Lithologic controls of drainage density: A study of six small rural catchments in New England, N.S.W.

The term drainage density has been operationally defined by a number of parameters characterising both static and dynamic networks (eroded channel density, perennial flow occupance, flow net, wetted channel length). The present study examines the variation of flowing stream length on six catchments of contrasting granite and sedimentary lithologies.The basic influence of lithology is analysed at three scales: between catchments, within one network, and along specific channel sections. Flow length graphs demonstrate that the drainage density of flow is greater on sedimentary rocks and is associated with higher eroded channel densities. All basins displayed a wide range of flow net fluctuations which were highly related to rainfall increments. Phases of flow network evolution were traced for each basin during one large storm.On granite basins two other components of the wetted channel network were quantified and exhibited equally dynamic characteristics when compared to flow. These were linear changes of continuous stagnant water sections and saturated segments. Field observations of episodic flows on two contrasting lithologies indicate the variable influence of rock type in surface and subsurface runoff processes and the importance of relating channelled flows to stream channel morphology.     

Serum haptoglobin concentration and liver enzyme activity as indicators of systemic inflammatory response syndrome and survival of sick calves

BackgroundIncreased concentration of haptoglobin (Hp) in serum is associated with survival of critically ill humans and horses. High serum activity of liver‐derived enzyme is associated with sepsis in children and foals.Hypothesis/ObjectivesInvestigate whether admission serum Hp and glutamic dehydrogenase (GLDH) are associated with systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) and survival of sick calves.AnimalsOne hundred two calves.MethodsRetrospective cross‐sectional study. Electronic medical records from all calves <30 days of age admitted to a teaching hospital for 8 years were reviewed. The signalment, clinicopathological findings, the presence of SIRS, final diagnosis, hospitalization time and outcome were recorded. A Cox proportional hazard ratio (HzR) were calculated to assess the association between clinicopathological variables and survival to discharge.ResultsSerum Hp concentrations were similar between SIRS (0.29 g/L; range, 0.05‐3.6) and non‐SIRS calves (0.22 g/L; range, 0‐4.2; P = .62). GLDH activity was similar between SIRS (12 U/L; range, 1‐1025) and non‐SIRS calves (9 U/L; range, 2‐137; P = .2). Absent suckle reflex (HzR: 6.44, 95% CI: 1.44‐28.86), heart rate (HR) < 100 beats per minute (bpm; HzR: 12.2; 95% CI: 2.54‐58.62), HR > 140 bpm (HzR: 3.59, 95% CI: 1.05‐12.33), neutrophil count <1.7 × 10⁹/L (HzR: 7.36; 95% CI: 2.03‐26.66) and increased gamma‐glutamyl transferase activity (every 50‐unit, HzR: 1.12; 95% CI: 1.03‐1.21) were predictive of nonsurvival.Conclusions and Clinical ImportanceThe use of Hp and GLDH for prediction of survival in sick calves cannot be recommended at this time.     

Overview of Phlorotannins’ Constituents in Fucales

Fucales are an order within the Phaeophyceae that include most of the common littoral seaweeds in temperate and subtropical coastal regions. Many species of this order have long been a part of human culture with applications as food, feedand remedies in folk medicine. Apart from their high nutritional value, these seaweeds are also a well-known reservoir of multiple bioactive compounds with great industrial interest. Among them, phlorotannins, a unique and diverse class of brown algae-exclusive phenolics, have gathered much attention during the last few years due to their numerous potential health benefits. However, due to their complex structural features, combined with the scarcity of standards, it poses a great challenge to the identification and characterization of these compounds, at least with the technology currently available. Nevertheless, much effort has been taken towards the elucidation of the structural features of phlorotannins, which have resulted in relevant insights into the chemistry of these compounds. In this context, this review addresses the major contributions and technological advances in the field of phlorotannins extraction and characterization, with a particular focus on Fucales.     

Sensory Evaluation of Barley Chocolate Chip Cookies by Consumers with Different Demographic Background and Eating Patterns

Health organizations have recommended an increase in consumption of whole grains, total dietary fiber, and soluble fiber to help reduce the potential risk factor for the development of type‐2 diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular disease, among others. The purpose of this project was to determine the sensory characteristics of chocolate chip (CC) cookies containing a high‐soluble fiber whole barley flour (HSFWB). Cookies with 0, 30, 50, and 70% HSFWB were evaluated for appearance, color, flavor, texture, and overall acceptability using a 9‐point hedonic scale. Forty‐nine students, faculty, and staff tested the cookies on three different days. Demographic and behavioral data on age, gender, ethnicity, frequency of eating CC cookies, daily effort to consume fiber (FD), consumption of reduced‐fat (RF) cookies, and texture preference (TP) of CC cookies were collected. The 50% HSFWB cookie could be potentially marketed among older consumers (22+), males, Hispanics, individuals who consume CC cookies at least once a week, those making a FD in their diet, persons who consume RF cookies, as well as those who have no TP for CC cookies. A response surface relating flavor and texture to overall acceptability produced almost equivalent results to the multivariate PLS results in terms of predicting overall acceptability, which facilitates analysis and interpretation.     

