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Advocates of regenerative livestock farming claim a multitude of benefits following adoption of practices based on high intensity, short duration, long rest rotational grazing, amongst which is a reduction in parasitism and the use of anthelmintics. There are limited scientific data to support such claims and much of what little evidence there is emanates from North America and South Africa, so it would be useful if the observations and experiences of UK adoptees could be backed up with some well-controlled field studies. In their absence, considerations of some aspects of known parasite biology, such as the larval ecology of parasitic nematodes, can shed light on likely outcomes of various types of pasture, grazing and animal management. Minimising the use of anthelmintics in regenerative systems requires effective monitoring to ensure that animal performance and health do not suffer as a result of parasitism; for youngstock, growth rate is the most reliable marker for subclinical parasitic gastroenteritis. Consideration should also be given to other parasites that can affect grazing livestock, such as lungworm, fluke, ticks and flies, in order to determine the influence of regenerative management on the parasite fauna and their collective impact on sheep and cattle.

Understanding how antimicrobials are used on dairy farms, as well as stakeholder beliefs relating to their use, is essential to ensure responsible antimicrobial usage (AMU) and tackle antimicrobial resistance (AMR). An online questionnaire was designed based on the findings of two focus groups. It was structured into four sections covering AMU and AMR knowledge, behaviour, and attitudes of farmers. The target population was all Scottish dairy farmers (n = 832). The survey was completed by 61 respondents. Overall, participants expressed a lack of knowledge of antimicrobials and AMR. Farmers highlighted the importance of veterinarian support, as vet opinions and advice were ranked significantly more important than other social referents or advisors. The vast majority of respondents (90%) had reduced AMU on farms over recent years. However, some risky practices, such as feeding antibiotic milk to calves, are still widespread. Limited finances and knowledge were the main barriers to ensuring responsible AMU. Attitudes towards AMR were variable, and some farmers expressed a mismatch between their intention and behaviour. Results indicated that AMU had been reduced, and most farms implemented best practices. Yet, more work is needed to raise AMR awareness among farmers and address the main barriers.

Background Memory strategy training for older adults helps maintain and improve cognitive health but is traditionally offered face-to-face, which is resource intensive, limits accessibility, and is challenging during a pandemic. Web-based interventions, such as the Online Personalised Training in Memory Strategies for Everyday (OPTIMiSE) program, may overcome such barriers. Objective We report on OPTIMiSE’s feasibility, acceptability, and efficacy. Methods Australians aged ≥60 years reporting subjective cognitive decline participated in this single-arm pre-post web-based intervention. OPTIMiSE is a 6-module web-based program offered over 8-weeks with a 3-month booster. It has a problem-solving approach to memory issues, focusing on psychoeducation about memory and aging, knowledge and practice of compensatory memory strategies, and personalized content related to individual priorities. We examined the feasibility (recruitment, attrition, and data collection), acceptability (recommendation to others, suggestions for improvement, and withdrawal reasons), and efficacy (change in goal satisfaction, strategy knowledge and use, self-reported memory, memory satisfaction and knowledge, and mood; thematic content analysis of the most significant change; and the application of knowledge and strategies in daily life) of OPTIMiSE. Results OPTIMiSE was feasible, demonstrated by strong interest (633 individuals screened), a satisfactory level of attrition (158/312, 50.6%), and minimal missing data from those completing the intervention. It was acceptable, with 97.4% (150/154) of participants agreeing they would recommend OPTIMiSE, the main suggestion for improvement being more time to complete modules, and withdrawal reasons similar to those in in-person interventions. OPTIMiSE was also efficacious, with linear mixed-effects analyses revealing improvements, of moderate to large effect sizes, across all primary outcomes (all P Conclusions This feasible, acceptable, and efficacious web-based program has the potential to enable access to evidence-based memory interventions for older adults worldwide. Notably, the changes in knowledge, beliefs, and strategy use continued beyond the initial program. This is particularly important for supporting the growing number of older adults living with cognitive concerns. Trial Registration Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN12620000979954; https://tinyurl.com/34cdantv International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID) RR2-10.3233/ADR-200251

