Efficiency of low versus high airline pressure in stunning cattle with a pneumatically powered penetrating captive bolt gun

The efficiency of stunning cattle was assessed in 443 animals (304 pure Zebu and 139 crossbred cattle), being mainly mature bulls and cows. Cattle were stunned using a Jarvis pneumatically powered penetrating captive bolt gun operating with low (160–175 psi, N = 82) and high (190 psi, N = 363) airline pressure, which was within the manufactures specifications. Signs of brain function and the position of the shots on the heads were recorded after stunning. Velocity of the captive bolt and its physical parameters were calculated. Cattle shot with low pressures showed more rhythmic respiration (27 vs. 8%, P < 0.001), less tongue protrusion (4 vs. 12%, P = 0.03) and less masseter relaxation (22 vs. 48%, P < 0.001). There was an increased frequency of shots in the ideal position when cattle were shot with the low compared to high airline pressures (15.3 vs. 3.1%). Bolt velocity and its physical parameters were significantly (P < 0.01) higher when using high pressure. Airline pressures below 190 psi are inappropriate when shooting adult Zebu beef cattle with pneumatically powered penetrating captive bolt guns

Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency associated hemolysis in COVID-19 patients treated with hydroxychloroquine/chloroquine: New case reports coming out.

Afra TP et al comment our recent report entitled: \u201cacute hemolysis by hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) was observed in G6PD-deficient patient with severe COVID-19 related lung injury\u201d [1,2]. Afra et al. underlight \u201dconfounding factors and inconsistencies\u201d in our conclusion, linking acute drop in Hb in COVID-19 patient with suspected G6PD and HCQ treatment. We respectfully disagree with comments from Afra et al. Our case report was the first one of a series, linking G6PD deficiency with HCQ/CQ treatment for COVID19 infection such as Kuiper ME et al. or Beauverd Y et al. or Maillart et al. [3\u20135]. In our case, we observed an acute drop of Hb values associated with the appearance of hemoglo-binuria and abnormalities in red cell morphology at the blood smear within 48 h after patient hospital admission and the introduction of HCQ treatment. Our patient was transfused and HCQ was withdrawn with stabilization of Hb values. Thus, this was not a spontaneous re-covery of Hb values as suspected by Afra et al. (see Fig. 1 in De Fran-ceschi L et al 2020) [2]. In addition, hemoglobinuria is a hallmark of intravascular hemolysis, which characterizes drug induced acute he-molysis in G6PD patients [6]. Otherwise, drug induced hemolytic an-emia in patients with healthy red cells is general an extravascular he-molysis without hemoglobinuria. Italy is an endemic area for G6PD deficiency [6]. Our patient was suspected for G6PD deficiency based on previous hemolytic events re-corded in patient history. To fully answer the question raised by Afra et al., we have evaluated G6PD activity in our patients at 8 weeks after hospital discharge. As expected we found G6PD deficiency with normal complete blood count analysis and normal reticulocyte count (43.500 retics/uL). Collectively our results and the post-recovery determination of G6PD support the link between acute hemolysis and HCQ/CQ treatment in COVID-19 patient

Acute hemolysis by hydroxycloroquine was observed in G6PD-deficient patient with severe COVD-19 related lung injury.

Our patient might be affected by Mediterannean variant of G6PD deficiency, which is more sensitive to pro-oxidant drugs compared to African G6PD A variant. No conclusive data are available on the possible pro-hemolytic impact of CQ/HCQ on patient with G6PD deficiency [3\u20135]. In COVID-19 emergency we believe it is important to warning the possible hemolytic effects of CQ/HCQ in patients with G6PD deficiency. Thus, the acute drop in Hb levels in the early days of CQ/HCQ treatment of COVID19 symptomatic patient should be considere

What are the Best Hierarchical Descriptors for Complex Networks?

This work reviews several hierarchical measurements of the topology of complex networks and then applies feature selection concepts and methods in order to quantify the relative importance of each measurement with respect to the discrimination between four representative theoretical network models, namely Erd\"{o}s-R\'enyi, Barab\'asi-Albert, Watts-Strogatz as well as a geographical type of network. The obtained results confirmed that the four models can be well-separated by using a combination of measurements. In addition, the relative contribution of each considered feature for the overall discrimination of the models was quantified in terms of the respective weights in the canonical projection into two dimensions, with the traditional clustering coefficient, hierarchical clustering coefficient and neighborhood clustering coefficient resulting particularly effective. Interestingly, the average shortest path length and hierarchical node degrees contributed little for the separation of the four network models.Comment: 9 pages, 4 figure

Estação reprodutiva de curta duração com utilização de IATF em búfalas lactantes.

O objetivo do trabalho foi avaliar a eficácia de um protocolo de Inseminação Artificial em Tempo-Fixo (IATF) em búfalas leiteiras, durante uma estação reprodutiva curta feita entre setembro e novembro de 2012, no Município de Presidente Médici, Rondônia.bitstream/item/111375/1/CT-134-bufalas.pd

Effectiveness of pneumatically powered penetrating and non-penetrating captive bolts in stunning cattle

This study assessed the effectiveness of penetrating (PCB; 190 psi; N = 363) and non-penetrating captive bolt guns (NPCB; 210–220 psi; N = 92) to stun a total of 455 cattle (Zebu and Zebu Cross). Physical bolt parameters (momentum, kinetic energy and energy density) were evaluated. Clinical indicators of brain function were recorded after stunning (GR), after being hoisted (HO) and at the bleeding rail (BL). Physical bolt parameters (bolt velocity, momentum, kinetic energy, energy density and sectional density) were significantly higher (P < 0.001) for PCB. The need for two or more shots was more frequent for NPCB (210–220 psi; 29% vs. 12%, P < 0.001). Cattle were more likely to collapse at first shot with PCB (190 psi; 99%) compared to NPCB (91%; P < 0.002) which can be attributed to the higher values of bolt physical parameters. Incidence of eyeball rotation (5% vs. 1%) and righting behaviour (7% vs. 1%) were higher (P < 0.001) for NPCB (210–220 psi) at GR than PCB. The NPCB with 210–220 psi had a higher frequency of response to nostril stimulation (2% vs. 0%; P < 0.001) than PCB. Rhythmic respiration was more frequently found for NPCB with 210–220 psi at GR, HO and BL. Therefore, PCB with 190 psi was more effective in ensuring unconsciousness in cattle

Decay Modes of Intersecting Fluxbranes

Just as the single fluxbrane is quantum mechanically unstable to the nucleation of a locally charged spherical brane, so intersecting fluxbranes are unstable to various decay modes. Each individual element of the intersection can decay via the nucleation of a spherical brane, but uncharged spheres can also be nucleated in the region of intersection. For special values of the fluxes, however, intersecting fluxbranes are supersymmetric, and so are expected to be stable. We explicitly consider the instanton describing the decay modes of the two--element intersection (an F5-brane in the string theory context), and show that in dimensions greater than four the action for the decay mode of the supersymmetric intersection diverges. This observation allows us to show that stable intersecting fluxbranes should also exist in type 0A string theory.Comment: 19 pages, 6 figures. References adde