Predicting feed intake using modelling based on feeding behaviour in finishing beef steers.

Current techniques for measuring feed intake in housed cattle are both expensive and time-consuming making them unsuitable for use on commercial farms. Estimates of individual animal intake are required for assessing production efficiency. The aim of this study was to predict individual animal intake using parameters that can be easily obtained on commercial farms including feeding behaviour, liveweight and age. In total, 80 steers were used, and each steer was allocated to one of two diets (40 per diet) which consisted of (g/kg; DM) forage to concentrate ratios of either 494:506 (MIXED) or 80:920 (CONC). Individual daily fresh weight intakes (FWI; kg/day) were recorded for each animal using 32 electronic feeders over a 56-day period, and individual DM intakes (DMI; kg/day) subsequently calculated. Individual feeding behaviour variables were calculated for each day of the measurement period from the electronic feeders and included: total number of visits to the feeder, total time spent at the feeder (TOTFEEDTIME), total time where feed was consumed (TIMEWITHFEED) and average length of time during each visit to the feeder. These feeding behaviour variables were chosen due to ease of obtaining from accelerometers. Four modelling techniques to predict individual animal intake were examined, based on (i) individual animal TOTFEEDTIME relative expressed as a proportion of the dietary group (GRP) and total GRP intake, (ii) multiple linear regression (REG) (iii) random forests (RF) and (iv) support vector regressor (SVR). Each model was used to predict CONC and MIXED diets separately, giving eight prediction models, (i) GRP_CONC, (ii) GRP_MIXED, (iii) REG_CONC, (iv) REG_MIXED, (v) RF_CONC, (vi) RF_MIXED, (vii) SVR_CONC and (viii) SVR_MIXED. Each model was tested on FWI and DMI. Model performance was assessed using repeated measures correlations (R2_RM) to capture the repeated nature of daily intakes compared with standard R2, RMSE and mean absolute error (MAE). REG, RF and SVR models predicted FWI with R2_RM = 0.1-0.36, RMSE = 1.51-2.96 kg and MAE = 1.19-2.49 kg, and DMI with R2_RM = 0.13-0.19, RMSE = 1.15-1.61 kg and MAE = 0.9-1.28 kg. The GRP models predicted FWI with R2_RM = 0.42-0.49, RMSE = 2.76-3.88 kg and MAE = 2.46-3.47 kg, and DMI with R2_RM = 0.32-0.44, RMSE = 0.32-0.44 kg, MAE = 1.55-2.22 kg. Whilst more simplistic GRP models showed higher R2_RM than regression and machine learning techniques, these models had larger errors, likely due to individual feeding patterns not being captured. Although regression and machine learning techniques produced lower errors associated with individual intakes, overall precision of prediction was too low for practical use.

An assessment of the needs of oncology outpatients for the development of allied health services.

This article presents the findings of a study that arose out of the desire by the Allied Health Professionals (AHP) at the Mater Hospital, Brisbane, to better understand the needs of their clients in order to be able to offer a more effective and appropriate service. A questionnaire designed specifically to explore the needs of patients and their families for AHP services was administered to consecutive patients (n = 62) attending the Mater out-patient oncology clinic during one month. The findings provide a wealth of practical information for AHPs to use in planning for the effective utilisation of their services, as well as fresh insights into a number of theoretical issues that need further research.

A controlled comparison of family versus individual therapy for adolescents with anorexia nervosa.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effectiveness of behavioral family systems therapy (BFST) with that of ego-oriented individual therapy (EOIT) as treatments for adolescents with anorexia nervosa. METHOD: Thirty-seven adolescents meeting DSM-III-R criteria for anorexia nervosa were randomly assigned to receive BFST or EOIT, in addition to a common medical and dietary regimen. In BFST, the family was seen conjointly, the parents were placed in control of the adolescent's eating, distorted beliefs were targeted through cognitive restructuring, and strategic/behavioral interventions were used to change family interactions. In EOIT, the adolescent was seen individually, with an emphasis on building ego strength and uncovering the dynamics blocking eating; parents were seen collaterally. Measures administered before, after, and at 1-year follow-up tapped body mass index, menstruation, eating attitudes, ego functioning, depression, and family interactions. RESULTS: BFST produced greater weight gain and higher rates of resumption of menstruation than EOIT. Both treatments produced comparably large improvements in eating attitudes, depression, and eating-related family conflict, but very few changes occurred on ego functioning. CONCLUSIONS: BFST and EOIT proved to be effective treatments for adolescents with anorexia nervosa, but BFST produced a faster return to health.

