Foot use and hand preference during feeding in captive black‐and‐white snub‐nosed monkeys (Rhinopithecus bieti)

Postural origin theory predicts that body postures are related to hand preference in nonhuman primates due to hemispheric specialization. Foot preference, especially in manipulating objects, is also a good predictor of hemispheric specialization in humans. We studied limb (hand and foot) preferences in 11 captive adult black‐and‐white snub‐nosed monkeys (Rhinopithecus bieti) to see how limb preference is influenced by postures and foot manipulation. Hand preference was significantly different for this group between quadrupedal standing and clinging postures, and sitting and clinging postures, but not between bipedal standing and clinging postures. Individuals were significantly more likely to use the right hand in the clinging posture than in quadrupedal standing or sitting postures. In the sitting posture, individuals maintained their respective hand preference even when the food was on the other side of the body. There was a gender difference in the sitting posture, where females preferred their right hand but males preferred their left. Individuals who did not routinely use their feet to manipulate objects, compared to those who did, shifted to greater right hand use from the clinging posture to the bipedal posture. One male individual and his offspring were more likely to use their feet to manipulate objects than the rest of the monkeys. In the present study, we reveal the first evidence of a postural effect on hand preference in R. bieti as well as a foot preference in this species. Our results mostly agree with the postural origin theory and hemispheric specialization.     

Effect of Tibial Plateau Leveling Osteotomy on Femorotibial Contact Mechanics and Stifle Kinematics

Objective— To evaluate the effects of tibial plateau leveling osteotomy (TPLO) on femorotibial contact mechanics and 3-dimensional (3D) kinematics in cranial cruciate ligament (CrCL)-deficient stifles of dogs.
Study Design— In vitro biomechanical study.
Animals— Unpaired pelvic limbs from 8 dogs, weighing 28–35 kg.
Methods— Digital pressure sensors placed subjacent to the menisci were used to measure femorotibial contact force, contact area, peak and mean contact pressure, and peak pressure location with the limb under an axial load of 30% body weight and a stifle angle of 135°. Three-dimensional static poses of the stifle were obtained using a Microscribe digitizing arm. Each specimen was tested under normal, CrCL-deficient, and TPLO-treated conditions. Repeated measures analysis of variance with a Tukey post hoc test ( P <.05) was used for statistical comparison.
Results— Significant disturbances to all measured contact mechanical variables were evident after CrCL transection, which corresponded to marked cranial tibial subluxation and increased internal tibial rotation in the CrCL-deficient stifle. No significant differences in 3D femorotibial alignment were observed between normal and TPLO-treated stifles; however, femorotibial contact area remained significantly smaller and peak contact pressures in both medial and lateral stifle compartments were positioned more caudally on the tibial plateau, when compared with normal.
Conclusion— Whereas TPLO eliminates craniocaudal stifle instability during simulated weight bearing, the procedure fails to concurrently restore femorotibial contact mechanics to normal.
Clinical Relevance— Progression of stifle osteoarthritis in dogs treated with TPLO may be partly the result of abnormal stifle contact mechanics induced by altering the orientation of the proximal tibial articulating surface.     

CD3+ and BLA.36+ cells do not occur in the epidermis and adnexal epithelia of normal equine skin

A small population of resident T lymphocytes is present in the healthy human and murine epidermis. However, resident epidermal lymphocytes have not been reported in normal skin of the horse. Skin biopsy specimens from the normal skin of 27 horses were examined histologically and immunohistochemically for the presence of lymphocytes, CD3+ cells and BLA.36+ cells in epidermis and adnexal epithelia. All examinations were negative. It appears that lymphocytes occur rarely, if at all, in the epidermis and adnexal epithelia of normal horse skin. Hence, the presence of lymphocytes in these structures should be considered abnormal.     

DYNAMIC CONTRAST‐ENHANCED MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING OF CANINE BRAIN TUMORS

We evaluated dynamic contrast‐enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE‐MRI) in canine brain tumors. Magnetic resonance data sets were collected on seven canine intracranial tumors with a 3 T magnet using a T1‐weighted fast spin echo fluid attenuated inversion recovery sequence after an IV bolus injection (0.2 mmol/kg) of Gd‐DTPA. The tumors were confirmed histopathologically as adenocarcinoma (n=1), ependymoma (n=1), meningioma (n=3), oligodendroglioma (n=1), and pituitary macroadenoma (n=1) The data were analyzed using a two‐compartment pharmacokinetic model for estimation of three enhancement parameters, E_R (rate of enhancement), K_el (rate of elimination), and K_ep (rate constant), and a model‐free phenomenologic parameter initial area under the Gd concentration curve (IAUGC) defined over the first 90 s postenhancement. Pearson's correlations were calculated between parameters of the two methods. The IAUGC has a relatively strong association with the rate of enhancement E_R, with r ranges from 0.4 to 0.9, but it was weakly associated with K_ep and K_el. To determine whether any two tumors differed significantly, the Kolmogorov–Smirnov test was used. The results showed that there were statistical differences (P<0.05) between distributions of the enhancement pattern of each tumor. These kinetic parameters may characterize the perfusion and vascular permeability of the tumors and the IAUGC may reflect blood flow, vascular permeability, and the fraction of interstitial space. The kinetic parameters and the IAUGC derived from DCE‐MRI present complementary information and they may be appropriate to noninvasively differentiate canine brain tumors although a larger prospective study is necessary.     

