bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Endo‐Laparoscopic Colectomy Without Mini‐Laparotomy for Left‐Sided Colonic Tumors
Authors: Cheung Hester Y. S. , Leung Alex L. H. , Chung C. C. , Ng Dennis C. K. , Li Michael K. W. 
Published: April 2009

AbstractBackgroundIn performing “traditional” laparoscopic colectomy for left‐sided colonic tumors, specimen retrieval necessitates a mini‐laparotomy which often is the cause of postoperative pain, wound infection, and other pain‐related complications. Here we describe a new technique of endo‐laparoscopic anterior resection without mini‐laparotomy, where specimen retrieval and colorectal anastomosis can be safely achieved with the use of the transanal endoscopic operation (TEO) device set‐up.MethodsThis hybrid natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (NOTES) technique involves insertion of the TEO device in the lower rectum and luminal extraction of the specimen via the device. The technique is applicable to patients with small tumors (4 cm or less) in the left‐sided colon or upper rectum, where transanal construction of a stapled colorectal anastomosis is intended.ResultsThe technique was attempted in ten patients (male:female 4:6) with median age of 66 years (range: 55–81 years). Five patients suffered from rectosigmoid tumors, whereas four patients had lesions in the sigmoid colon and one had a lesion in the descending colon. The median operating time was 127.5 min (range: 105–170 min) and the median blood loss was 20 ml (range: 20–50 ml). The median hospital stay was 7 days (range: 4–18 days), while the median maximum pain score (visual analog score) was 2 (range: 2–3) during in‐hospital stay in this small series.ConclusionsOur preliminary experience indicates this new technique of endo‐laparoscopic colectomy is feasible for selected patients with left‐sided colonic tumors. Complications related to mini‐laparotomy can be abolished entirely with this hybrid approach.
Universal Precautions and Surgery in Sierra Leone: The Unprotected Workforce
Authors: Kingham T. Peter , Kamara T. B. , Daoh K. S. , Kabbia Soccoh , Kushner Adam L. 
Published: April 2009

AbstractBackgroundSurgical patients and healthcare workers in sub‐Saharan Africa are at an increased risk of contracting HIV. Sierra Leone is one of the poorest countries in the world and has a documented HIV prevalence rate of 2%. Because surgeons and other healthcare staff in sub‐Saharan Africa are at risk for HIV exposure from their patients, an assessment of protective supplies and equipment was considered essential.MethodsA Society of International Humanitarian Surgeons team in cooperation with the Sierra Leonean Ministry of Health and Sanitation undertook a survey of HIV‐protective supplies and equipment at government hospitals in Sierra Leone. The presence of eye protection, sterile gloves, aprons, functioning suction machines, and sharps containers was recorded and compared with a local mission hospital and a local private hospital.ResultsOnly 20% of government hospitals in Sierra Leone have adequate stores of sterile gloves or eye protection. Suction pumps and aprons are available in only 30–40% of facilities, respectively, and only half have functioning sterilizers and sharps containers. The mission and private hospitals were fully stocked.ConclusionsAlthough surgical healthcare workers are at risk for exposure to HIV, resources for their protection at government hospitals in Sierra Leone are severely lacking. The Society of International Humanitarian Surgeons is developing a program to provide protective supplies and equipment to hospitals in Sierra Leone, but additional efforts by other organizations working to decrease the spread of HIV are essential.
Effect of Preoperative Hyperfibrinogenemia on Recurrence of Colorectal Cancer Without a Systemic Inflammatory Response
Authors: Yamashita Hiroharu , Kitayama Joji , Taguri Masataka , Nagawa Hirokazu 
Published: April 2009

