Evaluation of Shugor, Dubasi and Watish subtypes of Sudan Desert sheep at the El-Huda National Sheep Research Station, Gezira Province, Sudan

Presents results obtained from a trial conducted at El-Huda National Sheep Research Station, Sudan, Shugor, Dubasi and Watish subtypes of Sudan Desert sheep to compare productivity, reproductivity and animal performance, with particular reference to lambing, lambing intervals, body weight, growth rates and mortality rates, incl. recommendations for further investigations

Productivity of transhumant Fulani cattle in the inner Niger Delta of Mali

Evaluates the productivity of transhumant Fulani cattle in the inner Niger delta of Mali. Summarises the results of the animal productivity study extending from December 1978 - March 1983, which indicated high calf mortality, low reproductive performance and moderate milk production. Identifies constraints limiting the productivity of Sudanese Fulani cattle and suggests interventions aimed at eliminating or ameliorating these constraint

The effect of supplementing cereal straws with urea, trifolium hay and noug meal on feed intake and liveweight gain of growing crossbred heifers

Compares the effects of noug meal, Trifolium tembense hay and urea, fed in different combinations as supplements to wheat or teff straws, on feed intake and growth rate of crossbred heifers

Is Infrainguinal Bypass Grafting Successful Following Failed Angioplasty?

ObjectivesAngioplasty is often used in the management of lower limb ischaemia and can reduce the need for infrainguinal bypass in some patients. There is an associated failure rate with this technique and bypass surgery is often used in this situation as a secondary limb salvage procedure. We aimed to evaluate the outcome of infrainguinal bypass grafting following failed attempt at angioplasty.MethodsAll cases of infrainguinal bypass at a single centre over a seven year period were identified and notes reviewed. Cases were divided into four groups according to their indication for surgery; acute ischaemia, chronic critical ischaemia, failed angioplasty and an ‘other’ group including aneurysmal disease and claudicants. The failed angioplasty group was compared with the other three groups. Survival analysis was performed using Kaplan Meier curves and groups compared in terms of long term patency and survival.ResultsPrimary patency was 61.2% in the failed angioplasty group at 12 months compared with 60.6% in the other groups (P=1.11). There was also no significant difference in primary patency at 60 months (50% vs 40.6%, P=0.26). Survival at 12 months was also comparable between the groups (failed angioplasty group 74.2% compared with 77.3% in the other groups, P=0.662) as was 60 months survival (33.3% and 35.4% respectively, P=0.166).DiscussionIn this study, outcome of infrainguinal bypass following failed angioplasty was comparable to outcome of surgery performed for another indication. This paper supports the use of distal bypass surgery for limb salvage in cases where minimal access techniques have failed

Use of three-terminal impedance spectroscopy to characterize sodium-ion batteries at various stages of cycle life

The use of 3-terminal measurements to separate different impedance components of a prototype sodium-ion battery is outlined. By addition of a sodium metal reference electrode, the two electrode-electrolyte interfaces can be measured separately and changes monitored at various stages of battery cycle life. The impedance of a freshly-constructed cell is dominated by the blocking capacitance of the anode-electrolyte interface and the charge-transfer resistance at the cathode-electrolyte interface. The variation of these components during charge and discharge cycling provide a method to monitor evolution of cell performance

Management and Outcome of Prosthetic Patch Infection after Carotid Endarterectomy: A Single-centre Series and Systematic Review of the Literature

AbstractObjectivesOutcomes following prosthetic patch infection after carotid endarterectomy (CEA).MethodsRetrospective audit and systematic review.Results22 patients were treated between January 1992 and April 2012, 5 having undergone their original CEA at another institution. The commonest infecting organism was Staphylococcus. One patient was treated by antibiotic irrigation, one was stented, while 20 underwent debridement and patch excision plus; carotid ligation (n = 3), vein patching (n = 3) or vein bypass (n = 14). There was one peri-operative stroke, but no peri-operative deaths. There were no reinfections at a median follow-up of 54 months.A systematic review identified 123 patients with prosthetic patch infection in the world literature. Thirty-six (29%) presented <2 months, 78 (63%) presented >6 months after the original CEA. Seventy-nine of/87 patients (91%) with a positive culture yielded Staphylococci or Streptococci. Seventy-four patients were treated by patch excision and autologous reconstruction. Four (5%) developed reinfection <30 days, but later reinfections have been reported. Seven of nine patients (78%) undergoing prosthetic reconstruction either died or suffered reinfection. Five patients were treated with a covered stent, none developing reinfection (median followup 12 months).ConclusionPatch infection following CEA is rare. Few have undergone stenting and long term data are awaited. For now, patch excision and autologous reconstruction remains the ‘gold standard’

A quantitative release assessment for the noncommercial movement of companion animals : risk of rabies reintroduction to the United Kingdom

In 2004, the European Union (EU) implemented a pet movement policy (referred to here as the EUPMP) under EU regulation 998/2003. The United Kingdom (UK) was granted a temporary derogation from the policy until December 2011 and instead has in place its own Pet Movement Policy (Pet Travel Scheme (PETS)). A quantitative risk assessment (QRA) was developed to estimate the risk of rabies introduction to the UK under both schemes to quantify any change in the risk of rabies introduction should the UK harmonize with the EU policy. Assuming 100 % compliance with the regulations, moving to the EUPMP was predicted to increase the annual risk of rabies introduction to the UK by approximately 60-fold, from 7.79 × 10(-5) (5.90 × 10(-5) , 1.06 × 10(-4) ) under the current scheme to 4.79 × 10(-3) (4.05 × 10(-3) , 5.65 × 10(-3) ) under the EUPMP. This corresponds to a decrease from 13,272 (9,408, 16,940) to 211 (177, 247) years between rabies introductions. The risks associated with both the schemes were predicted to increase when less than 100 % compliance was assumed, with the current scheme of PETS and quarantine being shown to be particularly sensitive to noncompliance. The results of this risk assessment, along with other evidence, formed a scientific evidence base to inform policy decision with respect to companion animal movement

Livestock production in central Mali: Effects of climatic variables on the period of birth and on litter size in traditionally managed goats and sheep

Discusses the effets of maximum and minimum temperature, maximum and minimum relative humidity, rainfall and daylength on the timing of parturition and on litter size in traditionally managed goats and sheep in central Mali

Repeatability, reproducibility and sequential use of condition scoring of Bos indicus cattle

Assesses the repeatability and reproducibility of a condition scoring system. Presents results from an analysis of sequential condition scoring of cattle over a dry season to show differences between treatments and trends over time