VCARS – veterinary computerized anesthetic record system

VCARS, the Veterinary Computerized Anesthetic Record System, has been developed to capture pre-, peri- and post-anesthetic data using Tablet PCs, 802.11b wireless networks, and a web-based database. Patient demographics, anticipated procedures and anesthetist, service information and hematologic and chemistry values are imported from the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital patient information system. Using a wireless Tablet PC, pre-anesthetic examination findings are recorded and an anesthetic plan including anesthetic drugs and anesthetic and monitoring equipment is developed. During induction and maintenance of anesthesia, physiologic variables, drug, fluid, anesthetic gas and oxygen administration, laboratory values, patient location, and important events can be charted with the simplicity of a paper anesthetic record. This information can be manipulated for display in a variety of ways depending on the specific needs of the case. Tools for calculating optimal fluid rates and drug dosages are incorporated into the design. The anesthetic records from multiple cases can be viewed simultaneously using a centrally-located monitor. Detailed audit trails ensure data integrity. A high-end search engine will allow rapid and complete retrieval of patient and anesthetic information. Macromedia flash is used to allow temporary disconnection from the wireless network without losing the ability to view, add, or edit data. The initial stages of software development are nearing completion, a wireless network is in place and hardware is being purchased. A pilot study will be conducted using manual entry of physiologic data prior to integration of automatically captured patient physiological variables. It is anticipated that this system will drastically improve the accuracy of data collection and retrieval and will provide important information about anesthetic management allowing improvement in overall patient care.     

温度对荔枝开花的影响

低温能促进荔枝（LitchichinestsSonn．）开花,但是成功诱导开花的临界温度和所需低温量并不清楚。研究了最高温／最低温：15°／5°,20°／5°,20°／10°,20°／15°,25°／10°,25°／15°,25°／20°和30°／20℃8个温度处理对KwaiMayPink荔枝和Casino荔枝营养生长和开花的影响。在第2个试验中,WaiChee荔枝在转移到无诱导条件的30°／20℃温度前,分别给予0,2,4,6,8,10和31周的15℃低温诱导。在第3个试验中．WaiChee荔枝生长温度为15℃时,每24小时内给予高于20℃的温度处理时间分别为0,1,2和8h（15℃以上分别为0,2,4和15h）。在第1个试验中,KwaiMayPink的营养生长温度为25°／20℃和30°／20℃,温度为25°／10℃和25°／15℃时,既有营养生长,又有花穗发育,较低的温度更利于开花。Casino荔枝除了在25°／10℃和25°／15℃的温度条件下既无营养生长,也无花穗发育外,其余处理的反映和KwaiMayPink荔枝类似。对2个荔枝品种而言,在20°／15℃和更低的温度时,几乎所有枝条都开了花。‘WaiChee’荔枝成花诱导条件为在转移到高温条件下之前,保持15℃的低温4周,最长6周。低温时间的长短还影响花穗的类型,15℃的低温诱导10周后,‘WaiChee’荔枝几乎无有叶花穗。保持15℃的低温     

Equine castration: review of anatomy, approaches, techniques and complications in normal, cryptorchid and monorchid horses

Complications associated with equine castration are the most common cause of malpractice claims against equine practitioners in North America. An understanding of the embryological development and surgical anatomy is essential to differentiate abnormal from normal structures and to minimise complications. Castration of the normal horse can be performed using sedation and regional anaesthesia while the horse is standing, or under general anaesthesia when it is recumbent. Castration of cryptorchid horses is best performed under general anaesthesia at a surgical facility. Techniques for castration include open, closed and half-closed techniques. Failure of left and right testicles to descend occurs with nearly equal frequency, however, the left testicle is found in the abdomen in 75% of cryptorchid horses compared to 42% of right testicles. Bilateral cryptorchid and monorchid horses are uncommon. Surgical approaches described for the castration of cryptorchid horses include an inguinal approach with or without retrieval of the scrotal ligament, a parainguinal approach, or less commonly a suprapubic paramedian or flank approach. Laparoscopic castration of cryptorchid horses has recently been described but the technique has limited application in practice at this time. A definitive diagnosis of monorchidism can only be made after surgical exploration of the abdomen, removal of the normal testis and hormonal testing. Hormonal assays reported to be useful include analysis of basal plasma or serum testosterone or oestrone sulphate concentrations, testosterone concentrations following hCG stimulation, and faecal oestrone sulphate concentrations. Reported complications of castration include postoperative swelling, excessive haemorrhage, eventration, funiculitis, peritonitis, hydrocele, penile damage and continued stallion-like behaviour.     

Particle-stabilized defect gel in cholesteric liquid crystals

Dispersions of colloidal particles in cholesteric liquid crystals form an unusual solid by stabilizing a network of linear defects under tension in the ideal layered structure of the cholesteric. The large length scales of the cholesteric liquid crystals allowed direct observation of the network structure, and its properties were correlated with rheological measurements of elasticity. This system serves as a model for a class of solids formed when particles are mixed with layered materials such as thermotropic and lyotropic smectic liquid crystals and block copolymers.     

The CO2 balance of unproductive aquatic ecosystems

Community respiration (R) rates are scaled as the two-thirds power of the gross primary production (P) rates of aquatic ecosystems, indicating that the role of aquatic biota as carbon dioxide sources or sinks depends on its productivity. Unproductive aquatic ecosystems support a disproportionately higher respiration rate than that of productive aquatic ecosystems, tend to be heterotrophic (R > P), and act as carbon dioxide sources. The average P required for aquatic ecosystems to become autotrophic (P > R) is over an order of magnitude greater for marshes than for the open sea. Although four-fifths of the upper ocean is expected to be net heterotrophic, this carbon demand can be balanced by the excess production over the remaining one-fifth of the ocean.     

Synchronous climate changes in antarctica and the north atlantic

Central Greenland ice cores provide evidence of abrupt changes in climate over the past 100,000 years. Many of these changes have also been identified in sedimentary and geochemical signatures in deep-sea sediment cores from the North Atlantic, confirming the link between millennial-scale climate variability and ocean thermohaline circulation. It is shown here that two of the most prominent North Atlantic events-the rapid warming that marks the end of the last glacial period and the Bolling/Allerod-Younger Dryas oscillation-are also recorded in an ice core from Taylor Dome, in the western Ross Sea sector of Antarctica. This result contrasts with evidence from ice cores in other regions of Antarctica, which show an asynchronous response between the Northern and Southern Hemispheres.     

Evidence for large earthquakes in metropolitan los angeles

The Sierra Madre fault, along the southern flank of the San Gabriel Mountains in the Los Angeles region, has failed in magnitude 7.2 to 7.6 events at least twice in the past 15,000 years. Restoration of slip on the fault indicated a minimum of about 4.0 meters of slip from the most recent earthquake and suggests a total cumulative slip of about 10.5 meters for the past two prehistoric earthquakes. Large surface displacements and strong ground motions resulting from greater than magnitude 7 earthquakes within the Los Angeles region are not yet considered in most seismic hazard and risk assessments.