A cohort study of the associations between udder conformation, milk somatic cell count, and lamb weight in suckler ewes

A cohort study of 67 suckler ewes from 1 farm was carried out from January to May 2010 to investigate associations between udder conformation, udder half milk somatic cell count (SCC), and lamb weight. Ewes and lambs were observed at lambing. Ewe health and teat condition and lamb health and weight were recorded on 4 to 5 further occasions at 14-d intervals. At each observation, a milk sample was collected from each udder half for somatic cell counting. Two weeks after lambing, ewe udder conformation and teat placement were scored. Low lamb weight was associated with ewe SCC >400,000 cells/mL (−0.73kg), a new teat lesion 14 d previously (−0.91kg), suboptimal teat position (−1.38kg), rearing in a multiple litter (−1.45kg), presence of diarrhea at the examination (−1.19kg), and rearing by a 9-yr-old ewe compared with a 6-yr-old ewe (−2.36kg). High lamb weight was associated with increasing lamb age (0.21kg/d), increasing birth weight (1.65kg/kg at birth), and increasing number of days the ewe was given supplementary feed before lambing (0.06kg/d). High udder half SCC was associated with pendulous udders (9.6% increase in SCC/cm of drop) and greater total cross-sectional area of the teats (7.2% increase of SCC/cm2). Low SCC were associated with a heavier mean litter weight (6.7% decrease in SCC/kg). Linear, quadratic, and cubic terms for days in lactation were also significant. We conclude that poor udder and teat conformation are associated with high levels of intramammary infection, as indicated by increased SCC and that both physical attributes of the udder and SCC are linked to lamb growth, suggesting that selection of suckler ewes with better udder and teat conformation would reduce intramammary infection and increase lamb growth rate

Promoting Healthy Decision-Making via Natural Environment Exposure: Initial Evidence and Future Directions

Research within psychology and other disciplines has shown that exposure to natural environments holds extensive physiological and psychological benefits. Adding to the health and cognitive benefits of natural environments, evidence suggests that exposure to nature also promotes healthy human decision-making. Unhealthy decision-making (e.g., smoking, non-medical prescription opioid misuse) and disorders associated with lack of impulse control [e.g., tobacco use, opioid use disorder (OUD)], contribute to millions of preventable deaths annually (i.e., 6 million people die each year of tobacco-related illness worldwide, deaths from opioids from 2002 to 2017 have more than quadrupled in the United States alone). Impulsive and unhealthy decision-making also contributes to many pressing environmental issues such as climate change. We recently demonstrated a causal link between visual exposure to nature (e.g., forests) and improved self-control (i.e., decreased impulsivity) in a laboratory setting, as well as the extent to which nearby nature and green space exposure improves self-control and health decisions in daily life outside of the experimental laboratory. Determining the benefits of nearby nature for self-controlled decision-making holds theoretical and applied implications for the design of our surrounding environments. In this article, we synergize the overarching results of recent research endeavors in three domains including the effects of nature exposure on (1) general health-related decision-making, (2) health and decision-making relevant for application to addiction related processes (e.g., OUD), and (3) environmentally relevant decision-making. We also discuss key future directions and conclusions

Counselor in Training 360 Degree Case Conceptualization Process for Group Supervision

This article introduces a developmental process for case conceptualization practice during group supervision based on the underpinnings of the Integrative Developmental Model presented by Stoltenberg and McNeill (2010) and Mindsets by Dweck (2006). The design incorporates a strengths-based method encouraging reflective practice and risk-taking. Practical methods for group interaction and discussion are presented

Learning-Focused Leadership and Leadership Support: Meaning and Practice in Urban Systems

Synthesizes three reports on what good education leadership means and how it can best be supported, including the role of the school leader and the transformation of central district offices to focus more on improving instruction. Outlines key practices

Renegotiation of Trade Agreements and Firm Exporting Decisions: Evidence from the Impact of Brexit on UK Exports