Mammalian hearing requires the development of the organ of Corti, a sensory epithelium comprising unique cell types. The limited number of each of these cell types, combined with their close proximity, has prevented characterization of individual cell types and/or their developmental progression. To examine cochlear development more closely, we transcriptionally profile approximately 30,000 isolated mouse cochlear cells collected at four developmental time points. Here we report on the analysis of those cells including the identification of both known and unknown cell types. Trajectory analysis for OHCs indicates four phases of gene expression while fate mapping of progenitor cells suggests that OHCs and their surrounding supporting cells arise from a distinct (lateral) progenitor pool. Tgfβr1 is identified as being expressed in lateral progenitor cells and a Tgfβr1 antagonist inhibits OHC development. These results provide insights regarding cochlear development and demonstrate the potential value and application of this data set., How the development of the cochlear epithelium is regulated is unclear. Here, the authors use single cell RNAseq analysis to provide insight into the transcriptional changes arising during development of the murine cochlear inner and outer hair cells.

Failure of passive transfer (FPT) has health, welfare and economic implications for calves. Immunoglobulin G (IgG) concentration of 370 dairy calf serum samples from 38 Scottish dairy farms was measured via radial immunodiffusion (RID) to determine FPT prevalence. IgG concentration, total bacteria count (TBC) and total coliform count (TCC) of 252 colostrum samples were also measured. A questionnaire was completed at farm enrollment to investigate risk factors for FPT and poor colostrum quality at farm-level. Multivariable mixed effect logistic and linear regressions were carried out to determine significant risk factors for FPT and colostrum quality. Prevalence of FPT at calf level was determined to be 14.05%. Of 252 colostrum samples, 111 (44.05%) failed to meet Brix thresholds for colostrum quality. Of these 28 and 38 samples also exceeded TBC and TCC thresholds, respectively. Increased time between parturition and colostrum harvesting was numerically (non-significantly) associated with a colostrum Brix result

Individuals with progressive neuromuscular disorders (PND); specifically, Parkinson’s disease (PD), Multiple Sclerosis (MS), Huntington’s Disease (HD), and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) often face physical, psychological, and social challenges related to sex and intimacy. Occupational therapy (OT) practitioners are experts in activity analysis and are equipped with unique knowledge of performance skills and client factors to address deficits in occupational performance. Though there is literature presenting the effects of PND on sexual occupations, a gap exists as it relates to qualitative data from the perspective of the individual and their partners. A mixed-methods survey was conducted examining the lived experience of adults with progressive neuromuscular disorders to inform programming addressing intimate and sexual needs. Themes were identified from study results in order to inform an evidence-based program addressing sexual and intimate participation and enhance relationships. This research reaffirmed that sexual occupations should not go unaddressed as these can be beneficial not only to the individual patient's well-being, but their partnership and social domains as well. Occupational therapists can facilitate meaningful participation in sexual occupations for these individuals by addressing: their unique physical barriers through positioning and adaptations, providing stress management strategies for both internal and external stressors, and facilitating positive communication between individuals with PND and their partners. The findings from this study support an increased role for OT practitioners in the domain of sexuality.

The aim of this chapter is to explore occupational therapy’s historical engagement with sexuality interventions for people with disabilities. This chapter provides rationale for the importance of sexuality to the concept of self and quality of life and frames sexuality as an integral part of people’s everyday life. Common perceptions of people with disabilities as asexual and sometimes hypersexual, which disregard individuals with disabilities as healthy sexual beings, will be discussed. The authors provide an overview of the tensions that often lead to the invisibility of sexuality in occupational therapy practice and educational curricula. Then, this chapter suggests a human rights approach to assessment and intervention, to support the role occupational therapy could, and sometimes already does, play in enabling sexuality for people with disabilities. Specific suggestions are made for how occupational therapy education can address the sexuality goals of their clients and view people with disabilities truly holistically, thus acknowledging them as sexual beings. (occupational therapy, sexuality, disability)

