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Haematocrit Levels is defined as the proportion, by volume, of the blood that consists of red blood cells. This study was conducted to model the progress of haematocrit levels over time in kidney patients after their transplant and to determine how the progress depends on the age and gender of the patient and other factors. This is a longitudinal study, and haematocrit level was considered as a response while the covariates were time, gender, age, cardio-vascular problem during the years preceding the transplantation, and rejection symptoms during the first three months after the transplantation took place of the patients. Different statistical methods such as, multivariate regression model, two stage analysis and linear mixed effects model were employed to explore the progress of haematocrit over time. Models revealed that haematocrit levels in kidney transplant patients evolve over time. Gender and Age of the patient have significant effect on the evolution of haematocrit levels. Males tend to have a high increase in haematocrit levels over time than females. With regards to age, haematocrit levels tend to increase with increasing age. Moreover, it was observed that experience of cardio-vascular problems before trandplant and rejection symptoms did not have a significant effect on the progress of haematicrit levels. The growth of Haematocrit levels evolve over time follows a quartic time effect. Change in haematocrit levels varies according to gender and age of the patient. Patients starting with low haematocrit levels tend to have a larger increase over time.

The United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goal 13 focuses on taking urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts. Resource efficient production and strict emission regulations have made vehicle weight reduction a subject of great interest. Common lightweighting techniques include topology optimization and material substitution. The benefits include reduced raw material usage, low fuel consumption, and low carbon emissions. There is a gap in the complex balance of decision-making. If an engineer is faced with the option of topologically optimizing or materially substituting, is one method better than the other? This paper comparatively analyses these lightweight design strategies.

Laser powder bed fusion (L-PBF) is an additive manufacturing (AM) technology which is utilised to produce parts in a layer-wise manner from a digital 3D model. Currently there is a growing interest in producing cutting tools with L-PBF. In order to successfully utilise L-PBF to produce cutting tools from hard materials like tungsten carbide cobalt, certain physical and material properties need to be achieved. However, inherent defects that are associated with the L-PBF process also need to be addressed. Material properties of the final parts and defects such as cracking, porosity, and delamination can be strongly dependent on each single laser-melted track and/or each single layer. The aim of this study was to explore various methods for L-PBF process parameter optimisation and highlight the considerations required when performing specific process optimisation on WC-12wt%Co powder with L-PBF. The effects of the process parameters such as laser power, scanning speed, and hatch spacing, on density, hardness, and cobalt content were studied. In this paper, a single-track optimisation approach was tested and the various results and considerations for applying this approach are reported.

Plant remedies used in avian ethnomedicine are potential candidates for the development of phytogenic feed additives. An ethnoveterinary survey was carried out in 3 districts in Zimbabwe to document plants used in poultry ethnomedicine and identify plants that have the potential to be used for the development of poultry phytogenic feed additives. The survey employed questionnaire-guided oral interviews with 146 smallholder farmers. Key areas of investigation and discussion were poultry production and traditional knowledge in bird health care (ethnotreatments and poultry disease control). The survey documented a total of 36 plant species cited as being useful interventions for the treatment and management of various poultry ailments/health constraints. These medicinal plants belonged to 22 families, with the Fabaceae family the dominant family. The plant species were used to treat 11 disease/health constraint categories, with the highest number of species being used for coccidiosis. Trees (44.44%) were the main reservoir of medicinal plants followed by herbs (36.11%), shrubs (8.33%), climbers (8.33%), and flowers (2.78%). Based on the results of the survey, Bobgunnia madagascariensis, Aloe chabaudii, Adenia gummifera, Erythrina abyssinica, Agave sisalana, Capsicum frutescens, Strychnos cocculoides, Aloe greatheadii, Tridactyle bicaudata, Senna singueana, Sarcostemma viminale, Morus alba, and Moringa oleifera are potential candidates for the development of phytogenic feed additives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Less than 3% Agave americana L. plant matrix constitute biodegradable fibers. In order to improve the economic viability of the plant, there is need to commercialize other products from the heart of the plant. The Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) was used to analyze a set of factors that affect agave production as well as possible alternatives by finding one with the best rating based on the given preferences. Each product's benefit to cost ratios was evaluated using data extracted from the economic model. Inulin offers the better benefit to cost ratio compared to agave spirit and inulin.

E-manufacturing enables manufactures to share manufacturing resources hence increasing machine utilization, manufacturing capabilities and capacities. In the paper a manufacturability agent for an E-manufacturing system is proposed. A multi-mode part classification coding system developed from the Opitz coding system is used to create virtual manufacturing clusters using a two step methodology to group the parts and machines. Parts are grouped according to the form code using the similarity coefficients-based method (SCM) and then grouped according to manufacturing process sequence, batch size and processing times using Levenshtein distance measure. Decision criteria for machine selection Analytical Hierarchical Process (AHP) is then given.

