Imaging and surgical outcomes of spinal tumors in 18 dogs and one cat

Clinical and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings, histological appearances and surgical outcomes of 18 dogs and one cat with spinal tumors are presented. Medical records of the cases admitted for spinal disorders were reviewed, and cases of spinal tumors that were diagnosed by MRI and confirmed by histological examination were included in this study. T1 weighted, T2 weighted and contrast enhanced T1 weighted images were taken and interpreted to evaluate the spinal tumors. The tumors were diagnosed as: meningioma (n = 6), ependymoma (n = 1), nerve sheath tumor (n = 4), metastatic spinal tumor (n = 3), osteosarcoma (n = 2), osteoma (n = 1), rhabdomyosarcoma (n = 1), and nephroblastoma (n = 1). Thirteen cases underwent surgical operation and the remaining six cases were euthanized at the request of the owners. The neurological status of the surgical cases did not deteriorate, except for one dog that showed ependymoma in the early period after the operation. These results indicate the potential for surgical gross total tumor removal of vertebral tumors to provide better quality of life and surgical collection of histological specimens for definitive diagnosis. For effective case management, dedicated MRI examination is important to accurate evaluation of the spinal tumors, and surgical treatment is useful for extradural and intradural-extramedullary spinal tumors.     

Essential Oils Composition of Two Endemic Umbelliferae Herbs Growing Wild in Turkey

The present study was carried out to determine the essential oil composition of aerial parts of two endemic umbelliferae herbs （Malabaila lasiocarpa Boiss. and Stenotaenia macrocarpa Freyn ＆ Sint. ex Freyn） collected from Bingol （Turkey）, using headspace solid-phase microextraction method and gas chromatography （GC） interfaced with mass spectrometer analysis. Forty six and 43 compounds were identified for M. lasiocarpa and S. macrocarpa, respectively, representing 91.40% and 90.86% of their respective essential oils. Germacrene D （20.71%）,β-elemene （12.40%）, spathulenol （11.60%） and β-selinene （9.67%） were identified as the major compound of M. lasiocarpa. β-sesquiphellandrene （19.68%）, hexyl isobutyrate （12.65%） and octanal （9.53%） were found to be the major compounds ofS. macrocarpa. Essential oil composition ofM. lasiocarpa has been determined for the first time and the results have been discussed in view of chemotaxonomy, natural products and potential usefulness of these plants.     

Temperature and surface-ocean water balance of the mid-holocene tropical western pacific

Skeletal Sr/Ca and 18O/16O ratios in corals from the Great Barrier Reef, Australia, indicate that the tropical ocean surface approximately 5350 years ago was 1 degrees C warmer and enriched in 18O by 0.5 per mil relative to modern seawater. The results suggest that the temperature increase enhanced the evaporative enrichment of 18O in seawater. Transport of part of the additional atmospheric water vapor to extratropical latitudes may have sustained the 18O/16O anomaly. The reduced glacial-Holocene shift in seawater 18O/16O ratio produced by the mid-Holocene 18O enrichment may help to reconcile the different temperature histories for the last deglaciation given by coral Sr/Ca thermometry and foraminiferal oxygen-isotope records.     

Effects of wastewater irrigation on soil and cabbage‐plant (brassica olerecea var. capitate cv. yalova‐1) chemical properties

The use of wastewater for irrigation is increasingly being considered as a technical solution to minimize soil degradation and to restore nutrient contents of soils. The aim of this study is to increase fertility and minimize degradation of soils irrigated with wastewater exposed to different purification treatments. A field experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of control and irrigation with wastewater, which had undergone different purification treatments, on macro‐ and micronutrient distribution within the soil profile and nutrient contents of cabbage (Brassica olerecea var. Capitate cv. Yalova‐1) in Erzurum, Turkey. Wastewater irrigation and preliminary treatment–wastewater irrigation significantly affected soil chemical properties especially at 0–30 cm soil depth and plant nutrient contents after one year. Application of wastewater increased soil salinity, organic matter, exchangeable Na, K, Ca, Mg, plant‐available P, and micro‐elements and decreased soil pH. Wastewater increased also yield and N, P, K, Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, B, and Mo contents of cabbage plants. Undesirable side effects were not observed in plant heavy‐metal contents, due to salinity and toxic concentrations of metals from the application of wastewater to soil.     

