Small intestine ultrasound findings on horses following exploratory laparotomy, can we predict postoperative reflux?

Postoperative reflux (POR) is a well-recognized complication after colic surgery in horses, particularly when presenting small intestinal pathology. Even though much has been written about the pathophysiology and management of POR, additional clinical studies are needed to better understand and anticipate this complication. The aim of the study was to provide clinical evidence of ultrasound findings in the postoperative period (three days). The study is based on transcutaneous abdominal ultrasounds of the caudoventral abdomen during the postoperative period (three days), in 58 horses, presented for an exploratory laparotomy, and compared to 20 horses that underwent general anesthesia for an elective surgical procedure. Small intestine (SI) images and videos were analyzed for loop number, loop diameter, wall thickness, motility, and echogenic type of loop contents. Ultrasound findings of horses that had a large colon pathology were similar to those of the control group. Interestingly, horses that presented an SI pathology had significantly thicker SI walls, increased loop diameter, slower motility, and hypoechoic contents, particularly in horses that had undergone small intestinal resection and anastomosis. Although the number of horses that developed POR in our study was too small for statistical analysis, they all had the aforementioned ultrasonographic changes. Abdominal ultrasound, during the postoperative period (three days), was a useful method to identify horses with abnormal small intestinal parameters. Further investigation as to whether these parameters can be used to predict POR in a larger population is warranted

Development of a standardized and repeatable protocol to obtain highly concentrated platelet-rich plasma in horses.

Introducción: el plasma rico en plaquetas (PRP) es un producto autólogo derivado de la sangre con varias aplicaciones terapéuticas. Se ha demostrado que los factores de crecimiento plaquetario estimulan la curación y reducen el dolor. Su uso en la industria equina, particularmente para problemas ortopédicos como la osteoartritis o la tendinitis ha ido en aumento. Sin embargo, el PRP carece de reproducibilidad y a veces, de calidad, ya que no solo los factores individuales (raza, edad, sexo) y ambientales (hora del día, estado de hidratación), sino también los métodos de laboratorio pueden afectar su calidad final. Objetivos: nuestro objetivo fue desarrollar y normalizar un protocolo para la preparación de PRP, que será repetible para uso equino, a través de un kit desechable estéril con una centrífuga estándar, que minimiza las variantes de laboratorio. Métodos y resultados: se estableció el protocolo final que resultó en un PRP con una concentración de plaquetas muy alta (6,4±1,3 veces mayor) y recuentos bajos de glóbulos blancos (3,7±1,8 x106/ml). El PRP final tenía concentraciones de factor de crecimiento derivado de plaquetas con un promedio de 37 ng/ml. Conclusión: El protocolo es altamente repetible y simple de realizar, y el kit es adecuado para usar en condiciones de campo porque no permite el contacto entre la muestra y el aire ambiente a lo largo del proceso.Introduction: Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is an autologous blood-derived product with several therapeutic applications. Platelet growth factors have been shown to stimulate healing and reduce pain. Its use in the equine industry, particularly for orthopedic problems such as osteoarthritis or tendonitis has been increasing. However, PRP lacks reproducibility and, sometimes, quality since not only individual (breed, age, gender) and environmental (time of the day, hydration status) factors, but also laboratory methods can affect its final quality. Aims: we aimed to develop and normalize a protocol for PRP preparation, which will be repeatable for equine use, through a sterile disposable kit with a standard centrifuge, which minimizes laboratory variants. Methods and results: The final protocol resulting in a PRP with very high platelet concentration (6.4 ± 1.3 fold increase) and low white blood cell counts (3.7 ± 1.8 x106/mL) was stablished. The usual fold increase reported is 2 to 3. The final PRP had concentrations of platelet-derived growth factor with an average of 37ng/ml. Conclusion: The protocol is highly repeatable and simple to perform and the kit is suitable to use under field conditions because it does not permit contact between the sample and ambient air along the process

Correlación de variables morfométricas para deslizamientos en la cuenca del río Combeima, Colombia