Background: \ud Assistance at parturition in cattle is common. Although analgesia is commonly provided, its value in terms of welfare improvement is not known. Few previous studies include both parturition assistance and analgesic treatment status as well as appropriate control groups in a factorial design.\ud \ud Methods: \ud Seventy‐two Holstein cattle (37 assisted and 35 unassisted) were randomly allocated to receive a single dose of the NSAID ketoprofen or a saline placebo within 3 h of parturition. Detailed behavioural observations allowed a time budget to be constructed for each cow for 48 h post‐partum.\ud \ud Results: \ud Cows experiencing assisted parturition spent more time in lateral recumbency (overall and with the head rested) (p < 0.05) – an infrequently adopted posture suggestive of illness or pain. Cows treated with ketoprofen spent less time in lateral recumbency (p < 0.05) (overall and with the head rested); this was independent of assistance status, and lateral recumbency was not affected by the interaction between assistance and treatment status. Additionally, cows treated with ketoprofen spent more time with the head rested when in sternal recumbency (p = 0.009) – a behaviour associated with comfortable resting.\ud \ud Conclusion: \ud These differences in lying postures exhibited by cows receiving ketoprofen analgesia suggest that, regardless of whether parturition is assisted, a single dose of ketoprofen in the immediate post‐partum period has the potential to improve cow comfort in the first 48 h post‐partum.

The development of asymmetric patterns along biologically relevant axes is a hallmark of many vertebrate organs or structures. One example is the sensory epithelium of the mammalian auditory system. Two distinct types of mechanosensory hair cells (inner and outer) and at least six types of associated supporting cells are precisely and asymmetrically arrayed along the radial (medial-lateral) axis of the cochlear spiral. Immunolabeling of developing cochleae indicates differential expression of Glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK3β) along the same axis. To determine whether GSK3β plays a role in specification of cell fates along the medial-lateral axis, GSK3 activity was blocked pharmacologically in cochlear explants. Results indicate significant changes in both the number of hair cells and in the specification of hair cell phenotypes. The overall number of inner hair cells increased as a result of both a shift in the medial boundary between sensory and non-sensory regions of the cochlea and a change in the specification of inner and outer hair cell phenotypes. Previous studies have inhibited GSK3 as a method to examine effects of canonical Wnt signaling. However, quantification of changes in Wnt pathway target genes in GSK3-inhibited cochleae, and treatment with more specific Wnt agonists, indicated that the Wnt pathway is not activated. Instead, expression of Bmp4 in a population of GSK3β-expressing cells was shown to be down-regulated. Finally, addition of BMP4 to GSK3-inhibited cochleae achieved a partial rescue of the hair cell phenotype. These results demonstrate a role for GSK3β in the specification of cellular identities along the medial-lateral axis of the cochlea and provide evidence for a positive role for GSK3β in the expression of Bmp4.

The welfare impact of birth on newborn calves has rarely been studied. Dystocia in particular may have significant welfare costs for calves. While analgesia is sometimes provided to calves born to difficult parturition by veterinary surgeons in practice, it is not known if this is actually beneficial. On a commercial dairy farm, we examined the behavioural time budget of 39 Holstein heifer calves born with the aid of farmer assistance and 36 calves born without assistance; half of each group were randomly allocated to receive either a single dose of the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug ketoprofen or a saline placebo in a two by two factorial design. The calves were group housed and their behaviour was recorded for 48 h postpartum and analysed using instantaneous focal sampling (every 5 min in alternate hours). Regardless of analgesic treatment, calves born with assistance showed behaviours consistent with experiencing a less positive welfare state (lying with their head down and in lateral recumbency, and less time playing than unassisted calves). Behavioural differences between calves treated with ketoprofen and calves treated with saline (in particular increased play) suggest that the birth experience may be painful for all calves, even if no assistance is required. Our findings suggest that a single dose of ketoprofen in the immediate postpartum period may improve calf welfare regardless of assistance status and has the potential to contribute to significant welfare gains in dairy calves.

