Introduction of dynamic rate-of-force development scaling factor in progressive drop jumps.

Rapid force generation across submaximal levels has been evaluated with the rate of force development scaling factor (RFD-SF) in different isometric tasks, while such measurement was still not verified in dynamic tasks. Our study was designed to evaluate the feasibility of the RFD-SF in dynamic drop jump (DJ) task (RFD-SFDJ). A total of 55 young athletes performed isometric plantarflexion at different submaximal intensities and 60 DJs (6 different drop heights). For each participant we calculated linearity (r2) and slope in isometric task (RFD-SFPF), eccentric part of DJ (RFD-SFDJ-ECC) and concentric part of DJ (RFD-SFDJ-CON), as well as average jump height (DJH) from each drop height. Our results revealed strong linear force-RFD relationship for isometric plantarflexion (r2 = 0.90 ± 0.06), eccentric (r2 = 0.87 ± 0.09) and concentric phase of DJ (r2 = 0.80 ± 0.18). Significant moderate positive correlations were calculated between RFD-SFPF and RFD-SFDJ-ECC (r = 0.311, p < 0.05) and small negative correlations between RFD-SFDJ-CON and RFD-SF (r = -0.276, p < 0.05). Significant positive moderate correlations were seen only between RFD-SFDJ-ECC and DJH from 10 cm (r = 0.459, p < 0.001) and 15 cm (r = 0.423, p < 0.01). This is the first study to introduce and confirm that RFD-SFDJ can be obtained from the multi-joint tasks (60 jumps) and still provide acceptable reliability and linear relationship. Furthermore, RFD-SFDJ may have greater practical application than RFD-SF assessed under the isometric conditions. This verification of RFD-SFDJ opens opportunities for further research regarding its practical application.

The influence of hypothermia prevention by application of skin moisture absorbent on the value of body temperature, body weight and blood parameters in piglets / A influência da prevenção da hipotermia pela aplicação de absorvente de umidade da pele no valor da temperatura corporal, peso corporal e parâmetros sanguíneos em leitões

Reducing the mortality rate is of a great economic importance for pig farming. Therefore, it is necessary to define the conditions in the farrowing unit based on the performance of the piglets, and specific hematological and biochemical parameters. Therefore, the aim of this paper is to examine the importance of using skin moisture absorbent and its influence in preventing hypothermia, which causes great economic losses in pig production. The experiment was set up on a commercial farm in Serbia and included 92 pigs divided into the experimental and control group. Body temperature values, body weight and blood parameters were monitored. The obtained values indicate that there is a significantly positive correlation of body temperature change and body weight values, and body temperature showed a significantly higher increase in the experimental group compared to the control group. The results obtained from hematological and biochemical parameters provide a clearer picture of the metabolic processes in piglets in the farrowing unit and can be used to further improve pig production and as a complement to genetic enhancement.(AU)

A redução da taxa de mortalidade é de grande importância econômica para a suinocultura. Portanto, é necessário definir as condições na unidade de parto com base no desempenho dos leitões, para serem parâmetros hematológicos e bioquímicos específicos. Portanto, o objetivo deste trabalho é examinar a importância do uso de absorvente de umidade na pele e sua influência na prevenção da hipotermia, que causa grandes perdas econômicas na produção de suínos. A experiência foi montada em uma fazenda comercial na Sérvia, e incluiu 92 porcos divididos no grupo experimental e de controle. Os valores de temperatura corporal, pesos corporais e parâmetros sanguíneos foram monitorados. Os valores obtidos indicam que existe uma correlação significativamente positiva entre os valores da temperatura corporal e dos pesos corporais, e a temperatura corporal mostrou um aumento significativamente maior no grupo experimental em comparação com o grupo de controle. Os resultados obtidos a partir de parâmetros hematológicos e bioquímicos fornecem uma imagem mais clara dos processos metabólicos em leitões na unidade de parto e podem ser usados para melhorar ainda mais a produção de suínos e como um complemento ao melhoramento genético.(AU)

Influence of transcervical infusion of seminal plasma on the farrowing rate and litter size in artificially inseminated sows / [Influência da infusão transcervical de plasma seminal na taxa de partos e tamanho da ninhada em porcos inseminados artificialmente]

