bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Information and Communication Technologies in Primary Healthcare – Barriers and Facilitators in the Implementation Process
Authors: Pędziński Bartosz , Sowa Paweł , Pędziński Waldemar , Krzyżak Michalina , Maślach Dominik , Szpak Andrzej
Published: January 2014

Despite the great expansion and many benefits of information and communication technologies (ICT) in healthcare, the attitudes of Polish general practitioners (GPs) to e-health have not been explored. The aim of this study was to determine the GPs’ perception of ICT use in healthcare and to identify barriers to the adoption of EMR (Electronic Medical Records) in the Podlaskie Voivodeship. Online and telephone surveys were conducted between April and May 2013. Responses from 103 GP practices, 43% of all practices in the region, were analysed. The results showed that 67% of the respondents agreed that IT systems improve quality of healthcare services. In the GP group who declared at least partial EMR implementation, 71.4% see the positive impact of IT on practice staff processes and 66.1% on personal working processes. In this group, more than three-quarters of GPs did not see any positive impact of ICT on the average number of patients treated per day, number of patients within the practice or scope of services. The four most common barriers to EMR implementation were: lack of funds, risk of a malfunction in the system, resistance to change, and lack of training and proper information. Although the use of ICT by Polish GPs is limited, their attitude to e-health is generally positive or neutral and resembles the overall pattern in Europe. Barriers identified by GPs need to be taken into account to ensure the effective implementation of e-health across the country.
Hospital Statistics as a Tool for Obtaining Data Necessary in the Healthcare Entity Management Process
Authors: Sierocka Aleksandra , Woźniak Bożena , Iltchev Petre , Marczak Michał
Published: January 2014

Statistical methods used by healthcare entities enable the collection of various information about the structure and characteristics of treated patients. They are an important source of knowledge, and form a database that plays an important role in entity management theory. In the presented study, we analysed the hospital stays of patients treated in all hospital wards of the 3rd City Hospital in Łodź during 2012. The following, in particular, were taken into account: admittance procedure, discharge procedure, age and sex of hospitalised persons. Patients in over 55% of cases were admitted using the sud- den admittance procedure. At the same time, over 3/4 of the stays ended with a referral for further treatment in ambulatory conditions, and death occurred in approx. 5% of hospitalisations. By comparing the discharge procedures, the percentage of deaths in the Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Wards can be seen clearly (more than 70%). Internal wards are next in turn (10.6 and 16.6%). The biggest differences in the length of hospitalisation between the studied institution and the NFZ data (which are averaged values from all medical entities in Poland) concern the E77, A49, A48, A87, A33, D18, E16, E61 and G37 groups.
Joinpoint Regression Analysis of Potential Years of Life Lost Due to Main Causes of Death in Poland, Years 2002–2011
Authors: Krzyżak Michalina , Maślach Dominik , Skrodzka Martyna , Florczyk Katarzyna , Szpak Anna , Pędziński Bartosz , Sowa Paweł , Szpak Andrzej
Published: January 2014

The purpose of the study was to analyse the level and the trends of Potential Years of Life Lost due to the main causes of death in Poland in the years 2002-2011. The material for the study was the information from the Central Statistical Office on the number of deaths due to the main causes of death in Poland in the years 2002-2011. The premature mortality analysis was conducted with the use of the PYLL (Potential Years of Life Lost) indicator. PYLL rate was calculated following the method proposed by J. Romeder, according to which premature mortality was defined as death before the age of 70. Time trends of PYLL rate and the average annual percent change (APC - Annual Percent Change) were assessed using jointpoint models and the Joinpoint Regression Program. In the years 2002-2011, PYLL rate for all-cause deaths decreased by 7.0% among men and 8.1% among women. In 2011, the main reasons for PYLL among men were: external causes (27.6%), cardiovascular diseases (24.2%) and cancers (20.3%). Among women the leading causes were: cancers (41.1%), cardiovascular diseases (19.7%) and external causes (12.5%). PYLL rate increased among men for colorectal cancer, and among women for colorectal and lung cancer. The presented epidemiological situation for premature mortality in Poland shows that in the majority of cases it is caused by preventable deaths, which highlights a need to intensify measures in primary and secondary prevention.
Performance of Resampling Methods Based on Decision Trees, Parametric and Nonparametric Bayesian Classifiers for Three Medical Datasets
Authors: Ćwiklińska-Jurkowska Małgorzata M.
Published: January 2014

The figures visualizing single and combined classifiers coming from decision trees group and Bayesian parametric and nonparametric discriminant functions show the importance of diversity of bagging or boosting combined models and confirm some theoretical outcomes suggested by other authors. For the three medical sets examined, decision trees, as well as linear and quadratic discriminant functions are useful for bagging and boosting. Classifiers, which do not show an increasing tendency for resubstitution errors in subsequent boosting deterministic procedures loops, are not useful for fusion, e.g. kernel discriminant function. For the success of resampling classifiers’ fusion, the compromise be- tween accuracy and diversity is needed. Diversity important in the success of boosting and bagging may be assessed by concordance of base classifiers with the learning vector.
REVELIERIA GROEHNI — A NEW SPECIES OF MINUTE BROWN SCAVENGER BEETLES (COLEOPTERA, LATRIDIIDAE) FROM BALTIC AMBER
Authors: Sergi T. A. , Perkovsky E. E. , Reike H.-P.
Published: January 2014

