Erythema multiforme associated with zonisamide in a dog

This report describes a dog that developed erythema multiforme in temporal association with administration of the sulphonamide‐based anticonvulsant drug zonisamide. Similar adverse drug reactions have been associated with sulphonamide antimicrobial drugs. Caution should be exercised when prescribing this medication for dogs with known hypersensitivity to sulphonamides.     

Evidence for genetic distinction among sympatric ecotypes of Arctic char (Salvelinus alpinus) in south‐western Alaskan lakes

Resource polymorphism may play an important role in the process of speciation. The Arctic char (Salvelinus alpinus) exhibits great phenotypic and genetic diversity across its range, making it an ideal species for studies of resource polymorphism and divergence. Here, we investigated genetic variation at 11 microsatellite loci among 287 Arctic char from five isolated yet proximate postglacial lakes in south‐western Alaska that were previously examined for resource polymorphism. Significant differences in pairwise F_ST were detected among all lakes (range from 0.05 to 0.28, all P < 0.02). In one lake (Lower Tazimina Lake), we found evidence for two genetic groups of char and for significant differences in the distribution of microsatellite variability among at least two of the three previously described body size morphotypes (‘large’‐, ‘medium’‐, and ‘small’‐bodied char; maximum F_ST = 0.09; differences in admixture proportions). We also found a significant association between genetic admixture proportions and gill raker counts among body size morphs (r = ?0.73, P < 0.001). Our data represent the first record of genetically distinct sympatric morphs of Arctic char in Alaska and provide further evidence that differences in morphology associated with feeding (gill rakers) and growth trajectories reflect niche diversification and promote genetic divergence in Holarctic populations of Arctic char.     

Factors affecting oat haploid production following oat × maize hybridization

Doubled haploids (DHs) are becoming increasingly important in crop breeding programmes but methods for producing oat DHs remain inefficient. In this study haploid and DH oat plants were produced using the oat × maize hybridization method. Factors influencing the rate of caryopsis and haploid embryo production including genotype, post‐pollination plant growth regulator application and temperature were investigated. The four growth regulators tested showed significant differences in their capacity to induce caryopsis formation with dicamba producing the highest numbers of caryopses, followed by picloram, 2,4‐dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4‐D) and gibberellic acid (GA₃). No significant differences were observed between these growth regulators for their effect on embryo production. The concentration of dicamba was also important and was found to influence caryopsis but not embryo production, with 50 and 100 mg/l dicamba producing significantly more caryopses than 25 or 5 mg/l. Temperature had a significant impact on both caryopsis and embryo production with the magnitude and direction of response depending on genotype. Rates of haploid embryo production observed were between 0.8% and 6.7% of the pollinated florets. The proportion of haploids, which survived and were successfully doubled with colchicine following transfer to soil was between 72% and 81%.     

Interfering with regular meiotic behaviour in Avena sativa as a method of incorporating the gene for mildew resistance from A. barbata

Summary The regular meiotic behaviour of the cultivated oat Avena sativa (2n=6x=42) is genetically controlled. The factors which control the diploid-like meiotic behaviour also restrict the amount of pairing that occurs between alien chromosomes and their homoeologues in A.sativa, and hence increases the difficulties of introducing desirable variation from wild species into the cultivated oat. A genotype of the diploid species A.longiglumis which interferes with the regular meiotic behaviour of A. sativa can be used to induce pairing between alien chromosomes and their corresponding chromosomes in A. sativa. Using this procedure the dominant gene conferring mildew resistance has been transferred from the tetraploid weed species A. barbata into the cultivated oat.     

Finding a needle in the haystack: Regional analysis of suitable Eld’s deer (Cervus eldi) forest in Southeast Asia

For species whose decline preceded the modern era and whose distribution is in the developing world, it is difficult to map suitable habitat across its former range. Eld’s deer (Cervus eldi) is an endangered cervid whose range across Southeast Asia was reduced during the last century to disjoint populations in Myanmar and Cambodia. We used ecological data from the present populations to determine landscape and habitat parameters that would help us predict the occurrence of the species in forests not yet surveyed. The suitable-forest GIS model was created using four readily available datasets for elevation, forest type, canopy closure, and human density. Comparison of the GIS model with 24 verified sightings of Eld’s deer during recent large mammal surveys in Cambodia, found 22 sightings (92%) within predicted suitable forest. Use the suitable-forest GIS model to survey a province in southern Lao People’s Democratic Republic, located a single, previously unreported population from 9 patches surveyed. In a separate analysis, a logistic regression model to predict Eld’s deer habitat in Northern Cambodia found percent tree cover, presence of wetlands, and distance to villages as the best predictors of deer, similar to variables used in the GIS model, with the exception of the importance of wetlands. Using mean annual rainfall to rank suitable-forest patches identified in the GIS model indicated dry dipterocarp forests in Northeastern Cambodia and Northern Myanmar have the highest potential to conserve eld’s deer. Examination of the suitable-forest GIS map and current protected areas indicated only Cambodia, with 11% suitable forest protected, has placed sufficient dry dipterocarp forest under protected status. Other Southeast Asia countries have not recognized dry dipterocarp forest as a significant ecotype worthy of conservation status.     

Volatile emissions of navel oranges as predictors of freeze damage

Volatile emissions of navel orange (Citrus sinensis L. Osbeck cv. Washington) fruit were evaluated as a means for predicting and gauging freeze damage. The fruits were subjected to -5 or -7 degrees C treatments in a laboratory freezer for various time periods of 2-9.5 h and stored at 23 degrees C for 1, 2, or 7 days, after which time the emission of volatiles from the fruit was measured. Following the final day of volatile measurements the fruits were stored at 5 degrees C for an additional 2-3 weeks and then evaluated for fruit quality characteristics. Peel injury in the form of brown lesions, drying of the juice vesicles, a decline in acidity, and a loss of flavor were observed to occur as a result of freezing. Corresponding to the loss in fruit quality were large increases in the emissions of ethanol, ethyl butanoate, methyl hexanoate, and ethyl octanoate. With the exception of methyl hexanoate, for which volatile emissions decreased during storage for 7 days at 23 degrees C, all of the other volatiles were relatively unchanged in amount by storage. Treatment at -7 degrees C caused greater injury, quality loss, and more volatile emanation than did freezing at -5 degrees C. The measurement of volatile emissions appears to be a useful approach to identify freeze-damaged navel oranges.     

Encouraging farmers to retrofit tractors: a qualitative analysis of risk perceptions among a group of high-risk farmers in New York

Tractor rollovers continue to be one of the most frequent causes of agricultural fatalities. Despite knowledge of rollovers and the efficacy of rollover protective structures (ROPS), few New York farmers have considered installing ROPS on their unprotected tractors. Qualitative interviews conducted with an "at-risk" segment of the New York farming community indicate that there are a number of barriers to safety in general and to retrofitting, in particular. The following themes and categories emerged in relation to safety and risk taking: constant exposures to risk with positive outcomes normalizes risk; the modeling of risk by significant others positions risk as part of a farming identity; and the pressure to reduce costs, save time, and accept risk frames risk-taking as the cost-effective option (especially in regard to retrofitting, which farmers believe is both expensive and time-consuming). Recommendations for researchers planning retrofitting interventions would be to focus safety messages on the risk to significant others or on the financial impact of rollovers, and to provide financial incentives and assistance to farmers considering retrofitting.