Search

Background Incorporating clinical pharmacists in collaborative medical teams results in better patient treatment and health outcomes. In addition, the understanding of other healthcare professionals (HCPs) towards the role of clinical pharmacists can either facilitate or hinder the implementation and expansion of these services. The main distinction between pharmacists and clinical pharmacists lie in their different scope of duties. This study set out to explore other HCPs’ understanding towards the role of the clinical pharmacists in South Africa, and to identify associated factors. Methods An exploratory, survey-based, quantitative study was conducted. A survey assessing HCPs’ understanding based on the competencies and role of a clinical pharmacist was distributed to 300 doctors, nurses, pharmacists and clinical pharmacists. An exploratory factor analysis was carried out to determine the construct validity of the measurement. Items were analysed for grouping into subscales through principal components analysis. Differences in the variable scores for gender, age, work experience and previous experience working with a clinical pharmacist were analyzed using independent t-tests. Analysis of variance was used to analyze differences in the variable scores for the different HCPs and the different departments of work in the hospital. Results The factor analysis yielded two separate subscales, measuring HCPs’ (n = 188) understanding towards the role of a clinical pharmacist, as well as the competencies of a clinical pharmacist. Doctors (85, n = 188) (p = 0.004) and nurses (76, n = 188) (p = 0.022), working in both surgical and non-surgical units, had significantly poorer understanding of the role of clinical pharmacists than clinical pharmacists (8, n = 188) and pharmacists (19, n = 188) (p = 0.028). Where specific clinical pharmacist activities were described, 5–16% of pharmacists were unsure whether an activity forms part of a clinical pharmacist’s role. Over 50% of the clinical pharmacists disagreed that their role also includes pharmacist’s activities, like stock procurement and control, pharmacy and administrative work, and hospital pharmacy-medication dispensing activities. Conclusion The findings highlighted the possible impact of role expectations and lack of understanding among HCPs. A standard job description with recognition from statutory bodies could promote other HCPs, as well as clinical pharmacists’ understanding of their roles. Findings further suggested the need for interventions like interprofessional education opportunities, staff induction programmes and regular interprofessional meetings to foster acknowledgement of clinical pharmacy services, promoting the acceptance and growth of the profession.

Context The weight of each of the physical parts of the body of broilers, predicted using their allometric relationship with feather-free body protein, differs with the level of dietary protein offered. Aims The objective of this study was to account for the excess lipid that is deposited differentially in the physical parts of the body of broilers when dietary protein content is decreased. Methods In total, 2496 day-old Cobb 500® and Ross 308® broilers, equally divided between males and females, were used in a 56-day feeding trial. The experimental design used was a response experiment with six balanced protein concentrations (0.60, 0.70, 0.85, 1.00, 1.15 and 1.30 of the recommendation), with two factors (males and females) and two strains (Cobb and Ross). On Days 14, 28, 42 and 56 post-hatch, eight broilers from each feed × sex × strain combination were euthanised and partitioned into breast, legs, wings, and remainder. Each component was weighed and subsequentially analysed for water, protein and lipid. Allometric equations between the component weights and body protein weight were fitted to describe the responses. Key results In the allometric equations used to describe the additional weight of each component, at a given body protein weight, resulting from the additional amount of lipid that is deposited in the component as a result of reducing the dietary protein content, only the constant terms were affected. By expressing these constant terms as a proportional increase above the genetically determined level of fatness, described by males on the highest dietary protein feed, equations were derived that described the rate of increase in lipid weight with a change in dietary protein content. Conclusions When predicting the weights of different components in the body by using the allometric relationships between the component weight and body protein weight, equations are now available to correct the weights of the respective components of broilers for the additional amount of lipid that would be deposited as a result of feeding dietary protein contents below that required to achieve the genetically desired level of fatness in each component. Implications With the equations presented herein, one can predict the weights of commercial broiler parts, considering the extra fat deposited due to the dietary balanced protein offered, which may lead to decisions that increase the economic return of poultry production.

The surface roughness is paying a very dominant role in manufacturing industries. It is one of the parameters that cannot be avoided in machining process. Investigation was done on turning alloy steel EN19 with TIC-coated carbide insert in a CNC lathe. During machining on titanium, the high cutting temperature found, because of that friction in tool causes, for that purpose we are carry more cutting fluid, cutting tool & actual machining parameter. The present work shows the concentration of multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) is in used. The Nano fluid is prepared by using various ratios of nano-particles (MWCNT), blended oil as a base fluid. The statistical planning of the experiment is done by using Taguchi method. The process parameters considered in the study are cutting speed, feed rate, depth of cut and surface roughness is considered as a response parameter.

1. The following experiment was designed to confirm that the efficiency of dietary protein utilisation (ep) can be reduced when the AMEn to digestible crude protein (DCP) ratio of the feed falls below a critical level. In addition, whether the efficiency would be improved at high DCP contents through the addition of oil or starch was determined.2. A 14d trial (starting at 21 d of age), using BUT 6 turkeys, was designed to measure the effects on ep of four feeds (12.1 MJ AMEn/kg) with AMEn:DCP ratios ranging from 45 to 72 MJ AMEn/kg, and two additional feeds with the same DCP as the highest protein feed, one with an AMEn:DCP ratio of 59, through the addition of canola oil, and the other with a ratio of 51 MJ/kg supplemented with both starch and oil. Twenty birds constituted each experimental unit, with two replications of each sex being used per dietary treatment.3. Ten birds per sex were sampled at the start of the trial and a further five per pen at the end for carcass analysis. Each carcass including feathers was ground and subsampled for water, protein and lipid determination.4. A split-line regression described ep on the four feeds unsupplemented with additional energy (R

Current understanding of global late Quaternary fire history is largely drawn from sedimentary charcoal data. Since publication, CharAnalysis increasingly has been relied upon as a robust method for analyzing these data. However, several underlying assumptions of the algorithm have not been tested. This study uses replicated charcoal count data to examine the assumption of Poisson distribution and reproducibility of peak detection. Results show 90% of the data, intra-level count differences were larger than the threshold used to identify significance in inter-level differences. A pronounced “edge effect” was observed at the beginning and end of the records, cautioning against validation of results based on sections corresponding to the historical period. The proximal cause for low reproducibility is likely a lack of spatial randomness of charcoal particles at the scale of a core diameter. Until and unless decomposition methods can be developed that accommodate the observed limitations inherent in particle count data, best practices for interpreting charcoal records may be to rely on qualitative interpretations based on smoothed influx values and minimum particle count values in the hundreds.

