14,484 research outputs found
Rhodobacteraceae on the marine brown alga Fucus spiralis are abundant and show physiological adaptation to an epiphytic lifestyle
No full textMacroalgae harbour specific microbial communities on their surface that have functions related to host health and defence. In this study, the bacterial biofilm of the marine brown alga Fucus spiralis was investigated using 16S rRNA gene amplicon-based analysis and isolation of bacteria. Rhodobacteraceae (Alphaproteobacteria) were the predominant family constituting 23% of the epibacterial community. At the genus level, Sulfitobacter, Loktanella, Octadecabacter and a previously undescribed cluster were most abundant, and together they comprised 89% of the Rhodobacteraceae. Supported by a specific PCR approach, 23 different Rhodobacteraceae-affiliated strains were isolated from the surface of F. spiralis, which belonged to 12 established and three new genera. For seven strains, closely related sequences were detected in the 16S rRNA gene dataset. Growth experiments with substrates known to be produced by Fucus spp. showed that all of them were consumed by at least three strains, and vitamin B12 was produced by 70% of the isolates. Since growth of F. spiralis depends on B12 supplementation, bacteria may provide the alga with this vitamin. Most strains produced siderophores, which can enhance algal growth under iron-deficient conditions. Inhibiting properties against other bacteria were only observed when F. spiralis material was present in the medium. Thus, the physiological properties of the isolates indicated adaption to an epiphytic lifestyle
MABS validation through repeated execution and data mining analysis
No full textAgent Based Modelling is the most interesting and advanced approach for simulating a complex system: in a social context, the single parts and the whole are often very hard to describe in detail. Besides, there are agent based formalisms which allow to study the emergency of social behaviour with the creation and study of models, known as artificial societies. Thanks to the ever increasing computational power, it's been possible to use such models to create software, based on intelligent agents, which aggregate behaviour is complex and difficult to predict, and can be used in open and distributed systems. Data mining is born in the last decades in order to help users in finding useful knowledge from the otherwise overwhelming amount of data available nowadays from the web and the data collected every day by companies. Data Mining techniques can therefore be the keystone to reveal non-trivial knowledge expressed by the initial assumption used to build the micro-level of the model and the structure of the society of agents that emerged from the simulation
Penile Foreign Bodies in Dogs: A Retrospective Study
No full textHematuria, or preputial hemorrhagic discharge, is an extremely common clinical sign; it can be associated with a wide range of diseases, including, even if only rarely, penile foreign bodies. The aim of this retrospective study was to describe the diagnosis and therapy involving migration from the preputial ostium or penile urethra of a foreign body (awn grass) embedded in the connective tissue surrounding the penis, or in deeper inguinal tissues, in dogs with hematuria or preputial hemorrhagic discharge. In the selected cases, signaling, history, clinical signs, results of laboratory exams, endoscopic and ultrasonographic evaluation, and the technique used for foreign body removal were evaluated. Dogs with hemorrhagic discharge consequent to a penile foreign body represented 2% of the entire population considered. At physical examination, the most common features were the presence of swelling of the glans and hyperemia associated with a penile fi stula (4/6 dogs), and pain during penile exteriorization (3/6 dogs). Laboratory results showed mild neutrophilic leukocytosis in 2/3 dogs and reticulocytosis in 1/3 dogs. Endoscopy, performed in 2/6 dogs, did not reveal any alterations associated with passage of the foreign body. Ultrasonography was useful in reaching a defi nitive diagnosis, identifying the position of the grass awn in 6/6 cases and permitting its removal in all dogs using an ultrasound-guided technique. This case report suggested that penile foreign bodies are a rare, but possible, cause of hematuria or hemorrhagic discharge in male dogs, and that ultrasonography is a useful technique in the making of a differential diagnosis and removal of foreign bodies
Idiopatic epilepsy in 125 dogs: a long-term study. Clinical and electroencelographic findings