Failure of passive transfer (FPT) is defined as failure to absorb colostral antibodies sufficient to achieve a serum Immunoglobulin G (IgG) concentration >10 g/L. Immunoglobulin G can be measured directly in calf serum using radial immunodiffusion (RID), or indirectly estimated by measuring total protein (TP). Indirect TP measures are usually favoured because of their relatively lower costs. The aim of this work was to compare TP measurements using refractometry and biuret methods against the reference RID test in neonatal dairy calves, and to assess agreement between these indirect measures. Neither the biuret nor the refractometer method provided a high sensitivity for detection of FPT, as defined by RID. There was no systematic difference between the methods in their estimation of TP, although the biuret method was more accurate than the refractometer method when tested against the reference RID test (accuracy = 83.1 % v 69.3 %) and the refractometer was more likely to overestimate the number of calves with FPT. Specificity for the biuret test was 93.9 % compared with the refractometer specificity of 74.4 %. Mean TP as estimated by the biuret method was higher than the mean TP estimated by the refractometer (6.25 g/dL versus 5.52 g/dL), and the Pearson correlation coefficient for the two assays was only moderate, at 0.58. This suggests that the biuret method is preferable to the refractometer for detecting FPT in calves, despite the superior convenience of the refractometer.

The article draws on Matland’s (1995) modelling of policy implementation to investigate the personalisation of adult social care in England. The shift from policy formation to enactment by local authorities is linked to a move from ‘symbolic’ to ‘political’ implementation. Successive studies, however, highlight certain enduring features of local authorities as sites of contradiction and dissent in adult social care, particularly on the frontline. Taking these into account arguably permits a closer analysis of the dynamics of power at work in the implementation of the personalisation agenda as well as enriching our understanding of the nature of political implementation.

Control of parasitic gastroenteritis in cattle is typically based on group treatments with anthelmintics, complemented by grazing management, where feasible. However, the almost inevitable evolution of resistance in parasitic nematodes to anthelmintics over time necessitates a reappraisal of their use in order to reduce selection pressure. One such approach is targeted selective treatment (TST), in which only individual animals that will most benefit are treated, rather than whole groups of at-risk cattle. This study was designed to assess the feasibility of implementing TST on three commercial farms, two of which were organic. A total of 104 first-grazing season (FGS), weaned dairy calves were enrolled in the study; each was weighed at monthly intervals from the start of the grazing season using scales or weigh-bands. At the same time dung and blood samples were collected in order to measure faecal egg counts (FEC) and plasma pepsinogen, respectively. A pre-determined threshhold weight gain of 0.75 kg/day was used to determine those animals that would be treated; the anthelmintic used was eprinomectin. No individual animal received more than one treatment during the grazing season and all treatments were given in July or August; five animals were not treated at all because their growth rates consistently exceeded the threshold. Mean daily live weight gain over the entire grazing season ranged between 0.69 and 0.82 kg/day on the three farms. Neither FEC nor pepsinogen values were significantly associated with live weight gain. Implementation of TST at farm level requires regular (monthly) handling of the animals and the use of weigh scales or tape, but can be integrated into farm management practices. This study has shown that acceptable growth rates can be achieved in FGS cattle with modest levels of treatment and correspondingly less exposure of their nematode populations to anthelmintics, which should mitigate selection pressure for resistance by increasing the size of the refugia in both hosts and pasture.

Over half of the US military service members are married. These couples face situations and events not typically experienced by their civilian counterparts. With these unique military challenges, they can benefit from important sources of resilience strength building approaches. This chapter provides an overview of military couples (both the typical military–civilian dyad and dual-military couples), their unique challenges, and the strengths that military couples utilize to address life’s demands. Challenges include unique military stressors (e.g., deployment, frequent moves), role transitions, and stress crossover. Strengths include a strong source of both formal and informal support in military communities and positive associations with military service that can foster communication and a sense of togetherness. The chapter also addresses how military couples respond to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and combat injury with a focus and consideration of couples-sensitive evidenced-based therapies. We conclude with some practical advice for providers and a discussion of future directions, including the more systematic evaluation of military resilience programs that aim to improve the psychological wellbeing of both service members and their spouses and consideration of unique military couple dyads as the military continues to increase its diversity through recent programmatic changes.

