Hasil untuk "By period"

Wiktor Szydło

Aim: The paper analyses the period of dynamically rising inflation in Poland in 1989. The author focused on the assessment of the changing socio-economic situation in the turbulent political environment after the conclusion of the Round Table negotiations in April 1989 and, in particular, on the regulatory and institutional causes of hyperinflation in October 1989. Methodology: Historical, institutional and evolutionary methods were applied. Results: It is argued that hyperinflation was intentionally created by both the communist government of Rakowski and the next (contract) government of Mazowiecki in 1989. Hyperinflation constituted the first phase of shock therapy, leading to the irreversible and painful socio-economic transformation according to the guidelines of neoliberal orthodoxy. Implications and recommendations: Both the communist leaders and the Solidarity leadership were heavily influenced by free market ideology already in 1989. Hence, it was rather difficult to implement adequate corrections of the neoliberal principles in Poland. Similar studies of other post-communist countries are recommended. Originality/value: The research focused on the origins of hyperinflation in 1989, while most studies dealt with the shock therapy implemented in January 1990.

Emily A. Prentice, Abby Moler, Amanda Sweeney et al.

Background: The Links to Care Community Grants Project was developed to improve breast cancer outcomes by increasing access to appropriate follow-up care, improving processes for care transitions, and enhancing care coordination between community health centers (CHCs) and hospital partners. Methods: This 24-month multi-pronged project encompasses quality improvement (QI) coaching, technical assistance support, and evaluation. QI coaching follows the Model for Improvement to test and adapt to changes. Local and centralized technical assistance supports the individual needs of the health system. A data collection tool was developed to evaluate implemented interventions and assess changes in breast cancer screening and diagnostic testing completion rates, time between care transitions, and process improvements made throughout the project period. Results: Seven CHCs comprised of 27 clinic sites with 26 255 patients eligible for breast cancer screening agreed to participate. Baseline findings demonstrate an average screening rate of 51.1%. Conclusion: The Links to Care Community Grants Project will evaluate the effectiveness of implemented patient, provider, and/or system-level interventions and care coordination process improvements on reducing delays along the breast cancer care continuum.

Haiping Huang, Xinyi Su, Yuqian Zhang et al.

Abstract Background Stroke survivors often experience residual motor dysfunction in their limbs. Additional physical rehabilitation therapies may further improve patients’ functional outcomes. By combining direct interventions targeting the cerebral cortex or subcortical structures with indirect approaches that promote central nervous system reorganization, a closed-loop regulatory system can be established. This integrated approach may generate synergistic effects, thereby enhancing functional recovery outcomes. Methods This 3-week single-center randomized, single-masked study involved participants randomly assigned to either the electroacupuncture (EA) combined with robot-assisted gait training (RAGT) group (n = 22) or the RAGT alone group (n = 23). EA treatment was administered once daily for 30 min, 5 days per week, while RAGT treatment received the same duration of daily sessions. Baseline and endpoint assessments included the Fugl-Meyer lower extremity (FMA-LE) motor function assessment, functional ambulation category (FAC) scale, Berg Balance Scale (BBS) and electroencephalogram. Results After a 3-week intervention period, participants in both groups showed significant improvements in FMA-LE, FAC, and BBS scores compared to baseline levels. The EA combined RAGT group exhibited a reduction in the brain symmetry index within the alpha frequency band, along with enhanced coherence between the CZ electrode and the FCZ, FC2, and C1 electrodes. Furthermore, in the theta frequency band, a shortened average path length and improved global efficiency were observed. Conclusion Both interventions can safely and effectively improve lower limb motor function, and EA combined with RAGT combination therapy may have an advantage in promoting neuroplasticity, which may involve reversing pathological frequency spectrum imbalance after stroke, enhancing functional connections between sensorimotor-related brain regions, and optimizing the topological properties of brain functional networks. Trial registration Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (Registration No.: ChiCTR2500102382)

Shama Sadiq, Nadeem Azhar, N. Myrzakulov et al.

