Evaluation of the effects of penicillin G potassium and potassium chloride on the motility of the large intestine in horses

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate effects of IV administration of penicillin G potassium (KPEN) or potassium chloride (KCl) on defecation and myoelectric activity of the cecum and pelvic flexure of horses. ANIMALS: 5 healthy horses. PROCEDURE: Horses with 12 bipolar electrodes on the cecum and pelvic flexure received KPEN or KCl solution by IV bolus 4 hours apart. Each horse received the following: 2 X 10(7) U of KPEN (high-dose KPEN) followed by 34 mEq of KCl (high-dose KCl), 1 X 10(7) U of KPEN (low-dose KPEN) followed by 17 mEq of KCl (low-dose KCl), high-dose KCl followed by high-dose KPEN, and low-dose KCl followed by low-dose KPEN. Number of defecations and myoelectric activity were recorded for 60 minutes. The first three 5-minute segments and first four 15-minute segments of myoelectric activity were analyzed. RESULTS: Number of defecations during the first 15-minute segment was greater after high-dose KPEN treatment than after high-dose or low-dose KCl treatment. Compared with reference indexes, myoelectric activity was greater in the pelvic flexure for the first 5-minute segment after high-dose KCl treatment, in the cecum and pelvic flexure for the first 5-minute segment and in the pelvic flexure for the first 15-minute segment after low-dose KPEN treatment, and in the pelvic flexure for the first and second 5-minute segments and the first three 15-minute segments after high-dose KPEN treatment. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: IV administration of KPEN stimulates defecation and myoelectric activity of the cecum and pelvic flexure in horses. Effects of KPEN may be beneficial during episodes of ileus.     

Distribution of Crenosoma vulpis and Eucoleus aerophilus in the lung of free-ranging red foxes (Vulpes vulpes).

Crenosoma vulpis and Eucoleus aerophilus are nematode parasites that can cause verminous pneumonia in wild carnivores. There is a paucity of information regarding the distribution of parasites in the lungs and the relationship between histopathological and parasitological diagnoses in naturally infected foxes. The objectives of this study were: first, to study the lobar and airway distribution of C. vulpis and E. aerophilus in wild red foxes and second, to investigate the relationship between fecal and histopathological diagnoses. Samples from 6 sites of the lung and fecal contents were obtained from 51 wild foxes in Prince Edward Island. By fecal examination, 78.4% of wild foxes tested positive for C. vulpis and 68.6% for E. aerophilus. In contrast, 66.6% and 49% of foxes had histopathological evidence of C. vulpis and E. aerophilus in the lungs, respectively. Anatomically, C. vulpis was observed in the small bronchi and bronchioles of all pulmonary lobes whereas E. aerophilus was restricted to the large bronchi and the caudal lobes. Affected airways exhibited severe epithelial glandular hyperplasia and bronchiolar mucous metaplasia. It was concluded that C. vulpis is widely distributed in airways of all pulmonary lobes, whereas E. aerophilus is mainly restricted to the bronchi of caudal lobes. Also, this study showed that histological examination of lung underestimates the infection with E. aerophilus.     

Comparison of efficacy and safety of paste formulations of firocoxib and phenylbutazone in horses with naturally occurring osteoarthritis

OBJECTIVE: To compare efficacy and safety of paste formulations of firocoxib and phenylbutazone in horses with naturally occurring osteoarthritis. DESIGN: Randomized controlled clinical trial. ANIMALS: 253 client-owned horses with naturally occurring osteoarthritis. PROCEDURES: Horses were treated with firocoxib (0.1 mg/kg [0.045 mg/lb], PO, q 24 h) or phenylbutazone (4.4 mg/kg [2 mg/lb], PO, q 24 h) for 14 days. Physical examinations and lameness evaluations were performed prior to treatment and after 7 and 14 days. Clinical improvement was defined as a reduction of at least 1 lameness grade or a combined reduction of at least 3 points in scores for pain during manipulation or palpation, joint swelling, joint circumference, and range of motion. RESULTS: Proportion of horses clinically improved on day 14 for the firocoxib group (104/123 [84.6%]) was not significantly different from the proportion for the phenylbutazone group (103/119 [86.6%]). Proportion of horses that were improved on day 14 was significantly greater for horses treated with firocoxib than for horses treated with phenylbutazone with regard to score for pain on manipulation or palpation (P = 0.028), joint circumference score (P = 0.026), and range of motion score (P = 0.012), but not for overall lameness score or joint swelling score. No direct treatment-related adverse effects were detected during the study. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results suggested that overall clinical efficacy of a paste formulation of firocoxib in horses with naturally occurring osteoarthritis was comparable to efficacy of a paste formulation of phenylbutazone.     

