Age estimation of different tree species using a special kind of an electrically recording resistance drill

The determination of tree age is an important issue for urban green planning, forestry and dendrology; finding non-destructive and quasi-non-destructive methods for this purpose is of great theoretical and practical importance. The resistance drilling method is quasi-non-destructive because the average diameter of an opening that remains after drilling does not exceed 3 mm. Do electrically recording resistance drills allow precise assessment of tree age? The aim of this study is to assess the accuracy of determining the number of tree rings based on an examination of this special kind of drilling resistance profiles for three tree species, the pine Pinus sylvestris L., the oak Quercus robur L., and the birch Betula pendula ROTH. In 2015 and 2016, 15 pine trees, 15 oak trees, and 15 birch trees were randomly selected. For each studied tree, a measurement was conducted using the electrically recording resistance drill IML-Resi E400 with a flat-tipped 1.5/3 mm steel needle (research sample), and an increment core was taken (reference sample). The drill used was not a real Resistograph^®. The analysis of the E400-profiles underestimated the number of tree rings; the mean bias error (MBE) values were –6.5, –2.5, and –6.0 years for pine, oak, and birch, respectively. The proportion of investigated trees with less than five years difference between the research and reference samples varied from 38.4 (birch) to 66.7 (oak) percent. The accuracy of tree age determination was lowest for birch and highest for oak. The binomial generalised linear model (GLM) revealed that the most accurate tree age assessments were obtained from tree rings wider than 2 mm. The measurements clearly showed that the electrically recording resistance drill IML-Resi E400 enables a quick, although approximate, tree age assessment. Future research should concentrate on electronically regulating and recording drills, providing a higher spatial and signal resolution, and a stronger correlation to wood density.     

Hypercalcaemia associated with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia in a Giant Schnauzer.

A 7-year-old male Giant Schnauzer was referred with a history of severe vomiting, lethargy, weight loss, polydipsia and polyuria. Detailed investigations revealed leucocytosis with a marked lymphocytosis, mild non-regenerative anaemia, thrombocytopenia, hypercalcaemia and azotaemia. Circulating lymphocytes were small and well-differentiated, and the same lymphoid population was present in bone marrow. Chronic lymphocyctic leukaemia with associated paraneoplastic hypercalcaemia was diagnosed. Immunohistochemical staining of a bone marrow biopsy revealed a neoplastic B-cell line expressing CD79. The dog responded to therapy with prednisolone and chlorambucil for a period of 8 months.     

Electrocorticogram disturbances detected in rats exposed from early stages of life to residual doses of lindane

Functional brain alterations induced by lindane were examined in Rat chronically exposed to low doses of lindane (1 and 2 μg L⁻¹ in drinking water) from conception. Histological and electrophysiological investigations were conducted at 14 weeks of age. Lindane did not induce histological changes. It did not significantly modify the sleep-wakefulness cycle and EEG did not show major alterations. The spectral EEG analysis, by recording cortical variations in both energy spectrum and energy levels of different frequency bands, showed an increase in the 11-15 Hz activity in both groups exposed to lindane. This activity was characterised by spindles well-depicted during slow wave sleep or associated with fast activity during wakefulness and theta activity in paradoxical sleep. These data suggest that chronic exposure to lindane doses as low as 1 μg L⁻¹ in drinking water could lead to central electrophysiological effects possibly involving GABA-benzodiazepine mechanisms.     

Estimation of daily and total lactation milk yield of Chios ewes from single morning or evening records

Linear models were developed and evaluated for the estimation of daily (24 h) and total lactation milk yield of dairy sheep from single morning (am) or evening (pm) milking records. A total of 22,908 individual test-day milk records of 5110 ewes of the Chios breed, raised in 46 flocks, were used. Depending on the model, different daily milk yield estimates were derived for each ewe, accounting for lactation number, stage of lactation, season of previous lambing and interval between successive milkings. Daily milk yield was also estimated from doubling the single am or pm record. Actual and estimated yields were compared using root mean square errors (RMSEs), mean absolute differences, an accuracy parameter defined as the ratio of the actual yield variance over the sum of the variances of actual yield and absolute difference, and the product moment correlation between estimated and actual yield. Results were validated on independent datasets. Linear models resulted in less biased and more accurate estimates of the daily milk yield than simply doubling the am or pm record. Root mean square errors decreased by 7-37% and the mean absolute difference was reduced by 1-4% of the average daily yield. Higher accuracy and correlation were obtained from linear model application than doubling. Total lactation milk yield was predicted based on actual daily yield and compared to predictions based on estimated daily yield from am or pm records, as well as directly on single milking records. Root mean square errors obtained when daily yield had been estimated with linear models were 26-35% lower compared to doubling the am or pm yield and 0-13% lower compared to estimating the total lactation yield directly from single milking records. Linear model application also resulted in lower mean absolute difference and higher accuracy and correlation than doubling the am or pm record. Recording the yield of a single milking (am or pm) instead of both can benefit milk recording by reducing its cost and increasing farmer participation. In this context, linear models developed in the present study can be used for the accurate estimation of daily (24 h) and total lactation milk yield from single milking records.     