This research explores the rapid expansion period of the early universe by applying the Chaplygin gas model, an alternative cosmological framework, to analyze the dynamics of inflationary processes. This study assesses the compatibility of three widely studied scalar field potentials with the latest observational constraints derived from the Planck datasets. Our analysis includes inflationary parameters such as slow-roll parameters, scalar power spectrum PR, scalar spectral index ns, dissipative ratio R, tensor-to-scalar ratio r and running of the scalar spectral index dnsdln⁡k, within the theoretical frameworks of canonical scalar field dynamics and the Chaplygin gas cosmological model. These parameters help to paint a comprehensive picture of the inflationary epoch and its impact on the observable Universe. We also address the generalized ratio of the swampland de-Sitter conjecture through the expression of T′VV′T for three different potentials. We analyze inflation driven by a scalar field ϕ with decay rate Γ(ϕ,T)=CϕTaϕa−1, where Cϕ is a dimensionless coupling and a controls dissipation strength. Working in the strong dissipative regime (R≫1), we systematically investigate the background evolution and perturbation spectrum, deriving inflationary observables.

Franko Pandžić, Ivan Sudić, Tomislav Capuder et al.

Abstract The cost for covering active power losses makes a significant item in transmission system operators (TSO) annual budgets, and still it received limited attention in the existing literature. The focus of accurate power loss forecasting and procurement is of high increase during the past 2 years due to spikes in electricity prices, making the cost of covering the active power losses a dominant factor of TSO operational costs. This paper presents practical aspects of the highly accurate models for transmission loss forecast in the day ahead time frame for the Croatian transmission system. The contributions are two‐fold: 1) Practical insights into usable TSO data are provided, filling a critical research gap and a foundational literature review is established on transmission loss forecasting. 2) A novel method utilizing only electricity transit data as input which outperforms existing practices is presented. For this, several algorithms such as gradient boosted decision tree model (XGB), support vector regressors, multiple linear regression and fully connected feedforward artificial neural networks are developed, and implemented and validated on data obtained from the Croatian TSO. The results show that the XGB model outperforms current TSO model by 32% for 4 months of comparison and TSCNET's commercial solution by 25% during a year‐long testing period. The developed XGB model is also implemented as a software tool and put into everyday operation with the Croatian TSO.

Forough Ataollahi, John W. Piltz, Geoff R. Casburn et al.

This study compared the effect of four levels of K Humate S100R (potassium humate) supplementation on the quality, shelf-life, and nutritional properties of beef. Angus steers (n = 40) were individually housed and fed either 0, 35, 70, or 140 g K Humate S100R/animal/day for 100 days, following a 30 day adjustment period. The steers were slaughtered at the completion of the feeding study. The left m. longissimus lumborum (LL) was collected at 24 h post-mortem and aged for either 2 or 6 weeks before analysis. K Humate S100R supplementation did not affect beef drip loss, cooking loss, shear force, sarcomere length, ultimate pH, intramuscular fat content, or total volatile basic nitrogen concentrations (P > 0.05). Steers supplemented with 70 g/day K Humate S100R produced beef with higher a* values on Days 1 and 3 of retail display (P < 0.05). Beef mineral composition was unchanged by K Humate S100R supplementation (P > 0.05), but there were minor changes to the fatty acid profile. Specifically, the ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 (P < 0.05) and C20:2n-6 concentrations (P < 0.05) increased with supplementation level. Together, these results demonstrate no detrimental effects on beef quality and shelf-life as a result of K Humate S100R supplementation.

Norzaidi Mohd Daud, Raja Nur Hannah Fatimah Raja Mohd Hashimb, Anis Irdina Yang Asri et al.

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between information commerce usage and purchase decisions made by university students during the COVID-19 pandemic. Design/Methodology/Approach – Survey questionnaires were distributed to students at public and private universities through a variety of online platforms. Data was collected from 151 respondents within a two-week period and analyzed using IBM Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) Version 26 for descriptive (i.e., mean, standard deviation, reliability test, model fit test) and inferential (i.e., correlation and regression for hypotheses testing) purposes. Findings and implications – The findings indicate that, while students engage in information commerce for its convenience, their usage of it is unrelated to the degree of trust. Nonetheless, price comparison has a sizable influence on how information commerce is used. Additionally, information commerce usage has an effect on purchase intention, while purchase intention is found to be a significant predictor of purchase decisions. Limitation – This study examined factors that influence the usage of information commerce among students in Malaysian universities, as well as their purchase intention, on a rather small sample size. Originality – This may be the first study to define information commerce usage, with its results confirming students’ purchase behavior and demonstrating that online shopping simplifies their lives. Surprisingly, the findings suggest that the degree of trust does not influence the usage of information commerce. This contradicts previous studies conducted by Anas et al. (2021) and Viktoria et al. (2021).