Simulated rainfall sequences affect germination and biomass allocation of Chihuahuan desert native plants

Ecological restoration of many arid zones is a pressing issue because of recurrent loss of plant cover. Here, we conducted a germination and growth study of three framework plant species, native to the Chihuahuan Desert in Northern Mexico, to optimize the establishment for arid zone restoration. The plant species were Zinnia grandiflora Nutt., Menodora scabra A. Gray, and Yucca elata (Engelm.) Engelm, which were selected for their potential for restoration as drought tolerant species. We evaluated seed germination, survival, and biomass allocation of seedlings under four (high, medium, low, and very low) simulated rainfall sequences as irrigation treatments. Rainfall sequences were obtained from a previous study that considered 35?years of precipitation records. Each sequence is accounted for 20% of probability of a wet, normal, low, or very low year in terms of precipitation occurring in the study area. Germination was conducted in controlled greenhouse conditions and seeding was done in pots containing soil mix. Sequences produced soil moisture fluctuations in which germination percent was higher for M. scabra (88%) and Z. grandiflora (31%) on the high sequence compared to the other sequences. Survival at the end of the treatments was above 80% of all the three species, and seedlings allocated more aboveground biomass as the moisture increased and more belowground biomass as moisture decreased. Implications under our study conditions include that germination of Y. elata would not be negatively affected by low soil moisture, and the best germinative results for Z. grandiflora and M. scabra would be achieved under higher soil moisture.     

Exploring the recent upsurge in productivity disparities among European regions

This paper analyses thse evolution of productivity disparities across 156 European regions in the period 2000–2015. Using regional data, a battery of inequality indexes enables us to assess the extent of regional disparities. After confirming that labour productivity is the main component of income disparities, a dynamic shift-share analysis is carried out at a 10-industry level of disaggregation. The study evaluates the relative role of the three components underlying the disparities in regional productivity: changes in the industry mix, and within- and between-industry productivity gaps. The main results can be summarised as follows. First, regional disparities are on the rise again in the EU. Second, most regions are now closer to the average, while a small group of the richest regions are moving further away. Third, the main drivers of productivity disparities are within-industry differences in labour productivity with regard to the richest regions and, less importantly, the specialisation of the richest regions in more progressive industries. Finally, the net effect of structural change is still making a positive contribution to convergence with the leading regions.     

Optimisation of Healthy-Lipid Content and Oxidative Stability during Oil Extraction from Squid (Illex argentinus) Viscera by Green Processing

Green extraction was applied to Argentinean shortfin squid (Illex argentinus) viscera, consisting of a wet pressing method including a drying step, mechanic pressing, centrifugation of the resulting slurry, and oil collection. To maximise the oil yield and ω3 fatty acid content and to minimise the oil damage degree, a response surface methodology (RSM) design was developed focused on the drying temperature (45–85 °C) and time (30–90 min). In general, an increase of the drying time and temperature provided an increase in the lipid yield recovery from the viscera. The strongest drying conditions showed a higher recovery than 50% when compared with the traditional chemical method. The docosahexaenoic and eicosapentaenoic acid contents in the extracted oil revealed scarce dependence on drying conditions, showing valuable ranges (149.2–166.5 and 88.7–102.4 g·kg⁻¹ oil, respectively). Furthermore, the values of free fatty acids, peroxides, conjugated dienes, and ω3/ω6 ratio did not show extensive differences by comparing oils obtained from the different drying conditions. Contrary, a polyene index (PI) decrease was detected with increasing drying time and temperature. The RSM analysis indicated that optimised drying time (41.3 min) and temperature (85 °C) conditions would lead to 74.73 g·kg⁻¹ (oil yield), 1.87 (PI), and 6.72 (peroxide value) scores, with a 0.67 desirability value.     

