Somatic Cell Counts (Leucocyte Counts) A Standard of Milk Acceptability

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The hard quiescent spectrum of the neutron-star X-ray transient EXO 1745-248 in the globular cluster Terzan 5

We present a Chandra observation of the globular cluster Terzan 5 during times when the neutron-star X-ray transient EXO 1745-248 located in this cluster was in its quiescent state. We detected the quiescent system with a (0.5-10 keV) luminosity of ~2 x 10^{33} ergs/s. This is similar to several other neutron-star transients observed in their quiescent states. However, the quiescent X-ray spectrum of EXO 1745--48 was dominated by a hard power-law component instead of the soft component that usually dominates the quiescent emission of other neutron-star X-ray transients. This soft component could not conclusively be detected in EXO 1745-248 and we conclude that it contributed at most 10% of the quiescent flux in the energy range 0.5-10 keV. EXO 1745-248 is only the second neutron-star transient whose quiescent spectrum is dominated by the hard component (SAX J1808.4-3658 is the other one). We discuss possible explanations for this unusual behavior of EXO 1745-248, its relationship to other quiescent neutron-star systems, and the impact of our results on understanding quiescent X-ray binaries. We also discuss the implications of our results on the way the low-luminosity X-ray sources in globular clusters are classified.Comment: Accepted by ApJ Main Journal, September 22, 2004. Figure 2 is a color figur

La escuela y el futuro de la Scholé: un diálogo preliminar

Este diálogo tuvo lugar por correo electrónico durante algunos meses de 2013 y fue presentado como la Conferencia de Clausura del XVI Congreso Internacional del ICPIC (International Council for Philosophical Inquiry with Children) en Ciudad del Cabo, África del Sur, en agosto de 2013. En este caso, la conversación gira principalmente en torno de las siguientes temáticas: a) la relación entre escuela, infancia y tiempo; b) la filosofía como investigación colectiva en la escuela; c) el preguntar como motor de la experiencia educativa; d) la escuela como lugar de justicia. Para pensar esas cuestiones, los autores hacen referencia a múltiples fuentes, antiguas y contemporáneas, como Heráclito, Sócrates, H. Marcuse, M. Lipman y J. Rancière. El inicio del diálogo recupera el sentido etimológico contenido en la palabra griega scholé (tiempo libre) para problematizar la experiencia temporal que se realiza en la escuela contemporánea. A partir de allí se despliega un intercambio sobre los efectos políticos de la práctica de la filosofía en la escuela, para lo que son también consideradas y enfrentadas algunas críticas a la investigación filosófica colectiva. El diálogo no busca cerrar las cuestiones que plantea y enfrenta sino más bien pensarlas de modo más complejo y amplio.This dialogue took place via email during a few months in 2013 and introduced as the Closing Conference of the XVI International Congress of ICPIC (International Council for Philosophical Inquiry with Children) in Cape Town, South Africa in August 2013. In this case, the conversation mainly revolves around the following issues: a) the relationship between school, childhood and time; b) philosophy as collective research in school; c) questioning as an engine of the educational experience; d) the school as a place of justice. In order to think around these issues, the authors refer to multiple sources, ancient and contemporary, as Heraclitus, Socrates, H. Marcuse, M. Lipman and J. Rancière. The beginning of the dialogue gets the etymological meaning contained in the greek word scholé to problematize the temporal experience that takes place in contemporary school. From there the authors develop an exchange on the political effects of the practice of philosophy at school, for which are also considered and faced some critics to collective philosophical investigation. The dialogue does not seek to close the issues raised and faces but rather think about them more complex and widely.Dossier II: Infancia y Educación

Access to In-Patient Stroke Services and Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) Rehabilitation: Current Demands and Capacity.

