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Pasture-based ruminant livestock production is one of the major farm enterprises in Alabama. To do well in the ruminant livestock business, producers need to have good pastures that are productive throughout the year. Additionally, established pastures must be managed well to improve system sustainability. Improving pastures and grazing lands and sustainably managing these resources are of prime importance to maintain land productivity, environmental quality, and economic viability of livestock farms. Managing and maintaining pastures sustainably requires good knowledge and skills on this subject area. However, the majority of farmers are lacking the needed knowledge and skills related to sustainable grazing management. The objective of this program was to educate livestock producers and extension educators on sustainable development and management of pastures. The program was initiated in 2009 using train-the-trainer approach. Since then, this program has been continued with training sessions (n=11) conducted at the state and regional level. County-level based programming (n = 24) has also been delivered in the form of pasture walks and field days. Moreover, demonstration sites are developed at different locations at the university facility (n=2) and in the counties by involving cooperator farmers (n=4). These sites are being used for site tours, demonstrations, hands-on activities, and experiential learning opportunity for farmers. Furthermore, educational materials in the form of training handbook (n=1), video (n=1), articles (n=10), research highlights (n=2), year-round pasture and grazing calendar (n=1), manual (n=1), workshop proceedings (n=1), and fact sheets (n=2) are developed and made available to target audience as well as the public through different outlets (internet, county extension offices, training, field days, pasture walks, conferences, farm visits). Because of this program, numerous livestock farmers and extension professionals are being trained every year (n=80-119/yr), and many more have access to educational materials (n = 2,200- 2,400/yr). Impact evaluation of the program shows that knowledge and skills of the trainees have increased significantly (35-44%; n=40-60), and several trained farmers are implementing the pasture improvement and sustainable grazing management practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Kiko goats are considered to use a wide variety of vegetation present in the grazing land. However, not much information is available about weeds that are present in grazing systems managed with goats. The objective of this study was to document the major weeds present in a Southern-pine silvopasture system grazed with Kiko wethers. Southern-pine silvopasture plots (3; 0.4-ha each) were planted with cool- and warm-season forages to develop year-round grazing for goats. Trees in the silvopasture consisted of longleaf (Pinus palustris) and loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) species (longleaf:loblolly ratio of 0.59) with 261 trees/ha; the trees were 11 yr old. Twenty Kiko wethers (21-23 m old) were rotationally stocked in the silvopasture plots to use the available forages from January to August 2016. Goats had free access to fresh water, mineral supplements, and shelters. Animals were taken off the plots when available forages were limited and were brought to other grazing sites. At the end of warm-season grazing in August, observations were taken on weeds present in the study plots, and the percentage of defoliation that occurred on those weeds was recorded on a preformatted sheet. Data were analyzed for prevalence and extent of defoliation in SAS 9.4 using the GLM procedure. Thirty-two weed species were detected in the study plots, among which 9 species were prevalent. Poorjoe (Diodia teres Walter) was the most dominant species covering the greatest plot area (14.8 ± 1.02%) and tropic croton (Croton glandulosus L.) was the least occurring species among the prevalent weeds. Horseweed (Conyza Less.) was the most defoliated species (21.5 ± 1.79%) followed by common ragweed (Ambrosia L.; 17.8 ± 1.79%) and poorjoe (11.5 ± 1.79%). Results suggest that goats may not readily eat several plant species present in the grazing system, and appropriate management strategies need to be considered to deal with these species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is increasing interest in developing pine silvopasture systems in the Southeast. Goats are a common species used to graze understory vegetation in pine silvopasture systems. Understanding grazing/browsing behavior, animal distribution patterns and damage to pine trees by goats is required to better design silvopasture systems. The objectives of this study were to 1) determine the grazing behavior and distribution patterns of goats in Southern-pine silvopastures, 2) evaluate the possible damage inflicted by goats on different pine species. Cool-season forages [annual ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum), rye (Secale cereale), MaxQ tall fescue (Schedonorus arundinaceus), arrowleaf clover (Trifolium vesiculosum), crimson clover (Trifolium incarnatum), white clover (Trifolium repens), hairy vetch (Vicia villosa), and chicory (Chicorium)] were planted in separate subplots within each plot in mixed-pine silvopasture systems (3 plots, 0.4-ha each). Trees in the silvopasture consisted of longleaf (Pinus palustris) and loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) species (longleaf:loblolly ratio 0.81) with 113 trees per acre; the trees were 10 yr old (DBH: 12 ± 0.2 cm; height: 7 ± 0.1 m). Thirty Kiko wethers (4 to 6 mo old, BW- 24.3 ± 0.64 kg) were rotationally stocked in the silvopasture plots, beginning early April 2015. Forage subplots within each plot were virtually divided with colorful flags to monitor goats' distribution patterns. Goats