This study was carried out in order to estimate the morphometric variables of the landslides found in Combeima river basin (Tolima, Colombia) and obtain possible statistical correlations. To obtain the morphometric characteristics of the landslides, we used a database with historical landslides, a RapidEye image from 2010 and an orthophotomosaic from 2009, where the landslides were visually identified. The morphometric characteristics were defined through a geographic information system and bivariate analyzes were ran between the morphometric variables to establish their correlations. The results allowed to identify 121 landslides, with an average area of 1,974.97 m2 and Birnbaum-Saunders type distribution. It was found that the slip area morphometric variable correlates with the total length (R2=0.9414), the length of the center line (R2=0.9368) and the width of the surface of rupture of this (R2=0.8915). These data could be used to infer the volume of the mass involved in the event and its potential effects . This result would allow the landslide area to be used as support in decision-making in the planning of the territory in the Combeima river basin. En la cuenca del río Combeima (Tolima, Colombia), se desarrolló un estudio con el fin de estimar las variables morfométricas de los deslizamientos encontrados y obtener posibles correlaciones estadísticas entre ellas. Para obtener las características morfométricas de los deslizamientos se empleó una base de datos con deslizamientos históricos, una imagen RapidEye del año 2010 y un ortofotomosaico del año 2009, en donde se identificaron visualmente los deslizamientos. Las características morfométricas fueron definidas a través de un sistema de información geográfico y se realizaron análisis bivariados entre las variables morfométricas para establecer sus correlaciones. Los resultados permitieron identificar 121 deslizamientos, con área promedio de 1,974.97 m2 y distribución tipo Birnbaum-Saunders. Se encontró que la variable morfométrica área de deslizamiento se correlaciona con la longitud total (R2=0.9414), la longitud de línea central (R2=0.9368) y el ancho de la superficie de ruptura (R2=0.8915) de este, y podría usarse para inferir el volumen de la masa involucrada en el evento y sus efectos potenciales. Este resultado permitiría usar el área de los deslizamientos como apoyo en la toma de decisión en la planificación del territorio en la cuenca del río Combeima

Differential cross section measurements for the production of a W boson in association with jets in proton–proton collisions at √s = 7 TeV

Measurements are reported of differential cross sections for the production of a W boson, which decays into a muon and a neutrino, in association with jets, as a function of several variables, including the transverse momenta (pT) and pseudorapidities of the four leading jets, the scalar sum of jet transverse momenta (HT), and the difference in azimuthal angle between the directions of each jet and the muon. The data sample of pp collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of 7 TeV was collected with the CMS detector at the LHC and corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 5.0 fb[superscript −1]. The measured cross sections are compared to predictions from Monte Carlo generators, MadGraph + pythia and sherpa, and to next-to-leading-order calculations from BlackHat + sherpa. The differential cross sections are found to be in agreement with the predictions, apart from the pT distributions of the leading jets at high pT values, the distributions of the HT at high-HT and low jet multiplicity, and the distribution of the difference in azimuthal angle between the leading jet and the muon at low values.United States. Dept. of EnergyNational Science Foundation (U.S.)Alfred P. Sloan Foundatio

Optimasi Portofolio Resiko Menggunakan Model Markowitz MVO Dikaitkan dengan Keterbatasan Manusia dalam Memprediksi Masa Depan dalam Perspektif Al-Qur`an

Risk portfolio on modern finance has become increasingly technical, requiring the use of sophisticated mathematical tools in both research and practice. Since companies cannot insure themselves completely against risk, as human incompetence in predicting the future precisely that written in Al-Quran surah Luqman verse 34, they have to manage it to yield an optimal portfolio. The objective here is to minimize the variance among all portfolios, or alternatively, to maximize expected return among all portfolios that has at least a certain expected return. Furthermore, this study focuses on optimizing risk portfolio so called Markowitz MVO (Mean-Variance Optimization). Some theoretical frameworks for analysis are arithmetic mean, geometric mean, variance, covariance, linear programming, and quadratic programming. Moreover, finding a minimum variance portfolio produces a convex quadratic programming, that is minimizing the objective function ðð¥with constraintsð ð 𥠥 ðandð´ð¥ = ð. The outcome of this research is the solution of optimal risk portofolio in some investments that could be finished smoothly using MATLAB R2007b software together with its graphic analysis