Responses to tuberculin in Zebu cattle of the transhumant pastoral farming system in Karamoja region and Nakasongola district in the north-eastern and mid-central regions in Uganda, respectively, were investigated using a comparative intradermal tuberculin skin test. Of the 1864 cattle tested from 30 large units (superherds) in Karamoja and 7 herds in Nakasongola, a total of 28 animals from 19 herds (51.4%) tested positive. Inter-district tuberculin reactor prevalence variations seemed to be influenced by climate, with impact on both the management patterns and transmissibility of agent. High herd tuberculin reactor prevalence (51.4%) was attributed to widespread contacts and mixing of animals between herds. Low individual animal tuberculin test positivity (mean = 1.4%) was attributed to low transmissibility of the agent under the Karamoja climate, which is semi-arid, and to increased resistance due to non-specific response to environmental mycobacteria and natural selection, since there was no active control against bovine tuberculosis. Owing to similarities in management practices in Karamoja and widespread risk factors, it was difficult to identify which were more important, but variations in sources of drinking water pointed to provision of lake and borehole water during dry season as reducing the risk. Positive bovine tuberculin reactor prevalence and skin reactor status were related to age.Responses to tuberculin in Zebu cattle of the transhumant pastoral farming system in Karamoja region and Nakasongola district in the north-eastern and mid-central regions in Uganda, respectively, were investigated using a comparative intradermal tuberculin skin test. Of the 1864 cattle tested from 30 large units (superherds) in Karamoja and 7 herds in Nakasongola, a total of 28 animals from 19 herds (51.4%) tested positive. Inter-district tuberculin reactor prevalence variations seemed to be influenced by climate, with impact on both the management patterns and transmissibility of agent. High herd tuberculin reactor prevalence (51.4%) was attributed to widespread contacts and mixing of animals between herds. Low individual animal tuberculin test positivity (mean = 1.4%) was attributed to low transmissibility of the agent under the Karamoja climate, which is semi-arid, and to increased resistance due to non-specific response to environmental mycobacteria and natural selection, since there was no active control against bovine tuberculosis. Owing to similarities in management practices in Karamoja and widespread risk factors, it was difficult to identify which were more important, but variations in sources of drinking water pointed to provision of lake and borehole water during dry season as reducing the risk. Positive bovine tuberculin reactor prevalence and skin reactor status were related to age.

A cross-sectional study was performed in the livestock–wildlife interface areas of Lochinvar and Blue Lagoon National Parks and the non-interface area of Kazungula to determine the prevalence of antibodies to Brucellaspp. in domestic ruminants and identify individual animal risk factors of infection. A total of 1245 cattle from 124 herds and 280 goats and sheep from 29 flocks were tested sequentially for Brucellaantibodies using the Rose Bengal test (RBT) and competitive ELISA. In cattle, individual seroprevalence ranged from 14.1% to 28.1%, while herd sero–prevalence ranged from 46.2% to 74.0% in the three study areas. No goat or sheep tested positive for Brucellaantibodies. Three types of cattle grazing strategies were encountered: locally grazed herds (LGH), transhumantly grazed herds (TGH) and river flood plain grazed herds (FGH). Brucellaseroprevalence was seen to vary according to area and grazing strategy: Lochinvar and transhumant grazed herds recorded the highest figures, respectively. Age, sex and history of abortion were found to have independent effects on individual seroprevalence. This study establishes that brucellosis is endemic in domestic animals in the livestock–wildlife interface areas of Blue Lagoon and Lochinvar national parks and the disease is also present in Kazungula. We observed that type of grazing strategy had significant impact on cattle Brucellaseroprevalence and that transhumant herds were at high risk of being infected.A cross-sectional study was performed in the livestock–wildlife interface areas of Lochinvar and Blue Lagoon National Parks and the non-interface area of Kazungula to determine the prevalence of antibodies to Brucellaspp. in domestic ruminants and identify individual animal risk factors of infection. A total of 1245 cattle from 124 herds and 280 goats and sheep from 29 flocks were tested sequentially for Brucellaantibodies using the Rose Bengal test (RBT) and competitive ELISA. In cattle, individual seroprevalence ranged from 14.1% to 28.1%, while herd sero–prevalence ranged from 46.2% to 74.0% in the three study areas. No goat or sheep tested positive for Brucellaantibodies. Three types of cattle grazing strategies were encountered: locally grazed herds (LGH), transhumantly grazed herds (TGH) and river flood plain grazed herds (FGH). Brucellaseroprevalence was seen to vary according to area and grazing strategy: Lochinvar and transhumant grazed herds recorded the highest figures, respectively. Age, sex and history of abortion were found to have independent effects on individual seroprevalence. This study establishes that brucellosis is endemic in domestic animals in the livestock–wildlife interface areas of Blue Lagoon and Lochinvar national parks and the disease is also present in Kazungula. We observed that type of grazing strategy had significant impact on cattle Brucellaseroprevalence and that transhumant herds were at high risk of being infected.