An outbreak of malignant catarrhal fever in young rusa deer (Cervus timorensis)

On the basis of clinical signs and histological findings eight 9-month-old male rusa deer (Cervus timorensis) were diagnosed with sheep associated-malignant catarrhal fever. Following a variable course involving rectal temperatures around 40.5 degrees C, depression, inappetence, diarrhoea, corneal opacity and hypopyon all animals died or were euthanased over a 5-week period. Severe multifocal vasculitis, mainly periglomerular and in the arcuate vessels were consistent histological findings which in the past have been adequate to confirm clinical diagnosis of sheep associated-malignant catarrhal fever. A nested polymerase chain reaction test has been used to detect a sheep associated-malignant catarrhal fever PRC product, 238 base-pairs in size, in DNA extracted from lymphocyte preparations. The result supported the diagnosis of sheep associated-malignant catarrhal fever in these deer.     

Acceptability of genetically modified cheese presented as real product alternative

European consumers, in general, have negative attitudes towards the use of gene technology in food production. The objective of this study was to examine whether taste and health benefits influence the acceptability of genetically modified (gm) products when they are presented as real product alternatives. Consumers in Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden (n=738) assessed two cheeses: one was labelled as genetically modified (preferred in an earlier product test) and the other as conventional (neutral in an earlier product test). A smaller control group received two cheeses with blind codes. Labelling decreased consumers' intentions to buy the originally preferred gm-labelled cheese, but still the intentions were at the same level with the conventionally labelled option. Participants chose two gm cheeses out of five possible when given the option to take cheese home after tasting. Intentions to buy gm cheese could best be explained by respondents' attitudes towards gene technology and perceived taste benefits. General health interest was also a reinforcer of intentions for gm cheese with reduced fat content.     

Highly integrated direct conversion receiver for GSM/GPRS/EDGE with on-chip 84-dB dynamic range continuous-time /spl Sigma//spl Delta/ ADC

This paper describes a highly digitized direct conversion receiver of a single-chip quadruple-band RF transceiver that meets GSM/GPRS and EDGE requirements. The chip uses an advanced 0.25-/spl mu/m BiCMOS technology. The I and Q on-chip fifth-order single-bit continuous-time sigma-delta (/spl Sigma//spl Delta/) ADC has 84-dB dynamic range over a total bandwidth of /spl plusmn/135 kHz for an active area of 0.4 mm/sup 2/. Hence, most of the channel filtering is realized in a CMOS IC where digital processing is achieved at a lower cost. The systematic analysis of dc offset at each stage of the design enables to perform the dc offset cancellation loop in the digital domain as well. The receiver operates at 2.7 V with a current consumption of 75 mA. A first-order substrate coupling analysis enables to optimize the floor plan strategy. As a result, the receiver has an area of 1.8 mm/sup 2/.     

Low-voltage 32 Msample/s parallel pipelined switched-current ADC

A parallel switched-current A/D converter is presented. Eight time-interleaved switched-current ADCs operating at 4 Msample/s are used to increase the sampling rate. With channel compensation, the measured SFDR is >50 dB at 32 Msample/s with f_m=1.13 MHz. The performance of this experimental design is limited by noise and a fixed-pattern timing error that is not removed by the compensation algorithm     

A Study of Surface Deformation during Wire‐Rod Rolling of High Speed Steels using Experimental and Computational Techniques

The evolution of surface defects during shape rolling of high‐speed steel billets is studied using longitudinal surface defects prepared by machining and welding. The reduction of the defects during rolling in a production mill is compared to the total area reduction of the billets. Samples are collected after pass 4, 6, 8, 14, 19 and the final pass, 28, representing the finished 5.5mm wire. By inspecting the cross sections, the rotation of the billets from pass to pass is evaluated. Results from FE simulations on solid billets are compared to the experimental results. Generally, simulations predict less reduction than observed experimentally. In most cases cracks reduce most effectively followed by carbon steel welds and stainless steel welds.     

Gd-DPTA enhanced MRI in Bell's palsy and herpes zoster oticus: an overview and implications for future studies

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a new and important tool for use in diagnosing and investigating diseases affecting the facial nerve. In recent gadolinium-DTPA enhanced MRI (Gd-MRI) studies it has unequivocally been demonstrated that ipsilateral facial nerve contrast enhancement, predominantly in the meatal portion, is present in both Bell's palsy and herpes zoster oticus. In this overview, the results of MRI studies performed on patients with acute peripheral facial palsy, especially Bell's palsy and herpes zoster oticus, are discussed. The Gd-MRI pattern in Bell's palsy is very similar to that seen in herpes zoster oticus, and the findings reported so far support the theory that an inflammation may be the cause of the nerve injury in both cases. So far, however, Gd-MRI has not been helpful in evaluating the severity and/or prognosis of the facial palsy. Further studies employing improved techniques, including three-dimensional fast (or turbo) spin echo (3DFSE) MRI with heavily T2-weighted sections and high resolution three-dimensional Fourier transform (3DFT) MRI, need to be conducted in order to determine whether it is possible to follow the course of the disease and whether MRI and/or Gd-MRI are useful prognostic tools in the early stages of palsy.     

Effect of Carbon Content on Variant Pairing in Bainitic Low Alloy Steel

Metallurgical and Materials Transactions A - Variant pairing in bainite was evaluated in four different commercial low alloy steels with medium to high carbon content. The steels investigated were...