188 research outputs found
The problem of corrugator sequencing and its impact on packaging processes
No full textThis report presents the result of an initial step towards an interdisciplinary research partnership between the involved departments at Aleppo and Lund University. The initiator and main author, Dr. Ayman Hamadeh, visited Division of Packaging Logistics during the summer 2008. During that time the authors identified corrugator sequencing as a common research field and embarked on a joint explorative study aiming to identify future research projects within the shared problem area
Sustainable improvement of small ruminant production in the semi-arid areas of Lebanon
No full textSmall ruminant production in semi-arid areas could be improved drastically by overcoming feed, health and management constraints. This study aimed at assessing the bio-economical sustainability of small ruminant production in the semi-arid regions of Lebanon through the introduction of an integrated technical package including: a basic health preventive program, feed optimization during critical late gestation period and finally, a basic selection program. Seventeen herders were divided into four groups: Groups A and B were given the full technical package with either soybean and corn meal or barley supplements, respectively. Group C received a basic preventive health program only and Group D was considered the control group. Bio-economic data were collected on a monthly basis over one year and submitted to a cost benefit analysis. Feed cost and pasture rent represented the major obstacles to productivity and contributed 53percent and 33percent, respectively, to the total financial cost. Groups A and B showed better financial revenues than groups C and D, with Group A having the highest return and lowest risk in terms of total expenditure and total revenue variances. It may be concluded that the integration of preventive health, feed optimization, and basic selection into one program could improve the economical sustainability of small ruminant production systems in semi-arid areas. © 2005 by The Haworth Press, Inc. All rights reserved.[Anonymous], 1985, NUTR REQUIREMENTS DO; BISTANJI G, 1999, THESIS AM U BEIRUT B; Bradford G. E., 1988, Increasing small ruminant productivity in semi-arid areas. Proceedings of a workshop held at the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas, Aleppo, Syria, 30 November to 3 December 1987., P95; CAPPER BS, 1990, ROLE FOOD LEGUME STR, V38, P151; CHEMA S, 1993, COST EFFECTIVE DIS C, V107, P157; ECONOMIDES S, 1995, TECHNICAL B, V174, P12; ECONOMIDES S, 1987, FAO ANIMAL PRODUCTIO, V54, P59; FITZHUGH HA, 1987, FAO ANIMAL PRODUCTIO, V54, P1; FRESCO LO, 1997, P INT C LIV ENV ED W; GEADAH S, 1998, RECENT EC DEV, V124; HAMADEH S, 1997, SURVEY SMALL RUMINAN, P362; Hamadeh SK, 2001, SMALL RUMINANT RES, V40, P41, DOI 10.1016-S0921-4488(00)00210-8; Hamadeh SK, 1996, SMALL RUMINANT RES, V21, P173, DOI 10.1016-0921-4488(95)00831-4; HAMMAD RM, 1995, THESIS AM U BEIRUT B; *IFAD, 1991, NEAR E N AFR DIV PRO, P182; MCCRACKEN JA, 1988, INTRO RAPID RURAL AP, P8; NAYGAARD DF, 1988, INCREASING SMALL RUM, P37; NORDBLOM TL, 1995, 2 ICARDA, P55; NORMAN DW, 1995, FAO FARM SYSTEMS M V, V10; OSMAN AE, 1992, EXP AGR, V28, P461, DOI 10.1017-S0014479700020172; QURESHI AW, 1993, FAO ANIMAL PRODUCTIO, V107, P1; QURESHI AW, 1987, FAO ANIMAL PRODUCTIO, V54, P21; Steinbach J., 1988, Increasing small ruminant productivity in semi-arid areas. Proceedings of a workshop held at the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas, Aleppo, Syria, 30 November to 3 December 1987., P123; STEINBACH J, 1987, FAO ANIMAL PRODUCTIO, V54, P13; STEINFELD H, 1998, WORLD BANK INT C, P27; THOMSON EF, 1987, ICARDA106 INT CTR AG, P20; TURNER HN, 1986, ANIMAL PRODUCTION HL, V58, P1211
Food Wars
No full textPhilip McGregor is so fat that everyone either stares or sniggers as he passes by. At school he goes by the name of Porky. The day he collapses in the school canteen and is rushed to the hospital marks the start of his new life. He's drawn to the hospital garden where a sunflower beckons him to come close and listen; it has a secret to impart to him, a secret that will empower and lead him to seven other teenagers from different continents who are each escaping their own conflicts, troubles caused by the dangerous lack of food security that threatens the future of the Earth. The kids are unexpectedly entrusted with secrets communicated magically by the Earth itself—through plants, animals, and birds. As Keepers, they are led to make incredible, yet precarious journeys, unaware of their destination, but the Food Masters are hot on their heels, ready to kill to keep those secrets hidden ...
