Investigation of the facilitation of the nociceptive withdrawal reflex evoked by repeated transcutaneous electrical stimulations as a measure of temporal summation in conscious horses

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether facilitation of the nociceptive withdrawal reflex (NWR) can be evoked and quantified as a measure of temporal summation from the distal aspect of the left forelimb and hind limb in standing nonsedated horses via repeated stimulations of various subthreshold intensities and frequencies. ANIMALS: 10 adult horses. PROCEDURE: Surface electromyographic activity evoked by stimulation of the digital palmar and plantar nerves was recorded from the common digital extensor and cranial tibial muscles. For each horse, the NWR threshold intensity to a single stimulus was determined for the forelimb and hind limb. Repeated stimulations were performed at subthreshold intensities and at frequencies of 2, 5, and 10 Hz. The reflex amplitude was quantified, and the behavioral responses accompanying the stimulations were scored. RESULTS: Repeated stimulations at subthreshold intensities were able to summate and facilitate the NWR in conscious horses. The reflex facilitation was significantly related to the intensity of the repeated stimuli, whereas no effect of stimulation frequency was found. Reaction scores increased significantly for increasing stimulation intensities. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Temporal summation obtained by repeated stimulations of subthreshold intensity appears to represent a new tool for investigating nociceptive pathophysiologic processes in horses; this experimental model may be useful to examine the mode of action and efficacy of analgesic and anesthetic interventions and possibly to assess sensory dysfunction in clinical settings.     

双低杂交油菜油研七号选育研究Ⅱ系列品种“早熟型油研七号”的选育

用油研七号的不育和恢复亲本22A和821－77进行早熟性定向系统选择,育成了早熟2287A和早熟821,所配制的“早熟油研七号”（尚未审定,因需要暂用此名,下同）生育期平均提早2天,一次有效分枝数、单株有效角、千粒重等性状比油研七号分别多0.53个／株,39.6个／株和0.22g,产量比原油研七号增产3.08%。     

Measurements of water vapour sorption in wood

Summary Results from sorption measurements at 23 °C on Picea abies in the intervals 54 to 75% RH and 75 to 84% RH are reported. In the higher interval non-Fickian sorption is clearly seen.This work was supported by the Swedish Building Research Council     

Gap formation in Danish beech (Fagus sylvatica) forests of low management intensity: soil moisture and nitrate in soil solution

Soil moisture content (0–90 cm depth) and nitrate-nitrogen (NO₃-N) concentrations in soil solution (90 cm depth) were monitored after gap formation (diameter 15–18 m) in three Danish beech-dominated forests on nutrient-rich till soils. NO₃-N drainage losses were estimated by the water balance model WATBAL for one of the sites. Two forests were non-intervention forests (semi-natural and unmanaged), the third was subject to nature-based management. The study was intended to assess the range of effects of gap formation in forests of low management intensity. In the unmanaged and the nature-based managed forest, soil solution was collected for 5 years and soil moisture measured in the fourth year after gap formation. Average NO₃-N concentrations were significantly higher in the gaps (9.9 and 8.1 mg NO₃-N l⁻¹, respectively) than under closed canopy (0.2 mg l⁻¹). In the semi-natural forest, measurements were carried out up to 29 months after gap formation. Average NO₃-N concentrations in the gap were 19.3 mg NO₃-N l⁻¹. Gap formation alone did not account for this high level, as concentrations were high also under closed canopy (average 12.4 mg NO₃-N l⁻¹). However, the gap had significantly higher N concentrations when trees were in full leaf, and NO₃-N drainage losses were significantly increased in the gap. No losses occurred under closed canopy in growing seasons. Soil moisture was close to field capacity in all three gaps, but decreased under closed canopy in growing seasons. In the semi-natural forest, advanced regeneration and lateral closure of the gap affected soil moisture levels in the gap in the last year of the study.     

Emulsification and adsorption properties of hydrophobically modified potato and barley starch

In this paper, we studied the adsorption at emulsion droplets of potato starch, which was hydrophobically modified with octenyl succinate anhydride (OSA), a surface active macromolecule containing ultrahigh molar mass components. The results show that the substance works as an efficient emulsifier and that it can in some cases generate high surface loads (10 mg/m2). The results can be explained as an interplay between kinetic factors during the formation of the emulsion and the physical-chemical properties of the hydrophobically modified starch, such as the degree of substitution, molar mass, and radius. In turbulent flow fields, such as in a high-pressure homogenizer, the mass transport to the interface favors the adsorption of larger molecules as they are transported more rapidly to the interface. The larger molecules are also likely to have a higher substituent density and adsorption energy than smaller ones. This in turn is likely to give high surface loads and strengthen the effect of kinetic adsorption factors, as the large molecules will be overrepresented at the surface.     

Forestland ownership changes in the United States and Sweden

This article examines the changing structure and ownership of the forest products industry in North America and the Nordic countries. The authors explore company-specific perspectives on why some private forest products companies divest themselves of timberland ownership and others do not. The focus is on the United States, where the forest products industry has divested itself of substantial amounts of timberland, and on Sweden, where divestitures have been smaller. In both the United States and Sweden, forest products industries are large and forestland ownership has traditionally been an important component of the portfolio of an integrated forest products firm. The analysis presented here is based in part on literature about the vertical integration of markets.     

