Extraction and characterization of water–repellent materials from Australian soils

Organic materials responsible for water–repellency in some Australian soils were extracted with an amphiphilic mixture of iso -propanol/15.7 m ammonia (7:3, v:v) in a Soxhlet apparatus, after which the water–repellent soils were rendered wettable. The successful extraction by an organic solvent system indicates that the bulk of hydrophobicity in these soils is not covalently linked to the surface of the sand. The extracted materials restored hydrophobicity on acid washed sands or ignited sands at levels comparable to the original soils.
Spectroscopic and chromatographic examination of the extracted materials indicated that both free and esterified long–chain, 16–32 carbon atom, fatty acids were present with a bimodal distribution showing maxima at C₁₆ and C₂₂. The ¹³C–NMR and infrared spectra of the most hydrophobic extract suggest that hydrophobicity is caused by molecules with extensive polymethylene chains. Calculations with model compounds indicate that at least a close packed monolayer is required before measurable hydrophobicity can be detected with the molarity of ethanol droplet penetration test.     

Plasma cell myeloma with IgG paraproteinaemia in a bitch

Plasma cell myeloma with an associated aplastic anaemia and Bence-Jones proteinuria is described in a nine year-old bitch. The paraproteins in the serum were found to be of an IgG type.     

Adamantinoma in a cat

SUMMARY An 18-months-old neutered male cat was presented for veterinary examination because of a rapidly enlarging mass in the region of the right upper canine tooth. Radiological examination showed displacement of this tooth and destruction of the right maxilla. Post mortem and histopathologic examination confirmed that the mass was a tumour, an adamantinoma.     

β-adrenergic responsiveness in stress-sensitive and stress-resistant pigs

This study investigated whether enhanced metabolic responsiveness to beta-adrenergic stimulation might explain the liability of the stress-sensitive pig to develop an acidosis during stressful situations. Blood lactate, pH, PCO2 and heart rate response to an intravenous infusion of isoprenaline were examined in three lines of pentobarbitone anaesthetized, atropinized pigs. The lines were Pietrain X Hampshire which had been selected over eight generations for a positive reaction to the halothane test (stress-sensitive); Pietrain X Hampshire which had been selected over eight generations for no reaction to the halothane test (stress-resistant) and British Landrace which had been selected over four generations for a positive halothane reaction (stress-sensitive). The metabolic responses to isoprenaline were greater in the stress-sensitive Pietrain X Hampshire line than the stress-resistant line. The stress-sensitive Landrace pigs, however, had smaller changes in pH and PCO2 in response to isoprenaline than the stress-resistant Pietrain X Hampshire pigs. This inconsistent trend across the three lines led to the conclusion that enhanced beta-adrenergic responsiveness was not the likely cause of stress sensitivity.     

Seasonal variation in the components of partial resistance of seedlings of winter wheat cultivars Maris Huntsman and Maris Ranger to Septoria nodorum

Components of partial resistance of two winter wheat cultivars, Maris Huntsman and Maris Ranger, to Septoria nodorum were measured on potted seedlings exposed in the open during the spring and early summer of 1978. The number of lesions 10 days after inoculation was always greater for Maris Ranger than for Maris Huntsman but the relative differences changed during the season: about 10:1 in March, April and May, but only 3:1 in June. The time from infection to first sporulation (latent period) on Maris Ranger was always shorter, especially in March. The percentage leaf area covered by lesions at the end of the latent period was usually greater on Maris Ranger, but variation in the percentage leaf area necrotic at this time did not follow a distinct seasonal trend, nor did cultivars differ in this respect. Twice as many spores per unit area diseased were produced on Maris Ranger as on Maris Huntsman. Seasonal variation in these components could partially be interpreted in terms of the changing weather conditions to which the plants were exposed.