Investigation of the genetic structure of some common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) commercial varieties and genotypes used as a genitor with SSR and SNP markers

Common bean is a species belonging to the Phaseolus genus of the Leguminosae family. It has economic importance due to being rich in protein, vitamin A and C, and minerals. Being one of the most cultivated species of legumes, the determination of genetic diversity in bean genotypes or populations has an important role in terms of our genetic resources. The objective of this study was to evaluate the genetic structure of 94 genotypes which were cultivated in different parts of the world and our country with SSR and SNP markers. 10 SSR loci and 73 SNP primers were used for the determination of genetic structure in commercial cultivars and breeding lines. All of the SSR and SNP loci used in the study were found to be polymorphic. A total of 89 alleles were identified for 10 SSR loci. Mean number of alleles per locus (Na?=?8.9), effective allele number (Ne?=?3.731), Shannon information index (I?=?1.468), observed heterozygosity (Ho?=?0.023), and expected heterozygosity (He?=?0.654) were calculated based on SSR analysis. According to the results of Bayesian-based STRUCTURE analysis using SSR and SNP data, 94 bean genotypes were genetically divided into three main clusters. According to genetic distance based UPGMA dendrogram obtained from SNP analysis, 94 bean genotypes were divided into 2 main clusters corresponding Mesoamerican and Andean gene pools. The obtained results provide important information about the genetic structures of the studied bean cultivars and breeding lines. With the obtained results, it will be possible to develop breeding programs to develop new cultivars by using our gene resources.

     

Effect of testicular tissue lysate on developmental competence of porcine oocytes matured and fertilized in vitro

The objective of the present study was to investigate the effect of testicular tissue lysate (TTL) on developmental competence of germinal vesicle (GV) stage porcine oocytes. Two types of TTL were prepared through repeated freeze–thaw in liquid nitrogen, one from whole testicular tissue (wTTL) and other from either of four different sections of testes, namely just beneath the tunica albuginea (TA), from the transitional area between the seminiferous cord/tubules and the mediastinum testis (TR) and from the intermediate area (parenchymal tissue origin) and CE (cauda epididymis origin). The whole or section‐wise TTL treatments were given for 44 hr during in vitro maturation (IVM). Oocyte maturation was done in either of the two media, namely defined (high‐performance basic medium for porcine oocyte maturation, commercially available) and serum containing (TCM199). After maturation, oocytes were co‐incubated with fresh spermatozoa for 6 hr and then transferred to embryo culture media. Treatment of GV stage oocytes with wTTL (1 mg/ml) increased the cleavage and morula percentage rate (69.23 ± 6.23 and 48.15 ± 6.77, respectively) than that of their control (58.33 ± 8.08 and 32.54 ± 5.53, respectively) in defined media, and in serum‐containing media, cleavage and morula percentage rate were almost equal in both treatment (54.56 ± 7.79 and 34.70 ± 6.78, respectively) and control (59.52 ± 8.21 and 38.52 ± 6.54, respectively). However, effect of wTTL was not significant. In case of section‐wise TTL supplements, TR section significantly (p < .01) improved cleavage and morula rate (58.43 ± 7.98 and 36.14 ± 6.89, respectively) followed by TA. In conclusion, present study indicates that IVM, in vitro fertilization and in vitro culture of embryo are improved in the presence of TTL, particularly its TR section. Further study is expected to reveal the principal components of TTL which may prove useful for IVM.     

Risk factors for Brucella spp. infection In dairy cattle farms in Asmara, State of Eritrea

A cross-sectional study was conducted to identify risk factors for herd infection by Brucella spp. in dairy cattle in the suburbs of Asmara, Eritrea. Data were collected from 64 herds, randomly selected from a total of 99 herds with a minimum herd size of 9 cows. A questionnaire was used to gather data on management, hygiene and herd structure. Serum samples collected from all pregnant heifers, cows and bulls, were screened for Brucella infection by the Rose Bengal test (RBT), and all RBT-positive sera re-tested with the complement-fixation test (CFT) for confirmation. A seropositive herd was defined as one in which at least one animal tested positive in the CFT. There were 23 (36%) positive herds among the 64 studied. Both multiple logistic and multiple betabinomial regression modeling were used to analyze the data. Mixed-breed herds, compared to single (exotic)-breed herds, were found to be independently associated with increased herd seroprevalence (OR=5.2, 95% confidence interval 1.4–18.7) in the multiple logistic model with the herd infection status as the dependent variable. The importance of this variable was supported by the multiple betabinomial regression model (OR=3.3, 1.4–7.6) with animal-level prevalence within herd as the outcome variable. Both models also revealed the presence of a negative association between seropositivity and cattle stocking density.     