Aluminium metal matrix composite is developed using powder metallurgy, with number of different operational factors considered. The three most important operational factors are sintering time, sintering temperature, and compaction pressure. Investigations are conducted using L9 orthogonal array as the experimental design. Density, Vickers hardness, and compressive strength are determined through experiments. The S/N ratio based on Taguchi’s law and a number of anomalies accomplished were used to determine the effect of individual input parameters (ANOVA). The main effect plots identified the optimal parameter settings for obtaining a less density, a higher hardness, and a higher compressive strength. In addition, the ANOVA analysis confirmed that the best metal matrix composite material is produced at the optimal sintering time and average temperature and compaction pressure for generally classified levels.

Temperature-sensitive cure kinetics based on bisphenol A oligomeric diglycidyl ether and branching diphenylmethane di-isocyanate, polymer aliphatic or lower molecular weight aromatic amines, and polypropylene and epoxy composites were examined. Polypropylene networks are formed initially, followed by amine hardeners interfering with epoxy oxirane rings to frame linear oligomers. Finally, the system is formed by a reaction between amines obtained in the second phase and epoxy oxirane rings during the curing step. This three-stage treatment was illustrated. The activation energy was calculated using the Flynn-Wall-Ozawa and Kissinger-Akahira-Sunose isoconversational approaches to cure degree. The Ea-to- α correlation was determined using these approaches, revealing that the research curing systems exhibited autocatalytic effects. Among the materials studied, compounds with low molecular weight aromatic amines had the strongest and longest-lasting tensile characteristics. There are numerous advantages to slow curing and discrete stages of composite creation, including better mechanical properties.

Effects of the interaction between lighting programme and dietary protein content on broiler performance and meat yield were investigated. The hypothesis was that low breast meat yield from birds managed under short day lengths could be improved by increasing dietary protein content. The treatments consisted of four lighting programmes and four dietary protein levels. They were applied to sexed broilers from one day old to 35 days old. Eight light-tight rooms each contained eight pens with 50 birds, sexes separate, in each pen. Each feed x sex treatment was replicated twice in each room, with the four lighting treatments also being replicated twice. Multiple regression analysis was used to measure responses to the three factors. There was no significant interaction between dietary protein content and lighting programme in feed intake, feed conversion efficiency, bodyweight gain, carcass chemical composition and breast meat yield. Breast meat yield was linearly related to the number of hours of light, the highest yield occurring on the longest day length. Food intake was the same on the shortest day length and the longest, yet breast meat yield was greater on the 23-hour light programme. The decreased breast meat yield in broilers given short day lengths was therefore not the consequence of a shortage of dietary protein, and this hypothesis therefore had to be rejected.

Kruger and Dunning (1999) described a metacognitive bias in which insight into performance is linked to competence: poorer performers are less aware of their mistakes than better performers. Competence-based insight has been argued to apply generally across task domains, including a recent report investigating social cognition using a variety of face-matching tasks. Problematically, serious statistical and methodological criticisms have been directed against the traditional method of analysis used by researchers in this field. Here, we further illustrate these issues and investigate new sources of insight within unfamiliar face matching. Over two experiments (total N = 1077), where Experiment 2 was a preregistered replication of the key findings from Experiment 1, we found that insight into performance was multi-faceted. Participants demonstrated insight which was not based on competence, in the form of accurate updating of estimated performance. We also found evidence of insight which was based on competence: the difference in confidence on correct versus incorrect trials increased with competence. By providing ways that we can move beyond problematic, traditional approaches, we have begun to reveal a more realistic story regarding the nature of insight into face perception.

Objective To evaluate the intraocular pressure (IOP)-lowering efficacy and safety of 10 and 15 µg bimatoprost implant in patients with open-angle glaucoma (OAG) or ocular hypertension (OHT). Methods This randomized, 20-month, multicenter, masked, parallel-group, phase 3 trial enrolled 528 patients with OAG or OHT and an open iridocorneal angle inferiorly in the study eye. Study eyes were administered 10 or 15 µg bimatoprost implant on day 1, week 16, and week 32, or twice-daily topical timolol maleate 0.5%. Primary endpoints were IOP and IOP change from baseline through week 12. Safety measures included treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) and corneal endothelial cell density (CECD). Results Both 10 and 15 µg bimatoprost implant met the primary endpoint of noninferiority to timolol in IOP lowering through 12 weeks. Mean IOP reductions from baseline ranged from 6.2–7.4, 6.5–7.8, and 6.1–6.7 mmHg through week 12 in the 10 µg implant, 15 µg implant, and timolol groups, respectively. IOP lowering was similar after the second and third implant administrations. Probabilities of requiring no IOP-lowering treatment for 1 year after the third administration were 77.5% (10 µg implant) and 79.0% (15 µg implant). The most common TEAE was conjunctival hyperemia, typically temporally associated with the administration procedure. Corneal TEAEs of interest (primarily corneal endothelial cell loss, corneal edema, and corneal touch) were more frequent with the 15 than the 10 µg implant and generally were reported after repeated administrations. Loss in mean CECD from baseline to month 20 was ~ 5% in 10 µg implant-treated eyes and ~ 1% in topical timolol-treated eyes. Visual field progression (change in the mean deviation from baseline) was reduced in the 10 µg implant group compared with the timolol group. Conclusions The results corroborated the previous phase 3 study of the bimatoprost implant. The bimatoprost implant met the primary endpoint and effectively lowered IOP. The majority of patients required no additional treatment for 12 months after the third administration. The benefit-risk assessment favored the 10 over the 15 µg implant. Studies evaluating other administration regimens with reduced risk of corneal events are ongoing. The bimatoprost implant has the potential to improve adherence and reduce treatment burden in glaucoma. Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier NCT02250651. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s40265-021-01624-9.

