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The language used by healthcare professionals can have a profound impact on how people living with diabetes, and those who care for them, experience their condition and feel about living with it day‐to‐day. At its best, good use of language, both verbal and written, can lower anxiety, build confidence, educate and help to improve self‐care. Conversely, poor communication can be stigmatizing, hurtful and undermining of self‐care and can have a detrimental effect on clinical outcomes. The language used in the care of those with diabetes has the power to reinforce negative stereotypes, but it also has the power to promote positive ones. The use of language is controversial and has many perspectives. The development of this position statement aimed to take account of these as well as the current evidence base. A working group, representing people with diabetes and key organizations with an interest in the care of people with diabetes, was established to review the use of language. The work of this group has culminated in this position statement for England. It follows the contribution of Australia and the USA to this important international debate. The group has set out practical examples of language that will encourage positive interactions with those living with diabetes and subsequently promote positive outcomes. These examples are based on a review of the evidence and are supported by a simple set of principles. What's new?: The use of language by healthcare professionals can have a profound impact on people living with diabetes.Our working group, which represents people with diabetes and key stakeholders, has developed a set of principles to guide healthcare professionals, with the goal of improving interactions with those living with diabetes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Anti‐Mullerian hormone (AMH) is currently used in several species as an indicator of the number of antral and pre‐antral follicles within the ovaries. Currently, there is some uncertainty on the precision of a single AMH test for detecting the presence of ovarian tissue in prepubertal, pubertal and spayed bitches. The purpose of this study was to investigate the specificity of AMH levels determined using the Gen II AMH ELISA to detect the presence or absence of ovarian tissue in bitches of varying ages. Methods: From a large cohort of dogs located at an animal shelter, 36 bitches were assigned to three age groups (< 6 months; 6–18 months and > 2 years of age) plus a group of six spayed bitches. Results: AMH was below the detectable limit for each spayed bitch (< 0.010 ng/mL) and for 9/10 intact bitches aged less than 6 months. AMH levels were therefore significantly different for these two groups compared with older intact bitches (6–18 months, 0.302 ± 0.135 ng/mL; > 2 years, 0.237 ± 0.210 ng/mL). AMH was undetectable in two intact bitches aged > 2 years of age, which gave a sensitivity of 82% in that group. Overall, the sensitivity of the test was 90% for all bitches aged over 6 months, which highlights that a small percentage of intact females will be incorrectly diagnosed as having no ovarian tissue. Conclusion: AMH testing had very low sensitivity in bitches aged less than 6 months and thus it is advisable to delay testing in very young bitches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The present study describes the development of evidence-based practice guidelines for the nutritional management of adult patients with head and neck cancer using a wiki platform to enable wide international stakeholder consultation and maintain currency. Methods A dietitian steering committee and a multidisciplinary steering committee were established for consultation. Traditional methods of evidence-based guideline development were utilised to perform the literature review, assess the evidence and produce a draft document. This was transferred to a wiki platform for stakeholder consultation and international endorsement processes in Australia, New Zealand and the UK. Data were collected on website traffic utilising Google Analytics. Results In addition to broad stakeholder consultation through the steering committees, an additional twenty comments were received via the wiki by twelve individuals covering six different professions from three different countries, compared to four comments by e-mail. The guidelines were subsequently endorsed by the dietetic associations of Australia, New Zealand and the UK. During a 4-month period monitoring the use of the guidelines, there were 2303 page views to the landing page from 33 countries. The average number of pages accessed per visit was five and the duration of time spent on the website was approximately 6 min. Conclusions Using a wiki platform for guideline development and dissemination is a successful method for producing high-quality resources that can undergo wide international stakeholder review and include open public consultation. This can replace conventional methods whereby guidelines can quickly become outdated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Journal of Applied Ecology (2004) 41, 213 –223 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sixteen cows in mid-lactation (milk yield of 23.8 ± 2.3 kg/d) were individually fed diets consisting of chopped perennial ryegrass hay, offered at 3 kg of dry matter (DM)/100 kg of body weight (BW), fed either alone or supplemented with amounts of crushed wheat ranging from 0.4 to 1.6 kg of DM/100 kg of BW (increasing at nominal intervals of 0.4 kg of DM/100 kg of BW; 5 nominal treatments in total). Three cows were allocated to each treatment except the mid-range wheat treatment, which had 4 cows. Results were analyzed by regression because