Estrous activity in different breeds and breed crosses of sheep

Estrus was monitored in 715 straightbred and crossbred ewes during spring lactation, postweaning, summer and/or late summer breeding periods. Straightbred ewes were comprised of seven breeds, and crossbreds consisted of Rambouillet- and Finnsheep-sired ewes of the seven breeds. Estrus was detected in 5.4% of the Rambouillet and Finnsheep crossbred ewes during lactation. After weaning, the incidence of estrus was 1.1% in all crossbred and straightbred ewes. The incidence of estrus was 5.2% for all ewes during the summer period. During late summer (July 28 to August 17), 42% of all ewes showed estrus and both breed of sire and breed of dam influenced estrous activity (P<0.01). Straightbred Rambouillet, Targhee, Dorset and most Rambouillet-sired crossbred ewes showed the greatest estrous activity and could be the genetic stock of choice for early lamb production. Straightbred Hampshire, Suffolk and most Finnsheep crossbred ewes showed estrous activity later in the season. Results support the conclusion that certain sheep breeds and breed crosses show estrous activity during August, while other breeds and breed crosses begin estrous activity later and continue until March or April. Thus, lambs may be produced from January through September each year by maintaining several different breeds or breed crosses in the breeding flock.     

Encyclia altissima Schlechter (Orchidaceae), a resurrected name for the Bahama Flora

The nameEncyclia hodgeana (A. D. Hawkes) Beckner has been incorrectly applied toE. altissima Schlechter in the Bahamas.     

Effects of androgen on fighting behavior in male and female Mongolian gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus)

Contrary to the results of most other mammalian species studied thus far, castration in infancy or adulthood has been shown to increase the display of intermale aggression in gerbils tested as adults in dyadic encounters. Males castrated in adulthood were divided into two groups: one that received testosterone propionate (TP) treatment and one that did not. A third group of adult males were sham-operated. Infant subjects were either sham-operated or castrated and tested once without and once with TP. Both infant and adult castrates that received no TP treatment demonstrated significantly more fighting behavior than did sham-operates. Adult subjects treated with TP show significantly less aggression than castrates that did not receive TP. Ovariectomized females were also divided into a TP and no-TP group. Females treated with TP showed significantly less aggression than those that had no treatment showing that TP inhibits aggression in both males and females gonadectomized in adulthood. The results are assessed in terms of the importance of perinatal androgen to “organize” adult behavior patterns.     

Violence in the emergency department: a survey of health care workers

BACKGROUND: Violence in the workplace is an ill-defined and underreported concern for health care workers. The objectives of this study were to examine perceived levels of violence in the emergency department, to obtain health care workers'' definitions of violence, to determine the effect of violence on health care workers and to determine coping mechanisms and potential preventive strategies. METHODS: A retrospective written survey of all 163 emergency department employees working in 1996 at an urban inner-city tertiary care centre in Vancouver. The survey elicited demographic information, personal definition of violence, severity of violence, degree of stress as a result of violence and estimate of the number of encounters with violence in the workplace in 1996. The authors examined the effects of violence on job performance and job satisfaction, and reviewed coping and potential preventive strategies. RESULTS: Of the 163 staff, 106 (65%) completed the survey. A total of 68% (70/103) reported an increased frequency of violence over time, and 60% (64/106) reported an increased severity. Most of the respondents felt that violence included witnessing verbal abuse (76%) and witnessing physical threats or assaults (86%). Sixty respondents (57%) were physically assaulted in 1996. Overall, 51 respondents (48%) reported impaired job performance for the rest of the shift or the rest of the week after an incident of violence. Seventy-seven respondents (73%) were afraid of patients as a result of violence, almost half (49%) hid their identities from patients, and 78 (74%) had reduced job satisfaction. Over one-fourth of the respondents (27/101) took days off because of violence. Of the 18 respondents no longer working in the emergency department, 12 (67%) reported that they had left the job at least partly owing to violence. Twenty-four-hour security and a workshop on violence prevention strategies were felt to be the most useful potential interventions. Physical exercise, sleep and the company of family and friends were the most frequent coping strategies. INTERPRETATION: Violence in the emergency department is frequent and has a substantial effect on staff well-being and job satisfaction.