The Legacy of 1812: How a Little War Shaped the Transatlantic World

The War of 1812 may have been a small and inconclusive war, but it had a profound and lasting impact of all the belligerents. The war may be largely forgotten, but it left a huge legacy that is still evident today. Wars can best be measured by their consequences, and the legacy of this war was both multifaceted and lasting. The conflict shaped both the United States and Canada as well as their relationship with Great Britain for nearly a century thereafter. It helps to explain how the Anglo-American alliance originated and why the British welcomed the Pax Americana in the twentieth century, as well as why Canada never joined the American Union and why American expansion after 1815 aimed south and west rather than north. It was during the War of 1812 that the great Shawnee leader Tecumseh earned his reputation, Laura Secord became famous, and Andrew Jackson began his rise to the presidency. Its impact on American culture was also far reaching and produced ‘The Star-Spangled Banner’, Uncle Sam and ‘Old Ironsides’, amongst other symbols of United States nationhood

Relationship between illness representation and self-efficacy

Aim.  This paper reports a patient survey exploring the possible relationship between illness perception and self-efficacy following a cardiac event, and the implications this could have for nursing practice.Background.  Cardiac rehabilitation guidelines endorse the need to improve psychological care; suggesting that individualized support will improve the effectiveness of cardiac rehabilitation. Surveys, however, continue to identify that psychosocial factors are poorly assessed. Illness representation and self-efficacy are two prominent research approaches that have been developed as separate foci for the treatment of patients.Method.  A cross-sectional survey with patients diagnosed with either myocardial infarction or angina over an 8-month period in two hospitals. The Illness Perception Questionnaire, General Self-Efficacy Questionnaire, Cardiac Diet Self-efficacy Instrument and Cardiac Exercise Self-efficacy Instrument were used, alongside two specifically-designed scales: the Diet Outcome Expectation and Exercise Outcome Expectation Scales.Results.  The results indicate that there is a significant relationship between illness perception and self-efficacy. The greater patients’ perceived consequences of the heart condition, the lower was the general self-efficacy available to cope with the condition. Further, the longer the perceived time the condition will affect the patient, the higher the specific self-efficacy to maintain a change of diet or exercise regime.Conclusion.  The findings identify that, in the initial phase of recovery, nursing practice needs to focus on the key variables of ‘consequence’ and ‘timeline’ in order to increase patients’ confidence in their ability to cope (self-efficacy)

Understanding the genetic complexity of puberty timing across the allele frequency spectrum

Pubertal timing varies considerably and is associated with later health outcomes. We performed multi-ancestry genetic analyses on ~800,000 women, identifying 1,080 signals for age at menarche. Collectively, these explained 11% of trait variance in an independent sample. Women at the top and bottom 1% of polygenic risk exhibited ~11 and ~14-fold higher risks of delayed and precocious puberty, respectively. We identified several genes harboring rare loss-of-function variants in ~200,000 women, including variants in ZNF483, which abolished the impact of polygenic risk. Variant-to-gene mapping approaches and mouse gonadotropin-releasing hormone neuron RNA sequencing implicated 665 genes, including an uncharacterized G-protein-coupled receptor, GPR83, which amplified the signaling of MC3R, a key nutritional sensor. Shared signals with menopause timing at genes involved in DNA damage response suggest that the ovarian reserve might signal centrally to trigger puberty. We also highlight body size-dependent and independent mechanisms that potentially link reproductive timing to later life disease

Effects of binary seed mixtures of ryegrass, cocksfoot and tall fescue on pasture production

This study measured total dry matter production and botanical composition of binary mixtures of cocksfoot (Dactylis glomerata), ryegrass (Lolium perenne) or tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea), as a replacement series in proportions of 100:0, 75:25, 50:50, 25:75 and 0:100 from June 1987 until May 1993. The binary mixtures were sown in March 1986 with white clover, on an occasionally drought affected Kaweku silt loam, with an average annual rainfall of 750 mm near Riversdale, in Southland. Mixtures with ryegrass were allowed a 6-month establishment period before ryegrass was overdrilled in early October 1986. Total yields of ryegrass/cocksfoot mixtures increased as ryegrass seeding rate increased. Clover yields were generally unaffected. Mixtures of cocksfoot/tall fescue produced more sown grass than either species sown alone. This lowered clover and other grass yields, resulting in no total dry matter yield improvement in mixtures compared to pure sowings. Tall fescue/ ryegrass mixtures were competitive in winter and spring with lower total yields than either species sown alone. This competition also lowered other grass yields. During summer and autumn the total production increased as the amount of ryegrass increased. Seed mixtures with two perennial temperate pasture grasses did not provide any extra pasture production in a cool temperate environment under infrequent hard grazing management. The best choice for the region would be the grass that provided the greatest dry matter yield. Other components such as clover may be reduced when mixing grasses. Keywords: cocksfoot, competition, Dactylis glomerata, Festuca arundinacea, Lolium perenne, mixtures, pasture yield, replacement series, ryegrass, tall fescue, white clover</jats:p

A WHITE CLOVER BRED FOR SOUTHERN REGIONS

Between 1975 and 1982, 320 white clover lines from overseas and New Zealand were evaluated for agronomic potential in southern regions of New Zealand. Two distinct types showed promise. Persistent ecotypes with small leaves and many stolons had an active spring-summer growth pattern suited to the climate of OtagwSouthland Productive types ('Grassland Huia' selections, Mediterranean and French material) had larger leaves with fewer stolons, competed well with grass, were tolerant to leaf diseases but lacked persistence. In 1983, a hybridisation programme combined the desirable features of both persistent and productive types. The best Fl and F2 hybrid lines had a dense morphology, produced 20% greater sprinpsummer yields than the standard Huia and showed good leaf disease tolerance. In 1985, 58 superior plants were selected and polycrossed. The bulk seed from this isolation formed a new we-release cultivar called Southern selection. The selection is being compared with HUM in wards under rotational grazing at Gore. In the 1987/00 year, the selection produced 9% greater spring-summer and annual clover yields than Huia. Improved clover herbage yield was a consequence of rapid stolen development over spring. Grass and total herbage yields from the two clover-based pastures were similar. The trial will be continued in order to obtain long-term production data Keywords: white clover, 'Grasslands Huia'. Southern selection, ryegrass, breeding, productivity, persistence</jats:p

PERFORMANCE OF GRASSLANDS PUNA CHICORY

Four separate experiments evaluating Grasslands Puna chicory (Cichorium intybus) are reported. Three of these experiments used animals to measure the quality while the fourth looked at establishment and persistence on summer dry areas in Southland. Liveweight gains both with calves and lambs were higher with Puna than could be expected with conventional pastures. In an autumn trial lambs grazing Puna grew over 70 g/head/day faster than those grazing rape. Grasslands Puna established and persisted when sown in pasture mixtures in Southland. Production was maintaned at a high level after three years of rotational grazing. Keywords: Cichorium intybus; pasture quality; herbage allowance; animal performance</jats:p