A VALENTINE‐SHAPED CARDIAC SILHOUETTE IN FELINE THORACIC RADIOGRAPHS IS PRIMARILY DUE TO LEFT ATRIAL ENLARGEMENT

Conflicting information has been published regarding the cause of a valentine‐shaped cardiac silhouette in dorsoventral or ventrodorsal thoracic radiographs in cats. The purpose of this retrospective, cross‐sectional study was to test the hypothesis that the valentine shape is primarily due to left atrial enlargement. Images for cats with a radiographic valentine‐shaped cardiac silhouette and full echocardiography examination were retrieved and independently reviewed. A subjective scoring system was used to record severity of radiographic valentine shape. Subjective radiographic evidence of left atrial enlargement in a radiographic lateral projection and a final diagnosis based on medical records were also recorded. A total of 81 cats met inclusion criteria. There was a strong positive correlation (P < 0.001) between echocardiographic left atrial size and severity of radiographic valentine shape. There was no effect of echocardiographic right atrial size on the severity of valentine shape, except when concurrent with severe left atrial enlargement. In this situation, right atrial enlargement increased the likelihood of observing a severe valentine shape. There was no effect of right atrial enlargement on the shape of the cardiac silhouette when left atrial enlargement was absent or only mild to moderate. There was no correlation between the category of final diagnosis of cardiac disease and the severity of valentine shape. Findings from this study supported the hypothesis that a valentine‐shaped cardiac silhouette in radiographs is due primarily to left atrial enlargement in cats, with right atrial enlargement only impacting the shape if concurrent with severe left atrial enlargement.     

Reporting and advising on the effects of fishing

Scientists hold different views about environmental management. These views may drive their interest in the subject and help them to address a wide range of research issues, but they can also affect the ways in which research results are interpreted and reported. Studies that mix science and perspective can compromise public and scientific understanding of fishing effects, as perceived differences in evidence may actually reflect differences in interpretation. To improve the rigour of ‘fishing effects’ science, it would help if the benchmarks used to assess whether fishing effects ‘matter’ were always made explicit. These benchmarks might be the objectives set by the management authorities and/or a series of alternate objectives proposed and stated by the scientist. To demonstrate how the reported significance of fishing effects can depend on objectives, I use a simple model to predict the response of fish populations and communities to fishing. Fishing effects that would be reported as negative in relation to preservation or biodiversity objectives, such as declines in size, abundance and trophic level, occur at lower fishing intensities than those associated with meeting sustainability objectives for target species. When fishing pressure is so high that both conservation and fisheries objectives are not being met, the initial management actions to meet a range of objectives are likely to be compatible (e.g. reduce capacity, support alternate livelihoods).     

Comparison of acid-detergent lignin,alkaline-peroxide lignin,and acid-detergent insoluble ash as internal markers for predicting fecal output and digestibilily by caltie offered bermudagrass hays of varying nutrient composition

Background： The potential for acid-detergent insoluble ash （ADIA）, alkaline-peroxide lignin （APL）, and acid-detergent lignin （ADL） to predict fecal output （FO） and dry matter digestibility （DMD） by cattle offered bermudagrass [Cynodon doctylon （L） Pers.] hays of different qualities was evaluated. Eight ruminally cannulated cows （594 ± 35.5 kg） were allocated randomly to 4 hay diets： low （L）, medium low （ML）, medium high （MH）, and high （H） crude protein （CP） concentration （79, 111,131, and 164 g CP/kg on a DM basis, respectively）. Diets were offered in 3 periods with 2 diet replicates per period and were rotated across cows between periods. Cows were individually fed 20 g DM/kg of body weight in equal feedings at 08：00 and 16：00 h for a 10-d adaptation followed by a 5-d total fecal collection. Actual DM intake （DMI）, DMD, and FO were determined based on hay offered, ort, and feces excreted. These components were then analyzed for ADL, APL, and ADIA concentration to determine marker recovery and marker-based estimates of FO and DMD. Results： Forage DMI was affected by diet （P = 0.02）, and DMI from MH and H was greater （P 〈 0.05） than from L. Apparent DMD tended （P = 0.08） to differ among diets while FO （P = 0.20） was not affected by diet treatments. Average ADL recovery （1.16） was greater （P 〈 0.05） than that of ADIA （1.03） and APL （1.06）, but ADIA and APL did not differ （P = 0.42）. Estimates of FO and DMD derived using APL and ADIA were not different （P≥0.05） from total fecal collection while those using ADL differed （P 〈 0.05）. There was no diet by marker interaction （P≥ 0.22） for either FO or DMD. Conclusion： Acid-detergent insoluble ash and APL accurately predicted FO and DMD of cattle fed bermudagrass hay of varying nutrient composition. These internal markers may facilitate studies involving large numbers of animals and forages. Results from such studies may be used to develop improve     

