Texas A&M Beef Cattle Short Course: Program Evaluation

Survey results (n = 3,748) collected over a period of 7 years from the Texas A&M Beef Cattle Short Course (BCSC) were analyzed to evaluate course demographics and the impact of the course on attendees. Results of this survey demonstrate that attendee demographics of the BCSC are representative of beef cattle producers in the United States and that the BCSC is effective at delivering information that positively impacts beef production in Texas. Extension professionals can make use of these findings to tailor future education programs to better serve the needs of beef cattle producers nation-wide

Sex Differences in Behavior and Molecular Pathology in the 5XFAD Model

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This project included funding from the Innovative Medicines Initiative 2/EFPIA, European Quality in Preclinical Data (EQIPD) consortium under grant agreement number 777364. The authors thank Dr. Heather Buchanan and Dr. Claire Hull for their valuable help with the molecular techniques and Jack Bray for his assistance with tissue collection. We would also like to acknowledge the staff of the Medical Research Facility for their support with animal care, handling and behavioural experiments and the qPCR Core Facility at the Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Aberdeen for use of their qPCR systems.Peer reviewedPostprin

Public Policy in the Development of Export Crops: Pineapples and Tea in Kenya

SUMMARY This article examines the organisation of production and role of the state in the development of two agricultural commodities in Kenya: pineapples and tea. It explores the variation in policy strategy and public and private mix for each industry Irom a historical perspective, suggesting some reasons for the different outcomes in the case of tea — which moved from an estate to smallholder dominated crop — while pineapple cultivation shifted from smallholder to large?scale production. In each case the balance between national and international forces in shaping policy outcomes and patterns of production is considered. What emerges clearly from both cases is the central role of the state in the process of accumulation. SOMMAIRE Cet article examine l'organisation de la production et le rôle de l'état dans le développement de deux produits au Kenya; l'ananas et le thé. II examine dans une perspective historique le changement dans la stratégie politique et le rapport entre le privé et le public pour chaque industrie, et suggère quelques explications en ce qui a trait aux différents résultats dans le cas du thé — qui était une récolte de plantation pour devenir une récolte produite par de petits agriculteurs — alors que la culture de l'ananas a connu un changement de petit cultivateurs vers une production à grande échelle. Dans chacun des cas l'équilibre entre les forces nationales et internationales dans la prise de décision de gestion et les formes de production, sont considérées. Ce qui resort clairement des deux cas est le rôle central de l'état dans le processus d'accumulation. RESUMEN Este artículo examina la organización y el rol del estado en el desarrollo de dos productos agrícolas en Kenya; ananá y té. Analiza la variación en la estrategia política y la participación pública y privada en cada industria desde una perspectiva histórica, sugiriendo algunas razones para explicar los diferentes resultados producidos en cada caso: el té que orgìnalmente fue estatal y pasó a estar dominado por pequeñas unidades, mientras que el cultivo de ananá se inició en pequeñas unidades y terminó en la producción en gran escala. En ambos casos se considera el peso de las fuerzas nacionales e internacionales en el diseño de las políticas resultantes y los modelos de producción. La consideración de las dos situaciones deja claramente en evidencia el rol central desempeñado por el estado en el proceso de acumulación

Patient access to first contact practitioner physiotherapists in the UK: A national survey

Background: First Contact Practice Physiotherapists (FCPPs) offer expert care for patients with musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions in Primary Care, usually within GP practices. This is a rapidly expanding area of practice endorsed by NHS England, the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP) and the British Medical Association (BMA). Efficient and appropriate access is important for optimising FCPP practice, but there is little published information about how patients currently access FCPP appointments. Objective: To investigate how patients access FCPP appointments in General Practice. Design: Cross‐sectional online survey of FCPPs in the UK. Methods: FCPPs were surveyed about patient access to appointments. The survey instrument was designed using Jisc Online Surveys, piloted, and then distributed via social media and professional groups to FCPPs nationwide. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse demographic and multiple‐choice questions, and free text responses were analysed using quantitative content analysis. Results: 193 participants completed the survey. Booking via GP Reception (n = 179) was reported as the most common route into an FCPP appointment, closely followed by booking after seeing another clinician for the problem (n = 172). Conclusion: This research has provided clarity regarding how patients access the rapidly growing speciality of FCPP within GP practices in the UK. The role of GP Reception staff in facilitating access to FCPPs, the application of triage and the use of digital or online systems were highlighted as important elements for enabling efficient access to FCPPs by patients with MSK conditions

