Comparison of two carbonaceous supported Fe-rich adsorbents for arsenate removal: A functionalisation and mechanistic study with applicability to groundwater treatment.

The presence of arsenic in groundwater, and through this in drinking water, has been shown to present a serious risk to public health in many regions of the world. In this study, two iron-rich carbonous adsorbents were compared for the removal of arsenate (As(V)) from groundwater. Biochars (FeO-biochar and FeO-pyrochar) derived from biomass waste were functionalised in two different ways with iron chloride for comparation. Batch and dynamic parameters were optimised to achieve >99% As(V) removal efficiency. Experimental data were best described by the pseudo-second order kinetic model, while multi-stage diffusion appeared to limit mass transfer of As(V). Among the isotherm models evaluated, the Freundlich model best described the experimental results with high correlation coefficients (R2 ≥ 0.94) for both adsorbents. Monolayer adsorption capacities were found to be 4.34 mg/g and 8.66 mg/g for FeO-biochar and FeO-pyrochar, respectively. Batch studies followed by instrumental characterisation of the materials indicated the removal mechanisms involved to be electrostatic interactions (outer-sphere), OH- ligand exchange (inner-sphere complexation) and hydrogen bonding with functional groups. Higher pHpzc (9.1), SBET (167.2 m2/g), and iron/elemental content for the FeO-pyrochar (compared with the FeO-biochar) suggested that both surface chemistry and porosity/surface area were important in adsorption. Dynamic studies showed FeO-pyrochar can be used to remove As(V) from groundwater even at low 'environmental' concentrations relevant to legislative limits (<10 µg/L), whereby 7 g of FeO-pyrochar was able to treat 5.4 L groundwater.

Comparison of Trauma in Dogs due to Direct Motor Vehicle Collision or Fall from Open Pick-up Truck Bed during Transportation (2002-2020).

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to report injuries sustained by dogs following motor vehicle trauma: direct motor vehicle collision (MVC), and fall from an open pickup truck bed during transportation (PTB). STUDY DESIGN: Medical records of dogs involved in motor vehicle trauma between 2002 and 2020 were reviewed. Signalment, mode of injury, injuries sustained, and treatments performed were recorded. An owner questionnaire investigated effects of the trauma on the dog and owner. RESULTS: Six hundred and ninety-eight dogs met the inclusion criteria (569 MVC, 102 PTB). Orthopaedic trauma was significantly more common after PTB (90.2%) (MVC, 75.6%; p = 0.011). There were not any differences in the prevalence of soft tissue injuries between groups (76.4% MVC, 67.6% PTB; p = 0.058), however, MVC dogs had significantly more thoracic (26.9% MVC, 4.4% PTB) and abdominal (12.9% MVC, 0% PTB) trauma (p <0.001). Surgical treatments were performed significantly more often after PTB (71.6%) (MVC, 47.6%) (p <0.001). Discharge rate after PTB (95.0%) was significantly higher (MVC, 84.0%) (p <0.001). Aftercare was reported to be significantly more difficult after PTB (76.2%) (MVC, 34.0%; p = 0.002). CONCLUSION: MVC and PTB result in significantly different trauma. PTB causes predominantly orthopaedic and integument injuries, whereas MVC results in thoracic and abdominal trauma. Survival to discharge is greater following PTB than MVC.

Effect of bupivacaine concentration and formulation on canine chondrocyte viability in vitro.

