Physiological Response Of Laying Birds To Neem (Azadirachta Indica) Leaf Meal-Based Diets: Body Weight Organ Characteristics And Haematology

A 12-weeks feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the effects of Neem (Azadirachta indica) leafmeal (NLM) on body weight gain, carcass and organ characteristics and haematological values of laying hens. The leaves were harvested, chopped to facilitate drying in the sun until they became crispy but still greenish in coloration. The Sun-dried leaves were milled using a hammer mill to produce the leaf meal. Four layers diets were formulated to contain the NLM at 0%,5%, 10% and 15% dietary levels respectively and were used to feed 120 Shikka brown layers already 10 months in lay. The birds were divided into 4 groups of 30 each and randomly assigned to the 4 treatment diets in a completely randomized design (CRD). NLM did not show any appreciable difference in weight gain between the birds at 0% and those at 5%, 10% dietary levels. Carcass weight, dressed weight, liver, heart and gizzard weights were significantly (P<0.05) increased at 5% dietary level of NLM. There were no significant difference in Hb and PCV between birds on O% and 5% treatment diets. However, these differed significantly (P<0.05%) from those of birds on 10% and 15% treatment diets. There were variations in the differential WB count , marked lymphocytopenia adversely affected the total leucocyte counts in the birds on 5%, 10% and 15% treatment diets. The results of this study suggest that laying birds could tolerate 5%- 15% dietary levels of NLM without deleterious effects

Electronic Health Records: Challenges and Opportunities

During the last three decades, healthcare expenditure in the U.S. has substantially increased. If this pace of increase is not controlled, it will lead to disastrous results for the healthcare system. An effective use of health information technology would not only improve the quality of healthcare but help reduce healthcare costs considerably. However, risks of privacy and security of patient electronic health records are great. It is recommended that healthcare organizations use IT management best practices, follow proper risk assessment and management guidelines, and keep up with latest technological advances to ensure the privacy and security of patient data

Automatic Generation Control Application for Transmission and Generation Centres

Recently, a new Emergency Control Centre for Albanian Transmission System Operator (TSO), which includes Supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) and Automatic Generation Control (AGC) applications, has been commissioned. Nowadays, an AGC application is being prepared for the biggest generation company in Croatia, as part of control centre for hydropower plants within western part of Croatia. Both of these implementations use the same AGC application, which is presented in this paper. Although AGC for TSO and AGC for Generation Centre (GC) have many similarities, their main goals are different. AGC for TSO must mainly regulate system’s frequency and area’s active power interchange to their desired values, using only power plants engaged in load-frequency control (LFC). However, AGC for GC must ensure that power production of each power unit not engaged in LFC tracks its planned value, while also ensuring that centre’s share in LFC is being respected. Albeit the AGC is standalone application, in both afore-mentioned implementations it is affiliated with SCADA application, from which it obtains all required input measurements and indications and to which it delivers calculated setpoints. Additionally, all AGC pictures are integrated into SCADA pictures as well, in order to simplify operation and monitoring functionalities. AGC for Albanian TSO controls active power generation of six hydro power plants engaged in LFC. AGC for GC West in Croatia controls active power generation of ten hydro power plants. In both implementations, communication with remote objects is done using IEC 60870-5-104 communication protocol, while communication with other control centres is done using ICCP communication protocol. Power production plans are sent to AGC either from Market Management Systems (in TSO case) or from scheduling and optimization application (in GC case

Skin Cancers Among Albinos at a University Teaching Hospital in Northwestern Tanzania: A Retrospective Review of 64 Cases.

Skin cancers are a major risk associated with albinism and are thought to be a major cause of death in African albinos. The challenges associated with the care of these patients are numerous and need to be addressed. The aim of this study was to outline the pattern and treatment outcome of skin cancers among albinos treated at our centre and to highlight challenges associated with the care of these patients and proffer solutions for improved outcome. This was a retrospective study of all albinos with a histopathological diagnosis of skin cancer seen at Bugando Medical Centre from March 2001 to February 2010. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics. A total of 64 patients were studied. The male to female ratio was 1.5:1. The median age of patients was 30 years. The median duration of illness at presentation was 24 months. The commonest reason for late presentation was financial problem. Head and the neck was the most frequent site afflicted in 46(71.8%) patients. Squamous cell carcinoma was the most common histopathological type in 75% of cases. Surgical operation was the commonest modality of treatment in 60 (93.8%) patients. Radiotherapy was given in 24(37.5%) patients. Twenty-seven (42.2%) of the patients did not complete their treatment due to lack of funds. Local recurrence following surgical treatment was recorded in 6 (30.0%) patients. Only thirty-seven (61.7%) patients were available for follow-up at 6-12 months and the remaining patients were lost to follow-up. Skin cancers are the most common cancers among albinos in our environment. Albinism and exposure to ultraviolet light appears to be the most important risk factor in the development of these cancers. Late presentation and failure to complete treatment due to financial difficulties and lack of radiotherapy services at our centre are major challenges in the care of these patients. Early institution of preventive measures, early presentation and treatment, and follow-up should be encouraged in this population for better outcome

