OBJECTIVE: To investigate risk factors and potential infectious aetiologies of an increased mummification rate (>2%) identified over time on a 1200‐sow farrow‐to‐finish farm in Australia. METHODS: ...Association of potential non‐infectious risk factors and the mummification rate was investigated using 15 years of breeding herd data (40,940 litters) and logistic regression analysis. Samples from a limited number of mummified fetuses were taken to identify potential infectious aetiologies (porcine parvovirus, Leptospira pomona, porcine circovirus type 2, Bungowannah virus and enterovirus). RESULTS: Logistic regression analysis suggested that the mummification rate was significantly associated with sow breed and parity, year and total born and stillborn piglets per litter. The mummification rate was lower (P < 0.001) in Landrace (3.4%) and Large White (2.6%) sows than in Duroc sows (4.9%). Gilts (2.9%) had a lower (P < 0.001) mummification rate than older sows. The mummification rate increased with total born litter size and decreased with the number of stillborn piglets (P < 0.001). A clustering effect within individual sows was identified, indicating that some sows with mummified fetuses in a litter were more likely to have repeated mummifications in subsequent litters. No infectious agents were identified in the samples taken. CONCLUSION: Results from this study suggest that the increased mummification rate identified over time on this farm is likely to be a non‐infectious multifactorial problem predisposing the occurrence of mummification. Further research is required to better understand the pathophysiology of mummification and the role that different non‐infectious factors play in the occurrence of mummified fetuses.
Introduction. A constant increase in the amount of space debris already constitutes a significant threat to satellites in nearEarth orbits, starting with the trajectory of their launch vehicle ...injection. Problem Statement. Design and development of various modern methods of protection against space debris requires knowledge of the statistical characteristics of the distribution of the kinematic parameters of the simultaneous motion of a launch vehicle injecting satellite and a group of space debris objects in the area of its trajectory. Purpose. Development of a mathematical model of a launch vehicle rendezvous with a group of observable orbital debris while injecting a satellite into near-earth orbits with an altitude of up to 2100 km and an inclination from 45 to 90 degrees. Materials and Methods. The following methods are used in the research: analysis, synthesis, comparison, simulation modeling, statistical processing of experimental results, approximation, correlation analysis, and the least squares method. Results. The simultaneous motion of a launch vehicle and a group of space debris objects has been studied. The distributions of relative distance, relative velocity, angle of encounter, and moments of time of approach of a launch vehicle to a group of the observed space debris at a relative distance of less than 5 km have been obtained. The dependence of the average rendezvous concentration on the distribution of space debris across the average altitude of the orbit and the inclination of the target orbit of the launch vehicle has been determined. The dependence of the average probability of rendezvous in the launch on the inclination of the target orbit, the number of orbital debris, and the relative distance of the rendezvous has been determined. Conclusions. The obtained mathematical model of rendezvous of a launch vehicle with a group of observed orbital debris can be used while designing means of cleaning the near-Earth space and systems to protect modern satellite launch vehicles from orbital debris. In addition, the results of the research can be used to assess the impact of unobserved orbital debris on the flight of a launch vehicle.
To determine clinical/instrumental predictors of symptomatic epilepsy after ischemic stroke in children.
One hundred and thirty-six patients, aged 0-15 years, with the diagnosis of ischemic stroke ...(ICD-10 I63.0-I63.9) were examined. The duration of the study was 18 months - 12 years. Patients were stratified into post-stroke (n=22) and control (n=114) groups, the latter included patients without epilepsy regardless of the presence of convulsive seizures in the acute stage of stroke. Predictors were determined based on EEG and characteristics of convulsive syndrome in the acute stage of stroke.
