Nitrogen and sulphur management: challenges for organic sources in temperate agricultural systems

A current global trend towards intensification or specialization of agricultural enterprises has been accompanied by increasing public awareness of associated environmental consequences. Air and water pollution from losses of nutrients, such as nitrogen (N) and sulphur (S), are a major concern. Governments have initiated extensive regulatory frameworks, including various land use policies, in an attempt to control or reduce the losses. This paper presents an overview of critical input and loss processes affecting N and S for temperate climates, and provides some background to the discussion in subsequent papers evaluating specific farming systems. Management effects on potential gaseous and leaching losses, the lack of synchrony between supply of nutrients and plant demand, and options for optimizing the efficiency of N and S use are reviewed. Integration of inorganic and organic fertilizer inputs and the equitable re-distribution of nutrients from manure are discussed. The paper concludes by highlighting a need for innovative research that is also targeted to practical approaches for reducing N and S losses, and improving the overall synchrony between supply and demand

International consensus definition of low anterior resection syndrome

Aim: Low anterior resection syndrome (LARS) is pragmatically defined as disordered bowel function after rectal resection leading to a detriment in quality of life. This broad characterization does not allow for precise estimates of prevalence. The LARS score was designed as a simple tool for clinical evaluation of LARS. Although the LARS score has good clinical utility, it may not capture all important aspects that patients may experience. The aim of this collaboration was to develop an international consensus definition of LARS that encompasses all aspects of the condition and is informed by all stakeholders. Method: This international patient–provider initiative used an online Delphi survey, regional patient consultation meetings, and an international consensus meeting. Three expert groups participated: patients, surgeons and other health professionals from five regions (Australasia, Denmark, Spain, Great Britain and Ireland, and North America) and in three languages (English, Spanish, and Danish). The primary outcome measured was the priorities for the definition of LARS. Results: Three hundred twenty-five participants (156 patients) registered. The response rates for successive rounds of the Delphi survey were 86%, 96% and 99%. Eighteen priorities emerged from the Delphi survey. Patient consultation and consensus meetings refined these priorities to eight symptoms and eight consequences that capture essential aspects of the syndrome. Sampling bias may have been present, in particular, in the patient panel because social media was used extensively in recruitment. There was also dominance of the surgical panel at the final consensus meeting despite attempts to mitigate this. Conclusion: This is the first definition of LARS developed with direct input from a large international patient panel. The involvement of patients in all phases has ensured that the definition presented encompasses the vital aspects of the patient experience of LARS. The novel separation of symptoms and consequences may enable greater sensitivity to detect changes in LARS over time and with intervention

International consensus definition of low anterior resection syndrome

Aim: Low anterior resection syndrome (LARS) is pragmatically defined as disordered bowel function after rectal resection leading to a detriment in quality of life. This broad characterization does not allow for precise estimates of prevalence. The LARS score was designed as a simple tool for clinical evaluation of LARS. Although the LARS score has good clinical utility, it may not capture all important aspects that patients may experience. The aim of this collaboration was to develop an international consensus definition of LARS that encompasses all aspects of the condition and is informed by all stakeholders. Method: This international patient–provider initiative used an online Delphi survey, regional patient consultation meetings, and an international consensus meeting. Three expert groups participated: patients, surgeons and other health professionals from five regions (Australasia, Denmark, Spain, Great Britain and Ireland, and North America) and in three languages (English, Spanish, and Danish). The primary outcome measured was the priorities for the definition of LARS. Results: Three hundred twenty-five participants (156 patients) registered. The response rates for successive rounds of the Delphi survey were 86%, 96% and 99%. Eighteen priorities emerged from the Delphi survey. Patient consultation and consensus meetings refined these priorities to eight symptoms and eight consequences that capture essential aspects of the syndrome. Sampling bias may have been present, in particular, in the patient panel because social media was used extensively in recruitment. There was also dominance of the surgical panel at the final consensus meeting despite attempts to mitigate this. Conclusion: This is the first definition of LARS developed with direct input from a large international patient panel. The involvement of patients in all phases has ensured that the definition presented encompasses the vital aspects of the patient experience of LARS. The novel separation of symptoms and consequences may enable greater sensitivity to detect changes in LARS over time and with intervention