the intake of the wheat by cows within treatments varied. The hay was used to reflect the characteristics of summer pastures in southeastern Australia. Feed intake and fecal output were measured to determine digestion coefficients, feeds were incubated in nylon bags in the rumen, and rumen variables were monitored. Estimates of metabolizable energy (ME) of the hay from in vivo or in vitro digestibility were also compared. The digestibility of neutral detergent fiber (NDF) was depressed linearly as the amount of crushed wheat consumed increased to 36% of DM intake. The extent to which negative associative effects on NDF digestion were associated with the hay could not be determined, as it was not possible to distinguish between the NDF from hay and that from wheat. However, acid detergent fiber (ADF) digestion also declined, suggesting that most of the response lay with the hay because ADF was negligible in the wheat. Most data indicated that effects of proportion of wheat in the diet on the utilization of consumed nutrients were small. Despite substitution of wheat for hay reducing the forage intake of cows, there was a positive linear effect on marginal milk responses (1.3 kg of energy-corrected milk/kg of DM wheat). Mean rumen fluid pH declined as the proportion of wheat in the diet increased. The lowest pH for any individual cow during a 24-h period was 5.4, and the amount of time that rumen fluid pH was <6.0 ranged from 0 to 14 h depending on the amount of wheat consumed. It was concluded that these perturbations of the rumen environment were probably sufficient to result in negative associative effects. In addition, estimates of the ME content of the hay were higher when calculated from in vitro compared with in vivo digestibility, which has implications when estimating the amount of feed required for production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Physical inactivity is a leading risk factor to disease and mortality. Despite the recognised benefits of physical activity, over half of the Australian population are not sufficiently active. For individuals with a disability, inactivity rates are further increased placing them at a higher risk of the negative effects of physical inactivity. Developing healthy lifestyle habits such as physical activity participation in early childhood has been found to be supportive of health behaviours being maintained into adulthood. Physical activity is an occupation said to involve the complex interaction between psychological, social, environmental, and physical factors placing it within the scope of occupation therapy. However, limited research is available exploring what this role looks like in practice., Method: An online, anonymous survey was developed to better understand how Australian occupational therapists understood physical activity participation, as well as their current and potential role in facilitating regular physical activity participation with their clients. All registered Australian occupational therapists were eligible to participate in this survey, which consisted of both closed and open answered questions., Results: A total of 43 occupational therapists registered to practice within Australia completed the survey. All participants viewed physical activity as an important occupation for maintaining the health and well-being of their clients. Participants described the holistic role occupational therapists could play supporting physical activity participation outside of motor skill development. Therapists identified several ways in which a family-centred, occupation-based approach could be used to support sustained engagement in physical activity., Conclusion: The findings from this study contribute to our understanding of the role occupational therapy can play supporting physical activity participation for children and adolescents. This sparsely researched area requires more evaluation to ensure intervention is delivered in a way that is most effective., (© 2022 Occupational Therapy Australia.)

Aims: This study explored clinicians' perspectives on roles, practices and service delivery in the dietary management of coronary heart disease and type 2 diabetes in a public health service., Methods: Semi-structured individual interviews were conducted with 57 clinicians (21 nurses, 19 doctors, 13 dietitians and 4 physiotherapists) involved in the care of relevant patients across hospital and post-acute community settings in a metropolitan health service in Australia. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed using inductive thematic analysis., Results: A total of 3 themes with 10 subthemes were identified. (a) 'Treatment prioritisation': important role of nutrition in risk factor management; competing priorities with complex patients; weight loss as a priority; and dietitians individualise. (b) 'Diverse roles in providing diet advice': a tension between nutrients, restrictions and diet quality; patients seek and trust advice from non-dietitians; and providing nutrition information materials crosses professions. (c) 'Dietitian access': variable integration and resourcing; access governed by clinician discretion and perceived patient interest; and bespoke application of referral pathways., Conclusions: Time and resource constraints, variable access and referral to dietitians, and inconsistent advice were key challenges in the dietary management of coronary heart disease and type 2 diabetes. Models of care may be improved with greater investment and integration of dietitians, including to provide professional support across disciplines and disease specialties., (© 2022 The Authors. Nutrition & Dietetics published by John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd on behalf of Dietitians Australia.)

