Inherited electrophoretic hemoglobin patterns among 20 inbred strains of mice

The hemoglobin from mice of six inbred strains is of the single-spot electrophoretic type, and that from 14 inbred strains is of the diffuse type. No selective advantage is apparent for either type. The distribution among strains shows some relation to the history of the development of the strains.     

Radioimmunoassay of the anabolic agent zeranol. II. Zeranol concentrations in urine of sheep and cattle implanted with zeranol (Ralgro)

A radioimmunoassay for zeranol has been validated and used to measure the concentration of zeranol in the urine of sheep and cattle treated with zeranol (Ralgro). The assay uses an antibody raised against zeranol-16-carboxy-propyl ether conjugated to human serum albumin. In sheep and cattle urine the limits of detection were approximately 2 ng/ml and 2.5 ng/ml, respectively. In two trials 13 sheep were implanted with 12 mg zeranol at the base of the ear. The mean maximum concentrations of zeranol observed in urine were 45 ng/ml (Trial I) on day 35 and 90 ng/ml (Trial II) on day 56, and had declined to 26 ng/ml 42 days after implantation (Trial I) and 11.7 ng/ml 70 days after implantation (Trial II). In four cattle implanted with 36 mg zeranol the concentrations of zeranol in urine reached a mean maximum concentration of 13.5 ng/ml 22 days after implantation and had declined to 2.9 ng/ml 69 days after implantation.     

Biomechanical Study of Canine Spinal Fracture Fixation Using Pins or Bone Screws With Polymethylmethacrylate

Five configurations of pins or screws interconnected with polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) were applied to isolated canine lumbar spines (L2 to L5) in which a complete fracture-luxation had been produced at L3 to L4. Twenty-five repaired spines and five intact control spines were subjected to four-point bending and tested once to failure in ventral flexion. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of pin number, pin angle, and use of 3.5-mm cortical bone screws instead of smooth 3.2-mm diameter pins on rigidity and ultimate strength of spinal fractures repaired by the implant-PMMA fixation technique. Bending moment versus the angular deformation curves were recorded. Rigidity, bending moment at 10° angular deformation, moment at failure, and deformation at failure of each type of fixation were compared using analysis of variance. Spinal segments stabilized with eight pin-PMMA fixation had significantly greater rigidity and strength at failure than four pin-PMMA fixations ( P < .05). Furthermore, spinal segments stabilized with eight pins angled away from the fracture failed at significantly greater bending moment than those with eight pins angled toward the fracture ( P < .05). However, for four-pin fixation, greater strength was achieved by angling pins in the bone toward the fracture site ( P < .05). Screw-PMMA fixations failed by screw bending and were less rigid and weaker at failure than the corresponding configuration of pin-PMMA fixation ( P < .05).     

Unconditional quantum teleportation

Quantum teleportation of optical coherent states was demonstrated experimentally using squeezed-state entanglement. The quantum nature of the achieved teleportation was verified by the experimentally determined fidelity Fexp = 0.58 +/- 0.02, which describes the match between input and output states. A fidelity greater than 0.5 is not possible for coherent states without the use of entanglement. This is the first realization of unconditional quantum teleportation where every state entering the device is actually teleported.     

Situating and teaching 21st century zoology: revealing pattern in the form and function of animals

The current challenges (increasing levels of integration in the biological sciences) facing the teaching of zoology and the structure of the zoology curriculum are explored herein. General context is provided and a more focused scrutiny of the situation in North America is presented. The changing emphases in more broadly‐based biological sciences programs in North America are outlined, and their influence on the role of zoology as part of fundamental biological training is considered. The longer term impact of such changes in emphasis on the teaching of zoology is discussed, and the central role that zoology can play in dealing with both science content and science education is advanced. Based upon a focal workshop on the future of the zoology curriculum in Canada, a perspective on the challenges facing curriculum evolution is provided. Extensive curriculum redesign is called for to ensure that zoology provides a broad‐scale integrative approach to the understanding of biodiversity in evolutionary, ecological and functional contexts. Barriers to, and drivers of change are identified and the need for collaborative approaches to curricular evolution is emphasized.     

