The Effect of Pet Remedy on the Behaviour of the Domestic Dog (Canis familiaris)

This is the final version of the article. Available from MDPI via the DOI in this record.Stress-affected behaviour in companion animals can have an adverse effect on animal health and welfare and their relationships with humans. This stress can be addressed using chemical treatments, often in conjunction with behavioural therapies. Here, we investigated the efficacy of one commercial pharmacological intervention, Pet Remedy, advertised as a natural stress relief product for mammals. We aimed to see whether the product lowered stress-affected behaviour in dogs placed in a non-familiar environment. Behavioural responses of 28 dogs were video recorded using a double-blind, placebo-controlled, and counterbalanced repeated measures design. Dogs were exposed to both a placebo and Pet Remedy plug-in diffuser for 30 min with an intervening period of approximately 7 days between conditions. Multivariate regression analysis identified no significant differences in behaviour in either the Pet Remedy or placebo condition. In conclusion, in the current study, Pet Remedy did not reduce behavioural indicators indicative of a stress response. To determine the effects of Pet Remedy, future research using a larger sample size and controlling for breed would be beneficial.The study was sponsored by Unex Designs Ltd. (the company that manufactures Pet Remedy) and diffusers were provided by the company free of charge and without restrictions within the aims of the study however, it should be noted that Unex Designs Ltd. and all related personnel were not directly involved in the study. The founding sponsors had no role in the design of the study; in the collection, analyses, or interpretation of data; in the writing of the manuscript, and in the decision to publish the results

Progress towards eliminating iodine deficiency in South Africa

Before the introduction of salt iodisation in 1954, South Africa was one of the many countries of the world with a lack of iodine in most of its territory and hence there was a need for a salt iodisation programme. The understanding of the iodine situation in South Africa, the basics of iodine nutrition and progress toward eliminating iodine deficiency internationally and in South Africa are reviewed in this paper. Voluntary salt iodisation in the country at 10¿20 ppm introduced in 1954 failed to eliminate endemic goitre and iodine deficiency. In contrast, considerable progress has been achieved in South Africa in eliminating iodine deficiency by introducing mandatory iodisation of table salt at 40¿60 ppm in 1995. A 1998 survey showed that optimal iodine nutrition was achieved nationally and in seven of the nine provinces, with more than adequate iodine intake in two provinces. At that time, 86.4% of households used iodised salt and 62.4% used adequately iodised salt that contained more than 15 ppm of iodine, with low coverage rates

Property and Shape Modulation of Carbon Fibers Using Lasers

An exciting challenge is to create unduloid-reinforcing fibers with tailored dimensions to produce synthetic composites with improved toughness and increased ductility. Continuous carbon fibers, the state-of-the-art reinforcement for structural composites, were modified via controlled laser irradiation to result in expanded outwardly tapered regions, as well as fibers with Q-tip (cotton-bud) end shapes. A pulsed laser treatment was used to introduce damage at the single carbon fiber level, creating expanded regions at predetermined points along the lengths of continuous carbon fibers, while maintaining much of their stiffness. The range of produced shapes was quantified and correlated to single fiber tensile properties. Mapped Raman spectroscopy was used to elucidate the local compositional and structural changes. Irradiation conditions were adjusted to create a swollen weakened region, such that fiber failure occurred in the laser treated region producing two fiber ends with outwardly tapered ends. Loading the tapered fibers allows for viscoelastic energy dissipation during fiber pull-out by enhanced friction as the fibers plough through a matrix. In these tapered fibers, diameters were locally increased up to 53%, forming outward taper angles of up to 1.8°. The tensile strength and strain to failure of the modified fibers were significantly reduced, by 75% and 55%, respectively, ensuring localization of the break in the expanded region; however, the fiber stiffness was only reduced by 17%. Using harsher irradiation conditions, carbon fibers were completely cut, resulting in cotton-bud fiber end shapes. Single fiber pull-out tests performed using these fibers revealed a 6.75-fold increase in work of pull-out compared to pristine carbon fibers. Controlled laser irradiation is a route to modify the shape of continuous carbon fibers along their lengths, as well as to cut them into controlled lengths leaving tapered or cotton-bud shapes

