Post-traumatic peripheral arteriovenous fistula manifesting as digital haemorrhages in a cat: diagnosis with contrast-enhanced 3D CT imaging

Arteriovenous fistulae (AVF) are defined as congenital or acquired abnormal direct communications between an artery and a vein leading to abnormal blood circulation. This report describes an unusual manifestation of acquired peripheral AVF in a cat for which the diagnosis was confirmed by computed tomographic (CT) imaging and three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction. A 10-year-old female spayed domestic shorthaired cat was presented with a 2-month history of nonhealing, crusting, erosive and ulcerative skin lesions on the dorsal right forepaw. Severe chewing and biting, but not lameness, had been reported. Systemic abnormalities were not noted. Histopathology revealed increased numbers of thin-walled and slightly grouped vascular profiles in the superficial and mid-dermis, which were often markedly dilated and partially obscured by prominent hyaline deposits. There were a few pyknotic nuclear fragments and haemorrhages in vascular walls as well as multifocal luminal thrombosis with or without recanalization. Differential diagnoses included progressive angiomatosis with trauma or AVF with secondary regional venous hypertension. Computed tomographic images were acquired using a 16-slice Siemens Somotom Sensation CT scanner, and 3D images were created using the Voxar 3D software. Image reconstruction revealed tortuous aberrant vasculature on the medial aspect of the radius and around the carpus compared to normal vascularization on the contralateral limb. These changes were suggestive of the diagnosis of acquired peripheral AVF. The differential diagnosis for localized, nonhealing, haemorrhagic, crusted, erosive or ulcerative distal extremity skin lesions in cats should include acquired AVF, and diagnosis may be confirmed with contrast-enhanced CT imaging.     

Activation of Zona‐Free Buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) Oocytes by Chemical or Electrical stimulation,and Subsequent Parthenogenetic Embryo Development

Parthenogenetic activation using zona‐free oocytes offers an alternative model that could be applied to develop protocols for the activation of reconstructed embryos for cloning. The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of different methods for the activation of zona‐free buffalo oocytes in terms of their effects on the developmental competence of parthenogenetic embryos. The effects of zona removal on parthenogenetic activation and in vitro developmental competence of metaphase II oocytes were also examined. All activation methods were followed by incubation of 2 mm 6‐dimethylaminopurine (6‐DMAP) for 4 h. Out of three different pulse strengths (1.2, 2.1 or 3.3 kV/cm) used, 2.1 kV/cm resulted in the highest blastocyst rate (25.3%). On comparing different chemical agents and electric pulse, highest blastocyst rate was observed for calcium ionophore (CaI) (28.6%) followed by ethanol (25.0%), electric pulse (22.5%) and combined CaI and ethanol treatment (16.7%) although differences among them were not significant. Furthermore, a significantly reduced developmental potential was observed in zona‐free oocytes when compared to zona‐intact ones up to the blastocyst stage (44.3% vs 27.1%). In conclusion, zona‐free buffalo oocytes can be successfully activated for parthenogenetic development using chemical or electrical stimulation. Out of different agents examined, CaI followed by 6‐DMAP resulted in the highest blastocyst rate.     

Theory of quantum annealing of an Ising spin glass

Probing the lowest energy configuration of a complex system by quantum annealing was recently found to be more effective than its classical, thermal counterpart. By comparing classical and quantum Monte Carlo annealing protocols on the two-dimensional random Ising model (a prototype spin glass), we confirm the superiority of quantum annealing relative to classical annealing. We also propose a theory of quantum annealing based on a cascade of Landau-Zener tunneling events. For both classical and quantum annealing, the residual energy after annealing is inversely proportional to a power of the logarithm of the annealing time, but the quantum case has a larger power that makes it faster.     

