We present the third data release from the Parkes Pulsar Timing Array (PPTA) project. The release contains observations of 32 pulsars obtained using the 64-m Parkes “Murriyang” radio telescope. The data span is up to 18 years with a typical cadence of 3 weeks. This data release is formed by combining an updated version of our second data release with ∼ 3 years of more recent data primarily obtained using an ultra-wide-bandwidth receiver system that operates between 704 and 4032 MHz. We provide calibrated pulse profiles, flux-density dynamic spectra, pulse times of arrival, and initial pulsar timing models. We describe methods for processing such wide-bandwidth observations, and compare this data release with our previous release.

Background: Cognitive impairment is a common manifestation of anti-LGI1 encephalitis and is typically defined as prominent memory deficits. We frequently encounter frontal cognitive-behavioural deficits when evaluating these patients, but this has yet to be well described in the literature. Methods: Patients with anti-LGI1 encephalitis were retrospectively identified from three tertiary centres in Toronto, Ontario between 2013 and 2022. Their medical records were evaluated and frontal features were categorized based on diagnostic criteria for behavioural variant frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD). Results: Nineteen patients were identified (median age 60 years [range 18–84]; 10 [52.6%] male). Eighteen (94.7%) had frontal cognitive-behavioural symptoms. Two developed these symptoms during treatment with steroids and were excluded from further analysis. The remaining 16 presented with behavioural disinhibition (n=13), apathy or inertia (n=6), perseverative, stereotyped or compulsive/ritualistic behaviours (n=6), hyperorality and dietary changes (n=4), a neuropsychological profile with predominant deficits in executive tasks (n=4), and loss of sympathy or empathy (n=4). Nine (47.3%) met diagnostic criteria for possible bvFTD. Anterograde memory impairment was common (n=14). Of the 16 patients with frontal features, 6 had faciobrachial dystonic seizures. Conclusions: Patients with anti-LGI1 encephalitis exhibit frontal cognitive-behavioural symptoms in addition to memory impairment. Clinicians should consider anti-LGI1 encephalitis in the differential diagnosis of bvFTD.

In Paper I, we presented an overview of the Southern-sky MWA Rapid Two-metre (SMART) survey, including the survey design and search pipeline. While the combination of MWA’s large field-of-view and the voltage capture system brings a survey speed of ${\sim} 450\, {\textrm{deg}}^{2}\,\textrm{h}^{-1}$, the progression of the survey relies on the availability of compact configuration of the Phase II array. Over the past few years, by taking advantage of multiple windows of opportunity when the compact configuration was available, we have advanced the survey to 75% of the planned sky coverage. To date, about 10% of the data collected thus far have been processed for a first-pass search, where 10 min of observation is processed for dispersion measures out to 250 ${\textrm{pc cm}}^{-3}$, to realise a shallow survey that is largely sensitive to long-period pulsars. The ongoing analysis has led to two new pulsar discoveries, as well as an independent discovery and a rediscovery of a previously incorrectly characterised pulsar, all from ${\sim} 3\% $ of the data for which candidate scrutiny is completed. In this sequel to Paper I, we describe the strategies for further detailed follow-up including improved sky localisation and convergence to timing solution, and illustrate them using example pulsar discoveries. The processing has also led to re-detection of 120 pulsars in the SMART observing band, bringing the total number of pulsars detected to date with the MWA to 180, and these are used to assess the search sensitivity of current processing pipelines. The planned second-pass (deep survey) processing is expected to yield a three-fold increase in sensitivity for long-period pulsars, and a substantial improvement to millisecond pulsars by adopting optimal de-dispersion plans. The SMART survey will complement the highly successful Parkes High Time Resolution Universe survey at 1.2–1.5 GHz, and inform future large survey efforts such as those planned with the low-frequency Square Kilometre Array (SKA-Low).

We present an overview of the Southern-sky MWA Rapid Two-metre (SMART) pulsar survey that exploits the Murchison Widefield Array’s large field of view and voltage-capture system to survey the sky south of 30$^{\circ}$ in declination for pulsars and fast transients in the 140–170 MHz band. The survey is enabled by the advent of the Phase II MWA’s compact configuration, which offers an enormous efficiency in beam-forming and processing costs, thereby making an all-sky survey of this magnitude tractable with the MWA. Even with the long dwell times employed for the survey (4800 s), data collection can be completed in $<$100 h of telescope time, while still retaining the ability to reach a limiting sensitivity of $\sim$2–3 mJy (at 150 MHz, near zenith), which is effectively 3–5 times deeper than the previous-generation low-frequency southern-sky pulsar survey, completed in the 1990s. Each observation is processed to generate $\sim$5000–8000 tied-array beams that tessellate the full $\sim 610\, {\textrm{deg}^{2}}$ field of view (at 155 MHz), which are then processed to search for pulsars. The voltage-capture recording of the survey also allows a multitude of post hoc processing options including the reprocessing of data for higher time resolution and even exploring image-based techniques for pulsar candidate identification. Due to the substantial computational cost in pulsar searches at low frequencies, the survey data processing is undertaken in multiple passes: in the first pass, a shallow survey is performed, where 10 min of each observation is processed, reaching about one-third of the full-search sensitivity. Here we present the system overview including details of ongoing processing and initial results. Further details including first pulsar discoveries and a census of low-frequency detections are presented in a companion paper. Future plans include deeper searches to reach the full sensitivity and acceleration searches to target binary and millisecond pulsars. Our simulation analysis forecasts $\sim$300 new pulsars upon the completion of full processing. The SMART survey will also generate a complete digital record of the low-frequency sky, which will serve as a valuable reference for future pulsar searches planned with the low-frequency Square Kilometre Array.

