Estimation of drought-related limitations to mid-rotation aged plantation grown Eucalyptus globulus by phloem sap analysis

Previous research has shown that carbon isotope signatures (Δ¹³C) may correlate well with water status in 1–2 years old, plantation grown Eucalyptus globulus. Here we investigate this relationship for mid-rotation aged (5 years) trees and whether a simple field determination of phloem sugar concentrations is a reliable surrogate for Δ¹³C. We sampled six plantations covering much of the climatic range of E. globulus plantations in Australia (average annual rainfall 618–1094 mm). We found significant correlations between phloem Δ¹³C and phloem sugar concentrations across and within plantations. Both parameters were also correlated with a climate wetness index. We thus conclude that phloem sugar concentration is a useful surrogate for Δ¹³C and hence water status of mid-rotation E. globulus. We also observed strong correlations of phloem Δ¹³C and phloem sugar concentrations with growth across all plantations, providing some confirmation that water limits growth of E. globulus at a larger scale. This relationship was much weaker or absent within plantations, suggesting that factors other than water supply contribute significantly to growth limitations at smaller (within-plantation) scales.     

Some properties of a chrono-toposequence of soils from granite in New Zealand, 1. profile weights and general composition

A chrono-toposequence of five soils formed in strongly weathered granite in the South Island of New Zealand was described on the basis of soil profile morphology, landscape position, and the degree of weathering of the underlying granite. The sequence contains five progressively younger soils on increasing slopes from crest to backslope formed in a Parent Material of originally uniform mineralogical and chemical composition as Parent Rock under a uniform climate and vegetation. All profiles of the sequence are strongly weathered and leached with the final member of the sequence being considered to represent a terminal steady-state system.Changes in a number of chemical and physical soil properties were described with the increasing soil development (i.e. increasing weathering and leaching) represented in the sequence profiles. Profile soil weights (< 2mm) remained approximately constant, once weathering of stone material (> 2 mm) to fines was completed. An initial increase in profile silt and clay content was followed by a decline in both fractions with a corresponding increase in the sand fraction. Proportions of kaolin/metahalloysite initially increased and 2:1–2:2 Al intergrades decreased, but the final three sequence profiles had similar clay mineralogies with kaolin/metahalloysite being the main component. Profile weights of oxidisable carbon and total nitrogen followed an exponential decline after an initial increase between the first two sequence profiles. Profile cation-exchange capacity, total exchangeable bases, percent base saturation, and exchangeable cations showed no trends with increasing soil development. Depth-gradients of these parameters together with oxidisable carbon and total nitrogen became less pronounced, with the apparent tendency towards a steady-state system in the final sequence profile. Multiple regression analysis indicated that oxidisable carbon was the main contributing factor to cation-exchange capacity followed by clay content.Profile weights of total calcium and potassium were closely correlated and showed an approximately exponential decline with increasing soil development, whereas total magnesium showed a relatively linear decline. Total aluminium and iron both showed an initial increase and then declined. The relative rates of loss of the five total elements studied were in the order: Ca > Mg > K, Fe > Al.     

Production and characterization of monoclonal antibodies against Pasteurella piscicida, the causative agent of fish pasteurellosis

Six monoclonal antibodies (mabs) produced against Pasteurella piscicida whole cells, cultured under iron limitation conditions, were characterized and specificity tested. Two of the mabs (WE15H1D7 and WE3D6C11) appeared to be specific for P. piscicida lipopolysaccharide, while mabs WE14C10F9 and WE12D7D8 crossreacted with Photobacterium species. The remaining two mabs, WE9D6D8 and VP4B11, crossreacted with other bacterial genera. All mabs reacted with material present in the extracellular products of the pathogen as well as to whole cells, suggesting that the antigens to which antibodies are directed slough off the cell membranes or are secreted to the culture medium. The potential of the mabs as tools for the diagnosis of pasteurellosis is discussed.     

The effect of iron limitation growth conditions on the cell and extracellular components of the fish pathogen Pasteurella piscicida

The effect of iron limitation, using the iron-chelating agent 2,2 dipyridyl, on the electrophoretic profiles of outer membrane proteins (OMPs) and extracellular products (ECPs) from 21 Pasteurella piscicida strains isolated from Europe and Japan was investigated. In addition, the effect of iron-limited and iron-surplus growth conditions on caseinase activity in culture supernatants of the pathogen was examined. The majority of P. piscicida strains, from Greece, Italy and France, cultured under iron-limited conditions, produced four novel OMPs (63 and three at and above 200 kDa). In contrast, iron-regulated outer membrane proteins were not induced in Japanese strains. Electrophoretic analysis of the ECPs from the pathogen grown under iron surplus and iron limitation revealed a large range of products and additional high molecular mass (MM) bands were evident under iron-limited conditions. When culture supernatants were analysed for their activity, most of the bacteria tested showed elevated activities under iron limited conditions. Finally, neither hydroxamate nor phenolate type siderophores could be detected with any of the chemical assays used.     