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), and mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) have demonstrated effectiveness for improving outcomes in chronic pain. These evidence-based psychotherapies (EBPs) remain underutilized in clinical practice, however. To identify research gaps and next steps for improving uptake of EBPs, we conducted a systematic review of patient-, provider-, and system-level barriers and facilitators of their use for chronic pain. We searched MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, and CINAHL databases from inception through September 2022. Prespecified eligibility criteria included outpatient treatment of adults with chronic pain; examination of barriers and facilitators and/or evaluation of implementation strategies; conducted in the United States (US), United Kingdom (UK), Ireland, Canada or Australia; and publication in English. Two reviewers independently assessed eligibility and rated quality. We conducted a qualitative synthesis of results using a best-fit framework approach building upon domains of the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR). We identified 34 eligible studies (33 moderate or high quality), most (n = 28) of which addressed patient-level factors. Shared barriers across EBPs included variable patient buy-in to therapy rationale and competing responsibilities for patients; shared facilitators included positive group or patient-therapist dynamics. Most studies examining ACT and all examining MBSR assessed only group formats. No studies compared barriers, facilitators, or implementation strategies of group CBT to individual CBT, or of telehealth to in-person EBPs. Conceptual mismatches of patient knowledge and beliefs with therapy principles were largely analyzed qualitatively, and studies did not explore how these mismatches were addressed to support engagement. Future research on EBPs for chronic pain in real-world practice settings is needed to explore provider and system-level barriers and facilitators, heterogeneity of effects and uptake, and both effects and uptake of EBPs delivered in various formats, including group vs individual therapy and telehealth or asynchronous digital approaches. PERSPECTIVE: This systematic review synthesizes evidence on barriers and facilitators to uptake of cognitive behavioral therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, and mindfulness-based stress reduction for chronic pain. Findings can guide future implementation work to increase availability and use of evidence-based psychotherapies for treatment of chronic pain. REGISTRATION: PROSPERO number CRD42021252038., (Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Purpose: Tubo-ovarian cancer (TOC) is a sentinel cancer for BRCA1 and BRCA2 pathogenic variants (PVs). Identification of a PV in the first member of a family at increased genetic risk (the proband) provides opportunities for cancer prevention in other at-risk family members. Although Australian testing rates are now high, PVs in patients with TOC whose diagnosis predated revised testing guidelines might have been missed. We assessed the feasibility of detecting PVs in this population to enable genetic risk reduction in relatives., Patients and Methods: In this pilot study, deceased probands were ascertained from research cohort studies, identification by a relative, and gynecologic oncology clinics. DNA was extracted from archival tissue or stored blood for panel sequencing of 10 risk-associated genes. Testing of deceased probands ascertained through clinic records was performed with a consent waiver., Results: We identified 85 PVs in 84 of 787 (11%) probands. Familial contacts of 39 of 60 (65%) deceased probands with an identified recipient (60 of 84; 71%) have received a written notification of results, with follow-up verbal contact made in 85% (33 of 39). A minority of families (n = 4) were already aware of the PV. For many (29 of 33; 88%), the genetic result provided new information and referral to a genetic service was accepted in most cases (66%; 19 of 29). Those who declined referral (4 of 29) were all male next of kin whose family member had died more than 10 years before., Conclusion: We overcame ethical and logistic challenges to demonstrate that retrospective genetic testing to identify PVs in previously untested deceased probands with TOC is feasible. Understanding