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Canine parvovirus 2 (CPV-2) is an important causative agent of segmental enteritis in young dogs and has globally distributed variants and subtypes. Viral mutations can alter the pathogenesis and clinical signs, making identifying the samples circulating in a given region relevant. This study described the epidemiological and clinical findings and the molecular characterization of CPV-2 samples circulating in the canine population of Uruguaiana, Rio Grande do Sul (RS), Brazil. We analyzed 27 cases with a complete clinical history and at least one confirmatory etiologic diagnosis. In addition to clinical and epidemiological data, whole blood samples or tissues were tested by PCR for viral DNA detection. Amplified products were sequenced and analyzed, and phylogeny was generated with reference sequences. The disease was diagnosed especially in the summer months, and the most common clinical findings were diarrhea, anorexia, listlessness, and vomiting. Infection was predominant in young (< 6 months) unvaccinated or partially immunized dogs, with mortality exceeding 93%. It was possible to identify 15 CPV-2 samples, four of which were CPV-2a and 11 were new CPV-2a. It can be concluded that canine parvovirus is a disease with high mortality rates, with young unvaccinated dogs being more susceptible, with a predominance of the new CPV-2a variant in the western region of Rio Grande do Sul. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It aimed to compare the trans anesthetic clinical and perioperative analgesic effects by prolonged continuous infusion of fentanyl (GF, bolus of 5 µg/kg and continuous infusion (CI) of 15 µg/kg/h) or remifentanil (GR, CI of 18 µg/kg/h) in dogs undergoing to elective ovariohysterectomy. Twenty female healthy dogs were premedicated with acepromazine, inducted to unconsciousness with propofol and kept under anesthesia with isoflurane. The M0 (baseline) was recorded and animals were randomly allocated in GF (n = 10) or GR (n = 10), recording clinical and blood gas parameters every 15 minutes (M15...M120) for two hours and, after, during surgery, adjusting the opioid rate according to surgical requirement. The isoflurane vaporization reduced by up to 47% and 42% in GF and GR, respectively, when compared to M0. During the first two hours of CI, six animals of each group required atropine intervention and three animals of GF required ephedrine. The number of rate adjustments during intraoperative was significant higher in GR when compared to GF (P = 0.0248). By the Log-rank test, there was a higher possibility of not receiving analgesic rescue in the first 30 minutes of postoperative in GF when compared to GR (P < 0.0001) and all animals required analgesic rescue during the firsts 3 and 6 hours in GR and GF, respectively. It is concluded that, when the proposal continuous infusions were compared, fentanyl required fewer analgesic rescues during perioperative, nonetheless, it is recommended rate adjustment during intraoperative and additional analgesia for postoperative for both treatments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sinonasal neoplasms represent approximately 1% of all neoplasms and represent a major challenge for treatment. The treatment of nasal tumors must be local, and radiotherapy can be a good option in these cases. This study evaluated the therapeutic response of canine sinonasal neoplasms to megavoltage radiotherapy, and consequently, its influence on the survival and quality of life of these animals. We included 26 dogs with sinonasal neoplasms through histopathological and cytological examination. Dogs were treated with radiotherapy at total doses of 42–54 Gy (for carcinomas) and 45 Gy (for sarcomas) in 15–18 fractions of 2.8–3.0 Gy. Tumor staging was performed based on skull tomography. The most frequent clinical signs of sinonasal neoplasms were sneezing, nasal noise, and epistaxis. Acute side effects were mild and more frequent. Survival was evaluated based on tumor stage, obtaining a mean overall survival of 329 days (95% confidence interval, 229–428) and a median of 252.5 days. The survival time in animals in stage T3/T4 was significantly shorter than that in those in stage T1/T2 (P < 0.05). Moreover, 86.4% of the treated animals showed clinical improvement. Radiotherapy was well tolerated by dogs and effective in controlling sinonasal neoplasms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The potential energy of compressed air represents a multi-application source of power. Historically employed to drive certain manufacturing or transportation systems, it became a source of vehicle propulsion in the late 19th century. During the second half of the 20th century, significant efforts were directed towards harnessing pressurized air for the storage of electrical energy. Today's systems, which are based on storing the air at a high pressure, are usually recognized as compressed air energy storage (CAES) installations. This paper aims to provide an overview of different technologies that take advantage of the energy accumulated in the compressed air. Particular attention is paid to the CAES installations that are working as electrical energy storage systems (EESs). These systems, developed originally as large capacity (>100 MWe) and fuel-based installations, may soon become fully scalable, highly efficient, and fuel-free electrical energy storage systems. To present this opportunity, a thorough review encompassing previous and up-to-date advancements in their development was carried out. In particular, CAES concepts, such as diabatic (D-CAES), adiabatic (A-CAES), and isothermal (I-CAES), are described in detail. This review also provides the detailed characteristics of the crucial elements of these configurations, including compressors, expanders, air storage chambers, and thermal storage tanks. Knowledge of these components and their role allows us to understand the main challenges behind the further development of the mentioned CAES setups. Apart from the CAES systems that are designed as EES systems, this paper describes other prospective technologies that utilize the energy of pressurized air. Accordingly, compressed air cars and their key elements are explained in detail. Moreover, the technology renowned as wave-driven compressed air energy storage (W-CAES) is described as well, indicating that the utilization of pressurized air represents a viable option for converting ocean energy into electrical power. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hip dysplasia (CFD) is the most common orthopedic case in small animal clinics, and, from this, other conditions can arise, such as lateral dislocation of the patella. The objective of this work is to present the preventive surgical treatment for DCF, using the technique of juvenile pubic symphysiodesis (SPJ), and also the surgical treatment to correct lateral patellar dislocation using the trochlear chondroplasty technique in a 4-month-old canine patient., who had hip instability and a history of lameness in the right pelvic limb. SPJ constitutes a prophylactic treatment for FCD that consists of the induced suspension of bone growth in the pubic symphysis region. Trochlear chondroplasty was the technique for deepening the trochlear groove which, together with intervention in the soft tissues, had the function of fixing the patella in its anatomical position. It is concluded that the use of the SPJ technique had the main function of preventing CFD in a young animal, just as trochlear chondroplasty had the reestablishment of normal function of the affected limb. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present era, the electrical network faces difficulty owing to the restricted supply of conventional energy resources. Solar and wind power are supremely acceptable renewable energy around the globe due to their cheap availability, zero fuel costs, and environmental safety features. Maintaining power balance in a renewable combined day‐ahead power network becomes challenging owing to the uncertainty of renewable sources, resulting in economic instability. An energy‐storing device is essential for combining renewable sources with existing thermal power plants to control the energy supply and maintain system stability. Any government agency in the deregulated market does not set up energy pricing. The ISO (independent system operator) is the primary organization in the day‐ahead power network that is responsible for collecting energy bids from DISCOs (distribution companies), TRANSCOs (transmission companies), and GENCOs (generation companies). The energy pricing is set by the market regulator at a rate known as Location‐based marginal pricing (LBMP), which provides benefits to GENCOs, and DISCOs as well as the customers. In a deregulated market, the unpredictability of renewable sources affects system profit owing to the creation of instability cost (ISC), induced by mismatching the bidding power production from the renewable plant. To lessen these concerns, the presented approach has proposed an innovative model that employs ideal scheduling of the WF (wind‐farm)‐CAES (compressed‐air‐energy‐storage)‐fuel cell (FC) hybrid systems to enhance system economic profitability while keeping the