had free access to fresh water, mineral supplements, and shelters. After an adjustment period of 2 d, the diurnal grazing behavior (grazing, browsing, loafing, lying, and debarking) and distribution (subplots) patterns of goats were monitored from dawn to dusk from an observation station using binoculars for 2 consecutive d. Observations were recorded on preformatted sheets. For data analysis, observation periods were divided into morning (dawn to 11:00 AM), mid-day (11:15 AM to 3:00 PM), and afternoon (3:15 PM to dusk). Data were analyzed in SAS 9.4 using GLM procedure (explanatory variables: observation period, plot, and season). Goats' loafing behavior was the highest (44%) in the morning, and the grazing behavior was dominant during mid-day and afternoon hours (40%). Goats also showed some debarking behavior (2%), which mostly occurred on longleaf pine (98%). Debarking began at 23.9 ± 1.52 cm from the base of the tree and reached up to 70.4 ± 2.62 cm from the initial debarking point. Nine percent of the debarked trees were severely damaged. The study showed that longleaf pine trees can be susceptible to possible damage by Kiko goats during cool-season grazing even when the trees are 10 yr old, and terminal buds are beyond the reach of grazing animals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is increasing interest in developing pine silvopasture systems in the Southeast. Goats are a common species used to graze understory vegetation in pine silvopasture systems. Understanding grazing/browsing behavior, animal distribution patterns and damage to pine trees by goats is required to better design silvopasture systems. The objectives of this study were to 1) determine the grazing behavior and distribution patterns of goats in Southern-pine silvopastures, 2) evaluate the possible damage inflicted by goats on different pine species. Cool-season forages [annual ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum), rye (Secale cereale), MaxQ tall fescue (Schedonorus arundinaceus), arrowleaf clover (Trifolium vesiculosum), crimson clover (Trifolium incarnatum), white clover (Trifolium repens), hairy vetch (Vicia villosa), and chicory (Chicorium)] were planted in separate subplots within each plot in mixed-pine silvopasture systems (3 plots, 0.4-ha each). Trees in the silvopasture consisted of longleaf (Pinus palustris) and loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) species (longleaf:loblolly ratio 0.81) with 113 trees per acre; the trees were 10 yr old (DBH: 12 ± 0.2 cm; height: 7 ± 0.1 m). Thirty Kiko wethers (4 to 6 mo old, BW- 24.3 ± 0.64 kg) were rotationally stocked in the silvopasture plots, beginning early April 2015. Forage subplots within each plot were virtually divided with colorful flags to monitor goats' distribution patterns. Goats had free access to fresh water, mineral supplements, and shelters. After an adjustment period of 2 d, the diurnal grazing behavior (grazing, browsing, loafing, lying, and debarking) and distribution (subplots) patterns of goats were monitored from dawn to dusk from an observation station using binoculars for 2 consecutive d. Observations were recorded on preformatted sheets. For data analysis, observation periods were divided into morning (dawn to 11:00 AM), mid-day (11:15 AM to 3:00 PM), and afternoon (3:15 PM to dusk). Data were analyzed in SAS 9.4 using GLM procedure (explanatory variables: observation period, plot, and season). Goats' loafing behavior was the highest (44%) in the morning, and the grazing behavior was dominant during mid-day and afternoon hours (40%). Goats also showed some debarking behavior (2%), which mostly occurred on longleaf pine (98%). Debarking began at 23.9 ± 1.52 cm from the base of the tree and reached up to 70.4 ± 2.62 cm from the initial debarking point. Nine percent of the debarked trees were severely damaged. The study showed that longleaf pine trees can be susceptible to possible damage by Kiko goats during cool-season grazing even when the trees are 10 yr old, and terminal buds are beyond the reach of grazing animals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lack of Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) vaccine, low vaccination rates of Influenza viruses, waning immunity and viral transmission after vaccination underscore the need to reduce viral loads at their transmission sites. Oral virus transmission is several orders of magnitude higher than nasal transmission. Therefore, in this study, we evaluated neutralization of viruses using a natural viral trap protein (FRIL) formulated in clinical-grade chewing gum. FRIL is highly stable in the lablab bean powder (683 days) and in chewing gum (790 days), and fully functional (794 days) when stored at ambient temperature. They passed the bioburden test with no aerobic bacteria, yeasts/molds, with minimal moisture content (1.28-5.9%). Bean gum extracts trapped HSV-1/HSV-2 75-94% in a dose-dependent manner through virus self-aggregation. Mastication simulator released >50% release of FRIL within 15 min of chewing the bean gum. In plaque reduction assays, >95% neutralization of H1N1 and H3N2 required ∼40 mg/mL, HSV-1 160 mg/mL, and HSV-2 74 mg/mL of bean gum for 1,000 copies/mL virus particles. Therefore, a 2000 mg bean gum tablet has more than adequate potency for clinical evaluation and is safe with no detectable levels of glycosides. These observations augur well for evaluating bean gum in human clinical studies to minimize virus infection/transmission., Competing Interests: Declaration of interests HD is a patentee in plant-based oral and topical drug delivery and was previously funded by Novo Nordisk, Bayer, Shire and Takeda. Several industry discussions for advancing clinical trials in oral or topical delivery are in progress. Complete list of patents is available in the Google Scholar or ScholarGPS links below: http://scholar.google (in PBS