Anomalien verleiten Menschen zu rational verzerrten Entscheidungen

Was wir einmal haben, geben wir so schnell nicht mehr her – auch wenn das rational betrachtet die bessere Lösung wäre. Dass Menschen in bestimmten Situationen nicht mehr rational entscheiden, liegt an den so genannten Entscheidungsanomalien. Eine Studentengruppe der Universität Zürich untersuchte in unserer Miniserie deren Einfluss

The views of academics about Web-Based Instruction [Web Tabanli{dotless} Ögretime yönelik akademisyen görüşleri*]

The purpose of this study is to examine views of academics about Web-Based Instruction (WBI). Within this study, twenty-four academics in Nigde University Faculty of Education were interviewed. For this purpose, the personal information form and the interview form were used which were developed by researchers based on an intensive review of the relevant literature review, the researchers' past experiences and the views of other experts in the field. The interview form is composed of three sub-dimensions; 'Instructional Dimension of WBI', 'The Positive and Negative Aspects of WBI' and 'Difficulties in WBI Practices'. The data obtained from the interview were analyzed using content analysis method. According to findings, academics find WBI useful. However, they lack knowledge and practice in this regard

First Report of a Newborn Rat Ventilation Model for Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia Permitting Evaluation of Long-Term Outcome

Background: Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) remains the leading cause of chronic pulmonary morbidity among preterm neonates. However, the exact pathophysiology is still unknown. Here we present the first results from a new model inteAbstracts, 25th International Workshop on Surfactant Replacement 400 Neonatology 2010;97:395-400 grating the most common risk factors for BPD (lung immaturity, inflammation, mechanical ventilation (MV), oxygen), which allows long-term outcome evaluation due to a non-traumatic intubation procedure. Objectives: To test the feasibility of a new rat model by investigating effects of MV, inflammation and oxygen applied to immature lungs after a ventilation-free interval. Methods: On day 4, 5, or 6 newborn rats were given an intraperitoneal injection of lipopolysaccharides to induce a systemic inflammation. 24 h later they were anesthetized, endotracheally intubated and ventilated for 8 h with 60% oxygen. After weaning of anesthesia and MV the newborn rats were extubated and returned to their mothers. Two days later they were killed and outcome measurements were performed (histology, quantitative RT-PCR) and compared to animals investigated directly after MV. Results: Directly after MV, histological signs of ventilator-induced lung injury were found. After 48 h, the first signs of early BPD were seen with delayed alveolar formation. Expression of inflammatory genes was only transiently increased. After 48 h genes involved in alveolarization, such as matrix metalloproteinase-9 and tropoelastin, showed a significant change of their expression. Conclusion: For the first time we can evaluate in a newborn rat model the effects of MV after a ventilation-free interval. This allows discrimination between immediate response genes and delayed changes of expression of more structural genes involved in alveolarization

I bovini svizzeri Holstein grigi, ricci e a pelo corto presentano tracce genetiche della razza Simmental

