The effects of building design on hazard of first service in Norwegian dairy cows.

Reproductive inefficiency is one of the major production and economic constraints on modern dairy farms. The environment affects onset of ovarian activity in a cow postcalving and influences estrus behavior, which in turn affects a stockperson's ability to inseminate her at the correct time. This study used survival analysis to investigate effects of building design and animal factors on the postpartum hazard of first service (HFS) in freestall-housed Norwegian Red cows. The study was performed on 232 Norwegian dairy farms between 2004 and 2007. Data were obtained through on farm measurements and by accessing the Norwegian Dairy Herd Recording System. The final data set contained data on 38,436 calvings and 27,127 services. Univariate Cox proportional hazard analyses showed that herd size and milk yield were positively associated with HFS. Total free accessible area and free accessible area available per cow year were positively associated with the HFS, as was the number of freestalls available per cow. Cows housed on slatted floors had a lower HFS than those housed on solid floors. Conversely, cows housed on rubber floors had a higher HFS than cows on concrete floors. Dead-ending alleyways reduced the hazard of AI after calving. A multivariable Cox proportional hazards model, accounting for herd management by including a frailty term for herd, showed relationships between hazard of postpartum service and explanatory variables. Animals in herds with more than 50 cows had a higher HFS [hazard ratio (HR)=3.0] compared with those in smaller herds. The HFS was also higher (HR=4.3) if more than 8.8 m(2) of space was available per cow year compared with herds in which animals had less space. The HFS after calving increased with parity (parity 2 HR=0.5, parity ≥3 HR=1.7), and was reduced if a lactation began with dystocia (HR=0.82) or was a breed other than Norwegian Red (HR=0.2). The frailty term, herd, was large and highly significant indicating a significant proportion of the variation resides at herd level. The hazard of first insemination decreased with time for all predictive variables, except dystocia. This study shows that providing adequate environmental conditions for estrus behavior is imperative for reproductive efficiency and after herd management factors and time from calving have been accounted for. Thus, optimizing building design for reproductive efficiency is of significant importance when constructing new cattle housing.

The relationship between fatty acid profiles in milk identified by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and onset of luteal activity in Norwegian dairy cattle.

To investigate the feasibility of milk fatty acids as predictors of onset of luteal activity (OLA), 87 lactations taken from 73 healthy Norwegian Red cattle were surveyed over 2 winter housing seasons. The feasibility of using frozen milk samples for dry-film Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) determination of milk samples was also tested. Morning milk samples were collected thrice weekly (Monday, Wednesday, Friday) for the first 10 wk in milk (WIM). These samples had bronopol (2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3-diol) added to them before being frozen at -20°C, thawed, and analyzed by ELISA to determine progesterone concentration and the concentrations of the milk fatty acids C4:0, C14:0, C16:0, C18:0, and cis-9 C18:1 as a proportion of total milk fatty acid content using dry-film FTIR, and averaged by WIM. Onset of luteal activity was defined as the first day that milk progesterone concentrations were >3 ng/mL for 2 successive measurements; the study population was categorized as early (n=47) or late (n=40) OLA, using the median value of 21 DIM as the cutoff. Further milk samples were collected 6 times weekly, from morning and afternoon milkings, these were pooled by WIM, and one proportional sample was analyzed fresh for fat, protein, and lactose content by the dairy company Tine SA, using traditional FTIR spectrography in the wet phase of milk. Daily energy-balance calculations were performed in 42 lactations and averaged by WIM. Animals experiencing late OLA had a more negative energy balance in WIM 1, 3, 4, and 5, with the greatest differences been seen in WIM 3 and 4. A higher proportion of the fatty acids were medium chained, C14:0 and C16:0, in the early than in the late OLA group from WIM 1. In WIM 4, the proportion of total fatty acid content that was C16:0 predicted late OLA, with 74% sensitivity and 80% specificity. The long-chain proportion of the fatty acids C18:0 and cis-9 C18:1 were lower in the early than in the late OLA group. Differences were greatest in WIM 4 and 5. Differences in concentrations of cis-9 C18:1 were seen between the groups from WIM 1. No relationship was seen between OLA and milk concentrations of either protein or fat, or between OLA and the milk fat:protein ratio. The differences in milk fatty acid proportions between the 2 groups are most likely related to differences in energy balance. The study shows that frozen milk samples can be tested for fatty acids by FTIR spectroscopy and that FTIR spectroscopy of milk can be used to provide real-time information about cow reproductive function.

