Evaluation of the sensititre method adapted for antimicrobial drug susceptibility testing in veterinary medicine

The Sensititre method specially designed for MIC determinations of animal pathogenic bacteria is evaluated. The MIC values of 251 clinical isolates belonging to different genera were determined by a modified Sensititre method and by a standard agar dilution method. Of all the compared MIC values, 90.7% were within one doubling dilution and 97.7% within two doubling dilutions. For ampicillin, oxacillin, chloramphenicol, erythromycin and nitrofurantoin more than 96% of the MIC pairs compared with less than 90% for neomycin, streptomycin, tetracycline and trimethoprim-sulpha-methoxazole were within one doubling dilution. With regard to organisms, the best agreement was for pasteurellae and the lowest for streptococci of which 95.8% and 87%, respectively, were within one doubling dilution. The Sensititre method modified for use in veterinary clinical bacteriology was found to be a reliable method for MIC determinations of common animal pathogens.     

The biosphere reserve program in the United States

The objective of the biosphere reserve program is to identify and protect representative and unique segments of the world's biotic provinces as major centers for biotic and genetic preservation, ecological and environmental research, education, and demonstration. It is intended to be more than simply another program of preservation layered onto existing parks and reserves. The success of the program will depend in large measure on the overall significance of the selected reserves and the degree to which they are active sites for scientific research and monitoring.     

Post-storm surveys reveal large-scale spatial patterns and influences of site factors,forest structure and diversity in endemic bark-beetle populations

The storm that struck France on december 26^th and 28^th 1999 felled 140 million m³ of timber and had a high economic, social and landscape impact. This event offered the opportunity to study large-scale patterns in populations of forest insect pests that would benefit from the abundant breeding material. A large-scale survey was carried out in France in 2000 to sample the most frequently observed species developing on spruce (Ips typographus, Pityogene schalcographus) and pine (Tomicus piniperda, Ips sexdentatus) in 898 locations distributed throughout wind-damaged areas. The local abundance of each species scored on a 0 to 5 scale was analysed using geostatistical estimators to explore the extent and intensity of spatial autocorrelation, and was related to site, stand, and neighbourhood landscape metrics of the forest cover (in particular the interconnection with broadleaf forest patches) found within dispersal distance. All species but I. sexdentatus, which was much less abundant, displayed large-scale spatial dependence and regional variations in abundance. Lower infestation levels per tree (windfalls and standing trees) were observed in stands with a high proportion of wind-damaged trees, which was interpreted as the result of beetles distributing themselves among the available breeding material. More infestations were observed in wind-broken trees as compared to wind-felled trees. More importantly, populations showed significant relationships with the structure of coniferous stands (in particular with the number of coniferous patches). T. piniperda population levels were negatively correlated to the amount of coniferous edge shared with broadleaf forest patches, possibly because of the disruptive effect of non-host volatiles on host-finding processes at the landscape-scale. The differences observed between species regarding patterns and relationships to site, stand, and forest cover characteristics are discussed in relation to the ecological characteristics of each species.     

Bridging the divide: spinal cord repair by cellular transplantation--from research laboratory to therapeutic application

Spinal cord injury remains a clinical problem for which new therapeutic options are required. Recent developments in spinal cord injury research have suggested that promotion of axonal regeneration by cellular transplantation may be a feasible future treatment modality and it is possible that small animal clinical patients may be the first to benefit from these new approaches. This article describes the experiments which have generated this optimism and considers the steps that will be required to make the transition from laboratory experiments to clinical application.     

The effects of future urban development on habitat fragmentation in the Santa Monica Mountains

A site suitability model of urban development was created for the Santa Monica Mountains in southern California, USA, to project to what degree future development might fragment the natural habitat. The purpose was to help prioritize land acquisition for the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area and examine to what extent projected urban development would affect distinct vegetation classes. The model included both environmental constraints (slope angle), and spatial factors related to urban planning (proximity to roads and existing development, proposed development, and areas zoned for development). It implemented a stochastic component; areas projected to have high development potential in the suitability model were randomly selected for development. Ownership tracts were used as the spatial unit of development in order to give the model spatial realism and not arbitrarily `develop' grid cells. Using different assumptions and parameters, the model projected the pattern of development from 5 to 25 years hence (based on recent development rates in the area). While <25% of the remaining natural landscape is removed under these scenarios, up to 30% of core (interior) habitat area is lost and edge length between natural vegetation and development increases as much as 45%. Measures of landscape shape complexity increased with area developed and number of patches of natural habitat increased four- to nine-fold, depending upon model parameters. This increase in fragmentation occurs because of the existing patterns of land ownership, where private (`developable') land is interspersed with preserved park lands.     

谷子新品种朝谷11号特征特性及高产栽培技术

朝谷 1 1号由辽宁省水土保持研究所选育 ,于1 997年经辽宁省品种审定委员会审定通过。1 998年被列为省重点农技推广项目 ,计划在 1 998～ 2 0 0 0年在辽宁省朝阳市、阜新市、葫芦岛市的 8县 2区及赤峰市的宁城县推广 6.7万ｈｍ2 。1　朝谷 11号主要特征特性1 .1　农艺性状朝谷 1 1号的叶片、成株茎均为绿色 ,苗期生长快 ,株型紧凑整齐 ,株高 1 65ｃｍ左右 ,穗长 2 3～ 2 5ｃｍ ,单穗粒重 1 4～ 1 6ｇ ,籽粒圆形、黄色 ,出谷率 83%～ 84%,谷草比 1∶1 .3。1 .2　生育期及抗性朝谷 1 1号为中早熟品种 ,生育期 1 0 4～ 1 1 4ｄ ,4月下旬至 5月…     

NEAR's flyby of 253 mathilde: images of a C asteroid

On 27 June 1997, the Near Earth Asteroid Rendezvous (NEAR) spacecraft flew within 1212 kilometers of asteroid 253 Mathilde. Mathilde is an irregular, heavily cratered body measuring 66 kilometers by 48 kilometers by 46 kilometers. The asteroid's surface is dark (estimated albedo between 0.035 and 0.050) and similar in color to some CM carbonaceous chondrites. No albedo or color variations were detected. The volume derived from the images and the mass from Doppler tracking of the spacecraft yield a mean density of 1.3 +/- 0.2 grams per cubic centimeter, about half that of CM chondrites, indicating a porous interior structure.     

Inhibition of sperm-egg interaction by specific antibody

Treatment of hamster ova, in vitro, with ovary specific antibody interferes with sperm-egg interaction by inhibiting sperm attachment to the zona pellucida and subsequent zona penetration. This inhibition results from precipitation of the zona by the specific antibody.     

Nucleus accumbens D2/3 receptors predict trait impulsivity and cocaine reinforcement

Stimulant addiction is often linked to excessive risk taking, sensation seeking, and impulsivity, but in ways that are poorly understood. We report here that a form of impulsivity in rats predicts high rates of intravenous cocaine self-administration and is associated with changes in dopamine (DA) function before drug exposure. Using positron emission tomography, we demonstrated that D2/3 receptor availability is significantly reduced in the nucleus accumbens of impulsive rats that were never exposed to cocaine and that such effects are independent of DA release. These data demonstrate that trait impulsivity predicts cocaine reinforcement and that D2 receptor dysfunction in abstinent cocaine addicts may, in part, be determined by premorbid influences.