Soil physical responses to novel rice cultural practices in the rice–wheat system: Comparative evidence from a swelling soil in Nepal

Soil puddling in advance of rice (Oryza sativa L.) transplanting disperses surface aggregates and generates compaction at depth. As a management scheme for rice, puddling is typically considered advantageous for maximizing resource availability and yield. However, some experimental findings suggest a conflict between edaphic conditions created by this establishment technique and the performance of subsequent non-rice crops like wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). At a site in the mid-hills region of Nepal on a silt loam soil with vertic characteristics, we compared the impact of six rice tillage (surface tillage—T₁, shank subsoiler—T₂, shank subsoiler + moldboard plough—T₃) and establishment (soil puddling + transplanting—TPR, direct seeding—DSR) combinations on soil physical properties over two cycles of the rice–wheat rotation. For the rice season, 0–20 cm saturated hydraulic conductivity (K_sat) in the DSR plots was 2.6 and 4.3 times higher than their TPR counterparts in the first (Y₁) and second (Y₂) years, respectively (TPR-Y₁ = 93 mm day⁻¹, DSR-Y₁ = 241 mm day⁻¹, TPR-Y₂ = 133 mm day⁻¹, DSR-Y₂ = 582 mm day⁻¹), whereas tillage method did not significantly influence K_sat in this soil layer. The impact of rice establishment method was reflected in higher TPR bulk densities in the 5–10 (DSR = 1.19 g cm⁻³, TPR = 1.24 g cm⁻³) and 10–15 cm (DSR = 1.24 g cm⁻³, TPR = 1.29 g cm⁻³) depth increments in the wet season. Although none of the treatments significantly influenced the position or thickness of the plough sole, penetration resistance profiles suggest that vertical fractures with reduced soil strength were created within the pan region by deep tillage (T₂ and T₃), although these features were not associated with higher hydraulic conductivities from 20 to 50 cm. As the soils dried at the end of the rice season, crack propagation in the deep tilled plots (T₂ and T₃) was more pervasive. During the wheat season, comparable bulk density profiles and soil moisture retention characteristics across the treatments suggest that many of the edaphic changes induced by contrasting rice tillage and establishment practices did not persist in the self-mulching, vertic soils at our site. Conversely, significant increases in K_sat among the DSR plots from Y₁ to Y₂ (Y₁ = 241 mm day⁻¹, Y₂ = 582 mm day⁻¹) imply a temporal element to soil structural regeneration with adoption of direct seeding.     

Deimos encounter by viking: preliminary imaging results

Recent close flybys of Deimos by Viking revealed a smooth-appearing surface void of grooves. Higher-resolution pictures showed that the surface was actually covered with craters but that a regolith filled the smaller craters, giving the smooth appearance. The surface was also covered with boulders and bright streak-like markings analogous to base-surge or ejecta cloud deposits.     

Phobos transit of Mars as viewed by the viking cameras

A Viking orbiting spacecraft successfully obtained pictures of the martian satellite Phobos with Mars in the background. This is the first time that a single picture was obtained from a spacecraft which contained both a planet and a moon and had significant surface detail visible on both. The region of Mars below Phobos included volcanoes in the Tharsis Montes region. These pictures showed Phobos to be smaller than previously thought. The image of Phobos can be used as a control point to determine the map coordinates of surface features on Mars.     

Effect of 0.1, 0.2, 0.4, and 0.8 mg kg−1 of intravenous butorphanol on thermal antinociception in cats

Many cats do not receive analgesics for treatment of perioperative pain, but when they do, the opioid agonist–antagonist butorphanol (B) is widely used. B is reported to provide long‐lasting visceral analgesia, but its somatic actions are not well documented. This study aimed to assess B by using a thermal threshold (TT) model. Six cats (four spayed females, two castrated males, 4.4–6.9 kg) participated in the study. The day before each study, the lateral thorax of each of the cats was shaved and a cephalic catheter was placed. TT was measured using a thermal threshold testing device specifically developed for cats. A heater element and temperature sensor housed in a small probe was held against the cat's thorax with an elastic band and pressure bladder to assure consistent contact. Skin temperature was recorded before each test, then the heater was activated. When the cat responded by flinching, turning, or jumping, the stimulus was terminated and the threshold temperature recorded. A cut‐out temperature was set at 55.5 °C. Three baseline measurements were recorded before IV injections of 0.1, 0.2, 0.4, or 0.8 mg kg^?1 of B. Each cat received all doses in a randomized order at least 1 week apart, and the investigator was blinded to the treatments. TT was measured at every 15 minutes for 6 hours. Data were analyzed using a three‐factor anova , and the critical mean difference was calculated. Pre‐treatment threshold was 40.8 ± 2.25 °C in all cats. There was a significant increase in threshold in all groups from 15 to 90 minutes, but no dose‐related differences were observed. Peak threshold achieved was 48.35 °C, 60 minutes after 0.4 mg kg^?1 of B was injected. Mydriasis was present in all cats after treatment, and many exhibited dysphoric behavior. In this model, B had a short duration of action and no dose–response relationship. Compared to other opioids tested under similar conditions, the intensity of the effect of B was small and of shorter duration.     