Reason L. Machete, Kebonyethata Dintwe

In this paper, the patterns of the occurrences of fire incidents over sub-Saharan Africa are studied on the basis of satellite data. Patterns for the whole sub-Saharan Africa are contrasted with those for northern sub-Saharan Africa and southern-hemisphere Africa. This paper attempts to unravel linear trends and overriding oscillations using regression and spectral techniques. It compares fire patterns for aggregated vegetation with those for specific types, which are savannahs, grasslands, shrublands, croplands, and forests, to identify key trend drivers. The underlying cyclic trends are interpreted in light of climate change and model projections. Considering sub-Saharan Africa, northern sub-Saharan Africa, and southern-hemisphere Africa, we found declining linear trends of wildfires with overriding cyclic patterns that have a period of ∼5 years, seemingly largely driven by savannahs, grasslands, and croplands.

Vadim A. Maximov

Introduction. A. N. Radishchev in his writings lays the foundations of a humanistic study of Russian society and an anthropological understanding of economic orders. Most of the works were not published during his lifetime; the scientific publication of works and the study of views, mainly of a social nature, was undertaken in the 1940s–1950s. The comments emphasized the radical worldview of the thinker, manifested in the literary fi eld. In reality, the enlightener’s work is more multifaceted and covers philosophy, law, history, and economics. Three life periods are distinguished, diff erent in subject matter, but consonant with moral ideas. Theoretical analysis. The fi rst period of writing is characterized by works of social philosophy, fi ction and offi cial notes of a legal and economic nature, in which Radishchev’s ambivalent attitude to power, awmaking and moral values is revealed. The probable coincidence of the enlightener’s views with his European contemporaries (Locke, Diderot, A. Smith, Blackstone) and Russian philosophers (Tatishchev, Storkh) is revealed. Parallels with the works of I. Kant and the categorical apparatus of modern economic anthropology are determined. Empirical analysis. The views of Radishchev and Catherine II are interpreted in a comparative way. It is shown that there are no direct invectives in the “Journey from St. Petersburg to Moscow” against the Empress. The works on legislation in the third period of creativity are an adjusted continuation of the works of the fi rst period. The most complete economic and anthropological theme is presented in the essay “On Chinese Bargaining”, which implicitly rejects the principles of the government’s economic policy, which does not take into account the spatial identity of Russia, its civilizational mission and the potential of free enterprise. Results. The writings of A. N. Radishchev anticipate the fi eld of research of modern economic anthropology: the importance of refl ection in human behavior, its noumenal and phenomenal representation, historical construction of ways of action and thought, performative thinking, hierarchy and fragmentation of power, structuration of economic (market) relations are taken into consideration. The key concepts are collective faith, feelings and habits, inclinations and individual diff erences, good-action, objective and subjective interests, reasonableness and rationality in historical refraction. The problems of conciliarity, will, moral imperatives, acquisition of systematic knowledge, necessity of laws, human rights are highlighted as the most important from the position of the enlightener.

S.E. Räisänen, C.F.A. Lage, C. Zhou et al.

