Treatment with vitamins A, D and E did not reduce weight loss in transported cattle

SUMMARY Two field trials using an injectable vitamin A, D and E solution conducted in the pastoral environment of northern Australia are described. It was found that treatment of lighter (< 150 kg) or heavier (> 372 kg) weight cattle did not reduce weight loss during road transport. These findings contradict anecdotal evidence of reduced weight loss during transport with the use of vitamins A, D and E. The lack of scientific basis for their use is discussed.     

Effects of pH, sodium bicarbonate, cryoprotectants and foetal bovine serum on the cryopreservation of European eel sperm.

The main objective of the present study was to evaluate the influence of pH and bicarbonate concentration in the activation or inhibition of European eel (Anguilla anguilla) spermatozoa and to evaluate the effect of different cryoprotectants: dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO), acetamide, ethylene glycol, propanol, glycerol and methanol (MeOH). The effect of these factors was evaluated comparing the percentage of motile cells, the percentage of alive cells (by Hoechst staining) and the spermatozoa morphometry pre- and post-cryopreservation (by computer-assisted morphology analysis). Based on the above findings, three cryoprotectants (DMSO, MeOH and glycerol) were chosen and evaluated in two media (P1 and P1 modified) with different concentrations of NaHCO(3) and in the presence or absence of foetal bovine serum (FBS). The effect of these factors was evaluated comparing the percentage of alive and motile cells post-cryopreservation. DMSO was the cryoprotectant showing better results in relation to the percentage of spermatic alive cells post-freezing and caused a smaller modification of the head spermatozoa morphology. The combination of P1-modified medium with DMSO and containing FBS increased slightly but significantly the percentage of motile spermatozoa post-cryopreservation.     

Analgesic effect of pre-operative etodolac and butorphanol administration in dogs undergoing ovariohysterectomy

The analgesic, bleeding, and renal effects of dogs pre‐medicated with etodolac with and without butorphanol were evaluated. Twenty‐four 1‐year‐old healthy dogs, weighing 19 ± 3 kg (mean ± SD) were randomly assigned to four treatment groups (n = 6): control (C), etodolac (E), butorphanol (B), and etodolac with butorphanol (EB). Etodolac (12–14 mg kg^?1 PO) was given 1 hour before propofol induction and isoflurane maintenance anesthesia. Butorphanol (0.4 mg kg^?1 IV) was given immediately following endotracheal intubation. Control dogs received only propofol (8 mg kg^?1 to effect) and isoflurane anesthesia. All dogs were mechanically ventilated to maintain Pe ′CO₂ between 35 and 45 mm Hg (4.7–6.0 kPa). Lactated Ringer's solution was given at 10 mL kg^?1 hour^?1 during anesthesia. Plasma cortisol concentrations were assessed 1 day prior to surgery (baseline), immediately prior to anesthesia induction, and every 30 minutes until 5 hours following extubation, and 1 day after surgery. Total duration of anesthesia was 50 minutes and total surgery duration was 30 minutes. Isoflurane concentration area under the curve (AUC) over time during the anesthesia was compared among treatment groups. Buccal mucosal bleeding time (BMBT) was assessed 1 day before E administration and during surgery. Urine GGT to urine creatinine ratio, BUN, and plasma creatinine were taken daily from 1 day before to 3 days after surgery. Behavioral pain scores (numerical rating scale) were assessed by two observers blinded to the treatment during the 5‐hour recovery period at 30 minute intervals until 3 hours, and again at 5 hours after extubation. All data were analyzed using anova . Multiple comparisons were performed if the anova was significant. Alpha value was set at 0.05. Plasma cortisol concentrations significantly increased from time of extubation in all the treatment groups. They did not return to the baseline until 5, 2.5, 1.5, and 1.5 hours after extubation in the C, B, E, and EB groups, respectively. Isoflurane AUC was not significantly different among treatment groups. Dogs treated with EB had significantly less behavioral pain than all other groups throughout the 5‐hour recovery period. No significant difference was found between treatment groups or within treatment groups over time in BMBT, or any renal variables. This study demonstrated that (i) pre‐operative administration of E provides profound analgesia during the post‐operative period without renal or bleeding side‐effects in dogs undergoing OHE; and (ii) a combination of butorphanol–etodolac provides the best analgesic effect during the post‐operative period based on the behavioral pain score.     

Dynamical Signature of the Mott-Hubbard Transition in Ni(S,Se)2

The transition metal chalcogenide Ni(S,Se)2 is one of the few highly correlated, Mott-Hubbard systems without a strong first-order structural distortion that normally cuts off the critical behavior at the metal-insulator transition. The zero-temperature (T) transition was tuned with pressure, and significant deviations were found near the quantum critical point from the usual T1/2 behavior of the conductivity characteristic of electron-electron interactions in the presence of disorder. The transport data for pressure and temperature below 1 kelvin could be collapsed onto a universal scaling curve.