No full textWell documented cases of confirmed idiopathic epilepsy in125 dogs were evaluated retrospectively. Forty-six breeds (each with no sex predisposition) were examined. Although dogs of all ages were affected, the peak value for the onset of first seizure was between one and five years. Approximately 75 per cent of animals had generalised grand mal type seizures with loss of consciousness. Preictal and postictal phases were present in the majority of dogs. lnterlctal electroencephalographic recordings of 37 anaesthetised dogs were statistically analysed. High frequency and low amplitude paroxysmal discharges with either a focal or generallsed distribution were found in the majority of these dogs. Possible causes for this variation from dog to dog were analysed. It was concluded that, despite anaesthesia, electroencephalographic features were consistent and unique in dogs with idiopathic epilepsy
Facades of the Libreria di San Marco in Venice, The: An Interpretation of the Design Process
No full text"A new work in which I propose an interpretation of the design process Sansovino used to create the magnificent facades of the Libreria di San Marco in Venice, a masterpiece of Renaissance architecture." Sent to Marquand librarian by author Dec. 202
Assessing adoptability in shelter dogs through a behavioral test
No full textIn Italy, a specific law (281/1991) establishes that shelter dogs cannot be euthanized unless dangerous or affected by severe or untreatable diseases. The result of this 'no-kill' policy is that some dogs are kept in shelters for their whole lives. Aim of the research has been to realize a test for adoptability evaluation of shelter dogs, subjecting them to the most common stimuli of urban environment. For the research twenty-six dogs were involved. The dog adoptability evaluation was performed in 4 different steps. Step 1: Evaluation of some important dog characteristics not changeable by a re-education program, such as: age, size, coat colour and dog morphology. Step 2: Information obtained by shelters operators about dog behaviour in the common kennel routine. Step 3: Dog reaction to a direct approach of an unknown person to the shelter fence. Step 4: Last subtest consists of 13 steps based on possible scenarios that approximate/simulate common situations encountered by dogs at home. All the score in the 4 steps represent the dog adoptability index (DAI), a value indicative of the level of desirability that each dog possesses, because of its specific characteristics. On the basis of the DAI obtained scores we created 3 categories: Category 1 - Dogs immediately adoptable (DAI = 80). Category 2 - Dogs with a critic adoptability (60 = DAI = 79). Category 3 - Dogs adoptable with difficulty (DAI = 59). The examined sample had a minimum score of 50.5 and a maximum score of 92.5. 17 of the 26 dogs examined in the present research were adopted. 70% of the dogs adopted belonged to Category 1, 18% to Category 2 and 12% to Category 3. It is very important to identify the problem dogs and subject them to a behavioral modification program as soon as possible to make them adoptable. Only in this way the kennels will become sites for dog redevelopment and will fulfill an important social function, protecting/increasing animal welfare
Assessment of the Coagulation Profile in Canine Multiple Myeloma: A Cohort Investigation in 234 Dogs
No full textHypercoagulability in canine multiple myeloma (MM) as described in humans has not been reported and prognostic factors related to hemostasis have not been investigated.
Aims of this study were: to describe the haemostatic profile in dogs with MM, to detect a possible hypercoagulable state, and to assess whether coagulation parameters have prognostic value. Haemostatic alteration at the initial visit of dogs affected by MM (Group 1, n = 78) were retrieved from the electronic data- base (P.O.A. System-Plus 9.0®) of the San Marco Veterinary Clinic, between 2002–2015. Dogs with MM met the following criteria: bone marrow plasma cells ≥ 15%, osteolytic lesions, serum mono-biclonal gammopathy and extensive coagulation profile including platelet count, aPTT, PT, fibrinogen, thrombin time (TT), FPDs, D-Dimer and antithrombin (AT). Two groups of dogs individually matched for age, breed, and sex were used as controls: healthy dogs (Group 2, n = 78) and sick dogs without MM (Group 3, n = 78). In addition, the hemostatic profile between clinical bleeding (B-MM, n = 45) (e.g., gum bleeding, epistaxis) and no- clinical bleeding (NB-MM, n = 33) dogs with MM was evaluated.
Kruskal-Wallis and Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney tests were used to compare groups. Risk to death at 90 days after diagnosis within B-MM and NB-MM dogs was evaluated by Pearson's X2 test. ROC curves were used to identify the best analyte to predict death.
