Can large-scale biofuels production be sustainable by 2020?

Worldwide, many nations impose blending of their transport fuels with biofuels, approximating 10% globally by 2020, to contribute to energy security while reducing emission of green house gasses (GHG). Food riots, scientific insights that question the GHG benefits and raised concern about the loss of biodiversity, have lead to the formulation by various governments of sustainability criteria for biofuels to comply with. In this paper, we assess this conditionality and argue that large-scale biofuels production will be unable to comply with these criteria in 2020, and can therefore not be qualified as sustainable.     

Safety of selamectin in dogs

Selamectin is a broad-spectrum avermectin endectocide for treatment and control of canine parasites. The objective of these studies was to evaluate the clinical safety of selamectin for topical use in dogs 6 weeks of age and older, including breeding animals, avermectin-sensitive Collies, and heartworm-positive animals. The margin of safety was evaluated in Beagles, which were 6 weeks old at study initiation. Reproductive, heartworm-positive, and oral safety studies were conducted in mature Beagles. Safety in Collies was evaluated in avermectin-sensitive, adult rough-coated Collies. Studies were designed to measure the safety of selamectin at the recommended dosage range of 6-12mgkg(-1) of body weight. Endpoints included clinical examinations, clinical pathology, gross and microscopic pathology, and reproductive indices. Selected variables in the margin of safety and reproductive safety studies were subjected to statistical analyses. Pups received large doses of selamectin at the beginning of the margin of safety study when they were 6 weeks of age and at their lowest body weight, yet displayed no clinical or pathologic evidence of toxicosis. Similarly, selamectin had no adverse effects on reproduction in adult male and female dogs. There were no adverse effects in avermectin-sensitive Collies or in heartworm-positive dogs. Oral administration of the topical formulation caused no adverse effects. Selamectin is safe for topical use on dogs at the recommended minimum dosage of 6mgkg(-1) (6-12mgkg(-1)) monthly starting at 6 weeks of age, and including dogs of reproducing age, avermectin-sensitive Collies, and heartworm-positive dogs.     

Effect of Caffeine Added to the Activating Solution on Sperm Motility of Fresh and Thawed Semen of Pacu,Piaractus mesopotamicus,and Curimba,Prochilodus lineatus

The aim was to evaluate the effect of different concentrations of caffeine added in activating solution over sperm motility in fresh and thawed semen of pacu, Piaractus mesopotamicus, and curimba, Prochilodus lineatus. The activating solutions were prepared with sodium bicarbonate solution of 0.76% (NaHCO₃) and caffeine was added at concentrations of 2.5, 5.0, 10.0, and 20.0 mM. As control, a solution of NaHCO₃ 0.76 without caffeine was used. Eight males of pacu and 20 males of curimba were used. Aliquots of 200 μL of semen were diluted in 800 μL extender solution (DMSO 10% and BTS 5%), placed in 0.5 mL straws and cryopreserved for 7 d in a liquid nitrogen tank. There was a linear increase in sperm motility for fresh semen of pacu, and for curimba fresh and thawed semen (P < 0.05), due to the increase in the concentration of caffeine. There was a quadratic response for duration of motility for thawed semen of pacu and for fresh semen of curimba (P < 0.05), respectively. These results indicate that addition of caffeine in the activator solution can improve sperm motility parameters, however, is dependent on the species and concentration used.     

Molecular characterisation of Theileria equi and risk factors associated with the occurrence of theileriosis in horses of Punjab (Pakistan)

Theileria equi (T. equi) is an obligate intra- and extra-erythrocytic parasite that causes equine theileriosis (ET) in equids. Equine theileriosis is considered a notifiable disease of global significance, a major constraint to the international movement of horses, and endemic in many countries. This disease may be difficult to diagnose, as it can produce variable and nonspecific clinical signs. A cross-sectional study was designed for the molecular characterisation of T. equi and to investigate the associated risk factors of ET accompanied by its consequences on haematological and sero-biochemical parameters. A convenience sampling of 500 blood samples were collected from ET suspect horses from January to December 2017. PCR was performed on all blood samples targeting the 18S rRNA gene of T. equi followed by sequencing; 9% animals tested positive with confirmed sequences. The isolates of this study showed high homology with Cuban, Russian and Brazilian isolates of T. equi (accession numbers KY111762.2 , MG551915.1 and KY952237.1 , respectively). Based on multivariate analysis, the principal risk factors consisted of absence of dogs on the premises and presence of tick infestation. The haemato-biochemical parameters showed a decrease in granulocytes and erythrocytes, and an increase in lymphocytes, monocytes, mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular haemoglobin, mean platelet volume, glucose, phosphorus and aspartate aminotransferase in positive horses. This is the first study which identified ET in Punjab (Pakistan) using molecular techniques and risk factors together with the haemato-biochemical variations in horses.     

Anterior cingulate conflict monitoring and adjustments in control

Conflict monitoring by the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) has been posited to signal a need for greater cognitive control, producing neural and behavioral adjustments. However, the very occurrence of behavioral adjustments after conflict has been questioned, along with suggestions that there is no direct evidence of ACC conflict-related activity predicting subsequent neural or behavioral adjustments in control. Using the Stroop color-naming task and controlling for repetition effects, we demonstrate that ACC conflict-related activity predicts both greater prefrontal cortex activity and adjustments in behavior, supporting a role of ACC conflict monitoring in the engagement of cognitive control.     