Penilaian Kinerja Keuangan Koperasi di Kabupaten Pelalawan

This paper describe development and financial performance of cooperative in District Pelalawan among 2007 - 2008. Studies on primary and secondary cooperative in 12 sub-districts. Method in this stady use performance measuring of productivity, efficiency, growth, liquidity, and solvability of cooperative. Productivity of cooperative in Pelalawan was highly but efficiency still low. Profit and income were highly, even liquidity of cooperative very high, and solvability was good

Juxtaposing BTE and ATE – on the role of the European insurance industry in funding civil litigation

One of the ways in which legal services are financed, and indeed shaped, is through private insurance arrangement. Two contrasting types of legal expenses insurance contracts (LEI) seem to dominate in Europe: before the event (BTE) and after the event (ATE) legal expenses insurance. Notwithstanding institutional differences between different legal systems, BTE and ATE insurance arrangements may be instrumental if government policy is geared towards strengthening a market-oriented system of financing access to justice for individuals and business. At the same time, emphasizing the role of a private industry as a keeper of the gates to justice raises issues of accountability and transparency, not readily reconcilable with demands of competition. Moreover, multiple actors (clients, lawyers, courts, insurers) are involved, causing behavioural dynamics which are not easily predicted or influenced. Against this background, this paper looks into BTE and ATE arrangements by analysing the particularities of BTE and ATE arrangements currently available in some European jurisdictions and by painting a picture of their respective markets and legal contexts. This allows for some reflection on the performance of BTE and ATE providers as both financiers and keepers. Two issues emerge from the analysis that are worthy of some further reflection. Firstly, there is the problematic long-term sustainability of some ATE products. Secondly, the challenges faced by policymakers that would like to nudge consumers into voluntarily taking out BTE LEI

Search for stop and higgsino production using diphoton Higgs boson decays

Results are presented of a search for a "natural" supersymmetry scenario with gauge mediated symmetry breaking. It is assumed that only the supersymmetric partners of the top-quark (stop) and the Higgs boson (higgsino) are accessible. Events are examined in which there are two photons forming a Higgs boson candidate, and at least two b-quark jets. In 19.7 inverse femtobarns of proton-proton collision data at sqrt(s) = 8 TeV, recorded in the CMS experiment, no evidence of a signal is found and lower limits at the 95% confidence level are set, excluding the stop mass below 360 to 410 GeV, depending on the higgsino mass

Impacts of the Tropical Pacific/Indian Oceans on the Seasonal Cycle of the West African Monsoon

The current consensus is that drought has developed in the Sahel during the second half of the twentieth century as a result of remote effects of oceanic anomalies amplified by local land–atmosphere interactions. This paper focuses on the impacts of oceanic anomalies upon West African climate and specifically aims to identify those from SST anomalies in the Pacific/Indian Oceans during spring and summer seasons, when they were significant. Idealized sensitivity experiments are performed with four atmospheric general circulation models (AGCMs). The prescribed SST patterns used in the AGCMs are based on the leading mode of covariability between SST anomalies over the Pacific/Indian Oceans and summer rainfall over West Africa. The results show that such oceanic anomalies in the Pacific/Indian Ocean lead to a northward shift of an anomalous dry belt from the Gulf of Guinea to the Sahel as the season advances. In the Sahel, the magnitude of rainfall anomalies is comparable to that obtained by other authors using SST anomalies confined to the proximity of the Atlantic Ocean. The mechanism connecting the Pacific/Indian SST anomalies with West African rainfall has a strong seasonal cycle. In spring (May and June), anomalous subsidence develops over both the Maritime Continent and the equatorial Atlantic in response to the enhanced equatorial heating. Precipitation increases over continental West Africa in association with stronger zonal convergence of moisture. In addition, precipitation decreases over the Gulf of Guinea. During the monsoon peak (July and August), the SST anomalies move westward over the equatorial Pacific and the two regions where subsidence occurred earlier in the seasons merge over West Africa. The monsoon weakens and rainfall decreases over the Sahel, especially in August.Peer reviewe