Diversity in tree species in Southeastern Ohio Betula nigra L. Communities

Quantitative data were obtained for arboreal species within 50 lowland forests in southeastern Ohio. Thirty-seven communities were dominated by Betula nigra L. and 13 were dominated by Acer saccharinum L. The acidic soils collected from B. nigra communities contained toxic concentrations of exchangeable Al and low concentrations of Ca and Mg. Tree species diversity (Shannon-Weaver index) and species equitability were inversely related to high concentrations of exchangeable Al and H and directly related to high concentrations of exchangeable Ca and Mg and an increase in soil pH.     

Retrospective study of neurological signs and management of seven English horses with temporohyoid osteoarthropathy

This retrospective study summarises the case details, presenting signs, management and outcome in cases of temporohyoid osteoarthropathy (THO) and describes the findings of diagnostic imaging modalities. The condition appears to be relatively rare in Europe and the objective of this study is to make clinicians aware that THO can have a range of various neurological and clinical presentations. The records of 2 referral equine practices in England were reviewed and 7 horses with THO diagnosed on guttural pouch endoscopy indentified. The clinical and neurological signs, diagnostic procedures, treatment and outcomes were reviewed. Although small, this group is the largest case series of THO from Europe. One horse was a yearling, whereas THO is generally considered usually to affect middle aged and older horses. Computed tomography was used to confirm the diagnosis and demonstrated stylohyoid bone fractures in 2 cases while there was mild increased radionuclide uptake in one of 2 cases undergoing nuclear scintigraphy. Treatment is still controversial, although ceratohyoidectomy led to complete resolution of signs in 2 of 5 cases thus treated and improvement in the other 3. One horse with mild signs treated with antimicrobials and nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs made a full recovery while another, presented with head shaking and managed with a phased exercise programme, improved but did not resolve completely.     

鸡粪生物炭表征及其对水和土壤镉铅的修复效果

采用缺氧控温法,在200、400、600和800℃条件下制备鸡粪生物炭(BC200、BC400、BC600和BC800),利用比表面积及孔径分析仪(BETacceleratedsurfaceareaandporosimetrysystem)、扫描电镜(scanningelectron microscopy)、透射电镜(transmission electron microscope)、傅里叶红外光谱仪(Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy)等对其理化性质和结构特征进行表征,并研究了鸡粪不同温度处理下生物炭对水体和土壤中Cd、Pb污染修复效果。结果表明,鸡粪生物炭灰分含量、pH值、BET比表面积及孔径随热解温度的升高而增加,表面出现大量无规则的孔隙结构,且以介孔为主,而生物炭产率则随温度升高而显著降低(P0.05)。鸡粪生物炭对Cd2+、Pb2+的吸附分为快速吸附和慢吸附2个阶段,Elovich模型能更好地模拟Pb2+、Cd2+的动力学过程,平衡时最大吸附量分别达到52.02 mg/g (BC600)和242.59 mg/g (BC800)。添加鸡粪生物炭显著提高了土壤pH值(P0.05),而TCLP提取态Pb、Cd含量降低,最大较对照分别降低16.5%和14.5%。与对照相比,鸡粪生物炭不同程度上降低了Pb、Cd弱酸提取态、可还原态以及可氧化态比例,其残渣态比例则分别增加了5.49%～15.14%和2.51%～6.30%。综上所述,鸡粪生物炭对重金属Pb、Cd具有较强的钝化效果。     

Bilateral thyroarytenoid cartilage lateralization and vocal fold excision with mucosoplasty for treatment of idiopathic laryngeal paralysis: 67 dogs (1998-2005)

Objective— To evaluate combined bilateral thyroarytenoid cartilage lateralization, vocal fold excision, and mucosoplasty technique (BTAL) through ventral median laryngotomy for treatment of laryngeal paralysis in dogs.
Design— Retrospective study.
Animals— Dogs (n=67) with laryngeal paralysis.
Methods— Medical records were reviewed for dogs with idiopathic laryngeal paralysis that had BTAL between January 1998 and March 2005. Retrieved data included signalment, history, physical and laryngoscopic examination findings, clinicopathologic tests, and results of recheck examination findings.
Results— BTAL was performed by a single surgeon. Short-term (<6 months) follow-up information was available for 67 dogs and long-term (>12 months) for 40 dogs. Major postoperative complications were surgical failures (13; 7 short term, 6 long term) and aspiration pneumonia (1). Mean recurrence of clinical signs was at 19 weeks (range, 2–30 weeks). Minor complications occurred in 22 (33%) dogs including occasional coughing or gagging, stridorous breathing during exercise, panting, noisy or heavy breathing, and aspiration pneumonia (3 dogs) that did not require hospitalization. All owners reported an improved quality of life and had no regrets with surgical outcome.
Conclusions— BTAL is seemingly an effective procedure for treatment of laryngeal paralysis.
Clinical Relevance— BTAL is associated with a low incidence of aspiration pneumonia; however, there is substantial risk of recurrence of clinical signs associated with narrowing of the glottis. Consequently, unilateral arytenoid lateralization currently represents the accepted approach to the treatment of laryngeal paralysis.     

Short-term dietary supplementation with the microalga Parietochloris incisa enhances stress resistance in guppies Poecilia reticulata

Two trials were conducted to determine the effects of dietary enrichments with the microalga Parietochloris incisa , rich in arachidonic acid (ARA), on stress resistance in guppies Poecilia reticulata . The microalga was added to commercial diets as a neutral lipid (NL) extract and its fractions or as broken cells. Experimental diets were applied for a period of 14 days. In trial 1, commercial diets were supplemented with NL (containing 25 mg ARA and 0.11 mg β-carotene g⁻¹ feed), its triacylglycerol (TAG) fraction (containing 25 mg ARA g⁻¹ feed and no β-carotene) and the β-carotene fraction (containing 0.11 mg carotenoid g⁻¹ feed and minute amounts of ARA). Neutral lipid-fed fish demonstrated the highest resistance ( P <0.05) to osmotic stress (32-ppt NaCl), followed by fish fed with diets supplemented with TAG and β-carotene alone, which were more resistant than control ( P <0.05). In trial 2, fish fed diets supplemented with higher levels of broken alga (26.1 mg ARA g⁻¹ feed) were more resistant ( P <0.05) to stress as compared with fish fed lower ARA (16.3 mg g g⁻¹) or an unsupplemented control diet. We suggest a dietary supplementation with broken P. incisa cells to enhance stress resistance in guppies before a stressful event.