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The aims of the present study were to evaluate the effects of live yeast supplementation (Vistacell MUCL 39855, AB Vista, Marlborough, UK) on performance, rumination time, and rumen pH on dairy cows in commercial farm environments. Three trials were carried out, the trials lasted 12 (trial 1), 15 (trial 2), and 19 wk (trial 3). In each trial, 14 multiparous Holstein dairy cows were allocated to 2 groups that received (trial 1) a standard diet plus yeast, (trial 2) an acidogenic diet plus yeast, and (trial 3) grazing pasture plus yeast. Milk production, milk chemical characteristics, body weight and body condition score, rumination time, and rumen pH were monitored for each group throughout the 3 trials. No statistically significant differences were observed in any of the 3 trials for any of the recorded variables. In contrast, an effect of time (period or days in milk) on rumen pH was observed in all 3 of the trials, as time spent under the acidotic thresholds increased across the experimental periods; however the differences were not associated with live yeast supplementation. No effect of live yeast supplementation was observed in any of the 3 trials reported. Further research should include studies on animals at different stages of lactation (with emphasis on transition period and early lactation), consuming more challenging diets (higher level of inclusion of concentrates or starch), or under different environments such as grazing of succulent forages. Such studies might be required to elucidate any possible effect of live yeast supplementation of dairy cows when the rumen environment is under challenge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Automated systems for monitoring the behavior of cows have become increasingly important for management routines and for monitoring health and welfare. In the past few decades, various devices that record rumination have been developed. The aim of the present study was to compare rumination activity measured with a commercially available rumination collar (RC) against that obtained by direct visual observations and analysis of video recordings in commercial dairy cows. Rumination time from video recordings was recorded by a trained observer. To assess observer reliability, data were recorded twice, and the duration of recorded behaviors was very similar and highly correlated between these 2 measurements (mean = 39 ± 4 and 38 ± 4 min/2 h). Measurements of rumination time obtained with RC when compared with analysis of video recordings and direct observations were variable: RC output was significantly positively related to observed rumination activity when dealing with animals housed indoors (trial 1 video recordings: slope = 1.02, 95% CI = 0.92-1.12), and the limits of agreement method (LoA) showed differences (in min per 2-h block) to be within -26.92 lower and 24.27 upper limits. Trial 1 direct observations: slope = 1.08, 95% CI = 0.62-1.55, and the LoA showed differences to be within -28.54 lower and 21.98 upper limits. Trial 2: slope = 0.93, 95% CI = 0.64-1.23, and the LoA showed differences to be within -32.56 lower and 19.84 upper limits. However, the results were poor when cows were outside grazing grass (trial 3: slope = 0.57, 95% CI = 0.13-1.02, and the LoA showed differences to be within wider limits -51.16 lower and 53.02 upper). Our results suggest that RC can determine rumination activity and are an alternative to visual observations when animals are housed indoors. However, they are not an alternative to direct observations with grazing animals on pasture and its use is not advisable until further research and validation are carried out. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this pilot study was to investigate feasibility, tolerability, and effect of modified constraint-induced movement therapy (mCIT) in children with hemiparesis after arterial ischaemic stroke (AIS). Children with chronic hemiparesis and impaired hand function after AIS had mCIT for 2 hours a day, 5 days a week for 4 weeks. Pre- and post-therapy assessments included indices of sensorimotor function, quality of upper limb movement, functional therapy goals, and child and parent interviews. Of eight participants initially recruited, six (one male, five females) completed mCIT (median age 12y 3mo; range 6y 10mo-15y 2mo). Hemiparesis was predominantly spastic in three participants and dystonic in the others; all had severely impaired hand function. After mCIT there were no significant improvements in sensorimotor function or quality of upper limb movement. However, all children improved in individual therapy goals related to functional performance. Children and parents were positive about mCIT. The use of mCIT is a promising intervention for children with chronic acquired hemiparesis. In this severely impaired group functional improvements were seen after therapy despite unchanged sensorimotor measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study evaluated the microleakage of resin-modified glass ionomer, flowable compomer and flowable resin composite restorations on a Class V cavity of simulated advanced root caries under a flexural load cycling condition. Thirty-six non-carious human maxillary premolars were mounted in cylindrical acrylic resin molds. The cavities were prepared in the proximal root surface, from the middle of the buccal surface to the middle of the lingual surface, approximately 1 mm below the cemento-enamel junction, 2 mm axial width and 1.2 mm in depth. The teeth were randomly assigned to one of three groups with 12 teeth in each group: Group 1: Cavity conditioner and Fuji II LC (GC America), Group 2: Prime & Bond NT and Dyract Flow (Caulk-Dentsply), Group 3: Excite and Tetric flow (Ivoclar/Vivadent). Specimens were settled laterally on a fatigue-testing machine that was adjusted