Vereinzelt treten in der Schweiz schwarz-weiss gescheckte Kälber auf, die im pigmentierten Bereich ein besonderes Fell aufweisen. Ansonsten sind diese Tiere normal entwickelt. Die weissen Haare sind normal, sie erscheinen jedoch verhältnismässig lang und glatt. Dagegen sind die pigmentierten Haare kraus und verkürzt. Zudem weisen die betroffenen Tiere eine variable Intensität der Fellfarbe im pigmentierten Bereich auf. Betroffene Kälber erscheinen bei Geburt eher schwarz, wobei mit zunehmendem Alter unterschiedlich aufgehellte Farben von rotbräunlich bis grau auftreten. Bei adulten Rindern erscheinen die farbigen Haare eher glatt, jedoch deutlich verkürzt. Damit verbunden ist eine sich während des Wachstums verstärkende, variable und auf den pigmentierten Bereich des Fells beschränkte Minderbehaarung. Dieses Phänomen der farbassoziierten Hypotrichose ist zuvor international in verschiedenen Fleischrinderpopulationen beschrieben worden. Diese Rinder sind oftmals einfarbig schwarz mit nur wenigen kleinen weissen Abzeichen. Auf Grund des Haarverlusts im pigmentierten Fell und insbesondere am pigmentierten Schwanz ist neben dem Begriff der kreuzungsbedingten kongenitalen Hypotrichose auch vom rat-tail syndrome gesprochen worden. Molekulargenetische Untersuchungen haben gezeigt, dass die betroffenen Tiere jeweils heterozygote Träger für zwei mit der Pigmentierung assoziierten Varianten in zwei verschiedenen Genen gewesen sind. Dieselbe Genotyp-Konstellation weisen auch die hier vorgestellten 33 ähnlich betroffenen Rinder aus der Schweiz auf. Einerseits tragen sie jeweils eine Kopie der MC1R Genvariante für die dominant vererbte schwarze Fellfarbe, sowie eine Kopie der rezessiv vererbten Rotfaktorvariante im MC1R Gen. Andererseits sind alle Fälle heterozygote Anlageträger für eine Variante im PMEL Gen, die mit einer semidominant vererbten Form der Farbverdünnung (falb) bei Simmental, Hereford und Highland Cattle assoziiert ist. Die seit Jahrzehnten praktizierte Einkreuzung der Rasse Holstein ins Original Simmental erklärt das gelegentliche Vorkommen dieses Phänomens in der Schweizer Rinderzucht.Occasionally black-and-white spotted calves appear in Switzerland, which show a special fur only in the pigmented area. Otherwise these animals are normally developed. The white hairs are normal, but they appear relatively long and smooth, because the pigmented hairs are curly and thus appear shortened. In addition, the affected animals show a variable intensity of coat colour in the pigmented area. At birth affected calves often appear black, whereas older cattle show bright colours from reddish brown to grey. This is associated with a variable hair loss that increases during growth and is limited to the pigmented area of the coat. In adult cattle the coloured hairs appear rather smooth, but they are considerably shorter. This phenomenon of pigmentation-associated hypotrichosis was previously described internationally in various beef cattle populations. The affected cattle are often solid black and show only small white spots. Therefore, the loss of hair at the pigmented fur and most visibly at the pigmented tail is called rat-tail syndrome. Another name used is also crossbreeding-related congenital hypotrichosis. Molecular genetic investigations showed that the affected animals are heterozygous carriers for two variants in two different genes associated with pigmentation. The same genotype constellation was found in the 33 similarly affected cattle from Switzerland presented here. On one hand, they each carry a copy of the MC1R gene gain-of-function variant causing dominant black, as well as a copy of the recessively inherited red factor loss-of-function variant in the MC1R gene. On the other hand, all cases are heterozygous carriers for a variant in the PMEL gene that is associated with a semi-dominantly inherited form of colour dilution (dun or silver) in Simmental, Hereford and Highland Cattle. The introgression of Holstein cattle into the Original Simmental breed, which has been practised for decades, explains the occasional occurrence of this phenomenon in Swiss cattle breeding.En Suisse, on peut parfois observer des veaux tachetés noirs et blancs présentant un pelage spécial uniquement dans la zone pigmentée des poils. Ces animaux sont normalement développés; les poils blancs sont normaux mais semblent relativement longs et lisses, alors que les poils pigmentés sont bouclés et raccourcis. En outre, les animaux atteints présentent une intensité variable de la couleur du pelage dans la zone pigmentée. À la naissance, ces veaux apparaissent souvent noirs, alors qu’en grandissant ils présentent une couleur plus claire allant du brun rougeâtre au gris. Chez les bovins adultes, les poils colorés semblent plutôt lisses mais sont nettement raccourcis. Ceci est associé à une diminution de la pilosité variable augmentant pendant la croissance et se limitant à la zone pigmentée du pelage. Ce phénomène d’hypotrichose associée à la pigmentation a déjà été décrit au niveau international dans diverses races à viande bovines. Ces bovins sont souvent d’un noir uniforme et ne présentent que de petites taches blanches. En raison de la perte de poils dans le pelage pigmenté et plus visiblement au niveau de la queue pigmentée, on appelle ce syndrome syndrome de la queue de rat (rat-tail syndrom), également appelé hypotrichose congénitale liée au croisement. Les études de génétique moléculaire ont montré que les animaux affectés sont porteurs hétérozygotes de deux variantes de deux gènes différents associés à la pigmentation. La même constellation génotypique a été retrouvée chez les 33 bovins suisses présentés ici. D’une part, ces derniers portent chacun une copie de la variante du gène dominant MC1R causant le noir, ainsi qu’une copie de la variante récessive du facteur rouge dans le gène MC1R. D’autre part, tous les cas sont porteurs hétérozygotes d’une variante du gène PMEL associée à une forme de dilution de couleur semi-dominante héréditaire (dun ou argent) chez les races Simmental, Hereford et Highland Cattle. Le croisement des bovins Holstein avec la race Simmental originale, pratiquée depuis des décennies, explique la présence occasionnelle de ce phénomène dans l’élevage bovin suisse.Di tanto in tanto, in Svizzera nascono vitelli maculati di bianco e nero, che hanno un pelo particolare solo nella zona pigmentata. Altrimenti questi animali hanno uno sviluppo normale. I peli bianchi sono normali, ma appaiono relativamente lunghi e lisci mentre i peli pigmentati sono ricci e corti. Inoltre, gli animali in questione mostrano un’intensità variabile del colore del mantello nella zona pigmentata. I vitelli coinvolti tendono ad apparire neri alla nascita, ma con l’età cambiano con vari gradi di schiarimento dal bruno rossastro al grigio. Nei bovini adulti, i peli colorati appaiono piuttosto lisci, ma notevolmente accorciati. Questo viene associato durante la crescita a un incremento della pelosità ridotta che è variabile e limitata alla zona pigmentata del mantello. Questo fenomeno di ipotricosi associata ai colori è stato già precedentemente descritto a livello internazionale in varie popolazioni di bovini da carne. Questi bovini sono spesso di colore nero monocromatico con solo poche e piccole macchie bianche. A causa della perdita dei peli del mantello pigmentato e soprattutto sulla coda pigmentata, è stato usato il termine rat-tail syndrome in aggiunta al termine ipotricosi congenita causata dall’incrocio. Studi di genetica molecolare hanno dimostrato che gli animali colpiti erano portatori eterozigoti per due varianti associate alla pigmentazione in due geni diversi. La stessa costellazione di genotipi si è rilevata anche nei 33 bovini qui presentati provenienti dalla Svizzera, che sono stati colpiti in modo molto simile. Da un lato, ognuno di essi porta una copia della variante del gene MC1R per il colore del mantello nero ereditato dominante, così come una copia della variante del fattore rosso ereditato recessivamente nel gene MC1R. D’altra parte, tutti i casi sono portatori eterozigoti per una variante del gene PMEL associata a una forma semidominante di dispersione del colore (giallo pallido) nelle razze Simmental, Hereford e ­Highland Cattle. L’incrocio della razza Holstein con la razza Original Simmental, praticato da decenni, spiega il verificarsi occasionale di questo fenomeno nell’allevamento bovino svizzero