Based on a fossil specimen from Late Eocene Baltic amber, Revelieria groehni Sergi, Perkovsky et Reike, sp. n., a new species is described. It is the first fossil species of the genus Revelieria Perris, 1869. The new species clearly differs from extant R. californica and R. genei in the following characters: eyes more large and convex; antennal insertion located more close to eye; temples very short; metasternum longer; fore tibia evenly curved inwards.
SPECIES COMPLEXES OF THE ORIBATID MITES (SARCOPTIFORMES, ORIBATEI) IN SOILS OF URBAN STREET LAWNS WITH DIFFERENT POLLUTION RATES
Authors: Shevchenko O. S. , Kolodochka L. A.
Published: January 2014

Species complexes of oribatid mites at six plots on the street lawns in one of Kyiv districts are studied. In total 27 species of 26 genera and 19 families of oribatid mites are found. Direct correlation between oribatid species diversity and the level of total soil pollution is not shown.
Study of endometrial Status of Patients with Abnormal Uterine Bleeding in Patan Hospital
Authors: Shrestha Sabina , Sigdel B
Published: January 2014

Background: Abnormal uterine bleeding may be defined as changes in frequency of menstruation, duration of flow or amount of blood loss. Early accurate diagnosis and proper treatment is essential to prevent progress to endometrial cancer. Objective: This study was done to evaluate the histopathology of endometrium for identifying the endometrial causes of abnormal uterine bleeding. Method: This was a retrospective study done in department of pathology, Patan Hospital from 1 August 2011- to 31 July 2012; total 413 cases were included in this study. Results: The age of the patients ranged from 19 to 70 years. The most common clinical presentation was menorrhagia (47.46%), followed by continuous bleeding (14.04%) and metrorrhagia (13%). The commonest histopathological diagnosis was secretory endometrium 128 cases (30.99%), followed by proliferative endometrium 91 cases (22.03 %). Secretory endometrium was most commonly (52 cases) observed in 41-50 years age group followed by 43 cases in 30-40 years age group. Similarly proliferative endometrium was also most commonly seen in 41-50 age group (44 cases) followed by 31-40 years of age group (32cases). Malignant disease was most commonly seen in 51-60 years age group. Conclusions: Abnormal uterine bleeding is most common in 21-30 years age group.The most common clinical presentation is menorrhagia followed by continuous bleeding. Secretory endometrium is the most common histopathological findings. Malignancy is more common in postmenopausal group. Journal of College of Medical Sciences-Nepal, 2013, Vol-9, No-2, 20-24 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/jcmsn.v9i2.9683
Surgical outcome and clinical profile of emergency versus elective cases of colorectal cancer in College of Medical Sciences, Nepal
Authors: Kumar Sujit , Kafle P , Patowary BN , Belbase N , Agrawal S , Shrestha S , Maharjan N
Published: January 2014

Background: Patients who undergo emergency colorectal cancer surgery has poor outcome compared to elective surgery, both in terms of morbidity and mortality. Approximately 15 to 30% of colorectal cancers present as an emergency, most often as obstruction or perforation. Objective: To compare surgical outcome and clinical profiles of emergency and elective cases for colorectal cancer. Methods: Retrospective analysis of 34 cases who underwent surgery for colorectal cancer between December 2011 to January 2013was carried out and their surgical outcomes, clinical presentation, demographic profile were analyzed. Results: The total numbers of patients included in this study were 34. Out of which 52.94 %( n=18) were emergency cases and 47.05 %( n=16) were elective. Male female ratio was 3:1 in emergency cases and 2.6:1 in elective cases. Per rectal bleeding (56%) and altered bowel habit (31.25%) was predominant clinical presentation in elective cases whereas intestinal obstruction (55.55%) and peritonitis (22.22%) were predominant clinical presentation in emergency cases. In emergency cases most of the tumors were located in left side (77.77%) and in elective cases rectum was common site (37.5%). Left hemicolectomy was the commonest surgery performed (72.22%) in emergency set up. In elective cases, right hemicolectomy, left hemicolectomy, APR and LAR was done in 31.25%, 31.25%, 25% and 25% cases respectively. In the emergency group 11.11% (n=2) developed enterocutaneous fistula and early mortality within 30 days was observed in 5% (n=1) of emergency cases only. Conclusion: In emergency conditions, colorectal cancer presented with intestinal obstruction where as elective cases presented with per rectal bleeding and altered bowel habits. Compared with the elective patients, the emergency patients had higher rate of morbidity and mortality. Because of higher incidence of colorectal cancer in our institution, in all emergency cases who presents with features of intestinal obstruction and peritonitis, we have to rule out colorectal cancer especially if the patients are elderly. Therefore, we should encourage screening programme for early detection of colorectal cancers for better outcome of surgery. Journal of College of Medical Sciences-Nepal, 2013, Vol-9, No-2, 25-30 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/jcmsn.v9i2.9684
Investigation of hematological and biochemical profiles of anestrous zebu cows
Authors: Pariza KF , Alam J , Islam MR , Hossain MM , Awal MA
Published: January 2014