OBJECTIVE: To quantitate bupivacaine concentration and formulation effects on chondrocyte viability in vitro. STUDY DESIGN: Controlled laboratory study. SAMPLE POPULATION: Primary canine chondrocyte isolates. METHODS: Cell passage 3 and 4 canine chondrocytes were exposed to 0.9% saline; canine chondrocyte growth medium; 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 1.5, 2.5, 3.5, or 5 mg/mL preservative-free standard formulation bupivacaine (SFB); or 13.3 or 6.65 mg/mL liposomal encapsulated bupivacaine (LEB) for 1 hour. Chondrocyte viability and clonogenicity were quantitated with 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-31 yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) and clonogenic assays, respectively. Differences among concentrations and formulations were assessed with Kruskal-Wallis and Dwass-Steel-Critchlow-Fligner post hoc tests. RESULTS: Growth medium had the highest cell viability based on MTT metabolism. Similarly, all LEB concentration groups had higher cell viability compared with SFB concentration cells treated with 3.5 or 5 mg/mL SFB (P < .03). Among SFB concentrations, cell viability was higher at 0.6 mg/mL compared with at 2.5 mg/mL or greater (P < .03). Cell clonogenicity was not significantly different between saline, culture medium, or 0.5 mg/mL SFB. Clonogenicity was lower with all tested LEB concentrations compared with saline or medium (P < .02). CONCLUSION: In vitro toxicity of SFB on canine chondrocytes is concentration dependent. Liposomal encapsulated bupivacaine may have time-dependent effects resulting in chondrotoxicity. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Clinically relevant concentrations of SFB after a single injection may not result in chondrotoxic effects in vitro. Liposomal encapsulated bupivacaine should not be used in the articular environment.

Quantifying organic carbon storage in temperate pond sediments.

Ponds may hold significant stocks of organic carbon in their sediments and pond creation may offer a practical application for land managers to increase carbon storage. However, ponds are overlooked in global carbon budgets. Their potential significance is suggested by the abundance of ponds throughout terrestrial biomes and their high carbon burial rates, but we lack measures of sediment carbon stocks from typical ponds. We sampled sediment from lowland temperate ponds in north east England comparing carbon stocks from ponds categorised by surrounding land use, or dominant vegetation, or drying regime, along with measures of variation within ponds. Sediment carbon varied considerably between ponds. This variation was more important than any systematic variation between pond types grouped by land use, vegetation or drying, or any variation within an individual pond. Our estimates of pond sediment organic carbon give measures that are higher than from soils in widespread habitats such as temperate grassland and woodland, suggesting that ponds are significant for carbon budgets in their own right. Ponds are relatively easy to create, are ubiquitous throughout temperate biomes and can be fitted in amongst other land uses; our results show that pond creation would be a useful and practical application to boost carbon sequestration in temperate landscapes.

Radiographic evaluation of patellar ligament length after tibial plateau leveling osteotomy in dogs.

OBJECTIVE: To radiographically compare patellar ligament length (PLL) in dogs undergoing tibial plateau leveling osteotomy (TPLO) for unilateral cranial cruciate ligament rupture at preoperative, postoperative, and follow-up evaluations. ANIMALS: 105 dogs that underwent TPLO for unilateral cranial cruciate ligament rupture at a referral veterinary hospital from October 1, 2008, through November 30, 2017. PROCEDURES: Medical records were reviewed to obtain information on dog signalment, surgical procedure, and radiographically measured PLL at preoperative, postoperative, and follow-up evaluations. RESULTS: Dogs undergoing TPLO had a shorter PLL at the postoperative and follow-up evaluations, compared with the PLL at the preoperative evaluation. Mean ± SD overall unadjusted PLL decreased significantly by 2.3 ± 3.4% between the preoperative and postoperative evaluation and by 2.8 ± 3.9% between the preoperative and follow-up evaluation. The PLL did not differ significantly between the postoperative and follow-up evaluation; mean PLL decreased by 0.4 ± 3.8% between the postoperative and follow-up evaluation. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The PLL was shorter after TPLO in dogs, which was similar to changes observed for humans after high tibial osteotomy procedures. Further evaluation of clinical assessments, joint mobility, ultrasonographic assessments, and kinematic results are needed to determine the relevance of the PLL and whether a decrease in ligament length results in decreased mobility and persistent lameness in dogs, as has been reported for humans.

Arsenic hazard in Cambodian rice from a market-based survey with a case study of Preak Russey village, Kandal Province.