buffer).com/citations?user = 7sow4jwAAAAJ&hl = en https://scholargps.com/scholars/82094026790000/henry-daniell., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Anorexia nervosa is one of the least studied mental health conditions in the Indian setting. The objective of this study was to assess the course and outcome of anorexia nervosa in adolescents who had presented to a tertiary care child and adolescent psychiatry center over a period of 10 years., Methods: The present study is a retrospective chart review of adolescents (up to the age of 18 years) with a diagnosis of anorexia nervosa, coded as F50.0 or F50.1 according to ICD 10, from 1 st April 2009 to 31 st March 2019. Data were extracted from the case records using standardized abstraction forms and evaluated using descriptive and nonparametric statistics., Results: The average age at presentation and the average age at onset were 14.1 years and 13.1 years, respectively. The male-to-female ratio of the sample who got admitted was 1:9. The average duration of hospital stay was about 30 days. The duration of in-patient care and weight gain were positively correlated, with severe to extremely ill adolescents improving even in less than one month of in-patient care. Seventy per cent of the admitted adolescents followed up. The functional outcome as measured by a 'return to school' improved in 57.1% of the sample., Conclusions: The present study highlights the collaborative multidisciplinary and individualized treatment approach employed for adolescents diagnosed with anorexia nervosa within an inpatient mental health facility in India. Adolescents who presented with more severe illness at the initial assessment, such as an early onset of symptoms and a low BMI, experienced substantial weight gain that exhibited a positive correlation with the length of their stay in the inpatient facility., Competing Interests: The authors declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship and/or publication of this article., (© 2024 The Author(s).)

A patient fall is one of the adverse events in an inpatient unit of a hospital that can lead to disability and/or mortality. The medical literature suggests that increased visibility of patients by unit nurses is essential to improve patient monitoring and, in turn, reduce falls. However, such research has been descriptive in nature and does not provide an understanding of the characteristics of an optimal inpatient unit layout from a visibility-standpoint. To fill this gap, we adopt an interdisciplinary approach that combines the human field of view with facility layout design approaches. Specifically, we propose a bi-objective optimization model that jointly determines the optimal (i) location of a nurse in a nursing station and (ii) orientation of a patient's bed in a room for a given layout. The two objectives are maximizing the total visibility of all patients across patient rooms and minimizing inequity in visibility among those patients. We consider three different layout types, L-shaped, I-shaped, and Radial; these shapes exhibit the section of an inpatient unit that a nurse oversees. To estimate visibility, we employ the ray casting algorithm to quantify the visible target in a room when viewed by the nurse from the nursing station. The algorithm considers nurses' horizontal visual field and their depth of vision. Owing to the difficulty in solving the bi-objective model, we also propose a Multi-Objective Particle Swarm Optimization (MOPSO) heuristic to find (near) optimal solutions. Our findings suggest that the Radial layout appears to outperform the other two layouts in terms of the visibility-based objectives. We found that with a Radial layout, there can be an improvement of up to 50% in equity measure compared to an I-shaped layout. Similar improvements were observed when compared to the L-shaped layout as well. Further, the position of the patient's bed plays a role in maximizing the visibility of the patient's room. Insights from our work will enable understanding and quantifying the relationship between a physical layout and the corresponding provider-to-patient visibility to reduce adverse events., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Introduction: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common neurodevelopmental disorder in children. ADHD leads to significant impairment in overall functioning of the child. There is limited information concerning the clinical scenario of ADHD within Nepal. The study aims to determine the clinico-demographic profile and pattern of medication use in the treatment of ADHD., Methods: This study retrospectively examines the records of children diagnosed with ADHD at the Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (CAP) Unit, Kanti Children's Hospital (KCH), Nepal. Approval for the study was granted by KCH's Institutional Review Board. The analysis focused on data extracted from hospital records of ADHD patients spanning from 1 January 2021 to 30 June 2023 encompassing two and a half years., Results: A total of 585 children were diagnosed with ADHD, with a mean age 7±3.04 years. The majority 501 (85.64%) were male, and 377 (64.44%) were from the school going age group (6 to 11 years). The prevalent psychiatric comorbidities included Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) at 102 (17.43%), Intellectual Disability (ID) at 93(15.89%), and Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) at 36 (6.15%). The commonly used medication was Clonidine 165 (28.20%) followed by Atomoxetine 154 (26.32%) and Risperidone 65 (11.11%)., Conclusions: The study indicates that ADHD is highly prevalent in Nepal. Comorbidities like ASD and ID are frequently seen which further necessitates the need for structured assessments and multidisciplinary approaches to address ADHD. In our context with limited treatment options, the management of ADHD is extremely challenging.

