scholarly journals Multi-Farm Analyses Indicate a Novel Boar Pheromone Improves Sow Reproductive Performance

Animals ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 37
Author(s):  
John McGlone ◽  
Arlene Garcia ◽  
Anoosh Rakhshandeh
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Success ◽  
Reproductive Performance ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Experimental Unit ◽  
Commercial Farm ◽  
Treatment Interaction ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Meta Analyses

The objective of this study was to examine the effectiveness of a novel 3-molecule boar pheromone (BOARBETTER®, BB,) to improve sow reproductive performance (breeding, conception, farrowing rates, pigs born alive, stillborn, mummies and total born). Data from 12 commercial farm sites were used to evaluate the effectiveness of BB. Each farm was used as the experimental unit in the meta-analyses. Individual sows records were collected, merged and analyzed in overall analyses. Relative to CON, BB increased the number of total born pigs per litter (13.81 ± 0.11 vs. 14.30 ± 0.11 pigs/litter, respectively; p < 0.01) and the number of pigs born alive (12.76 ± 0.14 vs. 13.13 ± 0.14 pigs/litter, respectively; p < 0.05). In the merged dataset analyses, the parity by treatment interaction was significant for total pigs and pigs born alive per litter (p < 0.01). In parities one through three, treatment with BB increased total pigs born by 0.88 per litter, and pigs born alive per litter by 0.73 pigs per litter (p < 0.05). However, BB had no effect on these parameters in sows from parities four through six. BOARBETTER® increased reproductive success, is cost effective, safe, and can meaningfully improve sow reproductive success and performance.

Physical and Psychological Benefits of Written Emotional Expression

2015 ◽  
Vol 20 (4) ◽  
pp. 242-251 ◽  
Author(s):  
Éva Kállay
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Expressive Writing ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Psychological Benefits ◽  
Cost Effective Treatment ◽  
Meta Analyses

Abstract. The last several decades have witnessed a substantial increase in the number of individuals suffering from both diagnosable and subsyndromal mental health problems. Consequently, the development of cost-effective treatment methods, accessible to large populations suffering from different forms of mental health problems, became imperative. A very promising intervention is the method of expressive writing (EW), which may be used in both clinically diagnosable cases and subthreshold symptomatology. This method, in which people express their feelings and thoughts related to stressful situations in writing, has been found to improve participants’ long-term psychological, physiological, behavioral, and social functioning. Based on a thorough analysis and synthesis of the published literature (also including most recent meta-analyses), the present paper presents the expressive writing method, its short- and long-term, intra-and interpersonal effects, different situations and conditions in which it has been proven to be effective, the most important mechanisms implied in the process of recovery, advantages, disadvantages, and possible pitfalls of the method, as well as variants of the original technique and future research directions.

scholarly journals Recent Advances in Conventional Methods and Electrochemical Aptasensors for Mycotoxin Detection

Foods ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (7) ◽  
pp. 1437
Author(s):  
Jing Yi Ong ◽  
Andrew Pike ◽  
Ling Ling Tan
Keyword(s):  
Quantitative Analysis ◽  
Animal Feed ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Preventive Action ◽  
High Affinity ◽  
Recent Advances ◽  
Recognition Elements ◽  
Key Features ◽  
Pre Treatment ◽  
And Performance

The presence of mycotoxins in foodstuffs and feedstuffs is a serious concern for human health. The detection of mycotoxins is therefore necessary as a preventive action to avoid the harmful contamination of foodstuffs and animal feed. In comparison with the considerable expense of treating contaminated foodstuffs, early detection is a cost-effective way to ensure food safety. The high affinity of bio-recognition molecules to mycotoxins has led to the development of affinity columns for sample pre-treatment and the development of biosensors for the quantitative analysis of mycotoxins. Aptamers are a very attractive class of biological receptors that are currently in great demand for the development of new biosensors. In this review, the improvement in the materials and methodology, and the working principles and performance of both conventional and recently developed methods are discussed. The key features and applications of the fundamental recognition elements, such as antibodies and aptamers are addressed. Recent advances in aptasensors that are based on different electrochemical (EC) transducers are reviewed in detail, especially from the perspective of the diagnostic mechanism; in addition, a brief introduction of some commercially available mycotoxin detection kits is provided.

scholarly journals Role of occupational therapy in musicians’ health: a scoping review protocol

BMJ Open ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (12) ◽  
pp. e040922
Author(s):  
Bethany Villas ◽  
Uira Duarte Wisnesky ◽  
Sandra Campbell ◽  
Lauren Slavik ◽  
Amynah S. Mevawala ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Occupational Therapy ◽  
Scoping Review ◽  
Health Conditions ◽  
Study Selection ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Scoping Reviews ◽  
Review Protocol ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Meta Analyses

