Water levels in a highland lake control the quantity and quality of spawning habitat for a littoral‐spawning galaxiid fish

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Multiple spectral inputs improve motion discrimination in the Drosophila visual system

Color and motion information are thought to be channeled through separate neural pathways, but it remains unclear whether and how these pathways interact to improve motion perception. In insects, such as Drosophila, it has long been believed that motion information is fed exclusively by one spectral class of photoreceptor, so-called R1 to R6 cells; whereas R7 and R8 photoreceptors, which exist in multiple spectral classes, subserve color vision. Here, we report that R7 and R8 also contribute to the motion pathway. By using electrophysiological, optical, and behavioral assays, we found that R7/R8 information converge with and shape the motion pathway output, explaining flies' broadly tuned optomotor behavior by its composite responses. Our results demonstrate that inputs from photoreceptors of different spectral sensitivities improve motion discrimination, increasing robustness of perception.     

Status of galaxiid fishes in Tasmania,Australia: conservation listings,threats and management issues

• 1. Fish of the family Galaxiidae are restricted to the southern hemisphere where they occupy a diverse array of habitats ranging from over 2000 m in elevation to sea level. Some species are diadromous and, hence, freshwater, estuarine and marine habitats are used during their life‐cycle; other species complete their entire life‐cycles in freshwater environments.
• 2. Tasmania has a diverse galaxiid fauna that accounts for 64% of native freshwater fish species found on the island. The Tasmanian galaxiid fauna is characterized by high species richness (5 genera and 16 species), endemism (11 species), restricted distributions, and non‐diadromous life histories (11 species).
• 3. The galaxiid fauna of Tasmania has significant conservation status with 69% of species considered ‘threatened’. The conservation status of the fauna is recognized at State, national and international levels.
• 4. The key threats to galaxiids in Tasmania are exotic species, hydrological manipulations, restricted distributions, general habitat degradation and exploitation of stocks.
• 5. Although work has recently been undertaken to conserve and manage Tasmanian galaxiid populations, the fauna is still thought to be imperilled. Knowledge gaps that need to be addressed include the biology and ecology of most species (e.g. reproductive biology, life histories, habitat use and requirements) and impacts of habitat manipulations, as well as mechanisms and impacts of interactions with exotic species. Techniques to monitor accurately the status of galaxiid species and their populations need to be developed and the coexistence of some galaxiids with introduced salmonids should also be examined.

Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Evaluation of intermittent infusion of bupivacaine into surgical wounds of dogs postoperatively

Thirty-one dogs were randomised to receive intermittent wound infusion of bupivacaine or saline after surgery. Wound pressure sensitivity, pain scores, body temperature, heart rate, respiratory rate, analgesic drugs administered, time to walking and time to eating after surgery were recorded. Plasma bupivacaine concentrations were measured. The relative frequency distributions of the non-interventional and interventional pain scores, but not the relative frequency distributions of palpation pain scores or wound pressure sensitivity, were significantly different between groups following surgery. There was a significant difference between groups in the time to eating and in the amount and timing of analgesic drugs administered. Measured plasma bupivacaine concentrations demonstrated systemic absorption of the drug. Bupivacaine infusion into surgical wounds after surgery may improve post-operative recovery, but no effect on wound tenderness was demonstrated in this study.     

Behavioural responses of Aphis fabae to isothiocyanates in the laboratory and field

Isothiocyanates have been shown to stimulate olfactory receptors on the antennae of the black bean aphid, Aphis fabae Scop. Single-cell recording techniques show that this aphid has receptors at the proximal primary rhinarium which are sensitive to n-butyl isothiocyanate. In laboratory assays, 4-pentenyl and n-butyl isothiocyanates were repellent at similar threshold concentrations. A. fabae was attracted to host-plant odour, but addition of either isothiocyanate to the airstream masked this attraction. Field trials on spring beans did not produce any consistent reduction in numbers of alate or apterous aphids on the crop, and yields were not improved by either compound.     

Comparison of the effects of alfaxalone and propofol with acepromazine,butorphanol and/or doxapram on laryngeal motion and quality of examination in dogs

Objective

To compare the effects of alfaxalone and propofol, with and without acepromazine and butorphanol followed by doxapram, on laryngeal motion and quality of laryngeal examination in dogs.

PREOPERATIVE RADIOTHERAPY FOR VACCINE ASSOCIATED SARCOMA IN 92 CATS

Medical records for 92 cats with a vaccine associated sarcoma receiving preoperative irradiation, with or without chemotherapy, between December 1985 and September 1998 were reviewed. The purposes were to quantify response to treatment and to attempt identification of factors associated with favorable response. Variables evaluated for a relationship to outcome included signalment, tumor location, presence of gross vs. microscopic tumor, radiation field size, irradiation technique, type of surgical procedure, completeness of excision, and chemotherapy (none, carboplatin alone, and others). Time to first event was calculated for the first day of treatment until local tumor recurrence or metastasis, or the date of euthanasia or death. Median time to first event for all 92 cats was 584 days. Only completeness of surgical excision was related to the time to first event. Median time to first event in cats having complete surgical excision was 986 days compared to 292 days for cats with incomplete excision (P = 0.004). Cats requiring bone removal to effect tumor removal had earlier failure than cats having other types of surgery. There was not a significant relationship between administration of chemotherapy or chemotherapy type and time to first event although outcome in cats receiving carboplatin was better than all other treatment groups. Carboplatin addition to preoperative irradiation appears worthy of further study. Preoperative irradiation is an effective treatment for cats with vaccine associated sarcoma, especially if complete excision can be accomplished following irradiation.     

Variations in the number of nucleoli in the granulosa cells of the domestic fowl during follicular growth

1. The proportions of granulosa cells containing one, two, or more nucleoli were determined in ovarian follicles of the domestic fowl (Gallus domesticus). Follicles ranged in size from 5 to 37 mm diameter.

2. The greatest proportion of cells (65%) contained one nucleolus. Cells containing two nucleoli were fewer (29%) and those containing more than two were rare (6%).

3. There was a tendency for the proportion of multinucleolar cells to decrease with increasing size of the follicle. Conversely there was a similar tendency for the proportion of cells with single nucleoli to increase with size of the follicle. These relationships are curvilinear.

4. Suitable linear models confirmed these observations (P < 0.005).

5. These results may provide an explanation for the previously reported progressive decrease in cellular DNA as the follicle increases in size.     

Propagation of Pathogen-free Potato Stocks by Stem Cuttings within a Clonal Selection Program1

Clonal selection with associated clinical tests and based on stem cuttings as the initial propagative material has been successfully adopted as a method of producing nuclear stocks of potato varieties free from certain important viruses, fungi and bacteria. The maintenance of health of such nuclear material during the subsequent period of multiplication to commercial quantities, however, has emphasized that gaps in our knowledge of the epidemiology of the diseases caused by these organisms exist and require investigation, so that clonal selection programs can make a maximum contribution to crop improvement. La sélection clonale assortie de tests cliniques, basés sur le bouturage par prélèvement sur tiges pour le matériel initial de reproduction, a été adoptée avec succès pour la production de stocks nucléaires de variétés de pommes de terre indemnes de certains virus, champignons et battéries importants. Les difficultés rencontrées dans le maintien d'une qualité sanitaire élevée de ce matériel nucléaire, pendant la phase de multiplication précédant la commercialisation, ont révélé les lacunes qui subsistent dans la connaissance épidémiologique des différents organismes pathogènes en cause.