Renal medullary amyloidosis in Dorcas gazelles

Between January 1976 and September 1987 renal medullary amyloidosis (RMA) was diagnosed in 17 Dorcas gazelles; the necropsy prevalence rate was 17/32 (53%). The most severe amyloid deposits were in the renal medulla; glomeruli were spared. Renal cortical lesions of interstitial fibrosis and tubular atrophy and dilatation significantly correlated with RMA (P less than 0.01) and were considered to be secondary changes. There were varying degrees of lymphoplasmacytic inflammation and tubular cast formation which did not significantly correlate with RMA. Amyloid was confirmed histochemically and by electron microscopy and was identified as AA type by the permanganate method. Progressive renal failure was the cause of death or necessitated euthanasia in 7/17 (41%) gazelles. RMA in Dorcas gazelles does not appear to be familial. A high prevalence of chronic or recurring Actinomyces (Corynebacterium) pyogenes infections may be an important factor.     

Availability of oral carbohydrates to neonatal calves.

Four experiments were conducted to determine the availability of 3 carbohydrate sources given orally to 1- to 3-week-old clinically normal calves. In terms of effect on plasma glucose concentration, commercial fruit pectin was equivalent to glucose, corn syrup was less effective (P less than 0.05) than glucose, and sucrose was totally unavailable. The addition of 80 mM NaCl to a 10% glucose solution enhanced glucose absorption (P less than 0.01). Increasing the glucose concentration of a commercial product from 1% to 3% resulted in a significant (P less than 0.01) increase in plasma glucose concentration. Lactose availability from suckled fluids was greater (P less than 0.01) than that from fluids given by stomach tube.     

Stability of plasma metabolites and hormones in parturient dairy cows

Metabolic changes that accompany the transition from parturition to lactation in dairy cows were studied. To measure these changes, plasma samples were obtained from 20 mature Holstein-Friesian dairy cows 10 days before through 10 days after parturition. They were analyzed for glucose, free fatty acids (FFA), lactic acid, ketone bodies, glucocorticoids, insulin, and growth hormone concentration. Lactic acid and glucocorticoids remained constant during the experiment, except for the day of parturition itself. In the prepartum period, changes were not detected in concentrations of hormones (glucocorticoids, insulin, and growth hormone), whereas, plasma metabolites began changing prior to parturition. Most evident were prepartum increased in FFA, ketones, and glucose. Postpartum plasma glucose concentration rapidly returned to prepartum concentrations. Plasma concentration of FFA and ketone bodies remained elevated for longer periods.     

Leachability of ra-226 from uranium mill tailings consolidated with naturally occurring materials and/or cement

Reduction of the fraction of Ra-226 leached from U mill tailings by one or two orders of magnitude was found possible by solidifying the mill tailings with cement and cement plus peat or clay. For the period of the leaching experiments (approximately 100 days) the leaching behavior of the solidified mill tailings could be described by an empirical equation of the form Q = αt ^α, where Q = fraction of activity leached, normalized with respect to the surface: volume ratio of the tailings, t = time, and α and α are constants. The most effective consolidation mixture investigated was a 70:30 tailings to consolidating mixture comprised of cement, peat and clay in the ratio of 50:30:20.     

A collaborative study of residues on wheat of chlorpyrifos-methyl,fenitrothion, malathion,methacrifos and pirimiphos-methyl. 1. Method development

The accuracy and reproducibility of analytical methods for the assay of five organophosphorus grain protectants have been investigated by a coordinated test programme. Results were assessed using data from field applications of chlorpyrifos-methyl, fenitrothion, malathion, methacrifos and pirimofos-methyl at commercial silos in New South Wales and Queensland. A satisfactory analytical procedure is recommended following an extended series of tests.     

Effect of calf weaning age and cow supplementation on cow productivity

Five years of data were collected on 124 Brangus-type cows to evaluate weaning calves at 8.5 or 10.5 mo of age and winter supplementation of the brood cow with 2.25 kg of molasses daily. Cows with calves weaned at 10.5 mg of age gained 14 kg less weight (P less than .01) during the late nursing period than did cows from which calves were earlier weaned. Age of calf at weaning had no effect on cow reproduction, but calves weaned at 10.5 mo were 2 to 3 d younger (P less than .06) and 5.3 kg lighter (P less than .05) at 8.5 mo of age. During the last 2 mo of nursing, calves weaned at 10.5 mo of age gained 37.2 kg and had a 31.9-kg heavier weaning weight than calves weaned at 8.5 mo of age. Molasses supplementation resulted in differences (P less than .01) in cow weight changes. Cows fed molasses had calving percentages 5 to 7 units higher (P less than .30) than cows not fed molasses. Feeding cows molasses for 145 d throughout the calving and breeding season increased calf weaning weight 7.7 (P less than .02) and 11.2 (P less than .03) kg, respectively, at 8.5 and 10.5 mo of age over the nonsupplemented controls.     

Non-target effects of dimethoate and acephate against Eusieus tularensis Congdon and Aphytis melinus DeBach on lemons in California

Understanding the non-target effects on pesticides used in crop production systems is essential for the development of IPM programmes in those systems. Two organophosphates for control of citrus thrips in citrus were compared at commercial field rates in a lemon orchard for their effect against a predacious mite and a parasitic wasp, both of which have a significant role in coastal lemon IPM. Dimethoate and acephate greatly reduced populations of both beneficial insects, holding them to below detectable levels for 8 weeks post-treatment. Moreover, citrus red mite, a secondary pest, developed beyond the economic treatment threshold in both the dimethoate and acephate plots 10 weeks and 4 weeks post-treatment, respectively. In addition to predatory mite mortality, hormoligosis is suspected in both instances, and especially with acephate, of causing this secondary pest problem.