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Abstract Principal component analysis is a widely used 'dimension reduction' technique, albeit generally at a phenotypic level. It is shown that we can estimate genetic principal components directly through a simple reparameterisation of the usual linear, mixed model. This is applicable to any analysis fitting multiple, correlated genetic effects, whether effects for individual traits or sets of random regression coefficients to model trajectories. Depending on the magnitude of genetic correlation, a subset of the principal component generally suffices to capture the bulk of genetic variation. Corresponding estimates of genetic covariance matrices are more parsimonious, have reduced rank and are smoothed, with the number of parameters required to model the dispersion structure reduced from k(k + 1)/2 to m(2k - m + 1)/2 for k effects and m principal components. Estimation of these parameters, the largest eigenvalues and pertaining eigenvectors of the genetic covariance matrix, via restricted maximum likelihood using derivatives of the likelihood, is described. It is shown that reduced rank estimation can reduce computational requirements of multivariate analyses substantially. An application to the analysis of eight traits recorded via live ultrasound scanning of beef cattle is given.

Aim: This study was designed to explore experiences of high school athletes in order to understand their occupational engagement after sustaining a sports-related concussion. The study explored the role occupational therapists (OTs) can play in post-concussion care while supporting adolescents in returning to meaningful occupations., Methods: The study utilized a qualitative, phenomenological approach by conducting interviews with high school athletes to understand their participation in occupations during recovery. Six student-athletes from 14-18 years of age were interviewed., Results: The five identified themes from the study included impacts on ADL performance, school performance, sleep, mental health, and driver safety. Student-athletes reported feelings of loneliness and loss of identity. Dressing, showering, grooming, and driving were disturbed due to balance deficits, headaches, and nausea. Participants reported decreased participation in social, sports, and leisure occupations due to heightened symptoms., Conclusions: Due to the considerable variability of disturbance in occupational participation post-concussion, occupational therapists can assist in creating and implementing individualized treatment plans to support high school athletes while recovering from a sports-related concussion.

Objective: To assess the effect of serum total protein (STP) concentration on the early-life health and growth of dairy calves., Animals: 39,619 neonatal Holstein, Jersey, and crossbred calves from 15 dairy operations., Procedures: Calves arrived at a single calf-raising facility at approximately 2 days old. Each calf was weighed at facility arrival, and a blood sample was obtained the next day for determination of STP concentration by refractometry. All calves were managed in a standard manner, and health events were recorded for 120 days. A subset of 3,214 calves was weighed at 120 days old, and the average daily gain (ADG) was calculated. Linear mixed models were used to assess the effect of STP concentration on specific health events., Results: STP concentration was associated with the incidences of death, diarrhea, pneumonia, and whether a calf received IV fluid therapy. In general, the incidence of adverse health events decreased as STP concentration increased to 6.0 g/dL, plateaued at STP concentrations between 6.0 and 8.5 g/dL, and increased at STP concentrations > 8.5 g/dL. Although STP concentration was not associated with ADG, the ADG for Holsteins increased as STP concentration increased to 8.5 g/dL and then decreased at STP concentrations > 8.5 g/dL., Conclusions and Clinical Relevance: Results suggested that, for neonatal dairy calves, an STP concentration between 6.0 and 8.5 g/dL was optimal for health and growth, and calves with an STP concentration < 5.0 or > 8.5 g/dL should be considered at high risk for adverse health events.

In the environment of rapidly mounting medication costs, pharmaceutical manufacturers' assistance programs (PMAPs) have become increasingly important in supplying medications to financially vulnerable patients. At Shenandoah Valley Compassionate Pharmacy, Winchester, Virginia, a nonprofit facility serving low-income seniors, a pharmacist and a patient advocate implement PMAPs by helping to enroll patients, dispensing medications, and providing patient counseling. To examine the effects of the program, we compared patients' clinical indicators before and after a 42-month intervention. Statistical analysis evaluated changes in clinical variables, such as systolic and diastolic blood pressure, glycosylated hemoglobin A1c, lipid panel (total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein [LDL], highdensity lipoprotein [HDL], and triglycerides [TG]) for 84 seniors diagnosed with one or more chronic conditions. Results show statistically significant improvement in total cholesterol, LDL, and mean arterial pressure (calculated). TGs and A1c did not change significantly. In addition to dispensing free medications, the pharmacist provides counseling to enhance the efficacy of geriatric pharmacotherapy.