Organic farming is based on the premise that animal welfare is safeguarded primarily through good management; only when this fails are veterinary medicines used to intervene. As this premise is frequently quoted in marketing strategies, there is a need to assess the efficacy of this approach to reassure consumers. To move towards this assessment, a survey was conducted between August 1999 and April 2002 on nine organic pig farms located predominantly in the South West of England. This combined direct measurements of animals and facilities with structured questions to staff. The mean herd size (± standard error of mean) was 212 ± 74 sows, with all progeny being reared outdoors from farrowing to finish. The herds had been in existence for an average of 37 ± 7.0 months. Mange and lice were the highest-ranking current health concerns, and post-mortem report of endoparasitism was the highest-ranking historical health concern chosen by producers from a list pre-written by the experimenters. The main welfare issues reported by the primary stockperson were related to keeping stock clean and dry during periods of high rainfall, managing porcine dermatitis and nephropathy syndrome (PDNS) and postweaning multisystemic wasting syndrome (PMWS) within their herd, and recruiting and retaining good quality personnel. Facility assessment indicated good living conditions, with the exception of some wet paddocks during winter. Sow condition scores were not significantly different from accepted target values during pregnancy, at farrowing, or at weaning. Levels of lameness, skin damage and cleanliness did not cause concern in any class of stock.

The EU-funded Animal Welfare Indicators (AWIN) research project (2011-2015) aimed to improve animal welfare through the development of practical on-farm animal welfare assessment protocols. The present study describes the application of the AWIN approach to the development of a welfare assessment protocol for horses (Equus caballus). Its development required the following steps: (i) selection of potential welfare indicators; (ii) bridging gaps in knowledge; (iii) consulting stakeholders; and (iv) testing a prototype protocol on-farm. Compared to existing welfare assessment protocols for other species, the AWIN welfare assessment protocol for horses introduces a number of innovative aspects, such as implementation of a two-level strategy focused on improving on-farm feasibility and the use of electronic tools to achieve standardised data collection and so promote rapid outcomes. Further refinement to the AWIN welfare assessment protocol for horses is needed in order to firstly gather data from a larger reference population and, secondly, enhance the welfare assessment protocol with reference to different horse housing and husbandry conditions.

Background: A clear understanding of the neuropathological causes of RPD is needed to inform the diagnosis and treatment of patients with rapidly progressive dementia (RPD). Methods: Patients with <4.0 years from symptom onset to death were identified within the Mayo Clinic Neurodegenerative Brain Bank (1998-2020). Relevant clinical details were extracted from available records. Neuropathological diagnoses were assigned following standard protocols. Results: 310/8586 (3.6%) cases met RPD criteria. Relative to typically progressive cases, prion disease most commonly presented as RPD (74%, 32/43), followed by progressive supranuclear palsy/corticobasal degeneration (PSP/CBD: 7.5%, 142/1894), other frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD: 5.7%, 32/561), Lewy body disease (LBD: 4.1%, 49/1202), and Alzheimer disease (AD: 1.8%, 48/2687). Average age-at-symptom onset was 69.5±10.4 years. Average disease duration was 2.9±1.0 years. Prion diseases had the most rapid disease course (1.6±1.3 years). Comorbid cerebrovascular disease (25.5%), and clinically symptomatic depression (41.3%), psychoses (37.1%), and sleep disturbances (39.4%) were common across groups. Only psychosis was associated with shorter disease duration (β=-0.31 years, CI95% -0.53, -0.082, controlling for age-at-symptomatic onset). Conclusions: Although prion disease commonly presented as RPD, atypical presentations of more prevalent neurodegenerative diseases accounted for most cases of RPD. Rapidly progressive variants of typical neurodegenerative diseases warrant consideration in clinical practice.

Background: Accurate etiologic diagnoses are needed in patients with rapidly progressive dementia (RPD) to ensure access to symptomatic and disease-modifying therapies when available. Methods: Patients with RPD were prospectively enrolled and evaluated at Washington University (Saint Louis, MO; 2016-2019) and Mayo Clinic (Jacksonville, FL; 2020-2021). Etiologic diagnoses were independently assigned by two dementia specialists integrating clinical features and the results of diagnostic tests; disagreements were resolved via blinded review by a third specialist. Results: 160 RPD patients were enrolled and followed. Average age-at-symptom onset was 60.0±15.9 years; 50% were female. Inter-rater reliability (91% agreement; Cohen’s κ=0.88, p<0.001) and clinicopathologic correlation were excellent (100% agreement in 24 patients with neuropathologic data). Autoimmune encephalitis was the leading cause of RPD (39%), followed by Alzheimer disease and related dementias (29%), Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (15%), and other causes (15%). Patients with potentially treatable causes of RPD were younger (54.5±18.2 than those with neurodegenerative causes (67.3±9.5; p<0.001), and more likely to present with altered levels of consciousness, seizures, or CSF pleocytosis (p<0.05). Conclusions: Etiologic diagnoses can be reliably established in RPD patients using available clinical data. The prevalence of autoimmune encephalitis in this series justifies routine screening for potentially treatment-responsive causes of RPD, particularly in younger patients.