Mesalands Community College

The Egyptian is joyful by nature, amused by the simplest things, and laughs loudly at the slightest jest. He lifts his turban and sings along at the slightest musical note. By contrast, the Lebanese-Syrian finds Egyptian music static and out of sync with his fast-paced, modern life. He prefers Western music for its dynamism and energy, which aligns with his lifestyle.

This study aimed to measure maize (Zea mays) plant nutrient content and nutrient removal in grain, and to evaluate the residual soil nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium as impacted by planting date and density. Field experiments were conducted to evaluate six plant densities and seven planting dates using a split-split plot design with three replications. Besides the crop growth and yield parameters, six plants were collected at the maturity and soil was sampled from each plot for nutrient analysis. Plant N, P, and K concentrations varied with planting date and density and within the ranges of 0.6-1.024%, 0.054-0.127%, and 0.75-1.71%, respectively. Grain N, P, and K concentrations decreased with plant density and varied from 1.059 to 1.558%, 0.20 to 0.319%, and 0.29 to 0.43%, respectively. Soil residual nutrient varied with depth, planting density and date. Residual N concentration in the topsoil varied from 0.6 to 37.2 mg kg-1 in 2019 and from 1.5 to 11.2 mg kg-1 in 2020 and was high under the last two planting dates. Soil residual N concentration was higher in the second layer than in the topsoil. The N concentration in the third layer varied from 0.1 to 33.2 mg kg-1 and was impacted by plant density. Topsoil P did not vary among planting dates and densities. The second and third soil layers P concentration was not affected. There was 83% increase in topsoil K in 2020 compared to 2019, and a decrease of 65 and 23% in soil K was observed in the second and third soil layers, respectively. For maize production system sustainability, future research should use a holistic approach investigating the impact of planting date, plant density on crop growth, yield, nutrient uptake and remobilization, and soil properties under different fertilizer rates to develop the fertilizer recommendation for maize while reducing the environmental impact of the production system.

Irrigation and nitrogen management are crucial for sustainable potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) production. A field experiment was conducted during the 2022 and 2023 growing seasons at Farmington, New Mexico, to evaluate the performance of two chip potato varieties (Lamoka and Waneta) under three irrigation regimes (full irrigation (FI), 20% deficit irrigation (DI) and 40% DI) and seven nitrogen fertilizer rates (0, 60, 115, 170, 220, 280, and 340 kg N/ha). The treatment combinations of irrigation regimes, nitrogen rates, and varieties were arranged in a split–split plot design with three replications as main plot, sub-plot, and sub-sub plot, respectively. The two-year results showed that irrigation regimes had the most significant effect on plant growth, physiology, and tuber yield of the potato varieties. For both Lamoka and Waneta, the plant height and canopy cover were lower under 40% DI than under 20% DI and FI treatments. The SPAD meter values were higher under 40% DI, followed by 20% DI and FI treatments, whereas the stomatal conductance was higher under FI, followed by 20% DI and 40% DI during both growing seasons. Regardless of nitrogen rates and variety, a 20% water-saving irrigation strategy reduced the total tuber yield by 4.5% and 22.1% in the 2022 and 2023 growing seasons, respectively, while the 40% water-saving irrigation strategy reduced total tuber yield by 36.8% and 58.2% in the 2022 and 2023 growing seasons, respectively, as compared to full irrigation. Shifting from full irrigation to 20% DI could save 711.2 to 1036.3 m3/ha of irrigation water. For Lamoka, the highest total tuber yield was obtained with 60 kg N/ha under 20% DI and 220 kg N/ha under FI in 2022 and 2023, respectively. For Waneta, the highest total tuber yield was obtained with 115 kg N/ha under 20% DI and 170 kg N/ha under FI in 2022 and 2023, respectively. Maximum water use efficiency (WUE) was obtained at 60 kg N/ha with 20% DI for both Lamoka and Waneta in 2022, while maximum WUE was obtained at 220 kg N/ha under FI for Lamoka and at 170 kg N/ha for Waneta in the 2023 season. The maximum nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) was achieved with 60 kg N/ha under 20% DI for both varieties during both growing seasons. Thus, for sustainable irrigation and nitrogen management, the application of a 20% deficit irrigation strategy with a lower nitrogen rate (60 to 170 kg N/ha) could be the best option to improve WUE and NUE with minimal tuber yield reduction. Our study suggested that 40% deficit irrigation would not be beneficial as compared to both full irrigation and 20% water-saving irrigation.

