Cerebral Blastomyces dermatitidis infection in a cat

CASE DESCRIPTION: An 8-year-old domestic shorthair cat was evaluated because of signs of depression, circling, and visual deficits. CLINICAL FINDINGS: The cat had no cutaneous lesions, and results of an ophthalmologic examination and thoracic radiography were within reference limits. Computed tomography of the brain revealed a mass lesion involving the right parietal, temporal, and occipital lobes; the mass was in broad-based contact with the skull and smoothly marginated and had strong homogenous enhancement after contrast agent administration. During craniectomy, samples of the mass were collected for cytologic and histopathologic evaluations and microbial culture. A diagnosis of Blastomyces dermatitidis-associated meningoencephalitis with secondary pyogranulomatous inflammation was made. TREATMENT AND OUTCOME: Amphotericin B (0.25 mg/kg [0.11 mg/lb], IV) was administered on alternate days (cumulative dose, 1.75 mg/kg [0.8 mg/lb]). To minimize the risk of nephrotoxicosis, assessments of serum biochemical variables (urea nitrogen and creatinine concentrations) and urinalyses were performed at intervals. The third dose of amphotericin B was postponed 48 hours because the cat became azotemic. The cat subsequently received fluconazole (10 mg/kg [4.5 mg/lb], PO, q 12 h) for 5.5 months. Six months after discontinuation of that treatment, the cat appeared healthy and had no signs of relapse. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Brain infection with B dermatitidis is typically associated with widespread disseminated disease. The cat of this report had no evidence of systemic disease. Blastomycosis of the CNS should be considered as a differential diagnosis for brain lesions in cats from areas in which B dermatitidis is endemic.     

Süßwasser-Algenarten in Einzeldarstellung VI.Spirogyra gaterslebensis,eine neue Art der Sektion Salamacis

Summary Spirogyra gaterslebensis nov. spec.Vegetative cells 18–21 × (88,5-) 109–182 (–223,5) µm, with replicate end walls. 1 Chromatophore, making (4-) 5–6 (–8) turns, rarely 2 Chromatophores with (1,5-) 2 (–3) turns. Conjugation lateral and scalariform; tubes formed ± by both gametangia; fertile cells abruptly inflated to 41,5–52,0 (–70,0) µm in diameter. Zygospores ellipsoid 26,0–34,0–45,0 (–52,0) × 41,5–47,0–78,0 (–96,0) µm; median spore wall yellow, finely punctate, on the poles sometimes with a few wrinkles.In the GDR in a road ditch between Gatersleben and Quedlinburg with shallow, slowly running water, together withVaucheria woroniniana Heering V. debaryana Woronin andV. sessilis (Vauch.) D.C. April–Mai 1967.

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. VI.Spirogyra gaterslebensis, Salamacis

Spirogyra gaterslebensis nov. spec. : , Vaucheria woroniniana Heering,V. debaryana Woronin V. sessilis (Vauch.) D. C. 25. IV — 16. V. 1967. . .

     

Saving the small farm: Agriculture in roman literature

Roman agriculture suffered traumatic changes during the 2nd century B.C. The traditional farmers who tilled their few acres and served family, gods and community were being squeezed out by large estate owners using slaves for investment farming. Politicians, scholars and poets tried to revive the ancestoral rustic life. In 133 B.C. the Gracchi legislated land reform to relieve the distress of the farmer soldiers who had won the empire. Although their efforts led to political confrontation that deteriorated into civil war, programs for the traditional farm became a permanent part of government policy from the late Republic until the end of the empire in 476 A.D. Scholars and poets made a contribution to the revival of agriculture with knowledge for improving the farm and by encouraging an agrarian mentality. The agricultural manuals (e.g. Cato (c. 150 B.C.), Varro (c. 50 B.C), and Columella (c.65 A.D.), defined the nature of the desirable farm and gave practical advice. Profit was the goal, but good farming practices made for pleasure and virtue as well. The image of the ancestoral farmer was perpetuated as was the notion that farming was the only honorable and respectable occupation for a Roman gentleman. In the Augustan Age (34 B.C.—14 A.D.) poets were encouraged by the government to adopted a rustic theme in hopes it would stimulate a return to the land and aid in the rebirth of Rome and Romans. In the GeorgicsVirgil begins with the practical details of farming, but uses myth and philosophy to explore the nature and meaning of life. He admits that Jove made life perilous. But Jove also gave man the art of agriculture and with hard work man could know the pleasure of a simple, virtuous, productive life. Horace directed his poetry against the allure of city life and in praise of rustic living. Epicureanism and Stoicism, in the guise of life on the farm, could show that although fate was unpredictable, the world was orderly and, if one recognized and accepted its limits, one could make a garden of the world and live a simple but happy life. By 300 A.D. Rome missed the peasant-farmer-soldier and by the 470's life had returned to an agrarian condition. Bishop Sidonius, trying to furnish meaning and perspective for the emerging new age, resorted to the Roman agricultural traditions still cherished as that world disappeared.     

