Suicide among Ethiopian Jews: a survey conducted by means of a psychological autopsy.
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Adult↗
Biomedical subjects
A Arieli
Publications and source records attributed to A Arieli.
Effect of the degradation of organic matter and crude protein on ruminal fermentation in dairy cows.
The potential of the dacron bag technique to assess fluctuations in ruminal metabolites was studied using 40 Israeli-Friesian dairy cows assigned to an experiment with a 2 x 2 factorial design. Diets contained a low (62%) or high (65%) percentage of ruminally degradable CP and a low (55%) or high (59%) percentage of ruminally degradable OM. Metabolites were monitored before feeding and at 3 and 6 h postfeeding. Before feeding, total VFA and propionate were higher, and acetate and pH were lower, in diets containing a high percentage of ruminally degradable OM than in diets containing a low percentage of degradable OM. By 3 H postfeeding, acetate, butyrate and pH were lower, and propionate was higher, in the diets containing a high percentage or ruminally degradable OM than in the diets containing a low percentage of ruminally degradable OM. By 6 h postfeeding, propionate was higher, and acetate was lower, in diets containing a high percentage of ruminally degradable OM than in diets containing a low percentage of ruminally degradable OM. In the diets with a high percentage of ruminally degradable OM, before feeding and by 3 h postfeeding, ammonia concentrations were higher and lower, respectively, relative to the diets containing a low percentage of degradable OM. Milk yield and composition and DMI were similar among treatments. The correlation was good between the degradability data obtained by the dacron bag technique and the meal-induced variations in ruminal metabolites. The lack of a positive yield response to controlled fluctuations in ruminal metabolites may be related to surplus CP intake.
Ammonia↗
Effect of type of protein supplementation on duodenal amino acid flow and absorption in lactating dairy cows.
Four multiparous lactating Holstein cows, fitted with cannulas in the rumen, duodenum, and ileum, were used in a trial with a 4 x 4 Latin square design to examine the effect of source and degradability of dietary CP supplements on AA flow and absorption in the small intestine. The CP supplements consisted of fish meal or meat meal as the animal by-products supplement and soybean meal or heated soybean meal as the plant by-products supplement. Fish meal and heated soybean meal constituted the high RUP diets, and meat meal and soybean meal constituted the low RUP diets. Dry matter intakes were similar among treatments. However, intakes of OM, rumen-degradable OM, total CP, and RDP were affected by the source of the CP supplement and were higher for diets with plant by-products than for those diets with animal by-products. Data were similar for the calculated in situ digestibilities and for true in vivo digestibilities of rumen-degradable OM. Efficiency of bacterial CP synthesis was similar among diets; however, nonbacterial CP flow to the duodenum and OM, CP, and disappearance of AA from the small intestine were affected by the interaction of supplement source and degradability. Heat treatment of soybean meal reduced the availability of most of the essential AA for absorption in the small intestine by 2.3% compared with that of soybean meal; the biggest such reduction (20%) occurred for Met. Availability of AA in the small intestine was affected by source and degradability of the CP dietary supplement. Heat treatment at 140 degrees C for 2.5 h reduced the availability of Met absorption from the small intestine. Although the differences among availabilities of the individual AA in the small intestine ranged from 80 to 84% among treatments, for high yielding cows, these differences may have practical significance.
Amino Acids↗
Coherent spatiotemporal patterns of ongoing activity revealed by real-time optical imaging coupled with single-unit recording in the cat visual cortex.
