Carvedilol in dogs with dilated cardiomyopathy

BACKGROUND: Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is characterized by reduced systolic function, heightened sympathetic tone, and high morbidity and mortality. Little is known regarding the safety and efficacy of beta-blocker treatment in dogs with DCM. HYPOTHESIS: Carvedilol improves echocardiographic and neurohormonal variables in dogs with DCM over a 4-month treatment period. METHODS: Prospective, placebo-controlled, double-blinded randomized study. Dogs with DCM underwent echocardiography, ECG, thoracic radiographs, and neurohormonal profiling, followed by titration onto carvedilol (0.3 mg/kg q12h) or placebo over a 4-week period and subsequently received 3 months of therapy. Primary study endpoints included left ventricular volume and function. RESULTS: Sixteen dogs received carvedilol and 7 received placebo. At study end, 13 carvedilol dogs and 5 placebo dogs were alive. There was no difference in the mean percentage change in left ventricular volume at end-diastole (LVVd), left ventricular end-systolic volume (LVVs), and ejection fraction (EF) between treatment groups, suggesting that both groups experienced similar amounts of disease progression. Carvedilol treatment did not result in significant changes in neurohormonal activation, radiographic heart size, heart rate, or owner perceived quality-of-life. Baseline B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) predicted dogs in the carvedilol-treated group that maintained or improved their EF over the study duration. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Carvedilol administration did not improve echocardiographic or neurohormonal indicators of heart function. The lack of effect may be related to severity of disease, carvedilol dose, or brevity of follow-up time. Statistical power of the present study was adversely affected by a high fatality rate in study dogs and small sample size.     

Tsetse control in cattle from pyrethroid footbaths

In Burkina Faso, we assessed the efficacy of treating cattle with a footbath containing aqueous formulations of pyrethroids to control two tsetse-fly species, Glossina tachinoides Westwood, 1850 (Diptera, Glossinidae) and Glossina palpalis gambiensis Vanderplank 1949. Legs were the most targeted parts of the body for tsetse-fly blood meals: 81% (95% CI: 73, 89) for G. tachinoides and 88% (81, 95) for G. palpalis.

The in-stable efficacy of footbath treatments was compared with manual full spraying with a 0.005% alphacypermethrin (Dominex, FMC, Philadelphia, USA) formulation (250 mL versus 2 L). The proportions of knocked-down flies were the same with footbath and full spray but the latter was more protective against fly bites. In field use, the efficacy of both methods should be similar given the recommended treatment frequency: 3 days for footbath versus 7 days for full spray.

Among 96 cattle drinking at the same water point in Dafinso (Burkina Faso), 68 (71%) were treated with a footbath containing a 0.005% deltamethrin formulation (Vectocid, CEVA SA, Libourne, France). We observed the effect of this live-bait technique on the one hand on released cohorts of reared, irradiated flies, and on the other hand on wild tsetse flies. In both cases, the footbath treatment was associated with a reduction of the apparent fly density probably related to an increased mortality.     

Quantification of flight times of aerial treatments targeting invasive species: the interplay of helicopter or drone with bait-delivery systems,flight speed and bait form

BACKGROUND

Aerial treatments for invasive species management are now common, but we are unaware of any work published in the scientific literature quantifying how the interplay of numerous factors affects flight time and therefore operational costs. Here, we analyse aerial treatment data collected from two ant-eradication programmes, quantifying how the relationships between flight time and area are influenced by numerous aircraft/delivery system/bait/flight speed combinations.

RESULTS

For bait dispersal by helicopters, and when swath widths are equivalent, side-mounted Isolair was significantly more efficient than the simultaneous use of two underslung buckets, and use of two buckets was slightly but not significantly more efficient than one bucket. In this scenario, delivery by Isolair was, on average, 39.8% and 31.5% more efficient than the use of one or two buckets, respectively. However, when the swath width used with Isolair was halved to 10 m and flight speed was increased slightly, flight time was significantly greater compared to the other configurations. For bait dispersed by drone, flights conducted using an upgraded Flight Management System (FMS) and greater flight speed but smaller swath width were significantly more efficient than flights using the older FMS and lower flight speed. Over 10 and 50 ha the helicopter was 2.87 and 4.82 times more time efficient than the drone.

