Effect of degree of lipomobilization on results of glucose test in dairy cows in heat stress

Cows exposed to heat stress exhibit a decreased ability to mobilize lipids due to increased sensitivity to insulin, which is expressed in a decreased concentration of NEFA. However, certain cows can preserve the level of lipid mobilization after adapting to heat stress. We assumed that cows that have a preserved ability to mobilize lipids are less sensitive to insulin and that they have a lower tolerance for glucose. The aim of this work was to compare the results of an intravenous glucose tolerance test in cows that exhibited, in prolonged heat stress, a decreased (NEFA<0.20 mmol/l) or preserved (NEFA>0.30 mmol/l) ability for lipid mobilization. Glucose concentration and NEFA concentration were measured following intravenous application of glucose. The mean glycaemic index value did not differ statistically significantly between the two groups of cows at 10, 15 and 20 minutes after glucose application (p>0.05), but there was a tendency at 10 and 15 minutes for the glycaemia to be higher in cows with preserved lipomobilization (p<0.1). At 30, 60 and 90 minutes after glucose application, glycaemia was statistically significantly higher (p<0.01; p<0.05 and p<0.05) in the group of cows with preserved lipomobilization. The glycaemic index values (mmol/l) shown in the same order (30, 60 and 90 minutes) were as follows 9.91±0.21: 9.23±0.41; 5.41±0.5: 4.67±0.33 and 4.31±0.39: 3.47±0.37. The mean value for NEFA concentration in samples originating from the two experimental groups of cows did not differ statistically significantly following glucose application. The NEFA concentration showed a tendency to be higher in cows with preserved lipid mobilization in comparison with cows with decreased lipomobilization at 20 and 30 minutes after glucose application (p<0.1). Following the intravenous glucose tolerance test, NEFA and glucose concentrations were in a significant negative correlation, and that correlation was more expressed in cows with decreased lipomobilization. Cows with preserved lipomobilization have a lower tolerance for glucose than cows with a decreased lipomobilization during heat stress. [Projekat Ministarstva nauke Republike Srbije, br. TR 31062

Metabolic acclimation to heat stress in farm housed Holstein cows with different body condition scores

The aim of this study was to determine the effects of body condition score to metabolic acclimation in heat stressed Holstein cows. Body condition of cows had no effect on any of the tested parameters during the thermal neutral period, except for the percentage of protein in milk. Heat stress has been demonstrated to have an impact on all the selected parameters, and has been found to be the cause of decreased milk production and quality, increased rectal temperature and respiration rate, decreased glucose, non esterified fatty acids (NEFA) and cholesterol concentration, increased urea and bilirubin concentration, and loss of subcutaneous fat. Obese cows (BCS&gt;4) had less ability of acclimation to heat stress as compared to normal and thin cows (significantly lower production and milk quality, and significantly higher rectal temperature and respiration level in relation to the other groups of cows). Obese cows showed a significantly higher concentration of NEFA and significantly lower glucose during exposure to heat stress. The steady increase in NEFA concentrations and decrease of backfat thickness suggested that fat was used for energy purposes, which significantly increased the heat balance and led to poor acclimation to heat stress in obese cows. Cows with high body condition were at higher risk of developing liver failure and lipidosis (reduced cholesterol and elevated bilirubin concentration) during heat stress, which could be linked with increased concentrations of fatty acids in the blood. This was found with an increased concentration of urea during exposure to heat stress, with significantly higher concentration in obese cows. Using the fat for energy purposes depends on the sensitivity to insulin, which increases during heat stress. Obese cows are naturally less sensitive to insulin and more prone to lipolysis. However, these signs should be the focus of future research.Key words: Body condition score, heat stress, metabolic status, cow

The occurrence of Trichophytosis among people and cattle on a farm in Vojvodina, Serbia

Dermatophytoses are frequent contagious fungal skin diseases that affect the skin of people and animals. Zoophile dermatophytes pose a significant problem for both human and veterinary medicine, and they are especially present among bovines. In this paper we showed a simultaneous occurrence of trichophytosis among professionally exposed people and bovines on a farm in Vojvodina, Serbia. The tested samples (skin scrapings and hair) originating from people and animals, were positive for Trichophyton verrucosum dermatophyte which was determined by applying a direct microscopic examination of the smears, as well as the isolation and identification of the agents

