Ultrasound-guided modified subcostal transversus abdominis plane block and influence of recumbency position on dye spread in equine cadavers

ObjectiveTo describe and evaluate an ultrasound-guided modified subcostal approach for the transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block in horse cadavers in lateral or dorsal recumbency.Study designProspective, experimental cadaveric study.AnimalsStudy of one preserved foal and eight fresh adult horse cadavers.MethodsThe lateral and ventral abdominal wall of a preserved cadaver was dissected to identify the muscles and nerves. A unilateral standard TAP block technique was performed (60 mL of methylene blue dye–bupivacaine) on a fresh cadaver in right lateral recumbency. A modified subcostal technique was performed on the opposite side using a linear ultrasound transducer and in-plane approach. Injection points (two 30 mL dye) were at the level of the TAP (between the rectus abdominis and transversus abdominis muscles and ventral to the cutaneous trunci muscle) perpendicular to: 1) the mid-point between the xiphoid cartilage and umbilical scar; and 2) at a point between the caudal and middle thirds of the abdomen measured from the first injection point to the umbilical scar. The modified subcostal approach was performed in seven additional cadavers in both hemiabdomens, with three cadavers in lateral and four cadavers in dorsal recumbency. Ultrasound guidance was used with all injections.ResultsThe standard approach stained the sixteenth to eighteenth thoracic nerves (T16–T18). The modified subcostal approach performed in lateral recumbency provided greater spread (T9–T17) than dorsal recumbency (T12–T18) (p = 0.016).Conclusions and clinical relevanceThe modified subcostal TAP approach resulted in extensive staining exceeding the standard approach. The nerves stained are consistent with production of ventral abdominal wall anesthesia in horses. Clinical studies are needed to verify these findings.     

Effects of perioperative saphenous and sciatic nerve blocks,lumbosacral epidural or morphine–lidocaine–ketamine infusion on postoperative pain and sedation in dogs undergoing tibial plateau leveling osteotomy

ObjectiveTo compare the quality of postoperative analgesia and sedation after preoperative saphenous and sciatic nerve blockade, preoperative lumbosacral epidural injection and perioperative intravenous (IV) morphine, lidocaine and ketamine infusions in dogs undergoing stifle arthroscopy and tibial plateau leveling osteotomy (TPLO) under general anesthesia.Study designProspective, blinded, randomized, clinical comparison study.AnimalsA total of 45 dogs weighing 33.9 (15.9–56.7) kg and aged 5.2 (1.0–12.0) years, mean (range), undergoing elective unilateral TPLO for spontaneous cranial cruciate ligament rupture.MethodsClient-owned dogs were enrolled. Dogs were randomly assigned to one of three groups: group MLK, perioperative IV morphine, lidocaine and ketamine infusion; group EPID, lumbosacral epidural with ropivacaine and morphine; or group SSNB, saphenous and sciatic nerve blockade with ropivacaine. Routine stifle arthroscopy followed by TPLO surgery was performed. Sedation and pain scores were assessed at 0, 2, 4, 8 and 24 hours following extubation. Rescue analgesia was administered as prescribed by Glasgow composite pain score–short form score >5.ResultsSedation scores for MLK were higher than EPID and SSNB. Pain scores for SSNB were lower than those for EPID and MLK. No significant differences were found in anesthesia duration or surgery duration among groups. No dogs required rescue analgesia.Conclusions and clinical relevanceAlthough analgesia was adequate in all groups, the best combination of analgesia without increased sedation was recorded for SSNB.     

Carbon Depletion by Plowing and its Restoration by No‐Till Cropping Systems in Oxisols of Subtropical and Tropical Agro‐Ecoregions in Brazil

The continuous use of plowing for grain production has been the principal cause of soil degradation. This project was formulated on the hypothesis that the intensification of cropping systems by increasing biomass‐C input and its biodiversity under no‐till (NT) drives soil restoration of degraded agro‐ecosystem. The present study conducted at subtropical [Ponta Grossa (PG) site] and tropical regions [Lucas do Rio Verde, MT (LRV) site] in Brazil aimed to (i) assess the impact of the continuous plow‐based conventional tillage (CT) on soil organic carbon (SOC) stock vis‐à‐vis native vegetation (NV) as baseline; (ii) compare SOC balance among CT, NT cropping systems, and NV; and (iii) evaluate the redistribution of SOC stock in soil profile in relation to soil resilience. The continuous CT decreased the SOC stock by 0·58 and 0·67 Mg C ha⁻¹ y⁻¹ in the 0‐ to 20‐cm depth at the PG and LRV sites, respectively, and the rate of SOC sequestration was 0·59 for the PG site and ranged from 0·48 to 1·30 Mg C ha⁻¹ y⁻¹ for the LRV site. The fraction of C input by crop residues converted into SOC stock was ~14·2% at the PG site and ~20·5% at the LRV site. The SOC resilience index ranged from 0·29 to 0·79, and it increased with the increase in the C input among the NT systems and the SOC sequestration rates at the LRV site. These data support the hypothesis that NT cropping systems with high C input have a large potential to reverse the process of soil degradation and SOC decline. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Effect of the Nixtamalization Process on the Dietary Fiber Content,Starch Digestibility,and Antioxidant Capacity of Blue Maize Tortilla