A VACUUM-FORMABLE MATTRESS FOR VETERINARY RADIOTHERAPY POSITIONING: COMPARISON WITH CONVENTIONAL METHODS

This prospective study was undertaken to compare the positioning repeatability and setup time of a rigid immobilization device (Vac-Lok mattress) to conventional positioning methods (sandbags, tape, foam wedges) in the clinical veterinary radiotherapy setting. Positioning repeatability was determined by using port films to verify appropriate patient positioning. Setup time was determined by recording the time required to set up each patient using each positioning method. Sixty-seven patients receiving radiotherapy were positioned using both the Vac-Lok mattresses and conventional positioning methods during their treatments. Seventy-eight total sites were treated. Forty-eight were treated daily (Monday through Friday, 2 to 4 weeks) and 30 were treated once weekly (4 weeks). Patients were grouped according to the site treated: head (29), neck/body (24), and limb (25). Vac-Lok mattresses were similar to conventional means in positioning repeatability and setup time. Vac-Lok mattresses are potentially advantageous in specific situations, including use during pre-radiotherapy tumor imaging. These mattresses are not recommended for distal limb positioning.     

Anaesthetic Management of Baboons Undergoing Heterotopic Porcine Cardiac Xenotransplantation

A detailed anaesthetic technique for baboons (Papio anubis) undergoing heterotopic abdominal cardiac xenotransplantation is described. Twenty-two baboons served as transplant recipients. Donors were either crossbred farm pigs (Sus scrofa) (n = 4) or transgenic pigs (Sus scrofa) (n = 18) expressing human complement regulatory proteins on the endothelium. Intra-operative management was complicated by the physiological consequences of infrarenal, abdominal aortic cross-clamping, in addition to the immunological sequelae related to cross-species transplantation. In choosing anaesthetics for this procedure, we considered the need for maximal cardiac stability throughout a long surgical procedure that required abdominal aortic cross-clamping to facilitate the implantation of an oversized porcine cardiac graft. Baboons received a balanced anaesthetic consisting of inhaled isoflurane in oxygen, intravenous fentanyl and intravenous pancuronium. The pharmacological techniques employed were found to be safe and reliable and were well tolerated by our recipients without any significant side-effects.     

QUANTITATIVE99mTc-PERTECHNETATE THYROID SCINTIGRAPHY IN NORMAL BEAGLES

This study was done to investigate the validity of published canine thyroid/salivary (TS) rations of approximately i in normal dogs and to detemine thyroid uptak of ^99mTc-pertechnetate (pertechnetate) measured as percent uptake of injected dose. These parameters were evaluated in 13 Beagle dogs over a 4 hour period. Mean ± standard deviation (SD) and median T/S ratios of 1.2 ± 0.3 and 1.1 were essentially the same at twenty minutes and 1 hour. T/S Values ranged from 0.9 to 2.2 at 20minutes and from 0.8 to 2.4 at 1 hour. T/S ratio values progressively declined over the subsequent time intervals with mean ± SD and median values of 0.6 ± 0.2 and 0.6, respectively, measured at 4 hour. The mean with a rang of 0.28% to 0.90%. The mean ± SD time interval from injection of pertechanetate to maximum uptake within the thyroid gland was 160 ± 55 minutes with a range 31–240 minutes. The data derived from this study of normal dogs may be useful in the evaluation of dogs with thyroidal diseases including hypthyroidism     

Expected correlated responses in selecting dry beans for tolerance to soil compaction

Summary Parents and F₂ progenies of an 8×8 diallel cross were grown under non-compacted and compacted soil conditions. Soil compaction reduced yield, pods per plant, and seeds per pod; however, an increase in seed wieght and no effect for pod length were observed. With the exception of pods per plant, the remaining traits had larger genetic variances under non-compacted soil conditions. Phenotypic correlations involving yield and related traits were similar under the two conditions. Tolerance to soil compaction and mean performance over the two soil conditions were defined. Genetic correlations in terms of: (1) the ratio of genetic variances under the stress and non-stress conditions, and (2) the correlation between performance under the two conditions, were calculated and discussed.Journal Article No. 10900 of the Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station.