Linking livestock production to human health - creating sustainability through farming

The main dietary risk factors associated with the early onset of the non-communicable diseases (cardiovascular disease (CVD) and cancer) would seem to be the over-consumption of dietary lipids and the under-consumption of dietary micronutrients. Consumer preference for lower fat, higher protein diets and for less saturated and more polyunsaturated fat has been around for a number of years. However, more recent clinical studies have indicated benefi cial (anti-infl ammatory) effects of increasing the omega-3: omega- 6 ratio of dietary PUFA and potential anti-cancer and -heart disease effects of increasing consumption of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA). These factors are considered in relation to the fatty acid composition of milk and meat derived from organic systems. Animal products are also important sources of several micronutrients and recent information of the health benefi ts of increasing dietary selenium and iron are considered in relation to promoting organic animal products to the health-conscious consumer

A Firm-Specific Analysis of the Exchange-Rate Exposure of Dutch Firms

We examine the relationship between exchange-rate changes and stockreturns for a sample of Dutch firms over 1994-1998. We find that over50% of the firms are significantly exposed to exchange-rate risk.Furthermore, all firms with significant exchange-rate exposure benefitfrom a depreciation of the Dutch guilder relative to a trade-weightedcurrency index. This result confirms that firms in open economies,such as the Netherlands, exhibit significant exchange-rate exposure.We collect unique information on the most relevant individualcurrencies for each firm with respect to their influence on firmvalue. Our results indicate that the use of a trade-weighted currencyindex and the use of individual exchange rates are complements. Wealso measure the determinants of exchange-rate exposure. As expected,we find that firm size and the foreign sales ratio are significantlyand positively related to exchange-rate exposure. In contrast with ourhypothesis, off-balance hedging using derivatives has no significanteffects. Finally, in line with theory, we find that exposure issignificantly reduced through on-balance sheet hedging, i.e. throughforeign loans and by producing in factories abroad.risk management;The Netherlands;foreign exchange rates;international finance;exposure measurement

Increasing the quality of seismic interpretation

Acknowledgments E. Macrae was funded by an NERC Open CASE Ph.D. award (NE/F013728/1) with Midland Valley Exploration Ltd. as the industry partner. We thank 763 geoscientists for their participation, and in particular, the REs who gave their time freely to the project. M. Scott (University of Glasgow, UK) is thanked for assisting with the statistical analysis. Four reviewers are thanked for their constructive comments that improved the manuscript.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Heart diseasae in pregnancy

A series of two hundred and twenty -five patients with heart disease is reviewed, showing its incidence in pregnancy to be 0.8 per cent, and its mortality 3.1 per cent.With better obstetrics and fewer deaths from sepsis, heart disease is occupying a relatively more prominent position as a cause of maternal deaths, being the fourth most common cause in this series, and accounting for 11.6 per cent of all maternal deaths.Rheumatic fever was responsible for 93 per cent of cases, and the mitral valve was the site of the lesion in all but a few.Observation of patients with heart disease at weekly intervals is recommended, owing to the danger of their condition deteriorating and in order immediately to observe any adverse change: and it is recommended that all patients should be admitted for one week about the twenty- eighth week, for rest and assessment, and again seven to ten days before full term. Antenatal care is one of the major factors in lowering the mortality rate, and each visit of the patient should include careful medical examination, especially of her lung bases for the early crepitations, close questioning as to her daily routine and an assurance that she keeps within the limits of her cardiac reserve. It is possible that the more frequent examination and earlier advice and treatment of the Group II patients may be the key to the avoidance of the occasional failure in this group.Respiratory infections, however trivial, have to be treated seriously, as they have a tendency to resist ordinary treatment and may precipitate.heart failure; anaemia, too, should be avoided, and, if marked, a careful look-out kept for signs which might suggest subacute endocarditis, and the patient should be advised to report should she develop any new symptom.The functional heart grouping of the American Heart Association gives a good indication of the cardiac reserve, and offers a common nomenclature for reporting results.Some additional factors in assessment in individual cases, as suggested by Lamb (1934), may help to lessen the dangers of cardiac decompensation and, towards this end, the co- operation between the cardiologist and the obstetrician is essential.A history of previous failure is a bad prognosti sign, and, although there is an apparent recovery, such patients should be regarded as group IV cases. It may, in fact, be advisable, as regards the obstetric treatment, to place the patient in the least favourable group to which she may have reached, no matter what the improvement obtained with treatment, or what more favourable group she may later occupy during pregnancy.Spontaneous labour, aided, if necessary, by forceps, would seem to be the best mode of delivery, and is possible in the vast majority of cases; Caesarean section being reserved for the presence of other obstetrical complications, or, in some cases, where surgical termination of the pregnancy is indicated.It has been noted in this series, that patients with heart disease do not stand up well to prolonged labour or to accouchement force, and, if these are anticipated, a Caesarean section may be less of a risk to the patient. Observation of the pulse and respiration rates during the first stage of labour, as recommended by Mendelson and Pardee (1942), and immediate digitalisation, if necessary, may serve to prevent decompensation developing.The anaesthetic which is best advised is morphia for the first stage and pudendal block for the second stage of labour, supplemented by a light gas and oxygen and episiotomy when forceps are used.There is a definite place for therapeutic abortion in the group III and IV patients; and in others, rho have given a history of previous heart failure, it is assessed individually.The selection of bad-risk cardiac patients should be one at cardiac clinics, where they should be advised against becoming pregnant: and this precaution together with careful choosing of patients who are to proceed with pregnancy and avoid decompensation, with its attendant risks, can serve greatly to lower the mortality rate. Gilchrist and Murray Lyon (1933) say that one or two pregnancies do not shorten the expectation of life in the cardiac: and Jones (1944) advises against a third pregnancy. These observations have shown, however, that, altho pregnancy may not induce heart failure, it may leave the heart severely crippled. It has been shown in this series that patients who have changed to a less favourable functional heart group during pregnancy are more liable to show these adverse effects in later years. No difference, however, in the age of death has been shown in nulliparous and parous women.Of congenital lesions, unless there is persistent cyanosis, which would justify advising against pregnancy, or securing an early termination, the patient is treated as for other heart lesions: the exception being in those lesions where excess straining must be avoided and when, therefore, a Caesarean section should be performed.A guarded prognosis has to be given until the end of the puerperium, since the majority of fatalities occur then, and additional rest in hospital should be advised for patients at this time.Before the patient leaves hospital, to assume the extensive burdens of the care of her child, a full opportunity should be taken to discuss with her the domestic responsibilities which she has to meet: and if indicated, as it is in most cases, arrangements made whereby she may have the assistance of a Home-help, such as is now available from most local Authority Departments. Finally, a date is given to the patient for attendance at a Cardiological clinic for future advice and guidance

