Quality of life and stress factors for veterinary medical students

Psychological distress has been shown to affect the academic success, health, emotional well-being, and dropout rates of medical students. Although it can be assumed that stress has similar effects on veterinary students, there is a paucity of research pertaining to the psychological stressors and coping strategies of this group. This article focuses on selected non-academic areas (as identified through a survey of currently enrolled students) that can create significant stressors for veterinary students. Also assessed and discussed here are poor coping strategies (e.g., substance abuse) and gender differences in perceived stressors and coping strategies that emerged from the survey. Results suggest the need for veterinary programs to integrate academic and professional skills instruction with personal life balance training and access to psychological services.     

Genomic prediction of grain yield in commercial Finnish oat (Avena sativa) and barley (Hordeum vulgare) breeding programmes

Genomic selection has been adopted in many plant breeding programmes. In this paper, we cover some aspects of information necessary before starting genomic selection. Spring oat and barley breeding data sets from commercial breeding programmes were studied using single, multitrait and trait-assisted models for predicting grain yield. Heritabilities were higher when estimated using multitrait models compared to single-trait models. However, no corresponding increase in prediction accuracy was observed in a cross-validation scenario. On the other hand, forward prediction showed a slight, but not significant, increase in accuracy of genomic estimated breeding values for breeding cohorts when a multitrait model was applied. When a correlated trait was used in a trait-assisted model, on average the accuracies increased by 9%–14% for oat and by 11%–28% for barley compared with a single-trait model. Overall, accuracies in forward validation varied between breeding cohorts and years for grain yield. Forward prediction accuracies for multiple cohorts and multiple years’ data are reported for oat for the first time.     

Comparison of multiplicative heterogeneous variance adjustment models for genetic evaluations

Two heterogeneous variance adjustment methods and two variance models were compared in a simulation study. The method used for heterogeneous variance adjustment in the Nordic test‐day model, which is a multiplicative method based on Meuwissen (J. Dairy Sci., 79, 1996, 310), was compared with a restricted multiplicative method where the fixed effects were not scaled. Both methods were tested with two different variance models, one with a herd‐year and the other with a herd‐year‐month random effect. The simulation study was built on two field data sets from Swedish Red dairy cattle herds. For both data sets, 200 herds with test‐day observations over a 12‐year period were sampled. For one data set, herds were sampled randomly, while for the other, each herd was required to have at least 10 first‐calving cows per year. The simulations supported the applicability of both methods and models, but the multiplicative mixed model was more sensitive in the case of small strata sizes. Estimation of variance components for the variance models resulted in different parameter estimates, depending on the applied heterogeneous variance adjustment method and variance model combination. Our analyses showed that the assumption of a first‐order autoregressive correlation structure between random‐effect levels is reasonable when within‐herd heterogeneity is modelled by year classes, but less appropriate for within‐herd heterogeneity by month classes. Of the studied alternatives, the multiplicative method and a variance model with a random herd‐year effect were found most suitable for the Nordic test‐day model for dairy cattle evaluation.     

The kondo effect in the unitary limit

We observe a strong Kondo effect in a semiconductor quantum dot when a small magnetic field is applied. The Coulomb blockade for electron tunneling is overcome completely by the Kondo effect, and the conductance reaches the unitary limit value. We compare the experimental Kondo temperature with the theoretical predictions for the spin- 12 Anderson impurity model. Excellent agreement is found throughout the Kondo regime. Phase coherence is preserved when a Kondo quantum dot is included in one of the arms of an Aharonov-Bohm ring structure, and the phase behavior differs from previous results on a non-Kondo dot.     

Growth and the effect of grading, of turbot in a shallow raceway system

Juvenile turbot Scophthalmus maximus (L.), ranging in size from 30 to 407 g were graded into small, large, and unsorted groups in a low-water-level raceway system. Water depth was 7 cm. The rearing design proved self-cleaning and well suited for turbot ongrowing. Mean initial weights 146.2, 236.1, 162.7 g increased to 299.1, 465.6 and 343.1 g in the small, large, and unsorted groups respectively during the 86 day experiment. The corresponding SGRs were 0.84, 0.79 and 0.87% day-1. No positive effect of grading on biomass production was revealed. The coefficient of variance gave no indication of social interactions, but plotting the start weights against estimated individuals SGRs did, although the effect was minor.     

Absorption of immunomodulating β(1,3)-glucan in yolk sac larvae of Atlantic halibut, Hippoglossus hippoglossus (L.)