Pushing play in primary : findings from three case study classes

This paper explores the practicalities of implementing play-based pedagogy in early primary. Using a practitioner enquiry paradigm, data were collected during M.Ed research projects in three primary schools and presented via case study methodology. A multi-method approach was adopted, including interviews with practitioners, observations and pedagogically-designed consultation with children. The paper presents four findings: 1 Play in primary was heterogenous and context specific; 2.Teachers had considerable sway over the place of play in the classroom; 3. Children appeared engaged when they were leading their learning and playing, making the need for more play-based opportunities fundamental. 4. Lack of confidence, training, resourcing and the need to 'cover' the curriculum were apparent barriers to play pedagogy in Primary

Azole Antifungal Agents To Treat the Human Pathogens Acanthamoeba castellanii and Acanthamoeba polyphaga through Inhibition of Sterol 14α-Demethylase (CYP51)

Herein, we have investigated the amebicidal activities of the pharmaceutical triazole CYP51 inhibitors fluconazole, itraconazole, and voriconazole against Acanthamoeba castellanii and Acanthamoeba polyphaga and assess their potential as therapeutic agents against Acanthamoeba infections in humans. Amebicidal activities of the triazoles were assessed by in vitro minimum inhibition concentration (MIC) determinations using trophozoites of A. castellanii and A. polyphaga. In addition, triazole effectiveness was assessed by ligand binding studies and inhibition of CYP51 activity of purified A. castellanii CYP51 (AcCYP51) that was heterologously expressed in Escherichia coli. Itraconazole and voriconazole bound tightly to AcCYP51 (dissociation constant [Kd] of 10 and 13 nM), whereas fluconazole bound weakly (Kd of 2,137 nM). Both itraconazole and voriconazole were confirmed to be strong inhibitors of AcCYP51 activity (50% inhibitory concentrations [IC50] of 0.23 and 0.39 μM), whereas inhibition by fluconazole was weak (IC50, 30 μM). However, itraconazole was 8- to 16-fold less effective (MIC, 16 mg/liter) at inhibiting A. polyphaga and A. castellanii cell proliferation than voriconazole (MIC, 1 to 2 mg/liter), while fluconazole did not inhibit Acanthamoeba cell division (MIC, >64 mg/liter) in vitro. Voriconazole was an effective inhibitor of trophozoite proliferation for A. castellanii and A. polyphaga; therefore, it should be evaluated in trials versus itraconazole for controlling Acanthamoeba infections

The experiences of patients with musculoskeletal conditions accessing first contact physiotherapy practitioner appointments in general practice in the UK: A qualitative study

Background: First Contact Physiotherapy Practitioners (FCPPs) provide expert care for patients with musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions in General Practice. Access to FCPPs can facilitate timely care and efficient use of health services. However, there is little evidence about patient experiences of accessing FCPP appointments. Objective: To explore the experiences of patients with MSK conditions who have accessed an FCPP appointment in a General Practice setting in the UK. Design: Exploratory qualitative design. Methods: Patients with MSK conditions who had experience of accessing FCPP appointments were recruited via social media. Semi‐structured interviews were conducted and recorded via MS Teams. Data were analysed using thematic analysis. Results: Of 13 patients interviewed, there were 10 females and three males, with an age range between 20 and 80 years. The main themes identified were: (1) Awareness of FCPP, (2) Access routes, (3) Facilitators to access, (4) Barriers to access, (5) Likelihood of re‐accessing FCPP. Awareness of FCPP was generally low amongst participants. There were a variety of routes to access FCPP appointments; some were felt to be sub‐optimal by participants. Facilitators included quick/easy access to FCPP. Barriers included difficulty contacting General Practitioner (GP) surgeries and public perception of needing to see a GP initially. The likelihood of re‐consultation with a FCPP was low when participants had disappointing care experiences. Conclusion: This study provides new evidence about patient experiences of accessing FCPP. It explores positive and negative aspects of access from patients' perspectives. It also highlights areas for improvement in terms of GP staff/patient awareness and understanding of FCPP

Cross-Sectional Associations of Total Daily Volume and Activity Patterns across the Activity Spectrum with Cardiometabolic Risk Factors in Children and Adolescents