Prothrombin time and aPTT were increased (p = 0.001) in Group 1 vs groups 2 and 3, TT was increased (p = 0.001) in Group 1 vs 3. The platelet count and AT concentration were decreased in Group 1 vs groups 2 and 3 (p = 0.001). Fibrinogen concentration was decreased in Group 1 vs 3 (p = 0.01). No differences between Groups 1 vs groups 2 and 3 for FDPs and D-dimer were observed. Platelet count and AT concentrations were decreased in B-MM vs NB-MM (p = 0.04; p = 0.026); PT and aPTT and were increased in B-MM vs NB-MM (p = 0.026; p = 0.03). No differences between B-MM and NB-MM were observed for TT, FDPs, D-Dimer. B-MM dogs showed lower mortality rate in respect to NB-MM patient (p < 0.028). The TT resulted the best haemostatic analyte in predicting death in dogs affected with MM (p < 0.04; AUC 64%; 95% CI = 0.48–0.82).
Primary and secondary haemostasis are compromised in dogs with MM while tertiary haemostasis appears unaffected. The hypercoagulable state, opposite to humans, is unlikely in dogs with MM. Surprisingly, dogs with MM and clinical bleeding apparently have protective effect against death. The prediction of mortality in canine MM was related to TT
Case report: Sacral agenesis in two boxer dogs: clinical presentation, diagnostic investigations, and outcome
No full textTwo boxer dogs from the same litter were presented at 3 months of age for urinary and fecal incontinence. Both dogs had an abnormal tail consisting of a small stump, an atonic anal sphincter, and absent perineal reflex and sensation. Neurological evaluation was indicative of a lesion of the cauda equina or sacral spinal cord. Radiology and CT scan of the spine displayed similar findings in the two dogs that were indicative of sacral agenesis. Indeed, they had 6 lumbar vertebrae followed by a lumbosacral transitional vertebra, lacking a complete spinous process, and a hypoplastic vertebra carrying 2 hypoplastic sacral transverse processes as the only remnant of the sacral bone. Caudal vertebrae were absent in one of the dogs. On MRI, one dog had a dural sac occupying the entire spinal canal and ending in a subfascial fat structure. In the other dog, the dural sac finished in an extracanalar, subfascial, well-defined cystic structure, communicating with the subarachnoid space, and consistent with a meningocele. Sacral agenesis—that is the partial or complete absence of the sacral bones—is a neural tube defect occasionally reported in humans with spina bifida occulta. Sacral agenesis has been described in human and veterinary medicine in association with conditions such as caudal regression syndrome, perosomus elumbis, and Currarino syndrome. These neural tube defects are caused by genetic and/or environmental factors. Despite thorough genetic investigation, no candidate variants in genes with known functional impact on bone development or sacral development could be found in the affected dogs. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first report describing similar sacral agenesis in two related boxer dogs
Prevalence of idiopathic epilepsy and structural epilepsy in 74 Boxer dogs in a referral hospital
No full textThe prevalence of idiopathic epilepsy and structural epilepsy in Boxer dogs is unknown. The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the prevalence of structural and idiopathic epilepsy in the Boxer population. A total of 74 Boxer dogs were included in the study from the database of one referral hospital and the following were recorded: signalment, history, clinical findings and results of advanced diagnostic imaging. Five dogs (6.8%) were diagnosed with idiopathic epilepsy, of which one was in the 72 months age group. Sixty-nine dogs (93.2%) were diagnosed with structural epilepsy. Sixty-six had a suspected intracranial neoplasia: Eight were in the 6–72 months age group and represent 66.7% of the dogs in that age group. The other fifty-eight were in the >72 months age group and represent 96.7% of the dogs in that age group. In our Boxer population, 81.8% of the patients had a suspected intra-axial tumor and 22.7% of dogs with an intracranial pathology nevertheless had a normal neurological examination. In conclusion, in the majority of boxer patients the cause of epilepsy is a suspected intracranial neoplasia regardless of the age at presentation. Considering the finding in this study of a low prevalence of presumed idiopathic epilepsy in the Boxer breed, it is recommended that patients who satisfy Tier I confidence level of the “International Veterinary Epilepsy Task Force” (IVETF) also undergo an MRI study of the brain
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