Consistent with capacity theories of attention, attention can be sustained to the extent that spare mental resources remain available. The traditional lecture in higher education has received criticism for being too long to hold a student’s attention. This is based on several author’s claims that there is a measurable decrement in student attention after approximately 10-15 minutes of sustained content delivery. The present research aimed to investigate if providing small, separate units of an asynchronous lecture is able to enhance motivation for task engagement through perceived achievability of the learning outcomes, and consequently, enhance sustained attention amongst postgraduate university students. Utilising a quasiexperimental design, 51 postgraduate psychology students were recruited by opportunistic sampling from a cognitive psychology lecture on an MSc Psychology course, and given the option to watch either a long, single-video version of a lecture, or the same lecture delivered as smaller separate video chunks. Key findings indicate that presenting the material as smaller separate video units increased the perceived achievability of the learning outcomes and reduced the number of attention lapses experienced, but not the duration of those lapses, all measured via self-report single-item measures. The shorter separate videos condition also saw greater levels of break taking compliance. Looking at the sample as a whole using a hierarchical regression analysis, whilst controlling for student mind wandering tendencies as measured by the Mind Excessively Wandering Scale (MEWS), taking breaks was a significant negative predictor of attention lapses. Taken together, this suggests taking breaks is an integral part of sustained attention, and that chunking lectures into separate video units increases break taking compliance. Therefore, when designing online asynchronous learning material, lecturers should consider the value of chunking learning material for its potential direct and indirect effect on sustained attention.

Background. The drug levels and clearances of imipenem in critically ill patients are not comprehensively described in current literature, yet it is vital that adequate levels be achieved for therapeutic success. Objectives. To determine the proportion of critically ill patients treated with imipenem/cilastatin with sub-therapeutic imipenem plasma levels, and to compare the clinical outcomes of those patients with therapeutic levels with those who had sub-therapeutic levels. Methods. Trough imipenem plasma levels of 68 critically ill patients from a surgical intensive care unit were measured using a validated high-performance liquid chromatography method. Imipenem trough levels were compared with the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the causative bacterial agents, based on a target value of 100% time above MIC (ƒT >MIC). Results. The proportion of participants with sub-therapeutic imipenem levels was 22% (95% confidence interval (CI) 13% - 34%). The 14- and 28-day mortality rates in the sub-therapeutic group were 33% and 40%, respectively, compared with 19% (p=0.293) and 26% (p=0.346), respectively, in the therapeutic group. Sub-therapeutic imipenem plasma levels are associated with adjusted hazard ratio of 1.47 (95% CI 0.55 - 3.91). Conclusions. The lower proportion of critically ill patients with sub-therapeutic imipenem plasma levels in this study compared with previous studies may be attributed to the practice of higher dosages and the administration method of extended infusions of imipenem/ cilastatin in our setting. The results demonstrate a trend of higher mortality in patients with sub-therapeutic imipenem levels, although the results were not statistically significant at this sample size.

Inefficient compressed air systems in deep-level mines deteriorate energy performance and increase operational costs. Leaks, wastages, and misuse are common inefficiencies that necessitate an oversupply of compressed air. It is therefore important to identify where the opportunities for improvement are located. Underground mining equipment can be used to develop a zero-waste compressed air demand profile. This profile can then be simulated for the entire operation to determine a theoretical baseline. Noticeable inefficiencies are then identified by comparing the actual data with the zero-waste baselines. The results of this study showed that the surface operations oversupply compressed air by 15% (10 kg/s of air) per day. This requires an additional 80 MWh of electricity (14.5% of the total) and costs approximately R91 000 per day. The comparison with the zero-waste baselines showed that 7.9 kg/s of air is wasted at the underground levels during drilling periods, highlighting the areas that require mitigation projects to improve the performance while decreasing costs and wastages. Ondoeltreffende saamgeperste lugstelsels in diepvlakmyne verswak energieprestasie en verhoog bedryfskoste. Lekkasies, vermorsing en misbruik is algemene ondoeltreffendhede wat 'n ooraanbod van saamgeperste lug noodsaak. Dit is dus belangrik om te identifiseer waar daar geleenthede vir verbetering is. Ondergrondse mynboutoerusting kan gebruik word om 'n geen-afval-aanvraagprofiel vir saamgeperste lug te ontwikkel. Hierdie profiel kan dan vir die hele operasie gesimuleer word om 'n teoretiese basislyn te bepaal. Opmerklike ondoeltreffendheid word dan geidentifiseer deur die werklike data te vergelyk met die nul-afval basislyne. Die resultate van hierdie studie het getoon dat die oppervlakbewerkings saamgeperste lug met 15% (10 kg/s lug) per dag oorvoorsien. Dit benodig 'n bykomende 80 MWh elektrisiteit (14,5% van die totaal) en kos ongeveer R91 000 per dag. Die vergelyking met die nul-afval basislyne het getoon dat 7,9 kg/s lug tydens boorperiodes op die ondergrondse vlakke vermors word, wat die gebiede beklemtoon wat versagtingsprojekte vereis om die werkverrigting te verbeter terwyl koste en vermorsing verminder word.