Low power coordination in wireless ad-hoc networks

ABSTRACT Distributed wireless ad-hoc networks @WANs) pose numerous technical Among them, two are widely conthese problems, two are of dominating importance: (i) low energy and Operation and (ii) autonomous localized operation and decision making. Recent studies have shown sidered as crucial: autonomous localized operation and minimization of energy consumption. We address the fundamental problem of how to maximize life-time of the network by using only local information while preserving network connectivity, We start by introducing the Care-Ree Sleep (CS) Theorem that provides provably optimal necessary and nodes are not required for addressing the current network cient conditions for a node to turn off its radio while ensuring and Although there have been a number of efforts to deterthat global connectivity is not affected. The cS theorem is the basis for an efficient localized almine the conditions for a node to enter sleep state using gorithm that decides which node will turn its radio off, and only locally available information while preserving the overfor how long, The effectiveness of the approach is demonall connectivity of the network, only heuristic answers have sleep coordination problem. The sleep coordination problem the algorithm over a wide range of network parameters. is interesting and challenging from several view points: 0 Complexity of the Problem. The nodes that stay Categories and Subject Descriptors awake to preserve the connectivity of the network form a [ C O M P U T E R -C O M M U N I C A T I O N N E T W O R K S ] : connected dominating set on the network graph. Finding Network Protocols; C.4 [ P E R F O R M A N C E OF S Y S - the minimum connected dominating set can be proven to be TEMS]: [Reliability, availability, and serviceability] NP-complete. Therefore, even in cases where we do have the complete graph information about the whole network, finding the optimal solution in polynomial time is unlikely. Furthermore, setting the proper sleep times t o the nodes to maximize the overall network&apos;s lifetime, adds a new dimension to the NP-complete minimum connected dominating 0 Scope of the Problem. For a sleep coordination procedure, making a globally sound decision using only local information is a challenging task. Changing the status of even one node can potentially impact any node in the network ill terms Of its CODneCtiVity and energy consumption. 0 Guaranteed Connectivity. There is a need to determine under which conditions, a Particular node can sleep, while still guaranteeing that the network is connected. 0 Protocol Design. The autonomous operation of the nodes in DWANs has several advantages including fault tolerance, fast response to changes, and non-PrePlanned network structure. However, interaction and collaboration between the nodes and existence of shared resources, dictates a need for a protocol that can handle concurrency and synchronization of the autonomous ad-hoc node decisions. The power saving coordination strategy introduced here attempts to address these challenges. we start by introducing the care-nee sleep (CS) theorem that establishes provably optimal necessary and sufficient conditions for a given node to enter sleep state without disconnecting the network. strated using numerous simulations of the performance of been Presented [17, 3~ &apos; 1. we refer to this Problem as the General Terms Algorithms, Design, Performance Keywords set problem. Wireless ad-hoc network, low-power, coordinatio

Lipidna peroksidacija i aktivnost antioksidativnih enzima u eritrocitima radnika profesionalno izloženih aluminiju

Current research indicates that lipid peroxidation could have a role in aluminium toxicity. The aim of this study was to asses lipid peroxidation and antioxidative enzyme activity in erythrocytes of workers occupationally exposed to aluminium. We investigated a group of 59 workers (Al group) exposed to aluminium fumes (contamination factor F=8.07 to 13.47, national maximal allowed concentration value is 2 mg m-3). The control group (C group) consisted of 75 subjects employed in lime production who had not been occupationally exposed to aluminium or any known toxic substance. Erythrocyte aluminium concentrations were significantly higher in the exposed group than controls [Al group (8.41±3.66) µg L-1, C group (5.60±0.86) µg L-1, p<0.001]. In the Al group, erythrocyte malondialdehyde concentration was also significantly higher [Al group (189.59±81.27) µmol L-1, C group (105.21±49.62) µmol L-1, p<0.001] and antioxidative enzyme activity reduced for glucoso-6-phosphatedehydrogenase [Al group (5.05±1.70) IU g-1 Hb, C group (12.53±4.12) IU g-1 Hb, p<0.001], glutathione reductase [Al group (1.41±0.56) IU g-1 Hb, C group (1.89±0.57) IU g-1 Hb, p<0.001], glutathione peroxidase [Al group (12.37±5.76) IU g-1 Hb, C group (15.54±4.85) IU g-1 Hb, p<0.001], catalase [Al group (116.76±26.60) IU g-1 Hb, C group (158.81±71.85) IU g-1 Hb, p<0.001] and superoxide dismutase [Al group (1175.8±149.9) IU mg-1 Hb, C group (1377.9±207.5) IU mg-1 Hb, p<0.001].Rezultati suvremenih istraživanja pokazuju da lipidna peroksidacija može imati važnu ulogu u toksičnosti aluminija. Cilj istraživanja bio je da se ispita lipidna peroksidacija i aktivnost antioksidativnih enzima u eritrocitima kod radnika profesionalno izloženih aluminiju. Ispitivanjem je obuhvaćena skupina od 59 radnika (Al skupina) profesionalno izloženih aluminiju (faktor onečišćenja F=8,07 do 13,47, nacionalna maksimalno dopuštena koncentracija je 2 mg m-3). Kontrolna skupina sastojala se od 75 osoba zaposlenih u proizvodnji vapna koje nikada nisu bile profesionalno izložene aluminiju ni drugim toksičnim tvarima. U skupini izloženoj aluminiju utvrđene su statistički signifikantno više koncentracije aluminija u eritrocitima nego u kontrolnoj skupini [Al skupina (8,41±3,66) µg L-1, kontrolna skupina (5,60±0,86) µg L-1, p<0,001]. U Al skupini utvrđene su statistički značajno više koncentracije malondialdehida u eritrocitima [Al skupina (189,59±81,27) µmol L-1, kontrolna skupina (105,21±49,62) µmol L-1, p<0,001]. Također, u Al skupini utvrđene su i statistički značajno niže aktivnosti antioksidativnih enzima u eritrocitima: glukozo- 6-fosfatdehidrogenaza [Al skupina (5,05±1,70) IU g-1 Hb, kontrolna skupina (12,53±4,12) IU g-1 Hb, p<0,001], glutationreduktaza [Al skupina (1,41±0,56) IU g-1 Hb, kontrolna skupina (1,89±0,57) IU g-1 Hb, p<0,001], glutationperoksidaza [Al skupina (12,37±5,76) IU g-1 Hb, kontrolna skupina (15,54±4,85) IU g-1 Hb, p<0,001], katalaza [Al skupina (116,76±26,60) IU g-1 Hb, kontrolna skupina (158,81±71,85) IU g-1 Hb, p<0,001] i superoksiddizmutaza [Al skupina (1175,8±149,9) IU mg-1 Hb, kontrolna skupina (1377,9±207,5) IU mg-1 Hb, p<0,001]

