Morphological, biochemical and hematological characterization of endangered balkan donkey breed

The aim of the study was to establish morphometric, biochemical and hematological values for the endangered Balkan donkey breed (Serbia) and to explore the possible age dependence of the parameters tested. Inter-breed similarity of morphometric parameters was assessed by comparing the data obtained for the Balkan donkey with morphometric measurements of several previously characterized domestic donkey breeds. The study population included 74 donkeys, divided in two age groups (group A 3 years). In total, 18 morphometric, 13 hematological and 14 biochemical parameters were assessed. Significant morphometric differences (p < 0.05) in body length, head length, chest circumference and body weight were found between the two age groups. Significant differences in morphological parameters were revealed among the Balkan donkey and other donkey breeds (Catalonian, Croatian and Albanian), but results of cluster analysis demonstrated the smallest distance between the Balkan donkey and Albanian donkeys. The results of morphometric analyses showed consistency of the obtained values within the breed, and diversity as compared to other donkey breeds, and, thus, could be taken as referent for the Balkan donkey. Hematological and biochemical profiles obtained for the Balkan donkey were consistent with previous reports and within the recommended reference ranges. White blood cell, mid cell and granulocyte counts, showed significantly higher (p < 0.05) values in donkeys under 3 years of age, while the only biochemical parameter affected by age was alkaline phosphatase. The information gained through characterization of the Balkan donkey breed provides a basis for conservation and development of the breed standard

Multiphysics simulation of corona discharge induced ionic wind

Ionic wind devices or electrostatic fluid accelerators are becoming of increasing interest as tools for thermal management, in particular for semiconductor devices. In this work, we present a numerical model for predicting the performance of such devices, whose main benefit is the ability to accurately predict the amount of charge injected at the corona electrode. Our multiphysics numerical model consists of a highly nonlinear strongly coupled set of PDEs including the Navier-Stokes equations for fluid flow, Poisson's equation for electrostatic potential, charge continuity and heat transfer equations. To solve this system we employ a staggered solution algorithm that generalizes Gummel's algorithm for charge transport in semiconductors. Predictions of our simulations are validated by comparison with experimental measurements and are shown to closely match. Finally, our simulation tool is used to estimate the effectiveness of the design of an electrohydrodynamic cooling apparatus for power electronics applications.Comment: 24 pages, 17 figure

Long-term indwelling double-J stents: Bulky kidney and urinary bladder calculosis, spontaneous intraperitoneal perforation of the kidney and peritonitis as a result of 'forgotten' double-J stent

Background. The first double-J (DJ) stents were manufactured in 1978. Their J-shaped tips efficiently prevent their migration from kidneys and from the urinary bladder. Nowadays, DJ stents are in common use because they provide efficient and relatively safe urinary derivation between the kidney and the urinary bladder. We report this case with the aim to point out possible serious complications with long-term indwelling stents. Case report. The patient was admitted to hospital five years after the placement of DJ in a bad general condition, with symptoms of peritonitis. Radiological examination (plain abdominal film, computerized tomography, excretory urogram and cystography) showed bulky calculosis at each tip of the stent, affunctional right kidney, vesicoureteral reflux through the DJ stent and ureter all the way to the right kidney, as well as a large amount of turbid liquid in the abdomen. In the course of the operation, the bulky stone with the DJ stent was removed form the urinary bladder, followed by a large amount of turbid liquid extracted from the abdomen. During adhesiolysis, a small intraperitoneal perforation through which a tip of the stent prolapsed, was found on the upper pole of the kidney. After that, nefrectomy was performed. The patient was discharged 18 days after the surgery. Conclusion. There are usually no complications with shortterm DJ stent urinary drainage. However, indwelling DJ stents can cause serious complications, such as migration, incrustration and fragmentation. DJ indwelling should be as short as possible. If indwelling stenting is necessary, the DJ stent should be replaced with a new one in due time, or another kind of derivation should be performed. Careful monitoring of patients could exclude any possibility of a stent being forgotten at all