This study comprises a market-based survey to assess the arsenic (As) hazard of Cambodian rice, encompassing rice from seven Cambodian provinces, comparisons with rice imported from China, Vietnam and Thailand, and assessments of 15 rice varieties. Rice samples (n = 157) were collected from four large markets in Kandal Province and analysed for As using inductively coupled mass spectrometry. The mean As concentration for Cambodian rice (0.185 µg g(-1), range 0.047-0.771 µg g(-1)) was higher than that for imported rice from Vietnam and Thailand (0.162 and 0.157 µg g(-1), respectively) with mean As concentrations highest in rice from Prey Veng Province resulting in a daily dose of 1.77 µg kg(-1) b.w. (body weight) d(-1). Between unmilled rice varieties, Cambodian-grown White Sticky Rice had the highest mean As concentration (0.234 µg g(-1)), whilst White Sticky Rice produced in Thailand had the lowest (0.125 µg g(-1)), suggesting that localised conditions have greater bearing over rice As concentrations than differences in As uptake between individual varieties themselves. A rice and water consumption survey for 15 respondents in the village of Preak Russey revealed mean consumption rates of 522 g d(-1) of rice and 1.9 L d(-1) of water. At water As concentrations >1000 µg L(-1), the relative contribution to the daily dose from rice is low. When water As concentrations are lowered to 50 µg L(-1), daily doses from rice and water are both generally below the 3.0 µg kg(-1) b.w. d(-1) benchmark daily limit for a 0.5% increase in lung cancer, yet when combined they exceeded this value in all but three respondents.

The Effect of Examiner Variability on Multiple Canine Stifle Kinematic Gait Collections in a 3-Dimensional Model.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate examiner variability in a superficial skin marker model of canine stifle kinematics. STUDY DESIGN: Experimental. ANIMALS: Six clinically normal dogs. METHODS: Dogs had 11 retroreflective markers fixed to the skin on the right hindlimb. Dogs were trotted 5 times through the calibrated testing space and this was repeated on 4 different testing days. Examiner A applied all markers to a dog and collected 6 good trials for analysis. The markers were then removed and Examiner B immediately repeated the process on the same dog. This was repeated for each dog on the 4 testing days. The dogs were trotted at a velocity of 1.70-2.10 m/s through the testing space to obtain the dynamic data sets. Comparisons were performed with Fourier analysis and Generalized Indicator Function Analysis (GIFA). Significance was set at P < .05 for all comparisons. RESULTS: Fourier analysis and GIFA found differences within and between examiners. Fourier analysis found no differences in sagittal and transverse planes for the experienced (A) and novice examiner (B), respectively. Fourier analysis detected fewer differences for the experienced examiner (A). CONCLUSION: Variability occurs within and between examiners using the same kinematic model. Transverse and frontal plane kinematics produce variable results between examiners. Prior experience with the model reduces the amount of variability and results in consistent and repeatable sagittal plane kinematic data collection.

Prevalence of circumcaval ureters and double caudal vena cava in cats.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of circumcaval ureters and other caudal vena cava variations in cats and determine whether circumcaval ureters were associated with macroscopic evidence of ureteral obstruction. SAMPLE: 301 domestic cat cadavers obtained from an animal shelter. PROCEDURES: All cat cadavers were examined, and anatomic variations of the ureters and caudal vena cava were recorded. In cadavers with a circumcaval ureter, kidney length, width, and height were measured, and the ureters were examined macroscopically to determine whether there was gross evidence of ureteral obstruction in cats with circumcaval ureters. RESULTS: At least 1 circumcaval ureter was present in 106 of the 301 (35.2%) cats, with a right circumcaval ureter identified in 92 (30.6%) cats, a left circumcaval ureter identified in 4 (1.3%), and bilateral circumcaval ureters identified in 10 (3.3%). Twenty-one (7.0%) cats had a double caudal vena cava, including 2 cats in which the double caudal vena cava was the only anatomic abnormality identified. No sex predilection for anatomic abnormalities was found. Mean right kidney length was significantly greater than mean left kidney length in cats with a right circumcaval ureter. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Circumcaval ureter was present in approximately a third of cats in this study. Variation in the development of the caudal vena cava is the proposed cause. The clinical relevance of this variation is unknown.