Blood, Bull Terriers and Babesiosis: further evidence for direct transmission of Babesia gibsoni in dogs

This study reports on the epidemiology of Babesia gibsoni in American Pit Bull Terriers living in a region of western Victoria in southern Australia. Both American Pit Bull Terriers (n = 100) and other dog breeds (n = 51) were screened for B gibsoni using immunofluorescent antibody testing (IFAT) and/or polymerase chain reaction restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). A questionnaire was also completed by each dog owner, ascertaining the husbandry and habits of the dogs sampled. Fourteen dogs were positive for B gibsoni using IFAT and/or PCR-RFLP and all were American Pit Bull Terriers. Dogs that were male and/or had been bitten by or were biters of other American Pit Bull Terriers were more likely to be B gibsoni positive, thus suggesting that blood-to-blood transmission contributes to the spread of this disease between dogs.     

In vivo confocal microscopy in the normal corneas of cats, dogs and birds

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the applicability of in vivo confocal microscopy (IVCM) in veterinary ophthalmology and analyze the morphology of living, healthy cornea. ANIMALS EXAMINED: Thirty-seven dogs, 34 cats and five birds. PROCEDURE: Various corneal sublayers were visualized in the central region using an in vivo confocal corneal microscope (HRTII/RCM). RESULTS: An investigation method was developed and adapted for use on animals with varying skull forms and eye positions. Real-time images of the epithelial cells, the corneal stroma and the endothelial layer were obtained. The corneal stromal nerve trunks and the subepithelial and basal epithelial nerve plexus were visualized. In dogs, full corneal thickness (FCT) was 585 +/- 79 microm (mean +/- SD) and endothelial cell density (ECD) 3175 +/- 776 cells/mm(2) (mean +/- SD). In cats, FCT was 592 +/- 80 microm and ECD 2846 +/- 403 cells/mm(2). There were no significant differences between canine and feline FCT and ECD and no morphologic differences could be seen between dogs and cats. The bird images revealed a number of structural differences. CONCLUSION: Noninvasive IVCM allows accurate detection of corneal sublayers, corneal pachymetry, endothelial cell density and corneal innervation in various animal species. For clinical usage, patients must be under general anesthesia. The confocal images provided anatomic reference images of various healthy corneal structures in dogs, cats and birds.     

Purinergic control of the quail rectum: modulation of adenosine 5'-triphosphate-mediated contraction with acetylcholine

Electrical field stimulation (EFS) induces frequency-dependent contractions of the longitudinal muscle of isolated quail rectum which were sensitive to tetrodotoxin. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether purinergic neurons are implicated in the response to nerve stimulation. The shape of the EFS-induced contractile response was different depending on stimulus frequency; low frequencies (0.5-2 Hz) induced fast monophasic contractions with a small subsequent relaxation; whereas higher frequencies (5-50 Hz) induced biphasic contractile response that comprised fast initial component (as in case of low frequency) and a slow delayed contractile component in addition to the relaxation that follows the fast contractile component. Prior application of atropine (10 microM) completely abolished the slow delayed component but significantly enhanced the fast initial contractile component. Physostigmine (1-10 microM) significantly enhanced the slow delayed component with an inhibitory effect on the initial fast component. The nonspecific purinergic receptor antagonist, suramin (100-500 microM) significantly inhibited the fast initial contractile component with no significant effect on the slow delayed one. Complete blockade of the fast component was achieved by prior application of a combination consisted of suramin (50 microM) and pyridoxicalphosphate-6-azophenyl 2',4'-disulphonic acid tetrasodium (PPADS; 10 microM). Exogenous applications of adenosine 5'-triphosphate and acetylcholine (10 microM each), produced contractile responses that mimicked those induced by EFS. These data suggest that ATP is the main noncholinergic excitatory transmitter controlling the contractile activity of the quail rectum; and that its action could be modulated by acetylcholine.     

The Staged Simulation Method for Power Electronics Circuits

This paper in troduces a staged simulation method fur power electronics circuits,presents an exampleued the method for the CSI/IM drive system.     

Electro-circuit Design About the Data Acquisition and Wireless Transmission System Based on High-speed SCM

Considering the difficult of acquiring and transmission the signal from the moving equipment, a new fault diagnosis monitoring system is presented. The system acquires the state signal from the moving equipment by data acquisition module that based in W77E58 high-speed SCM, and transmits the data fast by wireless mode. The signal data can be use for fault diagnosis and precise analysis. The system has the ability for acquiring abundance of data with a high speed, the ability for high accuracy data conversion, and has a function of programme controlling gain and programme controlling low-pass filtering. The successful application of this system on the vibration monitor about the material-transporting bogie in an iron works of a domestic steel enterprise proves the stability and credibility about the design project, also testifies its practical value and versatility.     

Transmission Congestion Management Based on Power Influence Coefficient

Basing eliminating on the idea that the generator who has the most influence on the power flow of line is mostly in favor of transmission congestion, the model of congestion management with the object of minimizing adjustments of bufions varied with generation outputs is proposed. It can eliminate the congestion effectively by judging the generators who should be adjusted and the amounts of adjustment. The test on IEEE-RTS24 buses system and other practical systems show that the proposed method is effective.     

Influence of HVDC System on the Shaft of Hydro-generator Unit

Widely concerns of the influence of the HVDC system on the Three Gorges power station have been shown so far. Based on the understanding of the mechanism of the non-characteristic harmonics introduced by HVDC system, the influence of interharmonics on the shaft of hydro-generator unit is studied. A MATLAB simulation model for the Three Gorges hybrid AC and DC transmission system with considering the effect of generator-unit shaft is established. Through time-domain simulation, the influence of the minor-associated component of interharmonics on the generator-unit shaft is analyzed, which arise from the asynchronous operation of the HVDC system. Also, the complex torque coefficient method in frequency-domain is used to analyze this problem. Same conclusions can be drawn from the results of timedomain and frequency-domain analyses.     

Power Frequency Electric Field Caused by EHV Lines and Its Effect

Mathematical model of power frequency electric field is established based on Charge Simulation Method(CSM) to analyze power frequency electric field caused by EHV lines with overhead ground wires and its effect, which are entering the megalopolis. Calculative method on the electric field under the transmission lines is analyzed and validated. According to the criterion of environmental evaluation, the distributing characteristic of electric field is summarized, in case of various arrangement manners of lines. At last, some advice and methods of eliminating electric field under the transmission lines entering the megalopolis is proposed with regard to protecting environment.     

FDTD Method''s Application in the Research of Television Interference From High Voltage Transmission Line

The mechanism of television interference is discussed from High voltage transmission line. Then the computational model is established, and scattering fields are calculated with the finite-difference time-domain(FDTD) method, and the results are visualized. The scattering effects of High voltage transmission lines on horizontal polarization waves (corresponding to TM mode) are greater than on vertical polarization waves (corresponding to TE mode).