Maryland Health Care Reform Simulation Model: Detailed Analysis and Methodology

The lead author of Maryland Health Care Reform Simulation Model: Detailed Analysis and Methodology is Dr. Hamid Fakhraei, the Hilltop Institute's director of economic analysis, econometrics modeling, and forecasting. For this study, the Hilltop Institute developed a dynamic model covering population change, economic impact, employment, and health care expenditures. As a dynamic model, the Maryland Health Care Reform Simulation Model can be updated over time

Evaluating knowledge, attitude and practice of Health-Care Workers regarding patient education in Iran

The objective of the study was to evaluate the position of patient education measuring knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) among health care workers (HCWs). It is also aimed to emphasize the need for a real position for patient education. This survey was performed among a group of HCWs in Iran. The scores had an acceptable level. However, nurses, females and younger people received higher scores. The staff was already aware of patient education necessity and considered it as the duty of all medical team. Often HCWs cannot include patient education in their routine due to time shortage, lack of staff�s financial motivation, fatigue, and loads of work, etc. There is still need for a real training in the educational curriculum. Additionally, the various HCWs�related obstacles should be taken into account. © 2015 Tehran University of Medical Sciences. All rights reserved

Statistical relational learning with soft quantifiers

Quantification in statistical relational learning (SRL) is either existential or universal, however humans might be more inclined to express knowledge using soft quantifiers, such as ``most'' and ``a few''. In this paper, we define the syntax and semantics of PSL^Q, a new SRL framework that supports reasoning with soft quantifiers, and present its most probable explanation (MPE) inference algorithm. To the best of our knowledge, PSL^Q is the first SRL framework that combines soft quantifiers with first-order logic rules for modelling uncertain relational data. Our experimental results for link prediction in social trust networks demonstrate that the use of soft quantifiers not only allows for a natural and intuitive formulation of domain knowledge, but also improves the accuracy of inferred results

Soft quantification in statistical relational learning

We present a new statistical relational learning (SRL) framework that supports reasoning with soft quantifiers, such as "most" and "a few." We define the syntax and the semantics of this language, which we call , and present a most probable explanation inference algorithm for it. To the best of our knowledge, is the first SRL framework that combines soft quantifiers with first-order logic rules for modelling uncertain relational data. Our experimental results for two real-world applications, link prediction in social trust networks and user profiling in social networks, demonstrate that the use of soft quantifiers not only allows for a natural and intuitive formulation of domain knowledge, but also improves inference accuracy

Effects of replacing soybean meal with slow-release urea on milk production of Holstein dairy cows

The study investigated the effects of replacing soybean meal (SBM) with slow-release urea (SRU) on milk production, milk composition, and rumen fermentation of Holstein dairy cows. Sixteen Holstein cows weighing between 550 and 680 kg in mid lactation were randomly assigned to four dietary treatments in a 12-week study. The treatments consisted of T1: a diet containing 16.7% crude protein (CP), T2: T1 with 0.5% SRU replacing plant protein, T3: T1 with 0.75% SRU replacing plant protein, and T4: T1 with 1.00% SRU replacing plant protein. Animals were fed three times a day with feed being offered ad libitum. Dry matter intake (DMI) and average daily gain (ADG) were not affected by the level of SRU. Feeding SRU did not affect milk production and milk composition significantly, but milk fat and milk urea nitrogen (MUN) levels were increased. Significant differences were observed in ruminal volatile fatty acid (VFA) concentration. Feeding SRU increased butyrate concentration with no significant effects on concentrations of acetate or propionate. Significant differences were observed in cholesterol, triglyceride, high-density lipoprotein (HDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and nonesterified fatty acid (NEFA) concentrations, but glucose, very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) and β-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) levels were not affected significantly by the treatments. Thus, feeding SRU altered the release rate of ammonia and provided more ammonia nitrogen (NH3-N) for microbial protein synthesis in the rumen

Productive performance, blood biochemical variables and immune responses of laying hens fed diets containing various fat sources

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of various fat sources on productive performance, blood biochemical variables and immune responses of laying hens. Laying hens were divided into seven groups, which received i) basal or control diet (no oil); ii) and iii) basal diets containing 1% and 3% soybean (SB) oil; iv) and v) basal diets containing 1% and 3% kilka oil (KO), and vi) and vii) basal diets containing 1% and 3% soybean fatty acids (SFA). Productive performance was evaluated from day 1 to day 84. Blood biochemical variables and immune responses were assessed on days 28, 56 and 84 of the trial. The study results indicated that the dietary inclusion of 1% and 3% KO and SFA and 3% SB oil could decrease the feed conversion ratio (FCR) and increase egg production and egg mass in comparison with the control group throughout the study. Immune responses of sheep red blood cells and antibody titre against hemagglutination inhibition (HI) were significantly higher in laying hens fed KO and SFA and 3% SB oil compared with the control group. The serum concentrations of low density lipoprotein-C (LDL-C), very low density lipoprotein-C (VLDL-C) and malondialdehyde (MDA) were not influenced by the inclusion of oil sources. The serum concentration of cholesterol was increased significantly in laying hens that were treated with oil on day 28. The inclusion of fat sources significantly increased the serum concentration of HDL-C. The use of KO and SFA could be recommended at lower levels to improve the performance, immunity and some blood variables in laying hens.Keywords: egg production, kilka fish oil, lipid profile, soybean oi

Performance, Immune Responses, and Blood Biochemistry of Broiler Chickens Fed with Plant Growth Compound

Today, medicinal plants and prebiotics are known as growth stimulants and can have beneficial effects on health and performance. This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of plant growth promoters and a prebiotic (lactose) on growth performance, immune responses, and blood biochemical parameters in broiler chicks. Seven hundred and fifty Arian broiler chicks (mixed-sex) were allocated to six treatments and five replicates at one day of age. Three plant-based growth promoters (ASRI1, ASRI2, and commercial supplement (Optifeed)) and two dietary prebiotic levels (0 and 1 kg/ton) were evaluated in a completely randomized design with 3×2 factorial arrangements. The results showed that growth performance and humoral and cellular immunities did not differ among experimental treatments; therefore, the herbal compounds ASRI1 and ASRI2 can be used as growth promoters equivalent to the commercial products currently used in the broiler chicken industry. An interaction effect of growth promoter × prebiotic was detected for concentrations of calcium in the serum. Serum calcium concentrations of birds fed ASRI2 and 1 kg/ton prebiotic were greater than those of chickens receiving the commercial growth promoter. Serum triglycerides and VLDL-C concentrations were significantly lower in birds treated with ASRI1 growth promoter compared to those fed with a commercial growth promoter. In conclusion, there was no difference between ASRI1, ASRI2, and Optifeed growth promoters in their effectiveness as promoters of growth and immunity of broiler chicks