Purpose: This exploratory study examined the relationship between performance on the University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test (UPSIT) and the Addenbrooke's Cognitive Examination (ACE) to identify a possible association between olfaction and mild cognitive impairment(MCI)., Design and Methods: 54 community-dwelling older (ages 49-91) volunteers were given the UPSIT and ACE., Results: The ACE identified 7 subjects (13%) who had probable MCI. UPSIT total scores were significantly related to ACE total scores (r = 0.37, p = 0.005). Four specific odorants (mint, lime, chocolate, and cheddar cheese) from the UPSIT identified 4 of the 7 (57.1%) probable MCI subjects. The prevalence rate of MCI in subjects over 65 was 19.4%., Implications: Selective odorants in UPSIT used with ACE show promise as a non-invasive method of detecting MCI in community dwelling elders. Detection of MCI could facilitate earlier interventions and treatment of dementia.

Background: Low-income Medicare beneficiaries without prescription benefits have high out-of-pocket medication expenses that can discourage adherence to treatment regimens. The Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act (MMA) of 2003 created a temporary drug discount card program and a prescription benefit with low-income provisions to assist with medication expenditures for eligible seniors., Objective: To determine the impact of the new drug discount card and prescription benefit on medication expenditures by low-income Medicare recipients who require pharmaceutical company assistance for obtaining medications., Design: Retrospective, nonrandomized evaluation., Setting: Family practice physicians' office in northern Virginia., Patients: 137 Medicare recipients without prescription coverage who received assistance from pharmaceutical companies for medications., Measurements: Patients were stratified into 3 categories according to income, household size, and the federal poverty line (FPL), as defined by the new Medicare act. Participants' long-term oral and inhaled medications, dosages, and instructions for use were obtained. The MMA criteria for low-income provisions were applied for the drug discount program and for the prescription benefit. Medication costs under the new Medicare benefits were compared with those incurred without assistance and with the use of pharmaceutical company programs for the cohort and FPL categories., Results: In all income categories, medication costs were lower after enrollment in all programs than those of patients without assistance. Compared with pharmaceutical company assistance, Medicare drug discount cards resulted in less savings for all income groups. For the prescription benefit, persons with incomes less than 135% of FPL had the greatest benefit because of low-income subsidies. Persons ineligible for low-income subsidies receiving the standard benefit had a smaller reduction in out-of-pocket costs and variable monthly expenditures; they realized a superior savings with pharmaceutical company assistance programs., Limitations: The generalizability of these findings is limited because the authors used a discount pharmacy to determine drug costs for persons receiving no assistance, could not determine asset criteria for the MMA drug benefit low-income subsidy, and used a selected Medicare population., Conclusions: In a low-income Medicare population without prescription coverage, pharmaceutical company programs offered considerable savings and were superior to the Medicare drug discount cards. For the Medicare prescription plan, the greatest savings was among those eligible for low-income subsidies. Month-to-month medication costs may vary substantially for persons ineligible for such subsidies, and pharmaceutical company assistance may be a better alternative.

Although cytotoxicity assays provide several advantages over mouse bioassays, sodium channel-blocking marine toxins, such as those associated with paralytic shellfish poison (PSP), require prolonged incubation periods of 24-48 h. This is in marked contrast to in vitro detection of sodium channel-enhancing marine toxins such as ciguatoxins or brevetoxins which can be accomplished in as few as 4-6 h. We developed a modified PSP cell bioassay that is as rapid as in vitro methods for sodium channel-enhancing toxins. The cell bioassay is based on a saxitoxin-dependent antagonism of the rapid in vitro effects of brevetoxin or ciguatoxin. Comparative analysis of naturally incurred PSP residues by both antagonism cell bioassay and the mouse bioassay demonstrated significant correlation. The simplicity, sensitivity, and enhanced kinetics of the new antagonism cell bioassay format provide the basis for development of a practical alternative to conventional mouse testing for PSP.

We investigated the effects of a treatment package on the performance of correct relay tags with 4 inline speed skaters. The treatment package included verbal praise following correct tags, visual feedback of performance data, and instruction for improving performance. Initial gains in the frequency of correct tags were not maintained at 6-month follow-up when baselines were reestablished. Performance on the second intervention phase for the 3 original subjects was variable and differed from the initial phase, whereas the original findings were replicated in the 4th subject. Possible reasons for this variability and implications for future research and behavioral sport interventions are considered.

