Detection and Characterization of the Cumulene Carbenes H2C5 and H2C6

Two cumulene carbenes, H2C5 and H2C6, were detected in a supersonic molecular beam by Fourier transform microwave spectroscopy. Their rotational and leading centrifugal distortion constants were determined with high accuracy, such that the entire radio spectrum can now be calculated. Like the known carbenes H2C3 and H2C4, both molecules have singlet electronic ground states and linear carbon-chain backbones. They can be produced in sufficiently high concentrations in the laboratory that their electronic spectra, expected to lie in the visible, should be readily detectable by laser spectroscopy. The microwave spectra of other, more exotic isomers may be detectable as well.     

Laser Rapid Prototyping of Photonic Band-Gap Microstructures

Three-dimensional periodic microstructures of aluminum oxide, which are important for creating photonic band-gap structures (PBGs), were fabricated by laser rapid prototyping by means of laser-induced direct-write deposition from the gas phase. The structures consisted of layers of parallel rods forming a face-centered tetragonal lattice with lattice constants of 66 and 133 micrometers. These structures showed transmission minima centered around 4 terahertz (75 micrometers) and 2 terahertz (150 micrometers), respectively. PBGs will allow precise control of the optical properties of materials, including lasers without threshold.     

Successful treatment of hypereosinophilic syndrome in a dog

An 11-year-old crossbred dog was presented with a history of episodic vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal discomfort and coughing. These signs had been present for several years. Marked peripheral eosinophilia (10.3 x 10(9)/L) was found. No underlying cause of reactive eosinophilia was apparent. Bone marrow aspiration biopsy showed hyperplasia of the eosinophilic cell line, with some increase in immaturity, although all cells were morphologically normal. There were numerous eosinophils in bronchial wash fluid and eosinophilic infiltrates were evident in biopsies of pancreas, liver, small intestine and colon but not stomach. Hypereosinophilic syndrome was diagnosed. The dog responded well to twice daily treatment with hydroxyurea and prednisolone. Clinical signs are well-controlled 16 months later.     

Sourcing Rhizobium leguminosarum biovar viciae strains from Mediterranean centres of origin to optimize nitrogen fixation in forage legumes grown on acid soils

Over the last three decades, farming systems in Europe and Australia have seen a decline in legume plantings, leading to reduced soil carbon and fertility, and an increase in plant disease, reliance on industrial nitrogen fertilizer and herbicides. In Australia, one reason for this decline has been the movement towards sowing crops and forages into dry soil, before the opening rains, as a consequence of climate variability. This practice predicates against the survival of rhizobial inoculants, and hence generates uncertainty about legume performance. The research reported here was initiated to improve the robustness of a specific forage legume/rhizobia symbiosis to increase nitrogen fixation in low pH, infertile soils. Rhizobial strains (Rhizobium leguminosarum biovar viciae) from Pisum sativum L. were sourced from acid soils in southern Italy and southern Australia. Strains were evaluated for N fixation on the forage legumes P. sativum, Vicia sativa and Vicia villosa, then for survival and persistence in acid soils (pH_Ca 4.6). Fourteen of the strains produced a higher percentage of nitrogen derived from the atmosphere (%Ndfa) compared to commercial comparator strain SU303 (<78%). Twenty‐two strains survived sufficiently into the second season to form more nodules than SU303, which only achieved 3% of plants nodulated. Elite strains WSM4643 and WSM4645 produced six times more nodulated plants than SU303 and had significantly higher saprophytic competence in acid soil. These strains have the ability to optimize symbiotic associations with field peas and vetch in soils with low fertility, carbon and pH that are restrictive to the current commercial strain SU303.     

Concurrent gastro-oesophageal intussusception,trichobezoar and hiatal hernia in a cat

CASE HISTORY: An adult male Birman cat was evaluated for recurrent, intermittent vomiting or regurgitation, occasionally associated with abdominal discomfort.

CLINICAL FINDINGS AND DIAGNOSIS: Radiographs, including an oesophogram, indicated an oesophageal obstruction. Prior to treatment, the cat's condition deteriorated and it was euthanised at the owner's request. Post-mortem examination revealed a gastro-oesophageal intussusception, a trichobezoar impacted into the intussusceptum, and a dilated oesophageal hiatus consistent with a chronic hiatal hernia.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Gastro-oesophageal intussusception is a rare condition in cats. Its aetiology in relation to a pre-existing hiatal hernia and a trichobezoar is discussed.     

Mid‐gestation pregnancy is not disrupted by a 5‐day gastrointestinal mucosal cytoprotectant oral regimen of misoprostol