Reproductive disorders in relation to Neospora caninum, Brucella spp. and bovine viral diarrhoea virus serostatus in breeding and dairy farms of central and southern Ethiopia.

Abortion and stillbirth are important reproductive disorders in the dairy industry and are often caused by infectious agents. This study investigated whether bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BVDV), Brucella spp., and Neospora caninum are associated with abortion and/or stillbirth in dairy cattle in Ethiopia. Dairy cattle from 99 farms were categorized as cases (n=134) or controls (n=268) according to reproductive data. Blood samples were screened for antibodies for these infectious agents. The overall proportion of cattle that were seropositive for BVDV, Brucella spp., and N. caninum was 11∙7%, 3∙2%, and 17∙2%, respectively. Seropositivity for BVDV and Brucella spp. was similar for cases and controls, but significantly more cases were seropositive for N. caninum (29∙8%) than controls (10∙8%). This is the first report demonstrating N. caninum is common in dairy cattle in Ethiopia, and is probably a greater impediment to reproductive success in Ethiopian dairy farms than either BVDV or Brucella spp.

Quantum and thermal effects of dark solitons in a one-dimensional Bose gas.

We numerically study the imprinting and dynamics of dark solitons in a bosonic atomic gas in a tightly confined one-dimensional harmonic trap both with and without an optical lattice. Quantum and thermal fluctuations are synthesized within the truncated Wigner approximation in the quasicondensate description. We track the soliton coordinates and calculate position and velocity uncertainties. We find that the phase fluctuations lower the classically predicted soliton speed and seed instabilities. Individual runs show interactions of solitons with sound waves, splitting, and disappearing solitons.

Characterization of progesterone profiles in fall-calving Norwegian Red cows.

Progesterone profiles in Norwegian Red cows were categorized, and associations between the occurrence of irregularities in the profiles and the commencement of luteal activity were investigated. The cows were managed in 3 feeding trials from 1994 to 2001 and from 2005 to 2008 at the Norwegian University of Life Sciences. The cows were followed from calving, and the milk samples collected represented 502 lactations from 302 cows. Milk samples for progesterone analysis were taken 3 times weekly from 1994 throughout 1998 and from 2005 to 2008 and 2 times weekly from 1999 to 2001. Commencement of luteal activity was defined as the first day of 2 consecutive measurements of progesterone concentration >or=3 ng/mL not earlier than 10 d after calving. Delayed ovulation type I was defined as consistently low progesterone concentration, <3 ng/mL for >or=50 d postpartum. Delayed ovulation type II was defined as prolonged interluteal interval with milk progesterone measurements <3 ng/mL for >or=12 d between 2 luteal phases. Persistent corpus luteum (PCL) type I was defined as delayed luteolysis with milk progesterone >or=3 ng/mL for >or=19 d during the first estrous cycle postpartum. Persistent corpus luteum type II was defined as delayed luteolysis with milk progesterone >or=3 ng/mL for >or=19 d during subsequent estrous cycles before first artificial insemination. Delayed ovulation type I was present in 14.7%, delayed ovulation type II in 2.8%, PCL type I in 6.7%, and PCL type II in 3.3% of the profiles. Commencement of luteal activity was related to milk yield, parity, PCL type I, and the summated occurrence of PCL type I and II. The least squares means for the interval to commencement of luteal activity were 24.2 d when PCL type I and II were present and 29.5 d when PCL type I and II were absent. The likelihood of pregnancy to first service was not affected in cows with a history of PCL when artificial insemination was carried out at progesterone concentrations <3 ng/mL (i.e., during estrus); however, cows that had experienced PCL were more likely to be inseminated during a luteal phase. The occurrence of delayed ovulation and PCL in Norwegian Red cows was less than that reported in most other dairy populations.

