QUANTITATIVE MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING OF THE NORMAL FELINE CRANIAL ABDOMEN

Magnetic resonance images of the cranial abdomen were acquired from 15 clinically normal cats. All cats had T1-weighted images, 8 cats had T2-images made and 7 cats had T1-weighted post Gd-DTPA images acquired. Signal intensity measurements for T1, T2, and T1 post contrast sequences were calculated for liver, spleen, gallbladder, renal cortex, renal medulla, pancreas, epaxial muscles, and peritoneal fat. On T1-weighted images the epaxial muscle had the lowest signal intensity, followed by renal medulla, spleen, renal cortex, pancreas, liver and fat, respectively. On T2-weighted images, epaxial muscle had the lowest signal intensity followed by liver, spleen, fat, and gallbladder lumen. Calculations of specific organ percent enhancement following contrast medium administration were made and compared with that reported in humans. A brief review of the potential clinical uses of MR in cats is presented.     

Predation by Dragonfly Naiads Anax junius on Young Crawfish Procambarus clarkii

Anax junius (Odonata: Aeschnidae) predation on young crawfish, Procambarus clarkii , was measured in the laboratory. Predation rates (0.066–1.16 crawfish/day) were estimated at 25, 15, and 5 C and for two sizes of crawfish (11–20 and 21–30 mm total length). Naiad predation increased with increasing temperature and decreasing crawfish size. At 5 C, naiads had no significant effect on survival of large crawfish but did significantly reduce survival of small crawfish. At 15 and 25 C, predation rates were significantly affected by temperature and prey size. Relative naiad abundance in a 0.8 ha crawfish pond was estimated from September through May. Larger naiads (head width, >6.5 mm; total length, >30 mm) capable of preying on young crawfish were not present until after most crawfish had reached invulnerable sizes. Large naiads, as a result, may not affect crawfish production under normal management conditions.     

The combined mode of action of fipronil and amitraz on the motility of Rhipicephalus sanguineus

The motility of adult Rhipicephalus sanguineus was evaluated subsequent to treatments of amitraz, fipronil and the combination of fipronil plus amitraz against a vehicle control in a Petri dish assay using the LemnaTec Scanalyzer Imaging System. The assay was run using a fixed dilution of amitraz (0.32μg/cm(2)); serial dilutions of fipronil (1.3, 0.33, 0.08, 0.02, or 0.005μg/cm(2)); and the same serial dilutions of fipronil in combination with the fixed dilution of amitraz. Measurement of motility was made of unstimulated ticks and then after stimulation at 1, 4, 18-22, and 24h post exposure (hpe) of the Petri dishes. For the unstimulated ticks, there was no difference in motility between the amitraz treatment group and the fipronil plus amitraz treatment group at the early time points. However, these two treatment groups had significantly higher motility than the solvent control and fipronil treatment groups. The unstimulated ticks in the amitraz treatment group had significantly higher motility than the fipronil plus amitraz treatment group at the later time points. Measurements after stimulation demonstrated there was no difference in motility between the amitraz treatment group and the fipronil plus amitraz treatment group at the early time points. By 18 hpe, the fipronil plus amitraz treatment group had significantly lower motility than all other treatment groups and at 21-22 and 24 hpe the other treatment groups did not differ from the control group. The action could be divided in two phases in the combination experiment: phase 1: an early increase in motility due to amitraz is identified in both amitraz alone or fipronil plus amitraz groups; phase 2: the combination of fipronil plus amitraz caused a significantly greater reduction in motility, suggesting mortality of the ticks, compared to fipronil or amitraz alone. These results demonstrate a synergism resulting from the combination of fipronil plus amitraz.     

Occurrence and toxicity of three classes of insecticides in water and sediment in two Southern California coastal watersheds

The occurrence of chlorpyrifos, diazinon, pyrethroids, and fipronil was investigated in two watersheds along the southern California coast. Paired surface water and sediment samples were collected under dry and wet (after significant rain events) weather conditions. Insecticide concentrations in water and sediment were higher following rain events than during the dry season. Chlorpyrifos was the most frequently detected compound (>88%). Pyrethroids were detected in 74 and 100% of the water and sediment samples, respectively, with bifenthrin detected most frequently. Trans-permethrin was detected at the highest concentration followed by bifenthrin. Bifenthrin and trans-permethrin water concentrations were significantly correlated (P < 0.01) with the suspended solid level, suggesting transport facilitated by suspended particles. In 80% of the wet season samples with 100% of Ceriodaphnia dubia mortality, chlorpyrifos concentrations were >100 ng L(-1). Sediment pyrethroid levels (0.5-1100 ng g(-1)) were frequently higher than the respective Hyalella azteca LC(50) values, with bifenthrin as the primary contributor of H. azteca toxicity.     

