Finite element modeling (FEM) simulation of interactions between wood and microwaves

The aim of this study was to use finite element modeling (FEM) as a tool to analyze microwave scattering in wood and to verify the model by measurements with a microwave scanner. A medical computed tomography scanner was used to measure distribution of density and moisture content in a piece of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris). Dielectric properties were calculated from measured values for cross sections from the piece and used in the model. Images describing the distribution of the electric field and phase shift were obtained from the FEM simulation. The model was verified by measurements with a scanner based on a microwave sensor. The results show that simulated values correspond well to measured values. Furthermore, discontinuities in the material caused scattering in both the measured and the simulated values. The greater the discontinuity in the material, the greater was the need for computational power in the simulation.     

Serum α-1-acid glycoprotein concentrations in 26 dogs with pyometra

Background: The acute phase protein, α‐1‐acid glycoprotein (AGP), has been proposed to have a role in immunomodulation and to be a nonspecific antimicrobial agent. We suggest that AGP may be increased in dogs with pyometra and possibly to a greater extent in dogs also manifesting signs of systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS). Objectives: Our objectives were to evaluate serum AGP concentrations in dogs diagnosed with pyometra compared with clinically healthy female dogs and to determine if AGP concentrations were correlated with severity of disease. Methods: Twenty‐six dogs with pyometra and 18 clinically healthy intact female dogs were included in this prospective study. A diagnosis of pyometra was verified by histopathologic examination after ovariohysterectomy in the pyometra group. A commercially available single radial immunodiffusion test was used for AGP analysis. Clinical findings, laboratory variables, and hospitalization times were compared. Results: Mean AGP concentration in dogs with pyometra (1943 ± 913 mg/L, mean ± SD), was significantly higher (P<.001) than in healthy dogs (495 ± 204 mg/L). Mean AGP concentration in dogs in the pyometra group with (n=18) or without (n=8) SIRS did not differ. Animals with a prolonged hospital stay had higher AGP concentrations. Conclusions: Pyometra was associated with increased serum concentrations of the acute phase protein AGP. AGP concentrations were associated with severity of disease as measured by duration of hospitalization. As AGP binds basic drugs, further studies of its pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic propreties in cases of pyometra may be of clinical interest.     

Structure of haloform intercalated C60 and its influence on superconductive properties

CHCl3 and CHBr3 intercalated C60 have attracted particular interest after a superconductivity transition temperature (Tc) of up to 117 K was discovered. We have determined the structure using synchrotron x-ray powder-diffraction and found that the expansion of the lattice mainly takes place in one dimension (triclinic b axis), leaving planes of C60 molecules on an approximately hexagonal, slightly expanded lattice. We have performed tight-binding band structure calculations for the surface layer. In spite of the slight expansion of the layers, for the range of dopings where a large Tc has been observed, the density of states at the Fermi energy is smaller for C60.2CHCl3 and C60.2CHBr3 than for C60. This suggests that the lattice expansion alone cannot explain the increase of Tc.     

Escherichia coli strains isolated from the uterus and urinary bladder of bitches suffering from pyometra: comparison by restriction enzyme digestion and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis.

Pyometra (uterine inflammation with accumulation of pus in the uterus) is regarded as one of the most common illnesses in bitches. The ethiology and pathogenesis are complex with both hormonal and bacterial elements. The bacteria most frequently isolated from the uterine content is Escherichia coli.In this study, 84 E. coli strains from the uteri of 70 bitches suffering from the disease were examined and their DNA-profiles compared by restriction enzyme analysis and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). Through variations in DNA-profiles of the E. coli isolates, this study indicates that pyometra is caused by E. coli originating from the normal flora of the dogs and not by certain clones spread between animals.E. coli strains from the urinary bladder and the uterus of six of the bitches suffering from simultaneous urinary tract infection and pyometra were examined and compared as above. The DNA-profiles of the isolates from each of the six bitches were 100% identical. This study supports the theory suggesting that in cases of simultaneous urinary tract infection and E. coli pyometra, the urinary tract and uterus are infected with the same bacterial strain.To evaluate whether the uterus was infected with a single clone of E. coli or if multiple clones were present, eight to 16 colonies of E. coli isolated from pyometra samples from a further 10 bitches were examined. All bacterial colonies from the culture of the same bitch showed identical DNA-profiles.In 14 of the 70 bitches, two macroscopically different but biochemically identical E. coli colony types were isolated. The two colony types from the same bitch proved to have identical DNA-profiles in 13 cases and almost identical in the remaining bitch.     