To describe the short-term outcome of acute arthroscopically assisted ulnar shortening (AUS), to treat short radius syndrome in dogs. Case series. Eleven client owned dogs. Records of dogs that had undergone AUS for treatment of short radius syndrome were reviewed for inclusion. Reporting data included among others pre- and postoperative radioulnar, humeroradial and humeroulnar distances, lameness scores, surgical times, complications and clinical outcome. Following AUS, radiohumeral articulation was improved in all dogs. Median presurgery radioulnar, humeroradial and humeroulnar values were 4.5, 3.2, and 2.2 mm and were improved with surgery by a median of 3.2, 1.8, and 1.2 mm, respectively. Median surgery time was 140 min. Median time to bone healing was 8 weeks (range: 4-14). Median time to last follow-up was 9 weeks (4-468). Median lameness score (scale 0-4) improved from 2 to 1. No major complications were reported. Short-term clinical outcome was graded by the surgeons as full function in four cases and acceptable function in seven. Radiographic and arthroscopic radiohumeral articulation were improved and short-term clinical improvement was documented following AUS in all 11 dogs.

To determine the location and periarticular shoulder-muscle-abnormalities detected via orthopedic examinations and ultrasonography in ultra-endurance Alaskan sled-dogs, returned from an ultra-endurance sled-dog-race prior to finishing it. Prospective clinical study. Sixty-four dogs (128 shoulders). Dogs were classified based on clinical evidence of shoulder pain (SP versus control). Orthopedic examination findings, shoulder-abduction-angles (SAA; before- and during-anesthesia), and ultrasonographic findings were recorded. Relationships between orthopedic and ultrasonographic abnormalities were compared. Pain was elicited on 55/128 shoulders; 73 shoulders were pain-free. The most common painful structures included the biceps-tendon (BT; 30%), triceps-muscle (28%), and infraspinatus-muscle (25%). SAA ranged between 25° and 75° among groups, including pain-free shoulders in dogs without lameness. SAA was greater when dogs were anesthetized (46.3° ± 14.0° vs. 47.8° ± 12.0°; p = .03), especially in SP (mean increase of 3.49° ± 8.85°) compared to control (0.03° ± 7.71°, p = .009). Overall, 103 ultrasonographic abnormalities were detected (SP: 44; control: 59). The most common ultrasonographic abnormality was fluid surrounding the biceps tendon, similarly distributed between groups (SP: 39/44; control: 57/59). Most chronic ultrasonographic abnormalities affected the BT (15/103 abnormalities). No associations were detected between ultrasonographic abnormalities and clinical findings. Shoulder abduction varied greatly and reached up to 75° in normal joints. Ultrasonographic shoulder-muscle abnormalities were common but did not seem associated with clinical findings. Interpretation of shoulder abduction warrants caution, and the presence of fluid around the BT may reflect a physiologic adaptation to racing, rather than a pathologic change in ultra-endurance Alaskan sled-dogs.

This article analyses the pharmacological considerations when administering opioids in practice. Beginning with a basic review of pain pathways, followed by a more in-depth analysis of opioid pharmacology. The focus will be on the three most commonly used full mu agonist opioids (methadone, morphine, fentanyl). The aim of this article is to show the importance of applying pharmacology to a clinical situation, promoting individual pain management assessment. This involves the application of the most appropriate opioid, as part of a more extensive pain management plan to improve analgesic efficacy and patient outcomes.

