Modelling systems to describe maternal productivity, with the aim of improving beef production efficiency by eliciting practice change

2018 ◽  
Vol 58 (1) ◽  
pp. 193 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. J. Walmsley ◽  
V. H. Oddy
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Nutrient Availability ◽  
Nutrient Intake ◽  
Genetic Differences ◽  
Pregnancy Rates ◽  
Research Centre ◽  
Beef Production ◽  
Cow Calf ◽  
Carcass Performance ◽  
The Impact

The overall efficiency of beef production is considered more highly correlated with cow–calf efficiency, viz. maternal productivity (MP), than the efficiency of other segments of the beef production chain. Recently, concerns have been raised that improvements in feedlot and carcass performance have led to a decline in MP due to the uncertainty that surrounds the relationships between production and MP traits. The Beef Cooperative Research Centre ‘Maternal Productivity’ Project examined the impact of cow genotype and nutrient intake on breeding herd productivity. This experiment demonstrated that cow body composition is influenced by genetic differences in rib fat and residual feed intake, as well as nutrient availability. Genetic differences in rib fat were shown to influence heifer pregnancy rates, observed days to calving, MP when nutrient intake is restricted and ME intake by the cow–calf unit. Weaning rate was found to account for a large portion of the variation in MP, while cow genetic background and pre-weaning nutrient availability influenced the postweaning and carcass performance of progeny. These findings demonstrate that although balancing the requirements of MP with those of other traits is not straight forward, it is of critical importance. Incorporating modelling systems into decision-support systems (DSS) offers the opportunity to integrate fragmented knowledge into decision making. Unfortunately, previous DSS have gained little traction and limited adoption due to their perceived complexity, large input-data requirements, and mismatches between outputs and the decision-making styles of producers. The development of the BeefSpecs fat calculator provides an example of how producer-measurable inputs and simple user interactions can be combined using modelling systems to develop DSS to improve MP. No single model that addressed all issues affecting MP was found in the literature. Thus, it was concluded that previous modelling systems would need to be combined to develop a suite of DSS that target-specific components of MP, such as heifer pregnancy rates and interactions between the cow herd and the nutritional environment.

scholarly journals Policy Implications of Power Exchanges on Operational Scheduling: Evaluating EUPHEMIA’s Market Products in Case of Greece

Energies ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (10) ◽  
pp. 2715 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nikolaos Koltsaklis ◽  
Athanasios Dagoumas
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Electricity Market ◽  
Relevant Literature ◽  
Policy Implications ◽  
Research Centre ◽  
Variable Cost ◽  
Wholesale Market ◽  
Joint Research ◽  
Market Participants ◽  
The Impact

A vital component for the development of a functioning internal electricity market is the adoption by each European member state of the Pan-European Hybrid Electricity Market Integration (EUPHEMIA) for the day-ahead market solution. The consideration of the national power market’s characteristics enables more realistic market design towards the implementation of the so-called “Target Model”. This work considers a series of factors, including the EUPHEMIA order types, their use by market participants, the relative competitiveness of power generators, the impact of interconnected markets, the existence of market players with dominant positions, and the existence of specific regulations such as the minimum average variable cost restriction on offers by producers, as well as the strategy adopted by market participants. The main goal of this paper is to provide a comprehensive analysis on the adoption of EUPHEMIA’s algorithm in case of the Greek wholesale market, based on a relevant research project funded by the Joint Research Centre of the European Commission to support the Hellenic Regulatory Authority of Energy on its decision-making. The paper contributes to the relevant literature on the quantification of the impacts of the EUPHEMIA algorithm in the case of the Greek wholesale market, providing insights on the crucial aspects affecting realistic, market-based decision-making.

Trends in Dietary Intake of Vitamins A, C, and E in German Children and Adolescents – Results of the DONALD Study

2003 ◽  
Vol 73 (5) ◽  
pp. 335-342 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexy ◽  
Kersting ◽  
Sichert-Hellert
Keyword(s):  
Vitamin E ◽  
Nutrition Education ◽  
Time Trends ◽  
Nutrient Intake ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Food Groups ◽  
Fortified Food ◽  
Vitamin Intake ◽  
Dietary Records ◽  
The Impact

Intake of vitamins A, C, and E was evaluated and age and time trends were assessed on the basis of 3-day weighed dietary records (n = 5121) of 2- to 18-year old boys (n = 417) and girls (n = 425) enrolled in the DONALD Study (Dortmund Nutritional and Anthropometric Longitudinally Designed Study) 1986–2001. Intake of vitamin A remains stable over time, intake of vitamin C increases linearly, and intake of vitamin E follows a nonlinear trend. Age trends of vitamins A and C (per MJ) were nonlinear with a minimum at the beginning adolescence, while intake of vitamin E (per MJ) increased linearly. Girls had higher nutrient densities but lower intakes expressed as percent of reference values. Fortified food in total had a higher impact on time trends of nutrient intake than other single food groups defined here. Our results point to the impact of the food industry on long-term nutrient intake, but also underline the necessity of nutrition education even in young age groups to improve vitamin intake.