Reasons for performing study: To investigate effects of a 5‐day oral misoprostol regimen recommended for use in horses as a gastrointestinal mucosal cytoprotectant during colic on mid‐gestation pregnancies. Objectives: To monitor cervical tone, ultrasonographic characteristics of the uterus, cervix and conceptus, as well as serum progesterone and oestrone sulphate concentrations, and observations of general health, behaviour and comfort of mid‐gestation mares given a 5‐day course of misoprostol or control treatment. Methods: Eleven light horse and pony mares with known breeding dates were administered 5 µg/kg bwt misoprostol orally, twice daily for 5 days. General health and pregnancy status were monitored daily during treatment via general physical examination, as well as palpation and ultrasonography per rectum of the uterus, cervix and conceptus. Jugular serum was obtained during and for 5 days following treatment for assay of progesterone and oestrone sulphate concentrations. Additionally, daily 12 h video samples of the mares were obtained to evaluate behaviour and comfort. Results: All findings, including cervical tone, ultrasonographic characteristics of the uterus, cervix and conceptus, as well as progesterone and oestrone sulphate concentrations, and observations of general health, behaviour and comfort, were similar during misoprostol and control treatment. Conclusions: Treatment of pregnant mares with a gastrointestinal mucosal cytoprotectant regimen of oral misoprostol for 5 days did not disrupt pregnancy, nor adversely affect the general health and comfort of these mares. Additional investigation of treatment at earlier and later stages of gestation, for longer‐term treatment, as well as evaluating neonates for developmental disturbances, would add further information on safety of misoprostol during gestation. Potential relevance: These results provide some assurance of safety of a 5‐day gastrointestinal mucosal cytopretectant regimen of oral misprostol in mid‐gestation pregnant mares.     

Cross-sectional survey of pet ownership,veterinary service utilisation,and pet-related expenditures in New Zealand

ABSTRACT

Aims: To describe the demographics of and predictors for pet ownership, reasons for visiting a veterinarian, and pet-related expenditure in pet owners in New Zealand.

Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted from 18–22 June 2015 using a permission-based panel of New Zealand residents aged ≥18 years. Questions included demographics of respondents, number of pets and reasons for owning or not owning pets, number of visits and reasons for visiting a veterinarian, and pet-related expenditure.

Results: Of the 1,572 respondents who completed the survey, 1,013 (64.4%) owned ≥1 pet. Of these, 443 owned dogs, 696 cats, 32 horses, 103 birds, 55 rabbits, and 159 owned fish. Companionship was the most common reason for getting dogs, cats, and birds; horses were mostly owned as a hobby, rabbits to provide fun for children, and fish as a source of relaxation. The majority of dog, cat, and rabbit owners considered their pets to be family members; horse owners almost equally considered their horses a hobby or a family member. The odds of pet ownership increased for respondents from a rural region, having a higher household income, having children and being female. Overall, 711/1,013 (70.2%) pet-owning respondents had taken ≥1 animal to the veterinarian in the previous year, with the most common reasons being for vaccination or annual check-ups or health issues. Respondents who considered their pets trusted companions, had a higher income, and owned dogs or cats compared with other species, were most likely to have taken their pet to a veterinarian. The greatest pet-related expenditure for all species was food. The median yearly veterinary expenditure was $200–499 by dog owners, $100–199 by cat owners, and <$100 by horse, bird, rabbit, and fish owners. The best source of information for pet-related issues was considered to be veterinarians by 724/1,001 (72.3%) owners, and the internet by 509/1,001 (50.8%) owners.

Conclusions: Among survey respondents, pet ownership was common and pets filled a variety of roles in the household. Pet owners reported spending considerable amounts of money on their pets each year, but some of them may be underutilising veterinary services despite veterinarians being considered as valuable sources of information about pet-related issues.     

云南咖啡锈菌小种鉴定

为明确云南咖啡锈菌小种类型,采用国际通用的 19 个咖啡锈菌生理小种鉴定寄主,利用人工接种鉴定的方法,对采自云南咖啡主产区 12 县（市）的 51 份咖啡锈菌进行鉴定,鉴定出 9 个小种,分别为 VIII（v2,3,5）、XXXIII（v5,7 or v5,7,9）、XXXIV（v2,5,7 or v2,5,7,9）、XXXVII（v2,5,6,7,9）、XLI（v2,5,8）、XLII（v2,5,7,8 or v2,5,7,8,9）、New race（v2,5,6,7）、New race（v1,2,5,7 or v1,2,5,7,9）、New race（v1,5,7 or v1,5,7,9）,这 9 个小种均为国内首次鉴定,其中小种 XXXIII、XXXIV、New race（v2,5,6,7）、New race（v1,5,7 or v1,5,7,9）、New race（v1,2,5,7 or v1,2,5,7,9）、XLI 和 XLII 均侵染 Catimor7963,小种 XXXVII 侵染 CatimorT5175。     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Lotus ornithopodioides</Emphasis> L. a potential annual pasture legume species for Mediterranean dryland farming systems

Twenty-three populations of Lotus ornithopodioides L., collected from different regions of the Mediterranean basin, were investigated for their ecological and agronomic traits in Western Australia. Great variability was found between and within populations for flowering time, forage and seed yield. Flowering time ranged between 75 and 120 days, dry matter production from 2.8 to 4.3 t ha^?1 and seed yield from 284 to 684 kg ha^?1. Other important traits such as non-shattering pods and hard seed were taken into account during the selection to assure an easy seed harvesting and legume persistence in the targeted environments. The high level of hard seed recorded in early winter, associated to the low seedling regeneration, indicates that L. ornithopodioides is best suited to ley cropping systems. Elite lines of L. ornithopodioides characterized by early flowering time, high seed yield and non-shattering pods were selected. Two of them, LOR02.1 and LOR03.2, showed dry matter higher than 4.0 t ha^?1 and seed yield around 700 kg ha^?1 resulting the lines with most potential for Mediterranean farming systems. The results encourage the exploitation of L. ornithopodioides germplasm to develop a new annual self-reseeding legume resource for Mediterranean farming systems for both forage production and crop rotation uses.