Lower visibility of female scientists, compared to male scientists, is a potential reason for the under‐representation of women among senior academic ranks. Visibility in the scientific community ...stems partly from presenting research as an invited speaker at organized meetings. We analysed the sex ratio of presenters at the European Society for Evolutionary Biology (ESEB) Congress 2011, where all abstract submissions were accepted for presentation. Women were under‐represented among invited speakers at symposia (15% women) compared to all presenters (46%), regular oral presenters (41%) and plenary speakers (25%). At the ESEB congresses in 2001–2011, 9–23% of invited speakers were women. This under‐representation of women is partly attributable to a larger proportion of women, than men, declining invitations: in 2011, 50% of women declined an invitation to speak compared to 26% of men. We expect invited speakers to be scientists from top ranked institutions or authors of recent papers in high‐impact journals. Considering all invited speakers (including declined invitations), 23% were women. This was lower than the baseline sex ratios of early‐mid career stage scientists, but was similar to senior scientists and authors that have published in high‐impact journals. High‐quality science by women therefore has low exposure at international meetings, which will constrain Evolutionary Biology from reaching its full potential. We wish to highlight the wider implications of turning down invitations to speak, and encourage conference organizers to implement steps to increase acceptance rates of invited talks.
Two studies were conducted for this research. First, a laboratory incubation to quantify broiler litter N mineralization with the following treatments: two soil moisture regimes, constant at 60% ...water fill pore space (WFPS) and fluctuating (60–30% WFPS), three soil types, Brooksville silty clay loam, Ruston sandy loam from Mississippi, and Catlin silt loam from Illinois. Second, a field incubation study to quantify broiler litter N mineralization using similar soils and litter application rates as the laboratory incubation. Broiler litter was applied at an equivalent rate of 350
kg
total
N
ha
−1 for both studies except for control treatments. Subsamples were taken at different timing for both experiments for NO
3–N and NH
4–N determinations. In the laboratory experiment, soil moisture regimes had no significant impact on litter-derived inorganic N. Total litter-derived inorganic N across all treatments increased from 23
mg
kg
−1 at time 0, to 159
mg
kg
−1 at 93
d after litter application. Significant differences were observed among the soil types. Net litter-derived inorganic N was greater for Brooksville followed by Ruston and Catlin soils. For both studies and all soils, NH
4–N content decreased while NO
3–N content increased indicating a rapid nitrification of the mineralized litter N. Litter mineralization in the field study followed the same trend as the laboratory study but resulted in much lower net inorganic N, presumably due to environmental conditions such as precipitation and temperature, which may have resulted in more denitrification and immobilization of mineralized litter N. Litter-derived inorganic N from the field study was greater for Ruston than Brooksville. Due to no impact by soil moisture regimes, additional studies are warranted in order to develop predictive relationships to quantify broiler litter N availability.
In this paper, we investigate the applicability of experimental model ecosystems (microcosms and mesocosms) for the ecological risk assessment of veterinary medicinal products (VMPs). VMPs are used ...in large quantities, but the assessment of associated risks to the environment is limited, although they are continually infused into the environment via a number of routes. It is argued that the experience obtained by pesticide research largely can be used when evaluating VMPs, although there are several major differences between pesticides and pharmaceuticals (e.g., knowledge of their mechanisms of action on nontarget organisms). Also, because microorganisms are often the target organisms of VMPs, risk assessment should focus more on endpoints describing functional processes. This paper provides a review of the current risk assessment schemes of Europe and North America along with examples of experiments already performed with veterinary medicinal products in aquatic and terrestrial ecosystem models. We suggest that some of the approaches developed for pesticide risk assessment can be used for VMPs and offer suggestions for the development of a framework for ecological risk assessment of VMPs.
