Guttural pouch empyema secondary to a periocular foreign body

This report describes a 3‐year‐old gelding presenting with signs of injury to its left eye following an accident in which the horse crashed into a hedge. The first treatment attempted to treat infections in the eye and respiratory tract due to secretions identified in the trachea. The horse did not improve and further clinical and radiographic evaluations detected a guttural pouch empyema. Surgical drainage was performed and antimicrobial treatment continued. However, the horse presented with severe epistaxis and euthanasia was elected due to suspected arterial rupture. At necropsy, a round and stiff branch plant was found creating a fistula from the left orbit to the left guttural pouch. Another branch was found inside the pouch, confirming the origin of the persistent infection and severity of the tissue lesion.     

Fixed-fixed flexural vibration testing method of beams for timber guardrails

Resonance frequencies of beams with various types of end supports were examined for flexural vibration. Rectangular beams with dimensions of 300 (L) × 25 (R) × 5 or 10mm (T) were used as the test specimens. Various compressing stresses were applied to the parts around both ends of a test beam and flexural vibration tests were conducted. The measured resonance frequency started to increase from the resonance frequency of a beam with simply supported ends and was stable around the resonance frequency of a beam with fixed ends as the compressing stress increased. The stable resonance frequency was lower than the theoretical value because perfect fixation of a beam to a post was difficult. From these results, the temporal change in resonance frequency itself, rather than the stable resonance frequency, is effective to examine whether a beam has enough strength as a guardrail.     

Influence of litter on emergence and early growth of Quercusrugosa: a laboratory study

Species-rich old-growth forests dominated by Quercus wereextensive in the highlands of Chiapas until a few decades ago. Current land-use is resulting in replacement of Quercus by Pinusspp. in the canopy of the remaining forest fragments, which areless diverse, drier, and more exposed to freezing temperatures.Forest floor and soil are also modified and may limit theregeneration of many woody species. We studied the influence oflitter type (pine needles vs. oak leaves), litter depth (0, 3, 6and 14 cm), and litter cover (3 cm vs. 0 cm of loose litter ontop of sowed acorns) on the emergence and growth of seedlings ofQuercus rugosa, a dominant tree in pine-oak forests. Seedlingemergence and establishment were affected by the interaction ofexperimental factors. Uncovered acorns on pine litter were moreexposed to desiccation; this effect was more evident with deeperlitter. Acorns sowed on oak litter were not affected by levels oflitter cover and litter depth. The results can be of use indefining further field studies, and practices of direct seedingfor restoration of pine-dominated stands.     

Antimicrobial activity and constituents of Coccoloba acrostichoides

The ethanol extract and fractions from Coccoloba acrostichoides aerial parts were assayed for in vitro antimicrobial activity. The extract was active against the assayed bacteria while most of the fractions also inhibited fungal growth, especially the n-hexane and EtOAc fractions. The isolated beta-sitosterol and betulin were tested, being the last one active against Fusarium oxysporum.     

Evaluation of the effectiveness ofBacillus thuringiensis var.entomocidus as a pest control agent to replace chemical pesticides in alfalfa fields in Israel

The Egyptian cotton leafworm,Spodoptera littoralis Boisd., is the main important pest of alfalfa in Israel. Population levels of other pests usually do not reach the economic threshold. Nine chemical insecticide applications (7 spray applications and 2 granular fluorosilicate baits) were required to controlS. littoralis during the season of 1984 (in which infestation level was high) whereas only 5 applications of aBacillus thuringiensis var.entomocidus (Bte) preparation (3 sprays and 2 baits) produced the same effect. During 1983 and 1985 pest populations were moderate and only 6 chemical pesticide applications were required. A bait ofBte on wheat bran, Coax^®, developed in the present study was effective in the control of large larvae (instars 4–6). Hay yields of fields treated withBte were similar to the yields of a conventionally treated field. The best control of large larvae was obtained by applying the bait preparation under the wind row during the alfalfa cutting.     

Meta-analysis of phosphorus balance data from growing pigs

Many studies have highlighted concerns over current methods of determining endogenous P losses and P requirements in growing pigs. Therefore, a database containing observations on 350 pigs was assembled from various studies. Four functions for analyzing P balance data were considered: 1) a straight line, 2) a diminishing returns function (monomolecular), 3) a sigmoidal function with a fixed point of inflection (Gompertz), and 4) a sigmoidal function with a flexible point of inflection (Richards). The nonlinear functions were specifically reparameterized to assign biological meaning to the parameters. Meta-analysis of the data was conducted to estimate endogenous P excretion, maintenance requirement, and efficiency of utilization. Phosphorus retention was regressed against either available P intake or total P intake [all variables scaled by metabolic BW (BW(0.75))]. There was evidence of non-linearity in the data, and the monomolecular function provided the best fit to the data. The Richards equation did not fit the data well and appeared overparameterized. Estimates of endogenous P excretion of 14 and 17 mg/kg of BW(0.75) x d based on available and total P analysis, respectively, were predicted by the monomolecular equation, which were within the range reported in the literature. Maintenance requirement values of 15 mg of available P/kg of BW(0.75) x d and 37 mg of total P/kg of BW(0.75) x d were obtained, based on the monomolecular equation. Average efficiencies of conversion of dietary P to retained P were 65 and 36% for available and total P, respectively, with greater efficiency values calculated for low P intakes. Although the monomolecular equation fitted the data best, more observations at high P intakes/kg of BW(0.75) are required to determine conclusively whether P retention scaled by metabolic BW is linearly related to available or total P intake.     

Maasai perception of the impact and incidence of malignant catarrhal fever (MCF) in southern Kenya

We investigated the perceived impact of malignant catarrhal fever (MCF) to pastoralists in Isinya Division, a wildlife dispersal area of Nairobi National Park, and used a range of participatory epidemiology methodologies. We compared the relative importance, incidence and impact of MCF compared to other locally defined important diseases with a total of 158 respondents in 11 group meetings and 21 household meetings in July 2004. Direct losses due to disease were investigated through lowered prices as a result of the emergency sale of disease-infected animals.

Overall, Maasai in Isinya Division perceived east coast fever (ECF) to be the most important cattle disease and to have the highest incidence. Anthrax was considered to have the largest impact. In areas within or adjacent to the wildebeest calving zone, MCF was perceived to be the most important cattle disease and also to have the largest impact. Outside the calving zone, MCF was considered the fourth-most important disease with the fourth largest impact, and these were areas where wildebeest were less common. MCF was also the fourth-most common disease, and across the Division incidence was estimated at 5% in calves and 10% in adults. However, MCF incidence varied greatly throughout the study area, from 3% to 12%, and the highest incidence risks were found in areas where wildebeest came to calve. The percent drop in sale price per animal infected with MCF was estimated at 50% for MCF for the year 2003–2004.

Forced avoidance movements away from wildebeest calves were reported to decrease livestock production due to loss of access to prime grazing sites. As suggested by pastoralists in this study, the development of compensation schemes or incentives from wildlife would reduce the conflict between livestock keeping and wildlife conservation.