A soluble immunomodulating β(1,3)-glucan, laminaran, was given in drinking water to yolk-sac larvae of Atlantic halibut, Hippoglossus hippoglossus L. The larvae absorbed laminaran when the concentration was 25 mg l^–1. After 5 days exposure to laminaran, each larva contained 2.3 ng and 46 ng of ³H- and ¹²⁵I-labelled laminaran, respectively. After 10 days exposure, each larva contained 4.5 ng and 47 ng of ³H- and ¹²⁵I-laminaran, respectively. The absorption was confirmed by fluorescence microscopy of larvae exposed to fluorescein-labelled laminaran (FITC-laminaran). The fluorescence was localized to cells in the intestinal epithelial layer and the skin epithelial layer.     

Osteochondral fragments involving the dorsomedial aspect of the proximal interphalangeal joint in young horses: 6 cases (1997-2006)

OBJECTIVE: To determine clinical and diagnostic imaging findings in young horses with osteochondral fragments involving the dorsomedial aspect of the proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joint. DESIGN: Retrospective case series. ANIMALS: 6 horses. PROCEDURES: Medical records were reviewed. Follow-up information was obtained through telephone conversations with owners or trainers or by examining race records. RESULTS: Horses were between 1 and 4 years old. Three had bilateral osteochondral fragments in the forelimbs (n = 2 horses) or hind limbs (1). Radiographically, all but 1 fragment seemed to originate from the dorsomedial aspect of the distal end of the first phalanx. Fragment size ranged from 6 x 9 mm to 11 x 21 mm. Three horses had lameness referable to the region of the affected joint; the other 3 horses did not have clinical signs referable to affected PIP joints. Two horses were euthanized shortly after diagnosis at the owners' request because of concerns that the horses would be unsuited for their intended athletic use. Two of the 3 horses in which fragments were incidental findings were able to race successfully, although 1 received intra-articular corticosteroid treatments; the third was retired because of unrelated orthopedic problems. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results suggested that osteochondral fragments involving the dorsomedial aspect of the PIP joint may be an incidental finding in young horses. Given the absence of clinical signs in 5 of 9 affected joints and the fact that 3 of 6 horses were affected bilaterally, a developmental origin of the fragments was suspected.     

Laboratory procedures for the diagnosis of gastrointestinal tract diseases of dogs and cats

An increasing number of laboratory tests are available for diagnosis of gastrointestinal tract diseases in dogs and cats. Use of these tests can lead to more accurate and rapid diagnoses. This review discusses laboratory tests, both new and old, and the role they currently play in the evaluation of animals presented with gastrointestinal problems. A minimum database helps assess the severity of the disorder, detect extra-gastrointestinal causes of problems and assists in formulating diagnostic and therapeutic plans.

Faecal examination remains one of the most important diagnostic procedures in the investigation of gastrointestinal problems. Zinc sulphate faecal flotation is an excellent routine screening technique for helminth and protozoal infections, including giardiasis. Rectal cytology can assist in the diagnosis of large bowel disorders. Interpretation of faecal immunodiagnostic tests is hampered by insufficient knowledge of test sensitivities and specificities. Routine faecal cultures are not warranted and faecal occult blood tests are rarely indicated.

Serum tests for gastric inflammation are now under development. The serum trypsin-like immunoreactivity test remains the gold standard technique for the diagnosis of exocrine pancreatic insufficiency. Breath hydrogen tests can be helpful in assessing the functional relevance of mild abnormalities in small-bowel biopsy specimens. Subnormal concentrations of serum cobalamin appear to be more specific indicators of gastrointestinal disease in cats than in dogs. Tests for small intestinal bacterial overgrowth remain controversial and assessment of gastrointestinal permeability has yet to prove its value in the diagnostic assessment of companion animals with gastrointestinal problems. Faecal alpha₁-protease inhibitor (α₁-PI) shows promise for the diagnosis of protein-losing enteropathy.     

Genetic parameters in Finnish blue fox population: Pelt character and live animal grading traits

Abstract

Finnish blue fox farmers breed for increased litter size and pelt size, and improved fur quality. Some farmers select pelt size and fur quality indirectly using live animal evaluations (grading traits). In order to be able to define breeding goals properly, heritabilities and genetic correlations were estimated for size traits and fur quality traits. There were four pelt character traits (pelt size, pelt colour darkness, pelt colour clarity and pelt quality) measured on dried skins, and six grading traits (animal size, grading colour darkness, grading colour clarity, underfur density, guard hair coverage and grading quality). The data included 54,680 animals born during the years 1987–2002, originating from seven farms. The heritabilities were high for pelt colour darkness and grading colour darkness, moderate for pelt size and low for other traits. In general, heritability of a pelt character trait was higher than its corresponding grading trait. Genetic correlations within the pelt character traits were low (～0.11) and within the grading traits mainly moderate or high (～0.44). There was high genetic correlation between pelt darkness and grading darkness, pelt quality and grading density, pelt size and animal size; between pelt quality and grading quality and between pelt colour darkness and grading guard hair coverage. This suggests that selection of pelt character traits via grading traits in most cases is relatively effective.