CONCLUSION

We encourage practitioners to publish data from their aerial treatments, and to try new methods, to accelerate improvements in efficiency and reduce the costs of aerial treatments. © 2023 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.     

Natural hybridization between wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and its wild relatives Aegilops geniculata Roth and Aegilops triuncialis L.

BACKGROUND

Cultivated bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) spontaneously hybridizes with wild/weedy related Aegilops populations, but little is known about the actual rates at which this hybridization occurs under field conditions. It is very important to provide reliable empirical data on this phenomenon in order to assess the potential crop–wild introgression, especially in the context of conducting risk assessments for the commercialization of genetically modified (GM) wheat, as gene flow from wheat to Aegilops species could transfer into the wild species genes coding for traits such as resistance to herbicides, insects, diseases or environmental stresses.

RESULTS

The spontaneous hybridization rates between wheat and A. geniculata and A. triuncialis, which are very abundant in the Mediterranean area, have been estimated for the first time in the northern part of the Meseta Central, the great central plateau which includes the largest area of wheat cultivation in Spain. Hybridization rates averaged 0.12% and 0.008% for A. geniculata and A. triuncialis, respectively. Hybrids were found in 26% of A. geniculata and 5% of A. triuncialis populations, at rates that can be ≤3.6% for A. geniculata and 0.24% for A. triuncialis.

CONCLUSION

The detection of Aegilops spp.–wheat hybrids in Aegilops populations indicates that gene flow can occur, although wheat is considered a crop with a low-to-medium risk for transgene escape. These data on field hybridization rates are essential for GM wheat risk assessment purposes. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.     

Sintering of Magnetite Concentrates Without Carbon

With the goal of the sintering of magnetite concentrates without carbon,the effect of quality,inert atmosphere and Fe_3O_4 addition on microwave sintering of magnetite concentrates is studied.It is shown that: With the same basicity(CaO/SiO_2=2.5) and microwave heating condition(1000W,2.45GHz,20min),the centre temperature decreaseds with a increasing sample mass;There is no great difference between with and without inert atmosphere in microwave sintering of magnetite in a same microwave heating condition.When 100g sample(CaO/SiO_2=2.5) is heated by microwave irradiation(1000W,2.45GHz,20min),the more Fe_3O_4 is added,the less liquid phase is produced,which is bad for microwave sintering of magnetite concentrate.     

Hydrolysis and Condensation of Silane Agent for Metallic Surface Treatment

Novel surface treatment technique by silane film is developing for metallic anti corrosion and coat improvement. The key points, hydrolysis and condensation, for the stability of the Silane agent(SA) solution is investigated, and the effective factors of stability for silane agent solution and the relative rule are discussed. It is found that stability of SA solution is related to the temperature, pH, solvents, SA concentration and additive by studying the state of the solution and the conductivity-time curve of SA solution. Meanwhile, controlling factors and improving methods for SA stability are proposed to guide the practical application of metallic surface anti-corrosion treatment by SA.     

Reinforcement Treatment on the Uneven Subsidence of Foundation

There are several methods to cope with the common problem of the uneven subsidence of foundation. The reason for uneven settlement of foundation of the frame structure was analyzed in this paper. Considering the limitation of the construction site and the principle of consolidation, a feasible reinforcement measure was taken. Meanwhile, a practical construction pattern was chosen upon the comparison of the reinforcement technology analysis and the construction method. The observation of the settlement result after consolidation of the structure shows that the result of this reinforcement treatment pattern is effective.     

Feasibility for Building the Under-ground Sewage Treatment Plant in Chongqing City

With the development of the economy, the demand forhabitation is enhanced and the sewage and industrial waster water must be disposed before outlet. Today, most of the sewage treatment plants are built on the aboveground without discussing the underground. Therefore, by the comparative analysis of the property and cost of the underground sewage treatment plant and the ground, the underground sewage treatment plant have merits in save the city land and improvement environment.The Chongqing citypossess a lot of advantages in using the space of underground with the analysis of the physiognomy and geology condition of the Chongqing city. Therefore, the development of underground sewage treatment plant is feasible in the Chongqing city.     

Design of Distributed Monitoring System of Wastewater Treatment Process

Based on introducing fieldbus and fieldbus control system, in this paper, a distributed monitoring system for city wastewater treatment network based on LonWorks is given, the construction, function and character of this network are analyzed.