The Efficiency Of Nitrogen Utilisation In Growing Chicks

High levels of nitrogen excretion result in economic loss in farm animal production. Recent theories have proposed that there is a poor agreement between amino acid oxidation and the rate of protein synthesis. The overall objectives of three separate experiments were to quantify the growth, efficiency of feed and nitrogen utilisation and rate of lysine oxidation in growing chickens. The first experiment compared the growth and efficiency of nitrogen utilisation of birds given eight different dietary crude protein concentrations (130 - 300g/kg). Increasing dietary protein had no effect on weight gains (p>0.05) but an inverse relationship (p0.05) on the efficiency of nitrogen utilisation. The third experiment examined the response of growing chickens to a diet that varied only in lysine concentration (30-100g/kg of protein). The optimum lysine concentration for maximum growth was indicated to be 64g/kg CP and the optimum for maximum efficiency of nitrogen utilisation was also indicated at 64 g/kg CP. Therefore there was no evidence that maximum weight gain and maximum nitrogen retention occurred at different protein and lysine concentrations. Lysine oxidation increased with an increase in dietary lysine and there was evidence of a curvilinear response. A rapid increase in lysine oxidation was indicated at 55g/kg CP. This data therefore gives some support to the theory of increased oxidation of amino acids prior to the point of maximum protein retention in poultry

Industrial structural geology : principles, techniques and integration : an introduction

The authors wish to acknowledge the generous financial support provided in association with this volume to the Geological Society and the Petroleum Group by Badley Geoscience Ltd, BP, CGG Robertson, Dana Petroleum Ltd, Getech Group plc, Maersk Oil North Sea UK Ltd, Midland Valley Exploration Ltd, Rock Deformation Research (Schlumberger) and Borehole Image & Core Specialists (Wildcat Geoscience, Walker Geoscience and Prolog Geoscience). We would like to thank the fine team at the Geological Society’s Publishing House for the excellent support and encouragement that they have provided to the editors and authors of this Special Publication.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

The safety benefit of retro-reflective markings on HGVs and buses: partial RIA – preliminary report.

The objective of the measure is to reduce death and serious injury resulting from collisions involving large vehicles. This will be achieved by making these vehicles more conspicuous to other road users, especially at night. This assessment estimates the costs and benefits associated with the proposal that hazard markings consistent with UNECE R104 should be required for all new heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) and buses under Regulation 48. The assessment considers commercial vehicles exceeding 3.5, 7.5 and 12 tonnes and on all new buses and coaches fitted with more than 22 passenger seats. The assessment was undertaken as a preparatory activity prior to formal consultation with relevant stakeholders

A mixed methods study to investigate needs assessment for knee pain and disability: population and individual perspectives

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The new Musculoskeletal Services Framework outlines the importance of health care needs assessment. Our aim was to provide a model for this for knee pain and disability, describing felt need (individual assessment of a need for health care) and expressed need (demand for health care). This intelligence is required by health care planners in order to implement the new Framework.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A multi-method approach was used. A population survey (n = 5784) was administered to adults aged 50+ registered with 3 general practices. The questionnaire contained a Knee Pain Screening Tool to identify the prevalence of knee pain and health care use in the population, and the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC). Survey responders who scored "severe" or "extreme" on at least one item on the pain or physical function scale on the WOMAC were categorised into "severe" groups. Qualitative interviews were undertaken with 22 survey responders to explore in detail the experience of living with knee pain and disability. A sample of interviewees (n = 10) completed an open format patient diary to explore the experience of knee pain in everyday life.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The 12-month period prevalence of knee pain was 49.5%, of which half was severe. Severe difficulties were reported with domestic duties, bending, bathing, climbing stairs and getting in or out of a car. Some self-care is occurring. The majority (53%) of responders with severe pain or disability had not consulted their GP in the last 12 months. The qualitative study revealed reasons for this including a perception that knee pain is part of normal ageing, little effective prevention and treatment is available and the use of medications causes side effects and dependency.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>This study adds to previous work by highlighting a gap between felt and expressed need and the reasons for this mismatch. There is evidence of self-management, but also missed opportunities for effective interventions (e.g. lifestyle advice). A targeted and integrated approach between clinicians and health care planners for primary and secondary prevention is required if aspects of the new Musculoskeletal Services Framework are to be successfully implemented.</p

Accelerating Change for Women and Girls: The Role of Women's Funds

In recent years, interest in philanthropy for and by women has intensified, accompanied by a growing acceptance of the idea that philanthropic investments in women and girls can accelerate positive change in communities. To understand this evolution in thinking and practice within philanthropy, the Foundation Center partnered with the Women's Funding Network, a global movement of women's funds, to chart the current landscape of philanthropy focused on women and girls and document the specific role played by women's funds