Blood samples from cows with anestrous were collected for hematological, biochemical and humoral immune status analysis. The erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) was higher and hemoglobin (Hb %) percentage was lower in anestrous group of cows than that of normal cycling control group of cows. The packed cell volume (PCV %) was lower in anestrous group of cows compared with the control group of cows. Total erythrocyte count was not significantly different between two groups of cows. The total leukocyte count was significantly higher in anestrous group of cows than that of control counterpart. The bilirubin concentration was significantly higher in anestrous group of cows compared with the control group of cows. The mean serum immunoglobulin (IgG) was lower in anestrous group of cows than that of control group of cows. It is suggested that there is no specific hematological and biochemical marker for anestrous in zebu cows.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjvm.v11i1.13023Bangl. J. Vet. Med. (2013). 11 (1): 57-60
Environmentally persistant toxicant arsenic affects uterus grossly and histologically
Authors: Wares MA , Awal MA , Das SK , Alam J
Published: January 2014

The experiment was carried out to determine the gross and microscopic effects of arsenic on uterus of female Black Bengal Goats against control group in the Department of Anatomy and Histology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh-2202. A total of twelve mature female Black Bengal goats were studied, six from arsenic affected areas of Mymensingh district and theother six from Hill Tracts of Bangaldesh which are arsenic free. Gross parameters show slight variations in the morphology (color and shape) and biometry (size and weight) of uterus of arsenic affected Black Bengal goats, but this variation was statistically insignificant (p>0.05). For microscopic study, permanent slide was prepared by Mayers Hematoxylin and Eosin stain method. In microscopic level, there were significant variations in arsenic affected group of goats compared to the control group. Arsenic affected group of goats show thickening of uterine horn (p<0.01), uterine gland is lower in amount and diameter(p<0.01), cervical villi length was smaller (p<0.01), cervical wall thickness was higher (p<0.01). This work may be the tip of the iceberg representing the full extent of arsenic exposure to female genital tract. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjvm.v11i1.13175 Bangl. J. Vet. Med. (2013). 11 (1): 61-68
Tissue distribution of B-lymphocyte subsets (IgA, IgG and IgM) in the mucosa and lymphoid tissues of broilers immunized with Gumboro vaccine
Authors: Hussan MT , Khan MZI , Jahan MR
Published: January 2014

The present research was designed to study the histological and immunohistochemical changes of lymphoid organs (bursa of Fabricius and cecal tonsil) and in the ileum (representative mucosal organ) of broiler chickens after immunization with Gumboro vaccine. Two groups (n=24) of Cobb-500 broiler chickens were reared in a same environment A mild vaccine (BUR® 706) followed by a intermediate (Nobilis® Gumboro 228 E) type vaccine was administered for immunization of chickens and samples were collected at 7 days interval for up to 32 days of age. The conventional histological structure of all three organs of the present study was similar to the earlier reports. In addition, in the bursa of Fabricius, the population of lymphocytes and the size of the follicles were found to increase in vaccinated chickens than the control chickens. The Igs positive cells (IgA, IgG and IgM) were distributed principally beneath the capsule, around the follicles and in the cortex and medulla. The frequencies of IgG- and IgM- positive cells were more than the IgA-positive cells in the bursa of vaccinated group. IgM-positive cells became peak at day 25 and started to decline at day 32 in the bursa of Fabricius of vaccinated groups of chickens. In the cecal tonsils and ileum, the Igs positive cells (IgA, IgG and IgM) distributed around the intestinal gland and within the lymphatic nodules of the lamina propria, in the core of the villi, and within the epithelium in both the control and vaccinated chickens. Their frequency per 0.1 mm2 area of the lamina propria and in the epithelium was increased abruptly in the vaccinated group than the control broiler chickens. Like bursa, in the cecal tonsil and ileum of vaccinated chickens, the frequencies of IgG- and IgM-positive cells were also more than IgA-positive cells. The present study suggested that, the Igs positive cells were greatly accelerated in the vaccinated chickens than the control chickens and it may be due to immunomodulatory effect of vaccine.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjvm.v11i1.14154Bangl. J. Vet. Med. (2013). 11 (1): 13-19
Effect of combined sorbent preparation on growth, performance and haematobiochemical alterations in broiler chickens under the influence of T-2 toxin and deoxynivalenol mixed toxicosis
Authors: Khmelnitskiy Gregory O , Korzunenko Volodymyr D
Published: January 2014

The combined sorbent preparation consists of anthracite, saponite and inactivated yeasts. To determine the detoxification activity of the combined sorbent preparation on the mixed chickens mycotoxicosis, thirty, two-weeks-old chickens cross "Ross 308" were divided into three groups: A (control); B (T-2 toxin and deoxynivalenol); C (T-2 toxin, deoxynivalenol and the combined sorbent preparation). Chickens were weighed every week, hematological and serum biochemical investigations were provided at 28-th and 42-nd day of chicken`s age. Applying of the combined sorbent preparation in T-2 toxin and deoxynivalenol mixed chickens toxicosis at 3 % by weight of the feed, neutralizes the negative effects of mycotoxins on the bird. It manifests high yield carcass weight and lowers the feed conversion, with almost no variations in hematological and serum biochemical parameters of blood. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjvm.v11i1.16262 Bangl. J. Vet. Med. (2013). 11 (1): 7-11
Biochemical analysis of blood of native cattle in the hilly area of Bangladesh
Authors: Mamun MA , Hassan MM , Shaikat AH , Islam SKMA , Hoque MA , Uddin M , Hossain MB
Published: January 2014

