Reproductive cycle of the south American scallop Amusium laurenti (Gmelin, 1791) (Bivalvia, Pectinidae)

Amusium laurenti is a functional hermaphroditewith well differentiated male and female gonadalareas. The gonadal index varies throughout the yearwith maximum values occurring in January, March andJuly, and minimum ones in August and September. Partial spawning (with respect to the individual andthe population) occurred from January to February andMarch to May. The major spawning event coincided withthe end of the period during which bottom watertemperature increased to temperatures above 26°C(July–August). Subsequently temperature decreased to22°C, with a period of gonadal restoration andincreasing gonadal index. Histological analysis ofthe gonads correlated with the gonadal index.     

Influence of prior determination of baseline minimum alveolar concentration (MAC) of isoflurane on the effect of ketamine on MAC in dogs

The objective of this study was to determine if prior measurement of the minimum alveolar concentration (MAC) of isoflurane influences the effect of ketamine on the MAC of isoflurane in dogs. Eight mixed-breed dogs were studied on 2 occasions. Anesthesia was induced and maintained using isoflurane. In group 1 the effect of ketamine on isoflurane MAC was determined after initially finding the baseline isoflurane MAC. In group 2, the effect of ketamine on isoflurane MAC was determined without previous measure of the baseline isoflurane MAC. In both groups, MAC was determined again 30 min after stopping the CRI of ketamine. Plasma ketamine concentrations were measured during MAC determinations.In group 1, baseline MAC (mean ± SD: 1.18 ± 0.14%) was decreased by ketamine (0.88 ± 0.14%; P < 0.05). The MAC after stopping ketamine was similar (1.09 ± 0.16%) to baseline MAC and higher than with ketamine (P < 0.05). In group 2, the MAC with ketamine (0.79 ± 0.11%) was also increased after stopping ketamine (1.10 ± 0.17%; P < 0.05). The MAC values with ketamine were different between groups (P < 0.05). Ketamine plasma concentrations were similar between groups during the events of MAC determination.The MAC of isoflurane during the CRI of ketamine yielded different results when methods of same day (group-1) versus separate days (group-2) are used, despite similar plasma ketamine concentrations with both methods. However, because the magnitude of this difference was less than 10%, either method of determining MAC is deemed acceptable for research purposes.     

Use of intravenous lidocaine to treat dexmedetomidine-induced bradycardia in sedated and anesthetized dogs

ObjectiveTo assess cardiopulmonary function in sedated and anesthetized dogs administered intravenous (IV) dexmedetomidine and subsequently administered IV lidocaine to treat dexmedetomidine-induced bradycardia.Study designProspective, randomized, crossover experimental trial.AnimalsA total of six purpose-bred female Beagle dogs, weighing 9.1 ± 0.6 kg (mean ± standard deviation).MethodsDogs were randomly assigned to one of three treatments: dexmedetomidine (10 μg kg^–1 IV) administered to conscious (treatments SED1 and SED2) or isoflurane-anesthetized dogs (end-tidal isoflurane concentration 1.19 ± 0.04%; treatment ISO). After 30 minutes, a lidocaine bolus (2 mg kg^–1) IV was administered in treatments SED1 and ISO, followed 20 minutes later by a second bolus (2 mg kg^–1) and a 30 minute lidocaine constant rate infusion (L-CRI) at 50 (SED1) or 100 μg kg^–1 minute^–1 (ISO). In SED2, lidocaine bolus and L-CRI (50 μg kg^–1 minute^–1) were administered 5 minutes after dexmedetomidine. Cardiopulmonary measurements were obtained after dexmedetomidine, after lidocaine bolus, during L-CRI and 30 minutes after discontinuing L-CRI. A mixed linear model was used for comparisons within treatments (p < 0.05).ResultsWhen administered after a bolus of dexmedetomidine, lidocaine bolus and L-CRI significantly increased heart rate and cardiac index, decreased mean blood pressure, systemic vascular resistance index and oxygen extraction ratio, and did not affect stroke volume index in all treatments.Conclusion and clinical relevanceLidocaine was an effective treatment for dexmedetomidine-induced bradycardia in healthy research dogs.     

Evaluation of estimated weather data for calculating Penman-Monteith reference crop evapotranspiration

Utilizing the weather generator ClimGen, daily solar radiation (R_s) and vapor pressure deficit (VPD) were estimated from temperature data and used to calculate evapotranspiration at five locations, representing tropical, temperate, semi-arid, and arid climates. ClimGen was calibrated for each location using the most recent 2 or 5 years of complete daily weather records. Actual and estimated values were compared on a daily and weekly (7-day running average) basis. Error indices were defined to indicate excellent to poor performance of the estimation methods. Overall in all locations, the ClimGen estimates for both daily R_s and VPD were poor to acceptable. The weekly analyses showed significant improvement in performance for both R_s and VPD estimations in arid and semi-arid locations. Daily reference crop evapotranspiration values using the FAO Penman-Monteith equation (PM ET_o) were calculated using complete daily weather records. These values were compared with (1) ET_o calculated with the PM model, actual temperature data, and ClimGen estimates of daily R_s, VPD, and generated wind speed (PM_Est ET_o), and (2) ET_o calculated solely from actual daily temperature data using a calibrated version of the Hargreaves method (HG_Adj ET_o). The daily PM_Est ET_o results were poor to acceptable in all locations, but analyses for weekly periods showed improved performance to acceptable and good levels for arid and semi-arid locations. The performance of the HG_Adj ET_o method was also poor to acceptable for daily ET estimates in all locations, while weekly analyses showed improvement. A non-calibrated version of the Hargreaves method did not work for either daily or weekly periods. The PM_Est ET_o and HG_adj ET_o methods appeared suitable for weekly periods in arid and semi-arid locations provided that at least 2 years of complete weather records were available to calibrate the parameters required. There was no advantage in using 5 years of weather records for calibration.Communicated by E. Fereres     