reasons for a family member's decision to accept or decline a referral will be important for guiding future TRACEBACK projects., Competing Interests: Belinda CreightonEmployment: Cancer Specialists 1/84 Bridge Rd, Richmond VIC 3121 AustraliaConsulting or Advisory Role: Bristol Myers Squibb, Eisai Dinuka AriyaratneResearch Funding: AstraZeneca Elizabeth ChristieHonoraria: AstraZeneca Sian FeredayConsulting or Advisory Role: Geneseq Biosciences Pty LtdResearch Funding: AstraZeneca (Inst), AstraZeneca (Inst) Nadia TraficanteResearch Funding: AstraZeneca (Inst) Bryony ThompsonConsulting or Advisory Role: Genetic Technologies Kenneth DoigStock and Other Ownership Interests: CSL Limited Christopher LoveEmployment: Geneseq Biosciences Yeh Chen LeeConsulting or Advisory Role: GlaxoSmithKlineResearch Funding: AstraZeneca (Inst)Travel, Accommodations, Expenses: AstraZeneca Rachel WilliamsHonoraria: AstraZeneca Andrew N. StephensConsulting or Advisory Role: Invion Pty Ltd (Inst)Research Funding: Invion Pty Ltd (Inst) Adeline TanEmployment: Sonic HealthcareStock and Other Ownership Interests: Sonic Healthcare Stephen B. FoxConsulting or Advisory Role: Novartis (Inst), BMS (Inst), AstraZeneca (Inst), MSD (Inst), Pfizer (Inst), Roche (Inst)Research Funding: AstraZeneca (Inst), Amgen (Inst), Roche (Inst), BMS (Inst)Expert Testimony: AstraZeneca (Inst), MSD (Inst)Travel, Accommodations, Expenses: Ventana Medical Systems, AstraZeneca, MSD Mary-Anne YoungUncompensated Relationships: Illumina (Inst) Jane HillOther Relationship: Medicines Australia Paul A. CohenEmployment: St John of God HealthcareStock and Other Ownership Interests: Clinic IQHonoraria: AstraZenecaConsulting or Advisory Role: Clinic IQResearch Funding: ANZGOG, St John of God Foundation Penelope M. WebbResearch Funding: AstraZeneca (Inst) Michael FriedlanderHonoraria: AstraZeneca, MSD, Lilly, Takeda, Novartis, GlaxoSmithKlineConsulting or Advisory Role: AstraZeneca, MSD, AbbVie, Lilly, Takeda, Novartis, GlaxoSmithKlineSpeakers' Bureau: AstraZeneca, ACT GenomicsResearch Funding: BeiGene (Inst), AstraZeneca (Inst), Novartis (Inst)Travel, Accommodations, Expenses: AstraZeneca David BowtellHonoraria: AstraZenecaConsulting or Advisory Role: Exo TherapeuticsResearch Funding: Roche/Genentech, AstraZeneca, BeiGenePatents, Royalties, Other Intellectual Property: AstraZeneca Genentech Roche Kathryn AlsopResearch Funding: AstraZeneca (Inst)No other potential conflicts of interest were reported.

Background: Little is known about the nutritional care provided to patients who develop hospital acquired malnutrition (HAM). The present study aimed to describe the quality of nutritional care provided to patients who developed HAM and determine whether this differed by length of stay (LOS)., Methods: A retrospective medical records audit was conducted on adults with LOS > 14 days across five Australian public hospitals from July 2015 to January 2019 who were clinically assessed to have HAM. Descriptors and nutrition-related care data were sourced. Descriptive statistics were conducted. Chi-squared and t-tests were used to compare patient data by LOS ≤ or > 50 days., Results: Eligible patients (n = 208) were 64% male, with median (range) LOS of 51 (15-354) days, body mass index = 26.8 ± 6.2 kg m -2 and mean ± SD age of 65 ± 17 years. Malnutrition screening was first completed a median (range) of 0 (0-31) days after admission, with weekly screening conducted on 29% of patients. Mean (range) time to initial dietitian assessment was 9 (0-87) days and 27 (2-173) days until malnutrition diagnosis. Thirty-seven percent of patients were weighed within 24 h of a dietitian requesting it, and 51% had fluid retention that may have masked further weight loss. Most (91%) patients consumed < 80% of nutrition requirements for > 2 weeks. However, 54% did not receive additional nutrition support (e.g., enteral nutrition), which was not considered by the dietitian in 28% (n = 31/112) of these patients. Only 40% consumed adequate intake prior to discharge. Those with LOS > 50 days (50%, n = 104/208) took 24 days longer to be diagnosed with malnutrition and lost 2.4 kg more body weight during admission (p < 0.010)., Conclusions: Opportunities exist to optimise nutritional care to facilitate the prevention and management of hospital acquired malnutrition in long-stay patients., (© 2021 The British Dietetic Association Ltd.)