A yearlong study was carried out in indigenous cattle of five upazila namely Khagrachari Sadar, Laxmichari, Matiranga, Mahalchari and Dighinala in Khagrachari Hill District, Bangladesh for determination of statuses of various biochemical parameters. Apparently healthy cattle (100) were selected and blood samples were collected aseptically. Biochemical analysis of carbohydrates, proteins, fats, minerals, electrolytes and enzymes were performed by using automated biochemical analyzer (Humalizer®-3000). The results showed that, the variations of parameters were not significant (P>0.05) between male and female. Although there was a slight increase of calcium 8.01±0.32mg/dl, glucose 69.21±2.31mg/dl, LDL 5.69±0.22mg/dl and uric acid 3.85±0.34mg/dl of female compared to 7.34±0.42, 68.32±1.81, 5.05±0.25 and 3.37±0.27 of the male. On the other hand, SGOT (100.14±4.86U/L) was slightly higher in male compared to the female (91.97±5.55 U/L). There was a slight variation in ALP (218.81±29.12U/L) of growing cattle compared to the calfs (293.57±42.78) and production cattle (300.88±27.24), although the variation was not significant (P>0.05).DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjvm.v11i1.16513Bangl. J. Vet. Med. (2013). 11 (1): 51-56
Biochemical profile of wild-captured Indian Flying Fox (Pteropus giganteus) in Bangladesh
Authors: Hossain MB , Islam MN , Shaikat AH , Yasin MG , Hassan MM , Islam SKMA , Rahman A , Mamun MA , Khan SA
Published: January 2014

Bats of the genus Pteropus (P.) under the class Mammalia are important ecologically as pollinators, but little is known about their basic physiology. For this, serum biochemical values of healthy wild captured frugivorus bats (P. giganteus) were determined for providing baseline information and health care assessments in zoological setting. Ninety clinically healthy large frugivorous bats were captured from the wild and anesthetized for 2 hours following capture for blood collection from brachial vein. Serum glucose, total protein (TP), triglyceride (TG), cholesterol, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), creatinine phosphokinase (CPK), urea, uric acid, calcium and phosphorus were determined using biochemical analyzer. No major differences were observed in the serum biochemical values between male and female bats, juvenile and adults or fair and good health-state bats except significant variation in the AST (p < 0.05), ALP (p < 0.05) and CPK (p < 0.05) between adult and juvenile bats, calcium (p< 0.01) and phosphorus (p < 0.01) between the good and fair health-state bats. The values from this study can be used to create reference intervals of serum biochemistry of bat found in Indian subcontinent, and they can make up the first comprehensive biochemical study for this highly endangered species. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjvm.v11i1.17095 Bangl. J. Vet. Med. (2013). 11 (1): 75-79
Morphometric investigation of neurocranium in domestic cat (Felis catus)
Authors: Uddin M , Sarker MHR , Hossain ME , Islam MS , Hossain MB , Shil SK
Published: January 2014

This study was intended to investigate some aspects of the morphometric characteristics of the neurocranium in domestic cat (Felis catus) of Bangladesh. Twenty adult domestic cat including 10 males and 10 female were euthanized using diazepam (@ 20 mg/kg) and their skulls were macerated to give morphometric parameters. Student t-test with level of significance set at 5% (p < 0.05) was used to analyze the obtained values. The mean (mean ± SE) neurocranial volume was 28 ± 0.97 ml, neurocranial length was 6.63 ± 0.77 cm, and the neurocranial height and index were 3.32 ± 0.38 cm and 49.83%, respectively. The mean height and width of the foramen magnum were 1.32 ± 0.09 cm and 1.35 ± 0.08 cm, respectively, while the foramen index was below 100 at 90.72 ± 4.93. Parameters for the foramen magnum index showed significant difference between both sexes at p < 0.05. The foramen magnum showed shape variations and there were multiple hypoglossal foramina in over 80% of the cats. Foramen magnum index was positively correlated with neurocranial volume. The results were discussed in terms of the usage of morphologic and morphometric characteristics of cranium and skulls in several basic and clinical applications in cat such as estimation of the brain density and the use of the cat for cranial pressure experiments. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjvm.v11i1.17302 Bangl. J. Vet. Med. (2013). 11 (1): 69-73
Efficacy of tulsi leaves and neem leaves extract in broiler production
Authors: Khatun S , Mostofa M , Alom F , Uddin J , Alam MN , Moitry NF
Published: January 2014

The efficacy of tulsi (Ocimum sactum) and neem (Azadirachta indica) leaves extract as a growth promoter were studied in broiler. A total of 40 day-old broiler chicks were purchased from Kazi hatchery and after three days of acclimatization the chicks were randomly divided into four groups (n=10). No vaccination schedule was practiced and no antibiotic was added in ration of group A, B, C, and D respectively. Group A served control without any supplements while group B, C and D were supplemented with combination of tulsi and neem extract @ 1 ml, 2ml and 3 ml/liter of drinking water. Live body weight gain was recorded weekly up to 6th weeks and hematological studies were performed at 21st and 42nd day of experiments. At the end of 42nd day of experiment final body weight of group A, B, C and D were 1561± 12.10 g, 1698± 12.87 g, 1608± 12.04 g and 1763± 13.28 g, respectively. The birds of group D utilized their feed more efficiently among the treatment groups (p<0.05). The net body weight gain were, 1533± 11.98 g, 1443± 11.32 g and 1588± 12.10 g in treated groups compared to control group (1393± 11.07 g ) and total net profit per broiler was 19.08, 40.10, 20.68 and 45.07 Taka , respectively. Hematological parameterss (TEC, PCV, Hb and ESR) were not significantly changed among the treated and control group suggesting no side effects of herbal extracts in broiler. It can be concluded that tulsi and neem extract is economic and safe in broiler production.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjvm.v11i1.17728 Bangl. J. Vet. Med. (2013). 11 (1): 1- 5
Effect of protein rich diet on experimental pathology of necrotic enteritis in broilers
Authors: Ferdoush MJ , Rashid MM , Dipti M , Roy P , Das PM , Hossain MM
Published: January 2014

