Effect of induction of subacute ruminal acidosis on milk fat profile and rumen parameters

High-concentrate diets can lead to subacute ruminal acidosis and are known to result in changes of the ruminal fermentation pattern and mammary secretion of fatty acids. The objective of this paper is to describe modifications in milk fatty acid proportions, particularly odd- and branched-chain fatty acids and rumen biohydrogenation intermediates, associated with rumen parameters during a 6-wk subacute ruminal acidosis induction protocol with 12 ruminally fistulated multiparous cows. The protocol involved a weekly gradual replacement of a standard dairy concentrate with a wheat-based concentrate (610 g of wheat/kg of concentrate) during the first 5 wk and an increase in the total amount of concentrate in wk 6. Before the end of induction wk 6, cows were switched to a control diet because 7 cows showed signs of sickness. The pH was measured continuously by an indwelling pH probe. Milk and rumen samples were taken on d 2 and 7 of each week. Data were analyzed using a linear mixed model and by principal component analysis. A pH decrease occurred after the first concentrate switch but rumen parameters returned to the original values and remained stable until wk 5. In wk 5 and 6, rumen pH values were indicative of increasing acidotic conditions. After switching to the control diet in wk 6; rumen pH values rapidly achieved normal values. Odd- and branched-chain fatty acids and C18:1 trans-10 increased with increasing amount of concentrate in the diet, whereas C18:1 trans-11 decreased. Four fatty acids [C18:1 trans-10, C15:0 and C17:0+C17:1 cis-9 (negative loadings), and iso C14:0 (positive loading)] largely correlated with the first principal component (PC1); with cows spread along the PC1 axis. The first 4 wk of the induction experiment showed variation across the second principal component (PC2) only, with high loadings of anteiso C13:0 (negative loading) and C18:2 cis-9,trans-11 and C18:1 trans-11 (positive loadings). Weeks 5 and 6 deviated from PC2 and tended toward the negative PC1 axis. A discriminant analysis using a stepwise approach indicated the main fatty acids discriminating between the control and acidotic samples as iso C13:0, iso C16:0, and C18:2 cis-9. trans-11 rather than milk fat content. or C18:1 trans-10; which have been used before as indicators of acidosis. This shows that specific milk fatty acids have potential in discriminating acidotic cases

Les programmes d'interventions permettant l'augmentation de la régulation émotionnelle en milieu scolaire diminuent-ils l'agressivité des élèves?

Le lien entre la régulation émotionnelle et la diminution des comportements violents a particulièrement attiré notre attention dans la littérature. En effet la violence en milieu scolaire est un sujet qui nous tient particulièrement à cœur et nous nous intéressons aux moyens d’en venir à bout. Nous avons donc décidé, dans le cadre de ce mémoire, de nous interroger sur l’intérêt d’une intervention centrée sur l’entrainement des compétences émotionnelles, et plus particulièrement sur le rôle de la régulation émotionnelle, pour la diminution des comportements violents des élèves. Le dispositif sur lequel nous avons décidé de nous baser dans ce travail s’appelle « les classes de paix ». Il a été mis en place par l’Asbl « Education Globale et Développement » avec pour but principal d’éduquer les enfants à la paix et à la non-violence au sein même des écoles au moyen d’animations hebdomadaires. Nos lectures et nos observations tout au long de la conception de ce travail nous ont permis de poser 3 hypothèses : La première postule que les animations des Classes de Paix permettent d’augmenter la régulation émotionnelle des élèves. La deuxième hypothèse suppose que l’augmentation de cette régulation émotionnelle va diminuer l’agressivité des élèves. Enfin, la dernière avance que la relation entre le programme des classes de paix et l’agressivité est médiée par la régulation émotionnelle des élèves. Ce mémoire est divisé en deux parties : premièrement, la partie théorique dans laquelle nous tentons, par l’étude de la régulation des émotions, de voir en quoi elle est liée à l’agressivité des élèves et par quelle intervention il est possible de la diminuer. Deuxièmement, la partie empirique où nous testons empiriquement nos hypothèses à l’aide du programme des classes de paix.Mémoire de master [120] en sciences psychologiques, Université catholique de Louvain, 201