In a 3-yr study, corn dried distillers grains plus solubles (DDGS) were evaluated as a substitute for forage and N fertilizer in yearling steers grazing smooth bromegrass. A total of 135 steers (330 ...± 10 kg) were used in a randomized complete block design to measure the effects of DDGS supplementation and N fertilization on animal and pasture performance. Steers were initially stocked at 6.8 animal unit month (AUM)/ha on nonfertilized smooth bromegrass pastures (CONT), at 9.9 AUM/ha on smooth bromegrass pastures fertilized with 90 kg of N/ha (FERT), or at 9.9 AUM/ha on nonfertilized smooth bromegrass pastures with 2.3 kg of DDGS DM supplemented daily (SUPP). Paddock was the experimental unit, with 3 replications per year for 3 yr. Paddocks were strip-grazed and put-and-take cattle were used to maintain similar grazing pressure among treatment paddocks during the 160-d grazing season. In vitro DM disappearance declined quadratically (P < 0.01), whereas CP and standing crop showed cubic responses (P < 0.01) throughout the grazing season. Crude protein was greater (P < 0.05) for FERT compared with CONT and SUPP. Standing crop was 18% greater (P < 0.01) for FERT than CONT and was 10% greater (P < 0.01) than SUPP. Adjusted stocking rates (AUM/ha) were greater (P < 0.01) for FERT and SUPP compared with CONT. Final BW were greater (P < 0.01) for SUPP steers compared with CONT and FERT steers. Similar results were observed for ADG, with SUPP steers gaining more (P < 0.01) compared with CONT and FERT steers. Total BW gain per hectare was increased (P < 0.01) by 53% with FERT and by 105% with SUPP. Feedlot ADG was similar among treatments (P = 0.88), and SUPP steers maintained their BW advantage through the finishing phase. Dried distillers grains can be used to substitute effectively for N fertilizer by increasing the performance of yearling steers grazing smooth bromegrass and increasing stocking rates compared with nonfertilized pastures.
Shelf break conditions and alongshore flow off northwestern Australia are studied during the strongly evaporative conditions of austral winter 2003. Present results, along with those of previous ...authors, confirm that a poleward, fresh Leeuwin current core is normally found near the shelf break. Salinity increases alongshore toward the southwest. Although there is no obvious shelf break front, there is a persistent offshore upward tilting of isopycnals in the depth range of 100–150 m. Repeated mesoscale surveys were made at the shelf edge during 8 days when the shelf break flow was equatorward. Waters offshore of the shelf break contain a rich baroclinic ageostrophic eddy field, with typically 10 km length scales, and the eddy patterns in the upper 60 m are uncorrelated with those below 90 m. The two depth horizons yield energy transfers from mean to eddy potential energy and appear to represent distinct finite amplitude instabilities on upper ocean and 180 m mean velocity cores, respectively. A linear stability model supports the existence of the two vertically separated instability types.
In a 3-yr study, 135 crossbred steers (330 ± 10 kg) were used in a randomized complete block design to evaluate corn dried distillers grains plus solubles (DDGS) fed to yearling steers as a ...substitute for forage and N fertilizer and its effect on N use efficiency in yearling steers grazing smooth bromegrass pastures. Steers were initially stocked at 6.8 animal unit months (AUM)/ha on nonfertilized smooth bromegrass pastures (CONT), at 9.9 AUM/ha on smooth bromegrass pastures fertilized with 90 kg of N/ha (FERT), or at 9.9 AUM/ha on nonfertilized smooth bromegrass pastures with 2.3 kg (DM) of DDGS supplemented daily per steer (SUPP). Paddock was the experimental unit, with 3 replications per treatment per year for 3 yr. Paddocks were strip-grazed, and put-and-take cattle were used to maintain similar grazing pressure among treatment paddocks during the 160-d grazing season. Steers consumed less forage (P < 0.01), but total N intake for SUPP was greater (P < 0.01) per steer and per hectare than for FERT, and both were greater (P < 0.01) than for CONT. Nitrogen retention for steers in the SUPP treatment was increased (P < 0.01) by 31% compared with N retention in the CONT and FERT treatments. Nitrogen retention per hectare for SUPP was 30 and 98% greater (P < 0.01) than N retention per hectare for FERT and CONT, respectively. Nitrogen excretion per steer and per hectare were also greater (P < 0.01) for SUPP than FERT, and both were increased (P < 0.01) compared with CONT. Animal N use efficiency was similar (P = 0.29) for steers in the CONT, FERT, and SUPP treatments. However, system-based N use improved (P < 0.01) by 144% for SUPP compared with FERT. The DDGS increased N intake and N excretion in yearling steers. However, because of improvements in BW gain and increases in stocking rate of pastures, DDGS can be a useful tool to increase the efficiency of N use in smooth bromegrass grazing systems.