Ovarian Responses, Hormonal Profiles and Embryo Yields in Anoestrous Ewes Superovulated with Folltropin®-V after Pretreatment with Medroxyprogesterone Acetate-releasing Vaginal Sponges and a Single Dose of Oestradiol-17β

In ruminants, superovulatory treatments started at the time of follicular wave emergence result in greater and less variable ovulatory responses and embryo yields compared with the treatments begun in the presence of a large growing antral follicle(s) from the previous waves. The progesterone–oestradiol treatment is routinely used for follicular wave synchronization in cattle. The main objective of this study was to characterize the ovarian responses, hormonal profiles and in vivo embryo production in anoestrous Rideau Arcott ewes (May‐June), which were superovulated after pretreatment with medroxyprogesterone acetate (MAP)‐releasing intravaginal sponges and a single dose of oestradiol‐17β (E₂‐17β). Six days after insertion of MAP sponges, eight ewes were given an i.m. injection of 350 μg of E₂‐17β (E₂‐17β‐treated ewes); 10 ewes were given an i.m. injection of vehicle (control ewes). Multiple‐dose Folltropin®‐V treatment, followed by the bolus injection of GnRH (50 μg i.m.), began 6 days after E₂‐17β/vehicle injection. Transrectal ovarian ultrasonography revealed that: (i) the interval between E₂‐17β/vehicle injection and regression of all follicles ≥5 to 3 mm in diameter was shorter (p < 0.01; 2.6 ± 0.4 vs 4.8 ± 0.6 days respectively); and (ii) the interval between injection and emergence of the next follicular wave was longer (p < 0.05; 5.4 ± 0.3 vs 1.2 ± 0.4 days, respectively) in E₂‐17β‐treated than in control ewes. During the 6 days after injection, the mean FSH peak concentration and basal FSH concentration were lower (p < 0.01) in E₂‐17β‐treated ewes. The mean ovulation rate and the number of recovered embryos did not differ (p > 0.05) between the two groups of ewes. However, the number of luteinized unovulated follicles per ewe, and the variability in the number of luteal structures and overall embryo yield were less (p < 0.05) in E₂‐17β‐treated compared with control ewes. In conclusion, the MAP–E₂‐17β pretreatment significantly reduced the variability in ovarian responses and embryo yields, without affecting the embryo production in superovulated anoestrous ewes.     

Ultrasonographic Characteristics of Ovulatory Follicles and Associated Endocrine Changes in Cyclic Ewes Treated with Medroxyprogesterone Acetate (MAP)-releasing Intravaginal Sponges and Equine Chorionic Gonadotropin (eCG)

The aim of this study was to assess the ultrasonographic characteristics of ovulatory follicles in cyclic Western White Face ewes (December) that had received intravaginal sponges containing medroxyprogesterone acetate (MAP; 60 mg) for 12 days, with or without an injection of 500 IU of equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG) at sponge removal. We hypothesized that quantitative echotextural attributes of the follicles in ewes treated only with MAP would differ from those in MAP/eCG-treated ewes, reflecting the increased antral follicular growth and secretory function under eCG influence. Digital images of ovulatory follicles obtained at 0 and 24 h after MAP sponge removal and at 24 h before ovulation in the eCG-treated (five ewes, 13 follicles) and control (six ewes, 9 follicles) animals, were subjected to computerized analyses. The mean diameter of ovulatory follicles increased (p < 0.001) 24 h after eCG treatment. The mean pixel intensity and heterogeneity of the follicular antrum (p < 0.001), as well as mean pixel intensity of the follicular wall and perifollicular ovarian stroma (p < 0.05), were greater in eCG-treated animals compared with control ewes 24 h after sponge removal and at 24 h before ovulation. Mean serum concentrations of oestradiol-17beta tended to increase (p = 0.06) 24 h after eCG treatment and the eCG-treated ewes exceeded (p < 0.05) control animals in progesterone concentrations from days 9-15 after ovulation. Our results support the hypothesis that large antral follicles in eCG-treated ewes exhibit distinctive echotextural characteristics. Follicular image attributes in eCG-treated ewes appear to be indicative of the changes in follicular morphology and secretory activity caused by the administration of the exogenous gonadotropin, which has both FSH- and LH-like activities.     

Pre-hospital low-volume resuscitation with hemoglobin-glutamer-200 (Hb-200) in a canine hemorrhagic shock model

The Bowen Technique is a unique hands‐on therapy developed by Tom Bowen of Australia in the 1950s–60s and adapted for use in animals by Carol Bennett in 1997. It consists of a specific sequence of gentle, precise rolling moves done with thumb and fingers over muscle and tendon edges, across the direction of tension. A short waiting period follows each set of moves. Definitive mechanism(s) of action remains to be identified; however, autonomic nervous system modulation (heart rate variability studies) has been documented in humans. The technique has also been reported effective for back, hip, neck, and shoulder pain in human studies. Five geriatric dogs (13–16 years old) of various breeds were presented in a case series at a small animal clinic for primary complaints of stiffness, poor ambulation, and difficulty lying down/getting up. Four had hindlimb proprioceptive deficits; three had arthritic changes to coxofemoral joints and/or lumbar spine; three showed active indicators of pain (chronic pacing/panting; irritability; social withdrawal). All were on NSAID and/or nutritional therapy with unsatisfactory results. One dog had acupuncture weekly for over 1 year but no longer tolerated the needles. Treatment consisted of Animal Bowen at weekly or biweekly intervals. Three dogs were pain scored [0–10; average starting score 6.7 ± 0.6 (mean ± S.D.); range 6–7] by owner before and after treatment. All five dogs showed significant positive changes in attitude, and four had notable improvement in ease of ambulation, after the first treatment. Improvement was progressive over treatment course. Average post‐treatment score was 2.3 ± 2.1 (0, 3, 4); average pain score reduction was 4.3 ± 1.5 (range 3–6) after two to six treatments for the three dogs scored. One dog had complete resolution of hindlimb lameness of 5 years duration after three sessions. Animal Bowen, used alone or in conjunction with standard analgesics and other treatments, can be an effective therapy for chronic musculoskeletal conditions in dogs.