Yield and chromone content of Ammi visnaga in relation to nitrogen and phosphorus supply

A field experiment on an alluvial clay loam soil at Giza revealed that the dry matter yield, as well as N and P uptake of Ammi visnaga fruits or herb were significantly increased with nitrogen application up to 60 kg N/ha. P application up to 30 kg P₂0₅/ha significantly increased the dry matter yield and the uptake of N and P of herb, but did not significantly affect those of fruits. At maturity, most, if not all, chromones rest in the fruits. The concentration in herb (Stems + rays) did not exceed 0.01 %. Higher yields of total chomones, khelling and visnagin in fruits were brought about with nitrogen application at the rate of 60 kg N/ha. P application tends to increase all these parameter, yet all were nonsignificant. The interacting effect between nitrogen and phosphorus on these characters was insignificant. Plant analysis of leaves, stem, or shoot at 120, 135 and 150 days old plants revealed no relation between phosphorus concentration and final yield. However, nitrogen concentrations provided a good tool to evaluate the nutritional status of the plants. The critical level was 2.75, 1.85, or 1.45 % N in shoots of 120, 135, or 150 days old plants. The P % in these shoots was around 0.35–0.50 %.     

Effect of exogenous administration of oxytocin on postpartum follicular dynamics,oestrous rate and ovulation in Nili-Ravi buffaloes

Based on different surveys, dairy farmers are concerned about extensive use of exogenous oxytocin in buffaloes, which is being held responsible for reproductive problems including irregular oestrous cycle and delayed ovulation. For these concerns, effects of oxytocin injection on postpartum follicular dynamics, postpartum oestrous interval (PEI), oestrous length, the interval from onset of estrus to ovulation and blood progesterone (P4) were studied in Nili-Ravi buffaloes. For this purpose, 23 animals within 1 week after calving were randomly divided into three groups: without oxytocin (CON; n = 7), 10 i.u. oxytocin (LOW; n = 8), 30 i.u. oxytocin – (HIGH; n = 8) and used to record the PEI for the study period of 154 days. At subsequent estrus, three buffaloes from each group (not served) were selected randomly to monitor two cycles for 6 weeks. Transrectal ultrasonography was performed to evaluate follicular and corpus luteum (CL) development, and blood sampling was done for progesterone (P4) analysis. These results revealed that postpartum oestrous interval (PEI) decreased significantly in oxytocin-treated groups. The number of small, medium and total follicles on the left ovary was significantly higher in the HIGH group. However, an overall number of small and total follicles on both right and left ovaries was significantly higher in CON and HIGH groups. On the other hand, there was no difference in the number of follicles on the right ovary among all treatment groups. The same was true for the size of pre-ovulatory follicles, CL, P4 concentrations and oestrous cycle length. The intervals from onset of estrus to ovulation and from standing estrus to ovulation were increased considerably in the HIGH group. It is concluded that exogenous oxytocin administration resulted in the shortening of PEI but triggered a delay in ovulation. Moreover, a higher dose of oxytocin could stimulate the growth of small, medium, and total follicles in postpartum Nili-Ravi buffaloes.     

Decrease in Hydraulic Conductivity of Clay Soils with Salinity-Sodicity Problems due to Freezing and Thawing Effect

Abstract

Synergism and antagonism cause interactions between plant nutrients. The sum of equivalents of cations in a soil solution is equal to the sum of soluble anions. Therefore, the amount of cations in a soil solution is maintained by a synergetic effect of anions. The relations between cations are determined by the relation between the exchangeable cations, according to a derived Gapon equation. An over-optimal concentration of a cation acts antagonistically to the effect of other cations on plant nutrient uptake. Sometimes the soil solution reactions are complicated, and antagonism between anions becomes obvious.

When describing interactions between plant nutrients by synergism and antagonism, it is valuable to develop analytical methods to determine activities and concentrations in defined extracts of soils. The theory and procedure are described in this paper.