1. We examined the spatiotemporal organization of ongoing activity in cat visual areas 17 and 18, in relation to the spontaneous activity of individual neurons. To search for coherent activity, voltage-sensitive dye signals were correlated with the activity of single neurons by the use of spike-triggered averaging. In each recording session an area of at least 2 x 2 mm of cortex was imaged, with 124 diodes. In addition, electrical recordings from two isolated units, the local field potential (LFP) from the same microelectrodes, and the surface electroencephalogram (EEG) were recorded simultaneously. 2. The optical signals recorded from the dye were similar to the LFP recorded from the same site. Optical signals recorded from different cortical sites exhibited a different time course. Therefore real-time optical imaging provides information that is equivalent in many ways to multiple-site LFP recordings. 3. The spontaneous firing of single neurons was highly correlated with the optical signals and with the LFP. In 88% of the neurons recorded during spontaneous activity, a significant correlation was found between the occurrence of a spike and the optical signal recorded in a large cortical region surrounding the recording site. This result indicates that spontaneous activity of single neurons is not an independent process but is time locked to the firing or to the synaptic inputs from numerous neurons, all activated in a coherent fashion even without a sensory input. 4. For the cases showing correlation with the optical signal, 27-36% of the optical signal during spike occurrence was directly related to the occurrence of spontaneous spikes in a single neuron, over an area of 2 x 2 mm. In the same cortical area, 43-55% of the activity was directly related to the visual stimulus. 5. Surprisingly, we found that the amplitude of this coherent ongoing activity, recorded optically, was often almost as large as the activity evoked by optimal visual stimulation. The amplitude of the ongoing activity that was directly and reproducibly related to the spontaneous spikes of a single neuron was, on average, as high as 54% of the amplitude of the visually evoked response that was directly related to optimal sensory stimulation, recorded optically. 6. Coherent activity was detected even at distant cortical sites up to 6 mm apart.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Animals↗
Development of metabolic partitioning of energy in young calves.
Modifications in thermal demand and energy partitioning in newborn calves were determined over time via indirect calorimetry. One-week-old calves were fed milk replacer at 70 and 110% of the metabolizable energy requirements for maintenance, at ambient temperatures of 7.5 or 19 degrees C, over two consecutive but separately monitored 7-d balance periods. During wk 1, N digestibility, energy digestibility, and energy metabolizability were lower than during wk 2. Heat production decreased, but retention of energy and fat increased, between balance periods. During wk 1, initial IgG concentration in serum was positively correlated with digestibilities of N and energy, and hemoglobin concentration was negatively correlated with heat production. Regression analysis revealed that predicted basal metabolic rate, efficiency of metabolizable energy use, and metabolizable energy requirements for maintenance were lower for wk 2 than for wk 1. Decreased energy utilization in calves on restricted feedings is related to an increase in the utilization of protein as an energy source. Young calves need at least 2 wk to adapt to the combination of new environmental temperature and low feeding amount. Metabolic partitioning of energy may indicate completion of the adaptation stage.
Adaptation, Physiological↗
[Mental disease related to belief in being possessed by the "Zar" spirit].
The belief in being possessed by the "Zar" spirit is widespread in East and Central Africa, particularly in Sudan and Ethiopia. It also affects Jews living in Ethiopia, as well as those who have immigrated to Israel. According to this belief, being possessed by Zar is the cause of almost all somatic and mental disturbances. Zar exorcism, rituals, language and the clinical syndromes of 13 cases of Zar possession treated in our outpatient clinic are described. Of the 13, 8 were neurotic and the rest atypical psychotics, who except for 1, remitted quickly. Of the 13, 9 were married, 6 were males and 8 were 40 or older. All had a history of Zar possession while still in Ethiopia, and in the immediate families of 8 there were others with a history of Zar possession. 8 of the cases spoke in a peculiar "Zar language." In all cases the new episode of Zar possession appeared during the first 2 years of living in Israel. The differential diagnosis of DSM-III R categories in relation to Zar possession illness, and anthropological and sociopsychological implications of the illness in Israel as compared to Ethiopia are discussed. According to an accepted theory, Zar possession is found in the weaker strata of Amharic society. In Ethiopia, therefore, it was the women who were usually affected. In Israel, there has been a dramatic emancipation of the Ethiopian woman, and men were relegated to lower status. For these reasons, in Israel it is the men among the Ethiopian immigrants who are more susceptible to the condition. We find it important to combine both traditional and modern therapeutic modalities in treating Zar possession.