ABSTRACT: The objective of this experiment was to investigate the effect of dietary levels of digestible histidine (dHis) and MP on lactational performance and plasma and muscle concentrations of free AA in dairy cows. A randomized block design experiment was conducted with 48 Holstein cows, including 20 primiparous, averaging (±SD) 103 ± 22 d in milk and 45 ± 9 kg/d milk yield at the beginning of the experiment. A 2-wk covariate period preceded 12 experimental wk, of which 10 wk were for data and sample collection. Experimental treatments were (1) MP-adequate (MPA) diet with 2.1% dHis of MP (MPA2.1), (2) MPA with 3.0% dHis (MPA3.0), (3) MP-deficient (MPD) diet with 2.1% dHis (MPD2.1), and (4) MPD with 3.0% dHis (MPD3.0). Actual dHis supply was estimated at 64, 97, 57, and 88 g/d, respectively. Diets supplied MP at 110% (MPA) and 96% (MPD) of NRC 2001 dairy model requirements calculated based on DMI and production data during the experiment. Dry matter intake and milk yield data were collected daily, milk samples for composition and blood samples for AA analysis were collected every other week, and muscle biopsies at the end of covariate period, and during wk 12 of the experiment. The overall DMI was not affected by dHis or MP level. Milk yield tended to be increased by 3.0% dHis compared with 2.1% dHis. Milk true protein concentration and yield were not affected by treatments, whereas milk urea nitrogen concentration was lower for MPD versus the MPA diet. Milk fat concentration was lower for MPD versus MPA. There was a MP × dHis interaction for milk fat yield and energy-corrected milk; milk fat was lower for MPD3.0 versus MPD2.1, but similar for cows fed the MPA diet regardless of dHis level whereas energy-corrected milk was greater for MPA3.0 versus MPA2.1 but tended to be lower for MPD3.0 versus MPD2.1. Plasma His concentration was greater for cows fed dHis3.0, and concentration of sum of essential AA was greater, whereas carnosine, 1-Methyl-His and 3-Methyl-His concentrations were lower for cows fed MPA versus MPD diet. Muscle concentration of His was greater for cows fed dHis3.0 treatment. The apparent efficiency of His utilization was increased at lower MP and His levels. Overall, cows fed a corn silage-based diet supplying MP at 110% of NRC (2001) requirements tended to have increased ECM yield and similar milk protein yield to cows fed a diet supplying MP at 96% of requirements. Supplying dHis at 3.0% of MP (or 86 and 96 g/d, for MPD3.0 and MPA3.0, respectively) tended to increase milk yield and increased plasma and muscle concentrations of His but had minor or no effects on other production variables in dairy cows.

Xiaojie Li, Rui Guo, Jianbing Chen et al.

The radio determination service system (RDSS), a navigation and positioning system independently developed by China, features services such as short-message communication, position reporting, and international search and rescue. The L-band pseudo-range and phase data are the primary data sources in precise orbit determination (POD) for geostationary Earth orbit (GEO) satellite in the BeiDou system, especially in the orbit manoeuvre period. These data are the only data sources in the POD for GEOs. However, when the pseudo-range and phase data is abnormal due to unforeseen reasons, such as satellite hardware failure or monitoring receiver abnormalities, the data abnormality leads to orbit determination abnormalities or even failures for GEOs, then the service performance and availability of the RDSS system are greatly degraded. Therefore, a new POD method for GEOs based on BeiDou short-message communication ranging data has gained research attention to improve the service reliability of the BeiDou navigation satellite system (BDS)-3, realising the deep integration of communication and navigation services of the BDS. This problem has not been addressed so far. Therefore, in this study, a new POD method for GEO satellites is investigated using high-precision satellite laser ranging (SLR) data and RDSS data. The SLR data are used as the benchmark to calibrate the time delay value of RDSS equipment, and RDSS data are only used in the orbit determination process by fixing the corrected RDSS time delay value, and the satellite orbit parameters and dynamic parameters are solved. Experimental analysis is conducted using the measured SLR and RDSS data of the BDS, and the orbit accuracy in this paper is evaluated by the precise ephemeris of the Multi-GNSS pilot project (MGEX) and SLR data. The results show that the orbit accuracy in the orbital arc and the 2-h orbital prediction arc for GEOs are 6.01 m and 6.99 m, respectively, compared with the ephemeris of MGEX, and the short-arc orbit accuracy after 4 h of manoeuvring is 11.11 m. The orbit accuracy in the radial component by SLR data is 0.54 m. The required orbit accuracy for GEO satellites in the RDSS service of the BDS-3 is 15 m. The orbit accuracy achieved in this paper is superior to that of this technical index. This method expands the application field of the RDSS data and greatly enriches the POD method for GEOs. It can be adopted as a backup technology for the POD method for GEOs based on RNSS data, significantly improving the service reliability of the BeiDou RDSS service.