The impact of LHC jet data on the MMHT PDF fit at NNLO.

We investigate the impact of the high precision ATLAS and CMS 7 TeV measurements of inclusive jet production on the MMHT global PDF analysis at next-to-next-to-leading order (NNLO). This is made possible by the recent completion of the long-term project to calculate the NNLO corrections to the hard cross section. We find that a good description of the ATLAS data is not possible with the default treatment of experimental systematic errors, and propose a simplified solution that retains the dominant physical information of the data. We then investigate the fit quality and the impact on the gluon PDF central value and uncertainty when the ATLAS and CMS data are included in a MMHT fit. We consider both common choices for the factorization and renormalization scale, namely the inclusive jet transverse momentum, p ⊥ , and the leading jet p ⊥ , as well as the different jet radii for which the ATLAS and CMS data are made available. We find that the impact of these data on the gluon is relatively insensitive to these inputs, in particular the scale choice, while the inclusion of NNLO corrections tends to improve the data description somewhat and has a qualitatively similar though not identical impact on the gluon in comparison to NLO.

Automated activity monitoring and visual observation of estrus in a herd of loose housed Hereford cattle: Diagnostic accuracy and time to ovulation.

A prospective cohort study was performed in the purebred Hereford herd at Götala Beef and Lamb Research Centre, Sweden. The study's first objective was to assess the ability of an automatic activity monitoring system (AAMS) to detect estrus in beef suckler cows, and its second objective was to estimate the time from estrus to ovulation. The study sample (n = 38) consisted of 14 Hereford heifers and 24 Hereford cows. Standardized visual observation of estrus was performed for 20 minutes thrice daily, and animal activity was recorded with an AAMS system, Heatime (SCR Engineers Ltd., Israel). Cows in estrus underwent transrectal ultrasonography every 8 hours, to estimate the time of ovulation. Blood samples for progesterone analysis were collected thrice weekly throughout the study period. A cutoff value of 1-ng progesterone/mL of serum was used to define luteal activity. The AAMS had a 90% (95% confidence interval [CI] 77%-97%) sensitivity and 100% specificity (95% CI 94%-100%), and visual detection of estrus had a 77% sensitivity (95% CI 62%-88%) and a 89% specificity (95% CI 79%-95%) for identifying estrus when compared to the gold standard defined by temporal pattern of serum progesterone concentration. When both methods were used in parallel, the sensitivity increased to 96% (95% CI 86%-99%), and the specificity increased to 90% (95% CI 80%-96%). The time of ovulation after estrus was determined on 50 occasions. The median estrus (AAMS detected) to ovulation interval was 25 hours for heifers and 23 hours for cows (interquartile range 11-29 hours and 19-25 hours, respectively). The median estrus (visually detected) to ovulation interval was 28 hours for heifers and 21 hours for cows (interquartile range 13-29 hours for both categories). In conclusion, the AAMS had both a higher sensitivity and specificity for estrus detection than thrice-daily visual observation. The time from detection of estrus to ovulation observed in this study indicates that reproductive performance might be improved if Hereford cattle are inseminated sooner after detection of estrus than is currently recommended.

Ring-opened aminothienopyridazines as novel tau aggregation inhibitors.

Aminothienopyridazines (ATPZs) have demonstrated efficacy, in vitro, as tau protein aggregation inhibitors. Modifications were made to the ATPZ scaffold to determine the importance of certain structural features for activity. More specifically, ring-opened analogues detached at the nitrogen-nitrogen bond of the pyridazine, were synthesized and their inhibitory activity evaluated. Preliminary data suggests that the ring-opened structures retain inhibitory activity, independent of tau oxidation. The structures detailed represent the beginnings of a deconstruction-reconstruction-elaboration study, with the aim of identifying simpler scaffolds, which retain activity and can be optimized in terms of physiochemical properties.

Charm and beauty quark masses in the MMHT2014 global PDF analysis.

