Global challenges for sustainable food production

No abstract available

Haltbarkeit von Lebensmitteln simulieren

Lagertests von Verpackungen und deren Einfluss auf die Haltbarkeit von Lebensmitteln sind aufwendig und zeitintensiv. Produktspezifische Messwerte müssen erhoben werden und es braucht Lagerplatz und Energie. Dank der Entwicklung einer webbasierten Applikation ist es nun möglich, diese Vorgänge für definierte Lebensmittelgruppen zu simulieren. Mit diesem neuen Werkzeug können Verpackungen einfacher optimiert und Modelle für weitere Lebensmittelgruppen erarbeitet werden. Die Simulationen können auch zu Demonstrationszwecken, beispielsweise in der Lehre, eingesetzt werden

Black-pigmented anaerobic bacteria associated with ovine periodontitis

Periodontitis is a polymicrobial infectious disease that causes occlusion change, tooth loss, difficulty in rumination, and premature culling of animals. This study aimed to detect species of the genera Porphyromonas and Prevotella present in the periodontal pocket of sheep with lesions deeper than 5mm (n=14) and in the gingival sulcus of animals considered periodontally healthy (n=20). The presence of microorganisms was evaluated by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using specific primers for Porphyromonas asaccharolytica, Porphyromonas endodontalis, Porphyromonas gingivalis, Porphyromonas gulae, Prevotella buccae, Prevotella intermedia, Prevotella loescheii, Prevotella melaninogenica, Prevotella nigrescens, Prevotella oralis, and Prevotella tannerae. Prevalence and risk analysis were performed using Student's t-test and Spearman's correlation. Among the Prevotella and Porphyromonas species detected in the periodontal lesions of sheep, P. melaninogenica (85.7%), P. buccae (64.3%), P. gingivalis (50%), and P. endodontalis (50%) were most prevalent. P. gingivalis (15%) and P. oralis (10%) prevailed in the gingival sulcus. P. gulae and P. tannerae were not detected in the 34 samples studied. Data evaluation by t-test verified that occurrence of P. asaccharolytica, P. endodontalis, P. gingivalis, P. buccae, P. intermedia, P. melalinogenica, and P. nigrescens correlated with sheep periodontitis. The findings of this study will be an important contribution to research on pathogenesis of sheep periodontitis and development of its control measures

Descemet stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty in Fuchs' corneal endothelial dystrophy: Anterior segment optical coherence tomography and in vivo confocal microscopy analysis

Background: To evaluate the in vivo corneal changes using in vivo confocal microscopy (IVCM) and anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT) in patients with Fuchs' dystrophy who underwent Descemet stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty (DSAEK) and the relationship between these changes and the postoperative visual recovery up to 1-year follow-up. Methods: Before DSAEK and 1 day, 3, 6 and 12 months after surgery 31 patients (39 pseudophakic eyes) underwent a complete ophthalmological evaluation including best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), IVCM (subepithelial haze, interface haze, graft thickness) and AS-OCT (graft thickness). Results: Graft thickness measurements by AS-OCT were strongly correlated to those obtained using IVCM at every follow-up stage (intraclass correlation coefficientâ\u88\u88=â\u88\u880.95 to 0.97 between 3 and 12 months, Pâ\u88\u88<â\u88\u880.001 for all coefficients). No correlation between BCVA and graft thickness measured by AS-OCT at any follow-up stage was found, while at 3 and 6 postoperative months the correlations between BCVA and preoperative subepithelial haze (râ\u88\u88=â\u88\u880.61, Pâ\u88\u88<â\u88\u880.001 and râ\u88\u88=â\u88\u880.46, Pâ\u88\u88=â\u88\u880.002), interface haze (râ\u88\u88=â\u88\u880.51, Pâ\u88\u88<â\u88\u880.001 and râ\u88\u88=â\u88\u880.46, Pâ\u88\u88=â\u88\u880.003), postoperative subepithelial haze (râ\u88\u88=â\u88\u880.43, Pâ\u88\u88=â\u88\u880.004 and râ\u88\u88=â\u88\u880.39, Pâ\u88\u88=â\u88\u880.001) were significant. Conclusions: The study confirmed corneal subepithelial haze and interface haze as important factors limiting visual acuity after DSAEK, while graft thickness was not related to BCVA

Animal lameness detection with radar sensing

Lameness is a significant problem for performance horses and farmed animals, with severe impact on animal welfare and treatment costs. Lameness is commonly diagnosed through subjective scoring methods performed by trained veterinary clinicians, but automatic methods using suitable sensors would improve efficiency and reliability. In this paper, we propose the use of radar micro-Doppler signatures for contactless and automatic identification of lameness, and present preliminary results for dairy cows, sheep, and horses. These proof-of-concept results are promising, with classification accuracy above 85% for dairy cows, around 92% for horses, and close to 99% for sheep

Sheep lameness: causes, types and options for treatment

This article gives an overview of the main causes of lameness in sheep by focusing on the three most common diseases present in the UK – all of which are infectious in nature: interdigital dermatitis, foot rot and contagious ovine digital dermatitis. The most recent and relevant findings regarding the aetiological agents are discussed. Also, a fresh look at the options available for diagnosis and control – specifically the role of the vet – in dealing with lameness at a flock level, is presented. Finally, a summary of the choices available for treatment is provided

Latest in sheep scab control

No abstract available

What's new (and not so new) about sheep scab

Sheep scab represents a significant burden for the national sheep industry and a serious welfare issue for diseased animals. Although different treatment options are available and despite tackling of this disease being a top priority for the industry, sheep scab is currently widely spread within the UK and its control still represent a significant challenge for all the parties involved. This article provides an overview of sheep scab, focusing on the established knowledge available for both clinical and subclinical disease. Recent advancement in the diagnosis of the disease are also presented, with an emphasis on the added value and practical use of a blood test for diagnosis of the subclinical disease and for its use in monitoring flock exposure to the parasite. Currently available and future options for treatment and disease control are discussed, especially in the light of the challenge posed by the development of drug resistance

Bubble technique for Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty tissue preparation in an eye bank: Air or liquid?

Purpose To compare the big-bubble method using air and liquid as medium of separation for Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK) lenticule preparation in an eye bank. Methods Donor corneas (n = 20) were immersed in liquid [tissue culture medium (TCM)]. Air and liquid was injected using a 25-gauge needle in the posterior stroma or as near to the stroma-Descemet membrane (DM) phase as possible to create a complete bubble of larger diameter. The endothelial cell density and mortality were checked pre- and postbubble after deflating the tissue. Four pairs of tissues were used to analyse the intracellular tight junctions and three pairs for histological examination and DNA integrity studies, respectively. Results The yield obtained using air was 80%, whereas that with liquid was 100%. Single injection was required in six cases; twice in two cases; three and four times in one case each with air bubble, whereas seven cases required single injection; twice in two cases; and thrice in just one case with liquid bubble. The average diameter of the final lenticule was 9.12 (± 1.71) mm for air bubble and 9.78 (± 1.75) mm for liquid bubble with p = 0.4362 (no statistical significance). Endothelial cell mortality postbubble preparation was 8.9 (± 12.38) % for air and 6.25 (± 9.57) % for liquid (p = 0.6268). Conclusions DM and endothelium could be separated exclusively using air or liquid bubble. However, liquid bubble seems to have certain advantages over air such as the generation of yield, larger diameter and higher maintenance of endothelial cell density and integrity