How does reviewing the evidence change veterinary surgeons' beliefs regarding the treatment of ovine footrot? A quantitative and qualitative study

Footrot is a widespread, infectious cause of lameness in sheep, with major economic and welfare costs. The aims of this research were: (i) to quantify how veterinary surgeons’ beliefs regarding the efficacy of two treatments for footrot changed following a review of the evidence (ii) to obtain a consensus opinion following group discussions (iii) to capture complementary qualitative data to place their beliefs within a broader clinical context. Grounded in a Bayesian statistical framework, probabilistic elicitation (roulette method) was used to quantify the beliefs of eleven veterinary surgeons during two one-day workshops. There was considerable heterogeneity in veterinary surgeons’ beliefs before they listened to a review of the evidence. After hearing the evidence, seven participants quantifiably changed their beliefs. In particular, two participants who initially believed that foot trimming with topical oxytetracycline was the better treatment, changed to entirely favour systemic and topical oxytetracycline instead. The results suggest that a substantial amount of the variation in beliefs related to differences in veterinary surgeons’ knowledge of the evidence. Although considerable differences in opinion still remained after the evidence review, with several participants having non-overlapping 95% credible intervals, both groups did achieve a consensus opinion. Two key findings from the qualitative data were: (i) veterinary surgeons believed that farmers are unlikely to actively seek advice on lameness, suggesting a proactive veterinary approach is required (ii) more attention could be given to improving the way in which veterinary advice is delivered to farmers. In summary this study has: (i) demonstrated a practical method for probabilistically quantifying how veterinary surgeons’ beliefs change (ii) revealed that the evidence that currently exists is capable of changing veterinary opinion (iii) suggested that improved transfer of research knowledge into veterinary practice is needed (iv) identified some potential obstacles to the implementation of veterinary advice by farmers

Call Cultures in Orang-Utans?

BACKGROUND: Several studies suggested great ape cultures, arguing that human cumulative culture presumably evolved from such a foundation. These focused on conspicuous behaviours, and showed rich geographic variation, which could not be attributed to known ecological or genetic differences. Although geographic variation within call types (accents) has previously been reported for orang-utans and other primate species, we examine geographic variation in the presence/absence of discrete call types (dialects). Because orang-utans have been shown to have geographic variation that is not completely explicable by genetic or ecological factors we hypothesized that this will be similar in the call domain and predict that discrete call type variation between populations will be found. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: We examined long-term behavioural data from five orang-utan populations and collected fecal samples for genetic analyses. We show that there is geographic variation in the presence of discrete types of calls. In exactly the same behavioural context (nest building and infant retrieval), individuals in different wild populations customarily emit either qualitatively different calls or calls in some but not in others. By comparing patterns in call-type and genetic similarity, we suggest that the observed variation is not likely to be explained by genetic or ecological differences. CONCLUSION/SIGNIFICANCE: These results are consistent with the potential presence of 'call cultures' and suggest that wild orang-utans possess the ability to invent arbitrary calls, which spread through social learning. These findings differ substantially from those that have been reported for primates before. First, the results reported here are on dialect and not on accent. Second, this study presents cases of production learning whereas most primate studies on vocal learning were cases of contextual learning. We conclude with speculating on how these findings might assist in bridging the gap between vocal communication in non-human primates and human speech

A multiscale geoarchaeological approach from the Laurentine shore (Castelporziano, Lazio, Italy)

