Clinical comparison of two regimens of lidocaine infusion in horses undergoing laparotomy for colic

ObjectiveTo compare, in horses undergoing laparotomy for colic, the effects of administering or not administering a loading intravenous (IV) bolus of lidocaine prior to its constant rate infusion (CRI). Effects investigated during isoflurane anaesthesia were end-tidal isoflurane concentration (Fe’ISO), cardiovascular function, anaesthetic stability and the quality of recovery.Study designProspective, randomized clinical study.AnimalsThirty-six client-owned horses.MethodsHorses were assigned randomly to receive lidocaine as a CRI (50 μg kg⁻¹ minute⁻¹) either preceded (LB) or not preceded (L) by a loading dose (1.5 mg kg⁻¹ IV over 15 minutes). Lidocaine infusion (LInf) was started (T0) within 20 minutes after induction of general anaesthesia and discontinued approximately 30 minutes before the end of surgery. Anaesthetic depth, Fe’ISO, intra-operative physiological parameters and quality of recovery were assessed or measured. Data were analysed using one-way anova, t-test, Fisher test, Wilcoxon and Kruskal–Wallis tests as appropriate (p < 0.05).ResultsMean ± SD Fe’ISO was 1.21 ± 0.08% in group LB and 1.23 ± 0.06% in group L. Heart rate was significantly higher in group L than in group LB at times T5-T15, T25, T35 and T95. No difference was found between groups in other measured physiological values, nor in any measure taken to improve these parameters. Recovery phase was comparable and satisfactory in all but one full term pregnant horse in group L which fractured a femur during recovery.ConclusionPreloading with a lidocaine bolus prior to a CRI of lidocaine did not influence isoflurane requirements, cardiopulmonary effects (other than a reduction in heart rate at some time points) or recovery compared to no preloading bolus.Clinical relevanceA loading dose of lidocaine prior to CRI does not confer any advantage in horses undergoing laparotomy for colic.     

Evaluating agroforestry interventions in extension projects

Because of the relative dearth of scientific information in agroforestry, monitoring and evaluation of agroforestry technologies in development projects plays an important role in the development and improvement of technical extension recommendations. To identify appropriate methodologies, ICRAF conducted in 1988–89 a review of agroforestry technology monitoring and evaluation in 166 projects worldwide, of which 108 responded. Almost 80% of these were involved in technology evaluation. Many extension projects were conducting research to test technologies on-farm or on research plots. Technology evaluation by projects focused on the biological of trees, often with inadequate consideration of the technology context. Few projects seemed to use farmer assessment in evaluation. Recommendations are made for an effective evaluation process and selection of appropriate methods and variables to be assessed by projects. Methods should be selected according to the availability of resources and should favour collaborative or collegial interaction between farmers and project staff.     

High stability of nuclear microsatellite loci during the early stages of somatic embryogenesis in Norway spruce

Somatic embryos of Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) differentiate from proembryogenic masses (PEMs), which are subject to autodestruction through programmed cell death. In PEMs, somatic embryo formation and activation of programmed cell death are interrelated processes. We sought to determine if activation of programmed cell death in PEMs is caused by genetic aberrations during somatic embryogenesis. Based on the finding that withdrawal of auxin and cytokinin induces programmed cell death in PEMs, 1-week-old cell suspensions were cultured in medium either with or without auxin and cytokinin and then transferred to maturation medium containing abscisic acid. We analyzed the stability of three nuclear simple sequence repeat (SSR) microsatellite markers at successive stages of somatic embryogenesis in two cell lines. There were no mutations at the SSR loci at any of the successive developmental stages from PEMs to cotyledonary embryos, irrespective of whether or not the proliferation medium in which cell suspensions had been cultured contained auxin or cytokinin. The morphologies of plants regenerated from the cultures were similar, although withdrawal of auxin and cytokinin significantly stimulated the yield of both embryos and plants. We conclude, therefore, that the high genetic stability of somatic embryos in Norway spruce is unaffected by the induction of programmed cell death caused by withdrawal of auxin and cytokinin.     

Surveying farmers' agroforestry plots: experiences in evaluating alley-cropping and tree border technologies in Western Kenya

Evaluation of existing on-farm agroforestry plots should provide useful supplementary information for the design of improved agroforestry systems, in both research and development projects. Such evaluation has been little used, however, largely due to the methodological difficulties of surveying highly variable on-farm plots, and difficulties in identifying key variables for measurement. This paper describes a set of methods and tools used in evaluating plots of alley-cropping and tree borders around crop fields established by farmers working with the CARE Agroforestry Extension Project in western Kenya. Details of survey design, sampling, and implementation are discussed, and suggestions made for carrying out agroforestry surveys in other projects. A condensed version of the questionnaire is appended.     

Cellulose content as a selection trait in breeding for kraft pulp yield in Eucalyptus urophylla

? The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of using cellulose content, measured by the diglyme-HCl method, as a selection trait in breeding programs for kraft pulp yield in Eucalyptus urophylla.

? A total of 275 trees from sixty-two families were sampled from a thinned progeny trial of E. urophylla in northern Vietnam to evaluate cellulose content from breast-height increment cores. Among those, twenty unrelated trees were felled to evaluate cellulose content and pulp yield from breast-height disk samples.

? The regression of pulp yield of disk samples on cellulose content was strong either from disks (R ² = 0.83) or increment cores (R ² = 0.69). There was no significant difference in cellulose content between the provenances. The narrow-sense within-provenance heritability of cellulose content was 0.50 and the coefficient of additive genetic variation was 3.9%. Genetic correlations between cellulose content and growth (0.28–0.45) or wood basic density (?0.02) were not significantly different from zero.

? Breast-height increment core cellulose content measured by diglyme-HCl method is under strong genetic control and can be used to rank trees for pulp yield in E. urophylla plantations. Selection for increased cellulose content would have only minor effects on growth and wood basic density.

     

Policies Affecting Forestry Entrepreneurship

Many demand and supply-side policies impede or foster forestry entrepreneurship. A study was conducted to consolidate existing knowledge on policies influencing forestry entrepreneurship in Finland, Norway, Japan, Australia, the Philippines and the USA, and to draw conclusions on these impeding and fostering factors. From the country studies it was difficult to find common structures on policies affecting forestry entrepreneurship. This is understandable because most policies in forestry are aimed at supporting sustainable forest management, wood production and ecological services of the forests rather than entrepreneurship as such. Despite the high variety of policies applied in the study countries, it can be concluded that strict public control on forests’ use and management potentially impedes forestry entrepreneurship. While these policies assist to correct market failure and to promote sustainability of forest management, they may also result into unnecessary and ineffective regulations that limit the opportunities for forestry entrepreneurship. A common feature promoting the demand for forestry entrepreneurship in some of the countries studied is the strong emphasis on forestry cooperatives, which were important institutions to support small-scale forestry entrepreneurship. In many study countries, different ad hoc programs are implemented to find new economic and entrepreneurial opportunities aside from the current use of wood and forests. Subsidies and tax incentives are commonly applied to reduce risks from making forestry investments or otherwise increase the economic return from timber production.     

Scavenging effect and antispasmodic activity of the essential oil of Cyclotrichium niveum

The radical scavenging and the spasmolitic activity of Cyclotrichium niveum essential oil were evaluated in vitro. It showed an IC(50) of 1750 microg/ml on DPPH method and dose dependently (0.1, 0.5 and 1 mg/ml) inhibits the contraction induced by carbachol on rabbit bladder from 15 to 100%. Moreover, it was able to inhibit the rat ileum muscle by 30 to 100%.