Design of Warehouse for Material, Which Is Non-uniform and Difficult to Handle

Main goal of this paper is warehouse layout optimization with emphasis on maximum space utilization. It is about rack system design, which leads to capacity maximization of warehouse for non-uniform material with heavy weight. The warehouse system has to enable at least partial automation (the possibility to use AS/RS system), minimization of service time and minimization of man effort. Initial constraining conditions for warehouse design in our case are warehouse area, maximum load of racks or shelves, maximum allowed floor load and existing location of arrival road for material loading and unloading

Comparison of diagnostic methods for Tetracapsuloides bryosalmonae detection in salmonid fish.

Diagnostic accuracy of pathogen detection depends upon the selection of suitable tests. Problems can arise when the selected diagnostic test gives false-positive or false-negative results, which can affect control measures, with consequences for the population health. The aim of this study was to compare sensitivity of different diagnostic methods IHC, PCR and qPCR detecting Tetracapsuloides bryosalmonae, the causative agent of proliferative kidney disease in salmonid fish and as a consequence differences in disease prevalence. We analysed tissue from 388 salmonid specimens sampled from a recirculating system and rivers in the Czech Republic. Overall prevalence of T. bryosalmonae was extremely high at 92.0%, based on positive results of at least one of the above-mentioned screening methods. IHC resulted in a much lower detection rate (30.2%) than both PCR methods (qPCR32: 65.4%, PCR: 81.9%). While qPCR32 produced a good match with IHC (60.8%), all other methods differed significantly (p < .001) in the proportion of samples determined positive. Both PCR methods showed similar sensitivity, though specificity (i.e., the proportion of non-diseased fish classified correctly) differed significantly (p < .05). Sample preservation method significantly (p < .05) influenced the results of PCR, with a much lower DNA yield extracted from paraffin-embedded samples. Use of different methods that differ in diagnostic sensitivity and specificity resulted in random and systematic diagnosis errors, illustrating the importance of interpreting the results of each method carefully

Common Patterns of Prediction of Literacy Development in Different Alphabetic Orthographies

We are grateful to Brett Kessler for computing the consistency estimates in each of the four languages of this studyPrevious studies have shown that phoneme awareness, letter-sound knowledge, rapid automatized naming (RAN), and verbal memory span are reliable correlates of learning to read in English. However, the extent to which these different predictors have the same relative importance in different languages remains uncertain. In this article, we present the results from a 10-month longitudinal study that began just before or soon after the start of formal literacy instruction in four languages (English, Spanish, Slovak, and Czech). Longitudinal path analyses showed that phoneme awareness, letter-sound knowledge, and RAN (but not verbal memory span) measured at the onset of literacy instruction were reliable predictors, with similar relative importance, of later reading and spelling skills across the four languages. These data support the suggestion that in all alphabetic orthographies, phoneme awareness, letter-sound knowledge, and RAN may tap cognitive processes that are important for learning to read.Grant PITN-215961 – ELDEL from the Marie Curie, Seventh Framework Programm

Estrogen and raloxifene improve metaphyseal fracture healing in the early phase of osteoporosis. A new fracture-healing model at the tibia in rat

