Measurement of temperature generation in the corium of bovine claws during claw trimming with an angle grinder using different grinding and cutting disks

On 80 bovine hindclaws from slaughtered cows a correct functional claw trimming (sole horn thickness 5 mm; group 1) and on further 80 hindclaws a standardised, incorrect claw trimming (sole horn thickness 2 mm; group 2) was performed using 4 different disks (one cutting, three grinding disks). Two thermocouples were inserted into the solar corium and the heat production on the corium was measured during claw trimming. During correct functional claw trimming with each of the 4 disks a temperature increase in the corium with a median of < or = 0.3 degrees C was calculated. During incorrect claw trimming (2 mm sole horn thickness) a temperature increase with a median of < or = 0.3 degrees C for the first three disks was determined. During claw trimming using the abrasive semiflexible plastic disk a median of 1.3 degrees C temperature increase was calculated. Comparison of the temperatures measured in the claws from group 1 and 2 showed a statistically significant difference between all four disks. Comparison of the temperature increase within each group (group 1 and 2) revealed a statistically significant difference between the cutting disk with steel blades and the abrasive, semiflexible plastic disk in both groups. The highest temperatures measured were 41.5 degrees C in group 1 using the disk with 70% amount of fitted hard metal granulate, and 42.2 degrees C in group 2 (temperature increase of 10.6 degrees C) using the abrasive semiflexible plastic disk. Under the experimental conditions of this study, only a very slight thermogenesis was found when a functional and correct claw trimming using the 4 tested disks was performed. This slight thermogenesis should not be able to cause thermic injury of the corium. By trimming the sole horn incorrectly (2 mm) the measured heat generation in the corium was minor, without danger of thermic insult, excepted for using the disk with a 70% amount of fitted hard metal granulate and the abrasive semiflexible plastic disk. Even, it is unlikely that a short term temperature increase of 10.6 degrees C can cause thermic insults of the solar corium.     

Evaluation using hoof wall strain gauges of a therapeutic shoe and a hoof cast with a heel wedge as potential supportive therapy for horses with laminitis

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate using strain gauges, a hoof cast with heel wedge, and a therapeutic shoe with unsupported toe for their effectiveness in redistribution of load from the dorsal hoof wall. STUDY DESIGN: In vitro biomechanical study. SAMPLE POPULATION: Twenty forelimb specimens. METHODS: Rosette strain gauges were placed on the dorsal and lateral hoof wall of 20 normal shaped hooves. Limbs were loaded vertically using a tensile testing machine with a 1 Hz sinusoidally cycling load up to 3000 N during 15 seconds. Mean values of principal strain and direction at 2500 N load were calculated for 3 experimental conditions (unshod, therapeutic shoe with unsupported toe, and hoof cast with heel elevation) and tested by ANOVA (P<.05). RESULTS: Vertical limb loading in an unshod hoof leads to a biaxial compression of the dorsal wall with high longitudinal compression (epsilon2 = -1515 microm/m). Principal strain at the dorsal wall (epsilon2) was decreased by 23% with the therapeutic shoe and by 59% with the hoof cast. On the lateral hoof wall principal strain was unchanged with the shoe, but increased by 34% with the cast. CONCLUSIONS: Strain measurements indicate unloading of the dorsal hoof wall by both methods with the cast being more effective than the shoe. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The hoof cast with wedge offers substantial unloading of the dorsal wall, but increases load on the quarter. Therefore a hoof cast would likely be most helpful in acute laminitis when palmar structures can still bear load. The therapeutic shoe offers rehabilitation and regrowth of the dorsal wall without increased load on the quarter wall.     

Einfluß einer abgestuften Wasserversorgung auf CO2-Assimilation,Transpiration, Substanzproduktion und Wasserverbrauch vonAvena sativa