AbstractBackgroundDisorders in the blood coagulation system are often associated with malignancy. Patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) have been shown to have abnormal data for various coagulation tests.MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed the relation between the preoperative plasma fibrinogen level and tumor recurrence in 569 patients with CRC who underwent curative surgical resection and were followed up without adjuvant chemotherapy.ResultsThe plasma fibrinogen level showed a positive association with tumor recurrence, age, sex, T stage, and TNM classification. When divided with the median value, hyperfibrinogenemia is positively correlated with tumor recurrence, although it lost independence in the multivariate analysis. In the C‐reactive protein (CRP)‐negative population, hyperfibrinogenemia is independently correlated with tumor recurrence and recurrence‐free survival. In contrast, hyperfibrinogenemia has no effect on recurrence in CRP‐positive patients.ConclusionsHyperfibrinogenemia is clinically relevant in tumor recurrence before a systemic inflammatory response and thus can be a useful predictor of recurrence in the preinflammatory stage of CRC.
ON THE LARGEST PRIME FACTOR OF THE MERSENNE NUMBERS
Authors: FORD KEVIN , LUCA FLORIAN , SHPARLINSKI IGOR E. 
Published: April 2009

AbstractLetP(k) be the largest prime factor of the positive integerk. In this paper, we prove that the seriesis convergent for each constantα<1/2, which gives a more precise form of a result of C. L. Stewart [‘On divisors of Fermat, Fibonacci, Lucas and Lehmer numbers’,Proc. London Math. Soc.35(3) (1977), 425–447].
QUALIFIED DIFFERENCE SETS FROM UNIONS OF CYCLOTOMIC CLASSES
Authors: BYARD KEVIN , BROUGHAN KEVIN 
Published: April 2009

AbstractQualified difference sets (QDS) composed of unions of cyclotomic classes are discussed. An exhaustive computer search for such QDS and modified QDS that also possess the zero residue has been conducted for all powers n=4,6,8 and 10. Two new families were discovered in the case n=8 and some new isolated systems were discovered for n=6 and n=10.
Effects of separation, dilution, washing and acidification on ammonia volatilization from surface-applied cattle slurry
Authors: Stevens R. J. , Laughlin R. J. , Frost J. P. 
Published: March 2009

SUMMARYTreatments which lowered the rate of ammonia volatilization from surface-applied cattle slurry were evaluated in three field experiments during 1989/90 at the Agricultural Research Institute of Northern Ireland. The relative effects of separation, dilution with water before application and washing with a water spray after application, on ammonia volatilization rates were compared over 4 days using ventilated enclosures. As the loss rate of ammonia during the first 4 days after application was highly correlated with the loss rate over the first 4 hours after application, the loss rate in the first 4 hours was used as a rapid method to assess the efficacy of various combinations of separation, dilution and acidification. Ammonia volatilization loss rates from treatment combinations were compared to the loss rate from whole slurry.A 50% decrease in ammonia volatilization was achieved by separation through a 0·4 mm mesh, separation through a 10·0 mm mesh plus dilution with 86% by volume of water, or separation through a 2·0 mm mesh plus washing with 53% by volume of water.A 75% decrease in ammonia volatilization was achieved by acidification to pH 6·5, or combinations of separation and dilution, namely separation through a 0·4 mm mesh plus 50% dilution or separation through a 5·0 mm mesh plus 100% dilution.A 90% decrease in ammonia volatilization was achieved by acidification to pH 6·0, dilution by 50% plus acidification to pH 6·5, or separation through a 0·4 mm mesh plus acidification to pH 6·5.The effects of separation and acidification on ammonia volatilization were cumulative. There was a highly significant inverse linear relationship between ammonia volatilization rate and volume of nitric acid used. Adding 10 M nitric acid at 1·4% by volume lowered volatilization by 75% of that from whole slurry and increased the nitrogen content of the slurry by 2 g N/l, making it a more balanced NPK fertilizer for cut swards. Because the variable value of cattle slurry is due to loss of nitrogen as ammonia and smothering of the sward with slurry solids, a combination of separation or dilution to lower sward contamination and acidification with nitric acid to lower volatilization may be the best practical option for improving cattle slurry as a fertilizer for cut grass.
Energy requirements of the pregnant ewe
Authors: Russel A. J. , Doney J. M. , Reid R. L. 
Published: March 2009

