The dead sea: deepening of the mixolimnion signifies the overture to overturn of the water column

Throttling of freshwater inputs into the meromictic Dead Sea weakened the long-term stability of the water column. Between 1975 and 1978 successive deepenings of the pycnocline from 70 meters to beyond 200 meters were recorded. Complete overturn finally took place during the winter of 1978-1979. This unique process was accompanied by changes in the geochemistry of several components.     

Liquorice and canine Addison's disease

Abstract

Extract

Hypoadrenocorticism, or Addison's disease, is an uncommon en-docrinopathy of dogs (Feldman and Nelson 2004 Feldman, EC and Nelson, RW. 2004. “Hypoadrenocorticism (Addison's disease)”. In Canine and Feline Endocrinology and Reproduction, 3rd, 394–439. Philadelphia, , USA: WB Saunders.  [Google Scholar]). Long-term management of affected dogs in New Zealand involves treatment with oral fludrocortisone acetate (Florinef tablets; Bristol-Myers Squibb (NZ) Ltd, Auckland, NZ), which is a relatively expensive synthetic adrenocortical steroid. Table salt may be added to the food, in an attempt to reduce the amount of fludrocortisone required. Despite fludrocortisone therapy, many Addisonian dogs remain hyponatraemic and hyperkalaemic and the required dose of fludrocortisone may need to be increased during the first year of treatment. Increasing the dose of fludrocortisone is not only expensive, but may also have undesirable effects through its potent glucocorticoid action.     

Case-control study of factors associated with excessive proportions of early fetal losses associated with mare reproductive loss syndrome in central Kentucky during 2001

OBJECTIVE: To identify factors associated with excessive proportions of early fetal losses associated with mare reproductive loss syndrome in central Kentucky during 2001. DESIGN: Case-control study. PROCEDURE: Questionnaires were used to collect information on farm-, pasture-, and individual animal-level factors purportedly associated with mare reproductive loss syndrome. Data were collected for 133 farms (97 with excessive proportions of early feta losses and 36 control farms) representing 6,576 mares. RESULTS: Factors significantly associated with an increased risk of excessive early fetal losses were exposure to moderate to high concentrations of Eastern tent caterpillars, exposure to cherry trees, farm size > or = 50 broodmares, being bred during February 2001, and frequent exposure to waterfowl. Feeding hay to mares outside was associated with a decreased risk of excessive proportions of early fetal losses. Pasture composition and management factors were not significantly different between affected and control pastures. Individual animal-level factors were investigated on 6 farms representing 340 mares, and age, parity, and pre- and postbreeding treatments were not significantly associated with risk of early fetal loss. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results suggest that limiting exposure to Eastern tent caterpillars and cherry trees and feeding hay to mares outside may help decrease the risk of excessive proportions of early fetal losses associated with mare reproductive loss syndrome.     

Risk factors for fecal shedding of Salmonella in 91 US dairy herds in 1996

In 1996, data on management practices used on US dairy operations were collected and analyzed for association with fecal shedding of Salmonella by dairy cows. A total of 4299 fecal samples from 91 herds was cultured for Salmonella isolation. Herd-size (adjusted odds ratios (OR) = 5.8, 95% CI 1.1, 31.3), region (OR = 5.7, CI 1.4, 23.5), use of flush water systems (OR = 3.5, CI 0.9, 14.7), and feeding brewers' products to lactating cows (OR = 3.4, CI 0.9, 12.9) were identified as the most important predictive risk factors. The population attributable risks (PARs) for herd-size, region, flush water system, and feeding brewers' products to lactating cows were 0.76, 0.46, 0.37, and 0.42, respectively. The estimated PAR for all four risk factors combined was 0.95. The effects of these factors need to be more-closely evaluated in more-controlled studies, in order to develop intervention programs that reduce Salmonella shedding.     

Fecal shedding of Salmonella spp by horses in the United States during 1998 and 1999 and detection of Salmonella spp in grain and concentrate sources on equine operations

OBJECTIVE: To estimate prevalence of fecal shedding of Salmonella spp among horses in the US horse population and prevalence of Salmonella spp in grain or other concentrate used as horse feed on equine operations in the United States. DESIGN: Cross-sectional survey. SAMPLE POPULATION: Horses on 972 operations in 28 states. PROCEDURE: Fecal samples were collected from horses resident at each operation. Only a single sample was collected from any individual horse; number of horses from which samples were collected on each operation was determined on the basis of number of horses on the operation. A single sample of grain or concentrate was also collected from each operation. All samples were tested for Salmonella spp by means of bacterial culture. RESULTS: Overall, 0.8% (SE, 0.5) of resident horses shed Salmonella spp in their feces. The overall prevalence of operations positive for fecal shedding of Salmonella spp (i.e., operations with > or = 1 horse shedding Salmonella spp in its feces) was 1.8% (SE, 0.7). Prevalence of grain or other concentrate samples positive for Salmonella spp was 0.4%. Serotypes of Salmonella spp that were identified in grain or other concentrate were not those typically associated with clinical disease in horses. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results suggest that the national prevalence of fecal shedding of Salmonella spp by horses in the United States was 0.8%, and that prevalence of Salmonella spp in grain or other concentrate used for horse feed was 0.4%.     

Non-commercial poultry industries: surveys of backyard and gamefowl breeder flocks in the United States

The National Animal Health Monitoring System (NAHMS) Poultry '04 study was conducted to better describe non-commercial United States poultry populations, in particular, backyard and gamefowl breeder flocks. To estimate the density of backyard flocks in close proximity to commercial operations, a sample of 350 commercial poultry operations in 18 top poultry producing states was selected from the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) list of poultry operations. A 1 mile radius circle was drawn around each operation, and door-to-door canvassing was conducted within these circles to enumerate premises with all species of birds. Premises with backyard poultry flocks completed a questionnaire focusing on bird health, bird movement, and biosecurity practices. A similar questionnaire, provided in both English and Spanish, was mailed to all members of State affiliates of the United Gamefowl Breeders Association (UGBA) as well as to members of State associations not affiliated with UGBA. An average of 29.4 residences was found within a 1 mile radius of commercial operations, of which 1.9 residences per circle had backyard poultry flocks. Gamefowl breeder flocks were larger, used more health care and biosecurity practices, and moved birds more frequently compared to backyard flocks.     

Impact of Iron Source and Concentration on Rice Flavor Using a Simulated Rice Kernel Micronutrient Delivery System

An extruded grain designed to look like a rice kernel fortified with one of two sources of iron (elemental iron and ferrous sulfate), with and without multiple fortificant (zinc, thiamin, and folic acid), was mixed with milled Calrose rice at low (1:200), medium (1:100), and high (1:50) concentrations. The intensities of water‐like, sour taste, hay‐like musty, and alfalfa/grassy/green bean flavors were enhanced by the addition of ferrous sulfate (FeSO₄) or FeSO₄ plus multiple fortificants. Astringent mouthfeel was likewise affected by addition of FeSO₄ or FeSO₄ plus multiple fortificants. Overall, the elemental iron with multiple fortificants least affected the oxidation of the extruded kernals. Lipid oxidation products in stored fortificant increased the first two to three months and concentrations were higher in samples with FeSO₄ as the iron source.