Canine parvovirus (CPV) is a major enteric pathogen of dogs worldwide that emerged in the late 1970s from a feline parvovirus (FPV)-like ancestral virus. Shortly after its emergence, variant CPVs acquired amino acid (aa) mutations in key capsid residues, associated with biological and/or antigenic changes. This study aimed to identify and analyse CPV variants and their capsid mutations amongst Australian dogs, to gain insights into the evolution of CPV in Australia and to investigate relationships between the disease and vaccination status of dogs from which viruses were detected. CPV VP2 sequences were amplified from 79 faecal samples collected from dogs with parvoviral enteritis at 20 veterinary practices in five Australian states. The median age at diagnosis was 4 months (range 1-96 months). Only 3.7% of dogs with vaccination histories had completed recommended vaccination schedules, while 49% were incompletely vaccinated and 47.2% were unvaccinated. For the first time, CPV-2b has emerged as the dominant antigenic CPV variant circulating in dogs with parvoviral enteritis in Australia, comprising 54.4% of viruses, while CPV-2a and CPV-2 comprised 43.1% and 2.5%, respectively. The antigenic variant CPV-2c was not identified. Analysis of translated VP2 sequences revealed a vast repertoire of amino acid (aa) mutations. Several Australian CPV strains displayed signatures in the VP2 protein typical of Asian CPVs, suggesting possible introduction of CPV strains from Asia, and/or CPV circulation between Asia and Australia. Canine parvoviruses were identified containing aa residues typical of FPV at key capsid (VP2) positions, representing reverse mutations or residual mutations retained from CPV-2 during adaptation from an FPV-like ancestor, suggesting that evolutionary intermediates between CPV-2 and FPV are circulating in the field. Similarly, intermediates between CPV-2a-like viruses and CPV-2 were also identified. These findings help inform a better understanding of the evolution of CPV in dogs., (© 2020 Blackwell Verlag GmbH.)

Background/objectives: While malnutrition is prevalent in hospitals, little is known about patients who first become malnourished during the hospital stay. This study aimed to determine the incidence and describe the characteristics of patients who developed hospital-acquired malnutrition (HAM) across five Australian public hospitals., Subjects/methods: A retrospective clinical audit of hospital data was conducted. Adult patients (aged ≥ 18 years) with a length of stay (LOS) > 14 days in a Metro South Health hospital between July 2015 and January 2019 were eligible. Demographic and clinical data were sourced from hospital data and medical records. Dietitians reviewed the medical records of patients clinically coded with malnutrition to determine HAM incidence. Univariate and logistic regression analyses were used to determine patient descriptors associated with HAM, compared with those not malnourished or those malnourished on admission., Results: A total of 17,717 patients were eligible (45% F, 63 ± 20 years, LOS 24 (15-606) days). HAM incidence in long-stay patients was 1%, with an overall malnutrition prevalence of 18%. Patients with HAM had an ~26 days longer LOS than patients who were malnourished on admission or not malnourished (p < 0.001). Longer LOS; patient inter-hospital transfer from or to another hospital; or experiencing cognitive impairment, pressure injury or a fall while in hospital were associated with HAM (OR 1.006-3.6, p < 0.05)., Conclusions: Incidence of HAM, defined as malnutrition first diagnosed >14 days after admission, was in the low end of the published range. HAM was significantly associated with long LOS, transferring between hospitals and developing a cognitive impairment, pressure injury or fall during admission.

