Hormonal control of late pregnancy and parturition in beef cattle and pigs

Meishan gilts in late pregnancy and after hysterectomy were used to investigate the production and secretion of progesterone, relaxin, PRL and GH at different reproductive stages. Relaxin levels peaked higher in pregnant (66 ng/ml) compared with hysterectomized (34 ng/ml) gilts. Progesterone levels decreased to 16 ng/ml on day 112 in hysterectomized pigs and remained there until day 120, while progesterone levels declined precipitously from day 112 and reached basal levels a day after parturition. Prolactin concentrations in hysterectomized pigs remained low, while PRL steadily increased reaching peak levels (39 ng/ml) at parturition and remained high during lactation. Growth hormone concentrations were similar in hysterectomized and pregnant pigs until day 114, thereafter lactating pigs had higher (P \u3c 0.05) GH levels. The results show that PRL and GH secretion is regulated differently in hysterectomized gilts compared with pregnant gilts. Furthermore, the results confirm that progesterone and relaxin secretion in hysterectomized and pregnant gilts is similar at comparable reproductive stages;Relaxin antibody against porcine relaxin (antipRLX540) was produced in sheep and used to investigate whether it would impair parturition in late pregnant pigs. AntipRLX540 or PBS vehicle was administered intraperitoneally daily at 6-h intervals to pregnant Yorkshire gilts from days 103-120. Duration of delivery from first to last piglet was greatly delayed in antipRLX540 gilts compared with PBS controls (P \u3c 0.05). The number of stillbirths was greater in antipRLX540--compared with PBS-treated controls (P \u3c 0.05). The concentration of unbound or free relaxin was decreased (P \u3c 0.01) compared with unextracted plasma of antipRLX540--treated on days 104-113. The present study indicates that in the pig elevated endogenous relaxin concentrations are essential for unimpaired litter delivery and postpartum survival rates of piglets;RU 486 alone or combined with relaxin was used to induce parturition in late pregnant first-calf heifers. Heifers were assigned randomly to three treatments; group 1 received RU 486 alone; group 2 received RU 486 plus relaxin; and group 3 received placebo treatment. Parturition occurred 43 h after treatment in group 1, 52 h in group 2 and 182 h in group 3, (P \u3c 0.01). Calf birth weights were lower in hormone-treated heifers compared with control animals (P \u3c 0.025). Heifers in groups 1 and 2 experienced less incidence of dystocia, however, placenta retention longer than 24 h was observed in hormone-treated heifers and none occurred in the control group. The results show that RU 486 alone or combined with relaxin induces delivery in late pregnant heifers and promotes calving ease without the detrimental effects of dystocia which may be a serious problem in first-calf heifers

The process of mourning for Eswatini widowers: A pastoral concern

Eswatini custom and church traditions indirectly and directly affect the way widowers handle their mourning period, after the demise of their better halves. Instead of mourning their loss of spouses for their spiritual, emotional, social and financial healing, widowers rush to remarry. This has resulted in dysfunctional marriages, ill health, financial crisis and sometimes death. This article has analysed the impact of the Eswatini custom and church traditions on widowers as emanating from the ‘throne’. The aim of this article therefore is to unpack some of the struggles faced by widowers, which often impacts them on their journey of life as they seek to relive life with another wife. It is in this regard that Nick Pollard’s method of positive deconstruction was used to enter the space of the widowers. Charles Gerkin’s shepherding model was incorporated in order to be able to journey with the troubled souls. The process will in turn heal them as they will be taught about the importance of mourning before remarrying. Contribution: Widowers in Eswatini are the most vulnerable yet neglected in the kingdom of Eswatini. Patriarchy plays a major role, and in this case, it is men versus men power. Eswatini’s cultural practices and church practices have a major impact on widowers and may even shorten their lifespan

Markers of anti-malarial drug resistance in Plasmodium falciparum isolates from Swaziland: identification of pfmdr1-86F in natural parasite isolates

BACKGROUND: The development of Plasmodium falciparum resistance to chloroquine (CQ) has limited its use in many malaria endemic areas of the world. However, despite recent drug policy changes to adopt the more effective artemisinin-based combination (ACT) in Africa and in the Southern African region, in 2007 Swaziland still relied on CQ as first-line anti-malarial drug. METHODS: Parasite DNA was amplified from P. falciparum isolates from Swaziland collected in 1999 (thick smear blood slides) and 2007 (filter paper blood spots). Markers of CQ and sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP) resistance were identified by probe-based qPCR and DNA sequencing. RESULTS: Retrospective microscopy, confirmed by PCR amplification, found that only six of 252 patients treated for uncomplicated malaria in 2007 carried detectable P. falciparum. The pfcrt haplotype 72C/73V/74I/75E/76T occurred at a prevalence of 70% (n = 64) in 1999 and 83% (n = 6) in 2007. Prevalence of the pfmdr1-86N allele was 24% in 1999 and 67% in 2007. A novel substitution of phenylalanine for asparagine at codon 86 of pfmdr1 (N86F) occurred in two of 51 isolates successfully amplified from 1999. The pfmdr1-1246Y allele was common in 1999, with a prevalence of 49%, but was absent among isolates collected in 2007. The 86N/184F/1246D pfmdr1 haplotype, associated with enhanced parasite survival in patients treated with artemether-lumefantrine, comprised 8% of 1999 isolates, and 67% among 2007 isolates. The pfdhfr triple-mutant 16C/51I/59R/108N/164I haplotype associated with pyrimethamine resistance was common in both 1999 (82%, n = 34) and 2007 (50%, n = 6), as was the wild-type 431I/436S/437A/540K/581A/613A haplotype of pfdhps (100% and 93% respectively in 1999 and 2007). The quintuple-mutant haplotype pfdhfr/pfdhps-CIRNI/ISGEAA, associated with high-level resistance to SP, was rare (9%) among 1999 isolates and absent among 2007 isolates. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of pfcrt and pfmdr1 alleles reported in this study is consistent with a parasite population under sustained CQ drug pressure. The low prevalence of dhps-437G and dhps-540E mutations (ISGEAA) and the rarity of quintuple-mutant haplotype pfdhfr/pfdhps-CIRNI/ISGEAA suggest that SP retains some efficacy in Swaziland. Anti-malarial policy changes in neighbouring countries may have had an impact on the prevalence of molecular markers of anti-malarial resistance in Swaziland, and it is hoped that this new information will add to understanding of the regional anti-malarial resistance map