Background Fracture healing in osteoporosis is delayed. Quality and speed of fracture healing in osteoporotic fractures are crucial with regard to the outcome of patients. The question arises whether established antiosteoporotic drugs can further improve fracture healing. Materials and methods Osteoporosis manifests predominantly in the metaphyseal bone. Nevertheless, an established metaphyseal fracture model is lacking. A standardized metaphyseal fracture-healing model with stable plate fixation was developed for rat tibiae. The healing process was analyzed by biomechanical, gene expression, and histomorphometric methods in ovariectomized (OVX) and sham-operated rats (SHAM), compared to standardized estrogen (E)- and raloxifene (R)-supplemented diets. Results Estrogen and raloxifene improved the biomechanical properties of bone healing compared to OVX (Yield load: SHAM = 63.1 +/- 20.8N, E = 60.8 +/- 17.9 N, R = 44.7 +/- 17.5 N, OVX = 32.5 +/- 22.0 N). Estrogen vs OVX was significant based on a denser trabecular network. Raloxifenegreatly induced total callus formation (R = 5.3 +/- 0.9 mm(2), E = 4.7 +/- 0.5 mm(2), SHAM = 4.51 +/- 0.61 mm(2), OVX = 4.1 +/- 0.6 mm(2)), whereas estrogen mainly enhanced new endosteal bone formation. There was no correlation between the gene expression (osteocalcin, collagen1 alpha 1, IGF-1, tartrate-resistant phosphatase) in the callus and the morphology and quality of callus formation. Conclusion Raloxifene and estrogen improve fracture healing in osteoporotic bone significantly with regard to callus formation, resistance, and elasticity. The biomechanically stable metaphyseal osteotomy model with T-plate fixation presented here has proven to be appropriate to investigate fracture healing in osteoporosis

Case report: Filarial infection of a parti-coloured bat: Litomosa sp. adult worms in abdominal cavity and microfilariae in bat semen

BackgroundFilarial infections have been understudied in bats. Likewise, little is known about pathogens associated with the reproductive system in chiropterans. While semen quality is critical for reproductive success, semen-borne pathogens may contribute to reproductive failure.MethodsFor the first time we performed electroejaculation and used computer-assisted semen analysis to provide baseline data on semen quality in a parti-coloured bat (Vespertilio murinus).ResultsThe semen quality values measured in the V. murinus male appeared high (semen concentration = 305.4 × 106/mL; progressive and motile sperm = 46.58 and 60.27%, respectively). As an incidental finding, however, microfilariae were observed in the bat semen examined. At necropsy, eight adult filarial worms, later genetically identified as Litomosa sp., were found in the peritoneal cavity, close to the stomach, of the same particoloured bat male dying as a result of dysmicrobia and haemorrhagic gastroenteritis in a wildlife rescue centre. Histopathology revealed microfilariae in the testicular connective tissue and the epidydimal connective and fat tissues. A PCR assay targeting cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 confirmed that adult worms from the peritoneal cavity and testicular microfilariae were of the same filarial species. Mildly engorged argasid mite larvae attached to the bat skin proved negative for filarial DNA and the adult filarial worms proved negative for endosymbiont Wolbachia.ConclusionWhile the standard filarial life cycle pattern involves a vertebrate definitive host and an invertebrate vector, represented by a blood-sucking ectoparasite, our finding suggests that microfilariae of this nematode species may also be semen-borne, with transmission intensity promoted by the polygynous mating system of vespertilionid bats in which an infected male mates with many females during the autumn swarming. Presence of microfilariae may be expected to decrease semen quality and transmission via this route may challenge the success of reproductive events in females after mating. Further investigation will be necessary to better understand the bat-parasite interaction and the life cycle of this filarial worm

Immunohistochemical analysis of estrogen receptors in the urethra of sexually intact, ovariectomized, and estrogen-substituted ovariectomized sheep

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: Urinary incontinence is prevalent in postmenopausal women and spayed dogs and is associated with decreased estrogen plasma concentrations. The objective of the study was to investigate the expression of estrogen receptors (ER) in the urethra of sexually intact, ovariectomized, and estrogen-substituted ovariectomized ewes. METHODS: Paraffin cross-sections from each urethral quarter were immunohistochemically analyzed. The reactivity of ER was semiquantitatively assessed employing an immunoreactive score (IRS). RESULTS: In contrast to ERβ, ERα was identified in all urethral compartments; the highest IRS was detected in the epithelium of the distal urethra. The immunoreactivity and distribution of ERα did not differ among groups. Highly significant differences in ERα concentrations were observed between consecutive urethral quarters in each group. CONCLUSIONS: Neither ovariectomy nor ovariectomy and estrogen substitution seem to have a significant effect on overall urethral ERα concentration. The results demonstrate that the precise location of the investigated urethral part is crucial to the reliable evaluation or possible comparison of ERα concentrations