Phenotype X Herbage Allowance Interactions in Reproduction of First Calf Heifers Grazing Semiarid Rangeland

Cattle are differentially adapted to nutritional environments. The most sensitive measure of adaptation is reproduction of first-calf heifers. We studied the role of maturation rate and milk production on reproductive performance of first-calf heifers allowed different levels of herbage in semiarid rangeland

Utilizing Forages to Program Steer Growth Patterns to Achieve Consistent Quality Beef

Many options are available for programming stocker cattle growth patterns through forage selection. In semi-arid south Texas rapid growth rates can be achieved by grazing irrigated small grains (oats, wheat and ryegrass) and slow growth rates are possible grazing native range pastures. Ryegrass (RG) nutrient quality indicates potential gains greater than 1.0 kg/d for steers, while typical winter native range (NR) pasture indicates gains of 0.45 kg/d or less. The purpose of this experiment was to quantify the impact of different programmed growth patterns on beef retail product especially size, marbling and tenderness

Online tool for monitoring adverse events in patients with cancer during treatment (eRAPID): field testing in a clinical setting

Objectives: Electronic patient self-Reporting of Adverse-events: Patient Information and aDvice (eRAPID) is an online system developed to support patient care during cancer treatment by improving the detection and management of treatment-related symptoms. Patients can complete symptom reports from home and receive severity-based self-management advice, including notifications to contact the hospital for severe symptoms. Patient data are available in electronic records for staff to review. Prior to the commencement of a randomised controlled trial (RCT), field testing of the intervention was undertaken to troubleshoot practical issues with intervention integration in clinical practice. Design: Observational clinical field testing. Setting: Medical oncology breast service in a UK cancer centre. Participants: 12 patients receiving chemotherapy for early breast cancer and 10 health professionals (oncologists and specialist nurses). Intervention: Patients were asked to use the eRAPID intervention and complete weekly online symptom reports during four cycles of chemotherapy. Clinical staff were invited to access and use patient data in clinical assessments. Analysis: Descriptive data on the frequency of online symptom report completion and severe symptom notifications were collated. Verbal and written feedback was collected from patients and staff and semistructured interviews were conducted to explore patient experiences. Interviews were transcribed and analysed thematically. Results: The testing ran from January 2014 to March 2014. Feedback from patients and staff was largely positive. Patients described eRAPID as ‘reassuring’ and ‘comforting’ and valued the tailored management advice. Several changes were made to refine eRAPID. In particular, improvement of the clinical notification, patient reminder systems and changes to patient and staff training. Conclusions: The field testing generated valuable results used to guide refinement of eRAPID prior to formal intervention evaluation. Feedback indicated that eRAPID has the potential to improve patients’ self-efficacy, knowledge and confidence with managing symptoms during treatment. A large-scale RCT is underway with data collection due to finish in October 2018

Long-Baseline Interferometric Multiplicity Survey of the Sco-Cen OB Association

We present the first multiplicity-dedicated long baseline optical interferometric survey of the Scorpius-Centaurus-Lupus-Crux association. We used the Sydney University Stellar Interferometer to undertake a survey for new companions to 58 Sco-Cen B- type stars and have detected 24 companions at separations ranging from 7-130mas, 14 of which are new detections. Furthermore, we use a Bayesian analysis and all available information in the literature to determine the multiplicity distribution of the 58 stars in our sample, showing that the companion frequency is F = 1.35 and the mass ratio distribution is best described as a power law with exponent equal to -0.46, agreeing with previous Sco-Cen high mass work and differing significantly from lower-mass stars in Tau-Aur. Based on our analysis, we estimate that among young B-type stars in moving groups, up to 23% are apparently single stars. This has strong implications for the understanding of high-mass star formation, which requires angular momentum dispersal through some mechanism such as formation of multiple systems.Comment: 7 figures, 5 tables, accepted for publication in MNRA

The influence of the frequency of directional change on the physiological responses to intermittent exercise in elite football players.