Adult↗
Circadian fluctuation in heat production of young calves at different ambient temperatures in relation to posture.
Circadian fluctuations in the effect of ambient temperature (Ta) on heat production (Htot) and its relation to posture were investigated in young calves in this study. Twenty-three 6-d-old Holstein-Friesian male calves were assigned to one of four Ta treatments: 5, 9, 13, or 18 degrees C. Heat production was measured per calf continuously every 9 min by indirect calorimetry for 5 d. The posture during these 9-min periods was derived from physical activity measurements by Doppler-radar meters. Heat production varied within a day; it was highest when calves were drinking (milk or water). The influence of Ta on Htot was larger for the light (including feeding periods) than for the dark phase of the day, being related to the larger Ta effect during the feeding periods. Lower critical temperatures (LCT) were 14.1, 15.2, and 16.8 degrees C and extra thermal heat productions below LCT (ETH) were 8.48, 8.28, and 11.55 kJ.kg-.75.d-1.C degrees-1 for the dark, the light (excluding feeding periods), and the feeding phase during the day, respectively. Time spent standing was not affected by Ta but varied during the day (24-h period). Averaged over Ta, 51% of the within day variation in Htot was accounted for by the calf's posture. Correction of Htot for the time spent standing reduced the difference in both ETH and LCT between phases of the day. The present study demonstrates that circadian fluctuations exist in the thermal requirements of young calves. Part of these fluctuations are related to within-day variation in time spent standing.
Animals↗
Effect of wheat silage maturity on digestion and milk yield in dairy cows.
The effect of wheat crop maturity on diet digestibility and lactational performance by high yielding dairy cows was measured in an 8-wk lactation experiment under commercial dairy herd conditions. Friesian cows (n = 168) were fed 7 kg of DM from either early or late cut wheat silage (harvested at middle flowering or at the end of the milk stage). Each diet contained 33% NDF, 18.5 percentage units of which was from forage. Feed intake (22 kg/d of DM) and DM digestibility (63%) of the two diets were similar. Dietary NDF digestibility was higher in the early cut silage (45.7) than in the late cut silage (41.3%). Although DM from the two silages was similarly degraded in the rumen, degradability of NDF was 24% higher in the early cut silage. Yields of milk and milk energy in the cows receiving the early cut silage were higher than those of cows receiving the late cut silage by 3.2 kg/d and .85 Mcal/d, respectively. Apparently, NDF content is an inaccurate predictor of energy content of wheat silage.
Animal Feed↗
[Suicide by Ethiopian immigrants in Israel].
49 Ethiopian immigrants to Israel committed suicide between Jan. 1983 and Sept. 1992. First and second degree relatives and friends of 32 of the suicides were interviewed using a questionnaire ("psychological autopsy"). In 12 cases detailed reports of welfare services and also 7 summaries from mental health institutions were analyzed. Except in 1989, the suicide rate of Ethiopian Jews was considerably higher than that of the general population of Israel (19-46 vs 6-8/100,000). The profile of a high suicide risk in an Ethiopian immigrant was that of a married man up to 40 years old, usually with a marital conflict, who appears depressed but does not communicate suicidal intent, and who frequently visits his general physician. This profile differs considerably from that of immigrants from other countries and of Israelis in general. The social message of the Ethiopian suicide conveys feelings of indignation. 3 cases are presented.
Adult↗
Thermal requirements of young calves during standing and lying.