Peter Kidd, Paul Rose

Behaviour signals the internal states that relate to an individual’s welfare and its development is influenced by the early social environment that an animal experiences. Husbandry practices can alter this early social environment, for example different rearing conditions (e.g., foster rearing by a surrogate parent of another species). Widespread implementation of altered rearing can lack empirical support and non-parent-reared animals may experience poorer welfare resulting from maternal deprivation. An opportunity presented itself to measure the effect of foster-rearing on Chilean flamingo behaviour and social preferences at WWT Slimbridge Wetland Centre and compare findings to parent-reared conspecifics in the same time period. Data were collected from April to July 2019 at three timepoints during each observation day. Binomial generalized linear mixed models were used to assess the relationship between focal chicks’ rearing background with behaviour, zone usage, and flock position whilst accounting for climatic factors and visitor numbers. The development of social preferences was assessed using social network analysis. Our results showed limited impacts on flamingo behavioural development due to foster rearing. Foster-reared chicks spent less time feeding, were more likely to occupy the nesting area of the enclosure, and had fewer significant preferred associations than parent-reared chicks, but preferred social bonds were as equally strong and durable for both foster-reared and parent-reared chicks. Our results have important welfare implications for the use of foster-rearing in captive environments; altered early social rearing environments through cross-fostering in Chilean flamingos is associated with limited differences in behavioural and social development.

Mirna de Abreu e Silva, Cláudia Di Lorenzo Oliveira, Rafael Gonçalves Teixeira Neto et al.

Abstract Background Tuberculosis (TB) remains a major public health problem in many developing countries. Exploratory spatial analysis is a powerful instrument in spatial health research by virtue of its capacity to map disease distribution and associated risk factors at the population level. The aim of the present study was to describe the epidemiologic characteristics and spatial distribution of new cases of TB reported during the period 2002–2012 in Divinopolis, a midsized city located in the state of Minas Gerais, southeastern Brazil. Methods Sociodemographic and clinical data relating to the study cases were retrieved from the national Brazilian database and geocoded according to residential address. Choropleth and kernel density maps were constructed and a spatial-temporal analysis was performed. Tracts defined by the 2010 national census were classified as sectors with higher or lower densities of new TB cases based on the kernel density map. Multivariate logistic analysis was used to compare the two types of sectors according to income, level of literacy and population density. Results A total of 326 new cases of TB were reported during the study period. Residential addresses relating to 309 (94.8 %) of these were available in the SINAN database and the locations were geocoded and mapped. The average incidence of TB during the study period was 14.5/100,000 inhabitants. Pulmonary TB was the most predominant form (73.6 %) and 74.5 % of patients had been cured. The percentage of cases was highest in males (67.8 %) and individuals aged 25–44 years (41.1 %), and lowest in children aged less than 15 years (4.6 %). The disease was spatially distributed throughout the urban district. The incidence rate among urban census tracts ranged from 0.06 to 1.1 %, and the disease occurred predominantly in the downtown area (99.3 %). Higher population density was associated significantly with increased odds of living in a sector with a “higher density of cases”, even after adjusting for income and education (odds ratio = 13.7). Conclusions The highest density of cases was strongly associated with higher population density but not with lower income or level of literacy.

Chun-Huei Tsau, Zhang-Yan Hwang, Swe-Kai Chen

The (Al, Cr, Ti)FeCoNi alloy thin films were deposited by PVD and using the equimolar targets with same compositions from the concept of high-entropy alloys. The thin films became metal oxide films after annealing at vacuum furnace for a period; and the resistivity of these thin films decreased sharply. After optimum annealing treatment, the lowest resistivity of the FeCoNiOx, CrFeCoNiOx, AlFeCoNiOx, and TiFeCoNiOx films was 22, 42, 18, and 35 μΩ-cm, respectively. This value is close to that of most of the metallic alloys. This phenomenon was caused by delaminating of the alloy oxide thin films because the oxidation was from the surfaces of the thin films. The low resistivity of these oxide films was contributed to the nonfully oxidized elements in the bottom layers and also vanishing of the defects during annealing.

