Comparison of iodine and glutaraldehyde as surface disinfectants for red porgy (Pagrus pagrus) and white sea bream (Diplodus sargus sargus) eggs

The efficacy of iodine and glutaraldehyde as fish egg surface disinfectants were assessed in red porgy (Pagrus pagrus) and white sea bream (Diplodus sargus sargus) eggs, two species of interest for Mediterranean aquaculture. Iodine was effective in reducing the bacterial load of the 1-day-old eggs when applied at 50 mg L⁻¹ for 5 min. The same concentration did not cause any significant change in hatching success or survival of the larvae for the first 5 days. Glutaraldehyde failed to reduce the bacterial load of the fish eggs at concentrations that were safe for the eggs (100 mg L⁻¹ for 5 min), as it had a significant effect in preventing hatching of the developed embryo. Disinfecting 0-day-old eggs with iodine resulted in a significant reduction of hatching percentage, while larval survival thereafter was unaffected. The results of the present study suggest that iodine may be an appropriate egg disinfectant for both red porgy and white sea bream.     

Clinical Features and Treatment Outcomes of 41 Dogs with Sublingual Ectopic Thyroid Neoplasia

Background

Thyroid neoplasia is common in dogs, but there are few reports of dogs with ectopic, sublingual thyroid tumors.

Objectives

To describe clinical features and outcomes of dogs with ectopic, sublingual thyroid neoplasia.

Animals

Five hundred and forty‐four dogs with thyroid neoplasia.

Methods

This retrospective study reviewed the medical records of dogs referred for thyroid neoplasia between 1995 and 2013. Data extracted included signalment, extent of thyroid disease (eutopic or ectopic; metastasis), serum thyroxine (T₄) concentration, treatment, and survival.

Results

Of 544 dogs with thyroid neoplasia, 41 (7.5%) dogs had ectopic sublingual thyroid tumors. The clinical features of these 41 dogs were similar to the cohort group of 503 dogs with eutopic or ectopic mediastinal thyroid tumors, but dogs with sublingual tumors were younger and less likely to have metastatic disease (15% versus 30%, P < .05). Of the 41 dogs, 28 received treatment: 21 with surgery (which included partial hyoidectomy in 13), 7 with radioiodine alone, and 13 with surgery followed by administration of radioiodine. Overall median survival was 562 days (range, 1‐1,850 days).

Conclusions and Clinical Importance

When compared with eutopic thyroid carcinomas, ectopic sublingual thyroid tumors generally have a less aggressive biologic behavior. Many dogs have prolonged survival, even without treatment, although death because of local tumor invasiveness or metastasis can develop in some dogs. Surgical thyroidectomy, including partial hyoidectomy, is generally effective for control of local disease. Administration of radioiodine, alone or in combination with surgical treatment, is recommended for multifocal disease or metastasis.     

Multifunctional sol-gel coatings for protection of wood

Abstract

Organic–inorganic hybrid sol-gel coatings derived from sols synthesized using two organically modified precursors were generated on wood specimens using dip and spray coating techniques. One of the sols was synthesized using methacryloxypropyltrimethoxysilane (MPTMS) and nanoscaled boehmite particles and the other was synthesized using dimethyldiethoxysilane (DMDEOS) and tetraethoxysilane (TEOS). The coatings were generated on the wood specimens by dipping into the sols for specific time periods and by using spray coating method. The coatings were cured at different temperatures for varying soaking times. The dipping times, curing temperature, and soaking times were varied between 24–96 h, 130–200°C and 1–5 h, respectively. The coated samples were characterized for their water contact angles, microstructure, and resistance to water uptake. The coatings derived from MPTMS+boehmite sol were seen to exhibit better performance than DMDEOS+TEOS sol by forming a good barrier on the wood surface, thereby providing superior resistance to water and weather. Dipping of wood into the sol was seen to provide better protection when compared to spray coating. Dipping into the MPTMS+boehmite sol for 24 h and curing at 130°C for 2 h were found to be the optimal processing parameters yielding the best properties.     

红三叶种子吸水率和幼苗碘与Vc含量对碘化钾的响应

于室温20 ℃条件下,研究了不同浓度（0、0.5、1.0、1.5、2.0、2.5、3.0、3.5 mg·L-1）的碘化钾溶液处理下瑞德红三叶（Trifolium pretense）种子吸水率,幼苗植株Vc和碘含量的变化规律。结果表明,随碘化钾浓度的上升,红三叶种子吸水率、植株碘含量会显著增加（P<0.01）,并均在碘化钾浓度为3.0 mg·L-1时达到最大;而苗期植株Vc含量会随着碘化钾浓度增加而显著降低。     

高铁高碘日粮对蛋品质的影响

用高铁高碘日粮饲喂产蛋母鸡,观察对蛋品质的影响。结果表明,蛋黄重、蛋黄占蛋重比略有下降,蛋白占蛋重比、哈夫单位有所上升;蛋壳占蛋重比、蛋壳厚度及蛋壳密度无明显变化。提示高铁高碘日粮不会引起蛋品质的明显下降。     

Determination of nuclear magnetic resonance T2 cutoff in remoulded loess by the freezing point

Proton nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) is widely applied to characterize the microscopic properties of hydrogen-containing porous media. The transverse relaxation time cutoff (T_2c) value is the crucial parameter for the quantitative analysis of NMR data. Currently, there is no universal method for the determination of the T_2c in clayey soils. This study aimed to develop a laboratory method for determining the T_2c of remoulded loess by the freezing point of loosely bound water. Malan loess, a kind of typical clayey silt, was used as test material. Based on the soil freezing characteristic, NMR measurements were performed on remoulded loess with different macro-parameter controls during the cooling process to obtain the T₂ spectrum at each target temperature. By analysing the variation of unfrozen water content with temperature reduction, the freezing point of loosely bound water and the T_2c value within the freezing-point range was determined. The freezing point of loosely bound water in remoulded loess is about −3 to −5°C and that of firmly bound water is less than −5°C. Accordingly, the T_2c value of remoulded loess is determined to be 1.5–1.8 ms. The assessment of heating and cooling process and different methods for determining the T_2c shows that the laboratory method by the freezing point is effective and reliable, and the T_2c determined by statistical methods is worthy of further study and improvement. The saturated permeability of remoulded loess is evaluated according to the determined T_2c, and two NMR-based permeability equations can well reflect pore water distribution in remoulded loess, but to a certain extent, both equations ignore soil microstructure, pore connectivity and chemical effects of pore solution. The laboratory method by the freezing point and the determined T_2c value of remoulded loess fill the gap of NMR measurement in loess analysis and are of great significance for low-plastic clays and clay types.