Review question/objectiveThe purpose of this proposed review is twofold: first, to understand the role of occupational therapy presented in the musicians’ health literature; and second, to explore the potential for this role.IntroductionThe intense movement, awkward postures, concentration and emotional communication required of musicians can place them at increased risk of music-related health conditions, such as musculoskeletal disorders and performance anxiety. The development of music-related health conditions can be emotionally and financially devastating. The role of occupational therapy in musicians’ health has been previously discussed; however, no rigorous reviews of the scholarly literature have been published. We will, therefore, undertake a scoping review with the following research questions: (1) what is known about the role of occupational therapy in instrumental musicians’ health? and (2) what is the potential role of occupational therapy in musicians’ health?Methods and analysisA preliminary search of Medline, CINAHL, SCOPUS and Web of Science was previously undertaken by the first author to determine the extent of the research on this topic and to confirm that no other reviews have been conducted or are in progress. Study selection and analysis will follow the Joanna Briggs Institute and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for scoping reviews guidelines for conducting a scoping review.Ethics and disseminationFormal ethics approval is not required at our institution for a review of published literature. The results of this review will be shared through peer-reviewed publications, conference presentations and traditional and social media.

scholarly journals Using Aerial and Vehicular NFV Infrastructures to Agilely Create Vertical Services

Sensors ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (4) ◽  
pp. 1342
Author(s):  
Borja Nogales ◽  
Miguel Silva ◽  
Ivan Vidal ◽  
Miguel Luís ◽  
Francisco Valera ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ad Hoc Network ◽  
Ad Hoc ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Network Services ◽  
Network Function Virtualization ◽  
Mobile Environments ◽  
Network Resources ◽  
The Public ◽  
Network Function ◽  
And Performance

5G communications have become an enabler for the creation of new and more complex networking scenarios, bringing together different vertical ecosystems. Such behavior has been fostered by the network function virtualization (NFV) concept, where the orchestration and virtualization capabilities allow the possibility of dynamically supplying network resources according to its needs. Nevertheless, the integration and performance of heterogeneous network environments, each one supported by a different provider, and with specific characteristics and requirements, in a single NFV framework is not straightforward. In this work we propose an NFV-based framework capable of supporting the flexible, cost-effective deployment of vertical services, through the integration of two distinguished mobile environments and their networks: small sized unmanned aerial vehicles (SUAVs), supporting a flying ad hoc network (FANET) and vehicles, promoting a vehicular ad hoc network (VANET). In this context, a use case involving the public safety vertical will be used as an illustrative example to showcase the potential of this framework. This work also includes the technical implementation details of the framework proposed, allowing to analyse and discuss the delays on the network services deployment process. The results show that the deployment times can be significantly reduced through a distributed VNF configuration function based on the publish–subscribe model.

scholarly journals PSXII-17 Trace minerals source influences the performance of Nellore cattle in the growing phase during the transition between dry to rainy season in Brazil

2020 ◽  
Vol 98 (Supplement_4) ◽  
pp. 445-446
Author(s):  
Iorrano A Cidrini ◽  
Josiane F Lage ◽  
Igor Ferreira ◽  
Karla Oliveira ◽  
Laura F Prados ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rainy Season ◽  
Relative Bioavailability ◽  
Trace Minerals ◽  
Experimental Unit ◽  
Liver Concentration ◽  
Nellore Cattle ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Urochloa Brizantha ◽  
Cu And Zn ◽  
Matter Basis

Abstract The relative bioavailability of trace minerals may vary between the sources and impact the animal performance. The study was carried out to evaluate the effect of TM source (Cu and Zn) on the liver concentration and performance of Nellore cattle supplemented in the growing phase during the transition between dry to rainy season. A hundred and twenty Nellore young bulls (BW = 349.72 ± 24 kg; 24 months), blocked by BW, were assigned randomly to twelve paddocks (six paddocks/treatment and 10 animals/paddock). Animals grazing Urochloa brizantha cv. Marandu and supplemented at 5 g/kg BW with soybean meal, corn and mineral mix (250 g/kg of CP and 650 g/kg de NDT, natural matter basis). Supplements consisted of 40 mg Cu and 148 mg Zn/kg DM from either inorganic TM (ITM) or hydroxy TM (HTM) Intellibond® sources. Liver samples were collected at the beginning and end of the study (three animals per paddock). Animals were weighed at each period (30 days) during three periods. Period was used as a REPEATED measurement for BW and values of initial BW as independent covariates for all variables. Paddock was considered experimental unit. Data were analyzed by ANOVA using PROC MIXED, SAS 9.4. The animals supplemented with HTM had higher (+0.037 kg/day) general ADG (day 0 to 90; P = 0.012), with 0.469 and 0.506 kg/day to ITM and HTM, respectively. Final BW (day 90) from animals fed HTM was 5.13 kg higher than ITM (391.97 vs. 397.11 kg BW; P = 0.030). No differences were found in the liver concentrations of Cu and Zn between ITM or HTM (P ≥ 0.288). Cu and Zn from HTM improve the performance of animals supplemented in pasture compared to ITM sources.