Zusammenfassung Gefäßkulturen von Hafer in Sand und Erde mit abgestuftem, jeweils gleichbleibend gehaltenem Wasserangebot von 100, 75, 50, 30 und 15% der Boden wasserkapazität ergaben die höchsten Erträge an Gesamttrockenmasse in der Regel bei voller Wassersättigung des Bodens in Verbindung mit gleichzeitig maximalem Wasserverbrauch (bestimmt durch tägliches Wägen der Gefäße). Abnehmende Wasserversorgung verringerte auch Trockenmasse und Wasserverbrauch der Pflanzen. In trockenem Boden und bei reichlicher Wasserzufuhr entwickelte sich die Wurzelmasse im Vergleich mit den oberirdischen Organen stärker als bei mittlerer Bodenfeuchtigkeit. Klimatische Einflüsse, Aussaatzeit und Witterung sowie die Bodenart modifizierten die vom Wasserzustand des Bodens ausgehenden Wirkungen auf Trockenmasseproduktion und Wasserverbrauch, z. B. wurde bei Sommeraussaat gegenüber der Frühjahrsaussaat die Blattentwicklung bedeutend gefördert.Mit registrierenden Infrarot-Gasanalysatoren wurden Tagesgänge von CO₂-Aufnahme, Nachtatmung und Transpiration unter natürlichen Bedingungen gemessen. Bei trockenem Boden war die photosynthetische Leistung der Pflanzen zu Beginn ihrer Entwicklung deutlich gehemmt; sie steigerte sich allmählich und war später merklich größer als bei hohen Wassergaben. Die Transpiration verlief im allgemeinen gleichsinnig wie die Netto-Assimilationsrate, wurde jedoch auch nachts meist auf einer gewissen Höhe fortgesetzt. Die Nachtatmung der sehr trocken gehaltenen Pflanzen war gegenüber den anderen Wasserstufen meist erhöht. Die Trockenkulturen zeigten einen größeren Lichtbedarf; der Lichtkompensationspunkt wurde gewöhnlich erst bei höherer Beleuchtungsstärke erreicht als bei guter Wasserversorgung. Daraus wird auf erhöhten Energiebedarf der sehr trocken kultivierten Pflanzen geschlossen. Das Verhältnis zwischen CO₂-Aufnahme und Transpiration wurde durch unterschiedliche Bodenwasserversorgung meist nur wenig beeinflußt. Die Ergebnisse der CO₂-Assimilationsmessungen stehen im großen und ganzen mit dem wöchentlich festgestellten Trockensubstanzgewinn in Einklang.

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Summary Cultures ofAvena sativa L. grown in pots with sand or garden soil with a graduated, in each case fairly constant water supply of 100, 75, 50, 30, and 15% of field capacity yielded maximum total dry weight, as a rule, in fully water-saturated soils combined with maximum water consumption (measured by daily weighing). Decreasing water supply reduced dry matter production and water consumption of plants. In dry soil and at high degrees of water saturation roots developed more dry matter in comparison to the shoots than at medium soil moisture. Results in dry matter production and water consumption, as caused by water relations in soil, are modified additionally by climatic factors, sowing date and weather, and soil type, e.g. sowing in summer considerably favoured leaf development, compared with the spring seed.Daily courses of CO₂-uptake, night respiration and transpiration were registered by infrared-gasanalyzers. In very dry soil photosynthetic activity of plants was distinctly hampered during the first weeks of development; it gradually increased, and at a later stage photosynthetic activity was markedly higher than at abundant water supply. In general transpiration followed the net assimilation rate, it was continued, however, even over night on a certain level. Night respiration of plants growing in dry soil was higher in relation to the other water stages. Those plants, too, required more light for dry matter production; their light compensation point arrived at higher light intensity than under abundant water supply. This behaviour seems to indicate higher energy requirement of plants distinctly influenced by water stress. Relations between CO₂-uptake and transpiration were but slightly influenced by different soil water level. Results of gas exchange measurements on CO₂-assimilation agreed, as a rule, with the weekly dry matter measurements by weighting.

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Deleted chromosome 32 in mammary neoplasms in two domestic dogs

Tumour cells of two cases of mammary neoplasm in dogs were investigated cytogenetically. A small marker chromosome, a deleted chromosome 32, was detected in many cells (35 and 40 per cent respectively) in both dogs.     

Analysis of complex cytogenetic alterations in three canine mammary sarcomas.

Cells of mammary sarcomas in three dogs were analysed cytogenetically. In an osteoidsarcoma, hyperdiploidy with a range of 92 to 98 chromosomes, and several structural aberrations (for example, a derivative chromosome 1, isochromosome 13 and several bi-armed markers) were observed. Isochromosome 13 was also present in a case of an osteoidchondrosarcoma. In a case of chondro-osteosarcoma both hypodiploidy with a chromosome range of 60 to 66 and hyperdiploidy with a range of 115 to 128 and several centric fusions were observed.     