Fifty-one Scottish Blackface ewes were divided into three groups and individually fed throughout the latter half of pregnancy: (I) in excess of their nutrient requirements, (II) to produce a uniformly moderate degree of undernourishment throughout the final 6 weeks of pregnancy, and (III) to produce a uniformly severe degree of undernourishment during the same period.Marked differences were evident in the amounts of feed required to maintain the prescribed nutritional states, and within the undernourished groups, between ewes with single and twin foetuses. In both groups of undernourished ewes the amount of feed required to maintain the prescribed level of undernourishment during late pregnancy was strongly related (P < 0·001) to birth-weight. The additional nutrient requirement of the ewe in late pregnancy was estimated to be 100 g D.o.m./kg foetus/day.
The relative importance of embryo size and endosperm size in causing the effects associated with seed size in wheat
Authors: Bremner P. M. , Eckersall R. N. , Scott R. K. 
Published: March 2009

1. The growth of wheat plants at two depths of planting, from seed in which embryo size and endosperm size were varied independently was studied.2. Embryo size was shown to have a negligible effect on growth, whilst endosperm size had a considerable effect; the influence of neither embryosize nor endosperm size appeared to be in any way modified by depth of planting. It is suggested that the relationship between seed size and plant size is governed by the amount of reserve material present in the seed.3. During the first 6 days of growth small embryos had a higher relative growth rate than large ones, apparently regardless, within wide limits, of the amount of reserve material in the seed. Thereafter until the exhaustion of reserves growth appeared to be related to the amount of reserve material present.
Survival and fertility of bovine sperm kept at variable temperatures in coconut milk extender
Authors: Norman C. , Johnson C. E. , Porterfield I. D. , Goldberg E. , Dunbar R. S. , Min H. S. , Dunn H. O. 
Published: March 2009

Bovine spermatozoa aged for 6–7 days at room temperatures (18–30° C.) in a coconut milk extender retained their fertilizing capacity. However, their fertilizing ability appeared to be impaired by environmental hazards in the form of oxygen damage, exposure to visible light, and temperature shock. Protective measures developed and used in the preparation and in the storage of the sperm suspensions to minimize premature loss of sperm function involved the addition of catalase and egg yolk to the extender and the maintenance of cell suspensions in the dark in vials containing a minimal air space. The experimental evidence obtained with this improved coconut milk extender established its ability to support and sustain the fertilizing capacity of bovine sperm for 6–7 days at room temperatures at a level comparable to the fertilizing capacity of refrigerated sperm in milk-glycerol or egg yolk-citrate-glycine extenders. The economic importance of this room temperature diluent is suggested by the fact that it eliminates the costly refrigeration required to maintain stored and shipped bovine semen at 5° C.Coconut milk extender modified by the addition of 5% egg yolk also proved to be a satisfactory storage medium for sperm at low temperatures. It was found to be superior to both egg yolk-citrate and skim-milk extenders in conserving motility at 5° C. The fertilizing capacity of Ayrshire and Brown Swiss sperm stored at 5° C. in coconut milk extender which contained 15% coconut milk and 5% egg yolk compared favourably with the fertilizing capacity reported for sperm stored at 5° C. in other more widely used diluents. The number of motile sperm recovered from this extender after freezing to −79° C. was comparable to the number of motile sperm recovered from the egg yolk-citrate and skim-milk test diluents. The results of this study indicate that coconut milk extender is a versatile, easily prepared medium which can be used to preserve functional sperm over a wide temperature range.
Milking performance of Blanco Orejinegro and Jersey crossbred cattle
Authors: Pearson Lucia , Waugh R. K. , Salazar Bernardo , Botero F. M. , Acosta O. 
Published: March 2009

SUMMARYSamples of a Colombian criollo breed of cattle, the Blanco Orejinegro, and contemporary onequarter Jersey crossbreds were kept on a farm in the Andes. Records were included of all calvings which occurred over an 8-year period, giving totals of 1357 lactations from 514 purebreds and 424 lactations from 137 crossbreds.Age at first calving was about 41 months for both breed groups. Cattle were milked twice daily by hand without calf at foot. Mean lactation yields were 220 kg (purebreds) and 612 kg (crossbreds). The repeatability and heritability of milk yield are estimated. Statistics are also given for lactation length, daily yield, calving interval and butterfat percentage. The effects on yield of age at first calving and calving year were negligible, but month of calving was important.It is concluded that the low level of performance was partly due to failure to eject milk without calf at foot, at least in the case of the purebreds, and that this was itself mainly due to genetic causes. The improvement in yield due to crossbreeding was not accompanied by a loss of other desirable traits. The development of the local cattle industry is discussed in the light of these results and the general characteristics of the region.
Statistical research on the fate of water in the adult cow. I. Dry cows
Authors: Paquay R. , Baere R. De , Lousse A. 
Published: March 2009

