Use of a new and rapid milk progesterone assay to monitor reproductive activity in the cow

A new and rapid enzyme-amplified immunoassay (AELIA) has been developed for the measurement of progesterone in milk. The AELIA system is a non-isotopic method that gives results within 35 minutes. Milk progesterone concentrations measured in 10 cows sampled daily at various stages of the reproductive cycle were very similar to those recorded by a validated radioimmunoassay. The results show that the speed and sensitivity of the AELIA system would make it possible to diagnose pregnancy rapidly at about 24 days after insemination, to predict the onset of behavioural oestrus from decreasing progesterone values during the third week after a preceding oestrus, and to obtain a daily record of milk progesterone levels in animals treated for infertility of ovarian origin.     

Canine sterile neutrophilic dermatitis (resembling Sweet's syndrome) in a Dachshund

A 6-year-old Dachshund was presented with a 2-day history of lethargy, anorexia and cutaneous erythema, edema, and multifocal erythematous papules affecting the ventral abdomen, axillae, and groin. Microscopic examination revealed a sterile neutrophilic dermatitis resembling Sweet's syndrome; however, extracutaneous lesions were not present. The condition responded rapidly to corticosteroid therapy.     

Inheritance of coffee bean sucrose content in the interspecific cross Coffea pseudozanguebariae×Coffea liberica'dewevrei'

The sucrose content of coffee bean is an important component of the coffee flavour: the higher the sucrose content in green beans, the more intense coffee cup flavour: Beans of the anciently cultivated cultivar Coffea liberica‘dewevrei’ have low levels of sucrose compared with beans of the wild species Coffea pseudozanguebariae. In the present study, the inheritance of the sucrose accumulation in the interspecific cross C. pseudozanguebariae×C. liberica‘dewevrei’ was examined. The sucrose content was measured in mature beans of both parental species, and in F₁ and backcross hybrids using high‐pressure liquid chromatography coupled to pulsed amperometric detection. The sucrose accumulation in all but one hybrid, showed genetic additivity. A segregation distortion was identified in the offspring of the backcross to C pseudozanguebariae. There was no year effect and only a low genotype × year interaction. Consequences for breeding, in relation to the coffee cup taste improvement, are discussed.     

Thirty years of fleet dynamics modelling using discrete‐choice models: What have we learned?

Anticipating fisher behaviour is necessary for successful fisheries management. Of the different concepts that have been developed to understand individual fisher behaviour, random utility models (RUMs) have attracted considerable attention in the past three decades, and more particularly so since the 2000s. This study aimed at summarizing and analysing the information gathered from RUMs used during the last three decades around the globe. A methodology has been developed to standardize information across different studies and compare RUM results. The studies selected focused on fishing effort allocation. Six types of fisher behaviour drivers were considered: the presence of other vessels in the same fishing area, tradition, expected revenue, species targeting, costs, and risk‐taking. Analyses were performed using three separate linear modelling approaches to assess the extent to which these different drivers impacted fisher behaviour in three fleet types: fleets fishing for demersal species using active gears, fleets fishing for demersal species using passive gears and fleets fishing for pelagic species. Fishers are attracted by higher expected revenue, tradition, species targeting and presence of others, but avoid choices involving large costs. Results also suggest that fishers fishing for demersal species using active gears are generally more influenced by past seasonal (long‐term) patterns than by the most recent (short‐term) information. Finally, the comparison of expected revenue with other fisher behaviour drivers highlights that demersal fishing vessels are risk‐averse and that tradition and species targeting influence fisher decisions more than expected revenue.     

