Effect of induced pyrexia on the disposition kinetics of ciprofloxacin in dogs

Ciprofloxacin was administered intravenously @ 5 mg/kg body weight to six healthy dogs. After a washout period of two weeks, fever was induced by injecting Escherichia (E) coli endotoxin. Ciprofloxacin was administered again. Blood samples were collected at various time intervals and analyzed for ciprofloxacin with HPLC. The kinetic analysis revealed the volume of distribution in healthy vs. febrile dogs as 2.12 ± 0.32 vs. 1.79 ± 0.43 L/Kg, respectively. The elimination half life was 2.23 ± 0.78 and 2.07 ± 0.74 hours in healthy and febrile dogs, respectively. Similarly, dogs under healthy and febrile conditions showed comparable total plasma clearance of 0.66 ± 0.06 and 0.60 ± 0.07 L/Kg/h, respectively. All these and other investigated kinetic parameters were statistically non significant. This study concludes that the pharmacokinetic behavior of ciprofloxacin is similar under healthy and febrile conditions. Thus, the kinetic studies of fluoroquinolones conducted in normal/healthy animals may be used to depict the pharmacokinetic parameters in diseased animals.     

A rare case of globosus amorphus in a goat

We present a case of globosus amorphus delivered from a goat and subjected to radiography and histological examination. Radiography revealed a lack of development of any organ system; histological sections showed evidence of lymphoid aggregations, mononuclear infiltrations, blood capillaries, and dense fibroblasts.     

Serum metabolites, milk yield, and physiological responses during the first week after kidding in Anglo-Nubian, Angora, Baladi, and Damascus goats under subtropical conditions

This study was carried out to determine the level of certain biochemical variables reflecting the energy metabolic statuses during the first week of lactation in goats. A total of 120 Anglo-Nubian, Angora, Baladi, and Damascus does (30 does per breed) were used throughout 5 consecutive parities (30 does per parity) to investigate the effect of breed, parity, day of lactation, and their interaction on serum metabolites including total protein, albumin, globulin, glucose, total lipids, cholesterol, and transaminases. Blood samples were collected every other day during the first week of lactation. Baladi does had the greatest (P < 0.001) values in all measured biochemical variables followed by Anglo-Nubian [in total protein, globulin, and aminotransferase (AST)] and Damascus (in globulin and AST) and then Angora, which had the lowest (P < 0.001) values for all variables. Fifth parity exhibited the greatest (P < 0.001) values in all serum metabolites compared with other parities except for alanine transaminase (ALT) enzyme activity in which the greatest (P = 0.046) values were observed in the first and fourth parties. Serum concentrations of the measured variables increased gradually throughout the first day after kidding until the seventh day for total protein (P < 0.001), albumin (P = 0.013), globulin (P = 0.017), and cholesterol (P = 0.028) whereas serum glucose concentration exhibited an opposite trend. Serum concentrations of total lipids and enzyme activities of AST and ALT were not affected by day (P > 0.05) after kidding. Baladi goats had the least (P < 0.001) serum insulin concentration, which was associated (P < 0.001) with greatest serum glucose concentration. Serum triiodothyronine (T(3)) was inversely correlated (P = 0.032) with milk yield whereas greatest (P = 0.003) T(3) concentrations were associated with least (P < 0.001) milk yield recorded in Angora goats. Animal physiological responses and their indices were not affected (P > 0.05) by breed whereas both rectal temperature and coefficient of heat tolerance were affected (P < 0.001) by parity in an opposite direction. Baladi goats expressed an aspect of adaptability where their rectal temperature decreased and coefficient of heat tolerance increased with increasing parity number.     

达坂城地区荒漠及农业区鼠类群落的聚类分析

本文根据１９９３．８－１９９５．５的调查资料并采用了聚类分析对达坂城地区荒漠及农业区鼠类群落进行了分析研究,结果表明,该地区的鼠类可划分为３种群落,小林姬鼠＋褐家鼠＋小家鼠群落;小林姬鼠＋灰仓鼠群落;红尾沙鼠＋五趾跳鼠群落;群落的多样性指数以群落Ａ最高,次为群落;群落Ｃ的多样性最低。     

Effect of curing time on physical and mechanical properties of phenolic-treated bamboo strips

Effect of pressing time on physical and mechanical properties of phenolic-impregnated bamboo strips was evaluated. Bamboo strips (Gigantochloa scortechinii) were impregnated with low molecular weight phenol formaldehyde (LMwPF) resin. Samples were submerged in LMwPF resin using a vacuum chamber of 750 mmHg for 1 h before it was released within 1.5 h. Treated strips were dried in an oven with a temperature of 60 °C within 6–9 h. It was hot pressed at 14 kg m^?2 and a temperature of 140 °C for 5, 8, 11, 14 and 17 min. The physical and mechanical properties of the test indicated that the properties of phenolic-treated strips have significantly increased as compared to control samples. Dimensional stability (water absorption, thickness swelling and linear expansion) of the phenolic-treated properties were significantly lower than control after 5-min pressing time. The antishrink efficiency (ASE) of phenolic-treated strips increased when pressing time were extended from 5 to 17 min. The mean value of modulus of rupture (MOR) for the control samples (177 N mm^?2) showed a significant difference with phenolic-treated strips after 17-min pressing time (224 N mm^?2). However, there is no significant difference in compression parallel to grain. The MOE of phenolic-treated strips was 21,777 N mm^?2 and for control was 18,249 N mm^?2, whereas the compression parallel to grain values for phenolic-treated and control samples were 94 and at 77 N mm^?2, respectively.     

