Assessment of ridden horse behavior

Assessments of the behavior of ridden horses form the basis of performance evaluation. The purpose of any performance being evaluated will determine the factors considered important, those indicative of 'poor' performance and what makes a successful equine athlete. Currently there is no consistent objective means of assessing ridden horse behavior and inevitably, given the different equestrian disciplines, the likelihood of a universal standard of good and bad performance is remote. Nevertheless, in order to protect the welfare of the ridden horse regardless of its specific role, we should strive for consensus on an objective means of identifying behavioral signs indicative of mental state. Current technological developments enable objective evaluation of movement patterns, but many aspects of the assessment of ridden behavior still rely on subjective judgement. The development of a list of behaviors exhibited by ridden horses, a ridden horse ethogram, will facilitate recording of observable behavioral events. However, without objective evidence of the relevance of these behavioral events, such a resource has limited value

EquiFACS: the Equine Facial Action Coding System

Although previous studies of horses have investigated their facial expressions in specific contexts, e.g. pain, until now there has been no methodology available that documents all the possible facial movements of the horse and provides a way to record all potential facial configurations. This is essential for an objective description of horse facial expressions across a range of contexts that reflect different emotional states. Facial Action Coding Systems (FACS) provide a systematic methodology of identifying and coding facial expressions on the basis of underlying facial musculature and muscle movement. FACS are anatomically based and document all possible facial movements rather than a configuration of movements associated with a particular situation. Consequently, FACS can be applied as a tool for a wide range of research questions. We developed FACS for the domestic horse (Equus caballus) through anatomical investigation of the underlying musculature and subsequent analysis of naturally occurring behaviour captured on high quality video. Discrete facial movements were identified and described in terms of the underlying muscle contractions, in correspondence with previous FACS systems. The reliability of others to be able to learn this system (EquiFACS) and consistently code behavioural sequences was high—and this included people with no previous experience of horses. A wide range of facial movements were identified, including many that are also seen in primates and other domestic animals (dogs and cats). EquiFACS provides a method that can now be used to document the facial movements associated with different social contexts and thus to address questions relevant to understanding social cognition and comparative psychology, as well as informing current veterinary and animal welfare practices

A systematic review of the effects of prolonged cow-calf contact on behavior, welfare, and productivity

Separation of calves from cows within hours or days of birth is common on dairy farms. Stakeholders have conflicting perspectives on whether this is harmful or beneficial for the animals’ welfare and production. Our objective was to critically evaluate the scientific evidence for both acute and long-term effects of early separation versus an extended period of cow-calf contact. The outcomes investigated were the behavior, welfare (excluding physical health) and performance (milk yield and growth, respectively) of dairy cows and calves. Primary research papers were found through targeted Web of Science searches, the reference lists of recent reviews for each topic, and the reference lists of papers identified from these sources. Studies were included if they were published in English, the full text was accessible, and they compared treatments with and without contact between dairy cows and calves for a specified period. Early separation (within 24 h post-partum) was found to reduce acute distress responses of cows and calves. However, longer cow-calf contact typically had positive longer-term effects on calves, promoting more normal social behavior, reducing abnormal behavior and sometimes reducing responses to stressors. In terms of productivity, allowing cows to nurse calves generally decreased the volume of milk available for sale during the nursing period, but there was no consistent evidence of reduced milk production over a longer period. Allowing a prolonged period of nursing increased calf weight gains during the milk-feeding period. In summary, extended cow-calf contact aggravates the acute distress responses and reduces the amount of saleable milk while the calves are suckling, but can have positive effects on behaviors relevant to welfare in the longer term and benefit calf growth. The strength of these conclusions is limited, however, given that relatively few studies address most of these effects and that experimental design including timing of contact and observations are often inconsistent across studies. Few studies presented indicators of long-term welfare effects other than abnormal and social behavior of the calves

The function of the complement system remains fully intact throughout the course of allogeneic stem cell transplantation

IntroductionHematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is associated with immune complications and endothelial dysfunction due to intricate donor-recipient interactions, conditioning regimens, and inflammatory responses.MethodsThis study investigated the role of the complement system during HSCT and its interaction with the cytokine network. Seventeen acute myeloid leukemia patients undergoing HSCT were monitored, including blood sampling from the start of the conditioning regimen until four weeks post-transplant. Clinical follow-up was 200 days.ResultsTotal complement functional activity was measured by WIELISA and the degree of complement activation by ELISA measurement of sC5b-9. Cytokine release was measured using a 27-multiplex immuno-assay. At all time-points during HSCT complement functional activity remained comparable to healthy controls. Complement activation was continuously stable except for two patients demonstrating increased activation, consistent with severe endotheliopathy and infections. In vitro experiments with post-HSCT whole blood challenged with Escherichia coli, revealed a hyperinflammatory cytokine response with increased TNF, IL-1β, IL-6 and IL-8 formation. Complement C3 inhibition markedly reduced the cytokine response induced by Staphylococcus aureus, Aspergillus fumigatus, and cholesterol crystals.DiscussionIn conclusion, HSCT patients generally retained a fully functional complement system, whereas activation occurred in patients with severe complications. The complement-cytokine interaction indicates the potential for new complement-targeting therapeutic strategies in HSCT