Ahmed Mahiou

The juridical change in Algeria fifty years after Independence is undeniably impressive, since it follows three successive sequences. In a first time (1960-1973), it seems that we devote the continuity in renewing the law of the colonial period. In the Second time, during the 1970s until the mid-1980s, opens a second phase, which takes an opposite position in announcing the apparently complete break with the colonial juridical heritage and the advent of a specific socialist law. Finally, since the late 1980s, it was followed by a third stage which still exists and operates, in many ways. A return to the first phase allows us to say that the cycle of Algerian law has its complete revolution in the sense that it returned to the starting point. Naturally, it is not a return to colonial law, but rather unachieved attempt and sometimes contradictory juridical system liberalization and integration into the global effort. It is these times that should be presented, even if the estate between the three phases is not so clear, and there was overlap or tangles because the reality is more nuanced and complex when revealing the interaction between the periods and unexpected paradoxes, since the period of renewal of the law was also one of significant change, and the period of rupture, that of continuity.

Hodges Steve, Berry Emma, Doherty Aiden et al.

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Active travel such as walking and cycling has potential to increase physical activity levels in sedentary individuals. Motorised car travel is a sedentary behaviour that contributes to carbon emissions. There have been recent calls for technology that will improve our ability to measure these travel behaviours, and in particular evaluate modes and volumes of active versus sedentary travel. The purpose of this pilot study is to investigate the potential efficacy of a new electronic measurement device, a wearable digital camera called SenseCam, in travel research.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Participants (n = 20) were required to wear the SenseCam device for one full day of travel. The device automatically records approximately 3,600 time-stamped, first-person point-of-view images per day, without any action required by the wearer. Participants also completed a self-report travel diary over the same period for comparison, and were interviewed afterwards to assess user burden and experience.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>There were a total of 105 confirmed journeys in this pilot. The new SenseCam device recorded more journeys than the travel diary (99 vs. 94). Although the two measures demonstrated an acceptable correlation for journey duration (r = 0.92, p < 0.001) self-reported journey duration was over-reported (mean difference 154 s per journey; 95% CI = 89 to 218 s; 95% limits of agreement = 154 ± 598 s (-444 to 752 s)). The device also provided visual data that was used for directed interviews about sources of error.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Direct observation of travel behaviour from time-stamped images shows considerable potential in the field of travel research. Journey duration derived from direct observation of travel behaviour from time-stamped images appears to suggest over-reporting of self-reported journey duration.</p>

K. Franke, A. Richter, H. Bovensmann et al.

The inventory of NO_x emission from international shipping has been evaluated by comparing NO₂ tropospheric columns derived from the satellite instruments SCIAMACHY (January 2003 to February 2008), GOME (January 1996 to June 2003), and GOME-2 (March 2007 to February 2008) to NO₂ columns calculated with the atmospheric chemistry general circulation model ECHAM5/MESSy1 (January 2000 to October 2005). For both measurements and model consistently the tropospheric excess method was used to obtain mean NO₂ columns over the shipping lane from India to Indonesia, and over two ship free regions, the Bay of Bengal and the central Indian Ocean. The long-term data set from SCIAMACHY yields the first monthly analysis of ship induced NO₂ enhancements in the Indian Ocean. Comparison of data from the three instruments and in addition OMI reveals differences between the datasets which are discussed with respect to the diurnal cycle of NO₂ and the increase in shipping traffic over the time period studied. <br><br> In general, the model simulates the differences between the regions affected by ship pollution and ship free regions reasonably well. Minor discrepancies between model results and satellite data were identified during biomass burning seasons in March to May over India and the Indochinese Peninsula and August to October over Indonesia. We conclude that the NO_x ship emission inventory used in this study is a good approximation of NO_x ship emissions in the Indian Ocean for the years 2002 to 2007. It assumes that around 6 Tg(N) yr^&minus;1 are emitted by international shipping globally, resulting in 90 Gg(N) yr^&minus;1 in the region of interest when using Automated Mutual Assistance Vessel Rescue System (AMVER) as spatial proxy. A second model run using lower ship emissions estimates of 3–4 Tg(N) yr^&minus;1 globally results in poorer agreement with the satellite data.

