Accuracy and optimization of force platform gait analysis in Labradors with cranial cruciate disease evaluated at a walking gait

OBJECTIVE: To determine the combination of ground reaction forces (GRFs) that best discriminates between lame and non-lame dogs. To compare the sensitivity of force platform gait analysis and visual observation at detecting gait abnormalities in Labradors after surgery for rupture of the cranial cruciate ligament (CCL). ANIMALS: All dogs were adult Labrador Retrievers: 17 free of orthopedic and neurologic abnormalities, 100 with unilateral CCL rupture, and 131 studied 6 months after surgery for unilateral CCL injury, 15 with observable lameness. PROCEDURE: Dogs were walked over a force platform with GRF recorded during the stance phase. Analytic properties of force platform gait analysis were calculated for several combinations of forces. The probability of visual observation detecting a gait abnormality was compared with that of force platform gait analysis. RESULTS: We determined that a combination of peak vertical force (PVF) and falling slope were optimal for discriminating sound and lame Labradors. After surgery, many dogs (75%) with no observable lameness failed to achieve GRFs consistent with sound Labradors. CONCLUSION: A force platform is an accurate method of assessing lameness in Labradors with CCL rupture and is more sensitive than visual observation. Assessing lameness with a combination of GRFs is better than using univariate GRFs. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Therapies for stifle lameness can be accurately and objectively evaluated using 2 vertical ground reaction forces obtained from a force platform.     

Force plate analysis before and after dorsal decompression for treatment of degenerative lumbosacral stenosis in dogs

OBJECTIVE: Using force plate analysis (FPA), determine ground reaction forces in dogs with degenerative lumbosacral stenosis (DLS) and evaluate the effects of lumbosacral decompressive surgery. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective clinical study. ANIMALS: Twelve dogs with DLS. METHODS: DLS was diagnosed by clinical signs, radiography, computed tomography, and/or magnetic resonance imaging. FPA was performed before surgery, and 3 days, 6 weeks, and 6 months after surgery. The mean peak braking (Fy+), peak propulsive (Fy-), and peak vertical (Fz+) forces of 8 consecutive strides were determined. The ratio between the total Fy- of the pelvic limbs and the total Fy- of the thoracic limbs (P/TFy-), reflecting the distribution of Fy-, was analyzed to evaluate any changes in locomotion pattern postoperatively. Ground reaction force data for DLS dogs were compared with data derived from 24 healthy dogs (control). RESULTS: In dogs with DLS, the propulsive forces (Fy-) of the pelvic limbs were significantly smaller than those of controls. P/TFy- was significantly smaller in dogs with DLS than in control dogs, and increased during the follow-up period, reaching normal values 6 months after surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Cauda equina compression in dogs with DLS decreases the propulsive force of the pelvic limbs and surgical treatment restores the propulsive force of the pelvic limbs in a 6-month period. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: In dogs with DLS, FPA is an effective method in evaluating the response to surgical treatment. Normal propulsive force in the pelvic limbs was restored during 6 months after decompressive surgery.     

高压静电技术二次成熟牛肉效果研究

本试验选取6具肉牛胴体采用配对试验设计,通过带有高压静电(HVEF)装置的冰箱和普通冰箱二次成熟牛外脊部位肉样,研究高压静电二次成熟牛肉对牛肉品质的影响。结果表明,高压静电组较常规处理组肉色鲜红,二次成熟48h、72h、96h肉色值L*均显著高于常规处理组(P<0.05),a*值均显著低于常规处理组(P<0.05);两组在24h、48h、72h、96h测定的pH值差异不显著(P>0.05);失水率较常规处理组牛肉低15.56%,在48h、72h、96h时两组均差异显著(P<0.05);熟肉率较常规处理组提高1.07%,成熟24h、48h、72h、96h四个阶段,两组之间熟肉率差异均不显著(P>0.05);剪切力值较常规处理组低6.24%,在24h时两组差异不显著(P>0.05),48h、72h两组差异极显著(P<0.01),成熟96h两组差异显著(P<0.05)。综上,高压静电对分割后的牛肉在0~4℃条件下二次成熟具有改善作用。     

Comparative therapeutic efficacy and safety of type-II collagen (UC-II), glucosamine and chondroitin in arthritic dogs: pain evaluation by ground force plate

The investigation was conducted on client-owned moderately arthritic dogs with two objectives: (i) to evaluate therapeutic efficacy of type-II collagen (UC-II) alone or in combination with glucosamine hydrochloride (GLU) and chondroitin sulphate (CHO), and (ii) to determine their tolerability and safety. Dogs in four groups (n = 7-10), were treated daily for a period of 150 days with placebo (Group-I), 10 mg active UC-II (Group-II), 2000 mg GLU + 1600 mg CHO (Group-III), and UC-II + GLU + CHO (Group-IV). On a monthly basis, dogs were evaluated for observational pain (overall pain, pain upon limb manipulation, and pain after physical exertion) using different numeric scales. Pain level was also measured objectively using piezoelectric sensor-based GFP for peak vertical force and impulse area. Dogs were also examined every month for physical, hepatic (ALP, ALT and bilirubin) and renal (BUN and creatinine) functions. Based on observations, significant (p < 0.05) reduction in pain was noted in Group-II, III, and IV dogs. Using GFP, significant increases in peak vertical force (N/kg body wt) and impulse area (N s/kg body wt), indicative of a decrease in arthritis associated pain, were observed in Group-II dogs only. None of the dogs in any group showed changes in physical, hepatic or renal functions. In conclusion, based on GFP data, moderately arthritic dogs treated with UC-II (10 mg) showed a marked reduction in arthritic pain with maximum improvement by day 150. UC-II, GLU and CHO operate through different mechanisms of action, and were well tolerated over a period of 150 days.     

