Comportamento de vacas da raça Holandesa em ordenha robotizada / Behaviour of Holstein cows in robotic milking

O objetivo do trabalho foi avaliar o comportamento ingestivo de concentrado e de ordenha de vacas em lactação em sistema de ordenha robotizada (SOR) conforme a paridade. O experimento foi realizado de março a junho de 2014, em Castro, PR, com vacas da raça Holandesa, confinadas em free stall, ordenhadas automaticamente e classificadas de acordo com a ordem de parto (1, 2 e +3 partos). Os dados foram extraídos do software de gerenciamento, sendo consideradas as atividades de um dia por mês (24h), por quatro meses, no dia seguinte após a realização do controle leiteiro oficial. Os dados foram analisados por técnicas de análise multivariada (análise fatorial, canônica e de agrupamento), utilizando-se o pacote computacional SAS. O comportamento ingestivo de concentrado influenciou toda a atividade das vacas no SOR, sendo fundamental para o desempenho dos animais nesse sistema. A ordem de parto não influenciou o comportamento na ordenha, somente o comportamento ingestivo, devido à dominância social das vacas multíparas. As vacas mais produtivas apresentaram um comportamento ingestivo mais agressivo. Conclui-se que a ordem de parto influencia o comportamento ingestivo de concentrado, porém não interfere no comportamento de ordenha de vacas com maior paridade. No SOR, primíparas devem ser manejadas em grupo específico.(AU)

The aim of this study was to assess the ingestive behavior of concentrate and milking of dairy cows in automatic milking system (AMS) according to parity. The experiment was conducted from March to June 2014, in Castro, PR, with Holstein cows housed in a free stall, milked automatically, and classified according to the lactation order (1, 2 and +3 lactations). Data were extracted from the management software, considering the activities of one day a month (24 hours) for four months, the day after the official milk production control. The data were analyzed by multivariate analysis (factorial analysis, canonical and cluster), using the statistical package SAS. The ingestive behavior of concentrate influenced the entire activity of the cows in the AMS, being a fundamental factor in the performance of animals in this system. Parity did not influence the milking behavior, only the ingestive behavior, due to the social dominance of multiparous cows. High-yielding cows had a more aggressive ingestive behavior. It was concluded that parity influenced the ingestive behavior of concentrate, but does not interfere in milking behavior in cows with higher parity. In the AMS, primiparous should be managed in a specific group.(AU)

Global and Local Oriented Gabor Texture Histogram for Person Re-identification

ABSTRACT: Automated person re-identification is a key process in global distributed camera systems. This paper proposes a new feature, the Global and Local-Oriented Gabor Texture Histogram (GLOGTH), for person re-identification. GLOGTH is a combination of the local texture and global structure information of a given input image. This feature aims at representing the human appearance traits with low-dimensional feature extraction. The proposed feature extracts the texture information of input images based on the orientation of the weighted gradient from the global representation. In GLOGTH, the principal orientation is determined by the gradient of the pixels. Based on the principal orientation, the Gabor feature is extracted and imbues GLOGTH with the strong ability to express edge information, apart from making it robust to lighting variances. The experimental results acquired from the databases demonstrate that the proposed GLOGTH framework is capable of achieving notable improvements, in many cases reaching higher classification accuracy than traditional frameworks.

Manipulation of a quasi-natural cell block for high-efficiency transplantation of adherent somatic cells

Recent advances have raised hope that transplantation of adherent somatic cells could provide dramatic new therapies for various diseases. However, current methods for transplanting adherent somatic cells are not efficient enough for therapeutic applications. Here, we report the development of a novel method to generate quasi-natural cell blocks for high-efficiency transplantation of adherent somatic cells. The blocks were created by providing a unique environment in which cultured cells generated their own extracellular matrix. Initially, stromal cells isolated from mice were expanded in vitro in liquid cell culture medium followed by transferring the cells into a hydrogel shell. After incubation for 1 day with mechanical agitation, the encapsulated cell mass was perforated with a thin needle and then incubated for an additional 6 days to form a quasi-natural cell block. Allograft transplantation of the cell block into C57BL/6 mice resulted in perfect adaptation of the allograft and complete integration into the tissue of the recipient. This method could be widely applied for repairing damaged cells or tissues, stem cell transplantation, ex vivo gene therapy, or plastic surgery.