Co-cultivation is a powerful approach to produce a robust functionally designed synthetic consortium as a live biotherapeutic product (LBP)

ABSTRACTThe success of fecal microbiota transplants (FMT) has provided the necessary proof-of-concept for microbiome therapeutics. Yet, feces-based therapies have many associated risks and uncertainties, and hence defined microbial consortia that modify the microbiome in a targeted manner have emerged as a promising safer alternative to FMT. The development of such live biotherapeutic products has important challenges, including the selection of appropriate strains and the controlled production of the consortia at scale. Here, we report on an ecology- and biotechnology-based approach to microbial consortium construction that overcomes these issues. We selected nine strains that form a consortium to emulate the central metabolic pathways of carbohydrate fermentation in the healthy human gut microbiota. Continuous co-culturing of the bacteria produces a stable and reproducible consortium whose growth and metabolic activity are distinct from an equivalent mix of individually cultured strains. Further, we showed that our function-based consortium is as effective as FMT in counteracting dysbiosis in a dextran sodium sulfate mouse model of acute colitis, while an equivalent mix of strains failed to match FMT. Finally, we showed robustness and general applicability of our approach by designing and producing additional stable consortia of controlled composition. We propose that combining a bottom-up functional design with continuous co-cultivation is a powerful strategy to produce robust functionally designed synthetic consortia for therapeutic use