Imaging bond formation between a gold atom and pentacene on an insulating surface

A covalent bond between an individual pentacene molecule and a gold atom was formed by means of single-molecule chemistry inside a scanning tunneling microscope junction. The bond formation is reversible, and different structural isomers can be produced. The single-molecule synthesis was done on ultrathin insulating films that electronically isolated the reactants and products from their environment. Direct imaging of the orbital hybridization upon bond formation provides insight into the energetic shifts and occupation of the molecular resonances.     

Impact of storage conditions on the apple allergen Mal?d?1

Consumption of fresh apple fruits can induce allergic reactions in humans. The apple allergen Mal?d?1 is responsible for these allergic reactions in humans in Central Europe and North America. Biosynthesis of Mal?d?1 depends on apple cultivar, and its concentration increases with time during fruit storage. However, data on the impact of different fruit storage conditions during long-term storage are scarce. Hence, the Mal?d?1 contents of eight apple cultivars were analyzed for this study during long-term storage in a cold chamber as well as under controlled atmosphere conditions (CA). After harvest, apple fruits were stored for 12, 20, 28 or 36 weeks in a cold-chamber at +?2?°C or as under controlled atmosphere conditions of 1.5?% CO₂, 1.5?% O₂ at +?2?°C. Mal?d?1 content in apple fruit of all eight cultivars examined increased during fruit storage. In most cases, differences between Mal?d?1 of apple fruits stored in the cold chamber and under CA conditions were significant, but inconsistent. In apple cv. ??Elise??, fruits stored in the cold chamber contained more Mal?d?1 compared with those stored in CA, whereas the situation reversed in other varieties like cv. ??Boskoop??. The greatest Mal?d?1 content was measured in fruits of cvs. ??Golden Delicious?? and ??Gala??, whereas the smallest Mal?d?1 level was in cvs. ??Elise?? and ??Pinova?? over the whole storage time. Overall, this experiment showed the complexity of the relationship between the Mal?d?1 content, allergenicity of apple fruits, different cultivars, storage conditions and storage time. Persons allergic to apple fruits should consume the fruits as fresh as possible or only after a limited storage time. Furthermore, they should prefer apple varieties with a low content of allergenic proteins, such as cv. ??Elise?? or cv. ??Boskoop?? as a cultivar known for its large polyphenol content.     

Age effects and climate response in trees: a multi-proxy tree-ring test in old-growth life stages

Aging in trees implies a progressive reduction in the growth rate, related to a shortening of the growing period and changes in the photosynthetic capability and efficiency. These changes may continue during the old-growth life stages following the juvenile phase and are reflected in tree-ring properties such as growth increment, density or stable isotopes. We studied possible climate age effects in time series of several tree-ring parameters (ring width, wood density and stable carbon and oxygen isotopes) of mature individuals from two age groups of Pinus uncinata and P. nigra at two locations in Spain. The aim was to test whether age differences in trees in the old-growth life stages could lead to diverging climate responses. The results show some differences in response to climate between age groups at a monthly level, but most of these divergences are not significant for seasonal climate variables. Regardless of the age group, the main limiting climate factors constrained tree growth equally. Although our findings do not support the idea of an age-dependent response to climate that may lead to inaccurate climate reconstructions, further studies using tree-ring density and stable isotope series are urgently needed to verify the current results.     

FUNCTIONALITY OF VETERINARY IDENTIFICATION MICROCHIPS FOLLOWING LOW‐ (0.5 TESLA) AND HIGH‐FIELD (3 TESLA) MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING

The ability to read patient identification microchips relies on the use of radiofrequency pulses. Since radiofrequency pulses also form an integral part of the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) process, the possibility of loss of microchip function during MRI scanning is of concern. Previous clinical trials have shown microchip function to be unaffected by MR imaging using a field strength of 1 Tesla and 1.5. As veterinary MRI scanners range widely in field strength, this study was devised to determine whether exposure to lower or higher field strengths than 1 Tesla would affect the function of different types of microchip. In a phantom study, a total of 300 International Standards Organisation (ISO)‐approved microchips (100 each of three different types: ISO FDX‐B 1.4 × 9 mm, ISO FDX‐B 2.12 × 12 mm, ISO HDX 3.8 × 23 mm) were tested in a low field (0.5) and a high field scanner (3.0 Tesla). A total of 50 microchips of each type were tested in each scanner. The phantom was composed of a fluid‐filled freezer pack onto which a plastic pillow and a cardboard strip with affixed microchips were positioned. Following an MRI scan protocol simulating a head study, all of the microchips were accurately readable. Neither 0.5 nor 3 Tesla imaging affected microchip function in this study.