The Broiler-Corn Ratio: Is it an Indicator of Fattened Broiler Profits?

As consumers eat healthier and obesity concerns increase, the poultry industry continues growth in sales and revenues. Data reflect ten years of broiler prices, exports, egg and chick production, cold storage stocks, company earnings and stock price. Expected results suggest a broiler-corn ratio is an indicator of company profits.Livestock Production/Industries,

A Comparative Assessment of the Broiler:Corn Ratio and Its Impact on Broiler Processors' Profitability

Input prices for broiler production, particularly corn, are becoming increasingly volatile due to increasing competition for corn from ethanol and biofuels production suggesting volatility in poultry profits will follow indicator of profits relating feed input prices and broiler meat output prices, such as a Broiler:corn ratios. Total chicken exports, total chicken ready-to-cook production, number of eggs set, number of chicks placed, and cold storage chicken inventory are used to estimate. Utilizing a distributed lag model, seventeen years of data for three Broiler:corn ratios, broiler exports, egg set, chick placements, cold storage stocks, and ready-to-cook broiler production were utilized to estimate stock share price for four major broiler producers.Demand and Price Analysis, Livestock Production/Industries,

Is There a Sex Difference in the Age of Elite Marathon Runners?

Purpose: The purposes of this study were to determine i) if there is a sex difference in the age of the elite marathon runners and ii) if the sex difference in performance altered across the years that women have participated in the marathon. Methods: Age at time of competition and running times of the first five placed male and female runners who competed in the seven marathons of the World Marathon Majors Series were analyzed. Data from as many years as was available online were retrieved so that 410 men and 410 women were included in the analysis. The marathons and years included the Berlin (1999–2009), Boston (2000–2009), Chicago (1997–2009), London (2001–2009), New York City (1990–2009), International Athletic Association Federation World Championship (1983, 1987, and every 2 yr from 1991), and Olympic (every 4 yr since 1984) marathons. Results: Women were older than men (mean ± SD = 29.8 ± 4.2 vs 28.9 ± 3.8 yr), but for only two of the seven marathons, the Chicago and the London marathons (P \u3c 0.05): the sex difference in age was not consistent across the years. There was no sex difference in age for the Berlin, Boston, New York City, World Championship, and Olympic marathons. Men were faster than women (11.6% ± 1.8%). The sex difference in running velocity varied across marathons (least for the World Championships, 10.2%) and also across years, but not systematically. This sex difference in running velocity increased from first to fifth place across all marathons. Conclusions: These data indicate that men and women physiologically peak at a similar age in marathon running performance. The sex difference in performance of elite marathon runners varied across years but has not systemically decreased or varied since the 1980s

Identification and Characterization of Helper Phage Gene Products Involved in Mobilization of Staphylococcal Pathogenicity Island SaPI1

Staphylococcal pathogenicity island SaPI1 is excised from genomic DNA and extrachromosomal copies are amplified during the vegetative growth of staphylococcal phage 80α. The amplified genetic element is subsequently encapsidated and transduced at very high frequency. Previous studies have demonstrated that the transducing particles have virions with tails that appear identical to those of helper phage 80α but have smaller capsids, commensurate with the smaller genome of the SaPI (Lindsay et.al., 1998). The morphology of the transducing particles, coupled with the observation that the genomic sequence of SaPIl (GenBank U93688) does not reveal any obvious phage structural proteins, has led to the hypothesis that SaPIl is encapsidated in a virion comprised of 80α structural proteins. Analysis of SaPIl transducing particles supports this hypothesis. Further investigation of 80α genes involved in SaPI1 mobilization was accomplished by selection of phage mutants resistant to SaPI1 interference. Two classes of SaPI1 jnterference resistant (sir) mutants were obtained, and point mutations were identified in two adjacent genes. In order to confirm the roles of these genes, an in-frame deletion of each candidate gene was constructed in an 80α prophage. All mutant phage and deletion constructs were evaluated for phage replication, SaPI1 replication, SaPIl transduction and SaPI1 interference. One gene (ORF21) was required for 80α growth and replication, but was not required for SaPIl growth or replication. The second gene (ORF22) was not essential for phage replication, but was required for SaPIl replication and high frequency transduction. The product of this gene was subsequently shown to be required for SaPIl excision

An Environmental Challenge of Body Image Disturbance in Bulimia Nervosa.

