TWO-DIMENSIONAL ECHOCARDIOGRAPHIC ANATOMY OF THE SNAKE HEART (PYTHON MOLURUS BIVITTATUS)

Two-dimensional echocardiography was performed on Burmese pythons (Python molurus bivittatus) to determine an optimal echocardiographic imaging technique for snakes and to describe the echocardiographic anatomy of the snake heart. Five snakes immobilized with tiletamine/zolazepam and maintained on isoflurane in oxygen were imaged in dorsal recumbency. The portion of the snake's body containing the heart was submerged in warm water to reduce the artifact created by air trapped between and under the scales. Imaging in sagittal planes demonstrated the caudal vena cava, sinus venous valve, right atrium, various portions of the ventricle, horizontal septum, the left aortic arch, and pulmonary artery. Transverse imaging depicted the spatial relationship of the left and right aortic arches and pulmonary artery and the horizontal septum. Basic knowledge of cardiac blood flow in the reptile was necessary to understand the echocardiographic anatomy.     

Comparison of autogenous cancellous bone grafts obtained from the sternum and proximal portion of the tibia of llamas.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the anatomy of the sternum in llamas, define the surgical approach to the sternum for collection of cancellous bone graft tissue, and compare the histologic appearance of graft tissue obtained from the sternum with that obtained from the proximal portion of the tibia. DESIGN: Prospective study. ANIMALS: 12 llamas, 3 to 19 years old, that had been submitted for necropsy. PROCEDURE: Radiographs were taken of the sternum and left tibia of the llamas. Measurements of the sternum were determined from the radiographs and adjusted for magnification. Sternebrae volumes were estimated from these measurements. Anatomic dissections to the center of the fourth sternebra and the proximal portion of the tibia were made, and a surgical approach to the sternum was developed. Cancellous graft tissue was obtained from each site and submitted for histologic evaluation. RESULTS: Sternebrae 3, 4, and 5 were significantly larger in volume than the other sternebrae. The ventral aspect of the fourth sternebra was readily accessed for removal of graft tissue by making a 6-cm-long ventral midline incision centered 17 cm craniad to the xipnoid. Mean soft tissue thickness overlying the ventral aspect of the fourth sternebra was 3.1 cm. More tissue was obtained from the sternal (mean, 9.11 g) than from the tibial (mean, 5.16 g) sites. Sternal graft tissue consisted of trabecular bone spicules with predominantly hematopoietic marrow, whereas tibial tissue consisted of trabecular bone spicules with only fatty marrow. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The fourth sternebra in llamas is readily accessible for obtaining autogenous cancellous bone graft tissue that consists of predominantly hematopoietic marrow.     

Prevalence of gastric ulcers in Thoroughbred broodmares in pasture: a preliminary report

Gastroscopic examinations were performed in 62 Thoroughbred broodmares (33 pregnant, 29 non-pregnant) at one breeding farm to investigate the prevalence of gastric ulceration. Age, pregnancy status, race earnings, last race start, herd size, medical history, number of live foals, breeding years, feed type and number of feedings were recorded, plus coat condition and body condition score were determined. Twenty-one mares were re-evaluated after foaling, and the foaling date, foal weight at birth and placenta weight were recorded.The overall prevalence of gastric ulcers was 70.9%, with a median ulcer score of 3.0 (range: 2–5). Most ulcers were present on the squamous portion of the stomach, while two mares had glandular ulcers. There were no differences in the presence, location and severity of gastric ulcers between pregnant and non-pregnant mares. Furthermore, there were no significant associations between the variables measured and the presence of gastric ulceration. The prevalence of gastric ulceration in this specific population of horses was higher than expected and further investigation is warranted to determine the factors that contributed to this finding.     