Consequences of nitrogen fertilization on soil methane consumption in a productive temperate deciduous forest

To investigate the consequences of long-term N additions on soil CH₄ dynamics, we measured in situ CH₄ uptake rates, soil profiles and kinetics parameters during the growing season in a temperate deciduous forest in northwestern Pennsylvania (Allegheny College Bousson Environmental Forest). Measurements were made in control and adjacent plots amended with 100 kg N ha^–1 year^–1 for 8 years. We found that the in situ consumption rates were 0.19±0.02 (mean±SE) for the control and 0.12±0.01 mg CH₄–C m^–2 h^–1 for the N treatment, indicating that consumption had been reduced by 35% after 8 years of N amendments. Despite the large difference in rates of consumption, there were no differences in the CH₄ concentration profiles between the control and N-amended plots. Laboratory incubations of CH₄ consumption throughout the soil column (organic horizon and mineral soil depths) showed that rates were greatest in the organic horizon of both control and N-amended soils, although consumption was reduced by 42% in the N-amended plot. However, the rate in the organic horizon was only about 50% the rate measured in organic horizons at other temperate forests. The apparent K_m [K_m(app)] value in the organic horizon of the control plot was fourfold less than the K_m(app) value in the organic horizon of another temperate forest, but similar to the K_m(app) values in adjacent plots amended with N for a decade. Unlike results for other temperate forests, K_m(app) values at Bousson generally did not decrease with soil depth. These results indicate that N cycling strongly controls the CH₄-consuming community, and suggest that alterations of the N cycle due to N deposition or addition may alter rates and the location of CH₄ consumption by soils, even in soils with high N content and cycling rates.     

Biochemical characterization of chlorantraniliprole and spinetoram resistance in laboratory-selected obliquebanded leafroller, Choristoneura rosaceana (Harris) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae)

Neonate larvae of obliquebanded leafroller, Choristoneura rosaceana, from a laboratory colony were exposed to two reduced-risk insecticides, chlorantraniliprole and spinetoram. After nine generations of selection, significant levels of resistance to each insecticide were observed. Biochemical assays were performed on third instars to determine potential resistance mechanisms. Enzyme assays indicated that esterase activity was significantly increased in the chlorantraniliprole-selected colony, whereas mixed-function oxidase levels were elevated in the spinetoram-selected colony as compared to the unselected colony. No difference in glutathione-S-transferase activity was seen in either of the insecticide-selected colonies. These results indicate the potential involvement of esterases and mixed-function oxidases as detoxification mechanisms responsible for resistance to chlorantraniliprole and spinetoram, respectively. Furthermore, the results of this study suggest that chlorantraniliprole and spinetoram are not detoxified by similar mechanisms and could therefore be incorporated into resistance management programs in tree fruit leading to sustainable management of C. rosaceana.     

Molecular mapping of hypersensitive resistance from tomato 'Hawaii 7981' to Xanthomonas perforans race T3

Bacterial spot of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) is caused by four species of Xanthomonas. The disease causes significant yield losses and a reduction in fruit quality. Physiological races have been described with tomato race 3 (T3) corresponding to strains of Xanthomonas perforans. The breeding line Hawaii 7981 (hereafter H7981) shows a hypersensitive reaction (HR) to race T3 strains conditioned by the interaction of the host resistance locus Xv3 and the bacterial effector avrXv3. The Xv3 gene is required for H7981-derived resistance to be effective under field conditions, though its expression is subject to genetic background. The segregation of HR in F(2) populations derived from H7981 crossed to processing tomato parents OH88119 and OH7870 was studied in 331 progeny, with the two independent crosses providing validation. We screened 453 simple-sequence repeat, insertion/deletion, and single-nucleotide polymorphism markers and identified 44 polymorphic markers each for the OH88119 and OH7870 populations covering 84.6 and 73.3% of the genome, respectively, within 20 centimorgans (cM). Marker-trait analysis using all polymorphic markers demonstrated that Xv3-mediated resistance maps to chromosome 11 in the two independent crosses. Allelism tests were conducted in crosses between lines carrying Xv3 derived from H7981, Rx-4 derived from plant introduction (PI) 128216, and resistance derived from PI 126932. These allelism tests suggested that the loci conditioning HR to race T3 strains are linked within 0.1 cM, are allelic, or are the same gene.     

FIELD AND LABORATORY STUDIES COMPARING NUTRISPHERE-NITROGEN UREA WITH UREA IN NORTH DAKOTA,ARKANSAS, AND MISSISSIPPI

Nitrification and ammonia volatility are two important impediments to nitrogen (N) use efficiency and crop uptake around the world. Nutrisphere® is a relatively new product whose manufacturer claims both nitrification and urea volatilization inhibiting properties. Urea coated with Nutrisphere is and the resulting fertilizer is called Nutrisphere®-N urea, or Nutrisphere-N (NSN). Eight field studies on spring (Triticum aestivum L.) or durum [T. turgidum L. subsp duram (Desf.) Husn.] wheat in North Dakota, three field studies in Mississippi/Arkansas on rice (Oryza sativa L.), four laboratory experiments in North Dakota and one in Arkansas were conducted to determine the nitrification and urea volatilization inhibiting ability of NSN compared with urea alone. Results of field and laboratory experiments revealed that the product has no nitrification or urea volatilization inhibiting properties at the recommended rates and spring wheat and rice did not benefit from the application of NSN to urea.