The following prognostic criteria were found: generalized type of seizures, focal type of seizures with secondary generalization, epileptiform (peak and/or peak-wave) activity, focal character of epileptiform activity, generalized type of seizures in the combination with slow wave background activity on EEG, generalized type of seizures in the combination with slow wave activity and disorganized activity on EEG.
the data about seizures as the clinical manifestation of acute stroke in childhood is generalized. Authors propose the following diagnostic criteria to determine seizures as the symptom of stroke vs ...epilepsy debut: stable neurological signs (more than 24 hours) during the postictal period; neuroimaging data, confirming the focus of stroke; congenital heart malformations or diseases; procoagulant or hemorrhagic predisposition confirmed due to laboratory data in children or in family history; hyperhomocysteinemia; thrombophilic genes polymorphisms (more than 3) in children or in family. Clinical case of 6 y.o. boy demonstrates the time lag before seizures debut and stroke verification as the reason for those seizures.
The conducted researches are directed on the solution of one of the most important problems of the space use – a problem connected with existence and inadmissibility of growth the quantity of a ...technogenic origin space debris on low near-earth and geostationary orbits because its further increase will overlap to mankind an exit in space and will terminate space activity. In the basis of a technique of researches the analysis of an existing ecological condition of the surrounding space environment on which base determined the major factors of pollution of the space and considered ways of struggle against space debris on near-earth orbits is put. It is established that the major factors of pollution of the near-earth space are spent stages of launch vehicles and accelerating units, the space crafts which have terminated its existence, fragments of destroyed artificial space objects, operational elements etc. Space debris basically is concentrated on low orbits and around a geostationary orbit which on the basis of the analysis of statistical data on space crafts starts are in most common use. Here groupings of space crafts of the various particular mission, including space crafts of communication, relay, TV, the early prevention of a rocket attack are concentrated. It is shown that the main ways of struggle against space debris are prevention of occurrence new and removal of the already existing debris. Notable decrease in level of the pollution can achieve at cumulative use of such measures, as an exception of explosions of the space objects, limitation of quantity of the started space crafts, reduction of number of the accompanying fragments injected into orbits at starts. Methods and means of withdrawal from working orbits of space crafts upon termination of term of their active existence and known ways and systems of active removal of already existing fragments of the space debris, such as: application of an ionic bunch, the space ship-towing vehicle, the polyurethane foam, the pulsing laser, harpoon system, electrodynamic cord system are considered. Scientific novelty of the presented results consists in the description of conceptual actions for reduction of pollution of the space. The activities executed in the given direction, have huge practical value as the outer space exploration gives huge advantage and significant progress to mankind, but the further operation at near-earth space by existing methods without acceptance of the measures indicated in the article, its further safe development already will not allow in the near future.
This research is directed on the solution of one of the most important problems of the space use, a problem of space debris on the near-earth orbits. Researchers have analysed the existing ecological ...condition of the space environment and defined the major factors of its pollution in order to find basic ways of reduction of space debris on near-earth orbits. They have established that the major factors of pollution of the near-earth space are spent stages of launch vehicles and accelerating units, out-of-service space vehicles, fragments of destroyed artificial space objects, and operational elements. The basic ways of the space debris reduction are prevention of further pollution and removal of the already existing debris. They have considered the methods and means of withdrawal of space craft from working orbits upon termination of their active utilization and known ways and systems of active removal of fragments of space debris.
The cardiovascular risk factor profile was assessed in a population sample consisting of 60 nonmenopausal (control) and 100 menopausal women from different cities in Buenos Aires Province, Argentina. ...Each subject was individually interviewed and asked to complete a specially designed questionnaire aimed at identifying cardiovascular risk factors. A clinical general and gynecological examination including blood pressure and anthropometric measurements as well as a Papanicolaou smear were performed. The most prevalent risk factor in the menopausal group was low physical activity (87% of the subjects), followed by nervous complaints (67%), obesity (64%), familial antecedents of cardiovascular disease (CVD; 38%) and hypertension (33%). Other risk factors assessed showed a level of prevalence below 10%. In the control group, a tobacco smoking habit was the CVD risk factor with the highest prevalence (47%). Nervous complaints also showed a high prevalence (48%). Most menopausal patients (77%) had a cardiovascular risk index (RI) level between 1.5 and 4.0, whereas 17% of these subjects had an RI greater than 4.0 (high-risk patients). The present study reveals that, in the studied community, the menopause is associated with increased levels of both estrogen-dependent and psychosocial risk factors for CVD.
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