Estimation of actual evapotranspiration in winegrape vineyards located on hillside terrain using surface renewal analysis

Sensible and latent heat flux densities were estimated in a level vineyard, a northeast aspect vineyard and a southwest aspect vineyard in the Napa Valley of California using the eddy covariance and surface renewal methods. Surface renewal is theoretically not limited to level or extensively homogeneous terrain because it examines a more localized process of scalar exchange as compared with eddy covariance. Surface renewal estimates must be calibrated against eddy covariance data to account for unequal heating of the air parcels under a fixed measurement height. We calibrated surface renewal data against eddy covariance data in a level vineyard, and the calibration factor (α) was applied to the surface renewal measurements on the hillside vineyards. Latent heat flux density was estimated from the residual of the energy balance. In the level vineyard, the average daily actual evapotranspiration (ET _a ) for the period of June through September was 2.4?mm per day. In the northeast aspect vineyard, the average daily ET _a was 2.2?mm per day, while in the southwest aspect vineyard it was 2.7?mm per day. The net radiation values for the level vineyard, the northeast aspect vineyard, and the southwest aspect vineyard were compared against the Ecosystem Water Program with good agreement.     

Juice, Pulp and Seeds Fractionated from Dry Climate Primocane Raspberry Cultivars (Rubus idaeus) Have Significantly Different Antioxidant Capacity, Anthocyanin Content and Color

Raspberries contain flavonoid antioxidants whose relative concentrations may vary between the juice, pulp, and seed fractions. Oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC), total anthocyanin content, and berry color were determined for six cultivars of primocane raspberries grown in a dry climate (Utah, USA). Significant ORAC differences were found between juice (18.4?±?0.39 μmol TE/g), pulp (24.45?±?0.43), and seeds (273.27?±?11.15) with all Utah cultivars combined. A significantly higher concentration of anthocyanins was present in Utah raspberry juice (20.86?±?0.35 mg cyanidin-3-glucoside eq./100 g), compared to pulp (13.96?±?0.35). Anthocyanin content of juice and pulp were significantly positively correlated with dark color (L*). This is the first report of fractional differences in dry climate raspberries, and has implications for the juice and supplement industries.     

Effects of thermal acclimation on tissue fatty acid composition of freshwater alewives (Alosa pseudoharengus)

In this study, we examine changes in fatty acid composition of polar and neutral lipids in gill, liver, and muscle of freshwater alewives (Alosa pseudoharengus) after temperature challenges in the laboratory. Alewives experienced either a warm or cold challenge in which temperatures were raised or lowered 0.5°C day⁻¹ over 4–6 weeks. In alewives experiencing the cold challenge, gill polar lipids showed evidence of significant remodeling, including decreases in palmitic acid and saturated fatty acids and increases in n-3 and n-6 highly unsaturated fatty acids including docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and arachidonic acid. In alewives experiencing the warm challenge, we observed significant increases in saturated fatty acids (due mainly to increased palmitic acid) and decreases in polyunsaturated fatty acids in polar lipids of muscle and liver tissue. Fish that died during the cold challenge had significantly higher levels of palmitic acid in muscle polar lipids compared to fish that survived; fish that died during the warm challenge displayed complex changes in fatty acid composition. Based on theoretical considerations, the changes in polar lipids we observed during thermal acclimation are likely to promote appropriate membrane fluidity under each thermal regime. The increased incorporation of highly unsaturated fatty acids during cold acclimation could have significant physiological and ecological implications. In particular, since highly unsaturated fatty acids are typically scarce in freshwater food webs, dietary deficiencies in these essential fatty acids may be a significant factor in winter mortality of freshwater alewives.     

Validation of the BioPRYN enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay for detection of pregnancy‐specific protein‐B (PSPB) and diagnosis of pregnancy in American bison (Bison bison)

This study assessed the accuracy of the commercial BioPRYN^® ELISA for the detection of pregnancy‐specific protein‐B (PSPB) using a single blood sample to determine pregnancy status in American bison (Bison bison). A total of 49 bison cows were used in the study, and sampled at two time‐points during the gestation period, fall and spring, correlating with early‐ to mid‐term gestation (average 62.9 days post‐mating) and mid‐ to late‐term gestation (average 229.2 days post‐mating), respectively. Sensitivity of the test during early‐ to mid‐term gestation sampling period (fall) was 87.1%, while specificity was 100%; sensitivity of the test during late‐term gestation sampling period (spring) was 96.3%, while specificity remained at 100%. In total, the test showed a total sensitivity of 91.4%, specificity of 100% and total accuracy of 93.8%, similar to domestic cattle. Use of the single‐sample BioPRYN^® ELISA in American Bison for pregnancy diagnosis is economical and practical, minimizing animal handling time, frequency and subsequent stress while providing accurate results for pregnancy diagnosis at 62 days post‐mating. This method should be considered over more traditional pregnancy diagnosis methods for use in managed bison herds.     