A World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) Veterinary Education Twinning Project was established between the veterinary schools at Nong Lam University (NLU) in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, and the University of Queensland, Gatton, Australia, as part of the scheme established to promote high-quality veterinary services through improved veterinary education. Included in the partnership's primary aims were building the capacity of veterinary teaching staff with respect to general teaching practice and also in response to identified deficiency areas, and to develop outcome assessment processes. One challenge facing the project was the different approaches and experiences of teaching and learning for the faculty and students between the two widely different historical and cultural contexts of Australia and Vietnam. The project enhanced the pedagogy capability in NLU faculty and introduced student-focused approaches to teaching. The NLU staff involved in the project strongly embraced a student-centered approach to learning and case-based teaching in particular, adopting these strategies in their own teaching. An analysis of students' approach to learning demonstrates that the majority preferred a deep approach to learning and that these students valued case studies, problem-solving exercises, and working in small groups during teaching sessions more than students who took a surface approach to learning. An improved recognition of the ways the Vietnamese students approach their learning in their home country will guide future teaching design, as well as give insight into the approaches to teaching for Southeast Asian students within the Australian veterinary science programs.

Manure composting is a common management practice for cattle feedlots, but gaseous emissions from composting are poorly understood. The objective of this study was to quantify ammonia (NH 3 ), nitrous oxide (N 2 O), carbon dioxide (CO 2 ), and methane (CH 4 ) emissions from windrow composting (turning) and static stockpiling (nonturning) of manure at a commercial feedlot in Australia. An inverse-dispersion technique using an open-path Fourier transform infrared (OP-FTIR) spectrometer gas sensor was deployed to measure emissions of NH 3 , N 2 O, CO 2 , and CH 4 over a 165-d study period, and 29 and 15% of the total data intervals were actually used to calculate the fluxes for the windrow and stockpile, respectively. The nitrogen (N) lost as NH 3 and N 2 O emissions represented 26.4 and 3.8% of the initial N in windrow, and 5.3 and 0.8% of that in the stockpile, respectively. The carbon (C) lost as CO 2 and CH 4 emissions represented 44 and 0.3% of the initial C in windrow, and 54.8 and 0.7% of that in the stockpile, respectively. Total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the manure windrow were 2.7 times higher than those of the stockpiled manure. This work highlights the value that could be accrued if one could reduce emissions of NH 3 -N and N 2 O-N from composting, which would retain manure N content while reducing GHG emissions., (© 2019 The Authors. Journal of Environmental Quality © 2019 American Society of Agronomy, Crop Science Society of America, and Soil Science Society of America.)

Background: Patients with eating disorders (EDs) are often considered a high-risk population to refeed. Current research advises using "start low, go slow" refeeding methods (∼1,000 kcal/day, advancing ∼500 kcal/day every 3 to 4 days) in adult patients with severe EDs to prevent the development of refeeding syndrome (RFS), typically characterized by decreases in serum electrolyte levels and fluid shifts., Objective: To compare the incidence of RFS and related outcomes using a low-calorie protocol (LC) (1,000 kcal) or a higher-calorie protocol (HC) (1,500 kcal) in medically compromised adult patients with EDs., Design: This was a retrospective pre-test-post-test study., Participants/setting: One hundred and nineteen participants with EDs, medically admitted to a tertiary hospital in Brisbane, Australia, between December 2010 and January 2017, were included (LC: n=26, HC: n=93). The HC refeeding protocol was implemented in September 2013., Main Outcome Measures: Differences in prevalence of electrolyte disturbances, hypoglycemia, edema, and RFS diagnoses were examined., Statistical Analysis Performed: χ 2 tests, Kruskal-Wallis H test, analysis of variance, and independent t tests were used to compare data between the two protocols., Results: Descriptors were similar between groups (LC: 28±9 years, 96% female, 85% with anorexia nervosa, 31% admitted primarily because of clinical symptoms of exacerbated ED vs HC: 27±9 years, 97% female, 84% with anorexia nervosa, 44% admitted primarily because of clinical symptoms of exacerbated ED, P>0.05). Participants refed using the LC protocol had higher incidence rates of hypoglycemia (LC: 31% vs HC: 10%, P=0.012), with no statistical or clinical differences in electrolyte disturbances (LC: 65% vs HC: 45%, P=0.079), edema (LC: 8% vs HC: 6%, P=0.722) or diagnosed RFS (LC: 4% vs HC: 1%, P=0.391)., Conclusions: A higher-calorie refeeding protocol appears to be safe, with no differences in rates of electrolyte disturbances or clinically diagnosed RFS and a lower incidence of hypoglycemia. Future research examining higher-calorie intakes, similar to those studied in adolescent patients, may be beneficial., (Copyright © 2018 Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

