Evaluation of intravenous pamidronate administration in 33 cancer-bearing dogs with primary or secondary bone involvement

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical safety of pamidronate when administered at a mean dosage of 1.0 mg/kg IV q28d in 33 tumor-bearing dogs. Biochemical tests of renal function were evaluated before each successive pamidronate treatment. Of 33 dogs treated with pamidronate, 1 dog had clinically relevant increases in serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen concentrations. The biologic activity of IV pamidronate was assessed prospectively in 10 dogs with appendicular osteosarcoma and was assessed on reductions in urine N-telopeptide excretion (P = .042) and enhanced bone mineral density of the primary tumor measured with dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (P = .024). Additionally, in these 10 dogs, pamidronate's therapeutic activity was supported by subjective improvement in pain control in 4 of the 10 dogs treated. IV pamidronate appears clinically safe in tumor-bearing dogs and may possess modest biologic activity for managing neoplastic complications associated with pathologic bone resorption.     

Bone metabolic effects of single-dose zoledronate in healthy dogs

Zoledronate, an aminobisphosphonate with potent antiresorptive activity in bone, has the potential for treatment of malignant osteolysis and hypercalcemia in dogs. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the bone metabolic effects of a single dose of zoledronate in healthy dogs. Four skeletally mature, male, intact dogs received a 15-minute i.v. infusion of zoledronate at a dosage of 0.25 mg/kg. Urine N-telopeptide of type I collagen (NTx) excretion decreased significantly from baseline by 76, 63, 77, and 73% on days 7, 14, 21, and 28, respectively (P < .0125). Serum bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (bALP) decreased significantly from baseline by 36 and 42% on days 21 and 28, respectively (P < .0125). No changes were detected in indices of calcium homeostasis (ionized calcium, intact PTH, or urine calcium excretion). Single-dose i.v. zoledronate at 0.25 mg/kg appears to inhibit homeostatic osteolytic activity in healthy, skeletally mature dogs. Prospective studies should assess repeated-dose safety and activity in healthy and diseased animals of various age groups.     

Net Exchange of CO2 in a Mid-Latitude Forest

The eddy correlation method was used to measure the net ecosystem exchange of carbon dioxide continuously from April 1990 to December 1991 in a deciduous forest in central Massachusetts. The annual net uptake was 3.7 +/- 0.7 metric tons of carbon per hectare per year. Ecosystem respiration, calculated from the relation between nighttime exchange and soil temperature, was 7.4 metric tons of carbon per hectare per year, implying gross ecosystem production of 11.1 metric tons of carbon per hectare per year. The observed rate of accumulation of carbon reflects recovery from agricultural development in the 1800s. Carbon uptake rates were notably larger than those assumed for temperate forests in global carbon studies. Carbon storage in temperate forests can play an important role in determining future concentrations of atmospheric carbon dioxide.     

Catalytic Performance of H3PW12O40-TiO2/bentonite in Photocatalytic Degradation of Methyl Orange

H3PW12O40Ti(OH)4 hydrogel was prepared by the sol-gel method, and then H3PW12O40TiO2/bentonite was prepared through the intercalation of H3PW12O40Ti(OH)4 into interlayer space. The characterization of XRD, SEM and EDS showed that H3PW12O40TiO2 species were successfully immobilized on bentonite, and the layer strucure of bentonite was changed. The discrete anatase TiO2 existed on the bentonite. H3PW12O40TiO2/bentonite was a composite material with the different particle size and th loose structure. The photocatalytic degradation of methyl orange showed that the photocatalytic activity of catalyst had been better by doping H3PW12O40, and the H3PW12O40/TiO2/bentonite had a wide applicable range of pH value. Moreover, H3PW12O40TiO2/bentonite had a good catalytic stability. Based on the results of characterization analysis and catalytic performance, the schematic procedure for the action mechanism of H3PW12O40TiO2/Bentonite in photocatalysis was presented.     

Experimental Analysis on Function of Free Cooling Unit with a Pump-driven Loop Heat Pipe for Internet Data Center

A free cooling unit with a pump-driven loop heat pipe was designed for internet data center (IDC), and its components and working processes were described. The experiment system for the developed prototype was built and the comprehensive studies were conducted. The experimental results demonstrate that the coefficient of performance (COP) of the unit can reach to 5.88 when the temperature difference between IDC indoor and outdoor is 10℃, and it will be 10.41 when the temperature difference is 18℃. When mass flow rate of the working fluid in the unit changes within a certain range, namely the gasification rate of the fluid being between 2% and 50%, there is no significant changes for the heat transfer capacity. And there is an approximately linear relationship between the capacity and the temperature difference. Meanwhile, with the increase of the system resistance, both temperature difference of the fluid between inlet and outlet of the evaporator and the proportion of the sensible heat to the capacity also increase.     