Our objectives were to investigate strategies for biosecurity, expansion, and culling for expanding dairy herds in the Upper Midwest. Eighteen dairies in Iowa and Wisconsin were visited, and dairy managers and veterinarians were interviewed to characterize five biosecurity practices, herd culling practices, vaccines administered, and ensuing disease status for the herds. The majority of herds that were interviewed failed to employ comprehensive biosecurity programs for incoming cattle. Nearly 60% of herds obtained cattle from sources for which it was difficult to document genetic backgrounds and health histories, fewer than half required health testing for incoming cattle, and approximately 50% quarantined new cattle on arrival. Despite high rates of vaccination for bovine viral diarrhea, all herd owners and managers indicated that herd biosecurity was compromised as a result of expansion. Half of the interviewed herds indicated that bovine viral diarrhea and papillomatous digital dermatitis were notable disease problems. Herds that obtained cattle with unknown backgrounds and health status experienced the largest number of diseases. Before expansion, the most frequently cited reasons for culling were reproductively unsound; low milk production; mastitis, poor udder health, and high SCC; during expansion, the strategic decision to cull cows for low milk production was used less often. In addition, the stochastic simulation model, DairyORACLE, was used to evaluate economic outcomes for several expansion alternatives. Five model scenarios studied were: base scenario (herd size was maintained) and four expansion scenarios--all paired combinations of heifer quality (high, low) and voluntary culling (implemented, not implemented). Culling for low milk production yielded an additional $23.29 annually (6-yr annuity) per cow, but on the basis of purchased replacements, no voluntary culling was most profitable. Purchasing high versus low quality replacement heifers for expansions returned an additional $113.54 annually ($681.24 total net present value) per heifer purchased. Many opportunities exist to improve cattle-related factors for dairy herd expansions, including the use of comprehensive biosecurity programs, realistic planning and budgeting for cattle purchases, and cost effective purchase and culling practices.

A two-step force-proportional reinforcement procedure was used to assess the efficacy of a sucrose reward under neuroleptic challenge. The force-proportional reinforcement method entails an increase in the quality of reward contingent upon higher force-emission. This paradigm was conceived as a rate-free means of addressing the putative anhedonic effects of dopaminergic receptor-blocking agents. Results failed to support the anhedonia interpretation of neuroleptic-induced response decrements: Pimozide did not diminish the ability of a high-concentration sucrose solution to maintain elevated response forces. Alternatives to the anhedonia interpretation were discussed with emphasis on the drug's motor effects in the temporal domain.

This article identifies 10 essential elements of comprehensiveness related to school health education that have been agreed upon by key personnel long involved in one or more of the four school health curriculum programs studied in the School Health Education Evaluation (SHEE) study. Each element is briefly described and followed with one or two examples of practical applications selected from the four curricula. The authors further concur with the concept that a Consumer Reports type of reporting of school health curriculum models might be useful in further SHEE data analysis and that the "elements of comprehensiveness" concept might be a valuable adjunct to such reporting.

The School Health Curriculum Project (SHCP) and three promising health education approaches, Project Prevention, 3 Rs and High Blood Pressure (HBP), and Health Education Curriculum Guide, were the curricula used in the School Health Education Evaluation (SHEE) project. This paper contains program descriptions of each, and a brief description of the process that led to their selection. Inclusion of the School Health Curriculum Project (SHCP) was mandated by the use of government funds to support the SHEE. The three alternative curricula, Project Prevention, 3 Rs and High Blood Pressure, and Health Education Curriculum Guide, were selected on the basis of a protocol devised jointly by contractors, government project officers, and the project advisory panel.

By using a factorial experimental design, the joint effects of two levels of sucrose reward, two levels of required force, and four levels of haloperidol dose (0. 0.04, 0.08, 0.16mg/kg) were examined for three measures of operant response: peak force, duration, and interresponse time. Even though a 24% sucrose reward led to more rapid acquisition of the operant than an 8% concentration during the drug-free response shaping period, neither the reward nor the required-force manipulations interacted with haloperidol dose during subsequent testing. Haloperidol had significant elevating effects on peak force and duration of response, while lengthening interresponse time. A within-session analysis revealed drug-related slowing of both response duration and interresponse time as the operant session progressed. Finally, dose effects on peak force and duration were apparent from the beginning of the session, but effects on interresponse time reached significance later in the session. Taken together the results downplay the importance of stimulus efficacy, anhedonia and required effort in accounting for haloperidol's behavior-decrementing effects. Instead, the results raise the possibility that the haloperidol-treated rats experienced difficulty in sensorimotor control of the operant response.