Probability Method Used in Predicting Contaminant Risk in Groundwater Adjacent to Airport

A reliability approach, first-order reliability method, is used to develop a probabilistic modeling of reactive transport in porous media. The approach is potentially attractive because it can provide both a probability estimate and probabilistic sensitivity measures. In this work, we extend the application of the reliability methods to the probabilistic assessment of contaminant concentration exceeding critical groundwater contamination levels in airport areas following both continuous release and instantaneous injection scenarios. Failure probability is predicted for “no-information” and “partial-information” about the leakage, and compared with deterministic calculations. Sensitivity analysis demonstrates the main sources of uncertainty by importance factors, and their changing trends with distance from the leakage were presented.     

Dynamics of mineral nitrogen, water-soluble carbon and potential nitrification in band-steamed arable soil

Steaming of narrow soil bands prior to sowing is a new technique that reduces the need for intra-row weeding in herbicide-free row crops. However, the steam treatment may eliminate both weed seeds and non-target soil organisms, thereby affecting the nutrient cycling in the soil. This study tested the effect of band-steaming on N and C dynamics in a sandy loam soil that was steamed in situ to maximal temperatures of 70–90°C using a prototype band-steamer. Soil samples (0–5 cm depth) were collected during 90 days from band-steamed soil, undisturbed control soil, and control soil treated just mechanically with the band-steamer. In the steamed soil, ammonium concentrations increased from 1.1 to 20.3 μg NH ₄ ⁺ -N g^?1 dry weight during 28 days. This coincided with an immediate and persistent inhibition of potential nitrification (33–61% inhibition during 90 days). Assays of the temperature response of potential nitrification confirmed the temperature sensitivity and showed an optimum temperature of 27.1°C and a temperature coefficient (Q ₁₀) of 1.9. The effects of band-steaming on concentrations of nitrate and water-soluble carbon were divergent and stimulatory, respectively, but generally not statistically significant. Mechanical effects of band-steaming were negligible. The observed ammonium surplus could be of agronomic benefit and should be evaluated in integrated studies of the effects of band-steaming on crop growth and plant N uptake.     

Prognostic factors in treating antebrachial growth deformities with a lengthening procedure using a circular external skeletal fixation system in dogs

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate treatment of antebrachial growth deformities (AGD) with a lengthening procedure using a circular external skeletal fixation (CESF) system and to determine prognostic factors. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective clinical study. ANIMALS: Thirty-four dogs with unilateral AGD. METHODS: Length deficits, angular and rotational deformities, elbow incongruity (EI), osteoarthritis (OA) of the elbow and carpal joint, function, and cosmesis were determined before and after a CESF lengthening procedure. RESULTS: On admission, EI (21 dogs; 62%), OA of the elbow joint (17 dogs; 50%), carpal OA (12 dogs; 35%), and concomitant elbow and carpal OA (5 dogs; 7%) were common findings. Treatment significantly improved function (normal, 20 dogs; 60%) and cosmesis (normal, 22 dogs; 65%). Angular and rotational deformities were almost completely corrected with small remaining length deficits. Elbow and carpal OA increased significantly during the follow-up period. Significant correlations were demonstrated between initial elbow OA and final function (R=0.42, P=.02), initial function and final function (R=0.41, P=.02), and initial ulnar and radial deficit and final cosmesis (R=0.58, P=.0001 and R=0.45, P=.008). CONCLUSIONS: Treatment of AGD by a CESF lengthening procedure was successful despite small remaining length deficits. Initial elbow OA, function, and ulnar and radial length deficits are prognostic factors in the treatment of AGD. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Initial elbow OA and initial function are prognostic factors in predicting the functional outcome of treatment of AGD with a CESF lengthening procedure in the dog.     

Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Reduce Development of Pea Root-rot caused by Aphanomyces euteiches using Oospores as Pathogen Inoculum

The effects of the arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM)-fungi Glomus intraradices and Glomus claroideum on pea root-rot development caused by the pathogen Aphanomyces euteiches were investigated in a greenhouse pot-experiment, over the course of three harvests, using oospores as pathogen inoculum. Signature whole cell fatty acids 16:15c and 14:19 were used to quantify AM-fungi and A. euteiches, respectively in both roots and soil. Disease incidence was reduced in AM plants, though this effect was more pronounced in plants with G. intraradices than plants with G. claroideum, and corresponded with a greater mycorrhiza development, both intra- and extra radical in plants with G. intraradices than with G. claroideum. At the final harvest, percentage of root length with oospores was similar in roots of mycorrhizal and non-mycorrhizal plants. Despite the fact that pea root-rot development was only slightly lower in mycorrhizal plants compared to that of non-mycorrhizal plants, in terms of shoot growth and disease severity, mycorrhizal plants suffered less. This suggests a possible mycorrhiza-induced tolerance against pea root-rot. Furthermore, the degree of tolerance induction differed between the two AM-fungi included in the present study.