The objective of this project was to analyse the current access to in-patient stroke services and MDT rehabilitation in an acute stroke centre and to compare these services to the recommended “National Clinical Guidelines and Recommendations for the Care of People with Stroke and TIA” (IHF 2010). A retrospective chart review was carried out, recording activity statistics of all patients admitted with acute stroke over a three-month period. 73 patients (male=40, 54.8%) were included. Patients were discharged from the stroke service after a mean stay of 20.2 days (SD.= 19.3). 76.7% (N=56) of patients were admitted to the acute stroke unit (ASU). The mean length of time from admission to first assessment 3.4 days (SD.=2.68), with an average of 138 minutes of treatment received per day across all disciplines. This is compared to the IHF’s recommendation of patients being assessed within 24-48 hours of admission and receiving 180 minutes of treatment across all disciplines. As demands for stroke MDT services increase, it is important to recognise the benefits of increasing staff and resources to maintain and continue to improve standards of care

Economies of Scale in Integrated Pest Management in Vegetable and Fruit Production

Abstract Pest management is achieved directly using a variety of tools, including pesticides, and indirectly through a number of agronomic/cultural practices such as irrigation and fertilizer application; collectively these practices function to positively effect general plant health. Healthier plants are more resistant to or tolerant of pests. This study explores the scale differences that impact the pest management significance and suitability of certain agronomic practices. Scale differences were discussed using literature-based information, direct field observations, and anecdotal information on the relative advantages of drip and sprinkler irrigation systems; organic and conventional cultivation of crops; crop rotation versus mono-cropping systems; precision agriculture, and land tenure effects on the suitability of agronomic practices. It was concluded that, sometimes, scale differences are critical enough to warrant completely different approaches to the achievement of goals of small- and large-scale producers. Keywords: Economies of Scale, Integrated Pest Management, Agronomic Practices, Vegetable and Fruit Production, Small-Scale Farmer

Vein interposition cuffs decrease the intimal hyperplastic response of polytetrafluoroethylene bypass grafts

AbstractPurpose: The modification of the distal anastomosis of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) bypass grafts with vein interposition cuffs (VCs) has been reported to increase graft patency. However, the mechanisms that are responsible for this improved patency are unclear. Because intimal hyperplasia (IH) is a primary cause of prosthetic graft failure, we hypothesized that VCs affect the distal anastomosis by decreasing the IH response of the outflow artery. Methods: Twenty-three female domestic Yorkshire pigs (mean weight, 35 kg) underwent 42 femoral PTFE bypass grafting procedures. The PTFE bypass grafts were separated into the following three groups according to distal anastomotic configuration: end-to-side anastomoses (ES), VCs, and cuffs constructed with PTFE (PCs). Four femoral arteries from two pigs served as healthy controls. At sacrifice, the grafts were perfusion fixed, and the distal anastomoses harvested at 1 and 4 weeks. The specimens were hemisected and serially sectioned to identify the heel, toe, and mid-anastomotic regions. The sections were cut into 5-μm segments and analyzed for intima and media thickness and area, intima/media area ratio, and the distribution of IH in the vein cuff. The roles of transforming growth factor–β1 and platelet-derived growth factor–BB in IH development were assessed with immunohistochemistry. Results: IH development was significantly lower at all areas of the anastomosis, with VCs compared with ES and PCs at 4 weeks (P ≤ .001). IH decreased in VCs from 1 to 4 weeks in all areas of the anastomosis (P ≤ .001). PCs showed pronounced IH at the mid-anastomosis as compared with VCs and ES (P ≤ .001). IH was most pronounced at the toe with ES and PCs (P ≤ .001). Qualitatively, VCs altered the site of IH development, sparing the recipient artery with preferential thickening of the vein cuff and formation of a pseudointima at the vein-PTFE interface. Immunohistochemistry results showed positive staining for transforming growth factor–β1, platelet-derived growth factor–BB, and smooth muscle α-actin in the hyperplastic intima. Conclusion: PTFE bypass grafts with VCs had less IH develop than did grafts with ES and PC anastomoses. IH regression in VCs at 4 weeks suggests compensatory vessel wall remodeling mediated by the presence of the VC. Furthermore, VCs caused a redistribution of hyperplasia to the vein-PTFE interface, delaying IH-induced outflow obstruction in the recipient artery. The marked increase in IH with PCs, despite a similar geometric configuration to VCs, suggests that the biologic properties of autogenous tissue dissipate IH development. Similarly, the flow patterns in PCs and VCs should be identical, which suggests a less important role of hemodynamic forces in VC-mediated protection. (J Vasc Surg 2000;31:69-83.