Stifle injuries in cattle

Lameness of the hindlimbs originating from the stifle joint may be difficult to diagnose and treat. This article describes anatomic considerations and the diagnostic procedures necessary to accurately evaluate the bovine stifle joint. The emphasis is toward obtaining a diagnosis based on physical examination and simple diagnostic procedures in field situation. Specific treatments and/or management alternatives for cattle with various ligament injuries (cranial cruciate rupture, collateral ligament injuries), or with luxated patella, upward fixation of the patella, septic arthritis, and subchondral bone cysts are described. Current knowledge of the prognosis after various treatments is presented.     

A protocol for distributed simulation on a microcomputer network

The computer industry has evolved very rapidly from single-user computers to computer networks where users are able to share both local and remote files. Networks of microcomputers facilitate the integration of all information processing for distributed applications such as database processing and electronic mail. One management application of promising potential for computer networks is distributed simulation. Simulation analysis can be useful to essentially all problem-solving and decision-making on the job.

To implement a particular distributed application, computer communication between processors must be considered. Unlike expensive multiprocessor computers, networks of less-expensive microcomputers do not have pre-established communication paths between processors. This paper addresses how this obstacle may be overcome by using communication protocols based on the Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) reference model. Protocol services needed to support a distributed simulation environment will be identified, and their implementation through a prototype will then be investigated and evaluated.     

Population pharmacokinetics of nitroglycerin and of its two metabolites after a single 24-hour application of a nitroglycerin transdermal matrix delivery system

OBJECTIVES: To determine whether oxytocin exists in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of dogs and whether the amount of oxytocin in the CSF of dogs with neck or back pain caused by spinal cord compression is significantly different than that in the CSF of clinically normal dogs. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective controlled study. ANIMAL POPULATION: A total of 15 purpose-bred beagles and 17 client-owned dogs. METHODS: CSF was collected by needle puncture of the cerebellar medullary cistern after induction of general anesthesia. Oxytocin levels within the samples were determined through radioimmunoassay. RESULTS: Dogs with spinal cord compression had significantly more oxytocin in their CSF than the clinically normal dogs (13.76 +/- 2.0 pg/mL and 3.61 +/- 0.63 pg/mL, respectively; P < .0001). Dogs with chronic signs (>7 days) had significantly more oxytocin in their CSF than dogs with acute signs (<7 days) (21.60 +/- 0.86 pg/mL and 6.80 +/- 0.81 pg/mL, respectively; P < .0001). Both acutely and chronically affected dogs had significantly more oxytocin in their CSF than the controls (P < .005 and P < .0001 respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Dogs with neck and back pain caused by spinal cord compression have significantly more oxytocin in their CSF than clinically normal dogs. Dogs with chronic clinical signs have significantly more oxytocin in their CSF than dogs with acute clinical signs. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: In humans, intrathecal injection of oxytocin is effective in treating low back pain for up to 5 hours. Intrathecal oxytocin may be a logical choice for perioperative analgesia in dogs undergoing myelography because the intrathecal space is accessed for injection of contrast agent.     

A numerical flow simulation based on the rate form of the equation of state

A finite-difference numerical method of solution for the unsteady, incompressible Navier-Stokes equations using primitive variables is presented. The rate form of the equation of state is used for the calculation of pressure. This form of the equation of state is well-suited for use with the unsteady form of the conservation equations (mass, momentum and energy). An implicit algorithm is used for the time integration for greater numerical stability. This method is used to solve a known benchmark problem in steady-state natural convection as a test of steady-state accuracy. The results of the simulation are compared to the benchmark.     

The Aleutian Enterprise sinking and posttraumatic stress disorder: Misdiagnosis in clinical and forensic settings.

This study examines the vulnerability of clinicians to overdiagnose posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) when survivors of a traumatic event are involved in litigation. 19 of 22 survivors of a marine disaster were seen by mental health professionals while pursuing personal injury claims and received a PTSD diagnosis that was maintained for more than 6 mo. This yielded an incidence rate for chronic PTSD of no less than 86%, a rate in excess of any previously reported in the literature for any type of trauma. The extraordinary incidence rate appeared to be explained, in part, by crew members' reports of attorney advice and symptom sharing. Clinicians are cautioned not to rely on client's self-reports and to consider postincident factors that may influence these reports when clients are involved in litigation. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Metal-matrix composites in the automotive industry: Opportunities and challenges

Metal-matrix composites offer considerable promise to help automotive engineers meet the challenges of current and future demands for recyclable, fuel-efficient, safe, and low-emission vehicles. These materials can be engineered to match the design requirements of automotive power-train or chassis components. Technological and infrastructural barriers tend to limit the implementation of these materials, but it is believed these barriers can be overcome and that metal-matrix composites can be applied in high-volume vehicle production. Reducing these barriers will require much effort by engineers and scientists, managers and planners at automotive manufacturers, and their suppliers. The result will be the gradual introduction of metal-matrix composites in high-volume vehicle production to satisfy customer desires while meeting regulatory requirements and competitive pressures.     

Mass-Balance Model of Pulmonary Oxygen Transport

A dynamic lumped-parameter model for pulmonary gas transport has been developed to characterize the lung and predict the effect of various parameter changes. The gas side of the lung is modeled as a series and parallel arrangement of five perfectly mixed, variable-volume compartments that correspond roughly to airway and alveolar regions. The blood side of the lung is modeled as a series of perfectly mixed, constant-volume compartments that represent the pulmonary capillary bed. From nonsteady mass balances, equations are derived which yield the time course of concentration for each compartment. Model simulations indicate that the oxygen-hemoglobin reaction does not reach equilibrium in the pulmonary capillaries, an assumption commonly made in analyses of pulmonary oxygen transport. Simulations also show the extent to which breathing amplitude and rate can affect the oxygen level in the blood leaving the lung. A comparison of simulations for a normal state and chronic obstructive lung disease (COLD) with identical input conditions demonstrates that the oxygen level in the blood leaving the lung is much lower in COLD. Also, the simulations are compared with experimental findings.     

Utilising semantic technologies for intelligent indexing and retrieval of digital images

The proliferation of digital media has led to a huge interest in classifying and indexing media objects for generic search and usage. In particular, we are witnessing a colossal growth in digital image repositories that are difficult to navigate using free-text search mechanisms, which often return inaccurate matches as they in principle rely on statistical analysis of query keyword recurrence in the image annotation or surrounding text. In this paper we present a semantically-enabled image annotation and retrieval engine that is designed to satisfy the requirements of the commercial image collections market in terms of both accuracy and efficiency of the retrieval process. Our search engine relies on methodically structured ontologies for image annotation, thus allowing for more intelligent reasoning about the image content and subsequently obtaining a more accurate set of results and a richer set of alternatives matchmaking the original query. We also show how our well-analysed and designed domain ontology contributes to the implicit expansion of user queries as well as the exploitation of lexical databases for explicit semantic-based query expansion.     

Thermogenic Effect from Nutritionally Enriched Coffee Consumption

Background  

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of nutritionally enriched JavaFit™ (JF) coffee (450 mg of caffeine, 1200 mg of garcinia cambogia, 360 mg of citrus aurantium extract, and 225 mcg of chromium polynicotinate) on resting oxygen uptake (VO₂), respiratory exchange ratio (RER), heart rate (HR), and blood pressure (BP) in healthy and physically active individuals.