This study was designed to know the effect of protein rich diet (50% fish meal) on the experimental pathology of necrotic enteritis in broilers. The Clostridium (Cl.) perfringens was obtained from the Department of Pathology, Bangladesh Agricultural University. Reconfirmation and recharacterization of Cl. perfringens were performed by culture, microscopic examination, staining and biochemical tests. The experimental pathologic studies were performed with supplementation of protein rich diet and challenged with Cl. perfringens in broilers. The dose of the inoculum for experimental infection with Cl. perfringens was 1x108 CFU/2.5ml. Fifteen birds of 21 days old were divided into 3 (A, B and C) groups each containing 5 birds. Birds of group A were fed with 50% fish meal at a rate of 500gm /kg of feed from day 21 to day 34 and challenged from day 28 to day 32 with 1x108 CFU/2.5ml. Birds of group B were fed with normal feed and challenged on day 28 for consecutive five days. Group C was kept as control with commercial normal pellet without Cl. perfringens. Birds of all groups were observed up to 34 days of age for clinical signs. Eighty percent (4/5) of the birds of group A developed moderate clinical signs like diarrhoea, ruffled feather and less feed intake whereas 40% (2/5) birds of group B developed same clinical signs like group A but in mild form. There was no mortality in any groups. All the birds were sacrificed at Day 35. Severe necrosis and hemorrhage in intestine, enlarged liver and hemorrhage in the base of heart were noted in the birds of group A. On an average 2-5 bacteria were found in impression smear of intestines in higher magnification (100x), and anaerobic bacteria counted from intestinal content was 1.51x107CFU/ml. In histopathology, necrosis and reactive cells were found in liver, heart, lung and sloughing off intestinal epithelium was also found in intestines. On the other hand similar lesions like group A were observed in the birds of group B but in moderate form and no bacteria was found in impression smears of intestines. Anaerobic bacteria counted from intestinal content of this group was 1.1x107CFU/ml. In histopathology necrosis, reactive cells were found but less than group A. The birds of group C were normal in all parameters. However, anaerobic bacteria count from the intestinal content was 0.8x107CFU/ml. From this study, it may be concluded that protein rich diet is a predisposing factor for necrotic enteritis in broilers. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjvm.v11i1.17729 Bangl. J. Vet. Med. (2013). 11 (1): 21-29
Incidence of reproductive and production diseases of cross-bred dairy cattle in Bangladesh
Authors: Khair A , Alam MM , Rahman AKMA , Islam MT , Azim A , Chowdhury EH
Published: January 2014

Reproductive and production disorders (PD) of cross-bred dairy cattle significantly reduce their productivity which is of great concern of dairy producers worldwide because most reproductive disorders adversely affect the future fertility. The present study was conducted to determine the incidence of some reproductive diseases (RD) like abortion, anoestrus, metritis, repeat breeder, retained placenta and one production disease like clinical mastitis in cross-bred dairy cattle in Shahjadpur upazila of Sirajgonj district in Bangladesh. Two hundred fifty (250) farms having at least two cross-bred dairy cattle were randomly selected for this study using an active surveillance system. The study was conducted over a period of twelve months from March 2012 to February 2013. Epidemiological data and samples from diseased cattle were collected and analyzed. The recorded reproductive disorders were diagnosed and treated by the veterinarians on the basis of history, physical examination, clinical and laboratory findings. The incidence rate, cumulative incidence and seasonal incidence of reproductive (RD) and production (PD) disorders were measured. The overall incidence rate and cumulative incidence of RDs and PDs were 33/tcm (10000 cattle-months at risk) and 3.9% respectively. The incidence rate and cumulative incidence of repeat breeder were highest as 11/tcm and 1.29% respectively followed by anoestrus (7/tcm and 0.81%), metritis (3/tcm and 0.34%), retained placenta (2/tcm and 0.27%) and abortion (2/tcm and 0.20%). The incidence rate and cumulative incidence of clinical mastitis were 8/tcm and 1.0% respectively. A decreasing trend of cumulative incidence of mastitis, metritis and abortion was noted from summer, rainy to winter seasons. The cumulative incidence of anoestrus was highest in rainy (0.34%) then summer (0.27%) and lowest in winter (0.21%). The proportionate incidence was highest for repeat breeder (32.76%) followed by mastitis (25.86%) and anoestrus (20.69%). The incidence of the diseases we reported were low in comparison to the published prevalence of these diseases. When the incidence of a disease is low but animals affected have the condition for a long period of time, the prevalence will be high relative to the incidence. Repeat breeder, anoestrus and mastitis should get top priority in reproductive disease research to gain more knowledge and in extension to control them in Bangladesh context. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjvm.v11i1.17730 Bangl. J. Vet. Med. (2013). 11 (1): 31-36
Prevalence of sub-clinical mastitis in high yielding crossbred cows using Draminski mastitis detector
Authors: Siddiquee NU , Tripura TK , Islam MT , Bhuiyan SA , Rahman AKMA , Bhuiyan AKFH
Published: January 2014

