Radiographic and ultrasonographic evaluation of the esophagus in the horse

The purpose of this study was to describe the radiographic and ultrasonographic appearance of the esophagus of ten healthy horses. Contrast radiography showed variations in the long-axis shape of the esophagus at the thoracic inlet. Administration of a large volume contrast medium by intubation showed stasis of contrast material for several minutes in two of the ten horses. The wall thickness of the non-distended esophagus on ultrasound was 2.6 +/- 0.3 mm with significant differences depending on the location. Distention of the esophagus by intubation or by a bolus of water or concentrate resulted in a decrease in wall thickness and it facilitated measuring with less variation. Stasis at the thoracic inlet was seen in five of the ten horses, when a water bolus was administered. Ultrasonographic evaluation of 100g spontaneously swallowed commercial concentrate was better than fluid (water bolus or 2.5mL/kg contrast medium) administration via intubation to assess esophageal motility at the thoracic inlet. Stasis seen at the thoracic inlet after bolus administration by intubation should not be regarded as an abnormal finding, and swallowing, with the subsequent peristaltic wave, has a positive influence on the bolus passage time

"L'émancipation par le conte : voies de l'imaginaire et enjeux du réel" suivi de "Conter la matière"

Ce mémoire de recherche-création s’articule autour de trois concepts : le conte, l’émancipation et la matière. À travers notre étude, nous nous interrogeons afin de savoir en quoi des références au réel intégrées à l’univers merveilleux du conte contribuent à modifier notre perception de la matière. Notre recherche est guidée par une curiosité du monde tangible, en particulier les matières qui nous entourent, et par un désir d’appréhender les enjeux qui se posent entre le réel et le merveilleux dans le texte. Nous avons, dans le volet théorique, observé comment le réel et l’imaginaire pouvaient se nourrir l’un l’autre et ainsi amener celui qui reçoit le texte à être mieux informé au sujet de la matière ainsi qu’à transformer sa vision de celle-ci. Nous avons également constaté quelques limites d’un discours sur le réel dans le merveilleux. Nous nous sommes demandé en quoi trop de références au réel pouvaient entraver le plaisir de se faire conter et nous avons pour cela réfléchi à l’effet de distanciation de Brecht, procédé que nous avons fini par appliquer à notre pratique. Dans la partie création, nous avions pour objectif de développer une écriture de la matière à travers le conte. Le volet création de ce mémoire prend donc la forme d’un recueil en quatre sections, une par matière (nous abordons la terre, l’eau, la roche et le bois). Nous avons aussi élaboré un laboratoire de création, où le texte a pu rencontrer la matière physique. La description ainsi que les images du laboratoire se situent dans les annexes.This research-creation thesis hinges on three concepts : contes (a French term, sometimes translated as « storytelling » or « folktales », for which there is no exact equivalent in English), emancipation, and matter. It explores how references to reality, which are integrated into the marvellous world of contes, change our perception of matter. The research is guided by my curiosity about the tangible world, especially my surroundings, and a desire to understand the issues that arise between the real and the marvellous in texts. In the theoretical component, I explore how reality and fiction can feed off of one another, providing receivers of a text with more information about matter and transforming their understanding of it. I also identify certain limits to the use of reality discourse in the marvellous, by examining whether too many references to the real can actually hinder the audience’s enjoyment of being told a story. This led me to Brecht’s estrangement effect, which I came to apply in my practice. In the creative component, I strive to develop a method for writing about matter through contes. It takes the form of a four-part collection based on four types of matter : earth, water, rock, and wood. I also develop a creative laboratory, which functions as a crossroads where the text and physical matter intersect. A description and images of the laboratory are included in the appendices

Cultural conflicts in resource management : the case of Ngati Kahungunu and Ahuriri Estuary

The accommodation of cultural values appears to be implicit in the Resource Management Act 1991. However, cultural values have been identified as a cause of tension in making decisions about taonga/natural resource use. To understand how culture affects resource management I asked the question: "Can there be an accommodation of different cultural values in the management of taongo/natural resources'?" The case of Ngāti Kahungunu and Te Whanganui-a-Orotu/Ahuriri Estuary, Napier (subject to a Waitangi Tribunal claim), provides an example or cultural conflict over both the management and ownership of the resources within Ahuriri Estuary. Through the use of qualitative research methods the following influences on resource management were identified: cultural paradigms; resource-use rights; and what constituted the 'common good'. First, working from a premise that resource management is influenced by cultural beliefs, tikanga Māori and Western resource management start from different philosophical bases. The 'secular Western paradigm' (henceforth SWP), as a point on the sacred/secular continuum, influences territorial authorities to consider Māori values as inappropriate for managing natural resources. Second, resource-use rights are based on a cultural construction or property rights. The SWP tends to favour private and Crown property rights over a community-based approach to the management of common resources. Third, the SWP also holds the doctrine of 'common good' to be have priority over Māori values. Tino rangātiratanga is important to Ngāti Kahungunu and the issue of resource ownership has yet to be resolved because the second article of the Treaty has been ignored. The conclusion is reached that Ngāti Kahungunu participation, as Treaty partners, in taongo/natural resource management may increase but within the constraints of a SWP. One way forward is for Ngāti Kahungunu and Crown to have 'joint management' of taonga/natural resources. Joint management would give both Treaty partners equal regulatory control. Such an arrangement would clarify usufruct rights to common resources and would incorporate Māori cultural values into resource management

Comparison of fecal microbiota of horses suffering from atypical myopathy and healthy co-grazers

Equine atypical myopathy (AM) is caused by hypoglycin A (HGA) and methylenecyclopropylglycine (MCPG) intoxication resulting from the ingestion of seeds or seedlings of some Acer tree species. Interestingly, not all horses pasturing in the same toxic environment develop signs of the disease. In other species, it has been shown that the intestinal microbiota has an impact on digestion, metabolism, immune stimulation and protection from disease. The objective of this study was to characterize and compare fecal microbiota of horses suffering from AM and healthy co-grazers. Furthermore, potential differences in fecal microbiota regarding the outcome of diseased animals were assessed. This prospective observational study included 59 horses with AM (29 survivors and 30 non-survivors) referred to three Belgian equine hospitals and 26 clinically healthy co-grazers simultaneously sharing contaminated pastures during spring and autumn outbreak periods. Fresh fecal samples (rectal or within 30min of defecation) were obtained from all horses and bacterial taxonomy profiling obtained by 16S amplicon sequencing was used to identify differentially distributed bacterial taxa between AM-affected horses and healthy co-grazers. Fecal microbial diversity and evenness were significantly (p < 0.001) higher in AM-affected horses as compared with their non-affected co-grazers. The relative abundance of families Ruminococcaceae, Christensenellaceae and Akkermansiaceae were higher (p ≤ 0.001) whereas those of the Lachnospiraceae (p = 0.0053), Bacteroidales (p < 0.0001) and Clostridiales (p = 0.0402) were lower in horses with AM, especially in those with a poor prognosis. While significant shifts were observed, it is still unclear whether they result from the disease or might be involved in the onset of disease pathogenesis

The Communities First (ComFi) study: protocol for a prospective controlled quasi-experimental study to evaluate the impact of area-wide regeneration on mental health and social cohesion in deprived communities

published_or_final_versio

Osteoid osteoma

Background: A 12-year-old boy presented with complaints of intermittent left hip pain for over one and a half year. The pain was worse at night and was relieved by taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as Aspegic. There was no history of previous trauma. Being a refugee, the patient was lost to follow-up. However, we managed to contact him and arranged a surgical treatment