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Background: Deficits of executive function (EF) have been proposed as all or part of the underlying mechanisms of language impairment in at least some types of aphasia. Executive functions also play a role in the recovery process. There is evidence that bilingual persons have some executive functioning advantages compared to monolingual persons. In this paper we combine two lines of recent investigation in order to explore the relationship between executive function and conversational strategies in bilingual aphasia. Aims: The aim of this preliminary research was to compare the executive functioning profiles of bilingual individuals to those of monolingual participants with aphasia. A further aim was to examine evidence in the conversational samples of the participants in relation to the application of a range of executive skills and to link cognitive and conversational profiles using Barkley's (1997) model of executive functions. Methods & Procedures: The performance of two bilingual individuals with aphasia on a test battery of executive function tests was compared with that of eight monolingual persons (seven with aphasia and one with right hemisphere damage). The test battery included measures of behavioural inhibition, working memory, problem solving, and reconstitution. The presence or absence of executive features in the conversational samples of the participants was judged by four raters using conversational analysis methods. Outcomes & Results: Significant differences were found between the scores of the bilingual participants and those of the monolingual participants on measures of behavioural inhibition, working memory, planning and problem solving, and reconstitution. The bilingual participants' scores were mostly within normal limits and suggested well-retained executive functions. Conversation analysis showed evidence of differential application of these executive functions to conversational management. Regardless of severity or type of aphasia, the bilingual participants showed evidence of good topic management, repair, and flexibility compared to the monolingual participants. Conclusions: The results are interpreted in relation to current issues in bilingualism. Our preliminary findings shed light on differential approaches to assessment, therapy, and choice of language for bilingual aphasia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Discusses the work of the former Hungarian Prime Minister, Count Istvan Bethlen, who believed that only a rearrangement in European relations could assist in realizing the revisionist aspirations of Hungary. How Count Bethlen set out to restore the integrity of `historical' Hungary; Reviews the pamphlet, `Treaty Revision and the Hungarian Frontiers,' by R.W. Seton-Watson; More.

