Dimensional stability of single jersey fabrics of LincLITE® and conventional yarns. I

Dimensional constants (k values) of single jersey fabrics made from LincLITE® and conventional yarns are calculated under dry, steam, full relaxation treatments. Fabrics were made under different tightness factors such as high, medium and low with different twist factors, twist directions and feeder blending. LincLITE® yarns made to get soft and bulkier effects with yarn count of 39 tex and conventional yarns made into 39 tex and 48 tex yarn counts. Various effects on K values are analysed using correlation coefficients. K-values are increased with relaxation progression and have shown some differences between in LincLITE® and conventional fabrics, and feeder blended fabrics. Loop shape factor is highly affected by tightness factor, relaxation and feeder blending in LincLITE® fabrics, whereas twist factor not significantly effects on loop shape factor in conventional fabrics. Stitch density significantly increases with relaxation in conventional fabrics and no significant effect shows with LincLITE® fabrics.     

The Effects of a Land Drainage Scheme on the Salmonid Populations of the River Camowen, Co. Tyrone

Annual electro fishing surveys were carried out over an 11-year period at five sites on an upland river, which was subject to dredging operations in connection with a land drainage scheme. Four of the sites were dredged 3 years after the start of the survey and one control site remained undredged throughout. The results indicated that dredging operations initially reduced Salmonid densities and that there was subsequently a progressive downstream recovery, with fry densities taking up to 6 years to improve at the most downstream site. Yearling and older fish recovered to pre-drainage scheme levels more rapidly than fry. Changes in population structure were also observed at three of the dredged sites. Two sites were considerably deepened and finally contained larger numbers of older fish than prior to the drainage scheme. The opposite effect was found to have taken place at a site, which became shallower as a result of drainage works, and contained larger numbers of fry at the end of the survey. Increased fish growth rates were also observed at all sites over the experimental period, and this may have been correlated with enrichment of the river system by leaching from increased fertilizer usage within the catchments.     

Comparison of the effects of oral or subcutaneous carprofen or ketoprofen in rats undergoing laparotomy

Rats undergoing laparotomy received either carprofen (5 mg/kg) or ketoprofen (5 mg/kg) administered orally in flavoured gelatin, or by subcutaneous injection. A control group that received no analgesic showed a significant (3 per cent) fall in bodyweight (P = 0.009) after laparotomy. This decrease was greater than that seen in the groups receiving carprofen (P = 0.006) or ketoprofen (P = 0.012) administered subcutaneously, which continued to gain weight following surgery. All animals showed a significant fall in food consumption but this decrease was greater in the jelly alone group (47 per cent) than in the group receiving carprofen (17 per cent) (P = 0.015) administered subcutaneously. A significant fall in water consumption occurred in the control group (40 per cent) and in animals that received oral carprofen (13 per cent) or Ketoprofen (22 per cent). No significant decrease was seen in groups receiving either carprofen or ketoprofen administered subcutaneously (P > 0.1). This study shows that a relatively simple surgical procedure results in a major reduction in food and water consumption in rats. This reduction can be minimised by the administration of ketoprofen or carprofen (5 mg/kg subcutaneously), but higher dose rates are required if these drugs are to be administered by the oral route.     

Suspected venous air embolism in three horses

Venous air embolism was suspected in 3 hospitalised horses on the basis of an inadvertently open jugular venous line. Subsequently the 3 horses developed clinical signs including cardiovascular collapse, cardiac dysrhythmia, pulmonary oedema, behavioural abnormalities and neurological signs consistent with central nervous system injury. Treatment included intranasal oxygen therapy, i.v. fluid administration and anti‐inflammatory therapy. Specific therapy aimed at treating air embolism in man is reviewed, with pertinent therapy potentially applicable to horses emphasised.