Dairy vs beef production - expert views on welfare of cattle in common food production systems.

Consumers' views and concerns about the welfare of farm animals may play an important role in their decision to consume dairy, meat and/or plants as their primary protein source. As animals are killed prematurely in both dairy and beef industries, it is important to quantify and compare welfare compromises in these two sectors before the point of death. Seventy world-leading bovine welfare experts based in 23 countries were asked to evaluate the likelihood of a bovine to experience 12 states of potential welfare concern, inspired by the Welfare Quality® protocol.

Small molecules enhance autophagy and reduce toxicity in Huntington's disease models.

The target of rapamycin proteins regulate various cellular processes including autophagy, which may play a protective role in certain neurodegenerative and infectious diseases. Here we show that a primary small-molecule screen in yeast yields novel small-molecule modulators of mammalian autophagy. We first identified new small-molecule enhancers (SMER) and inhibitors (SMIR) of the cytostatic effects of rapamycin in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Ensuring excellence and competence in surgery: the imperative of mentorship from historical and philosophical perspectives.

Purpose: How can the surgical disciplines (1) attract and recruit students of the highest capabilities and ideals; (2) ensure professional competency; and (3) maximize efficacy and safety of biotechnology translated to patient care?

Methods: Critique of the occidental humanistic literature.

Results: The imperative of mentorship is grounded in the philosophical traditions of occidental society dating from antiquity.

Conclusion: This essay affirms that imperative in relationship to the surgical disciplines from an historical perspective.