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This study focused on how haematology parameters differ with different types of anaesthesia that is given to piglets. In this study 18 piglets were used divided into three groups. In each of these experimental groups a different combination of anaesthetics was used. The first group received the combination of azaperone, diazepam, and ketamine. In the second group, we used the combination of azaperone, xylazine, and ketamine. In the third group, the anaesthesia was induced by azaperone, diazepam, butorphanol and ketamine. Blood samples were taken from the piglets three times throughout the procedure and the relevant haematological parameters were determined. With respect to haematological values, the combination used in group 1 appeared as the best for the anaesthesia of pig-lets. The haematological values, such as MCV (mean corpuscular volume), were similar in all groups with the exception of the third group where the MCV and the MCH (mean corpuscular haemoglobin) were significantly lower 24-hour post anaesthesia compared to the other two groups. Lymphocytes in the first two groups showed a steady decrease, while in the third group their levels increased. The opposite trend was observed for the segmented neutrophils that showed a steady increase over the 24-hour period in the 1st and 2nd group while in group 3 their levels decreased. Abolishment of pedal and nasal reflexes to external stimuli applied every 15 min post ketamine administration was observed. The piglets in the 1st group showed no reflexes to external stimuli, while the worst responses were observed in the 2nd group where many of the piglets started to show reflexes very early within the experimental time.

The health of the gastrointestinal system of pigs is still a topical issue. When focusing on the youngest categories of pigs, we routinely evaluate it on the basis of appetite assessment and physical examination of faeces. A piglet’s gut health is also related to the development and changes of pH in the digestive system. Because there is little scientific work in this area, the aim of this study was to evaluate the physiological range of faecal pH in healthy suckling piglets from birth to weaning. Faecal pH measurements were performed in thirty-five suckling piglets at the time of the piglets’ birth, on the 7th, 14th, 21st, and 28th day of their life. We found the mean pH values to be 6.38 ± 0.46 within 24 hours after birth; 7.14 ± 0.23 on the 7th day after birth; 7.23 ± 0.23 on the 14th day after birth; 7.42 ± 0.60 on the 21st day after birth; and 7.72 ± 0.61 on the 28th day after birth. Statistical analysis showed significant differences between the pH of the faeces of new-born piglets and the samples taken in the following weeks of the experiment (P < 0.05; P < 0.01; P < 0.001). Measuring faecal pH can be a simple, quick and inexpensive method used to determine the health status of piglets’ intestines.

This paper presents the filamentary structure of the pinched column in a smaller plasma focus device filled with deuterium. The deflections were observed using schlieren and differential interferometry techniques. The observed filaments have a transverse diameter of 40–200 μm, which could be interpreted based on the electric current hypothesis as local concentrations of electric current. The evolution of filaments was compared with global structures recorded by extra ultraviolet frames. These results provide a basis for considering the possibility of a filamentary composition of the poloidal current in compact structures. The model of filaments with a helical shape of electrical current may be able to explain the central narrow and dense cord in the axis of the column, the different lifetimes of the structures, and the submillimeter sources of fast electrons and ions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to evaluate ovarian activity and the size of oocytes in ovarian follicles in sexually mature Landrace-Yorkshire gilts in relation to the individual seasons of the year. The study was carried out on 240 gilts slaughtered at an abattoir during the four yearly seasons. The size and weight of the ovaries, the number of follicles and corpora lutea (CL) according to individual size categories were evaluated. The oocytes were aspirated from follicles and their sizes were measured. Our evaluation of the size of the ovaries showed that they were the largest in autumn, when their mean length reached 25.8 ± 3.4 mm, while in winter their mean length was 24.2 ± 2.9 mm. The smallest weight of the ovaries was determined in autumn (mean 5.7 ± 1.4 g) and the highest in spring (mean 6.2 ± 2.2 g). The largest number of follicles in the ovaries of the gilts was recorded during the autumn months, with a predominance of follicles up to 3 mm (mean number 17.9 ± 7.5). The largest number of corpora lutea was observed in spring (mean number 12.1 ± 2.6) and the smallest in winter (mean number 6.1 ± 1.1). The oocytes from follicles of up to 3 mm size, were the smallest in spring (mean size 16.99 × 103 ± 3.42 × 103 µm2) and the largest in winter (mean size 18.90 × 103 ± 2.99 × 103 µm2). In total, the largest oocytes were aspirated from 4—6 mm follicles in autumn (mean size 19.60 × 103 ± 5.37 × 103 ± µm2). The values recorded indicated that the seasons affected the ovarian activity and the growth of oocytes in gilts.