Polymorphisms in growth differentiation factor 9 (GDF9) and bone morphogenetic protein 15 (BMP15) genes have been found to be associated with litter size in goats across the globe. Our previous study detected single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in GDF9 and BMP15 genes associated with litter size in Black Bengal, Bangladesh's primary native goat breed. However, Jamunapari and crossbred goats in Bangladesh are yet to be investigated for litter size-associated polymorphisms. In this study, we screened Jamunapari and crossbred (50% Black Bengal × 50% Jamunapari) goats to identify polymorphisms in the GDF9 and BMP15 genes and to assess the association between identified SNPs and litter size. The genomic DNA from 100 female goats (50 Jamunapari and 50 crossbred) was used in polymerase chain reactions (PCRs) to amplify exon 2 of the GDF9 and exon 2 of the BMP15 genes. PCR products were sequenced employing the BigDye Terminator cycle sequencing protocol to identify SNPs. We used a generalized linear model to perform the association analysis for identified SNPs and litter size. Seven SNPs were identified, of which four, C818CT, G1073A, G1189A, and G1330T, were in the GDF9 gene and three, G616T, G735A, and G811A, were in the BMP15 gene. G735A was a synonymous SNP, whereas the remaining were non-synonymous SNPs. Identified SNP loci in GDF9 were low polymorphic (PIC 0.25), while loci in BMP15 were moderately polymorphic (PIC ≥ 0.25). The genotypes at the G1330T locus had a significant (p 0.05) difference in litter size in Jamunapari goats, but no significant difference was observed for all genotypes at other loci. Therefore, the G1330T loci could be useful as a marker in marker-assisted selection for litter size traits in goats of Bangladesh.

The metal matrix composite strengthened with ceramic material of silicon carbide has smart mechanical characteristics. Metal-based composites, however, demand progress in their friction and tribological characteristics. In this work-study an effort is made to design a completely new material through the method of metallurgy by adding Coconut husk. This study explored the effect of coconut husk on the tribological behavior of hybrid composite Al 7075/5 wt. % Sic/Xwt. %coconut husk(X=6,4 and0).The research confirms the performance of wear properties by incorporating coconut husk into the composite. The sic-coconut husk reinforced Al 7075 (aluminum alloy 7075) was studied. Metallurgy route was used to prepare the composites. Microstructures, the mixture of materials, wear and wear resistance properties were analyzed by optical micro cope and scanning electron microscope.

Deterministic modelling provides an approach to improve the precision of calcium and phosphorus nutrition of broilers. A systematic review of the literature was carried out to establish if data wer...

Vitamins and their coenzymes roles are indispensable for normal functioning of biochemical metabolic pathways. The water soluble vitamin thiamine plays an important role in energy metabolism and its continuous intake is very essential. The source of vitamins can be obtained from many foods like milk, legumes, peas and rice and which is depends on availability, cost. Although most part of the south Indians especially in Tamilnadu the people predominantly depends on rice as a major source of food. So in order to identify the recommended dietary allowance of thiamine the following rice samples were collected from provisional store in Chennai. The collected five rice samples were Deluxe, Bapatla, Karnataka, Rupali ponni rice and Basmati rice. The concentration of thiamine present in the rice was estimated by UV Spectrophotometrically at 246 nm using 0.1M hydrochloride as blank. In order to measure the actual content the high heat and pressure not used and washing is not used. Among the tested 10gm of rice samples, Rupali ponni rice has127 µg which is very less quantity and Bapatla, Deluxe, Karnataka ponni rice has 420 to 430 µg. The high content of was present in Basmati rice-983 µg. Anyhow normal consuming rice quantity is more sufficient to meet Recommended Daily Allowance- RDA level but more washing of rice, prolong boiling will reduce the amount of thiamine content in rice during usage.

BACKGROUND: Antibiotic dosing in critically ill patients is complicated by variations in the pharmacokinetics of antibiotics in this group. The dosing of imipenem/cilastatin is usually determined by severity of illness and renal function OBJECTIVES: To determine the correlation between estimated glomerular filtration rates (eGFRs) calculated with the Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration (CKD-EPI) equation and imipenem trough levels in critically ill patients METHODS: This prospective observational study was done in the surgical intensive care unit (ICU) at Steve Biko Academic Hospital, Pretoria, South Africa. Imipenem trough levels were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography and compared with eGFRs calculated with the CKD-EPI equation. Correlation was evaluated by the Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient RESULTS: The study population consisted of 68 critically ill patients aged between 18 and 81 years; 43 (63%) were male, and the mean weight was 78 kg (range 40 - 140). On admission, 30 patients (44%) had sepsis, 16 (24%) were admitted for trauma, and 22 (32%) were admitted for miscellaneous surgical conditions. Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II) scores ranged from 4 to 39 (mean 18). The 28-day mortality rate was 29%. The mean albumin level was 16 g/L (range 7 - 25), the mean creatinine level 142 μmol/L (range 33 - 840), and the mean eGFR 91 mL/min/1.73 m² (range 6 - 180). Imipenem trough levels ranged between 3.6 and 92.2 mg/L (mean 11.5). The unadjusted Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient between eGFR and imipenem trough level was -0.04 (p=0.761 CONCLUSION: Considering the high mortality rate of sepsis in ICUs and the rapid global increase in antimicrobial resistance, it is crucial to dose antibiotics appropriately. Owing to the variability of antibiotic pharmacokinetics in critically ill patients, this task becomes almost impossible when relying on conventional dosing guidelines. This study found that eGFRs do not correlate with imipenem blood levels in critically ill patients and should not be used to determine the dose of imipenem/cilastatin. Instead, the dose should be individualised for patients through routine therapeutic drug monitoring