饲料企业财务管理中的问题及改善

财务管理是企业管理的重要组成部分,贯穿于企业整个经营管理过程,与企业经济效益密切相关,直接影响企业的生存发展.企业通过财务管理、监督控制财务活动、资金投放、资金筹集来实现风险最小化,利润最大化.良好的财务管理是饲料企业赢利的保障.随着我国畜牧业的发展,饲料行业快速发展,饲料企业不断增多,财务管理问题更加凸显.饲料企业门...     

Blair＇s Positioning and Adjnsstment on the Relation between The British Labor Party and the Trade Unions

基于1980年代以来工党和保守党处理工会问题的经验教训以及工会的新变化,1994年出任工党领袖的布莱尔把对工会的定位由工党的劳工运动盟友转变为社会合作伙伴,对工会开始采取疏远和强硬的态度,尽力削弱附属工会在党内的权力。布莱尔对工党与工会关系的调整总体上是成功的,但也产生工党失去身份特征、核心选民减少等问题,对此要给予全面辩证地认识。     

山西土石山区3种草本植物根拉拨特性

为了解山西省土石山区固土护坡草本植物根系拉拔特性,筛选拉拔力优势草本植物物种进行水土流失防治,通过开展根系原位拉拔力学试验,研究了3种典型草本植物香根草（Vetiveria zizanioides L.）、百喜草（Paspalum notatum Flugge）、黑麦草（Lolium perenne L.）根系拉拔力随根径和土层深度的变化规律。结果显示:3种草本植物根系拉拔力随着根径的增大而增加,且拉拔力与根径之间满足幂函数关系;整体上,根系拉拔力从大到小顺序表现为香根草 > 黑麦草 > 百喜草,而且三者之间差异显著;但在D≤0.4 mm和D>0.4 mm两个根径组下,黑麦草均表现出较好的拉拔力性能。在0—10 cm,10—20 cm两个土层间,香根草和百喜草两种植物根系拉拔力性能相似,而黑麦草单根拉拔力在表层土壤发挥效果优于下层土壤。从单根拉拔力方面出发,黑麦草在3种植物中可优先考虑用于固持浅表层土壤。试验探究了草本植物单根在不同根径组下和土层深度下的抗拔性能,研究结果可为山西省土石山区水土保持植物措施草本植物物种选择提供理论依据。     

圆形网箱浮架系统的受力特性研究

运用线性波浪理论和刚体运动学原理,建立了波浪作用下网箱浮架系统的计算模型.在不同波高(H=4.2～7.0 m)和周期(T=7.2、8.6 s)条件下,采用计算机数值模拟方法,分别对浮架系统所受的锚绳力、波浪力以及合力矩进行了数值计算.通过计算结果的比较及分析表明,三者都随波高的增大而有所增大,其中迎浪侧锚绳力和水平波浪力与波高都有显著的正比关系.在各种不同波况下,迎浪侧锚绳力要大于背浪侧锚绳力,水平波浪力要大于垂直波浪力.     

四川白鹅对花生藤营养物质表观消化率研究

我国花生种植面积世界第一,但花生藤却没有得到充分利用.因此本试验通过研究四川白鹅对花生藤营养物质的表观消化率,确定其在四川白鹅日粮中的合理添加量,为优化日粮配方和花生藤的合理利用提供理论依据和数据参考.试验随机选取18周龄、(3.5±0.25)kg四川白鹅公鹅12只,采用强饲法(全收粪法),每只试验鹅用强饲器强饲40 ...     

The difference in kinematics of horses walking, trotting and cantering on a flat and banked 10 m circle

Reasons for performing study: Locomotion adaptation mechanisms have been observed in horses, but little information is available in relation to banked and nonbanked curve locomotion, which might be important to optimise training environments. Objectives: To determine if adaptation mechanisms in horses existed when moving on a banked compared to a flat curve and whether adaptation was similar in different gaits. Methods: Eight infrared cameras were positioned on the outside of a 10 m lungeing circle and calibrated. Retroreflective markers were used to define left and right metacarpus (McIII) and proximal phalanges (P1), metatarsus (MtIII), head and sacrum. Data were recorded at 308 Hz from 6 horses lunged at walk, trot and canter on a flat and 10° banked circle in a crossover design. Measurements extracted were speed, stride length, McIII inclination, MtIII inclination, relative body inclination and duty factor. Data were smoothed with a fourth order Butterworth filter with 30 Hz cut‐off. ANOVA was used to determine differences between conditions and limbs. Results: Adaptation mechanisms were influenced by gait. At canter inside forelimb duty factor was significantly longer (P<0.05) on a flat curve compared to a banked curve; at walk this was reversed. McIII inclination, MtIII inclination and relative body inclination were significantly greater (P<0.05) at trot and canter on a flat curve, so more inward tilt was found relative to the bearing surface. Conclusion: Adaptation to curved motion is gait specific. At faster gaits it appears that horses negotiate a banked curve with limb posture closer to body posture and probably with demands on the musculoskeletal system more similar to straight canter.