A study of 23, 6-d-old Holstein-Friesian male calves was conducted to evaluate the thermal requirements of young calves in relation to their posture (standing or lying). Calves were housed individually and were assigned to one of four ambient temperatures: 5, 9, 13, or 18 degrees C. Heat production of each calf was measured continuously every 9 min by indirect calorimetry for 5 d. The posture during these 9-min periods was derived from the continuous measurement of physical activity. For both standing and lying, heat production was increased at 5 and 9 degrees C compared with 13 and 18 degrees C. This increase in heat production was larger during standing than during lying. Consequently, the energy cost of standing was affected by ambient temperature (173, 189, 144, and 114 kJ.kg-.75 x d-1 at 5, 9, 13, and 18 degrees C, respectively). The time spent standing was not affected by ambient temperature. The thermal requirements of the calves were dependent on the posture. Lower critical temperature was 13.5 degrees C during lying and 17.0 degrees C during standing. The rate of increase in heat production below the lower critical temperature was 7.47 kJ.kg-.75 x d-1 x Co-1 during lying and 11.24 kJ.kg-.75 x d-1 x Co-1 during standing. These results indicate that the increase in heat loss upon standing in the cold is greater than the increase in heat production upon standing at thermoneutrality. Consequently, young calves require increased cold-induced thermogenesis when they are standing.
Animals↗
Evidence of increasing thermal requirement in young, unadapted calves during 6 to 11 days of age.
Changes in thermal demand in restrictively fed, unadapted, young calves were studied during the first days after transportation. Twenty-three 6-d-old Holstein-Friesian male calves were assigned to one of four ambient temperature treatments: 5, 9, 13, or 18 degrees C. Calves were fed at a constant level below the maintenance requirement (300 kJ of ME.kg-.75.d-1). After arrival, heat production (HP) and energy and nitrogen balance were measured for each calf for 5.5 d. At ambient temperatures of 5 and 9 degrees C, HP was increased compared with temperatures of 13 and 18 degrees C (P < .001). As a consequence, energy retention was decreased at low ambient temperatures (P < .05). At temperatures of 5 and 9 degrees C, body fat mobilization was increased compared with that at temperatures of 13 and 18 degrees C (P < .001). Energy retained as protein was not affected by ambient temperature. During the experimental period, HP decreased with time. Ambient temperature affected this decrease (P < .001), indicating that the relationship between HP and ambient temperature changed with time. The rate of increase in HP below the lower critical temperature was not affected by time, averaging 9.5 kJ.kg-.75.d-1.C degrees-1. Lower critical temperature, however, increased with time by .89 C degrees/d (P < .05). The changing relation between HP and ambient temperature with time in young, unadapted calves after transportation is thus reflected in an alteration in thermal requirement with time.
Adaptation, Biological↗
Lactational response of dairy cows to change of degradability of dietary protein and organic matter.
The effect of variable degradability of both OM and CP, incorporated at a constant ratio in diets of high yielding dairy cows (35 kg/d), was studied under commercial dairy herd conditions. Two diets containing 17% CP were formulated, including high (70%) and low (65%) protein degradability. The ratio of rumen-degradable OM to degradable protein was adjusted to 5:1 in both diets. Cows were assigned to treatments based on equal milk yield prior to trial, parity, and DIM. The trial lasted 7 wk: a reference week (wk 0), in which both groups were fed the high degradability diet, was followed by 6 experimental wk, in which group 1 was fed the high degradability diet and group 2 the low degradability diet. Cows on the low degradability diet consumed 1.2 kg more DM and yielded 1.5 kg/d more milk, .055 kg/d more milk protein, and .196 kg/d more milk fat. Percentages of milk protein (3.06 and 3.03) were similar, but fat (3.67 and 3.28) was higher for cows fed the low degradability diet. The results suggest that, when diets were formulated to balance rumen degradability of both OM and CP, 65% rather than 70% degradability of CP was advantageous for yields of milk and milk components.
Animal Feed↗
Dependence of cortical plasticity on correlated activity of single neurons and on behavioral context.
