Measurement of machine-induced changes in thickness of the bovine teat

1990 ◽  
Vol 57 (4) ◽  
pp. 495-505 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jörn Hamann ◽  
Graeme A. Mein

SummaryMachine milking induced repeatable, short-term changes in thickness of the teat apex. These changes were measured with a spring-loaded caliper instrument under milking conditions that imposed differing forces on the teat apex. The mean percentage changes in teat end thickness (relative to the premilking values for individual teats) varied from 10% decrease up to 20% or more increase depending on the particular milking system used. The overall decrease in teat end thickness associated with cannula milking, milking at very low vacuum levels or milking with positive pressure pulsation may result from: (i) decrease in the intramammary pressure; and/or (ii) small changes in tone of teat musculature; and/or (iii) changes in the distribution of interstitial fluids in the teat apex. The overall increase in teat thickness caused by conventional or PKME milking systems results mainly from oedema (the extravascular accumulation of fluid). It is likely that milking equipment can, and should, be designed to minimize circulatory impairment resulting in oedema of the teat.

1988 ◽  
Vol 55 (3) ◽  
pp. 331-338 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jörn Hamann ◽  
Graeme A. Mein

SummaryChanges in the teat apex before and after different milking treatments were measured with a spring-loaded caliper device known as a cutimeter which could detect changes in thickness of the tissues of the teat end, presumably due to congestion and/or oedema, with a high degree of accuracy (± 2%) and repeatability (r = 0·99). Teat end thickness increased with increasing vacuum level. The mean increase immediately after milking with a conventional cluster was 2% for 24 teats milked at 30 kPa, 8% at 50 kPa and 21% at 70 kPa. At these vacuum levels, the mean increases for the same teats milked with an unconventional (PKME) teatcup were 10, 18 and 25% respectively. Cyclic application of 35 kPa positive pressure to the pulsation chamber of a conventional teatcup operating at 50 kPa reduced teat end thickness by 8% compared with the mean premilking value. Although most teats returned to within ± 2% of their premilking thickness values by 1 h after milking, differences were apparent between different milking systems for up to 4 h postmilking.


VASA ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 48 (5) ◽  
pp. 413-417 ◽  
Author(s):  
Serge Couzan ◽  
Jean-François Pouget ◽  
Claire Le Hello ◽  
Céline Chapelle ◽  
Silvy Laporte ◽  
...  

Summary. Background: Theoretically progressive compression stockings, which produce a higher compression at the calf than at the ankle level, improve venous return flow without exacerbating peripheral arterial insufficiency (PAD). We aimed to evaluate the short-term tolerance of elastic progressive compression stockings on peripheral arterial vascularisation in patients with symptomatic PAD and associated mild venous insufficiency. Patients and methods: Monocentric, prospective, open pilot study of 18 patients (acceptability study, 6 x 6 plan) evaluating the short-term tolerance of progressive compression stockings (18 ± 2 mmHg at calf and 8 ± 2 mmHg at ankle level) in patients with PAD (ankle brachial index ABI > 0.60 < 0.75) and chronic venous insufficiency (C1s–C4 stages of the CEAP classification). Day 15 tolerance was evaluated by a composite primary criteria comprising: no decrease > 15 % of ABI on each side, no decrease > 15 % of toe brachial index (TBI) on each side and no decrease > 25 % of the number of active plantar flexions performed while standing. Results: The proportion of men was 77.8 %, mean age was 77.3 ± 7.5 years and no patient were diabetic. At inclusion, the mean low ABI was 0.60 ± 0.04 and the mean high ABI was 0.77 ± 0.18. The mean low TBI was 0.32 ± 0.09 and the mean high TBI 0.46 ± 0.15. The mean number of active standing plantar flexions was 33.0 ± 5.0. The majority of the patients were classified in CEAP C2s and C3 classes (class 2: 16.7 %, class C2s: 27.8 %, class C3: 44.4 %, class C4: 5.6 % and class C4s: 5.6 %). Poor tolerance occurred in no patient. By day 30, no patient had worsening of their arterial and venous symptoms. No adverse events occurred during the study. Conclusions: These results suggest a high tolerance of progressive elastic stockings (18 ± 2 mmHg at calf and 8 ± 2 mmHg at ankle level) in symptomatic PAD.


Author(s):  
Shivananda B Nayak ◽  
Dharindra Sawh ◽  
Brandon Scott ◽  
Vestra Sears ◽  
Kareshma Seebalack ◽  
...  