Design of Packaging Vents for Cooling Fresh Horticultural Produce

Abstract This review focuses on the design of vents in packages used for handling horticulture produce. The studies on vent designs that are conducted to obtain fundamental understanding of the mechanisms by which different parameters affect the rate and homogeneity of the airflow and the cooling process are presented. Ventilated packages should be designed in such a way that they can provide a uniform airflow distribution and consequently uniform produce cooling. Total opening area and opening size and position show a significant effect on pressure drop, air distribution uniformity and cooling efficiency. Recent advances in measurement and mathematical modelling techniques have provided powerful tools to develop detailed investigations of local airflow rate and heat and mass transfer processes within complex packaging structures. The complexity of the physical structure of the packed systems and the biological variability of the produce make both experimental and model-based studies of transport processes challenging. In many of the available mathematical models, the packed structure is assumed as a porous medium; the limitations of the porous media approach are evident during vented package design studies principally when the containerto-produce dimension ratio is below a certain value. The complex and chaotic structure within horticultural produce ventilated packages during a forced-air precooling process complicates the numerical study of energy and mass transfer considering each individual produce. Future research efforts should be directed to detailed models of the vented package, the complex produce stacking within the package, as well as their interaction with adjacent produce, stacks and surrounding environment. For the validation of the numerical models, the development of better experimental techniques taking into account the complex packaging system is also very important

Combined Use of High-Sensitive Cardiac Troponin, Copeptin, and the Modified HEART Score for Rapid Evaluation of Chest Pain Patients.

Clinical short-term risk stratification is a recommended approach in patients with chest pain and possible acute myocardial infarction (AMI) to further improve high safety of biomarker-based rule-out algorithms. The study aim was to assess clinical performance of baseline concentrations of high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T (hs-TnT) and copeptin and the modified HEART score (mHS) in early presenters to the emergency department with chest pain. This cohort study included patients with chest pain with onset maximum of 6 h before admission and no persistent ST-segment elevation on electrocardiogram. hs-TnT, copeptin, and the mHS were assessed from admission data. The diagnostic and prognostic value for three baseline rule-out algorithms: (1) single hs-TnT &lt; 14 ng/l, (2) hs-TnT &lt; 14 ng/l/mHS ≤ 3, and (3) hs-TnT &lt; 14 ng/l/mHS ≤ 3/copeptin &lt; 17.4 pmol/l, was assessed with sensitivity and negative predictive value. Primary diagnostic endpoint was the diagnosis of AMI. Prognostic endpoint was death and/or AMI within 30 days. Among 154 enrolled patients, 44 (29%) were classified as low-risk according to the mHS; AMI was diagnosed in 105 patients (68%). For ruling out AMI, the highest sensitivity and NPV from all studied algorithms were observed for hs-TnT/mHS/copeptin (100%, 95% CI 96.6-100, and 100%, 95% CI 75.3-100). At 30 days, the highest event-free survival was achieved in patients stratified with hs-TnT/mHS/copeptin algorithm (100%) with 100% (95% CI 75.3-100) NPV and 100% (95% CI 96.6-100) sensitivity. The combination of baseline hs-TnT, copeptin, and the mHS has an excellent sensitivity and NPV for short-term risk stratification. Such approach might improve the triage system in emergency departments and be a bridge for inclusion to serial blood sampling algorithms

Conference summary report of the 10th Annual General and Scientific Meeting of the Nigerian Society of Neonatal medicine (NISONM) held in Ibadan, Nigeria on 4th -7th July, 2017

The 10th Annual General and Scientific Meeting (AGSM) of the Nigerian Society of Neonatal Medicine (NISONM) took place in Ibadan, South -West Nigeria. The theme of the conference was: Imperatives in neonatal survival initiatives in Nigeria: The current state. The conference addressed a variety of topics relevant to newborn health from eminent speakers from across the globe. The four-day conference included preconference workshops and community mobilization/ health outreach in Lagelu local government area