Background -- Rainbow lorikeets are nectarivorous birds whose natural diet is low in protein and relatively high in free amino acids. Protein metabolisability (PM) of egg white (EW) protein is lower in rainbow lorikeets (6.9%) than whole egg protein in white leghorn roosters (13.9%). Objective -- (1) To determine whether PM of other sources of protein fed to lorikeets is higher than that of EW. (2) To compare the general proteolytic activity (GPA) (pepsin) of the proventriculus of the rainbow lorikeet and a granivorous bird, the domestic chicken, Gallus gallus domesticus L. Design -- (1) Five lorikeets were fed one of three diets, an EW diet, an EW and casein hydrolysate (CH) diet and a commercial "lorikeet and honeyeater" (L/H) feed (Wombaroo Food Products, Glen Osmond, SA). Lorikeets were kept in metabolism cages for 3d for feed intake measurements and excreta collection. Samples were freeze dried and analysed for nitrogen. (2) The GPA of the proventriculus of three lorikeets and three chickens was measured using haemoglobin as a substrate. Outcomes -- (1) The PM (mean ± SD, n = 5) was 4.3 ± 2.6% for the EW diet, 5.6 ± 2.5% for the EW/CH diet and 7.3 ± 3.2% for the L/H feed. The PM for the EW diet was not significantly different from the EW/CH diet and L/H feed (P>0.05). (2) The GPA of the proventriculus of lorikeets at pH 1.0 was significantly lower (P<0.01) than that of the chicken at each incubation period. Conclusions -- (1) The results of the feeding experiments with lorikeets confirm that PM of artificial protein sources is low. (2) The GPA of the proventriculus of lorikeets is lower than that of the chicken. This may contribute to the low PM by lorikeets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background - In Australia, about 40% of pet dogs are overweight (1). High fat diets and obesity affect heart function of dogs (2). In people, exercise has been shown to improve heart function. There is no information on body condition and level of exercise on heart rate in pet dogs. Objective - To determine the effects of body condition and level of exercise on heart rate (HR) of pet dogs carrying out a three-stage exercise test. Design - Owners of dogs in the Melbourne metropolitan area volunteered their pets for the study. The exercise test, carried out over a 21 m circuit of four ramps, consisted of three periods of 2 min exercise followed by 2 min rest. Circuit speeds varied with size: dogs less than 47 cm in height ran at 3, 4 and 5 km/h, those above 47 cm ran at 4, 6 and 8 km/h. A Polar heart rate monitor (Kempele, Finland) was used to record HR at rest, during exercise and during recovery. Body condition was assessed using the Purina body condition system (3). Outcomes - Resting HR of smaller dogs (n=16) was significantly (P<0.05) greater, 135.4 ± 25.7 beats/min (bpm), that of larger dogs, 103.3 ± 20.3 bpm (n=32). Although overweight large dogs (n=20) had a significantly (P<0.05) greater HR (111.8 ± 20.3 bpm) than lean dogs (96.4 ± 18.2, n=28), recovery HR (average HR during recovery as a percentage of HR during exercise) of overweight dogs exercised every day was faster that of lean dogs with limited exercise. Conclusions -- Heart function of pet dogs can be affected by body condition and exercise. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background - In Australia, about 40% of pet dogs are overweight. High fat diets and obesity affect heart function of dogs. In people, exercise has been shown to improve heart function. There is no information on body condition and level of exercise on heart rate in pet dogs. Objective - To determine the effects of body condition and level of exercise on heart rate (HR) of pet dogs carrying out a three-stage exercise test. Design - Owners of dogs in the Melbourne metropolitan area volunteered their pets for the study. The exercise test, carried out over a 21 m circuit of four ramps, consisted of three periods of 2 min exercise followed by 2 min rest. Circuit speeds varied with size: dogs less than 47 cm in height ran at 3, 4 and 5 km/h, those above 47 cm ran at 4, 6 and 8 km/h. A Polar heart rate monitor (Kempele, Finland) was used to record HR at rest, during exercise and during recovery. Body condition was assessed using the Purina body condition system. Outcomes - Resting HR of smaller dogs (n=16) was significantly (P<0.05) greater, 135.4 ± 25.7 beats/min (bpm), that of larger dogs, 103.3 ± 20.3 bpm (n=32). Although overweight large dogs (n=20) had a significantly (P<0.05) greater HR (111.8 ± 20.3 bpm) than lean dogs (96.4 ± 18.2, n=28), recovery HR (average HR during recovery as a percentage of HR during exercise) of overweight dogs exercised every day was faster that of lean dogs with limited exercise. Conclusions - Heart function of pet dogs can be affected by body condition and exercise. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two experiments were conducted to study effects of dietary insoluble fiber (IF) on digestive enzyme function in layer poultry. In Experiment 1, 8 wk old pullets were fed a control diet (Group C) or a diet (Group IF) supplemented with 1% IF (Arbocel RC). After 5 wk, 6 pullets per group were killed and organ samples collected. The remaining pullets in Group C were divided into two groups: half were fed the control diet (Group C) and half were given the IF diet (Group C-IF). Similarly, half the pullets in Group IF continued on the IF diet (Group IF) and half on the control diet (Group IF-C). At 10 wk, organ samples were collected. BW at wk 5 (IF, 1364.8g; C, 1342.9g) and 10 wk (IF, 1678.1g; IF-C, 1630.5g; C-IF, 1617.1g; C, 1580.4g) were not different. At wk 5, the relative proventricular weight (0.41 g/100g BW) and activities of pepsin (75.3 pepsin units/g proventriculus/min) and pancreatic general proteolytic activity (GP) (122.9 μmol tyrosine produced/g tissue) were greater (P < 0.05) than those of Group C (proventricular relative weight, 0.36; pepsin activity, 70.6; GP activity, 94.3). At wk 10, relative weights of liver and gizzard of Group IF were heavier (P < 0.05) than other treatments; activities of pepsin, GP, trypsin and chymotrypsin of IF pullets were significantly greater than other treatments as was mRNA expression for pepsinogens A (25.9 vs. 22.9) and C (13.1 vs. 10.8). In Experiment 2, 19 wk old hens were fed a control diet or a diet containing 0.8% IF (Arbocel RC) for 12 wk. Final BW after 12 wk was not different (IF, 1919.4 g; C, 1902.1 g). Pancreatic GP activity was greater (P < 0.05) in Group IF hens than Group C at wk 12 (122.2 vs. 97.0 μmol tyrosine released/min/g tissue)) as was relative gizzard weight (1.32 vs 1.10 g/100 g BW). The significantly improved digestive organ weights and enzyme activities in IF pullets may contribute to an improvement in feed utilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

B Background: b The 8th edition AJCC staging system for pancreatic cancer incorporated several significant changes. B Results: b The concordance index for AJCC 8th staging system (0.60,CI95% 0.59-0.61) was comparable to that for the 7th AJCC staging system (0.59,CI95% 0.58-0.60). [Extracted from the article]

B Background: b The 8th edition AJCC staging system for pancreatic cancer incorporated several significant changes. B Results: b The concordance index for AJCC 8th staging system (0.60,CI95% 0.59-0.61) was comparable to that for the 7th AJCC staging system (0.59,CI95% 0.58-0.60). [Extracted from the article]

The article cites the practicalities of measuring and interpreting field metabolic rate in dogs. Separation of energy expenditure of a dog for work from its daily energy expenditure when not working is considered necessary for the measurements of field metabolic rate using the doubly-labeled water technique to be correctly interpreted and used to determine energy requirements of working dogs. Total energy expenditure can be separated into components for maintenance, standing and other activities. Time- or energy-budget analysis is also said to be necessary to estimate average daily energy expenditure.