Major management factors associated with the variation in reproductive performance of Irish dairy herds

End of project reportThe results highlight the importance of BCS in achieving good reproductive performance. The likelihood of reproductive success was best predicted by BCS around the time of breeding and, for cows calving in good BCS (3.0 or greater) the level of BCS loss between calving and first service. A low BCS pre-calving (3.5) results in excessive BCS loss (>0.5) post-calving. On the basis of these findings a pre-calving BCS of no greater than 3.25 is a sensible target for pasture-based spring calving systems in Ireland. It is necessary to maintain BCS at 2.75 or greater during the breeding season, and loss of body condition between calving and first service should be restricted to 0.5 BCS units.National Development Plan (NDP

WATER RIGHTS AND ECOLOGY ON THE WIND RIVER INDIAN RESERVATION: THE COLLISION OF HISTORIES, A TRADITION OF NEGLECT AND SUGGESTIONS FOR RESOLUTION

In 1989, in a four-to-four vote without opinion, the United States Supreme Court let stand a senior priority, reserved Indian water right for the Shoshone and Northern Arapaho Tribes of the Wind River Indian Reservation. Shortly thereafter, the Tribes issued a permit requiring a minimum flow of water, known as an \u27instream flow/ on the Wind River for fishery, environmental and cultural purposes. In 1992 however, a Wyoming Supreme Court majority ruled the Tribes must divert their water from its stream channel in order to use it and that the State Engineer shall administer the Tribes\u27 water. Without means to divert, the tribes\u27 water right has essentially been usurped. This Big Horn III case obstructs United States policy of self-determination for Indian tribes and neglects federal principles protecting tribal sovereignty from state interference. The Wyoming court decision also permits irrigators to continue practices that prohibit biological integrity for the Wind River ecosystem and seriously limit cultural, recreational and economic values of the river. Wind River tribal leaders nonetheless opted not to appeal the decision because the U.S. Supreme Court had been acting unpredictably toward Indian rights in lieu of state rights. In the early 1900\u27s, the federal government promised water to both the tribes and non-Indian farmers of the Wind River Basin. Today, mistrust and apprehension surround water use in the basin. Farmers fear their livelihoods could be lost to eventual Indian water use while the tribes watch non-Indians dry up seven miles of river each year by diverting Indian water. Some say that with efficiency, plenty of water exists for both interests. After twenty years and over $20 million, no court or agency has been able to resolve this water rights conflict. It is time for the diverse people of the Wind River to rise above their fears and respect one another in their inherent connection to each other and their river. With mutual respect, the Wind River watershed community can collectively and responsibly manage their water resources in an open, watershed council forum

A Multi-Disciplinary Approach to Cultural Learning Through Cable Television

This article examines a multi-disciplinary approach to cultural learning through cable television. In the U.S., television current affairs programming is now being used in place of conventional textbooks in those subject areas dealing with rapidly unfolding world developments, such as history and political science. While it may take years to revise a traditional textbook, college educators are relying on the quickness of television--as well as print mass media--to help their students comprehend dynamic global events. In 1989, recognizing their own potential as an educational resource, major cable companies and programmers created Cable in the Classroom to help K-to-12th grade educators integrate educational programming into their curricula. Members set aside special blocks of air time for educational programs that have no commercial interruption and no copyright restrictions except a time limit on use of video copies

Implementing biosecurity measures on dairy farms in Ireland

peer-reviewedDairy farms in Ireland are expanding in preparation for a new era of unrestricted milk production with the elimination of the European Union (EU) production quotas in 2015. Countries experiencing a changing agricultural demographic, including farm expansion, can benefit from documenting the implementation of on-farm biosecurity. The objectives of this study were to document and describe influences on biosecurity practices and related opinions on dairy farms. A representative response rate of 64% was achieved to a nationwide telesurvey of farmers. A 20% discrepancy was found between self-declared and truly ‘closed’ herds indicating a lack of understanding of the closed herd concept. Although >72% of farmers surveyed considered biosecurity to be important, 53% stated that a lack of information might prevent them from improving their biosecurity. Logistic regression highlighted regional, age, and farm-size related differences in biosecurity practices and opinions towards its implementation. Farmers in the most dairy cattle dense region were three times more likely to quarantine purchased stock than were their equivalents in regions where dairy production was less intense (P = 0.012). Younger farmers in general were over twice as likely as middle-aged farmers to implement biosecurity guidelines (P = 0.026). The owners of large enterprises were almost five times more likely to join a voluntary animal health scheme (P = 0.003), and were over three times more likely to pay a premium price for health accredited animals (P = 0.02) than were those farming small holdings. The baseline data recorded in this survey will form the basis for more detailed sociological and demographic research which will facilitate the targeting of future training of the farming community in biosecurity