Sedentary and physical activity patterns (bouts/breaks) may be important for cardiometabolic health in early life. This study aimed to examine cross-sectional associations of total daily volume and patterns across the activity spectrum with cardiometabolic risk factors in youth aged 7–13 years. Objectively measured accelerometer and cardiometabolic risk factor data were pooled from two studies (n = 1219; 69% valid accelerometry). Total daily volume of sedentary time and light-, moderate-, and vigorous-intensity physical activity was determined. Time in sustained bouts and median bout lengths of all intensities and breaks in sedentary time were also calculated. Outcomes included body mass index, waist circumference, blood pressure, blood lipids, and a cardiometabolic summary score. Regression models revealed beneficial associations between total daily volumes of moderate- and vigorous-intensity physical activity and cardiometabolic risk. Time spent in ≥1 min vigorous-intensity physical activity bouts was beneficially associated with cardiometabolic risk, yet this disappeared after adjusting for total vigorous-intensity physical activity and confounders. Time accumulated in light- (≥1 min; ≥5 min) and moderate-intensity (≥1 min) physical activity bouts was detrimentally associated with cardiometabolic risk. Total daily volume and activity patterns may have implications for cardiometabolic risk early in life. Sporadic physical activity may be more beneficial for health than sustained physical activity

Physical activity and exercise in dementia : an umbrella review of intervention and observational studies

Background: Dementia is a common condition in older people. Among the potential risk factors, increasing attention has been focused on sedentary behaviour. However, synthesizing literature exploring whether physical activity/exercise can affect health outcomes in people with dementia or with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is still limited. Therefore, the aim of this umbrella review, promoted by the European Geriatric Medicine Society (EuGMS), is to understand the importance of physical activity/exercise for improving cognitive and non-cognitive outcomes in people with dementia/MCI. Methods: Umbrella review of systematic reviews (SR) (with or without meta-analyses) of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and observational (prospective and case-control in people with MCI) studies based on a systematic literature search in several databases. The certainty of evidence of statistically significant outcomes attributable to physical activity/exercise interventions was evaluated using Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach. Results: Among 1,160 articles initially evaluated, 27 systematic reviews (4 without meta-analysis) for a total of 28,205 participants with dementia/MCI were included. No observational study on physical activity/exercise in MCI for preventing dementia was included. In SRs with MAs, physical activity/exercise was effective in improving global cognition in Alzheimer’s disease and in all types of dementia (very low/low certainty of evidence). Moreover, physical activity/ exercise significantly improved global cognition, attention, executive function, and memory in MCI, with a certainty of evidence varying from low to moderate. Finally, physical activity/exercise improved non-cognitive outcomes in people with dementia including falls and neuropsychiatric symptoms. SRs, without meta-analysis, corroborated these results. Conclusions: Supported by very low to moderate certainty of evidence, physical activity/exercise has a positive effect on several cognitive and non-cognitive outcomes in people with dementia and MCI, but RCTs, with low risk of bias/confounding, are still needed to confirm these findings

Associations between activity patterns and cardio-metabolic risk factors in children and adolescents: a systematic review

INTRODUCTION: Total volumes of physical activity and sedentary behaviour have been associated with cardio-metabolic risk profiles; however, little research has examined whether patterns of activity (e.g., prolonged bouts, frequency of breaks in sitting) impact cardio-metabolic risk. The aim of this review was to synthesise the evidence concerning associations between activity patterns and cardio-metabolic risk factors in children and adolescents aged 5-19 years. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A systematic search of seven databases was completed in October 2017. Included studies were required to report associations between objectively-measured activity patterns and cardio-metabolic risk factors in children and/or adolescents, and be published between 1980 and 2017. At least two researchers independently screened each study, extracted data, and undertook risk of bias assessments. RESULTS: From the 15,947 articles identified, 29 were included in this review. Twenty-four studies were observational (cross-sectional and/or longitudinal); five were experimental. Ten studies examined physical activity patterns, whilst 19 studies examined sedentary patterns. Only one study examined both physical activity and sedentary time patterns. Considerable variation in definitions of activity patterns made it impossible to identify which activity patterns were most beneficial to children\u27s and adolescents\u27 cardio-metabolic health. However, potential insights and current research gaps were identified. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: A consensus on how to define activity patterns is needed in order to determine which activity patterns are associated with children\u27s and adolescents\u27 cardio-metabolic risk. This will inform future research on the impact of activity patterns on children\u27s and adolescents\u27 short- and longer-term health