The effect of acute and chronic elevation of temperature on aspects of the physiology of Antarctic nototheniid fishes

The notothenioid fishes, which dominate the upper shelf habitats of the Antarctic Continental Shelf, have evolved in a relatively thermally stable environment for at least 10-15 million years. With the upper lethal limits of these fishes around 4-6°C and the lower limits set by the freezing point of seawater, they are described as extreme stenotherms. As a result, it has been hypothesized that these fishes should exhibit marked responses to acute changes in temperature, but that acclimatory effects may be reduced with prolonged exposure to elevated temperatures is not likely to increase their thermal tolerance. This study was designed to investigate aspects of the physiological response of Antarctic nototheniid fishes to both acute and prolonged increases in temperature. Changes in haematology, metabolic scope for activity, cardiovascular performance, aerobic swimming ability and the capacity to tolerate additional stressors were investigated in the Antarctic nototheniid Pagothenia borchgrevinki, with some comparative work carried out on the closely related Trematomus bernacchii and the temperate-water notothenioids Notothenia angustata and Bovichtus variegatus. The responses to an acute change in temperature were found to vary between the closely related Antarctic nototheniids, most likely as a consequence of their differing ecotypes. Plasma glucose levels were measured in these fish for the first time and exhibited a delayed rise in response to an acute increase in temperature. Cardiac performance was found to be closely linked to prolonged swimming ability through thermal changes in P. borchgrevinki, indicating a cardiac limitation of aerobic performance. One factor which became apparent was that the acclimation of Antarctic nototheniids to temperatures only ~2°C above their habitat temperature results in a decrease in thermal sensitivity of a variety of physiological parameters. The most notable finding was that P. borchgrevinki possesses sufficient phenotypic plasticity to warm-acclimate prolonged swimming ability, cardiac performance and osmo-regulatory capacity after 4-6 weeks of exposure to 4°C, suggesting that the Antarctic nototheniids may not be as extremely stenothermal as previously assumed and that the consequences of climate change may not be as dire as has been predicted

Recommendations for raloxifene use in daily clinical practice in the Swiss setting

Background/aim: Raloxifene is the first selective estrogen receptor modulator that has been approved for the treatment and prevention of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women in Europe and in the US. Although raloxifene reduces the risk of invasive breast cancer in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis and in postmenopausal women at high risk for invasive breast cancer, it is approved in that indication in the US but not in the EU. The aim was to characterize the clinical profiles of postmenopausal women expected to benefit most from therapy with raloxifene based on published scientific evidence to date. Methods: Key individual patient characteristics relevant to the prescription of raloxifene in daily practice were defined by a board of Swiss experts in the fields of menopause and metabolic bone diseases and linked to published scientific evidence. Consensus was reached about translating these insights into daily practice. Results: Through estrogen agonistic effects on bone, raloxifene reduces biochemical markers of bone turnover to premenopausal levels, increases bone mineral density (BMD) at the lumbar spine, proximal femur, and total body, and reduces vertebral fracture risk in women with osteopenia or osteoporosis with and without prevalent vertebral fracture. Through estrogen antagonistic effects on breast tissue, raloxifene reduces the risk of invasive estrogen-receptor positive breast cancer in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis and in postmenopausal women at high risk for invasive breast cancer. Finally, raloxifene increases the incidence of hot flushes, the risk of venous thromboembolic events, and the risk of fatal stroke in postmenopausal women at increased risk for coronary heart disease. Postmenopausal women in whom the use of raloxifene is considered can be categorized in a 2×2 matrix reflecting their bone status (osteopenic or osteoporotic based on their BMD T-score by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry) and their breast cancer risk (low or high based on the modified Gail model). Women at high risk of breast cancer should be considered for treatment with raloxifene. Conclusion: Postmenopausal women between 50 and 70years of age without climacteric symptoms with either osteopenia or osteoporosis should be evaluated with regard to their breast cancer risk and considered for treatment with raloxifene within the framework of its contraindications and precaution

Therapeutic efficacy of milbemycin oxime/praziquantel oral formulation (Milbemax®) against Thelazia callipaeda in naturally infested dogs and cats