Association of hyponatremia and hyperglycemia with outcome in dogs with congestive heart failure

Objective: To evaluate plasma sodium and glucose concentrations in dogs with congestive heart failure (CHF) prior to treatment and evaluate the differences between survivors and non‐survivors. Design: Retrospective study. Animals: Fifty‐nine dogs with CHF prior to receiving cardiac medication. Interventions: None. Measurements and main results: The mean plasma sodium concentration in dogs with CHF was below the reference range (144–156 mmol/L) and significantly lower (P=0.009) in non‐survivors (141±6 mmol/L) compared with survivors (147±4 mmol/L). The mean plasma glucose concentration was above the reference range (76–117 mg/dL) and significantly higher (P=0.004) in non‐survivors (128±52 mg/dL) compared with survivors (100±13 mg/dL). Forty‐four percent of non‐survivors had concurrent low plasma sodium and high plasma glucose concentrations, whereas no survivors had both abnormalities (P<0.0001). Conclusions: Lower plasma sodium and higher plasma glucose are associated with a worse outcome in dogs with CHF.     

On farm observations to increase genetic gain in breeding schemes for village poultry production – A simulation study

To improve genetic gain of breeding programs for village poultry production, breeding schemes with observations obtained in village production systems using individual (VIO) and group recording (VGO) were examined under different levels of genotype-by-environment-interactions (GxE). GxE was modeled by varying the correlation between traits measured in the breeding station and village environments for bodyweight (r_{g_BW}) and egg production (r_{g_EP}). Relative and absolute genetic gains obtained from VIO and VGO were used for comparison between the schemes. Results showed that village observations significantly improved genetic gains compared to the scheme without birds tested in the village. The improvement was only slightly larger with individual observations than with group observations. Higher r_{g_BW} and r_{g_EP} led to lower relative genetic gain, but a higher absolute gain of VIO and VGO. It is recommended to apply a breeding scheme using group recording of village performance when strong GxE in breeding for village poultry is expected.     

犬慢性肾衰竭进程中肠道菌群代谢物短链脂肪酸水平的变化及其对肾功能的影响

本研究旨在评估短链脂肪酸在慢性肾衰竭患犬和健康犬中的水平,探究短链脂肪酸变化的原因及其对肾功能的影响。选取22例轻度慢性肾衰患犬（M-CRF组）、29例重度慢性肾衰患犬（S-CRF组）和26例健康对照犬（HC组）,用16S rDNA测序技术分析肠道菌群多样性,气相色谱法检测粪中短链脂肪酸浓度。通过粪菌移植和补充丁酸钠给5/6肾摘除犬,观察肠道菌群及丁酸钠对肾功能影响。结果显示：1）S-CRF组肠道菌群多样性指标观察物种数及Simpson指数低于HC组（P<0.05）,PCoA分析显示,S-CRF组肠道菌群与M-CRF、HC组有差异。2）LEfSe分析显示,S-CRF组和HC组间大量差异菌群,拟杆菌科、拟杆菌属及假单胞菌科等7个菌种富集于S-CRF组,普氏杆菌科、梭菌科、普氏杆菌属及普拉梭菌属等11个菌种富集于HC组。CCA分析发现富集于S-CRF组菌种丰度与肾功能指标呈正相关。3）S-CRF组粪中乙酸、丙酸及丁酸浓度均显著低于HC组和M-CRF组,M-CRF组丁酸浓度显著低于HC组（P<0.05）,且丁酸浓度与血中胱抑素C（Cys-c）、肌酐（Cr）及尿素氮（BUN）等肾功能指标呈负相关（r值分别为-0.451、-0.583和-0.514,P<0.01）。4）与慢性肾衰模型组（5/6 Nx组）比较,慢性肾衰犬给与丁酸钠8周后,血清Cr和BUN显著降低（P<0.05）;粪菌移植8周后,血清Cr和BUN显著升高（P<0.05）,丁酸钠可回调血清Cr和BUN水平。综上表明,慢性肾衰竭患犬肠道菌群多样性降低,菌群结构及丰度改变,粪中短链脂肪酸浓度降低,这些变化可加剧肾功能障碍。为犬慢性肾衰竭的防治提供新的理论依据。     

Platelet abnormalities and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratios in canine immunosuppressant-responsive and non-responsive enteropathy: A retrospective study in 41 dogs

Few studies have examined platelet alterations in dogs with chronic enteropathy. Our aim was to investigate platelet count (PLT), mean platelet volume (MPV), and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) in dogs diagnosed with immunosuppressant-responsive enteropathy (IRE). In this retrospective study of 41 dogs, data regarding signalment, canine chronic enteropathy clinical activity index (CCECAI), endoscopic and histopathological scores, PLT, MPV, PLR, total serum protein concentrations, albumin, and iron were collected. Clinical response and relapse were assessed with the evaluation of CCECAI over time. One month after starting therapy, dogs with >25% CCECAI reduction were considered responders. During a three-month CCECAI evaluation as part of a twelve-month follow-up, a CCECAI >3 together with a ≥2 unit increase in responder dogs was considered a relapse. PLT and PLR displayed significant negative correlation with MPV. MPV was positively correlated with total protein and albumin levels and negatively correlated with CCECAI. Three dogs were classified as non-responders, and 14 relapsed within 12 months. No differences were observed in PLT, MPV, or PLR between responding/non-responding and relapsing/non-relapsing groups. PLT, MPV, and PLR correlated with total protein, albumin, and CCECAI, confirming PLT as a potential marker, and suggesting MPV as a new marker of clinical efficacy against canine IRE.