IMAGING DIAGNOSIS—URETHROVAGINAL FISTULA CAUSED BY A MIGRATING GRASS AWN IN THE VAGINA

A young intact female dog was presented with urinary incontinence. Abdominal ultrasound revealed the presence of hyperechoic linear structures within the cranial vagina suggestive of foreign material. A computed tomography (CT) retrograde vaginourethrogram demonstrated the presence of a fistulous tract between the urethra and vagina. A presumptive diagnosis of urethrovaginal fistula due to migration of foreign material was made. The grass awn was removed with vaginoscopic‐guided retrieval. Fourteen days later, surgical repair of the fistula and an ovariohysterectomy were done. This case report emphasizes the usefulness of CT for diagnosis and precise anatomical localization of genitourinary tract fistulas.     

The ectomycorrhizal status of European larch (Larix decidua Mill.) seedlings from bare-root forest nurseries

In this paper, we report molecular investigation of an ectomycorrhizal fungi (EMF) community of European larch (Larix decidua Mill.) seedlings grown in a bare-root nursery. In total, we surveyed 32 nurseries that were each active in supplying planting stocks to restock forests and for afforestation of post-agricultural land. Sequence-based approach was used to identify EMF taxa, quantify EMF richness, and document differences in the relative abundance of individual taxa. We identified seven fungal species that might contribute to the mycorrhizal community structure of 1 to 3-year-old L. decidua seedlings. The species richness in the examined larches varied between one and four fungal taxa, depending on both the nursery stock samples (NSS) and age class of the seedlings. The average was 1.4 for 1-year-old seedlings and 2.3 for 2- and 3-year-old plants. The dominance of Ascomycota over Basidiomycota and the prevalence of two species, Wilcoxina mikolae and Suillus grevillei, as EMF partners were characteristic features of nursery-grown L. decidua seedlings. S. grevillei was the only one basidiomycetes colonized roots of tested seedlings. The rest of the mycorrhizal pool from forest nurseries was typically dominated by pioneer fungal ascomycetes. W. mikolae was the most common mycorrhizal ascomycete present at a high frequency on NSS from both age classes and with very high abundance (average 90%) on 1-year-old seedlings. Some other ascomycetes (Pezizales 1, Pezizales 2 and Pezizales 3) appeared on tested larches at a low frequency, but sometimes in high abundance. Tuber spp. appeared at a low frequency and low abundance. The relative abundance of S. grevillei was positively correlated with the age of seedlings, while W. mikolae was negatively correlated with age. Tuber sp. 1 and 2, Pezizales 2, and W. mikolae were positively associated with the basic soil pH values. However, forward selection of the environmental variables showed that only the age of the larch seedlings contributed significantly (F = 11.45, P = 0.02) to the variance in the ECF community.     

丘陵红壤橘园不同地面管理措施的经济生态效益研究

在丘陵红壤橘园上．经过3年6种地面管理措施的经济生态效益研究。结果表明：（1）水土流失，以清耕法作对照，生草法、克无踪、草甘膦、草草克、克克草的地表径流量可显著减少分别为38．8％．42．5％．18，7％，28．7％和37．5％；土壤侵蚀量可显著减少分别为55．5‰，51．7％．39．9％．46．8％和50．0％；流失的氮磷钾养分总量可分别减少60．3％．50．2％，37．0％．41．8％和45．4％。（2）杂草再生率，以生草法做对照，则处理中的清耕法、克无踪、草甘膦、草草克和克克草分别是生草法的55．1%．67．2％．30．3％．36．8％和51．2％。（3）土壤肥力，以土壤OM，N,P2O3,K2O总量增减率看，清耕法为-4．4%,生草法7．1％，克无踪6．9％，草甘膦5．3％．克克草6．2％．草草克6．6％。（4）柑橘的产量和品质，以清耕法作对照，除生草法外，克无踪、草甘膦、草草克、克克草均增产7％～10％；可溶性固形物、总糖量、总酸度、糖酸比以及单果重均达到显著差异水平。克无踪调控杂草效果显著．可作为丘陵红壤丘陵园地水保与培肥兼得的有效地面管理措施。     