Hygienic quality of dehydrated aromatic herbs marketed in Southern Portugal

Dehydrated aromatic herbs are highly valued ingredients, widely used at home level and by food processing industry, frequently added to a great number of recipes in the Mediterranean countries. Despite being considered low-moisture products and classified as GRAS, during pre and post-harvesting stages of production they are susceptible of microbial contamination. In Europe an increasing number of food recalls and disease outbreaks associated with dehydrated herbs have been reported in recent years. In this study the microbial quality of 99 samples of aromatic herbs (bay leaves, basil, coriander, oregano, parsley, Provence herbs, rosemary and thyme) collected from retails shops in the region of Algarve (Southern Portugal) was assessed. All the samples were tested by conventional methods and were assayed for the total count of aerobic mesophilic microorganisms, Salmonella spp., Escherichia coli, coagulase-positive staphylococci and filamentous fungi. Almost 50 % of the herbs did not exceed the aerobic mesophilic level of 104 CFU/g. The fungi count regarded as unacceptable (106 CFU/g) was not found in any of the tested herbs, while 84 % of the samples ranged from ≤102 to 104 CFU/g. No sample was positive for the presence of Salmonella spp., Escherichia coli and staphylococci. The results are in compliance with the European Commission criteria although they point out to the permanent need of surveillance on the good standards of handling/cooking practices as well as the importance of avoiding contamination at production, retailing and distribution. The microbiological hazards associated with the pathogenic and toxigenic microbiota of dried herbs remain as a relevant public health issue, due to the fact that they are added to foods not submitted to any following lethal procedure. Control measures should be adopted in order to ensure that all phases of their supply chain respect the food safety standards.FCT: UID/BIA/04325/2019.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Ефективність використання високобілкового соняшникового концентрату в годівлі свиней