The role of cat eye narrowing movements in cat–human communication

Domestic animals are sensitive to human cues that facilitate inter-specific communication, including cues to emotional state. The eyes are important in signalling emotions, with the act of narrowing the eyes appearing to be associated with positive emotional communication in a range of species. This study examines the communicatory significance of a widely reported cat behaviour that involves eye narrowing, referred to as the slow blink sequence. Slow blink sequences typically involve a series of half-blinks followed by either a prolonged eye narrow or an eye closure. Our first experiment revealed that cat half-blinks and eye narrowing occurred more frequently in response to owners’ slow blink stimuli towards their cats (compared to no owner–cat interaction). In a second experiment, this time where an experimenter provided the slow blink stimulus, cats had a higher propensity to approach the experimenter after a slow blink interaction than when they had adopted a neutral expression. Collectively, our results suggest that slow blink sequences may function as a form of positive emotional communication between cats and humans

Å mestre hørselstap : en studie av mestring og psykiske plager blant personer med hørselshemming i arbeid

Bakgrunn: For personer i arbeid kan hørselstap medføre store utfordringer. Hørselstap utgjør også en risiko for en del psykososiale problemer. Det overordnede formålet med denne oppgaven var å undersøke mestring av utfordringer knyttet til hørselstap hos personer i arbeid. Denne kunnskapen er viktig med henblikk på å forebygge utvikling av psykiske lidelser og forhindre frafall fra arbeidslivet. Problemstillingen og hypoteser omhandler sammenhengen mellom psykiske plager og bruk av ulike typer mestringsstrategier. Metode: Utvalget består av 26 personer med hørselshemming (25 år <), 25 kvinner, 1 mann. Alle var deltakere ved kurset «Behold jobben» ved Briskeby skole og kompetansesenter, et kurs rettet mot personer med ervervet hørselshemming i yrkesaktiv alder. Informantene fylte ut spørreskjemaer om hørselstapet, symptomer på angst og depresjon samt mestringsstrategier og taktikker knyttet til kommunikasjon. Resultat: Problemfokusert mestring var den strategien som i størst grad er assosiert med færre symptomer. Emosjonsfokusert mestring var forbundet med flere symptomer. Resultatene viste også en tendens til at noen kommunikasjonstaktikker som innebærer fysisk og kognitiv innsats fra personen med hørselshemming var forbundet med flere psykiske plager. Unngåelse som kommunikasjonsstrategi var også forbundet med mer psykiske plager. Konklusjon: Enkelte strategier ser ut til å være mer hensiktsmessige og andre mindre hensiktsmessige for personer med store hørselsvansker som er i arbeid. Studien gir holdepunktet for rådgiving til personer med ervervet døvhet

Die Deutsche Konzertposaune. The development of German trombones from 1800-1940.

Having developed an awareness of regional differences within the trombone idiom during my studies, I became interested in exploring these, with a clear emphasis on that of the romantic German trombone which was developed during the 19th century and still enjoys a wide popularity in the German language area. The work has had a theoretical as well as a practical side; learning what are the established truths about this particular type of instruments and its idiom compared to other traditions, learning which developments might have brought about its advent, and exploring personally and subjectively what characterizes the sound, feel, and build of a relatively small selection of historic ”German” type trombones. I also discuss its applicability and relevance, especially in the contemporary Scandinavian music world

Strategisk regnskapsanalyse og verdsettelse av Norwegian Property ASA

Gjennom en strategisk regnskapsanalyse og verdsettelse av Norwegian Property ASA har vi i denne oppgaven tatt utgangspunktet i offentlig informasjon. Innledningsvis presenteres selskapet, eiendomsinvesteringer og karakteristika av eiendomsbransjen. Deretter følger en oversikt over ulike verdsettelsesteknikker. Vi har valgt å fokusere på fundamental verdsettelse og supplere dette med en komparativ verdsettelsesteknikk. Som et ledd i den fundamentale vil vi foreta en strategisk analyse av selskapet og bransjen den opererer i. I tillegg vil vi gjøre en regnskapsanalyse der vi omformulerer finansregnskapet til å passe et investorperspektiv. Vi utformer så et fremtidsregnskap på bakgrunn av den strategiske analysen. Deretter verdsetter vi Norwegian Property ASA ved hjelp av totalkapitalmetoden. Dette gjøres både av Norwegian Property ASA som et enkelt selskap, og som to separate selskaper, der vi skiller mellom kontor- og hotellvirksomheten. Ved analysen av selskapet som en enhet kom vi fram til et verdiestimat på 12,52 kroner og 4,42 % avvik i forhold til børsnotert verdi den 28/04-2010. Vi diskuterte også usikkerheten til dette estimatet, og konkluderte med at særlig endringer i risikofri rente, og dermed avkastningskravet, medførte store utslag i selskapsverdien. Estimatet bør derfor brukes med reservasjon. Avslutningsvis fant vi verdiestimat på kontor- og hotellvirksomheten som separate selskap, i tråd med Norwegian Property ASA sin planlagte oppdeling i løpet av 2010. Totalt var verdien av disse selskapene lik 6,286 milliarder kroner, sammenlignet med 6,291 milliarder kroner, som var det opprinnelige verdiestimatet. Vi konkluderte med at selskapet ikke vil frigjøre noen merverdier ved å utføre en fisjon, og at det er mer et forsøk på å skape publisitet rundt aksjen

Forholdet mellom visitasjon og ransaking som rettslig grunnlag for undersøkelse av person

Oppgaven behandler sentrale juridiske og praktiske utfordringer relatert til forholdet mellom visitasjon og ransaking som rettslig grunnlag for undersøkelse av person. Oppgaven er hovedsakelig basert på inngrepshjemlene i politiloven §§ 7, 7a og 10, og straffeprosessloven § 195