Recent studies have focused on the use of seminal plasma to increase sow fertility after classical intracervical artificial insemination (AI). The aim of the present study was to investigate the influence of seminal plasma infusion, prior to the application of conventional AI dose, on the fertility rate in sows. A total of 114 sows were treated with intrauterine infusion of 30ml seminal plasma (SP), while 114 control sows were infused by physiological solution (PS), immediately before the application of conventional AI dose. The experiment was conducted at one commercial pig farm in Serbia, which is comprised of 1,500 sows in the breeding herd. Intrauterine infusion of seminal plasma produced significantly (P<0.05) higher farrowing rate (93.8%) and significantly (P<0.01) more live-born piglets per litter (12.27), compared with the control sows (83.33% farrowing rate and 10.48 piglets). The present results show that intrauterine infusion of seminal plasma can be a useful tool for increasing the fertility rate in artificially inseminated sows, under the conditions of practical intensive pig production.(AU)

Estudos recentes concentraram no uso de plasma seminal para aumentar a fertilidade de porcos após inseminação artificial intracervical clássica (AI). O objetivo do presente estudo foi investigar a influência da infusão de plasma seminal, antes da aplicação da dose de AI convencional, na taxa de fertilidade de porcas. 114 porcas foram tratadas com infusão intrauterina de 30ml plasma seminal, e 114 porcas de controle receberam infusão de solução fisiológica (PS) imediatamente antes da aplicação da dose convencional de AI. O experimento foi realizado em uma fazenda de porcos comercial na Serbia, que é composta de 1.500 porcas no rebanho de reprodução. A infusão intrauterina de plasma seminal produziu uma taxa de fertilidade (93,8%) significativamente maior (P<0.05), e significativamente mais (P<0.01) leitões nascidos vivos por ninhada (12,27) comparado com as porcas de controle (83,33% taxa de fertilidade e 10,48 leitões). Os resultados mostram que infusão intrauterina com plasma seminal pode ser uma ferramenta útil para aumentar a taxa de fertilidade em porcas inseminadas artificialmente, sob as condições de prática de produção intensiva de porcos.(AU)

Phenotypic correlation of characteristics in the gilt performance test with an average number of live-born piglets through all achieved births, during the reproductive exploitation / Ligação fenotípica de características no teste de desempenho de leitões com um número médio de leitões nascidos vivos durante todos os nascimentos realizados, durante a exploração reprodutiva

Reproductive efficacy of sows dictates the level of profitability of the production itself, and the moment of testing and selection of gilts for breeding (as the parents of a future generation), represents a very important moment. Given the fact that the selection of gilts for breeding is partly based on the weight-gain in the test, in this study we examined the influence of a daily weight-gain of gilts in the test of the manifestation of important reproductive characteristics - the size of the litter of the first and the other parities, as well as the percentage of sows that gave birth in relation to previous breeding process. Data of the 11637 tested gilts that completed the performance test have been used for the test. The studied characteristics were: the weight-gain at the end of the test, the number of live-born piglets, the number of stillborn piglets and the number of grown-weaned piglets in the first litter and the total number of live-born piglets, the total number of stillborn piglets and the total number of grown-weaned piglets. The results obtained in this study showed the effect of weight-gain in the reproductive efficacy test in the number of the live-born piglets in the first and from the 2nd to the 9th parity, as well as the percentage of the sows included in the next breeding process. By including all selected independent variables that showed the adequate statistical significance in correlation with the dependent variable, the determination coefficient rises to a value of 0.098 which represents 9.80% of the influence on the dependent variable, that can be explained by the independent variable, which leads to the conclusion that the binding strength between the variable "average live" and all the independent variables: "the number of litters", the MLD depth" and "the back-fat thickness", is very weak, which is not a rare case in multiple regression.(AU)

