Informe clinicopatológico preliminar del ganado vacuno de los Llanos Orientales de Colombia.

Con el propósito de examinar el estado general de salud existente en el ganado del Vichada, en los Llanos Orientales de Colombia, se hizo este reconocimiento limitado. Se incluyen datos de hematología, serología, parasitología y bacteriología. Los valores hematológicos encontrados se consideran dentro de los límites normales. Los porcentajes de leucocitos encontrados son típicos de las especies bovinas, el volumen corpuscular medio, calculados los índices de eritrocidos, se encuentra dentro de los límites normales, los valores de la concentración de hemoglobina corpuscular media indican que cada eritrocito tiene aproximadamente un 3 por ciento más de hemoglobina que el promedio aceptado. Los datos serológicos indican una alta incidencia de anaplasmosis y relativamente altos niveles de brucelosis, se analizaron 511 muestras de 4 hatos. Se encontró que el número de animales afectados por brucelosis se acerca a un nivel del 20 por ciento, el que es considerado epidémico. Se encontró que los ectoparásitos y endoparásitos afectan la mayoría del ganado estudiado. Al gran número de garrapatas encontrado puede atribuírse en parte la alta incidencia de títulos de anaplasmosis. No fué posible demostrar hemoparásitos durante el examen superficial de extensiones de sangre. En relación con los estudios bacteriológicos, los contaminantes encontrados en los pocos exámenes realizados, son esencialmente los mismos que se encuentran en todas partes. Una discusión corta acompaña cada uno de los estudiosGanado de doble propósito-Ganaderia doble proposit

Can dual CT with fast kV-switching determine renal stone composition accurately?

noRationale and Objectives: To determine whether a single source computed tomography (CT) system utilizing fast kV switching and low dose settings can characterize (diameter and chemical composition) renal stones accurately when compared infrared spectroscopy. Materials and Methods: The chemical composition of 15 renal stones was determined using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The stones were inserted into a porcine kidney and placed within a water tank for CT scanning using both fast kV switching dual energy and standard protocols. Effective atomic number of each stone was measured using scanner software. Stone diameter measurements were repeated twice to determine intra-rater variation and compared to actual stone diameter as measured by micro CT. Results: The chemical composition of three stones (one calcium phosphate and two carbonite apatite) could not be determined using the scanner software. The composition of 10/12 remaining stones was correctly identified using dual energy computed tomography (83% absolute agreement; k = 0.69). No statistical difference (p = 0.051) was noted in the mean stone diameter as measured by clinical CT and micro CT. Conclusion: Dual energy computed tomography using fast kV switching may potentially be developed as a low dose clinical tool for identifying and classifying renal stones in vivo supporting clinical decision-making

Remuneration, risk, and financial crisis

The sharp deterioration in the subprime mortgage market in the United States in 2007 triggered a decline in confidence in global financial markets of unprecedented scale. The sizable losses that resulted in many financial institutions revealed significant weaknesses in basic market practices and principles-notably deteriorating lending and underwriting standards; excessive (undercapitalized) risk-taking; inadequate risk management processes; undue reliance on ratings of structured products; and an almost obsessive focus on actions driving short-term results with little consideration of long-term implications. In the aftermath, the attention of regulators has turned to the structure of remuneration in financial institutions, and in particular, the failure of these structures to adequately capture and adjust for the risk taken in order to earn returns. This chapter asserts that the efficacy of risk-adjusted remuneration structures relies on the resolution of three main factors: (1) risk appetite can be defined and translated into ex-ante risk measures; (2) agency problems that arise with the use of risk-adjusted performance measures can be resolved; and (3) managerial overconfidence in assessing risk can be taken into consideration in the design of remuneration structures.18 page(s

Impact of Discharge Components on Readmission Rates for Children Hospitalized with Asthma.

OBJECTIVES: To describe hospital-based asthma-specific discharge components at children\u27s hospitals and determine the association of these discharge components with pediatric asthma readmission rates. STUDY DESIGN: This is a multicenter retrospective cohort study of pediatric asthma hospitalizations in 2015 at children\u27s hospitals participating in the Pediatric Health Information System. Children ages 5 to 17 years were included. An electronic survey assessing 13 asthma-specific discharge components was sent to quality leaders at all 49 hospitals. Correlations of combinations of asthma-specific discharge components and adjusted readmission rates were calculated. RESULTS: The survey response rate was 92% (45 of 49 hospitals). Thirty-day and 3-month adjusted readmission rates varied across hospitals, ranging from 1.9% to 3.9% for 30-day readmissions and 5.7% to 9.1% for 3-month readmissions. No individual or combination discharge components were associated with lower 30-day adjusted readmission rates. The only single-component significantly associated with a lower rate of readmission at 3 months was having comprehensive content of education (P \u3c .029). Increasing intensity of discharge components in bundles was associated with reduced adjusted 3-month readmission rates, but this did not reach statistical significance. This was seen in a 2-discharge component bundle including content of education and communication with the primary medical doctor, as well as a 3-discharge component bundle, which included content of education, medications in-hand, and home-based environmental mitigation. CONCLUSIONS: Children\u27s hospitals demonstrate a range of asthma-specific discharge components. Although we found no significant associations for specific hospital-level discharge components and asthma readmission rates at 30 days, certain combinations of discharge components may support hospitals to reduce healthcare utilization at 3 months

What is a ‘good’ job? Modelling job quality for blue collar workers

This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis in Ergonomics on 06/04/2016, available online: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00140139.2016.1165870.This paper proposes a model of job quality, developed from interviews with blue collar workers: bus drivers, manufacturing operatives and cleaners (n=80). The model distinguishes between core features, important for almost all workers, and 'job fit' features, important to some but not others, or where individuals might have different preferences. Core job features found important for almost all interviewees included job security, personal safety, and having enough pay to meet their needs. 'Job fit' features included autonomy and the opportunity to form close relationships. These showed more variation between participants; priorities were influenced by family commitments, stage of life and personal preference. The resulting theoretical perspective indicates the features necessary for a job to be considered 'good' by the person doing it, whilst not adversely affecting their health. The model should have utility as a basis for measuring and improving job quality and the laudable goal of creating 'good jobs'. Practitioner summary Good work can contribute positively to health and wellbeing, but there is a lack of agreement regarding the concept of a 'good' job. A model of job quality has been constructed based on semi-structured worker interviews (n=80). The model emphasises the need to take into account variation between individuals in their preferred work characteristics