Oculocardiac reflex induced by zygomatic arch fracture in a crossbreed dog

A 3-year-old crossbreed male dog was presented with a history of blunt facial trauma. Skull radiographs showed right zygomatic arch fracture. An electrocardiogram revealed bradycardia, first-degree atrioventricular block and QT prolongation. Standard biochemical profile including electrolytes was normal. Atropine response test (0.04 mg/kg intravenously) restored normal sinus rhythm at a rate of 140 bpm with normal QT and PR intervals. This observation is consistent with oculocardiac reflex secondary to zygomatic arch fracture.     

Synergic Effects of Light Salting,Vacuum Packaging,and Onion Extract on the Quality Retention of Refrigerated Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) Fillets

This experiment investigated the synergistic effects of vacuum packaging, light salting, and onion extract on the shelf life of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) fillets stored under refrigeration. The chemical, microbial, and organoleptic changes were monitored for up to 18 days in fillets. Total volatile basic nitrogen (TVB-N) and free fatty acid (FFA) values were evident in the order: control (without salting, vacuum packaging, and extract) > air packaged, salted (APS) > vacuum packaged, salted (VPS) > and vacuum packaged, salted, containing 2% and 4% (v/w) onion extract (2% and 4% VPSOE) throughout the storage period. Thiobarbituric acid values in APS groups were higher than control groups. Data from microbial assay showed that treatment with 2% and 4% VPSOE decreased total viable microbial count (TVC) compared with other treatments. APS, VPS, and VPSOE samples remained acceptable for up to 8, 12, and 15 days, respectively. The most suitable indices for determining shelf life of rainbow trout fillets are TVC.     

Sulfur uptake and translocation in maize (zea mays) grown in a high pH soil treated with elemental sulfur

A glasshouse experiment was conducted to elucidate the influence of elemental sulfur (S) application rates (0, 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 g S kg^?1 soil) on the release and uptake of S at 0, 20, and 40 days after incubation. Results showed that there was a progressive upward trend in maize leaves, stem, and root S content with application of elemental S. However, maize production followed a nonlinear model. Plants grown in untreated soils suffer from S deficiency and addition of elemental S at a rate of 0.5 g S kg^?1 soil alleviated S deficiency. The decrease in maize performance due to the highest S application rate was not related to S toxicity. The greatest leave, stem, and root productions were obtained at S concentrations of 0.41, 0.58, and 0.2%, respectively. Overall, application of elemental S at a rate of 0.5 g S kg^?1 soil is recommended for maize performance improvement.     

Soil moisture index improves models of forage production in central Iran

This study is focused on the relative importance of bioclimatic variables and soil moisture index (SMI) for predicting forage production in Central Iran rangelands. We used a dataset of 93 forage production collected from 16 rangeland sites during 8 years in Isfahan province. Climatic and topographic variables were obtained using a digital elevation model and geographical information system. SMI is derived using a triangle space concept between the land surface temperature and normalized difference vegetation index from MODIS satellite data over Isfahan province. Using Nonparametric Multiplicative Regression model, we produced two distinct models to predict forage production, the first model with climatic and topographic variables (reduced model) and the second model with climatic, topographic and SMI variables (complete model). The inclusion of SMI significantly improved the quality of forage production predictions within the study area. The forage production is predicted to vary from 41.4 to 474 kg ha^?1 in first model and 20.5 to 485 kg ha^?1 in second model. We anticipated that using SMI would improve standing crop estimates relative to using bioclimatic variables. The cross-validated R² (×R²) increased from 57% to 63% when SMI is added to NPMR model.     

A combination of gum arabic and chitosan can control anthracnose caused by Colletotrichum musae and enhance the shelf-life of banana fruit

Summary

Anthracnose, caused by Colletotrichum musae, is the major disease affecting the quality of banana fruit during storage. To control banana anthracnose, the combined effects of coatings with gum arabic [GA; at 5, 10, 15 or 20% (w/v)] and 0.75% (w/v) chitosan (CH) were investigated and compared to untreated controls. In vitro results showed significant (P < 0.05) inhibition of mycelial growth and conidial germination of C. musae in all combined treatments compared to the untreated controls after 7 d of incubation at room temperature (25°C). However, potato dextrose agar (PDA) plates amended with 10% (w/v) GA gave the most promising results among all test treatments in suppressing mycelial growth (86%) and inhibiting conidial germination (80%), while no effective inhibition of conidial germination was observed in the controls. In vivo results confirmed that 10% (w/v) GA was the optimum concentration to control fruit decay (70%), while showing efficacy on the reduction of growth of C. musae on artificially inoculated banana fruit. The combined coatings of GA + CH also significantly delayed ripening in terms of weight loss, fruit firmness, soluble solids content, and titratable acidity. These results support the possibility of using 10% (w/v) GA combined with 0.75% (w/v) CH as an alternative strategy to control post-harvest anthracnose disease in banana fruit.     

Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Seawater, Sediment, and Rock Oyster Saccostrea cucullata from the Northern Part of the Persian Gulf (Bushehr Province)

The concentration of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) was determined in seawater, sediment, and Rock oyster Saccostrea cucullata collected from four sampling sites in the inter-tidal areas of Bushehr province. The total concentrations of 14 PAHs varied from 1.5 to 3.6 ng/L in seawater, 41.7 to 227.5 ng/g dry weight in surface sediment, and 126 to 226.1 ng/g dry weight in oyster tissue. In comparing PAH concentrations among the three matrices in Bushehr province, data showed that the pattern of individual PAHs in seawater, oyster, and sediment were different. The oysters tended to accumulate the lower molecular weight and the more water-soluble PAHs. Sediment samples were distinguished from the sea water and oyster samples by the presence of high molecular weight PAHs, especially six-ring PAHs. Three- and four-ring PAHs were the most abundant compounds among the 14 PAHs investigated in surface seawater, sediment, and oyster samples. As expected, differences in octanol/water partition coefficient among individual PAHs and the greater persistence of the higher molecular weight PAHs contributed to the accumulation patterns in oyster and sediment. The results of the study suggested that the main sources of PAHs in the seawater and sediment in the region were mixed pyrolitic and petrogenic inputs.     

The Healing Potential of Plantago lanceolata Ointment on Collagenase-Induced Tendinitis in Burros (Equus asinus)

This study was carried out to evaluate the healing potential of water-soluble extract of Plantago lanceolata as a topical ointment on experimental tendinitis in burros. Tendinitis was induced by injection of 2,500 U of bacterial collagenase in the superficial digital flexor tendon of both forelimbs of six male burros. Tendinitis was confirmed ultrasonographically. 48 hours after collagenase injection, two grams of 10% P lanceolata ointment was applied on one limb (treatment group) and the same amount of eucerin (the vehicle of the ointment) on the other limb (control group), every other day for 6 weeks. Ultrasonographic examination of the tendon was performed weekly during the study and mean cross-sectional area of the superficial digital flexor tendon was measured, which was found to increase significantly after injection of collagenase in both groups. From the third week, it decreased significantly in the treatment group in comparison with the control group. At the end of the study, the animals were euthanized for histopathological study of the tendons. In control group, degenerative changes in tendon could be seen, whereas significant degree of healing was observed in the treatment group. It can thus be concluded that the P lanceolata ointment was effective in promoting the healing process of the tendon.     

Effects of short-term oral administration of propranolol on tear secretion in clinically normal dogs

This study evaluated the effects of short-term oral administration of propranolol on tear secretion in 15 clinically normal crossbreed dogs. The treatment group (n = 8) received propranolol (2 mg/kg q8h) orally for 7 days. The control group (n = 7) received placebo during the study. Schirmer I tear tests were performed on both eyes 1 d prior to drug administration (T(0)), at 1 (T(1)), 3 (T(3)), and 7 (T(7)) days of treatment. Tear production in dogs, measured by STT, was not significantly reduced in both groups.     

Assessment of growth performance,immune responses,serum metabolites,and prevalence of leg weakness in broiler chicks submitted to early-age water restriction

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of two methods of early-age water restriction on performance, some immune responses, serum metabolites, and prevalence of leg weakness in broiler chicks. One-hundred-eighty-seven-day-old chicks (Ross 308) were allocated to three treatments with four replicates based on a completely randomized design. Treatments included the control group, where birds had free access to water, and water-restricted groups, where access to water was limited to three 2-h periods (WRT1) or a 12-h period (WRT2) per day from days 7 to 17. Chicks in the control group were significantly heavier (P < 0.05) at 17 and 46 days of age compared to the restricted birds. In the WRT2 group, feed intake decreased significantly over the 17- to 28-day period while feed conversion ratio was poorer during water restriction (P < 0.05). Antibody titers against Newcastle and SRBC were higher (P < 0.05) for chicks with ad libitum access to water. Birds in the restricted groups exhibited a higher heterophil to lymphocyte ratio compared to the control group (P < 0.05). The treatments had no significant impact on serum metabolites including protein, triglyceride, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein and low-density lipoprotein cholesterols, calcium, and phosphorus concentrations. Walking ability, tibial dyschondroplasia, foot pad, hock burn, and valgus/varus angulation were not significantly influenced by water restriction. In conclusion, the current results indicate that early-age water restriction negatively influenced productive traits and immunological responses of broiler chicks and failed to have any favorable impacts on leg health.