Radiative absorption enhancements due to the mixing state of atmospheric black carbon

Atmospheric black carbon (BC) warms Earth's climate, and its reduction has been targeted for near-term climate change mitigation. Models that include forcing by BC assume internal mixing with non-BC aerosol components that enhance BC absorption, often by a factor of ~2; such model estimates have yet to be clearly validated through atmospheric observations. Here, direct in situ measurements of BC absorption enhancements (E(abs)) and mixing state are reported for two California regions. The observed E(abs) is small-6% on average at 532 nm-and increases weakly with photochemical aging. The E(abs) is less than predicted from observationally constrained theoretical calculations, suggesting that many climate models may overestimate warming by BC. These ambient observations stand in contrast to laboratory measurements that show substantial E(abs) for BC are possible.     

Feline pituitary-dependent hyperadrenocorticism and insulin resistance due to a plurihormonal adenoma

A 12-year-old female spayed domestic short-haired cat presented for lethargy, poor hair coat, alopecia, difficulty walking, and mild polyuria/polydipsia. The cat's skin tore easily in the neck area during routine restraint for blood draw. Physical examination, blood analysis, and ultrasound imaging were all consistent with pituitary-dependent hyperadrenocorticism (PDH) with secondary insulin-resistant diabetes mellitus, which was nonketotic. Insulin therapy, fluids, and diet change were initiated for the diabetes mellitus and the owner reported improvement in clinical signs although the blood glucose measurements remained elevated. Surgical repair of the torn skin was successful. Although a guarded prognosis was given to the owner because of an advanced stage of hyperadrenocorticism, and the limited treatment options currently available for feline PDH, trilostane was agreed on as an initial therapeutic option. The day trilostane was to be initiated, the cat presented with dyspnea and the owner chose to euthanize. Because of the rarity of hyperadrenocorticism disease in the cat, permission was obtained by the owner for a necropsy to confirm suspected PDH as the underlying cause for insulin resistance and skin fragility syndrome.     

Regional and circadian variations of sweating rate and body surface temperature in camels (Camelus dromedarius)

It was the aim of this study to investigate the regional variations in surface temperature and sweating rate and to visualize body thermal windows responsible for the dissipation of excess body heat in dromedary camels. This study was conducted on five dromedary camels with mean body weight of 450 ± 20.5 kg and 2 years of age. Sweating rate, skin and body surface temperature showed significant (P < 0.001) circadian variation together with the variation in ambient temperature. However, daily mean values of sweating rate, skin and body surface temperature measured on seven regions of the camel body did not significantly differ. The variation in body surface temperature compared to the variation in skin temperature was higher in the hump compared to the axillary and flank regions, indicating the significance of camel's fur in protecting the skin from daily variation in ambient temperature. Infrared thermography revealed that flank and axillary regions had lower thermal gradients at higher ambient temperature (T_a) and higher thermal gradients at lower T_a, which might indicate the working of flank and axillary regions as thermal windows dissipating heat during the night. Sweating rate showed moderate correlation to skin and body surface temperatures, which might indicate their working as potential thermal drivers of sweating in camels.     

Disease threats to sheep associated with intensification of pastoral farming

Sheep farming in New Zealand is based on an outdoor grazing system with various systems of grazing management utilised depending on the type of farm and the time of year. In the current grazing systems, periods of high stocking density, sometimes combined with poor husbandry, contribute to infectious diseases such as abortion and salmonellosis.

Intensification such as housing or intensive stocking of ewes for lambing, or feedlot systems, are unlikely to become common in sheep production in New Zealand. However, should these be utilised on individual farms there is likely to be in an increase in diseases such as coccidiosis, bacterial diseases of lambs, cryptosporidiosis and mastitis. In any management system involving high stocking densities, careful husbandry is essential to minimise the transmission of infectious diseases.     

Using urea dilution to standardise components of pleural and bronchoalveolar lavage fluids in the dog

AIM: To develop a technique to estimate the volume of epithelial lining fluid (ELF) obtained during bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) and pleural lavage (PL) in the dog, using the urea dilution method.

METHODS: BAL and PL fluids were obtained by saline lavage of pulmonary and pleural cavities of nine clinically healthy mixed-breed dogs immediately after euthanasia. Cell counts in the BAL and PL fluids were measured using standard techniques. The concentration of ELF in each lavage fluid was calculated from the relative concentration of urea in plasma and in each type of lavage fluid. Cell counts in ELF were then calculated.

RESULTS: There were substantially higher cell counts in ELF compared to BAL or PF fluid. However, nucleated cell counts in ELF could not be predicted from cell counts in BAL or PL fluid.

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: These results suggest that accurate assessment of cellular or non-cellular components in lavage fluids should include a calculation of the proportion of ELF recovered, using a method such as urea dilution.     

A Case of Successful Pregnancy in a Ewe with Uterus Didelphys

Uterus didelphys is a rare congenital abnormality of the reproductive tract. Although it occurs in various species, there are no published reports describing pregnancy outcome in association with this abnormality. Herein we describe a case of successful unilateral singleton pregnancy in a ewe incidentally found to have uterus didelphys during the course of a biomedical research study. The pregnancy was established using assisted reproductive techniques and interrupted in late gestation, at which point the abnormality was identified. Serial ultrasound assessment of foetal biometry revealed a normal foetal growth trajectory. Despite a 45% reduction in placentome number, total placentome weight was near normal secondary to compensatory placentome growth and development. To our knowledge, this is the first detailed report of normal foetal growth in an animal with uterus didelphys and illustrates the ability of the ovine placenta to adapt to a reduced number of placentomes and maintain foetal nutrient supply.     

Dopamine Antagonist Affects Luteal Function But Not Cyclicity During the Autumn Transition

The autumn transition is characterized by a number of anomalies affecting the luteal phase of the estrous cycle, such as declining progesterone secretion from the corpus luteum and increased rate of failure of luteolysis. Prolactin also decreases. We theorized that these events may be linked, possibly through dopamine. We administered domperidone, a specific dopamine D2 receptor antagonist from September 12 to anestrus or January 15, either daily (n = 8), or once per day for the first 7 days of each month (n = 7). Controls (n = 7) received no treatment. Mean progesterone and prolactin concentrations were compared with summer cycles. Time to entry into anestrus and incidence of spontaneously prolonged luteal activity was compared between groups during the autumn transition. Prolactin declined from June through October equally in all groups. There was no difference between groups in time to anestrus. Progesterone decline was prevented (daily treatment) or delayed for a prolonged period (weekly group) in autumn. The incidence of spontaneously prolonged corpus luteum activity was reduced to summer levels in both domperidone groups compared with the control. We concluded that autumn prolactin decline was not driven through dopaminergic D2 receptor inhibition of pituitary lactotrophs. Sustained progesterone synthesis through the autumn may be the result of action of the D2 receptor antagonist with dopamine receptors on the corpus luteum. Autumnal luteolytic function appears to have a dopamine-influenced component. There does not appear to be a causative relationship between autumnal progesterone and prolactin secretion.