The article studied the dependence of productive qualities and feed cost on the growth of pigs during rearing and fattening with partial (50 %) and complete (100 %) replacement of soybean meal with high-protein protein concentrate “Proglot” in the diet. It was established that the use of partial and complete replacement of soybean meal with high-protein sunflower concentrate in the rearing of piglets led to a decrease in the growing intensity of piglets by 0.87 % with partial and 4.95 % with total replacement. And as a result of a decrease in live weight by 0.3 % at the end of the growing period with a partial and by 1.2 % with a complete replacement of soybean products with sunflower in the starter compound feed. At the same time, feed conversion turned out to be the best in the group of animals that partially replaced soybean meal with high-protein sunflower concentrate – 2.30 kg, which is 1.41 % better than in animals that consumed soybean meal in the starter feed and by 5.37 % compared to animals in which this meal was completely replaced by high-protein sunflower concentrate. Replacing soybean meal with high-protein sunflower concentrate made it possible to reduce the cost of 1 kg of feed by 2.24 % when it was partially replaced and by 4.57 % when it was replaced entirely. The feed cost of 1 kg of growth in piglets that consumed feed with a partial replacement of soybean meal with high-protein sunflower concentrate decreased by 3.64 % and by 3.47 % in animals that completely replaced soybean meal with this product. Animals whose diet was replaced entirely with soybean meal by high-protein sunflower concentrate had the lowest feed cost per head. According to this indicator, they outnumbered peers with partial replacement by 3.83 % and 4.33 %, where such replacement was not done. Animals whose diet was replaced entirely with soybean meal by high-protein sunflower concentrate had the lowest feed cost per head for the entire experiment period. According to this indicator, they were 3.14 % better than their peers, partially replaced by 5.25 %. It was not carried out. The index of fattening qualities of pigs was the highest in pigs with partial replacement of soybean meal with high-protein sunflower concentrate, 31.2 points. In contrast, in animals with the complete replacement, it was 9.75 % lower, and by 2.74 %, and in analogs with such replacement was not conducted. A clear tendency to increase the intensity of growth of piglets was established with the combined use (50/50 %) of soybean meal and high-protein sunflower concentrate. However, the use of only high-protein sunflower concentrate probably reduces this indicator. It was determined that replacing soybean meal with high-protein protein concentrate “Proglot” reduces the cost of feed and, as a result, the cost of feed per unit of growth and per head of pigs after fattening.У статті вивчалась залежність продуктивних якостей та кормової собівартості приросту свиней під час дорощування та відгодівлі при частковій (50 %) та повній (100 %) заміні в раціоні соєвого шроту на високобілковий протеїновий концентрат “Проглот”. Встановлено, що на дорощуванні поросят використання часткової та повної заміни соєвого шроту на високобілковий соняшниковий концентрат призвело до зниження інтенсивності росту поросят на 0,87 % при частковій та на 4,95 % при повній його заміні. І, як результат, зменшення на 0,3 % живої маси на кінець періоду дорощування при частковій та на 1,2 % при повній заміні соєвих продуктів на соняшникові в стартерному комбікормі. Водночас конверсія корму виявилась найкращою в групі тварин, яким було частково замінено соєвий шрот на високобілковий соняшниковий концентрат – на 2,30 кг, що на 1,41 % краще ніж у тварин які споживали в стартерному комбікормі соєвий шрот та на 5,37 % порівняно з тваринами, яким цей шрот був повністю замінений на високобілковий соняшниковий концентрат. Заміна соєвого шроту на високобілковий соняшниковий концентрат дозволила знизити собівартість 1 кг корму при частковій його заміні на 2,24 %, та на 4,57 % при повній. Кормова собівартість 1 кг приросту у поросят, які споживали корм з частковою заміною соєвого шроту на високобілковий соняшниковий концентрат знизилась на 3,64 %, та на 3,47 % у тварин, яким було повністю замінено соєвий шрот на цей продукт. Найнижчу кормову собівартість однієї голови мали тварини, в раціоні яких було повністю замінено соєвий шрот на високобілковий соняшниковий концентрат, вони за цим показником на 3,83 % переважали ровесників, яким така заміна була здійснена частково і на 4,33 %, де такої заміни не здійснювалось. Найнижчу кормову собівартість однієї голови за весь період досліду мали тварини, в раціоні яких було повністю замінено соєвий шрот на високобілковий соняшниковий концентрат, вони за цим показником на 3,14 % переважали ровесників, яким така заміна була здійснена частково, і на 5,25 %, де такої заміни не здійснювалось. Індекс відгодівельних якостей свиней був найвищим у свиней з частковою заміною соєвого шроту на високобілковий соняшниковий концентрат на 31,2 бала, тимчасом як у тварин з повною заміною він виявився на 9,75 % нижчим та на 2,74 % нижчим в аналогів, яким така заміна не проводилась. Встановлено чітку тенденцію до підвищення інтенсивності росту поросят при комбінованому застосуванні (50/50&nbsp;%) соєвого шроту і високобілкового соняшникового концентрату, але використання тільки соняшникового високобілкового концентрату вірогідно знижує цей показник. Визначено, що заміна соєвого шроту на високобілковий протеїновий концентрат “Проглот” зменшує собівартість корму і, як результат, кормову собівартість одиниці приросту та однієї голови свиней по закінченні відгодівлі

Potential impact of cardiology phone-consultation for patients risk-stratified by the HEART pathway

Objective Bedside consultation by cardiologists may facilitate safe discharge of selected patients from the emergency department (ED) even when admission is recommended by the History, Electrocardiogram, Age, Risk factors, Troponin (HEART) pathway. If bedside evaluation is unavailable, phone consultation between emergency physicians and cardiologists would be most impactful if the resultant disposition is discordant with the HEART pathway. We therefore evaluate discordance between actual disposition and that suggested by the HEART pathway in patients presenting to the ED with chest pain for whom cardiology consultation occurred exclusively by phone and to assess the impact of phone-consultation on disposition. Methods We performed a single-center, retrospective study of adults presenting to the ED with chest pain whose emergency physician had a phone consultation with a cardiologist. Actual disposition was abstracted from the medical record. HEART pathway category (low-risk, discharge; high-risk, admit) was derived from ED documentation. For discharged patients, major adverse cardiac events were assessed at 30 days by chart review and phone follow-up. Results For the 170 patients that had cardiologist phone consultation, discordance between actual disposition and the HEART pathway was 17%. The HEART pathway recommended admission for nearly 80% of discharged patients. Following cardiologist phone-consultation, 10% of high-risk patients were discharged, with the majority having undergone a functional study recommended by the cardiologist. At 30 days, discharged patients had experienced no episodes of major adverse cardiac events or rehospitalization for cardiac reasons. Conclusion For patients presenting to the ED with chest pain, cardiology phone-consultation has the potential to safely impact disposition, primarily by facilitating functional testing in high-risk individuals