A novel tissue microarray instrumentation:The HT-1 tissue microarrayer.

Background: Tissue microarray (TMA) is a novel and useful tool to efficiently analyze gene expression in histological tissues. Aim: Cost-efficient and easy to use automated tissue arrayers will provide a better instrumentation to generate TMAs. Thus, we designed and produced our tissue microarrayer to meet these needs. Materials and Methods: The HT-1 tissue microarrayer we designed and manufactured consists primarily of four parts, including an instrument to make array pores for the recipient paraffin blocks, a punch needle, an instrument for negative-pressure embedding, and a special manipulator. By using the HT-1, 14 different TMAs were made to accommodate 312 cases of tissues and TMA sections were tested by hematoxylin-eosin (H&E) staining, in situ hybridization, and immunohistochemistry. Results: Expand: Hematoxylin and eosin staining showed that the tissue cylinders were similar, even, and in order on the slides. Most importantly, the HT-1 microarrayer can make array pores in the recipient paraffin block with a single application in seconds. The HT-1 also contains a unique negative pressure system for embedding TMA blocks. In addition, HT-1 can make tissue cylinders with the same levels and depth for equally embedded and sectioning. Conclusions: The HT-1 tissue microarrayer is a device that is simple, economical and easy to use.

Comparative evaluation of paired blood culture (aerobic/aerobic) and single blood culture, along with clinical importance in catheter versus peripheral line at a tertiary care hospital.

Purpose: Paired blood culture (PBC) is uncommon practice in hospitals in India, leading to delayed and inadequate diagnosis. Also contamination remains a critical determinant in hampering the definitive diagnosis. Objectives: To establish the need of PBC over single blood culture (SBC) along with the degree of contamination, this comparative retrospective study was initiated. Materials and Methods : We processed 2553 PBC and 4350 SBC in BacT/ALERT 3D (bioMerieux) between October 2010 and June 2011. The positive cultures were identified in VITEK 2 Compact (bioMerieux). True positivity and contaminants were also analyzed in 486 samples received from catheter and peripheral line. Results : Out of 2553 PBC samples, positivity was seen in 350 (13.70%). In 4350 SBC samples, positivity was seen in 200 samples (4.59%). In PBC true pathogens were 267 (10.45%) and contaminants were 83 (3.25%), whereas in SBC 153 (3.51%) were true positives and contaminants were 47 (1.08%). Most of the blood cultures (99.27 %) grew within 72 h and 95.8% were isolated within 48 h. In 486 PBCs received from catheter/periphery (one each), catheter positivity was found in 85 (true positives were 48, false positives 37). In peripheral samples true positives were 50 and false positives were 8. Conclusion: Significantly higher positive rates were seen in PBCs compared with SBCs. Automated blood culture and identification methods significantly reduced the time required for processing of samples and also facilitated yield of diverse/rare organisms. Blood culture from catheter line had higher false positives than peripheral blood culture. Thus every positive result from a catheter must be correlated with clinical findings and requires further confirmation.

Evaluation of an automated erythrocyte sedimentation rate analyzer as compared to the Westergren manual method in measurement of erythrocyte sedimentation rate.

