1,721,086 research outputs found
Replication Data for “Chickens living in better environments lay happier eggs”: consumers attitudes towards cage-free eggs
No full textThis folder contains transcripts from 46 interviews. Each file represents one interview transcript, written in the original interview language Chinese. The interviewer is indicated with her initial (“J”), and the participants with an arbitrary code (e.g. “A”). The only exception is in the transcripts with participant J, where the interviewer is indicated with her name (“Julia”) and the participant with the code “J”. All participants were interviewed more than once; interviews are numbered sequentially. The text reflects a verbatim transcription, with edits to remove any identifying information to maintain participant anonymity
Replication Data for: Effect of neck-rail placement on free-stall use and the force exerted on the rail by naïve dairy heifers
No full textHow cattle respond when introduced to new housing systems is understudied. Indoor housed dairy heifers are often kept on open packs early in life and then later transition to free-stall housing. The neck-rail in free stalls acts as a physical and visual barrier intended to prevent animals from entering too far in the stall, with the aim of improving the cleanliness of the stall surface. Unfortunately, this barrier can hinder stall use and in some cases may be a hazard to animals due to physical contact. The primary aim of this study was to investigate the effects of two different neck-rail positions on frequency of stall use (for lying and standing) and misuse (standing backwards in the stall and lying down outside of the stall) by naïve dairy heifers. A secondary aim was to measure, via the use of an instrumented neck-rail, the maximum force with which heifers contacted this part of the stall. We also assessed stall cleanliness and bedding use. Holstein heifers (n=16) were randomly assigned to one of two neck-rail positions: 110 cm and 130 cm (as measured diagonally from the inside of the rear curb to the bottom of the instrumented neck-rail). Animals were tested individually and responses were measured over first 6 h following introduction to the free stalls. On average (median, min, max) heifers lay down 3.5 (0, 6) times in the free-stall when the neck-rail was positioned at 130 cm vs. 0 (0, 4) times at 110 cm. Heifers also were more likely to stand fully in the stall when the neck-rail was positions at 130 cm vs. 110 cm (3.5, 0, 9 vs. 1, 0, 3), and were also more likely to stand backwards in the stall (3, 0, 5 vs. 0, 0, 1). In contrast, heifers tested at the 130 cm position were rarely observed lying down outside of the stall (1, 0, 4), while this behavior was more common at the 110 cm treatment (4, 0, 7). Contrary to our expectation, the force with which heifers contacted the neck-rail was higher in the 130 cm vs. the 110 cm treatment (337, 6, 548 vs. 78, 26, 403 N). At the 130 cm vs. 110 cm position stalls were more likely be contaminated with feces (6, 0, 11 vs. 0, 0, 5 contaminated squares), and bedding levels showed a greater decline (10.2, 8.6, 12.2 vs. 7.6, 6.7, 11.9 cm decline). We conclude the neck-rail position acts as a barrier for naïve heifers, such that a more restrictive position reduces the likely the heifers use the stall correctly and increases misuse. Stalls with more restrictive neck-rails stay cleaner and better retain bedding, in part due to their lack of use
Going Beyond Counting First Authors in Author Co-citation Analysis
Full text linkThe present study examines one of the fundamental aspects of author co-citation analysis (ACA) - the way co-citation
counts are defined. Co-citation counting provides the data on which all subsequent statistical analyses and mappings
are based, and we compare ACA results based on two different types of co-citation counting - the traditional type that
only counts the first one among a cited work's authors on the one hand and a non-traditional type that takes into
account the first 5 authors of a cited work on the other hand. Results indicate that the picture produced through this non-traditional author co-citation counting contains more coherent author groups and is therefore considerably clearer. However, this picture represents fewer specialties in the research field being studied than that produced through the traditional first-author co-citation counting when the same number of top-ranked authors is selected and analyzed. Reasons for these effects are discussed
Variations on the Author
Full text link“Variations on the Author” discusses two of Eduardo Coutinho’s recent films (Um Dia na Vida, from 2010, and Últimas Conversas, posthumously released in 2015) and their contribution to the general question of documentary authorship. The director’s filmography is characterized by a consistent yet self-effacing form of authorial self-inscription: Coutinho often features as an interviewer that rather than express opinions propels discourses; an interviewer that is good at listening. This mode of self-inscription characterizes him as an author who is not expressive but who is nonetheless markedly present on the screen. In Um Dia na Vida, however, Coutinho is completely absent form the image, while Últimas Conversas, on the contrary, includes a confessional prologue that moves the director from the margins to the center of his films. This article examines the ways in which these works stand out in the filmography of a director who offers new insights into the notion of cinematic authorship
Perspectives of western Canadian dairy farmers on the future of farming