Long‐Term Outcome after Arthroscopic Debridement of Distal Phalanx Extensor Process Fragmentation in 13 Horses

Objective— To report long-term outcome after arthroscopic removal of fragmentation of the extensor process of the distal phalanx in horses.
Study Design— Case series.
Animals— Adult horses (n=13).
Methods— Medical records (2003–2004) of horses that had arthroscopic debridement of fragmentation of the extensor process of the distal phalanx were reviewed. Inclusion criteria included: lameness localized to the foot, fragmentation of the extensor process of the distal phalanx debrided arthroscopically, and a follow-up period of ≥4 years.
Results— Of the 13 horses, lameness was resolved in 11 (85%) initially but distal interphalangeal joint pain recurred in 2 (15%) within 1 year of surgery. Three (23%) other horses were retired because of lameness at other sites during the follow-up period resulting in 46% (6/13) being not lame and in full work after 4 years. Substantial changes were identified at surgery in the contralateral joint of 7 horses, even when fragments were only present unilaterally.
Conclusions— Arthroscopic debridement of fragmentation of the extensor process of the forelimb distal phalanx has a good short-term prognosis for resolution of lameness and return to work but a more guarded prognosis for long-term soundness.
Clinical Relevance— These results allow for more accurate prognostication preoperatively and may support early debridement of fragmentation of the extensor process of the distal phalanx.     

Nasopharyngeal stenosis in four cats

Nasopharyngeal stenosis secondary to chronic upper respiratory tract infection is described in four cats. The stenosis is caused by a thin but tough inflammatory membrane which develops across the proximal nasopharynx, partly or completely occluding it. Diagnosis is aided by use of a dental mirror for caudal rhinoscopy, together with test passage of a fine catheter through the ventral nasal meatus. All four cases were treated successfully by surgical resection of the membrane through an incision in the soft palate. Nasopharyngeal stenosis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of all chronic upper respiratory disease in cats.     

Radioimmunoassay of the anabolic agent zeranol. IV. The determination of zeranol concentrations in the edible tissues of cattle implanted with zeranol (Ralgro)

Rapid solvent extraction combined with a radioimmunoassay using a monoclonal antibody raised against a derivative of zeranol has been used to measure the residues of the anabolic agent zeranol in the edible tissues (muscle, liver, kidney and fat) of cattle treated with Ralgro. Calibration curves, both with and without, tissue extracts exhibit good parallelism. Regression analysis for the extraction of zeranol from tissues dosed with standard amounts of zeranol have correlation coefficients of 0.979, 0.991, 0.986 and 0.985 for muscle, liver, kidney and fat, respectively. The limits of decision defined as the mean value + 3 SD for the concentrations apparently observed (noise) in tissues from animals not treated with Ralgro were 278, 121, 373 and 110 ng/kg for muscle, fat, liver and kidney, respectively. In the tissues of 4 cows implanted with Ralgro (36 mg), and sampled 70 days after implanting, the highest concentration of zeranol in each tissue was 232 ng/kg (muscle), 391 ng/kg (liver), 287 ng/kg (kidney) and 293 ng/kg (fat), and residues were detected in all samples of fat (4), 3 kidney samples and 1 liver sample.     

Evaluation of cardiorespiratory and biochemical effects of ketamine‐propofol and guaifenesin‐ketamine‐xylazine anesthesia in donkeys (Equus asinus)

ObjectivesTo evaluate the cardiorespiratory and biochemical effects of ketamine-propofol (KP) or guaifenesin-ketamine-xylazine (GKX) anesthesia in donkeys.Study designProspective crossover trial.AnimalsEight healthy, standard donkeys, aged 10 ± 5 years and weighing 153 ± 23 kg.MethodsDonkeys were premedicated with 1.0 mg kg^?1 of xylazine (IV) in both treatments. Eight donkeys were administered ketamine (1.5 mg kg^?1) and propofol (0.5 mg kg^?1) for induction, and anesthesia was maintained by constant rate infusion (CRI) of ketamine (0.05 mg kg^?1 minute^?1) and propofol (0.15 mg kg^?1 minute^?1) in the KP treatment. After 10 days, diazepam (0.05 mg kg^?1) and ketamine (2.2 mg kg^?1) were administered for induction, and anesthesia was maintained by a CRI (2.0 mL kg^?1 hour^?1) of ketamine (2.0 mg mL^?1), xylazine (0.5 mg mL^?1) and guaifenesin (50 mg mL^?1) solution. Quality of anesthesia was assessed along with cardiorespiratory and biochemical measurements.ResultsAnesthetic induction took longer in GKX than in KP. The induction was considered good in 7/8 with KP and in 6/8 in GKX. Anesthetic recovery was classified as good in 7/8 animals in both treatments. Xylazine administration decreased heart rate (HR) in both treatments, but in KP the HR increased and was higher than GKX throughout the anesthetic period. Respiratory rate was higher in GKX than in KP. PaO₂ decreased significantly in both groups during the anesthetic period. Glucose concentrations [GLU] increased and rectal temperature and PCV decreased in both treatments. Arterial lactate [LAC] increased at recovery compared with all time points in KP. [GLU] and calcium were higher in GKX than in KP at recovery.Conclusion and clinical relevanceThese protocols induced significant hypoxemia but no other cardiorespiratory or metabolic changes. These protocols could be used to maintain anesthesia in donkeys, however, they were not tested in animals undergoing surgery.