Toward Psycho-robots

We try to perform geometrization of psychology by representing mental states, >, by points of a metric space, >. Evolution of ideas is described by dynamical systems in metric mental space. We apply the mental space approach for modeling of flows of unconscious and conscious information in the human brain. In a series of models, Models 1-4, we consider cognitive systems with increasing complexity of psychological behavior determined by structure of flows of ideas. Since our models are in fact models of the AI-type, one immediately recognizes that they can be used for creation of AI-systems, which we call psycho-robots, exhibiting important elements of human psyche. Creation of such psycho-robots may be useful improvement of domestic robots. At the moment domestic robots are merely simple working devices (e.g. vacuum cleaners or lawn mowers) . However, in future one can expect demand in systems which be able not only perform simple work tasks, but would have elements of human self-developing psyche. Such AI-psyche could play an important role both in relations between psycho-robots and their owners as well as between psycho-robots. Since the presence of a huge numbers of psycho-complexes is an essential characteristic of human psychology, it would be interesting to model them in the AI-framework

Prevalence of hepatitis E virus (HEV) antibodies in Serbian blood donors

Introduction Hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection is rarely reported in industrialized countries, but recent studies have revealed quite variable seroprevalence rates among European populations, including blood donors. In Serbia, very limited data about HEV seroprevalence are available. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of anti-HEV IgG antibodies and HEV RNA in the sera of volunteer blood donors in Serbia. Methodology Serum samples from 200 volunteer blood donors were tested for the presence of anti-HEV IgG by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using ORF-2 HEV genotype 3 recombinant proteins as antigen, and for the presence of HEV RNA by nested reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Results In total, 15% of the volunteer blood donors were seropositive. The prevalence increased with age; 21.5%, 14.2%, and 5.4% HEV seroprevalence rates were found in individuals older than 51 years, between 31 and 50 years, and in those younger than 30 years of age, respectively. However, no HEV RNA was detected in any of the individuals analyzed. Conclusions The prevalence of anti-HEV IgG among blood donors as representatives of the general population is quite high in Serbia compared to data from many European countries. One of the reasons for this could be the high prevalence of HEV among Serbian pigs and the traditional consumption of piglet meat in the country. The relatively high HEV seroprevalence found among Serbian blood donors indicates the need for further investigation. © 2014 Petrović et al

Coordinated parallelizing compiler optimizations and high-level synthesis

We present a high-level synthesis methodology that applies a coordinated set of coarse-grain and fine-grain parallelizing transformations. The transformations are applied both during a presynthesis phase and during scheduling, with the objective of optimizing the results of synthesis and reducing the impact of control flow constructs on the quality of results. We first apply a set of source level presynthesis transformations that include common sub-expression elimination (CSE), copy propagation, dead code elimination and loop-invariant code motion, along with more coarse-level code restructuring transformations such as loop unrolling. We then explore scheduling techniques that use a set of aggressive speculative code motions to maximally parallelize the design by re-ordering, speculating and sometimes even duplicating operations in the design. In particular, we present a new technique called "Dynamic CSE" that dynamically coordinates CSE and code motions such as speculation and conditional speculation during scheduling. We implemented our parallelizing high-level synthesis in the SPARK framework. This framework takes a behavioral description in ANSI-C as input and generates synthesizable register-transfer level VHDL. Our results from computationally expensive portions of three moderately complex design targets, namely, MPEG-1, MPEG-2 and the GIMP image processing too], validate the utility of our approach to the behavioral synthesis of designs with complex control flows