Introduction: In orthopaedic practice, injuries to the anterior cruciate ligaments occur almost on an epidemic scale, yet it continues to be of interest in orthopaedic surgery whether semitendinosus or gracilis hamstring autografts can be used for better anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction using semitendinosus tendon autografts among paramilitary patients undergoing arthroscopic surgery in a tertiary care centre., Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among paramilitary individuals who had knee injuries and were admitted between 6 february 2020 and 26 January 2022 for arthroscopic surgery after obtaining ethical approval from the Institutional Review Committee. Demographic details and the mode of injury were obtained from the patients. The treating orthopaedic surgeons evaluated the pre- and post-analysis Lysholm Knee Score and Lysholm Knee Scale based on the patient's response. A convenience sampling method was used. The point estimate was calculated at a 95% Confidence Interval., Results: Among 166 patients, anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction using a semitendinosus tendon autograft was done in 58 (34.94%) (27.69-42.19, 95% Confidence Interval). Most of the patients in the pre-analysis had mild/periodic limp issues 52 (89.66%), followed by instability during athletics or other severe exertion 43 (74.14%)., Conclusions: The prevalence of anterior cruciate ligament injuries in our study is higher than other studies done in similar settings., Keywords: anterior cruciate ligament; grafts; semitendinosus tendon.

The influence of different supplement types on the performance and nutrient dynamics of goats stocked in woodlands is not known. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of supplement type on the performance and the concentration of fecal nutrients of nursing does and the performance of kids raised in woodlands. One group of goats (SG, 9 does; 18 kids) was allowed supplemental grazing in adjacent silvopasture plots for 3-4 h daily and another group (SF, 8 does; 15 kids) was supplemented with corn (0.5% of metabolic weight) and ad libitum hay. Vegetation samples were collected and analyzed for productivity and quality (crude protein, CP; acid detergent fiber, ADF; neutral detergent fiber, NDF). The quality of the hay (N, ADF, NDF) and fecal samples (N, P, Ca) was analyzed. The animals' live weight, FAMACHA score, and body condition score were collected. The browsing height for does consuming woodland vegetation was measured. Data were analyzed using the GLM procedure, Mixed procedure, and MEANS procedure in SAS 9.4. SG does showed better FAMACHA scores vs. SF does ( p < 0.05). Fecal N and ADF were greater ( p < 0.0001) in SG does vs. SF does. The findings showed a better performance and greater concentration of fecal nutrients in SG does vs. SF does, suggesting grazing quality pastures is a better option than using feedstuffs to supplement nursing does in woodland.

Expression of recombinant proteins in plant cells with a "designer" hydroxyproline (Hyp)-O-glycosylated peptide (HypGP), such as tandem repeats of a "Ser-Pro" motif, has been shown to boost the secreted protein yields. However, dramatic secretion and Hyp-O-glycosylation of HypGP-tagged proteins can only be achieved when the plant cells were grown in nitrogen-deficient SH medium. Only trace amounts of secreted fusion protein were detected in MS medium. This study aims to gain a deeper understanding of the possible mechanism underlying these results by examining the intracellular trafficking and Hyp-O-glycosylation of enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) fused with a (SP) 32 tag, consisting of 32 repeats of a "Ser-Pro" motif, in tobacco BY-2 cells. When cells were grown in MS medium, the (SP) 32 -EGFP formed protein body-like aggregate and was retained in the ER, without undergoing Hyp-O-glycosylation. In contrast, the fusion protein becomes fully Hyp-O-glycosylated, and then secreted in SH medium. Transcriptome analysis of the BY-2 cells grown in SH medium vs. MS medium revealed over 16,000 DEGs, with many upregulated DEGs associated with the microtubule-based movement, movement of subcellular component, and microtubule binding. These DEGs are presumably responsible for the enhanced ER-Golgi transport of HypGP-tagged proteins, enabling their glycosylation and secretion in SH medium., (© 2023. Springer Nature Limited.)