The killing fields: Science and politics at Berkeley, California, USA

Over the past several decades, a group of scholars at the Berkeley campus of the University of California have frequently challenged many of the dominant themes of contemporary agricultural research. In their work, they have organized curricula questioning the assumptions of conventional agriculture and its sciences while encouraging the development of alternative agricultural practices based on principles of ecology. Their collective critique has stimulated an intellectual climate calling forth a scrutiny of the university's role in the production of knowledge and the social consequences of its works. The result of this intellectual project has been a group that has also largely challenged the dominant themes of the modern university. In place of a setting where ideas are a passive currency, the modern university is a place where knowledge and power are manifest in a dialectic that is revealed not simply by the production of knowledge, but its destruction as well. It is in this context that the recent history of a group of scholars at the University of California provides a striking testimony concerning the disturbing character of science in the modern university. The ecological and social dimensions of “killing fields” that captures the contemporary hazards of food and fiber production in California is also reflected in the gradual demise of a group of researchers at Berkeley who have endeavored to provide an alternative vision of agriculture.     

Further evidence on the effects of gene H,which confers cane hairyness,on resistance to raspberry diseases

Summary Gene H determines cane hairyness in raspberries and was reported to facilitate escape from infection by Botrytis cinerea and Didymella applanata. However, experiments with mycelial inoculations of wounded canes showed that it conferred a form of resistance which was evident for a long period after the establishment of infections by these pathogens. The gene also contributed to the resistance of fruit to B. cinerea and of canes to Leptosphaeria coniothyrium. Alternative hypotheses to explain these observations are discussed: two based upon its possible genetic linkage with a gene or genes for resistance and one based upon its possible pleiotropic effects.     

Some evidence on the genetic structure of present-day raspberry varieties and some possible implications for further breeding

Raspberry varieties can be classified into four groups on the basis of the extent to which outcrossing is thought to have occurred in their evolution. The groups are considered to differ in genetic structure, particularly in respect of the amount of inbreeding which they will tolerate without showing inbreeding depression. The immediate task of the breeder is largely to incorporate major genes for specific improvements while retaining and stabilising the good qualities already present. The achievement of this stability through inbreeding is most easily obtained in varieties which, by the nature of their origin, are able to give good phenotypic performance following inbreeding. The alternatives of basing new varieties on F₁ hybrids or on material selected for inbreeding tolerance are discussed: it is concluded that F₁ hybrids should be more easy to produce and may have the advantage of possessing greater developmental stability. Some evidence for this is presented.Three possible explanations are discussed for the frequent occurrence of heterozygosity at the gene loci H:h (hairy: non-hairy canes) and T:t (pigmented canes and red fruits: non-pigmented canes and yellow fruits) but is is unlikely that heterozygosity at these loci is important for cultivated varieties. It is suggested that virus resistance may play an important role in the breeding system of the species: if this is so, high levels of resistance may not always be desirable in wild populations, and their occurrence in a cultivated variety may therefore be influenced by the nature of the variety's origin. Protection against fungal diseases of the canes, however, is unequivocally desirable in both wild and cultivated raspberries. Since escape from two diseases of this kind is favoured by the presence of cane hairs (gene H), the choice of forms with sub-glabrous canes (gene h) for many modern varieties has perhaps been unfortunate.     

Resistance to cane spot (Elsinoë veneta) in the red raspberry and its relationship to resistance to yellow rust (Phragmidium rubi-idaei)

Summary Varying degrees of resistance to cane spot were recorded among red raspberries in two cultivar trials and in 15 segregating families. The inheritance of resistance was studied, and the effect of gene H which determines the presence of cane hairs was assessed in eight of the families. The 0 to 5 scale used to record disease incidence was found to approximate to a logarithmic scale for the range of 0 to 93 cane spots per cane. Gene H and h phenotypes averaged scores of 3.05 and 2.42 respectively, but other genes independent of these had more influence on resistance. The latter genes appeared to be largely dominant. The possibility is discussed that one of them was a major gene with a large effect, but the evidence was equivocal in the absence of discontinuity in the expression of resistance. Resistance to yellow rust was studied in five of the families and was highly correlated with resistance to cane spot. Gene H had more influence on this disease, the mean counts of telia per unit leaf area for H and h segregates being 17.1 and 4.1 respectively.