ABSTRACT Agricultural productivity per unit of land is a global concern. Moreover, farmers seek to add value to their enterprises. Interest has increased in harvesting Valencia market type peanut (Arachis hypogaea L. subsp. fastigiata var. fastigiata) for forage in food production systems. Trials at two sites near Brownfield, TX, USA, in 2012 and 2013, evaluated forage harvest timing [18, 20, 21, and 22 weeks after planting, (WAP), the last of which was sun-cured in the field from digging until threshing] on forage yield and nutritive value and pod yield of Valencia market type. Producers can harvest hay with greater nutritive value than stover by cutting and baling earlier during the pod maturation phase (about 18 WAP) although pod yield would be significantly (P < 0.05) reduced (2280, 2470, 2880, and 3450 kg pods/ha when forage was harvested 18, 20, 21, and 22 WAP, respectively, SEM = 90). Additionally, forage organic matter (OM) yield declined with each harvest after 18 WAP (3450, 2900, 2670, and 2460 kg OM/ha for forage harvested 18, 20, 21, and 22 WAP, respectively, SEM = 70). Crude protein (CP) concentration decreased across harvest dates from 158 to 124 g/kg and fiber fractions increased. Forage harvest prior to digging is not a viable option to add value to Valencia market type production because of reduced pod yield, which is the more valuable component. Other studies using different market types in other environments with earlier and similar harvest timings yielded similar results.

To develop and evaluate a novel fracture fragment stabilization system, the Sirius minimally invasive bone reduction handle system (SMH), in an artificial fracture model (FxM) simulating a canine femoral fracture repair with a minimally invasive orthopedic approach. In vitro experimental study. Synthetic fractured femurs with soft-tissue coverage analog (n = 8). The developed SMH consisted of modified Kern forceps connected with existing external skeletal fixation components. Intramedullary Steinman pin placement with the SMH or traditional Kern forceps only (KO) was performed by 16 participants in randomized order. Demographics and surgical experience of participants and outcome variables (fragment movement, early/final gap formation, time of procedure, assessed practicability by visual analog scale) were recorded and statistically evaluated. The SMH was more difficult and took longer to assemble (P = .031 and P = .008); SMH resulted in a smaller final reduction gap (P = .008). More surgical experience resulted in faster surgery times (R2 = 0.766) but was not correlated with final fracture gap formation. The SMH was associated with reduced fragment gap formation in this simulated setting. The SMH may be helpful for maintaining reduction of femoral fractures in dogs. Additional studies of the SMH should be conducted to fully assess the effectiveness and practicality in clinical cases.

Patients that are in the fifth life stage (end-of-life) often present with multiple problems, which makes them challenging cases. Often, these patients are very vulnerable, and this is sometimes overlooked. This article aims to provide a brief and basic overview of looking after the end-of-life patient, whether at home or in hospital, by utilising a framework adapted from the 2016 International Association of Animal Hospice and Palliative Care, and American Animal Hospital Association Guidelines (IAAHPC/AAHA).

This letter presents a new approach for studying the catalytic thermodynamics of cuboctahedral nanoclusters, using informational statistical mechanics. The Morse potential determines bond energies between cluster atoms in a coordination type calculation. Applied density functional theory calculations demonstrate adatom effects on the thermodynamic quantities, which are derived from a Hamiltonian. Calculations of the entropy, free energy, and total energy show linear behavior, as the coverage of oxygen on platinum, and hydrogen on palladium, increases from bridge sites on the surface. The data exhibits size effects for the measured thermodynamic properties with cluster diameters between 2 and 5 nm. Entropy and enthalpy calculations of Pt–O2 compare well with previous theoretical data for Pt(111)–O2, and trends for Pd–H are similar to experimental measurements on Pd–H2 nanoclusters. These techniques are applicable to a wide variety of cluster–adsorbate interactions, encouraging further research.