Purpose: i) To determine the relationship between the cardiac biomarkers ST2 and NT-proBNP with ejection fraction (EF) in heart failure (HF) patients. ii) Assess whether a superiority existed between the aforementioned cardiac markers in diagnosing the HF with reduced EF. iii) Determine the efficacy of both biomarkers in predicting a 30-day cardiovascular event and rehospitalization in patients with HF with reduced EF iv) To assess the influence of age, gender, BMI, anaemia and renal failure on the ST2 and NT-proBNP levels. Design and Methods: A prospective double-blind study was conducted to obtain data from a sample of 64 cardiology patients. A blood sample was collected to test for ST2 and NT-proBNP. An echocardiogram (to obtain EF value), electrocardiogram and questionnaire were also obtained. Results: Of the 64 patients enrolled, 59.4% of the population had an EF less than 40%. At the end of the 30- day period, 7 patients were warded, 37 were not warded, one died and 17 were non respondent. Both biomarkers were efficacious at diagnosing HF with a reduced EF. However, neither of them were efficacious in predicting 30-day rehospitalization. The mean NT-proBNP values being: not rehospitalized (2114.7486) and 30 day rehospitalization (1008.42860) and the mean ST2 values being: not rehospitalized (336.1975), and 30-day rehospitalization. (281.9657). Conclusion: Neither ST2 or NT-proBNP was efficacious in predicting the short- term prognosis in HF with reduced EF. Both however were successful at confirming the diagnosis of HF in HF patients with reduced EF.


Trials ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Francesco Cresi ◽  
Federica Chiale ◽  
Elena Maggiora ◽  
Silvia Maria Borgione ◽  
Mattia Ferroglio ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Non-invasive ventilation (NIV) has been recommended as the best respiratory support for preterm infants with respiratory distress syndrome (RDS). However, the best NIV technique to be used as first intention in RDS management has not yet been established. Nasal intermittent positive pressure ventilation (NIPPV) may be synchronized (SNIPPV) or non-synchronized to the infant’s breathing efforts. The aim of the study is to evaluate the short-term effects of SNIPPV vs. NIPPV on the cardiorespiratory events, trying to identify the best ventilation modality for preterm infants at their first approach to NIV ventilation support. Methods An unmasked randomized crossover study with three treatment phases was designed. All newborn infants < 32 weeks of gestational age with RDS needing NIV ventilation as first intention or after extubation will be consecutively enrolled in the study and randomized to the NIPPV or SNIPPV arm. After stabilization, enrolled patients will be alternatively ventilated with two different techniques for two time frames of 4 h each. NIPPV and SNIPPV will be administered with the same ventilator and the same interface, maintaining continuous assisted ventilation without patient discomfort. During the whole duration of the study, the patient’s cardiorespiratory data and data from the ventilator will be simultaneously recorded using a polygraph connected to a computer. The primary outcome is the frequency of episodes of oxygen desaturation. Secondary outcomes are the number of the cardiorespiratory events, FiO2 necessity, newborn pain score evaluation, synchronization index, and thoracoabdominal asynchrony. The calculated sample size was of 30 patients. Discussion It is known that NIPPV produces a percentage of ineffective acts due to asynchronies between the ventilator and the infant’s breaths. On the other hand, an ineffective synchronization could increase work of breathing. Our hypothesis is that an efficient synchronization could reduce the respiratory work and increase the volume per minute exchanged without interfering with the natural respiratory rhythm of the patient with RDS. The results of this study will allow us to evaluate the effectiveness of the synchronization, demonstrating whether SNIPPV is the most effective non-invasive ventilation mode in preterm infants with RDS at their first approach to NIV ventilation. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03289936. Registered on September 21, 2017.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Esteban Balseiro ◽  
Cecilia Laspoumaderes ◽  
Facundo Smufer ◽  
Laura Wolinski ◽  
Beatriz Modenutti

AbstractIn this study, we analysed how short term temperature fluctuation interacts with nutrient limitation in the vertical migrating Daphnia commutata. We hypothesize that short term (daily) temperature fluctuation will alleviate nutrient limitation. We carried out experiments analysing growth rates, phosphorus and RNA content of D. commutate grown under four different temperature regimes and two P-limited conditions. Our experiments showed that individuals grown under fluctuating temperature grew more than at the mean temperature. We estimated the expected sizes for the 15 °C treatment based on the Q10 and for the fluctuating temperature treatment. These expected sizes for both treatments resulted well below the observed ones. The P and RNA content of individuals grown at 10 °C were significantly higher than those at 20 °C, and when individuals grown at 10 °C were translocated to 20 °C they exerted an increased growth rate. Our results suggest that, under a regime of diel vertical migration, the temperature alternation would allow migrating organisms to alleviate the effect of severe nutrient limitation maintaining population growth. Under a scenario of global warming, where epilimnetic temperatures will increase, lake temperature will interact with nutrient limitation for consumers, but, organisms may be able to face these changes if they can still regularly move from a cold hypolimnion to a warmer epilimnion.