Dynamic Substance Flow Analysis as a Valuable Risk Evaluation Tool – A Case Study for Brominated Flame Retardants as an Example of Potential Endocrine Disrupters

Most studies of potentially hazardous substances focus on aspects of their occurrence and fate in the environment (monitoring and modelling studies) to estimate the environmental impact and the potential exposure of humans. In order to evaluate emission sources, to recognise environmental impacts at an early stage, and to take efficient legislative or technical measures, it is essential to know their behaviour in the anthroposphere as a function of time. So far, only very few investigations of this type exist for chemicals. In regular risk assessments, only rather limited knowledge is available concerning the behaviour of chemicals in the anthroposphere (production data, substance quantities in products, recycling rates, emissions occurring during use, etc.) or their lifecycle, and no information at all about their behaviour as a function of time. For this reason, it is these aspects that were investigated in a case study within the framework of the national research programme NRP50 for selected brominated flame retardants with endocrine-disrupting potential (pentabromodiphenyl ether, hexabromocyclododecane) or the potential to degrade to such substances (decabromodiphenyl ether). A dynamic substance flow analysis (SFA) model was performed for Switzerland for the time period 1980–2020. In this review paper (a) we present a summary of typical results (system overview, consumption trends/application patterns, anthropogenic stocks and their changes, emission trends including major sources and environmental fate), (b) we summarize the effectiveness of recent risk-reduction measures in Switzerland and (c) we indicate serious remaining data gaps and recommend further important measures for risk reduction. For the future, we suggest improving the knowledge of the lifecycle of chemicals such as brominated flame retardants by applying SFA as a suitable tool to weight the effect of substance flows with respect to environmental emissions, and to serve as the basis for planning actions and measures to reduce such emissions. This is in line with one major conclusion of the NRP50 consensus platform 'Brominated Flame Retardants'

Can nitrogen isotopes be used to detect the effects of burning on nitrogen cycling? : a study on Pinus resinosa in Minnesota, USA

Pinus resinosa stands in Minnesota, USA were surveyed and fine and coarse roots from stands were analysed for nitrogen isotopes in an attempt to determine if fire effects nitrogen cycling. Fire increased the % nitrogen of coarse roots and changed the ratio of C: N. It may also decrease the depth of the A-horizon. It did not however affect the nitrogen isotope ratio of stands. Isotope values of coarse roots were affected by the depth of the A-horizon, which is consistent with other studies. A correlation between the ¹⁵N values of coarse and fine roots was found however fine roots were enriched proportionately to coarse roots. This suggests that they may be using a more enriched source of nitrogen such as ammonia although this is not conclusive. A PCA performed on site variables and isotope values determined the two major axes for sites were bum history and nitrogen cycle openness but that burning did not affect the second axis. A stepwise backwards regression showed the best predictors of a roots isotope value were, in decreasing order, the isotope value of coarse roots for fine roots and vice versa, the % nitrogen of roots and the age of stands. Coarse and fine roots showed opposite trends with % nitrogen. As the % nitrogen increased, fine roots were more ¹⁵N enriched, again pointing to different nitrogen sources for coarse and fine roots. Older stands do appear to have a more open nitrogen cycle, as roots were ¹⁵N enriched in these stands. The availability of different forms of nitrogen may influence the ¹⁵N signal of roots especially if fine roots are preferentially using ammonia. Therefore, it is not possible to say if isotope values are due to stand openness, or due to different resources use by roots

Can nitrogen isotopes be used to detect the effects of burning on nitrogen cycling? A study on Pinus resinosa in Minnesota, USA

