Absorption, translocation and allocation of glyphosate in resistant and susceptible Chilean biotypes of Lolium multiflorum

Glyphosate [N-(phosphonomethyl) glycine] is currently the most important non-selective, wide-spectrum herbicide used worldwide. Introduced in 1974, glyphosate was initially a non-crop herbicide and plantation crop herbicide, although it is now widely used in no-till crop production and, more recently, for weed control in herbicide-resistant transgenic crops, such as maize, soybean and cotton ( Baylis 2000 ; Caseley & Copping 2000 ). Despite its widespread and long-term use, no case of evolved resistance to glyphosate was documented until 1996 ( Pratley et al . 1996 ). Since then, a few other cases have been reported. To date, evolved resistance to glyphosate has been identified and documented in Lollium rigidum in Australia ( Powles et al . 1998 ; Pratley et al . 1999 ), Eleusine indica in Malaysia ( Lee & Ngim 2000 ), and L. rigidum in South Africa and California (USA), and Conyzia canadensis in Delawere (USA) ( Van Gessel 2001 ). Also, accessions of L. rigidum from South Africa and California have been reported to resist glyphosate ( Heap 2001 ). In Chile, the first case of glyphosate-resistance in Lolium multiflorum was reported in 1999 and documented in 2003 ( Pérez & Kogan 2003 ). This case was the result of an intensive selection pressure caused by the continuous applications of glyphosate in fruit orchards over 8–10 years. The present study is a first approach to elucidating the mechanism involved in the resistance of one biotype of L. multiflorum selected in Chilean orchards.     

ASSOCIATION BETWEEN RENAL HYPOECHOIC SUBCAPSULAR THICKENING AND LYMPHOSARCOMA IN CATS

The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between renal hypoechoic subcapsular thickening observed ultrasonographically and the presence of renal lymphosarcoma in cats. The ultrasonography database was retrospectively searched for cats that underwent ultrasound examination and ultrasound guided needle renal aspirate, renal biopsy, or necropsy. One radiologist unaware of the final diagnosis evaluated the images for the presence of hypoechoic subcapsular thickening and other abnormal findings. Fifty-four cats met the inclusion criteria. Hypoechoic subcapsular thickening was found in 21 cats of which 17 had lymphosarcoma; the remaining four cats had a different diagnosis. Eleven out of 33 cats without hypoechoic subcapsular thickening were positive for lymphosarcoma, and the rest had a different diagnosis. There was a significant association between hypoechoic subcapsular thickening and renal lymphosarcoma (P = 0.001). The positive predictive value of hypoechoic subcapsular thickening for lymphosarcoma was 80.9% and the negative predictive value was 66.7%. The sensitivity and specificity of hypoechoic subcapsular thickening for the diagnosis of renal lymphosarcoma were 60.7% and 84.6%, respectively. The results of this study indicate that the presence of hypoechoic subcapsular thickening in feline kidneys is associated with renal lymphosarcoma.     

Influences of El Niño on assemblages of mesopelagic fish larvae along the Pacific coast of Baja California Sur

Seasonal assemblages of mesopelagic fish larvae and changes related with environmental factors (plankton biomass, sea surface temperature anomaly, upwelling, and the multivariate El Niño index) were investigated. From 1982 to 1987, 16 oceanographic cruises were carried out along the Pacific coast of Baja California Sur, Mexico. Larvae of 42 mesopelagic fish taxa were collected. Larval abundance was highly variable during the studied period, but summer months coincided with higher abundance (>200 larvae under 10 m²). Larval assemblages were dominated by three of the most common species of tropical (Vinciguerria lucetia, Diogenichthys laternatus) and subtropical affinity (Triphoturus mexicanus). A group of species of tropical affinity (Diplophos proximus, Diaphus pacificus, Benthosema panamense) was useful for distinguishing the 1982–84 El Niño event, and an assemblage of larvae of temperate affinity (Symbolophorus californiensis, Melamphaes lugubris, Bathylagus ochotensis, Leuroglossus stilbius, Protomyctophum crockeri) characterized ‘normal’ years (mid‐1984 to mid‐1987).     

High temperature effects on gas exchange for the invasive buffel grass (Pennisetum ciliare [L.] Link)

Buffel grass was introduced to the Sonoran Desert in the mid-twentieth century, where it has aggressively invaded new areas. Given its ecological success at a place where the air temperature can approach 50°C, the effects of high air temperatures on gas exchange were studied for this species. The carbon dioxide uptake and water use efficiency were maximal at day/night air temperatures of 30/20°C for potted plants, substantially decreasing at higher temperatures until the plants died at 45/35°C.     

Environmental control of Northeast Atlantic mackerel (Scomber scombrus) recruitment in the southern Bay of Biscay: case study of failure in the year 2000

We investigate the effect of strong meteorological perturbations in early spring on the success of mackerel (Scomber scombrus) recruitment in the N/NW Iberian area (southern Bay of Biscay) for the period 1999–2008. In 2000, the year of the most pronounced recruitment failure on record, two consecutive multidisciplinary surveys sampled hydrographic conditions and mackerel eggs, larvae and post‐larvae over the main mackerel spawning grounds of the north and northwest coast of the Iberian Peninsula. Analysis of egg and larval abundance and birthdates based on the otoliths of mackerel juveniles caught between July and October 2000 showed that there were no survivors from the early spring spawns, indicating a massive loss of early spawning effort. Moreover, the abundance of 1‐year‐old mackerel estimated from an acoustic survey carried out in 2001 was the lowest observed within the 1999–2008 time series. This low or null survival from the early spawns in 2000 could be due to the meteorological and oceanographic conditions of that spring, in particular two storm events in April after a relatively calm March. The first storm event from the north caused strong local wind in the southern Bay of Biscay but a weak oceanographic response. The second storm event from the southwest was mainly felt west of Galicia and caused a notable increase in shelf currents and a shift of the hydrographical structure along the shelf. Detailed analysis of strong wind pulses in early spring within the historical recruitment record suggests that strong local turbulence generated by high wind speeds and advection of larvae caused by the enhancement of shelf currents can contribute to reduced recruitment. Our observations indicate that, in 2000, both mechanisms were present.     

