Comparison of estimates of feed energy obtained from ostriches with estimates obtained from pigs, poultry and ruminants

(South African J of Animal Science: 2000, 30, Supplement 1: 13 -14

Factors affecting pregnancy outcome in a gamete intrafallopian transfer (GIFT) programme

Objective. To identify the factors that most significantly affected pregnancy rates in a gamete intrafallopian transfer (GIFT) programme.Methods. A total of 863 GIFT cycles were analysed retrospectively. The variables found to be associated significantly with pregnancy were then used to obtain multivariate analysis using logistical regression.Results. Overall and ongoing pregnancy rates were significantly better in patients ≤ 38 years than in patients > 38 years (37.3% and 28.4% v. 23.7% and 11.0% respectively), and age was positively associated with success after GIFT (odds ratio (OR) 1.87, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.22- 2.85). Metaphase I (MI) oocytes were negatively associated with pregnancy (OR 1.54, 95% CI: 0.28 - 1.04). The highest pregnancy rates occurred when 3 metaphase II (MII) oocytes were transferred (39.8%, OR 7.51, 95% CI: 1.74 - 32.42). With regard to sperm morphology, overall pregnancy rates of 25.5% (≤ 4% normal forms) and 37.2% (> 4% normal forms) were obtained. Morphology of > 4% normal forms was positively associated with pregnancy (OR 1.58, 95% CI: 1.04 - 2.42).Conclusion. The results of this study suggest that the most important factors influencing pregnancy rates in a GIFT programme are the woman's age and those factors pertaining to the characteristics of the gametes. Considering the emotional and financial costs it is important to relate this information to all prospective participants in a GIFT programme

Boekbespreking

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Epidemiological reference ranges for low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and apolipoprotein B for identification of increased risk of ischaemic heart disease

Although there is widespread acceptance that total cholesterol (TC) value reference ranges should be based on epidemiological rather than statistical considerations, the epidemiological action limits for Iow-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) are still incomplete and only statistical reference ranges for apolipoprotein B (Apo-B) levels are available. The combined use of epidemiological reference ranges for TC and incomplete or statistical reference ranges for LDL-C and Apo-B is illogical, since these parameters may fall into discordant risk categories that will hamper and complicate the management of hypercholesterolaemia. Based on a study of Iipograms obtained from ± 3 000 inhabitants of two industrialised Transvaal towns, the agerelated epidemiological reference ranges for LDL-C and ApoB were established. A comparison with published observational studies of other populations, in which comparable lipid, lipoprotein and apolipoprotein methodologies were used, reflected the severity of these lipid-related abnormalities in white South Africans, especially after the age of 30 years. In addition, the serum TC values found in this survey were not significantly different from those obtained 10 years ago

A Partial-Closure Canonicity Test to Increase the Efficiency of CbO-Type Algorithms

Computing formal concepts is a fundamental part of Formal Concept Analysis and the design of increasingly efficient algorithms to carry out this task is a continuing strand of FCA research. Most approaches suffer from the repeated computation of the same formal concepts and, initially, algorithms concentrated on efficient searches through already computed results to detect these repeats, until the so-called canonicity test was introduced. The canonicity test meant that it was sufficient to examine the attributes of a computed concept to determine its newness: searching through previously computed concepts was no longer necessary. The employment of this test in Close-by-One type algorithms has proved to be highly effective. The typical CbO approach is to compute a concept and then test its canonicity. This paper describes a more efficient approach, whereby a concept need only be partially computed in order to carry out the test. Only if it passes the test does the computation of the concept need to be completed. This paper presents this ‘partial-closure’ canonicity test in the In-Close algorithm and compares it to a traditional CbO algorithm to demonstrate the increase in efficiency

The MeerKAT Galaxy Cluster Legacy Survey: I. Survey overview and highlights

Please abstract in the article.The South African Radio Astronomy Observatory (SARAO), the National Research Foundation (NRF), the National Radio Astronomy Observatory, US National Science Foundation, the South African Research Chairs Initiative of the DSI/NRF, the SARAO HCD programme, the South African Research Chairs Initiative of the Department of Science and Innovation.http://www.aanda.orghj2022Physic

How do the features of experiments influence the experience of first year physics students?

Please help us populate SUNScholar with the post print version of this article. It can be e-mailed to: [email protected] (Mil.