With livestock manures being increasingly sought as alternatives to costly synthetic fertilisers, it is imperative that we understand and manage their associated greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Here we provide the first dedicated assessment into how the GHG emitting potential of various manures responds to the different stages of the manure management continuum (e.g., from feed pen surface vs stockpiled). The research is important from the perspective of manure application to agricultural soils. Manures studied included: manure from beef feedpen surfaces and stockpiles; poultry broiler litter (8-week batch); fresh and composted egg layer litter; and fresh and composted piggery litter. Gases assessed were methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O), the two principal agricultural GHGs. We employed proven protocols to determine the manures' ultimate CH4 producing potential. We also devised a novel incubation experiment to elucidate their N2O emitting potential; a measure for which no established methods exist. We found lower CH4 potentials in manures from later stages in their management sequence compared with earlier stages, but only by a factor of 0.65×. Moreover, for the beef manures this decrease was not significant (P<0.05). Nitrous oxide emission potential was significantly positively (P<0.05) correlated with C/N ratios yet showed no obvious relationship with manure management stage. Indeed, N2O emissions from the composted egg manure were considerably (13×) and significantly (P<0.05) higher than that of the fresh egg manure. Our study demonstrates that manures from all stages of the manure management continuum potentially entail significant GHG risk when applied to arable landscapes. Efforts to harness manure resources need to account for this., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The irrigated dairy industry in southern Australia has experienced significant restrictions in irrigation water allocations since 2005, consistent with climate change impact predictions for the region. Simulation models of pasture growth (DairyMod), crop yield (Agricultural Production Systems Simulator, APSIM), and dairy system management and production (UDDER) were used in combination to investigate a range of forage options that may be capable of sustaining dairy business profitability under restricted water-allocation scenarios in northern Victoria, Australia. A total of 23 scenarios were simulated and compared with a base farm system (100% of historical water allocations, grazed perennial ryegrass pasture with supplements; estimated operating surplus $A2,615/ha at a milk price of $A4.14/kg of milk solids). Nine simulations explored the response of the base farm to changes in stocking rate or the implementation of a double cropping rotation on 30% of farm area, or both. Five simulations explored the extreme scenario of dairying without any irrigation water. Two general responses to water restrictions were investigated in a further 9 simulations. Annual ryegrass grazed pasture, complemented by a double cropping rotation (maize grown in summer for silage, followed by either brassica forage crop and annual ryegrass for silage in winter and spring) on 30% of farm area, led to an estimated operating surplus of $A1746/ha at the same stocking rate as the base farm when calving was moved to autumn (instead of late winter, as in the base system). Estimated total irrigation water use was 2.7ML/ha compared with 5.4ML/ha for the base system. Summer-dormant perennial grass plus double cropping (30% of farm area) lifted operating surplus by a further $A100/ha if associated with autumn calving (estimated total irrigation water use 3.1ML/ha). Large shifts in the forage base of dairy farms could sustain profitability in the face of lower, and fluctuating, water allocations. However, changes in other strategic management policies, notably calving date and stocking rate, would be required, and these systems would be more complex to manage. The adaptation scenarios that resulted in the highest estimated operating surplus were those where at least 10 t of pasture or crop DM was grazed directly by cows per hectare per year, resulting in grazed pasture intake of at least 2 t of DM/cow, and at least 60% of all homegrown feed that was consumed was grazed directly., (Copyright © 2012 American Dairy Science Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Increasingly, theorists and researchers in the area of trauma are pointing to the importance of individual differences in resilience and vulnerability as key determinants of the intensity and duration of trauma-related symptoms. Determining the relative influence of individual predictors is important for the further development of theoretical models for understanding trauma responses and for the subsequent development of intervention strategies that are sensitive to individual differences. This study explores the influence of individual factors and social support on traumatic reactions in firefighters exposed to tragic events in the line of duty. A total of 164 Australian firefighters completed questionnaires targeting locus of control, self-efficacy, patterns of interpersonal relating, social support and level of emotional distress. Results indicate that individuals with feelings of insecurity, lack of personal control, and alienation from others were more likely to experience higher levels of depression and posttraumatic stress symptoms subsequent to exposure to traumatic events on the job.