Small-diameter silicon nanowire surfaces

Small-diameter (1 to 7 nanometers) silicon nanowires (SiNWs) were prepared, and their surfaces were removed of oxide and terminated with hydrogen by a hydrofluoric acid dip. Scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) of these SiNWs, performed both in air and in ultrahigh vacuum, revealed atomically resolved images that can be interpreted as hydrogen-terminated Si (111)-(1 x 1) and Si (001)-(1 x 1) surfaces corresponding to SiH3 on Si (111) and SiH2 on Si (001), respectively. These hydrogen-terminated SiNW surfaces seem to be more oxidation-resistant than regular silicon wafer surfaces, because atomically resolved STM images of SiNWs were obtained in air after several days' exposure to the ambient environment. Scanning tunneling spectroscopy measurements were performed on the oxide-removed SiNWs and were used to evaluate the electronic energy gaps. The energy gaps were found to increase with decreasing SiNW diameter from 1.1 electron volts for 7 nanometers to 3.5 electron volts for 1.3 nanometers, in agreement with previous theoretical predictions.     

Ferulic acid from aleurone determines the antioxidant potency of wheat grain (Triticum aestivum L.)

Grain is an important source of phytochemicals, which have potent antioxidant capacity. They have been implicated in the beneficial health effect of whole grains in reducing cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. The aim of the present study was to identify the most important antioxidant fractions of wheat grain. It was found that the aleurone content of these fractions was highly correlated with the antioxidant capacity of the fractions (r = 0.96, p < 0.0001). Ferulic acid appeared to be the major contributor to the antioxidant capacity in fractions with higher antioxidant capacity. The contribution of protein was rather limited. It was concluded that the antioxidant potency of wheat grain fractions is predominantly determined by aleurone content, which can be attributed to the presence of relatively large amounts of phenolic compounds, primarily ferulic acid.     

Dicondylar humeral fracture stabilisation in a dog using a transilial rod and external fixation

Repair of a Salter-Harris type IV dicondylar humeral fracture was performed on a 15-week-old pitbull terrier. Interfragmentary compression of the intracondylar component of the fracture was achieved with a transilial rod and locking nuts (Trans-ilial Rod; IMEX Veterinary, Inc.). The transilial rod was articulated with a modified type I external fixator which functioned as adjunctive stabilisation for the supracondylar component of the fracture. Fracture healing was confirmed radiographically five weeks following surgery. The dog had no appreciable lameness when examined 12 months after fracture repair.     

Photosynthetic responses of spring barley varieties to different stand densities under field conditions

Abstract

Photosynthesis is affected by many factors on which plant productivity depends; however, little is known about the variation of spring barley photosynthetic characteristics under the influence of different stand densities. A 2-year field study was conducted to determine the photosynthetic rate (A), efficiency of excitation capture by open PSII reaction centres (F'v/F'm) and chlorophyll index (SPAD) response of various spring barley varieties to different stand densities (SDs) under field conditions. Three seed rates were used (200, 400 and 600 plants m^?2) and three varieties (Aura DS, Barke and Gustav). The measurements were made three times during the growing season. Varietal effect was significant on all indicators, the influence of the factors' interaction was significant on A, but SD influence was not significant. Varieties differed in tolerance to weather conditions. Maximum A was established for Gustav in wet year, but for Barke in dry year. The highest F'v/F'm was observed for Gustav under dry and warm conditions. The lowest F'v/F'm across varieties was for the lowest SD. The highest SPAD was observed for Gustav, the lowest for Aura DS. SPAD increased with decreasing SD. The correlation between the indicators and grain yield was positive. Meteorological conditions influenced the A data variation by 46.4–82.5%, 60.9–87.8% and 61.9–83.9% for the Aura DS, Barke and Gustav, respectively. Our research showed that under Central Lithuania's weather conditions the most effective photosynthetic process was recorded in the intensive variety Gustav, which is recommended to be grown at a medium crop density of 400 plants m^?2.     

Idiopathic hyperaldosteronism in a dog

Idiopathic hyperaldosteronism was diagnosed in an 8-year-old castrated male Yorkshire Terrier, based on increased concentration of plasma aldosterone, hypertension, hypernatremia, decreased natriuresis, hypokalemia, and hyperkaluria. Unilateral adrenalectomy was performed after visualization of a nodule on the right adrenal gland. Hyperplasia of the zona glomerulosa and increased postoperative aldosterone concentrations supported the diagnosis of idiopathic hyperaldosteronism.