The effects of maternal nutrition during the first 50 d of gestation on the location and abundance of hexose and cationic amino acid transporters in beef heifer uteroplacental tissues

We hypothesized that maternal nutrition during the first 50 d of gestation would influence the abundance of hexose transporters, SLC2A1, SLC2A3, and SLC2A5, and cationic amino acid transporters, SLC7A1 and SLC7A2, in heifer uteroplacental tissues. Angus-cross heifers (n = 43) were estrus synchronized, bred via artificial insemination, and assigned at breeding to 1 of 2 dietary intake groups (CON = 100% of requirements to achieve 0.45 kg/d of BW gain or RES = 60% of CON intake) and ovariohysterectomized on day 16, 34, or 50 of gestation (n = 6 to 9/d) in a completely randomized design with a 2 × 3 factorial arrangement of treatments. Uterine cross-sections were collected from the horn ipsilateral to the corpus luteum, fixed in 10% neutral buffered formalin, sectioned at 5 µm, and stained via immunofluorescence for transporters. For each image, areas of fetal membrane (FM; chorioallantois), luminal epithelium (ENDO), superficial glands (SG), deep glands (DG), and myometrium (MYO) were analyzed separately for relative intensity of fluorescence as an indicator of transporter abundance. Analysis of FM was only conducted for days 34 and 50. No transporters in target areas were influenced by a day × treatment interaction (P ≥ 0.06). In ENDO, all transporters were differentially abundant from days 16 to 50 of gestation (P ≤ 0.04), and SLC7A2 was greater (P = 0.05) for RES vs. CON. In SG, SLC7A1 and SLC7A2 were greater (P ≤ 0.04) at day 34 vs. day 16. In DG, SLC2A3 and SLC7A1 were greater (P ≤ 0.05) for CON vs. RES heifers; furthermore, SLC7A1 was greater (P < 0.01) at day 50 vs. days 16 and 34 of gestation. In MYO, SLC7A1 was greater (P < 0.01) for CON vs. RES and was greater (P = 0.02) at days 34 and 50 vs. day 16. There were no differences in FM (P ≥ 0.06). Analysis of all uterine tissues at day 16 determined that SLC2A1, SLC2A3, and SLC7A2 were all differentially abundant across uterine tissue type (P < 0.01), and SLC7A1 was greater (P = 0.02) for CON vs. RES. Analysis of all uteroplacental tissues at days 34 and 50 demonstrated that all transporters differed (P < 0.01) across uteroplacental tissues, and SLC7A1 was greater (P < 0.01) for CON vs. RES. These data are interpreted to imply that transporters are differentially affected by day of gestation, and that hexose and cationic amino acid transporters are differentially abundant across utero-placental tissue types, and that SLC7A1 is responsive to maternal nutritional treatment.     

Limb Salvage Surgery for Osteosarcoma of the Proximal Humerus: Outcome in 17 Dogs

Objective —To describe function and identify factors that affect outcome in dogs undergoing limb salvage surgery for osteosarcoma (OS) of the proximal humerus.
Study Design —A retrospective study of dogs in which OS of the proximal humerus was treated with limb salvage surgery.
Animals —17 client-owned dogs.
Methods: Records were analyzed for functional outcome, recurrence, metastasis, and survival.
Results —Outcome was good to excellent in 12% of dogs. Recurrence, metastasis, and survival were significantly affected by completeness of surgical margins. Double plating of the distal allograft-host junction significantly reduced frequency of biomechanical failure.
Conclusions —Limb salvage surgery for OS of the proximal humerus did not result in acceptable function and was fraught with postoperative complications. Outcome was significantly affected by completeness of surgical margins.
Clinical Relevance —Limb salvage surgery for OS of the proximal humerus in dogs cannot be recommended until improvement in functional outcome and reduction in postoperative complications can be achieved. The dependence of outcome on completeness of surgical margins supports aggressive en bloc resection and marking and evaluating surgical margins.     

Effects of thyroxine and growth hormone treatment of dairy cows on milk yield, cardiac output and mammary blood flow

Four cows received thyroxine injections (T4; 20 mg/d) and three cows received growth hormone injections (GH; 44 mg/d) for 4 d during successive 16-d experimental periods. Measurement was made of milk yield, protein yield, mammary tyrosine and phenylalanine uptake, blood plasma hormone concentrations, mammary blood flow and cardiac output. Milk yield increased by 25% with T4 and 21% with GH treatment. Milk protein content tended to decline during T4 treatment and increase following GH treatment. Cardiac output increased by 8.9 liter/min (20%) and 4.6 liter/min (10%) with T4 and GH injection. Mammary blood flow (half-udder) increased from 3.6 to 4.9 liter/min (35%) and from 3.3 to 4.4 liter/min (33%) with T4 and GH treatment, respectively. These increases calculated on a whole-udder basis, accounted for 28% (T4) and 48% (GH) of the increases in cardiac output. The proportion of cardiac output perfusing the (whole) udder increased to 19.1% (T4) and 18.7% (GH), increases of 17 and 30%, respectively. Heart rate increased with T4 (but not GH treatment) from 80 to 115/min. Ratio of blood flow to milk yield was not changed by either treatment. The proportion of cardiac output perfusing the udder likely plays a major role in facilitating the partitioning of nutrients for milk synthesis.