Treatment of eating disorders in children and adolescents.

Anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa are expressed differently in children and adolescents than in adults. Consequently, diagnostic procedures and multidisciplinary treatments need to be tailored to the unique developmental, medical, nutritional, and psychological needs of children and adolescents with eating disorders. This paper reviews current research outlining the differences between child, adolescent, and adult eating disorders. Research is then reviewed concerning the effectiveness of hospitalization, partial hospitalization, individual dynamic therapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy, interpersonal therapy, family therapy, and medication for treating anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and related eating disorders in children and adolescents. Specific recommendations are made for practitioners to tailor these treatments to their eating-disordered child and adolescent patients, following a stepped-care, decision-tree model of intervention that takes into account the effectiveness, cost, and intrusiveness of the interventions.

Effects of transforming growth factor beta 1 and basic fibroblast growth factor on lipoprotein lipase activity in primary cultures of chicken (Gallus domesticus) adipocyte precursors.

1. The effect of TGF-beta and bFGF on lipoprotein lipase activity in chicken adipocyte precursors was investigated. 2. Lipoprotein lipase activity was reduced by up to 80% by incubation with TGF-beta whereas bFGF had no effect. 3. Contrary to that found with the 3T3-L1 preadipocyte cell line it was not necessary for TGF-beta to be present prior to the start of differentiation in order to be effective. 4. Incubation of adipocyte precursors with actinomycin D abolished the effect of TGF-beta suggesting that synthesis of a protein effector is required. 5. These results indicate differences in responsiveness to TGF-beta and bFGF between primary chicken adipocyte precursors and some preadipocyte cell lines.

Synthesis and quantitative structure-activity relationships of antibacterial 1-(substituted benzhydryl)-4-(5-nitro-2-furfurylideneamino) piperazines.

1-Benzhydryl -4- (5-nitro-2-furfurylideneamino) piperazine and 11 substituted analogs were prepared and examined for in vitro antimicrobial activity. The compounds were active against Bacillus cereus 7, Bacillus megaterium 122, Bacillus subtilis 104, Clostridium perfringens 13, and the tetracycline-resistant Clostridium perfringens 37. Regression analyses on the antibacterial activity data based on the Hansch approach, using pi, pi2, and sigma parameters, yielded several statistically significant correlation equations. 1-Benzhydryl-4-(5-nitro-2-furfurylideneamino) piperazine stopped the protein and DNA syntheses in C. perfringens 13, as indicated by precipitable radioactivity. The compound, however, showed no effect on the cell wall synthesis in the bacteria.

Reactions of benzenesulfonohydrazides and benzenesulfonamides with hydrogen chloride or hydrogen bromide in acetic acid.

Benzenesulfonohydrazides capable of yielding a sulfinic acid intermediate by virtue of a basic nitrogen atom in the second position of the hydrazide moiety produced thiosulfonates when treated with 1 N hydrogen chloride in acetic acid and produced disulfides when treated with 1 N hydrogen bromide in the same solvent. In two cases, a crystalline mixture of P-nitrophenyl p-nitrobenzenethiosulfonate and bis(p-nitrophenyl) disulfide was isolated from the hydrogen chloride reactions. No reaction product was obtained from either the hydrogen chloride or hydrogen bromide reaction with benzenesulfonohydrazides that were unable to form a sulfinic acid intermediate. Reduction of benzenesulfonamides to disulfides appeared to be possible only with hydrogen bromide in acetic acid. No thiosulfonate was isolated from the treatments of benzenesulfonamides with 1 N hydrogen chloride in acetic acid. p-Nitrophenyl p-nitrobenzenethiosulfonate and p-bromophenyl p-bromobenzenethiosulfonate exhibited some antimicrobial activities against Gram-positive bacteria. The latter compound also showed analgesic properties in the phenylquinone test.