SUMMARYStatistical analyses were carried out on the data obtained, under strictly controlled conditions in metabolism stalls, from 219 adult non-pregnant dry cows fed on seventyone different rations. The authors have calculated and studied the correlations between total water intake, faecal and urinary water losses, absorbed and available water, and the seventy-five other factors which were analysed in each of the seventy-one rations. Total water intake closely correlated with the dry-matter intake and also with the dry-matter content of the diet; forages with high moisture content enhance the total water intake which is also significantly correlated to the intake of nitrogen, fat and some mineral elements.Total water intake closely correlated with the dry-matter intake and also with the dry-matter content of the diet; forages with high moisture content enhance the total water intake which is also significantly correlated to the intake of nitrogen, fat and some mineral elements.Faecal water losses are strongly correlated with the dry-matter intake and on the faecal dry matter. Moisture content of the diet has no significant effect but increasing pentosans and crude-fibre intake enhance the losses.Urinary water excretion is closely related to the amount of absorbed water and to the dry-matter content of the diet; a highly significant correlation also exists between urinary water and urinary nitrogen and potassium. The amount of water excreted in the urine may affect the utilization of digestible nitrogen and potassium.Available water is increased logarithmically when total water intake rises arithmetically. Feeds with high moisture content thus enhance the amount of available water.
A preliminary study of protein requirements of African cattle
Authors: Elliott R. C. 
Published: March 2009

1. A preliminary study of the protein requirements of young steers of two breeds of African cattle has been described. These requirements were assessed by studying body weight changes of groups of animals fed for 140 days on rations varying in protein content.2. There were only small differences between the breeds in their voluntary food intake while appetite seemed to be linearly related to protein content.3. The two breeds were equally efficient in food and protein utilization.4. Live-weight gain improved significantly as the protein content of the ration increased from 6 to 10%, but a further increase to 14% produced only a small subsequent improvement in growth.5. Maintenance of weight was estimated to occur at a digestible protein intake of only 48% of that recommended by Brody (1945), while the required digestible protein for one pound daily gain was in agreement with the National Research Council (1950) standard.
Quantitative observations on pig embryos of known ages
Authors: Marrable A. W. , Ashdown R. R. 
Published: March 2009

1. The lengths and weights of 241 pig embryos, aged 26–109 days, were recorded; the pregnant sows were from a mixed herd of Landrace, Large White and Wessex stock and some of their crosses.2. An empirical linear regression of length on age was estimated (equation 1); the relation between weight and age was represented by a polynomial weight and age was represented by a polynomial (equation 2).We thank Mr A. S. Cray and the other directors of Unigate Ltd. for giving us the pigs; Mr P. Sedgewick of that Company gave us excellent co-operation. Prof. C. W. Ottaway and Dr P. Radford helped us throughout the investigation.
Body composition of young sheep: II. Effect of stocking rate on body composition of Dorset Horn cross lambs
Authors: Arnold G. W. , Gharaybeh H. R. , Dudzinski M. L. , McManus W. R. , Axelsen A. 
Published: March 2009

SUMMARYEmpty body weight and body measurements were made on 142 lambs from Border Leicester × Merino and Merino ewes mated to Dorset Horn rams, grazed at three stocking rates and slaughtered at approximately 32·3 kg full body weight (FBW). Carcass composition studies were made on 58 of these lambs. An approximate doubling of growth rate during the first 6 weeks of life occurred between stocking rates for lambs from Merino ewes. A smaller difference was found in lambs from Border Leicester × Merino ewes. Growth rates of lambs from Merinos were significantly lower at all times from birth to slaughter. Stocking rate, breed and sex effects on growth rate resulted in lambs reaching mean weight of 32·3 kg at 80–150 days.A three-way analysis of variance was performed on data for all parameters measured using FBW as a covariate. These parameters were of carcass measurements and composition, and of composition of the internal organs. There were no effects of stocking rate on empty body weight, carcass weight, or any carcass measurements. The weight of dry edible meat was depressed at the high stocking rate due to a higher moisture content. The fresh weight of internal organs was lower at the high stocking rate. A number of sex differences were found. Ewes had lighter carcasses and heavier cannon bones; their edible meat had a higher moisture content and higher ash content than wethers. Eye muscle width was less in ewes than in wethers. Internal organs of ewes had a lower EE % and higher CP % than those of wethers. The only breed type differences were in the weights of internal organs and eye muscle widths at the 9–10th and lOth–llth ribs, and age to slaughter.
Observations on the calcium balance of laying hens
Authors: Hurwitz S. , Griminger P. 
Published: March 2009