Fat mobilization in water restricted Awassi ewes supplemented with vitamin C
No full textThe current study was designed to assess the effect of water restriction on fat metabolism in Awassi ewes orally supplemented with different levels of vitamin C. Experiment 1 (24 days) included four groups, four animals in each, with one group as control receiving daily water. The three remaining groups were watered once every four days, with the third and fourth groups receiving a daily oral dose of 3 g and 5 g vitamin C, respectively. Experiment 2 (21 days) was similarly designed except that the last group was administered one 10 g vitamin C oral dose at the beginning and at the middle of the experiment. Water restriction induced a reduction in feed intake and consequently weight loss in both experiments. Fat cell diameter, insulin, leptin, T3 and T4 concentrations tended to decrease in water restricted animals with or without vitamin C, while fatty acids and cholesterol increased. The observed changes reflect fat mobilization in water restricted Awassi ewes, which seemed to be correlated with insulin and leptin levels. Furthermore, fat mobilization reflected by high fatty acid and low leptin concentrations seemed to be more enhanced by daily supplementation of vitamin C than by the singular high dosages repeated twice, however further research is needed to confirm this observation. © 2011 Elsevier Ltd.ASPLUND JM, 1972, J ANIM SCI, V6, P1271; Atti N, 2004, ANIM RES, V53, P165, DOI 10.1051-animres:2004012; Avci M, 2005, TURK J VET ANIM SCI, V29, P829; BAILEY JW, 1993, J NUTR, V123, P52; Blanc F, 2004, PROD ANIM, V17, P287; Chilliard Y, 2000, P NUTR SOC, V59, P127, DOI 10.1017-S002966510000015X; Chilliard Y, 2005, DOMEST ANIM ENDOCRIN, V29, P3, DOI 10.1016-j.domaniend.2005.02.026; de Rodas BZ, 1998, J ANIM SCI, V76, P1636; Ghanem AM, 2008, J ARID ENVIRON, V72, P141, DOI 10.1016-j.jaridenv.2007.06.005; Hadjigeorgiou I, 2000, SMALL RUMINANT RES, V37, P147, DOI 10.1016-S0921-4488(99)00142-X; Hamadeh SK, 2006, LIVEST SCI, V101, P101, DOI 10.1016-j.livprodsci.2005.09.016; HAMADEH SK, 1997, OPTIONS MEDITERRAN A, V33, P231; Hidiroglou M, 1997, REPROD NUTR DEV, V37, P443, DOI 10.1051-rnd:19970405; Jaber LS, 2004, SMALL RUMINANT RES, V54, P115, DOI 10.1016-j.smallrumres.2003.11.004; KHACHADU.AK, 1966, J LIPID RES, V7, P427; LADEN S, 1987, CAN J ZOOL, V65, P363; MCDOWELL LR, 2000, VITAMINS ANIMAL HUMA, P597; NRC, 1985, NUTR REQ SHEEP; PIASENTIER E, 1995, OPTIONS MEDITERR A, V27, P67; Savendahl L, 1999, J NUTR, V129, P2005; Tyler PJ, 2003, J DAIRY SCI, V86, P622, DOI 10.3168-jds.S0022-0302(03)73640-6; Varady KA, 2007, J LIPID RES, V48, P2212, DOI 10.1194-jlr.M700223-JLR200; VERNON RG, 1981, BIOCHEM J, V200, P307; VERNON RG, 1992, P NUTR SOC, V51, P397, DOI 10.1079-PNS1992005312
Preventing Chronic Disease (PCD)
No full textIntroductionIn 2012, the Ministry of Public Health in Lebanon piloted a service of multifactorial cardiovascular screening in the publicly subsidized Primary Health Care (PHC) Network. We present an epidemiological analysis of data produced during this pilot to justify the inclusion of this service in the package of essential services offered through PHC and to present a preliminary cardiovascular risk profile in an asymptomatic population.MethodsA total of 4,205 participants (two-thirds of which were women) aged at least 40 years and reportedly free from diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and cardiovascular disease (CVD) were screened. The screening protocol used a questionnaire and direct measurements to assess 5 modifiable cardiovascular risk factors; total cardiovascular risk score was calculated according to a paper-based algorithm developed by the World Health Organization and the International Society of Hypertension.ResultsApproximately 25% of the sample displayed metabolic impairments (11% for impaired blood glucose metabolism and 17% for impaired systolic blood pressure), and 6.6% were classified at total cardiovascular risk of 10% or more. Just over one-quarter of the sample was obese, almost half had a substantially elevated waist circumference, and 41% were smokers. Men were significantly more likely to screen positive for metabolic impairment than women, and women were more likely to be obese.ConclusionThe implementation of a multifactorial screening for CVD among asymptomatic subjects detected a substantial proportion of previously undiagnosed cases of high metabolic risk, people who could now be referred to optimal medical follow-up
Vaccination Coverage Cluster Surveys in Middle Dreib - Akkar, Lebanon: Comparison of Vaccination Coverage in Children Aged 12-59 Months Pre- and Post-Vaccination Campaign.