grid frequency (GF) in the safe zone. The fuel cell acts as the energy‐storing device that can be utilized during high‐demand times on the grid, with the ultimate goal of maximizing profits for the overall system. The CAES system's energy level is separated into four dissimilar points, and this study presents an optimum approach for efficiently using it to maintain grid frequency. The new strategy outperformed the previous methods in all categories. The study was performed using the IEEE 30 bus test system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Infectious enteritis is highly prevalent among dogs worldwide and, in some cases, it can be fatal. This study describes the clinical and laboratorial findings of single and mixed infections associated with severe enteritis in 76 dogs from Southern Brazil. Intestinal segments and/or fecal samples were subjected to histopathology and molecular detection of DNA viruses, bacteria and protozoa. Severe intestinal lesions were observed in most cases. Single infections were detected in 52.6% of cases, double (36.8%) and triple (10.5%) infections were also identified. Carnivore protoparvovirus 2 (CPV-2) was the most frequent agent in single infections (36.8%). Coinfection by CPV-2 and Giardia spp. was the most common in dual infections (19.7%), followed by CPV-2 and Cryptosporidium spp. (10.5%). The most frequent triple infection was CPV-2, Giardia sp. and Cryptosporidium spp. (6.6%). Our results shown that single and mixed infections are associated with severe enteritis in dogs in southern Brazil, mainly involving CPV-2 and Giardia sp. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This survey analyzed data obtained through a questionnaire on the clinical approaches used by veterinarians to treat dogs with epileptic seizures. We found that neurological examinations were performed by 12% of the respondents, blood tests by 85%, and computed tomography by 72%. In addition, serology for infectious disease detection was mentioned by 30% of the respondents, and 72% did not classify epileptic seizures. According to the answers, the treatment of choice was phenobarbital in 100% of cases which was combined with potassium bromide in 19%. Moreover, 51% of the respondents mentioned that they monitored the serum phenobarbital levels. The study results showed disagreements on the conduct and care recommended by the International Veterinary Epilepsy Task Force consensus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Digestive endoscopy is an advanced and non-invasive technology that contributes to the diagnosis and therapeutic management of the various diseases of the gastrointestinal tract that affect canines. The advantages of the technique include diagnostic accuracy, easier handling and the possibility of collecting samples through biopsy, however, its limitations are linked to complications in the anesthetic procedure and the difficulty in evaluating some structures. Thus, gastroscopy, the focus of this study, is a widely used tool that aims to help resolve clinical conditions in patients affected by different gastropathies. Therefore, the objective of this study was to promote, based on a literature review, a general approach to this examination in dogs, highlighting the main aspects of the technique and its application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the widespread recognition of underground salt cavern compressed air storage at home and abroad, how to choose and evaluate salt cavern resources has become a key issue in the construction of gas storage. This paper discussed the condition of building power plants, the collection of regional data and salt plant data, and the analysis of stability and tightness. Comprehensive analysis and evaluation methods were put forward from four aspects, including ground comprehensive conditions, regional geological conditions and formation lithology, salt mine characteristics, stability, and tightness of salt caverns. The limit equilibrium theory was applied to establish the limit equilibrium failure mode of salt caverns under operating pressure, and the stability coefficient calculation method of the target salt cavern was determined by combining the mechanical characteristics. Based on the physical and mechanical properties of salt rocks, it was found that salt rocks with enough thickness around the salt cavity could be used as sealing rings to ensure the tightness of the salt cavern. Combined with the field water sealing test, the tightness of the target salt cavern is verified. This method has been applied to the salt cavern screening and evaluation of a 300 MW compressed air energy storage power plant project in Yingcheng, Hubei Province, and remarkable results have been obtained, indicating the rationality of the method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The integration of an increasing share of Renewable Energy Sources (RES) requires the availability of suitable energy storage systems to improve the grid flexibility and Compressed Air Energy Storage (CAES) systems could be a promising option. In this study, a CO2-free Diabatic CAES system is proposed and analyzed. The plant configuration is derived from a down-scaled version of the McIntosh Diabatic CAES plant, where the natural gas is replaced with green hydrogen, produced on site by a Proton Exchange Membrane electrolyzer powered by a photovoltaic power plant. In this study, the components of the hydrogen production system are sized to maximize the self-consumption share of PV energy generation and the effect of the design parameters on the H2-CAES plant performance are analyzed on a yearly basis. Moreover, a comparison between the use of natural gas and hydrogen in terms of energy consumption and CO2 emissions is discussed. The results show that the proposed hydrogen fueled CAES can effectively match the generation profile and the yearly production of the natural gas fueled plant by using all the PV energy production, while producing zero CO2 emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the association between neurological signs as well as plausible risk factors and the seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum infection in dogs of the Campo Grande region of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. In this study, the dogs were divided into two groups based on the presence and the absence of neurological signs (n=30 in each group). Serological diagnosis was performed using the indirect fluorescent antibody test. In the group with neurological disorders, 23.3% and 30% of the dogs had anti-T. gondii and anti-N. caninum antibodies, respectively. Moreover, three dogs from this group showed co-infection with both protozoa. In the group without neurological signs, 16.7% and 13.3% of the dogs were seropositive for T. gondii and N. caninum, respectively. Although presence of neurological signs was not associated with T. gondii and N. caninum infections (P = 0.747 and P = 0.21, respectively), there was a statistical association between T. gondii seropositivity and peripheral neurological alteration (P = 0.016) among dogs with neurological signs. Raw meat ingestion was the only risk factor associated with the presence of anti-N. caninum antibodies (P = 0.041). Results revealed evidence of exposure to N. caninum and T. gondii in dogs irrespective of the presence of neurological signs. Moreover, this study highlighted the need for serological investigation of T. gondii in dogs with disturbances in peripheral nervous systems and not offering raw meat to animals to avoid the risk of N. caninum infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study deals with the development of compressed air energy storage options for off-peak electricity storage, along with heat recovery options. Three cases based on compressed air energy storage are considered for investigation and compared for evaluation. While case 1 considers only compressed air energy storage, case 2 includes cascaded heat storage for useful heat output. In case 3, compressed air energy storage is integrated with cascaded latent heat storage and organic Rankine cycle for power generation. The developed systems are analyzed based on the first and second laws of thermodynamics. Results indicate that heat recovery in the air compression process has great potential to improve the system performance. Heat storage option is included in the develped systems to provide opportunity for later use. For a 12 h charging period and a 6 h discharging period, the energy efficiencies for cases 1, 2 and 3 are determined to be 30.09%, 44.92% and 33.21%, respectively. The corresponding exergy efficiencies are then found to be 30.09%, 31.15% and 33.21%. While using the heat recovered as the useful output has improved the energetic performance by almost 15%, it has increased the exergetic performance by around 1%. When there is no heat demand on the site, case 3 has great potential to store off-peak electricity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Geological restrictions and the low energy density of compressed air energy storage (CAES) plants constitute a technical and economic barrier to the enablement of variable and intermittent sustainable sources of energy production. Liquid air energy storage (LAES) and