Context: Monitor 100® (Electa Lab, Italy) is a newly developed automated method for measurement of erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR). Aims: The aim of our study was to compare the ESR values by Monitor 100® against the standard Westergren method. Patients and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at a Level I trauma care center on 200 patients. The samples taken were as per the recommendations charted out by International Council for Standardization in Hematology (ICSH) for comparing automated and manual Westergrens method. Statistical Analysis Used: Bland and Altman statistical analysis was applied for evaluating Monitor 100® against the conventional Westergren method. Results: The analysis revealed a low degree of agreement between the manual and automated methods especially for higher ESR values, mean difference -11.2 (95% limits of agreement, -46.3 to 23.9) and mean difference -13.4 (95% limits of agreement-58.9 to 32.1) for 1 and 2 hours, respectively. This discrepancy which is of clinical significance was less evident for ESR values in the normal range <25 mm/hour (-7.7 mean of difference; -18.9 to 3.5 limits of agreement). Conclusions: The fully automated system Monitor 100® for ESR measurement tends to underestimate the manual ESR readings. Hence it is recommended that a correction factor be applied for the range of ESR values while using this equipment. Further studies and validation experiments would be required.

Comparisons of Three Automated Systems for Genomic DNA Extraction in a Clinical Diagnostic Laboratory

PURPOSE: The extraction of nucleic acid is initially a limiting step for successful molecular-based diagnostic workup. This study aims to compare the effectiveness of three automated DNA extraction systems for clinical laboratory use. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Venous blood samples from 22 healthy volunteers were analyzed using QIAamp(R) Blood Mini Kit (Qiagen), MagNA Pure LC Nucleic Acid Isolation Kit I (Roche), and Magtration-Magnazorb DNA common kit-200N (PSS). The concentration of extracted DNAs was measured by NanoDrop ND-1000 (PeqLab). Also, extracted DNAs were confirmed by applying in direct agarose gel electrophoresis and were amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for human beta-globin gene. RESULTS: The corrected concentrations of extracted DNAs were 25.42 +/- 8.82 ng/microLiter (13.49-52.85 ng/microLiter) by QIAamp(R) Blood Mini Kit (Qiagen), and 22.65 +/- 14.49 ng/microLiter (19.18-93.39 ng/microLiter) by MagNA Pure LC Nucleic Acid Isolation Kit I, and 22.35 +/- 6.47 ng/microLiter (12.57-35.08 ng/microLiter) by Magtration-Magnazorb DNA common kit-200N (PSS). No statistically significant difference was noticed among the three commercial kits (p > 0.05). Only the mean value of DNA purity through PSS was slightly lower than others. All the extracted DNAs were successfully identified in direct agarose gel electrophoresis. And all the product of beta-globin gene PCR showed a reproducible pattern of bands. CONCLUSION: The effectiveness of the three automated extraction systems is of an equivalent level and good enough to produce reasonable results. Each laboratory could select the automated system according to its clinical and laboratory conditions.

Spuriously elevated automated platelet count in severe burns--a report of two cases.

Increasing use of automated analyzers in the hematology laboratory has resulted in enhanced accuracy of results. However, operators of automated analyzers and the end users utilizing the automated data need to be aware of factitious results which might be reported at times by these instruments. Case summaries of two patients with severe burns showing spuriously elevated automated platelet count are presented here.

Quality control and automation in cervical cytology.

Pap smear is a clinical screening test and does not have 100% sensitivity and specificity. Sensitivity of pap smear can be improved with proper collection techniques and education of all concerned. Implementation and maintenance of quality control measures help to detect, reduce and correct deficiencies in pap smear analysis. Advent of automated devices has provided an opportunity to further improve the sensitivity of pap smear. Automation in cytology, seemed wildly speculative a decade ago, is becoming a reality now. Areas of automation include: Data storage and retrieval by computers, automatic staining and coverslipping machines, sample preparation methods, screening process control-devices and imaging systems for searching and interpretation of abnormal cells.

The validation of an automated liquid chromatography system for the diagnosis of thalassemias and hemoglobinopathies.