The ability to investigate meaningful geoarchaeological questions is driven by appropriate scale-process focus fundamentally informing sampling strategies. This in turn, is driven by site-specific characteristics such as topography, sedimentology, geochemistry and climate. The Laurentine Shore is the Roman-period palaeo-shoreline preserved up to 1 km inland of the modern coastline of the Tiber Delta at the southern distal end. Mid- to late-Holocene progradation of the Tiber Delta linked to sediment supply in the context of changing relative sea level drives the macro-scale (103+) development of the region. Archaeological remains preserved within the Presidential Estate of Castelporziano must be interpreted within this macro-scale context. Using a multiscale, transect-based approach, SAAD-IRSL luminescence dating of relict foredune ridges has provided an age model constraining the development of the Tiber delta during the late Holocene. Both radiocarbon (Giraudi et al., 2009) and luminescence chronologies of dune ridge phases are in good agreement. Due to the protected status of the Castelporziano Estate the Holocene coastal dune topography is better preserved than at the central delta area and two additional phases of dune ridge formation are observed. Four macro-scale phases of delta progradation are recorded by the dune ridge record with increased mean rates of progradation observed during the Roman period and within the last 500 years. On the meso-scale (102) the high-status villas on the Laurentine Shore, and the Vicus Augustanus that serviced the villas are specifically located on the Roman-period shoreline. The timing of settlement (from around 2050 BP, i.e., 1st century BC) occurs during a pronounced Tiber delta progradation phase. Within this macro-scale context issues of sediment supply, frequency of Tiber flooding and the expression of shoreline advance at the Laurentine Shore have important meso-scale consequences for the development of the archaeological sites. It is likely that during the 2-phase development of the Vicus Augustanus that shoreline progradation was an observable phenomenon on decadal to multi-decadal timescales. Indeed the second, major seaward construction phase of the Vicus Augustanus likely occurred upon land that did not exist during the first phase, directly linked to delta progradation and the macro-scale processes acting upon the development of the site including anthropogenic activity in the Tiber catchment during the Roman period.La pertinence des questions géoarchéologiques est directement conditionnée par le choix d’une échelle de travail adaptée dans le but de proposer par la suite des stratégies d’échantillonnage appropriées et efficaces. Ces dernières sont localement influencées par les caractéristiques propres d’un site telles que sa topographie, la nature des sédiments sur lesquels il a été bâti, son environnement (paramètres géochimiques) et son climat. Le littoral laurentin correspond à l’ancienne ligne de rivage datée de l’époque romaine et qui est aujourd’hui localisé à 1 km du trait de côte actuel, dans la partie méridionale du delta du Tibre. La progradation de ce dernier, au cours de l’Holocène moyen et récent, est à mettre en liaison directe avec l’apport sédimentaire de son bassin versant dans un contexte de stabilisation du niveau relatif de la mer, cela permet notamment d’appréhender l’évolution morphologique de la région concernée (la superficie de la zone considérée de l’ordre de 103 km2). Des vestiges archéologiques particulièrement bien conservés dans la région de Castelporziano doivent être justement replacés dans un contexte morphologique régional pour pouvoir être interprétés sur le plan géoarchéologique. En privilégiant une échelle régionale d’étude et en se fondant sur l’établissement de transects, ainsi que sur la datation par Luminescence SAAD-IRSL de cordons dunaires fossiles, on parvient à fournir un modèle évolutif du delta du Tibre au cours de l’Holocène. Les datations obtenues permettent de reconstituer les différentes phases d’édification des cordons dunaires. En raison de la position d’abri de la région de Castelporziano, la topographie des cordons dunaires d’âge holocène y est mieux conservée que dans la partie centrale du delta, il est d’ailleurs possible d’y observer deux cordons supplémentaires. A une échelle régionale, quatre phases majeures de progradation deltaïque ont ainsi été identifiées avec une hausse particulièrement bien marquée du rythme d’avancée du trait de côte durant la période romaine et au cours des cinq cent dernières années. A une échelle moyenne de travail (superficie de la zone considérée de l’ordre de 102 km2), il est possible d’observer que les villas romaines et le Vicus Augustanus sont implantés sur le littoral laurentin. Cette période d’occupation (environ 2050 BP-1er siècle ap. J.-C.) correspond d’ailleurs à une avancée significative du delta du Tibre. La progradation du trait de côte a eu des conséquences directes sur le développement des sites archéologiques. C’est essentiellement pendant la seconde phase de l’expansion du Vicus Augustanus que la progradation est un phénomène observable à l’échelle décennale voire pluri décennale. En effet, l’expansion vers la mer du Vicus Augustanus est intervenue alors qu’aucun territoire n’existait pendant la première phase. Cela est à mettre en relation directe avec la progradation deltaïque et les processus morphologiques affectant le bassin versant du Tibre pendant la période romaine, incluant en particulier les activités d’origine anthropique

Crystal field effects on the luminescence of manganese in carbonate lattices

Thermoluminescence emission spectra are reported for a wide range of carbonates. All the samples show Mn luminescence centres and the spectra variously include narrow and features, when the Mn is in low concentration, or broad emission bands at high concentrations. The form of the spectra change with temperature, and for some Mn concentrations, alter from broad to narrow band spectra with increasing temperature. In calcite there is concentration quenching of the luminescence when the Mn impurity levels exceed ~ 1000 ppm which varies with glow peak temperature. The emission wavelengths of the Mn show monotonic dependencies, in both rhombohedral and orthorhombic lattices, as a function of the length of the metal to oxygen bonds in the various minerals, and the presence of Mn in alternative sites is revealed for dolomite. The detailed line spectra can be related to the Mn ion energy level diagram, as perturbed by the crystal field term, which for emission in rhombohedral calcite has a value of ~1000 cm¿1, but for orthorhombic sites in aragonite is ~1200 cm¿1.Peer Reviewe

The Oxford study of Calcium channel Antagonism, Cognition, Mood instability and Sleep (OxCaMS): study protocol for a randomised controlled, experimental medicine study

Abstract Background The discovery that voltage-gated calcium channel genes such as CACNA1C are part of the aetiology of psychiatric disorders has rekindled interest in the therapeutic potential of L-type calcium channel (LTCC) antagonists. These drugs, licensed to treat hypertension and angina, have previously been used in bipolar disorder, but without clear results. Neither is much known about the broader effects of these drugs on the brain and behaviour. Methods The Oxford study of Calcium channel Antagonism, Cognition, Mood instability and Sleep (OxCaMS) is a high-intensity randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled experimental medicine study on the effect of the LTCC antagonist nicardipine in healthy young adults with mood instability. An array of cognitive, psychiatric, circadian, physiological, biochemical and neuroimaging (functional magnetic resonance imaging and magnetoencephalography) parameters are measured during a 4-week period, with randomisation to drug or placebo on day 14. We are interested in whether nicardipine affects the stability of these measures, as well as its overall effects. Participants are genotyped for the CACNA1C risk polymorphism rs1006737. Discussion The results will clarify the potential of LTCC antagonists for repurposing or modification for use in psychiatric disorders in which cognition, mood and sleep are affected. Trial registration ISRCTN, ISRCTN33631053. Retrospectively registered on 8 June 2018 (applied 17 May 2018)