BACKGROUND: Over the last few decades, canine and feline thelaziosis caused by Thelazia callipaeda eye worms has gained the attention of the veterinary community due to the spread of this ocular infestation in geographical areas previously regarded as non endemic. The therapeutic efficacy of milbemycin oxime/praziquantel tablets (Milbemax®) against T. callipaeda was tested in naturally infested dogs and cats. METHODS: From January 2009 to July 2011 a placebo controlled and randomized field study was conducted in T. callipaeda endemic areas of Switzerland (CH) and Italy (ITA) involving client-owned animals. Dogs (n = 56) and cats (n = 31) were physically examined at enrolment Day 0 (D0) and twice afterwards (D7 and D14). Infested animals were orally treated with Milbemax® or with placebo tablets on D0 and, if an animal was found still infested with T. callipaeda, also on D7. On D14 nematodes were flushed from the conjunctiva, identified and counted. RESULTS: Out of 56 dogs, 43 were included in the statistical analysis, whereas 13 were excluded because the products under investigation were not administered with food, as required by the label. On D7 and D14, 72.7% and 90.9% of treated dogs were eye worm free, whereas in the placebo group 95.2% and 76.2% still harbored nematodes, resulting in a mean percentage worm count reduction for the Milbemax® group of 86.1% and 96.8%, respectively. Both results were significantly higher (p = 0.0001) than the placebo group. Out of the 31 cats included in the study at D7 and D14, 53.3% and 73.3% treated with Milbemax® were free of T. callipaeda, while 81.3% and 73.3 in the placebo group were still harbouring eye worms, resulting in a mean percentage worm count reduction for the treated group of 62.2% and 80.0%, respectively. Both results were significantly higher (p = 0.0106 and p = 0.0043) than the placebo group. CONCLUSIONS: The commercial formulation of milbemycin oxime at the minimal dose of 0.5 mg/kg and 2 mg/k in dogs and cats, respectively, showed a high therapeutic efficacy in curing T. callipaeda infestations. The advantages of an oral application are additionally increased by the large spectrum of activity of praziquantel and milbemycin oxime against Cestodes and Nematodes infesting dogs and cats

Hydropneumbox: yesterday, today, tomorrow

Викладено історію розвитку гідроприводу, як найважливішого засобу механізації і автоматизації виробничих процесів. Відзначено внесок вітчизняних вчених у становлення теорії гідравлічного і пневматичного привод у як науки. Підкреслено провідну роль України в розробці та виробництві елементів і систем гідропневмоприводів. Показані нові тенденції і принципи функціонування мехатронних гідропневмосистем, які забезпечили широкомасштабне впровадження їх в гнучкі автоматизовані виробництва.The prerequisites and history of the emergence and development of industrial hydraulic drive as the most important means of mechanization and automation of production processes is outlined. The contribution of domestic scientists in the process of establishing the theory of hydraulic and pneumatic actuator as science is noted. The leading role of Ukraine both in the past and in the post-Soviet space in the development and production of elements and systems of hydro-pneumatic actuators is underlined, the main enterprise-developers and manufacturers of this equipment are listed. Much attention is paid to the modern stage of development of this industry as an integral part of mechatronic systems. New trends and principles of the functioning of mechatronic hydropneumatic systems are shown, which ensured their large-scale introduction into flexible automated production. Examples of modern elements of mechatronic hydropneumatic systems and schemes of their use in industrial processes are given

Transition to Long Range Magnetic Order in the Highly Frustrated Insulating Pyrochlore Antiferromagnet Gd_2Ti_2O_7

Experimental evidence from measurements of the a.c. and d.c. susceptibility, and heat capacity data show that the pyrochlore structure oxide, Gd_2Ti_2O_7, exhibits short range order that starts developing at 30K, as well as long range magnetic order at $T\sim 1$K. The Curie-Weiss temperature, $\theta_{CW}$ = -9.6K, is largely due to exchange interactions. Deviations from the Curie-Weiss law occur below $\sim$10K while magnetic heat capacity contributions are found at temperatures above 20K. A sharp maximum in the heat capacity at $T_c=0.97$K signals a transition to a long range ordered state, with the magnetic specific accounting for only $\sim$ 50% of the magnetic entropy. The heat capacity above the phase transition can be modeled by assuming that a distribution of random fields acts on the $^8S_{7/2}$ ground state for Gd$^{3+}$. There is no frequency dependence to the a.c. susceptibility in either the short range or long range ordered regimes, hence suggesting the absence of any spin-glassy behavior. Mean field theoretical calculations show that no long range ordered ground state exists for the conditions of nearest-neighbor antiferromagnetic exchange and long range dipolar couplings. At the mean-field level, long range order at various commensurate or incommensurate wave vectors is found only upon inclusion of exchange interactions beyond nearest-neighbor exchange and dipolar coupling. The properties of Gd$_2Ti_2O_7 are compared with other geometrically frustrated antiferromagnets such as the Gd_3Ga_5O_{12} gadolinium gallium garnet, RE_2Ti_2O_7 pyrochlores where RE = Tb, Ho and Tm, and Heisenberg-type pyrochlore such as Y_2Mo_2O_7, Tb_2Mo_2O_7, and spinels such as ZnFe_2O_4Comment: Letter, 6 POSTSCRIPT figures included. (NOTE: Figure 5 is not included --) To appear in Physical Review B. Contact: [email protected]