pumped thermal energy storage (PTES) systems offer a promising pathway for increasing the share of renewable energy in the supply mix. PTES remains under development while LAES suffers from low liquefaction unit efficiency, although it is at a higher technology readiness level (TRL) than PTES. The most significant element of large-scale EES is related to the discharge features of the power plants, especially the energy storage unit. Here, a novel multi-aspect equation, based on established codes and thermodynamic principles, is developed to quantify the required storage capacity to meet demand consistent with the design parameters and operational limitations of the system. An important conclusion of the application of the multi-aspect equation shows that liquid air storage systems instead of compressed air would reduce the space required for storage by 35 times. Finally, a cost equation was introduced as a function of the required storage volume. Calculations have demonstrated that the use of the novel cost equation, in lieu of the old one-aspect cost equation, for an LAES power plant with a production capacity of about 50 MW makes the costs of installing liquid air storage tanks against the total expenditure of the power plant about six times higher than what was reported in earlier research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objetivou-se avaliar o efeito coindutor e cardiorrespiratório da dexmedetomidina (DXD) sobre a dose de propofol para a indução anestésica em cães. Foram utilizados 24 cães machos, idade média de 2,5(±2) anos e peso médio de 10,9(±1) kg. Os animais foram pré-medicados, IM, com acepromazina e morfina, nas doses de 0,05 mg/kg e 0,5 mg/kg, respectivamente, alocados aleatoriamente em três tratamentos de indução da anestesia (n:8): GDI (DXD 5 µg/kg e propofol dose efeito); GDII (DXD 2,5 µg/kg e propofol dose efeito); ou GC (propofol dose efeito) e manutenção anestésica realizada com isoflurano. Os parâmetros cardiovasculares, foram avaliados imediatamente antes da administração do coindutor (M0), antes da administração do propofol (M1); imediatamente após a intubação (0 minutos) (M2), e aos 2 e 5 minutos após a intubação (M3 e M4), respectivamente. Utilizou-se ANOVA seguido de Dunnet para dados paramétricos, e Friedman, seguido de Kruskall-Wallis, para não paramétricos (p=0,05). A dose de propofol necessária para a indução anestésica foi de 2,64(±0,51) mg/kg para o grupo GC, enquanto para o GDI e GDII foi de 1,63(±0,37) mg/kg (p=0,0056) e 1,47(±0,52) mg/kg (p=0,0061), representando uma redução de 38,25% e 44,31% no requerimento de propofol, respectivamente. Os menores valores para a frequência cardíaca ocorreram em M1 em relação ao M0, com diminuição de 44,5% (p=0,0036) e 51,06% (p=0,0048) e 4,34% (p=0,76) para GDI, GDII e GC, respectivamente. Conclui-se que a DXD reduz significativamente o requerimento de propofol para a indução da anestesia em cães, podendo ser utilizada como adjuvante na indução da anestesia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the need to establish animal welfare policies and public health promotion due to the importance of stray animals in the transmission of zoonoses, the objective was to study the population dynamics of homeless dogs in the city of Descalvado - SP, the perception of citizens related to the cause of animal protection and also to the current Federal, State and Municipal legislation. To account for the separation of urban and rural sectors, the Clip tool of the Qgis program was used, sectoring the municipality of Descalvado into North, South, East, West, Central and Industrial District. For the application of the questionnaires, 0.5% of the population from each established area of the municipality was selected and the findings were correlated with existing legislation and public policies, analyzing their effectiveness. As we can see, in summary, the interviewees demand from the local government for improvements, but also, greater responsibility of the population. In addition to the qualitative analysis through the reading and perception of the reports, an analysis of the repetition of key words was carried out, through the creation of the word cloud, an important tool that highlights the terms most cited by the people interviewed, of which "oversight, laws and awareness", revealing the need for public policy directions. The data lead us to conclude that despite the existence of legislation, there is still little application of penalties. In the city, the areas with the highest rate of stray dogs were West and South, peripheral regions and with low-income population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Canine distemper (CD) is a highly contagious viral disease caused by the canine distemper virus (CDV). In dogs, CDV infection is characterized by the presentation of systemic and/or neurological signs with viral persistence in some organs, including the central nervous system (CNS). Neurological damages resulting from CD are a defiance for veterinarians, due to occasioned clinical sequels that influence the patient quality of life. The treatment of sequelae should seek to promote the resolution or decrease of the deleterious effects that impede the patient independence. Thus, the present report aims to describe the action of antiparkinsonian medication (levodopa associated with carbidopa) administered to 3 dogs who presented neurological sequels resulting from the canine distemper. Cases: Dog 1. A 9-month-old male mixed breed; Dog 2. A 6-month-old male Shih Tzu. Dog 3. A 8-years-old bitch mixed breed. All animals were referred for neurological care because presented neurological damages after distemper involvement. Only the Dog 2 was vaccinated to CD. Dog 1 (mixed male) had severe myoclonus, lack of proprioception, decreased of muscle tonus and paralysis in both pelvic limbs, associated with a marked thoracolumbar kyphosis. Dog 2 (a puppy Shih Tzu male) presented myoclonus in PL, proprioceptive loss in thoracic and pelvic limbs, absence of withdrawal reflex in thoracic and pelvic limbs, decrease in muscle tonus in pelvic limb and increase in thoracic limb. Dog 3 (adult unneutered bitch) presented intense myoclonus, absence of proprioception, decrease in muscle tonus and paresis of pelvic limb. All patients were treated with antiparkinsonian medication (levodopa 250 mg associated with carbidopa 25 mg) with following dosages: Dog 1 received a commercially available tablet, orally once a day for 30 days, while Dogs 2 and 3 had doses calculated by extrapolation allometric. For the Dog 2 it was prescribed 0.25 mg of levodopa and 0.025 mg of carbidopa daily for 30 days. Dog 3 was treated with 1 mg of levodopa and 0.1 mg of carbidopa patient day for the same period. Thirty days after starting the treatment, the 3 patients were evaluated again, and showed improvement of the motor signs, and the treatment was maintained. At the next return (30 days): Dog 1 showed significant improvement, however, Dog 2 started to present epileptic seizures and nystagmus that were treated with levetiracetam, while the Dog 3 not returned. As Dog 1 had a better prognosis, treatment was maintained for 1 year, with the frequency being changed from 24 h x 24 h to 48 h x 48 h after 30 days and 72x72 h after another 30 days. Unfortunately, Dog 2 had a worsening of epileptic condition and died, while Dog 3 died by road-kill. Discussion: The cases reported are uncommon, because not exist information about the use of antiparksonian to treatment of neurological damages occasioned by canine distemper. Although there are emerging therapies, such as the use of mesenchymal stem cells, that can reduce these sequels, the access is still restricted to a few professionals. Thus, the use of medications for demyelinating diseases, as antiparkinsonian, may be an alternative. In fact, the three reported patients showed recovery of the motor and sensorial damages observed, which corroborates with the possibility of a new treatment using antiparkinsonian or other drugs to demyelinating diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The daily non-uniform power demand is a serious problem in power industry. In addition, recent decades show a trend for the transition to renewable power sources, but their power output depends upon weather and daily conditions. These factors determine the urgency of energy accumulation technology research and development. The presence of a wide variety of energy storage mechanisms leads to the need for their classification and comparison as well as a consideration of possible options for their application in modern power units. This paper presents a comparative analysis of energy storage methods for energy systems and complexes. Recommendations are made on the choice of storage technologies for the modern energy industry. The change in the cost of supplied energy at power plants by integrating various energy storage systems is estimated and the technologies for their implementation are considered. It is revealed that in the large-scale power production industry, the most productive accumulation methods for energy systems and complexes are the following: pumped hydroelectric energy storage systems, thermal and thermochemical accumulations, and hydrogen systems. These methods have the best technical and economic characteristics. The resulting recommendations allow for the assessment of the economic and energy effect achieved by integration of storage systems at the stage of designing new power units. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrical energy storage systems have a fundamental role in the energy transition process supporting the penetration of renewable energy sources into the energy mix. Compressed air energy storage (CAES) is a promising energy storage technology, mainly proposed for large-scale applications, that uses compressed air as an energy vector. Although the first document in literature on CAES appeared in 1976 and the first commercial plant was installed in 1978, this technology started to gain attention only in the decade 2000–2010, with remarkable scientific production output and the realization of other pre-commercial demonstrators and commercial plants. This study applies bibliometric techniques to draw a picture of the current status of the scientific progress and analyze the trend of the research on CAES and identify research gaps that can support researchers and manufacturers involved in this entering technology. Recent trends of research include aspects related to the off-design, the development of thermal energy storage for adiabatic CAES, and the integration of CAES with combined heating and cooling systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ozone therapy is a technique for treating various local and systemic diseases by administering an oxygen-ozone mixture. The gas can be applied directly to the patient's body or diluted in serum or blood, the so-called ozone auto-hemotherapy. Its effects are mediated by mechanisms of direct or indirect oxidation of cells or pathogens. Among the direct oxidation effects is microporation on the surface of microorganisms that are unable to be protected by antioxidants, resulting in physical destruction of their membranes and/or cell walls, the well-known antiseptic or disinfectant effect of local, topical or cavitating ozone therapy. When in contact with blood or other biological fluids, ozone gas immediately combines with water resulting in free radicals and oxidizes lipids, forming lipoperoxides. The free radicals and lipoperoxides become the mediators of ozone effects on various cells, such as red blood cells, leukocytes, platelets, fibroblasts, and others. As a result, we obtain the effects of improved tissue perfusion and oxygenation, modulation of inflammation, analgesia, healing, and production of enzymatic antioxidants. However, the therapeutic planning must include the choice of adequate treatment routes, concentrations, doses of systemic applications, and frequency of application so that the results are maximized. In addition, the professional must be properly trained and know all the possible limitations and adverse effects of the technique. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar, can reduce environmental pollution and promote the transformation of the energy structure. However, the intermittency and uncertainty of new energy sources such as wind and photovoltaics pose challenges to large-scale grid integration. Effective utilization of intermittent energy sources requires large-scale energy storage facilities. Salt rock is recognized as an excellent medium for underground large-scale energy storage with a wide range of applications. This paper identifies the potential of salt caverns to be used for large-scale energy storage by analyzing the distribution of wind and solar energy resources in China, taking into account the grid-connected infrastructure of the Chinese power grid and the geographic location of salt mines. The overlapping areas are identified for utilization in compressed air energy storage and hydrogen storage. Through meticulous categorization and analysis of the factors influencing salt cavern underground storage site selection, the AHP-EWM method is introduced to establish an objective hierarchy model for a comprehensive evaluation system of salt cavern underground storage site selection. The comprehensive planning of China's 20 major salt mines is conducted, and the research findings hold significant reference value for facilitating the low-carbon energy transition in China. • The ways which salt mines can be used for renewable energy peaking are summarized. • Renewable energy religions combined with grid-connected infrastructure and salt mines in China were studied. • Objective hierarchical modeling of subsurface salt cavern siting was developed using a combinatorial assignment method. • Energy Storage Planning for 20 Major Salt Mines in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a large-scale energy storage technology, compressed air energy storage (CAES) has the advantages of high efficiency and high reliability. This paper analyzed the feasibility of CAES cavern constructed in salt mine with multi-interlayer in Zhangshu, Jiangxi Province. Salt mine in Zhangshu is a typical bedded rock salt, and a method for calculating the cavern volume in Zhangshu was proposed. Using the proposed volume calculation method, it is expected that the volume of Zhangshu salt caverns can reach 27,840,000 m3 by 2060. By modelling the geomechanics used to calculate its stability. Based on the results of the simulation, the recommended operating pressure is 8.5–11.5 MPa. Finally, If this volume is used for CAES, the cycle pressure is assumed to be 8.5–11.5 MPa, energy storage efficiency of 50 %, the daily effective energy storage is 8.062 × 1014 J. This study will guide the development of the Zhangshu Salt Mine, provide lessons for similar areas and have a positive impact on the energy transition in Jiangxi. • A method for calculating the volume of salt caverns in the Zhangshu is proposed. • The recommended pressure range for CAES in Zhangshu is 8.5–11.5 MPa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Energy storage makes energy continuously available, programmable, and at power levels different from the original intensity. This study investigates the feasibility of compressed-air energy storage (CAES) systems on a small scale. In addition to the CAES systems, there are two TES (thermal energy storage) systems for the recovery of calories and frigories. The micro-CAES + TES system is designed for a single-family residential building equipped with a photovoltaic system with a nominal power of 3 kW. The system is optimized as a potential alternative to battery storage for a typical domestic photovoltaic system. The multi-objective optimization analysis is carried out with the modeFRONTIER software. Once the best configuration of the micro-CAES + TES system is identified, it is compared with electrochemical storage systems, considering costs, durability, and performance. The efficiency of CAES (8.4%) is almost one-tenth of the efficiency of the most efficient batteries on the market (70–90%). Its discharge times are also extremely short. It is shown that the advantages offered by the application of mechanical accumulation on a small scale are mainly related to the exploitation of the thermal waste of the process and the estimated useful life compared to the batteries currently on the market. The studied system proves to be non-competitive compared to batteries because of its minimal efficiency and high cost. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increased renewable energy production and storage is a key pillar of net-zero emission. The expected growth in the exploitation of offshore renewable energy sources, e.g., wind, provides an opportunity for decarbonising offshore assets and mitigating anthropogenic climate change, which requires developing and using efficient and reliable energy storage solutions offshore. The present work reviews energy storage systems with a potential for offshore environments and discusses the opportunities for their deployment. The capabilities of the storage solutions are examined and mapped based on the available literature. Selected technologies with the largest potential for offshore deployment are thoroughly analysed. A landscape of technologies for both short- and long-term storage is presented as an opportunity to repurpose offshore assets that are difficult to decarbonise. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The measurement of glucose in canines is a common procedure in daily clinical practice. Currently this value can be obtained by use of portable devices and laboratory tests. This research was carried out in order to provide more knowledge about the importance of glucose measurement, since in recent years it has lost value among the hematological tests to be considered because it is only related to certain pathologies such as diabetes or other metabolic diseases. The present study aimed to compare the glucose values in dogs obtained with a portable glucometer for human use, veterinarian use, and the standard laboratory test. This comparison may indicate the reliability of the results obtained through the evaluated methods. A blood sampling of 50 clinically healthy canines was taken and submitted to glucose evaluation using the three methods. Our investigation showed that the three ways of assessing blood glucose have statistically different results (p < 0.05). Glucose values had final averages of 84.14 mg/dL, 101.12 mg/dL, and 91.12 mg/dL for the portable glucometer for human use (Accu-chek® Active, Roche Diagnostic, Mannheim, Germany), veterinary (aLcose® Vet Glu, jjPlus Corporation, New Taipei, Taiwan) and the standard laboratory test, respectively. In conclusion, portable glucometers for human use underestimate the glucose values, and those for veterinary use overestimate them compared to the standard laboratory test. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brucellosis is a bacterial disease, caused by the genus Brucella, which compromises several species of domestic mammals, among which the canine species stands out. One of the major sources of contamination is direct contact with expelled tissue or genital secretions of bitches that have recently aborted. Brucella infection in dogs causes several clinical manifestations. In infected pregnant bitches, it can result in embryonic death, abortion and subsequent prolonged vaginal discharge. In males, infection is associated with epididymitis, scrotal dermatitis, testicular atrophy and infertility. Although many infected dogs are clinically normal, there may be impairment of the reproductive function, thus being a negative factor for the animals that make up breeding programs. The most commonly used diagnostic method is serology, in which whey tests can be cited rapid plaque agglutination, tube agglutination and immunodiffusion on agar gel. Treatment alternatives include concomitant and repeated courses of antimicrobial therapy and also castration of seropositives. Among the measures of prevention and control, we can mention the serological control of breeding dogs and animals that are to be introduced in kennels, as well as the use of disinfectants to eliminate the infectious agent, the excretions of the seropositive, present in the environment. In the context of public health, the dog has long been neglected as a source of infection for the human species, although it has a proven zoonotic potential, as well as a negative reflection on the economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study is dedicated to the thermodynamic evaluation of an innovative system for the generation of biomethanol and natural gas, utilizing the processes of biomass gasification and high-temperature electrolysis. The recovery of waste heat from a compressed air energy storage (CAES) system serves as a crucial thermal energy source. Recognizing the periodic nature of CAES operations, a thermal energy storage (TES) system has been used to ensure a consistent supply of heat to the biomethanol production facility. The liquefied natural gas (LNG) regasification unit and an open Brayton cycle play a dual role, contributing not only to power generation and natural gas production but also to enhancing biomethanol production through the utilization of flue gases. The results of a thermodynamic modeling conducted within the Aspen Plus program demonstrate the production of 69251 ton/year of natural gas, 1424 ton/year of biomethanol, with a CO 2 consumption of 3452 ton/year, resulting in an impressive overall energy efficiency of 95.27 %. The electrolyzer exhibits the highest power consumption at 1035 kW. Sensitivity analysis showed that net input electricity increases with an enhanced number of solid oxide electrolysis cell (SOEC) cells, while biomethanol capacity rises due to enhanced electrolysis size and hydrogen production rate. • Hybridization of a compressed air energy storage in a biofuel plant. • Using thermal energy storage for steady state waste heat recovery. • Energy efficiency enhancement by integration of LNG regasification.. • Efficiency improvement by decreasing number of electrolysis cells.. • Achieving CO 2 utilization of 3452 ton/yr and efficiency of 95.27 %. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Salt caverns used for compressed air energy storage (CAES) undergo daily humidity cycling. The damaged surrounding rock contains extremely high deliquescent sodium chloride (NaCl) levels. This study used experimental and theoretical approaches to examine the dynamic deliquescence and salt transport behavior of damaged rock salt under humidity cycling. We uniaxially compressed rock salt to different damage levels and placed them in humidity cycles to measure their deliquescent mass losses. Ultrasonic pulse velocity (UPV) tests were used to investigate the internal integrity, while morphological changes on the surface of the rock salt were observed using vision and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Based on these results, a dynamic salt transport mechanism coupled with ambient humidity was proposed, which was based on deliquescence and accounted for the diffusion, imbibition, and self-healing of rock salts. This mechanism explains the variation of deliquescence rate (DR) among rock salts at different damage levels. This helps in understanding the deliquescent effect of a humid CAES environment on the long-term volume change of the CAES cavern and the damage evolution of the surrounding rock. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A system able to add new renewables in already saturated grids is proposed; • An energy management strategy designed for grids with high curtailment is introduced; • The size of the main system components which maximizes performance is identified; • During summer, 88% of the generation otherwise curtailed can be stored for a later use; • A yearly efficiency of 62% with a curtailment of only 4% can be achieved; Globally, the increasing share of renewables, prominently driven by intermittent sources such as solar and wind power, poses significant challenges to the reliability of current electrical infrastructures, leading to the adoption of extreme measures such as generation curtailment to preserve grid security. Within this framework, it is essential to develop energy storage systems that contribute to reinforce the flexibility and security of power grids while simultaneously reducing the share of generation curtailment. Therefore, this study investigates the performance of an integrated photovoltaic-hydrogen fuelled-compressed air energy storage system, whose configuration is specifically conceived to enable the connection of additional intermittent sources in already saturated grids. The yearly and seasonal performance of the integrated energy storage system, specifically designed to supply flexibility services, are evaluated for a scenario represented by a real grid with high-variable renewables penetration and frequent dispatchability issues. Results show that the integrated system, with performance-optimized components and a new energy management strategy, minimizes photovoltaic energy curtailment, otherwise around 50%, to as low as 4% per year, achieving system efficiencies of up to 62%, and reinforces the grid by supplying inertial power for up to 20% of nighttime hours. In conclusion, the integrated plant, operating with zero emissions, on-site hydrogen production, and optimized for non-dispatchable photovoltaic energy utilization, proves to be effective in integrating new variable renewable sources and reinforcing saturated grids, particularly during spring and summer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Canine Transmissible Venereal Tumor is a contagious disease, usually found in the external genital mucosa of dogs of both sexes, however, it can be found in extragenital areas such as the respiratory system and subcutaneous tissue. This study aims to report a rare case of TVT due to its location in the nasal septa, with involvement also in the oral region of a male, mixed breed dog, with a history, respiratory rales, inspiratory dyspnea, dysphagia, as well as present the clinical conduct of this case. The diagnosis was possible through clinical evaluation, radiographic examination and confirmation of TVT through cytological examination. In the cytological examination, the presence of round cells with vacuolated cytoplasm can be observed, suggesting a transmissible venereal tumor. The radiographic examination showed osteolysis of the nasal bone and maxillary alveolar bone and of the turbinate apart, absence of canine and left premolars. We opted for chemotherapy with vincristine and the prognosis for tumor remission is favorable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The most common primary brain neoplasm is meningioma. Dolichocephalic breeds are predisposed and there is no sexual predilection. Clinical signs depend on the location and size of the tumor and have a progressive course. Primary treatement includes surgery, radiotherapy or both. This study aimed to describe the treatment of a dog with suspected intracranial meningioma with definitive radiotherapy, which resulted in significant clinical improvement and prolonged survival. Case: A 9-year-old Shetland Shepherd bitch was diagnosed with a head tilt to the left side that progressed over a few weeks. She previously received corticosteroid therapy, which resulted a clinical improvement that worsened after treatment was discontinued. Computed tomography revealed an extra-axial brain mass in the caudal fossa, lateralized to the right, welldelimited, and measuring approximately 1.5 × 1.4 × 1.7 