Pinus resinosa stands in Minnesota, USA were surveyed and fine and coarse roots from stands were analysed for nitrogen isotopes in an attempt to determine if fire effects nitrogen cycling. Fire increased the % nitrogen of coarse roots and changed the ratio of C: N. It may also decrease the depth of the A-horizon. It did not however affect the nitrogen isotope ratio of stands. Isotope values of coarse roots were affected by the depth of the A-horizon, which is consistent with other studies. A correlation between the 15N values of course and fine roots was found however fine roots were enriched proportionately to coarse roots. This suggests that they may be using a more enriched source of nitrogen such as ammonia although this is not conclusive. A PCA performed on site variables and isotope values determined the two major axes for sites were bum history and nitrogen cycle openness but that burning did not affect the second axis. A stepwise backwards regression showed the best predictors of a root's isotope value were, in decreasing order, the isotope value of coarse roots for fine roots and vice versa, the % nitrogen of roots and the age of stands. Coarse and fine roots showed opposite trends with % nitrogen. As the % nitrogen increased, fine roots were more 15 N enriched, again pointing to different nitrogen sources for coarse and fine roots. Older stands do appear to have a more open nitrogen cycle, as roots were 15N enriched in these stands. The availability of different forms of nitrogen may influence the 15N signal of roots especially if fine roots are preferentially using ammonia. Therefore, it is not possible to say if isotope values are due to stand openness, or due to different resources use by roots

Can nitrogen isotopes be used to detect the effects of burning on nitrogen cycling? : a study on Pinus resinosa in Minnesota, USA

Pinus resinosa stands in Minnesota, USA were surveyed and fine and coarse roots from stands were analysed for nitrogen isotopes in an attempt to determine if fire effects nitrogen cycling. Fire increased the % nitrogen of coarse roots and changed the ratio of C: N. It may also decrease the depth of the A-horizon. It did not however affect the nitrogen isotope ratio of stands. Isotope values of coarse roots were affected by the depth of the A-horizon, which is consistent with other studies. A correlation between the ¹⁵N values of coarse and fine roots was found however fine roots were enriched proportionately to coarse roots. This suggests that they may be using a more enriched source of nitrogen such as ammonia although this is not conclusive. A PCA performed on site variables and isotope values determined the two major axes for sites were bum history and nitrogen cycle openness but that burning did not affect the second axis. A stepwise backwards regression showed the best predictors of a roots isotope value were, in decreasing order, the isotope value of coarse roots for fine roots and vice versa, the % nitrogen of roots and the age of stands. Coarse and fine roots showed opposite trends with % nitrogen. As the % nitrogen increased, fine roots were more ¹⁵N enriched, again pointing to different nitrogen sources for coarse and fine roots. Older stands do appear to have a more open nitrogen cycle, as roots were ¹⁵N enriched in these stands. The availability of different forms of nitrogen may influence the ¹⁵N signal of roots especially if fine roots are preferentially using ammonia. Therefore, it is not possible to say if isotope values are due to stand openness, or due to different resources use by roots

An integrated approach for the restoration of Australian temperate grasslands invaded by Nassella trichotoma

Invasive plants are considered to be one of the biggest threats to environmental assets, and once established, they can be immensely difficult to control. Nassella trichotoma is an aggressive, perennial grass species, and is considered to be one of the most economically damaging weeds to grazing systems due to its unpalatability, as well as being one of the leading causes of biodiversity loss in grassland communities. This species produces high density seedbanks that rapidly respond to disturbance events. Despite control programs being developing in Australia since the 1930s, this species is still widespread throughout south-east Australia, indicating that a new management approach is critical to control this Weed of National Significance at the landscape scale. The present study explored the effect of 12 different combinations of herbicide, fire, a second application of herbicide, grazing exclusion, tillage and broadcasting seeds in order to reduce the above and below-ground density of N. trichotoma. A control treatment was also included. The results were assessed using a Hierarchy analysis, whereby treatments of increasing complexity were compared for their efficacy in reducing N. trichotoma cover and seedbank density, while simultaneously increasing the establishment of the broadcast species. Whilst all integrated treatments effectively reduced N. trichotoma’s seedbank, the treatments that included fire performed significantly better at simultaneously reducing N. trichotoma and increasing the establishment of broadcasted seeds. Overall, the integration of herbicide, fire and broadcasting native seeds was observed to provide the most economically feasible management strategy for the landscape scale restoration of a degraded temperate grassland dominated by N. trichotoma. © 2022, The Author(s)