Quota Women Are Threatening to Men

2017 ◽  
Vol 76 (3) ◽  
pp. 107-116 ◽  
Author(s):  
Klea Faniko ◽  
Till Burckhardt ◽  
Oriane Sarrasin ◽  
Fabio Lorenzi-Cioldi ◽  
Siri Øyslebø Sørensen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Organizational Performance ◽  
Gender Stereotypes ◽  
Perceived Threat ◽  
Preferential Treatment ◽  
Public Sector Employees ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Low Levels ◽  
Women In Decision Making ◽  
The Impact

Abstract. Two studies carried out among Albanian public-sector employees examined the impact of different types of affirmative action policies (AAPs) on (counter)stereotypical perceptions of women in decision-making positions. Study 1 (N = 178) revealed that participants – especially women – perceived women in decision-making positions as more masculine (i.e., agentic) than feminine (i.e., communal). Study 2 (N = 239) showed that different types of AA had different effects on the attribution of gender stereotypes to AAP beneficiaries: Women benefiting from a quota policy were perceived as being more communal than agentic, while those benefiting from weak preferential treatment were perceived as being more agentic than communal. Furthermore, we examined how the belief that AAPs threaten men’s access to decision-making positions influenced the attribution of these traits to AAP beneficiaries. The results showed that men who reported high levels of perceived threat, as compared to men who reported low levels of perceived threat, attributed more communal than agentic traits to the beneficiaries of quotas. These findings suggest that AAPs may have created a backlash against its beneficiaries by emphasizing gender-stereotypical or counterstereotypical traits. Thus, the framing of AAPs, for instance, as a matter of enhancing organizational performance, in the process of policy making and implementation, may be a crucial tool to countering potential backlash.

The impact of patient narratives on medical students’ perceptions of shared decision making: A randomized controlled trial

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martina Bientzle ◽  
Marie Eggeling ◽  
Simone Korger ◽  
Joachim Kimmerle
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Medical Students ◽  
Shared Decision Making ◽  
Medical Training ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Shared Decision ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
Information Text ◽  
The Impact

BACKGROUND: Successful shared decision making (SDM) in clinical practice requires that future clinicians learn to appreciate the value of patient participation as early as in their medical training. Narratives, such as patient testimonials, have been successfully used to support patients’ decision-making process. Previous research suggests that narratives may also be used for increasing clinicians’ empathy and responsiveness in medical consultations. However, so far, no studies have investigated the benefits of narratives for conveying the relevance of SDM to medical students.METHODS: In this randomized controlled experiment, N = 167 medical students were put into a scenario where they prepared for medical consultation with a patient having Parkinson disease. After receiving general information, participants read either a narrative patient testimonial or a fact-based information text. We measured their perceptions of SDM, their control preferences (i.e., their priorities as to who should make the decision), and the time they intended to spend for the consultation.RESULTS: Participants in the narrative patient testimonial condition referred more strongly to the patient as the one who should make decisions than participants who read the information text. Participants who read the patient narrative also considered SDM in situations with more than one treatment option to be more important than participants in the information text condition. There were no group differences regarding their control preferences. Participants who read the patient testimonial indicated that they would schedule more time for the consultation.CONCLUSIONS: These findings show that narratives can potentially be useful for imparting the relevance of SDM and patient-centered values to medical students. We discuss possible causes of this effect and implications for training and future research.

The impact of a physician’s recommendation and gender on informed decision making: A randomized controlled study in a simulated decision situation

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marie Eggeling ◽  
Anna Meinhardt ◽  
Ulrike Cress ◽  
Joachim Kimmerle ◽  
Martina Bientzle
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Cruciate Ligament ◽  
Treatment Options ◽  
General Information ◽  
Treatment Preference ◽  
Controlled Study ◽  
Treatment Preferences ◽  
Hypothetical Scenario ◽  
And Gender ◽  
The Impact

Objective: This study examined the influence of physicians’ recommendations and gender on the decision-making process in a preference-sensitive situation. Methods: N = 201 participants were put in a hypothetical scenario in which they suffered from a rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). They received general information on two equally successful treatment options for this injury (surgery vs. physiotherapy) and answered questions regarding their treatment preference, certainty and satisfaction regarding their decision, and attitude toward the treatment options. Then participants watched a video that differed regarding physician’s recommendation (surgery vs. physiotherapy) and physician’s gender (female vs. male voice and picture). Afterward, they indicated again their treatment preference, certainty, satisfaction, and attitude, as well as the physician’s professional and social competence.Results: Participants changed their treatment preferences in the direction of the physician’s recommendation (P<.001). Decision certainty (P<.001) and satisfaction (P<.001) increased more strongly if the physician’s recommendation was congruent with the participant’s prior attitude than if the recommendation was contrary to the participant’s prior attitude. Finally, participants’ attitudes toward the recommended treatment became more positive (surgery recommendation: P<.001; physiotherapy recommendation: P<.001). We found no influence of the physician’s gender on participants’ decisions, attitudes, or competence assessments.Conclusion: This research indicates that physicians should be careful with recommendations when aiming for shared decisions, as they might influence patients even if the patients have been made aware that they should take their personal preferences into account. This could be particularly problematic if the recommendation is not in line with the patient’s preferences.

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