cm, suggestive of intracranial meningioma. The patient was treated with radiotherapy using Cobalt-60 equipment, with 18 daily fractions of 2.5 Gy at a total dose of 45 Gy using parallel and opposite technique fields. A new tomography performed 30 days after treatment showed a remission of 85% of the initial brain mass measuring approximately 0.9 × 1.0 × 0.5 cm, as well as complete resolution of the clinical signs initially presented. After 14 months, the patient presented with signs of lethargy and ataxia and was medicated with hydroxyurea at a dose of 50 mg/kg 3 times a week and corticosteroid therapy. However, the patient’s neurological condition deteriorated, and she was subjected to reirradiation using the same protocol used previously, which resulted in clinical improvement and a 54% reduction in tumor volume on magnetic resonance. As a late side effect, only permanent alopecia in the irradiated region was observed. The patient died of disease 330 days after the second course of radiotherapy, with a total survival time of 1087 days. Discussion: Meningiomas are extra-axial neoplasms of the central nervous system that grow inside the dura mater. The literature shows that meningiomas are more common in dolichocephalic races with a mean age of 9 years, which supports our findings. Meningiomas most commonly affect the cortical thalamus and cerebellopontine region in dogs, which are normally associated with vestibular symptoms, as seen in this case. Diencephalic damage can result in vestibular signals since the thalamus functions as a relay station for vestibular afferent stimuli that are relayed to the cerebral cortex. In addition to the vestibular syndrome, common clinical signs associated with meningiomas in dogs include seizures, behavioral changes, and walking in circles, which are frequently misinterpreted due to tumor-induced side effects, such as cerebral edema, obstructive hydrocephalus, and cerebral hernia. Advanced imaging techniques should be used to diagnose intracranial neoplasms. In this case, computed tomography was critical for diagnosis and treatment planning. Meningioma treatment may comprise palliative measures, surgery, and radiotherapy. Radiotherapy as a single treatment can improve the quality of life with a decrease in clinical signs and a median survival time of approximately 250-536 days, as reported in the literature. Hydroxyurea can be a therapeutic option in inoperable cases and for patients with clinical limitations to undergo successive anesthesia during radiotherapy. Its most serious side effect is progressive myelosuppression. It can cause temporary partial tumor remission and improvement in clinical signs. As previously stated, radiotherapy can be an effective primary treatment option for treating intracranial meningiomas in dogs, with significant improvement in neurological clinical signs and mild side effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A Golden Retriever canine patient was seen at a private veterinary clinic, with an extensive nodular skin formation in the right ventrolateral region, with a one-year evolution. The lesion had a soft consistency, with the presence of solid and straight nodules inside, in the middle of liquid. The material was collected through fine-needle aspiration puncture and the cytopathological result was inconclusive for neoplasm. No noteworthy changes were observed on abdominal ultrasound. After performing a computed tomography scan of the skin formation, the images were compatible with an abscess or hematoma, with areas of mineralization. The animal was submitted to surgical procedure for excisional biopsy, with the morphological diagnosis of sterile nodular panniculitis with steatonecrosis, process of cell death of adipocytes. The surgical procedure was considered curative, because even after one year, there was no recurrence in the site or formation of other skin nodules. This pathology is uncommon in dogs, especially the Golden Retrevier breed and in the abdominal region of the subcutaneous tissue. Although some hypotheses are correlated, the cause of this pathology remains idiopathic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to analyze the prevalence of Clostridioides difficile and its toxins (A/B) in the feces of domestic animals at a University Veterinary Hospital in Teresina - PI. The detection of C. difficile and its toxins was performed by an immunogenic enzyme, called C. Diff Quik Chek Complete® (TECHLAB), capable of detecting antigen glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) and A/B toxins produced by this bacillus, performed in fecal samples of dogs (C. lupus) and cats (Felis catus) collected between August 2019 and September 2020.:54 stools were analyzed, of which 16 were positive for C. difficile (29.63%). 68.75% (11/16) belonged to canines, while 3.25% (5/16) to felines. Diarrheal and non-diarrheal diseases are used for the study and a higher prevalence of bacillus can be identified in diarrheal diseases (33%). None of the samples present pathogen toxins. The results of this study show that C. difficile is present in the state of Piauí. It can be identified in all species and in diarrheal or non-diarrheic samples, demonstrating that this infection can be symptomatic and asymptomatic, giving the possibility of cross-infection between the animal and its owner. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For vertebromedullary injuries, epidemiological knowledge is essential to guide the choice of the most effective diagnostic method. The objective of this retrospective study was to describe the epidemiological profile of animals and thoracolumbar and lumbosacral spine lesions diagnosed by computed tomography scan. A compilation of CT scan reports for the aforementioned regions performed in a comercial diagnostic center from 04/01/2017 to 04/30/2020, contrasted and non-contrasted, from routine, was performed in order to list the most common lesions and their locations, as well as the species, breeds and ages most affected. There were 1164 CT scans performed in the period evaluated, all of them in dogs, 57,56% (n=670) for the spine, with 89,7% reports accessed (n=601), where the regions mentioned here added up to 73,05% studies (n=439). In both regions, male French Bulldog dogs had the most injuries. For the thoracolumbar region, disk mineralization, followed by extrusion, were the most frequent injuries, while the site was T12-13 and the mean age 6,5±3,63 years old. In the lumbosacral, disk protrusion was most frequent, the most affected site was L7-S1 and age 6,65±3,79 years. It was concluded that the spine is the main target of CT scans, and that lesions related to the intervertebral disk were the main ones identified, with chondrodystrophic animals being more predisposed to injury. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Injuries involving the spine are frequent in dogs and knowledge of them is important to define the patient's treatment and prognosis. The objective of this retrospective study was to describe the epidemiological profile of animals and lesions in the cervical (C1-5) and cervicothoracic (C6-T2) spine diagnosed through tomographic examination. Compilation of computed tomography (CT) reports for the referred regions was carried out in a diagnostic center between 01/04/2017 and 30/04/2020, with or without contrast, from the clinical routine, in order to relate the most common lesions and their locations, as well as the species, breeds and ages most affected. A total of 1164 CT scans were performed in the period, 57.56% (n=670/1164) for the spine, with 89.7% (n=601/670) reports accessed, where both regions referred to here totaled 26.95% of the studies (n=162/601). Male mixed-breed dogs (MBD) showed the most lesions. For the cervical spine, the most identified lesion was disk extrusion and the site was C3-C4, while the mean age for lesions was 8.09±3.55 years. As for cervicothoracic, disk mineralization was more frequent and the mean age for lesions was 6.96±2.93 years. It was concluded that the spine is the main target of CT scans, that lesions related to the intervertebral disk were the main ones identified, and older MBD animals are the main ones affected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Postoperative care after thoracolumbar hemilaminectomy in dogs generally includes rest, physical therapy, and analgesics such as opioids. Currently, there is no established standard for the management of postoperative pain in patients undergoing hemilaminectomy. Ideally, an analgesic protocol should provide adequate pain relief with limited sedation, low adverse effects, and postoperative patient comfort. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate postoperative analgesia using transdermal fentanyl or intramuscular methadone in dogs undergoing thoracolumbar hemilaminectomy associated with intervertebral disc fenestration (HT) for the treatment of intervertebral disc extrusion (IVDE). Materials, Methods & Results: Eight dogs from the Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery of a Veterinary Teaching Hospital, submitted to HT for the treatment of IVDE, were included. The dogs were randomly distributed into 2 groups of equal numbers, namely the transdermal fentanyl (FT) group and the intramuscular methadone (IM) group. At the end of the surgical procedure, a fentanyl adhesive patch was applied to the animals in the FT group, which remained there for 72 h. In the IM group, analgesia was induced by intramuscular administration of methadone at intervals of 6 h until 72 h after surgery. The animals were evaluated using the short form of the Glasgow Composite Measure Pains Scale (CMPS-SF). Evaluations of physiological parameters, side effects, and pain were performed by 2 assessors who had experience using the pain scale and were blinded to the analgesic protocol. Pain evaluations were performed every 2 h (from T4) until 24 h after the surgical procedure. Evaluations were performed every 4 h from 24 h to 48 h after the surgical procedure and at intervals of 24 h from 48 h to 72 h. Discussion: Transdermal fentanyl provided the lowest pain scores, when evaluated by the CMPS-SF, for both assessors. These data are presented as a function of time and shows the variation in pain scores by CMPS-SF over time. It should be noted that, for both assessors, animals in the FT group had lower pain scores than animals in the IM group. There was also less variation in pain scores in the FT group, indicating better analgesic quality. This can be explained by the maintenance of the drug’s plasma concentrations in a stable manner, avoiding periods of greater or lesser pain throughout the evaluation period due to the absence of increases or decreases in plasma concentration. In the IM group, 3 analgesic rescues were required; in the FT group, there was no rescue. Although the data indicate that IM was responsible for a greater occurrence in the number of rescues, it is worth noting that this information is based on a small group of animals. One dog needed 2 rescues (at T4 and T8), regarding which both assessors agreed, while another required one rescue (at T18), but there was a difference of one point between the raters. However, pain scores in all of the cases were considered to be mild, not moderate or severe, with rescues occurring on scores of 5/20. Both fentanyl used by the transdermal route and intramuscular methadone promoted analgesia in the first three postoperative days in dogs undergoing HT. Better stability in postoperative pain scores without the need for analgesic rescue and less occurrence of adverse effects were observed in dogs treated with FT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research sought to understand the place of dogs vis-à-vis human beings in the contemporary world. Dogs are observed to have assumed a noteworthy position as they inserted themselves as vital element into the life of many individuals. They also currently integrate the sociocultural horizon of many cities. From a phenomenological-hermeneutic framework, we aimed to investigate the meanings this contemporary phenomenon takes on using a hybrid approach: on the one hand, from a psychological perspective, we openly surveyed people in whose lives dogs play a significant part; on the other hand, from an anthropological perspective, through a participant observation method, we visited a number of places where the human-dog relationship is seen to unfold. Based on Gilberto Safra’s discussion on the fragmentation of ethos in the contemporary world, we offer the hypothesis that the dog occupies a fundamentally ethical place, helping to recover the memory of now impoverished dimensions of the human condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of Reiki therapy on postoperative pain in bitches undergoing elective minimally invasive ovariohysterectomy (OVH). Thirty bitches were randomly assigned to three groups: Control, Placebo, or Reiki. All dogs received methadone as preanesthetic medication (PAM), meloxicam in the preoperative period, propofol for anesthetic induction, and isoflurane for anesthetic maintenance. Immediately after OVH, the dogs in the Reiki were submitted to a single session of Reiki therapy, dogs in the Placebo received simulated Reiki therapy from a non-therapist, and dogs in the Control received no treatment. All dogs were evaluated for pain using short-form Glasgow composite measure pain scale (CMPS-SF) and visual analog scale (VAS) before (M0) and 2 (M2), 4 (M4), 8 (M8), 12 (M12), and 24 hours (M24) after administration of PAM. Comparing the CMPS-SF scores between the groups, at M2 Reiki scores were lower than those of the Placebo and at M4 those in the Reiki were lower than those of the Control or Placebo groups. Comparing the VAS scores, at M4 and M8, Reiki scores were lower than those of the Control or Placebo groups. Additional analgesia (morphine 0.2 mg.kg-1 intramuscularly) was administered to three bitches in Control and to four bitches of the Placebo. Reiki did not require additional opioid analgesia in the postoperative period. It was concluded that Reiki therapy provided analgesic effect and contributed to improve postoperative comfort of bitches submitted to elective OVH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electroencephalography (EEG) is a method used to analyze the electrical activity of the brain in humans and animals. It has low cost and methods already studied for the main species of domestic animals, such as dogs, cats, horses, and cattle. It is a minimally invasive method that, when associated with structural assessment tests such as MRI and CT, allows for a more complete picture of the general state of brain neural tissue. Its data acquisition over time allows the evaluation of patients with idiopathic epilepsy, structural epilepsies, metabolic epilepsies, congenital hydrocephalus, and to perform anesthesia monitoring. The knowledge of signal post-processing using FFT opens a universe of possibilities for the use of EEG, including polysomnography, evaluation of behavioral and neuropsychiatric disorders, pain, cognition, and learning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diagnosing Canine Visceral Leishmaniosis is challenging for veterinarians given that its hematological and biochemical abnormalities greatly resemble those of other illnesses of dogs, such as canine ehrlichiosis, which is caused by Ehrlichia canis and is highly prevalent with high pathogenicity. The aim of this study was to determine occurrences of serological positivity for the antigens of Ehrlichia canis and Leishmania infantum and its relationship to globulin concentrations in samples from dogs. Out of 93 samples tested, 12.9% were negative for the antigens of both L. infantum and E. canis; 33.3% were seropositive for both antigens. Discordant results were found from 18.3% that were positive only for L. infantum, while 35.5% were positive only for E. canis. Hyperglobulinemia was observed in 88.2% and the statistical analysis showed that there was a significant relationship between the high levels of globulins and seropositivity for the antigen of E. canis. However, the relationship between positivity for the antigen of L. infantum and hyperglobulinemia, showed that there was no statistically significant relationship between the two laboratory findings. From these results, it can be concluded that concomitant infections occur frequently and that hyperglobulinemia is more closely related to ehrlichiosis than to leishmaniosis, in dogs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the operation of a compressed air energy storage (CAES) salt cavern, the surrounding rock experiences creep damage during the stages of constant internal pressure and undergoes fatigue damage due to the periodical injection-production. To describe the damage evolution of salt rock under creep-fatigue loading, a novel damage accumulation model based on the ductility exhaustion concept is proposed by applying a nonlinear summation method to represent the synergistic effect of creep and fatigue damage. Low-cycle fatigue (LCF) and creep-fatigue tests of rock salt were conducted under stress-control mode for various cycle stress amplitudes and hold times. Results show that the deformation of rock salt under creep-fatigue loading consists of initial, steady and accelerated phases. The proposed model matches well with the test data and can accurately describe the damage evolution as the applied stress amplitudes and dwell times change. The introduction of the hold times at the upper limit stress causes a strain increment and life reduction, which become more evident as the duration periods prolong and can be understood by the dislocation theory of crystals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Growing installed capacity in renewable energy sources is driving demand for energy storage in the power systems. Compressed air energy storage (CAES) technology can provide a good alternative to pumped energy storage, with high reliability and good efficiency in terms of performance. The article presents three constant volume CAES systems: (i) without recuperation, (ii) with recuperation, and (iii) adiabatic. Dynamic mathematical models of these systems were built using Aspen HYSYS software. Adiabatic compressed air energy storage system with liquid thermal energy storage achieved round trip efficiency of 64.8%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hepatozoonosis is caused by protozoa of the genus Hepatozoon. In dogs, the infection is caused mainly by Hepatozoon canis, and there are a few descriptions of the prevalence of this infection in the Northeast region of Brazil, especially in the semi-arid region. Therefore, we aimed to determine the prevalence of Hepatozoon canis infection in dogs in the rural area of Sousa, Paraíba, Brazil, as well as to determine the possible clinical and epidemiological aspects of this infection. Ninety-eight dogs in the rural zone of the municipality of Sousa that were at least 4 months old were evaluated, regardless of their breed or gender. Clinical examinations were carried out, and samples of systemic and peripheral blood were collected to determine the presence of the parasite in blood smears and carry out hemograms. In addition, epidemiological questionnaires about animal health and food management were completed. The prevalence of H. canis infections in dogs was 8.1% (8/98). There were three main changes in the hematological status: thrombocytopenia, anemia and hyperproteinemia, mainly related to percentage of leukocyte infection ≥5%, and also to the presence of clinical signs such as mucopurulent secretion, lymphadenomegaly, dry skin, pale mucous membranes, and lean or cachectic body score. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, an attempt has been made to utilise spent alumina catalyst (SAC) and carbonised eggshell (CAES) in the fabrication of AA5052-based composite material. Cr was also added to further enhance the tensile strength, hardness and corrosion resistance of the material. Results showed that by adding 4.5% SAC, 4.5% CAES and 1.5% Cr in aluminium alloy, mechanical properties such as tensile strength, hardness and compressive strength enhanced significantly. Tensile strength, hardness and compressive strength increased by about 11.98%, 37.22% and 23.06%, respectively, concerning the base material. However, the toughness and ductility of composite have been reduced. Microstructure results of Al/4.5% SAC/4.5% CAES/1.5% Cr composite showed uniform. Corrosion weight loss and thermal expansion behaviour of composite have been also investigated to observe the SAC, CAES and Cr addition effect in the aluminium alloy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Canine brucellosisis an infectious disease caused by bacteria of the genus Brucella, with world wide distribution and zoonotic impact, and in humans and animals is a neglected disease. In the present study, the sero prevalence of B. canis and B. abortus were determined in a probabilistic sample of housed dogs from the Atlantic Rainforest area of the state of Paraíba, Brazil, and the factors associated with sero positivity. A total of 386 dogs over three months of age were used. For the search for anti-B.canis antibodies the agar gel immune diffusion test (IDGA) was used as a screening and IDGA+2ME as confirmatory test, and to search for anti-B. abortus antibodies the Rose Bengal test (RBT) test was used. Apparent and real prevalences were calculated, and robust Poisson regression was used to identify factors associated with prevalence. The real prevalence fB. Canis was 12.6% and of B. abortus was 22.8%. The factors associated with sero positivity for B. canis were age greater than 10 years (prevalence ratio; PR = 6.38; P = 0.024) and dogs reared in they ard (PR = 5.20; P = 0.035) and for B. abortus was no treplacement of water of animals everyday (PR = 1.48; P = 0.033). It can be concluded that the prevalence of B. canis and B. Abortus in the region is high, which warns to the adopting of control and prevention measures, as well as greater care in the management of animals, especially for elderly dogs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The transfusion of blood components in veterinary medicine has been increasing in recent years, thereby increasing the potential for transfusion reactions, which can eventually be fatal. In this study, a 3-month-old, female, Non-Breed dog diagnosed with hemoparasitosis, carried out using a complete blood count (regenerative anemia with visualization of Ehrlichia canis morula in leukocytes and thrombocytopenia of 80 thousand platelets/dL) and ultrasonography (hepatosplenomegaly), was referred to the blood bank to undergo a transfusion of platelet concentrate (PC), since she had petechiae, abdominal suffusions and had suffered some episodes of epistaxis. After physical examination of the patient who presented with normal parameters for the species, began the transfusion of PC through the cephalic vein. At 30 minutes from the beginning of the procedure, intense sialorrhea and skin erythema were documented. The transfusion was stopped, and 0.5 mg / kg of dexamethasone was applied intravenously, 0.044 mg / kg of atropine and 0.2 mg / kg of promethazine both subcutaneously. 40 minutes latter occurred normalization of clinical parameters. Platelet concentrate transfusion is an important therapeutic and prophylactic procedure in the treatment and prevention of bleeding, when due to numerical or qualitative platelet deficiency. However, risks inherent to the process must be considered, and exposed to the tutor. In this report, we describe an adverse reaction in a young dog (type 1 hypersensitivity) reversed with the immediate use of corticosteroids associated with a cholinergic and antihistamine antagonist. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the search for alternative material in the treatment of cutaneous wounds, this study aimed to evaluate the behavior of canine vaginal tunic conserved in glycerin 98% as a biological dressing in the treatment of cutaneous wounds provoked experimentally in rats. Sixteen animals were used in which two cutaneous lesions were caused in the dorsal region, one cranial and the other caudal. One wound served as a control which did not receive treatment, the other received the vaginal tunic covering all extension of the lesion. The selection of which of the wounds, cranial or caudal, would receive the membrane was made at random. The animals were divided into four groups of equal numbers for clinical, macroscopic, and histological analyzes after three, seven, 14 and 21 postoperative days. In the clinical and macroscopic evaluation, it can be observed that the healing process had similar evolution in both the control group and the membrane group. In the histopathological analysis, a large amount of inflammatory infiltrate was observed in the initial periods; however, after 21 days the epidermis was already healed, and at all times a greater presence of connective tissue was observed in the membrane group, suggesting a greater precocity in healing. Thus, it was concluded that the canine vaginal tunic can be used as a new alternative in the treatment of cutaneous wounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study is to report a long term follow up of a congenital luxation of the radial head (CLRH) case of a young Bulldog treated by radio head ostectomy (RHO). CLRH is an uncommon condition in dogs, but it is the most commom form of elbow dislocation (grade I). An English Bulldog, male, 6 months, 14 kilograms, was suspected of elbow dislocation. Physical examination revealed a lateral proeminence on the lateral surface of the right elbow, as well as grade I lameness and mild pain. Range of motion was normal. Previous radiographs and tomography confirmed CLHR. RHO was chosen instead of corrective techniques, due to the age of the animal at the time of the procedure and the difficulty in repositioning the radial head in the joint. Three and a half years after surgery, new clinical and radiographic examaminations were performed. The patient had no pain, good limb support and good range of motion, allowing good elbow movement. There was a partial regrowth of the proximal segment of the radial head causing better readjustment of it in the joint. Mild signs of joint degeneration were present. RHO proved to be effective in this case, proving to be a good technique to be used in cases of CLRH when conservative treatment or reduction techniques can no longer be used. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of distemper canine distemper vírus (CDV) infection in the semi-arid region of Paraíba, using rapid immunochromatographic tests, correlating it with the main clinical and hematological findings. 67 records of animals were analyzed in which rapid tests were performed for antigen research in nasal and ocular from January to December 2019. It was observed that 47% (32/67) of compulsory dogs were positive for canine distemper. The variables that defined difference difference (p <0.05) for infection were mixed breed animals 60% (21/35), unvaccinated animals 70% (29/42), and dry period of the year, being the August (40%; 13/32), with greater occurrence. The main affected systems were the respiratory 61% (17/28), ophthalmological 70% (22/31), nervous 69% (13/19), dermatological 45% (9/20), and gastrointestinal 42% (6/14)) The main changes were hematological, anemia 66% (23/32), leukopenia 76% (19/25) and lymphopenia 48% (15/31). It was concluded that the occurrence of canine distemper in animals with clinical suspicion in the Semiarid Paraibano was high, and non-vaccinated mixed-breed animals in the dry period of the year were more diagnosed with the disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]