Effective microorganisms and their influence on vegetable production – a review

Summary

This review aims to describe the nature of effective microorganisms (EM) and how EM influence the growth, yield, quality, and protection of vegetable plants. EM comprise a mixture of live natural cultures of microorganisms isolated from fertile soils that are used to improve crop production. EM technology was developed over 40 years ago by Dr. Tero Higa in Japan. How EM act and interact in the soil-plant environment to suppress plant pathogens and disease, to conserve energy, to solubilise soil minerals, to aid the balance and ecology of soil microbes, and to improve photosynthetic efficiency and biological nitrogen fixation are described. In 70% of published studies, it was concluded that EM had a positive effect on the growth of vegetables, while, in the other 30%, they had no significant influence. In this investigation, among 22 reports on the effects of EM on the yields of vegetables, 84% were positive, 4% were negative, and 12% showed no significant influence. It is concluded that EM can improve the quality and yield of vegetables by reducing the incidence of pests and diseases, and by protecting against weeds, thereby contributing to sustainable agriculture.     

Intervertebral disc degeneration in the dog. Part 2: Chondrodystrophic and non-chondrodystrophic breeds

Dogs can be grouped into two distinct types of breed based on the predisposition to chondrodystrophy, namely, non-chondrodystrophic (NCD) and chondrodystrophic (CD). In addition to a different process of endochondral ossification, NCD and CD breeds have different characteristics of intravertebral disc (IVD) degeneration and IVD degenerative diseases. The anatomy, physiology, histopathology, and biochemical and biomechanical characteristics of the healthy and degenerated IVD are discussed in the first part of this two-part review. This second part describes the similarities and differences in the histopathological and biochemical characteristics of IVD degeneration in CD and NCD canine breeds and discusses relevant aetiological factors of IVD degeneration.     

Reduction in an almond moth Ephestia cautella (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) population by means of mating disruption

Pheromone-based mating disruption of the almond moth (Ephestia cautella) (Walk.) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) was carried out in a chocolate factory in Sweden. Population monitoring was conducted with pheromone-baited traps and water traps. Pheromone traps showed a 94% catch reduction, and monitoring with water traps showed a significant decrease in total catch (5.0 and 1.6 individuals per trap per week before and during treatment respectively). The significance of the results was tested by fitting the observed data to a first-order autoregressive model. This made it possible to test the data with a 95% confidence interval, comparing trap catches before mating disruption treatment with trapping data during the experiment. It is suggested that this statistical approach may be used more frequently in mating disruption experiments where it is extremely difficult to control external factors and therefore equally difficult to use a comparable control plot to evaluate the treatment.     

Effects of ionic strength and denaturation time on polyethyleneglycol self-diffusion in whey protein solutions and gels visualized by nuclear magnetic resonance

Pulsed field gradient NMR spectroscopy was used to determine the poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) self-diffusion coefficient (D(PEG)) as a function of NaCl concentration (C(NaCl)) and denaturation time (t(D)) in whey protein solutions and gels. D(PEG) in the gel decreased with increasing C(NaCl) concentrations and increased with increasing t(D); the increase ceased for all PEGs when the gel was fixed. This increase was more pronounced for the 82250 g/mol PEG than the 1080 g/mol PEG. Moreover, the diffusion coefficient of nonaggregated whey protein was measured and an increase for longer t(D) was also observed. Scanning electron microscopy images and (1)H spectra demonstrated that D(PEG) were related to the structure changes and to the percentage of beta-lactoglobulin denaturation.