We investigate the variation in the MMHT2014 PDFs when we allow the heavy-quark masses [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] to vary away from their default values. We make PDF sets available in steps of [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text], and present the variation in the PDFs and in the predictions. We examine the comparison to the HERA data on charm and beauty structure functions and note that in each case the heavy-quark data, and the inclusive data, have a slight preference for lower masses than our default values. We provide PDF sets with three and four active quark flavours, as well as the standard value of five flavours. We use the pole mass definition of the quark masses, as in the default MMHT2014 analysis, but briefly comment on the [Formula: see text] definition.

The impact of the final HERA combined data on PDFs obtained from a global fit.

We investigate the effect of including the HERA run I + II combined cross section data on the MMHT2014 PDFs. We present the fit quality within the context of the global fit and when only the HERA data are included. We examine the changes in both the central values and the uncertainties in the PDFs. We find that the prediction for the data is good, and only relatively small improvements in [Formula: see text] and changes in the PDFs are obtained with a refit at both NLO and NNLO. PDF uncertainties are slightly reduced. There is a small dependence of the fit quality on the value of [Formula: see text]. This can be improved by phenomenologically motived corrections to [Formula: see text] which parametrically are largely in the form of higher-twist type contributions.

Uncertainties on [Formula: see text] in the MMHT2014 global PDF analysis and implications for SM predictions.

We investigate the uncertainty in the strong coupling [Formula: see text] when allowing it to be a free parameter in the recent MMHT global analyses of deep-inelastic and related hard scattering data that was undertaken to determine the parton distribution functions (PDFs) of the proton. The analysis uses the standard framework of leading twist fixed-order collinear factorisation in the [Formula: see text] scheme. We study the constraints on [Formula: see text] coming from individual data sets by repeating the NNLO and NLO fits spanning the range 0.108 to 0.128 in units of 0.001, making all PDFs sets available. The inclusion of the cross section for inclusive [Formula: see text] production allows us to explore the correlation between the mass [Formula: see text] of the top quark and [Formula: see text]. We find that the best-fit values are [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] at NLO and NNLO, respectively, with the central values changing to [Formula: see text] and 0.1178 when the world average of [Formula: see text] is used as a data point. We investigate the interplay between the uncertainties on [Formula: see text] and on the PDFs. In particular we calculate the cross sections for key processes at the LHC and show how the uncertainties from the PDFs and from [Formula: see text] can be provided independently and be combined.

Parton distributions in the LHC era: MMHT 2014 PDFs.

We present LO, NLO and NNLO sets of parton distribution functions (PDFs) of the proton determined from global analyses of the available hard scattering data. These MMHT2014 PDFs supersede the 'MSTW2008' parton sets, but they are obtained within the same basic framework. We include a variety of new data sets, from the LHC, updated Tevatron data and the HERA combined H1 and ZEUS data on the total and charm structure functions. We also improve the theoretical framework of the previous analysis. These new PDFs are compared to the 'MSTW2008' parton sets. In most cases the PDFs, and the predictions, are within one standard deviation of those of MSTW2008. The major changes are the [Formula: see text] valence quark difference at small [Formula: see text] due to an improved parameterisation and, to a lesser extent, the strange quark PDF due to the effect of certain LHC data and a better treatment of the [Formula: see text] branching ratio. We compare our MMHT PDF sets with those of other collaborations; in particular with the NNPDF3.0 sets, which are contemporary with the present analysis.

Calcium accretion in girls and boys during puberty: a longitudinal analysis.