Screening of Urfa pepper landraces for resistance to Meloidogyne incognita

Journal of Plant Diseases and Protection - The root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne spp.) are significant pathogens that affect the yield and fruit quality in pepper cultivars (Capsicum spp.)....     

Penetration of hardwoods by liquids

Summary Oven dry highly evacuated sticks of the sapwood of various hardwoods, 40 cm long by 1.0 to 1.2 cm in the radial and tangential directions, took up water to the extent of 44 to 82% of saturation by capillary flow in one minute. Heartwood sticks took up 15 to 38% of saturation in one minute. The initial rapid penetration was followed by a penetration in which the take up increase directly with the square root of elapsed time. In this range, the slope of toluene take up plots was about twice that of the water take up. This is close to the theoratical value on the basis of viscous flow control. The linear portion of the plots is followed by a curvilinear decrease in rate of take up to a final equilibrium value. Water take ups approached 100% of the theoretical values.Times to 0.99 of theoretical filling with water varied from 9 minutes for tupelo gum sapwood to 14.6 to 17.3 days for white oak heartwood. Complete filling with toluene was never attained. Diffuse porous hardwoods filled to the extent of 93.5 to 96.5% of saturation. Ring porous oaks filled to the extent of 88 to 92%, the lower values being for heartwood. Edge coating of the sapwood of yellow poplar and yellow birch with epoxy glue reduced the rate of penetration only slightly. End coating reduced the rate to a higher degree. Moisture gradients in the fiber direction for tyloses-free hardwoods were negligible at various stages of penetration, indicating that filling of the vessels was practically instantaneous. White oak heartwood gave an initial longitudinal gradient followed by a negligible gradient, indicating that longitudinal penetration is primarily through the lumen of the fibers rather than continously through the vessels. Longitudinal penetration was calculated to be 31.5 times as deep as transverse penetration in 100 minutes and 33.3 times as deep in 25 minutes for white oak heartwood. The ratios are of the same order of magnitude as for Loblolly pine. In both cases the ratios are smaller than values calculated from the fiber dimensions alone as ray cell penetration and cross grain effects tend to lower the ratios.Paper No. 3947 of the Journal Series of North Carolina State University Agricultural Experiment Station, Raleigh, N. C.     

Nutrient stocks of short-term fallows on a high base status soil in the humid tropics of Papua New Guinea

In order to understand nutrient dynamics in tropical farming systems with fallows, it is necessary to assess changes in nutrient stocks in plants, litter and soils. Nutrient stocks (soil, above ground biomass, litter) were assessed of one-year old fallows with Piper aduncum, Gliricidia sepium and Imperata cylindrica in the humid lowlands of Papua New Guinea. The experiment was conducted on a high base status soil (Typic Eutropepts), and in Papua New Guinea such soils are intensively used for agriculture. Soil samples were taken prior to fallow establisment and after one year when the fallows were slashed and above ground biomass and nutrients measured. The above ground and litter biomass of piper was 13.7 Mg dry matter ha^-1, compared to 23.3 Mg ha^-1 of gliricidia and 14.9 Mg ha^-1 of imperata. Gliricidia produced almost 7 Mg ha^-1 wood. Total above ground biomass returned to the soil when the fallows were slashed was the same for piper and gliricidia (8 Mg ha^-1). Gliricidia accumulated the largest amounts of all major nutrients except for K, which was highest in the above ground piper biomass. Imperata biomass contained the lowest amount of nutrients. The largest stocks of C, N, Ca and Mg were found in the soil, whereas the majority of P was found in the above ground biomass and litter. Almost half of the total K stock of piper and gliricidia was in the biomass. During the fallow period, soil organic C significantly increased under gliricidia fallow whereas no net changes occurred in piper and imperata fallows. The study has shown large differences in biomass and nutrient stocks between the two woody fallows (piper, gliricidia) and between the woody fallows and the non-woody fallow (imperata). Short-term woody fallows are to be preferred above grass (imperata) fallows in the humid lowlands of Papua New Guinea because of higher nutrient stocks.     