Background. Antibiotic dosing in critically ill patients is complicated by variations in the pharmacokinetics of antibiotics in this group. The dosing of imipenem/cilastatin is usually determined by severity of illness and renal function.Objectives. To determine the correlation between estimated glomerular filtration rates (eGFRs) calculated with the Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration (CKD-EPI) equation and imipenem trough levels in critically ill patients.Methods. This prospective observational study was done in the surgical intensive care unit (ICU) at Steve Biko Academic Hospital, Pretoria, South Africa. Imipenem trough levels were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography and compared with eGFRs calculated with the CKD-EPI equation. Correlation was evaluated by the Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient.Results. The study population consisted of 68 critically ill patients aged between 18 and 81 years; 43 (63%) were male, and the mean weight was 78 kg (range 40 - 140). On admission, 30 patients (44%) had sepsis, 16 (24%) were admitted for trauma, and 22 (32%) were admitted for miscellaneous surgical conditions. Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II) scores ranged from 4 to 39 (mean 18). The 28-day mortality rate was 29%. The mean albumin level was 16 g/L (range 7 - 25), the mean creatinine level 142 μmol/L (range 33 - 840), and the mean eGFR 91 mL/min/1.73 m2 (range 6 - 180). Imipenem trough levels ranged between 3.6 and 92.2 mg/L (mean 11.5). The unadjusted Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient between eGFR and imipenem trough level was –0.04 (p=0.761).Conclusion. Considering the high mortality rate of sepsis in ICUs and the rapid global increase in antimicrobial resistance, it is crucial to dose antibiotics appropriately. Owing to the variability of antibiotic pharmacokinetics in critically ill patients, this task becomes almost impossible when relying on conventional dosing guidelines. This study found that eGFRs do not correlate with imipenem blood levels in critically ill patients and should not be used to determine the dose of imipenem/cilastatin. Instead, the dose should be individualised for patients through routine therapeutic drug monitoring.

The many so-called upheavals, programmes, and plans currently being conducted all over the world, such as I4.0 (Industry 4.0 – Germany), AMP (Advanced Manufacturing Partnership) and IIoT (the industrial internet of things) (both from the USA), IdF (Industrie du Futur – France), MIC 2025 (Made in China 2025), S5.0 (Society 5.0 – Japan), and E5.0 (Education 5.0 – Zimbabwe), to name a few, are indictive of a changing landscape in the world of work. Change has always been part of our world, but the tempo of change is currently a disrupting factor, with people in all spheres of life having to adapt in order to attempt to keep up.

Made available in DSpace on 2022-04-29T08:29:42Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2021-09-01 Context: Knowing the broilers' response to the intake of balanced protein allows nutritionists to choose the optimal level to be used in the feed. Aims: The objective of the present study was to describe the response of male and female broilers of two commercial strains to a range of dietary balanced protein levels. Methods: In total, 2496 sexed chicks (equal numbers of Ross 308 and Cobb 500) were used. Six dietary balanced protein levels × two strains × two sexes (24 treatments) were randomly allocated to 96-floor pens, using four replications of 26 chicks each. Feed intake, bodyweight, feed conversion efficiency, carcass weight and the weights of the breast without skin, thigh plus drum (leg) and wing were measured at 14, 28, 42 and 56 days of age. Key results: Feed intake in all periods in both strains and sexes increased as the dietary balanced protein level decreased, and then decreased markedly at the lowest balanced protein levels. Only at 14 days did the responses differ between strains and sexes; in all other cases, the responses differed only between sexes. At 14 days, the response in bodyweight differed between strains and sexes, whereas at all other samplings they differed only between sexes. The response in carcass, breast and wing yield at 14 days was the same for both strains and sexes but differed between strains and sexes at 28 days. At 42 and 56 days, the response differed only between sexes. The response in leg (thigh-plus-drum) weight at 14 days was the same for both strains and sexes, but after that differed between sexes only. Body lipid content increased linearly initially, and then quadratically, as dietary protein content was reduced. Conclusions: Appropriate equations are presented for describing the above responses of broiler chickens, male and female, from two commercial strains. Implications: The fitted equations may be used to calculate the optimum economic level of dietary balanced protein to be used under different economic circumstances. Departamento de Zootecnia UNESP-Universidade Estadual Paulista (Unesp) Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias, Via de Acesso Professor Paulo Donato Castellane, s/n São Paulo School of Agricultural Earth and Environmental Sciences University of KwaZulu-Natal, Carbis Road, Scottsville Evonik Operations GmbH, Rodenbacher Chaussee 4 Departamento de Zootecnia UNESP-Universidade Estadual Paulista (Unesp) Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias, Via de Acesso Professor Paulo Donato Castellane, s/n São Paulo

A rare case of windpuff was diagnosed in 7 months old two domestic pigeons due to itching and scratching with inanimate objects caused by lice infestation reported in Begumganj upazila hospital, Noakhali district, Bangladesh. This is the first case of domestic pigeon recorded in Bangladesh and the aim of this case study is to determine the causal agent, treatment and management procedure of windpuff. Parasitological examination of feathers revealed the presence ofColumbicola columbae,a dorso-ventrally flattened biting type louse. Using needle puncture was able to release the ballooning condition and the pigeons were treated with antimicrobial drug (Enrofloxacin @10mg/kg body weight) through drinking water along with multivitamin and ectoparasiticidal drug (Ivermectin @0.4mg/kg body weight). Both the pigeon was successfully recovered without any further complications within four days.