The primary purpose of this study was to estimate the magnitude and variability of peak calcium accretion rates in the skeletons of healthy white adolescents. Total-body bone mineral content (BMC) was measured annually on six occasions by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA; Hologic 2000, array mode), a BMC velocity curve was generated for each child by a cubic spline fit, and peak accretion rates were determined. Anthropometric measures were collected every 6 months and a 24-h dietary recall was recorded two to three times per year. Of the 113 boys and 115 girls initially enrolled in the study, 60 boys and 53 girls who had peak height velocity (PHV) and peak BMC velocity values were used in this longitudinal analysis. When the individual BMC velocity curves were aligned on the age of peak bone mineral velocity, the resulting mean peak bone mineral accrual rate was 407 g/year for boys (SD, 92 g/year; range, 226-651 g/year) and 322 g/year for girls (SD, 66 g/year; range, 194-520 g/year). Using 32.2% as the fraction of calcium in bone mineral, as determined by neutron activation analysis (Ellis et al., J Bone Miner Res 1996;11:843-848), these corresponded to peak calcium accretion rates of 359 mg/day for boys (81 mg/day; 199-574 mg/day) and 284 mg/day for girls (58 mg/day; 171-459 mg/day). These longitudinal results are 27-34% higher than our previous cross-sectional analysis in which we reported mean values of 282 mg/day for boys and 212 mg/day for girls (Martin et al., Am J Clin Nutr 1997;66:611-615). Mean age of peak calcium accretion was 14.0 years for the boys (1.0 years; 12.0-15.9 years), and 12.5 years for the girls (0.9 years; 10.5-14.6 years). Dietary calcium intake, determined as the mean of all assessments up to the age of peak accretion was 1140 mg/day (SD, 392 mg/day) for boys and 1113 mg/day (SD, 378 mg/day) for girls. We estimate that 26% of adult calcium is laid down during the 2 adolescent years of peak skeletal growth. This period of rapid growth requires high accretion rates of calcium, achieved in part by increased retention efficiency of dietary calcium.

Bone mineral and calcium accretion during puberty.

We measured bone mineral content (BMC) and estimated calcium accretion in children to provide insight into dietary calcium requirements during growth. Anthropometric measurements were done semiannually and whole-body BMC was measured annually by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry for 4 y in 228 children (471 scans in 113 boys and 507 scans in 115 girls). Mean values for BMC, skeletal area, and height were calculated for 1-y age groups from 9.5 to 19.5 y of age. Cross-sectional analysis of the pooled data gave peak height velocity and peak BMC velocity (PBMCV) and the ages at which these occurred (13.3 y in boys and 11.4 y in girls). PBMCV did not peak until 1.2 y after peak height velocity in boys and 1.6 y after peak height velocity in girls. Within 3 y on either side of PBMCV, boys had consistently higher BMC and BMC velocity compared with girls and the discrepancy increased steadily through puberty. Three years before PBMCV, BMC values in girls were 69% of those in boys; 3 y after peak height velocity this proportion fell to 51%. PBMCV was 320 g/y in boys and 240 g/y in girls. Under the assumption that bone mineral is 32.2% calcium, these values corresponded to a daily calcium retention of 282 mg in boys and 212 mg in girls. Individual values could be much greater. In one boy in a group of six subjects for whom there were enough data for individual analysis through puberty, PBMCV was 555 g Ca/y or 490 mg Ca/d. Such high skeletal demands for calcium require large dietary calcium intakes and such requirements may not be met immediately in some children.

The effect of alkylating agents and other drugs on the accumulation of melphalan by murine L1210 leukaemia cells in vitro.

The effect of cytotoxic and other drugs on the accumulation of melphalan by L1210 murine leukaemia cells was studied. We have confirmed that uptake is an active process competitively inhibited by L-leucine. In 36 experiments in amino acid-free medium the mean concentration of melphalan taken up was 225 pmoles/10(6) cells. High pressure liquid chromatographic analysis showed that the majority of the drug is present as free native melphalan. 1,3-Bis(2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea (BCNU) was the only drug that stimulated accumulation, but without significant effect on influx or efflux rates. Busulphan, chlorambucil, cyclophosphamide, interferon, methotrexate and prednisolone had no effect on accumulation after 30 min melphalan transport. Adriamycin, CCNU, methyl CCNU, mustine and vincristine all impaired melphalan accumulation as did the non-cytotoxic drugs aminophylline, chlorpromazine and ouabain. Adriamycin, aminophylline, chloropromazine, indomethacin and ouabain all reduced melphalan influx.

The effect of maximal exercise on temporal summation of second pain (windup) in patients with fibromyalgia syndrome.