The effects of temperature and humidity on phenol-formaldehyde resin bonding

Summary The effects of temperature and relative humidity on phenol-formaldehyde resin bonding were evaluated. Two flakes in a lap-shear configuration were bonded under an environment of controlled temperature (110 °C, 120 °C, 130 °C, 140 °C) and relative humidity (41%, 75%, 90%) for a series of time periods (0.25 to 16 min). The lap-shear specimens were then shear-tested on a mechanical testing machine and the results were used to establish a family of bond strength development curves at each temperature and level of relative humidity. At 110°C, the higher relative humidity appeared to retard resin bonding. The effects of relative humidity diminished as temperature increased to 140 °C. Bond strength development was chemical ratecontrolled. The rate of bond strength development at each relative humidity follows a first order reaction mechanism. The activation energy of resin-wood bonding, determined by bonding kinetics, was higher than that of resin alone, determined by differential scanning calorimetry. This comparison indicates that to form a strong resin-wood bond, a higher energy level might be required.This material is based on work supported by the Ministry of International Affairs, Quebec Government, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, and Laval University (Quebec City). The work was also supported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture under research joint venture agreement FP-92-1835     

Die Wirtswahl vonDahlbominus fuscipennis (Zett.) (Hym., Chalcididae) und die Eignung des Wirtes für den Parasiten

Zusammenfassung Im Laboratorium wurden mitDahlbominus fuscipennis (Zett.) Versuche durchgeführt, um einige Eigenschaften der Wirtskokons und Wirtslarven zu prüfen, von denen die Annahme bzw. Eignung des Wirtes abhängt. Es zeigte sich, daß für die Wirtsannahme (= gelungene Eiablage) der Kokon des Wirtes eine viel bedeutendere Rolle als die Larve spielt. Besonders die Struktur des Kokongewebes scheint wichtig zu sein.Troz der Anwesenheit der Larven eines sonst nicht angenommenen Wirtes, derGalleria mellonella L., in den Kokons voulGilpinia frutetorum (F.) stachen die Weibchen diese regelmäßig an. Dagegen war die tatsächliche Eiablage der Weibchen wesentlich reduziert, was für das zusäzliche Erkennen des Wirtes mit Hilfe des Legestachels spricht.Was die Wirtseignung betrifft, so wurde nachgewiesen, daß die Entwicklung der Parasitenlarven nur auf dem gelähmten Wirte stattfinden kann. Außerdem gelang es in 3 Fällen,D. fuscipennis bis zur Imago auf den Larven vonG. mellonella zu züchten; diese Wespen waren aber unfruchtbar.Die Arbeit wurde in der Zeit durchgeführt, in welcher der Verfasser das Stipendium der Rockefeller-Grü ndung im Institut für Biologische Schädlingsbekämpfung der Biologischen Bundesanstalt für Land- und Forstwirtschaft in Darmstadt hatte.Die Einrichtungen des Institutes standen ihm dabei zur Verfügung. An dieser Stelle sei deshalb dem Leiter, Herrn Dr. J. Franz gedankt, ferner Herrn Dr. W. Stein für Übezarbeitung des deutschen Textes.     

Phenol-formaldehyde resin curing and bonding under dynamic conditions

Summary To better understand the curing and bonding behavior of phenol-formaldehyde (PF) resin under dynamic conditions, flakeboards were manufactured either by conventional pressing at 7% or 12% mat moisture content or by steam injection pressing with 10 or 20 seconds steaming duration. Resin-impregnated glass-cloth samples and lap-shear tension specimens were embedded in the core of each flakeboard. After the flakeboards were pressed for various periods of times, the samples and specimens were quickly retrieved. The degree of resin cure was determined on the resin-impregnated glass-cloth samples by dynamic mechanical analysis. The bond strengths were measured from the lap-shear tension specimens on a mechanical testing machine. The results of resin curing and bonding were then correlated to the performance of the resin-bonded boards, which were evaluated by internal bond, modulus of rupture, modulus of elasticity, and thickness swelling. Resin curing and lap-shear bonding did not proceed simultaneously. In conventional pressing, the mat moisture content (MC) at 12% favored resin curing, but slightly retarded lap-shear bonding, as compared to 7%MC. In steam injection pressing, the rates of resin curing and lap-shear bond strength development were much faster for 20 seconds than for 10 seconds of steaming duration. Longer press times were needed to obtain boards with maximum strength in the 12%MC conventional pressing and the 20-s steam duration steam injection pressing than in those conditions where moisture content was lower or steam time was less. The need for longer press times must be attributed to higher internal vapor pressures and/or lower wood and resin component strengths, rather than to incomplete cure or bonding.This material is based on work supported by the Ministry of International Affairs, Quebec Government, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, and Laval University (Quebec City). The work was also supported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture under research joint venture agreement FP-92-1835