Force plate gait analysis was used to study the effects of subject stance time and velocity on ground reaction forces in 6 adult Greyhounds at the trot. Data for 210 valid trials were obtained. Stance time negatively correlated with velocity (r = -0.85 for the forelimbs, r = -0.61 for the hind limbs), decreasing as velocity increased. Stance time in the forelimbs and hind limbs correlated more closely with changes in vertical peak force and impulse than did velocity. The trials were divided into 3 distinct velocity ranges (V1 = 1.5 to 1.8 m/s, V2 = 2.1 to 2.4 m/s, and V3 = 2.7 to 3.0 m/s), 3 distinct forelimb stance time ranges (FST1 = 0.144 to 0.176 second, FST2 = 0.185 to 0.217 second, and FST3 = 0.225 to 0.258 second), and 3 distinct hind limb stance time ranges (HST1 = 0.105 to 0.132 second, HST2 = 0.139 to 0.165 second, and HST3 = 0.172 to 0.198 second). Peak forces increased as velocity increased and decreased as stance time increased. Vertical impulse decreased as velocity increased and increased as stance time increased. The relation between stance time, subject velocity, and ground reaction forces was documented for clinically normal Greyhounds at the trot. Changes in stance time accurately reflected changes in subject velocity and ground reaction forces in clinically normal dogs and could be used to normalize trial data within a sampling period.

Six untrained mares were subjected to incremental treadmill exercise to examine exercise-induced in plasma renin activity (PRA) and plasma aldosterone (ALDO) and plasma arginine vasopressin (AVP) concentrations. Plasma renin activity, ALDO and AVP concentrations, and heart rate (HR) were measured at each step of an incremental maximal exercise test. Mares ran up a 6 degrees slope on a treadmill set at an initial speed of 4 m/s. Speed was increased 1 m/s each minute until HR reached a plateau. Plasma obtained was stored at - 80 C and later was thawed, extracted, and assayed for PRA and ALDO and AVP values by use of radioimmunoassay. Exercise caused significant increase in HR from 40 +/- 2 beats/min (mean +/- SEM) at rest to 206 +/- 4 beats/min (HRmax) at speed of 9 m/s. Plasma renin activity increased from 1.9 + /- 1.0 ng/ml/h at rest to a peak of 5.2 +/- 1.0 ng/ml/h at 9 m/s, paralleling changes in HR. Up to treadmill speed of 9 m/s, strong linear correlations were obtained between exercise intensity (and duration) and HR (r = 0.87, P < 0.05) and PRA (r = 0.93, P < 0.05). Heart rate and PRA reached a plateau and did not increase when speed was increased from 9 to 10 m/s. Plasma ALDO concentration increased from 48 +/- 16 pg/ml at rest to 191 +/- 72 pg/ml at speed of 10 m/s. Linear relation was found between exercise intensity (and duration) and ALDO concentration (r = 0.97, P < 0.05). Plasma AVP concentration increased from 4.0 +/- 3.0 pg/ml at rest to 95 +/- 5.0 pg/ml at speed of 10 m/s. The relation between AVP concentration and exercise intensity (and duration) appeared to be curvilinear, and was described by an exponential function (r = 0.92, P < 0.05). These data indicate that PRA and ALDO and AVP concentrations increase in horses during progressive treadmill exercise.

Transcutaneous pulsed-wave Doppler echocardiography was used to obtain velocity signals from the aortic and pulmonary roots of clinically normal adult dogs tranquilized with acepromazine. Doppler-derived variables included peak ejection velocity, ejection time, and velocity-time integral. The cross-sectional areas of the left and right ventricular outflow tracts were estimated from diameters of the respective orifices measured from two-dimensional echocardiographic images. These data were used to calculate stroke volume and cardiac output for each ventricle. Linear, single variable regressions of ejection time, velocity-time integral, and peak velocity with body weight showed no significant correlations. Significant correlations existed between body weight and estimated left and right ventricular stroke volume and cardiac output. A close correspondence existed between pulmonary and aortic determinations of velocity-time integral, stroke volume, and cardiac output. These results provide an initial framework for interpretation of clinical data by veterinary cardiologists.

Sensory nerve conduction velocity was measured in the lateral palmar nerve of 8 horses. The limb temperature was manipulated by external means and monitored. Alterations in the nerve conduction velocity related to limb temperature variation were identified at both increased and decreased temperatures. These were quantified and a mean value of 2.15 +/- 0.2 m/s/degree Celsius was determined. The effect of altered limb temperature should be considered in nerve conduction velocity determinations.

In 25 adult dogs of various breeds, recurrent laryngeal nerve fibers were electrically stimulated at 2 points along their extralaryngeal course. Evoked compound muscle action potentials were recorded in this ipsilateral intrinsic laryngeal muscles, using a percutaneous needle electrode. Latencies, amplitudes, and durations were measured. Latencies were correlated with neck length (r = 0.88 on left and 0.82 on right). Five of the dogs were euthanatized, and the nerve length between the 2 stimulating needle electrodes was measured; calculated conduction velocities (mean +/- SD) were 55 +/- 6 m/s (left) and 57 +/- 6 m/s (right). In 38 additional canine cadavers, the lengths of the exposed left and right recurrent laryngeal nerves were correlated with neck length (r = 0.44 on left and 0.56 on right). A linear regression model is proposed for predicting normal latencies, despite variations in neck length among different breeds of dogs.

