0–7–21 Radiation Therapy for the Treatment of Canine Oral Melanoma

Eighteen dogs with malignant melanoma of the oral cavity were treated with high-dose per fraction (0–7–21) radiation therapy. Eight hundred cGy was administered on days 0, 7, and 21 for a total dose of 2,400 cGy in 3 weeks. Of 17 dogs evaluated, 9 (53%) had a complete remission and 5 (30%) achieved a partial remission with an overall response rate of 83%. Local failure occurred in 2 of the 9 dogs where a complete response was initially observed. One dog died of intercurrent disease, and one died of metastatic disease without evidence of local recurrence. Five dogs are alive and free of disease 9 to nineteen months from the initiation of therapy. The 0–7–21 protocol was well-tolerated, and acute radiation reactions were low-grade and limited to the skin. The results of this study demonstrate that oral melanomas in dogs are responsive to radiation. 0–7–21 radiation therapy offers a viable alternative to radical excision, especially when tumor volume or location would require cosmetically or functionally debilitating surgery.     

Chemical Decapsulation of Artemia franciscana Resting Cysts Does Not Necessarily Produce More Nauplii

Decapsulation of Artemia spp. cysts in strong hypochlorite solutions reportedly increases the number of nauplii that hatch. Commercial cysts of Artemia franciscano were subjected to four decapsulation methods prior to hatching them in aerated seawater. Samples were removed from the hatch vessels every 5 h from 15 through 45 h, and fully hatched nauplii were counted. The experiment was performed three times. No significant difference was seen between mean numbers of control nauplii and nauplii obtained using the decapsulation method that yielded the best hatch: oxidation for 15 min in equal parts Clorox® and seawater plus 6 mL of a 40% NaOH solution, followed by reduction with 100 mL of 0.7 M sodium thiosulfate. A third treatment was inferior to either of these, and two others produced very low yields. It was concluded that of the methods evaluated, none is superior to no treatment at all, and some are clearly detrimental to developing Artemia embryos.     

Micromorphology of soils in soliflucted materials,Okstindan, Northern Norway

The micromorphology of two soil profiles developed on turf-banked solifluction lobes and a third profile formed on a larger turf-banked solifluction terrace is described. Four elements common to the three profiles are identified.In the horizontal plane the apparent long axes of detrital grains show preferred orientation parallel to the azimuth of the line of greatest slope, and in slides cut in the vertical plane aligned with the slope direction a somewhat stronger preferred orientation (or apparent dip of the grains) is observed parallel, or sub-parallel to the ground surface gradient. Secondly, coatings of matrix material are observed on the upper surfaces of detrital grains at depths greater than 50 cm. Above this depth similar coatings also appear on the sides and lower surfaces of detrital grains. Roughly horizontal flattened patches of matrix enrichment are also observed in the three profiles. These become more frequent with depth, producing a banded pattern of matrix concentrations separated by detrital grains. Finally, large rounded pores, or vesicles, are observed in the upper 25 cm of the three profiles.These micromorphological elements are described, and suggestions are made as to their origins.     

Some effects of off-road vehicles and sheep grazing on lizard populations in the mojave desert

The effects of two environmentally disruptive activities were determined using the numbers and biomass of lizards. Sheep grazing reduces ground cover necessary for some lizard species. The use of vehicles on the desert also eliminates vegetation and adversely affects lizard populations.