A eficácia reprodutiva das porcas dita o nível de rentabilidade da própria produção, e o momento do teste e seleção de leitoas para reprodução (como os pais de uma geração futura) representa um momento muito importante. Dado o fato de que a seleção de leitoas para criação é parcialmente baseada no ganho de peso no teste, neste estudo examinamos a influência de um ganho de peso diário de leitoas no teste da manifestação de importantes características reprodutivas - o tamanho da ninhada da primeira e das outras paridades, assim como a porcentagem de porcas que deram à luz em relação ao processo de criação anterior. Os dados das 11637 leitoas testadas que completaram o teste de desempenho foram utilizados para o teste. As características estudadas foram: o ganho de peso ao final do teste, o número de leitões nascidos vivos, o número de leitões natimortos e o número de leitões desmamados na primeira ninhada e o número total de leitões nascidos vivos , o número total de leitões natimortos e o número total de leitões desmamados. Os resultados obtidos neste estudo mostraram o efeito do ganho de peso no teste de eficácia reprodutiva no número de leitões nascidos vivos na primeira e da segunda à nona paridade, bem como a porcentagem de porcas incluídas na próximo processo de criação. Ao incluir todas as variáveis independentes selecionadas que mostraram a significância estatística adequada em correlação com a variável dependente, o coeficiente de determinação sobe para um valor de 0.098 que representa 9.80% da influência sobre a variável dependente, que pode ser explicada pela variável independente, que leva à conclusão de que a força de ligação entre a variável "média viva" e todas as variáveis independentes: "o número de ninhadas", a profundidade MLD "e" a espessura de gordura "é muito fraca, o que não é raro caso em regressão múltipla.(AU)

[Microbiological studies of Eskimo ice cream]. / Mikrobiologichni prouchvaniia na sladoleda "Eskimo".

Studied were a total of 86 batches of Eskimo ice-cream and 101 batches of 'cream' ice-cream. It was found that 83.6 per cent of the Eskimo batches were of 0.1 coliform titers and higher, and 16.3 per cent - of 0.01 coliform titers. The total microbial contamination of 86 per cent of the batches reached 50000 g, while that of 13.9 per cent reached 50000 to 180000/g. The colititer with 98 per cent of the batches of 'cream' ice-cream was 0.1 and more 0.1, and with 1.98 per cent only was it 0.01, while the microbial count with 96 per cent of these batches was up to 50000/g, and with 3.9 per cent it was from 50000 to 118000/g. Studied was the quality of the products used to obtain the Eskimo icing. The total microbial content of the surface layer varied from 200 to 46000/g, dropping up to 100-2100/g at storage. The fresh cow sweet cream butter had a colititer above 0.1 and did not contain yeasts and moulds per 0.01/gram of produce. During production, transportation, and storing of the produced frosting the microbial count rose 7 times, on an average, and the colititer dropped from 0.1 up to 0.001. The icing (frosting) used contributed to the rise of the microbial amount from 1.5 to 3.5 times and to the drop of the colititer of the final Eskimo product.

Long-term evaluation of the long-pulsed alexandrite laser for the removal of bikini hair at shortened treatment intervals.

BACKGROUND: Laser-assisted hair removal is becoming the treatment of choice for removing unwanted hair. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this work was to determine the long-term efficacy of the long-pulsed infrared (LPIR) laser at shortened treatment intervals for the treatment of bikini hair. METHODS: Eleven patients received five treatments at 3-week intervals to the right groin using the LPIR laser. Laser parameters were held constant for all treatments: 10 mm spot size, 20 J, and 20-msec pulse duration. Results were evaluated 1 year after the last laser treatment. Hair counts were performed. RESULTS: The average patient had a 78% clearance of hair noted at 1 year with no evidence of scarring or pigmentary changes. CONCLUSIONS: A simulated model of cutaneous hair follicles provides evidence that shorter treatment intervals (3 weeks) may be preferable for more complete destruction of the hair follicle bulb and bulge.

[Contamination of Bulgarian yogurt with yeasts and molds and the dynamics of their development in the product]. / Kontaminirane na bulgarskoto kiselo mliako s drozhdi i pleseni i dinamika na tekhnoto razvitie v produkta.