Acquired canaliculocele with intranasal extension in a dog

To describe a case of a nasolacrimal canaliculocele with intranasal extension in a dog. A 6‐year‐old neutered female Jack Russell Terrier was referred to the Centre Hospitalier Vétérinaire des Cordeliers for a slowly enlarging mass adjacent to the medial canthus of the right eye of 5 months duration. Ophthalmic exam, ultrasound, fine needle aspiration, dacryocystorhinography and computerized tomography examinations were performed. Rhinoendoscopic treatment with marsupialisation of the endonasal canaliculocele was performed. Physical examination revealed a 3 cm diameter, subcutaneous mass beneath the medial canthus of the right eye, with a defect in the maxillary bone below. Dacryocystorhinography demonstrated blockage at the level of the nasolacrimal duct. Fine needle aspiration confirmed the cavitary nature of the lesion. During rhinoendoscopy, a mass containing watery fluid was found. Following marsupialisation with a large mass wall resection, the lacrimal drainage system irrigated freely in the nasal chamber. The communication of the lumen of the diverticulum with the lumen of the superior but not the inferior canaliculus was clearly demonstrated during endoscopy. Given negative immunohistochemical staining for smooth muscle actin and desmin, nasolacrimal dacryocele appears to be the most likely diagnosis. Histological examination confirmed that no goblet cells were present in the wall of the diverticulum, which is consistent with the canaliculus rather than the lacrimal sac. Complete resolution was observed without recurrence one year after surgery. Despite its rarity, a canaliculocele should be considered in adult dogs with nasolacrimal duct obstruction. Marsupialisation seems to be the appropriate therapy.     

Parasitism of canola aphids in France in autumn

In light of a recent increase in the aphid populations on young canola (Brassica napus) in autumn in Northwestern Europe, we carried out a survey of their parasitoid species during this season. The study was done in France from 1998 to 2001 using different sampling methods. Results highlighted the presence of two main species of Aphidiinae, Aphidius matricariae and Diaeretiella rapae (and to a lesser extent Aphidius ervi) on Myzus persicae, and of D. rapae on Brevicoryne brassicae. Nine other Aphidiinae species were found occasionally as well as some Aphelinidae parasitoids and hyperparasitoids. There was no difference in parasitoid species pattern between fields in Northern and Southern France. The principal parasitoid species found in the fields were reared in the laboratory to confirm their ability to develop on the canola aphids. Aphidius matricariae and D. rapae were reared successfully on M. persicae, but a low parasitism rate was obtained for A. ervi on this aphid. This study showed that A. matricariae and D. rapae could develop on aphids on canola and that they are present naturally in canola in autumn. However, the parasitism rate is low in autumn, so the options could be the use of these parasitoids in augmentative release biological control programs or in an IPM project on canola fields during this time of the year.     

Flowering synchronisation between male and female West African cultivated yams (Dioscorea cayenensis-rotundata complex)

It has long been admitted that male and female cultivars of Dioscorea cayenensis-rotundata complex do not flower at the same period and consequently natural outcrossing rarely occurs. Flowering in thirteen (7 males and 6 females) traditional cultivars were studied. Four main results were obtained: i) the first bud emergence occurred 25 days earlier in males; ii) the male and female first flower opening overlapped for 10 days (85 to 95 days after sprouting); iii) for both sexes, highest frequency of flower opening occurred at mid-day; and iv) the female cultivar 1800 could flower for 8 consecutive days, with a peak between day 4 and day 8. These results are discussed in relation to intercrossing success. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Potential performances of remotely sensed LAI assimilation in WOFOST model based on an OSS Experiment

An Observing System Simulation Experiment (OSSE) has been defined to assess the potentialities of assimilating winter wheat leaf area index (LAI) estimations derived from remote sensing into the crop growth model WOFOST. Two assimilation strategies are considered: one based on Ensemble Kalman Filter (EnKF) and the second on recalibration/re-initialisation of uncertain model parameters and initial state conditions. The main objective of the OSS Experiment is to estimate the requisites for the remotely sensed LAI, in terms of accuracy and sampling frequency, to reach target of either 25 or 50% reduction of errors on the final estimation of grain yields.Our results demonstrate that EnKF is not suitable for assimilating LAI in WOFOST as the average error on final grain yields estimation globally increases. These poor results can be explained by the possible differences of phenological development existing between assimilated and modelled LAI values (difference called “phenological shift” in our study) which is not corrected by the EnKF-based assimilation strategy.On the contrary, a recalibration-based assimilation approach globally improves the estimation of final grain yields in a significant way. On average, such improvement can reach up to approximately 65% when observations are available all along the growing season. Improvements on the order of 20% can be already be attained early in the season, which is of great interest in a crop yield forecasting perspective. If the first objective (25%) of error reduction on final grain yields can be reached in a quite high number of assimilated LAI observations availabilities and uncertainty levels, the field of possibilities is significantly restricted for the second objective (50%) and implies to have LAI observations available all along the growing season, at least on a weekly basis and with an uncertainty level equal or ideally lower than 10%. These requirements are not currently met from neither a technological nor an operational point of view but the results presented here can provide guidelines for future missions dedicated to crop growth monitoring.