Emissions from Ethers and Organic Carbonate Fuel Additives: A Review

Water, Air, & Soil Pollution - This paper is a review of the available literature on the main features of 11 of the most widely adopted oxygenated additives to base gasoline and diesel,...     

The epidemiological control of nematodes in New England lambs

Epidemiological control of nematodes in weaned lambs in New England was investigated over three grazing seasons (n = 58, n = 52 and n = 62 lambs, respectively). Spring prophylactic treatment, clean pasture and mid-summer treat-and-move to hayfield strategies were compared to traditional fall treatments (control). In these studies when lambs were weaned prior to grazing, the most abundant nematodes were Nematodirus sp. Under these conditions, where only low levels of Haemonchus contortus were present, no significant improvement in body weight gain was observed for the epidemiologic approaches compared to the traditional fall treatments. No untreated control was used, and fecal egg counts and pasture larval counts indicate low total worm burdens with a controllable fall rise in pasture infectivity. These results indicate the importance of hypobiosis for the survival of H. contortus and suggest that weaning lambs prior to grazing can be an effective epidemiological control practice.     

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.     

Evaluation of inflammation and immunity in cats with spontaneous parvovirus infection: consequences of recombinant feline interferon-omega administration

Administration of recombinant feline interferon-omega (rFeIFN) has been proposed for the prophylaxis of canine and feline parvovirosis. In the present study, the influence of the administration of rFeIFN on blood markers of inflammation (alpha-globulins, alpha(1)-acid glycoprotein) and immune system activation (gamma-globulins, IgG, IgM, specific anti-feline parvovirus IgG or IgM) was evaluated in a cattery developing an outbreak of feline panleukopenia due to feline parvovirus (FPV) infection few days after initial administration of rFeIFN. Kittens (n=23) were injected with rFeIFN (1MU/kg subcutaneously, once a day for 3 days) and their blood parameters were compared with those of 17 untreated cats. Cats that survived the outbreak were vaccinated and re-sampled 1 month after the last rFeIFN administration. Time of emergence of clinical signs and survival rate were not significantly different between the two groups. Controls and treated cats surviving the infection had high levels of gamma-globulins, total- and anti-FPV specific IgGs, likely due to passive transfer of maternal immunity. Compared to controls, treated kittens had lower levels of alpha(1)-globulins and higher mean values of gamma-globulins and immunoglobulins. Data from samples collected after vaccination revealed a higher level of gamma-globulins, total- and anti-FPV specific IgGs in treated kittens, compared with controls, suggesting that rFeIFN stimulates antibody production. Based on this results, rFeIFN should be administered to the queen, to increase passive maternal immunity, or to kittens before introduction in a potentially contaminated environment.     

Commercial cuts and chemical and sensory attributes of meat from crossbred Boer goats fed sunflower cake‐based diets

This study aimed to evaluate sunflower cake feed in commercial cut yields and chemical and sensory attributes of goat meat. Thirty‐two castrated male goats were distributed in four levels (0, 8, 16 and 24%) of sunflower cake supplementation. The animals were slaughtered and the carcasses were placed in a cold chamber and sectioned into five anatomical regions corresponding to commercial cuts. Samples of the Longissimus lumborum muscle were analyzed for chemical composition and sensory quality. The chemical composition and pH were not affected by the treatments. The smell, taste and ‘goatiness’ of the aroma and flavor of the meat were also unaffected by the treatments. The appearance, tenderness and juiciness of the meat differed by treatment. The highest level (24%) of sunflower cake increased meat tenderness; however, according to the tasters there was reduced softness, although none of the samples were rejected by the tasters. Sunflower cake can be added to the diet at a level of up to 16% without altering the quantitative and qualitative attributes of the meat.     

Selection by seed weight improves traits related to seedling establishment in Panicum coloratum L. var. makarikariense

Selection for heavy seed was implemented to overcome establishment problems in Panicum coloratum var. makarikariense. A collection covering the genetic diversity of the species available in Argentina was used as a base population (BP), and two cycles of recurrent phenotypic selection to increase seed weight were performed. Seedlings, obtained from seeds from each cycle and the BP, were further evaluated in the greenhouse. An increase of 17% in mean seed weight was obtained after two cycles of recurrent selection. No differences in germination or emergence were detected among the selected materials and the BP. However, seedlings from selected materials were taller and showed higher leaf elongation rate, adventitious roots elongation rate and total growth rate than that from BP. This research also revealed that in P. coloratum var. makarikariense, more vigorous seedlings can be selected from genotypes that produce heavier seeds.