Vascular ectasias are characterized by abnormal blood vessel enlargement and presumed to be caused by degenerative processes. About 3% of lower gastrointestinal bleeding is caused by it. On endoscopy, colonic arteriovenous malformations are frequently solitary, sizable, flat, or raised red lesions. Conversely, colonic vascular ectasia that manifests as pedunculated polypoid lesions are rare., Case Presentation: A 45-year-old woman presented with hematochezia and abdominal pain. Abdominal ultrasound and Contrast enhanced computed tomography abdomen, both showed features of ileocolic intussusception. Intraoperatively, an intraluminal pedunculated polypoid growth extending up to the hepatic flexure of the colon was discovered. A right hemicolectomy was performed, removing the polypoid growth as well. After histopathological evaluation, a final diagnosis of colonic polypoid vascular ectasia was made., Clinical Discussion: Gastrointestinal bleeding is the common initial manifestation of vascular ectasia, while some individuals may continue to be asymptomatic. According to a study from July 2022, vascular ectasia that manifests as polypoid growth is an uncommon phenomenon that has only been documented in 17 other cases. An intussusception may have a polypoid vascular ectasia as its lead point. Conversely, a large polypoid vascular ectasia may have radiographic characteristics that resemble an intussusception., Conclusion: Large colonic vascular ectasia, which tends to enlarge over time, can occasionally be misinterpreted as an intussusception due to comparable radiological appearances. In the event that a polypoid colonic vascular ectasia is misidentified for intussusception, the surgical team must be ready to adjust the treatment protocol as needed., Competing Interests: None., (Copyright © 2023 The Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.)

Background: Violence against psychiatry trainees is an important issue to the medical profession. However, this matter has been under researched, especially in Asian countries., Aim: We aimed to explore the rates and factors associated with violence against psychiatric trainees in Asian countries., Methods: An online, 15 item cross sectional pilot survey was designed and disseminated among psychiatric trainees in Asia through the World Network of Psychiatric Trainees, national and local networks of trainees, and social media. The questionnaire sought to enquire about the experience of physical, verbal, and sexual assaults and its impact. Data were analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) V20.0., Results: A total of 467 responses were obtained from psychiatric trainees in 16 countries in Asia. More than two thirds of participants ( n = 325, 69.59%) reported a history of assault. Psychiatry inpatient units were the most common setting ( n = 239, 73.54%). A relatively lower proportion of participants from the East Asian countries reported an assault, compared to other countries (χ 2 = 13.41, P = 0.001). Sexual assault was more common among women compared to men (χ 2 = 0.94, P = 0.002)., Conclusion: Violence against psychiatric trainees seems common across Asian countries. Our findings call for further systematic investigation of the phenomenon and suggest the need to develop programs to protect psychiatric trainees against the threat of violence and its subsequent psychological complications., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts of interest., (Copyright: © 2023 Indian Journal of Psychiatry.)

Introduction: Midshaft clavicular fractures are common among young adults. Open reduction and internal fixation of displaced midshaft clavicular fractures with plate and screws have been shown to decrease nonunion, symptomatic malunion, and residual shoulder disability compared with non-operative treatment allowing early pain-free movement and early return to work. The aim of this study was to find out the prevalence of displaced midshaft clavicular fractures among patients with clavicular fractures admitted to the orthopaedics department of a tertiary care centre., Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in the Department of Orthopedics of a tertiary care centre from 31 January 2016 to 31 December 2019 after receiving ethical approval from the Institutional Review Committee (Reference number: 659/2021 P). Data were collected using hospital-based records from patients of the age group 18 to 50 years. Convenience sampling method was used. Point estimate and 95% confidence interval were calculated., Results: Among 120 patients, the prevalence of displaced midshaft clavicular fractures was 40 (33.33%) (24.90-41.76, 95% Confidence Interval). Among them 39 (90%) were males and 4 (10%) were females and the mean age of 31.45 years. The average Constant-Murley score were 95.68±5.59., Conclusions: The prevalence of displaced midshaft clavicular fractures among patients with clavicular fractures admitted to the Department of Orthopedics was lower than the other studies done in similar settings., Keywords: clavicle; fracture; open fracture reduction; orthopedics.