This article outlines some of the key prevalence studies regarding the psychological health of veterinarians, and highlights the reasons for distress, with factors such as workload, financial issues, ...long working hours, challenging interactions, unexpected outcomes, euthanasia and fear of complaints or making mistakes being commonly cited. During the last decade, many ways to improve veterinarians' wellbeing have been suggested, including both individual and organisational strategies. However, what appears to be lacking is a body of intervention research to test the effectiveness of these strategies.
This article outlines some of the types of psychological distress which have been reported in veterinarians, and emphasises key issues such as the impact of practitioners' help-seeking behaviour and moral and ethical dilemmas. Some wellbeing interventions from overseas studies are highlighted, with a focus on strategies that can be adopted by organisations as well as individuals. The review includes several recommendations to improve the psychological wellbeing of veterinarians such as using multi-disciplinary clinician wellbeing models to structure interventions, the possibilities of mindful self-compassion practices, and the regular use of peer support and reflective groups. It concludes that implementation and robust evaluation of wellbeing initiatives in the New Zealand veterinary population are urgently needed.
Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) plays an important role in graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) and graft-versus-tumor (GVT) activity after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (allo-BMT). TNF can be ...expressed in a membrane-bound form (memTNF) and as a soluble (solTNF) molecule after being cleaved by the TNF-α converting enzyme (TACE). To study the contribution of donor T-cell–derived memTNF versus solTNF in GVHD and GVT, we used mice containing a noncleavable allele in place of endogenous TNF (memTNFΔ/Δ) as donors in murine BMT models. Recipients of memTNF T cells developed significantly less GVHD than recipients of wild-type (wt) T cells. In contrast, GVT activity mediated by memTNF T cells remained intact, and alloreactive memTNF T cells showed no defects in proliferation, activation, and cytotoxicity. These data suggest that suppressing the secretion of solTNF by donor T cells significantly decreases GVHD without impairing GVT activity.
The application of broiler manure and bedding (litter) on land has been a long-used disposal method that benefits plant and soil. For proper manure management, factors such as nutrient content, house ...cleaning management, application methods, and many land, crop, and climatic factors must be considered. A study was undertaken to characterize broiler cake and broiler litter as the by-products of two management systems in Mississippi. Broiler cake and litter productions were quantified and analyzed for four flocks during 1999 and 2000. The overall means for broiler cake production were 12.50, 13.90, and 10.30 kg
m
−2 for producers 1, 2, and 3, respectively. Significantly greater quantities of litter, 27.50, 29.0, and 28.30 kg
m
−2 than cake were determined for the same producers. The cake and litter moisture averaged 455 and 277 g
kg
−1, respectively. No significant differences were observed between cake and litter total N, NH
4-N, total C, total P, and water-soluble P (WP). However, cake had significantly greater Ca, Mg, K, Cu, Fe, Mn, and Zn than litter. Approximately 16.8% of the broiler cake and 15.2% of the broiler litter total P were in the form of water-soluble P. The NH
4-N content of the cake and the litter were 12.5% and 11.5% of the cake and litter total nitrogen, respectively. The results also showed the advantage of the decaking practice with respect to the quantity of the manure generated for land application. Approximately 57% of the litter remains in the poultry house with decaking practice after each growth cycle compared to the 0% for total cleanout practice.
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