Outbreak-specific monovalent/bivalent vaccination to control and eradicate virulent ovine footrot

Footrot is a contagious disease of small ruminants which is caused by the bacterium Dichelobacter nodosus. In its virulent form there are severe economic losses and a very significant animal welfare issue. Sheep and goats can be vaccinated for treatment and prevention of the disease. There are 10 different serogroups of D. nodosus (A–I and M) and immunity is serogroup-specific. When all 10 serogroups are presented together in a vaccine, protection persists for only a few months due to “antigenic competition”. Consequently we evaluated the use of sequential monovalent or bivalent vaccines to control/eliminate/eradicate virulent footrot in a longitudinal intervention study on 12 commercial farms in southeast Australia with flock sizes of approximately 1200–4200 sheep. Overall, virulent footrot was eradicated from 4 of the flocks, 2 of which had 2 serogroups, and the others 4 or 5 serogroups. Where there were only 1 or 2 serogroups (3 farms) the clinical response was rapid and dramatic; prevalence was reduced from 45 to 50% before vaccination to 0% (2 farms) or 0.4% (1 farm) after one round of vaccination. In the remaining 9 flocks there were more than 2 serogroups and successive bivalent vaccines were administered leading to eradication of virulent footrot on 2 farms over 4 years and control of the disease on all but 3 of the others. Of the latter farms, 1 discontinued, and 2 initially had poor response to vaccine due to misdiagnosis of serogroup ‘M’, which was previously unknown in Australia. Control was achieved after administration of a serogroup M vaccine. These results provide clear evidence for control, elimination and eradication of virulent footrot by outbreak-specific vaccination in Australia.     

Examining Young Recreational Sportswomen's Intentions to Engage in Sun-Protective Behavior: The Role of Group and Image Norms

Researchers examined the sun-protective intentions and behavior of young, Caucasian, Australian sportswomen aged between 17 and 35 years (N?=?100). The study adopted a 2 x 2 experimental design, comparing group norms (supportive vs. non-supportive) and image norms (tanned vs. pale) related to sun protection and taking into account group identification with friends and peers in the sport. While no significant findings emerged involving image norms, regression analyses revealed a significant two-way interaction for group norm x identification on recreational sportswomen's intentions to engage in sun protection in the next fortnight. Participants identifying strongly with their group had stronger intentions to engage in sun protection when exposed to a norm reflecting fellow recreational sportswomen engaging in sun-protective actions in comparison to those exposed to a non-supportive group. In addition, while prior intentions to engage in sun protection were not significantly related to sun-protection behavior, post-manipulation intentions after exposure to the sun-protective information that was provided were significantly related to follow-up behavior. Overall, the findings supported the importance of group-based social influences, rather than tanned media images, on sun-protective decisions among young recreational sportswomen and provided a targeted source for intervention strategies encouraging sun safety among this at-risk group for repeated sun exposure.     

The lived experience of the transition of the clinical nurse expert to the novice nurse educator

The purpose of this research study was to describe and interpret the experience of nurses without any educational theory as they transition from the role of the clinical nurse expert to the novice nurse educator. A qualitative design with a phenomenology method was conducted of 8 clinical nurse experts who have transitioned into the role of the novice nurse educator within the past 2 years. Analysis of the data yielded 3 themes: (a) clinical nurse experts have expert knowledge to share and have a desire to educate the next generation; (b) the transition process elicits feelings of stress related to not having educational theory; (c) consistent mentoring contributes to an easier transition to the role. As a result of this study, nursing program administrators can assist the clinical nurse expert by providing additional support in areas of educational theory, examination writing, and analysis.     

Comprehending Childhood Bereavement by Parental Suicide: A Critical Review of Research on Outcomes,Grief Processes,and Interventions

The experience of bereavement by parental suicide is not well understood, as evidenced by the lack of empirically supported interventions for this underserved population. This article reviews quantitative and qualitative research on the psychopathological outcomes and thematic characteristics of childhood and adolescent suicide survivorship and moderating variables such as life stressors, stigma, the manner of communication about the suicide, and the surviving parent's functioning. The authors outline several approaches to intervention and address conceptual and methodological challenges within the field. With the ultimate goal of efficacious intervention, recommendations for future priorities and the use of unconventional research methods are offered.     

The influence of passive heat maintenance on lower body power output and repeated sprint performance in professional rugby league players

Objectives: The pre-competition warm-up mediates many temperature related physiological changes which generally lead to an improvement in performance. However, after ceasing exercise body temperature declines rapidly, which reduces some of the benefits of the initial warm-up. We examined the effects of a passive heat maintenance strategy on post-warm-up core temperature (T_core) and performance in professional rugby league players. Design: Twenty professional rugby league players completed this randomised and counter-balanced study. Methods: After a standardised warm-up, players completed a countermovement jump (CMJ) before resting for 15 min wearing normal training attire (control) or wearing a passive heat maintenance jacket (PHM), players then completed another CMJ and a repeated sprint protocol (RSA). T_core was measured at baseline, post-warm-up, pre-RSA and post-RSA. CMJ were analysed for peak power output (PPO), and RSA for fastest, mean and total sprint time. Results: Post-warm-up T_core (mean ± SD; control 37.70 ± 0.28; PHM 37.70 ± 0.27 °C; p = 0.741) and PPO (control 5220 ± 353 vs. PHM 5213 ± 331 W; p = 0.686) were similar between conditions. At pre-RSA, PHM was associated with greater T_core (control 37.14 ± 0.31 vs. PHM 37.51 ± 0.30 °C; p < 0.001) and PPO (control 4868 ± 345 vs. PHM 5056 ± 344 W; p < 0.001) when compared to control. The decline in PPO from post-warm-up to pre-RSA was related to the drop in T_core (r = 0.71; p < 0.001). During the RSA, fastest, mean and total sprint time were all improved under PHM compared to control (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Passive heat maintenance is an effective method of attenuating the post-warm-up decline in T_core and improves PPO and repeated sprint ability in professional rugby league players.     

The effects of PTH,loading and surgical insult on cancellous bone at the bone–implant interface in the rabbit

Enhancing the quantity and quality of cancellous bone with anabolic pharmacologic agents may lead to more successful outcomes of non-cemented joint replacements. Using a novel rabbit model of cancellous bone loading, we examined two specific questions regarding bone formation at the bone–implant interface: (1) does the administration of intermittent PTH, a potent anabolic agent, and mechanical loading individually and combined enhance the peri-implant cancellous bone volume fraction; and, (2) does surgical trauma enhance the anabolic effect of PTH on peri-implant bone volume fraction. In this model, PTH enhanced peri-implant bone volume fraction by 30% in loaded bone, while mechanical loading alone increased bone volume fraction modestly (+ 10%). Combined mechanical loading and PTH treatment had no synergistic effect on any cancellous parameters. However, a strong combined effect was found in bone volume fraction with combined surgery and PTH treatment (+ 34%) compared to intact control limbs. Adaptive changes in the cancellous bone tissue included increased ultimate stress and enhanced remodeling activity. The number of proliferative osteoblasts increased as did their expression of pro-collagen 1 and PTH receptor 1, and the number of TRAP positive osteoclasts also increased. In summary, both loading and intermittent PTH treatment enhanced peri-implant bone volume, and surgery and PTH treatment had a strong combined effect. This finding is of clinical importance since enhancing early osseointegration in the post-surgical period has numerous potential benefits.