The soils of the eastern hilly area and their suitability to vineyard in Friuli (Italy)

Typic Eutrochrepts (from “Flysch”), Typic Udifluvents (from alluvial deposits), Dystric Eutrochrepts and Plinthic Paleudults on old alluvial deposits and terraces were characterized. All soils investigated fall in the suitability class S2 or S3 for grape cultivation. Imperfect drainage and acidic reaction are most prominent soil limitations. Fertilization with organic matter, N and some microelements such as Zn, as well as drainage improvement, are the suggestions proposed in order to increase the soil fertility and the wine production.     

Stable isotope characterization of the ortho-oxygenated phenylpropanoids: coumarin and melilotol

The natural abundance 2H NMR spectra of extractive coumarin 10 and of its dihydroderivative melilotol 11 produced by baker's yeast reduction has been compared with synthetic materials. Diagnostic for the differentiation of 10 are the (D/H)beta values, which are in the 128.1-133.6 ppm interval for the natural compounds but 258.5 and 189.8 ppm for the synthetic materials. Such a dramatic difference is also found for methyl cinnamate 12, which shows (D/H)beta values of 127.2 and 515.8 ppm, respectively. In extractive 10, the ratio (D/H)4para/(D/H)6ortho = 1.24 is similar to that observed in structurally related salicin and methyl salicylate. Coumarin 10 is transformed in salicyl alcohol 9, providing diacetate 14, showing in the natural series the trend (D/H)3meta > (D/H)4para > (D/H)5meta approximately (D/H)6ortho. A similar trend is shown also by the synthetic 10. A clear distinction between extractive and synthetic 10 is obtained through delta18O determinations on 10 and on chroman 13. The bulk delta18O values in the extractive series of 10 are 20.3, 23.6, and 22.6 per thousand, while those of the aromatic oxygen are 2.3, 0.5, and -0.5 per thousand. In the synthetic sample, the values are 12.6 and 5.6 per thousand, respectively. As a final product, the reduction of 10 leads to the dihydroderivative 11. Both the baker's yeast reduction and the catalytic hydrogenation lead to a marked decrease of the deuterium content of 11, which is stronger for the beta-position than for the alpha-position.     

Stable isotope labeling pattern of resveratrol and related natural stilbenes

The stable isotope characterization of resveratrol 1 from Polygonum cuspidatum and of related natural stilbenes 11 and 12 obtained by hydrolysis of the corresponding glucosides 2 and 3 from Rheum is reported. The C(6)-C(2)-C(6) framework of suitably protected derivatives of 1, 2, and 3 has been degraded with ozone to the C(6)-C(1) aldehydes 4, 5, 9, and 10, retaining all hydrogen atoms of the precursors. The natural and synthetic derivatives are characterized and distinguished by natural abundance deuterium nuclear magnetic resonance studies. In the case of anisaldehyde 4 the two series show, as expected, the characteristic difference of the aromatic labeling. The formyl deuterium contents of 4 and 5 from resveratrol are remarkably different, seemingly reflecting the different enrichments existing between positions 3 and 2, respectively, of the phenylpropanoid precursor. The positional delta(18)O values of the extractive materials 1-3 were also determined. In this instance a selective deoxygenation procedure was adopted, leading from 1 to the products 6, 7, and 8. The delta(18)O values of the latter compounds reveal, respectively, those at position 4' and positions 3 and 5 of 1. Similarly, the phenolic products 11 and 12 were converted into 13 and 14. From the delta(18)O values of the single components it is possible to design a detailed map of the oxygen fractionations which characterizes the stilbenes 1-3. In particular, the oxygen present at position 4' of the phenylpropanoid moiety of 1-3 shows delta(18)O values of +11.5, +1.8, and +6.7 per thousand, respectively. Moreover, the phenolic oxygen atom at position 3' of rhapontin 3 shows a value of +11.7 per thousand. The data are compared with those previously obtained on structurally related compounds. These results show the utility of simple chemical degradations in the stable isotope characterization of structurally complex food components.     

Inositol phosphate profiling of fermented cowpeas by 1H NMR spectroscopy

The inositol phosphate content of naturally fermented cowpeas (Vigna sinensis var. Carilla) was studied using ion-pair HPLC and 1H NMR spectroscopy. The fermented flour was extracted with 0.5 M HCl, and the extract was purified and fractionated by ion-exchange chromatography. 1H NMR allowed for the identification of two monophosphates [Ins(1 or 3)P1 and Ins(4 or 6)P1], one inositol diphosphate [Ins(1,4)P2], three inositol triphosphates [Ins(1,2,6)P3, Ins(1,5,6)P3, and Ins(1,4,5)P3], one inositol tetraphosphate [Ins(1,3,4,5)P4], and one inositol pentaphosphate [Ins(1,2,3,5,6)P5]. Some of these isomers [Ins(1,4,5)P3 and Ins(1,3,4,5)P4] are considered to play important biological roles in intracellular signaling.