Impact of alkalinity on the removal of natural organic matter from raw waters by enhanced coagulation

Abstract Natural organic matter (NOM) in all soils, ground and surface waters cause negative effects in potable water quality (undesired colour, taste, odour, and bacterial re-growth in distribution systems). Numerous studies have also found that the reaction of NOM with oxidative chemicals during drinking water treatment processes can result to the formation of carcinogenic disinfection by-products (DBPs). Many countries including South Africa, have therefore established regulations to control and minimise NOM and its effects. Enhanced coagulation (EC), a multiple-objective chemical dosing strategy, offers a viable option for NOM removal, and this study explores its use for typical South African raw waters. A consistent and reproducible jar test procedure, simulating the actual coagulation and flocculation pre-treatment steps, was developed and used to investigate the treatability of NOM (measured as UV 254 nm) in all the source waters. Ferric chloride was used as the coagulant due to its extensive application in South Africa. Raw water samples representing the various water types found in the country were seasonally collected for investigation, thus corresponding to a year-long data collection period. Since the removal of NOM is linked to strict control of pH, the coagulant dosage for the jar tests aimed at specific pHs (pH 7.0, 6.0, 5.5, 5.0 and 4.5) with the use of titration curves. The response parameters for the tests were temperature, turbidity, pH and UV 254 nm. Algorithms of finding the optimum dosage for both turbidity and UV 254 nm removal were developed from jar tests and consistently applied to subsequent batch tests. The results of the study suggested that low-alkalinity waters are more amenable to coagulation than high-alkalinity waters. The results also led to the conclusion that the alkalinity and pH of a water are key factors influencing coagulation performance. The optimum pH for the waters fell within the range of 5.0 to 6.5

A CFD simulation of a single phase hydrocyclone flow field

The hydrodynamics of a hydrocyclone present a complex internal flow structure, the numerical simulation of which remains a nontrivial task. We report on three-dimensional water-only computational fluid dynamics (CFD) hydrocyclone flow field predictions and highlight some of the issues concerned with the development of a CFD model incorporating an air core. The potential for the application of CFD as a hydrocyclone design tool is also discussed. Physically realistic velocity profile predictions were obtained, which challenge the classical account of the hydrocyclone radial particle classification mechanism. A pressure field distribution consistent with literature reports was also predicted

Optimized coagulation for the removal of natural organic matter (NOM) from low alkalinity : hardness South African raw waters

Abstract This example is to demonstrate the layout of the first page of a paper for Water Science and Technology. The authors’ family names should be given in full; their forenames should be given as abbreviations. The title, authors' names and addresses should be indented 1.5 cm from the left-hand margin of the text area; the abstract is indented 1.5 cm from both margins. The abstract itself, set in 10 pt type like the authors' addresses, should start about 9 cm down from the top of the text area. It should be a single paragraph. Please do not make reference citations in the abstract and keep within the limit of 200 words. It is followed by your choice of up to six keywords, listed alphabetically and separated by semi-colons

Practical guidelines for enhanced coagulation using UV254

Abstract The negative effects of natural organic matter (NOM) in drinking water are well known and, where necessary, its removal is crucial. This is enforced by the increasingly stringent water regulations around the world. In South Africa, this regulation targets NOM in the form of total organic carbon (TOC), at a maximum of 10 mg/L. Enhanced coagulation (EC), a multiple objective chemical dosing strategy, offers a viable method of NOM removal, and this study explored its use for typical South African raw waters. A consistent and reproducible jar test procedure was developed and applied to 19 widely different raw water samples collected from different locations and at different times of a year long period. These samples consisted of a wide range of alkalinity, UV254 and turbidity values. Three criteria were developed and applied to determine the best EC dosage for the optimal removal of UV254 without compromising residual dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and turbidity. DOC was measured, prior to and after batch tests, to confirm removal similarities with UV254 and compliance with national standards. The resultant percentage removals of UV254 and DOC ranged between 56 to 96 % and 45 to 94 % respectively, irrespective of water source, period and coagulation dosage. The settled water residual turbidity values were less than 1.5 NTU. The costs for EC were found to be comparable to those for conventional coagulation in all cases

Planning and monitoring tool to control profitability in a manufacturing concern : a case study at C Chemicals

The aim of this paper is to analyse the key profit drivers in a manufacturing concern, and develop a decision tool based on optimisation techniques. The aim is planning and managing these profit drivers so that the target revenue and profit are realised during an operating period. This was done through developing a forecasting tool based on Visual Basic that was used by the organisation to project the future demand of its products. This tool was linked to a database that had details on past product performance. Planning software was developed using linear programming, which identified the optimum product mix and the sales outlets locations to maximise revenue and profi