Two groups of Single Comb White Leghorn pullets, 4 months of age, were fed 1·85 and 2·70% calcium in the diet, respectively, for twelve consecutive periods, each consisting of 4 weeks.Records of egg production and egg weight were kept throughout the entire experiment for each hen. Calcium balance and egg-shell quality studies were conducted with 16 pullets for 5 consecutive days out of each 28-day period.A highly significant difference between the lots favouring the high-calcium birds was found in egg production, shell weight, and calcium retention. There were no significant differences between the lots in percentage calcium retention, food consumption, and body weight. The high-calcium group was shown to retain more calcium from the feed and excrete more calcium through eggs. Calcium retention and percentage calcium retention increased upon commencement of egg production to reach a maximum at the second period of production. Both remained fairly constant thereafter.The hens went into negative balance early in production and returned to positive balance during the later part of the first laying year. The return to positive balance could be explained by an increase in calcium retention and a decrease in egg production. There was no reduction in shell weight, or shell weight per unit surface area during the period covered by this trial.
Determination of nitrogen in soil by the Kjeldahl method
Authors: Bremner J. M. 
Published: March 2009

1. The reliability of the Kjeldahl method for the determination of nitrogen in soils has been investigated using a range of soils containing from 0·03 to 2·7% nitrogen.2. The same result was obtained when soil was analysed by a variety of Kjeldahl procedures which included methods known to recover various forms of nitrogen not determined by Kjeldahl procedures commonly employed for soil analysis. From this and other evidence presented it is concluded that very little, if any, of the nitrogen in the soils examined was in the form of highly refractory nitrogen compounds or of compounds containing N—N or N—O linkages.3. Results by the method of determining nitrogen in soils recommended by the Association of Official Agricultural Chemists were 10–37% lower than those obtained by other methods tested. Satisfactory results were obtained by this method when the period of digestion recommended was increased.4. Ammonium-N fixed by clay minerals is determined by the Kjeldahl method.5. Selenium and mercury are considerably more effective than copper for catalysis of Kjeldahl digestion of soil. Conditions leading to loss of nitrogen using selenium are defined, and difficulties encountered using mercury are discussed.6. The most important factor in Kjeldahl analysis is the temperature of digestion with sulphuric acid, which is controlled largely by the amount of potassium (or sodium) sulphate used for digestion.7. The period of digestion required for Kjeldahl analysis of soil depends on the concentration of potassium sulphate in the digest. When the concentration is low (e.g. 0·3 g./ml. sulphuric acid) it is necessary to digest for several hours; when it is high (e.g. 1·0 g./ml. sulphuric acid) short periods of digestion are adequate. Catalysts greatly affect the rate of digestion when the salt concentration is low, but have little effect when the salt concentration is high.8. Nitrogen is lost during Kjeldahl analysis when the temperature of digestion exceeds about 400° C.9. Determinations of the amounts of sulphuric acid consumed by various mineral and organic soils during Kjeldahl digestion showed that there is little risk of loss of nitrogen under the conditions usually employed for Kjeldahl digestion of soil. Acid consumption values for various soil constituents are given, from which the amounts of sulphuric acid likely to be consumed during Kjeldahl digestion of different types of soil can be calculated.10. Semi-micro Kjeldahl methods of determining soil nitrogen gave the same results as macro-Kjeldahl methods.11. The use of the Hoskins apparatus for the determination of ammonium is described.12. It is concluded that the Kjeldahl method is satisfactory for the determination of nitrogen in soils provided a few simple precautions are observed. The merits and defects of different Kjeldahl procedures are discussed.