Steroid and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) products are widely used in production animal practice. The history and mechanism of action of these anti-inflammatory drugs are briefly presented. In the UK, dexamethasone is licensed broadly for reduction of inflammation, whereas NSAIDs carry narrow, specific indications for conditions including bovine respiratory disease, lameness and mastitis. The evidence base for selection between steroid and NSAID in these cases, and selected off-label conditions, is discussed. Both groups of anti-inflammatory carry risks of side effects and these are also briefly reviewed. There are limited situations where published evidence would support the use of steroids as the preferred product, when only anti-inflammatory action is being considered.

Actinobacillus lignieresii is well recognised as a cause of ‘wooden tongue’ in cattle, but the disease can occasionally also affect other soft tissues of the head and neck and deep organs where it is often confused with neoplasms or exuberant granulation tissue. This report describes the clinical and pathological findings in a case of cutaneous actinobacillosis, which was considered atypical because of the extent and distribution of the lesions and the recurrence of the problem. It discusses the cost effectiveness of using biopsy and histopathology as diagnostic tools and highlights the requirement for prolonged antimicrobial therapy.

The sustainability of sheep production is hindered by anthelmintic resistance. Options to slow down or prevent resistance have been widely studied but their application in the field is still limited. In this study, the practical application and effect of a targeted selective treatment (TST) approach for the treatment of parasitic gastroenteritis was investigated in lambs (n = 385) over a 2 year period. At 14-day intervals during the grazing season, liveweight, breech soiling and anthelmintic treatments were individually recorded. Selection of lambs for anthelmintic treatment in the TST group was based on pre-calculated individual growth rates, with a matched cohort routinely treated (RT) with anthelmintic drug every 6 weeks. The adoption of a TST approach had no negative effect on the liveweight gains of the lambs, time to finishing or breech soiling measures compared to RT lambs; however a 50% decrease in anthelmintic treatment was observed in the TST group. The time to implement this system averaged 2 min per lamb. It is concluded that the TST could be suitable for commercial sheep farms, in association with automated weighing systems, potentially reducing selection for anthelmintic resistance, while having no negative effect on production.

The objectives of this study were to compare the impact of different coagulase-negative species (CNS) on udder health measured in terms of individual quarter milk somatic cell count (SCC) and duration of intramammary infection, and to get some insight into most likely routes of infection for different CNS species. This longitudinal observational study was performed on four farms that were sampled at 4-week intervals for a total of 12 visits each. Quarters infected with CNS were followed through time with milk samples being submitted for bacteriological culture and SCC determination. PCR amplification of the internal transcribed spacer region and sequencing of the sodA and rpoB genes were used for species allocation. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) was performed to assess strain identity. The percentage of quarters affected per farm varied between 6 and 35%, with the most frequently isolated CNS species being Staphylococcus epidermidis, followed by Staph. simulans, Staph. chromogenes and Staph. haemolyticus. It was possible to follow 111 intramammary infections due to CNS through time. Duration of infection had a mean of 188 d and was not significantly different between CNS species. Geometric mean quarter SCC overall was 132 000 cells/ml and was also not significantly different between CNS species. Despite the possibility of a different epidemiology of infection, the impact in terms of udder health seems to be similar for different CNS species.

Date Presented 04/05/19 Sexuality and intimacy are often meaningful activities for humans, yet OTs are hesitant to address these topics with their clients. Limited research is available that could inform and guide the profession in establishing curriculum and best practice. This case series is the first study to explore key factors of OT sex and intimacy intervention in enhancing performance in sexual activity and intimacy social participation. Primary Author and Speaker: Kathryn Ellis Contributing Authors: Michelle Nordstrom

The notochord is an evolutionarily conserved structure that has long been known to play an important role in patterning during embryogenesis. Structurally, the notochord is composed of two cell layers: an outer epithelial-like sheath, and an inner core of cells that contain large fluid-filled vacuoles. We have recently shown these notochord vacuoles are lysosome-related organelles that form through Rab32a and vacuolar-type proton-ATPase-dependent acidification. Disruption of notochord vacuoles results in a shortened embryo along the anterior-posterior axis. Interestingly, we discovered that notochord vacuoles are also essential for proper spine morphogenesis and that vacuole defects lead to scoliosis of the spine. Here we discuss the cellular organization of the notochord and how key features of its architecture allow the notochord to function in embryonic axis elongation and spine formation.