Evaluation of genotoxic effects of fumagillin by cytogenetic tests in vivo

Fumagillin is a naturally secreted antibiotic of the fungus Aspergillus fumigates. It is used in veterinary medicine against microsporidiosis of bees and fish. In this study, the genotoxicity of fumagillin (in the form of fumagillin dicyclohexylamine) was evaluated in mouse bone-marrow cells using the mitotic index (MI), the chromosome aberration (CA) assay, and the micronucleus (MN) test. Fumagillin was administered to BALB/c mice by gavage, at doses of 25, 50, 75 mg/kg body weight (bw), repeated for 7 days at 24-h intervals, with water-sugar syrup as a negative control and cyclophosphamide (40 mg/kg bw) as a positive control. All experimental doses of fumagillin induced a significant decrease (p < 0.001) in MI (3.47 +/- 0.04%, 3.17 +/- 0.01%, and 2.27 +/- 0.02%, respectively) in comparison with the negative control (6.00 +/- 0.01%). Fumagillin significantly (p < 0.001) increased the frequency of MN (4.98 +/- 0.35, 8.45 +/- 0.57, and 12.02 +/- 0.37, respectively) over negative control (1.04 +/- 0.28). Significantly increased frequencies (p < 0.01 or p < 0.001) of numerical chromosomal aberrations (aneuploidies and polyploidies) and structural chromosomal aberrations such as gaps, breaks, and centric rings were observed at the highest experimental dose of fumagillin (75 mg/kg bw) compared with the negative control. However, with respect to the induction of Robertsonian translocations, both the intermediate (50 mg/kg bw) and highest (75 mg/kg bw) experimental dose caused a significant (p < 0.001) increase (7.12 +/- 0.26 and 9.00 +/- 0.10, respectively) in comparison with the negative control (0.00 +/- 0.00). Chromosomes 4 and 19 participated in these Robertsonian translocations. Regarding total cytogenetic changes, a significant increase (p < 0.001) was observed in both the intermediate dose group (17.36 +/- 1.83) and the highest dose group (59.49 +/- 1.92) compared with the negative control (7.00 +/- 1.35). These results suggest that fumagillin has genotoxic (clastogenic) potential in mammals in vivo

Application of MCDA in Selection of Different Mining Methods and Solutions

As the mine planning is one of the most complicated steps, which depends on a lot of factors as geology, economy etc., consequently, the decision-making process is difficult, due to the existence of a lot of factors for choosing the optimal mining system. In this paper, the method and the result of Analytical Hierarchical Process is presented, shown on case study - Open pit Drmno, as one of the largest lignite mines in Serbia. The analysis included 6 criteria and two alternatives were applied as Variant 1 and Variant 2. Results shows that the suitable mining system for this case study - open pit Drmno is Variant 2

Application of MCDA in selection of different mining methods and solutions

As mine planning is one of the most complicated steps, which depends on a lot of factors as geology, economy etc., consequently, the decision-making process is difficult, due to the existence of a lot of factors for choosing the optimal mining system. In this paper, the method and the result of Analytical Hierarchical Process is presented, shown on a case study – Open pit Drmno, as one of the largest lignite mines in Serbia. The analysis included 6 criteria and two alternatives were applied as Variant 1 and Variant 2. The results show that the suitable mining system for this case study – open pit Drmno is Variant 2

Application of MCDA in selection of different mining methods and solutions

As mine planning is one of the most complicated steps, which depends on a lot of factors as geology, economy etc., consequently, the decision-making process is difficult, due to the existence of a lot of factors for choosing the optimal mining system. In this paper, the method and the result of Analytical Hierarchical Process is presented, shown on a case study – Open pit Drmno, as one of the largest lignite mines in Serbia. The analysis included 6 criteria and two alternatives were applied as Variant 1 and Variant 2. The results show that the suitable mining system for this case study – open pit Drmno is Variant 2

Stimulating effect of sugar dusting on honey bee grooming behaviour

The aim of this research was to investigate whether or not sugar dusting can stimulate the grooming behaviour in Apis mellifera L. (Hymenoptera: Apidae), an important defensive mechanism against Varroa destructor Anderson & Trueman (Acari: Varroidae), and to assess the most effective dose and frequency of treatment. The criterion for evaluation of grooming potential was the percentage of damaged mites (PDM) among the total number collected on the bottom boards of the hives. In each sugar-treated group PDM was significantly higher in comparison both with the negative control (no treatment) and with the values preceding the treatment. The results point to a stimulating effect of sugar on the grooming behaviour at all doses and frequencies tested. Treatment frequency influenced the stimulating effect of sugar: treatments at 3- and 7-day intervals with 30 and 40 g resulted in significantly higher PDMs than the least frequent treatment (every 14 days); dusting with 20 g influenced PDM only when repeated at 3-day intervals. Because treatments at 3-day intervals are time-consuming, those with 40 or 30 g repeated every 7 days may be recommended. In the positive control (hives treated with amitraz), average PDM was significantly lower than in the negative control and all sugar-treated groups. Possible causes of the stimulating effect of sugar dusting on bee grooming behaviour are discussed