The subclinical mastitis (SCM) causes great economical loss in dairy farms due to reduction in milk production. The objectives of the study were to know the prevalence of subclinical mastitis in lactating cows using Draminski mastitis detector and to evaluate the efficacy of intramammary infusion against SCM in lactating dairy cows. The study was conducted in crossbred dairy cattle in peri-urban dairy production system within seven kilometers around the artificial insemination Centre, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh during April, 2011 to May, 2012. The overall prevalence of SCM in lactating cows was 55.1%. The highest prevalence of SCM was 84.4% in more than 7 years old cows. The prevalence of SCM was significantly (p<0.001) increasing with the advancement of the age. The prevalence of SCM was significantly (p<0.05) higher (73.7%) in cows producing more than 15 liters of milk. Cows with 75% Holstein Friesian genotype experienced more SCM (63.0%) than other genotypes. An increased prevalence of SCM with increased number of parity in cows was also observed. The prevalence of SCM was significantly (p<0.001) higher in cows with parity more than five. The highest prevalence of SCM was recorded in left hind quarter (32.3%) but the difference was not significant (p>0.05) statistically. The efficacy of Neomastipra-JR5® as intra mammary infusion against SCM in lactating cows was 78.2%. Draminski mastitis detector could be a potential candidate for the diagnosis of SCM in dairy animals in Bangladesh context. But before introducing this machine in the field it should be validated either by comparing with a gold standard test like somatic cell counter or by using latent class evaluation in a multi-test approach. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjvm.v11i1.17731 Bangl. J. Vet. Med. (2013). 11 (1): 37-41
Morphological and immunological characterization of anthrax vaccine in cattle
Authors: Dipti M , Rashid MM , Ferdoush MJ , Roy P , Khan MAHNA , Hossain MM
Published: January 2014

Anthrax is a zoonotic disease caused by the bacterium Bacillus anthracis that normally affects animals, especially ruminants (such as cattle, goats, sheep, and horses) and humans. This study was planned to characterize the morphology of anthrax vaccine bacteria by using Grams stain, polychrome methylene blue stain, culture on nutrient agar and nutrient broth media and to determine the immunological status of this vaccine by indirect ELISA and slide agglutination test in cattle. Antibiotic sensitivity test of vaccine strain of bacteria was also done. This study provided evidence that vaccine strain of Bacillus anthracis was gram-positive rod-shaped bacteria appeared as single to short-chained bacilli with blunted ends. Serum from anthrax vaccinated cattle agglutinated anthrax antigen on Day 30 (+++ within 5 min and ++ within 7 min at 1:100 dilution of test sera) and Day 90 (+++ within 5 min at 1:100 dilution of test sera) of post immunization. Immunization of cattle with anthrax vaccine generated high level of anti-anthrax IgG antibody response at Day 30 (0.789}0.014) of post immunization and reached its peak at Day 90 (0.991}0.047). This study also provided evidence that anthrax vaccine bacteria were sensitive to penicillin, streptomycin, amoxicillin and kenamycin. It may be recommended that the anthrax vaccine currently in use in Bangladesh is proved to be effective in term of morphology of Bacillus antharis and raising anti anthrax IgG antibody response in cattle with no side effect. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjvm.v11i1.17732 Bangl. J. Vet. Med. (2013). 11 (1): 43-49
Histopathological investigation of blastomycosis in animals at Dhaka Zoo
Authors: Ahasan SA , Chowdhury EH , Khan MAH , Parvin R , Azam SU , Begum JA , Mohiuddin G , Uddin J , Rahman MM , Rahman MA
Published: January 2014

Dhaka Zoo with 2000 animal heads of 184 species from significant genetic diversity and five million visitors influx round the year is placing it a public health important spot. This study was conducted to investigate blastomycosis in animals at Dhaka Zoo to ascertain animal health, welfare and public health safety standard. One hundred and two necropsied tissue samples preserved in 10% neutral buffered formalin at necropsy from 36 animals of 25 different species were collected from Dhaka Zoo. Twenty five out of 36 study animals were suffering from granulomatous diseases. Among them three animals were found suffering from blastomycosis. Clinical history, nodular lesions from necropsy findings, granulomatous reactions with fungal spores on histopathology and spherical yeast cells with double contoured wall and broad base budding on special staining were used for the confirmation of blastomycosis in spotted deer (Cervus axis/Axis axis), nilgai (Boselaphustragocamelus) and horse (Equuscaballus).Present study provides evidence of existing blastomyosis and similar long standing zoonotic diseases in majority of rest of the animals with health risk that shades health safety standard at Dhaka Zoo. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjvm.v11i1.17734 Bangl. J. Vet. Med. (2013). 11 (1): 81-85
Maternal and childhood undernutrition in Bangladesh: Keeping the issue on the agenda
Authors: Mohsena Masuda
Published: January 2014

No abstract available.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/imcj.v7i1.17696 Ibrahim Med. Coll. J. 2013; 7(1): i-ii
A rare case of sarcomatoid carcinoma of the pancreas associated with pancreatolithiasis
Authors: Rashid MM , Rabbi H , Islam MA , Husain MM , Minn AR , Ali M
Published: January 2014