Chemical Control of the Pine Shoot Moth, Rhyacionia buoliana (Denis and SchiffermUller) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) in Seed Orchards in Britain

In 1970 and 1971 a high population of Rhyacionia buoliana (Denisand SchiffermÜller), the Pine shoot moth, appeared in aseed orchard of Pinus contorta Douglas ex Loud, in Wiltshire.The opportunity was taken to compare several alternative insecticideswith DDT. Field trials in March and August showed that fenitrothioncan be used as an alternative to DDT to control the Pine shootmoth.     

Squamous Cell Carcinoma Arising in Chronic Discoid Lupus Erythematosus Nasal Lesions in Two German Shepherd Dogs

Résumé— Un épithélioma spinocellulaire s'est développé sur des lésions chroniques incontrôlées de lupus erythémateux discoïde chez deux chiens bergers allemands. Les chiens n'avaient reçu ni traitement ni photoprotection pour leurs lésions de lupus discoïde durant les 4 à 6 ans précédant l'apparition clinique d'épithéliomas spinocellulaires. [Scott, D.W., Miller, W.H., Jr. Squamous cell carcinoma arising in chronic discoid lupus erythematosus nasal lesions in two German Shepherd Dogs (Un épithélioma spinocellulaire suivenant sur des lesions de lupus erythémateux discoïde chroniques chez deux bergers allemands).
Resumen— Dos perros de raza Pastor Alemán desarrollaron carcinomas de células escamosas en lesiones crónicas del tipo lupus eritematoso discoide. Estos animales no habian recibido tratamiento ni protección solar del cuadro de lupus eritematoso discoide en los 4 a 6 años previos al desarrollo del carcinoma escamoso. [Scott, D.W., Miller, W.H., Jr. Squamous cell carcinoma arising in chronic discoid lupus erythematosus nasal lesions in two German Shepherd Dogs (Carcinoma de células escamosas a partir de lesiones crónicas nasales del tipo lupus eritematoso discoide en dos perros Pastor Alemán).
Abstract— Squamous cell carcinoma developed in the chronic, uncontrolled nasal lesions of discoid lupus erythematosus in two German Shepherd Dogs. The dogs had received no treatment nor photoprotection for their discoid lupus erythematosus for 4–6 years prior to the clinical onset of squamous cell carcinoma.     

Some effects of canopy structure and microclimate on infection of tall and short wheats by Septoria nodorum

The results of three kinds of field experiment were consistent with the hypothesis that the canopies of taller wheat varieties generate a less favourable microclimate for development of S. nodorum from standard inoculum. (1) Measurements of photosynthetic area per unit volume of space occupied by canopies showed that taller varieties had lower canopy densities than shorter varieties. (2) Less disease developed in artificially thinned canopies of tall and short varieties. (3) Less disease developed in plots raised on mounds and more developed in plots sunk in trenches, relative to plots at ground level.
The results of three further kinds of field experiment were consistent with the hypothesis that reduced leaf surface wetness contributes to the tendency for taller varieties to be less infected by S. nodorum. (1) Continuous electrical measurement showed that leaf surface wetness (mainly dew) on two tall resistant varieties lasted for a shorter time than that on a short susceptible variety. (2) Instantaneous estimation of dew by weighing showed that less was deposited on taller and more resistant varieties than on shorter and more susceptible varieties. (3) For 10 sister lines from the same cross, selected only for their variation in height, there were correlations of duration of surface wetness with height (negative), amount of S. nodorum with height (negative), and amount of .V. nodorum with duration of surface wetness (positive). There was also genetic variation in surface wetness that was independent of height.
Nevertheless, a microclitnatic effect is thought to be only one of several mechanisms that contribute to the tendency for taller varieties to be more resistant. In addition, there is much genetic variation in resistance that is independent of height.     

The Influence of Oral Corticosteroids or Declining Allergen Exposure on Serologic Allergy Test Results

Abstract— Twenty-seven proven atopic dogs had a serologic allergy test performed on the day of skin testing and again after either a 21-day course of corticosteroid treatment or 60 days without therapy during which time exposure to botanical aeroallergens was reduced or absent. There was no statistical difference in preand post-corticosteriod treatment results. There were significantly more positive scores recorded in the 60-day follow-up samples in the untreated dogs. Résumé— Vingt-sept chiens ayant une atopie prouvée ont subi des tests sérologiques d'allergie avant et 21 jours après une corticothérapie ou 60 jours sans traitement et sans exposition pollinique. Il n'y avait pas de difference statistiquement significative avant et après le traitement corticoïde. Il y avait beaucoup plus de résultats positifs à 60 jours chez les animaux ne subissant aucun traitement. Zusammenfassung— Bei 27 Hunden mit nachgewiesener Atopie wurde ein serologischer Allergietest am selben Tab wie der Hauttest und erneut entweder nach 21-tägiger Kortikosteroidbehandlung oder nach 60 Tagen ohne Therapie durchgeführt. Bei der zweiten Gruppe wurde die Exposition gegenüber pflanzlichen Aeroallergenen reduziert oder fehlte. Es gab keinen statistisch signifikanten Unterschied bei den Ergebnissen vor und nach Korikosteroidtherapie. Es trat eine statistch signifikant höhere Zahl positiver Reaktionen in den Proben der nicht behandeltentiere nach 60 Tagen aug. Resumen Veinti-siete perros en los que se había diagnosticado previamente atopía, se hizo un test serológico de alergia simultáneamente con tests de inyecciones intradérmicas durante el mismo día, volviendose a repetir a los 21 días despues del tratamiento con corticosteroides, o después de 60 días sin ningun tipo de medicacion, durante en cual exposición a aero-alergenos botánicos fué minima o inexistente. No se observó diferencia de tipo estadístico en animales antes o despues del tratamiento con corticosteroides. En los animales que no recibieron medicación, después de 60 días se observó un aumento significativo de respuestas positivas.