Radiographic and clinical survey of degenerative joint disease in the distal tarsal joints in Icelandic horses

The prevalence of degenerative joint disease (DJD) in the distal tarsal joints and the relation between radiographic and clinical signs compatible with the disease were estimated in a population of Icelandic horses used for riding. The material consisted of 614 horses age 6-12 years (mean age = 7.9 years). Radiographs with 3 projections of each tarsus were made and a clinical examination, including palpation of the medial aspect of the distal tarsus and motion evaluation of the hindlimbs before and after a flexion test of the tarsus, was performed. Radiographic signs of DJD in the distal tarsal joints were found in 30.3% of the horses and the prevalence was strongly correlated with age. Hindlimb lameness before and after flexion test and palpation abnormalities were significantly associated with the radiographic findings. The lameness was usually mild and, in most cases, detectable only after the flexion test. The prevalence of lameness was not significantly correlated with age. Lameness could not be predicted by details of the radiographic findings.     

Eruption of the nevado del ruiz volcano, Colombia, on 13 november 1985: tephra fall and lahars

A small Plinian eruption of the Nevado del Ruiz volcano in Colombia ejected 3.5 x 10(10) kilograms of mixed dacite and andesite tephra on 13 November 1985, with a maximum column height of 31 kilometers above sea level. Small pyroclastic flows and surges, generated during the initial stage of the eruption, caused surface melting of approximately 10% of the volcano's ice cap, leading to meltwater floods. The erosive floods incorporated soils and loose sediments from the volcano's flanks and developed into lahars, which claimed at least 25,000 lives.     

Eruption of soufriere volcano on st. Vincent island, 1971-1972

The Soufrière volcano in St. Vincent erupted from October 1971 to March 1972, as 80 x 10(6) m(3) of basaltic andesite lava was quietly extruded inside the mile-wide crater. The eruption was largely subaqueous, taking place in the 180-m-deep crater lake, and resulted in the emergence of a steep-sided island. The mild character of the eruption and the absence of seismic activity stand in direct contrast to the highly explosive character of the eruption of 1902 to 1903.     

Transition state stabilization by a catalytic RNA

The hairpin ribozyme catalyzes sequence-specific cleavage of RNA through transesterification of the scissile phosphate. Vanadate has previously been used as a transition state mimic of protein enzymes that catalyze the same reaction. Comparison of the 2.2 angstrom resolution structure of a vanadate-hairpin ribozyme complex with structures of precursor and product complexes reveals a rigid active site that makes more hydrogen bonds to the transition state than to the precursor or product. Because of the paucity of RNA functional groups capable of general acid-base or electrostatic catalysis, transition state stabilization is likely to be an important catalytic strategy for ribozymes.     

Atipamezole in the management of detomidine overdose in a pony

OBSERVATIONS: A pony undergoing elective castration accidentally received an overdose of IV detomidine (200 microg kg(-1)) before anaesthesia was induced with ketamine and midazolam. A further 100 microg kg(-1) IV dose of detomidine was administered during anaesthesia. The mistake was recognized only when the animal failed to recover from anaesthesia in the expected time. The overdose (300 microg kg(-1) in total) was treated successfully with atipamezole, initially given IV and subsequently IM and titrated to effect to a total dose of 1100 microg kg(-1). The pony regained the standing position. A further injection of atipamezole (76 microg kg(-1) IM) was given 5 hours later to counteract slight signs of re-sedation. CONCLUSIONS: Atipamezole proved an effective antagonist for detomidine in a pony at an initial dose 3.65 x and a final total dose 3.9 x greater than the alpha2 agonist.     

Soufriere volcano, st. Vincent: observations of its 1979 eruption from the ground, aircraft, and satellites

Rapid response by earth, atmospheric, and space scientists made possible diverse observations during the explosive phase of the 1979 eruption of Soufriere Volcano. The 11 reports that follow indicate that, with the availability of appropriate personnel, equipment, and logistical support, a significant body of geophysical data can be gathered on short notice at erupting volcanoes in remote parts of the world.     

Evaluation of a new qPCR test to identify the organisms causing high total bacterial count in bulk tank milk

Milk quality in bulk tank milk(BTM)is measured by flow cytometry technology as total bacterial count(TBC)and somatic cell count(SCC).To investigate SCC problems,culture or PCR can be used to identify mastitis causing bacteria,e.g.,Mastit 4,a commercially available qPCR test.TBC in BTM can be investigated further using culture-based methods such as standard plate count,laboratory pasteurization count,coliform count,and spore counts.To our knowledge,no qPCR addressing the bacteria involved in TBC has been commercially introduced.The aim of this study is to evaluate a recently introduced 3-h qPCR test,TBC 4.The TBC 4 qPCR detects four target groups,Pseudomonas,Streptococci,Enterobacteriacea/Enterococcus,and Bacillus/Clostridia.These target groups relate to problems on the farm such as cooling,mastitis,environment,and silage.We will continue with new research to compare the TBC 4 qPCR test with traditional culture.For this study,BTM samples from different TBC intervals were selected based on Bacto Count results found at routine payment investigation at Eurofins laboratory(Vejen,Denmark).These samples were analyzed using TBC 4 qPCR assay within 24 h.In total,346 BTM samples were divided into six different intervals of colony forming units(CFU).For all four targets in each of the different intervals of CFU,the percent of positive samples,the average C_t-value,the percent of positive samples with C_t30 and C_t25 were calculated.For Pseudomonas,Streptococci,and Enterobacteriacea/Enterococcus,the number of positive samples with lower C_t-values(high bacteria content)correlated with the CFU mL~(–1).We found Enterobacteriacea/Enterococcus,Pseudomonas,and Streptococci in high number of bacteria(C_t25)in 25,19 and 56%of samples with CFU mL~(–1) between 50 001–100 000 and 53,44,and 39%in samples with CFU mL~(–1)100 000.The TBC 4 qPCR test showed to be a strong and fast tool for farmers,advisors and service technicians to address problems with high TBC and ensuring the delivery of good quality milk to the dairy.     

The amount of recycled crust in sources of mantle-derived melts

Plate tectonic processes introduce basaltic crust (as eclogite) into the peridotitic mantle. The proportions of these two sources in mantle melts are poorly understood. Silica-rich melts formed from eclogite react with peridotite, converting it to olivine-free pyroxenite. Partial melts of this hybrid pyroxenite are higher in nickel and silicon but poorer in manganese, calcium, and magnesium than melts of peridotite. Olivine phenocrysts' compositions record these differences and were used to quantify the contributions of pyroxenite-derived melts in mid-ocean ridge basalts (10 to 30%), ocean island and continental basalts (many >60%), and komatiites (20 to 30%). These results imply involvement of 2 to 20% (up to 28%) of recycled crust in mantle melting.     

A common variant on chromosome 9p21 affects the risk of myocardial infarction

The global endemic of cardiovascular diseases calls for improved risk assessment and treatment. Here, we describe an association between myocardial infarction (MI) and a common sequence variant on chromosome 9p21. This study included a total of 4587 cases and 12,767 controls. The identified variant, adjacent to the tumor suppressor genes CDKN2A and CDKN2B, was associated with the disease with high significance. Approximately 21% of individuals in the population are homozygous for this variant, and their estimated risk of suffering myocardial infarction is 1.64 times as great as that of noncarriers. The corresponding risk is 2.02 times as great for early-onset cases. The population attributable risk is 21% for MI in general and 31% for early-onset cases.