Corneal stromal sequestration in a dog

A case of corneal sequestrum in a 9-year-old Shih Tzu is reported. On the ophthalmic examination a brown-pigmented ulcer with mild edema and corneal vascularization was present. The brownish plaque was facing an inferior palpebral tumor. A superficial keratectomy followed by a grid keratotomy and removal of the palpebral mass were performed. Histological findings revealed an inflammatory cell infiltration underneath the acellular stromal layers. No melanin granules were observed. No vascular infiltration was present within the necrotic stroma. The surgical area healed and no recurrence has been reported by the owners at the time of writing. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first report of a corneal sequestrum in a dog.     

THE EFFECT OF DEXMEDETOMIDINE ON RADIOGRAPHIC CARDIAC SILHOUETTE SIZE IN HEALTHY CATS

Dexmedetomidine, an alpha₂‐adrenergic agonist, may be used in companion animals for chemical restraint, including cardiac evaluation. Echocardiographic changes associated with alpha₂‐adrenergic agonists have been described; however reports of radiographic changes in cats were not found at the time of this study. Aims of this observational, prospective, experimental study were to describe the effects of dexmedetomidine on the radiographic appearance of the cardiac silhouette in healthy, adult cats. Fourteen healthy adult cats received dexmedetomidine 40 mcg/kg IM. Right lateral, left lateral, ventrodorsal, and dorsoventral thoracic radiographs were obtained for each cat at three time points: presedation, intrasedation, and postsedation (≥ two hours after reversal with atipamezole). Radiographs were evaluated in a blinded, randomized fashion by two independent observers using the vertebral heart score on all four views, the number of intercostal spaces on lateral projections, and the percent width of thorax on ventrodorsal and dorsoventral projections. Median vertebral heart score on right lateral view was significantly increased intrasedation (median = 7.8; range = 7.25–8.25) compared to presedation (median = 7.5; range = 7–8 [P = 0.001]). Median percentage width was significantly higher intrasedation (70% on VD; range 65–80 [P = 0.001], and 75% on DV; range 65–80 [P = 0.006]) compared to presedation (65%; range 65–75 on both projections). Dexmedetomidine was associated with a small but significant increase in cardiac silhouette size on right lateral (vertebral heart score), ventrodorsal (percentage width), and dorsoventral (percentage width) radiographs in healthy adult cats. This effect should be taken into consideration for future interpretation of thoracic radiographs in dexmedetomidine‐sedated cats.     

CHLAMYDIA AVIUM DETECTION FROM A RING-NECKED PARAKEET (PSITTACULA KRAMERI) IN FRANCE

The crossing of host species barriers, through the spreading populations of introduced pet animals that become established in the wild, sets the stage for zoonotic pathogen (re)emergence. A literature review on pathogens that are hosted by the ring-necked parakeet (Psittacula krameri), a worldwide introduced pet, highlighted local infections of captive birds by chlamydial agents with high sanitary risk for human health in its introduced range. We searched for these pathogens through cloacal swabs collected from 85 individuals in an invasive population established in the suburban areas of Paris (Ile-de-France) from 5 localities during the winter seasons between 2011 and 2014. Based on quantitative PCR analysis, Chlamydiaceae shedding was detected at too low levels for species identification in 5 birds, but 1 parakeet (found dead) was positive for Chlamydiaceae typed as Chlamydia avium. The only known hosts recorded for C. avium in Europe are feral pigeons (Columba livia) and captive psittacines. This result raises the question of the sanitary risks associated with new pathogen transmission from exotic pets released in the wild, which could locally affect birds and potentially people who feed birds.     

Bio-mediated soil improvement: The way forward

Bio-mediated soil improvement involves the usage of microbes to improve soil engineering performance through a series of bio-geochemical processes. In particular, Microbially Induced Calcite Precipitation (MICP), a ubiquitous bio-geochemical process that occurs in soil and results in permanent inorganic cementation between soil grains, has received the greatest research focus. While substantial progress has been made to develop MICP as a mainstream soil improvement technique, we still need to: (a) improve our understanding of the fundamental microbial, chemical and flow processes involved; (b) achieve multi-functionality by coupling engineering performance enhancement with ecological, environmental and carbon footprint benefits; and (c) maintain ecological balance and environmental friendliness, avoid long-term deterioration and lower the energy demand.     

Autumnal changes of sulfur fractions and the ratio of organic sulfur to total nitrogen in leaves and adjacent bark of eastern cottonwood, white basswood and actinorhizal black alder