The results of laparoscopic insemination of 28,447 Australian Merino ewes with semen from 468 rams were used to study factors influencing pregnancy. The overall pregnancy rate was 71.7% (20,423/28,447). Pregnancy rates varied with type of progestagen implant, type and dosage of PMSG, fresh or frozen semen, wool type and number of ewes inseminated per hour. The pregnancy rate (64.6%) obtained with Medroxy-progesterone acetate (MAP) sponges, was significantly (P < 0.01) lower than with Fluorogestone acetate 30 mg (FGA 30; 74.7%) sponges, Fluorogestone acetate 40 mg (FGA 40; 72.1%) sponges, and Controlled Internal Drug Release (CIDR-G; 71.7%) implants. A PMSG dose of 200 IU resulted in significantly (P < 0.05) lower pregnancy rates (62.4%) compared with 250 IU (72.9%), 300 IU (79.1%) and > or = 375 IU (69.4%). The mean pregnancy rate for ewes administered Folligon PMSG was 71.9%, which was significantly higher (P < 0.001) than that of ewes treated with Pregnecol PMSG (65.8%). The use of Pregnecol PMSG and MAP sponges was associated, and thus their conditional effects could not be calculated. Ewes inseminated with fresh semen were significantly (P < 0.001) more likely to become pregnant (82.2%) than those inseminated with semen frozen in pellets (69.5%) or straws (71.6%). Ewes inseminated during the months of March, April or May (fall, 71.5%) were just as likely to become pregnant as those ewes inseminated in November, December, January or February (69.6%). Significantly (P < 0.05) fewer strong wool ewes become pregnant to laparoscopic AI, (67.6%) than fine (71.7%), fine medium (73%) or medium wool ewes. Significantly (P < 0.0001) more pregnancies (77.6%) were achieved when more than 55 ewes were inseminated per hour compared with fewer than 35 ewes per hour (63.4%).

Pain which may otherwise be considered as unnecessary and unreasonable may apparently be justified by the purpose for which the act causing the pain was carried out. When deciding whether or not cruelty has occurred, the court may consider, inter alia: the element of sport associated with the incident; measures taken to alleviate the pain and suffering; whether the infliction of the pain was justified and lawfully excused in that it was inflicted in the protection of personal property or of other animals or persons, who were actually being attacked or under real threat of imminent attack when the act causing the pain took place. In order to be lawfully excused on these grounds, the measures taken to protect personal safety and property must be reasonable having regard to all the circumstances of the actual or threatened attack; local custom and belief; the care, skill and competence with which the act was performed; an honest belief held by the doer of the act that the act would lead to benefits to the animal, to the owner of the animal or to society generally. These criteria indicate that cruelty occurs when pain has been caused by an omission to remedy or alleviate the effects of a positive act, by the doing of the act, where the act or omission has been done intentionally or as the result of negligence, or where the pain is unnecessary and unjustified and the doer of the act knows that the act is unnecessary and unjustifiable.