Simple and inexpensive flow L-glutamate determination using pumpkin tissue

This work refers to a very easy to implementate flow injection system with potentiometric detection for l-glutamate determination in food samples. The proposed procedure is based on measurement of carbon dioxide produced by decarboxylation of l-glutamate catalyzed by l-glutamate decarboxylase (E.C. 4.1.1.1.5) from Cucurbita maxima (pumpkin). The FI potentiometric system includes an enzymatic reactor with a length of 8 cm and thickness of 5 mm packed with 200 mg of a C. maxima outer layer cut in to small pieces. The proposed procedure allowed l-glutamate determinations in the concentration interval of 10-100 mmol L(-1) for an injected sample volume of 50 microL. A phosphate buffer (0.1 mol L(-1), pH 5.5) solution flowing at 1.4 mL min(-1) was used as the carrier solution in the system. The results obtained in the analysis of food samples revealed a relative error lower than 5% when compared with those provided by the spectrophometric reference procedure. The immobilized reactor retained its initial activity for 21 days. It was possible to measure 40 samples/h with the flow system proposed.     

Integrating geospatial and multi‐depth laboratory spectral data for mapping soil classes in a geologically complex area in southeastern Brazil

Soil mapping across large areas can be enhanced by integrating different methods and data sources. This study merges laboratory, field and remote sensing data to create digital maps of soil suborders based on the Brazilian Soil Classification System, with and without additional textural classification, in an area of 13 000 ha in the state of São Paulo, southeastern Brazil. Data from 289 visited soil profiles were used in multinomial logistic regression to predict soil suborders from geospatial data (geology, topography, emissivity and vegetation index) and visible–near infrared (400–2500 nm) reflectance of soil samples collected at three depths (0–20, 40–60 and 80–100 cm). The derived maps were validated with 47 external observations, and compared with two conventional soil maps at scales of 1:100 000 and 1:20 000. Soil suborders with and without textural classification were predicted correctly for 44 and 52% of the soil profiles, respectively. The derived suborder maps agreed with the 1:100 000 and 1:20 000 conventional maps in 20 and 23% (with textural classification) and 41 and 46% (without textural classification) of the area, respectively. Soils that were well defined along relief gradients (Latosols and Argisols) were predicted with up to 91% agreement, whereas soils in complex areas (Cambisols and Neosols) were poorly predicted. Adding textural classification to suborders considerably degraded classification accuracy; thus modelling at the suborder level alone is recommended. Stream density and laboratory soil reflectance improved all classification models, showing their potential to aid digital soil mapping in complex tropical environments.     

Results of a new serologic test suggest an association of Waddlia chondrophila with bovine abortion.

Waddlia chondrophila is a little-known intracellular organism belonging to the order Chlamydiales that has twice been isolated from aborted bovine fetuses. To initiate an investigation of the possibility that W. chondrophila may be an abortifacient pathogen, a serologic test was developed and used to screen bovine sera that were submitted to the Washington Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (Pullman, WA). A highly significant statistical association (P < 0.00001) was observed when comparing antibody titers in cows that had aborted with those in other classes of cattle. Although this result is consistent with the possibility that infection with W. chondrophila may be a cause of bovine abortion, it is also possible that seroprevalence simply increases with age or that exposure rates differ between cows and other classes of cattle. Future serologic studies should specifically compare antibody titers between aborting cows and carefully matched nonaborting cohorts.     

Congenital elbow dislocations

Three categories of congenital elbow dislocations are described in the literature: humeroulnar, humeroradial, and dislocation or joint laxity with other congenital anomalies. Congenital humeroulnar dislocation is a well-defined problem that occurs predominantly in small breeds of dogs and causes severe limb deformity and dysfunction. Early reduction and stabilization are simple to achieve and have provided good results. Radial head dislocations occur most often as a result of growth disturbance of the radius and ulna. There is a lack of conclusive information on congenital radial head dislocations. Regardless of the etiology, radial head dislocation causes rather mild deformity and lameness and can be treated by conservative management, surgical correction, or radial head ostectomy. Dislocation of the elbow may occur concurrently with other rare congenital anomalies and has been described with ectrodactyly and polyarthrodysplasia.     

Flow cytometric assay in peripheral blood of dogs--reference values for leukocytes from Brazilian beagles

Use of domestic reference values in the flow cytometry analysis is known to improve its accuracy by integrating local variations as gender, race and age. Up to date application of flow cytometry in veterinary medicine has been limited to describe the percentual values just for peripheral lymphocytes subsets of blood. We now report establishment of reference values for a wide range of proportional and absolute numbers of peripheral blood leukocytes, including T cells subsets, B cells, monocytes and eosinophils, applicable to the healthy population of Beagles in Brazil and other regions with similar demographic characteristics. Normal reference values were also established to estimate the gender-related differences. This information will provide clinical aid in the evaluation of immunologic status as well as standard values for experimental animals of dogs from Brazil and other similar regions.     

