Climatic Limits on Landscape Development in the Northwestern Himalaya

The interaction between tectonism and erosion produces rugged landscapes in actively deforming regions. In the northwestern Himalaya, the form of the landscape was found to be largely independent of exhumation rates, but regional trends in mean and modal elevations, hypsometry (frequency distribution of altitude), and slope distributions were correlated with the extent of glaciation. These observations imply that in mountain belts that intersect the snowline, glacial and periglacial processes place an upper limit on altitude, relief, and the development of topography irrespective of the rate of tectonic processes operating.     

Resistance to glyphosate in Lolium rigidum

Annual ryegrass (Lolium rigidum) is a widespread and important weed of Australia and populations of this weed have developed resistance to most major herbicides, including glyphosate. The possible mechanisms of resistance have been examined in one glyphosate-resistant Lolium population. No major differences were observed between resistant and susceptible biotypes in respect of (i) the target enzyme (EPSP synthase), (ii) DAHP synthase, the first enzyme of the target (shikimate) pathway, (iii) absorption of glyphosate, or (iv) translocation. Following treatment with glyphosate, there was greater accumulation of shikimate (derived from shikimate-3-Pi) in susceptible than in resistant plants. In addition, the resistant population exhibited cross-resistance to 2-hydroxy-3-(1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)propyl phosphonate, a herbicide which, although structurally similar to glyphosate, acts at an unrelated target site. On the basis of these observations we speculate that movement of glyphosate to its site of action in the plastid is involved in the resistance mechanism. © 1999 Society of Chemical Industry     

Premature farrowings caused by feeding cottonseed meal

Increasing the level of cottonseed meal (CSM) in sow diets from less than 5% to 10% increased the incidence of premature farrowings (gestation length less than 111 days) from 1.1% to 2.7% (p less than 0.001) and reduced the mean gestation length from 114.07 +/- 1.53 to 113.70 +/- 1.59 days (p less than 0.0001). Survival of piglets born prematurely was poor. After removal of CSM from the diet there was a residual effect lasting several weeks before the gestation length returned to normal. Experimental feeding of diets containing 20% and 40% CSM to small groups of sows caused significant shortening of gestation length and 3 of 26 sows fed 40% CSM farrowed prematurely. The mechanism by which CSM causes this effect has yet to be determined.     

The relationship between KCl infusion and changes of ECG, electrolytes of plasma and K content of donkey's red blood cells

Sudden marked increases in the serum potassium concentration, up to 8 to 9 meq L(-1), are the result of transcellular movement of potassium and are associated with profound electrocardiographic abnormalities and fluid shifts. Electrocardiographic changes associated with hyperkalemia have been described in the cat, the dog, the horse and are well documented in man. Since there is no research about the effects of hyperkalemia on electrocardiogram of donkey, the purpose of this study was to induce the experimentally hyperkalemia in donkey and studying the relationship between KCl infusion and changes of ECG, electrolytes of plasma and K content of donkey's red blood cells. This research was carried out in seven clinically healthy female donkeys, injected with 0.35 molar potassium chloride solutions to jugular vein. Results indicated that potassium content of RBC at 30, 45, 60, 75 and 90 min, blood potassium level at 30, 45, 60, 75 and 90 min, blood calcium at 60, 75, 90 and 105, increased significantly and blood magnesium decreased significantly at 135 min. Electrocardiographic changes were first degree A-V block, wandering pacemaker, inversion of negative to positive T-wave, flattening of the P-wave, ventricular premature beat, sinus arrest, bradycardia and sinus tachycardia.     

Pathological and Bacteriological Studies of Hydrosalpinx in Buffaloes

The objectives of the present study were to investigate the bacteria accompanying hydrosalpinx of the buffalo cow and investigate the correlation between bacterial infection of the uterus and hydrosalpinx. Buffalo cows’ reproductive tracts were collected from Mosul abattoir. A total 385 uterine samples were examined of which 25 were having hydrosalpinx. Swabs for bacteriology, fluid for cytology and biopsies for histopathology were collected from the hydrosalpinx and the uterus from each samples included in this study. Results of this study indicated high prevalence of hydrosalpinx (6.5%) including unilateral (n = 19; 76%) and bilateral (n = 6; 24%) hydrosalpinx. Although 16 samples (64%) of the hydrosalpinx samples had no bacterial growth, the most prevalent bacteria recovered from hydrosalpinx were Corynebacterium hemolyticum and Actinomyces bovis, 42.8% and 28.6%, respectively. The most prevalent bacteria in the uterus were Archanobacterium pyogenes (18.5%), Staphylococcus aureus (14.8%), and Listeria monocytogenes (11.0%). Higher rates of leukocytes infiltration (p < 0.01) were observed in the uterine discharge than hydrosalpinx. A significant (p < 0.01) increase in lymphocytes was found in uterine discharge. Microscopic examination of the hydrosalpinx showed mucosal atrophy and dilatation of oviductal lumen without any signs of inflammation. It could be concluded that there is no correlation between bacteria isolated from uterus and hydrosalpinx. No association was found between bacteriological cultures and hydrosalpinx. Inflammation of the uterine tissue could be extended to utero‐tubal junction producing local inflammation resulting in fibrosis and tubal obstruction. The obstruction in the lumen of the oviducts resulted in accumulation of fluid.