No full textIntroductionWith the high proportion of refugee population throughout Lebanon and continuous population movement, it is sensible to believe that, in particular vulnerable areas, vaccination coverage may not be at an optimal level. Therefore, we assessed the vaccination coverage in children under 5 in a district of the Akkar governorate before and after a vaccination campaign. During the vaccination campaign, conducted in August 2015, 2,509 children were vaccinated.Materials and methodsWe conducted a pre- and post-vaccination campaign coverage surveys adapting the WHO EPI cluster survey to the Lebanese MoPH vaccination calendar. Percentages of coverage for each dose of each vaccine were calculated for both surveys. Factors associated with complete vaccination were explored.ResultsComparing the pre- with the post-campaign surveys, coverage for polio vaccine increased from 51.9% to 84.3%, for Pentavalent from 49.0% to 71.9%, for MMR from 36.2% to 61.0%, while the percentage of children with fully updated vaccination calendar increased from 32.9% to 53.8%. While Lebanese children were found to be better covered for some antigens compared to Syrians at the first survey, this difference disappeared at the post-campaign survey. Awareness and logistic obstacles were the primary reported causes of not complete vaccination in both surveys.DiscussionVaccination campaigns remain a quick and effective approach to increase vaccination coverage in crisis-affected areas. However, campaigns cannot be considered as a replacement of routine vaccination services to maintain a good level of coverage
Physiological responses to water restriction in dry and lactating Awassi ewes
No full textThe effect of water restriction in Awassi ewes was assessed under two physiological conditions: lactating and dry, over a 3-week-period (August-September, 2002). Eight dry and eight lactating Awassi ewes (with their lambs) were assigned to one of two watering regimes: watered once every three days and daily watering, respectively. Weather data, body weight and rectal temperature were recorded. Venous blood was sampled on the watering day of the water-restricted group, and subjected to haematological, biochemical and electrolytes analysis. Ewes under water restriction lost more weight and had higher packed cell volume, haemoglobin, serum cholesterol, urea, creatinine, total protein and albumin as compared to daily-watered animals. However, lactation seemed to have no significant effect on these serum components. As for blood pH and electrolytes, Na+ and Cl- were significantly higher under water restriction; whereas significantly lower K+ and Ca++ but higher pH and Cl- were observed in lactating animals. Finally, lower cortisol concentrations were observed in water-restricted animals, warranting further studies on the hormonal adaptation to long term water stress. It was concluded that water restriction induces similar changes in blood physiological indicators in dry and lactating Awassi ewes; while lactation beyond the first month post partum seems to mostly affect blood electrolytes. © 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.AGANGA A A, 1989, Small Ruminant Research, V2, P19, DOI 