Nutritional Properties of Quality Protein Maize and Chickpea Extruded Based Weaning Food

Malnutrition is one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality among young children in most of the developing countries. To minimize the adversities of malnutrition, low-cost infant supplementary foods have been developed and are being supplied to the needy through state-sponsored nutrition intervention programmers. The present study had two objectives: to determine the best combination of nixtamalized extruded quality protein maize (NEMF) and extruded chickpea (ECF) flours for producing a weaning food, and to evaluate the nutritional properties of the optimized NEMF/ECF mixture and the weaning food. The NEMF and ECF were produced applying combinations of extrusion temperature/screw speed of 79.4°C/73.5 rpm, and 150.5°C/190.5 rpm, respectively. Response surface methodology was applied to determine the optimum combination NEMF/ECF; the experimental design generated 11 assays. Mixtures from each assay were evaluated for true protein (TP) and available lysine (AL). Each one of 11 mixtures were used for preparing 11 weaning foods which were sensory evaluated for acceptability (A). The best combination of NEMF/ECF for producing a weaning food was NEMF = 21.2%/ ECF = 78.8 %. This mixture had a global desirability (D) of 0.93; it contained 20.07% proteins (DM), 5.70% lipids (DM), and 71.14% carbohydrates (DM); its essential amino acids (EAA) profile satisfactorily covered the EAA requirements for children 2–5 years old, except for Trp. The weaning food prepared with the optimized mixture had high protein quality and digestibility and could be used to support the growth of infants.     

RADIOGRAPHIC APPEARANCE OF CONFIRMED PULMONARY LYMPHOMA IN CATS AND DOGS

Herein we describe the thoracic radiographic appearance of confirmed pulmonary lymphoma. Patients with thoracic radiographs and cytologically or histologically confirmed pulmonary lymphoma were sought by contacting American College of Veterinary Radiology members. Seven cats and 16 dogs met the inclusion criteria, ranging in age from 4 to 15 years. Method of diagnosis was via ultrasound‐guided cytology (four), surgical biopsy (two), ultrasound‐guided biopsy (one), and necropsy (16). Radiographic findings varied but ranged from normal (one) to alveolar (six) and/or unstructured interstitial infiltrates (11), nodules and/or masses (eight), and bronchial infiltrates (four). Additional thoracic radiographic findings included pleural effusion and lymphadenopathy. The results of this evaluation indicate a wide variability in thoracic radiographic abnormalities in cats and dogs with pulmonary lymphoma.     

Mesopelagic fish larval assemblages during El Niño‐southern oscillation (1997–2001) in the southern part of the California Current

Mesopelagic species are the principal constituents of larval fish assemblages inhabiting the southerly California Current region. Seasonal larval abundance is influenced by circulation of the California Current and subtropical Countercurrent, including regional changes of the physical, chemical, and biological characteristics during the El Niño‐Southern Oscillation. This study examines the mesopelagic fish larvae distribution and abundance patterns between seasons and years, with the aim of describing the mesopelagic larval assemblages during dynamic environmental changes induced by El Niño (1997–1998) and the rapid transition to La Niña (1998–2000) along the west coast of the Baja California Peninsula (25–31°N). Despite large oceanographic variability, larval assemblages varied principally on a seasonal basis, related to reproductive periods and the north–south gradient influenced by the seasonal pattern of the California Current. An increased diversity, number of species, and abundance of tropical species was noticeable during the northward expansion of warm‐water taxa during El Niño, principally in the northern areas (Ensenada and Punta Baja). After El Niño, population adjustments and rapid recovery occurred during La Niña conditions, which reflected seasonal differences in the mesopelagic community structure that are closely related to the seasonal pattern of oceanic currents.     

ARBUSCULAR MYCORRHIZAL COLONIZATION DOES NOT ALLEVIATE SODIUM CHLORIDE-SALINITY STRESS IN VINCA [CATHARANTHUS ROSEUS (L.) G. DON]

We conducted a study to determine if inoculation with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) would enhance the tolerance of vinca [Catharanthus roseus (L.) G. Don] plants to sodium chloride (NaCl)-induced salinity in irrigation water. Vinca tolerated salinity levels up to 40 mM. Chlorophyll concentration, proline synthesis, and total antioxidant activity were increased with saline irrigation, while leaf potassium (K), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), iron (Fe), and boron (B) content decreased, suggesting a detrimental salinity effect. Despite the limited effect of increasing salinity on N content, NaCl-stressed vinca plants showed a marked decrease in nitrate reductase activity, which was associated with decreased leaf K and Fe total content. Mycorrhizal inoculation resulted in reduced growth when compared to non-AMF plants, regardless of salinity level. The K/sodium (Na) ratio decreased dramatically with increasing salinity regardless of AMF treatment. Suggesting, that the AMF isolate was not able to selectively uptake K and Ca, and avoid uptake of Na.