The method of application and short term results of tympanostomy tubes for the treatment of primary secretory otitis media in three Cavalier King Charles Spaniel dogs

Primary secretory otitis media is an uncommon disease affecting predominantly Cavalier King Charles Spaniel dogs. Current treatment recommendations include repeated manual removal of the mucoid effusion from the tympanic cavity through a myringotomy incision and topical or systemic corticosteroids. The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of tympanostomy tubes to provide continual tympanic cavity ventilation and drainage for the treatment of primary secretory otitis media in three dogs. Tympanostomy tubes were placed within a myringotomy incision in the pars tensa with the aid of an operating microscope. Clinical signs resolved rapidly in all cases following the procedure and all cases were asymptomatic at the time of follow-up, 8, 6 and 4 months later. Results of this study indicate that tympanostomy tubes provide continual tympanic cavity ventilation and drainage and may be an acceptable alternative to repeated myringotomy for the treatment of primary secretory otitis media.     

Recent advances in articular cartilage evaluation using computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging

Articular cartilage is a critical joint tissue and its evaluation remains a diagnostic challenge in horses. Coupled with a poor capacity for healing, early degenerative changes in articular cartilage are difficult to characterise using routine diagnostic imaging evaluations. Both computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) provide volumetric joint assessment and highlight morphological and quantitative properties of articular cartilage, improving assessment of this essential tissue. While the use of CT and MRI for joint evaluation is not new, there still remains a shortage of literature and scientific studies on the ability of these methods to evaluate articular cartilage in the horse. This review article summarises current CT and MRI techniques capable of characterising equine articular cartilage, highlights recent advances in these techniques and discusses the numerous methods studied in human subjects that have been minimally investigated in horses. Imaging techniques are presented in terms of their capabilities of offering morphological and quantitative evaluation along with a discussion of their benefits and limitations. Finally, it summarises the current state‐of‐the‐art approaches and identifies unmet clinical imaging needs to propel the advancement of articular cartilage and joint imaging in the horse.     

Prevalence,antimicrobial resistance profile and comparison of selective plating media for the isolation of Salmonella in backyard chickens from Entre Rios,Argentina

This study was conducted to estimate the apparent prevalence of Salmonella spp. in birds kept under backyard system in Entre Ríos, Argentina, and determine the performance of two selective plating media used for Salmonella isolation, and the antimicrobial resistance of the isolated. Also, the association of farms characteristics with Salmonella presence was evaluated. A total of 657 backyard chickens and 15 gooses were sampled one time by cloacal swab, belonging to 51 and one family farms, respectively, and four counties in Entre Rios state from April 2014 to May 2015. Only four samples from backyard chickens belonged to three family farms from Uruguay County were positive to Salmonella spp., so the apparent prevalence was 0.6% for this kind of chicken. Four serovars were isolated (Salmonella ser. Lille, S. ser. Newport, S. ser. Enteritidis and S. ser. Rissen), which were susceptible to all antibiotics tested with the exception of erythromycin. For Hektoen enteric agar and brilliant green agar, relative specificity and positive predictive value were 1, and the relative sensitivity and negative predictive value did not show any difference between them. The agreement was very good between these two plating media. None of the variables studied could be selected to calculate the risk factors associated with Salmonella isolation because p > .15. Although the prevalence of Salmonella spp. is low in backyard birds in Entre Rios, the presence of S. ser. Enteritidis should not be discounted, because it is found in the county that concentrates a large population of intensive poultry production in the state.     

Plant Community Influences on Intermittent Stream Stability in the Great Plains

The composition of the greenline plant community is linked to the stability of riparian ecosystems. Cool season exotic grasses are invading native plant communities across the northern Great Plains, potentially compromising streambank stability and increasing the risk of erosion within riparian ecosystems. To determine how the species composition of the greenline community impacts stream type and the risk of streambank erosion, thirty five reaches across five watersheds were sampled to determine the dominant greenline vegetation. At each reach, a cross-section was sampled to determine stream type, greenline vegetation, and risk of streambank erosion. Channel types were delineated using Rosgen’s classification of natural rivers. Canopy cover and composition was assessed using the line point intercept method along a 30.5 m transect in the greenline community. Plants recorded were grouped by their wetland indicator status for the central Great Plains. The Bank Erosion Hazard Index (BEHI) was used to assess the streams risk of erosion by calculating the difference between the bank height and bank full height, average plant rooting depth and density, bank angle degree, and the dominant texture of the bank material. Bank height ratio (BHR) was assessed as a measure of streambank stability and floodplain connectivity. A Nonmetric Multidimensional Scaling ordination was performed to analyze plant community influences. Analysis of the data determined that the most stable stream types (E and C channels), lower BEHI scores, and stable bank height ratios were associated with high amounts of litter and facultative wet species. In comparison, unstable F channels were associated with early successional species and bare ground. Sites with the higher BEHI scores were associated with greenlines comprised of upland and facultative upland and saline tolerant species. Late successional facultative wetland species were found to provide the most protection to intermittent streambanks.     

敲击振动检测鸡蛋裂纹的初步研究

现代化的蛋品加工业中,传统的照蛋检测鸡蛋裂纹技术远不能满足生产的自动化要求,为了实现快速在线无损检测鸡蛋裂纹,试验通过在鸡蛋不同部位施加机械冲击,利用计算机处理产生的声音信号,分析壳裂鸡蛋和完好鸡蛋的响应频率差异。结果表明：敲击赤道不同的部位,完好鸡蛋各点的特征响应频率十分接近,而壳裂鸡蛋差别较大。根据赤道四点特征响应频率变异系数(CV),建立了初步分级算法,使得裂纹鸡蛋检出水平达到91%,对整批鸡蛋的分级准确率达到87%。     

现浇钢筋混凝土楼板裂缝分析与防治

本文针对多个鉴定工程现浇钢筋混凝土楼板出现的裂缝现象,分析其裂缝产生的原因,并提出了一些避免或减少裂缝产生措施及处理方法,仅供参考。     

鸡血藤嫩叶愈伤组织诱导最佳培养基的筛选

以鸡血藤植物密花豆嫩叶为材料,不同培养基的诱导率为测定指标,筛选出一种适于鸡血藤植物嫩叶愈伤组织诱导的理想培养基,结果发现：优化得到诱导率为95％的最佳培养基,即MS＋1．0mg／L6-BA＋0．5mg／LNAA＋30g／L蔗糖＋0．1g／LVc,此培养基对防止愈伤组织的褐化也有较好效果。     

莱氏野村菌固体发酵培养基筛选与发酵条件优化

为探索适宜生产莱氏野村菌分生孢子的培养基及培养条件,利用单因素试验对大豆、小麦、燕麦、大米等材料进行筛选,并优化发酵条件。结果表明,不同基质对莱氏野村菌分生孢子产生、孢子活力、抗逆性和毒力有明显影响。莱氏野村菌在大豆上的产孢量和孢子活力明显高于其它三种基质,但小麦上培养的孢子抗逆性和毒力明显高于其它处理。小麦预浸泡12h后进行发酵,产孢量比对照提高25.9%;小麦浸泡后粉碎成颗粒,可显著提高产孢量;在粉碎的麦粒中添加2/5~3/5(w/w)的谷壳增加其透气性,有利于分生孢子产生,产孢量比对照提高34.7%~42.0%。固体基质接种后的初始含水量和培养温度是影响产孢的重要因素,含水量为65%、培养温度为24~26℃适宜菌体生长和分生孢子产生。光照是分生孢子产生的必需条件,连续光照有利于分生孢子产生。