Despite the common occurrence of directional change in football, few studies have attempted to investigate the demands of players performing such movement patterns (Stevens et al., 2014; Akenhead et al., 2014; Dellal et al., 2010). The aim of the current thesis was to identify the physiological responses associated with performing directional changes in elite football players. The aim of the first study was to investigate the occurrence of directional change within an elite football team’s typical four-day training week and to determine the external load and subsequent physiological demands associated with performing such movement patterns. Five male elite football players were monitored during each session via global positioning system (GPS), accelerometry (ACC) and heart rate (HR). The data indicated that acceleration and deceleration (movements used to represent the occurrence of directional change) occurred frequently throughout each session of the training week but were found to be significantly higher for one particular training day when compared to all other remaining sessions (+22-43%) (p < 0.05). Although the external load as measured through ACC and the rate of perceived exertion (RPE) as measured through the modified Borg scale were greatest for this training day, they were not found to be significantly different when compared to all other training days. The physiological response however as indicated through HR was found to be significantly higher for this training day (+24-40%) (p < 0.05). These results would indicate that a higher cardiovascular response may be associated with training sessions that include more frequent changes in direction. Despite these findings the approach used to collect the physiological data within the study may have had several limitations. The biggest limitation was perhaps the influence of training variables other than movements relevant to directional change. There is therefore a need for an investigation which applies greater control of extraneous training variables during data collection. Such an approach would allow for a more precise interpretation regarding the physiological demands associated with performing directional changes. The aim of the second study was to investigate the external load and subsequent physiological demands of controlled intermittent protocols which included varying frequencies of 180 degree directional changes in elite football players. Thirteen male elite players were monitored via GPS, ACC and HR during protocols which involved one, three or seven change(s) in direction. In this study important extraneous variables such as the total running distance, speed of movement as well as the number and intensity of accelerations and decelerations performed were carefully controlled in an attempt to isolate and manipulate only the movement pattern. The results showed that external load as measured in gravitational force (g-force) was significantly greater for the protocol that involved seven directional changes when compared to the protocol which involved one (+32%) or three (+24%) directional changes (p < 0.05). Participants resulting HR as measured through heart rate exertion (HRE) was also significantly higher for the protocol which involved seven directional changes when compared to protocols which involved one (+54%) or three (+53%) directional changes (p < 0.05). The increase in the physiological response was further supported by a significant increase in RPE for the protocol which involved seven directional changes (5 ±1) when compared to the protocols which involved only one (3 ±0) or three (3 ±1) directional changes (p < 0.05). A positive correlation was found when comparing g-force with both HRE (r = 0.45, p < 0.01) and RPE (r = 0.63, p < 0.01). These results show that increasing the frequency of 180 degree directional changes through intermittent exercise protocols, increases the external load and physiological responses in elite football players. The current research indicates that directional change occurs frequently throughout an elite football team’s typical training week. Performing 180 degree directional changes increases the external load which may subsequently elevate the physiological and subjective responses. Careful consideration must therefore be placed on such movement patterns when designing training drills for elite football players throughout various days of the training week

Effect of Previous Stocking Rate of Rye-Ryegrass Pasture and Four Breed Types of Calves on Feedlot Performance

Last updated: 6/12/200

Previous Stocking Rate on Winter Pasture, Four Breed Types, and Feedlot Performance on Carcass Traits

Last updated: 6/12/200

Asking the right questions to get the right answers: Using cognitive interviews to review the acceptability, comprehension and clinical meaningfulness of patient self-report adverse event items in oncology patients

Background: Standardized reporting of treatment-related adverse events (AE) is essential in clinical trials, usually achieved by using the National Cancer Institute (NCI) Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) reported by clinicians. Patient-reported adverse events (PRAE) may add value to clinician assessments, providing patient perspective on subjective toxicity. We developed an online patient symptom report and self-management system for real-time reporting and managing AE during cancer treatment integrated with electronic patient records (eRAPID). As part of this program we developed a patient version of the CTCAE (version 4.0), rephrasing terminology into a self-report format. We explored patient understanding of these items via cognitive interviews. Material and method: Sixty patients (33 female, 27 male) undergoing treatment were purposively sampled by age, gender and tumor group (median age 61.5, range 35–84, 12 breast, 12 gynecological, 13 colorectal, 12 lung and 11 renal). Twenty-one PRAE items were completed on a touch-screen computer. Subsequent audio-recorded cognitive interviews and thematic analysis explored patients’ comprehension of items via verbal probing techniques during three interview rounds (n = 20 patients/round). Results: In total 33 item amendments were made; 29% related to question comprehension, 73% response option and 3% order effects. These amendments to phrasing and language improved patient understanding but maintained CTCAE grading and key medical information. Changes were endorsed by members of a patient advisory group (N = 11). Conclusion: Item adaptations resulted in a bank of consistently interpreted self-report AE items for use in future research program. In-depth analysis of items through cognitive interviews is an important step towards developing an internationally valid system for PRAE, thus improving patient safety and experiences during cancer treatment