The renegotiation of a trade agreement introduces uncertainty into the economic environment. In June 2016 the British electorate unexpectedly voted to leave the European Union, introducing a new era in which the UK and EU began to renegotiate the terms of the UK-EU trading relationship. We exploit this natural experiment to estimate the impact of uncertainty associated with trade agreement re-negotiation on the export participation decision of firms in the UK. Starting from the Handley and Limão (2017) model of exporting under trade policy uncertainty, we derive testable predictions of firm entry into (exit from) a foreign market under an uncertain 'renegotiation regime'. Empirically, we develop measures of the trade policy uncertainty facing firms exporting from the UK to the EU after June 2016. Using the universe of UK export transactions at the firm and product level and cross-sectional variation in 'threat point' tariffs, we estimate that in 2016 over 5200 firms did not enter into exporting new products to the EU, whilst almost 4000 firms exited from exporting products to the EU. Entry (exit) in 2016 would have been 5.1% higher (4.3% lower) if firms exporting from the UK to the EU had not faced increased trade policy uncertainty after June 2016

Training Prospective Abilities through Conversation about the Extended Self

Prospection is an important cognitive achievement, and isrelated to uniquely human abilities such as planning, delay ofgratification, and goal attainment. While prospection developsrapidly during early childhood, little is known about themechanisms that support its development. Here we exploredwhether encouraging children to talk about their extendedselves (self outside the present context) boosts theirprospective abilities. Preschoolers (N = 81) participated in a5-minute interaction with an adult in which they were askedto talk about events in the near future, distant future, nearpast, or present. Compared with children discussing theirpresent and distant future, children asked to discuss events intheir near future or near past displayed better planning andprospective memory. Additionally, those two conditions weremost effective in eliciting self-projection (use of personalpronouns). Results suggest that experience communicatingabout the close-in-time, extended self contributes tochildren’s future-oriented thinking

Making an impression @UTampaSpeech: A case study using Instagram at The University of Tampa’s Center for Public Speaking

Instagram is one of the most widely used social networking sites for college students (Smith & Anderson, 2018). But using a medium because it is popular does not equate to effective use. During 2018-2019, The University of Tampa’s Center for Public Speaking performed an 11-month case study to assess our use of Instagram to examine whether it was the right platform for our communication center. We determined it was, and we offer “best practices” to use in the future and suggest other communication centers consider performing case studies of their own to assess their use of social media.

Ethics, technology, and standard practice in communication centers: Proposing a continuing education credit program based on lessons learned from law, business, and healthcare

Communication centers on university campuses can benefit from an examination of the service and relationship-centered elements of the legal profession, business, and healthcare. Meaningful parallels are presented in three areas: standard practice and education, ethics, and technology. Based on its findings, this article argues centers consider adopting a continuing education credit program. A framework for the program is provided, presenting four categories related to intended outcomes: communication skills, professional development, interpersonal training, and ethics. The program is an intervention concerned with quality and may have the potential to improve a center’s training methods, the tutoring process, and the organization as a whole.

Strategies for the Management of Postoperative Anemia in Elective Orthopedic Surgery

Objective: To assess the use of oral iron, intravenous (IV) iron, and erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs) for the prevention and management of perioperative anemia in elective orthopedic surgery patients, and to provide a clinical algorithm for use. Data Sources: A PubMed and MEDLINE search was conducted from 1964 through March 2016 using the following search terms alone or in combination: orthopedic, surgery, elective, anemia, blood transfusion, iron, erythropoiesisstimulating agents, and erythropoietin. Study Selection and Data Extraction: All English-language prospective and retrospective human studies and meta-analyses evaluating oral iron, IV iron, or ESA alone or in combination in elective orthopedic surgery patients were evaluated, provided they reported blood transfusion outcomes. Data Synthesis: A total of 9 prospective and retrospective studies and 1 meta-analysis were identified and included. In the preoperative setting, administration of oral iron, IV iron, or ESA alone or in combination to correct underlying anemia led to significantly reduced transfusion rates. Transfusion requirements were generally less with combination therapy (ESA + oral or IV iron). In the short-term perioperative or postoperative period, use of oral or IV iron led to conflicting results, with some reporting a statistically significant reduction in blood transfusions, whereas others reported none. Conclusions: In elective orthopedic surgery, IV or oral iron with or without an ESA may provide benefit in prevention of postoperative anemia and results in blood transfusion reduction without significantly increasing the risk of adverse events. These agents should be considered at the lowest effective dose with emphasis on administration prior to planned surgery