Regulated deficit irrigation in green bean and watermelon greenhouse crops

Mediterranean greenhouse growers of watermelon and green bean crops tend to reduce slightly the soil water availability during the flowering phase to enhance the fruit number and yield, but without measuring the soil or the plant water status. This deficit irrigation strategy (RDI) was studied on two representative growth cycles of green bean and one of watermelon. In each case, a well-watered crop acted as control.In the three well-watered vegetable crops, soil water matric potential (SMP) values were between −20 and −30 kPa throughout most of the respective growth cycles. These values avoid water deficits in Mediterranean greenhouse vegetable crops. The watermelon under RDI presented similar SMP to the well-watered crop, except during the flowering period when it reached values of −50 to −60 kPa, which are similar to, or slightly lower than, those recommended to prevent water deficits for cucurbitaceae crops. The autumn–winter and spring cycles of green bean under RDI presented progressively lower SMP values from the vegetative phase to the first fruit setting than the well-watered crops, reaching minimum SMP values of around −55 kPa for the autumn–winter cycle and of −75 kPa for the spring one. These minimum SMP values are similar for the autumn–winter cycle and lower for the spring cycle than those recommended to avoid water deficits in green bean crops grown in medium-fine textured soils. Overall, mild water deficits during flowering of watermelon and green bean crops grown in Mediterranean greenhouses did not improve the final fruit number or yield. In the two spring cycles (watermelon and green bean) the RDI strategy reduced the aboveground biomass and yield, whereas in the autumn–winter green bean cycle the RDI strategy reduced the vegetative biomass but did not affect yield. SMP threshold values can, however, be used by growers as a tool for controlling the equilibrium between the vegetative and reproductive growth of greenhouse soil-grown crops.     

Mapping research priorities for green and public urban space in the UK

Research mapping is a method of organising research information as part of a process of formulating a research policy in a specific area. A research mapping project was undertaken in the UK, which aimed to map existing and future research into public and green space, to identify gaps in order to help set priorities for future research, and to develop a freely accessible and searchable database of this research. The mapping was structured around two axes. The first axis was of research themes based on The Value of Public Space but developed further and broken down into sub-themes. The second axis was a typology of green and public space based around Planning and Policy Guidance Note 17 (PPG17) with elaboration from Green Spaces, Better Places. Research dating back to 10 years was collected together with information on recently completed, ongoing and planned UK research. Only research meeting specific quality criteria was included. Some information was also collected at a seminar where attendees from a range of organisations were invited to offer their perspectives on where research priorities should be directed. All the material was analysed and the main trends were identified. Three key cross-cutting themes common to much of the research were identified. These are the general lack of baseline surveys against which to assess progress over time; methodological issues, especially the need to standardise data collection methods and techniques; the classification of social groups, currently considered to be too crude.It was found that most research has been undertaken on physical aspects, such as planning and on biodiversity. Economic values have also been a focus, but on a smaller scale. Social research is quite well covered but very patchy. Management is better covered than maintenance. By far the weakest area represented in the research is health and well-being, both in terms of social groups and types of green space. Priorities for further research were then identified.     

Characterization of the reconstructed 1918 Spanish influenza pandemic virus

The pandemic influenza virus of 1918-1919 killed an estimated 20 to 50 million people worldwide. With the recent availability of the complete 1918 influenza virus coding sequence, we used reverse genetics to generate an influenza virus bearing all eight gene segments of the pandemic virus to study the properties associated with its extraordinary virulence. In stark contrast to contemporary human influenza H1N1 viruses, the 1918 pandemic virus had the ability to replicate in the absence of trypsin, caused death in mice and embryonated chicken eggs, and displayed a high-growth phenotype in human bronchial epithelial cells. Moreover, the coordinated expression of the 1918 virus genes most certainly confers the unique high-virulence phenotype observed with this pandemic virus.