No full textSimilar to the situation in many countries, the dairy industry in Canada is challenged by the need to adapt to changing societal demands. An industry-led initia-tive (Dairy Farmers of Canada’s proAction Initative, known as proAction) was developed to respond to this challenge, providing mandatory national standards for on-farm practices. Farmers are more likely to follow such standards if they are aligned with their values and beliefs. The aim of this study was to better un-derstand farmers’ perspectives on the future of the Canadian dairy industry, with a focus on the role of mandatory policies such as those related to proAction. Seven focus groups were conducted, with discussions based on the principles of appreciative inquiry. Par-ticipants were each asked to write down key words that represent the “must-haves” on dairy farms in 20 yr from now. Although participants were encouraged to focus on aspects directly related to animal care, all answers were accepted. Key words were then used to facilitate a discussion and elicit ideas on how to achieve these must-haves. Particular focus was on the direction that participants believed policy should take to meet these goals. Explorative qualitative analysis was used for the written key words, and transcripts of the audio-recorded focus group discussions were analyzed using thematic analysis. Examples of farm-specific consider-ations that were raised as future must-haves of animal care on dairy farms included cow comfort, employee management, responsible health management, and use of advanced thechnologies. Participants agreed that objectives can only be achieved through collaboration among farmers and between farmers and researchers, and they regarded citizen education as a promising ap-proach to align differing expectations of the public and farmers. Citizen trust in the dairy industry was consid-ered a must-have, and participants believed that one of the benefits of mandatory policies for animal care is their potential to increase trust. These results may help guide the development of new animal care policies and increase understanding of the perceived legitimacy of new policies by dairy farmers
Appropriate Similarity Measures for Author Cocitation Analysis
Full text linkWe provide a number of new insights into the methodological discussion about author cocitation analysis. We first argue that the use of the Pearson correlation for measuring the similarity between authors’ cocitation profiles is not very satisfactory. We then discuss what kind of similarity measures may be used as an alternative to the Pearson correlation. We consider three similarity measures in particular. One is the well-known cosine. The other two similarity measures have not been used before in the bibliometric literature. Finally, we show by means of an example that our findings have a high practical relevance.information science;Pearson correlation;cosine;similarity measure;author cocitation analysis
Linking the social environment to illness in farm animals
No full textDisease is one of the single largest issues facing food animal agriculture today. Risk factors for various diseases in cattle, swine and chickens include aspects of both the physical and social environment. In this paper we review literature linking the social environment to illness in farm animals, drawing from a conceptual framework developed primarily in the human and laboratory animal literature. To date, researchers have identified various social determinants of disease, have linked social stressors to biological intermediaries and clinical signs of disease, and have established individual behavioural and neuroendocrine differences in susceptibility to disease. Further, ill animals reduce social behaviours as part of a suite of ‘sickness behaviours’. In animal agriculture, the social environment is controlled by management practices implemented on individual farms. Globally, farm sizes are growing, but there is no clear link between farm size and disease incidence. Rather, researchers have tied specific grouping practices, such as moving cows between groups, to increased disease risk, and have begun to determine the biological chain connecting the social world to biological determinants of disease. Studies with farm animals have also established individual variation in behavioural and neuroendocrine response to these practices. Some individuals are more reactive to changes in their social environment than others; however, there remains no consensus on how to recognize these at-risk animals. Additionally, despite the potential role in disease detection, little farm animal work has investigated whether a reduction in social behaviours could be used as early predictors of disease. We end the review by urging further farm animal research to determine the relationship between the social environment and disease, utilizing the concepts and methodologies that have been developed in the human and laboratory animal literature
Views of American animal and dairy science students on the future of dairy farms and public expectations for dairy cattle care: A focus group study
No full textStudents completing advanced degrees in dairy or animal science may go on to have a major impact on the food animal agriculture industries. The aim of this study was to better understand student views of the future of dairying, including changes in practices affecting animal care on farms as well as perceived public perceptions. We conducted 6 focus group sessions with undergraduate students enrolled in the 2019 US Dairy Education and Training Consortium held in Clovis, New Mexico, and used explorative key word analysis of written notes and thematic analysis of the semi-structured discussions. Some “must-haves” of future animal care on dairy farms included increased use of technology, group housing of calves, and adequate facilities, including enrichment. Students also discussed their views of public expectations regarding animal care on dairy farms, and measures that they felt must be put into place to address these expectations in the coming years. Although the influence of the public was highlighted by the students, they were not always certain what specific values the public holds and doubted the feasibility and practicality of some expectations, such as providing pasture access or keeping the calf and cow together. They further demonstrated uncertainty about how best to align the directions of the industry with public expectations. Although they felt that public education could be used to demonstrate the legitimacy of dairy practices, they also believed that the industry should strive to find compromises and work toward meeting public expectations. Deciding what animal welfare considerations (e.g., naturalness, affective states, or animal health) were most relevant was a challenge for the students, perhaps reflecting diverging messages received during their own education
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