Surface Electromyography of the Longissimus and Gluteus Medius Muscles in Greyhounds Walking and Trotting on Ground Flat, Up, and Downhill

In the field of canine rehabilitation, knowledge of muscle function in the therapeutic exercises prescribed is needed by physical therapists and veterinary surgeons. To gain insight into the function of longissimus dorsi (LD) and gluteus medius (GM) muscles in dogs, five Greyhounds performing leash walking and trotting on the ground flat, up (+7%), and downhill (−7%) were studied by surface electromyography, and the mean and maximum activity was compared. For the same incline, the surface electromyography (sEMG) of LD was higher (p < 0.05) at the trot than at the walk. In LD muscle, trotting uphill showed significantly higher maximum activity than any other exercise. A change of +7% incline or −7% decline affected (increased or decreased, respectively) the mean sEMG of the LD and GM muscles of dogs walking or trotting on the ground. When combined, the influence of gait and incline on electromyographic activity was analyzed, and walking at certain inclines showed no difference with trotting at certain inclines. Walking and trotting up and downhill added separate therapeutic value to flat motion. The results of the present study might contribute to a better understanding of the function of LD and GM muscles in dogs, this being especially useful for the field of canine rehabilitation

Comportamento da taxa fotossintetica do umbuzeiro sob condicoes de campo.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi observar o comportamento fotossintético do umbuzeiro em seu habitat natural

Circumstellar envelopes of semi-regular long-period variables: mass-loss rate estimates and general model-fitting of the molecular gas

We aim to study the main properties of a volume-limited unbiased sample of well-characterized semi-regular variables (SRs) in order to clarify important issues, such as the formation of axially symmetric planetary nebulae (PNe) from spherical circumstellar envelopes (CSEs), which takes place during the mass-loss process along the AGB phase. We present new high-S/N IRAM 30m observations of the 12CO J=2-1, J=1-0, and 13CO J=1-0 lines, in a volume-limited sample of SRs. We analyzed the data by characterizing the main properties of the CSEs. The 12CO J=2-1 data were used to study the profiles, while the 12CO J=1-0 data were used to estimate mass-loss rates for the complete sample. We have classified the sources into four groups according to the different profiles and final gas expansion velocities. Type 1 and 2 profiles are broad and narrow symmetric lines, respectively. Type 3 profiles on the contrary are strange profiles with very pronounced asymmetries. Finally, type 4 profiles are those showing two different components: a narrow line profile superimposed on a broad pedestal component. Interestingly, we report a moderate correlation between mass-loss rates and 12CO J=1-0/J=2-1 line intensity ratios for O-rich SRs, suggesting a different behaviour between C- and O-rich SRs. Using SHAPE+shapemol, we find a unified simple model based on an oblate spheroid placed in different orientations that may explain all the 12CO profiles in the sample, indicating that the gas expansion is in general predominantly equatorial. Moreover, in order to explain the type 4 profiles, we define an extra component which may somehow be a biconical structure or similar. Type 1 and 2 profiles, curiously, may also be explained by standard spherically symmetric envelopes. We conclude that most circumstellar shells around SRs show axial, strongly nonspherical symmetry.Comment: 32 pages, 28 figures, and 10 tables, accepted for publication in A&

Water and agriculture

This chapter shows the strong links between water, agriculture and the economy in Latin America and Caribbean (LAC). Both green and blue water are vital for LAC's economies and for its food security. Awareness of LAC's virtual water trade volumes and water footprints alone will not solve the local or global water problems. However, the awareness gained increases the likelihood that optimized water allocation decisions, which consider the hydrological and economical aspects of water resources, are made. • Agriculture is a significant economic sector for many LAC countries with some being major world players in the agricultural commodities world markets, such is the case for Brazil and Argentina who contribute to 13% of the global green water export. At the micro level, agriculture still plays a significant role for the food security of the population. • The consumptive water use of agricultural production was on average 1,057Gm 3 / yr for the period 1996–2005; of which, 95% corresponds to the green water footprint, whereas 5% refers to the blue component. This indicates that LAC relies heavily on green water for agricultural production, i.e. rain-fed agriculture. • Maize is a fundamental crop in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Mexico and Peru, representing 15% of the total agricultural blue and green water footprint (773,408hm 3 /yr) and contributing to 35% of the agricultural nitrogen pollution, estimated as grey water footprint, in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Peru. Only in Mexico, maize contributes 60% of the agricultural grey water footprint. • Grazing represents 24% of the total green water footprint of agriculture in these countries. The blue water consumption by the animal water supply is very significant in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Mexico and Peru, which amounts to 13% (38,825hm 3 /yr) of the total consumption

Broadcast spawning coral <i>Mussismilia hispida</i> can vertically transfer its associated bacterial core

The hologenome theory of evolution (HTE), which is under fierce debate, presupposes that parts of the microbiome are transmitted from one generation to the next [vertical transmission (VT)], which may also influence the evolution of the holobiont. Even though bacteria have previously been described in early life stages of corals, these early life stages (larvae) could have been inoculated in the water and not inside the parental colony (through gametes) carrying the parental microbiome. How Symbiodinium is transmitted to offspring is also not clear, as only one study has described this mechanism in spawners. All other studies refer to incubators. To explore the VT hypothesis and the key components being transferred, colonies of the broadcast spawner species Mussismilia hispida were kept in nurseries until spawning. Gamete bundles, larvae and adult corals were analyzed to identify their associated microbiota with respect to composition and location. Symbiodinium and bacteria were detected by sequencing in gametes and coral planula larvae. However, no cells were detected using microscopy at the gamete stage, which could be related to the absence of those cells inside the oocytes/dispersed in the mucus or to a low resolution of our approach. A preliminary survey of Symbiodinium diversity indicated that parental colonies harbored Symbiodinium clades B, C and G, whereas only clade B was found in oocytes and planula larvae [5 days after fertilization (a.f.)]. The core bacterial populations found in the bundles, planula larvae and parental colonies were identified as members of the genera Burkholderia, Pseudomonas, Acinetobacter, Ralstonia, Inquilinus and Bacillus, suggesting that these populations could be vertically transferred through the mucus. The collective data suggest that spawner corals, such as M. hispida, can transmit Symbiodinium cells and the bacterial core to their offspring by a coral gamete (and that this gamete, with its bacterial load, is released into the water), supporting the HTE. However, more data are required to indicate the stability of the transmitted populations to indicate whether the holobiont can be considered a unit of natural selection or a symbiotic assemblage of independently evolving organisms