2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (11) ◽  
pp. 5844
Author(s):  
Amy Roberts ◽  
Gregory S. Ching

The dialogue about study abroad is a contemporary trend. Since 2011, enrolments from the People’s Republic of China (PRC) have gradually increased and PRC students have now become one of the largest groups of incoming study abroad participants in Taiwan. In this study, investigators explored the characteristics of PRC students in comparison with other international students studying in Taiwan universities. Data were collected from 1870 study abroad students. Data collected include the various study abroad goals, prior study abroad experiences, the Short-term Study Abroad Situational Change Survey, the revised East Asian Acculturation Measures, the Study Abroad Acculturative Hassles, and their overall study abroad satisfaction. Data analyses included computation of the mean, frequency, cross-tabulation of respondents’ responses for identified questions, and various group comparisons. Implications suggest that the characteristics of PRC students are valuable and potentially transformative markers for sustainable cross-strait ties. Study abroad programs in Taiwan are noted as one piece of the emerging discourse for sustainable co-existence between Taiwan and the PRC. As such, PRC study abroad participants along with faculty and students in Taiwan universities have an opportunity to play a role in reshaping future exchanges as well as transforming themselves into stewards of a trans-Pacific community.


1984 ◽  
Vol 32 (5) ◽  
pp. 495 ◽  
Author(s):  
BA Myers ◽  
TF Neales

Field observations of some parameters of the water relations of the two eucalypt species E. behriana and E. microcarpa in dry sclerophyll, mallee and woodland vegetation were made at three sites from 1980 to 1983. The mean ( n = 519) water potential measured at dawn (Ψdawn) was -3.07± 0.01 MPa and fluctuated seasonally with rainfall intensity over the range -2.0 ± 0, 1 to -4.4 ± 0.1 MPa ( n = 30). Both species behaved similarly and some osmotic adjustment took place. Mean leaf conductance (gs) varied between 0.151 ± 0.006 and 0.003 ± 0.001 mol m-2 s-1 . Maximum daily values of gs were linearly related to Ψdawn as it fluctuated seasonally. The slope of this linear regression was not significantly different from that relating these values of gs and Ψ, when both were measured concurrently. There were thus no indications of a distinction between the responses of gs to long- and short-term fluctuations of Ψ or of a threshold-type response of gs to Ψ. Field measurements indicated that gs was decreased at high values of vapour pressure difference (Δe). In laboratory studies with seedlings of the two species gs decreased from 0.5 to 0.1 mol m-2 s-I as Δe increased from 0.5 to 3.0 kPa. Leaf and canopy conductance were the predominant plant determinants of transpiration rate (Er) in this type of vegetation which has the capacity to restrict Et via the effect of water potential (Ψ) on gs and also by the response of gs to Δe. Some of the water relations parameters of E. behriana indicated that this species was better able to withstand drought than was E microcarpa.


1988 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
pp. 202-204 ◽  
Author(s):  
Merlin V. Nelson ◽  
Vickie Tutag-Lehr ◽  
R. Lee Evans

Nine normal, healthy male subjects had significantly elevated thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) concentrations while receiving oral lithium carbonate for two weeks. The mean minimum lithium serum concentration was 0.765 mEq/L. The TSH concentrations after 15 days on lithium were significantly correlated to the TSH concentration at baseline. No correlation was found between mean minimum lithium steady-state concentration and TSH concentration after 15 days on lithium. Further research is necessary to determine if a high baseline TSH concentration or an early rise in TSH will predict those patients who will eventually develop hypothyroidism after long-term lithium therapy.


2009 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
pp. 133-139 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jan Krul ◽  
Armand R. J. Girbes

AbstractObjective:The objective of this study was to report on a nine years of experience of providing medical support during house parties (raves) in the Netherlands, where they can be organized legally.Design:This was a prospective, observational study of self-referred patients from 1997 to 2005. During raves, first aid stations are staffed with specifically trained medical and paramedical personnel. Self-referred patients were diagnosed, treated, and recorded using standardized methods.Results:During a nine-year period with 219 raves occurred, involving approximately three million participants, 23,581 patients visited the first aid stations. The medical usage rate (MUR) varied from 59–170 patients per 10,000 rave participants. The mean age increased from 1997 to 2005 from 18.7 ±2.7 to 23.3 ±5.7 years. The mean stay at the first aid station was 18 ±46 minutes. Most health problems were mild. Fifteen cases of severe incidents were observed with one death.Conclusions:Unique data from the Netherlands demonstrate a low number of serious, health-related, short-term problems during raves.


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