10.1016-0921-4488(89)90013-8; Alamer M, 2004, J ARID ENVIRON, V59, P71, DOI 10.1016-j.jaridenv.2004.01.003; Annison E. F., 1984, Reproduction in sheep., P174; ASHOUR G, 2001, LIVESTOCK PRODUCTION, P63; COLE NA, 1995, J ANIM SCI, V73, P2548; Collier R.J., 1985, LACTATION, P102; Cook CJ, 1997, J DAIRY RES, V64, P327, DOI 10.1017-S0022029997002240; CORK SC, 2002, VET LAB FIELD MANUAL, P302; DEGEN AA, 1977, PHYSIOL ZOOL, V50, P284; El-Nouty F. D., 1991, WORLD REV ANIM PROD, V26, P40; El-Sherif MMA, 2001, SMALL RUMINANT RES, V40, P269, DOI 10.1016-S0921-4488(01)00174-2; FELL BF, 1968, RES VET SCI, V9, P563; FELL LR, 1991, AUST J AGR RES, V42, P1335, DOI 10.1071-AR9911335; GHOSH PK, 1976, J AGR SCI, V87, P221; HAMADEH SK, 1997, OPTIONS MEDITERRAN A, V33, P231; Hindson J.C., 1990, OUTLINE CLIN DIAGNOS; IGBOKWE IO, 1993, SMALL RUMINANT RES, V12, P99, DOI 10.1016-0921-4488(93)90042-G; Jaber LS, 2004, SMALL RUMINANT RES, V54, P115, DOI 10.1016-j.smallrumres.2003.11.004; LADEN S, 1987, CAN J ZOOL, V65, P363; LINDSAY DB, 1975, BLOOD SHEEP COMPOSIT, P53; MACFARLA.W, 1961, AUST J AGR RES, V12, P889, DOI 10.1071-AR9610889; MacFarlane W. V., 1964, HDB PHYSL 4, P509; Martin W.B., 2000, DIS SHEEP; MINTON JE, 1990, J ANIM SCI, V68, P3145; Parker AJ, 2003, J ANIM SCI, V81, P512; Parrott RF, 1996, ANIM WELFARE, V5, P45; PUROHIT GR, 1972, AUST J AGR RES, V23, P685, DOI 10.1071-AR9720685; Rhind SM, 1999, DOMEST ANIM ENDOCRIN, V16, P1, DOI 10.1016-S0739-7240(98)00051-4; Rodriguez MN, 1996, CAN J ANIM SCI, V76, P469; SCHALM OW, 1975, VET HEMATOLOGY, P606; Sevi A., 2002, J ANIM SCI, V8, P2362; Silanikove N, 2000, SMALL RUMINANT RES, V35, P181, DOI 10.1016-S0921-4488(99)00096-6; SINGH M, 1982, J AGR SCI, V99, P525; Spector W. S., 1956, HDB BIOL DATA; TASKER JB, 1971, CLIN BIOCH DOMESTIC, P65; TUCKER E M, 1975, P123810
Physiological and chemical responses in water-deprived Awassi ewes treated with vitamin C
No full textThe effect of vitamin C on water stress response was evaluated in 12 dry Awassi ewes. Ewes were randomly divided to three groups of four, one receiving daily water (W) and the other two (Groups R and V) received only 1 L of water on the 4th day and 3 L on the 8th, over a 12-day experimental period in July 2004. Group V was daily administered with oral vitamin C supplementation at the rate of 10 g per animal for a 4-day preparation period prior to water restriction and 2.5 g per animal thereafter. Group V showed an attenuated response to water restriction as compared to Group R, in many physiological parameters: body weight, rectal temperature, PCV, serum protein, albumin and globulin, and blood Na+ and Cl- concentrations. On the other hand, serum cholesterol and free fatty acids (FA) showed slightly higher and similar values, respectively, as compared to group R. Other parameters showed no significant difference between groups namely, serum glucose and cortisol and blood K+ concentrations, and pH. The results seem to validate the approach of vitamin C supplementation for water-stress alleviation in sheep, however, much research is still needed to establish the most effective dosage and route of administration under field conditions. If proven successful, such an easy alleviation method would be most