to deliver a force of 60N. The specimens were load cycled at 1Hz for 5000 cycles, placed hi a staining solution and sectioned to evaluate microleakage penetration. Results indicate that the coronal and gingival margins showed significant microleakage differences among the three restorations (p<0.05). At the coronal margin, there was no significant difference between Groups 2 and 3. At the gingival margin, there was no significant difference between Groups 1 and 2. It was concluded that the marginal sealing ability of a flowable resin composite under a flexural cycling load was better than in other selected materials and that flowable resin composite with dentin adhesive was a desirable alternative for root caries restorations extended to the proximal surface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Twenty-three pesticides were evaluated in 18 trials in 1974-79 for the control of red spider mite (Tetranychus urticae) on strawberries in areas in England where strains of mites resistant to the organophosphorus pesticides and dicofol were known to occur. The organophosphorus pesticides chlorpyrifos and triazophos continued to give good control at most of the sites. Demeton-S-methyl, dioxathion and omethoate used at only two of the sites significantly reduced the number of mites. Pirimiphos-methyl, dimethoate and quinalphos used at only a few sites did not give a significant control. The carbamates aldicarb, thiofanox, formetanate and methiocarb usually gave significant control. Of all the pesticides tested, cyhexatin consistently gave the best control The specific acaricides amitraz, dienochlor, dinobuton, fenbutatin oxide, propargite and quinomethionate were usually effective. Dicofol gave much more variable results than in earlier trials, probably because of resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Changes in tissue protein synthesis and an associated membrane transport system in rats were investigated during lactation and under conditions of dietary protein restriction. Following mating, female Sprague-Dawley rats (second parity) were caged individually and offered a high-protein diet (H; 215 g crude protein (N × 6.25; CP)/kg dry matter (DM)) ad lib. until day 12 of gestation. Subsequently half continued to receive diet H, whilst the remainder were offered a low-protein diet (L; 65 g CP/kg DM) until parturition. On day 1 of lactation females were then allocated to either diet H or another low-protein diet (L2; 90 g CP/kg DM) which were offered ad lib. until day 13 of lactation, giving four lactation groups HH, LH, HL2 and LL2. On days 1 and 13 of lactation groups of females were used in the estimation of tissue protein synthesis (flooding dose of [3H] phenylalanine) and Na+, K+-ATPase (EC 3.6.1.3) activity (polarographically) in skeletal muscle, mammary gland, liver and duodenal mucosa. By day 1 of lactation diet L had reduced fractional and absolute synthesis rates (FSR and ASR) of muscle protein (P < 0.05) and the O2 consumption associated with Na+,K+-ATPase, although not significantly (P < 0.10). Rates of protein synthesis in the other tissues studied were not affected on day 1 of lactation by the gestation dietary treatment. By day 13 of lactation the feeding of diet L2 had reduced muscle FSR and ASR of group HL2 to rates that were lower than those on day 1 (P < 0.05), comparable to those of group LL2 and lower than those of groups HH and LH (P < 0.05). Diet H had allowed group LH to increase their muscle protein synthesis compared with that on day 1 (P < 0.05). Muscle Na+,K+-ATPase activity on day 13 of lactation was also lower in groups offered diet L2 (P < 0.05). Mammary protein synthesis was increased during lactation with the feeding of diet H (P < 0.05), which was prevented by diet L2 such that rates of groups HL2 and LL2 were lower than those of the two high-protein groups on day 13 (P < 0.01). Mammary respiration and in particular Na+,K+-ATPase activity was increased during lactation by the feeding of diet H (P < 0.05). Rates of protein synthesis and respiration in liver and duodenal mucosa were not significantly affected by the gestational or lactational dietary treatments. Calculated rates of muscle protein degradation suggest that whilst the loss of muscle protein in group HL2 during lactation might have been promoted by the decline in synthesis, the increase in degradation may have been quantitatively more important. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Sixteen Blackface wether lambs (25–27 kg) were fed for 9 weeks on diets based on either barley (B) or sugarbeet pulp (S), with either a low or high protein content. A constant amount of metabolizable energy (ME) was given at twice maintenance level. At one stage the animals were fed frequently and blood was sampled over a 24 h period. Plasma was assayed for acetate, glucose and insulin. After slaughter, the metabolism of acetate to CO2 and lipid was investigated in perirenal adipocytes in vitro.Frequent feeding helped to achieve near-steady-state conditions. Carbohydrate source influenced plasma acetate (P < 0·08) but not glucose or insulin. Level of protein in the diet influenced plasma acetate, higher concentrations of acetate were associated with lower levels of protein (P < 0·01). Acetate oxidation and incorporation into lipid was influenced by the concentrations of acetate, glucose and insulin in the incubation media (P < 0·001). Acetate oxidation was influenced by carbohydrate source (P < 0·05), whereas level of protein in the diet affected acetate incorporation into lipid (P < 0·05).These results show how the balance of nutrients provided to a ruminant for metabolism may influence selected plasma parameters and the metabolism of acetate by adipose tissue, which may help to explain the reduced efficiency of ME utilization from more fibrous diets. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]