中美不同年代大豆品种农艺性状的比较

选用地理纬度相似的中国辽宁省、美国俄亥俄州新近育成的大豆品种,分别和中国辽宁省20世纪20年代老品种进行了农艺性状的比较研究。结果表明:中美大豆品种主要农艺性状遗传改进的共有趋势是主茎荚数、单株荚数、3粒和4粒荚率、单株粒数、单株粒重、百粒重、粒茎比、收获指数明显增加。株高、主茎节数、节间长度和分枝数显著降低。美国新品种的单株荚数、单株粒数和粒茎比的增加幅度明显高于同期的中国新品种。而中国新品种的百粒重显著高于美国新品种。施肥水平对不同年代大豆品种主要农艺性状也有一定影响,且美国新品种在高肥条件下比中国新品种表现出更高的增产潜力。     

Evaluation of canine antimicrobial peptides in infected and noninfected chronic atopic skin

Background – Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are small immunomodulatory peptides produced by epithelial and immune cells. β‐Defensins (BDs) and cathelicidins (Caths) are the most studied AMPs. Recently, increased cutaneous expression of AMPs was reported in atopic humans and in beagles with experimentally induced atopy. Hypothesis/Objectives – Our goal was to analyse mRNA expression and protein levels of canine (c)BD1‐like, cBD2‐like/122, cBD3‐like, cBD103 and cCath in healthy and naturally affected atopic dogs, with and without active skin infection, along with their distribution in the epidermis using indirect immunofluorescence. Animals – Skin biopsies were taken from 14 healthy and 11 atopic privately owned dogs. Methods – The mRNA levels of cBD1‐like, cBD2‐like/122, cBD3‐like, cBD103 and cCath were quantified using quantitative real‐time PCR. The protein levels of cBD3‐like and cCath were analysed by relative competitive inhibition enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay, while the distributions of cBD2‐like/122, cBD3‐like and cCath were detected by indirect immunofluorescence. Results – Dogs with atopic dermatitis had significantly greater mRNA expression of cBD103 (P = 0.04) than control dogs. Furthermore, atopic skin with active infection had a higher cBD103 mRNA expression (P = 0.01) and a lower cBD1‐like mRNA expression (P = 0.04) than atopic skin without infection. No significant differences in protein levels (cBD3‐like and cCath) or epidermal distribution of AMPs (cBD2‐like/122, cBD3‐like and cCath) were seen between healthy and atopic dogs. Conclusions and clinical importance – Expression of cBD103 mRNA was greater, while expression of cBD1‐like mRNA was lower in dogs with atopic dermatitis that had active infections. Work is needed to clarify the biological mechanisms and possible therapeutic options to maintain a healthy canine skin.     

Biomass Yield and Nutrients Concentration in Shoot Dry Weight of Winter Cover Crops for No-Tillage System

The aim of this study was to identify the cutting time for winter cover crops used as green manure in no-tillage systems that results in the highest dry weight yield (DWY) and nutrient accumulation. We tested Avena strigosa, Secale cereale, Vicia sativa, Raphanus sativus, and Lupinus albus, in five management times, determining the fresh weight yield (FWY), DWY, and the chemical composition of the shoot tissue. The highest FWY was obtained using R. sativus and L. albus. At 145 days after sowing; these species also had the highest DWYs, over 15 t ha^?1. L. albus and S. cereale had the highest carbon to nitrogen (C:N) ratio (60:1). The nutrient content of most crops decreased over time. However, the accumulation of nutrients increased over time, especially for R. sativus. L. albus had the highest level and manganese (Mn) accumulation, while the zinc (Zn) and cooper (Cu) accumulation was highest in A. strigosa, and that of boron (B) was highest in S. cereale. Thus, R. sativus provided the best soil cover among the species tested, due to its high biomass yield and greater nutrient cycling.     

Yield components and nutrients content in summer cover plants used in crop rotation in no-tillage system

This study aimed at identifying the proper developmental stage for the cutting of cover crops with high nutrients content in the shoots of plants to be used as green manure on crop rotation in the no-tillage (NT) system. Crotalaria juncea, Cajanus cajan, Mucuna aterrima, and Sorghum bicolor were collected at five different vegetative stages for assessing of fresh weight yield (DWY) and dry weight yield (DWY), as well as determining the carbon (C)/nitrogen (N) ratio and the contents of nutrients in the shoots of plants. The experiment was performed on a completely randomized design, with five replicates. Except for the nutrients contents in S. bicolor, for the assessed legumes the DWY, FWY, C/N ratio, nutrient concentration and nutrient accumulation in the shoots have increased with the development of plants. Therefore, it can be inferred that grasses studied will provide greater soil cover, while the legumes will provide a greater nutrient cycling.