The zebrafish notochord vacuole, which has long been known to be important for vertebrate development but poorly classified at a cell biological level, is identified as a specialized lysosome-related organelle that is necessary both early, for embryonic axis elongation, and late, for spine morphogenesis., The notochord plays critical structural and signaling roles during vertebrate development. At the center of the vertebrate notochord is a large fluid-filled organelle, the notochord vacuole. Although these highly conserved intracellular structures have been described for decades, little is known about the molecular mechanisms involved in their biogenesis and maintenance. Here we show that zebrafish notochord vacuoles are specialized lysosome-related organelles whose formation and maintenance requires late endosomal trafficking regulated by the vacuole-specific Rab32a and H+-ATPase–dependent acidification. We establish that notochord vacuoles are required for body axis elongation during embryonic development and identify a novel role in spine morphogenesis. Thus, the vertebrate notochord plays important structural roles beyond early development.

Sustainable control of nematode parasites in small ruminant production is a worldwide ambition. Development of anthelmintic resistance can severely impair small ruminant production. A practical approach to reduce selection pressure for anthelmintic resistance is to treat only a proportion of the flock (Targeted Selective Treatment), leaving a proportion of the nematode population untreated. The aim of this study was to compare the sustainability and efficacy of a performance-based marker, the Happy Factor™, a monitor of nutrient utilisation efficiency, with a routine whole flock anthelmintic treatment. In a commercial flock in the South West of Scotland, 183 Texel cross lambs were split into two matched but co-grazing groups: one group managed as routinely for the farm (RT group) and the other subjected to targeted selective treatment (TST group). All lambs from the RT group were drenched every 6 weeks during the grazing season, while anthelmintic administration in the TST group was restricted to animals that failed to reach pre-determined weight gain targets, based on an estimate of their efficiency of gross energy utilisation. Animal performance and parasitological data were recorded every two weeks. In the 20 week period of the study, anthelmintic treatments were reduced by approximately 50% in the TST group compared to a routine anthelmintic administration that would have been applied, whilst epg counts were always

Bovine congenital erythropoietic protoporphyria (BCEPP), a disease caused by a decrease in activity of ferrochelatase enzyme, is most commonly characterised by photosensitisation and seizures. BCEPP is inherited as a simple, autosomal recessive defect, with only homozygote individuals exhibiting clinical signs, and occurs mainly in pure Limousin cattle. There is no specific treatment and the disease can be prevented by avoiding mating of carriers of the defective gene; these can be identified using DNA analysis. This report describes two cases of BCEPP in a pedigree Limousin herd and discusses the investigation of the condition and implications for the herd.

This chapter establishes definitions of sexual health and intimacy, provides insight into how they interact and affect successful relationships, and communicates the importance of addressing the sexual and intimacy needs of injured service members and their partners. Common deployment-related diagnoses, including post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury, orthopedic injuries, spinal cord injuries, genital injuries, burns, and facial injuries, and their possible corresponding limitations are reviewed, along with how such limitations can result in sexual avoidance and intimacy avoidance, thus leading to more relationship issues and poor quality of life. The experience of partners, including perceptions about the dependence of the injured service member, is discussed as well.

This chapter reviews various suggested interventions for improving sexual experience and managing intimate relationships. Strategies are geared toward increasing the service member’s perception of self and perceived success as both a sexual and a romantic partner, and toward enhancing a couple’s communication. Strategies are tailored to specific limitations and consist of modification to environment, schedule, and behavior, as well as adaptations and use of equipment, including medical devices, positional aids, and pleasure toys, with the goal of enhancing intimacy as well as pleasure and a focus on occupational therapy. Lastly, a composite case study is detailed to assist with processing and applying the information discussed.

