Electro-acupuncture and Chinese herbs for treatment of cervical intervertebral disk disease in a dog

A non-ambulatory dog with tetraparesis following a pain episode that had evolved over 2 months was submitted for medical treatment and diagnosed with intervertebral disk disease at C3-C4 and dorsal extradural compression at C1-C2 and C3-C4 using myelography and computed tomography. The dog experienced ambulation recovery after 15 days of treatment with only electroacupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine, with marked improvement occurring after only 10 treatments. Six months of follow-up demonstrated that the dog was stable and had no recurrence of symptoms. Therefore, it was concluded that the combination of electroacupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine was responsible for motor rehabilitation.     

Performance, growth, and maturity of Nellore bulls

The objectives of this study were to evaluate the dry matter intake (DMI), digestibility, average daily gain (ADG), microbial efficiency, empty body weight (EBW) gain, and body composition of Nellore bulls. Additionally, Nellore bull maturity was estimated, and the prediction equation for DMI, suggested by the Brazilian nutrient requirements system (BR CORTE; Azevêdo et al. 2010), was evaluated. Thirty-three Nellore bulls, with a mean initial weight of 259?±?25 kg and age of 14?±?1 months, were used in this study. Five animals were slaughtered at the beginning of the experiment (control group), and the remaining 28 were divided into 4 groups, each slaughtered at 42-day intervals. Their diet was composed of corn silage and concentrate (55:45). The power model was used to estimate muscle tissue, bone tissue, crude protein (CP), mineral matter (MM), and water present in the empty body, while the exponential model was used to estimate adipose tissue and ether extract (EE) present in the empty body. When expressed in kilograms per day, differences were observed (P?<?0.05) only for the intake of EE and neutral detergent fiber as a function of feedlot time periods. Although there was a difference in relation to nutrient intake, it did not affect (P?>?0.05) digestibility, with the exception of EE digestibility. The equation suggested by BR CORTE correctly estimates the DMI of Nellore bulls. ADG was not affected (P?>?0.05) by time spent in the feedlot. No differences were observed (P?>?0.05) for microbial efficiency; a mean value of 142 g microbial crude protein/kg total digestible nutrients was achieved. The muscle and bone tissues, CP, MM, and water present in the empty body increased as the animal grew, although at a lower rate. The adipose tissue and EE present in the empty body increased their deposition rate when the animal reached its mature weight. Maturity is defined as when an animal reaches 22 % EE in the empty body, which corresponds to 456 kg of EBW in Nellore bulls. Therefore, this study can conclude that the feedlot time period does not affect DMI, nutrient intake, ADG, or microbial efficiency. The equation proposed by BR CORTE (Azevêdo et al. 2010) correctly estimates the DMI of Nellore bulls, which reach maturity when an EBW of 456 kg is attained.     

Has yield stability changed with genetic improvement of wheat yield?

The effect of plant breeding on yield and their physiological determinants has been widely studied in wheat. However, it is poorly understood how, and to what extent, yield stability has been modified. To attempt a direct analysis of changes in absolute and relative yield stability, data of yield of cultivars released in different eras in different environments were obtained from records from our lab and from the literature. Depending on the availability of data, effects of plant breeding on yield stability of cultivars released in Argentina, Australia, Italy and the United Kingdom were evaluated using a quantitative approach. In this paper it was assumed that the slope of yield vs. environmental index estimates the instability of the cultivars. In addition, a more qualitative approach for Mexico, and the former USSR complemented this analysis. There was a clear decrease in yield stability assessed in absolute terms as a consequence of wheat breeding. In Argentina, Australia, Italy and the UK this decrease was related to the magnitude of yield increases. However, the decrease in yield stability in Argentina and Australia was less than for Italy and the UK, particularly so during the last 30 years. Modern cultivars released in Argentina and Australia showed a trend to maintain yield stability as a percentage of their yield similar to that of their predecessors, while the two European countries analysed tended to a slight decrease in yield stability even in relative terms. The complementary, less quantitative evaluation of Mexico and the former USSR appeared to confirm the quantitative trends described for the other countries, i.e. a general decrease in yield stability (assessed in absolute terms) with genetic gains in yield potential. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Chemical composition of Lippia spp. essential oil and antimicrobial activity against Aeromonas hydrophila

Phytotherapy can replace antibiotic administration as an alternative to control Aeromonas hydrophila, one of the main bacteria involved in the aetiology of farmed fish diseases. Given that plants of the Lippia spp. genus show biological potential for antimicrobial activity, this study evaluated the chemical composition of essential oils extracted from Lippia alba, Lippia origanoides and Lippia sidoides and their activity against A. hydrophila. The oils were obtained by steam distillation in a Clevenger‐type apparatus and their composition determined by gas chromatography and mass spectrometry (CG/MS). Antibacterial activity was assessed by calculating the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) using broth microdilution method. The main compounds identified were geranial (25.4%) and neral (16.6%) in L. alba oil, carvacrol (40.4%) and p‐cymene (11.4%) in L. origanoides oil and thymol (76.6%) and ortho‐cymene (6.3%) in L. sidoides oil. The three Lippia species showed bacteriostatic and bactericidal action against A. hydrophila, with MICs and MBCs ranging from 1250 to 5000 μg mL^?1. Of the species tested, the best performance was obtained with essential oil of L. sidoides.     

