Contrasting climate velocity impacts in warm and cool locations show that effects of marine warming are worse in already warmer temperate waters

Species responses to climate change are often measured at broad spatiotemporal scales, which can miss the fine-scale changes that are most relevant to conservation and fisheries management. We develop a scaleable geostatistical approach to assess how juvenile and adult fish distributions have been shaped by changes in bottom temperature and dissolved oxygen over a recent decade of warming in the northeast Pacific. Across 38 demersal fishes, biomass trends were associated negatively with warming and positively with dissolved oxygen, but when trends in both biomass and climate were converted to velocities—the speed and direction a population would have to move to maintain consistent conditions—the effect of temperature change differed depending on local conditions. In the warmest locations, warming velocities were associated with negative biotic velocities for 19 of 69 species-maturity combinations, and yet were almost always associated with stable or positive biotic velocities in the coolest locations (64 of 69). These spatially consistent biomass declines (negative biotic velocities) in the warmest locations and increases in cooler locations suggest a redistribution of species with the potential for new ecological and fisheries interactions. After controlling for temperature, the more spatially consistent effects of dissolved oxygen were often negative, suggesting a mechanism other than hypoxia avoidance—potentially changes in primary production. Our approach identifies the species and locations that are most sensitive to observed changes in the environment at any scale, thus facilitating future vulnerability assessments.     

Image-guided transnasal cryoablation of a recurrent nasal adenocarcinoma in a dog

An eight-year-old female spayed Airedale terrier with rapid recurrence of a nasal adenocarcinoma following image-guided intensity-modulated radiation therapy was treated with transnasal, image-guided cryotherapy. Ice ball size and location were monitored real-time with computed tomography-fluoroscopy to verify that the entire tumour was enveloped in ice. Serial computed tomography scans demonstrated reduction in and subsequent resolution of the primary tumour volume corresponding visually with the ice ball imaged during the ablation procedure. Re-imaging demonstrated focallysis of the cribriform plate following ablation that spontaneously resolved by 13 months. While mild chronic nasal discharge developed following cryoablation, no other clinical signs of local nasal neoplasia were present. Twenty-one months after nasal tumour cryoablation the dog was euthanased as a result of acute haemoabdomen. Image-guided cryotherapy may warrant further investigation for the management of focal residual or recurrent tumours in dogs, especially in regions where critical structures preclude surgical intervention.     

Transform-limited, narrow-linewidth lasing action in organic semiconductor microcavities

Lasing action in organic vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (OVCSEL) structures is demonstrated. Optically pumped OVCSELs with an active layer composed of a thin-film organic semiconductor tris-(8-hydroxyquinoline) aluminum (Alq3) doped with DCM laser dye produced very narrow linewidth (0.2 +/- 0.1 angstrom), high-power (3 watts) emission that could be varied in different devices from orange to red. The efficient energy transfer from Alq3 to DCM results in a threshold input energy of 300 microjoules per square centimeter. An operational lifetime >10(6) laser pulses was achieved for a device operated well above threshold in atmosphere. The linewidths above threshold are Fourier transform-limited and could potentially be narrowed further.     

Post-cambrian trilobite diversity and evolutionary faunas

A cluster analysis of the stratigraphic distribution of all Ordovician trilobite families, based on a comprehensive taxonomic database, identified two major faunas with disjunct temporal diversity trends. The Ibex Fauna behaved as a cohort, declining through the Ordovician and disappearing at the end-Ordovician mass extinction. In contrast, the Whiterock Fauna radiated rapidly during the Middle Ordovician and gave rise to all post-Ordovician trilobite diversity. Its pattern of diversification matches that of the Paleozoic Evolutionary Fauna; hence, trilobites were active participants in the great Ordovician radiations. Extinction patterns at the end of the Ordovician are related to clade size: Surviving trilobite families show higher genus diversity than extinguished families.     

Analysis of body composition changes of swine during growth and development.

This study was conducted to model the growth of carcass, viscera, and empty body components and component composition of pigs. Quantitative tissue and chemical composition of 319 swine, representative of barrows and gilts from five commercial genetic populations, was determined at eight stages of growth between 25 and 152 kg. After whole body grinding and carcass dissection, proximate analyses were performed to calculate concentrations of protein, lipid, moisture, and ash of carcass, viscera, empty body, carcass lean, and carcass fat. Linear and nonlinear equations were developed to investigate the growth patterns of each component. Nonlinear growth functions accounted for the greatest amount of variation in empty body protein, lipid, moisture, and ash mass. Differences (P < .05) existed between barrows and gilts for nearly all components investigated. Carcass lean and fat tissues significantly increased in lipid percentage and decreased in moisture percentage as live weight increased. There were significant changes in the ratio and composition of the tissues of barrows and gilts during growth. Nonlinear models fitted the data better than allometric equations for nearly all of the components investigated.     

Seroprevalence of psittacine beak and feather disease in wild psittacine birds in New South Wales

SUMMARY A haemagglutination inhibition assay was used to detect antibody to psittacine beak and feather disease virus in sera from wild sulphur crested cockatoos (Cacatua galerita), galahs (Eolophus roseicapillus), short-billed corellas (Cacatua sanguinea), eastern long-billed corellas (Cacatua tenuirostris) and other psittacine birds in New South Wales. The seroprevalence of psittacine beak and feather disease ranged from 41% to 94% in different flocks, indicating infection with the virus is widespread in wild populations.     