Osteitis deformans (Paget's disease) in a Burmese python (Python molurus bivittatus)--a case report

Osteitis deformans (Paget's disease of bone) is a chronic focal disorder of bone remodelling characterized by an initial increase in osteoclast-mediated bone resorption, with subsequent compensatory increase in new bone formation, resulting in a disorganized mosaic of woven and lamellar bone. In the Burmese python (Python molurus bivittatus) of this report, multifocal gross swellings involving the proximal third of the vertebral spine were observed and associated with anorexia, a relative inability to move or to fully extend the body, and to strike at prey. Serum biochemistry revealed elevated alkaline-phosphatase activity. Radiographic changes (irregular bone proliferation along the vertebral margins), computed tomography scan results (abnormal mineral density), and histopathological features (generalized thickening of the bony trabeculae at the expense of the intertrabecular spaces and irregular patches of lamellar bone with a characteristic "mosaic" pattern) indicated osteitis deformans.     

The effect of physiological age and planting date on the response of potatoes to applied nitrogen and on levels of residual nitrogen post-harvest

Summary Experiments were conducted on sandy and deep silty soils to assess the effect of physiological age of seed tubers and planting date on the response of potatoes to nitrogen fertiliser. Nitrogen optima commonly had large standard errors which made interpretation of the data difficult. On the sandy soil with cv. Record, early planting increased yield in two years but had no effect on mean N optimum (303 kg ha⁻¹, NOpt). Mean NOpt was less on the silty soil where the cv. Pentland Squire was grown, and was reduced from 273 kg ha⁻¹ to 241 kg ha⁻¹ when planting was delayed by 4 weeks. Physiological age had no effect on NOpt. On the sandy soil, residual soil mineral nitrogen (RSMN) increased by 0.05 kg ha⁻¹ per kg N fertiliser applied; on the silty soil the increase was four times as large. RSMN was larger following the late planted crop on the silty soil in one year.     

Effects of an endogeic and an anecic earthworm on the competition between four annual plants and their relative fecundity

Competition between plants for essential resources determines the distribution of biomasses between species as well as the composition of plant communities through effects on species reproductive potentials. Soil organisms influence plant competitive ability and access to resources; thus they should modify plant community composition. The effects of an endogeic (Aporrectodea caliginosa) and an anecic (Lumbricus terrestris) earthworm species on the competition between grass (Poa annua), two forbs (Veronica persica and Cerastium glomeratum) and legume (Trifolium dubium) were investigated in a greenhouse experiment. We established two types of plant communities: monocultures and polycultures of the four species. L. terrestris increased the biomass of P. annua and V. persica (in monocultures as well as in polycultures). However, the presence of L. terrestris allowed the grass to produce the highest biomass in polycultures suggesting that this earthworm species promoted the growth of P. annua against the other plant species. In monocultures as well as in polycultures, the presence of L. terrestris to increased the number of seeds of T. dubium and the total seed mass of V. persica. These results suggest that L. terrestris enhanced the short term competitive ability of P. annua by promoting its growth. The increased number of seeds of T. dubium in the presence of L. terrestris suggests that this earthworm species could enhance the long-term competitive ability of this legume and may increase its number of individuals after several generations.     

Assessing the Role of a Limestone Quarry as Sediment Source in a Developing Tropical Catchment

Impact assessments on river systems of the combined effect of bed and suspended sediment loads from quarries are difficult to find. In this study, bed and suspended loads were measured to determine the impact of a 20‐ha limestone quarry on the river system of its 5,000‐ha steep, diverse land use/land cover but mostly forested catchment. A network of hydrologic and sediment monitoring instruments was deployed over the catchment during two separate study periods when sediment loadings were measured from captured storms. Results showed that the quarry stood to make a disproportionately large contribution to the catchment's estimated 2·1 Mg ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ suspended sediment load. Large storm events contributed most of the loadings with five events supplying 92% of total loadings at the outlet. A paired method approach to compare suspended sediment loads between two subcatchments showed that during eight storm events, the quarry yielded between 2 and 49·2 Mg ha⁻¹ per event, whereas the forest never yielded more than 0·1 Mg ha⁻¹. Furthermore, the contribution of sediments from the quarry to bed load was more than 75% at a section located 1·2 km downstream. Future management activities to reduce sediment and bed loads, not only from this catchment but also from all others with similar land use/land covers, should focus on improving quarry operations. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Reactive mesothelial hyperplasia associated with chronic peritonitis in a 20-year-old Quarter horse

A 20-year-old gelding was diagnosed with peritonitis and severe reactive mesothelial hyperplasia. Exploratory laparotomy findings were suggestive of a neoplastic etiology; however, additional diagnostics ruled this out and the horse made a full recovery. This report demonstrates the difficulty and value of differentiating between reactive and neoplastic mesothelial processes.     

Influence of diet and water supply on mineral content and pH within the large intestine of horses with enterolithiasis

To determine the effects of two diets and water supplies on intestinal pH and mineral concentrations in the colon of horses, and to identify whether differences in these parameters exist in horses with and without enterolithiasis, surgical fistulation of the right dorsal colon was performed in six adult horses, three with and three without enterolithiasis. Each horse underwent four feeding trials: grass hay and untreated water, alfalfa hay and untreated water, grass hay with filtered/softened water, and alfalfa hay with filtered/softened water. Samples of colonic contents were analyzed for pH, dry matter, and mineral concentrations.Horses with enterolithiasis had higher calcium, magnesium, phosphorus and sulfur concentrations and higher pH in colonic contents than controls. Horses fed alfalfa had lower colonic sodium and potassium, higher calcium, magnesium, phosphorus and sulfur concentrations, and a more alkaline pH than those fed grass. Grass hay consumption leads to reduced concentrations of select minerals and a more acidic colonic environment compared with alfalfa, probably beneficial in the prevention of enterolithiasis. Under controlled dietary and management conditions, horses with enterolithiasis have differences in colonic mineral and pH parameters that may be consistent with physiological differences between horses with and without the disease.