Thiago Scremin Boscolo Pereira, Renata Guimarães Moreira, Sergio Ricardo Batlouni

In this study, we evaluated the dynamics of ovarian maturation and the spawning processes during the reproductive cycle of Metynnis maculatus. Adult females (n = 36) were collected bimonthly between April 2010 and March 2011. The mean gonadosomatic index (GSI) was determined, ovarian and blood samples were submitted for morphometric evaluation and the steroid plasma concentration was determined by ELISA. This species demonstrated asynchronous ovarian development with multiple spawns. This study revealed that, although defined as a multiple spawning species, the ovaries of M. maculatus have a pattern of development with a predominance of vitellogenesis between April and August and have an intensification in spawning in September; in October, a drop in the mean GSI values occurred, and the highest frequencies of post-ovulatory follicles (POFs) were observed. We observed a positive correlation between the POF and the levels of 17α-hydroxyprogesterone. Metynnis maculatus has the potential to be used as a source of pituitary tissue for the preparation of crude extracts for hormonal induction; the theoretical period for use is from September to December, but specific studies to determine the feasibility of this approach must be conducted.

van Zijderveld Fred G, Bossers Alex, Erkens Jo HF et al.

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Diagnosis based on prion detection in lymph nodes of sheep and goats can improve active surveillance for scrapie and, if it were circulating, for bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE). With sizes that allow repetitive testing and a location that is easily accessible at slaughter, retropharyngeal lymph nodes (RLN) are considered suitable organs for testing. Western blotting (WB) of brain homogenates is, in principle, a technique well suited to both detect and discriminate between scrapie and BSE. In this report, WB is developed for rapid diagnosis in RLN and to study biochemical characteristics of PrP^res.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Optimal PrP^resdetection in RLN by WB was achieved by proper tissue processing, antibody choice and inclusion of a step for PrP^resconcentration. The analyses were performed on three different sheep sources. Firstly, in a study with preclinical scrapie cases, WB of RLN from infected sheep of VRQ/VRQ genotype – VRQ represents, respectively, polymorphic PrP amino acids 136, 154, and 171 – allowed a diagnosis 14 mo earlier compared to WB of brain stem. Secondly, samples collected from sheep with confirmed scrapie in the course of passive and active surveillance programmes in the period 2002–2003 yielded positive results depending on genotype: all sheep with genotypes ARH/VRQ, VRQ/VRQ, and ARQ/VRQ scored positive for PrP^res, but ARQ/ARQ and ARR/VRQ were not all positive. Thirdly, in an experimental BSE study, detection of PrP^resin all 11 ARQ/ARQ sheep, including 7 preclinical cases, was possible. In all instances, WB and IHC were almost as sensitive. Moreover, BSE infection could be discriminated from scrapie infection by faster electrophoretic migration of the PrP^resbands. Using dual antibody staining with selected monoclonal antibodies like 12B2 and L42, these differences in migration could be employed for an unequivocal differentiation between BSE and scrapie. With respect to glycosylation of PrP^res, BSE cases exhibited a greater diglycosylated fraction than scrapie cases. Furthermore, a slight time dependent increase of diglycosylated PrP^reswas noted between individual sheep, which was remarkable in that it occurred in both scrapie and BSE study.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The present data indicate that, used in conjunction with testing in brain, WB of RLN can be a sensitive tool for improving surveillance of scrapie and BSE, allowing early detection of BSE and scrapie and thereby ensuring safer sheep and goat products.</p>

Sarkar Rashmi, Bhalla Mala, Kaur Charandeep et al.

Pityriasis rubra pilaris (PRP) is an uncommon idiopathic papulosqamous disorder characterized by circumscribed follicular keratosis, palmoplantar keratoderma and frequently erythroderma. Seven patients of PRP (five females and two males) in the age range of 2 to 50 years seen over a 2-year period are presented with their clinical features, triggering factors, associations and laboratory investigations. The clinical type of PRP was adult onset classical variety in three, juvenile circumscribed variety in two and adult onset atypical variety and juvenile classical variety in one each. The triggering factors were upper respiratory tract infection with nutritional deficiencies in two and folliculitis in one. The histopathology was consistent with PRP in all. Four patients were managed with oral vitamin A while one each was put on methotrexate, etretinate and topical steroids and they showed a good response. More number of cases should be studied over a longer period to substantiate the suggested immunologic mechanism of PRP.