Pancreatolithiasis is a risk factor for developing pancreatic cancer. We report here a rare case of sarcomatoid carcinoma of the pancreas in a 55-year old diabetic male associated with pancreatolithiasis. CT scan of abdomen revealed a large operable mass occupying the distal body and tail of the pancreas. Per-operative survey revealed a small metastatic nodule in the surface of hepatic segment IVa. Histopathology of the distal pancreatic lesion revealed sarcomatoid carcinoma. Hepatic nodule was a metastatic adenocarcinoma. Distal pancreatectomy and splenectomy was done en-mass, along with non-anatomical resection of the hepatic metastatic nodule. Combined with six cycles of chemotherapy, the patient survived a total of another fourteen months. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/imcj.v7i1.17742 Ibrahim Med. Coll. J. 2013; 7(1): 12-15
Breast abscess due to Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi in a young diabetic female
Authors: Barai Lovely , Jilani SA , Haq Ashraful
Published: January 2014

Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi (S. Typhi) is occasionally associated with abscess formation in various organs of the body. But breast abscess by S. Typhi without the general and specific symptoms of typhoid fever is unusual. We report a case of breast abscess due to S. Typhi in a 20 year old nonlactating diabetic female without the features of typhoid fever. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/imcj.v7i1.17743 Ibrahim Med. Coll. J. 2013; 7(1): 16-17
Physical therapy students’ perceptions of team-based learning in gross anatomy using the Team-Based Learning Student Assessment Instrument
Authors: Livingston Beven , Lundy Mary , Harrington Shana
Published: January 2014

Purpose: The objective of this study was to assess physical therapy student perceptions of team-based learning (TBL) in a graduate level gross anatomy course using the TBL Student Assessment Instrument (TBL-SAI). Methods: The TBL-SAI was administered to 85 Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) students, comprising three cohorts (classes of 2013, 2014 and 2015), who successfully completed a gross anatomy course where TBL was implemented. The TBL-SAI surveys 33 items, each rated from one (strongly disagree) to five (strongly agree) and measures three subscales: Students' Perceptions of Accountability, Preference for Lecture or TBL, and Student Satisfaction. Results: The means for each subscale and the total TBL-SAI score for each cohort fell above the neutral score. The 2015 group (mean = 37.97, 95% CI [35.67, 40.26]) reported significantly higher satisfaction than that of the 2013 group (mean = 32.71, 95% CI [30.31, 35.05]) and the 2014 group (mean = 33.11, 95% CI [30.69, 35.53]). The 2015 group (mean = 125.3, 95% CI [120.6, 130.3]) also had a significantly higher total score than that of the 2013 group (mean = 115.6, 95% CI [110.5, 120.5]).Conclusion: The physical therapy students reported an overall positive experience in using TBL to learn gross anatomy in terms of accountability, preference for learning mode, and satisfaction. This positive experience with TBL was accompanied by their successful academic performance. Given the traits and learning preferences in this generation of graduate students, TBL could be a teaching method that is received positively elsewhere and results in successful academic performance and learning.
‘The well-known, old, but still unbeaten track’: Women Poets and Irish Periodical Culture in the Mid-Twentieth Century
Authors: Mulhall Anne
Published: January 2014

While neglected Irish male poets of the mid century have seen some recuperation in recent decades, the work of Irish women poets still languishes in obscurity. A growing body of scholarship has identified the need to bring critical attention to bear on this substantial body of work. In this essay I explore the positioning of Irish women poets in mid-century periodical culture, to flesh out the ways in which the terms of this ‘forgetting’ are already established within the overwhelmingly masculinist homosocial suppositions and idioms that characterized contemporary debates about the proper lineage and aesthetic norms for the national literary culture that was then under construction. Within the terms set by those debates, the woman writer was caught in the double bind that afflicted any woman wishing to engage in a public, politicized forum in post-revolutionary Ireland. While women poets engage in sporadic or oblique terms with such literary and cultural debates, more often their voices are absent from these dominant discourses – the logic of this absence has continued in the occlusion of these women poets from the national poetic canon.
The Land of Spices, the Enigmatic Signifier, and the Stylistic Invention of Lesbian (In)Visibility
Authors: Backus Margot , Valente Joseph
Published: January 2014

The context in which Kate O'Brien came of age created both the necessity and the opportunity for her to fashion her self-image out of indefinite, radically interpretable cues of taboo sexual identity, a process reflected in her coming of age, autobiographical fiction, The Land of Spices. In following the path of her literary hero, James Joyce, whose iconic Bildungsroman her own Land of Spices closely tracks, O'Brien would have recognized how the increased self-reflexivity of the modernist novel was geared to the narrative deployment of indefinite or enigmatic signifiers. O'Brien thus drew upon and developed the modernist style that Joyce pioneered, which constituted the text as a space about as well as of interpretation, a hermeneutical field that interrogates its own limits and possibilities. In Irish society, with its legacy of Jansenist Catholicism, a structure of vigorously buttressed ignorance, undergirded by a strict knowledge of what and where to overlook, has persisted through much of the twentieth century, making it easy to mis-or underinterpret the more subtle literary strategies of cryptic sexual representation. As regards lesbian visibility, the critical reception of The Land of Spices affords a clear case in point
Queering Early Modern Ireland
Authors: McKibben Sarah
Published: January 2014

This essay reconsiders sixteenth- and seventeenth-century Ireland by queering not only ostensibly heteronormative texts and practices, but social structures writ large. I first outline the intensely homosocial and even homoerotic nature of the bardic institution (including typical poet-patron exchanges and representations as well as the dánta grá or courtly love poetry), employing Sedgwick's concept of ‘male homosocial desire’ so as to situate the bardic response to the challenge of early modern colonial authority. I argue that colonialism queers pre-existing male homosocial bonds, prompting a set of powerful, foundational responses that live on in the Irish imaginary, including, on the one hand, powerful ideological consolidations of domestic homosocial bonds and, on the other, obsessively recording of the perversity of colonial power and acculturation, as well as of an Irish manhood troubled and reconfigured in its wake.
‘strange architecture’: Ciaran Carson's Until Before After
Authors: Graham Colin
Published: January 2014

