IMAGING DIAGNOSIS—SPINAL EPIDURAL HEMANGIOSARCOMA IN A DOG

An 8‐year‐old, male Boxer was examined for an acute onset of ambulatory paraparesis. Neurologic examination was consistent with a T3‐L3 myelopathy. Myelography revealed an extradural spinal cord compression in the region of the T10‐T13 vertebrae. On magnetic resonance (MR) imaging, a well‐defined epidural mass lesion was detected. The mass was mildly hyperintense on T1‐weighted, hyperintense on T2‐weighted and STIR images compared to normal spinal cord and enhanced strongly and homogenously. Postmortem examination confirmed a primary epidural hemangiosarcoma. Findings indicated that the MRI characteristics of spinal epidural hemangiosarcoma may mimic other lesions including meningioma and epidural hemorrhages/hematomas of non‐neoplastic etiology.     

Behavior and salivary cortisol of captive dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) kept in open and closed facilities

Few studies have been carried out on the welfare of captive bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus). Of these, most include information on animals kept in closed facilities or pools. The aim of this study was to assess the welfare of captive bottlenose dolphins in open and closed facilities by measuring states of individual behavior and salivary cortisol concentrations. A total of 23 bottlenose dolphins were studied in 4 different dolphinaria. Dolphinaria A and B have closed facilities, whereas dolphinaria C and D have open facilities. A total of 152 hours of behavioral observations were analyzed using a combination of behavior and scan sampling to obtain information on individual time budgets. Salivary cortisol concentrations were measured using radioimmunoassay in 96 and 180 saliva samples of dolphins kept in closed and open facilities, respectively. In general, the results found that dolphins kept in open facilities spent less time floating (P < 0.05) and swimming in circular patterns than linear ones (P < 0.05) compared with dolphins in closed facilities. Dolphins kept in open facilities also had lower salivary cortisol concentrations than dolphins kept in closed facilities (P < 0.05). For this reason, we suggest that further research should include other welfare indicators such as reproductive function and health measurements to know more about the relationships between the design of pools and dolphin welfare.     

Production and economic assessment of giant kelp Macrocystis pyrifera cultivation for abalone feed in the south of Chile

Kelp biomass availability for mass abalone cultivation remains a critical issue in Chile. The technical and economic feasibility of a commercial scale kelp farming activity has not been established. This study describes the production and economic results of a pilot scale unit installed in southern Chile. Our results show 25 kg m^?1 of production over a 9‐month spring‐summer period, and 16.2 kg m^?1 during the autumn‐winter period. These values indicate that a total biomass production of 41.3 kg (wet) ma^?1 year^?1 can be obtained by placing the culture lines at 4 m intervals. High quality animal food‐grade plants with a 9% protein content, over 5 m in length were harvested. Sensitivity analysis showed that by cultivating 30–50 ha with a market value of US$ 78 ton^?1, a return on investment can be made after the first year.     

Water deficit and corn productivity during the post-socialist period. Case study: Southern Oltenia drylands,Romania

Water deficit (WD) typically associated with drylands and poor land use currently represent a major limiting factor for agricultural systems in numerous regions of the world. The present study aims to analyze the relationship between water deficit and corn (Zea mays L) crop yields in southern Oltenia drylands. The study includes the post-1990 period, which is representative for Romania in terms of ample climate changes and poor land planning decisions affecting water resources. This analysis targeted the vegetation period of corn (April–September), the reference period covering a 14-year interval, from 1990 to 2003. The entire analysis was based on spatialized WD data (mm), obtained by interpolation methods used on climate data provided by regional weather stations, and agricultural yield data (tons/hectare/year), recorded in 113 administrative territorial units. Both data sets were analyzed in terms of interannual statistical relationships, established in compact climate zones delineated by Thiessen-Voronoi polygons. The results showed a clear statistical relationship between the two variables, with an average dependence of corn yields on water of approximately 65%. The range was from 55 to 78%, depending on region. The results showed an average yield decrease of 16.5 kg/ha/year for each mm rise of the WD, or loss of 1.65 t/ha/year when considering a deficit rise of 100 mm. Therefore, in the context of increasing future WD, urgent action is needed in order to reintroduce irrigation systems.     

Carbon contents and aggregation related to soil physical and biological properties under a land-use sequence in the semiarid region of central Argentina

Land-use change affects vast areas of the semiarid region of central Argentina, where agriculture becomes predominant over mixed farming systems, and large areas of permanent pastures (PAS) are being converted to agricultural land. This land-use change causes loss of soil structure, but very little is known about the effect of changes in aggregate size distribution on soil physical, chemical and biological properties. We decided to use dry sieved aggregates since this technique is commonly used in semiarid regions. The study was carried out at Anguil, La Pampa, Argentina. The soil was a sandy loam Entic Haplustoll with a carbonate-free A-horizon. The PAS site had been under weeping love grass for more than 40 years. Parts of this PAS were turned to cultivation in 1989 (CULT14) and in 2001 (CULT2). Sampling was carried out at 0.6 m intervals to 0.18 m depth. Bulk density (BD), organic carbon (OC), and water holding capacity and infiltration were determined on these samples. Dry aggregate size distribution and OC content of the size fractions were determined on large undisturbed samples. Samples of pooled aggregate size fractions >4, 1–4, and <1 mm, as well as corresponding samples of non fractionated soil were incubated and respiration was measured by CO₂ evolved. The soil of CULT2 had 29% lower contents of large (>4 mm) and 37% higher contents of very small (<1 mm) aggregates than PAS. The intermediate size aggregates were not affected by the short-term effect of tillage. OC loss in CULT2 was 16% regarding PAS. Longer term effects of cultivation were characterized by 30% loss of intermediate size aggregates, 22% increase of bulk density, 74 and 19% decrease in water infiltration and water retention, respectively of CULT14 compared to PAS. A 32% decrease of OC was observed after 14 years of cultivation. Intermediate size aggregates had highest OC contents and no difference between treatments was found, except for a lower value of large aggregates in CULT14. Respiration rates and total CO₂ evolved was related to OC contents of fractions; however, PAS respired more from its small aggregates than expected from their OC content. The results showed that OC turnover and loss of aggregation was very fast in this soil, but soil hydraulic properties were affected in the longer term. Dry aggregates were found to useful for studying soil degradation, and they showed similar trends as those indicated in the literature for water stable aggregates.     

Selective and Apoptotic Action of Ethanol Extract of Annona cherimola Seeds against Human Stomach Gastric Adenocarcinoma Cell Line AGS

Plant Foods for Human Nutrition - Annona cherimola is a tree belonging to the family Annonacea, whose fruit (cherimoya) is very desirable, but its seeds are considered waste. Present in these seeds...