Control of apple scab by curative applications of biocontrol agents

In organic apple growing protective applications with copper, sulphur or lime sulphur are used for apple scab control. Protective applications have to be repeated when new leaves unfold. The timing of protective sprays depends on the weather forecast. If forecasted infection conditions fail to appear, treatments were for nothing. With curative control agents available, the number of treatments could be reduced. In greenhouse trials we tested control agents for their protective and curative efficiency against apple scab after artificial inoculation of potted apple trees. Applications were done 2 hours before inoculation, 5 hours after inoculation on wet leaves, 5 hours after inoculation during simulated rainfall or 24 hours after inoculation on wet or dry leaves. The optimal time of application differed between the preparations tested. Vitisan and OmniProtect had their highest activity when sprayed curative 24 hours after inoculation. Combinations were found, which revealed a high efficiency against apple scab from 2h before to 24 hours after inoculation. In a field trial apple scab was effectively controlled by curative applications of OmniProtect

Study program for lift fan noise reduction and suppression

V/STOL aircraft lift fan noise reduction and suppressio

The Evidence Behind the Treatment of Canine Idiopathic Epilepsy

Oral phenobarbital and imepitoin in particular, followed by potassium bromide and levetiracetam are likely to be effective for the treatment of canine idiopathic epilepsy. There is strong evidence supporting the use of oral phenobarbital and imepitoin as ‘first line’ medications. However, there remains a lack of evidence for targeted treatment for the various individual epileptic phenotypes and quite limited evidence on direct comparisons of the efficacy between various anti-epileptic drugs

The Evidence Behind the Diagnostic Investigation of Canine Idiopathic Epilepsy

<p><strong>Clinical bottom line</strong></p><p>There remains until recently an overall lack of clarity for the practical criteria for the diagnosis of canine idiopathic epilepsy. Signalment and an interictal neurological examination are vital for the diagnosis of idiopathic epilepsy. Despite the current insufficient evidence, the emerge of new diagnostic methods, such as cerebrospinal fluid and/or serum biomarkers, advanced functional neuroimaging techniques and electroencephalography, is likely to change the diagnostic approach in canine epilepsy in the near future.</p

Preliminary assessment of cognitive impairments in canine idiopathic epilepsy

In humans, epilepsy can induce or accelerate cognitive impairment (CI). There is emerging evidence of CI in dogs with idiopathic epilepsy (IE) from recent epidemiological studies. The aim of our study was to assess CI in dogs with IE using two tests of cognitive dysfunction designed for use in a clinical setting. Dogs with IE (n=17) were compared against controls (n=18) in their performance in two tasks; a spatial working memory task and a problem-solving task. In addition, owners completed the Canine Cognitive Dysfunction Rating (CCDR) scale for their dog. The groups did not differ statistically with respect to age and breed. Dogs with IE performed significantly worse than controls on the spatial working memory task (P=0.016), but not on the problem solving task (P=0.683). CCDR scores were significantly higher in the IE group (P=0.016); however, no dogs reach the recommended threshold score for CCD diagnosis. Our preliminary data suggest that dogs with IE exhibit impairments in a spatial working memory task. Further research is required to explore the effect of IE on other cognitive abilities in dogs with a larger sample, characterising the age of onset, nature and progression of any impairments and the impact of anti-epileptic drugs

Epilepsy beyond seizures: a review of the impact of epilepsy and its comorbidities on health-related quality of life in dogs

Epilepsy is one of the most common chronic neurological conditions in the dog, estimated to affect 0.6 to 0.75 per cent of dogs. Owners of dogs with epilepsy have previously indicated that their dog's quality of life (QoL) is of greatest importance to them above seizure frequency; however, much of the research into canine epilepsy to date has focussed on seizure frequency, and how to reduce it via antiepileptic drug treatment. In people, the impact of epilepsy upon QoL has been widely studied, exploring not only its impact on physical health, but also the psychological health and cognitive capabilities of affected individuals. This paper reviews the existing literature on canine epilepsy, identifies potential threats to QoL, and draws parallels from human epilepsy research. We suggest that canine epilepsy poses threats to both quality and quantity of life, with treatment interventions posing a fine balance of potential benefits and harms to the patient. At present, little is known about the neurobehavioural, emotional and cognitive effects of epilepsy upon affected dogs. Further studies are needed to establish the extent to which unknown QoL-inhibiting comorbidities exist in the dog, in order to avoid their undertreatment, and to objectively quantify the effects of epilepsy on canine QoL

Polarization-dependence of palladium deposition on ferroelectric lithium niobate (0001) surfaces

We investigate the effect of ferroelectric polarization direction on the geometric properties of Pd deposited on the positive and negative surfaces of LiNbO$_3$ (0001). We predict preferred geometries and diffusion properties of small Pd clusters using density functional theory, and use these calculations as the basis for kinetic Monte Carlo simulations of Pd deposition on a larger scale. Our results show that on the positive surface, Pd atoms favor a clustered configuration, while on the negative surface, Pd atoms are adsorbed in a more dispersed pattern due to suppression of diffusion and agglomeration. This suggests that the effect of LiNbO$_3$ polarization direction on the catalytic activity of Pd [J. Phys. Chem. \textbf{88}, 1148 (1984)] is due, at least in part, to differences in adsorption geometry. Further investigations using these methods can aid the search for catalysts whose activities switch reversibly with the polarization of their ferroelectric substrates

Physiological reactivity to spontaneously occurring seizure activity in dogs with epilepsy and their carers

There is a complex bidirectional relationship between stress and epilepsy. Stressful stimuli and subsequent cortisol release act as a trigger for seizure activity in some individuals with epilepsy, and seizure activity itself may act as a stressor to the affected individual. Epilepsy is the most common chronic neurological condition in domestic dogs and requires chronic management by their human carers, impacting upon the quality of life of both dog and carer. Seizures occur unpredictably and may be stressful for carers to witness and manage. In the present study we investigated the role of seizure activity as a stressor, measuring the effect of spontaneously occurring seizure activity in dogs with epilepsy upon their own cortisol levels and that of their carers. Furthermore, we tested whether individual differences in HPA reactivity were associated with owner personality characteristics and the quality of the dog carer relationship. Saliva samples were obtained from sixteen dog carer dyads in the home setting 20 and 40 minute post-seizure, and at time-matched points on the following (non-seizure) day. Significant differences in cortisol levels were found in dogs at 40 minute post-seizure (265.1% increase), and at 20 minute post-seizure in their carers (40.5% increase). No associations were found between cortisol reactivity and the strength of the dog-carer bond. Carers with higher neuroticism scores exhibited higher cortisol levels at both post-seizure sampling points. As there was a gender bias in the carer sample (15/16 were female), and there are known sex differences in cortisol reactivity in response to psychological stress, the conclusions of this study may be limited to female carers. These findings are the first to objectively demonstrate the acutely stressful effects of seizures in dogs with epilepsy and their carers