Structured professional judgement of risk in forensic psychiatric practice

The central issue addressed in this thesis was the validation of a novel risk assessment system designed to meet the security requirements of a high secure forensic hospital. To this end, three research strands investigating the clinical, predictive and preventative utility of the system were pursued. This thesis reports the process of the development, adaptation and implementation of a system based on the HCR-20, called the Structured Clinical Judgement: Risk (SCJ: Risk). The first research strand involved investigation of the processes necessary implement a system of structured professional judgement. The conceptual and operational utility of the system were investigated, and successful implementation of the system within clinical practice was demonstrated by compliance of use by clinical teams. A survey was conducted, investigating the perceptions of clinicians in relation to the clinical utility and usability of the SCJ: Risk. Overall acceptance of the pilot and implementation phase of the system was demonstrated, and the system was perceived to assist clinical teams to structure and document risk-related decisions. The second research strand studied the validity of the SCJ: Risk in predicting intra-institutional behaviour. A prospective investigation of the application of the SCJ: Risk to a forensic population detained in conditions of high security was conducted and this demonstrated variation in the predictive utility of the system. The predictive accuracy of subscale items of the SCJ: Risk, and the individual risk factors comprising the subscales of the system were robust for behaviours relevant to violence and suicide/self-harm. However, prediction of behaviours relevant to escape/abscond, vulnerability to risk from others and subversion of security were not demonstrated. The third research strand involved exploration of the preventative utility of the system, specifically if the identification of a patient as high-risk would minimise the occurrence, or prolong the time to an incident of intra-institutional behaviour. Results illustrated the efficacy of the SCJ: Risk system in the identification of high risk individuals for behaviours relevant to any intra-institutional infraction, violence and self-harm. Patients identified as high-risk displayed a higher prevalence and earlier incidence of relevant intra-institutional behaviour. It is concluded that the system of Structured Clinical Judgement: Risk (as an adaptation of the HCR-20) contributes positively to the overall goals of clarity of risk communication, identification and management of high risk patients within forensic psychiatric practice. However, the extended risk assessment of the SCJ: Risk does not make a significant additional contribution to the parental system on which it is based

Real-time imaging of Leishmania mexicana-infected early phagosomes: a study using primary macrophages generated from green fluorescent protein-Rab5 transgenic mice

The small GTPase Rab5 is a key regulator of endosome/phagosome maturation and in intravesicular infections marks a phagosome stage at which decisions over pathogen replication or destruction are integrated. It is currently unclear whether Leishmania-infected phagosomes uniformly pass through a Rab5+ stage on their intracellular path to compartments with late endosomal/early lysosomal characteristics. Differences in routes and final compartments could have consequences for accessibility to antileishmanial drugs. Here, we generated a unique gfp-rab5 transgenic mouse model to visualize Rab5 recruitment to early parasite-containing phagosomes in primary host cells. Using real-time fluorescence imaging of phagosomes carrying Leishmania mexicana, we determined that parasite-infested phagosomes follow a uniform sequence of transient Rab5 recruitment. Residence in Rab5+ compartments was much shorter compared with phagosomes harboring latex beads. Furthermore, a comparative analysis of parasite life-cycle stages and mutants deficient in lpg1, the gene encoding the enzyme required for synthesis of the dominant surface lipophosphoglycan, indicated that parasite surface ligands and host cell receptors modulate pathogen residence times in Rab5+ phagosomes, but, as far as tested, had no significant effect on intracellular L. mexicana survival or replication.—Lippuner, C., Paape, D., Paterou, A., Brand, J., Richardson, M., Smith, A. J., Hoffmann, K., Brinkmann, V., Blackburn, C., Aebischer, T. Real-time imaging of Leishmania mexicana-infected early phagosomes: a study using primary macrophages generated from green fluorescent protein-Rab5 transgenic mice

Bayesian modeling of differential gene expression.

We present a Bayesian hierarchical model for detecting differentially expressing genes that includes simultaneous estimation of array effects, and show how to use the output for choosing lists of genes for further investigation. We give empirical evidence that expression-level dependent array effects are needed, and explore different nonlinear functions as part of our model-based approach to normalization. The model includes gene-specific variances but imposes some necessary shrinkage through a hierarchical structure. Model criticism via posterior predictive checks is discussed. Modeling the array effects (normalization) simultaneously with differential expression gives fewer false positive results. To choose a list of genes, we propose to combine various criteria (for instance, fold change and overall expression) into a single indicator variable for each gene. The posterior distribution of these variables is used to pick the list of genes, thereby taking into account uncertainty in parameter estimates. In an application to mouse knockout data, Gene Ontology annotations over- and underrepresented among the genes on the chosen list are consistent with biological expectations

Bayesian modeling of differential gene expression.

We present a Bayesian hierarchical model for detecting differentially expressing genes that includes simultaneous estimation of array effects, and show how to use the output for choosing lists of genes for further investigation. We give empirical evidence that expression-level dependent array effects are needed, and explore different nonlinear functions as part of our model-based approach to normalization. The model includes gene-specific variances but imposes some necessary shrinkage through a hierarchical structure. Model criticism via posterior predictive checks is discussed. Modeling the array effects (normalization) simultaneously with differential expression gives fewer false positive results. To choose a list of genes, we propose to combine various criteria (for instance, fold change and overall expression) into a single indicator variable for each gene. The posterior distribution of these variables is used to pick the list of genes, thereby taking into account uncertainty in parameter estimates. In an application to mouse knockout data, Gene Ontology annotations over- and underrepresented among the genes on the chosen list are consistent with biological expectations

Assessment of the safety benefit of retro reflective markings on HGVs and buses.

Assessment of the safety benefit of retro reflective markings on HGVs and buses