Recognition of sedimentary characteristics in soils by size-shape analysis

Size-shape analysis has been applied to two soils of alluvial origin and to an in-situ soil over granite. Elongation function curves for the granitic soil show that its quartz grains become increasingly equant with increasing size. The coarser particles of the alluvial soils, by contrast, become less equant and more elongated with increasing grain size — a characteristic of the framework population of bed-load sediments.The method appears promising for helping to distinguish transported from in-situ parent materials.     

Products from the sensitised photo-oxidation of 2-dimethylamino-5,6-dimethylpyrimidin-4-ol

The products from the methylene blue sensitised photo-oxidation of 2-dimethylamino-5,6-dimethylpyrimidin-4-ol (I) in deuterochloroform/deuteroacetone have been investigated. A zwitterion and a hydroperoxide are formed initially, with the zwitterion predominating. The zwitterion compound degrades or reacts in the solid state on silica gel to give further products.     

Modelling the escape of Chondrostereum purpureum spores from a larch forest with biological control of Prunus serotina

Chondrostereum purpureum is being developed as a microbial herbicide to controlPrunus serotina in coniferous forests. After biological control, the fungus produces basidiospores that may reach and infect non-target plants. As part of a risk analysis, spore escape from a forest was quantified. For this purpose, a stratified model was developed for a forest of 250 m with 250 m. A turbulent diffusion equation was used to describe spore fluxes for each layer.In a simple calculation procedure, the spore fluxes for the different layers were calculated simultaneously. The downwind escape fraction was found to vary from 0.19 to 0.45, and the upward escapte fraction from 0.07 to 0.23. These escape fractions increased with increasing wind speed.Number of spores released from basidiocarps, and escape fractions could be used as inputs for a Gaussian plume model to calculate spore immission into orchards.     

Comparative purification methods for determination of triadimenol residues in plant material

Two procedures are described for the determination of residues of triadimenol and compared on cereal material. After extraction, purification is carried out by Florisil column chromatography in method I and by semi-preparative High-Performance Liquid Chromatography in method II. Triadimenol residues are quantified by gas chromatography with a thermoionic detector. With method I, interference was observed but not with method II. This specific procedure has been tested on other plant materials. Recoveries in the range of 90–98% indicate that this procedure is suitable for residue analysis of this fungicide with detection limits of 0·008 mg kg^?1 in wheat grains, 0·03 mg kg^?1 in wheat straw and 0·004–0·008 mg kg^?1 in other plants. Maximum residue limits in France are: 0·1 mg kg^?1 in grain, 2·0 mg kg^?1 in straw and 1·0 mg kg^?1 in other vegetables and fruit.     

Vapour pressure of permethrin

The vapour pressures of the separate isomers of permethrin have been determined over a range of temperatures by two laboratories using different versions of the gas saturation method. A statistical analysis of the sets of data from the two laboratories shows no significant differences for the cis isomers but a small difference in the 20°C extrapolated values for the trans isomer exists. However, this difference is discounted as arising from experimental error and the mean values of the estimated vapour pressures at 20°C are given as 2.5 μPa (cis) and 1.5 μPa (trans).     

Variance estimation for population attributable risk in a complex cross-sectional animal health survey

Population attributable risk estimates offer a method of combining information on population exposure and disease risk factors into a single measure. Univariate and multivariable methods exist for calculating point estimates and variances under the assumption of equal sampling probabilities. National Animal Health Monitoring System national studies typically use a complex survey design (where selection probabilities vary by design strata), which makes use of these methods of calculating variance inappropriate. We suggest the use of a method called "delete-a-group" jackknife to estimate the variance of population attributable risk when a complex survey design has been implemented. We demonstrate the method using an example of Johne's disease. Advantages of the "delete-a-group" jackknife method include simplicity of implementation and flexibility to estimate variance for any point estimate of interest.     

Clostridium septicum myositis in a western lowland gorilla (Gorilla gorilla gorilla).

A 10-yr-old male gorilla (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) with a history of conspecific bite wounds was evaluated for acute onset of depression, anorexia, and right hemiparesis. The animal was immobilized for diagnostic examination and treatment for suspected toxic shock from a necrotizing, emphysematous wound infection, but was euthanized due to complications during recovery. Gross and histopathologic examination revealed acute necrotizing myositis, fasciitis, cellulitis, and emphysema in the affected wound area, with large numbers of large Gram-positive rods among necrotic muscle fibers. Severe pulmonary edema with airways containing fibrin, acute hemorrhage in multiple body sites, thrombosis in blood vessels in the skeletal muscle, liver, and lung, and lymph node hyperplasia with lymphoid necrosis and hemorrhage. Immunohistochemical fluorescent antibody staining of muscle from the wound site was positive for     

Kinetic and thermodynaimic aspects of the dye-sensitised photo-oxidation of bioresmethrin and related compounds

The Rose Bengal sensitised photo-oxidation of bioresmethrin (I), 2-benzylfuran-4-ylmethyl acetate (II), and 2-benzylfuran-4-ylmethanol (III) has been studied in methanol and methanol + water (1 + 1 by volume) solutions by monitoring the rate or oxygen removal from the system. The results indicate that the compounds studied are oxidised via reaction with singlet oxygen. Values for the rate constants for reaction of singlet oxygen with compounds I-III have been determined over the temperature range 293–308 K, and the energy of activation and entropy of activation for the reactions have been determined. The data have been interpreted in terms of the site of attack of singlet oxygen on the compounds.     

Monoclonal Gammopathy in a Dog With Chronic Pyoderma

A monoclonal gammopathy composed of immunoglobulin G, with concurrent light-chain proteinuria and generalized lymph node plasmacytosis, was associated with chronic pyoderma in a dog. A uniform population of plasma cells was observed cytologically and histologically in multiple lymph node specimens. A diagnosis of monoclonal gammopathy of unknown significance was eventually made by exclusion of other known causes of monoclonal gammopathy, resolution after antibiotic therapy, and no evidence of lymphoproliferative disease after 11 months of follow-up and subsequent necropsy. This report expands the diagnostic considerations for monoclonal gammopathies in the dog.     

A comparison of the shell strength of eggs from battery and deep‐litter units

The investigation involved 966 light‐hybrid pullets, 366 accommodated in battery cages and 600 kept on deep litter. Samples of their eggs were taken at four stages during the laying year for measurement of shell strength by the deformation technique. The results of these measurements were very similar for eggs produced under the two systems of housing.