Assessment of dexmedetomidine/ketamine anesthesia in golden-headed lion tamarins (Leontopithecus chrysomelas)

OBJECTIVE: To compare the anesthetic and cardiovascular effects of dexmedetomidine/ketamine combinations in golden-headed lion tamarins. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective blinded randomized study. ANIMALS: Six healthy golden-headed lion tamarins, three males and three females were studied (mean body weight +/- SD = 0.498 +/- 0.054 kg). METHODS: The animals were given one of the dexmedetomidine/ketamine combinations (0.005/10, 0.01/10, and 0.01/5 mg kg(-1) IM; treatments 5D/10K, 10D/10K, and 10D/5K, respectively) on three successive occasions. Time to sedation and recumbency, as well as anesthesia, standing, and walking times were recorded. Heart and respiratory rate, arterial blood pressure, hemoglobin saturation, and rectal temperature were recorded during anesthesia. Sedation, muscle relaxation, and auditory response were evaluated after drug administration. RESULTS: Heart rate decreased after two combinations (10D/5K and 10D/10K). Respiratory rate and rectal temperature progressively decreased in all the treatments. Arterial blood pressures were maintained in 5D/10K and 10D/5K treatments and decreased after 10D/10K administration. There were no differences in sedation and recumbency time between the treatments, but anesthesia time was significantly longer in treatment 10D/10K (67.80 +/- 13.30 minutes) compared to treatments 10D/5K (44.54 +/- 8.25 minutes) and 5D/10K (30.60 +/- 6.80 minutes). Standing time was shorter in treatment 10D/10K (11.13 +/- 10.01 minutes) than in treatments 5D/10K (18.20 +/- 10.03 minutes) and 10D/5K (19.12 +/- 14.55 minutes), and walking time was longer in treatment 5D/10K (20.00 +/- 12.46 minutes) compared with treatments 10D/10K (16.00 +/- 3.43 minutes) and 10D/5K (12.40 +/- 5.02 minutes). Anesthetic quality was significantly better 5 and 15 minutes after treatments 10D/10K and 10D/5K than after treatment 5D/10K. Analgesia scores were higher after administration of 10D/10K than after the 5D/10K treatment. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Dexmedetomidine/ketamine is useful for chemical immobilization of golden-headed lion tamarins, but bradycardia and hypotension warrant close monitoring.     

Modeling the Potential Geographic Distribution of Black Pepper（Piper nigrum）in Asia Using GIS Tools

Known as the "king of spices",black pepper (Piper nigrum),a perennial crop of the tropics,is economically the most important and the most widely used spice crop in the world.To understand its suitable ...     

Prediction of physical and chemical body compositions of purebred and crossbred Nellore cattle using the composition of a rib section

The goal of this research was to develop empirical equations to predict chemical and physical compositions of the carcass and the body using the composition of the 9th- to 11th-rib section (rib(9-11)) and other measurements. A database (n = 246) from 6 studies was developed and comprised 37 bulls (BU), 115 steers (STR), and 94 heifers (HF), of which 132 were Nellore (NEL), 76 were NEL × Angus crossbreds (NA), and 38 were NEL × Simmental crossbreds (NS). The right half carcass and the rib(9-11) from the left half carcass were analyzed for ether extract (EE), CP, and water. The remaining components were chemically analyzed to determine the composition of the body. A stepwise procedure was used to determine the variable inclusion in the regression models. The variables included were EE in the rib(9-11) (EER; %), CP in the rib(9-11) (CPR; %), water in the rib(9-11) (WR; %), visceral fat (VF; %; KPH and mesenteric fats), organs plus viscera (OV; %), carcass dressing percentage (CD; %), cold carcass weight (kg), and empty BW (EBW; kg). No sex or breed effects were found on EE and CP compositions of the carcass (C(EE) and C(CP), respectively; %); the equations were as follows: C(EE) = 4.31 + 0.31 × EER + 1.37 × VF [n = 241; R(2) = 0.83; mean square error (MSE) = 4.53] and C(CP) = 17.92 + 0.60 × CPR - 0.17 × CD (n = 238; R(2) = 0.50; MSE = 1.58). Breed affected water content in the carcass (C(W), %); the equations were as follows: C(W) = 48.74 + 0.28 × WR - 0.017 × EBW for NEL; C(W) = 46.69 + 0.32 × WR - 0.017 × EBW for NA; and C(W) = 38.06 + 0.48 × WR - 0.017 × EBW for NS (n = 243; R(2) = 0.67; MSE = 5.17). A sex effect was found on body chemical EE composition (BW(EE)); the equations were as follows: BW(EE) = 2.75 + 0.33 × EER + 1.80 × VF for BU; BW(EE) = 1.84 + 0.33 × EER + 1.91 × VF for STR; and BW(EE) = 4.77 + 0.33 × EER + 1.28 × VF for HF (n = 243; R(2) = 0.89; MSE = 3.88). No sex or breed effects were found on CP composition in the body (BW(CP)); the equation was as follows: BW(CP) = 14.38 + 0.24 × CPR (n = 240; R(2) = 0.59; MSE = 1.06). A sex effect was found for body water content (BW(W)); the equations were as follows: BW(W) = 38.31 + 0.33 × WR - 1.09 × VF + 0.50 × OV for BU; BW(W) = 45.67 + 0.25 × WR - 1.89 × VF + 0.50 × OV for STR; and BW(W) = 31.61 + 0.47 × WR - 1.06 × VF + 0.50 × OV for HF (n = 241; R(2) = 0.81; MSE = 3.84). The physical carcass composition indicated a breed effect on all components and a sex effect for fat in the carcass. We conclude that body and carcass compositions can be estimated with rib(9-11) for purebred and crossbred NEL animals, but specific equations have to be developed for different groups of animals.