Normal sensory nerve conduction velocity (SNCV) values in 8 ponies and 8 horses were compared by use of a percutaneous signal-averaging technique. Nerve fibers evaluated included those in the medial and lateral palmar and plantar digital nerves. Mean SNCV values were significantly slower (P < 0.0002) for horses, compared with those values for ponies. Animal height and nerve segment length were inversely related to SNCV consistently. The SNCV values were affected by surface skin temperature by a factor of approximately 1.2 m/s change for 1 degrees C change in temperatures from 35 C. The ability to calculate warning limits to define those SNCV values in normal and abnormal ranges were developed from these data for both ponies and horses.

This paper presents the resultsof an experimental attempt to improve thedrying kinetics for the retention of colourand sialic acid in edible bird’s nest throughheat pump drying. Kinetics of hot air dryingand heat pump drying were studied byperforming various drying trials on ediblebird’s nest. Isothermal drying trials wereconducted in hot air drying and heat pumpdrying at a temperature range of 40 °C-90 °C and 28.6 °C-40.6 °C, respectively.Intermittent drying trials were carried outin heat pump drying with two differentmodes, which are periodic air flow supplyand step-up air temperature. Experimentalresults showed that heat pump drying withlow temperature dehumidified air not onlyenhanced the drying kinetics but alsoproduced a stable final product of ediblebird’s nest. Heat pump-dried edible bird’ssamples retained a high concentration ofsialic acid when an appropriate dryingmode was selected.

The percentage of limb contact time spent in braking and propulsion was determined for the forelimbs and hind limbs of Greyhounds at 2 walk speeds and 3 trot speeds. Limb contact times decreased significantly (P < 0.05) as velocity increased between each velocity range. At a slow walk (0.92 to 1.03 m/s), braking and propulsion were 56.1 and 43.6% of contact time in the forelimbs and 41.6 and 58.1% of contact time in the hind limbs, respectively. At a fast walk (1.06 to 1.17 m/s), braking and propulsion were 56.7 and 43.5% of contact time in the forelimbs and 41.5 and 58.4% of contact time in the hind limbs, respectively. There was no significant difference in the percentage of contact time that the forelimbs and hind limbs spent in braking and propulsion between the 2 walk velocities. At the slow trot (1.5 to 1.8 m/s), braking and propulsion were 56.8 and 43% of contact time in the forelimbs and 30.1 and 67.6% of contact time in the hind limbs, respectively. At the medium trot (2.1 to 2.4 m/s), braking and propulsion were 55.9 and 43.5% of contact time in the forelimbs and 33.8 and 63.2% of contact time in the hind limbs, respectively. At the fast trot (2.7 to 3.0 m/s), braking and propulsion were 57.2 and 43% of contact time in the forelimbs and 37.5 and 61.1% of contact time in the hind limbs, respectively. Braking percentage increased and propulsive percentage decreased significantly (P < 0.05) in the hind limbs between the slow and fast trot speeds. There was no significant difference in the percentage of forelimb contact time spent in braking and propulsion between the walk and the trot gaits or among the 3 trot velocities.

Force plate gait analysis was used to study the effects of subject stance time and velocity on ground reaction forces in 5 adult Greyhounds at the walk. Data from 146 valid trials were obtained. Stance time and velocity were linearly related, and stance time had a strong, negative correlation with velocity k = -0.72 for the forelimbs, r = -0.56 for the hind limbs). Stance time correlated more closely with changes in peak vertical force and impulse than did velocity. Stance time and velocity correlated less strongly with braking and propulsion forces and impulses. The trials were divided into 2 distinct velocity ranges (V1 = 0.92 to 1.03 m/s, V2 = 1.06 to 1.17 m/ s), 2 distinct forelimb stance time ranges (FST1 = 0.43 to 0.48 second, FST2 = 0.50 to 0.55 second), and 2 distinct hind limb stance time ranges (HST1 = 0.40 to 0.45 second, HST2 = 0.46 to 0.51 second). Five trials from each dog were included in each range, and the mean values were used to evaluate changes in ground reaction forces between groups. Peak vertical force in the forelimbs decreased significantly (P = 0.048) as FST increased; however, difference was not detected in vertical force between velocity groups. Peak vertical force in the hind limbs decreased significantly (P = 0.001) as HST increased and increased significantly (P = 0.000) as velocity increased. Differences were not observed between groups in forelimb or hind limb braking and propulsive forces. Vertical impulse in the forelimbs and hind limbs decreased as velocity increased and increased as stance time increased. Braking impulse in the forelimbs decreased as velocity increased and increased as FST increased. Braking force in the hind limbs did not change between velocity or stance time groups. Propulsive impulse in the hind limbs decreased as velocity increased and increased as HST increased. Stance time was a sensitive and accurate indicator of subject velocity in clinically normal dogs at the walk and correlated more closely with changes in some ground reaction forces than did velocity measurements. Stance time measurements could be used to normalize trial data within a sampling period and document consistency in velocity during force plate analysis of clinically normal dogs at the walk.