Perivascular wall tumour presenting as pastern mass in a Standardbred gelding

A 2-year-old Standardbred gelding was referred for a mass on the palmaromedial right front pastern which was accompanied by progressively worsening lameness. The mass was firm to palpation and covered by normal skin. Ultrasonographically, a smooth encapsulated mass was present, medial to the flexor tendons and palmar to the neurovascular bundle. Because of a poor prognosis for future athletic performance without surgical or chemotherapeutic intervention and economic constraints preventing further diagnostics and treatment, the horse was euthanised. Post-mortem magnetic resonance imaging, histopathology and immunohistochemistry revealed the mass to be a perivascular wall tumour, the first record of such a neoplasia in the horse.     

Impact of Endocrine‐Disrupting Chemicals on Reproductive Function in Zebrafish (Danio rerio)

The prevalence of endocrine‐disrupting chemicals (EDCs) in the aquatic environment has been associated with the wide detection of alterations in the development and physiology of vertebrates. Zebrafish, as a model species, has been extensively used in toxicological research. In this review, we focus on recent published evidence of the harmful effects of EDCs on reproductive function in zebrafish, including skewed sex ratio, immature gonads, diminished sexual behaviour, decreased sperm count, reduced spawning and fertilization. These impairments mostly result from disruption to sex‐steroid hormones induced by endocrine disruptors. We also discuss other effects of exposure to EDCs. In EDC exposure research, despite incomplete assessments of altered gonad histopathology and sexual behaviour, these present potential effective biomarkers or pathways for evaluating the reproductive function in zebrafish on EDC exposure. To date, the pernicious effects of some EDCs on the reproductive performance in laboratory zebrafish are well understood; however, similar alterations remain for further determination in wild‐type fish and more kinds of EDCs. More studies should be performed under established scientific regulatory criteria to investigate the impact of EDCs on reproduction in zebrafish. Moreover, further research is required to explain the definite mechanism of sexual differentiation, which helps in understanding the shift of sexual phenotype with EDC exposure.     

The prevalence of itchmite, Psorergates ovis, among sheep flocks with a history of fleece derangement

An investigation of sheep flocks in the main sheep raising areas of New South Wales showed that the itchmite Psorergates ovis was frequently associated with fleece derangement. In 26 of the 41 flocks examined, P. ovis was the only ectoparasite detected. P. ovis and the sheep body louse Damalinia ovis, were found in 5 flocks. No external parasites were found on sheep examined from the 10 remaining flocks. The type of fleece derangement most frequently recorded was rubbing which in some cases was combined with areas of chewed fleece. Among flocks, there were positive relations between the prevalence of fleece derangement and prevalence of itchmite or scurf and between itchmite count and mean scurf score. Within flocks, itchmite infested sheep or sheep with scurf had higher prevalences of fleece derangement than sheep on which no mites or no scurf were found. Itchmite infested sheep had a higher prevalence of scurf than those with no detectable mite infestation. There were no significant differences in itchmite populations or fleece derangement between untreated flocks and flocks treated with synthetic pyrethroids, organophosphates or arsenic and rotenone.     

Chlamydiosis in workers at a duck farm and processing plant

SUMMARY An outbreak of chlamydiosis was Investigated in workers at a duck farm and processing plant during winter 1989. Chlamydia psittaci was isolated from ducks, but there was little evidence of clinical chlamydiosis in the ducks. Serological tests showed that 76% of workers had been exposed to Infection, 12% recently, 16% had not been exposed and 8% had inconclusive test results. There was a strong association (P < 0.05) between years of employment and exposure to Infection. Infection appeared to be contracted during the first year of employment. Measures were Implemented to reduce shed contamination and control rodents and wild birds. At the same time, ducks were medicated, the processing plant was modified, work practices were altered and workers were advised about chlamydiosis to reduce the risk of human infection.     

不同种植方式对超级稻籽粒灌浆特性的影响

为探明不同种植方式下高产水稻的籽粒灌浆特性,以超级稻品种淮稻9号和III优98为材料,应用Richards方程W=A/(1+Be^–Kt)^1/N对旱育中苗壮秧精量手栽、小苗机插、直播3种种植方式水稻强、弱势粒的灌浆过程进行了比较研究。结果表明,(1)不同种植方式下,超级稻产量差异极显著,手栽最高,机插次之,直播最低。与手栽和机插相比,直播的千粒重和结实率显著降低,而手栽和机插之间千粒重和结实率的变化因品种类型而异。(2)不同种植方式下超级稻强、弱势粒灌浆特征为明显的异步灌浆型。强势粒达到最大灌浆速率的时间(T_max)早,最大灌浆速率(GR_max)、平均灌浆速率(GR_mean)以及终极生长量(A)和起始生长势(R₀)均明显大于弱势粒,而活跃灌浆期(D)和有效灌浆时间(T₉₉)明显小于弱势粒。(3)与手栽和机插相比,直播强势粒的GR_max和GR_mean显著降低,T_max明显延迟,D、T₉₉显著增加。弱势粒的GR_max和GR_mean机插最大,手栽略小于直播,T_max直播最早,机插次之,手栽最迟,D、T₉₉手栽、机插、直播依次减少。(4)籽粒灌浆阶段特征方面,平均灌浆速率和贡献率均以中期最大,中期的贡献率强势粒和弱势粒分别达到60.53%和50.78%,不同种植方式间前、中、后各期在灌浆持续天数、平均灌浆速率和贡献率上的差异因粒位不同而异。(5)千粒重与强、弱势粒的GR_max、GR_mean和D呈正相关,且与弱势粒的灌浆速率(GR_max和GR_mean)显著相关,结实率与强、弱势粒的灌浆参数除强势粒的D外,均不显著相关。说明不同种植方式对超级稻的籽粒灌浆特性有明显影响,虽均为异步灌浆型,但其强、弱势粒的最大灌浆速率及到达最大灌浆速率的时间等灌浆特征参数均差异较大,在保持籽粒最终生长量和结实率稳定的条件下,提高籽粒的灌浆速率,特别是弱势粒的灌浆速率,对提高千粒重有重要的作用。     

Growth of SiO2 at room temperature with the use of catalyzed sequential half-reactions

Films of silicon dioxide (SiO2) were deposited at room temperature by means of catalyzed binary reaction sequence chemistry. The binary reaction SiCl4 + 2H2O --> SiO2 + 4HCl was separated into SiCl4 and H2O half-reactions, and the half-reactions were then performed in an ABAB ellipsis sequence and catalyzed with pyridine. The pyridine catalyst lowered the deposition temperature from >600 to 300 kelvin and reduced the reactant flux required for complete reactions from approximately 10(9) to approximately 10(4) Langmuirs. Growth rates of approximately 2.1 angstroms per AB reaction cycle were obtained at room temperature for reactant pressures of 15 millitorr and 60-second exposure times with 200 millitorr of pyridine. This catalytic technique may be general and should facilitate the chemical vapor deposition of other oxide and nitride materials.     

A SUGGESTED STERILITY TEST FOR PENICILLIN

The proposed sterility test for penicillin, which employs cysteine (in the form of its hydrochloride) rather than Clarase, has proven to be satisfactory in our laboratories. The use of cysteine is advantageous because it is a compound of known structure and is readily available at relatively small cost. Suitable samples of Clarase or bacterial penicillinases are not as reproducible and the latter require much time and effort in their preparation. Furthermore, cysteine solutions do not require filtration but may be sterilized by heat in the autoclave.