Mine and me: exploring the neural basis of object ownership.

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Structural and thermal response of 30 cm diameter ion thruster optics

Tabular and graphical data are presented which are intended for use in calibrating and validating structural and thermal models of ion thruster optics. A 30 cm diameter, two electrode, mercury ion thruster was operated using two different electrode assembly designs. With no beam extraction, the transient and steady state temperature profiles and center electrode gaps were measured for three discharge powers. The data showed that the electrode mount design had little effect on the temperatures, but significantly impacted the motion of the electrode center. Equilibrium electrode gaps increased with one design and decreased with the other. Equilibrium displacements in excess of 0.5 mm and gap changes of 0.08 mm were measured at 450 W discharge power. Variations in equilibrium gaps were also found among assemblies of the same design. The presented data illustrate the necessity for high fidelity ion optics models and development of experimental techniques to allow their validation

The sensory screen: phenomenology of visual perception in early European avant-garde film

At the beginning of the twentieth century, certain artists, writers, and philosophers became intrigued by the profound ways in which filmic images could pervade aspects of modern thought and experience. For them, film had the potential to reveal radical new dimensions of sensory phenomena. The early development of avant-garde film-making in Europe is culturally crucial not only for its historical and conceptual context of creative transition, but also for its dynamic exploration of processes of visual perception. The central objective of this thesis is to expose and engage these profound perceptual issues within the specific sphere of graphic abstract film. The structural formation of the thesis entails the confluencing of material for analysis into a sequence of key areas comprising the central components of avant-garde cinematic visualisation. The visual implications of each area are analysed in specific depth, whilst acknowledging their respective interactivity. Significantly, the research applies analytic theories of phenomenology in order to focus incisively upon relevant early European avant-garde filmic imagery. The potential vitality of a phenomenological theorisation of early avant-garde film resides not only within their historical contemporaneity, but at the epistemological level of the mind's cognitive engagement with the realms of creative visualisation. It is a system of analysis which aims to establish a nuanced phenomenological theory of visual perception as a matter of prime sustenance to historically crucial cinematic art forms

Evaluating MI512: An information literacy course for PhD students

The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of a six-week information literacy course for research students that was redesigned following the librarians undertaking the Postgraduate Certificate in Teaching in Higher Education. The paper presents a case study and evaluation of the impact of a teaching programme. Findings — Research students appreciate and value the expertise of library staff and are prepared to devote considerable time to an information literacy programme. The programme received excellent feedback. There is no summative assessment associated with the course and so no quantitative measure of improvement in learning. The paper provides a model programme other librarians can adapt for use at their own institution. Extended doctoral level information literacy courses are relatively uncommon and demonstrates the benefit of this type of course, to research

Using a hypothetical scenario to assess public preferences for colorectal surveillance following screening-detected, intermediate-risk adenomas: annual home-based stool test vs. triennial colonoscopy

Background To assess public preferences for colorectal cancer (CRC) surveillance tests for intermediate-risk adenomas, using a hypothetical scenario. Methods Adults aged 45–54 years without CRC were identified from three General Practices in England (two in Cumbria, one in London). A postal survey was carried out during a separate study on preferences for different first-line CRC screening modalities (non- or full-laxative computed tomographic colonography, flexible sigmoidoscopy, or colonoscopy). Individuals were allocated at random to receive a pack containing information on one first-line test, and a paragraph describing CRC surveillance recommendations for people who are diagnosed with intermediate-risk adenomas during screening. All participants received a description of two surveillance options: annual single-sample, home-based stool testing (consistent with Faecal Immunochemical Tests; FIT) or triennial colonoscopy. Invitees were asked to imagine they had been diagnosed with intermediate-risk adenomas, and then complete a questionnaire on their surveillance preferences. Results 22.1 % (686/3,100) questionnaires were returned. 491 (15.8 %) were eligible for analysis. The majority of participants stated a surveillance preference for the stool test over colonoscopy (60.8 % vs 31.0 %; no preference: 8.1 %; no surveillance: 0.2 %). Women were more likely to prefer the stool test than men (66.7 % vs. 53.6 %; p = .011). The primary reason for preferring the stool test was that it would be done more frequently. The main reason to prefer colonoscopy was its superiority at finding polyps. Conclusions A majority of participants stated a preference for a surveillance test resembling FIT over colonoscopy. Future research should test whether this translates to greater adherence in a real surveillance setting