle’s fly-repelling behaviors include foot stomping, head tossing, tail switching and skin twitching. A longitudinal study was conducted in 2017 on 20 California dairies (average lactating herd size = 2,466 (SE±28.392)) during the stable fly season from April to July. The study objectives were to estimate the association between environmental factors and dairy characteristics including facility design, feed and manure management, total mixed ration (TMR) components fed to cattle, and operational pest management procedures and the outcome stable fly activity on California dairies. Stable fly activity was measured by counting stable flies on cow forelimbs (leg count) and on Alsynite traps (trap count) over the 13-week study period. Weekly leg counts were performed for cattle in lactating cow pens (31 pens from 10 study dairies) with counts made during the morning (AM) and again during the afternoon (PM). Trap counts were performed on all 20 study dairies. Data were analyzed using linear mixed models which revealed temporal variation in the average leg and trap counts with stable fly activity increasing from May to June and then decreasing to the lowest activity in July. Leg counts were higher during the afternoon compared to morning. Ambient temperatures ≤30⁰C and relative humidity (RH) measurements <50% were associated with higher leg and trap counts. Traps located at the periphery of study dairies had higher stable fly counts compared to traps located in the interior of the dairy. Cow pens with trees on the periphery had higher leg counts in comparison to pens away from trees. Specific TMR components were associated with both leg and trap counts. Dairies feeding by-products including almond hulls, wet distillers’ grain, fruits, and vegetables had higher trap counts compared to dairies that did not feed these ingredients. At the pen level, pens with rations that contained straw had lower average leg counts compared to pens fed with rations that did not contain straw. A similar association was observed for pens with rations that contained wheat silage when ambient temperatures were ≤30⁰C. In contrast, pens with water added to the TMR while the RH was ≥50% had higher average leg counts compared to pens without water added to the TMR. Dairies that applied insecticides for fly control to their entire facility had lower trap counts compared to dairies that did not apply insecticides. Stable fly activity measured on California dairies using leg and trap counts varied according to the month, environmental factors, pen surroundings, trap location, TMR components, and insecticide use.

Seasonal calving, pasture-based dairy systems are widely practiced in countries with a temperate climate and plentiful rainfall such as Ireland and New Zealand. This approach maximizes milk production from pasture and, consequently, is a low-cost, low-input dairy production system. On the other hand, the majority of global milk supply is derived from high input indoor total mixed ration systems where seasonal calving is not practiced due to the dependence on ensiled silages, grains and concentrated feeds, which are available year-round. Synchronous changes in the macro and micronutrients in milk are much more noticeable as lactation progresses through early, mid and late stages in seasonal systems compared to non-seasonal systems—which can have implications on the processability and functionality of milk.