Explaining urban governance in the midst of political transformation: The city of Macao

This paper takes a close look at the urban governance and political culture of Macao, the world largest casino city. Macao has experienced spectacular economic growth since gaming liberalisation in 2002 and China's Free Individual Travel scheme launched in 2003. However, the booming gaming sector has crowded out other sectors of Macao. It has not only made the city's economy mono‐structured and consequently extremely vulnerable to external shocks and fluctuations but also induced serious social divisions and political controversies within the local community. By tracing the root cause of the ongoing dilemma and crisis in the mode of governance, the dynamic relationships between formal and informal institutions, consensus politics and the social group culture are intensively discussed in a historical context. In fact, the sustainable development of the former Portuguese colony has largely been hindered by its residents' passive attitudes toward political communication, non‐transparent urban governance, the absence of a middle class and the dominance of pro‐establishment social groups.     

Breed-related expression patterns of Ki67, γH2AX,and p21 during ageing in the canine liver

Veterinary Research Communications - Cellular senescence is a molecular hallmark of ageing that is associated with multiple pathologies, and DNA damage marker γH2AX, together with cell cycle...     

Survey of equine castration techniques,preferences and outcomes among Australian veterinarians

Objectives

(1) To collect the perceptions of veterinarians performing equine castrations in Australia on techniques, preferences and outcomes, (2) to investigate veterinarian use and experience with the Henderson castrating instrument and (3) to investigate potential associations between demographics, castration methods and techniques, and complications.

Design

Online survey of members of the Australian Veterinary Association’s Special Interest Group, Equine Veterinarians Australia (EVA).

Methods

A link to the survey was included in the EVA e‐newsletter and practices on the EVA website were contacted by telephone and follow‐up email. Fisher’s exact test was used to determine associations between ligation and complications. A generalised linear model with a negative binomial family was used to determine associations between count response variables and categorical independent variables.

Results

Responses were obtained from 138 veterinarians (response rate, 13.1%) who performed 5330 castrations over 12 months. Castrations were most commonly performed in the field, on anaesthetised horses, using emasculators, via an open approach and without ligation of the spermatic cord. Estimated complications after use of emasculators were swelling (25%), haemorrhage (5%) and infection (5%). The Henderson instrument was used by approximately 10% of respondents and its use for castration was associated with fewer reports of postoperative swelling compared with emasculators (P = 0.002). Rates of evisceration with the Henderson and emasculator methods were comparable (0.43% and 0.9%, respectively).

Conclusion

Castration preferences varied widely among survey participants. Reported complication types and rates were comparable to those reported previously in other countries. Perceptions that the Henderson instrument was associated with less swelling should be investigated further via a prospective controlled investigation.     

Intestinal surgery in small animals: historical foundations,current thinking,and future horizons

Intestinal wounds require precise closure after intestinal biopsy, enterotomy, or enterectomy in small animals. Preexisting factors such as intra‐abdominal sepsis and hypoalbuminemia as well as poor surgical technique increase the risk of intestinal dehiscence, with considerable negative impact on patient morbidity and mortality. Live dog studies have demonstrated the dangers of mucosal eversion especially in the septic abdomen. Approximating patterns preserve luminal diameter, heal optimally, and have equal bursting strength compared with inverting patterns after 24 hours. Simple interrupted and simple continuous suture patterns and disposable skin staples are established alternatives for manual wound closure. Knotless quilled suture currently used in laparoscopic gastropexy techniques shows bursting strength equal to monofilament sutures in dog cadaveric intestine. Dehiscence rates with hand sewn vs titanium automated stapling anastomosis are similar in uncomplicated cases; however, auto stapling devices may be the preferred method of anastomosis when preexisting abdominal sepsis is present and when patient size allows it. Regardless of the technique, current standard of care involves leak testing and omental wrapping, followed by early postoperative feeding. The past decade has ushered in an exciting new era of laparoscopic assisted techniques that have the potential to reduce postoperative pain and patient morbidity. An understanding of these applications will establish the future of minimally invasive small animal intestinal surgery for veterinary specialists. In summary, surgeons have a variety of methods at their disposal for optimal clinical outcome in small animal intestinal surgery.     

油脂在提高公猪生产力和生育力上的潜在作用

精子及其相关精浆中所含的脂肪成分在组成和脂肪酸成分上是非常独特的。长链多不饱和脂肪酸 (即具有 2 0或 2 2个碳原子并含三个以上双键的脂肪酸 )在绝大多数主要组织所含脂肪中的含量非常有限 ,但在精子和精浆中的含量相当高 ,并具有明显的种属特异性。油脂的这种特性现在日益被认为是使受精最终成功所特别需要的。本综述根据最近一的些研究结果撰写而成 ,从精液质量和功能的一系列决定因子的角度论述了使现代种公猪精子中脂肪 /脂肪酸参数最佳化的可能性 ,可见人们对一系列参数所作的一系列重要研究 ,产生了使公猪和母猪的繁殖能力都得到提高的高度有益结果。文章还从主要的营养学特性和化学特性方面对研究结果进行了讨论 ,并与其它家畜进行了比较 ,还讨论了其对猪繁育部门可能的商业应用价值。