SCINTIGRAPHIC PATTERN OF 99mTc–MDP UPTAKE IN EXERCISE INDUCED PROXIMAL PHALANGEAL TRAUMA IN HORSES

Sixty–nine horses having radionuclide bone scans of the foredigit region between 1985 and 1988 were retrospectively analyzed for proximal phalangeal cortical ^99mTc–MDP uptake. Patterns of uptake were determined and the factors of age, breed, sex, occupation, and duration of signs prior to imaging were assessed. Twenty–three horses had abnormal proximal phalangeal uptake. Two patterns of uptake were seen, either as linear, diffuse or focal, discrete, fusiform–shaped cortical uptake. The dorsal cortex was always affected in these 23 horses; the palmar cortex was affected in 14 horses, and this uptake was always linear in appearance. There was significant correlation of proximal phalangeal cortical uptake and regular jumping activity, either as a jumping, hunting or three–day event horse ( p < .005). No correlations were determined between uptake and the factors of age, breed, sex or duration of signs prior to imaging. The scintigraphic appearance patterns were similar to those seen in scintigraphic studies of exercise induced traumatic bone injuries in humans.     

A RETROSPECTIVE STUDY OF UMBILICAL SONOGRAPHY IN CALVES

The purpose of this study was to assess the usefulness of diagnostic ultrasound for the detection of umbilical defects in calves. The medical records of 25 calves having undergone an ultrasound examination and for which a final diagnosis was available were reviewed retrospectively. Ultrasound was accurate (p = 0.05) for the diagnosis of umbilical defects in calves. Overall sensitivity (0.89) and specificity (0.83) were similar. Ultrasound was a better predictor of abnormal (PV' = 0.94) than normal PV- = 0.71) structures. Ultrasound was a good predictor (p < 0.05) of disease and normalcy in all umbilical region subdivisions except the umbilical vein (p = 0.16). Specificity was greater than sensitivity in all areas except the umbilical stalk. Sensitivity was lowest (0.50) for detection of umbilical herniae and lesions in the umbilical vein. When multiple umbilical areas were affected, ultrasound identified all lesions in 4 of 7 calves. Criteria determined to be subjectively useful in the sonographic diagnosis of infection in umbilical remnants were gas andlor echogenic fluid in the lumen and a thickened, hypoechoic wall.     

Biological and immunological luteinizing hormone activity and blood metabolites in postpartum Brahman cows

Multiparous Brahman cows were assigned by order of calving and sex of calf to groups to be fed to maintain body condition score (BCS) of 6 or greater (M; n = 10) or to lose BCS (L; n = 10). Blood samples were collected weekly for progesterone analysis and at 15, 30 and 45 d after parturition at 15-min intervals for 6 h for determination of immunological (ILH) and biological (BLH) luteinizing hormone. Serum concentrations of ILH were determined using a double antibody RIA procedure, whereas BLH was determined using a rat interstitial cell-testosterone bioassay (RICT). By 45 d after parturition 7 of 10 M cows had returned to estrus. Therefore, comparisons between groups were made on d 15 and 30 postpartum. Cows in the M group had a shorter (P less than .001) interval to first estrus (46.7 d) than did L cows (91.2 d). The concentrations of bioactive and immunoactive LH were parallel between d 15 and 30 postcalving. However, a day x treatment interaction (P less than .05) showed that episodic BLH concentrations (ng/ml) decreased with day postpartum in L, but increased in M cows from d 15 to 30 postcalving. Likewise, relative biological activity, as measured by B:I ratios, decreased between d 15 and 30 in L cows, whereas it increased in M cows during the same period (B:I x day interaction; P less than .05).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Polymorphism at the ovine beta3-adrenergic receptor locus (ADRB3) and its association with lamb mortality

The beta3-adrenergic receptors (ADRB3) are guanine nucleotide-binding protein (G-protein)-coupled receptors predominantly found on the surface of adipocytes. They are major mediators of the lipolytic and thermogenic effects of high catecholamine concentrations, in particular norepinephrine. Recently, variation in the ovine beta3-adrenergic receptor gene (ADRB3) has been associated with lamb survival in Merino sheep. In this study, PCR-single strand conformational polymorphism analysis of part of the ADRB3 intron was used to genotype 13,420 lambs (Borderdale, n = 351; Corriedale, n = 4,260; Coopworth, n = 1,225; Dorset Down, n = 663; Dorset Down x Coopworth, n = 264; Hampshire, n = 230; Merino, n = 4,488; Merino x Coopworth, n = 329; Merino x Polwarth, n = 226; Polwarth, n = 928; Poll Dorset, n = 241; and Suffolk, n = 215) born on 22 farms throughout the South Island of New Zealand. Univariate and multivariate odds ratios calculated for each of the 8 alleles revealed weak to moderate associations of the A and E alleles with cold survival and alleles C and F with cold-related mortality, and a strong association of the D allele with cold-related mortality and total mortality. This variation at the ADRB3 locus can possibly be exploited as a gene marker to increase selection accuracy when breeding for more cold-tolerant lambs.