Made available in DSpace on 2021-06-25T11:14:40Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2021-01-01 1. A feeding trial was conducted to measure the responses of Japanese quail to dietary valine. In total, 280 Japanese quail were randomly assigned to eight treatments giving seven replicates (cage–35 cm length, 35 cm width × 15 cm high). Experimental diets were formulated using a dilution technique to give a range dietary Val concentration (1.97 to 9.85 g/kg). 2. Feed intake was maximised at 6.66 g Val/kg and above, but declined linearly below this level. Body weight reached a maximum of 170 g on 6.66 g Val/kg. Egg output peaked at 9.5 ± 0.3 g/bird/d with an egg weight of 11 g for the 6.66 g Val/kg diet. Rate of laying for the group that received the feed with the lowest Val content was close to zero (1.40%), but egg weight on this treatment was 70% of the maximum egg weight. Valine required per gram of egg output was estimated as 10.6 mg/g, whereas the maintenance requirement was 159 mg/kg body weight. Val required for maximum egg output was estimated in 154 mg/d. 3. The marginal cost of Val in Brazil currently is negative below a level of 8.0 g/kg feed, which is above that required for maximum egg output. Consequently, Val cannot be regarded as a limiting amino acid currently, as the optimum economic intake exceeds the requirements of all the individuals in the population. The price of a quail egg weighing 11 g in Brazil at the time of the experiment was R$ 0.021. Even if the marginal revenue for these eggs was doubled to 0.4 c/g, there would be no reason to increase the intake of Val. Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias (FCAV) Universidade Estadual Paulista “Júlio de Mesquita Filho” (UNESP) Production Systems Natural Resources Institute Finland School of Agricultural Earth and Environmental Sciences University of KwaZulu-Natal Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias (FCAV) Universidade Estadual Paulista “Júlio de Mesquita Filho” (UNESP)

Seasonal abundance, distribution and pest severity of white fly, Bemisia tabaci Gennadius (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) were studied on the chili (Capsicum spp.) varieties namely BARI Morich 1, BARI Morich 2, BARI Morich 3, BINA Morich 1 and Bogura Morich during November 2017 to June 2018 at Gazipur in Bangladesh. Results showed that the white fly started to build up their population from 2nd week of February on the chili varieties and exerted the peak abundance at the last week of February when the plants were at flowering stage. Abundances of white fly positively correlated with maximum temperature and relative humidity, and negatively correlated with minimum temperature and rainfall. Meteorological parameters predicted 11.6 to 32.9% abundance of whitefly on the chili varieties. Occurrence of white fly on different strata of the varieties was statistically low on BARI Morich 2 compared to other varieties. Virus infection levels among the varieties differed significantly and BARI Morich 2 showed the lowest level of infection. BARI Morich 2, Bogura Morich and BARI Morich 1 revealed low level of leaf curl indices (6.8 to 9.3%) and these varieties could be selected for cultivation in the areas where whitefly is a major pest of chili. Ann. Bangladesh Agric. (2020) 24(1) : 127-135

After South Africa's second wave of COVID-19, this study estimated the SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence among pregnant women in inner-city Johannesburg, South Africa.In this cross-sectional survey, 500 pregnant women who were non-COVID-19-vaccinated (aged ≥12 years) were enrolled, and demographic and clinical data were collected. Serum samples were tested using the Wantai SARS-CoV-2 spike antibody enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and Roche Elecsys® anti-SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid antibody assays. Seropositivity was defined as SARS-CoV-2 antibodies on either (primary) or both (secondary) assays. Univariate Poisson regression assessed risk factors associated with seropositivity.The median age was 27.4 years, and HIV prevalence was 26.7%. SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence was 64.0% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 59.6-68.2%) on the primary and 54% (95% CI: 49.5-58.4%) on the secondary measure. Most (96.6%) women who were SARS-CoV-2-seropositive reported no symptoms. On the Roche assay, we detected lower seroprevalence among women living with HIV than women without HIV (48.9% vs 61.7%, P-value = 0.018), and especially low levels among women living with HIV with a clusters of differentiation 4350 cells/ml compared with women without immune suppression (22.2% vs 56.4%, prevalence rate ratio = 0.4; 95% CI: 0.2-0.9; P-value = 0.046).Pregnant women attending routine antenatal care had a high SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence after the second wave in South Africa, and most had asymptomatic infections. Seroprevalence surveys in pregnant women present a feasible method of monitoring the course of the pandemic over time.

The South African energy crisis harms the economy. Tax incentives are intended to help, but rules for incentives must be understood by all stakeholders for taxpayers to be encouraged to invest. Section 12L (S12L) is relatively new legislation that allows a tax deduction for verifiedyear-on-year energy efficiency savings in South Africa. Concurrent benefits are excluded from this tax incentive, to prevent a double reward for the same activity. Although the prevention of double benefits is commonly addressed in the field of measurement and verification (M), non-technical guidelines are not available. This is a critical shortcoming since multiple professions (tax, audit and legal) need to understand the technical M requirements of S12L. This study reviews the current legislation and interpretations of concurrent benefits in terms of S12L. It shows that multiple energy-related incentives are utilised by industries and that, therefore, it must be determined if different programmes overlap, so as to create concurrent benefits with S12L. It is then critical to correctly apply M to ensure exclusion of concurrent benefits. This study also provides a simplified methodology to evaluate concurrency, based on the S12L regulatory requirements and standard M methods. Three case studies show how concurrency can occur and how M practice is applied to exclude double benefits. The test for concurrency is shown to reduce to the following question: Is the same energy saving funded twice? The tests must be done to ensure no double benefit occurs. HIGHLIGHTS: • Multiple energy efficiency and power generation programmes are required to address the energy crisis South Africa. • Concurrency tests are developed to ensure double rewards are not paid for the same energy efficiency savings. • Simple and clear communication of the technical tests to different disciplines (e.g. energy, tax, audit and legal) is important. • Proposals for policy development and communication of S12L incentives and carbon tax are made.