Redox Stratification and Salinization of Three Kettle Lakes in Southwest Michigan,USA

Redox stratification, especially hypolimnetic anoxia resulting from eutrophication, and salinization resulting from application of salts for road deicing is investigated in three kettle lakes in southwest Michigan. Two of the lakes (Asylum and Woods Lakes) are located in urban Kalamazoo, Michigan, and the third (Brewster Lake) is located in rural Hastings, Michigan. In summer, the water columns of all three lakes are distinctly redox stratified, with anoxic hypolimnia and significant accumulation of reduced solutes (e.g., Mn(II), Fe(II), ammonia) in the lake bottom waters. Extremely elevated conductivity, chloride, sodium, and potassium levels are observed in the urban Asylum and Woods Lakes compared to the rural Brewster Lake, presumably due to runoff of road salt deicers applied in the surrounding watershed. These significant changes in water quality are of concern because they may detrimentally impact lake mixing, biodiversity, and ecosystem function in the urban lakes.     

茶园防霜机不同时间尺度作用效果研究

在发生晚霜的茶园中,试验研究了防霜机不同时间尺度启闭的防霜效果。在茶树萌芽前不同天数、降霜前和日出后不同时间,分别设定开始启用和启闭防霜机的处理,测定其对茶树生长、冠层温度和防霜范围的影响。结果表明：在茶树萌芽前20、15、7 d开始启用防霜机,使新梢长度、芽密度和百芽质量均比对照增加20%以上;防霜机在降霜前2.0、1.5、1.0 h启动,对茶树防霜效果更显著,作用半径比对照增大60%以上;防霜机在日出后2.0、1.5、1.0 h延停,在开始的1 h内可平均减缓冠层温升45.76%,并减小茶树叶片光合强度的降幅。所以,晚霜时为保持茶树较好的长势和产量,应在茶树萌芽前不少于7 d开始启用防霜机,且合适的启动和延停时机分别为降霜前1.0 h和日出后1.0 h。     

Effect of the Medium Replacement Interval on the Viability,Growth and In Vitro Maturation of Isolated Caprine and Ovine Pre‐Antral Follicles

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of different medium replacement intervals on the viability, antral cavity formation, growth and in vitro maturation (IVM) of oocytes from caprine and ovine pre‐antral follicles. Pre‐antral ovarian follicles (≥150 μm) were isolated from the ovarian cortex of goats and sheep and were individually cultured for 24 days using two different medium replacement intervals [2 days (T₁) or 6 days (T₂)]. Follicle development was evaluated on the basis of antral cavity formation, increases in follicular diameter and the presence of healthy cumulus oocyte complexes and fully grown oocytes. For caprine species, results showed a higher percentage (p < 0.05) of viable follicles in T₁ than T₂ from day 6 until the end of the culture. In addition, when comparing both treatments after the same culture duration, the rate of antrum formation was significantly higher in T₁ than in T₂ from day 12 onwards. Yet, in ovines, when both treatments were compared on day 24 of the culture, there were more viable follicles in T₂ than in T₁ (p < 0.05). In the caprine species, percentages of fully grown oocytes (≥110 μm) acceptable for IVM after 24 days of culture were significantly higher in normal follicles cultured in T₁ (30.0%) than in T₂ (6.7%; p < 0.05). On the other hand, in ovines, at the end of the culture, the percentage of oocytes destined for IVM was higher in T₂ than in T₁ (23.5% vs 2.9%; p < 0.05). In conclusion, under the same conditions, the frequency of medium replacement significantly affected the in vitro development of caprine and ovine pre‐antral follicles. To improve the efficiency of the culture system, the medium must be replaced every 2 and 6 days for goat and sheep pre‐antral follicles, respectively.