Exercise activates endogenous opioid and adrenergic systems, but attenuation of experimental pain by exercise has not been shown consistently. In this study, effects of exercise on temporal summation of late pain responses to stimulation of unmyelinated (C) nociceptors were assessed. When a preheated thermode was applied repetitively to glabrous skin of the hand in a series of brief contacts at rates of 0.2 to 0.5 Hz, the perceived intensity of late thermal sensations increased after successive contacts. This summation of pain sensations provides information regarding the status of central opioid and N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor systems. For normal subjects, temporal summation of late pain sensations was substantially attenuated when testing began 1.5 or 10 minutes after exercise. Individuals diagnosed with fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) report generalized chronic pain that is increased after exercise. Therefore, we hypothesized that strenuous exercise would increase summation of late pain sensations in this cohort. Patients with FMS and control subjects exerted to similarly high metabolic rates, as shown by physiologic monitoring. Ratings of late pain sensations increased for patients with FMS after exercise, an effect opposite to a decrease in ratings for age/sex-matched control subjects. In contrast to this result for experimentally induced pain, clinical pain ratings were not substantially altered after strenuous exercise by patients with FMS.

Effects of group- versus home-based exercise in the treatment of obesity.

This study examined the effects of 2 aerobic exercise regimens on exercise participation, fitness, eating patterns, treatment adherence, and weight change in 49 obese women undergoing a year-long behavioral weight loss program. Participants were assigned randomly to weight loss treatment plus either group- or home-based exercise. All participants were instructed to complete a moderate-intensity walking program (30 min/day, 5 days/week). Group exercise participants were provided with 3 supervised group exercise sessions per week for the first 26 weeks and with 2 sessions per week thereafter. Home exercise participants were instructed to complete all exercise in their home environment. After 6 months, both conditions displayed significant improvements in exercise participation, fitness, eating patterns, and weight loss. At 12 months, the home-based program showed superior performance to the group condition in exercise participation and treatment adherence; at 15 months, participants in the home program demonstrated significantly greater weight losses than those in the group program.

Factors associated with exercise adherence among older adults. An individual perspective.

This paper reviews the literature concerning factors at the individual level associated with regular exercise among older adults. Twenty-seven cross-sectional and 14 prospective/longitudinal studies met the inclusion criteria of a mean participant age of 65 years or older. The findings are summarised by demographics, exercise experience, exercise knowledge, physiological factors, psychological factors, activity preferences and perceived social influences. In general, education and exercise history correlate positively with regular exercise, while perceived physical frailty and poor health may provide the greatest barrier to exercise adoption and adherence in the elderly. Social-cognitive theories identify several constructs that correlate with the regular exercise behaviour of older adults, such as exercise attitude, perceived behavioural control/self-efficacy, perceived social support and perceived benefits/barriers to continued activity. As well, stage modelling may provide additional information about the readiness for regular exercise behaviour among older adults. However, relatively few studies among older adults exist compared with middle-aged and younger adults. Further, the majority of current research consists of cross-sectional designs or short prospective exercise trials among motivated volunteers that may lack external validity. Future research utilising longitudinal and prospective designs with representative samples of older adults will provide a better understanding of significant causal associations between individual factors and regular exercise behaviour.

Inspiratory strengthening effect on resistive load detection and magnitude estimation.

PURPOSE: This study investigated effects of inspiratory muscle training (IMT) on maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP), magnitude estimation (ME), and load detection (LD) of external resistive loads (deltaR) in healthy subjects. METHODS: Ten adult volunteers IMT trained 5 d x wk(-1) for 4 wk. A training set consisted of six inspiratory efforts at 75% of MIP; daily training trials consisted of four sets. ME was calculated by linear regression, with actual and estimated deltaR loads plotted on log-log scale. LD was calculated by determining deltaR50/Ro fraction. Dependent measures were taken pre- and post-IMT. RESULTS: MIP significantly increased from 87 to 139 cmH2O pre- to post-IMT, respectively. ME for individual loads significantly decreased post-IMT for all but the highest deltaR. There was no significant difference in LD deltaR50/Ro, post-IMT. CONCLUSIONS: The results demonstrate that inspiratory muscle strength gains were associated with decreased ME of deltaRs without changing LD deltaR50/Ro. This suggests that the mechanisms mediating the detection of deltaRs may be different than the mechanisms for estimating deltaR size.