Ciaran Carson's Until Before After (2010), like many of Carson's recent books of poetry and prose, has an elaborate structure which does not obviously relate to the meaning and nature of the poetry in the volume. This essay suggests that it may be possible to ‘unlock’ meanings from the ‘strange architecture’ of Until Before After. Quentin Meillassoux's Le Nombre et La Sirène (2011) offers an example of a type of critical reading which pays attention to the intricacies (and numbers) of poetic form, in Meillassoux's case in a reading of Mallarmé’s Coup de Dés. Carson's Until Before After, in its unusual page constructions, use of partial sonnets, and potential hints at numerology, along with its allusions to Biblical and philosophical texts, can be read as being built around a pyramidal, mathematical form, which in turn is appropriate to its themes of death and resurrection.
No Effect Level of Co-Composted Biochar on Plant Growth and Soil Properties in a Greenhouse Experiment
Authors: Schulz Hardy , Dunst Gerald , Glaser Bruno
Published: January 2014

It is claimed that the addition of biochar to soil improves C sequestration, soil fertility and plant growth, especially when combined with organic fertilizers such as compost. However, little is known about agricultural effects of small amounts of composted biochar. This greenhouse study was carried out to examine effects of co-composted biochar on oat (Avena sativa L.) yield in both sandy and loamy soil. The aim of this study was to test whether biochar effects can be observed at very low biochar concentrations. To test a variety of application amounts below 3 Mg biochar ha−1, we co-composted five different biochar concentrations (0, 3, 5, 10 kg Mg−1 compost). The biochar-containing compost was applied at five application rates (10, 50, 100, 150, 250 Mg ha−1 20 cm−1). Effects of compost addition on plant growth, Total Organic Carbon, Ntot, pH and soluble nutrients outweighed the effects of the minimal biochar amounts in the composted substrates so that a no effect level of biochar of at least 3 Mg ha−1 could be estimated.
A Static Voltage Security Region for Centralized Wind Power Integration—Part I: Concept and Method
Authors: Ding Tao , Guo Qinglai , Bo Rui , Sun Hongbin , Zhang Boming
Published: January 2014

When large wind farms are centrally integrated in a power grid, cascading tripping faults induced by voltage issues are becoming a great challenge. This paper therefore proposes a concept of static voltage security region to guarantee that the voltage will remain within operation limits under both base conditions and N-1 contingencies. For large wind farms, significant computational effort is required to calculate the exact boundary of the proposed security region. To reduce this computational burden and facilitate the overall analysis, the characteristics of the security region are first analyzed, and its boundary components are shown to be strictly convex. Approximate security regions are then proposed, which are formed by a set of linear cutting planes based on special operating points known as near points and inner points. The security region encompassed by cutting planes is a good approximation to the actual security region. The proposed procedures are demonstrated on a modified nine-bus system with two wind farms. The simulation confirmed that the cutting plane technique can provide a very good approximation to the actual security region.
A Static Voltage Security Region for Centralized Wind Power Integration—Part II: Applications
Authors: Ding Tao , Guo Qinglai , Bo Rui , Sun Hongbin , Zhang Boming , Huang Tian-en
Published: January 2014

In Part I of this work, a static voltage security region was introduced to guarantee the safety of wind farm reactive power outputs under both base conditions and N-1 contingency. In this paper, a mathematical representation of the approximate N-1 security region has further studied to provide better coordination among wind farms and help prevent cascading tripping following a single wind farm trip. Besides, the influence of active power on the security region is studied. The proposed methods are demonstrated for N-1 contingency cases in a nine-bus system. The simulations verify that the N-1 security region is a small subset of the security region under base conditions. They also illustrate the fact that if the system is simply operated below the reactive power limits, without coordination among the wind farms, the static voltage is likely to exceed its limit. A two-step optimal adjustment strategy is introduced to shift insecure operating points into the security region under N-1 contingency. Through extensive numerical studies, the effectiveness of the proposed technique is confirmed.
Analysis Matrix for Smart Cities
Authors: Branchi Pablo , Fernández-Valdivielso Carlos , Matias Ignacio
Published: January 2014

The current digital revolution has ignited the evolution of communications grids and the development of new schemes for productive systems. Traditional technologic scenarios have been challenged, and Smart Cities have become the basis for urban competitiveness. The citizen is the one who has the power to set new scenarios, and that is why a definition of the way people interact with their cities is needed, as is commented in the first part of the article. At the same time, a lack of clarity has been detected in the way of describing what Smart Cities are, and the second part will try to set the basis for that. For all before, the information and communication technologies that manage and transform 21st century cities must be reviewed, analyzing their impact on new social behaviors that shape the spaces and means of communication, as is posed in the experimental section, setting the basis for an analysis matrix to score the different elements that affect a Smart City environment. So, as the better way to evaluate what a Smart City is, there is a need for a tool to score the different technologies on the basis of their usefulness and consequences, considering the impact of each application. For all of that, the final section describes the main objective of this article in practical scenarios, considering how the technologies are used by citizens, who must be the main concern of all urban development.