A study of factors which influence the job satisfaction of stockpeople on commercial pig farms

1990 ◽  
Vol 1990 ◽  
pp. 95-95
Author(s):  
R C Segundo ◽  
P R English ◽  
G Burgess ◽  
S A Edwards ◽  
O MacPherson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Job Satisfaction ◽  
Reproductive Performance ◽  
Research Work ◽  
Farm Animals ◽  
Considerable Influence ◽  
Pig Farms ◽  
And Performance ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Farm Livestock

The role of stockmanship in relation to the wellbeing of farm animals has been emphasised in the UK Codes of Recommendations for the Welfare of Farm Livestock (MAFF, 1983). Moreover, previous research work has demonstrated important effects of good and bad stockmanship not only on welfare but also on growth, lactational and reproductive performance of pigs and other farm livestock (Hemsworth et al, 1987). There is a need, therefore, to establish the factors which motivate and demotivate stockpeople since the degree of job satisfaction is likely to have a considerable influence on the attitude and performance of stockpeople and on their empathy with the animals in their care. With this objective in mind, a questionnaire was designed to investigate the aspects which could have an influence on the job satisfaction of the stockpeople involved in pig production.

Solar Photovoltaic Water Pumping to Alleviate Drought in Remote Locations

2006 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kala Meah ◽  
Steven Fletcher ◽  
Yu Wan ◽  
Sadrul Ula
Keyword(s):  
Performance Monitoring ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Solar Water ◽  
Small Water ◽  
Water Pumping ◽  
Western Us ◽  
Water Right ◽  
And Performance ◽  
The University

Many parts of the western US is rural in nature and consequently do not have electrical distribution lines in many parts of farms and ranches. Distribution line extension costs can run from $15,000 to $25,000 per mile, thereby making availability of electricity to small water pumping projects economically unattractive. Solar photo-voltaic (PV) powered water pumping is more cost effective in these small scale applications. Many western states including Wyoming are passing through fifth year of drought with the consequent shortages of water for many applications. Wyoming State Climatologist is predicting a possible 5–10 years of drought. Drought impacts the surface water right away, while it takes much longer to impact the underground aquifers. To mitigate the effect on the livestock and wildlife, Wyoming Governor Dave Freudenthal initiated a solar water pumping initiative in cooperation with the University of Wyoming, County Conservation Districts, Rural Electric Cooperatives, and ranching organizations. Solar water pumping has several advantages over traditional systems; for example, diesel or propane engines require not only expensive fuels, they also create noise and air pollution in many remote pristine areas. Solar systems are environment friendly, low maintenance and have no fuel cost. In this paper the design, installation and performance monitoring of the solar system for small scale remote water pumping will be presented.

Powder Metallurgy Aluminum Alloys: Structure and Porosity

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Will Judge ◽  
Georges Kipouros
Keyword(s):  
Powder Metallurgy ◽  
Aluminum Alloys ◽  
Material Properties ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
High Reactivity ◽  
Commercial Production ◽  
Processing Conditions ◽  
Near Net Shape ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Production Conditions

The production of aluminum alloys through powder metallurgy (PM) processes allows for the manufacture of net- or near-net-shape components in a cost-effective and sustainable manner. The high reactivity of aluminum metal, however, complicates PM processing, and special attention must be given to certain steps during production, particularly sintering. PM processing conditions strongly affect the structure and porosity of aluminum PM alloys, which ultimately determine their material properties and performance. In this article, the fundamental aspects of the commercial production of aluminum PM alloys are presented, along with the effects of production conditions on the structure and porosity of aluminum PM alloys. The properties and performance of aluminum PM alloys are then analyzed and interpreted with respect to their structure and porosity.

Are SSRIs a Cost-Effective Alternative to Tricyclics?

1996 ◽  
Vol 168 (4) ◽  
pp. 404-409 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew Hotopf ◽  
Glyn Lewis ◽  
Charles Normand
Keyword(s):  
Cost Effectiveness ◽  
Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Drop Out ◽  
Attrition Rates ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Randomised Controlled ◽  
Meta Analyses ◽  
The Cost ◽  
Effectiveness Studies

BackgroundSelective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are more expensive than tricyclics. Reports have suggested that SSRIs are cost-effective because they are better tolerated and safer in overdose.MethodA systematic review of all randomised controlled trials (RCTs), meta-analyses, and cost-effectiveness studies comparing SSRIs and tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs).ResultsNone of the RCTs provided an economic analysis and there were methodological problems in the majority which would preclude this approach. Meta-analyses suggest that clinical efficacy is equivalent but slightly fewer patients prescribed SSRIs drop out of RCTs. Cost-effectiveness studies have been based on crude ‘modelling’ approaches and over-estimate the difference in attrition rates and the cost of treatment failure. It appears impossible to evaluate the economic aspects of suicide because of its rarity.ConclusionsThere is no evidence to suggest that SSRIs are more cost-effective than TCAs. The debate will only be concluded when a prospective cost-effectiveness study is done in the setting of a large primary care based RCT.

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