Although high specificity (84-98%) was obtained with MRI, this modality showed relatively low sensitivity (30-82%) for detecting osseous abnormalities of the TMJ. The value of MRI for the detection of TMJ osseous abnormalities is considered to be limited.

No abstract

Abstract. The cut quality of sugarcane stems during harvesting is of considerable importance, as any damage inflicted on the stems and root systems affects ratooning and reduces yield. In current conventional cutting systems for sugarcane, relatively little attention has been paid to optimizing the cutting dynamics by investigating various blade designs and configurations. One limitation of impact cutting methods is the relatively rapid blunting of the blade edges through wear, leading to stem damage. This study aimed at investigating the effects on sugarcane cut quality of four base cutter blade designs: a conventional straight blade, a 30° angled blade, a serrated blade, and a straight blade with laser cladding on its underside. Blades of each type were installed at a 45° angle on a base cutter fitted to a John Deere 3520 sugarcane harvester. Stem damage, root system damage, and stubble height were considered as cut quality indicators, and blade wear was evaluated as the percentage of metal mass loss after completing each harvesting operation. In this study, the extent of stem and root system damage was classified into nine categories: (1) undamaged stem, not uprooted, (2) undamaged stem, partially uprooted, (3) undamaged stem, uprooted, (4) partially damaged stem, not uprooted, (5) partially damaged stem, partially uprooted, (6) partially damaged stem, uprooted, (7) severely damaged stem, not uprooted, (8) severely damaged stem, partially uprooted, and (9) severely damaged stem, uprooted. The highest percentage of stems damaged during harvesting (approx. 38%) and the highest percentage of root systems damaged (approx. 36%) occurred with the angled blade. The percentages of undamaged stems for the straight, angled, serrated, and laser clad blades were 76.9%, 62.1%, 83.1%, and 72.3%, respectively; partially damaged stems were 11.25%, 21.97%, 11.29%, and 17.73%, respectively; and severely damaged stems were 11.9%, 15.9%, 5.65%, and 9.9%, respectively. Except for the angled blade, all the blades cut almost 80% of stems without affecting the root system, and only 5% of stems were uprooted. Indices for stem damage and uprooting damage were calculated to evaluate the cut quality on a scale from -1.00 (least damage) to +1.00 (greatest damage). For both indices, the serrated blade had values closest to the target value of -1.00, implying the least damage to stems and root systems. Greater stubble heights (110 mm) were observed for the angled blade, with 76% of cut stems above the target 75 mm threshold, which was selected based on the farmer’s suggestion. Comparatively less stubble height was obtained with the serrated and laser clad blades, and roughly 60% of stems were cut in the ideal range (<75 mm). Blade wear percentages per ha of harvested area, based on metal mass loss, were found to be 0.76% for the laser clad blade, 0.83% for the serrated blade, and 0.84% for the straight blade. No mass loss data were collected for the angled blade as it caused such a high level of stem damage that its test was discontinued. The results of this study classified the levels of stem and root system damage occurring in the field during harvesting and their effects on ratooning for four base cutter blade designs. Fundamental guidelines for optimal blade configurations associated with sugarcane harvesting are provided. Keywords: Blade wear, Stem damage, Stubble height, Sugarcane harvester.

The present study was undertaken in different areas of Tangail district to investigate the presence of haemosporidian parasites in domestic poultry (Chicken, duck and pigeon). A total of 72 samples were examined from December, 2013 to May, 2014

The present research work was undertaken for the characterization of the bacterial pathogens responsible for pneumonia in black Bengal goats. Nasal swab samples (n = 50) were collected from the pneumonic black Bengal goats in Mymensingh and Sirajgonj districts. Samples were inoculated onto nutrient agar, eosin methylene blue (EMB) agar, MacConkey agar, and blood agar media for isolation of bacteria. Identification of bacteria was performed by the Gram's staining method, cultural properties and biochemical tests. Antibiotic sensitivity of bacterial isolates was performed against 11 antimicrobial agents. Pasteurella spp were isolated from 25 cases, and Staphylococcus spp from 13 cases. Mixed infection caused by the Pasteurella spp and Staphylococcus spp. were recorded in 12 cases. Pasteurella spp produced whitish, opaque circular and translucent colonies on nutrient agar, smooth, convex, glistening colonies on EMB agar and no hemolysis on blood agar. Staphylococcus spp have shown gray white or golden yellowish colonies on  nutrient agar. Golden yellow colonies without hemolysis or whitish colonies with hemolysis were also produced by Staphylococcus spp. on the blood agar media. Pasteurella spp were indole positive, MR-VP negative and ferment dextrose, sucrose and mannitol with the production of acid. The Staphylococcus spp were positive to MR-VP, coagulase and catalase reactions, negative to indole test and fermented five basic sugars with acid production. Results of cultural and biochemical tests supported that these two isolates belonged to P. multocida and S. aureus. P. multocida were highly sensitive to ciprofloxacin and resistant to penicillin. S. aureus found to be highly sensitive to erythromycin, tetracycline, enrofloxacin, and norfloxacin and less sensitive to amoxicillin. DOI = http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjvm.v9i1.11215Bangl. J. Vet. Med. (2011). 9(1): 67-71