Autumnal changes in organic-S, sulfate-S, total-S and the ratios of organic-S to total-N and sulfate-S to organic-S were followed in leaves and adjacent bark of actinorhizal (Frankia-nodulated) black alder (Alnus glutinosa (L.) Gaertn.) and eastern cottonwood (Populus deltoides Bartr. ex Marsh.) trees growing on a minespoil site high in extractable soil sulfate, and in black alder and white basswood (Tilia heterophylla Venten.) trees growing on a prairie-derived soil in Illinois. Organic-S concentrations decreased significantly (P < 0.05) during autumn only in foliage of trees growing on the prairie-derived soil where losses of leaf organic-S were 65% for black alder and 100% for white basswood. Leaf sulfate concentrations were relatively stable throughout autumn in white basswood growing on prairie-derived soil and in black alder at both sites. Sulfate-S concentrations in leaves were significantly (P < 0.05) higher in trees at the minespoil site than in trees growing in the prairie-derived soil (5.1 mg g(-1) for the minespoil site and 1.2 mg g(-1) for the prairie-derived soil), and in the non-actinorhizal species during late summer. During the autumn, the ratio of organic-S to total-N doubled in leaves of eastern cottonwood at the minespoil site, but in black alder and white basswood growing on the prarie-derived soil, it decreased by 60 and 74%, respectively. Organic-S concentrations in bark increased more during autumn in species unable to fix atmospheric N(2), than in black alder. The results suggest that patterns of autumnal translocation of leaf S can be site-dependent and that leaf S and leaf N are, at least in part, translocated independently in the fall. Black alder and eastern cottonwood seemed to incorporate sulfate-S readily into organic substances in leaves when grown in soils with a high sulfate content.     

Ultrastructure—Critical domain for wood behavior

Summary That the behavior of wood in service results from its structure is generally accepted by wood scientists. No doubt this acceptance is due to the broad interpretation of such a term. Structure can refer to the organization of elements on a macro scale, such as in a laminated beam, as well as to the arrangement of cellulose molecules in the crystalline region of an elementary fibril.This presentation focuses on a structural domain that appears increasingly to be a critical one in wood behavior-ultrastructure. The spectrum of terminology that has been used in profusion during the electron microscopic era must first be defined so that confusion is minimized. Then a historical evolution of the field of wood ultrastructure can be presented to provide perspective. Structures that have been shown to affect or indeed to control certain processes can be identified. The role of a non-structure, the elusive transient capillary, can be illustrated. Microfibrillar organization and cell wall archictecture fall into the realm of ultrastructure as well.The past decade of research in wood science has been productive to a significant extent because of scanning electron microscopy and its accessory tools and techniques. The exploration of wood penetration by wood preservatives, pulping liquors and coatings using this approach has yielded much new evidence. One can speculate about the anticipated contributions of computer-driven SEM, stereology, STEM, and even higher resolution microscopy in the near future.     

Effects of dessication on post-planting stress in bare-root Corsican pine seedlings

We examined the post-planting consequences of pre-planting exposure stress on two-year-old, bare-root Corsican pine (Pinus nigra Arnold. ssp. laricio var. Corsicana) seedlings. Seedlings were lifted from a nursery and exposed to ambient conditions for periods of up to 192 h before being planted in minirhizotrons. Exposure decreased seedling water potential, CO(2) assimilation rate, leaf conductance and new root elongation, and increased mortality after planting. During exposure, needle total nonstructural carbohydrates (TNC) concentration (expressed on a dry mass basis) decreased by 0.31 mg g(dm) (-1) h(-1); however, needle and root TNC concentrations remained high (> 100 mg g(dm) (-1)) at planting, even in those treatments leading to severe seedling mortality. More than 90% of the seedlings with predawn water potentials lower than -1.3 MPa at planting did not elongate new roots and did not survive, whereas a similar percentage of seedlings with a predawn water potential above this value at planting elongated new roots and survived, suggesting that this value corresponds to a turgor threshold below which new root formation is inhibited. At planting, embolization of xylem conduits in roots and shoots was low for seedlings in all of the exposure treatments.     

Vulnerability of several conifers to air embolism

Hydraulic properties of xylem in seven species of conifer were studied during late winter and early spring 1991. Vulnerability to cavitation and air embolism was investigated using hydraulic conductivity and acoustic techniques. Embolisms were induced in branches excised from mature trees by air-drying them in the laboratory. Both techniques gave comparable results indicating that they both assess the same phenomenon. Within a tree, vulnerability was related to the permeability of the xylem, the largest stems tended to cavitate before the smallest ones when water deficits developed in a branch. Interspecific comparisons showed large differences in the xylem water potential needed to induce significant embolism, values ranged from -2.5 MPa in Pinus sylvestris to -4 MPa in Cedrus atlantica, but these differences did not correlate with differences in the xylem permeability of the species. The vulnerability of a species to air embolism was found to be consistent with its ecophysiological behavior in the presence of water stress, drought-tolerant species being less vulnerable than drought-avoiding species.     

Morphological evaluation of cork oak (Quercus suber): Mediterranean provenance variability in Tunisia

Twenty-six provenances (2 340 plants) of cork oak (Quercus suber spp.) originating from Portugal, Spain, Italy, Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia were tested for genetic variation among and within provenances by growth traits. Seven morphometrical characters were measured in 90 plants from each provenance. Analysis of variance showed highly significant differences for all characters. The phenotypic coefficient of differentiation reached 0.24 for the form and 0.22 for height, thus revealing a strong structuring between the provenances. Comparative study of growth among the provenances revealed more vigorous growth and better survival rate for those from Morocco, Spain, and Portugal, which may constitute better materials for afforestation. Furthermore, this variability appeared to be geographically structured and would be mainly genetically controlled, as cork oak provenances were cultivated under the same environmental conditions. Our results should be helpful for guide forest managers in afforestation.