An environmental challenge of body image disturbance in bulimia nervosa was investigated. A new theoretical model was proposed to define the construct of body image disturbance in terms of body image distortion, drive for thinness, and body size dissatisfaction. The purpose of this study was to investigate the reactivity effects of an environmental challenge on body image disturbance in a 2 x 2 factorial design. Thirty-six females participated. Eighteen subjects had been diagnosed with bulimia nervosa and 18 subjects were selected as controls. Subjects were matched on height and weight and compared on a variety of measures related to body image disturbance prior to and following being weighed and eating a high-calorie snack. Body image assessment utilized the Body Image Assessment Instrument (BIA) and the Body Image Testing System (BITS). Other measures included the Goldfarb Fear of Fat Scale (GFFS), two subscales of the Eating Disorder Inventory (Body Dissatisfaction and Drive for Thinness), and subjective ratings of distress (SUDS). The GFFS score was proposed as a covariate to investigate the effects of this variable on the reactivity of body image disturbance. Analysis of covariance was determined to be inappropriate because the assumption of treatment and covariate independence was not met. The covariate was highly correlated with other dependent measures in the bulimic sample but not in the control group. Thus, the effects of the covariate were limited to between group differences. Results showed that bulimia nervosa subjects evidenced more body image disturbance on all measures at pre-assessment indicating that body image disturbance is a stable characteristic. Following the environmental challenge, bulimic subjects reported greater subjective distress and perceived themselves to be larger than they had at pre-assessment. Ideal body size estimates were not affected by the challenge. The theoretical model was revised to indicate that environmental events affect body image disturbance via an increase in current body size estimates in bulimic subjects. Control subjects did not show this effect. This study was the first to conceptualize body image disturbance as a multi-factor phenomenon within a theoretical model. Future studies should continue to investigate the reactivity of body image distortion using the BITS as this measure was found to be sensitive to the effects of an environmental challenge

Home Literacy Environments of Young Children With Down Syndrome Findings From a Web-Based Survey

Early home literacy experiences, including parent-child book reading, account for a significant amount of children\u27s later reading achievement. Yet there is a very limited research base about the home literacy environments and experiences of children with cognitive disabilities. The purpose of this study is to describe findings from a Web-based survey of home literacy environments of young children with Down syndrome. Respondents (n = 107) were mostly mothers; a majority were well educated. Findings suggest that respondents gave literacy a higher priority than reported in prior research on children with disabilities. More than 70% of respondents had 50 or more children\u27s books and also had literacy materials including flash cards, magnetic letters, and educational videos or computer games. Most parents read to their children and used these literacy materials 10 to 30 min per day. Respondents reported that their children had reached many important early literacy milestones, and they also described having relatively ambitious lifelong literacy goals for their children. Important implications for research and practice are discussed

Evaluation of an initiative providing omega-3 rich snacks to preschool children in a deprived area of Edinburgh

sch_dieunpub1808unpu

Respiratory health of elite athletes – preventing airway injury: a critical review

Elite athletes, particularly those engaged in endurance sports and those exposed chronically to airborne pollutants/irritants or allergens, are at increased risk for upper and lower airway dysfunction. Airway epithelial injury may be caused by dehydration and physical stress applied to the airways during severe exercise hyperpnoea and/or by inhalation of noxious agents. This is thought to initiate an inflammatory cascade/repair process that, ultimately, could lead to airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) and asthma in susceptible athletes. The authors review the evidence relating to prevention or reduction of the risk of AHR/asthma development. Appropriate measures should be implemented when athletes exercise strenuously in an attempt to attenuate the dehydration stress and reduce the exposure to noxious airborne agents. Environmental interventions are the most important. Non-pharmacological strategies can assist, but currently, pharmacological measures have not been demonstrated to be effective. Whether early prevention of airway injury in elite athletes can prevent or reduce progression to AHR/asthma remains to be established

How Much Observation Is Enough? Refining the Administration of SOPARC

The Systematic Observation of Play and Recreation in Communities (SOPARC) was designed to estimate the number and characteristics of people using neighborhood parks by assessing them 4 times/day, 7 days/week. We tested whether this schedule was adequate and determined the minimum number of observations necessary to provide a robust estimate of park user characteristics and their physical activity levels