Background and case presentation:\ud A three year old, second lactation Holstein dairy cow presented to the Scottish Centre for Production Animal Health and Food Safety, Glasgow University Veterinary School in November 2014 with a history of post-calving vulval/vaginal bleeding nine days prior to presentation, followed by a sudden reduction in milk yield. Subsequent investigations resulted in a diagnosis of immune-mediated haemolytic anaemia secondary to infection with Mycoplasma wenyonii.\ud \ud Conclusion:\ud This report of a novel presentation of Mycoplasma wenyonii in a dairy cow illustrates the need to consider M.wenyonii as a potential differential diagnosis when a cow presents with anaemia and will discuss the potential implications of the condition at herd-level.

Adult social care policy and practice in England have been dominated by two competing imperatives, namely personalization and safeguarding. They have largely followed parallel tracks, with practitioners and managers, service users, and care-givers having to manage the complex interface between choice, autonomy, risk, and protection. Not surprisingly, practice approaches have shown considerable variation towards service users with and without decision-making capacity, with respect to their choices about risk. Levels of legal knowledge among practitioners and managers have also been patchy, introducing additional uncertainty about how to approach complex cases where empowerment principles appear to clash with safe, protective outcomes. This paper considers the research evidence on outcomes of current policies on personalization and adult safeguarding, and reviews proposals in the Care Bill for reform of this key area of policy and practice. The paper concludes with implications for practitioners and...

Coagulase-negative staphylococci (CNS) are the most frequently isolated bacteria from milk samples in several studies worldwide. Despite their relative frequency, specific measures aiming at their control are not well established. One possible measure to include in a control programme is lactational antimicrobial treatment. The decision to perform such treatment, as well as other actions on farm, should be based on the likelihood of financial return. A deterministic model was used to evaluate whether performing an antimicrobial treatment during the lactation for quarters infected with CNS was financially justifiable. Input variables for the impact of CNS on udder health were based on a previous study by the same authors and on available literature on the subject. Prices included in the model were based on 2009/2010 conditions in Portugal. The average result per antimicrobial treated quarter was a net loss of €38·74. Performing a sensitivity analysis to evaluate how systematic variation of the input variables of the model would lead to outcome changes showed that variation in input variables nearly always led to a negative outcome, with the greatest variation in losses observed for variation in the length of treatment and milk withdrawal period (−€46·26 to −€28·49). The situations in which a net benefit was to be expected included the bulk tank somatic cell count decreasing to a level corresponding to a premium payment or to penalties being avoided, and the prevention of transmission of CNS in the milking parlour when the possibility of transmission was at its highest level. For most situations, lactational treatment of CNS subclinical mastitis was not financially justifiable.

This reassessment of the continuing significance of Lipsky's (1980) work on ‘street-level bureaucracy’ for frontline decision making is based on a retrospective review of the author's research on assessment practice in adult social care in England. The studies span the past two decades during which time successive governments have restructured and modernized social services departments. When these were established in 1970, they represented the high watermark of bureau-professionalism – a mode of administration which dominated social welfare at the time Lipsky was writing. The subsequent dismantling of bureau-professionalism calls into question the validity of his findings, and the author draws on her own research to assess conflicting views about the impact of social care reforms on the discretion which social workers exercise as street-level bureaucrats. She concludes that the distinct types of discretion to emerge from her findings, represented in a taxonomy, are shaped by the differing micro environments of frontline practice which, in turn, affect the relative force of managerialism, professionalism and user empowerment in countering the defensive exercise of discretion described by Lipsky. Whilst her analysis affirms the continuing significance of Lipsky's analysis, it also points to the need for some revision to accommodate major shifts in welfare administration since the publication of his work. She highlights the potential relevance of these insights for investigating the next planned transformation of adult social care, personalization, as well as for the implementation literature more widely.

Dystocia is considered painful and stressful for both the dam and the calf, although systematic evidence of this is limited. Few studies have investigated biochemical markers of stress and pain postpartum and whether any adverse effects are ameliorated by administration of analgesia. In this study, cow-calf pairs experiencing both mild to moderate farmer assistance and no assistance at parturition were randomly assigned to either treatment or placebo group in a two-by-two design (animals subject to veterinary intervention were excluded). The treatments were the NSAID ketoprofen or saline, administered within three hours of parturition. Blood samples taken in the immediate postpartum period, and at 24 hours, 48 hours and 7 days after parturition, were analysed for plasma concentrations of creatine kinase and cortisol (cows and calves) and plasma L-lactate and total protein concentration (calves). Stress biomarkers were highest in the immediate postpartum period and declined over time (P0.05). Cow plasma cortisol was higher in animals experiencing assisted parturition in the immediate postpartum period (P=0.023); by 24 hours no difference was evident. Intervention with NSAID analgesia did not result in beneficial changes in stress biomarkers. Based on biomarkers alone, this suggests limited benefits of NSAID treatment in unassisted or mild to moderately assisted parturition.