Capacitation of Frozen Thawed Buffalo Bull (Bubalus bubalis) Spermatozoa with Higher Heparin Concentrations

The present study was conducted to examine the effect of high heparin concentration on capacitation of buffalo spermatozoa with a short incubation time. Frozen thawed spermatozoa from three buffalo bulls were pooled and treated with either 50, 100 or 200 microg/ml heparin for 30 min. Capacitation was evaluated by acrosome reaction of spermatozoa and in vitro fertilization rate (per cent cleavage rate, per cent cleavage index). Acrosome reaction was induced in heparin treated spermatozoa with calcium ionophore A23187 and staining was carried out with Coomassie G-250 to evaluate the response as compared with control (0 heparin + calcium ionophore). Significantly higher percentage of acrosome reaction (AR) spermatozoa was noted after heparin treatment (36.8-48.2%) as compared with control (8.1% ; p < 0.05) but differences among the three heparin concentrations were non-significant. However, a significantly higher in vitro fertilization rate was recorded in spermatozoa capacitated by 50 and 100 microg/ml heparin (80.4 and 75.9% cleavage rate, respectively) as compared with 200 microg/ml heparin (47.2% cleavage rate; p < 0.001). It is concluded that buffalo spermatozoa capacitated with 50-100 microg/ml heparin had significantly higher ability to improve in vitro fertilization rate in buffalo.     

污灌土壤中氟及硫的形态分布特征

以乌鲁木齐雅马里克山的石灰性土壤为研究对象,采用连续提取法和分步提取法对土壤氟和硫的化学形态进行了测定,研究了不同水质及外源对土壤氟和硫各形态的含量及其分布的影响.结果表明土壤氟主要以残渣态为主,占全氟含量99.5%以上.各形态氟呈残余态氟>有机束缚态氟>水溶态氟>可交换态氟>铁锰结合态氟的趋势.不同水质浇灌后,土壤硫主要以有机硫为主,占71.5%～81.2%.并且呈现有机硫>盐酸可溶性硫>水溶性硫>吸附性硫的趋势.外源物质对土壤理化性质及对土壤中氟和硫各形态有不同程度的影响.土壤氟和硫各形态之间以及各形态与土壤理化性质之间的相关性分析表明,全氟与残余态氟极显著相关.土壤全硫与有机硫之间具有十分密切的相关性.土壤pH值、有机质和CaCO₃含量是影响土壤中氟及硫赋存形态的主要土壤因子.     

Physiological and Yield Responses of Faba bean (Vicia faba L.) to Drought Stress in Managed and Open Field Environments

Water scarcity is threatening the sustainability of global food grain production systems. Devising management strategies and identification of crop species and genotypes are direly required to meet the global food demands with limited supply. This study, consisted of two independent experiments, was conducted to compare faba bean (Vicia faba L.) genotypes Giza Blanka, Goff‐1, Hassawi‐1, Hassawi‐2 and Gazira‐2 in terms of physiological attributes and yield under water‐limited environments. In first experiment, conducted in a growth chamber, osmotic stress of ?0.78, ?0.96, ?1.19 and ?1.65 MPa was induced using polyethylene glycol for 4 weeks. In second experiment, conducted in open field for two consecutive growing seasons, water deficit treatments were applied 3 weeks after sowing. In this experiment, irrigation was applied when an amount of evaporated water from the ‘class A pan’ evaporation reached 50 mm (well watered), 100 mm (moderate drought) and 150 mm (severe drought). Water deficit, applied in terms of osmotic stress or drought, reduced the root and shoot length, related leaf water contents, total chlorophyll contents and efficiency of photosystem‐II, plant height, grain yield and related attributes in faba bean; increased the leaf free proline, leaf soluble proteins and malondialdehyde contents, and triggered the maturity in tested faba bean genotypes. However, substantial genetic variation was observed in the tested genotypes in this regard. For instance, root length of genotypes Giza Blanka and Hassawi‐2 decreased gradually, whereas it was increased in genotypes Goff‐1, Hassawi‐1 and Gazira‐2 with increase in the level of osmotic stress. Genotypes Gazira‐2 and Hassawi‐2 had better relative leaf water contents, leaf free proline and soluble proteins under water deficit conditions; however, these were minimum in genotype Giza Blanka. Better accumulation of leaf free proline, soluble proteins, and maintenance of chlorophyll contents, tissue water, efficiency of photosystem‐II and grain weight in water‐limited conditions helped some genotypes like Hassawi‐2 to yield better. Future breeding programs for developing new faba bean genotypes for water‐limited environments may consider these traits.     

Secondary Effluent Treatment by Slow Sand Filters: Performance and Risk Analysis

The objective of this study is to examine the reuse of wastewaterfor beneficial purposes. To accomplish this objective, the efficiency of slow sand filters in removing total coliforms (TC) was studied using a probabilistic method. Three pilot scale slowsand filters were constructed at Alkhobar wastewater treatment plant, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia. The removal efficiency of filters was estimated under different operating control parameters, which included filtration rate (q), sand bed depth (d) and sand grain size (c). The Type III extreme value distribution best fitted theremoval efficiency data. A multiple linear regression analysis was performed to develop a relationship for mean removal efficiency as a function of control parameters. The predicted mean response and experimental results of previous studies werecompared to validate the empirical regression model. The controlparameters and influent concentrations of total coliform were used in Monte Carlo (MC) simulations for calculating the reliability index (β). The reliability index and corresponding risk were calculated for lognormally distributedsafety margins (SM). An effluent standard of 100 total coliform/100 mL was defined as capacity of the filter to ascertainthe risks of exceedence, which was approximately less than 50 for95% of the time. Pre and/or post disinfection would be necessaryto meet the stipulated effluent standards for unrestricted agriculture use.