Accurate and precise hemoglobin separation and the quantitation of Hb A2 and Hb F are essential for the diagnosis of the thalassemias and hemoglobinopathies. Presented in this study is the validation of the the Hb A2 assay of the HbGold analyzer, a fully automated liquid chromatography system for hemoglobin separation and quantitation. Variability of Hb A2 quantitation was quite low; the CV's of within-run, between-run and interlaboratory studies were 1.8-3.1%, 3.4-6.0% and 6.8-8.8% respectively. The results of the %Hb A2 quantitated by HbGold analyzer correlated well with those given by the Bio-Rad Variant Hb testing system (r=0.98). The application of the HbGold analyzer for the diagnosis of the thalassemia phenotypes frequently observed in Thailand is considered. In conclusion, the Hb A2 assay of the HbGold analyzer could be used for the quantitation of Hb A2 and Hb F and the presumptive identification of abnormal hemoglobins.

Anestesia cuantitativa continua asistida por computador: evaluación de un controlador de ASA abierta / Closed-circuit anesthesia computer-assisted: evaluation of an open-loop controller

Este trabajo presenta un controlador de asa abierta el cual inyecta en forma continua y variable en función del tiempo sevofluorano en el circuito, acorde al modelo teórico de captación de la raíz cuadrada, es adaptativo a las respuestas del analizador de gases y al comportamiento hemodinámico. Se realizó para simplificar la administración de la anestesia cuantitativa. Adicionalmente, la única forma de administrar flujos metabólicos de gas fresco (200-300mls/min.), desde el inicio de la anestesia, es mediante la inyección del líquido en el circuito. Se determinó el error predictivo de las concentraciones con ocho mediciones durante la primera hora. Se encontro una sobre predicción creciente de la C espirada de -3.08 por ciento (Intervalo de confianza 95 por ciento de -30.5 por ciento a 5.69 por ciento) desde el minuto 5 a 9.93 por ciento (IC 95 por ciento de 4.16-17.02 por ciento) en los primeros 15 minutos. A partir del minuto 40 al minuto 60 hay una baja predicción de -5.55 por ciento (IC 95 por ciento de -16.05 a - 0.87 por ciento) hasta -15 por ciento ( IC 95 por ciento de -29.8 por ciento a - 5.53 por ciento).Lo anterior obliga al incremento del MAC calculado en el programa ó mantener constante la velocidad de infusión, desde el minuto 40 ó desde el momento en que se visualice en el analizador el descenso de la concentración espirada de sevofluorano. Aceptando un error del 10 por ciento para el controlador de asa abierta para sevofluorano, este predice la concentración espirada hasta el minuto 40.En 37 pacientes se determinó el consumo total de halogenado encontrando un promedio de solo 4.30mls/ hora de sevofluorano en las 91 horas totales

Preanestesia educativa sistematizada / Pre-anesthesia automation

Este trabajo consiste en un desarrollo de un software el cual permite apoyar al anestesiólogo en los siguientes aspectos: historia clinica con enfasis en las valoraciones de la via aerea, sistema cardiovascular, pulmonar, neurologico; valoración de factores de riesgo asociados más frecuentes; resumenes con los hallazgos positivos en cada paciente; base de datos; archivos de consulta academica con conceptos básicos de anestesia para el médico; información al paciente. Este desarrollo está apoyado en la tecnologia de la informática actual con características de sistema experto, multimedia, interactividad. pretendiendo sea una herramienta más en nuestro quehacer post-moderno

Dispositivo para transduçäo de força em uma cadeira de Bonett / Device for strenght transduction in a Bonett chair

Este trabalho propõe um mecanismo de automação para uma Cadeira de Bonett adaptada, visando uma avaliação do ganho real de força obtido através de dois métodos de fortalecimento muscular. DE LORME e DAPRE.

This paper describes a device for the automation of Bonett chair. with the aim to compare the real gain of strength, using two methods of analyzing muscular strengthening, proposed by DE LORME and DAPRE.