REMOTE WARFARE AND SMALL WESTERN COUNTRIES

Remote warfare consists of specific components interacting to maximize operational effectiveness. Many smaller Western countries opt for this model to counter threats from a distance, reduce risk, and curb financial costs, but due to their strategic culture and limited resources, these countries cannot fully employ the model. This research aims to determine the impact of remote warfare on risk and operational effectiveness for small Western countries. Systemic strategic analysis identifies that a synergy of intelligence sources and methods increases the available data to enhance the operational effectiveness and its measurement, thereby reducing judgmental biases and error and subsequently increasing strategic and political support. System dynamics modeling and simulation were used to analyze the effectiveness of two types of remote warfare support: training support and intelligence support to a local partner. The conclusion is that growing the partner’s force size through training is ineffective if remote intelligence support is not provided. Intelligence support to a partner nation’s force enhances its ability to find and fix the insurgent force, reducing its size and effectiveness. This research recommends shifting the focus of remote warfare support from training assistance alone to a concept that combines special operations forces with coalitions to build partner capacity and to provide a broader spectrum of support options, most importantly, more types of intelligence.Approved for public release. Distribution is unlimited.Major, Belgian Land Componen

Religious moral righteousness over care: A review and a meta-analysis

Does religion enhance an ‘extended’ morality? We review research on religiousness and Schwartz’s values, Haidt’s moral foundations (through a meta-analysis of 45 studies), and deontology versus consequentialism (a review of 27 studies). Instead of equally encompassing prosocial (care for others) and other values (duties to the self, the community, and the sacred), religiosity implies a restrictive morality: endorsement of values denoting social order (conservation, loyalty, and authority), self-control (low autonomy and self-expansion), and purity more strongly than care; and, furthermore, a deontological, nonconsequentialist, righteous orientation, that could result in harm to (significant) others. Religious moral righteousness is highest in fundamentalism and weakens in secular countries. Only spirituality reflects an extended morality (care, fairness, and the binding foundations). Evolutionarily, religious morality seems to be more coalitional and ‘hygienic’ than caring

Predictive value of liver cell dysplasia in needle liver biopsies for subsequent hepatocellular carcinoma in viral-induced chronic hepatitis and cirrhosis

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A new approach for a renewed flood risk management in Flanders; the pilot case of the Maarkebeek catchment

Based on the results of recent studies a renewed vision for flood risk management in Flanders took shape under the name of multi-layered water safety. The multi-layered water safety aims at reducing flood risk to a socially and economically acceptable level through an optimal mix of protective, preventive and preparedness measures, in which all actors in flood risk management face up to their responsibility. A new approach to develop a flood risk action plan based on the vision of multi-layered water safety was applied to the pilot case of the catchment of the Maarkebeek. Using a methodology based on quantitative economic as well as social risk values, potential measures are assessed taking climate change and land use projections into account. Measures and combinations that have a positive (or marginally but acceptable negative) cost-benefit ratio and a large social benefit are retained. These serve as a starting point for the debate on flood risk management with all the actors and for the consultation of the stakeholders. As a result of several actor meetings a ‘river contract’ was drafted. The river contract is a commitment of all actors to realise the listed measures, securing the collaborative effect. The river contract is an integrated response to the flood risk problem at catchment scale and aims at providing solutions to all affected households. This approach, applying multi-layered water safety to a local river catchment, combines an objective model-based assessment with intense stakeholder deliberation resulting in a widely accepted and objectively effective action plan i.e. the river contract, to manage flood risk in an efficient and sustainable wa

Flood4castRTF: A Real-Time Urban Flood Forecasting Model

Worldwide, climate change increases the frequency and intensity of heavy rainstorms. The increasing severity of consequent floods has major socio-economic impacts, especially in urban environments. Urban flood modelling supports the assessment of these impacts, both in current climate conditions and for forecasted climate change scenarios. Over the past decade, model frameworks that allow flood modelling in real-time have been gaining widespread popularity. Flood4castRTF is a novel urban flood model that applies a grid-based approach at a modelling scale coarser than most recent detailed physically based models. Automatic model set-up based on commonly available GIS data facilitates quick model building in contrast with detailed physically based models. The coarser grid scale applied in Flood4castRTF pursues a better agreement with the resolution of the forcing rainfall data and allows speeding up of the calculations. The modelling approach conceptualises cell-to-cell interactions while at the same time maintaining relevant and interpretable physical descriptions of flow drivers and resistances. A case study comparison of Flood4castRTF results with flood results from two detailed models shows that detailed models do not necessarily outperform the accuracy of Flood4castRTF with flooded areas in-between the two detailed models. A successful model application for a high climate change scenario is demonstrated. The reduced data need, consisting mainly of widely available data, makes the presented modelling approach applicable in data scarce regions with no terrain inventories. Moreover, the method is cost effective for applications which do not require detailed physically based modelling.</jats:p