Reactive Oxygen Species and Oxidative Stress in the Pathogenesis of MAFLD

The pathogenesis of metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is complex and thought to be dependent on multiple parallel hits on a background of genetic susceptibility. The evidence suggests that MAFLD progression is a dynamic two-way process relating to repetitive bouts of metabolic stress and inflammation interspersed with endogenous anti-inflammatory reparative responses. In MAFLD, excessive hepatic lipid accumulation causes the production of lipotoxins that induce mitochondrial dysfunction, endoplasmic reticular stress, and over production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Models of MAFLD show marked disruption of mitochondrial function and reduced oxidative capacitance with impact on cellular processes including mitophagy, oxidative phosphorylation, and mitochondrial biogenesis. In excess, ROS modify insulin and innate immune signaling and alter the expression and activity of essential enzymes involved in lipid homeostasis. ROS can also cause direct damage to intracellular structures causing hepatocyte injury and death. In select cases, the use of anti-oxidants and ROS scavengers have been shown to diminish the pro-apoptopic effects of fatty acids. Given this link, endogenous anti-oxidant pathways have been a target of interest, with Nrf2 activation showing a reduction in oxidative stress and inflammation in models of MAFLD. Thyroid hormone receptor β (THRβ) agonists and nuclear peroxisome proliferation-activated receptor (PPAR) family have also gained interest in reducing hepatic lipotoxicity and restoring hepatic function in models of MAFLD. Unfortunately, the true interplay between the clinical and molecular components of MAFLD progression remain only partly understood. Most recently, multiomics-based strategies are being adopted for hypothesis-free analysis of the molecular changes in MAFLD. Transcriptome profiling maps the unique genotype-phenotype associations in MAFLD and with various single-cell transcriptome-based projects underway, there is hope of novel physiological insights to MAFLD progression and uncover therapeutic targets

Advances and Emerging Therapies in the Treatment of Non-alcoholic Steatohepatitis

Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) now represents one of the most prevalent forms of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. A number of treatment agents have undergone assessment in humans following promising results in animal models. Currently, about 50 therapeutic agents are in various stages of development. Recently, however, there have been a number of exciting and positive developments in this landscape, although there are inherent challenges ahead. In this article, we review the aetiological and pathological basis of NASH progression and describe putative targets for current therapies. We also discuss some of the likely future directions and difficulties around this complex and challenging disease paradigm

Future destinations and social inclusion scoping review:how people cured of hepatitis C (HCV) using direct- acting antiviral drugs progress in a new HCV-free world

BACKGROUND: There has been a paradigm shift in the treatment of Hepatitis C (HCV) from the interferon-era to direct-acting antiviral (DAA) drugs. Cure of HCV for the key risk group, those with a history of injecting drug use, may provide a range of benefits to an individual’s quality of life that can be additional to that of a clinical cure. The interferon-era provided evidence that cure of HCV can be a turning point for those who use drugs, supporting a recovery journey. There remains a question if DAAs can provide the same opportunity. METHODS: We employed a scoping review methodology to consider the additional non-clinical benefits that HCV cure may provide. We used the theoretical construct of recovery capital to consider how these benefits may support a recovery journey in the DAA-era. RESULTS: Our search provided 2095 articles, from which 35 were included in the analysis. We developed a thematic synthesis of the non-clinical outcomes identified based on the four over-arching themes of recovery capital: physical, cultural, social and human capital. Our review suggests that identity change is a constituent part of each of the recovery capital domains in relation to HCV treatment. CONCLUSION: We identified Social Identity Model Of Recovery (SIMOR) as a mechanism through which DAAs may provide non-clinical outcomes to increase recovery capital domains. Further research is required to develop an understanding of the impact a cure of HCV with DAAs may have on identity, overall health and wellbeing and social inclusion to support recovery journeys. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13011-022-00475-1

Identifying the Hidden Population:Former Intravenous Drug Users who are no Longer in Contact with Services. “Ask a Friend”

People who, after a period of drug use, have changed their lifestyle and left substance use behind them are a hidden population within our communities. Lack of contact with drug services may mean that they are not tested for hepatitis C (HCV) infection through service-led initiatives and, therefore, may be exposed to the chronic morbidity and risk of death inherent with a legacy of HCV infection. This study utilized respondent-driven sampling (RDS) in a novel fashion to find those at historical risk of HCV. The social networks of people with a history of drug use were mapped, and individuals not currently in contact with services were invited to come forward for testing by members of their social network. The study used a reference group to inform study methodology and communication methods to reach out to this hidden population. One hundred and nine individuals received dry blood spot tests for HCV, 17.4% were antibody positive. Fifty one individuals met the inclusion criteria for this study. One hundred and twenty three invite-to-test coupons were issued; however, only one wave of recruitment consisting of one participant resulted from this method. Using RDS in historical social networks was not effective in this study and did not reach this hidden population and increase testing for HCV. This study is registered with clinicaltrials.gov (Ref NCT03697135)