Although Corynebacterium bovis and coagulase-negative staphylococci are frequently the most commonly isolated bacteria from milk samples submitted for identification of pathogens causing intramammary infection, the individual quarter somatic cell count (SCC) from those samples is most often low. The present study aimed at evaluating the difference in bacteriology results from milk sampled by the standard technique (as recommended by the National Mastitis Council) and by the use of a teat cannula surpassing the teat canal, since C. bovis is often only found in the teat canal. Single quarter milk samples were collected in duplicate from 132 dairy cows on a commercial dairy farm using the standard milk sampling technique and also using a cannula introduced into the teat. Two groups of quarters were sampled: a group that was selected randomly at cow and quarter level and a group that was selected based on having SCC >200 000 cells/ml at the previous milk recording at cow level and on California mastitis test result at quarter level. Bacteriological culture performed on the samples yielded 29 Corynebacterium spp. isolates from the samples collected with the standard technique and 6 isolates from the samples collected with a cannula. Bacteriological culture yielded 73 and 100 culture negative samples respectively with the standard and the alternative sampling technique. A significant difference between the two sampling techniques was observed for recovery of Corynebacterium spp. and for no-growth samples. There was no significant difference in the isolation of Corynebacterium spp. or other bacterial species when using the standard technique before or after sampling with the cannula; thus the observed difference in bacteriology results could not be attributed to a particular sampling order. No significant change was observed overall in individual quarter SCC measured on the sampling day and 7 d later. Our results agree with several studies showing that Corynebacterium bovis often colonizes the teat canal, without causing true intramammary infection.

The records of 116 cattle suffering from cardiac disease were examined retrospectively. On the basis of the results of postmortem examinations there were 52 cases of endocarditis, 39 of pericarditis and 25 congenital cardiac defects. The most useful clinical tool for differentiating between these conditions was auscultation of the heart. The cases of pericarditis were characterised by muffled heart sounds, and the cases of endocarditis and congenital cardiac defects were characterised by a cardiac murmur. Endocarditis could be differentiated from congenital cardiac defects by the presence of a jugular pulse, venous distension, oedema, a reduced appetite, pain and polyarthritis, whereas congenital defects were associated with conformational abnormalities. These two conditions could also be differentiated by differences in the plasma sodium concentration, the albumin:globulin ratio, red blood cell count, lymphocyte count and haematocrit. The ability to differentiate between these three groups of cardiac diseases can help the veterinary practitioner in deciding whether treatment, economic salvage (slaughter for human consumption) or disposal (slaughter not for human consumption) is likely to be the best option.

During a 12-month longitudinal study, bulk-tank milk was collected from organic (n=17) and conventional (n=19) dairy farms in the UK. Milk samples were analysed for vitamin A (retinol), vitamin E (α-tocopherol) and β-carotene content. The farming system type, herd production level and nutritional factors affecting the milk fat vitamin content were investigated by use of mixed model analyses. Conventionally produced milk fat had a higher mean content of vitamin A than organically produced milk fat, although there were no significant differences in the vitamin E or β-carotene contents between the two types of milk fat. Apart from farming system, other key factors that affected milk fat vitamin content were season, herd yield and concentrate feeding level. Milk vitamin content increased in the summer months and in association with increased concentrate feeding, whilst higher-yielding herds had a lower milk vitamin E and β-carotene content. Thus, conventional dairy farms in the UK produced milk with a higher vitamin A content, possibly owing to increased vitamin A supplementation in concentrate feeds. However, knowledge of the effects of season, access to fresh grazing or specific silage types and herd production level may also be used by all producers and processors to enhance the vitamin content in milk.