Impact of foliar nickel application on urease activity,antioxidant metabolism and control of powdery mildew (Microsphaera diffusa) in soybean plants

Nickel (Ni) is a cofactor for urease, an enzyme that breaks down urea into ammonia and carbon dioxide. This study aimed to evaluate the physiological impact of Ni on urea, antioxidant metabolism and powdery mildew severity in soybean plants. Seven levels of Ni (0, 10, 20, 40, 60, 80 and 100 g ha^?1) alone or combined with the fungicides fluxapyroxad and pyraclostrobin were applied to soybean plants. The total Ni concentration ranged from 3.8 to 38.0 mg kg^?1 in leaves and 3.0 to 18.0 mg kg^?1 in seeds. A strong correlation was observed between Ni concentration in the leaves and seeds, indicating translocation of Ni from leaves to seeds. Application of Ni above 60 g ha^?1 increased lipid peroxidation in the leaf tissues, indicative of oxidative stress. Application of 40 g ha^?1 Ni combined with 300 mL ha^?1 of fungicide reduced powdery mildew severity by up to 99%. Superoxide dismutase, catalase, peroxidase and urease enzyme activity were greatest under these conditions. Urea concentration decreased in response to Ni application. Urease activity in soybean leaves showed a negative correlation with powdery mildew severity. The leaf Ni concentration showed a positive correlation with the urease and a negative correlation with powdery mildew severity. The results of this study suggest that urease is a key enzyme regulated by Ni and has a role in host defence against powdery mildew by stimulating antioxidant metabolism in soybean plants.     

First record of Bregmatothrips dimorphus (Priesner, 1919) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) in Tunisia

During an inventory study of thrips species carried out in the central‐eastern coastal region of Tunisia in 2010 and 2011, Bregmatothrips dimorphus (Priesner, 1919) (Thysanoptera; Thripidae) was found on two host plants; barley (Hordeum vulgare Linnaeus) and sorghum (Sorghum bicolor Moench). This is the first record of B. dimorphus in Tunisia. Its distribution in other parts of the world and taxonomic characteristics are briefly presented.     

Net requirements of calcium, magnesium, sodium, phosphorus, and potassium for growth of Nellore × Red Angus bulls, steers, and heifers

A comparative slaughter trial was conducted to assess the net requirements for gain of Ca, P, Na, K and Mg of bulls, steers and heifers of Nellore and Red Angus crossbreds. Twenty seven F1 Nellore and Red Angus crossbred calves (9 steers, 9 bulls, and 9 heifers), averaging 274 kg BW, were used. At the beginning of the trial, three animals from each gender were slaughtered to determine the initial body composition. The remaining 18 animals (3 animals of each gender) were randomly assigned to two treatments: fed 0.75 or 1.5% of BW of concentrate. The diets were based on corn silage and were isonitrogenous (2% N, DM). After three growing periods of 28 d, all animals were slaughtered. The cleaned gastrointestinal tract, organs, carcass, head, hide, tail, feet, and tissues were weighed to determine the empty BW (EBW). These parts were ground separately and subsampled for chemical analyses. The log of the contents of each mineral in the empty body was regressed on the log of the EBW to estimate the net requirement for each mineral per kg of empty body gain (EBG). There were no differences (P > 0.05) in the net requirements for growth of all macrominerals among genders. The equations of the pooled data of the net requirements for growth (g/kg EBG) were: 332.6 × EBW ^− 0.6367 for Ca, 112.1 × EBW ^− 0.5615 for P, 10.85 × EBW ^− 0.3992 for Na, 4.01 × EBW ^− 0.153 for K, and 3.589 × EBW ^− 0.462 for Mg. Our findings indicated that retained Ca and retained P were poorly related to the retained protein.     

Copper Biosorption by Biomass of Marine Alga: Study of Equilibrium and Kinetics in Batch System and Adsorption/Desorption Cycles in Fixed Bed Column

Copper biosorption onto chemically modified biomass of marine alga Sargassum filipendula was investigated in a batch reactor and a fixed bed column. Experiments were carried out in the batch reactor to obtain kinetic and equilibrium data and to assess the copper desorption efficiency of different eluent solutions. The pseudo-first-order, pseudo-second-order, and Langmuir kinetic models were used to correlate kinetic data. The experimental data fitted well to the pseudo first order and Langmuir kinetic models. Langmuir and Freundlich models were applied to describe the equilibrium data obtained at a fixed temperature of 30°C and at pH values of 3.0, 4.0, 5.0, and 6.0. The maximum capacities of copper biosorption onto the algal biomass were 1.43, 1.59, 2.40, and 2.36 mequiv./g at pH 3.0, 4.0, 5.0, and 6.0, respectively. The efficiencies of two eluent solutions (calcium chloride and hydrochloric acid) for copper removal from the biomass were evaluated at different concentrations (0.1, 0.2, 0.5, and 1.0 mol/L). The efficiencies of the calcium chloride solutions varied from 1% to 14%, while efficiencies varying from 95% to 99% were obtained when hydrochloric acid solutions were applied. Three adsorption/desorption cycles were carried out in a fixed bed column using 0.1 mol/L hydrochloric acid as eluent solution. The results showed that an increase in the number of cycles led to a reduction in the adsorption capacity of the alga. The desorbed copper fraction presented no significant variation, remaining around 63% in the three adsorption/desorption cycles.