The structural, phase stability, elastic and electronic properties of Sb-doped BBi have been systematically investigated in the zinc blende phase by means of the first-principle approach based on the density functional theory (DFT). The structural and elastic properties were computed by using the generalized gradient approximation proposed by Wu and Cohen (WC-GGA). Specifically, the calculated basic structural parameters, such as the lattice constant and bulk modulus, are in good agreement with the existing experimental measurements and theoretical calculations. The phase stability of BBi1-xSbx alloys in the zinc blende and rock salt phases has been investigated with the determination of the transition pressures (Pt) from the zinc blende (B3) to the rock salt (B1) phase. The electronic band structures were determined using the Tran–Blaha-modified Johnson functional. Furthermore, we investigated the mechanical properties and anisotropic behavior of the BBi1-xSbx alloys.

Deciding whether two different face photographs or voice samples are from the same person represent fundamental challenges within applied settings. To date, most research has focussed on average performance in these tests, failing to consider individual differences and within‐person consistency in responses. Here, participants completed the same face (Experiment 1) or voice matching test (Experiment 2) on two separate occasions, allowing comparison of overall accuracy across the two timepoints as well as consistency in trial‐level responses. In both experiments, participants were highly consistent in their performances. In addition, we demonstrated a large association between consistency and accuracy, with the most accurate participants also tending to be the most consistent. This is an important result for applied settings in which organisational groups of super‐matchers are deployed in real‐world contexts. Being able to reliably identify these high performers based upon only a single test informs regarding recruitment for law enforcement agencies worldwide.

Goat plays a crucial role in human livelihoods, being a major source of meat, milk, fiber, and hides, particularly under adverse climatic conditions. The goat genomics related to the candidate gene approach is now being used to recognize molecular mechanisms that have different expressions of growth, reproductive, milk, wool, and disease resistance. The appropriate literature on this topic has been reviewed in this article. Several genetic characterization attempts of different goats have reported the existence of genotypic and morphological variations between different goat populations. As a result, different whole-genome sequences along with annotated gene sequences, gene function, and other genomic information of different goats are available in different databases. The main objective of this review is to search the genes associated with economic traits in goats. More than 271 candidate genes have been discovered in goats. Candidate genes influence the physiological pathway, metabolism, and expression of phenotypes. These genes have different functions on economically important traits. Some genes have pleiotropic effect for expression of phenotypic traits. Hence, recognizing candidate genes and their mutations that cause variations in gene expression and phenotype of an economic trait can help breeders look for genetic markers for specific economic traits. The availability of reference whole-genome assembly of goats, annotated genes, and transcriptomics makes comparative genomics a useful tool for systemic genetic upgradation. Identification and characterization of trait-associated sequence variations and gene will provide powerful means to give positive influences for future goat breeding program.

Made available in DSpace on 2020-12-10T17:40:07Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2020-08-17 Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) 1. A trial was conducted to investigate the capacity of broiler chickens to consume bulky feeds during three stages of growth. These phases were from 1 to 15 d, 16 to 30 d and from 31 to 45 d. 2. A basal feed was serially diluted (0%, 2.5%, 5.0%, 10% or 15%) with one of five diluents (cellulose fibre, sawdust, rice husk, sand or vermiculite) to produce 25 feeds which were supplied on an ad libitumbasis to the birds in each phase. Cobb 500 (R) strain chicks were used, and, within each phase, each feed was given to nine individually-caged birds, 225 in total, distributed in a completely randomised design. 3. Intake increased initially, and then declined, as the proportion of each diluent increased. The consumption of feeds that limited intake were directly proportional to metabolic body weight and so a scaled feed intake, expressed as g/BW(0.67)per day, was calculated. There were large effects of feed type on intake, in the short term, with consumption of a bulky feed leading to higher intakes. 4. It was concluded the Water Holding Capacity (WHC) content of the feeds could be appropriate measurement of 'bulk' responsible for limiting intake and could be used to predict maximum feed intake capacities of broiler chickens fed bulky diets. Univ Estadual Paulista, Fac Ciencias Agr & Vet, Jaboticabal, Brazil Univ Kwazulu Natal, Dept Earth & Environm Sci, Sch Agr, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa Univ Estadual Paulista, Fac Ciencias Agr & Vet, Jaboticabal, Brazil FAPESP: 2013/25761-4 CNPq: 142192//2016-3

The United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16 calls for the establishment of peaceful, just and inclusive societies. The security sector has the potential to contribute to SDG16 through the fulfilment of its traditional and non-traditional security tasks. However, the security sector can also detract from SDG16 when it acts outside the confines of the law. Good governance of the sector is therefore a prerequisite to achieving SDG16, and parliaments can make an important contribution to accountability and good governance. Parliaments contribute to both transparency and accountability of the sector through their various functions and act as a counterweight to executive dominance, including in the executive’s use of security forces. Yet, in times of crisis, states run a risk of executive dominance and executives are often quick to resort to the use of the security sector to address an array of challenges. This risk also emerged during the global Covid-19 pandemic where states used the security sector, notably the military and police, in various ways to respond to the pandemic. This study reviewed the utilisation of the security sector in South Africa, the Philippines and the UK during the first year of the Covid-19 outbreak, resulting in varied outcomes ranging from positive humanitarian contributions to misconduct and brutality that led to the death of citizens. The initial lockdowns in these countries constrained parliamentary activity, resulting in a lack of adequate parliamentary oversight of security sector utilisation when it was most needed. Parliaments did recover oversight of the sector to varied degrees, but often with limited depth of inquiry into the Covid-19 deployments. To prevent the security sector from detracting from SDG16, the study identified a need for a rapid parliamentary reaction capability to security sector utilisation, especially in cases of extraordinary deployments coupled with an elevated risk of executive dominance.