It has not been possible to analyze the cellular mechanisms underlying learning in behaving mammals because of the difficulties in recording intracellularly from awake animals. Therefore, in the present study of neuronal plasticity in behaving monkeys, the net effect of a single neuron on another neuron (the "functional connection") was evaluated by cross-correlating the times of firing of the two neurons. When two neurons were induced to fire together within a short time window, the functional connection between them was potentiated, and when simultaneous firing was prevented, the connection was depressed. These modifications were strongly dependent on the behavioral context of the stimuli that induced them. The results indicate that changes in the temporal contingency between neurons are often necessary, but not sufficient, for cortical plasticity in the adult monkey: behavioral relevance is required.
Acoustic Stimulation↗
Psychopathology among Jewish Ethiopian immigrants to Israel.
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Acculturation↗
Alteration of energy metabolism of calves fed below maintenance during 6 to 14 days of age.
A study was conducted with seven groups of five to six Holstein-Friesian male calves to evaluate the effect of feeding level during 6 to 14 d of age on energy metabolism of unadapted young calves. Calves were transported at 2 to 3 d of age to their new environment. At 6 d of age measurements of heat production (HP) and ME intake started and continued over a period of 8 d. Calves were fed below (four groups) or near (three groups) the maintenance requirement (19 or 30 g of milk replacer powder.kg-.75.d-1). In contrast to ME intake, HP decreased throughout the experimental period. This decrease was larger at the low than at the high feeding level (3.1 vs .9 kcal.kg-.75.d-2; P less than .001). The relationship between HP and ME intake was estimated as HP = 91 + .318 x ME intake (kilocalories.kilogram-.75.day-1). The decrease in HP, together with the constant ME intake with time, resulted in a time-dependent relationship between HP and ME intake. Estimated basal metabolic rate and efficiency of ME utilization below maintenance decreased with time, whereas the maintenance requirement remained virtually unchanged (134 kcal.kg-.75.d-1). The influence of feeding level on energy metabolism in young calves increased with time. For at least 12 d after transportation the energy metabolism of young calves had not reached steady-state levels.
Animals↗
[Psychopathology in Ethiopian Jewish immigrants].
In 87 of 352 adult Ethiopian Jews living in Natanya who immigrated recently, psychopathological symptoms were evaluated and their relationships to conditions of immigration and absorption were determined. They were interviewed by Ethiopians who had immigrated previously and who had been trained to help them complete questionnaires at home. The subjects were rated by the interviewers according to the Physician's Outpatient Psychopathology Scale (211-O.P.S.), as well as by 3 other self-rating scales with regard to satisfaction with their life in Israel, events that had occurred while en route to Israel, and frequency of visits to their clinic family physician. The results showed a high incidence of psychopathological symptoms which had persisted even after 5 years in Israel. The main causes of dissatisfaction (found in more than 60% of the sample), in order of severity were: achievement in learning Hebrew, financial situation, attitude of the Israeli religious institutions towards the Ethiopian community, and the degree of nonobservance of religious customs by other Israeli Jews. There was a high degree of correlation between psychopathological symptoms and suffering on the journey to Israel, with the symptoms usually becoming less severe with length of stay in Israel. A high incidence of symptoms was also related to increased age and to low levels of education. Those living in apartments dispersed among the general population suffered less from psychopathological symptoms than those living in buildings largely occupied by other Ethiopian immigrants.
Adolescent↗
[Treatment of mental disturbances by the family physician].
A group of 64 patients with symptoms of mental disturbance was treated by 5 family physicians according to the recommendations of a psychiatric consultant and under his guidance. The group was compared with a control group of 22 patients treated by a psychiatrist or psychologist. Both groups improved significantly as determined at follow-up 3 months after psychiatric intake and 5-6 months later. The study emphasizes the importance of liaison between the psychiatrist and the family physician, and of supervision by the psychiatric consultant in the implementation of the recommended treatment.
Follow-Up Studies↗
Optical imaging of cortical activity: real-time imaging using extrinsic dye-signals and high resolution imaging based on slow intrinsic-signals.
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Animals↗