The analysis of agricultural distribution systems

The application of systems analysis to the study of agricultural distribution has far-reaching implications for marketing investigations and for managerial decision-making. Concepts developed in the emerging discipline of Physical Distribution Management are applicable to agricultural distribution, an area which has not hitherto been the subject of a systems approach which incorporates such concepts as ‘total distribution analysis’, ‘socio-technical systems’ and ‘synergy’. This paper demonstrates the scope for taking a systems analysis view of agricultural distribution and illustrates three of its aspects—namely, the marketing of farm inputs, the distribution of farm produce and machinery management on the farm.     

The basophil response in blood and bone marrow of tick-infested guinea pigs.

The concentrations of basophils in blood and bone marrow were monitored in guinea pigs subjected to primary and secondary infestations with larvae of Dermacentor andersoni. In these guinea pigs a significant increase of basophils was evident in peripheral blood. The response following the secondary infestation was more rapid and more intense than that following the primary infestation. Similar changes were also shown to occur in bone marrow. The possible significance of these responses in relation to acquired tick resistance in guinea pigs is discussed.     

Effects of endogenous flour lipids on the quality of semisweet biscuits

Fractionation and reconstitution techniques were used to study the contribution of endogenous flour lipids to the quality of semisweet (Rich Tea-type) biscuits. Biscuit flour was defatted with chloroform and baked with bakery fat but without endogenous lipid addition. Semisweet biscuits baked from defatted flour were flatter, denser, and harder and showed collapse of gas cells during baking when compared with control biscuits. Defatted flour semisweet doughs exhibited a different rheological behavior from the control samples showing higher storage and loss moduli (G' and G' ' values), that is, high viscoelasticity. Functionality was restored when total nonstarch flour lipids were added back to defatted flour. Both the polar and nonpolar lipid fractions had positive effects in restoring flour quality, but the polar lipid fraction was of greatest benefit. Both fractions were needed for complete restoration of both biscuit quality and dough rheological characteristics.     

In vitro anion transport alterations and apoptosis induced by phenylbutazone in the right dorsal colon of ponies

OBJECTIVES: To study the functional and structural responses of the right dorsal colon (RDC) of ponies to phenylbutazone (PBZ) in vitro at a concentration that could be achieved in vivo. ANIMALS: 8 adult ponies. PROCEDURE: Short circuit current and conductance were measured in mucosa from the RDC. Tissues incubated with and without HCO3- were exposed to PBZ, bumetanide, or indomethacin. Bidirectional Cl- fluxes were determined. After a baseline flux period, prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) was added to the serosal surfaces and a second flux period followed. Light and transmission electron microscopy were performed. RESULTS: Baseline short circuit current was diminished significantly by PBZ and indomethacin, and increased significantly after addictions of PGE2. After PGE2 was added, Cl- secretion increased significantly in tissues in HCO3- -free solutions and solutions with anti-inflammatory drugs, compared with corresponding baseline measurements and with control tissues exposed to PGE2. Bumetanide did not affect baseline short circuit current and Cl- fluxes. The predominant histologic change was apoptosis of surface epithelial cells treated with PBZ and to a lesser extent in those treated with indomethacin. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Prostaglandin-induced Cl- secretion appeared to involve a transporter that might also secrete HCO3-. Both PBZ and indomethacin altered ion transport in RDC and caused apoptosis; PBZ can damage mucosa through a mechanism that could be important in vivo. The clinically harmful effect of PBZ on equine RDC in vivo could be mediated through its effects on Cl- and HCO3- secretion.     

Effect of administration of a phospholipid emulsion on the initial response of horses administered endotoxin

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of a phospholipid emulsion (PLE) on the initial response of horses to administration of endotoxin. ANIMALS: 12 healthy adult horses. PROCEDURES: Horses were assigned to 2 treatment groups (6 horses/group). The control group was administered 1 L of saline (0.9% NaCl) solution, and the treated group was administered PLE (200 mg/kg, IV); treatments were administered during a period of 120 minutes. An infusion of endotoxin was initiated in both groups starting 1 hour after initiation of the saline or PLE solutions. Physical examination and hemodynamic variables were recorded, and blood samples were analyzed for concentrations of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, interleukin-6, thromboxane B2 (TxB2), 6 keto-prostaglandin F (PGF)1alpha, total leukocyte count, and PLE concentrations. An ANOVA was used to detect significant differences. RESULTS: Administration of PLE resulted in significantly lower rectal temperature, heart rate, cardiac output, right atrial pressure, and pulmonary artery pressure and higher total leukocyte counts in treated horses, compared with values for control horses. The TNF-alpha concentration was significantly less in treated horses than in control horses. The TxB2 and 6 keto-PGFF1alpha concentrations were significantly different between treated and control horses at 30 minutes (TxB2) and at 30 and 60 minutes (6 keto-PGF1alpha). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Prior infusion of PLE in horses administered a low dose of endotoxin decreased rectal temperature, heart rate, pulmonary artery pressure, and TNF-alpha concentrations. Results of this study support further evaluation of PLE for use in the treatment of horses with endotoxemia.