Made available in DSpace on 2022-04-29T08:40:49Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2022-01-01 1. Cobb and Ross broilers (200 of each sex and breed) were fed four phases of diets ad libitum formulated with balanced protein to match their amino acid requirements throughout growth. Ten birds per genotype were sampled and euthanised at two-weekly intervals from 14 to 112 d of age. All feathers were dry-plucked from each of the seven tracts (specific skin areas) and pulp (the centre of the feather filament) was removed from primary and secondary remiges. 2. Daily losses of feathers were collected from an additional 20 individually-caged broilers of each breed. These feathers were separated into natal down, contour feathers, remiges and rectrices and then pooled by type, sex and genotype to quantify water and protein contents. Only those feathers collected from male Cobb 500 MX broilers were analysed for amino acid content. 3. Amino acid contents of feathers from the seven tracts were measured only in Cobb males on days 1, 28 and 70; for pulp on days 28 and 70; and for the four types of moulted feathers. 4. Protein content on a dry matter basis remained relatively constant over all ages and tracts during growth. Water content decreased with age in both sexes and genotype. Lysine and methionine content in feathers decreased with age while cystine, valine, leucine and serine increased. Lysine, methionine and histidine levels were higher in pulp than in mature feathers whereas cystine and valine were higher in mature feathers than in pulp. 5. These results, together with information about moulting patterns in broilers, enabled the effects of age of the bird and of the type of feather, to be taken into account when determining the rate of deposition of amino acids in feathers. Department of Animal Science School of Agricultural and Veterinarian Sciences São Paulo State University (Unesp) Jaboticabal Nutrition & Care Evonik Operations GmbH School of Agricultural Earth and Environmental Sciences University of KwaZulu-Natal Department of Animal Science School of Agricultural and Veterinarian Sciences São Paulo State University (Unesp) Jaboticabal

In his work Homo Juridicus, Alain Supiot considers the construction of legal personality by force and virtue of law as a precondition for human liberty. Michel Foucault views this same construction of legal personality – the construction of the subject through strategies of power, he calls it – as a ‘construction’ of liberty that is considerably less free than it is made out to be by the Enlightenment law reform projects proposed by Cesare Beccaria and other prominent eighteenth century law reformers. Foucault’s scepticism vis-á-vis Beccaria and others evidently also implies a critical stance vis-á-vis contemporary humanist understandings of law such as Supiot’s. This chapter will endeavour to explain what is at stake in the difference between these very different conceptions of legal personality by relating it to the problematics of subjectivity that came to the fore in the thinking of Hegel and the German Idealists.

Objectives Black Bengal goat (Capra hircus), a member of the Bovidae family with the unique traits of high prolificacy, skin quality and low demand for food is the most socioeconomically significant goat breed in Bangladesh. Furthermore, the aptitude of adaptation and disease resistance capacity of it is highly notable which makes its whole genome information an area of research interest. Data description The genomic DNA of a local (Chattogram, Bangladesh) healthy male Black Bengal goat (Capra hircus) was extracted and then sequenced. Sequencing was completed using the Illumina HiSeq 2500 sequencing platform and the draft assembly was generated using the “ARS1” genome as the reference. MAKER gene annotation pipeline was utilized to annotate 26,458 gene models. Genome completeness was assessed using BUSCO (Benchmarking Universal Single-Copy Orthologs) which showed 82.5% completeness of the assembled genome.

Inefficient compressed air systems in deep-level mines deteriorate energy performance and increase operational costs. Leaks, wastages, and misuse are common inefficiencies that necessitate an oversupply of compressed air. It is therefore important to identify where the opportunities for improvement are located. Underground mining equipment can be used to develop a zero-waste compressed air demand profile. This profile can then be simulated for the entire operation to determine a theoretical baseline. Noticeable inefficiencies are then identified by comparing the actual data with the zero-waste baselines. The results of this study showed that the surface operations oversupply compressed air by 15% (10 kg/s of air) per day. This requires an additional 80 MWh of electricity (14.5% of the total) and costs approximately R91 000 per day. The comparison with the zero-waste baselines showed that 7.9 kg/s of air is wasted at the underground levels during drilling periods, highlighting the areas that require mitigation projects to improve the performance while decreasing costs and wastages. Keywords zero-waste baseline; compressed air; deep-level mine

Growth differentiation factor 9 (GDF9) and bone morphogenetic protein 15 (BMP15) are two crucial fecundity genes 15 associated with litter size traits in the goat. Our previous study on GDF9 and BMP15 genes detected single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with litter size in Bangladeshi Black Bengal goats. In this study, Jamunapari and crossbred goats of Bangladesh were screened to identify polymorphisms in the GDF9 and BMP15 genes and to assess the association between identified SNPs and litter size. The genomic DNA from 100 goats (50 Jamunapari and 50 crossbred) was used in Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) to amplify the exon 2 of the GDF9 and exon 2 of the BMP15 gene. PCR products were sequenced employing the BigDye Terminator cycle sequencing protocol, to identify SNPs. A generalized linear model was utilized to perform the association analysis for identified SNPs and litter size. Seven SNPs were identified, of which four: C818CT, G1073A, G1189A and G1330T were in the GDF9 gene, three: G616T, G735A and G811A were in the BMP15 gene. G735A was a synonymous SNP, whereas the remaining were non-synonymous SNPs. Identified SNP loci in GDF9 were low polymorphic (PICBMP15 were moderately polymorphic (PIC≥0.25). The genotypes at the G1330T locus had a significant (p