Influences of Y on the microstructures and mechanical properties of Mg-12Gd-1Zn-0.6Zr magnesium alloys

To develop Mg-Gd-Y based high-strength alloys and widen the application of magnesium alloys, the effects of Y addition on the microstructure and mechanical properties of Mg-12Gd-1Zn-0.6Zr alloy are investigated by using both optical and electron microscopy,X-ray diffraction (XRD),differential scanning calorimetric (DSC) analysis,and tensile test．The results indicate that adding 2%Y to the Mg-12Gd-1Zn-0.6Zr alloy does not cause an obvious change in the as-cast microstructure of the alloy. However,after adding 3%and 4%Y,the as-cast microstructure of the alloy is coarsened,and simultaneously the morphology of the secondary phases in the alloy is changed from the initial discontinuous fine network to thick skeleton-like frame. Furthermore,adding 2%-4%Y to the Mg-12Gd-1Zn-0.6Zr alloy can also refine the grains of the as-extruded alloy,and adding 2%and 3%Y can obtain higher refining efficiency than adding 4%Y. In addition,adding 2%-4%Y to the Mg-12Gd-1Zn-0.6Zr alloy can also effectively improve the ultimate tensile strength and yield strength of the as-extruded alloy,and the ultimate tensile strength,yield strength and elongation of the as-extruded alloy with the addition of 2%Y can reach 348.8 MPa,256.8 MPa and 14.7%,respectively.     

Agronomic performances of biodegradable and non-biodegradable plastic film mulching on a maize cropping system in the semi-arid Loess Plateau, China

Biodegradable plastic film mulch (PFM) is considered an alternative to non-biodegradable PFM to mitigate the negative impacts of residual film.However,the agronomic performance of biodegradable PFM in comparison to non-biodegradable PFM still needs to be tested.In this study,we evaluated the effects of biodegradable and non-biodegradable PFM on soil physicochemical properties,microbial community,and enzyme activities,as well as maize growth performance.Biodegradable and non-biodegradable PFM bot...     

Driving factors of soluble organic nitrogen dynamics in paddy soils: Structure equation modeling analysis

Soil soluble organic nitrogen (SON) is one of the most active components in soil nitrogen pools; however, limited information is available with regard to its driving factors, as well as their pathways and degrees of influence. In this study, structural equation modeling was used to analyze the driving factors, their significance, and pathways that affected SON dynamics in a waterlogged experiment of two typical paddy soils incubated for 80 d after green manure application. Soil pH, Eh, microbial biomass, enzyme activity, and SON dynamics were used to construct the structural equation model. Results showed that soil microbial biomass carbon (MBC), protease, glutamine, and initial organic matter (OM) directly and significantly affected soil SON with path coefficients corresponding to 0.405, 0.547, 0.523, and -0.623 (P < 0.01), respectively. Soil microbial biomass carbon and initial OM affected the SON dynamics indirectly through protease and glutamine activity. In addition, pH indirectly affected SON dynamics by glutamine activity. It is implied that soil MBC, protease, glutamine, and initial OM are the key factors affecting SON dynamics in the waterlogged paddy soils after green manure application. Our research indicated that structural equation modeling could provide an effective method to clearly recognize the impact, significance, and pathways of multiple factors on SON dynamics in paddy soils.     

Intestinal haemorrhage associated with colonic vascular ectasia (angiodysplasia) in a dog

An eight-year-old, sexually intact, male, 37 kg crossbred dog was referred for investigation of two acute episodes of intestinal bleeding and severe anaemia within a five-month period. There was no evidence of coagulopathy or underlying systemic disease. Technetium-labelled red blood cell scintigraphy suggested the colon as the site of bleeding. Colonoscopy identified a focal area of dilated and tortuous mucosal blood vessels. Histopathology of the resected colon revealed vascular ectasia (angiodysplasia). At nine months post-resection, the dog remained healthy and free of any overt intestinal haemorrhage.