beneficial to farmers and producers of the arid-semi-arid regions where water shortage is a common challenge imposed by the harsh weather, long road transportations, etc. © 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.ABDELATIF A, 1994, J ARID ENVIRON, V28, P145; AGANGA A A, 1989, Small Ruminant Research, V2, P19, DOI 10.1016-0921-4488(89)90013-8; Alamer M, 2004, J ARID ENVIRON, V59, P71, DOI 10.1016-j.jaridenv.2004.01.003; ASHOUR G, 2001, LIVESTOCK PRODUCTION, P63; Avci M, 2005, TURK J VET ANIM SCI, V29, P829; Black WD, 1996, CAN J VET RES, V60, P216; CIVEN M, 1980, INT J VITAM NUTR RES, V50, P70; Cork SC, 2002, HDB BIOL DATA, P302; DEGEN AA, 1977, PHYSIOL ZOOL, V50, P284; de Rodas BZ, 1998, J ANIM SCI, V76, P1636; DUBESKI PL, 1996, J ANIM SCI, V74, P1356; EWING SA, 1999, FARM ANIMAL WELL BEI, P50; EYAL E, 1963, J AGR SCI, V60, P159; GHOSH PK, 1976, J AGR SCI, V87, P221; Haliloglu S, 2000, TURK J VET ANIM SCI, V24, P403; Hamadeh SK, 2006, LIVEST SCI, V101, P101, DOI 10.1016-j.livprodsci.2005.09.016; Hidiroglou M, 1999, J DAIRY SCI, V82, P1831; Hidiroglou M, 1997, REPROD NUTR DEV, V37, P443, DOI 10.1051-rnd:19970405; IGBOKWE IO, 1993, SMALL RUMINANT RES, V12, P99, DOI 10.1016-0921-4488(93)90042-G; Iniguez L., 2005, SMALL RUMINANT BREED; Jaber LS, 2004, SMALL RUMINANT RES, V54, P115, DOI 10.1016-j.smallrumres.2003.11.004; JOHNSTON CS, 1989, J NUTR, V11, P425; KHACHADU.AK, 1966, J LIPID RES, V7, P427; KITBASHI AE, 1967, NATURE, V215, P1385; LADEN S, 1987, CAN J ZOOL, V65, P363; MACFARLA.W, 1961, AUST J AGR RES, V12, P889, DOI 10.1071-AR9610889; MacFarlane W. V., 1964, HDB PHYSL 4, P509; MAHAN DC, 1983, J ANIM SCI, V56, P631; Mahan DC, 2004, ANNU REV NUTR, V24, P79, DOI 10.1146-annurev.nutr.24.012003.132150; MCDOWELL LR, 2000, VITAMINS ANIMAL HUMA, P597; MCGARRY JD, 1977, J CLIN INVEST, V60, P265, DOI 10.1172-JCI108764; McKee JS, 1997, POULTRY SCI, V76, P1278; Mohamed HE, 2002, J ANIM PHYSIOL AN N, V86, P342, DOI 10.1046-j.1439-0396.2002.00392.x; *NAT RES COUNC, 1987, VIT TOL AN; National Research Council, 1985, NUTR REQ SHEEP; PARDUE SL, 1985, J APPL PHYSIOL, V58, P1511; Parker AJ, 2003, J ANIM SCI, V81, P512; Parrott RF, 1996, ANIM WELFARE, V5, P45; Pointillart A, 1997, J NUTR, V127, P1514; PUROHIT GR, 1972, AUST J AGR RES, V23, P685, DOI 10.1071-AR9720685; Sahin K, 2001, J ANIM PHYSIOL AN N, V85, P335, DOI 10.1046-j.1439-0396.2001.00339.x; Sahin K, 2002, INT J VITAM NUTR RES, V72, P91, DOI 10.1024-0300-9831.72.2.91; SCHMELING SK, 1978, POULTRY SCI, V57, P527; Silanikove N, 2000, SMALL RUMINANT RES, V35, P181, DOI 10.1016-S0921-4488(99)00096-6; SILANIKOVE N, 1992, LIVEST PROD SCI, V30, P175; SINGH M, 1982, J AGR SCI, V99, P525; Steffens A.B., 1999, P108; TANEJA GC, 1965, INDIAN J EXP BIOL, V3, P259; TASKER JB, 1971, CLIN BIOCH DOMESTIC, P65; Tras B, 2000, BRIT POULTRY SCI, V41, P664, DOI 10.1080-00071660020009225; TURNER JC, 1979, COMP BIOCHEM PHYS A, V64, P167, DOI 10.1016-0300-9629(79)90446-8; Tyler PJ, 2003, J DAIRY SCI, V86, P622, DOI 10.3168-jds.S0022-0302(03)73640-6; Wingfield J.C., 2001, HDB PHYSL 7, V4, P211; YEN JT, 1981, J ANIM SCI, V53, P1292; Yousef MI, 2004, TOXICOLOGY, V199, P47, DOI 10.1016-j.tox.2004.02.01489
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