Nixtamalization is an ancient process developed by the Mesoamerican cultures. Initially, volcanic ashes were used and then calcium hydroxide in commercial production, and more recently nixtamalization with calcium salts (NCS) has been proposed. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of NCS on carbohydrate digestibility and antioxidant capacity in the elaboration of blue maize tortillas. NCS in blue tortillas showed a high amount of total dietary fiber (14.27 g/100 g), the main fraction being insoluble dietary fiber. The contents of resistant starch and slowly digestible starch did not change with the nixtamalization process. The predicted glycemic index value was lower in blue tortillas with the NCS process (58) than with the traditional nixtamalization process (71). In general, NCS in blue tortillas presented a higher antioxidant capacity than traditional tortillas (ferric reducing antioxidant power method), indicating that phenolics present in blue maize maintain their activity after cooking. It can be concluded that the nutraceutical features (high dietary fiber content and antioxidant capacity) of blue maize tortillas are enhanced when they are elaborated with the NCS process.     

Effects of Annealing and Concentration of Calcium Salts on Thermal and Rheological Properties of Maize Starch During an Ecological Nixtamalization Process

The objective of the present work was to study the effect of annealing and concentration of Ca(OH)₂ (lime) and calcium salts on the thermal and rheological properties of maize starch during an ecological nixtamalization process. Thermal and rheological properties of maize starch changed during the ecological nixtamalization process because of three main causes: the annealing phenomenon, type of calcium salt, and calcium salt concentration. In all treatments thermal properties (T_o, T_p, and T_f) of nixtamal starch increased owing to the annealing process, whereas the type of salt or lime increased thermal properties and decreased pasting properties in this order: CaCl₂ > CaSO₄ > Ca(OH)₂ ≈ CaCO₃. This behavior was because of the dissociation of each salt or lime in water. Anions (OH⁻) can penetrate much more easily into the starch granule and start the gelatinization process by rupturing hydrogen bonds. Additionally, amylose‐lipid complexes were formed during the nixtamalization processes, as indicated by an increasing peak at 4.5 Å in X‐ray diffraction patterns.     

插秧机作业面积测量远程监测系统软件设计——基于VisualBasic.NET 2010

为实现对插秧机作业区域自动识别和作业面积的自动测量,实时掌握跨区作业插秧机远程作业面积参量值,以VisualStudio平台上的VisualBasic.NET2010为开发环境,开发了一套高速插秧机跨区作业面积远程测量监测系统软件。该软件功能主要包括GPS定位轨迹及作业区域的识别、面积测量、数据通讯、数据显示和数据存贮。系统采用VisualBasic.NET2010语言进行开发,将远程跨区作业的插秧机面积测量监测数据经由GPRS网络进行无线传输到上位机,并采用SOCKET组件和ADO.NET技术实现系统数据通信,完成PC机与下位机之间数据的传输,对测量结果进行显示存储,同时通过系统误差分析完成系统的可行性判断。     

ZigBee和线阵CCD技术在西藏智能温室中的应用

利用西藏地区太阳能丰富的优势,采用太阳能资源为主要供能方式,为智能温室系统构建基于Zig Bee协议的无线传感网络和nRF2401无线传感器的双层无线通信网络,以减少西藏地区有线布线成本和解决温室群控制问题。同时,在传统智能温室中结合线阵CCD技术,为智能温室系统提供实时、直观的作物生长状况数据,有效提高对温室内环境因素的监控效率及温室智能自动化控制程度,以满足现代化高效节约型农业的发展形势需求,以及西藏地区特定的地理环境对于农业自动化的需求。     

基于能值的鄂尔多斯市水资源生态经济系统可持续发展动态分析

运用能值理论和分析方法,分析了鄂尔多斯市2000-2009年水资源生态经济系统能量流动规律,构建了其能值综合图,计算评价了水资源开发利用状态及其系统可持续发展状况。分析结果表明,鄂尔多斯市经济社会发展主要依靠不可更新资源的投入,且对不可更新资源投入的依赖程度不断增大,水资源投入能值所占比重逐渐减小;鄂尔多斯市在市场贸易中处于明显不利地位,经济发展尚处于高消耗、高增长的发展阶段,工业化水平还有待提高。2000年以后鄂尔多斯市经济系统虽然富有活力和发展潜力,但是随着当地经济发展对不可更新资源的依赖不断增大,系统有向消费型经济系统快速发展的趋势。鄂尔多斯市应加快重点工业产业技术更新和产品升级,延长产业链。