Clinoptilolite (Cp) is the most common and suitable natural zeolite type for many commercial and industrial applications. Recent studies have also shown a high potential of clinoptilolite in various medical applications. The aim of our study was to evaluate the effect of long-term peroral administration of clinoptilolite on appetites, the consistency of faeces, and the histopathology of the intestines of growing pigs. Fourteen Landrace × Large White crossbred pigs of both genders, a few days after weaning (12.95 kg b. w.), were divided into two equal groups. The control group was fed with a basal feed mixture, and the experimental group with a feed mixture supplemented with 2 % of natural zeolite (the commercial preparation “ZeoFeed”). The appetite, clinical state and consistency of the faeces were assessed every day. The blood samples were collected on days 0, 21, and 42 of the experiment. Histological examinations of the intestines from the control and experimental animals were carried out at the end of the experiments. The supplementation of 2 % Cp did not affect neither the appetite nor the clinical state of the pigs. The faecal consistency score in the experimental animals was 18.82 % lower than that of the control piglets. The histopathological evaluations showed protective evidence of the Cp on the intestinal tract wall in the duodenum and jejunum.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the excretion of calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P), magnesium (Mg) and sodium (Na) via milk, urine and faeces during the lactation period of sows. Six clinically healthy lactating sows (crossbreed Large White × Landrace) were selected for these experiments and were housed in standard conditions and fed with commercially prepared dry mixture for this category of sows. The blood serum, milk, urine and faecal samples were collected on the 7th, 14th, 21st, and 28th day of lactation. During four weeks of lactation, we recorded the relatively stable and physiological concentrations of Ca, P, Mg and Na in blood serum. The analysis of the sow’s milk showed the highest concentration of Ca and P at the end of lactation, while the highest concentration of Mg and Na was observed on the 7th lactation day. The following macro-mineral excretion was recorded in urine: 98.83-194.00 mg.l-1 for Ca; 11.88- 53.09 mg.l-1 for P; 171.67-344.05 mg.l-1 for Mg; and 56.50-74.83 mg.l-1 for Na; and in the faeces, 1824.5- 3045.5 mg.kg-1 for Ca; 1566.93-2483.2 mg.kg-1 for P; 1916.2-2505.2 mg.kg-1 for Mg; and 516.8-748.2 mg. kg-1 for Na.

The radiative corrections to double-Dalitz (P→l¯ll¯'l')$({P\rightarrow\overline ll\overline l'l'})$ decays are revisited and completed up to next-to-leading order in QED, finding mild differences with respect to previous studies. These might be relevant for extracting information about the mesons transition form factors, which play an important role in determining the hadronic light-by-light contribution to the anomalous magnetic moment of the muon.

This paper deals with flow around a bluff body of hyperboloid shape. It consists of results gathered in the course of research by means of Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV). The experiments were carried out by means of low-frequency 2D PIV in a range of Reynolds numbers from 40000 to 50000. A hyperboloid-shaped model was measured in a wind tunnel with a modelled atmospheric boundary layer (and additionally, in a low-speed wind tunnel with low turbulence). The model was tested in a subcritical range of Reynolds numbers and various planes in a wake of the model were captured with the intention of getting an estimation of 3D flow structures. The tunnel with the modelled atmospheric boundary layer has a high rate of turbulence, so the influence of the turbulence of incoming flow on the wake could be outlined. The ratio of the height of the model to a thickness of the modelled boundary layer in the tunnel was 1/3, meaning the turbulence in the boundary layer strongly influenced the flow around the model; it suppresses the wake which leads to a lot shorter area of recirculation than low turbulence incoming flow would cause.

A review of familiar results of the three-point Green functions of currents in the odd-intrinsic parity sector of QCD is presented. Such Green functions include very well-known examples of VVP, VAS or AAP correlators. We also present new results for VVA and AAA Green functions that have not yet been studied extensively in the literature before, more importantly with a phenomenological study and a discussion of the highenergy behaviour and its relation to the QCD condensates.

The breakthroug novel treatments including immunoherapy (nivolumab, pembrolizumab, ipilimumab, avelumab, atezolizumab) and low molecular weight targeted therapy (such as axitinib, cabozantinib) have been introduced into the treatment of renal cancer in recent years. The result of these advances is the fact that a large proportion of patients are long-term survivivors. Current randomized clinical trials with these drugs are broadly discussed in this article. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A review of familiar results of the three-point Green functions of currents in the odd-intrinsic parity sector of QCD is presented. Such Green functions include very well-known examples of VVP, VAS or AAP correlators. We also shortly present some of the new results for VVA and AAA Green functions with a discussion of their high-energy behaviour and its relation to the QCD condensates.

Engineering geological models (EGMs) comprise both conceptual ideas and observational data. The observational data are associated with aleatory uncertainty which can be reduced by acquiring more observations. The conceptual ideas are associated with epistemic uncertainty which can be reduced only if more knowledge is incorporated into the model. The conceptual ideas are the core of any EGM and provide the framework for the evaluation of the observational data. The most powerful capability of an EGM is the ability to anticipate what might be present at a project site and evaluate how the ground could adversely affect the project, i.e. when developed correctly, an EGM allows an evaluation of what might reasonably be foreseen at a site by an experienced contractor. This requires sophisticated conceptualization at an early stage in the project to anticipate what might be in the ground. Consequently, EGMs are much more than visualizations; they should represent an understanding of the geological conditions that are of engineering significance to the project, provide the framework for assembling engineering geological knowledge, support good geotechnical engineering decisions and allow an evaluation of potential geotechnical risks and possible project opportunities. Thematic collection: This article is part of the Ground models in engineering geology and hydrogeology collection available at: https://www.lyellcollection.org/cc/Ground-models-in-engineering-geology-and-hydrogeology [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]