Twenty one complex production experiments aiming to establish the sources of Bulgarian yoghourt contamination with yeasts and moulds were carried out. It was established that they enter the product by way of unclean production lines and implements, by the fermenting agent, by the air in the fermentation premises. Their number in the ready product increases during storage. The extent of their increase is in relation with their initial number and with the type of yoghourt cooling and storage. At temperature 8-10 degrees C yeast numbers increase after 6-day storage from 1 500 to 4 000 times, while at temperature 18-25 degrees C even on the 3d day their number surpasses 1-15 millions per g. Moulds appear after 2-4 days of storage at 18-25 degrees C in quantities of 2000-13 000/g, while at 8-10 degrees C--after the 5th day and their number varies from 100 to 2 000/g. Defects in the organoleptic indices of yoghourt (acid-tart yeast taste and "rising") appear in case of accumulation of more than 500 000-1 million yeasts per g. In 3.5% of the 201 lots of yoghourt presented for sale on the market and investigated the presence of yeasts was established, while only one lot had moulds. Standards concerning the permissible yeast and mould content are presented, which guarantee longer periods of preservation time for Bulgarian yoghourt.

Nonreciprocal optical device based on second-harmonic generation.

We propose a novel device that exhibits nonreciprocity in optical reflection or transmission. The device is formed by two frequency-doubling crystals and a suitable dichroic mirror or a filter. The nonreciprocity may exceed 100 and be accompanied by nonlinear reflection or transmission. Applications in unidirectional and mode-locked lasers are discussed.

Frequency-domain analysis of the mode-locking process in a laser with a second-harmonic nonlinear mirror.

We present a computer simulation of the mode-locking process in a pulsed Nd:YAG laser with a nonlinear mirror based on second-harmonic generation. For the first time to our knowledge, a frequency-domain description of the passive mode-locking process is presented, which provides complete information for the amplitude and phase evolution of the individual modes. The mode locking is described as being due to the interaction of the longitudinal modes in the nonlinear mirror through second-harmonic and sum- and difference-frequency generation.

Frequency-doubling mode locker: the influence of group-velocity mismatch.

The influence of the group-velocity mismatch between the fundamental and the second harmonic in the frequency-doubling nonlinear mirror is investigated theoretically. The nonstationary analysis provides an estimation for the maximum pulse-shortening capabilities of the device when it is used as a passive mode locker. The pulse-shape deformation is also investigated.

Excretion of trifluoroacetic acid as a metabolite of halothane in digestive juices.

The excretion of trifluoroacetic acid (TFAA) in bile, saliva and gastric juice of two groups of guinea pigs with bile fistulae was measured by ion-chromatography during inhalation of halothane (0.25% and 1.0%) for two hours and after inhalation of halothane. In another two groups without bile fistulae, excretion of TFAA was measured in saliva and gastric juice during and after inhalation of same concentrations of halothane.The excretion of TFAA increased with time and showed the highest concentrations in the saliva. The highest excretion rate and cumulative amounts of excreted TFAA were observed in bile. The cumulative amounts of TFAA excreted into the bile, saliva and gastric juice was 4.85 +/- 1.87 micro mol, 0.89 +/- 0.62 micro mol, 0.11 +/- 0.06 micro mol, respectively, after inhalation of 0.25% halothane and 5.36+/- 2.29 micro mol, 1.50 +/- 0.59 micro mol, 0.25 +/- 0.19 micro mol, respectively, after inhalation of 1.0% halothane. The excretion of TFAA in bile and saliva was saturated after inhalation of the higher concentration of halothane. The excretion of TFAA into the gastric juice was higher with 1.0% concentration of halothane and in animals without bile fistulae. We concluded that TFAA a metabolite of halothane is excreted not only in bile but also in saliva and gastric juice. Biotransformation of halothane in salivary glands seems very likely. A small amount of TFAA excreted in bile enters the enterohepatic circulation. The excretion of TFAA in digestive juice seems to be controlled by a rate-limiting mechanism.

Derivation of dimensional and material requirements for propagation and processing of temporal optical solitons in planar geometry channel waveguides.

We investigate the dispersion of the group velocity of light in slab and rectangular waveguides and obtain analytic expressions for the first derivative of the propagation vector with respect to the angular frequency and numerical values for the second derivative for both geometries. The last quantity is an important parameter in the temporal soliton propagation equation, which motivates this research. Provided the dispersion within the channel can be adjusted properly, planar geometry waveguides can represent good candidates for the optical processing of temporal solitons carried by optical fibers. We discuss the manner in which the dispersion coefficient depends on waveguide dimensions and material constants, and we determine the parameters that optimize soliton processing.